Heal

DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING STORY IS PURELY FICTIONAL AND ALL CHARACTERS ARE AUTHOR’S CREATIVITY. THE DATA ENLISTED ARE ALSO FICTIONAL.

…

SETTING: TAMIL NADU 

YEAR: 2018

“Sir, sir please help my daughters,” A mother holds the legs of the cops as she cries inconsolably, yearning for help. Her daughters had been admitted to the hospital and had been diagnosed that they have lost their virginity. A clueless mother who thought that their daughters had always been safe with her and her husband in their little cottage house wept so much even her husband couldn’t control her. He had no choice but to go to the police station as she kept demanding.

“They were young, Raghav! And those merciless imps decided to lay hands on our daughters…whoever did it won’t die a peaceful death I swear!” Lalitha hugs her husband’s arms as he hugged her back, reciprocating her grief.

“And Renu has been reported to be pregnant already…with that beast’s child! She is just 8 years old…and the doctors say it was always possible. But why my daughter? Our daughter!” Lalitha kept sobbing.

“The cops are too busy to help us, Lalitha,” Raghav points to the cops sipping tea and puffing cigarettes. 

“Sir, please!” Lalitha tries to beg again, but the cop pushes away.

“Can’t you see we are busy, woman!” The constable pushed her away.

An Inspector witnessed the scene from his office and calls the constable.

“What’s the issue, Selvam?” The Inspector asks, looking at the commotion.

Selvam explained Lalitha’s situation. The Inspector looks surprised at the unusual case. He closes his files and makes his way to Lalitha

“Lalitha Kumari Raghav?” He bends to the crying woman on the floor, and Lalitha frantically nods a yes.

“I’m Inspector Raj, and I will be handling your case.” Lalitha holds is legs gratefully.

“I will never forget this, sir!” Lalitha wept as Raj helped her get up.

“We will start by daybreak tomorrow. Please go get rest.” Raj arranged for a Jeep to take Raghav and Lalitha home.

… 

It’s early dawn and Raj is already at Lalitha’s place. Lalitha served his tea as Raj enquired Raghav.

“When did all of this happen, Raghav?”

“It was still school hours when Renu, my older daughter had suddenly fainted. They just thought it was a case of dehydration but she wouldn’t wake up even after spraying water. The scared authorities rushed her to the nearby hospital along with her sister to company her. That’s when they had diagnosed her. They wanted to check with my younger daughter too, and their horrors came true.. Renu and Malavika were both pregnant.” Raghav, not able to hold his tears longer enough, burst out, sharing grief with Lalitha.

“I wanted to stay strong for Lalitha… so I tried not to cry but I can’t hold it, sir! They were my beautiful young daughters, sir!!” Raghav cried as he hugged an inconsolable Lalitha.

“No, please it will all end once I apprehend that criminal. He won’t die so peacefully, I promise you” Raj pats his shoulder.

“Are Renu and Malavika here?” Raj asks curiously as Lalitha nods.

Raj makes his way through the room. He spots Renu and Malavika silently colouring on paper, still emotionless faces with staring eyes.

“Renu, Malavika this is-“ Raj stops Lalitha from introducing.

“Renu, Malavika, hi, I’m uncle Raj here,” Raj smiles as he sits beside the children. The kids stare lifeless.

“They always used to jump in joy when they meet someone new,” Lalitha sobbed as she rushed outside.

“Renu, Malavika, I’m going to ask you a few questions, answer bravely, okay?” Raj pulls his writing pad and pen.

“Do you suspect or know anyone from school who did this to you?” Raj asks, but both the sisters stay still.

“If you are afraid to talk, you can just shake a yes or no.” Both the sisters shake a no.

“So you know the person?” Raj asks curiously. But both the sisters remain quiet.

“I need you both to speak, ok? Uncle will catch the bad guy and punish him. Does that sound good?” Raj smiles. But still, the sisters don’t open their mouths.

“I think you aren’t ready to open. I won’t bother you. You need time I understand. I will ask the school just in case, don’t worry.” Raj takes his pad and walks away, meeting Lalitha at the doorstep.

“I have to enquire the school. They aren’t ready for this. They are kids, after all.” Raj sighs as Lalitha weeps.

“Please help us, sir,” Lalitha managed to mutter through her sobs as Raj consoles her.

… 

SITA-RAMA VILLAGE SCHOOL 

“I need to investigate about the Sisters’, I need all their teachers to assemble.” Raj requests the Principal who arranged for them instantly.

 

Ms. Rita Kumar, science teacher

“I am Renu’s science teacher and she is an exceptional student. I never noticed anything strange about her until the past few weeks. She had always been tense, feeling uneasy, disturbed, unsure. It was not the Renu we always knew. When the hospital results came out, we were all equally shocked and confused. Renu was definitely not that type of girl, we could strongly assure. She’s a mere kid, that little girl.”

 

Mrs. Lakshmi, English teacher

My husband and I had recently transferred to Chennai due to my husband’s job as an IT employee. I joined as an English teacher here just a year young. But I had gotten accustomed with my students and I definitely knew Malavika well by then. Cute and innocent 5 year old. She is still in her first grade and this had to happen. God show mercy on that kid

Mr. Krish, Arts and Craft teacher

Renu was a very innocent child. She is just 8 years old. She was passionate to Arts and Craft, always showed her interest in colouring. She was very fond of bright colours. But recently the past few weeks she started using more dull colours than usual. Sir and art speaks the emotion, even for a silent kid. When the hospital results came out, it spoke her eerie behaviour 

Like so, Raj enquired all the teachers’ alibis and felt no wrong in them… it was solid. Raj removed the school from his list. It was time to enquire the family relatives.

…

COTTAGE HOUSE

“Did any relatives pay you a short visit?” Raj asks Lalitha who tries to recollect, but shakes a no.

“My brother had come over and stayed for a short period.” Raghav declared, as Lalitha stared.

“But he wasn’t here at home! And I thought you were not on same page with your brother?” Lalitha asked, confused.

“He had mortgaged his house and wanted to stay at our place for a night’s time, till a found another place to rent for the time being. He didn’t want you to know.” Raghav revealed.

Both Lalitha and Raj stared at each other, thinking the same.

“It was your brother,” Raj concluded.

“Are you serious? He’s my brother! He wouldn’t do such a thing!” Raghav yells, tears in his eyes.

“Where is your brother now?” Raj asks.

“He had rented a lodge nearby, I don’t know which one,” Raghav scratches his head.

“Let’s inspect the lodges then!” Lalitha yells frantic.

Raj sighs dejectedly, pulls his handcuffs and apprehends Raghav.

“W-What are you doing?! Are you insane, cop!?” Raghav tried to push him away.

“You are under arrest for murder and rape, Karthik.” Raj declared to an astonished Lalitha.

Karthik smiles. “Well played, cop,”

THAT PAST WEEK 

Both Karthik and Raghav were twin brothers. Karthik had just secured the job as an employee at Luxor company, and was expecting a raise soon. Karthik was a frequent visitor to Raghav’s place. When Karthik heard that Raghav had secured the Manager position at his own company, jealousy had gotten him. He had strived to earn his place and Raghav gained it just because he was better at it than him.

Karthik sought for revenge by trying to set his family in trouble or uneasy luck. He aimed for his daughters, Renu and Malavika as an easy target. Karthik arrived at Raghav’s place at the dead of night and requested a place to stay, claiming he was in a tough situation as he mortgaged his house and had to rent a place soon tomorrow. Taking pity on his brother, Raghav let him in.

“Lalitha is at her mother’s place for a few days.” He informs assuming Karthik’s searching look “You can sleep in the attic for tonight. We haven’t got much ourselves, but I will make this a better place soon,” Raghav smiles to himself as he leaves Karthik alone.

A few moments later, like a tiger waiting to catch its prey, Karthik climbed down the attic, taking soft steps to avoid creaks. Finally getting his way to the girls’ bedroom, Karthik decided to do the worst possible. Renu and Malavika started to whine loudly, alerting Raghav. Raghav rushed to the girls place, startled at the circumstance. Enraged, he got hold of Karthik, banged his head against the cupboard, as he groaned. Rushing to his daughters, he wrapped them in a blanket, unsure and clueless of what to do. He began to cry.

“YOU BLOODY BASTARD!” He grabbed Karthik and threw him against the mirror “They are just kids!!”

“I like this..” Karthik smiled “I like seeing you in trouble.,” 

“YOU DEVIL!” Raghav tried to hit him again, but Karthik takes a pen from his pocket and stabs his neck. Raghav lies on the ground, lifeless.

“DIE YOU BLOODY B*” Karthik yells as the daughters stare in shock, as if their life had been taken away.

“Now, you two, do as I say if you want to live,” Karthik resumed.

… 

Lalitha was in tears. This wasn’t her husband at all. It was his twin brother.

“Why did you do this to my daughters?” Lalitha sobbed as she muttered.

“I wanted peril in your bloody family. Your life seemed so perfect and simple and peaceful. I had to always struggle for everything. I knew the cause: it was my brother. I had to get rid of him. I got the perfect opportunity.” Karthik smirked.

“You won’t be smiling much once I send you to the largest prison in India” Raj says, apprehending him to the jeep. Renu and Malavika were witnessing the whole scene and smiled for the first time.

Both of them hugged Raj who reciprocated back, smiling.

“Remember, it was never your fault.” Raj advices as he gets on the jeep. Both the sisters smile at each other.

As the jeep leaves, Lalitha hugged her daughters.

“What now, mum?” Malavika asks. Lalitha smiles.

“We have to move on.” Lalitha remarks, beaming with peace at last.

… 

A WOLF CAN HIDE IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING