sample copy. not for distribution.jayaram thus returned late and found the parking lot almost empty....

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It All Changes

in an Instant


ii

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iii

It

All

Changes

In an instant (A Romantic Novel)

Ayyampalayam Raghavendra Rao

(Author of “Not the Girl Next Door!”)

EDUCREATION PUBLISHING (Since 2011)

www.educreation.in


iv


v

The characters in this story are fictitious. Any

resemblance to any one alive or dead or

incidents is purely coincidental and

unintentional.


vi

Foreword

How I started this novel is a mystery to me. Sometime ago, I

was travelling to Bangalore in Kacheguda-Yeshwantpura

Express. I reached the station early, hurled into the train and

settled in my seat. After a few minutes, a lady in her late

twenties arrived with a huge orange trolley bag. She was

dressed in orange chudidar and her hairdo was just right to her

pretty face. She was tall, had large eyes and unfading smile

on her lips. Waving her printed ticket, she enquired, “Sir, I

am on the waiting list. Will the TTE come here, or shall I

have to go to him?” I suggested her, “Madam, better you find

him in the next bogie as you will be allotted a confirmed berth

on first-cum-first-service basis.” While thanking me she

requested me to have a watch over her huge organge bag

which she pushed under the lower berth. Before leaving she

introduced herself as “Keertana,” and I told my name. After a

few minutes she returned and thanked me. “Sir, I got a berth in

the third bogie.

“Thanks a lot,” she said. She then pulled the bag from

under the seat, smiled at me and vanished as fast as she

appeared. I reached Bangalore. When I was seated in the

park the next day I recalled the incident and smiled to myself,

“Why not I weave a short story around her beautiful name?”

But the short story in course of time emerged as a novel

delineating life‟s true incidents. If Keertana were to read this

novel by any chance, what would be her reaction? Just

kidding.

I am sure you would have read my debut novel, “NOT

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR!” packed with suspense.

I thank Mr. P. Rajabhushana Rao, Prof. C.Sambasiva

Rao, Shri K.Nagaraja Rao garu and Mr. R. Krupanand who

encouraged me to write this story and carefully went through.

I also profusely thank Educreation Publishing, New Delhi for

publishing my above novel with beautiful cover and get up.

I hope you will enjoy reading this.



vii

Dedication

I dedicate this novel to my grand children, Kritika Manguluru

and Nikhil Krishna Mangularu (Daughter and Son respectively

of Dr. M.V. Krishna Murty and Mrs. Nivedita Krishna Murty)

and my ever active grandson, Akshaj Ayyampalayam (Son of

Sudhendra Ayyampalayam and Vishali Kachiraju) who are

enamoured about my story-telling.

W


viii

About The Author

The author is a retired banker with post graduate degrees in

Commerce and English literature. He was into agricultural

banking and made a mark. He wrote articles for Bank‟s and

religious magazines like Saptagiri published by TTD, Tirupati.

In his early seventees he developed writing short stories and

eventually a novel. His short stoies, “It‟s my way after all,”

“She is Mine” and “Unexpected Justice” have found a place in

Woman‟s Era magazine in his wife‟s name. His debut novel,

“NOT THE GIRL NEXT DOOR!” was published by

Educreation Publishing, New Delhi recently. He writes

simple English and his style is liked. And, he likes humour to

be put into all his writings and a possible solution. His

favourite authors are Robin Cook, Lee Child and Ken Folett

and Saraubh Mukherjee.

W


ix

About The Book

The novel is centred cardinally about friendship and its value.

Kadambini, Keertana, Kranti and Kartik study for IAS and

become close friends. They meet every month without fail and

enjoy each other‟s company. With an unexpected incident

happening, Keertana stumbles on Jayaram, a business tycoon

and befriends him. She is instrumental in bringing him to the

group of friends who admire his impeccable manners and

intelligent conversations. Regardless of the coveted positions

they occupy, Jayaram though a businessman has been taken

into confidence and their friendship grew.

Problems after problems are thrown at Jayaram who

handles them with ease and dexterity. Both Kadambini and

Keertana love him as he rescued them from several dangerous

incidents.

What happens in the end is total suspsense.

W



1

“Jayaram, why don‟t you have breakfast and go,” his

mother shouted behind when Jayaram appeared in checked

bermuda and a simple cream colour T shirt from the drawing

room.

Jayaram consulted his watch. It was 8.00 a.m.

“Mom, I have to call on my friend today. I will have

breakfast with him and return home,” he replied tying the

white laces of his blue and black New Balance sports shoes.

He dismissed the driver of his Jaguar and sat in the

driver‟s seat, buckled the seat belt, started the engine and

disappeared in no time.

Gowripriya waved at him and returned to the drawing

room.

O Jayaram reached his friend‟s house in less than twenty

minutes. It was an independent house with a beautiful flower

garden in front and a garage at the far left. He very well knew

such a mansion was an ancestral one. His friend took every

care to retain its original shape. Jayaram approached the main

door and waited for a minute.When he depressed the calling

bell, the young maid in dark green skirt appeared holding a

yellow duster in her left hand and said, “They left just now Sir

to see the doctor as malkin (landlady) complained of severe

pain in her abdomen.”

His friend always kept up his appointment but this was

the first time he bunked.

“So, the appointment went waste,” Jayaram sighed and

decided to go to the restaurant rather than going back home.

He was forced to eat breakfast all alone.

He drove down to Galaxy restaurant which had a big

parking lot. It being the breakfast time, many cars were seen

and he had to go at the far end to park his car. He picked up

his wallet from the dashboard and began to walk to the

restaurant. The wallet had sixty thousand in it—a payment to

be made to his consultant friend whom he visited for

consultation and it was naturally bulky. The weather was

pleasant as it was just the beginning of the summer. Big


It All Changes in An Instant - A Romantic Novel

2

Gulmohar trees with millions of yellow flowers grew around

the parking lot giving shade to cars parked beneath them.

Small flower plants painted in various dark colours were

decorated on the parapet wall of the parking lot enhancing the

beauty of the area. Two brown stray dogs noticing Jayaram

swinging his car keys gave a look and ran away.

The air-curtain above the main entrance of the restaurant

threw cool air over his head when he stepped in. The Manager

wished him and showed him a vacant table. He occupied the

dark brown cushioned chair and back and ordered a simple

breakfast to the waiter. He was sorry that his friend‟s wife all

of a sudden took ill. They were to discuss a new marketing

strategy. Though he was not employed in his company, they

were close friends and discussed as he was a marketing

wizard. Jayaram also helped him in many ways and his

recommendations always carried weight with other

companies.

Jayaram phoned up his friend who felt sorry to have

missed the appointment and said that his wife would be called

in by the doctor in another ten minutes. Jayaram said to him

to take it easy about his appointment but to take the doctor‟s

advice in respect of his wife seriously.

The waiter placed the breakfast in front of him which he

ate leisurely. He stood up after having a cup of coffee and left

for the parking lot

O

Jayaram thus returned late and found the parking lot almost

empty. He began walking towards Jaguar in the parking lot.

His black car was gleaming in the morning Sun. He reached

the car and unlocked it with his remote and about to get in.

He suddenly was found flat on his back on the tarmac

and faced the open sky. Somebody hit him hard on his head

from behind. Before he could realise what happened, his

wallet was pulled out of his back pocket forceably pinning

him down to the ground.

Jayaram was tall and robust. He exercised regularly and

was healthy. He struggled but quickly got up and caught hold

of the miscreant. The person, whom he held was handsome,

dressed in three piece dark blue suit with dark blue striped tie.



3

The mugger, he could know by the time, lost no time in

throwing the wallet behind the car. His accomplice who was

waiting there caught it and ran to the service road. There was

a scuffle thereafter. Two security guards and two car drivers

soon joined them on the scene and held Jayaram.

The well dressed man pointing out to Jayaram told them,

“This one snatched my wallet.”

“Give it to him,” one of them shouted. “In fact, he…..”

Jayaram was about to explain.

“Let it go, I am leaving,” the well dressed man said

dusting his suit.

“Please don‟t allow him to go. He is a wolf in sheep‟s

clothing…..” Jayaram shouted.

In seconds, Jayaram locked his car with his remote

silently.

They held Jayaram tight. Someone called the Police.

The Interceptor was only two hundred yards away and

was directed to the scene.

The complainant was stopped by the crowd when he

wanted to slip away gently.

The lady ACP briskly disembarked the van and

approached the crowd.

“What‟s going on here?” she shouted roughly.

The well dressed man showed Jayaram, “He stole my

wallet….”

“Where is it? Hand it over,” she commanded Jayaram

authoritatively.

“Madam, in fact he is the one who snatched my purse

after hitting me when I was about to get into my car,” he

quickly said disdainful of her tone and behaviour.

She paid no heed to Jayaram naturally.

“You two get into the van,” she ordered waving her stick

endlessly. Two Policemen who later joined her tried to hold

Jayaram. It is the only safe haven where Police have freedom

and act in whatever manner they liked.

There was no choice. Both went in and sat along with

two Policemen in the rear of the vehicle.

The Police Station was not far from the Galaxy

restaurant. It took just three minutes for them to reach.



4

She neared her table and shouted at Jayaram, “Give it away,”

she repeated.

“Madam….he is the one who….” Jayaram tried to

explain again.

She raised her stick and about to hit when Jayaram

caught it half way and threw away with amazing agility.

The constables rushed to Jayaram and held him.

“Leave him,” she said and placed her hand on the service

revolver.

“You look like an educated one but don‟t you have any

shame to commit a theft?” She raised her eyebrows.

Jayaram did not answer as the Police lack lisening skills.

“You need a thrashing,” she said as if it was the only

course left to bring out the truth.

Jayaram glanced at her plastic name board, which read,

“A. Keertana, I.P.S.” She was tall and not so fat and not so

thin. She was in her immaculate uniform and the stars were

sparkling on her shoulders confirming that she was an ACP.

She was fair and her eyebrows were done. She had smart eyes

which he could notice behind the light coloured Police Special

glasses. She had thick lips and wore simple gold rings in her

ears. Her brown shoes were shiny. She made her hair into a

bun and put on her cap. Her pockets were full, not probably

with papers. She looked confident and authoritative as any

other Police officer, impatient of listening.

“You are mistaken Keertana madam,” Jayaram shouted

back, “I will prove I am no thief.”

“How?” she calmed down a little.

“Let me go to your computer,” Jayaram suggested.

She thought for a few seconds.

“Okay,” she took out her revolver and led him to her

room. While doing so, “Watch that fellow,” she pointed to the

well dressed man.

Jayaram switched on the computer and removed one of

the black buttons from his shirt. He inserted the cable in the

USB port and played the video.

Keertana quickly returned her revolver to the holster like

a warrior puts back his sword in the scabbard after losing a

duel.

She concentrated on the computer screen.



5

She was amazed to know the truth. Jayaram saved the video

in the computer.

“May I know your name?” Keertana asked politely now.

“I‟m Jayaram, MD of Polar Computers,” he said.

“Please forgive me. I was rude to you,” she apologized

as some sense prevailed on her.

“It‟s okay madam. It is always with the Police. They

don’t listen first, they wield a lathi,” he smiled.

Jayaram suddenly recalled an incident which took place

a month ago.

A youth misbehaving with girls in the bus stop was

brought by the constable to the station and told the Inspector

what he did in the bus stop. Without waiting for a second, the

Inspector took his belt and thrashed him though he was

shouting he was the son of MLA and his father would initiate

action against the officer. The constable begged the Inspector

to leave the boy fearing that the MLA would create trouble.

The Inspector said to him that everyone who was caught

would say so. If he was really the son of MLA, he would

apologise and close the matter. However, he finished the

thrashing and did his duty.

“I‟m Keertana….” She shook hands with him.

“I know,” he replied smilingly.

“How?”

“The name board,” he disclosed.

They came out of the room. “Put that fellow in the cell

and pulp him till he discloses the name of his accomplice,” she

instructed the Inspector.

“Madam, you better obtain his finger prints and feed into

the computer. You will know whether he is an old criminal,”

Jayaram suggested.

She nodded.

The Inspector was happy as more than a fortnight, he had

no one to thrash. His hands were itching to beat some one

black and blue. He was like a wife beater who intermittently

beat her on flimsy grounds and without actually any reason as

it formed a habit.

He quickly held the well dressed man, threw him in the

cell and closed the iron grilled doors.



6

Without asking any questions, he beat him till he was satisfied

that the unmarked injuries would bring out the correct

answers. The constable handed him over a bottle of cold

water when he asked for water. He took a few gulps out of it.

“What‟s your name?” he hit him hard once again on his

knee.

“Yadgiri,” he said painfully.

“What do you do?” he hit him again.

“I pick pockets…..”

“Did you snatch the wallet of that gentleman?”

“Yes.”

“Where is it?”

“I have passed on to another,” he said reluctantly.

“Who‟s he?”

“Narsing.”

“Take us to him now,” the Inspector said and pushed him

into the Police jeep.

O “How much was in your wallet?” Keertana asked Jayaram.

“Sixty thousand,” Jayaram replied calmly.

“So much cash in the wallet?” she exclaimed.

“Yes, madam, a payment has to be made,” he answered.

“Don‟t worry. It will be restored to you soon,” she

smiled, “By the way, what about your credit cards, driving

licence, etc,?” she asked him.

“They are safe,” he showed her the metal case bought

online.

“I will inform you when the wallet is found,” she assured

and saved the cell number of Jayaram.

“Thanks madam. I am already late to the office,” he

said.

“Is it important that you should go to the office

immediately?” she smiled.

“Why? Yes madam.” He guessed being detained for

some paper work in the PS.

“Mr. Jayaram, I‟m guilty of what……won‟t you have

lunch with me? It‟s already lunch time. It is a request from a

lady not a Police officer,” Keertana smiled appealingly.

Jayaram seldom understood her attitude.



7

He telephoned to his Personal Secretary, “Good

afternoon Sahiti. I am held up in a meeting with the

Government officials and would not show up at the office

today. Please hold the fort.”

The call got cut after a yes.

“Thanks, Mr. Jayaram.”

“Where would you like to take me?”

“Will Galaxy restaurant do?”

“Yes. Nice proposition. After lunch I will take my car

there and go home,” he said.

The driver brought her official car, Swift Dezire. “You

may go,” she dismissed him.

Both left for Galaxy restaurant.

O

The air-conditioned restaurant relaxed them once they were

out of the Police station.

The Manager personally appeared and took them to the

corner table. He knew the ACP.

“What will you have madam?” he asked her politeness

written all over him.

She pointed out her index finger to Jayaram.

“Sir, what will you have?” the Manager asked him.

Jayaram told him.

While waiting for the items of food to arrive, Keertana

initiated the conversation.

“You are very helpful to us with that video recording.

Why did you have the spy camara? Is your life in danger?” she

asked curiously.

“I do more than fifty crores of business and I must be

alert and careful. Apart from my physical fitness, I am an

ardent lover of shooting. I practise in the Shooters‟ Club,” he

told her involuntarily.

“That‟s news to me…Do you have a gun licence?”

“Yes, I have. But no gun,” he laughed.

“You may buy one,” she suggested.

He looked at her.

“In Mahabharata, Krishna said if one has a weapon, he

would unknowingly have violent thoughts,” Jayaram said.



8

“But, there is not a single occasion when we drew our guns,”

she said.

“May be. Because you are professionals and are

governed by strict rules, discipline, fear, etc. You are not

American cops who indiscriminately use guns as the law

breakers also have guns.”

“I agree, Mr. Jayaram. You are an interesting

conversationalist,” she appreciated sincerely.

“Thank you, madam.”

The steaming hot items of food arrived and Keertana put

a break to further conversation and served interestingly while

Jayaram looked on.

“Can I know about you, Mr. Jayaram?”

“Sure,” Jayaram said thrusting a piece of butter naan in

his mouth.

“My father was in business but now leading a retired life.

My mother is a home maker. I am the only son to my parents.

I did my MBA and inherited the business from my dad which

I developed manyfold. We have a house of our own and have

two cars. My office building is not far from my house. I am

not married and my mother, as any other mother insists every

time that my age has barred for marriage,” he laughed.

“Thank you for being so frank, Mr. Jayaram…… I‟m an

orphan,” her eyes moistened.

Noticing her eyes, Jayaram just put his hand on her left

wrist involuntarily as he detested any woman having tears in

her eyes.

She continued.

“I was brought up in the orphanage. I don‟t know about

my parents and how I was found in the orphanage. The

Manager of the orphanage is very good and affectionate to me

He saw that I studied hard. I was graduated at last. I played

basket ball in the College, won several inter-collegiate

matches and recognized as a strong girl. I began to search for a

job to settle down soon after my graduation. But, the Manager

stopped my efforts and put me in the coaching centre for civil

services examinations. Three candidates befriended me and

helped me financially and otherwise. Though I am alone, I

never felt alone at all, as we met often. They are everything

for me--friends, guides, saviors and mentors. I don‟t know



9

why I am telling all this to you. You looked to me a decent

gentleman with whom I can share. And, there should be

someone to share and I selected you to unburden myself.” She

was emotional.

Jayaram did not interfere. He took out his hand which he

rested on the wrist of the girl.

“We have impressions of a person at first sight and

meeting itself,” she reiterated.

“I‟m honoured madam,” Jayaram felt happy.

“I‟m Keertana you know,” she smiled. “Will you be my

friend?” she almost pleaded.

“How can I be a friend to a girl in uniform?” he smiled.

“Then, I won‟t appear before you in uniform. That will

set aside your inhibition.”

“Just kidding, Keertana. Uniform or no uniform, you are

my friend,” he smiled.

“You are naughty. But I like it,” she also smiled.

“Keertana, my parents will love to meet you. Don‟t ever

say again you are alone. You are always welcome to my house

and try to be one of our family members.”

“Thank you, Mr. Jayaram. I will avail the opportunity

you gave me. I will also tell you about my friends sometime

later,” she was on her feet. The bill was to be received.

She called the Manager and when asked for the bill, he

made twists and turns of his hands.

Jayaram went to the Registrex machine operator and

brought the bill and handed it over to Keertana.

“Thank you,” she said and paid the bill in cash leaving a

generous tip. Jayaram collected the paid bill.

Both headed to the parking lot.

Keertana walked up to Jayaram‟s car.

“Oh, Jaguar!” she exclaimed, “I recall Jon Voight, the

hero in The Odessa File movie drove throughout the story a

black Jaguar.”

“I haven‟t watched the movie,” Jayaram innocently said.

Keertana gave a surprising look at him and began to

narrate: “The Odessa File” is a thriller by Frederick Forsyth

first published in 1972 about the adventures of a young

German reporter attempting to discover the location of a

former SS Concentration Camp Commander. The novel



10

alleges that “Odessa” is an international Nazi Organisation

established before the defeat of Nazi Germany for the purpose

of protecting former members of the SS after the war instead

of a war veterans‟ group.

The film adaptation “The Odessa File” was released in

1974 starring Jon Voight and Maximillen Schell. It was

directed by Ronald Neame. It based rather loosely on the

book, but brought about the exposure of the real-life „Butscher

of Riga,” Edward Roschmann. After the film was released to

the public, he was arrested by the Argentine Police, skipped

bail and fled to Aguncion, Paraguay where he died on 10th

August 1977.”

“My God! So much information you have about a movie

which most of us go for entertaining ourselves. The

Committee is hundred per cent right in selecting the

meritorious,” he was appreciative.

“Thank you, Mr. Jayaram. I watched the movie a dozen

times,” she smiled.

“And, you call the Jaguar owner a thief!” he smiled.

“Sorry…sorry…sorry, Mr. Jayaram,” she lifted both her

hands and held her ears.

“Just joking, Keertana. Friends have such liberty….”

“Have a nice day,” she said, shook his hands and quickly

walked to Swift Dezire.

Jayaram looked at his watch. It was 2.00 p.m. He told

Sahiti that he would not be attending the office. So, what‟s

that he would do at home? He went round and settled in the

nearby theatre which was screening, “Airlift” starring Akshay

Kumar, as he read the review of it in the newspapers. He

switched off his cell and enjoyed the movie.

He was at home after the movie.

“Where were you Jayaram?” his father was in panic,

“We received tens of calls on the landline for you. All of us

tried your cell but „out of coverage‟ was the answer. Did you

visit the Moon by any chance?”

Before he could select one of the probable answers he

had in his mind, the landline came to life.

He ran to it and picked up. It was Sahiti alright.

“Sir, two tradesmen are arriving from Thailand. When shall I

fix the meeting?” She did not ask for the explanation for not



11

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