Banalata's Journel

"Sir, no one is alive, except for the infant, the house is completely burnt." constable Maniklal reported to SI Indradev Lahiri. Another officer was interrogating a few witnesses and neighbours.

SI Indradev looked around to find some clue when his eyes caught the sight of a burnt diary. He picked it up from beneath the broken and half-burnt cradle where they had found the infant. It seemed to be a normal diary half burnt, the raw smell of the burned pages still clung to it. Indra was about to turn the cover to open the diary when a constable came to report, "Sir, the bodies are sent for post-mortem, what to do with the infant? She seems to have minor burns, the doctors had treated her already, she would be in the hospital under observation and one of our lady constables can attend to her. Indra closed the diary and nodded then asked"Did you get anything from the neighbours?", the constable answered, "Not much sir, they said that all of a sudden they saw the fire set ablaze at midnight, not many in the colony were awake. Only the night guard and a few local boys who stay in the club nearby got a glimpse of the house burning post they called out for help, and started to extinguish the fire themselves whilst the others called for firemen. But before the fire could be extinguished all were burnt to death. The firemen had informed that the doors and windows were tightly locked, which prevented the family from running out or seeking help and they all choked to death because of the smoke. But sir two questions remain, how come the infant was saved and how did the house catch fire?" Asked the constable relating his report.

Indra had been thinking the same, if the 5 members were choked to death in the fire and smoke how did the infant survive and how did the house catch fire, was that a short circuit, or had someone set the house ablaze, while the family slept.

The post-mortem report arrived the next day, all of them were choked to death due to excessive inhale of smoke, half burnt around 1:30 AM to 2:30 AM.

The infant was to be discharged that day, a lady constable was keeping a watch on the little baby during the last 2 days. Indra just took his time out these last days to pay a visit to the hospital....in these 2 days he had grown quite fond of the child.

While getting ready Indra's mother came up hurriedly to him, "how long will they wait? I cannot give an answer to them, are you meeting the girl? She is a good match for you......"Indra looked towards his mother with distressed eyes, "Mother, I am working on a very important case, this has stirred the entire city, the police department is questionable and now you are coming up with this stuff!"

His mother was about to say something, when Indra's father came into the room, "Abhaya, why do you stop your son and ask such questions when he is getting ready for the office?"

Now the anger burst, "Yes I am at fault both the father and the son are in the same team, when I do something for the good of the family or think good of my son I am at fault, forgive me I have done blunder...."Indra's mother kept muttering sharp words and left the room angrily.

The father and son duo smiled, Abhaya was always like that, but Indra's father would cajole her.

At the hospital, the baby was discharged but who would take care of her was a question. This was not the" CID Bureau " of the serial by the same name it was a police station and the police were still investigating the case. The main problem now was where to keep the child! Orphanage....was decided after a lot of discussions amongst the cops.

"But a child barely two to three months old how can she be handed over to the orphanage ", thought Indra. As decided the child was taken to the police station first from where they were supposed to contact known and good orphanages and hand over the baby to them.

The police station turned into a chaos station the moment the baby entered. She started crying and no one could stop her, she hopped from one's clutch to the other....no one could stop the baby, everyone had been sweating from head to foot to tackle the baby, unless Indra came and to everyone's surprise, the baby started to giggle, jump and started laughing. Indra embraced her. He sat at the table when his eyes went to the plastic sheet covering the evidence, the diary.

He could not go through it the last 2 days, no clue at hand and he was desperately looking for one.

He turned to the first page, it seemed a kind of Journal, the name scribbled was "Banalata".....slowly he turned to the first page which read......

16th July 1999,

Today I entered my in-law's house, the "griha pravesh" ceremony was held, and everyone welcomed me wholeheartedly and greeted me for a long and happy married life.

I am so happy with this family. They had been taking care of me since morning and I am loaded with too many sweets.....

Indra turned to the next page...

20th July 1999,

I am going to visit my parent's house today for Ashtamangla. I am so happy and excited. Varun will drive me to my parents' house.

Indra turned the page on

14th August 1999,

Varun never told me that he would be going on a business tour, he had to cancel our honeymoon trip...I was very upset but he has his own way to cajole me, I am happy, what if this time the honeymoon trip is canceled we will plan next time.

17th August 1999,

Varun left for Singapore today, he will return after 2 long months, feeling quite upset. While leaving he said he would bring in a surprise for me and that he would call over the land phone every night.

I would wait impatiently for the call.

19th August 1999,

It's been 2 days and I didn't receive any news from Varun. I noticed a few changes in the behaviour of my mother-in-law, she had been taunting me for some time, not in a good way I understand.

My father-in-law had started using quite punching words.

I remain upset as I have not spoken to Varun in 2 days and they had taken it to be my tantrum!

28th August 1999,

Varun has not contacted me yet, I am really tensed, my in-laws seem to be tension free.

I am trying to engross myself in work but cannot. Evil thoughts are blocking the way.

Indra turned to the next page...it was as if torn or burnt...and the next few pages from there on were completely burnt hardly one or two words were legible...

Constable Maniklal reported informing the head of the orphanage had arrived. Indra found the little baby had slept on his lap, the perfect reflection of innocence. After dealing with thieves, robbers, and burglars Indra was delighted to see the pure and innocent face of the child as if it brought new energy to him.

Mr. Malik folded his hands standing in front of Indra to greet him, an unending smile on his face.

After few information he said Indra can hand over the child after all formalities. He left along with Indra.

After completing all the formalities, the child was handed over to the orphanage.

Indra returned home late in the night, but Abhaya's temper was still not cooled. He went straight to his bedroom and closed the door. He was carrying the journal with him. Without freshening up he lay on the bed and opened the journal from where he left it.

3 pages were burnt. Only a few words or phrases were visible

"I never knew this would happen"

"Cheated"

"Deceitful"

Indra went on to the next page....this was burnt too but a few more phrases were visible

Varun had hidden the truth, he was not on a business trip and his parents had hidden this from me.

When I questioned my mother-in-law, she thras...

The phrase was incomplete but for an inspector like Indradev nothing seems to be hidden, this was a journal from a wife who was cheated in her marriage and had to suffer in her in-law's house"Who was she, the journal is from 1999 and he was reading it in September 2000 around a year old. Out of the 5 dead bodies not one was identified as a wife or a young woman".

Indra recalled, "A young man of 30+ years, identified as Varun, another around 25-26 years, identified as Varun's brother, one elderly man, the father, an aged woman, the mother and a girl hardly 18 years of age. who was the sister"Indra thought?

He decided to interrogate the neighbours the next day again.

Until then he decided to complete the journal as much as he can.

...Nov 1999,

I cannot resist this ....their torture has grown terrible, I cannot go out, talk to my parents on phone,I constantly do the household chores. Varun is most of the time away. Varun's sister teases me and uses all my necessary things, making me wash her clothes and iron them and when done she gathers more clothes and makes me wash them on purpose.

No one cares if I am alive or I die.

I no longer think about myself except for the seed within me.......

25th Nov 1999,

Every day's arguments, clashes, insults, and beating are becoming intolerable for me, they make me do menial jobs...I want to go back to my parents.They torture me , beat me harshly. Varun cheated me, he already has an illicit relationship with someone and when I question him, he thrashes me...I have been hiding my good news until now, but my womb is growing and would be prominent in a few months

The next few pages were burnt again...

Indra kept on turning the pages.

4th Dec 1999,

I took all the courage to say that I want a divorce, they locked me in a room and made me starve until a complete day.....ultimately I had to give up as I was bearing my child in my womb.

20th Dec 1999,

I came to know from the letters Varun had been hiding that my parents had been sending him money every month! This was paid as compensation for my well-being. My father had transferred almost 1 lakh rupees till now to Varun's bank.

I had questioned Varun he had slapped me and pushed me hard so that I could have fallen down but I was saved by God's grace.

21st Dec 1999,

They had come to know about the baby I was bearing, it was 3 months old, My in-laws want me to get rid of the child, Varun too, he no longer lives with me, his brother has arrived from Nagpur he was studying Engineering there.

He seems to be empathetic toward me.

No one not even Varun's sister spilled a word of sweetness to me.

28th Dec 1999,

I gathered courage and called my father into his office......

The page was burnt again

5th Jan 2000,

Varun's brother will help me to flee tonight, I will run back to my parents......

Thereafter the journal was blank.

Indra was trying to arrange all pieces of clues together. Most of the things were in the dense fog....

Indra did not realize when he slept last night.

Today his mother was normal. He quietly got ready, had his breakfast, and went off to the Police Station.

He had called for a few neighbours and eyewitnesses who were waiting for him.

The local boys from the club were also present.

Indra interrogated them, "How was the family, and did you know them personally".

To this one of them,Biltu replied, "They were majorly reserved and had been staying here for quite some time, Varun da, the elder son got married around a year or so ago, we have never seen his wife, she was very introvert and would never come out......but luck would have it, she died after giving birth to her child..."Things started striking the right cords.

Indra questioned sternly, "What was her name and how did she die?"To this Biltu replied, "If I remember, Varun da used to call her Lata, the complete name was Banalata, it was an accident, the pressure cooker burst along with the gas cylinder, it was a havoc, just 1-2 month back and now this......a cursed family it seems".

Indra drew his eyebrows together, "How were the members? did they ever ill-treat the wife?"

To this, a female replied," I know, I know I will not hide anything...." she shrieked.

Mitul Mondal was a house helper and served in most of the houses in the colony and it goes without saying that she was good at gathering news and transmitting them.

"Sir, Lata didi was very good, when she was married I worked at their house for 3 months, she was very good to me, very simple, innocent girl. Varun dada went on business tour at that time the masters asked me to leave, one day I went to their house to settle my payment, I heard terrible noises as if they were beating someone. I think sir they used to torture the wife!!" blabbered Mitul.

Everything seems to link up except how did Banalata die and how the family burnt moreover how the child survived.

Another house help named Khuki pitched in between, "They were very rude people, never would they talk to neighbours,I went to their house to ask for work they just insulted me, you only tell us, sir, we are maids does that mean we do not have prestige? I believe that is the reason Banalata didi tried to flee, they definitely used to torture her, I often used to hear the noises of beating and quarreling...I work in the house next door, their backyard and Varun dada's backyard were side by side, so I could hear the quarrels. The younger brother had wrong intentions for Lata didi and when she told the truth to Varun dada, he nearly push Lata didi, I saw with my own eyes, that their bedroom window faced the backyard."Khuki blabbered in one breath.

Indra asked, "When and how was the child born and how did Banalata die, anyone has a clue about it?"

Mitul and Khuki looked at each other," Sir we cannot say definitely but we think it was a murder..."Indra looked at them thoughtfully, probably he was thinking the same. He had got the address of Banalata's parents, they stayed in Haldia.

The next day Indra left for Haldia, all the clues were tied in knots may be Banalata's parents can help. Her parents were quite in shock, firstly their daughter's death had turmoiled their life and now the entire family was burnt to death.

Mr. Acharya said, "As one sow so shall one reap....they tortured my daughter in one hand and took ransom in another hand from me to look after my daughter in a better way. I still think my daughter's death was not normal,I even lodged an FIR but nothing worked they did not let the police investigate."Remorsefully Banalata's father removed his wet glasses and wiped off the haze. Indra empathized and asked, "How did she die?"

From what Mr. Acharya related it was clear that the family had planned not to stay in the house they were to burn Lata to death they were at a party. Lata had as usual tried cooking for herself, the gas seemed to have been leaking the entire night and she could not smell the next morning while lighting the gas up the blast happened and sure shot accident, the doors, and windows were locked.....hence police closed the case.

On asking why Lata did not return to her parents after suffering

While Indra was taking a leave he looked at the wall of the drawing room. The innocent face resembled the child, she was just that beautiful as her child, the garland hung around the frame establishing the fact that Lata was dead.

Indra returned late in the night to the spot.... the smell of burns still lingered in the air. He crossed the police line and entered the house.No one was there, possibly the constable on watch had gone for dinner. The dark, smoky house smelled of burns,half-burnt wood, flesh, plastics, and furniture laid on the floor. Indra went in, he was tired, but the knot of the clues was unfolding itself turn by turn. He found a half-burnt chair, straightened it up, and sat on it. He tried to close his eyes to concentrate, when suddenly.....the surrounding was smoky.....he saw slowly the room was getting filled with smoke.....something burning....it smelled of gas leaking out ....he tried to get up and run away from the room but he felt an unknown power had clutched him....then he heard cries...terrible cries for help...Indra wanted to run towards those cries....he could not the room was set ablaze...fire started to engulf all the materials in the room, a burning smell of flesh filled the room, and Indra's throat had dried up....he wanted to speak but no word uttered out of his mouth. Then he saw one by one an elderly man, a woman, a girl and two men running for life and entered the room, they were looking for help, their throats had been choked....they could not breathe......the door closed with a slam, then Indra saw a shadow...a shadow, a woman.....everyone in the room cried for help....they sought forgiveness from the woman...then at one time the smoke-choked them to death.....all seemed to be at peace, suddenly a child cried out. The figure of the woman looked at the baby who had fallen off the cradle with remorseful eyes. Then she looked at Indra, Indra looked at the woman with a terrifying face, an innocent face, a smile of relief, she slowly backed out of the room and vanished into the thin air. He saw the face before...on the wall...Banalata!

The next morning Indra returned back, his mother was tensed with no news of Indra.

He stayed the whole night in the burnt house, laid there unconscious...no one knew about it, with the fall of dawn when he regained consciousness he had stealthily taken a different route and returned back.

He urged for a heavy breakfast, he seemed to be relieved today. The phone rang, and Constable Manik lal urged for the next course of action Indra said, "Case closed...simple gas leakage and accident case".

He looked at his mother with a smile, "Now you tell me when do I see your chosen girl?"

His mother was delighted, she quickly called up the family she wanted to make a match with her son. They invited Indra's family that evening.

In the drawing-room, everyone was talking about the match and then the girl's father urged, "Nowadays we have to work according to our children. Let the boy and girl meet" everyone accepted the offer.

The girl was standing on the balcony she turned as Indra entered....an innocent face and a beautiful smile that Indra had seen before....he politely looked at the girl and asked, "What is your name?"

The girl shyly bowed her head down and murmured, "Banalata"!