“All right, I can help you guys in whatever way it is legally possible to investigate the case and let me know when you would like to make the enquiries.”
Rajiv waved Simi to allow him to speak. “Prakash, I’m Rajiv here. We’ll start from here to your place as early as possible so that we can go to the residence of Mr Varun, Sita’s husband. You please be at your workplace till we reach there.”
“All right, I’ll be waiting for your arrival and please don’t make any delays since I need to attend other activities.”
“Okay, and, bye for now,” Rajiv said.
“Bye, Prakash.” Simi ended the conversation.
Rajiv stepped out of his Candour Detective Agency with Simi and walked toward an underground parking area to reach his Toyota car. He primly sat in the driver’s seat while Simi sat beside him and Rajiv drove outside the parking premises to reach the Secunderabad Police Station.
Chapter 3
It was summer. Rajiv drove to Tarnaka Police Station amidst heavy traffic. Prakash was seated in his room, conversing with a constable.
Rajiv waved at him from outside. Prakash rose and came out.
“Let’s go to Varun’s residence.” Rajiv pocketed his hands.
It was a short drive of two miles in police department vehicle. Main gate of the residence was closed. A security guard sat beside the gate. The guard saw the police vehicle and rose swiftly. He saluted inspector Prakash.
Prakash stepped out of the vehicle and strode toward the guard. Rajiv and Simi followed him.
Prakash pocketed his left hand and held his stick in right. “Is Mr Varun at Home?” He stared at the watchman.
Guard looked at Prakash earnestly. “No – Sir. Varun sir is in office. The house is locked.”
Rajiv came forward. “Can we spend few minutes inside?”
The guard looked in bewilderment. “Why...Sir?”
“I have few questions for you,” Rajiv said.
The security guard opened the gate and escorted them to the front porch. The veranda was spacious enough. Two wooden couches had cushions on them. Flower pots with colourful rose plants adorned the porch border.
Prakash and Rajiv settled. Simi sat beside Rajiv. The guard stood with hands crossed.
Rajiv looked at the guard. “How long you’re working here?”
The guard pondered. “Um…Two years - Sir”
“Were you here on Eighth of April?”
“Eighth of April? Um… Yes – Sir.”
“Who visited the house on that day?”
“Um… No one sir.”
“What actually happened on that day?”
“Madam went out and I opened the gate her.”
“At what time?”
“Um… around four o’clock, sir.”
“Did she say anything to you?”
“No – Sir.”
Rajiv paused. Simi recorded in a diary.
“When did Varun came back?”
“Um… Around seven o’clock, sir.”
“Was seven his usual time?”
“He was one hour late, sir.”
Rajiv paused. “Anyone meets madam Sita when Varun is out for work?”
The guard paused. “…No-Sir.”
“Are you sure?” Prakash raised his voice.
“Um…Neighbouring women, Sir.” The guard trembled.
Rajiv leaned forward. “How frequent? - Daily? - Or weekly”
The guard unclasped his hands. “Ms Tanu -visited daily, Sir.”
Rajiv looked at him sharply. “Where is her residence?”
“Sir, that’s her residence.” He pointed to an adjoining house.
Rajiv rested his back. “Can you come with us to her home?”
Watchman bowed a little. “I’ll, Sir.”
Rajiv Looked at Simi. “We must contact and take evidence of Ms Tanu.”
Rajiv looked at the watchman. “You know already, your madam is missing. You have anything to tell us about her?”
The security guard paused. “Sir, Sita madam was kind in nature. I’m worried about her. I pray god to give her enough strength to stay fit. I hope she will come back safe.”
Rajiv looked into his eyes. “We’ll contact you if needed.”
Rajiv rose and looked at Prakash. “We’ll meet Mr Varun at his office - Let’s go.” They all walked out.
*
Rajiv reached Varun’s workplace premises. It housed several office buildings in it. Prakash enquired gateman about Varun’s office building. The gateman showed an orange coloured one.
Inside the main hall, Rajiv glanced at a sign-board. It listed the employee names and associated suite.
“Varun is in fifth floor.” Rajiv paced toward elevator.
Varun was busy on phone. A table was kept in front of him with chairs arranged in front.
Varun looked at inspector Prakash. He ended his phone call.
Prakash took a seat with Rajiv and Simi. “Hi, I’m inspector Prakash from Tarnaka - and he is Mr Rajiv from Candour Detective Agency - and Ms Simi - his secretary.”
Varun rose and shook hands. He was a medium fair, average built person and wore a green suit with a tie. Varun had an unusually large moustache on his serious looking face and his large head was bald at the centre.
Rajiv leaned forward. “Mr Varun, when did you last see your wife?”
“Um… on 8th April - Morning.”
“At what time?”
“Um… Ten o’clock”
“On Eighth of April, did you ever contact her?”
“Um… No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes…I’m.”
Rajiv paused. “What time you came back in the evening?”
“Um… around six o’clock.”
“You found your wife not at home.”
“Yes… and I rang her phone.”
“Did she not answer?”
“She had left it at home.”
“Oh! – What did you do then?”
“Um… I called her sister and parents.”
“She was not with them?”
“Yes.”
“Then what steps you took?”
“I waited till 9 o’clock. I informed police.”
Rajiv paused. “Was there a discord between you both?”
“Discord - you mean?”
Rajiv looked into his eyes. “Over having child?”
“Um… No, we never had any disagreement.”
“Were you under pressure about offspring?”
“Um… No.”
Rajiv leaned back. “Anything else you like to say?”
Varun paused. “I’m worried about my wife. It’s been more than a week.”
Inspector Prakash leaned forward. “Investigation is on - let’s hope for the best.”
Rajiv’s glance darted between Prakash and Simi. “We can leave now.” He shook hand and walked back.
Rajiv noticed a movement register kept near the front desk outside. He walked toward it and gazed at the receptionist. “Can I open it?”
“Um...You can.” She smiled at him.
Rajiv held the register and flipped its pages backwards till 8th April. He glanced at the record made by Varun. His outgoing time was four o’clock. Rajiv looked back at receptionist. “What’s a usual closing hour?”
“Sir, it’s five o’clock.”
Rajiv looked at Simi. She recorded in her diary.
*
Simi sat in the back of the police vehicle. She pondered for a moment. Simi was curious to know what Rajiv has inferred after the evidences.
The driver stopped the vehicle in front of the traffic signal. Smoke emanated from large number of vehicles polluted the air creating suffocation.
Simi leaned forward in her seat enabling Rajiv to listen to her voice. “Rajiv, do you think Varun was honest in his answers to your queries?”
Rajiv looked back to her. “Well - Varun showed frustration when he answered. We need
verify his statements before making final conclusion.”
The traffic signal turned green. Simi leaned back. “What about movement register?”
“It’s a good clue for us. It may throw a light in our investigation.”
Simi and Rajiv reached the Tarnaka. Prakash shook his hand with Rajiv. “Thank you for aiding us.”
Rajiv smiled. “Any time – I need Varun’s private information.”
Prakash looked into his eyes. “…What kind?”
“Varun’s phone call and bank transactions records on Eighth of April.”
Prakash paused. “Okay – Please give me a day’s time.”
“All-right.” Rajiv walked outside with Simi to reach Koti Street.
Chapter 4
Rajiv reached to the office early as the case intrigued him. He pondered over Sita’s neighbour Ms Tanu’s involvement in the case. Why would she meet Sita every day? Rajiv decided to take her evidence today.
Simi entered inside his room with a smile on her face. She wore a pale yellow sari with a contrasting dark blouse. She sat primly in front of Rajiv. “Good morning. I guess you’re early to the office today.”
Rajiv smiled at her. “Yes – I was going through the diary.”
Simi leaned forward. “Are we taking evidence today?”
“Yes – We are.”
“…Whose evidence?”
“Ms Tanu – Sita’s neighbour.”
Meanwhile, Simi’s phone buzzed. She tapped it to answer. “Good morning – Prakash.” She turned on the speakers.
“…Good morning.”
Rajiv leaned forward. “Prakash - Any latest news for us?”
“Yes, Hyderabad Police have found a decomposed dead body of a woman.”
“Oh! I See. Where was it?”
“Near a valley across Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka state border.”
“Is the woman identified?”
“Not yet – Details are awaited by evening.”
“All right, do keep us updated.”
“Yes – I do.” Prakash ended the call.
Simi looked at Rajiv with eyes wide open. “It’s an interesting turn.”
Rajiv curled his eyebrows. “Yes – it is. Let’s go to Ms Tanu’s residence.”
“All right.” Simi rose and walked outside.
Rajiv drove his car to go to Varun’s house again.
*
The security guard at Varun’s house sat beside the gate with a cigarette in hand. He threw it and rose when Rajiv approached him with Simi. “Let’s go and meet Ms Tanu.”
“Sir, that’s her house.” The guard trembled and pointed to the neighbouring house.
Rajiv turned back and looked at an old building. “Can you accompany us to see her?.”
Rajiv sensed a bit of hesitation in him. “You can leave after introducing us to her, and no need to worry about anything.”
The security guard paused. He finally walked with Rajiv toward the old building.
Rajiv pulled open the main gate and entered inside. An Alsatian dog tied to the pole started barking in fury. He stepped on the porch and rang the doorbell.
Moments later, a fair woman in her late twenties wearing a white mixed grey sari pulled open the door. She was simple in her clothing, did not wear any ornaments. Rajiv smiled at her. The women looked at him with surprise.
Rajiv cleared his throat. “I’m Rajiv Ray from Candour Detective Agency. She is my secretary, Simi. We are investigating the case of your neighbour Sita’s whereabouts.”
Tanu became silent. Her brows curled. “Please come inside.” She waved Rajiv and Simi to a couch in the main hall.
Rajiv gestured the security guard to go back. He entered the main hall along with Simi and settled on the coach. “Have you heard of Sita’s disappearance since 8th of April this month?” Rajiv stared at Tanu.
Tanu settled on an edge of the seat beside Rajiv and Simi. “Yes, I have heard of it. My mother-in-law mentioned it last week. The news has appeared in a local daily which I read it few days ago.”
Rajiv leaned forward and kept his hands on his knees. “The watchman mentioned about your closed friendship with Mrs Sita. Pray tell us in detail about your friendship with her.”
Tanu curled her brows. “Well, we became good friends and came closer when my husband died in an accident two years ago. Since I wished for some one’s company to pass the time during the day, I used to visit Sita’s house. We used to read the novels together. We sometimes watched cookery programmes on television. We tried to experiment the concoctions.”
“Sita was very cordial in nature. She was friendly toward me and never objected if I visited her home every day during the day time. The only worry she had in her life was of not having children out of her wedlock with Varun.
“She loved and cared her husband very much; they often dined outside and watched movies together on weekends. Sita even invited me to accompany her along with her husband whenever they went out.”
Rajiv straightened his back. “Did you ever accompany them during their outing?”
“No, I tried to leave them alone. I had developed friendship only with Sita,” Ms Tanu said.
“Any other activities you were involved in with your friend when you visited her every day while Varun went to his office?” Rajiv asked in a stern voice.
Tanu became silent for few seconds. “Um… No, I was not…” Drops of sweat appeared on Tanu’s forehead.
Rajiv leaned forward. “Please don’t hesitate to tell us. Were you involved in any other activities?”
Tanu curled her eyebrows. “No, Sir, we just passed our time by watching television.”
“Are you sure about it?” Rajiv asked sternly.
Tanu leaned forward. “Yes… I’m.”
Rajiv became silent for few minutes. “All right, Ms Tanu, thank you very much. We’ll come back to you if need arises.” He rose and looked at Simi.
Simi walked with Rajiv outside Tanu’s home toward the main gate. When Rajiv came out of the gate, he pondered for a moment. Tanu is trying to hide some details!
Simi gazed at Rajiv who was standing outside the gate. “Do you feel anything suspicious about her?”
Rajiv was silent for a moment. “Um… I think so, and let’s go back to the security guard and enquire few details.”
Rajiv walked toward the watchman with Simi. The watchman rose from his seat when he saw Rajiv approaching him. Rajiv took out a five hundred rupees bill from his pocket and waved at security guard.
The security guard smiled with his mouth wide open. “Why, Sir? I don’t understand…”
“Can we spend some time inside the porch; I have few questions for you,” Rajiv said.
The security guard immediately opened the gate and snatched the bill from Rajiv’s hand. “Now, please let me know sir, how can I help you?”
Rajiv gazed at him sharply. “You first promise me that you reveal the correct information which I ask you.”
“Yes, sir, please let me know what you need to know.”
“Why Tanu met Sita every day?” Rajiv asked in a stern voice.
Beads of sweat appeared on security guard’s forehead. “Um…Sir, I don’t know, sir. She used to visit…” The security guard trembled.
Rajiv pulled out another bill from his pocket and forced into his hands. “Now you tell me why she visited every day?”
“Sir, Tanu used to visit here to see love letters written by her fiancée.” The security guard said in a low voice.
“Can you be elaborate on the matter?” Rajiv said.
“Sir, Ms Tanu is in love with a guy from Secunderabad. They both meet often in the evening in the Secunderabad community park. Her fiancée writes love letters to her which she keeps with Ms Sita. She sometimes gives the letters to me to handover to Ms Sita. Ms Tanu kept the letters with Mrs Sita apprehensive of someone reading those letters at her home.”
Rajiv became curious about the matter. “Since how many days Tanu is
in love with her fiancée?”
“Sir, it’s going on since one year.” The security guard said.
“Did you ever try to open and read the letters?” Simi asked.
“Yes, Madam, the letters contained flattery and poems written to her.” The security guard trembled.
“All right, thank you for giving the information, you need not worry about your revelation of such information to us. We try to protect you.” Rajiv walked outside the main gate of Varun’s residence with Simi.
*
Simi sat beside Rajiv in his Toyota car. She was surprised at the way Rajiv got the information from the security guard. “Did you get any clue out of the evidence of Ms Tanu which made you to force the security guard to reveal the information?” She looked at Rajiv with her eyes wide open.
Rajiv glanced at Simi and looked ahead while he drove the car. “Yes, Ms Tanu was stumbling to answer my questions. I thought she is trying to conceal certain vital information. She had to pass through the security guard every day to meet Ms Sita at her home. I was sure the security guard was aware of the purpose of her visit. Since I needed the required information, I had to bribe him.”
Sita’s gaze shifted from Rajiv toward the traffic on the road. Meanwhile, her phone rang. Inspector Prakash’s caller ID lit the screen.
“Hi! – Prakash! - You have anything important to inform us?” Simi asked.
“Yes, I received the post mortem report a short while ago. The decomposed dead body is confirmed as Sita by her Varun and Gita,” inspector Prakash said.
“Oh! I see!” Simi said.
Rajiv overheard the conversation between the two. He pulled the car to a nearby open space and turned-off the ignition. He took over the phone from Simi. “Prakash, we try to meet you before the end of the day today. We’ll discuss the matter in detail. I think the case has taken an interesting turn. We must to meet without fail.”
“Um…Please ring me when you start from your place.” Prakash disconnected the call.
Simi took her phone back from Rajiv. “We’ll meet Prakash in next two hours. It’s lunch time now.”
Rajiv drove his car inside the underground parking area.
Chapter 5
Rajiv had a quick lunch with Simi and reached the Tarnaka Police Station at Secunderabad along with her. The police station was crowded with many constables and civilians entering and leaving the premises. Rajiv and Simi strode toward a room where inspector Prakash was busy in discussion with an employee. Prakash waved Rajesh and Simi to a chair in front of him.
Moments later, Rajiv settled on a chair and cleared his throat. “The Missing Women case has taken an interesting turn, inspector Prakash. I got few important clues based on my evidences so far. Is it possible to get Mr Varun’s credit card transaction details and phone calls made by him on eight of April? I think it’s vital since I suspect Mr Varun may have met his wife on that evening. Do you remember, Mr Varun had left the office on Eighth of April early as per the movement register record? His phone call details may help us in knowing the reason for his early departure.”