Five Faces - Part ten

Chapter - 10

Tripti went to Shantanu's house. It was locked. She understood that he had already reached Arunesh's house.

She called Amit. 

"Hello, Amit. Shantanu is not at his house. He must have reached Arunesh's house. Also, he is not picking up my calls." she said

"Go to Arunesh's house. If Shantanu asks how did you find out about him, tell him that you went to his office and the security guard told you about Arunesh so you went there to meet him." Amit said

"Fine. And where are you ?" she said

"Trying to find culprits" he said

Tripti went to Arunesh's house. Huge crowd had gathered there. The place looked horrible. His wife and children were crying and screaming. Many people were talking about how good he was and how much he helped people around him. Tripti spotted Shantanu and went towards him.

Shantanu noticed her.

"How did you come here ?" he asked.

"You were not picking up my calls so I went to your office and there I got to know about Arunesh's sudden demise. Whatever happened is truly heartbreaking." she said

"Yes. Yesterday only we were talking about this and now look what happened. How can anyone be so cruel ? He was such a nice human being." he said with tears in his eyes.

"What do you mean ? Is it a murder ?" she asked

"Of course it is. He was given insulin overdose." he said

"Oh. Who gave him that ?" she asked 

"Police are still trying to find out. But I know who that person could be. No one can do this except Saanya. I'm scared I'll be next." he said

"No. Nothing will happen. Your ex-wife is a police officer." she said

Shantanu looked at her. He held her hand.

"Thank you. Please don't leave me alone." he said

"I won't." she said

"Do you think I should leave this country ?" he asked

"Your friends in other countries were also killed. So, changing the country is of no use. Just be careful. Don't get any house workers from now onwards and also don't trust any stranger easily from now onwards. Also, if there is something you know about why these killings are done then please let me know." she said

"Yes. I'll be careful. And yes there is something that I know and I'll tell you that once we go home." he said

"Finally he is going to reveal something." Tripti thought. 

They were there until all the ceremonies were done. Tripti was getting bored but she had to be there to protect Shantanu. In the evening they finally proceeded towards Shantanu's home. 

Tripti got a call from Amit.

"Hey" he said enthusiastically.

"Hey" she said

"I'm sending you an address. Come there, I have a surprise for you." he said.

"What surprise ? Tell me on the phone. I can't come, you have told me to be with Shantanu. So, I am going to his house with him. He is scared." she said

"You don't have to stay at his home at night. Also, his life isn't in danger anymore. Make some excuse and come back." he said

"You are so unpredictable." she said

"Come soon." he said

Tripti went to Shantanu's house. They had dinner together. After dinner she told him - "I'll have to go because one of my friends is sick." she said

"Which friend ? Do you even know someone in Amsterdam?" he asked

"Yes. My friend Amita. We came together to Amsterdam. She came to meet her cousin and I came to meet you. But I just got a message that she is sick so I'll have to go immediately." she said

"Oh. I'll also come with you." Shantanu said

"No, no need to come. She is not hospitalized. She is in our hotel suite. I'll just go and take care of her and make sure she is fine. I'll meet you tomorrow." she said

"And what about me ? You said you will stay with me. What if someone tries to kill me today ?" he asked.

"Nothing will happen. Just don't let anyone come inside your house until I come back. Your house is in a crowded area so no one would try to break into your house. Because if they do so they will be easily caught. Also, Saanya has not come after Arunesh's death. Even if she comes, don't let her come inside the house. That's it. Nothing will happen, believe me. Also, you were going to tell me something. What was that ? " she asked

"Nothing much. Will tell you tomorrow then." he said

"No, I can wait for some more time. Tell me." she said

"Nothing serious. You should go. Your friend must be waiting." he said

"I'm sorry Shantanu. I promise I'll come back tomorrow." she said

"It is fine." he said

She went towards the door just when he asked her "Wait, you said your friend has come to meet her cousin. Then why isn't she at her cousin's house ? Why is she staying with you at the hotel ?

"Why is he behaving like a detective ?" she thought. 

"Because her cousin works 18 hours a day. She meets her only for 1-2 hour. She would be bored at her house so she decided to stay with me at a hotel. You know how workaholic some people are. Her cousin is one such person." she lied hoping he would buy it and not ask any other question. 

"Fine. Whatever. Take care and meet me soon in the morning." he said

Tripti went outside then came back and hugged him.

"What happened ?" Shantanu asked.

"Nothing." she said and went outside. Shantanu was glad that she was still so much worried about him.

Tripti reached the address that Amit had sent her. It was a farmhouse on the outskirts of the city. Her car entered the gate. There was a huge garden on both sides of the pavement. She pressed the doorbell. Amit opened the door. 

"What's this place ?" she asked

"Come inside." he said

She went inside. The house was a beautiful one. 

"Why do you look so tired ?" he asked

"It was an exhausting day. Don't ask many questions and tell me what are we doing here." she said 

"Come. I have a surprise for you." he said

He took her to the basement. There was a door in the basement. 

"Open it and go inside" he told her.

"Wait. Are you proposing to me ? We are here to solve a case, Amit." she said

"What is wrong with you ? You always have to say something unpredictable. I'm not proposing to you. Just shut up and go inside." he said while still thinking about what she just said

Tripti opened the door and what she saw shocked her.

A guy and a girl were tied by a rope on a chair. Their mouths were also tied by a handkerchief. 

"What's this ?" she asked 

"Murderers. I've caught the murderers, finally. These two thought that they can outsmart police. But we have proved that nothing is impossible. We have caught the culprits." he said

"How can you be so sure ?" she asked

He took her near a table. See these fake documents. Shabana, Manjiri, Saanya all fake names. Her real name is Adisha and he is Dev. Don't know if these names are also real or not. Also, see these wigs, different coloured eye lenses and all these makeup kits." he said

Tomorrow we will handover them to local police after telling about them to media." he said

"But it would be better if you confess it yourself that why did you do all these before the police get it out of you after third degree torture." he said while slapping the guy.

The guy didn't move an inch. 

"I'm trying to get it out from him but he is not saying anything. You beat her. May be then they will speak something." he said

"What ? Me ?" she asked

"Of course. I can't raise hand on her. You are a police officer. It is not hard for you. Get the truth out of her." he said

Tripti gathered the courage and slapped her many times and asked her to tell the truth. Adisha did not say anything. Dev looked angrily at Tripti. Amit saw that and slapped him again. 

Even after a lot of torture they did not say anything. 

"Fine. Let's go Tripti. Let's have some food. Let them stay thirsty and hungry tonight may be then they will speak up." he said

Amit and Tripti went out.

Amit served her dinner. He had brought local cuisine from a fine restaurant. He started eating. He noticed that Tripti was not eating properly. 

"What happened?" he asked

"We should give them food, Amit. You have caught the criminal. Your duty is to prove the crime and put them in jail or to kill them. We should not incur sin by being torturous." she said

"They have killed so many people. What about their family ? Wasn't it tortorous for them ? he asked.

"Of course it was. But if we do the same thing then what is the difference between them and us. Even in jail, the prisoners get food. We have done our duty. Now, let police and judiciary system handle it further." she said

"Whatever. I'm not going to give them anything. If you want you can go." he said

"Thank you" she said

They had their dinner. Tripti took two plates to basement while Amit cleaned the dinner table and utensils.

"By the way there is only one room in this house except basement room. There is a gym and a theatre. If you want I'll sleep in living room." he said

"No, it is fine." she said and went to basement.

She came back after half an hour. She went into a bedroom. Amit was talking to his senior on phone and he was telling him that he had caught the criminals and will hand over them to media and police tomorrow. 

She sat with him. 

"How did you catch them ?" she asked him after he finished his phone call.

"I checked the CCTV near the area when I had last followed Saanya. I spotted her. She looked different. She had changed her look and also a guy was with her. I guessed that it was her because of her height and the way she walked as I had closely followed her yesterday. They were seen sitting in a cab. I copied the number and sent it to my police friend. He sent me the number of the car driver. I called him and found out where he had dropped them. He told me that he dropped them at a restaurant near airport. I reached there immediately. The guy went towards washroom. I went behind him and put a gun on his back. I told him to move silently and do as I say otherwise he'll be killed. He moved silently towards my car and sat inside it. I tied him. Then I went in the restaurant and told the girl to come with me if she wants to see her friend alive who was with me now. She followed. Then I came here at my friend's farmhouse so that we can easily interrogate them and they can't run away easily." he concluded.

"You are very smart." she said

"Thank you. By the way why did you think that I was going to propose you when I told you to go inside that room ? he asked

"Just like that. I say whatever comes to my mind. Don't take it too seriously." she said

"Are you sure ? Or do you want me to propose you ?" he asked teasingly.

"Shut up. Also, the case will be over tomorrow. You will be promoted in London and I'll be in India. So, let's end the topic here." she said

"Will you go back to India? I thought you wanted to stay here. Don't you want to reconcile with your ex-husband ?" he asked teasingly 

"Good night" she said and went to sleep.

"By the way I have saved your ex-husband. There is a word called thank you. Just wanted to let you know about it if you have not heard about it." he said

She did not reply.

Amit slept after sometime. It was midnight when Amit got a phone call. It was an international number. Amit picked up the call.

"Hello." he said

"Where's Dev ?" A man asked 

"Who are you ?" Amit asked

"Don't you know me ? I'm Zafar from Dubai." he said

Amit was shocked. He had heard that name. Zafar was an infamous smuggler in Mumbai. He was involved in all sorts of illegal activities and was in Dubai from last few years. Amit had read about him in newspapers.

"How do you know about Dev ?" he asked.

Tripti was also awake now because of the noise. Amit kept the phone on speaker. And whatever Zafar said after that shocked Tripti and Amit. 

"What has Zafar said ? What will happen with Adisha and Dev now ? What is the motive behind these murders ? What truth is Shantanu hiding from Tripti ? Stay tuned to know more…