“Could you track down his latest girlfriend?” Sonia asked.
“I could!” Jatin grinned. “Courtesy Kirit!”
“Kirit?” Sonia felt no surprise. Somehow Kirit seemed eager to tarnish Bishan’s image.
“Kirit was most forthcoming on the phone when I spoke to him. He even offered me Padma’s address and cell number. She runs a beauty parlour, and I dropped by to chat with her.”
“You entered a ladies beauty parlour?” Sonia’s eyes widened in amazement.
Jatin blushed. “A job is a job, Boss. Besides, I was curious. I wanted to see it from the inside.”
“It’s not very different from a gent’s parlour.”
“No, but the customers are different.”
“Oh-oh! Now I get it.” Sonia laughed, secretly glad to see Jatin behaving like his usual self. “So did you meet with Padma?”
Her Assistant nodded. “She’s a pleasant girl. And crazy about Bishan, who she thinks has a heart of gold but a foul temper. She was aware of the jealousy between him and Sumeet and was most vocal on how hurt Bishan was that Guruji preferred Sumeet. And she also claimed that she hadn’t seen Bishan in a couple of days, since Guruji had forbidden him to meet with her.”
“What about Kirit? Where does he fit into this rivalry?”
“I don’t think he was ever a serious contender in the race for the privileged position of wearing the mantle of Gwalior Gharana. However, Kirit also has a spotless reputation, though he lags miles behind Sumeet. As for Sumeet, he is the only son of rich parents from Mumbai. Almost everyone I met seems in awe of him. He’s quiet and dignified, doesn’t waste time chatting and socializing, and has only one goal: to devote his life to music and to his Guru. Everyone appreciated how well he had served Raujibua. All felt that he deserved the honour of carrying forward the name of the Gharana.”
“Hmm… Spotless reputation and respectable character, you mean.”
“Absolutely. Not a soul had a word to say against him”
“Jatin, let’s order some Pav Bhaji and then go to the Dharkar residence. Something is not right there.”
Jatin raised surprised eyebrows. “You mean Mrs Dharkar could be right? That Raujibua..?”
“I’m working on a hunch. But it’s going to take a lot of effort and creativity to prove that hunch right.”
“Boss, please, stop talking in riddles.”
“I will, as soon as we have visited the Dharkar residence again.”
“Right!”
“And please find Nidhi and ask her to return to the office. I haven’t seen her in hours!”
“Right, Boss!”
Kirit neatly folded his shirts and placed them into his suitcase, conscious of the sharp eyes of Sonia standing behind him and her quiet yet observant friend, Jatin.
“You’re a detective, aren’t you?” he asked casually. “Sonia Samarth - the astro-crime genius!”
Sonia idly moved from the doorway into the room. “Who told you?”
“Vandana,” he responded briefly. “What exactly are you doing here, Miss Samarth?”
“I’m here on Mrs Dharkar’s request,” Sonia replied honestly. “As a kind of a counsellor, someone who can apply balm to her shock and pain”
“And how do you plan to do that?” Kirit paused in his actions and turned to her, curiosity stamped on his face.
“By speaking to the inmates of the house. By satisfying her that each member of this family is stepping out into the world with a clean conscience.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’ll understand soon enough. Are you leaving?”
“Yes, Guruma said we could leave as per our original plan. If Guruji hadn’t passed away, we would have been gone by now anyway. But of course I shall be back for the tenth day and thirteenth day rituals. I’m only visiting a cousin in the city.”
Sonia threw a glance over the clutter on the table. The photo frame still stood with its single photo of Kirit, and she wondered again if a photo had to go in or had been removed. The question nestled at the back of her mind. A book on stalwarts in the field of classical music was lying beside it.
“Can I borrow this book? I believe Mrs Dharkar was looking for it, in order to lend it to me, but she couldn’t find it,” Sonia asked, picking up the fat book with well-worn pages.
“Go ahead. We’ve all been reading it and it’s a great book. It’s in Hindi, though…”
“That’s okay. I just want to improve my knowledge, that’s all. Kirit, are you aware that your Guruji left you a sizable amount of money in his will?”
“Guruji mentioned it”
“That money will really help you to begin a serious career in music, won’t it?”
“It’s a boon. I am very grateful to Guruji for his thoughtfulness.”
“From what I hear he was a very benevolent man and most considerate. I believe he even regularly funded animal welfare organisations which are usually totally neglected. Oh, by the way, do you like animals?”
“Animals?” Kirit paused in his packing. “Yes, I do”
“I love animals. I have a cat called Nidhi and she’s smart. A real sad thing happened on the way here today. A car hit a stray cat while he was crossing the street. You know how awful our traffic is! The poor cat thought he would quickly run across, but it was sheer bad timing. Poor thing was tossed off the road, and was badly hurt. I took him immediately to a vet. But he was suffering so much, I couldn’t bear it. What does one do in such a case?”
“Not much. Have faith in the Doctor and hope for the best,” the young musician replied with a shrug.
“The poor cat was in so much pain that I had half a mind to ask the Doctor to put him to sleep.”
Kirit looked shocked. “I hope you didn’t do any such thing. Just let nature take its own course. Everything in life is predestined. Every joy, every pang of pain, hurt, and suffering. It is best not to interfere with what God has planned.”
Sonia nodded. “I thought the same.”
“I’m not sure. Depends on how much the cat is suffering, I guess. After all, relieving him of his pain, any way you can, is important,” Sumeet replied. He was tuning his Tambora and his forehead was creased with frown lines.
“I thought so, too,” Sonia agreed. “The poor little thing. Bounding around joyfully one minute and flat across the street the next instant.”
She moved around the room idly, studying the articles on the table, rifling through some photocopied information on music. She extracted a page casually, ran an eye over it, and returned it to the pile.
“That’s life. Unpredictable,” Sumeet said. “Sometimes beautiful, often treacherous. But just once in a while, destiny slips into your hands and allows you to take charge. And that is the most satisfactory moment in your life.”
“Such moments are very rare, though,” Sonia remarked. “Sumeet, are you aware that Guruji has left you enough money in his will to get you started in life?”
“Of course. He shared every thought, every decision, with me. He consulted me before he took this decision.”
“And what did you say?”
“I said his blessings were enough for us. Luckily for me, I come from a well-settled family and will never lack for anything. My parents will be only too happy to let me do whatever I want to with the family inheritance. But I’m afraid the other two are not so fortunate. I thought that monetary aid would certainly prove useful to them and told Guruji so.”
Sonia nodded with an appreciative glint in her eyes. “You said the right thing.”
Jatin glanced at his boss in surprise. She was truly up to something.
“What did the Doctor say?” Bishan asked.
“That the cat did not have long to live,” Sonia answered. She had found the singer lying on his bed, staring vacantly at the ceiling. But he had risen immediately on her entrance and greeted her more civilly that the last time. Now he was listening to her intently.
“The poor cat. I would have done the same
. Taken him to a Doctor and then perhaps an animal welfare shelter, given them money to look after it as long as it lived. I really cannot bear to see animals suffer. Guruji and I had that one thing really in common. I remember we both nursed a bird with a broken wing. Our joy knew no bounds when it finally began to fly again!”
Tears rose in his eyes and he brushed them away hastily. “I’m sorry. I’m still not used to the idea of Guruji leaving us for good.”
Sonia nodded. “Bishan, did you know that Raujibua had made arrangements in his will for you?”
“You mean the money he’s supposed to have left us? Yes, I did. But that must’ve changed now. Specially after the massive argument we had, when he threatened to disown me”
“Nothing’s changed. Raujibua Dharkar died before he could change his will,” Sonia supplied, gently.
Bishan stared at her with a strange look in his black eyes.
Sonia stood in the mustard field of the Dharkars’ and watched Vandana stroll through the field. The girl was deep in thought and seemed unaware that Jatin and Sonia were close.
“What are you thinking, Boss?” Jatin asked.
“I’ve spoken to everyone except Vandana. I think it’s time I had a chat with her.”
“Vandana?” Jatin turned to the lone figure, amidst the yellow flowers and green field. “But…”
“I’ve been suspecting something since yesterday. I need to confirm it. Will you wait here, while I have a small chat with her?”
“All right, Boss. It’s beautiful here anyway.” Jatin happily settled on a flat stone, as his Boss strode through the field with purposeful steps, towards Mrs Dharkar’s daughter.
Sonia stared at the horoscopes, her eyes flicking and her mind nibbling on the myriad thoughts which seemed to be jostling for attention. She knew that the answer was close. And yet still out of grasp. She sat back against her chair, cradling a warm cup of chai. Nidhi curled in her lap. Sonia sipped the chai, her thoughts churning. Casually, she picked up the music book which she had borrowed from Kirit. There were different sections on different singers from different Gharanas. Sonia turned to the Gwalior section. Her Hindi was excellent and she had no problem understanding the language. Suddenly her hand paused on a page. It was dog-eared and as she began reading it, her heart began thudding. She placed the cup aside and read each word of the page carefully and thoroughly. Then, rising hastily, she muttered an apology to Nidhi, who protested loudly. She removed the CD she had taken from Mrs Dharkar from her handbag and inserted it into her player. Finally, she buzzed the intercom.
“Jatin?”
“Yes, Boss?”
“See that I’m not disturbed for at least half an hour.”
“Right, Boss!”
Sonia played the CD and relaxed in her chair as the raag began. The three voices were very good. The raag began slowly, as each of the students vocalized their talent. A slight reverb to their voices added a touch of reverence. Raag of inspiration, Mrs Dharkar had told her. Sonia closed her eyes. She allowed the three beautiful voices to unwind, caress, gain tempo, flourish, scale, and dip, thrilling her with the essence of the music. She felt her heart fill with the music and her body tingle with inspiration.
A while later, she walked out into the outer office. Her face was flushed.
“Boss?” Jatin asked with immediate concern. “Are you all right?”
“Jatin, we are going over to the Dharkar residence at once!”
“I accept it!” Bishan burst out. “I did it! I killed our Guruji!”
Mrs Dharkar, Sonia, Jatin, Kirit, Vandana, and Sumeet stared at him. Bishan was sobbing uncontrollably, his sobs renting from his heart.
The dim lights in the sitting room, Raujibua’s favourite room, bestowed the space with a cozy glow. Evening had fallen on the Dharkar residence but the whole house looked like an illuminated lantern at the foot of the Sinhagad hill. But inside, the atmosphere was tense. When Sonia and Jatin had arrived, Mrs Dharkar had brought them straight to the group gathered in Raujibua’s sitting room, where Bishan had insisted that everyone be present. He had something to tell them all.
“Please forgive me Guruji, because I know I can never forgive myself!” Bishan continued in between sobs.
“But Raujibua had a heart attack,” Sonia suggested, gently. “What is there to forgive?”
“Yes, a heart attack - because of me! I was unruly, I misbehaved, I did everything he told me not to do! I never did riyaz, I thought I was so talented. I dated and. slept with women, something he disapproved of. I went against everything he believed sacred. And I didn’t stop at that! I argued with him and fought with him on stupid issues and I hurt him so badly that he had a heart attack!”
His whole body trembled with guilt and grief, but no one moved to console him. Kirit stared at him, his face a mix of sympathy and anger, and Sumeet stared at the floor expressionlessly. Vandana was observing Kirit and Sumeet. Only Mrs Dharkar’s face expressed compassion. She glanced at Sonia questioningly.
“You’re right, Bishan. You did contribute to Raujibua’s early death,” Sonia said, finally. “He would’ve probably lived for a couple of years more, but your behaviour hastened his early demise.”
“I don’t want his money. I cannot touch it now. I killed my Guruji and I will never forgive myself for it!”
“You are justified in blaming yourself, but you are not the only one, are you?”
The others turned to Sonia in astonishment. Bishan raised a tearstained face. Sonia angled towards Kirit, facing him with a glint in her brown eyes.
“You contributed to Raujibua’s death, too, Kirit, didn’t you?”
Kirit flushed. “What… what do you mean?”
“I mean the roaring argument you had the day after Bishan had his discussion with Raujibua.”
The room was suddenly filled with curious anticipation, as all eyes were trained on Sonia and Kirit.
“Kirit, would you like to tell us why you had a showdown with your Guruji?” Sonia prompted.
Kirit maintained his silence. Sonia sighed.
“All right!” She faced the others, her eyes travelling from face to face, to finally rest on Vandana. “Ever since I arrived here and began questioning the inmates of this household, I was under the impression that the main cause behind this whole story was jealousy. Among Raujibua’s three disciples, or to put it more clearly, jealousy towards Sumeet. Both Bishan and Kirit were envious that Sumeet had been chosen by Raujibua as his chief disciple. But I was wrong. I realised soon enough that the underlying emotion in this whole issue was not jealousy, but love! Kirit’s love for Vandana!”
Mrs Dharkar gasped, flashing a glance at her daughter. Vandana averted her gaze, blushing deeply. Bishan and Sumeet looked amazed. Kirit refused to utter a single word.
“Kirit and Vandana have been seeing each other and meeting clandestinely for a couple of years now. But when Raujibua got the wind of it, he was furious! He regarded this as outrageous, as a betrayal worse than Bishan’s immoral behaviour, in fact. Almost a sin, since love between his disciple and his daughter was for him like incest. He not only forbade Kirit to ever meet Vandana again, but he threatened to cut Kirit off from his will. Kirit was horrified. This was something he hadn’t expected. He knew he couldn’t live without Vandana, he loved her too much. But he desperately needed the money Raujibua had promised him. He had to do something before his Guruji attempted to change the will. And he did it, most beautifully.”
Kirit stared at Sonia, stricken. But he still did not speak. Tears glistened in Vandana’s eyes as she edged towards the young man.
“The whole episode with Kirit and Bishan really drove Raujibua out of his mind, making him weak and defenceless. So Kirit took advantage of it. The three students had planned to record Raag Hameer in their voices and present it to their Guruji as a parting gift. Bishan was made to sing the Kadak Bijlee ki Taan within the raag, which Bishan did - totally unaware that he had fallen prey to a fascinating scheme and taken the first
major step towards killing Raujibua!”
“How’s that?” Bishan demanded, looking stunned.
Sonia held up the Hindi book on classical singers. “I don’t know how many of you have read this book. There’s a true story in this, a story which supplied Kirit with the seed of his plan. About a famous singer of Gwalior Gharana named Hassu Khan, a singer whose voice was known to be a miracle. His popularity rose because of his divine singing but it also angered the already established court singer, an older man named Mohamad Khan. As the competition between the two singers increased the envious Mohamad Khan decided to get rid of Hassu Khan, in the most clever fashion possible. One day, in a Sangeet Mehfil - a singing gathering - Mohamad Khan praised Hassu Khan and asked him to sing Raag Malhaar. Unaware that this request held a cunning reasoning on the part of the older singer, Hassu Khan began. This raag contained the Kadak Bijlee ki Taan, a taan required great effort on the part of the singer. Hassu Khan sang it. Mohamad Khan praised him highly and said “Shabbash Bete! Once more!” Encouraged, Hassu Khan sang the taan again and burst a vein. Soon after this incident, Hassu Khan died!”
Silence breathed in the room. Sonia’s gaze travelled from one face to the other.
“Kadak Bijlee ki Taan. A very poignant taan, one which requires every ounce of energy to sing and which can kill the person who is singing it and can startle and create an uneasiness amongst the listeners. Not only that. It can also kill a listener with a weak heart and a body that is frail and dying. Such is the impact of the powerful taan, which flashes like a lightning - bijlee - just like its name. And Kirit knew it. He was aware that if Raujibua, who had forbidden his disciples to sing this taan, heard it, he would be so shocked that anything could happen. Anything - that he could even die! And he was correct. When Raujibua, who was ailing and already emotionally rattled and upset by his disciples, heard the CD, the electric taan sung by Bishan stunned him with its forceful effect and brought on his heart attack. A very natural death, but also a cunning murder. No knife, no poison, no stains, no telltale proofs. Clean and bloodless. Right, Kirit?”
Stellar Signs Page 26
