A Covidian Drama

It was close to midnight and Rajesh continued to speed on the lonely highway. There was not a single vehicle on the road and he was the only one and the experience was eerie and scary but none of that registered in his mind. His one thought was to get somewhere where he could stay for an extended time. The situation was surreal and unique as Covid had stuck the country and there were so many myths, fears, misinformation going around and all of them were accepted as truth. The government was imposing a lockdown bringing the country itself to a halt. The whole world was under lockdown in many places, the number of deaths was increasing exponentially and the fear that people felt were natural. Family shunned family and even the dead were handled with little dignity. Some volunteers disposed of bodies with their family members not even allowed to see them at close quarters. It was as if humanity was dead, and everybody was fighting to live.

But none of this registered in Rajesh as he thought of his life over the last few years. Sonia, his wife of some years had decided to fall in love with her college flame Tarun and given the kind of person Rajesh was, he had stepped aside so Sonia could live with who she loved and be happy. It did not matter that in his mind Rajesh was sure that Tarun was playing some deep game but there was no way he could prove it. He had not pursued any divorce and instead given up the house and everything he had for Sonia and moved to another city to start a new life alone. However, for the sake of family and society they kept up a pretence of being married. The ground under his feet had been pulled out and he was down when thanks to Covid he had been kicked when down. All this and more raced in his mind as he drove – illegally because of the Covid curfew in place.

He had felt a desperate urge to speak to someone and had called up Anu his former colleague and a divorcee who lived in a far-off town. He had been extremely supportive and helpful to her as she battled financial and other challenges and to that extent Anu was grateful to him. But given her own situation Anu at best listened but was busy in managing her own life. He told her all that had happened over the years and wept as he drove. Anu suggested that maybe Rajesh could drive down to stay with her given the lockdown in place and then had said that her child may find that awkward. Rajesh knew that Anu was being polite, and he had no intention to impose himself on her. He had to find a place to stay on his own. He disconnected and continued driving. The big car ate up the miles in the darkness.

Somewhere in the early hours of day, the car came into a big town and seeing a lodge the car parked and he went over and requested to be given a room. The lodge was closed but once a large amount of money had been paid in cash, the lodge keeper gave him a room and said that police were checking up on those who violated the curfew and so he better park the car in a side alley which was full of filth. He did so and went to bed. He slept for long and woke up around lunch time. After a quick bath and some snacks for lunch he went back to his room and sat pondering his next move. It creeped up on him very suddenly and one minute he was thinking what next and the next moment he was sick with high fever and a severe headache, nausea. He sensed that he may have caught the virus. The fever, infection spread very rapidly and by late evening he was panting like a dog. The lodge keeper coming to enquire about evening coffee saw him and was in a huge panic. If the police saw this guest and found that against the orders issued, he had given him a room and not informed the police, his lodge license could be cancelled. His panic overtook him as he feared for his life due to the Covid infection. His instincts of self-preservation won and using a big stick he literally, physically chased the guest out of his lodge. He closed the lodge and ran home praying that nobody would know.

The guest could barely walk, and he had accepted his fate as one more kick in his life which seemed to be full of such kicks. His fevered mind and tiredness did not help his thinking and all he remembered was opening the car and creeping into the rear seat. He just collapsed and went to sleep, exhausted. He slept on and on. The sun came up and with summer in full swing he slept on, and the car became a furnace as the day progressed. He did not stir and just lay there. The next night came in and passed bringing the sun, up again. The lodge keeper had not stepped out of his home for two days now afraid what he may have to face. The car with its occupant stayed where it was.

Due to the Covid lockdown business had suffered and Laxmi had found her life upside down. She made a living selling fresh flowers going from house to house and with the lockdown there had been no business and her family survived on the free rations the government gave.

But then life demanded other requirements for which she needed money. Late in the night she got a call from a trader in the market. A small truck load of flowers would arrive early morning and if she could come early, she could manage to get some and hopefully sell them. With the curfew Laxmi didn’t want to get caught by the cops, and so early the next day she walked to the market taking small alleys and roads where there would be no cops policing the area. This alley was filthy, but Laxmi had no choice and holding her nose she walked gingerly avoiding the garbage all around and to her surprise saw this big car parked in the alley blocking the place. Without thinking too much she slowly walked over the garbage to cross the car and as she passed, she peeped into the rear window. One minute Laxmi was being curious to see the inside of the big car and the next minute she was screaming at the top of her voice and literally ran down the alley into the main road.

A newly recruited police constable dumped into doing Covid duty due to the emergency was passing by and hearing her screams enquired and ran to investigate the big car. One look and he threw up. There was a man lying on the rear seat, obviously very dead, the body seemed to have been inside the car for a while and looked grotesque. The constable ran to the police station and luckily the station inspector was there but very busy, harassed having got a call from a minister just then and in a foul mood. Hearing that there was a dead body in a car, he told him to get it checked while being careful about Covid infection. Some municipal workers were called in, the car towed to a nearby graveyard, and they managed to get the body tested. It turned to be Covid positive. The doctor washed his hands off the case by saying there was no foul play. The constable had managed to collect the dead man’s belongings of purse, chain, etc and putting them all in a bag went to the inspector who told him to lock it up in a cupboard. Upon being informed that there was no foul play, but a Covid death he dismissed the issue saying – “Do the needful and get it cremated.” The rookie constable had the body cremated at the graveyard and upon being called away on yet another emergency he forgot all about the issue. Everybody forgot the case.

A month later a new inspector was posted to the station and with the Covid emergency having ebbed, life was limping back to normal, and he started taking stock of things. Seeing the big car which by then had been pilfered for its tyres etc he enquired what the case was all about. Nobody knew and the rookie constable was called. He gave his story, and the inspector was furious because nobody had bothered to identify the body, do any further investigation and had been handled like a dead dog found on the street. He had the license plate traced and checked that no complaint had been lodged anywhere about a missing car or a missing person. He found that strange. Deciding to look at the contents of the bag he found a mobile phone and after having charged it found the last call made which was to someone called Anu. He decided to call the number and a lady who picked up said.

   Rajesh, where were you all these days?

Good afternoon, Madam but this is Circle Inspector Pasha calling. Do you know the person to who this phone number belongs to?

Oh my god, what happened, is he OK?

Madam, before I answer can you please let me know who you are and how you know this person, Rajesh?

He is a friend and I have not heard from him since more than a month and his phone was switched off. I was getting worried. What has happened to him? Hope he is OK?

I am sorry to say this Madam, but this gentleman Rajesh seems to have died a month back due to Covid. Unfortunately, my department has failed to handle the situation well and it is only now that it is being investigated.

Oh my god, oh my god, does his family know?

Again, I am sorry Madam, we just started the investigations and seeing the phone I called the last number he had called. Do you know his family and contacts so we can tell them?

Anu, now sobbing, said – He was estranged from his family, and I don’t know them. He called me that night to say that he had to leave his home and was looking for a place to stay. After that he simply disappeared. 

OK Madam and if there are any further help, we will contact you.

Getting the contact details from the car registration number the police then contacted Sonia and informed her about her husband’s death. She was shocked and spoke to her new love, Tarun and she wondered as to how to tell her family. What could she say? The circumstances of Rajesh’s death were such that all the sordid story about her affair with Tarun would all come out. Tarun gave a simple solution. He said that she would inform her family that Rajesh much against all advise and requests had decided to travel and having contracted Covid had died in a different city suddenly. The body had not been released and cremated there itself. They blamed the government and systems and armed with a death certificate somehow managed to get her family not to ask questions. Sonia’s family who believed in traditions insisted that all death rites and rituals must be done, and Sonia agreed. She felt that she owed Rajesh at least that much.

The death of Rajesh was under strange circumstances, and nobody knew the exact time, how he was cremated and so whatever last rites had to be done needed guidance from some elderly priest who could guide them. Tarun was getting jittery at all this but could say little. Sonia being unable to do this running around, it was left to her sister Kavita to get the advice. She was asked to go meet an elderly priest who was known to be very knowledgeable on such issues. He studied the horoscope of Rajesh, then that of Sonia and was given details of his death and then asked that he needed time because what he could read seemed strange. He didn’t explain anything but asked for time. He consulted a couple of others who were highly knowledgeable and strangely they also said what he had surmised. Rajesh could not be dead and doing the death rites of a person yet alive would not be right. This disturbed the entire family very much and threw them into a huge turmoil. Tarun and Sonia were terrified but could not speak out. Everybody was upset at this news and while they all found it difficult to believe the priests feedback, they were confused on what to do because they were unable to get a closure. Even though they had an official death certificate they were in a quandary as to what to do and were confused. 

Anu was very upset because she had no information on how Rajesh had died, and the circumstances and she knew no one she could talk to. The police were not very helpful over the phone. A distraught Anu then decided to travel to the town where Rajesh had died and been cremated and managed to get all the sordid details of what all had happened. She was shocked at how much indignity Rajesh had suffered in death and was angry. She felt like screaming at Sonia and calling her names.

Sonia had in the meantime informed all friends and relatives of the death of Rajesh and the news spread within his friend’s circle, amongst them a former colleague. He in turn called up Anu and told her about his death. When she got the call, she was still very upset and angry and, on an impulse, asked if he could share Sonia’s number with her and he gave it to her.

For a couple of days Anu kept quiet debating whether she should call Sonia or not. She was itching to scream at her but felt that it may not be a good idea. The next day her phone reminded Anu that her birthday was coming up and something snapped in her. Every year Rajesh was the only friend who remembered her birthday and wished her. She was overcome with hurt, sorrow and anger and on an impulse messaged Sonia saying that she needed to talk to her when Sonia was free and can talk privately. Sonia was intrigued at this request for privacy and a part of her guilt made her think that maybe Rajesh was having a relationship with Anu. She suggested a call the next morning.

Anu called Sonia and after a minute of condolences and such courtesy she asked

    Do you know how Rajesh died and in what manner?

No, I did hear that he died of Covid, but nobody told me any details. Why? Is there something that I should know?

Yes. You must, so you can enjoy the moment, enjoy the way Rajesh died, rejoice at how you are now completely free.

What? Wh……at? What are you saying?

Don’t act innocent. You know that you drove him to his death. You sent him to his death that night. He died worse than a dog on the street. But that I will tell you a little later.

Sonia started sobbing and said – why are you saying that I sent him to his death. I never asked him to leave the house. He left on his own and I could not stop him. Please believe me.

Oh, so you are not even aware why he left the house? And that too so late in the night? During a lockdown?

Honestly no. Even I was surprised at his decision. He had come home for a few days as usual and with the lockdown and curfew he had to extend his stay. I told him to stay because it was not safe to go out. But then after a few minutes he suddenly decided to walk out, and I didn’t know what to do. He refused to even speak to me. Please believe me.

If you really don’t know, then let me tell you a lot of things which you will say you don’t know about. How do I know? Because Rajesh told me. He said that he was telling me because he just wanted to speak about it and didn’t know who to tell. I had not met him in years but every time I had any problems, I would talk to him, and he would listen, and I would feel better. So maybe he wanted someone to listen to him and called me. I will now tell you all that he told me. Remember that first time when you both broke up and you left the house in your boyfriends’ car?

Yyyyes – how did you know this?

I told you he told me everything. When you left that day, the idea was that Rajesh would stay on and make plans to move out. And when you were sitting in his car, your boyfriend told you he had forgotten his bag in the house and went back inside. Remember?

Yes.

Well, your boyfriend had deliberately left his bag behind. When he went back inside he told Rajesh that he wanted him to leave the house before you both returned. That’s why Rajesh that day walked out abruptly and left the city. Now you understand why he left.

Oh god, I can’t believe this.

Even though the plan was to keep coming home every weekend which is what you had told your family, Rajesh did not do so because your boyfriend told him that he better not come visiting often. Do you understand that now.?

Oh god, what else do you know?

Now coming to that fateful day when you drove him to his death, he got stuck at home due to the lockdown and curfew. He was very disturbed, but you told him to stay on for his own safety and he agreed. Remember?

Yes.

He went up to his room and you called your boyfriend to tell him the development. Apparently, your boyfriend didn’t like the idea and you told him that you cannot drive him out of the house in the night. You further asked him what else you could do given the situation. Your voice could be heard upstairs by Rajesh. He felt that you cared at least this much for him and that was enough to make him happy. Remember?

Yes.

Soon Rajesh got a call from your boyfriend. He told him that he better leave the house immediately and go find a hotel or whatever, but he didn’t want him to stay one more night. Rajesh then abruptly left the house without a word in the night. You listening to me?

Yes.

Now you know what happened that night. You were so obsessed with your boyfriend that you were blinded to Rajesh, your husband, someone who loved you desperately and was willing to do anything as long as you were happy. But what did you do? You behaved like a bitch. Now you want to know what happened after he left? I will tell you and you better listen.

Anu then told Sonia about what all she had heard from the police. How his body was found in the car rotting after 2 days. Nobody wanted to touch the body and finally the police had used a JCB to move his body and simply burnt it and disposed it off. “What is surprising is that you or your family did not bother to check up on him or why there was no word from him. You were least bothered, and you still think you didn’t send him to his death?” Anu by now was screaming at Sonia.

Sonia was dumbstruck and shocked. Not knowing what to say. She said Oh my god, I didn’t know all this. I can’t believe this.

    What do you mean you cannot believe? How could I know the intimate details of what happened if he had not told me, if the whole thing was not true. You trust        your boyfriend so blindly that you listen to him like a puppet, you have no idea how evil he is. Tell me this, has he filed for a divorce from his wife? Does he stay       overnight with you? Does he stay the weekend with you? Has he spoken badly or complained about his wife even once with you even though you were willing to      think that Rajesh was very imperfect compared to him? Tell me the truth.

After a long silence, Sonia said in a low voice - No.

No what? You refuse to tell me the truth?

I mean no to whatever you asked.

Rajesh judged him perfectly. He was a chap who had got whatever he wanted all his life. But somehow, he didn’t get you. So, when he got the chance, he decided to have you by creating doubts in your mind about Rajesh. He never spoke badly about Rajesh, but he listened to you and then for everything you said about Rajesh, he showed how he was better, more perfect. He made you start disliking Rajesh yourself, made you compare a Rajesh as very imperfect against the perfect boyfriend. You thought you were being loyal to Rajesh and told him everything, Rajesh told you that your boyfriend was wanting you and his intentions were not good. But you refused to listen and instead called him the most wonderful human being. That killed Rajesh from inside. He stopped telling you anything because he knew that would only create more fights and misunderstanding with you. He started moving away from you and soon the relationship broke down. He moved away because he loved you. Do you remember Rajesh telling you that if you ever wanted to marry someone else, he would help you and walk away?

Oh god, you seem to know our life so intimately.

STOP INSINUATING THINGS. I had no affair or relationship with Rajesh. He told me all this after he left the house. You can continue to be stupid or open your eyes and see the monster your boyfriend is. But either way I don’t care. It’s your funeral. All I know is that I and many of us who knew Rajesh have lost a loyal friend, a caring friend. You don’t deserve him. But when you sleep tonight, and every night, remember that you drove him to death that night. When you sleep with your boyfriend in the day remember that he made you drive Rajesh to his death, and you did that on your own. I have told whatever I wanted to say and may you rot in hell.

Her anger spent, tired after that long call, Anu just banged the phone down and sat down sobbing uncontrollably but somehow feeling better after that outburst.

Meanwhile Sonia stood still holding the phone in her hand, her mind in a whirl, confused and unable to think. She didn’t know who to talk to, because how can you talk such things with anyone. She had led a secret double life, a lie for many months now and how can she confront the truth now in front of her family. As she sat and the words of Anu kept ringing in her ears, she felt somehow that someone had forcibly removed the blinkers that she had been wearing all along. She started recollecting the various comments Rajesh had made about Tarun, and later the fights between them and as she remembered each incident, she was more and more convinced that Anu had been right, that Rajesh had been right and that Tarun had indeed played her like a harp and used her. She felt dirty and cheap all over. Sonia went and had a bath and tried to scrub herself hard so she could feel clean and liberated. But she knew that it was a mirage. The only way she could cleanse herself was to confront Tarun and end the relationship. She knew Tarun would be dropping by in the afternoon as usual. She steeled herself to talk to him and end this lie of a life she was leading. One thing Sonia was good at was reading a person’s face. She knew that even if Tarun lied to her, she would know the truth. Soon Tarun arrived.

   Hey how’s my darling feeling today?

Not good.

Still remembering Rajesh? I can understand but you need to move on.

You must be finally relieved that Rajesh is finally out of the way forever?

Come on you know that’s not true. Don’t talk like this please. But Sonia could read the look on his face, knew he was lying.

Why not when you could so easily drive Rajesh out of this house that night during the curfew and lockdown period.

Who the hell told you this? That’s a lie. Sonia knew again he was lying.

Tell me the truth, isn’t that what happened after I spoke to you?

First tell me who is telling you these things. They are lies.

Tarun, if it was a lie, you would react differently, not ask who told me. That shows that it is true.

What is wrong with you today? Who has been speaking to you?

Also, the first day when I broke off with Rajesh isn’t it a fact that you asked Rajesh to leave the house the same day when I was sitting in your car?

Who in the hell is talking to you? Telling you these lies? Tarun was shaking with both anger and uncertainty as he spoke, and Sonia could clearly see this.

Tarun, enough of the lies, let’s face the truth for once. You took advantage of my emotions and ensured that this marriage broke down.

Tarun, now visible angry – Sonia, I didn’t ask you to break your marriage, you did that, it was your decision. I kept telling you that it wasn’t right.

Sure, you did, but if you truly felt that it was not right, you would have walked away from me, not stayed, and subtly encouraged me to do what you wanted me to do and finally continued our affair.

Sonia, if Rajesh was possessive and loved you truly, he would have never allowed this to happen. Remember how you always complained that Rajesh didn’t even notice when others flirted with you. I didn’t want the same thing with me, so yes, I ensured that I was possessive and kept him away. I did that for you.

Don’t blame me and make me the villain for everything. At every stage you took advantage of what I shared thinking you were a friend, and you manipulated my mind to drift away from Rajesh.

Don’t blame me, Sonia. If you really loved Rajesh, you would never have allowed yourself to do whatever you did. Yes, I loved you and when I found that you were unhappy in your marriage, I did not encourage you to continue it. I gave you happiness.

I was never unhappy in my marriage. I had issues like everybody, but I trusted you so much that I didn’t realise what you were doing.

Sonia, the fact is that you didn’t love Rajesh, you loved me, and just because Rajesh died in a not so good manner, don’t blame yourself and in turn blame me. What has happened is over. Let’s look forward to our future now.

So, when are you divorcing your wife?

Huh? Look I can’t do that suddenly. I must plan and do it properly.

It’s been almost a year since I broke up with Rajesh, I haven’t heard you talking about any plans yet. How much longer do you need?

Sonia, remember your dream of running a farm and having a farmhouse. Rajesh could never make your dreams come true. I did. Where do you think all that money came from? My wife and her family are major owners in all my business. So, it’s not easy to take such decisions.

Oh, and you never thought it fit to tell me all these years that your wife’s family are the reason behind your wealth and business? You always made it look like your efforts. See one more lie. Divorcing your wife, sure, it’s not easy. But how do you think this situation will change in the next one year, 2 years, 3 years? How do you think then you will be able to divorce your wife?

I will think of something. Give me time.

Tarun, stop these lies. You never had any intention to divorce your wife. You wanted me that’s all. It was a conquest you had to win. I was a fool; I was going through some bad patch, and you took advantage and destroyed my life. Sure, I lit the fire and blame myself for it, but you knowingly fanned the flames to make it destroy everything.

Sonia, just because you didn’t love Rajesh, and you loved me, don’t blame yourself. I also didn’t demand that you divorce Rajesh even though he offered to. That shows I was being fair. I wanted us to be together without breaking up our marriages. So, stop this nonsense and let’s move on together.

How do you plan that? Even if what you say is right the situation has changed.

Nothing has changed. We were together before and we will still be together. Except there won’t be any complications at your end. That reduces our problems by 50%.

Really? So, what you are saying is that you will keep me as a mistress?

Sonia, I have no idea where this discussion is going. Even when Rajesh was alive the situation was same. Nothing has changed.

Sorry Tarun, a lot has changed. You have agreed that you manipulated the situation to make me break up with Rajesh, you agree that you never had any intention to divorce your wife and incidentally you never once told me that all the wealth you had was controlled by your wife’s family. So, you have built our relationship completely on lies and deceit.

So, what are you saying? Break up with me also? Give up the farm that you today manage? Give up all the fun you have with money that Rajesh could never afford?

How DARE you? Don’t keep taking the name of Rajesh in such a cheap way. He in reality was the most wonderful human being. He would never have behaved like you did. He truly loved me and gave up his happiness, his life for me.

Really? I thought you kept telling Rajesh that I was the most wonderful human being and that’s how you destroyed your marriage. Now you blame me and call him the most wonderful human being?

Sonia by now was both tired of the argument going on, was getting angry with herself, was realising that yet again Tarun was manipulating her, and she needed to be strong and do the right thing. 

Yes, I destroyed my marriage, I am to blame because I trusted you and you knowingly encouraged me. A true friend would never do that. That shows who you are and who Rajesh was. His death has made the scales fall from my eyes, made me see what you truly are. Rajesh had predicted everything about who you are but like a fool I didn’t believe him and instead defended you. Today I realise my mistake. Above all even if I destroyed my marriage, I would never ever have driven Rajesh to his death like you did. That is entirely your and only your decision. That was the most inhuman thing to do. That was murder. Rajesh sacrificed himself for my happiness and you? You killed him for your happiness.

Tarun was so angry at this that before he realised what he was doing, he had slapped Sonia hard. Even as he slapped her, he knew that was a mistake. But it was too late.

Sonia her eyes brimming with tears at the pain and shock of the slap, stood stoically and said – “This is MY house, this is the house that Rajesh told me never to leave because I should never trust you, this is the house where even if I did something wrong Rajesh would simply brush it away and tell me not to bother, this is the house where Rajesh would never get angry for more than 5 seconds, where nobody has dared to hit me. I don’t want you to be here even for one second more and dirty this holy place that belonged to Rajesh, that is filled with his true love, GET OUT NOW, GET OUT NOW. If you don’t, I don’t care what anybody may think, I will scream, shout, and kick you out. Get out before I do that. Never again allow even your shadow to touch me. GET OUUUUUUUUUUUUT.”

Tarun seeing the look on her face, simply walked out leaving Sonia to think of what she must do next. Sonia sat for a long time quietly weeping and remembering the good times she had with Rajesh, and she felt a heart wrenching pain that she would not even get closure by having the final death rites performed for Rajesh. She had no idea what to do and spent a sleepless night weeping and tossing and confused. Sometime early in the morning the next day, she suddenly had a thought. What if, what the priest had said was true? Could Rajesh be still alive? Is that even possible? Her family had decided to go ahead with the death ceremony since they found it bizarre to believe what the priest had said. After all, when the police had found the purse on the dead body, found the body in his car, found his phone, how could this be possibly true?

She decided to go to the temple early in the morning hoping to clear her mind. When she arrived at the temple, she was the only one as she prayed with silent unshed tears asking the lord questions in her mind and asking for directions. As she stood an elderly gentleman came by and she looked at him. His face looked so serene and calm. He smiled and she smiled back weakly.

You seem troubled child. What is wrong if I may ask?

Nothing. I have some unique troubles of my own which I cannot even discuss with anyone and so hoping the lord will guide me.

You don’t have to tell me your troubles my child. But remember that the lord acts in mysterious ways. He does miracles. So, if you believe in the lord, believe also he can do miracles for you. May the lord bless you child and guide you.

At that moment Sonia knew that she had found the answer to her problem and would try to do what she could before accepting the situation. She went up to the aged gent and asked.

Namaskaara. You are an elder and like a father to me. I have no parents and I am in a strange predicament which I cannot speak about. Your words gave me an answer to believe in and wait for a miracle. But my predicament is not something that can wait very long. So, can you guide me on how long I must wait for the miracle?

The old man smiled and said – that’s a strange question and situation to be in my child. I am not God to give an answer to that. But I can say this much. Sometimes not getting an answer from the lord is also an answer. So, whatever your problem, whatever is the time limit you have, or you decide to set yourself I suggest that you accept the answer you will get at the end of that period. As I said even not getting an answer is also an answer.

Thank you so much. You have helped me so much.

I am glad my child. God bless you. Hope you get an answer and not silence from the lord.

Sonia came home in a positive frame of mind, a new resolve to find a solution. She felt better after the events of the previous day, and it was as if a weight had fallen off. She regretted very much the way she had treated Rajesh and their marriage by being carried away with a fantasy and she vowed to herself that if by some miracle she got Rajesh back she would do everything to make it a happy marriage and never to let down Rajesh in any way or hurt him even in the slightest. A part of her brain told her that she was chasing another fantasy since it was impossible for Rajesh to be alive. But she refused to accept that. She told herself that she had chased a fantasy with Tarun and failed, she would now chase a fantasy for Rajesh and maybe fail. But not chasing the fantasy she felt was to hurt Rajesh even in his death. The question was what to do next and how?

Thinking hard and long she realised she needed an ally. But who to tell what she had done? She remembered a cousin brother who was close to her and had the habit of keeping any confidential information he was told to himself, not even tell his wife, and more importantly never allow that to judge the person. Sonia first called her sister’s family and requested that she be given one months’ time in which she would chase this fantastic prediction of an astrologer that Rajesh was alive. At the end of the month, she herself would make the arrangements for the death rites. Having got the time, she called Bharat her brother seeking a private meeting at home urgently. Bharat had also known Tarun officially and so Sonia felt that talking to him would be easier.

Once Bharat arrived Sonia had to fumble and mumble before she finally told her whole sordid story right from how minor silly issues in their marriage had made her frustrated, how she met Tarun and then what all had happened finally resulting in the breakup of the marriage with Rajesh. Sobbing and weeping she managed to then tell the gruesome death of Rajesh and the call from Anu which opened her eyes. Bharat listened patiently and finally said.

Tarun is a very cheap character. You know that my company had tried to work with him after you introduced him to me. I very soon realised that he was possessive about you, and it was impossible to talk to you because you defended and protected him so much. I could do nothing and so stopped dealing with him and I know that you were upset and blamed me for that also.

Oh god, was I that bad? What did he do to you?

You know you introduced me to him because he knew some politicians and could help my company. So, we started dealing with him and he finally suggested that we meet this politician who acts like a broker for others. Now this fellow is a thug and a known womaniser. If he sees a good-looking woman or girl, he will do anything to have her. The moment he suggested we meet this chap all of us were uncomfortable and that is when I tried to talk to you, but you were in no mood to listen. Anyway, we reluctantly agreed to go meet that fellow and that is when he decided to bring you along for the meeting. You got very excited thinking you were going to be involved in the project and I was aghast. You were in no mood to listen to anybody. When I finally told my colleagues that Tarun was bringing you along for the meeting, they were shocked, and I could see their mind racing with all kinds of thoughts about what kind of a woman you were. It was obvious that Tarun was going to use you as bait to get the work done with that fellow. I explained that you had no idea of any of this and didn’t know how to protect you. My colleagues immediately understood what kind of chap Tarun was and giving some reasons cancelled the meeting and stopped dealing with him. You got upset at that also, but I remained silent because protecting you was more important. At least I did not want to be the person to harm you.

Oh god, oh god, oh god, I have been such an evil stupid person. I never realised how terrible I have been to everybody. I drove Rajesh to his death and was angry with you also. It is as if some demon had possessed me. I am so sorry. I don’t even know how to make it up to you because if you had not protected me, God knows what would have happened to me.

Tarun brainwashed you and hypnotised you into doing whatever he wanted. These things happen in life. We hear stories but we are experiencing it this time. Whatever happened is the past. Look at it like this. God protected you. Everybody in the family, especially Rajesh loved you and prayed for you so much that you were saved. Now tell me what you want from me and let’s hope god will create a miracle.

I honestly don’t know what to do Bharat. If Rajesh is alive, how can we locate him? More importantly if Rajesh is alive, why is he not telling us or contacting us. Has something happened to him, and he is unable to do anything? Maybe he is in a coma or something?

Look, when the body was found with his mobile, purse etc how can he be in some coma somewhere? Are you sure you want to even try to chase this fantastic imagination? How to do that?

Yes, I want to chase this miracle. I don’t know what to do. That’s why I am asking you to help.

How can I help? I am not some detectives like in novels or movies.

I don’t know Bharat, do something. I am desperate.

As they sat silently, thinking, Bharat suddenly had an idea. He said;

I know a very senior police officer, Karthik, who works in the intel department. I can ask him and see if he has any suggestions. That’s the best I can do.

Do you have to tell him everything, about me I mean?

Don’t worry, he is such a good friend that I will demand that he help without asking too many questions. But remember this, if by chance there is a miracle then your story with Tarun will come out and you will be shamed by others. Are you prepared for that, or do you want to call this off?

NO. I am very clear I want to do this. If I can find Rajesh, I am willing to take any shame. If need be, I will take my own life, but I would have protected Rajesh and done at least some justice to atone for all the mistakes I have done.

OK, if that’s what you want. But I must say I am now happy at what you are doing. You deserve the miracle. 

Bharat called his friend right away who invited him to meet him that evening at his home. Bharat went to his home and told him the whole story. He protected his sister Sonia as much as he could, but he knew that his friend Karthik would have guessed the rest. Karthik said;

On the face of it there seems very little that one can do. You are chasing a crazy dream. But as a police officer I see that this case has been handled very badly. Nobody seems to have followed any procedures. This Covid has spooked everybody and created so much stress that people are making stupid mistakes, getting afraid, losing their mind with fear about something unknown. So, there can be a tiny tiny chance that something has happened that we don’t know about. But to investigate that based on what some astrologer said is crazy. Everybody will laugh at me. So, we can’t go with that story. We need a different reason.

Please guide me Karthik. My sister is very dear to me, and I know she has screwed up big time, but she now wants to make amends. So, tell me what to do.

OK here is a plan. You need to write a letter saying that the whole thing was handled badly, no procedures have been followed and a proper investigation must be done so that you at least get all information and facts correctly. Once you do that give me a copy and I will talk to the police commissioner and ask to handle the case. I have a colleague and this chap is, well unique. If anybody can try to solve crazy cases like this, it is he. We call him Sherlock and now we have forgotten his real name also. But one thing, I cannot afford to demand one month of his time. At best he can devote one week. But I am sure that within one week he can judge whether to spend time on this or not.

OK I understand and will send the letter tomorrow itself.

Bharat did as instructed and Karthik assigned Sherlock to look into the case. Sherlock left for the other town where the body was found and decided to understand the case firsthand.

Having reached, the first question that Sherlock asked was whether the person, supposedly Rajesh was sleeping in the car in the first place. If so, why would he park the car in a filthy side road instead of parking in a main road? He next asked if anybody had tried to match the face of the body with the identity found on the body. Did anyone check the traffic cameras for the car and at what time it arrived in town? Did you photograph the body before cremating it? Nobody had answers and the fear and terror created by Covid, the stress of the situation with calls from all over, from politicians etc the system had simply collapsed. It was a perfect storm where whatever could go wrong had gone wrong. Everybody had goofed up.

Sherlock asked to see the car and after so long with dust, grime settled on it, it was filthy, and he was not confident that he could locate any clues. But still, he didn’t want to leave anything to chance especially after so many goof ups all around. He could not find anything inside the car that helped him and examining the outside was a waste of time, but he was lucky. More out of habit than for any reason, he lifted the wiper of the car and found that it was stuck a bit hard and when he pulled it up, he found a thread like substance hanging from the wiper that was rather thick and long. He found that strange and immediately taking the thread he put it into a plastic bag and then prepared to scrape off the dusty area below the wipers on both sides. He found a lots more of a similar substance. Taking all of those he returned to the city lab and got it analysed. His suspicions proved correct; it was pieces of egg that was there. This was a crucial clue, and this meant that there was more to this story than what he was aware. He immediately spoke to Karthik and said that he would like to investigate the case more seriously.

He despatched two of his men to a quarry which was located on the highway where Rajesh had travelled with specific instructions on what to look for. Next, he took a good quality photograph of Rajesh and went back to the town. He showed the photograph to the rookie constable, the doctor and asked them if the dead body they found matched the face in the picture. They were doubtful but unsure. But one thing was sure, both could not swear that the faces matched. There was a lot of doubt. That was enough for Sherlock. He now felt that the body was not that of Rajesh.

He knew that the car had been found in a filthy side road and there was a lodge just next to it. He went to the lodge and showed the photograph and asked if they had ever seen the face. The owner had never seen the person. He was very confident and even his body language was relaxed. Sherlock returned and asked for a report from his men on their visit to the quarry. The answer pleased him. The next day he wore his uniform, took a few of his toughest colleagues also in uniform and drove into the quarry area. The quarry was the den of a known bunch of thugs who waylaid passing cars by throwing eggs at them and when the cars stopped blinded, they attacked and robbed the occupants. However so far, they had never killed or harmed anybody. They were just plain and simple robbers. The police knew about them but had never found enough evidence to lock them up for long.

Sherlock reached the place and found that 5 members of the gang were sitting playing cards. He strode in like in a movie and in a rage, kicked the table of cards away and brandishing his stick menacingly started screaming questions, demanding answers while his colleagues pulled up the gang members by their collar and held them. The 5 members were terrified and not knowing what was happening were trembling with fear saying – “We have not done anything sir.”

After a few minutes of his angry act, he huddled them up together and with a snarl went close to their faces and asked – “Where is that 6th fellow? He has murdered someone, and I want him now.” The robbers were now terrified and started stammering that they didn’t know where he was and that he couldn’t have committed any murder. Sherlock badgered them to tell him where he was and if they didn’t do so, he would arrest all of them for the murder because he knew they were always together. One chap broke down quickly and said they hadn’t seen the sixth chap in over a month. Sherlock was relentless and continued to scare the wits out of them and handcuffed two of them as he instructed his colleagues to film the arrest with a voice over saying that they were being arrested for the murder. That broke the whole lot of them, and the story came tumbling out.

More than a month earlier with the curfew and lockdown there were no travellers on the highway and the six of them were getting desperate for money. Then one night they spied this car coming and immediately did what they always did. They threw the eggs and as the car stooped a little ahead, they surrounded it to rob them. They found that except for the driver there was nobody else and he seemed to be in a foul mood. When they demanded that he hand over the cash and valuable he had the driver had flown into a rage saying that he had been screwed by enough people already, thrown out of his home and that he wasn’t going to get robbed also and started hitting and kicking them.

They were surprised since none of their victims had ever tried to fight. In the melee their 6th member had hit the driver on the head with a stick and the driver had fallen unconscious. They were now scared and in the dark, they discussed what to do. They blamed their partner for his action and asked him to find a solution. He volunteered that he would take the car and drive away and in the next state find a place to abandon the car and return. They took the cash, purse, mobile from the driver and keeping some cash, they gave the other items to their partner and while he drove away, they had run away. They had spent a whole night scared and worried and, in the morning, gone back to the spot to find the driver missing and assumed that he must have woken up and walked away. Their partner had been coughing and feeling sick the last few days and when he did not return, they were too scared to go to the police. They had since then been waiting to hear from him without any luck.

Sherlock knew now who the dead man was. Collecting a picture of the 6th gang member he returned to the lodge and this time again in uniform he stormed in and with a snarl asked the owner if he had seen the man in the picture. The owner said no but he was clearly lying. He was nervous and stammering even as he claimed that he had not seen the man. Sherlock knew he was lying and put even more pressure on him with all kinds of threats and finally told the lodge owner.

“If you tell me the truth I will simply walk away, and you will not be in any trouble. If you continue to lie to me, then I will investigate in detail and send you to jail. You decide what you want.”

The lodge owner collapsed and blurted the truth. This person had come and checked in and later when the owner had found that he was sick, he had kicked him out because he feared Covid. After that he didn’t know anything what happened till, he heard about a body being found in the car. Since then, he was living in a scared manner but after a week and no questions asked, he had relaxed. He said sorry for what happened and hoped that Sherlock would not arrest him. Sherlock angrily told him that while legally he would not do anything, he the owner had to live with his conscience the rest of his life that he had sent a man to his death instead of calling the police and hospital. Sherlock then left now knowing that Rajesh did not die. The astrologer after all seemed to be right. The big question was – Where was Rajesh? Why was he not showing up? Where had he disappeared to?

Sherlock knew that normal people did not do such things. His men had searched the whole area where the robbers had hijacked Rajesh and run away. They had not found any dead body or even if any animals had eaten it, the remains. Somehow Rajesh had woken up and walked away, but to where? To understand the behaviour of Rajesh he knew that he had to question the “widow” and so went back to Karthik. Told him the whole developments and said that unless he could question the so-called widow, he would not be able to understand what may have happened to Rajesh. Karthik promised to revert and called up Bharat. He told Bharat that unless he told the entire story, he Karthik would drop the case. Bharat went back to Sonia and told her the situation and said that it was now up to her to decide what next.

Sonia when she heard the developments was besides herself with joy. She said that she didn’t care what happened to her reputation and standing within the family, but she would not do any injustice to Rajesh. She agreed to meet Sherlock and tell him whatever he wanted to know.

Sherlock met Sonia and as he listened to her story was sympathetic and understanding. He said he knew about Tarun and that he was a third-rate fellow. But because of his money, his family political connections, his wife’s family in the legal field, and he was very polished and sophisticated, he had managed to stay out of trouble legally. Sonia was not the first women to fall for his games and charm but so far, he had never trapped friends and those known to him. He usually trapped vulnerable women who were looking for a ticket out of their money problems and then used them for his own lust and to share them as favours with his political friends. He asked Sonia;

“Considering all that had happened between the two of you, do you think he would want to run away from you permanently? What could he do for money since he had lost everything including his mobile? What about his job, would he not inform them that he was resigning or whatever? What kind of a person was he to run away and yet find a way to live? Do you think he could have committed suicide?”

Sherlock had so many more questions, but Sonia had no answers for any of these. The only thing she said was – “As a consultant he didn’t have a job, but whatever projects he was involved in, was like a job.” Yes, Rajesh may just have wanted to run away from everything but in today’s age and time when people needed mobile, Aadhar cards etc what and where he could go, what he could do she had no idea. One thing she was sure of – “Rajesh could never do manual labour or illegal things. He was too intelligent, and he had to keep his brain active all the time and so even if he tried, people would know he was intelligent and smart. He would never be able to fool people that way.” Sherlock listened to all this and was making plans on what to do next.

The key question that Sherlock had was how the family had obtained the death certificate without getting any doubts. Sonia had no answer except to say that the whole family was in shock and Tarun had offered to help and take care of all the issues. The family had gratefully accepted his help and did not ask questions. Hearing this Sherlock asked Sonia and Bharat to stay quiet while he made a call on his phone to the town police inspector and put it on loudspeaker. 

Inspector, Sherlock here and I just wanted a small clarification. The death certificate for Rajesh, do you know how that was issued?

Yes sir, a gentleman came to meet me and prior to that the DGP himself had called asking me to get the work done on priority and even the minister called personally asking for the certificate to be issued immediately. I ensured that it was done.

Do you remember who it was who met you?

I remember the person but don’t recall his name. He was very stylish, aggressive, and looked like someone very powerful. Since DGP had called, I didn’t probe too much.

Didn’t he ask about the death and the details?

Hmm now that you mention, I found his behaviour rather strange. Even as a policeman and we see so many deaths, we still feel very upset when meeting family members, when someone has died. Here the circumstances were so tragic that I was personally very upset and that is why I tried to set things right. I told that person what all had happened but somehow I felt that he was least interested. He seemed more anxious to get the death certificate and just close the issue as quickly as possible.

Thanks Inspector.

Madam, you heard. This means that Tarun was aware of what all had happened, yet he never seems to have told you anything. I am not here to influence your opinion of Tarun, but you need to know the truth.

Listening to this exchange Bharat visibly was angry and Sonia was very agitated realising the cold bloodedness of Tarun. She looked like she was going to collapse.

Sherlock on returning to the office told Karthik and he would need a few more days on the case. Karthik agreed. Sherlock started investigating every vehicle that had passed on that section of the highway over 48 hrs by checking the records of the toll gates. There were very few and it was easy for him to check. He found that just 4 vehicles had passed by including the car of Rajesh and the rest were either police or government vehicles and they would have immediately reported finding any stranded person on the highway. That meant the other 3 vehicles held the answer. He started tracking them down. Two of them were easy and he dropped them and focussed on the third. It was a van from a district about 4 hrs drive away. He debated whether to call or send someone to check or go himself.

Meanwhile, that fateful night…

Dr. Kaveri the widow of a senior army officer along with her son Manohar and the driver were driving back to their coffee estate in the night. With the curfew and lockdown getting back home was their priority and armed with a police pass they had decided to drive through the night to get home. As they crossed a bend their headlights picked up a person lying on the ground. They stopped and Manohar and Dr Kaveri stepped out to examine the body. The person was still alive and just concussed. Reviving him with some water they soon put him in the last seat of their van and resumed their journey.

Rajesh still groggy from the blow to his head and in pain thanked them and said that if they could drop him off in the next town, he would manage to find his way from there. Upon being asked who he was and what had happened he said;

I am sorry but please do not be curious about me. But I assure you that I am neither a criminal nor a fugitive from the law. I was running away from my life in my car when some thugs using eggs made me stop the car and then robbed me, hit me and left me for dead. I do wish they had done a good job of it, but it seems God had other plans.

OK, we respect your views and since the next town is a while away maybe you rest, and we will drop you there.

Rajesh closed his eyes and in the darkness was overwhelmed with his situation. It seemed as if he was meant to suffer as much as possible and he was tired of whatever was going on. His life seemed over, and his spirit had broken after the incidents of the last year and last night. He wept silently. He wished he were dead. A strange feeling overtook him, and he felt that maybe ending his life was the best way to escape the misery. He had nothing to live for, no family and the one family he had by marriage was now gone. How long could be keep up the pretence of being married. He realised that in his love for Sonia he had been rather stupid in accepting the bizarre conditions he had been offered. Now it was too late to withdraw from his situation. As he kept thinking, the idea of ending his life became more and more attractive. His mind forced him to plan his death. The methodical person he was, he found that he had to plan it perfectly. He made a plan that seemed to satisfy him and felt a strange peace and calmness sweep over him as he decided to implement the plan. The van sped on and the pain, the tiredness, and the peace he felt made him sleep, a deep sleep.

By the time he woke up the darkness was lifting as daylight crept in. He asked;

Haven’t we come to any town yet?

You were sleeping so deeply that we didn’t have the heart to wake you. Soon we will be reaching our destination and I suggest that you freshen up, have something to eat and then you can leave.

Thank you, but I do wish you had woken me up.

Soon they swept into the estate road and reached a huge house where Geeta, Manohar’s wife greeted them, and Rajesh was taken to a guest room to freshen up. Realising that he had no clothes Geeta arranged for some temporary clothes and asked him to freshen up and join them for breakfast.

Geeta and Manohar sat with Dr. Kaveri and discussed this person who’s name also they didn’t know.

Geeta – Mom, isn’t it risky to allow a stranger into the house especially when we don’t even know his name.

Kaveri – I understand, but he is a very educated and refined gentleman obviously and whatever the problems he seems to have is personal and not criminal. He is obviously very depressed but being highly intelligent he is fighting it without realising it.

Manohar – How can you say that?

Kaveri – The way he answered, the way he anticipated all our concerns and questions and if he was a criminal, he would not be answering with so much confidence and authority. I don’t know if you heard but when he was sitting behind us he was sobbing as quietly as possible. He cried for a rather long time and then sat thinking before falling asleep. He is going through some deep personal problems and wants to fight it on his own. So just let him be.

As they sat for breakfast, Nimmi their precocious 5 year old daughter joined them and said hello to Rajesh.

Whats your name ? My name is Nimmi.

Rajesh didn’t know what to say. Kaveri piped in and said;

Nimmi, this uncle has no name and so don’t ask.

Nimmi – How can he not have a name. Everybody has a name.

Kaveri – well he is the exception, so just call him uncle OK?

Nimmi – How can I simply call him uncle? How will he know that I am talking to him ?

Kaveri – the uncle is not well and so don’t pester him.

Rajesh – that’s OK ma’am, she’s a child after all. Nimmi, how about you give me a name ?

Nimmi – How can I give you a name ? Your daddy mummy must give you the name. I was allowed to give a name only to my dog.

This brought a smile to Rajesh’s face and he said – OK, my name is Rajesh.

Nimmi – Then why did granny say you had no name?

Rajesh – That is because I had not told granny my name yet. Even I don’t know granny’s name.

Nimmi – Granny is Kaveri granny, daddy is Manohar daddy and mommy is Geeta mommy, my dog is Tommy.

Everybody laughed and Kaveri said – well, we will call you Rajesh for now and maybe after breakfast we have a talk?

Soon after breakfast, Dr. Kaveri asked Rajesh to sit with her in the veranda outside and said;

Is your name really Rajesh?

Yes.

Am I allowed to ask you about who you are and what’s troubling you?

You can ask but I would much rather not drag you into my problems. As I assured you, my problems are neither criminal nor illegal. They are deeply personal, and I must find a solution on my own.

I am a doctor. My late husband was a senior officer in the Indian army. He came from a wealthy family as you can see this estate around us. We had to keep moving and my pursuing a career was difficult unless we lived apart which we didn’t want to do. Finally, I offered to work pro-bono wherever my husband was posted, and I used to help the local base hospital, the community, and the soldiers. Soon I found that I could very quickly grasp the mental issues that soldiers go through and started counselling them as a social service activity. I am not asking you to consult me or anything like that. All I want to tell you is that unless one speaks to someone else, they cannot easily find a solution to their problems. I will not give you solutions, nor do I have that ability. But if you want to talk, I am here to listen. When you talk your mind gets uncluttered and your mind gives you solutions. I can help unclutter your mind if you want. And talking to strangers is always easier because they can never judge you.

Rajesh listened to this and said;

I fully agree with you and appreciate your offer. I have spent a long time trying to find a solution to my issues and have failed. I don’t know if talking to anyone helps because, because …….. my situation is as shameful as it can be.

I understand but whether it is shameful or not, is not for you to judge. You may be feeling ashamed about whatever you did, but the very fact that you feel so is half the battle won. The rest is easy because it’s about accepting the situation and trying to make it right if possible. I will not force you. With breakfast over, you are welcome to leave. Or you are equally welcome to think over what you want to do next and make plans. After all you must have a family, friends, a job somewhere, colleagues, responsibilities and you have a duty towards all those. It is strange that you have not asked to report about your mugging and robbery to the police yet. So even if you tell me, you are neither a criminal nor have done anything illegal, I find that difficult to believe.

Ma’am I promise you and assure you that I have not done anything illegal or criminal. As to why I have not chosen to contact the police, I don’t know how to explain unless I tell you my whole sordid story. But if I were to give an example, when a person is buried in a pile of crap, and then some more crap is thrown on him, it makes no difference. When that last straw breaks the camel’s back you don’t go looking for a doctor. It’s too late. That’s why I just gave up. I don’t have the energy or mood to fight for anything.

I will accept that and what you want to do next, I leave it to you to decide. I am not forcing you. But if I may suggest, maybe you take a walk around the estate, try to clear your mind, think over your options, and then decide your next steps. I will now leave you to think for yourself.

Dr. Kaveri left and Rajesh decided to take a walk around and even as he started Nimmi ran up to him and said – where are you going?

Nowhere. I am just going to look around, just take a walk.

Can I show you all the places?

OK, but won’t your parents mind?

No, I am old enough to go around by myself here. I know all the people who work here. They are my friends.

OK, show me and I will follow you wherever you go.

Like Mary’s lamb?

Ha Ha Ha, yes but like Nimmi’s lamb not Mary’s.

Rajesh spent the next hour walking all over the place and Nimmi seemed full of energy and spoke nonstop and asked so many questions that by the time the tour was over, he found himself in a very positive frame of mind, much calmer but still no solutions on what to do. All the thoughts and plans he had about ending his life had gone away. He wanted to fight on and realised he needed help. When they returned, he sought out Dr. Kaveri and said that anytime she was ready, he was willing to tell her his life story. He said it was not pleasant, was long and since he had never done so till then, he would have to ramble and be confusing.

After lunch Dr Kaveri took Rajesh to her office and asked him some questions and helped him to start opening up. Soon Rajesh was talking, weeping, feeling ashamed and wiping his tears would labour on and told her everything that had happened till that fateful moment when he had been attacked. He was almost exhausted by the time he finished. The tears continued to flow, and Dr. Kaveri just listened, never said a word except to ask for a clarification or a question here and there. He didn’t hide anything including his plans on wanting to end his life which was why he didn’t bother to tell the police. 

Do you realise that there are always two sides to every story?

Are you saying that I am also to blame for what Sonia did?

No, but all I am saying is that Sonia may have had her own compulsions in doing what she did. Maybe she expected you to rescue her but instead you wanted to be that filmi hero and instead sacrificed her.

But I fought and argued with her so much over this. What else was I supposed to do? I could not speak to that chap because she would get furious if I said anything and she defended him all the time.

I am not blaming you. All I am saying is that we don’t know what drove Sonia to do what she did. Whatever that chap Tarun did with you, maybe Sonia didn’t know about that at all. You assumed that everything had her permission but if that chap was manipulating her as you said, then she may not have known what was happening to you. Maybe if you had told her, the situation could have changed or at least you would have clarity about the situation and you would have been able to take better decisions. Maybe you would have refused to give up the house and everything for her, refuse to leave the house, get the courage to talk to her family even. I am not judging you but just telling you that you very meekly ran away from the situation. You were not the He-man fighting and protecting your woman and she may have felt disappointed about that. You surrendered easily and made that chap Tarun look good and manly.

Rajesh was silent. He didn’t know what to do or say. Dr. Kaveri continued and said;

You now have a choice. You can either fight back even now or decide to walk away from the situation permanently and create your own life afresh. Accepting the situation is not an option that you must exercise. But whatever decision you take is your decision.

Rajesh was silent and after a while he said;

I think I understand a lot of what you say. But given my own upbringing I never held back Sonia and always encouraged her to be her own person. I never would object to her being friendly with other men even if she sometimes did not like me even being affectionate with her sister, other women in the family. But then there is no end to such debates.

I feel much better after talking to you. A big weight has been taken off my shoulders. But I cannot forget whatever has happened. Fighting back, I agree is a good option but then what do I fight for? At best I can demand and get a divorce, throw my wife out of the house and knowing that third rate fellow, I will be literally throwing her to her doom. I don’t think I can do that. That’s why I made a will wherein she can never sell the house or use the principal money in bank, but she will never be without a roof over her head or go hungry. I am also sure that I cannot make her change her mind. So, I am caught between a rock and a hard place. So, while this fight back is easy to say, I don’t know what I should fight for?

I understand your predicament and wish that I had options to offer you. But living a miserable beggar like life isn’t the option. With a clear mind now, do think over and decide your future.

Thanks, and I will see what I can do next. I cannot impose myself on you and so will leave soon.

Fine, but where will you go? You don’t have a phone, don’t have money. Are you going to call your wife or friends and ask for help? I understand you’re not wanting to impose on us, but let me tell you, you are not a burden. If you want to talk to your friends, your office, do whatever you need to, make arrangements and then you can move. If that takes a day or two, you are welcome to stay with us.

Thank you so much and I will think over and make my plans.

Saying this Rajesh walked away to find a place to sit and think what to do next. He would have to talk to his friends and that meant more complications, lies and he was in a confused mind. He was working for a company as a consultant and right now was between projects so at least for a month nobody would miss him unless something came up. Except Sonia and her family, he did not have any family who may miss him. He realised that he was so alone that nobody would miss him till something happened and somebody needed to contact him. But he needed money and a phone to survive. Where to get that unless he asked for it?

As he sat there Manohar walked up to him, sat with him, and started chatting in general. He spoke about his business, estate and the business challenges and Rajesh being a management consultant found himself drawn into the issues and started to ask questions, give some ideas and one thing led to another and soon Manohar was excited and said;

Gosh, you really can help me in my business. You have such an astute mind and could grasp issues so fast. In fact, your ideas are exciting.

Well, I am glad you think so and for saving my life, for the hospitality, this is the least I can do. It’s my pleasure if I have helped you.

Nope, you have still not helped me. You have excited me that you can help me. I wish you can stay for a few days and help me with your knowledge and experience. Do you think you can?

Ha Ha Ha, I don’t know. Your mother knows the mess I am in. I told her that I will plan to leave soon, and you are complicating my life with your request.

No, I am not. I am maybe giving you an option to stay on for few days and make your plans for the future. With the lockdown you will have more than one problem to go anywhere. So, you might as well stay and help me.

Please don’t tempt me. I may accept.

I will be delighted if you accept.

You don’t know anything about me, we just spoke for a while now and suddenly you are asking me to stay and help you. Is there something you know that I don’t?

Boy, you are smart and sharp. After you told me your name, I googled for your name and found a ton of stuff about you online. I checked out your LinkedIn profile, read some of your blogs, even read some Tweets and you are a talented, intelligent well-known, well-liked person and yet here you are saying you need to think about your future.

Wow, you sure are a smart detective. Yes, I have many contacts and I can call them and solve my current problems in a minute. But …… the problem is whether I want to. Somebody running away from life suddenly must decide to run back into the same life and that’s what is bugging me. I have already poured my heart out to your mother.

Listen, I don’t want you to share your problems with me. I respect your privacy. I don’t know your overall situation, whether someone will miss you, someone will try to find where you are, etc because it’s now so many hours since you left some place and now you are here. Somebody must be searching for you, waiting for you. It’s strange you haven’t tried to inform anyone where you are.

Smart chap. But the answer is simple. Nobody will be tracking me, and nobody will look for me unless they need me for some reason. So called family will not even think of me for at least a month before they may wonder where I am. Others will try calling and then give up depending upon where my phone is right now. I had decided not to bother about it, but maybe now I should.

Listen, I have no idea what your issues are. But if you say that nobody will miss you for a month, stay here and help me. Get your phone blocked first. Once things open a bit, we can get a new SIM and help you on your way.

Hmmm interesting idea, let me think about it.

OK, thanks and hope you agree to my suggestion.

Saying thus, Manohar walked away, and Rajesh sat thinking his next move.

The question that bothered Rajesh was – “Will anybody really miss me? Will somebody worry about my wellbeing and check-up and when they are unable to contact me, will they start investigating and searching?” He felt uncomfortable that the answer in his mind was that nobody would check up on him. But how sure was he that nobody would care? He did not have answers that gave him comfort.

He was not too worried about blocking his SIM card since he had damaged his Smartphone the previous day and as an emergency shifted to a very old basic phone hoping to buy a new phone. Manohar had tried calling his number, but it was switched off. As he kept thinking what to do, his mind jumped from his earlier plan to end his life to a wild experiment as he called it. He would accept the offer made by Manohar, live on without a phone, no contact for a month and then start calling up friends and see the reactions. He was very confident that Sonia would not call up for at least a couple of weeks or more and in any case her family got news about him through her always. She would give them some answers.

Having decided thus he went looking for Manohar and Dr Kaveri and told them about his plan. Rajesh called this plan a deaddiction, detoxification from his old life. He would try to get back to his old life after a month. They agreed and made arrangements for the new plan and Rajesh left feeling calm. Soon after he left Dr Kaveri said to Manohar;

“I can understand his decision but I am uncomfortable that he chooses to not communicate with anybody. If by chance someone were to check up and finally lodge a police complaint, we would face embarrassment. Can you talk to the senior inspector locally and give him the name and car number and request him to keep his eyes and ears open for any complaints made? Don’t tell Rajesh about this.”

Manohar agreed and spoke to the inspector about it.

From early next day Manohar started discussions with Rajesh on the business issues and Rajesh found himself getting closely involved and excited and none of them noticed how the whole month flew by. In between Manohar spoke to the inspector a couple of times and was told nobody had reported a missing car or person. Dr Kaveri was puzzled that a person could be so well known, so well liked but yet nobody missed him. The last month had given them a chance to know Rajesh better and from what they had seen, this situation was all the more stranger. Dr. Kaveri decided to gently probe this aspect because she was intrigued by this. She managed to get him over a cup of coffee and as they spoke, she asked.

Rajesh are you sure that nobody would miss you and nobody would be searching for you? It’s been almost a month and I find that rather strange.

Doc, I understand your curiosity. Trust me I have asked myself this same question many times. I have no answers myself. When a friend or someone I care about is ill or something like that I keep messaging them asking how they are doing. But I haven’t seen them reciprocating this gesture. I have somehow always found, that it is always me who reaches out and not others. Maybe I have been a doormat for so long that I am taken for granted. Sonia, I know would feel uncomfortable to show even basic care now because, that chap will not like it. She will not want to do anything that can upset him so she will bluff if need be but stay quiet. I would say she would have cared but finds herself unable to do anything. She also will find it awkward herself now. The one time some friends will care is around a festival. If they don’t receive a greeting from me, they call up asking why. I don’t have an answer to your question but then I have stopped asking myself that question. On the other hand my network and relationships are such that I know I can reach out to people for help and they will help. But will anybody monitor me like a mother would on her child? I don’t think so.

They left it at that and the next day a Sunday, Rajesh sat watching a cricket match on TV while behind him Manohar was browsing around on this laptop. Soon Manohar said;

Hey Rajesh, this coming week you said you will connect with your friends and get back to your old life. How are you going to explain the missing one month?

No idea, let’s see what happens. Will take it as it comes up.

I have a suggestion. I am going to write a good recommendation about you on your LinkedIn profile and you can tell folks you were doing this job in a remote place.

OK, as you please.

Hey, I will need you to accept my invite on this before I can complete the recommendation, so can you come here and login and do the needful.

Manohar, I will tell you the password and you just do it yourself. It’s not some bank account to be secret. And saying so, gave him the username and password.

Things went quiet after that for a while as Rajesh heard Manohar leave the room and he continued sitting and watching cricket. After some time, he saw Manohar and Dr Kaveri come in and they looked troubled and as they sat Dr. Kaveri switched off the TV. Rajesh was perplexed but had a sense of foreboding and just waited to hear what it was. Manohar spoke first;

Hey remember I asked to add me on LinkedIn and you gave me your password?

Yeah.

Well, I logged in and maybe there is an answer as to why nobody is looking for you.

OK, what has happened? Tell me without beating around the bush.

There are more than 100 messages of condolences on your death due to Covid and lots of tributes from friends, clients etc. I tried to check how the news was announced and found that a classmate of yours had shared the news saying that he had received a message from another classmate who got the message from your wife Sonia. Some former colleagues also wrote that one of them had also received the message from your wife.

Rajesh was stunned and shocked and did not know what to say. A flood of emotions went through him from anger to sorrow to shock to bewilderment. Nobody knew what to say and everybody simply sat quiet watching Rajesh. Rajesh was agitated, just moving here and there, mumbling to himself, his heart heavy, his heart and pulse racing, his head was pounding and tears welled up in his eyes. Finally unable to manage the confused mass of emotions he just broke down sobbing like a child. Manohar moved towards him when Dr Kaveri stopped him with a look and a silently mouthed – Let him be for now.

Rajesh sobbed and sobbed for a while and as the tears dried up a bit he said – “How can this happen? I mean don’t they need a body to announce death? Even if I say that the boyfriend hatched an evil plan, how did Sonia accept it? Didn’t she see the body? Didn’t she recognise it? Didn’t the body have a face? But then what is the benefit they both would get? Sonia cannot lay her hands on any of the money or the house. So, what is it that she gets? Freedom? I offered her a divorce and even agreed to stay away, and she had all the freedom. Was I such an obstacle between them? I don’t know, I am confused what to do.”

Looking at them Rajesh continued; - “What should I do now? Tell the world that I am alive? What will Sonia and her family think? What will friends, colleagues think? What will the police say? I mean how did they manage a body which even Sonia recognised and by god, what a scandal this will be. But the question is why did they do this, why did she do this? I can’t believe that Sonia can be such a cold hearted murderous person. Did I judge her so poorly that I never realised how evil she was? What do I do now? I can’t simply jump up and say I am alive. If that boyfriend managed to show a body to Sonia and her family which they accepted, the chap may get me killed if I step out. I am so confused.”

Dr. Kaveri who had been listening silently till now piped in;

I think the time has come for me to tell you what you need to do. Things seem to be going out of hand. Luckily, I had asked Manohar to leave a hint with the local inspector. I think you must take the evidence that Manohar found online and file a police complaint right away.

Rajesh said – “I agree but give me a little time to think. I like to plan stuff in detail and get my thoughts in order. I think as you said right in the beginning I should have stood up and fought for myself. I made a huge mistake. I don’t want to make any further mistakes. I understand legal issues in a strategic sense and so I want to ring fence a lot of stuff and then hit back. It’s been a while since my death was announced and so we can wait another day or so.”

What do you plan to do when you say ring fence?

I want to be able to create legally valid documents enumerating everything that has happened from the moment you found me, get your versions, statements, get them recorded in front of a lawyer, get it notarised, file the documents in a local court as sealed evidence etc. I am now so angry that I am no longer bothered about what happens to Sonia. She is evil. I will dig out all the documents I had earlier created to file for a divorce and get them also ready and get them filed in court for safe keeping. Once I have done that, I will publicly announce that I am alive and then let’s see what happens. The only thing is that I may now need some money, a phone etc till I can lay my hands on my own bank account, borrow some money from friends whatever. I hope you can help me.

They readily agreed. But Dr Kaveri had a word of caution – “We still don’t know what trick was played and your death made public. Remember one will need stuff like death certificate etc. I admire all the planning that you are doing, but before you initiate any other actions, try to find out more. I think you must check through the condolence messages and find out who all may be aware and if you know that person or anyone else well and can trust him, talk to him, and find out more details.”

Dr. Kaveri went up to where Rajesh was sitting and tousled his hair affectionately, and when he looked up looked at him with affection and said – “I am so sorry at what all is happening with you. We will surely help you. This whole thing seems like we are living a movie story. We will have a happy ending don’t worry.”

Rajesh then spent the next few days working feverishly in preparing various documents, drafting them, correcting them and one day was again busy working when Manohar walked in and said;

Rajesh, there are no more secrets between us anyway. Remember I had told you that I had alerted the local cop to keep his eyes and ears open about your name and car number? Well, the chap just called. He said that some chap from the Intel dept was enquiring about you, about us and the inspector told him that while he had no details, he had heard about a guest staying with us. He doesn’t want us to mention this to anyone but was worried whether we were harbouring some terrorist or some such chap. I assured him that he or we had nothing to fear, the guest was safe with us and he or anybody was welcome to come meet this guest. Something seems to be brewing but any idea why the Intel dept should be involved?

I am clueless. This only makes me even more worried, and I better start filing the papers with the local notary today itself before something nasty happens. From whatever one has read in newspapers and stories, these intel chaps can well locate a person and then dispose him off, so the original crime is covered up. My worry is that because of me, you and your family must not be in danger.

I understand and am slightly worried too but now it’s too late anyway. Even if you run away, we will still be left exposed. So maybe we should file your papers quickly and even seek protection from the court. I will talk to our lawyer and see what he has to say.

Rajesh now had fresh problems to deal with. He had all papers ready when Manohar came in and said that the earliest the lawyer and notary could meet them was the next day afternoon. Rajesh was agitated and his mind thought up a new plan to protect himself and more importantly the family that had helped him.

He sat down and prepared a statement that said that in case he was to be found dead or declared dead or not seen after a period of 30 days, the attached papers should be submitted to the court, police and even a local media. He then saved all the papers he had created with a password and then emailed the papers to a few of his friends asking them to not open it for 30 days or if before that he contacted them, they should delete the emails/ documents. By the time he was finished it was well past midnight and he knew the next day could be the day of reckoning. The climax so to speak. As he finally slept, still rather agitated he remembered that many times in the past when he had imagined the worst, the truth when it was known had turned out to be a happy ending. With a prayer on his lips, he slept fitfully.

Meanwhile in the city;

Sherlock as he debated what to do next, finally decided to take the risk and make some discrete enquiries. He called the local police chief of the district where the estate was and enquired about the estate owners, whether they had seen any strangers and so on. He finally sent him a photo of Rajesh and asked if they had seen this person or heard his name. The inspector knew of the reputation of Sherlock and did not want to take any chances. He told him that while he had not seen anybody, was not aware of any stranger in the estate he did remember a call from the estate owner requesting him to keep an eye and ear open about any police reports on the name Rajesh. He also had a car number which he gave Sherlock. Sherlock smiled and told him not to inform this to the estate owners and he, Sherlock would be there in the morning personally.

The inspector was worried and asked if this was any anti-terrorist or drug or some other such crime related issue. Sherlock laughed loudly and said – “If it was something serious like that, I would talk to you after coming there, not over the phone. Just relax but don’t tell them anything and don’t worry there is no crime involved, only lots of tragic events which in a movie would look like comedy”.

By mid-morning Sherlock was driving up to the front of the estate and as he alighted from his car, he saw Dr Kaveri near the porch. With folded hands he went up to her and introducing himself, greeted her with lots of respect and said that he was sorry to intrude on their time unannounced, but he had a duty to perform.

I think I know why you are here, and I only hope the end result will not be ugly or tragic.

Sherlock laughed and said – why madam, why do you say that? The police don’t always come with bad news or do ugly things as you say. We are also human and do good things too.

So, your visit today, is it good or bad?

Madam, I sincerely hope that it is good. I know that my intent and visit is for the good. But the result is not in my hands. That depends on Rajesh.

Dr Kaveri gave him a quizzical look and said – Lets go in and meet Rajesh.

Soon they assembled in the living room and before Sherlock could even introduce himself, Dr Kaveri told Rajesh – “This visit as I hear is for good news and a happy ending that would depend on you. I know how upset and agitated you have been and so I want you to relax before we hear what Sherlock has to say. Yes, that is his name and if he is anything like his namesake we always have happy endings.”

This immediately lightened the overall mood. Sherlock first heard from Rajesh and the family the events of the last month and over the next 2 hours Sherlock gave a detailed account of all that had happened after that fateful night. He spoke of the police goof up, the cover up by Tarun, the astrologers feedback, the outburst of Anu which triggered Sonia into investigating the matter etc. He said that Sonia had staked every single reputation of hers and was resolute that whatever may happen to her, no injustice should happen to Rajesh. He said that while Sonia now knew that Rajesh was likely alive, she had no confirmation and he advised Rajesh to talk to her and tell her that he was alive. He said – “I have no interest to intervene in your marriage and what the two of you do next is your business, but when Sonia has fought to find the truth based on an astrologer’s response, I think she deserves a chance to feel redeemed”.

Rajesh felt a wave of relief, his love for Sonia was still there even if dormant and deep inside as his anger, hurt overwhelmed all other emotions. He just sat there, tears in his eyes and unable to say anything. Dr. Kaveri who was looking at him said – “Everybody deserves a second chance. For someone who wanted to end his life and had made all plans, even God gave you a second chance. So, don’t hesitate to call her”.

I know, I am just so hurt, so broken that my heart tells me to excuse her, but my brain tells me that I am afraid, very afraid. I don’t know how I can get back to my normal married life. Whenever anything small also happens it will bring back all the hurtful memories and that can truly destroy our relationship.

You didn’t listen to me. I said call her. I didn’t say to accept her and get back to like it was before. 

What do I do? Just call her, tell her I am alive and then tell her our marriage is over?

Right now, don’t think too much. Close the crisis that has been created. What next will be seen and it’s not as if you alone will determine the future. Your wife also will decide what she wants to do. She will also have her own fears just like you. Right now, just call and tell her you are alive and then take it from there.

I know, but Doc, I am so afraid, I am so confused that even I want to call her and tell her but ….. I don’t know how to even express what I am feeling right now.

I understand that Rajesh, but remember this is a police case now, everything is out in the open, everybody cannot wait till you can sort out your feelings. Close the police investigation and then think over what you want to do.

Sherlock piped in and said – “If I may suggest something. I don’t want to interfere or get involved but the events over the last couple of weeks have been an unofficial kind of matter and rather strange. A perfect storm if you want to say so. I will send a recorded video of having met you and give my report that you are alive and in such and such place to my chief. He will likely send that to your brother in-law and your wife will hear of it. She can also decide what to do while you think of what to do. I have a long drive back and want to get back home before dinner today.” He smiled.

There was silence and Sherlock took it as agreement. He stood up and took a video of Rajesh sitting there with a voice over that on such and such date, he, Sherlock had seen him and met him and that he was alive. He said that the case stands closed, and his superior could decide what to do with the message sent and he was returning to Headquarters. He sent the video off to Karthik and sent the location map link with it.

Having thanked everybody Sherlock left. 

Manohar said to Rajesh – “Listen, I understand your fears but now you need to accept that you have been found and can no longer run away. The efforts to get back to normal must begin because remember, the world thinks you are dead. Come with me and let’s go to a shop and get you a phone, a new SIM card and then you better get on LinkedIn and tell folks that you are alive.”

Rajesh agreed and they went and got a phone and SIM card. He still hadn’t called Sonia or messaged her and if she had received the message that Sherlock had sent, he didn’t know what she was planning. Late in the night he decided to sit down and react on LinkedIn, and he logged in only to another barrage of messages. A friend had written that he had received a message from Sonia and that a very horrible mistake had happened for which she blamed herself and reality was that Rajesh was very much alive. He was tempted to call Sonia though it was rather late and finally called a couple of times only to get a message that her phone was out of reach. He didn’t try again and went to bed.

Rajesh again could not sleep that night and tossed and turned, his mind in a whirl, confused. His love for Sonia was still there but his fear and hurt was overpowering. Sometime early morning he managed to sleep a bit and was awakened by Nimmi who woke him up and said – “Granny wants to see you. Get ready and come.”

Rajesh freshened up and went to the living room where Dr Kaveri was likely to be and as he walked in was surprised to see Sonia sitting there. There was a momentary feeling of happiness that swept through him, but he again held back. The moment she saw him, she started weeping and after a momentary hesitation she ran to him and enveloped him in a bear hug. She kept saying – “I am sorry, please excuse me.” He held her but did not hug her back. Soon her sobbing reduced and stepping back she said – “I have been so blind, so evil that I don’t deserve you. I came here only because I wanted to seek your forgiveness. You may not want to forgive me, but please don’t hate me. I fully understand if you no longer want me in your life. I will leave the house and go away. I will never again do anything that can even remotely hurt you, that’s why I will go away. But all I want to hear is that you don’t hate me and if you can forgive me, I will be very happy. I won’t ask for anything more from you because I don’t deserve to.” 

As she said the last part, she stepped back, her hands folded, and she went on her knees and touched his feet. Now Rajesh for as long as they had been married had always refused to accept this practise of a wife touching the husband’s feet saying they are equals. When Sonia bent down, he instinctively held her and pulled her up, saying no. As Sonia stood up, she was silently weeping, deep anguish on her face and all the hurt, anger that Rajesh had built up broke and he broke down weeping and pulled her to him and hugged her tightly and she hugged him back. Rajesh said – “You are not going anywhere; you will be with me for as long as I live. From now on I will not even allow you to talk to other men.”

In the middle of her tears Sonia smiled and laughed lightly and said – “I also won’t be friendly with other men especially outside the family. I promise to never hurt you ever and will be more sensitive to your feelings. I know that you bottle up things inside and don’t speak out. I will never take that as a yes or that you don’t care. I will make you open up and tell me what you think even if it means I have to tickle you.” Saying thus she proceeded to poke his belly with her finger and Rajesh doubled up with a NO and started jumping around. Nimmi who had been a silent spectator in the arms of her mother Geeta, seeing this got all excited and jumped in to start tickling Rajesh and while he howled everybody laughed.

The whole atmosphere became calm, friendly and normal and Geeta said – “First let’s have breakfast and then continue this romantic happy ending. Dr Kaveri said – Yes and then you two can decide what your next plans are. Sonia has spent the whole night in a taxi and maybe she wants to freshen up?

Soon after breakfast and things were settled with general chit chat Dr. Kaveri said – “So what do you two plan to do next? No, this is not a hint for you to leave but even if you two have kissed and made up, it will take some time for both to settle back to a normal life together. You two must work on that together.”

Geeta – “If I may suggest something. The two of you can live in the private den that Manohar has created on our estate. It’s a small house with a pool table, a home theatre, a small kitchen, bedroom, and a living room. You two must make this like a honeymoon and stay a few days away from everything and make this a detoxification like Rajesh said earlier. It will give you both time to sort out things and help you both.”

Manohar – Yes that’s a great idea and I like that part about few days Geeta said. I can’t stay away from my den for long.

Everybody laughed as Sonia settled herself more comfortably next to Rajesh and snuggled up to him with her head resting on his shoulders.