DevaDas Menon

Tragedy

4.7  

DevaDas Menon

Tragedy

Beyond Suspicion

Beyond Suspicion

11 mins
2.8K


I wish I had been with them earlier. Perhaps it might have made a difference but one thing I can tell you why he was murdered.


 I stopped my car in front of the Bar. It had been a long drive and I was tired so I thought I would relax with a Drink. I had gone to visit my parents' They lived in a town about a hundred kilometers away from the city. My father was recovering from surgery so I thought that I would take a few days off from work, to go and visit them.They were happy to see me. I stayed for a few days. Now after the valet had parked my car, I entered the cool climes of the Bar. I looked for a table and finding one I moved towards it. A lady had already occupied one seat. "May I"? "Sure, she said with a smile". The order taker came towards me. He wished me I was a regular here. The same as always vodka on the rocks I said. He moved away after taking my order. Then I turned my attention to the lady in front of me "Shravan I said introducing myself" "Sheena she replied". I looked at her drink and said Gin she smiled and said yes.


 As my order was brought, I asked the waiter for any news. He looked at me strangely and said, "You are joking sir you don't know"? "Know what I asked"? your close friend's Rishi's Father passed away. I often frequented this bar with him. I could not believe what I was hearing he was very much alive when I had left to visit my parents five days ago. The waiter said "he passed away three days ago Sir". "In fact, You can watch it on TV Its still hot news". Saying so he went to the giant TV and switched it on and there on the large screen the newsreader was showing camera shots of Rishi's huge house and standing in front of the house a TV reporter was reporting. "The great leader and philanthropist Raghuvansh's untimely death had left a void in the political field". In the background, they were showing photographs of the late Mr. Raghuvansh. "The funeral was held yesterday. The Anchor reported, A lot of dignitaries including the CM had attended. The Reporter went on extolling the virtues of the great man" I sat and listened in silence for some time as I downed my Drink. I might have received the phone call from Rishi, but I had switched off my cellphone. Knowing it was difficult in that area to get a signal. I called the waiter and told him to repeat my order. Then I felt the lady's eyes on me. I looked at her she spoke, "Your close friend's father passes away and you are not in the city". "He was all right when I left. I had gone to visit my parents' I said, My father had undergone a heart surgery and I went to visit him "You informed your friend about this visit" "Yes of course I said I just came back directly to this bar as I needed a drink after the long drive". "I am sorry for your friend's loss she said" its all right" I said.


 "Your friend seems to be very rich she continued" "He belongs to one of the richest families in this city" "and what about you I asked"? "I am from Bangalore came to your city for two days".

 " I too came directly to this place from my ex Boyfriend's office we had a showdown". "Breakup I asked". "Yes, she said "six months she said we were in a relationship and last month he broke up so I came to return his engagement Ring, also to give him a piece of my mind for Playing with my emotions. It was long-distance love, so it was bound to fail she said bitterly" "Ok, "she said collecting herself what about you where do you work"? I am working in a software company for the past five years" we have talked enough I said with a smile. Let's have lunch. I am feeling hungry" "ok, she said". I ordered lunch after which I asked her " you are booked in a hotel, "Yes she said in fact I came yesterday planned to leave today, but still am a bit depressed. I looked at her and said "If you want you can stay with me, you can vacate your room, pick up your luggage from the hotel, we both need a little bit of comfort I said. She stared at me then smiled and said "nothing to lose I too need company". Two hours later we were in my apartment. Relaxing after changing into More comfortable clothes "Ok I said after settling down. I will tell you all about Rishi and his family, First I will tell you about Raghuvansh that is Rishi's father, he was a dictator. His Wife his Daughter and Rishi lived in mortal fear of him. I Met Rishi when I got a job in the IT firm, I am working in. He was my senior in the company during our work I often interacted with him He never flaunted his wealth. It was much later that I knew how rich he was. It was then I asked him why he was working when he was so wealthy. It's my Dad's policy that I should know the importance of money he said after that I did not Raise the matter. 

One day he took me home to meet his family. It was the first time I was seeing his house and I was awestruck it was a huge mansion. I met his mother and sister Riya there was something in their eyes an expression of unhappiness or fear. I asked Rishi the reason for their unhappiness " "you noticed it well my father is a Tyrant, he uses my mother like a doormat.my sister is not allowed out of the house, her marriage is fixed with a person who is a known debauch,just because his father can further my Dad's political future, he is destroying my sister's future, he is not bothered about it.He paused then said,He beats both my mother and sister badly. "You mean to say he beats up your mother and sister I asked ? "Yes, he said my mother is always at the receiving end of his anger. One day I will kill him" It was the way he said it that sent a chill up my spine. "he continued, only his death will liberate us three.he said this without any remorse. Come on Rishi "I said you are joking" "I am not joking he said. I mean every word Just waiting for the right opportunity.I left after spending some more.I looked at Sheena, She was listening keenly to what I was saying you like to have a drink.I asked,"sure she said" I opened half bottle of whiskey which I kept in reserve, filling two glasses, I handed over a glass, She took a sip,and asked "Do you think that he finally killed him". "I too feel the same way".  I said "Our friendship continued but midway Rishi left his job,there was a grand farewell party, he told me his father wanted to groom him for politics. "Once a slave always a slave"he said, but even after he quit the job, we always met in the same bar, we were always in touch. Ok I said that is it about Rishi and his family. In the morning I said "I am going to meet him to offer my condolence "I will be back by afternoon,You can book your flight for the evening I will drop you at the Airport." For now, I will order dinner, we watched TV each to our thoughts,sipping our drinks,the dinner arrived. afterward, finishing our dinner, we wished each other and retired for the night. Early next morning, I got up Sheena was already awake made some tea she said. "I will have it after brushing my teeth. I asked her "you had a good night's sleep" yes, she said. good tea I said sipping it. "I will order breakfast once it came we both ate in silence, after finishing I got up and said I am leaving. You can just relax. I will be back as soon as possible, she nodded.one thing I told her "I wish I was there with Rishi and his family earlier" but I can tell you my feeling it was murder, she stared at me. I got into my car and started it. I reached Rishi's house and was allowed inside. Rishi was waiting for me we went into the living room,His mother was there "Mom look who is here "it's Shravan" Rishi said .His mom looked at me smiled and asked how are your parents'? "they are fine,I replied" .She was looking happy unlike a widow. "Ok Rishi said we will go into the study ,once inside the study, he went and sat on a chair my father's he said. Now it's mine" "I asked him how he did it ? He looked at me,then said "my father had come back on that day,It was about morning,he called mom in to the study, he always blamed her and best her up for his failures. but, this time we all three went in he looked at us in anger. he had already suffered one attack he had hypertension too. Our ideawas to provoke him into having a heart attack. Seeing us together, he became furious ,our plan also was to aggravate his condition, Mom went up to him and slapped him, he became apoplectic,his face became suffused with blood in fury. He tried to get up, but,I had positioned myself at the back of the chair. I pushed him back,then my sister came into the room she kicked him on his chest he lost his balance I moved away as the chair came crashing down along with him, he was dead from the shock and the impact of the fall.He might have suffered a Cardiac arrest by seeing our behaviour. I checked his pulse to make sure he was dead,all of us left the study leaving him lying there.


My mother after some time asked the maid, to call my father,we waited for her to scream when she saw my father's body. The scream was heard by everyone and the three of us acted as if we were shocked.later I announced to the media about my father's death from a heart attack ,then I called Satish his trusted man Friday and told him. Let me make one thing clear,I have no political ambition you will now be the next leader in my father's place. I had to manage him for he could ask uncomfortable questions, when I told him this.He did everything expect touch my feet call the media I will make the announcement about your succession, you take care of the funeral arrangement. Sure he said and left.Then I made my father's Doctor issue a press statement, that my father died due to heart attack because of stress everything was lapped up by everyone, his friend's, the media, he stopped talking, Now you know what happened". all this while I was listening in silence, you have nothing to say, he asked? "what should I say it's a Family matter I said" He nodded "Have lunch he said before you go,then his mother and sister came into the study, his mother said "I have to ask you something? What is it aunty I asked?I want to know if you are interested in marrying my daughter,Me I said totally at a loss to answer, I know it's kind of unexpected, but we feel you will be the right choice for Riya. Being such a good friend of Rishi.But her marriage is fixed I said.That marriage will be cancelled she said.have You asked Riya, I asked,yes, his mother said she has no objection,Then if she has no objection, I don't mind, but I must ask my parents.off course she said, then we are family now. after having lunch, I started back, reached home. Sheena was waiting for me, I asked her, had lunch, yes she said ,Just went around found a hotel. shall we start to the Airport. There was enough time for her flight, I drove the car, she asked me what happened at your friend place. I told her while driving it is not safe to talk. Once I park my car, I will tell you everything. After parking my car,at the airpor parking lot, I turned to her and said. "I was wrong it was not murder". "Good to hear that it was a natural death she said Thanks for everything. I really had a good time staying with you she said". She got out of the car. Oh, there is one more thing, I said,almost forgot to tell you. What is it She asked with a smile? I am marrying Rishi's sister"."What!she asked in surprise, when you left for their house there was no such proposal. "Well I said her mother asked if I was willing to marry her daughter,;and I said yes" "Good," she said from an outsider you have now become a family member. Congragulations". "Thanks I said". "Now the Family's secret is safe". "Family secret what secret I asked". Then she gave me a quick hug and started walking towards the entrance to the airport.I stared at her receding back. There was truth in what she said, I thought from an outsider Rishi had made me a family member to hide the family's secret. As an outsider, I was always a threat,Sheena understood, at the the entrance sheena turned towards me,and made a signal,mimicking a phone call and went inside the airport.I walked back to my car, as a saying by Jonathan swift the famous writer came to my mind "law is like a cobweb he had said. Which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets to pass through" . The smaller ones' get trapped" and I thought The Rich, the Powerful, and the Famous, get away with murder for they were the big insects and always Beyond Suspicion.


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