41

Next morning we were at Karishma’s house. There was still an atmosphere of gloom there. The family had lost their only daughter to the most tragic of circumstances, and they had not been able to reconcile with the situation.

“How’s the investigation going on Mr Rahul,” asked Mr Patel.

“Mr Patel, it’s going on well. We have reason to believe that Karishma may have been murdered. But we can’t say anything for sure as of now.” I replied.

“Who would want to kill my poor child? Usne kisi ka kya bigada tha (what bad had she done to anyone)?” interjected Mrs Patel.

“Actually we are here to search a very specific thing, a needle or a syringe which may have been used to spike Karishma’s drink,” interrupted Susan cutting out the melodrama. “Have you seen any fine needle or syringe since the day of the murder?” Susan asked the couple.

“So are you sure it was a murder?” asked Mr Patel.

“We aren’t sure for now, but we can’t rule out that possibility. It’s important we find the syringe first, it may be an important clue,” replied Susan.

“Have any of you seen any fine needle or syringe in the house,” I asked.

Mr and Mrs Patel looked at each other and shook their heads, saying no.

“Who do you think could have done it?” asked Mr Patel.

“Everyone is a suspect right now, including you Mr Patel. You had also warned her that you would kill her,” Susan was her blunt self.

“Mind your language, detective! You are standing in my house accusing me of murdering my daughter. Do you know who I am?”

“I don’t really care about that right now. What I care about is who killed your daughter and we are here to find some evidence. Now if you will allow us to do some work..,” Susan replied and the three of us started searching Karishma’s house. Mr Patel was shivering, but didn’t say anything further.

“Kishore look for every corner in the house. I am sure we will get something here. I will go check Karishma’s room. Susan, why don’t you cover the living room?” I was in charge. Everyone agreed obediently.

I didn’t find anything in particular in Karishma’s room, despite me not leaving any place unsearched. This was a typical girl’s room and nothing suspicious was found. Kishore came back in an hour’s time again with a negative answer.

Susan had completed checking the Patel computer but didn’t find anything. When we reached the living room, she was busy playing some tapes found in the drawer marked “Jai Hind College” plays. We sat down watching some of the plays that Karishma had acted in to see if there was some clue; but more importantly we started enjoying the plays. It was good that Susan understood Hindi, thanks to her mother. There were some good comedy plays and some serious political satire as well. Then there was the play which had won the Inter-Collegiate competition in India and in Dubai. Although we enjoyed watching the tapes, there wasn’t anything related to the case that could have assisted us. Susan played the last tape of a play enacted on Jai Hind stage, and she started searching the remaining part of the room.

The play was surely entertaining. Susan was the only one who was busy finishing her part of the work. Suddenly we heard Karishma’s voice on the tape which shook us all. More than her voice what shocked us was what she was saying.

Life is so uncertain, love is so uncertain. Responsibilities and pressures drown even the most pure relations of love. It’s so difficult for a girl to fall in love and after falling in love, ensuring that the love is preserved and sustained.

I fell in love when I least expected to, with the person I never knew, but he completely swept me off my feet. But circumstances have forced us apart; I do not think we can be one again. I have no choice but to accept my destiny, I have no choice but to accept my life. But what is this life without my love, it’s an incomplete one. And I do not think I can live an incomplete life. Each moment of an incomplete life will drive me crazy; will pull me in different directions which will tear me apart.

Rather than dying every moment, it’s better to die once, ya, it’s better to die once. It is indeed better to die once.

Susan and I looked at one another. The words she said in the play were exactly as per the suicide note. Karishma’s parents also came running out as they heard her voice and identified the words on the suicide note.

Susan shouted, “Holy Creeps!! Rewind the tape, rewind the tape.”

“What?” I asked surprised.

“Rahul, rewind that damn tape, NOW.”

I obliged, and then she said “STOP,” I stopped, “PLAY,” I played.

“See that paper on the table next to Karishma, what’s that?”

I paused the tape, “That looks familiar but it’s not very clear.”

Susan took out her magnifying glass and focused on the TV screen.

“Wow, I think this looks like the suicide note. Kishore, let’s take this tape to our laboratory and get it tested,” ordered Susan.

Kishore started gathering evidence as Susan and I left the house.

“Seems you have hit a six on the last ball,” I said proud of Susan’s observation.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You don’t know cricket Susan?”

“You Indians are all about Bollywood melodrama and cricket. Is there anything else you can think of?”

“You.”

“What you?”

“I think of you as well, I mean other than cricket and Bollywood,” I winked at her.

“Ya right…let’s focus detective.” We both laughed.

Susan’s hunch was right. The paper on the tape was indeed the suicide note.

“This play was staged six months ago, the suicide letter is found written six months back, the letter in the play is the same as the suicide note and she spoke the same words as the suicide note as if she was reading the paper. Isn’t the case very clear now?” said Susan excited.

“Yes, one thing is for sure, she did not write the suicide note before dying. These were dialogues from the play they had enacted and the letter is seen right there on the table.”

“Exactly, what does this point to?”

“All points towards Arjun.. He was the director of this play which we can see from the label of the tape.”

“We need to bring him back for interrogation. He has to answer a few questions now.”

“I guess he has to, but there is a missing link.”

“What Rahul?”

“I think we should interrogate the grocer who delivered the Pepsi. He may have something to add to the case.”

“I think you are right Rahul, that interview is as critical as all the evidence that we have gathered till now.”

“And I don’t need a search warrant to meet him,” I joked.

“So why are we wasting time, let’s go now,” she responded.

“You seem to be in a hurry to solve the case and complete our incomplete vacation soon,” I winked.

“No, I need to go back home detective. Let’s leave now,” she teased.

We were off in a flash as we were onto something and when the iron is hot we strike.

The grocer was located very close to Karishma’s house, which made sense to make the delivery. We found only two people at the grocer’s, one was at the counter.

“We are from the Crime Branch and we need to talk to someone who is in charge,” I showed my ID.

“Crime Branch…what happened saab (sir).” In India, a common man gets nervous and scared when approached by the police.

“We are investigating the death of Karishma and we have to ask a few questions relating to that.”

“Oh saab, that was such a sad incident. She was a lovely girl, full of life. But what questions you need to ask here? We have nothing to do with the case.”

“Well, we will decide whether you have anything to do with the case or no, but are you in charge here.”

“Yes saab. I am the owner of the shop, but trust me I did not do anything,” he was still nervous.

“I know, just answer a few questions.”

“Ok saab.”

“What is your name?”

“Ganpat, saab.”

“Do you supply groceries to the Patel house?”

“Yes saab, for many years now.”

“Has this bill been issued from your grocery,” I showed him the bill found at Arjun’s house.

“Yes saab, it’s from my grocery,” he showed me his bill book which matched the bill type. I saw that it was a carbonated bill book.

“Do you always issue a bill to all customers?”

“No saab, only when someone asks. Where we have time to write bills each time?”

“Can you show me the bill book from where this bill was issued?” He searched from the bill number and within minutes was able to reproduce the bill book. The carbonated copy of the bill was still in the book.

“I am going to take this for further investigation.”

“Ok saab.”

“You said you don’t normally issue bills, why did you issue in this case?”

“Well this was a very strange case. I remember so clearly, one boy had come to order Pepsi for 6 months to be delivered to Karishma madam’s house. Who orders Pepsi for 6 months in advance, everyday one can to be delivered.”

“He ordered Pepsi for a month; one can to be delivered every day?” I asked surprised.

“Yes saab. And he asked for bill also saying he wants to show proof to someone.”

“And who was the boy who had come that day?”

“I had never seen him earlier and he never came back again saab,” answered the grocer.

“Do you remember his face?” asked Susan.

“If I see him again, I will surely recognize him. He had very sharp features and was very handsome.”

Susan rushed to the car and came back with something in her hand in a flash. She had a few photos with her including Nikhil’s and Arjun’s. She laid down all the photos on the grocer’s counter.

“Tell me, is the boy who had come that day one among these?” asked Susan.

The grocer looked at the pictures with full attention and said “Yes madam, this is the boy. He only had come,” pointing towards Arjun’s photo.

Susan and I looked at each other; the pieces of the puzzle were fitting together. This was the final nail in the coffin. It was time to get Arjun to our office.