The Astral Alibi

by Manjiri Prabhu

  “You mean you don’t need to consult your good friend Jeetu about it?” he mocked.

  Sheetal blushed. “That’s not funny. And anyway, Jeetu would certainly approve,” she replied primly.

  “Not before he tears off my hair in frustration because I asked you first!” Pankaj laughed.

  Sheetal looked shocked. “Jeetu is just a good friend. There’s not a romantic bone in his body!”

  “That is most reassuring! Come on, let’s make plans. I want to get married tomorrow!”

  Unnoticed by them, a figure was observing them minutely from within the house. Ganesh Pandit, Pankaj’s secretary, looked satisfied. Things were shaping up exactly as he thought they would!

  Sonia sat at her wooden table, a sheet of paper laid out before her. The rude words, printed in a beautiful font, on a laser printout, were ominous. “Cut the Astrology trash!” Who could’ve sent her this note? And why? Perhaps the “why” could be answered. Someone who obviously disapproved of her investigative techniques; someone narrow-minded, closed to the possibilities of the world, of sciences which went back over ages! Perhaps a policeman who felt she was making a mockery of something as serious as crime?

  A soft knock on the door preceded the arrival of Inspector Divekar.

  “Hello, beti!”

  “Think of the devil!” Sonia grinned.

  “Lucky me!” the Inspector laughed and pulled out a chair. “What’s happening?”

  Sonia pushed the slip of paper to him. “I thought it could be the act of a policeman.”

  Inspector Divekar studied the note. “You could be right,” he conceded, frowning. “When did you get this?”

  “Last month. There was another one before that. I’ve got it here somewhere.” She rummaged through her drawer and withdrew the first note she had received.

  “ ‘Get lost with your Astrology!’ ” Divekar read aloud. “I don’t like the arrogant tone in these notes.”

  “I know what you mean.” Sonia nodded.

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m not sure whether I should take them seriously. It just could be someone trying to infuriate me.”

  “Or it could be someone with more serious intentions,” Inspector Divekar warned. “Look at it this way, you’re getting popular and successful—two surefire signs of making more enemies.”

  “This person seems to be more like a critic than a lunatic or an enemy. And criticism for me is like the sea. And I am the ship in the sea of criticism. You not only need the sea to keep a ship afloat, but you also need high tide to move it forward. So the more criticism, the more buoyant and progressive my ship is. My philosophy is, never let the sea or the criticism enter the ship, or it will sink!”

  “Oh yes, it’s good to philosophise occasionally. But not when the criticism could take harmful or life-threatening forms!”

  “Do you really think this person could be dangerous?”

  “You never know. And that’s why I think it’s time for you to be armed.”

  “Armed!” Sonia sounded genuinely surprised. “Uncle, I’m a peace-loving, God-fearing, animal-loving human being!”

  “Who also happens to be a detective! So if you want to protect your peace-loving soul, you’d better start acting now!”

  “Wow!” Jatin exclaimed. He had overheard the last bit of the conversation and his eyes were gleaming. “Do you mean a gun?”

  “Pistol. I’ll get you a licence and teach you how to use it in an emergency,” Inspector Divekar told Sonia forcefully.

  “Uncle, you’re beginning to scare me. How in heavens can I carry a pistol in my handbag?”

  “You’ll learn if you really love yourself!” The Inspector chuckled and rose. “I must get going. But I’ll contact you soon.”

  “I can’t believe it!” Jatin exclaimed as the door closed behind the Inspector’s back. His expression was incredulous. “You’re actually going to be a real detective!”

  “Jatin, I am a real detective. Pistol or no pistol!” Sonia retorted crossly. “Now get back to work.”

  “Er…actually, Boss, Naina is here. I was wondering if I could take a long lunch break?”

  “Sure! Go enjoy yourself.” Sonia smiled, hiding her relief. It would be good to have the office all to herself. Jatin could be quite overpowering at times!

  “Thank you, Boss, I’ll make it up to you!” Jatin flashed out of the room, leaving her to wonder what he meant by that!

  After a moment, Sonia leaned back in her chair and let her thoughts loose. Automatically they turned to that evening in Lonavala. When she had run into Varun. Involuntarily her heart raced and with a start she realised that she had enjoyed that brief and surprise encounter with The Owl. And, to her great dismay, she was looking forward to meeting with him again! No, she thought wildly. I can’t allow a few charming words to get under my skin! The Owl is a criminal! I cannot be attracted to a criminal, however handsome, she reprimanded herself severely. She hadn’t mentioned the rendezvous to anyone, not even Mohnish. Especially not Mohnish.

  Sonia stared out of the window at the sleepy afternoon. A light drizzle was beginning to fall. The traffic had eased and a few pedestrians were strolling under colourful umbrellas. The umbrellas reminded her of the rakhis—colourful sparkling designs of paper, sponge, and crafts to be adorned on the wrist—a symbol of protection. Raksha Bandhan—the festival when a sister tied a rakhi on her brother’s wrist, eliciting a promise of protection from him—was round the corner and glittering displays of rakhis festooned the shops. Sarang, Sonia thought. A wave of loneliness swamped her and she closed her eyes to shut it out.

  Devika popped her head in. “Hello! Busy?”

  Sonia hastily pasted a welcoming smile on her lips. “Not exactly. Come along in.”

  “Actually, I’m on my way to Mumbai. Thought I’d let you know, just so you can keep an eye open for our ‘ghost’!” Devika smiled, revealing her crooked teeth.

  “Very unlikely that he may return. But I’ll keep a lookout all the same.”

  The phone rang just then and Sonia lifted the receiver.

  “Stellar Investigations.”

  “Hello, I’d like to speak to Miss Sonia Samarth.” The voice was cultured and deep.

  “Speaking.” Sonia’s attention was immediately drawn to the caller’s formal tone. Devika waved to her, indicating that she was leaving, and exited.

  “This is Pankaj Naik. I want to consult you regarding an important matter.”

  “Why don’t you come over to my office?”

  “Well, I’m calling from Kelshi, which is along the coastline. About four hours from Pune. And I was wondering if you could come down, instead.”

  “If you could tell me what this is all about…”

  “It’s my antiques. Some of my antiques are missing. I found one missing a few months ago and I decided that probably I had misplaced it. But when another one vanished yesterday, I began to get worried. I have a feeling they were stolen. And believe me, they are priceless. If you could come down…”

  “Do you think someone in your house is responsible for it?”

  “I don’t know. Actually, we are a very small family. I remarried recently and Sheetal and I live with our daughter, Tina. The only other person who frequents our house is my secretary, Ganesh Pandit, and two local maids. But, Miss Samarth, I’d feel a lot better if you could come over and take a look at the house and the room and—”

  “All right, I will. I’ll come over this Saturday. We will drive down early morning.”

  “And you can stay for lunch,” he added courteously.

  “Oh, that won’t be necessary.”

  “I insist! Of course you must stay for lunch. See you on Saturday, then. Thanks a lot, and goodbye!” He hung up.

  Sonia replaced the receiver with a thoughtful shrug. Kelshi. Quite a long distance to go at the beckoning of a mere phone call. But Pankaj sounded sincere, and if she took up the case, she would have to examine the house from which the an
tiques were being stolen. Well, she certainly had good news for Jatin when he returned from his date!

  “You know what you’re doing, I hope,” Jatin remarked, his hands on the steering wheel of the van.

  “Of course I do!” Sonia replied patiently.

  “Agreeing to come all this way on the basis of a phone invitation! I never heard of anything more impulsive and unprofessional! No appointment, no prior meeting, no advance, no money consultation—I’m simply horrified!”

  “Jatin, I think that’s enough. By now you should trust me to make the right decision,” Sonia remarked, a little crossly. But at the back of her mind she had to admit that he was right. It was impulsive.

  “Trust you to be professional?” His exasperated tone said it all. “I hope you are aware that I cancelled my date with Naina! Simply because I couldn’t allow you to go romping alone round the State satisfying your investigative urges!”

  “Well, in case you’ve forgotten, I pay you for such services,” Sonia retorted sweetly. “Also, it will help you to remember that you’re my Assistant, not my Boss.”

  Jatin had the grace to blush. “I’m sorry, Boss, but you…”

  “Okay, I accept that you’re right sometimes. But think of this trip as a holiday. A trip to the sea. Or better still, look at it as Recce—location-hunting. Who knows, you may like Kelshi enough to come here on your honeymoon with Naina?”

  Jatin turned a deep red and laughed in appreciation. “If you put it that way…”

  Sonia relaxed against her seat, satisfied with the accomplished and desired effect. That would keep him quiet and dreamy for a while.

  The van rose and dipped, as per the mood of the uneven, wet, rough tar road. Jatin drove carefully, as Sonia studied the passing landscape. They had risen early and were now almost at their destination. The red mud, so typical of the Konkan—the west coast of Peninsular India—was very much evident as they passed mud houses plastered with dry Coconut branches and sloping red-tiled roofs. Wooden fences made of twigs, stone, and mud aligned walking paths. A variety of cacti covered the fences. The Flame of the Fire—tall trees with orange flowers—and the Saveri—the cotton-producing tree with the scarlet-petal leathery flowers—bordered the route. Blueberry bushes under which animals could take shelter spread like sprawling nets.

  The van turned into a narrow track which soon opened into a small square. The village of Kelshi boasted nothing more than basic general stores. Jatin slowed down to study the surroundings. A State Transport public bus was trying to manoeuvre itself in the small space and Jatin pulled up on the side of a general store with wooden boards garishly painted in blue. The dust-covered red-and-beige bus, filled with the locals, backtracked expertly and headed out of the village.

  “Remind me to buy cashewnuts and Kokam on our way back,” Sonia remarked, as she spotted a store selling the same items. “Excuse me!”

  Sonia called out in Marathi to a lady clad in a green nine-yard sari and flowers adorning sleek oiled hair in a bun. The lady stopped at once.

  “Could you tell me the way to the Naik bungalow?”

  Others immediately joined the woman to answer Sonia’s question. Everyone seemed to know the Naik bungalow.

  “Take the tar road straight down and turn off at the muddy track to the beach and walk the remaining distance.” A man in a white kurta pyjama pointed out the route. Sonia thanked the knot of curious people and Jatin immediately set the vehicle rolling. Sonia watched the houses surrounded and shaded by Coconut and Kokam trees, with their spacious angan—courtyards. Morning activities seemed to keep the locals busy. Smoke swirled through the chool on which huge containers boiled water for bathing. Wooden logs were piled high against the walls of the houses. It was the access to the houses which Sonia found fascinating. Belonging to the era of the Peshwas, a small water canal led to each house, and wooden bridges, like weigh-bridges, hung over the canals.

  “So far, it’s a lovely, rustic place for a honeymoon,” Jatin reflected, and Sonia hid a smile. Jatin would be pretty occupied gazing at things through honeymoon-dipped eyes.

  The van turned off at a wet muddy track and trundled right up to the beach. Jatin parked the vehicle beside a clump of Pine trees. A signboard on one tree read

  PROTECT SEA TURTLES. IT IS A CRIME TO KILL SEA TURTLES OR STEAL THEIR EGGS.

  PROSPERING SEA TURTLES MEAN A PROSPERING SEA!

  The message was issued by the Forest Department of Ratnagiri.

  Jatin expelled a low, appreciative whistle as his eyes travelled along the pristine beach. A boat filled with people was making its way slowly between the two shores. The boatman, in a red T-shirt and a knee-high white lungi, manoeuvred the boat with long poles.

  In the distance, a little away from the beach, within a clump of Coconut and Pine trees, stood a tall, magnificent bungalow.

  “That’s the place,” Sonia indicated, as they made their way past two high sand-dunes, wet with fresh rain.

  A wooden bridge was little more than a group of logs tied unevenly together to form a platform and another raised log for support. Jatin eyed the bridge suspiciously, shamelessly awaiting Sonia to attempt the first step.

  “Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe!” a voice rang out, and they both looked up to see a tall, slim woman in jeans and a black top. “Just hold the top of the bridge for support and don’t look down.”

  “Easier said than done,” Jatin muttered but followed his Boss, who nimbly stepped onto the bridge. He avoided looking down at the logs, which had gaping gaps in them, revealing the sea lapping six feet down.

  He heaved a sigh when he reached safe, stable land again.

  “Hello! I’m Sheetal Naik,” the woman greeted, smiling pleasantly. “Sonia Samarth?”

  “That’s right. And this is Jatin. And this must be Tina,” Sonia observed as the shy kid, in a multi-coloured knitted skirt and top, hung behind Sheetal. “Hello, Tina!”

  “Pankaj is waiting for you. Come along this way.”

  “This is a beautiful place.” Sonia spoke by way of conversation as they followed Sheetal towards the house.

  “Yes, isn’t it? I loved it the moment I set my eyes on it. The house is beautiful, too. Little did I know that I would one day be living here. Pankaj really cares for his land. I think that’s what’s best about him. What he loves, he loves with his whole heart and soul!” An unconscious pride had crept into her voice.

  “Have you been married long?”

  “No, actually just a week. It all happened very suddenly. I’d been working here for a few months, looking after little Tina. I think Pankaj may tell you all about his first wife’s tragic accident. He had advertised for someone to fill a post of Governess and since I was on the lookout for a job, I thought why not try this out. It’s quite another story that I fell in love with Tina. She’s an adorable child!”

  “And in love with the father of the child,” Sonia supplied softly.

  Sheetal blushed. “Yes, that came as a surprise. More so because everything happened so quickly. I guess love does strike like lightning.”

  They had arrived at the house. Sheetal led them through the garden, up the steps to the spacious porch, and through the wooden doors into a wide hall. Immediately, a tall man in a white shirt and black trousers appeared to meet them.

  “Welcome to Kelshi.” Pankaj Naik smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. He had the brown good looks of a man who spent most of his life outdoors—a figure in perfect form, packed with energy. “I’m so glad that you could make it. Should we go straight to my study?”

  “I’ll get us some hot tea.” Sheetal moved out of the hall and little Tina followed her.

  Pankaj led Sonia and Jatin into another room on the ground floor. The windows overlooked the beach and the sea, giving the room a wonderful feel.

  “Your house is beautiful,” Sonia commented, moving to a display of five old statues in a wood-and-glass showcase.

  “Thank you,” Pankaj replied.

  “Are
these the antiques you were talking about?”

  “Yes. I had about seven of these statues from the epic Ramayana. My grandfather bought them years ago and they are family heirlooms. About five months ago, I discovered that one of the statues was missing. Like I said on the phone, I thought then that I had merely misplaced it. Or that my wife…I mean, Anju, my first wife…I thought that she must’ve removed it and kept it someplace. I…haven’t been myself since…since she died, so I thought that’s probably why I didn’t notice it sooner. But when I found another one missing two days ago, I realised that something’s not right. I had to look into the matter.”

  Jatin whipped out a pad and began making notes. Sonia nodded in appreciation.

  “Is the cupboard always locked?”

  “Yes, though I did it more out of a force of habit. Hardly anyone ever enters this room. My guests always meet in the hall and the dining room. Very rarely do I allow anyone in here. Except my wife—I mean, Sheetal—and my Secretary, Ganesh.”

  Sheetal walked in with a tray. As she handed out cups of hot tea and Kaaju barfi—cashewnut sweet—she told them, “Ganesh Pandit has been working with Pankaj for more than a year now. I believe he’s quite trustworthy.”

  “Can I take a look at the statues?” Sonia asked.

  “Of course!” Pankaj readily rose and fished out a key from his pocket. He opened the cupboard door and moved aside to allow Sonia to make her inspection.

  The wooden statues of the prominent figures from the Ramayana, polished with age, stood in a straight row. Sonia lifted one. It left a dent of dust on the shelf. She studied the statue, noticing the fine carving, the tiny painted thrones on each head, and the delicate features of Ram, Sita, and a deer. The statue surely was unique and no doubt worth considerable money. She replaced it and swept a casual hand over the rest of the antiques. They were impressive pieces of sculpture.

  “They are teakwood, made out of whole wood. Notice especially the Ram and Sita couple with the deer. Isn’t it fantastic?”