‘Yes, I spoke to the inspectors last week; I really should leave it well enough alone, but I feel bad for Kedar-da and just wanted to give him some peace of mind. He doesn’t show it but he agonises over whether his mother had any real role in Manoj’s death. She is still convinced she killed him and witters on about it, awful woman.
I explained this to Inspector Bose―there was a risk I’d be ratting out Mrs Ghoshal, but I wouldn’t have lost much sleep over it,’ she winked at Nandana. ‘They told me strictly in confidence,’ again the laugh and the wink, ‘that there was no trace of any poison in his blood other than a high level of alcohol. Kedar-da can feel easier in his mind. I don’t care either way for Mrs Ghoshal’s mind, it’s so twisted up she probably wants to think she had a hand in it. Gives her a rush, having power over other people. That way her nephew wasn’t that different from her. Apparently, the man had no food at all in his stomach, he must have left before he ate anything at Mrs Ghoshal’s. If she wasn’t so confused, she would have realised that as well.
Once that was done, I took the opportunity to chat about the whole case, glean where they stand on the whole matter. Of course, it’ll be months till they can close the case for lack of evidence but they are leaning heavily that way. They haven’t even thought of Deepa yet. They thought it was unfortunate that she upped and left to join her husband in Australia so soon in the investigation, but with these number of neighbours and staff, the size of the “pool of suspects” as he called us, there were bound to be some departures and arrivals. Couldn’t be helped, he said. I don’t think they’ve verified if she actually left the country, she was never very high in the list of suspects.’
‘I hope you didn’t make them suspicious by asking too many questions?’
‘No baba. In any case, I made sure to ask most questions about the post-mortem toxicology report as I said. The rest was just a “by the way before I go” kind of discussion.’
‘We chatted a bit about the return of the MLA's daughter too. She came back of her own volition; the romance faded when she had to rough it, I suspect. The boy on the other hand, will find this city too hot to handle for a while. The inspectors hinted he chose to remain in the state they had run away to. Wise decision.’
Nandana nodded in response, 'Yes I read she had been reunited with her parents, I hope the drama ends here.' She shrugged and changed tack. 'Going back to Kedarnath, I heard on the grapevine that he has appointed a companion for his mother, but not before combing the house for instruments of death and destruction. The companion has been expressly told to bring her own food.’ Nandana shuddered, then laughed. ‘Mrs Ghoshal, a serial poisoner! And to think of all the times she’s called me over for tea and snacks. And my best friend is a murderer. I do live an interesting life!’
Ira drained her cup and rose. ‘You better believe it, baby!
By the way, who’s watching the kids while you and Kushal-da head out for your second honeymoon?’ She batted her eyelashes and made kissy faces.
Nandana swatted at her with her hand, but blushed prettily nevertheless. ‘My parents are coming to house sit and babysit. It’ll be a relief to leave the house in someone else’s hands as well, sometimes just keeping everything running smoothly weighs me down. It’s a burden I can never ever put down. It of course helps that Kushal does much more around the house nowadays.
Hopefully, things will run smoothly for my parents. I have warned the kids to be on their absolute best behaviour, or else….’
‘Or else nothing, you spoil them rotten, always hovering. Nandana the helicopter…,’ Ira laughed.
‘Yes, parenting advice from a confirmed bachelorette. Tell me more!’
‘Tell the kids, my bell is back in commission, they’re welcome to look me up if their grandparents are sick of them…after 11 am. And speaking of your hovering, are you still serious about the part-time job?’
Nandana blanched and looked up. ‘You have a lead?’
‘Only if you want it.’
‘What kind of job is it?’
‘You can hover, but you get paid for it. A college I know needs some extra invigilators, every couple of months. So hovering plus sleuthing to find out wrong-doers, a marriage of your strengths!’
Their laughter was interrupted by the sound of the door opening and closing. They heard Pallabi’s voice in the hallway. ‘Hellooo?’
Nandana rolled her eyes at Ira but called out nevertheless, ‘Yes, we’re out here!’
Ira took her cup and saucer to the sink. ‘No, you are! I’m headed back home.’
Pallabi threw her a cool glance when she appeared, ‘Oh hello.’
‘Hi,’ Ira grinned easily at Pallabi and turned back to Nandana. ‘You really should learn to lock that door.’
She waved cheerily and closed the door on the awkward silence that enveloped her friend’s apartment.
******
20
If the dead could talk: An account of the day of the murder
(5th September 2014)
Once I got near the lift, I relaxed a bit. I felt quite ashamed. To be spooked by an old woman! I shook my head and laughed. Luckily none of my friends was there to witness it. The ribbing would have been merciless! Besides, it wasn’t that I was scared, it was just that she had a history. I knew of several people who came dangerously close to death after having crossed her. I knew enough to walk out the door without touching whatever it was she had been cooking for me. I must have been mad to ask her to. Her fluttering, spotted hands and quavering voice must have made me forget who she was for a minute.
Besides, Jyethi was wasting my time with whatever game she thought she was playing. I didn’t have all day, I had other people to see.
Since I was in the vicinity, it made sense to make a few more house calls before I left. I had lived here for a few months when the family moved after selling the house. Though most of the old acquaintances had left, I knew for a fact that somebody I had a connection with had stayed on. The lift arrived and the doors slid open. I stepped in. I punched the button 4 and smiled.
Let me see, was it right or left? I had only visited a few times, that too, over a decade ago. But I had made the few times I visited count alright. I chuckled softly to myself. Oh, how I’d made them count. It still paid for my booze every month.
This was the advantage of being me. You could have your cake and eat it too.
I turned to the right, pleased at all the pithy expressions that were flowing through my brain today. I hesitated at a door that looked like it was owned by one of those hectic decorators. There was some kind of horrendous decorative nameplate, and above the door hung a be-mirrored Rajasthani cloth, and the place was simply littered with tiny pots.
Definitely not the right flat. I walked to the other end of the corridor. Ah, there it was. This flat had no such garbage. Just a very utilitarian doormat. I rang the bell, applying some extra pressure for that satisfactory jangle. I looked forward to this meeting. With my aunt, there was always that slight twinge of guilt. However monstrous she was, she was family, and there was all that jazz about respecting one’s elders. I touched my pocket and patted the satisfactory lump that comprised my day’s takings so far. My conscience eased considerably.
But this woman! Oh no. A slut, if ever there was one. She deserved every single unpleasantness that had come her way since our little liaison a decade ago. Her husband had found out and had threatened to raise such a stink that I had to move out. Not before I got some leverage myself, of course. How’s that for a Mexican stand-off, eh?
The peephole darkened for a minute. I tensed. Obviously, she wouldn’t open the door now that she’d seen me. I should have stood to one side, let curiosity take the better of her. Really, I really had to start planning these things better! To my relief, however, I heard multiple bolts being drawn back and within seconds an eye, lower than I expected, peered out at me from a crack in the door.
‘Who are you?’ A wobbly, high voice called out.
O
h right, she had a brat. She’d mentioned while whining about paying her fine.
‘Hello. Can I come in? I’m a friend of your mother’s.’ I assumed the hearty, loud tone of a grown up talking to a child.
‘I’ve never seen you before,’ responded the ill-favoured child. Taken after his father, I guessed.
‘Well, yes, but we talk on the phone quite often. Go tell your mummy, your Manoj uncle is here.’
The child obeyed, leaving the door ajar.
Ah, my luck. It’s wonderful how fortune favours the brave.
I simply pushed the door open, closed it quietly behind me and went and sat on the sofa in the living room.
I heard the child knock on a door, and then call through it. ‘Ma, someone to see you!’
There was a muffled answer.
‘Okay, I’ll tell him to come back.’
The boy came running through the corridor and stopped short to see me comfortably ensconced on the sofa.
‘Um, Ma wants you to come back later.’
‘Is your mother bathing?’
‘Yes.’
‘That’s okay. I’m quite comfortable here. Go back and tell your mother that Manoj uncle is here, I didn’t hear you say that.’
The child stood there, looking indecisive.
‘Go on, or I would be happy to do it for you.’
That moved him. I heard with a sigh of satisfaction the panic stricken ‘Who?’ And the latch immediately being drawn back.
I heard her whisper something to him. This was fun, but I only caught ‘stay in your room until…’.
I briefly considered strolling up there and having a word or two with her myself. But I seemed to have lost my appetite for terrorising after it went slightly awry at my aunt’s. Just get the job done and get out of there. An incipient headache had begun to beat in my temple like a pulse.
I knew she wouldn’t take long to emerge, in any case.
I waited patiently enough, humming tunelessly, and keeping time with a tapping finger. The child was probably holed up in his room like his mother had instructed. But I wanted to make my presence felt and demonstrate how unconcerned I was. Half my job was playing this part, and the money came rolling in by itself.
In five minutes the mother came into the room. Her hair was dripping down her back, and her salwar kameez was askew.
Man, she’d changed! I’d never do her even if she paid me for it! In fact, I thought with a frisson of worry, she looked so different that I wondered if anyone would even recognise her from the pictures.
Well at least, she obviously still believed that they could, that’s all that mattered.
‘You? What do you want? Why have you come here? I transferred the money last week as usual!’ The woman looked satisfactorily alarmed.
‘Yes, yes. I got it, darling. Just sit down, can’t I visit my friend from time to time? We were quite close before…pity we drifted apart.’
Deepa’s eyes widened. She looked over her shoulder and hissed. ‘I really don’t have time for this, what is it you want? I don’t have more money, you see how we live here! I have to sell things to be able to pay your hush-money.’
‘Hush-money! My…we’ve become plain speakers have we?’
Deepa was quiet for a while before saying, ‘You’ve had your fun. Just leave. Please.’ Again, that surreptitious look over her shoulder.
‘Your son. Cute boy.’
‘Look Manoj, don’t start. You don’t know, but I’m getting a little tired of this. I’m starting to think my life can’t get much worse than it is now. That I may have made a mistake by letting you bleed me dry over a couple of pictures….’
I sat up. This wasn’t exactly how I’d visualised this interview going. This should have been more along the lines of my saying sinister things and Deepa doing some begging and promising me more money like in the old days.
My luck seemed to be running out. Had I forgotten to pray to my God today morning? Nope, nope…I remembered quite well that I’d done it, albeit a little fast, because I was thirsty for some whiskey and one knew one should not drink until after the praying was done.
She’d always looked after me before; she’d see me through today as well. Just throwing a few challenges my way to keep me on my toes.
‘Are you listening to me?’ Deepa seemed to have worked herself up into a rage. ‘That’s it. No more money. Times have changed, my life has changed. Come over here again and I’ll call the police on you. I have your details.’
What was up with these women today? Apparently, the sight of me had inflamed them beyond their customary fear. I was scarier when faceless, one had to conclude. Note to myself to not try this with the other marks.
‘Are you saying you won’t send the monthly money?’ To my annoyance my voice sounded more querulous than ominous. I couldn’t afford to lose my booze money. ‘Let me refresh your memory with the pictures. I have them right here on my phone.’
Deepa blanched. ‘Do whatever the hell you like. I’ve stopped caring.’
‘Boy! Oh boy! Come out of hiding, I have some lovely pictures of your mum to show you!’
Deepa grabbed my hand hard. ‘Stop it. No, you wouldn’t!’
‘I would indeed.’
‘Not my son! Show it to whoever else you were planning to show, go!’
I giggled. There was the begging that I’d come for!
‘I’ll do that too.’
The boy crept out into the hall. I suspected he’d been eavesdropping on the conversation all along.
I made a great show of patting my trouser pockets, looking for my phone. Deepa looked like she would be sick, right on her nasty clean floor.
After making them wait for a while, I fished the phone out with a dramatic ‘Ah!’
‘Arun, go out, take your bat and play. Go on, go out. I’ll handle this. Don’t come back until I come looking for you, okay?’
The boy hesitated, and said in his low cracked voice, ‘Ma, security?’
‘No, no. Just go. I’ll fetch you later. I’m sure he’ll understand if I speak to him.’
I let the boy go. To be honest I had been bluffing anyway. There were some things a gentleman’s son didn’t do. That was to corrupt innocent minds.
I had shaken her out of that defiant mood, now it was time to talk tandoori chicken. It would go nicely with the booze.
The moment Deepa realised I’d let him leave the apartment she rounded on me again, but her spirit was broken.
‘Look, what do you want?’
‘No more talk of your not caring about who sees the pictures then?’
Deepa sighed. ‘You know what, Manoj? I sometimes wonder about this situation. What are you blackmailing me about? Both of us are in those pictures....’
‘Wow, bold talk from you, Deepa! You’re all grown up!’
‘If you are not embarrassed about being in those pictures, why should I be? Legally speaking, since you made arrangements to take secret pictures of us, it shows ill intent. Was your camera on a timer? Or did you have one of your buddies hiding in the room?’ Deepa looked nauseated at the thought, but ploughed on. ‘I have my account statements to prove you have taken hefty amounts from me over the last ten years. Blackmail is a punishable offence. Extramarital affairs…not so much. I could send you away to prison for years.’
‘You’ve been talking to a lawyer?’ I was outraged. The shameless woman had been talking to others about what she’d done!
‘I have indeed. Better to give her the money I give you and finish this in a court of law.’
‘Just for the sass you’re showing me today, I’ll increase the fine payable to me to 15,000 rupees a month.’
Deepa started to giggle. An ugly, mad sound it was too.
‘Fine? What do you think you are, some kind of policeman? Are these tacky clothes,’ she was waving her finger around, ‘the raised collar, thick gold chain and unshaven face the moral police uniform, perhaps?’ The giggle turned into peals of laughter. A full-blown hyst
eria attack. Tears began to run down her cheeks. She was crying now. An ugly grimacing kind of crying.
I tsk-tsked in annoyance. These women and their hysterics. So hard to do business with their turning emotional at the drop of the hat. As Deepa sat and cried, I realised that my aunt must have notified her faithful son and he might return to the building any time now. Best to leave, I didn’t fancy an encounter with him.
I didn’t understand my cousin. That woman had been monstrous to him as well, especially after his ‘declaration’―but he still protected her like an over-zealous guard dog. Despite what his ‘choices’ were, there was something about him that unnerved me. I wanted to be well away from here before he could return. I glanced at my watch. I had already wasted at least twenty minutes here, although it felt longer.
Deepa still blubbered, rubbing her face on her sleeve.
‘Look, we’re both in a bad mood today,’ I said, trying to be reasonable. ‘Just give me what you’ve got in the house, and I’ll push off for today. I’ll expect the usual payment of 12,000 in my account on the 10th.’
‘I have nothing in the house. And you know why, you… asshole? It’s because there’s a great big ugly leech sucking us dry every month. I’m done. Do what you will.’
‘Ah, time to go look for the boy again?’
‘Do what you will.’
‘He can’t have gone far.’
Truth was, I was quite ready to cut my losses and leave. I had the distinct impression that my luck had run out today. All this talk of a lawyer had rattled me, too. Would this shameless woman really be okay with the world seeing those pictures? Because once the shame was gone, she was right, I had nothing to hold over her.
‘All I can say, Manoj, is that you will regret it. In fact, I have very little to lose now. I will make sure you regret having shown your face here at all.’
******
I had started to feel dizzy again. Damn this weakness! I tried to give her my customary devil-may-care smile and backed a few feet before turning and walking away. Something caught my eye as I passed the kitchen on my way to the front door.
A Killer Among Us Page 19
