Samuel, the inspector of police, looked
grimly at the antique sofa and the kitchen knife pulled out from under the seat.
It was a long kitchen knife coated with dry blood in brown colour. He checked
both sides minutely.
“How did you come to know that a knife
was inside the cushion? You said you bought it from auctioneers. When was that?
“the inspector asked without looking at anyone in particular.
“Let me explain. I am Mohan, Lalita’s brother,
living separately in Annanagar. I had come this morning on a casual visit. My
sister’s husband was away on tour My sister and her husband had bought the set ten
days back at an auctioneer. It was only this morning when we were having coffee,
my sister brought to my attention that some hard material at the left corner of
three-seater where she was seated was making it uncomfortable to sit, When I sat,
I also felt the same. We thought that some wooden piece might haven left behind
inadvertently under the seat cushion” replied Mohan.
Samuel turned the long sofa upside down
and observed the place from where the knife was pulled out. There was a slight
smudge brown in colour on the cushion cloth.
” Can one of you throw more light on its
discovery and who helped in taking it out? Do not miss any detail however
insignificant,” asked the inspector.
“Let me explain,” offered Lalita and
added, “I have been wanting to have a good sofa set to receive visitors. We had
an old one which we disposed of. We looked for an antique set that would suit
my taste. At the auctioneer’s shop, we were very much impressed with this
carved wooden sofa in walnut color. We found it very comfortable when we tried
sitting on the single-seater. I felt it would give a sense of grandeur to our
living room. Luckily it also matched with table on which our TV was kept. The
upholstery was almost new needing no change. We paid very much less than what a
new furniture of similar design but with lesser beauty would have costed.”
“Did you not try the comfort of the sofa
by sitting at different places when you bought?”
“We did sit on the two single seaters
and also on the middle of three seater and found nothing amiss then,” said
Lalita.
“Tell
me who opened the upholstery and pulled out the knife?” nudged the inspector.
“Mohan and me turned the sofa upside
down and could not find anything from outside except a smudge of rusty mark at the
corner. Luckily some carpenters were working in the adjacent vacant apartment
doing some wood work. I brought one of them to check. When the cover at the bottom
was opened slightly after turning it upside down again, he found the handle
part slightly protruding. He pulled it to see a long kitchen knife coated with
dry blood in brown colour. Shocked at the revelation, we kept the knife aside. I
pleaded with Mohan to stay back and help in resolving the matter,” explained
Lalita
The inspector took the knife cautiously
examining it on all sides. It was coated with dry blood on the blade right up
to the handle. He put the knife aside on a newspaper and kept it rolled.
“What did you do thereafter?”
“I rang up the auctioneering shop and
explained the stunning find inside the sofa and requested that the sofa set be
taken back as we felt it was an inauspicious purchase and mixed possibly with
crime. The manger however politely declined telling that they are not aware of
what is contained inside each item they buy for eventual selling on what is as
is basis. When we demurred and pleaded for his help, he suggested that we can
leave the set there again as a new deal with a new floor price for auctioning
after removing the offending part,” said Mohan.
” Hmm, what have you decided? What do
you want the police to do?” asked the inspector.
“We haven’t decided. My husband is also
away. Mohan however advised me since a blood soaked knife indicated a possible
criminal act, it is best to inform the police without loss of time. As a law
abiding citizen, I also wished to apprise the police and be on the clear. They
may be looking elsewhere for some such an evidence. That is why I rang you up.”
“Good, give me a written statement of
what you told me signed by both of you. Do you have the receipt for the amount
paid to the auctioneers? Can I meet the carpenter who assisted you? His submission
would corroborate your statement. He must be working today also. Take me to the
adjacent apartment and show him. You don’t have to talk, is it clear? “Samuel
told Lalita.
He came back after talking to the
carpenter and told Lalita that he would revert if there is any new development
and that she can also inform him in the meanwhile if she recollects anything of
relevance.
Surprisingly the same evening, Samuel
rang up to say that he was coming again and hoped Mohan was also there to
elicit some clarification.
As soon as he relaxed himself on a chair
wiping his perspiring face and neck with a kerchief, he wished for water in a
steel tumbler. He drank the water fully and turned the tumbler in his hand till
his eyes rested on an engraving LB.
He turned to Mohan and asked him to get
any vessel from kitchen and found a similar engraving there. “I think this
knife also belongs to you,” as he produced the cleaned knife that had the same engraving
at the neck to Lalita.
“Yes, it is ours. I have the habit of
engraving the initials on every vessel or metal thing I buy,” she added.
This makes the investigation narrower.
Except you and your husband, who all could have had access to this. Any maid
servant?” Samuel asked.
“I have an old maid for sweeping and
swiping and I rule her out completely. She is simple and guileless” said a
heavily perspiring Lalita.
“You look distraught and under stress.
Do you have anything else to confide? Think carefully,” said the inspector.
She kept quiet, looked at Mohan and then
lowered her eyes.
“Never mind. Since I left this place in
the morning, I made several discreet enquiries from different people. There were
some missing links that you had not provided. I learn that you are well to do,
you own this apartment and that you have two vehicles of your own. I expected
to have a truthful statement from you about your married life and children if
any. Please remember that I have a lot of information already,” he told Lalita
softly but in a formal manner.
When she looked at Mohan in a confused
manner, he persuaded her to answer straightforwardly and that truth is always
desirable.
Lalita took a deep breath and started
talking, “I have a few things to tell you that I have not told initially when
you came this morning. I am in deep anguish for the last few days and clueless
on certain matter. I feared if I revealed all Balu would be in trouble though I
was not sure how. I will tell you now the unvarnished facts,” said Lalita.
Hurriedly drinking water, she continued,
“I was married to a business person arranged by my parents. He seemed all right
initially till my first child was born. Unfortunately, the baby was under
developed and was unable to speak. He had fits of violent temper occasionally
when he felt he was threatened. I named him Raja as he was still a prince to me
and looked very charming with beautiful eyes and curly hairs. My husband took
an instant dislike for him and within three years left me alone with my son. As
I felt that my son’s future would not be pleasant or secure with the man, we
took a divorce. As my parents were very wealthy, finance was no problem. After
they died I moved to this apartment as the big house was lonely.
It was about three years back, Balu came
into my life. A good friend of mine introduced me to him after informing him about
my being a divorcee with a differently abled child and may be also about my
financial status. He assured her that he would take care of the child as his
own and that I was safe in his hands. Balu is very handsome and well-built
muscular guy. I was also drawn to him. My friend however cautioned me that she
did not know him much except that he was a gregarious and popular guy in the
parties she went. She advised me to study him over couple of years during the
dating period before committing myself to a marriage. Foolish as I was and wanting
a companion all the time, I threw caution to winds and soon registered our
marriage as he wished.”
“What made you think you were foolish?
He must be a qualified fellow, employed decently and be a loving dad to your
son as he had promised,” said Samuel.
“He called himself a business consultant
with a PG diploma from a prestigious institute. I have not seen him go for work
regularly or contribute to the household expenses or earning anything but it
seemed only living off me. He had expensive habits and a heavy drinker. But he
was such a good lover and kept me very happy that I overlooked these drawbacks.
He also seemed to be a loving dad carrying the boy on his shoulders and giving
him chocolates and toys. He took him around in the car for drive and to play
areas in the local park. I was happy that they took to each other till one day
the boy came running screaming in pain showing his thigh. He had been pinched
so hard that the skin had turned blue. When I confronted Balu, he smiled and
lifted the boy on his shoulders and started running like a horse to pacify him.
The child innocently laughed. He said later that when the boy turned unruly he
punished him but felt sorry for hurting him. I kept quiet but decided never to
leave the boy alone with him and employed a nanny to take care of him.”
When she was silent with her eyes
turning moist, the Inspector told her,” Please proceed. You are telling
cogently.”
She continued,” Three days ago, I had to
go to register a property near Kanchipuram that would take me the whole day. My
husband offered to stay at home to take care of the boy. Nevertheless, I asked
the nanny to make doubly sure the boy was not out of her sight. The boy demurred
with tears flowing from eyes. As the work was urgent, I steeled myself and
left. When I returned in the evening, I found to my horror Balu sleeping in the
bedroom with no trace of boy or the nanny.”
“My god, pray proceed,” prompted the
Inspector.
“When I rudely woke him up and asked
where my child Raja was, he blurted the boy is missing and evidently ran away
on his own. As the boy initially wished to sleep, he sent the nanny away and he
also lay by his side. Soon he also dozed to sleep like the boy. When he woke up,
the boy was missing in the bed and the door was ajar. The gate keeper also had
not seen the boy. Possibly nanny did not close the door behind her properly and
the boy found it easy to go outside. It seemed Balu was greatly worried and
immediately took the car to drive hither and thither in the vicinity in vain to
trace him. He was waiting restlessly for me to return to decide the next course
of action. He suspected it could be a case of kidnapping for ransom,” she explained.
“Why did he not ring you up when the
child was not found?” Samuel asked.
“Exactly, he said he did not want to frighten
me when at an important work and after the futile search, he was hoping to get
a ransom call from someone,” she said and added,” He also dissuaded me to lodge
a police complaint as culprits generally kill the victims when they suspect
police are after them and that we can wait for a demand call. So far no call
has been received. He also went two days back on a very urgent business to get
a big contract. We are expecting him anytime today or tomorrow.”
“No, he will not come nor a ransom call
will be received by you,” he said cryptically
Shocked, both Lalita and Mohan shouted
in chorus,” How are you so sure? What about Raja?”
“Sadly for you, Balu is in our custody
and confessed to everything after some evidence and usual police treatment. He
is not what he appeared to you. Chased by ruthless recovery agents, a crook by himself,
a much married man, he turned a criminal,” said the inspector softly aware of
the devastating shock it would cause on Lalita.”
He added, “Do not grieve. You are safer
and better off without him. I am very sorry for your young son,” he added.
She screamed, “What happened to him? Is
he safe?”
“Please listen patiently. Balu was
waiting for an opportune moment to get rid of the boy probably wanting you dote
blindly on him with all your wealth that he can lay his hands on. He sent the
nanny away after you left. The boy was angry at this and came running to attack
your hubby with the knife he found in kitchen. Balu in rage stuffed the boy’s
mouth with cloth and plunged the knife in his throat. He calmly bundled him in
a plastic bag and brought it down carefully unseen as most were asleep after lunch.
He left behind the knife as he wished to keep it clean in the kitchen and hid it
temporarily underneath the sofa as he was in hurry. One sweeper who was
cleaning the car parking area saw him putting a heavy bag inside the trunk.
When he came near in curiosity, Balu shouted him away to mind his own business.
I knew how much you are missing your son, how he dreaded his dad and your
inability to express your suspicions about your husband. We got information
about a highly decomposed dead body of a boy in plastic bag from a discarded
well near chengleput. Does your son have any unique distinguishing mark for
easy identification?” he asked.
“A sixth finger on his left thumb,” she
replied
“Oh, that clinches it.
I want you to come with me to confront Balu.
Do remember he deserves absolutely no compassion or clemency when he killed a young
defenseless disabled child.”
She steeled herself to see justice is
done to her dear Raja and agreed to go with the inspector along with Mohan.
