Accidental Inquisitors

by Ananth Gunasekaran

  ‘That’s allowed?’

  ‘Dumbhead, you have account in Mumbai main branch. If you get transferred to Kolkata, you can still visit Kolkata branch and get services na?’

  ‘Oh yes,’ said Jainika realising the possibility, ‘so, someone has done the renewal in Kanyakumari branch.’

  ‘Have you checked the CCTV footage in the Kanyakumari branch?’

  ‘Not yet. I got this file only yesterday evening baba,’ said Jainika who had really not thought about the CCTV footage in the Kanyakumari branch.

  ‘Let me know how this comes up,’ said Raj, excited, ‘It’s damn interesting.’

  ‘Sure, I’ll keep you posted. Any news about her?’

  ‘Oh, I totally forgot. She contacted me.’

  ‘Only I tell you everything. You don't even consider me your friend na.’

  ‘No no. Listen. She’s working in a school somewhere in the outskirts of Chennai. High security, watched all the time. Some school students helped her to contact me.’

  ‘School kids are smart these days,’ said Jainika and then asked excitedly, ‘When are you meeting her?’

  ‘I don't know. I am waiting for a chance. I’ll let you know soon.’

  ‘She is clear right? Not confused like my ex.’ Our situations are reversed now.

  ‘She is very clear,’ said Raj confidently and immediately felt he had lied.

  ‘Raj sir,’ the guard called from behind, ‘customer has come.

  ‘Jainika, I have to go. We’ll talk soon.’

  ***

  ‘What are you doing?' Priyanka asked when Raj walked out of the cabin after a sobbing customer.

  ‘What am I doing?’ asked Raj nonchalantly.

  ‘Did you pay this customer too?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And how will you get the money back?’

  ‘I won’t get the money back.’

  ‘Don't you think what you are doing is stupid?’

  ‘Stupid?’ Raj retorted.

  Priyanka was taken aback. She had not seen him angry before.

  ‘These fucking bankers that we work with have charged him twice. His cheque bounced because of us. What wrong did the customer do? Why should he come here and beg us to return his money? And you will return it after two weeks.’

  ‘Raj, I understand, but this is not a solution. You can’t keep paying for the mistakes of the bankers.’

  ‘I am not paying everyone. I pay them when my conscience pricks.’

  ‘Okay. Can we have lunch together?’

  ‘You don't have to ask like that. Let’s get out,’ said Raj and gently touched Priyanka’s elbow guiding her towards the exit. The two walked ten minutes to reach a restaurant. Raj was careful not to mention anything about the developments with Geetha. Priyanka was hoping that he would. Neither of them mentioned the uneventful night.

  Raj told Priyanka about four other customers he had paid.

  ‘So, you have paid four so far?’ He nodded. Priyanka noticed that Raj suddenly stopped chewing and stared at his plate blankly. When she thought it was too long, she interrupted him.

  ‘What happened Raj?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  Priyanka sighed and decided to take the risk, ‘Is it Geetha?’ Raj shook his head and said, ‘It’s the customer.’

  ‘You paid him. How can it still bother you?’

  ‘He said his cheque bounced.’

  ‘You told me that.’

  ‘He said his cheque bounced because we took the money.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘But after we deducted money for the first time, the balance was only two thousand odd rupees.’

  ‘So what?’

  ‘He said he was paying for a piece of land. He said the seller abused him and called him a cheat.’

  Priyanka did not reply. ‘Say something,’ said Raj.

  ‘I don't know. The man could have given multiple cheques of different banks. Or he’s been paying little by little. Probably he gave the rest in cash.’

  ‘Does it not sound unusual?’

  ‘It does, but you’ve paid him. You want to call him back and check?’

  ‘If someone guides him, he could apply for a refund through the proper channel again and get the money back from the company.’

  ‘If you have that doubt, give me the account number. I will know if it comes for refund.’

  ‘It’s okay. Five hundred rupees is not a big deal.’

  While walking back from the restaurant, Priyanka held Raj’s hand and said, ‘I am your friend. I am here for you. Forgive me for that night. Let that incident not create any gap between us.’

  ‘I don’t feel any gap,’ said Raj, ‘honestly, even now I have the urge to kiss you but it would be so wrong’ Priyanka giggled.

  Chapter 10

  ‘Geetha is going to elope with Raj tomorrow,’ said Viki, sitting beside Bala, after returning to the classroom from the office block. He saw excitement filling Bala’s face.

  ‘Good! She should have done this long back.’ said Bala

  ‘Yes,’ agreed Viki, ‘she doesn't know where they are going yet. Raj has told her it’s better for her not to know.’

  ‘She already has a lot on her mind,’ said Bala, ‘he’d have everything planned out.’

  ‘Yeah, hope everything goes well.’

  ‘She’s taking the phone right?’ asked Bala.

  ‘Yes, her plan is to board the staff vehicle when it leaves school tomorrow evening. Since Vanita ma’am is on leave tomorrow, it’s her best chance.’

  ***

  ‘If you do exactly as I say, you will get your promotion,’ said Antony over the phone.

  The principal of St. Jack’s International School batted hit eyelids. ‘Please tell me Mr. Antony. What should I do for you?’

  ‘Pay me two lakh rupees from the school’s funds.’

  ‘I can arrange that sir. I can pay you myself. The school’s fund is not necessary.’

  ‘Sir,’ said Antony in a cruel voice, ‘do as I say.’

  ‘I am sorry for interrupting.’

  The principal listened as Antony elaborated his plan.

  ‘You are a genius Mr. Antony,’ said the principal, ‘once this happens that girl Geetha will never be able to see the light of the world.’

  ‘That’s when I will take her into my custody. She will be my slave.’

  ‘You really are a genius Mr. Antony.’

  ‘Now arrange for the money.’

  ***

  ‘What are you thinking about?’ Priyanka placed hot chappathi on Raj’s plate. She had invited him to supper and he happily agreed.

  ‘I think we’ Raj paused when the chappathi burnt his finger, ‘I think we should elope.’

  ‘What?’ asked Priyanka incredulously.

  ‘Geetha and I,’ said Raj. Priyanka grunted and said, ‘I know that. But you were against eloping.’

  ‘I was. The situation demands that I change my view on eloping’

  ‘Where would you go?’

  ‘I don't know. Somewhere north.’

  ‘Please be serious. You are in a job. You plan to just run away?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Raj and noticed that Priyanka was gasping in search of words and she finally managed to ask, ‘do you have the money?’

  ‘No’

  ‘Then?’

  ‘Money will come’

  ‘Raj, tell me clearly. I still can’t believe you’re saying all these. Where will you go? How will you manage?’

  ‘I don’t know either Priyanka. I may go to Bangalore first.’

  ‘Is she up for this?’ ask Priyanka.

  ‘The idea is hers,’ said Raj, ‘and I smell something burning.’

  ‘Are you saying I am jealous?’ asked Priyanka angrily.

  ‘I am saying the chappathi is burning.’

  ***

  ‘Let me know what I can do,’ said Priyanka, gathering herself. They were
outside the office premises that evening.

  ‘All you have to do is act like you don’t know anything.’

  ‘That’s impossible mister.’

  ‘At least try.’

  ‘What is your plan?’

  ‘Since you cannot act like you know nothing, I better keep you knowing nothing.’

  ‘Raj, I am serious,’ said Priyanka, her voice quivering.

  ‘Priyanka,’ Raj said, looking at her. She had her fingers to her eyes by now. Raj knew she was about to cry. He stood up and hugged her. She buried her face on his torso and began to weep. He stroked her hair. He wondered if things would have been different if he had met Priyanka first. He shook the thoughts away and looked at the crying girl. He found questions flooding his mind. Who is this girl? Why does she care? Why is she crying? What is she losing? He chided himself for his thoughts .He held her face in his palms and looked into her eyes. Those swollen red eyes conveyed the intensity within.

  ‘Priyanka’ he said, ‘I really want to tell you everything but it would be safe for you not to know what I'm going to do next. When I leave you, you will have enough people flocking around you, flooding you with questions about me. I don't want to cause you anymore trouble.’

  ‘You have thought about everything,’ cried Priyanka, ‘you have thought about everyone,’ and after a pause, added, ‘except me.’

  ‘Did you ever think how I would survive here without you?’ she asked. When Raj did not respond, she continued, ‘Did you ever think how I would be able to go one day without knowing what you are doing and where you are? Have you understood nothing about me?’ tears rolled won her cheek.

  Guilt filled Raj. He knew that continuing the conversation would make him feel more miserable.

  When she got no reply, Priyanka understood that her questions were futile. She wiped her tears with the end of her salwar sleeve and asked, ‘When are you leaving?

  ‘Now.’

  ***

  Priyanka spent the early hours of the night weeping. She reminded herself that he was not hers. But that did nothing to ease the pain in her heart. She did not want to go back to work. She did not want to leave the house. She did not want to be asked questions about Raj. She was almost certain that she would burst into tears if she has to answer a question about him.

  She even contemplated quitting the job but she knew that would only do more harm than good. She decided against quitting and mustering all courage, decided to stay back and face whatever comes after Raja left. She picked the office diary and wrote.

  I wish I had met you before her. I wish I were the one eloping with you today. I love you Raj.

  Day 1

  Raj stood outside the Canara bank ATM at the Chennai Central Railway station. Geetha had told him she would reach in two hours. He tried calling her back but the number was not reachable. His thoughts drifted to Priyanka. It pained him that he was keeping her in the dark about his plans. What he was about to do would change his life forever.

  He swiped through the pictures in his phone. Priyanka was in most of them. She would open the camera in his phone to click pictures of herself whenever she wanted to. He remembered the days they had spent together. The fateful night that changed how they felt about each other. The endless tears that poured down her face when she left office that evening.

  He missed her. He was going to put her through hardship by leaving the organisation uninformed. People would bombard her with embarrassing questions that she would not be able to answer. They wouldn't believe her when she says she doesn't know.

  Raj brought her contact on the screen. He decided to talk to her one last time. His plan was to dispose of the SIM card once Geetha arrived. Geetha’s SIM card and phone would be enough.

  The phone vibrated and broke his stream of thoughts. An unknown number.

  Geetha?

  ‘Hello?’ Raj brought the phone to his ear.

  ‘Raj, Jainika here,’ said the familiar voice, terrified.

  ‘Hey Jainika, personal number?’

  ‘Raj, Something terrible is happening.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘The case I told you about. Claim for a dead customer.’

  ‘Yes, what happened?’

  ‘Somebody has trapped you Raj.’

  ‘What?’ asked Raj incredulously.

  ‘I checked the bank statement of that customer. After his death there was a credit of one thousand rupees and that was immediately used for Personal Accident policy.’ Raj’s face contorted as he began to understand what was happening.

  ‘Do you understand Raj? The records show that you paid money into a dead man’s account. The dead man then took insurance and someone is making a claim now.’

  ‘Are you sure it’s not a mistake?’

  ‘I also thought it was some other Rajasekar seeing the name on the passbook. I asked the bank for details. They reverted along with your picture.’

  ‘I don’t know what’s happening,’

  ‘I told my manager we’ll do an internal investigation first, but he’s adamant that we should bring the police in.’

  ‘What should I do now?’ asked Raj, ‘This is unbelievable!’

  ‘Jainika,’ said Raj, ‘I have paid money like this to five others. Can you check if there are claims in those cases also?

  ‘Yes, I have access to the claim register. Give me those account numbers,’ said Jainika, ‘Quick!’

  ‘I’ll call you back. I have to use the internet,’ he said, then paused, ‘Can you log into my net banking account?’

  ‘Give me the ID and password.’

  Raj dictated the credentials and Jainika went silent for a couple of minutes. She came back on the line whispering, ‘What the hell!’

  ‘What?’‘Of the six that you have paid, five have made death claims’

  ‘Someone is playing me Jainika,’ said Raj, almost shivering, ‘I don't know what to do.’

  ‘Go to the Regional Head and tell him everything. Only he can help you. If the police get you based on company’s complaint, you wont get a chance to explain. I am telling you because I have seen how the police act on company’s complaint.’

  ‘I will go now,’ said Raj reminding himself that he is going to elope anyway. He thought about having the police chase him, then said, ‘Thanks for trusting me Jainika.’

  ‘I won’t let you down,’ said Jainika, ‘hurry up!’

  Raj tried calling Geetha. Switched off

  He thought of calling Amba, his friend, then decided against it. If the Regional Head sorts it out, there’ll be no problem. He looked at the time on his phone. Geetha would take time. He called the Regional Head.

  ‘Yes, Raj?’ The RH voice was not his usual. He sounded nervous.

  ‘Sir, there’s a problem.’

  ‘Where are you?' asked the RH. Raj was taken aback momentarily but answered anyway, ‘At Central Railway station sir.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘Sir, I paid some customers from my pocket when they came asking for refund of Personal Accident Insurance. We issued those policies without their permission. I was randomly checking the claim register and I found these account numbers there.’

  ‘You mean, you paid customers from your own pocket, they have taken policy with your refund and now claims have come in. Am I right?’

  ‘Yes, sir. They showed me fake passbook entries and tricked me into refunding them,’ said Raj.

  ‘Were the policies taken on dead people?’ asked the RH. Raj felt relief the moment he heard the question but immediately grew suspicious. How does he know?

  ‘Picking someone up at Central?’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  ‘Stay there. I am coming in twenty minutes’ Why is he coming? Raj had only hoped to inform the Regional Head of the happening before eloping.

  He called Jainika, ‘Send me pics of the documents in the claim file.’

  ‘E-mail?’

  ‘WhatsApp.�
�

  Twenty four images got downloaded into the gallery on Raj’s phone.

  He zoomed in and out of all the images. The last of the images was the voter’s ID. When he zoomed in, he was taken aback for a moment. Could it be a coincidence?

  Raj picked the call from Jainika.

  ‘In all theses cases, policies were taken through verbal authorisation from remote branches. Kullu-Himachal Pradesh, Asansol-West Bengal, Kunnamangalam-Kerala, Kanyakumari-Tamil Nadu and Pattukkottai-Tamil Nadu. So, no CCTV footage. Someone has planned it all meticulously.’

  ‘Jainika,’ said Raj, ‘I don’t have a good feeling about the Regional Head.’

  ‘You don’t trust him?’

  ‘I don't know whom to trust. What if someone inside the company is doing this? And it can be anybody.’

  ‘What are you going to do now?' asked Jainika.

  ‘I will call you back,’ Raj said and disconnected.

  He could feel eyes on him but could not spot them. Has Geetha betrayed? His thoughts went astray. Was her father up to something like before?

  Whose side was Geetha on?

  Raj opened his contacts and scrolled. Arijit Mitra. He placed the call.

  ‘Yes Boss. How are you?’ said the person, speaking slowly.

  ‘Mitro,’ said Raj, ‘I have a problem.’

  ‘Interesting.’

  ‘No, this is very serious. Someone in my company is trying to frame me for a fraud. I don't know what to do.’

  A second call made the phone vibrate. It was the regional head on call wait.

  ‘No problem,’ said Arijit coolly, ‘where are you now?’

  ‘I am at central Railway station,’ said Raj, ‘I don't know who is a friend and who is an enemy.’

  ‘Don't worry. Take the next train to Mysore. I will meet you there,’ the person said, then added, ‘don’t carry this phone.’

  ‘I won’t.’ Arijit had been his roommate during the MBA days. They had bonded well.

  Raj furiously typed a message to Amba.

  Geetha might reach central in thirty minutes. Take her to your place. Keep her safe. Wait for me.