It was raining with men
and women coming out of offices and were seen seeking cover under the porticos of
office buildings or shops.
“How about a hot coffee
at the adjacent coffee shop?" asked Vittal to his good friend and colleague
Shoba.
As they were seated in a
corner with coffee cups in hands, Vittal looking at her intently said, “Are the
ear studs new? The penguin shaped one with red stone fixed on it for the eye looks
exquisite on your face.”
“Yes, I fell for it when
I saw it. It is a new and unique design. I bought them yesterday at the mall,” replied Shoba.
She readily agreed to Vittal’s wish and posed for a selfie with him that displayed the stud prominently.
” Shoba, I have been observing
you for the past two weeks and notice a look of worry in your face. Are you
keeping well with no health issues? I have not seen the usual smile for a long
time. Tell me if there is any problem that I can help resolve.”
She kept
quiet for long time. When she did not answer, Vittal said, “Never mind, drink
the coffee before it gets cold. The rain has subsided. We will make a move.”
“I am sorry
Vittal. You are someone more than a friend and someone whom I could trust and
in whom I could confide. Let me tell you in strict confidence what is bothering
me. I have been dating secretly someone in our office for a year. You know him
well as I have seen you both together often.”
“Did you
say secretly dating? why should it be that way? A guy in our office known to me?
How come I did not get a scent of it?” asked Vittal in a baffled tone.
“It is
Vikram Arora in marketing. You must be knowing him well.”
“Who will
not know that dapper guy with his charming ways and flashy style. He is close
to me as we were classmates in IIT. Surprising, he has not uttered one word
about you so far. I have heard friends telling he is the heart throb of many
female employees. You are lucky he has chosen you. Why this veil of secrecy? If the friendship is open, it would keep others away from him. When are you both getting
married?”
“It was at
his insistence that I did not tell anyone and secretly meeting him in resorts
and hotels on weekends. You know I have no parents or any close relative here.”
“Such an
amorous development should reflect joyfully in your face. Why this melancholy
look then?” If you had confided in me earlier as a trusted friend, I would have advised
you not get too close to him till the wedding is decided publicly. I know him
well from his college days. Do not lower your guard. I would advise you,if you
really love him, to get married soonest.”
“Vittal, I
am actually in trouble due to my foolishness in falling for his sweet talk. I
explained to him the urgency of the marriage in the condition I am. His reaction is
callous and irresponsible. He tells me it is my problem for not being careful
and asks me to abort or get lost. He even has the cheek to tell he cannot marry
every woman with whom he had slept,” confided a sobbing Shoba.
“I feared
this response. What will you do now? Did you consult a doctor? Vittal asked her with concern
“I will not
buckle that easily. I have threatened him that I have proof of all his messages
in my mobile phone and that I will lodge a complaint in the office and if needed go
to police. He got jittery and asked me to wait for two months when his sister
would have been married and he would marry me immediately in a gala function.”
“If I were
you. I would still get rid of the problem immediately. He is not trust worthy. Do
what you think is best before it is too late for redemption, “ he consoled her.
“Do not
worry. I can afford to wait for two months,” she assured.
Vittal left
the next day on a long tour for nearly a month. He got immersed in work and did
not think much of Shoba. He was once or twice concerned about Shoba and her
relationship with that wily Vikram.
On the day
he returned to office, he was busy meeting senior bosses and in meetings. Only
as the evening drew close, he remembered Shoba, he requested his secretary to
get her on the intercom.
“Don’t you
know, Sir, she stopped coming to office two weeks after you left on tour. Our
HR department’s efforts to trace her at her apartment failed as she was missing
there also. She had left no message to people. The landlady had also complained
to police. Our legal office has also informed the police. So far they have
drawn a blank with no clue of her whereabouts. Her mobile is switched off. We
are all very much disturbed. She was pleasant and seemingly had no problem. She
had no romantic interest to our knowledge,” replied the secretary.
When Vittal
met Vikram the next day in the corridor, the latter betrayed no emotion. On the
other hand, he hugged Vittal and asked, “Where had you gone? I was told you had
gone one tour. I need your help this Sunday. I am shifting my house to another
locality. I want you to be at my place to keep an eye on the things at my present place as I will
be busy receiving things in the new house. The truck will carry the big packages
like furniture, fridge and washing machine. We will take in our cars the costly electronic and
delicate items finally.”
Though
Vittal agreed readily, an irksome thought crossed his mind about the
coincidence of disappearance of Shoba and Vikram’s shifting to another
apartment.
Next Sunday
the truck had carried all heavy things to the new location. Some personal
items, electronic items, some expensive glass items were stacked in Vikram’s
car and a few in Vittal’s. Both cars followed the truck and reached the new apartment. A few men were arranging
heavy things inside the at the proper places. Vittal called two men who were
standing idle to take the things from both cars carefully to the apartment which they did
When
everyone was inside the apartment, Vittal cross checked the boot of Vikram’s
vehicle to see nothing has been left behind.It seemed. empty though it was dark inside. When he narrowed his eyes
and looked hard, he saw something shining in one corner at the rear. Curiously,
he pulled up the mat and saw to his shock, one penguin stud with red stone.
There was a reddish brown smear on one side of the stud. He took care not touch it but made
sure it was one of the pair he had seen on Shoba. He closed the boot even as
Vikram came down with the labourers.
Vikram
thanked him profusely before Vittal took leave calmly without revealing even slightly the horror of what he saw and his strong suspicion. He stopped on his way at a public booth and rang the Police control number 100 and said “Please listen carefully. Look for
Honda City Car number DL XX XX XX**** at ..... apartments,Third avenue, …..bagh and check rear
end of the boot for a penguin shaped ear stud smeared possibly with blood and connect it to
the missing woman reported if any within the last fortnight. Do not waste a moment.
You may lose the vital clue. You will get a photo of the missing woman with the
stud very soon.”
“Hello what
is your name, where are you speaking from? Can you please hold on for a moment?”
asked an anxious voice from the other end only to hear a click of the phone
being disconnected.
Wonderfully written murder mystery! Not a trace of remorse in his eyes !!!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written.. hope anonymous calls are taken seriously.
ReplyDeleteA great mystery story woven really well.
ReplyDeleteCrime fiction writing, impressive.
ReplyDeleteVery nice story. A true friend vs playboy boyfriend.
ReplyDeleteYou brought out the caring nature vs the non remorseful, selfish nature very well.
:( Very sad.
ReplyDeleteI was waiting for more in this Hercule poirot kind of setting ..more twists and turns but somehow felt it ended rather too abruptly when the setting was all pitched for lot of high drama!
ReplyDeleteDid not expect it to end this way.. poor Shoba
ReplyDeleteVasudha
Hmmm....this might be happening somewhere even now! Good narration, never boring!
ReplyDeleteNice murder mystery entwined with different relationships between the characters.Very good narration with a suspenseful end! An interesting read.
ReplyDeleteThe complexities of relationships and the mysterious tracks through which they lead people.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened next?? Very curious to know
ReplyDeleteIntriguing whodunnit!
ReplyDeleteNice story. I was expecting your usual thrilling twist at the end.
ReplyDeleteA mysterious story well narrated.. The stopped telephonic conversation in the end adds more bafflement to the reader..
ReplyDeleteHmmm...Good narration. End to be imagined by the reader.
ReplyDeleteGood crime fiction. Though I would have wanted a happier end than Shobha being killed :(
ReplyDelete