Cold Brew
“Gentlemen, I’ll come to the point” began Joshy in a familiar baritone voice. “Let me tell you all we know about this gang and it’s relevance to our recent find,” he remarked.
“In the 1980s, when the Cosa Nostra had been disbanded due to the Regan administrations war on drugs,”
Joshy pointed to the presentation with a photo of the Italian mafia heads.
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“The Capos of the five families migrated to remote corners of the world to evade extradition and to avoid a gang war with the Europeans,” continued Joshy with the slide deck.
“It’s our good fortune that one such Capo moved to Goa after the turn of events.”
“Why Goa, Sir? The Goa of 95’ was much more sober and had no active drug trade going on,” asked Ashwin, the new recruit.
“Ah! The Capo, Michael had was a distant cousin to the Portuguese hotelier family in Goa. He leveraged these connections to set-up shop in India,” remarked Joshy. “Next slide, please”.
As the projector whirred to life, a low, ominous silence filled the room and then emerged, the image of a devil, his sinister features accentuated by the faint hum of the machine.
“Michael had established a ragtag group of rookies but it was this man that laid the foundations of the gang we know of today,” exclaimed Joshy with a dead stare at the picture.
“Anthony, here, has robbed, killed, butchered and devoured anyone or anything that came in his way. A ruthless approach to the drug trade that was never seen before in our lands.”
“Isn’t he dead yet? Last I heard he has been in-active, Joshy,” asked NCB South Zone Commissioner, Anbu Cherian through the video conference.
“Some say he died of cancer. Some reports suggest he’s retired. That’s the tricky part. While Anthony was the face of the gang. There were two others that were crucial to his operation,” continued Joshy. “Next slide, please.”
If the previous photo was of the devil, the one that currently occupied the screen was that of Satan himself.
“Alexander, younger to Antony and much more violent. Around the 2000s, we started hearing his name. 1000s of murders and gang war events attributed to the orders of this man. Former Commissioner Maran had the recent misfortune of meeting him,” pointed Joshy.
“Why don’t we nab these two, Sir? Maran Sirs death should have been probable cause,” asked Ashwin who wasn’t familiar with the details.
“Until date, we do not have the whereabouts of these two men. They have managed to stay underground while running their restaurant business using front-runners.”
“But what does this have to do with calling us in today? Didn’t we already know about these two?” beamed Anbu Cherian, disturbed by the memory of Commissioner Maran and the photo of his killer in front.
“I’m getting there, Sir. Patience,” commanded Joshy.
“Three days ago, my team and I had raided a goods trailer traveling to Madurai based on a tip-off from an insider in the Chinese triad. Guess, what we found there?” said Joshy gesturing to Ashwin for the next slide.
“98.7% purity! This beats the European’s too” exclaimed Anbu.
“Not only that, Sir. Observe the Chromatographic Analysis. They have added lidocaine to improve the numbing,” pointed Joshy.
“So is this Anthony’s? How can you be so sure? ”
“Exactly the reason for me calling this meeting. Cocaine produced in India does not come with additives added. At least the chemists and the gangs we know of are incapable to conjure this in their meagre labs. The last time, we had a variant with lidocaine added. It exploded the markets”
“Is it him?” asked the Commissioner with his hands of head preparing for what’s to come.
“Yes, I believe so” continued Joshy with a smirk on his face almost rooting for this character. “If he’s back, Anthony & Alexander will come out.”
The silence was interrupted by a sudden buzz to the conference room. It was Aradhana.
“Sir, your order is here. It’s the owner himself” said the receptionist.
“Ask him to bring it to the cafeteria. We’ll be there” replied Joshy cutting the call.
“So” he continued tightening his tucked shirt “that’s all I have for today folks. Keep an eye out for the gang. Ping your contacts inside and outside. We should be hearing something sooner or later.”
“Before that. Lunch is on me. Good job on the drug bust!” the Commissioner remarked holding the door for the rest of the team as they headed for the cafeteria.
The team walked into the cafeteria as they were met by a fit slender middle aged man in a tucked-in white shirt and black convertibles.
“Good Morning! Mr. Alex Pandian!” exclaimed the middle-aged man.
“Parthiba! It’s afternoon and the real Alex Pandian is here” said Joshy pointing to the Commissioner.
“Good Afternoon, Parthiban! Thank you so much for your contributions to our de-addiction campaigns” the Commissioner said shaking hands with Parthiban.
“Who’s that guy?” asked Ashwin to his fellow colleague. Curious to know more about the man.
“Avara? He’s Parthiban Chekon. He owns the largest coffee plantation in Thekkady”
“Oh. But he seems so,” said Ashwin searching for words.
“Simple? He’s always been like that. A bit reserved. He’s an old friend of ACP Joshy. They were from the same orphanage”
Parthiban by then had meandered towards Joshy and pulled him aside.
“Joshy, it’s Uma’s birthday today,” said Parthiban.
“I know, I wished her. Haven’t you?” laughed Joshy.
“Yes. I have planned a surprise dinner for her, You and Priya must come.”
“For sure, wouldn’t miss it for the world. It’s been ages since I have seen the kids” agreed Joshy.
“That’s great! Shangrila at 10PM and for once dress like a civilian,” said Parthiban leaving the room as a photographer entered.
“Wait! Parthiba! Let’s take a group photo. This office doesn’t work without your cold brew coffee and tea bread. We just had the biggest drug burst in a decade,’ said Joshy pulling in Parthiban by the arm.
“No! Joshy, I have to rush.”
The cameraman takes a picture as Parthiban leaves in a hurry.
“Mr. Parthiban seems to be in a hurry,” exclaimed the Commissioner.
“Ah, that's Parthiba; he's got this anxiety condition and doesn't spend too much time in social gatherings. It was worse initially; I could feel his body shiver in social gatherings.”
“Good man though” said the commissioner biting into his bread.
“Indeed” agreed Joshy as he watched Parthiban walk back to his jeep. Parthiban had a slight shiver in his arm as he reached for the vehicle’s door.
He drove through the hilly region of Thekkady, lush with greenery and a chilling wind that compensated for the summers of Tamil Nadu. Nestled in the Western Ghats at the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, Thekkady charmed visitors with its lush landscapes and rich greenery. Renowned for its coffee plantations and spice gardens, the town offered tantalizing aromas and intoxicating scenery. Another offering most cherished by tourists was the ‘Wild Beans Cafe’ owned by the Chekons.
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The Wild Beans Cafe:
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As the morning light filtered through the cafe's windows, casting a warm glow on the worn wooden tables. Parthiban stormed into the kitchen through the back entrance, hiding the cake in the refrigerator.
He walked into the restaurant evading the very gaze that he once seeked with anticipation.
“You seem busy today,” said Uma.
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Though they were married for 15 years, her radiant smile plunged Parthiban into a momentary stun to this day.
“I was out on a delivery for Joshy; it was a big order” mustered Parthiban recovering from his trance.
“Couldn't you have asked Sameer to go? Don't you have important stuff to look into TODAY?” persisted Uma probing to see if Parthiban remembered her birthday.
“Ah! I forgot! I'll pick up the kids” Parthiban played along.
Uma's face dropped as she continued with her work. Keerthi, the waitress and Uma’s cousin rushed into the cafe with a broad smile. She had just begun her shift.
“Anna! The cake is looking awesome!” without noticing Uma, standing behind her.
“Kids, come on in!” shouted Parthiban as he frowned at Keerthi for spoiling the surprise. “It was a good idea to bring in the kids early” he thought.
Siddhu and Mathi join in and the family celebrate Uma's birthday. The day passed uneventfully, except for Parthiban and Uma rekindling their romance through sporadic gazes across the kitchen. Keerthi, flummoxed, urges them to close the cafe for the day. Joshy and his wife, Priya arrive with the evening, and the gang drives to their favorite spot: The Shangrila.
Shangrila:
“Sir, are you ready to order?” asked the waiter.
“Shahi Paneer and Naan for the ladies. I’ll have the Crab Xacuti and make it Goan spicy. Parthiba?”
“Plain dosa kadaikuma?” muttered Parthiban.
“Sure Sir”
“One plain dosa and lassi”
“Plain dosa for dinner?” asked Joshy.
“Pinna enna, How do you eat these, Joshy? Isn't it hard on your stomach? As a vegetarian, I could never think of eating a whole crab”
“Parthiba, eating a crab is the least stressful activity of my day. There are new things to worry about at work.”
“Why? Was that related to that meeting you guys had the other day?” Parthiban probed.
“Yes, there’s a new substance circulating near the border areas. It might be from a gang that’s famous in the North…”
“Joshy, let’s talk something else. We have the children here,” said Uma.
“How's your running practice going, Siddhu?' asked Joshy.
“It's improving, Uncle. I’m seeing my stats improve after Dad started training me. He himself is good for a 40-year-old,” said Siddhu.
“Don't underestimate your dad; he was into this fitness bug much before Virat Kohli,” joked Joshy.
“Making up for lost time, Joshy, I had an unhealthy adolescence,’ said Parthiban.
“Uncle, I want to hear more about your work? I saw your picture on the news paper. Biggest drug bust must have had some action in it”
“Well, it did is all I can say. Generally 98% of police officers don’t use their gun during their lifetime of service. I’m of the remaining 2%”
“Uncle, can you show me your gun?” asked Mathi much to the displeasure of Uma.
The parents admonish the child, but Joshy sportingly reveals the gun from his holster.
“Didn’t I ask you to dress like a civilian for once?”
“Yes, I’m dressed as a civilian but this is who I’m Parthiba. I can’t subdue my instincts,” countered Joshy.
He gestured Parthiban to try it out.
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Parthiban reluctantly picks it up. The tremble in his hand is noticeable. Uma, Priya, and the kids make fun of it as the Crab Xacuti arrives.