by UD Yasha
I did not find a pulse on any of the dead bodies. But their bodies were still warm. The backup led by Senior Inspector Kapil Rathod reached at 8.59 pm. The crime scene was secured. Initial observations were recorded by Medical Examiner Dr. Sonia Joshi. Samples from the suspect's clothes and body were taken. The suspect was taken into custody after he was told of his rights. He opened his mouth only twice. First when he said he was innocent. And second, on being asked about the blood on his clothes and hands. He said it belonged to Daksh Sinha who lay dead in front of us.
Bhalerao’s version of the events matched what Manohar had told me. I moved to the next file on the pen drive. It was Dr. Sonia Joshi’s initial report. I imagined an intern typing it out based on Dr. Joshi’s findings.
Four bodies were found in Bungalow Number 42 in Sindh Society. They were all already dead when we reached the crime scene. I place the time of death to be within sixty minutes of finding the bodies. That is between seven forty-five and eight forty-five PM.
All victims were shot once. All have a single entry wound and no exit wound. Initial analysis suggests that all the victims were shot from about eight to ten feet away. Given the dimensions of the house, this suggests that the shooter was inside the house. Though the gunshots, the resulting damage and trauma that followed including blood loss would have been fatal, the cause of death will only be known beyond any doubt after an autopsy.
Samples from the clothes and hands of the suspect in custody have been taken. We are also checking for gunpowder residue on the suspect. A ballistics test is being performed to see if the gun the suspect was holding was the one used to kill the victims. The results should come within twelve hours. All four autopsies will be conducted within twenty-four hours.
There were several other folders on the pen drive. It did not have a transcript of Manohar's interrogation with the CID. The CID would have a recording of it. I decided to ask for it the next day. There was a folder with the photos of the crime scene. Another one that had a list of all the physical evidence the CID had picked up from the crime scene. I opened the first folder.
The first batch of photos was taken from the house's entrance. I could clearly see the four bodies. The bodies of Daksh Sinha's elderly parents lay together in the corridor. Daksh was the closest to the door while his sixteen-year-old son was near the kitchen. I grimaced and glanced away for a beat. I had seen violent crime scenes before but never had I seen so many dead bodies in one place at one time. I felt a quiver in my stomach before my mind began thinking about Rucha Sinha once again. I did not even want to imagine what could be happening to her if the person responsible for this had taken her.
Luckily, I did not go down that path because I heard a car outside. The CCTV monitor in the garage sprang to life and I saw a taxi pull over outside our house. Its door opened. A man stepped out. Even in the grainy video, I could recognize that gait as the man walked towards our house.
My heart skipped a beat when I realized who it was.
Chapter Twelve
I got up to step out of the garage, forgetting everything else at that moment. I had last seen Atharva Mehta twelve years back. I found myself grinning, knowing I was going to see him any moment now.
Just then, Atharva emerged from the main gate. He looked different but still the same in so many ways. He had matured, and like most guys, he had somehow managed to look better with age. At the same time, his face had retained that boyish charm that I remembered so well. His eyes were still innocent. They glinted in the night light as he put his bag on the ground and ran to me. He hugged me tightly. The memories of all the times we had spent together rushed through me.
‘Siya, I am so relieved on seeing you,’ Atharva said as his arm pulled me in closer for the embrace.
It was weird but I felt exactly the same. It seemed like a heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I realized only then that I had never felt so comfortable with anyone for a long time.
He pulled out of the hug and said, ‘I don’t know what to say, but thank you. I know this is hard for you considering what has happened. But I didn’t know where else to go.’
‘Of course, I would've helped you in any possible way. I'm glad to see you.'
Atharva nodded once, his eyes determined. They became serious again as the reality of the situation clawed its way back. ‘I went to identify the bodies directly from the airport,’ he said. ‘It’s them. Siya. It’s them.’
‘We’re going to find out who did it and we’re also going to get Rucha back,’ I said.
Just then, Shadow barked once. I glanced up at my bedroom’s window and saw him peeping out. We went inside the garage. I motioned Atharva to take one of the chairs.
As he sat down, memories of our time together came rushing back to me. We were best friends before we started going out, making our relationship very easy. That kind of familiarity and comfort with a person was rare. Even after all these years, despite not being much in contact, I felt assured in some strange manner that I could not understand, as I sat down with Atharva. The circumstances of our meeting were horrible but still, I could not help but feel better seeing him.
He had a light stubble now and his hair was cut shorter. He was not skinny anymore. He moved with an air of confidence and class, the kind that only stems from wearing your country's uniform.
‘Nice place,’ Atharva said, looking around.
‘It’s my makeshift office. I worked from here while investigating maa’s case, three months back and also after I graduated from law school.’
‘Karan keeps me abreast with her development,’ Atharva said.
‘It’s great to have her back. It almost feels unreal,’ I said and paused. ‘I’m going to try my best to find Rucha as well.’
‘I’m extremely worried about Rucha’s health.’
‘Why? What’s wrong?’
‘As you know, Malini had a complicated pregnancy with Rucha. She was a premature baby. So, she keeps getting some or the other infection on top of it all. She has had a respiratory problem since birth.’
‘Does she need special care for it?’
‘Yes, she needs to take two tablets every day. She has a disease that causes her lungs to inflame. She must also always have an inhaler with her. The situation is much better now. Someone needed to constantly watch her when she was young. That's why Malini quit her practice. Even Daksh left a consulting firm and started his own portfolio management business. That way he could be home whenever required.'
‘I thought she just had a weak immune system like a lot of premature babies.'
‘That’s true for her as well. But that’s the least of our worries.’
‘How does the respiratory problem affect her?'
‘A range of issues. Chest infections, breathing problems and a mild but constant cough and cold. The medicines help keep everything in check. Her condition can decline very rapidly. Just a month back, she had to be rushed to the hospital because she had difficulty in breathing.'
‘How often does this happen?’
‘I think she has been taken to the emergency room at least six times in the past two to three years.’
My heart sank. Rucha had not only lost her family but she was in serious danger of falling gravely ill and maybe even dying if she did not get good medical attention.
‘That Malini is a doctor has been really helpful,’ Atharva said.
I could only imagine.
‘I’ll be back in a minute,’ I said and went inside the house to get some food for Atharva. As he ate, I told him what I knew up until then and the next course of action. I could feel another wave of energy flow through me. This was different than the ones I had experienced before. I did not know what had caused it, but I was sure I wanted more of it.
Atharva said, ‘I couldn’t meet Malini just now. I was told that a couple of senior inspectors were speaking to her. I’m absolutely gutted, Siya. I can’t imagine how this happened. They were great people.’
‘I hav
e a feeling that they were killed for an extremely specific reason. Not the usual ones. Rucha is central to that reason. We’ll crack the case once we figure it out.’
Silence.
‘Some of our conversations are going to be hard, Atharva. But that’s the only way we can get to the bottom of what happened,’ I said, knowing how hard it was to keep calm when your loved ones were hurting.
‘I understand. I’ll do anything that will help us get Rucha back and get justice for the murders.’
‘I need to know if there were any problems in the family.’
‘I…I wouldn't know what was happening in their house day to day, to be honest,' Atharva said. ‘I have been posted in the far east or up north since I graduated from NDA. Holidays in this profession are hard to get. It's not even that. You don't even feel like taking holidays when you understand how important your work is. I visited my parents in whatever time off I got. They now stay in Panvel. Malini and the kids would try to come each time I was there.' Atharva paused. ‘Sorry, I'm blabbering.' He let out air from his mouth. His voice was now heavy. ‘So, to answer your question, I wouldn't be the best person to know if they were having problems. But I'm sure Malini would've told me if there was any major issue.'
‘When was the last time you met them?’
‘Seven months back, just after Diwali. We had a pact that my parents, Malini, Daksh, the kids and I would spend at least one day together whenever I come home around Diwali. Mostly it was after Diwali as it was easier to get leave from work then.'
‘Have you ever had a reason to doubt Daksh’s credibility or character?’
‘Never even once, Siya. He was a gentleman through and through. He worked hard and loved his family. There’s nothing more I can say. Of course, when you handle people’s investments that run into lakhs and crores of rupees, there are bound to be some who are not completely satisfied. I’m just assuming this though. Daksh managed my portfolio and I haven’t ever had a complaint. But I don’t think anyone would’ve wanted to harm him, let alone kill his family and kidnap his daughter for that.’
Even though it seemed unlikely on the face of it, one of the biggest motives for both murder and kidnapping was money. I made a mental note to check out Daksh’s clients and their accounts with him along with Malini’s patients.
I glanced at the clock. One forty in the morning. I had been home for half an hour, longer than I would have wanted.
‘Let’s go,’ Atharva said. ‘I can just roll up this chapati and take it with me.’
We walked in silence to the car. Even though tension and anticipation were running wild at that moment, I felt a sense of calmness knowing that Atharva was with me. Heat rose from my face and a knot tightened in my stomach. I brushed all thoughts away. Right then, my focus had to be on finding out why Shaunak Manohar was lying, and there was no one better than the man himself to tell me that.
Chapter Thirteen
By two o’clock, the media and news channels had packed their bags for the night and vacated their position from the entrance of the CID building. I dreaded facing the media because they were an unnecessary hindrance while solving a crime and often got in the way of an investigation. Not to forget, they had an undying love for defence lawyers like me.
The corridors of the CID building appeared vast and eerie at night, especially after my most recent memory of going there was of a not-so-pleasant experience of chasing a nymphomaniac serial killer to get back maa. At the same time, Atharva would have a slightly different experience of coming to this place. His body language had stiffened in the past few seconds. He was preparing to brace himself to take care of Malini. He would soon see her and the reservoir of grief would open its flood gates.
As we entered the elevator, I took his hand and said, ‘Hey, I’m here for you.’
Atharva nodded his head and pursed his lips.
The door opened on the second floor with a ding. We walked out together. I knew everyone inside would wonder what a family member of the victim was doing with the defence lawyer.
‘They keep suspects in police custody on the third floor,' I said. ‘I'll call you once I'm done. Text me in the meantime if you need anything else. I can come down in less than a minute.'
‘Alright.’
‘Take care,' I said and was then surprised as Atharva stretched an arm and pulled me in for a hug. A strong musky perfume flirted with my senses. I hated myself for being attracted to him in that moment. This was neither the right place nor the right situation.
‘Thanks again, Siya,’ he said and let me go.
Just then, Mahesh Bhalerao walked towards us.
‘Mr. Mehta, please come with me,’ he said.
Atharva turned to me and I blinked once to let him know it was okay. I watched him walk away until he disappeared into a lobby. I shot up the stairs to meet Manohar. I was searched by another security guard. He noted my details in his log book and let me into the room that held Manohar.
By law, all detaining rooms needed to have a three-foot square window. Manohar was staring out of one when I knocked on the door before entering. He turned around, surprised to see me again.
‘Sit down,’ I said, pulling a chair for myself.
He walked towards me but did not sit down. He eyed me and I could tell his mind was working overtime. What was he thinking? I had met innumerable suspects and killers over the years but never once had someone examined me like this. It was not a creepy glare, but more of an inspection. The kind of glare that law enforcement authorities have when they take in a suspect.
‘Kalindi knows you stepped out last night after putting her to bed,’ I said, laying it out there as fast as I would walk past any men’s restroom.
The same flicker in his eyes. It lasted just for a flash once again.
‘Do you understand the graveness of the situation?’
Manohar stayed silent. He dragged the chair back and sat down. He scratched his scar.
‘I don’t care about the murders. They have already happened. I’m worried about the girl.’
‘Why are you here?’
‘The girl needs special care. She has health issues.’
‘I told you. I have no idea what you’re talking about.’
‘When I meet clients, they go all out while telling me literally everything they can think of that can help me prove their innocence. Your actions and everything you've said so far prove the opposite. There's something off about this case. I can tell. Catching you was too easy. The murderer went to the extent of blacking out all the security cameras in the society. If you had killed them, you wouldn't have hung around once your job was done. There was a six-minute window between the murders and your arrest. None of this explains how, where and who took Rucha Sinha.'
‘That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I didn’t kill them. I didn’t take the girl either.’
‘You lied to your wife.’
Not even a single muscle twitched on Manohar’s face this time.
‘You told her you were going to meet your friends from college. But you ended up at the Sinha residence. You told me you were friends with Daksh. Let alone not being friends with him, your wife thinks you haven’t spoken to him since the birth of your daughter.’
Silence.
‘I saw a book of bedtime stories by your daughter's bed. It had the story of the boy who cried wolf. In normal life, if somebody lies or exaggerates blatantly to you, there comes a point when you don’t believe anything they say. In court, there is the legal doctrine for this. Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus. It means untruthful in one part, untruthful in all. So, it’s very hard to believe anything you say because I know you’ve uttered several lies.’
‘I thought defence lawyers had to prove their client’s innocence.’ A touch of disdain in his voice. He went on. ‘No matter what the truth was. Why are you so curious about the other stuff? Why don’t you do your job properly and get me out of here?’ he said and put his hands on the table and got up.
‘I’m on your side,’ I said.
‘Doesn’t seem like it. When I told you I hadn’t done it, you should have believed me.’
‘I'm trying to. Truth be told, it doesn't even matter if I believe you or not. I want to know what exactly happened so I can prove your innocence. I don't want to be surprised in court when new information comes up. My hands would be tied then.'
Manohar walked away and again looked out the window. He put his hands at the back of his head and massaged his neck. He came back to the table and sat on the chair.
‘There’s nothing else I can tell you. I didn’t do any of the things that I’m accused of,’ he said.
I said nothing. Silence waltzed into the room. I needed to know why he was refusing to say anything more. I had to completely break down all the barriers he had built around himself. I was close, but like with most things in life, the last step is always the hardest.
‘Sheila was gutted to find out that you had lied to her,’ I said.
Manohar gulped once. His face turned red. More silence. I let him wander in his own mind. Our own thoughts can be our worst enemies. They run wild, fester damage faster than any wildfire, dealing us one scenario after another, each exponentially worse than the other. A minute passed, and I could make out Manohar was feeling the weight pulling him down. I decided to press the issue.
‘Sheila believes you must have had a good reason to lie to her. That comforted her for sure, but it still broke her.’
‘I was protecting her.’
‘From what?’
‘I can’t say.’
‘The evidence is stacking up against you. Do you think withholding any relevant information is worth it? You know what will happen. You wouldn’t be able to put your kids to sleep for a long time. Maybe never again, ’
Silence.
‘It’s looking bad. I’ll still do my best to prove your innocence. Please give me something to work with.'
‘Why did you take my case?’
