NEMESIS

Professor Arjun Shrivastava, I am sure you all remember him. The famous insane mathematical genius. The man who was an expert at breaking the most intricate codes and solving complex puzzles. The man who was also the most sadistic serial killer of his time. He enjoyed killing people to prove his point. Now, he was serving life in a maximum security prison where he rarely had any visitors except his lawyer. His lawyer was a slimy character who would defend even the devil if the price was right. It was through his lawyer that the good professor had learned of Police Officer Abhimanyu Pratap Singh’s new promotion and marriage. This had set in motion a plan in the professor’s brilliant mind that would change everyone’s lives. Especially, DCP Abhimanyu Pratap Singh’s life.

Every day, for an hour the professor, along with other inmates was taken out in the prison yard to get their muscles stretched. It was here that Professor Arjun Shrivastava hatched the plan to escape. The next day when Constable Hanumant Singh was on his way to deliver food to the professor, he was shocked to find that the professor was lying spread-eagled on the bed. There was no response or movement when he was called. Out of growing concern, Hanumant and the other constable went inside to check up on the immobile professor. The professor was waiting for this very moment. He jumped up like a cobra and took Hanumant in his vice-like grip. Before the other constable or Hanumant could realize what was happening, the professor broke Hanumant’s neck in one savage twist. He did the same with the other constable before he could raise the run and raise the alarm. The professor was indeed very strong. Years of physical exercise and hours spent in the gym had paid off well.

Then Professor Arjun donned the dead Hanumant’s clothes and easily walked out of the prison fooling everybody. Nobody had the slightest idea of what had transpired in their prison. It was only after Hanumant failed to appear before the warden when called; did then anyone realize that something was amiss.

Meanwhile, DCP Abhimanyu Pratap was unaware of this. He had resumed his vacation with his wife Priyanshi. News of the professor’s daring and audacious escape spread like wildfire. Headlines of all the major newspapers screamed “Dreaded Serial Killer Escapes from Maximum Security Prison.” It created a major furore in the police department. The public was again concerned for their safety. It was only when DCP Abhimanyu resumed his duties did he come to know about this.

“What!..…”

“When and how did this happen? He asked with growing alarm.

“3 days ago Sir.” came back the reply.

Abhimanyu knew that the first thing the professor would do was to look for revenge. As he had made his intentions subtly clear when he was being taken away. Abhimanyu also knew that the professor’s first targets would be all those people he believed were responsible for his incarceration. The professor would take pleasure in inflicting the same pain and suffering as he had undergone during his tenure in jail. Keeping this in mind, he immediately went to his superiors to ask for permission to track and recapture the professor.

“Why do you want to do this?” his superiors asked.

“Because I know Professor Arjun Shrivastava, Sir. I know how he thinks and operates.

However, his seniors were not convinced about this and asked him to wait for further instructions.

“Sir, with all due respect, the more time we spend on discussing, the more dangerous he will become, Sir” was the exasperated effort by DCP Abhimanyu.

His seniors were still not convinced.

Meanwhile, this news created a sensation among the general populace. However, there was one person who took an undue interest in this news. This prompted him to devise a plan that would take care of two birds with one stone. His intense desire to get revenge and see the other person get hunted down like a wild animal would be fulfilled at the same time. This man also knew that no one would suspect him. He now only had to find out certain things and then put his plan into motion.

Vivek Agnihotri was the sleazy lawyer I was talking about. He was the defence counsel for Professor Arjun Shrivastava. It was only due to his wily machinations of the judicial system that the professor had gotten a life term instead of capital punishment. He had just exited from one of his meetings with a client who was also one of the most notorious ‘Con Men’ of India. Assured of a handsome pay package, Vivek had in return assured the fraudster that he will not spend a day in jail. As he was making his way towards his car, he saw a man following him from a distance for the past 10 minutes. The man was wearing a cap pulled low over his head, thus covering most of his face. He was also wearing a face mask and sunglasses which covered his face completely. Vivek was about to unlock his door “Mr Vivek Agnihotri……” He turned around to face the man and as soon as he turned around the man shot him point blank and went off from there whistling. All of this had been captured in the CCTV camera installed a few feet away. Vivek never knew why had he been shot or who the man was. He lay there on the gravel with a startled expression on his face.

The media ran with the story “Dreaded Serial Killer Strikes Again.” The police department was again swamped with the sea of journalists from all over the country, asking all kinds of questions.

“You were right Abhimanyu.” His seniors remarked.

“The professor has made his first move.”

However, Abhimanyu this time was a bit unconvinced; as this was not the style of the professor. Also, he thought why he would kill the one person who was so useful to him.

His seniors must have read his thoughts and replied in unison “the professor killed his defence lawyer so that we could not get any information from him about the professor’s whereabouts, or his next move.”

“You are hereby officially given the task of tracking and if necessary, eliminating the professor.” His seniors instructed DCP Abhimanyu.

DCP Abhimanyu was somehow reluctant to acknowledge that the professor could be as sloppy as gunning down his lawyer. That too, in broad daylight and a public place; and that too, at a place where his actions are sure to get captured by the CCTV cameras.

He could only keep his thoughts to himself and proceeded to do as instructed.

During his investigation into Vivek’s death, he found out that Vivek was planning to double-cross both the professor and the fraudster. He was planning to turn into a government witness. So now the question was for DCP who would benefit the most from killing Vivek?

Meanwhile, Brijesh Kumar, one of the prime witnesses in the professor’s trial and prosecution was enjoying his evening in his favourite club on a Monday night. He was a regular guy there and everybody was on friendly terms with him. Brijesh was a mechanic by profession, and he had been the key witness whose testimony had sealed the fate of the professor. It was around 8:30 p.m. when Brijesh had to use the men’s room to relieve himself. He was humming a tune of a popular Bollywood number to himself when he saw a man enter the men’s room. He turned and gave a smile. The man smiled back. “What a track isn’t it?” Brijesh asked him. The man just politely nodded.

As Brijesh was done with his thing and was about to exit, he found a thin wire leash tightening around his neck. With that, he was pulled back violently. The leash kept on tightening, the more he tried to turn, the more it tightened. Brijesh tried to put up a resistance but could not as the force around his neck was choking all the air from him. His eyes started bulging out. It seemed that he could hear the rush of blood straight to his brain. It seemed that his brain would burst out. The pressure on the leash was relentless. Brijesh could not utter a single sound. He went down on one knee. The nerves on his face looked as if they were going to burst. After a few seconds, Brijesh knew that he was fighting a losing battle. His hands started going limp. His whole body started sagging and at last, fell on the floor dead as all the oxygen was drained out of his body. The man on the other end waited for a few seconds, then satisfied exited the men’s room as if nothing has happened. He quickly paid his bill and left the club.

DCP Abhimanyu rushed to the scene as soon as he heard the news of Brijesh’s death. He could not believe that another murder could take place within such a short span.

I mean you wouldn’t expect two murders to take within a gap of 5 days, right? That happens only in movies and mystery fiction.

“Professor Arjun Shrivastava Strikes Again!” screamed the headlines. “How many more lives have to be sacrificed before the Police awaken!” continued another headline. The opposition political parties had started enjoying the situation and there was intense pressure building up on the Home Ministry and the Police Department. This pressure was transferred to DCP Abhimanyu Pratap Singh.

Just like in Vivek’s murder, Abhimanyu was convinced that someone else is capitalizing on the professor’s escape and reputation. As the murders committed were not of the same class as that of the professor. Though, two people who were important in the professor’s trial were dead. The public, on the other hand, was in an uproar, they wanted paramilitary forces in the city till the killer was not caught.

The investigation intensified on a war footing. All the police informers and contacts in the underworld were put to work to find out about the professor’s whereabouts. The image of the masked killer was also being flashed continuously on TV screens and in newspapers every day.

Priyanshi, meanwhile also started feeling lonely and depressed. Being newly married and her husband being away from her was taking its toll. Abhimanyu also was under a lot of pressure but he had to accept that he had a moral and legal responsibility towards his profession and also towards the public. Though, Priyanshi understood this entirely; still wanted some company and was tired of being cooped up in the house all day.

One thing here I wanted to mention is that the killer was somehow leaving a message for DCP Abhimanyu in each of the murder scenes. However, the DCP was unable to get the message earlier. When he finally understood the message it would be too late for him and for the one person who meant the most to him as can be seen further.

Meanwhile, Professor Arjun Shrivastava was also curious and frustrated that all these murders were being attributed to him. He was more disgusted at the lack of panache and style of the murderer. So he thought he should jump in the fray and clear his name. The person he chose for doing this was a well-respected journalist and one whom the professor had thought of targeting earlier.

Tanya Paul was a well-respected journalist in the world of media. She had an impeccable style and flair that was both impressive and admirable in the world of news reporting. Tanya was one of the most sought-after and busy journalists and she was also busy investigating the whereabouts of the professor. One night, when Tanya was too tired from her work and wanted to just get to her house and flop down on the bed; she got a strange call on her phone, while in the office, asking her to meet. At first, Tanya thought of disconnecting the call, but the unknown caller just said “I know who is the murderer and where is the professor right now.” This prompted her to take an early leave from her office.

As she made her way towards her house she had an uncanny feeling that someone was there, naturally, she grew alarmed. She took out the pepper spray from her purse and clutched it tighter in her hands; as if it was the only line of defence she had if attacked.

As she entered and was about to switch on the light “Hello Ms Paul………. How are you?” she jumped at the voice. It made her flesh crawl as she had heard this voice before also. It was the kind of voice that she would never forget. She slowly turned back. The light of the table lamp was lit and in the shadows sat a man. Tanya could only gasp as she came face to face with Professor Arjun Shrivastava.

“No need to be afraid of me Ms Paul.” Assured the professor.

“How come you are here and what do you want from me?” Tanya apprehensively asked.

The professor could see the fear etched out on her face. He just smiled and once again said “as I said….. you don’t have to be afraid of me. If I had wanted to kill you; I would have done it a long time ago when we met for the first time.” Tanya could dreadfully recollect those days when she was just a fledgling reporter. Her first break had come when she got the assignment of interviewing the professor. She could still feel the goose bumps at the back of her neck. How suave and charming the professor was. Even though the professor was a prolific serial killer, Tanya had felt unnaturally drawn towards him. There was this kind of animal magnetism in his eyes and persona.

“Ms Paul are you still here?” She was brought out of her reverie with a jolt.

She concentrated on the professor. Her hidden hand still clutched the pepper spray tightly.

Professor Arjun said, “You can relax and keep the pepper spray with you.” She was surprised that how did he know she was clutching a pepper spray? This was the style of the professor.

“Anyways, getting to business, I have come here with an important task for you.” Tanya looked puzzled.

“I am being unnecessarily credited with all these latest murders. These are not my style and not my taste.” Tanya looked shocked at his frustration.

“I have, however, important information on who might be responsible for all these.” With that, he laid a file on the table in front of Tanya.

Tanya looked clueless and just stared at the file and back at the professor. “This file contains all the information that is important for finding the killer. You have to hand this over to DCP Abhimanyu Pratap Singh as soon as possible.” With that, the professor sat back on the chair.

Tanya gulped and took a look at the file. She was surprised to see that the file contained sensitive information. “How did you get hold of this?” she asked.

The professor just smiled and then got up.

“I am entrusting you to get this file over to the DCP. This time I am in a hurry.” He said gruffly.

While exiting Tanya’s house the professor turned around and gave a big wide grin and said “I had other plans for you, but if you don’t do as I ask; the next time I visit your place wouldn’t be a friendly call.” With that, the professor went out and vanished.

Tanya was stunned and sat back reeling from the horrible encounter. She went through the file a few minutes later. The more she read the file, the more stunned and shocked she became. She then immediately thought of informing DCP Abhimanyu Pratap Singh, but chose to wait for the morning.

It was unfortunately too late for Senior Inspector Karan Vohra. Inspector Karan was one of the officers involved in the arrest of Professor Arjun Shrivastava. He was now also involved in the biggest manhunt the police force has ever launched. As he was driving his vehicle to go back to his home at around 9:30 p.m., he stopped at an intersection. He had not noticed that a bike had been following him for a long time. So as he stopped at the traffic intersection, the bike gently glided to the driver's side window. Inspector Karan looked up and saw a man completely dressed in black, with the visor of the helmet drawn down waiting for the light to go green. The moment he turned his head straight ahead there was a gentle tap on the driver’s side window. Inspector Karan looked sideways and that was the last thing he ever did. He looked straight into the barrel of a revolver pointed straight at him. Before he could react, the man holding the revolver fired two shots point-blank at the inspector. The glass shattered and the bullet hit Inspector Karan on the forehead his head flew back with velocity and dropped on the horn. He did not get any opportunity to defend himself. The head struck the horn of the car which started honking incessantly. The man on the bike calmly revved his engine and moved as the light turned green. There were a few vehicles behind the inspector’s vehicle but before they could realize or react, the man had already made his exit from there.

Meanwhile, Tanya had straight gone to DCP Abhimanyu’s office the next morning and handed over the file to him. When Abhimanyu asked her “How did you get this file and what connection do you have to this investigation?” Tanya replied, “I am a journalist.” She also recounted the encounter she had the previous night. DCP Abhimanyu was shocked to hear this. Now he could slowly start making a connection in this investigation. The more he read the file he could get a fairly good idea of who might be behind all this.

Abhimanyu was stunned to read that this related to an old case of his. The person involved in the case had committed suicide in prison out of shame. Her husband was devastated and was completely broken by this. The husband had loved his wife dearly. This shocking revelation also helped understand Abhimanyu that all these murders were taking place just to get back at him. It was a message which now slowly became clear to him. It meant “No one is safe and I can reach you anytime I want.” Now Abhimanyu understood that all the victims in these murders were people whom he knew, or had a close relationship with. For instance, the primary witness and the senior inspector. He also understood that the next victim would be someone who had the most important role in this case. This way the killer was trying to get rid of his competition and also to prove that he was the ‘Alpha’, the ‘real deal’ in the world of crime. Abhimanyu also now knew who would be the next target so he started making preparations in advance.

The police had now intensified their investigation with this newfound information. All the informers were being pushed to get some information about the whereabouts of the killer. All the seedy bars and clubs were being raided. Images of the CCTV footage were constantly being flashed on the television screens every night. All the newspapers were now alerting the citizens to be more careful and advising them to be on the lookout for any suspicious person.

The killer, on the other hand, was slowly realizing that his next intended victim would now be more alert. The police would also be protecting him. Retired Honourable Justice Rakesh Sharma was the killer’s next target. Justice Sharma was the one who had finally sealed Professor Arjun Shrivastava’s fate.

When the killer knew that he could not get to his next victim he undertook a step which would deeply affect DCP Abhimanyu Pratap Singh throughout his life. DCP Abhimanyu had made all the necessary arrangements to ensure that the retired judge gets enough police protection. While busy arranging all this he got a call on his cell phone. The caller ID was of unknown origin. “You must be glad of yourself.” a deep voice drawled on the phone. Abhimanyu could make out that the sound was altered. Today, you can get such technological devices which help you to change your voice, face etc.

“Who is this and how did you get this number?” he asked.

The voice on the other end kept quiet for a few seconds and then said

“You will regret this.”

 

“The world will soon know who I am.”

With that, the call got disconnected. Abhimanyu immediately ordered a trace on the call; though he knew that it would be an exercise in futility. Anyways, he resumed his attention to the immediate task ahead.

Priyanshi, meanwhile, had been bored to death sitting cooped up in the house. So she had arranged for a few of her friends to come to pick her up and go shopping. It would be a day of fun and enjoyment she had hoped. Indeed, it was a day of fun and enjoyment for Priyanshi and her friends. The girls had a heavy breakfast in Domino’s, and then they had gone and did some shopping and afterwards watched a thriller movie. Priyanshi was having the most fun as she had gone out after a long time. As the day turned to dusk, Priyanshi and her friends returned to the city mall for one last shopping spree. It was in one of the trial rooms of one of the branded fashion outfits that Priyanshi made one last trial of a dress, and then she disappeared. After some time had passed and there was still no sign of Priyanshi. Her friends got worried and called her. There was no response. Her cell phone was also switched off. It was getting frustrating for her friends as they asked around the store. They questioned the staff, and the manager of the store whether they had seen anyone like Priyanshi leaving their store. They got a negative response from everyone. In this panic, they completely ignored a man dressed in housekeeping staff, with his cap pulled over his face and his head bowed dead glide past them with a big disposal waste cart on wheels. Her friends hurriedly called Abhimanyu.

“What!” was the first reaction.

“Where did she go?”

“Have you checked the store?”

“Have you tried her phone?”

These were the first things which Abhimanyu asked her friends. When they said that they had tried everything but there was no response from her phone and no clue of her whereabouts, Abhimanyu grew alarmed.

“Wait there I am coming.” He ordered them.

He immediately rushed to that shopping mall and ordered all the exits sealed. He then started interrogating all the staff members of the fashion apparel store. He also tried calling Priyanshi’s number a lot of times but there was no answer.

When news of Priyanshi’s mysterious disappearance reached Police Headquarters, they immediately put out an APB on all the checkpoints and ordered a thorough search of all the vehicles. Everyone was stunned and taken aback by this sudden news. However, the killer was now far away from the clutches of the authorities. He had also realized that it would be a matter of days before his game would be over. He also had a growing concern that the professor was also looking for him. So he planned a final grand spectacle. It would be so spectacular that the whole world would remember him for an eternity. It would also be the befitting revenge on DCP Abhimanyu Pratap Singh.

Days passed and there was no clue of Priyanshi’s whereabouts. Abhimanyu felt as if the ground underneath his feet had slipped away. He could not properly focus on his tasks. It was right now all the more important as he had to catch the killer and also track the professor and bring him to justice. This sudden disappearance of his wife was taking its toll on his mental faculties. Then one day, he got a call.

“Do you wish to meet your wife?” the same deep drawl asked.

“Yes, and whoever you are, I will catch you and kill you myself,” Abhimanyu yelled.

“Hahahahahahaha…………..Come to the farmhouse outside the city tomorrow.” The voice ordered Abhimanyu.

“One thing I forgot, don’t try to act over smart.” The voice continued before disconnecting.

Abhimanyu was now really worried about his wife’s safety.

He decided to go all alone to the designated farmhouse. He knew that sign of police would precipitate the kidnapper to take drastic steps. So he chose not to inform the police.

The police department however had put a listening device in Abhimanyu’s phone and had heard the entire conversation. So they decided to follow him from a discreet distance.

Abhimanyu was apprehensive throughout the drive to the abandoned farmhouse. He knew he could not provoke the kidnapper into taking any hasty steps. As he reached the farmhouse, he noticed there were a lot of petrol cans kept near small sheds near the old, big and dilapidated building. He made his inside the building. He could smell the petrol here also. At first, he kept on looking here and there. Then the killer called him and said “come straight ahead DCP.” Abhimanyu did as was instructed. Here he saw the beloved love of his life tied to a chair. Priyanshi had been crying and all her makeup had come off. Apart from that, there were no signs of any kind of assault on her body. The killer looked at Abhimanyu and back at Priyanshi.

“You must love your wife. That’s why you came all alone.” He remarked.

Abhimanyu did not say anything.

“You cannot bear to see any kind of pain or injury inflicted on your wife, isn’t it DCP?” The killer continued.

Seeing Abhimanyu keeping silent the killer went on “I also loved my wife dearly. Ritu was the light of my life. She was such an innocent nice lady. She was a bit fragile so she had to be taken care of like a baby” The killer kept on saying all of this while Abhimanyu just kept quiet. The backup police force had also arrived at the scene and was waiting for the opportune time for a rescue.

Abhimanyu “Amit, I know how you must be feeling. I am sorry but your wife Ritu had committed murder. She was a criminal. Though she was not well she had to be kept in a safe place for her safety and the safety of the public.” Abhimanyu offered in a sympathetic tone.

“I am a police officer and it was my duty to arrest her. I was only doing my job you know.”

He continued.

The killer just laughed and then took off his mask which he had been wearing all this time.

“So now you know who I am? Yes, it had been me who was behind all these killings.”

“I wanted to get back at you.”

“It was because of you that Ritu committed suicide in jail.”

Abhimanyu kept quiet.

The killer grew more furious at Abhimanyu’s silence. He said “ it seems that you don’t love your wife anymore. If you had loved your wife, you would have been begging for her life to be spared.”

The killer then took out a lighter and said “as you can see the whole area is littered with petrol and I have decided that you should also go through the same pain and suffering as I have gone all these years.”

Abhimanyu grew alarmed. He took out his revolver and warned “don’t do anything stupid, Amit.”

Amit just laughed and said, “Now you would have to live with the guilt and pain that you should have done something to save your wife, but couldn’t do anything.”

With that, he lit the lighter and threw it at Priyanshi who was drenched in petrol. She instantly burst into flames and screamed

“Abhimanyu………………….Help…………….Help…….”

Abhimanyu spontaneously fired and hit Amit straight in the heart. He fell dead on the spot. However, the blaze was out of control. The police backup force was also unable to reach Priyanshi because of this reason. Priyanshi screamed for one last time “Save me, Abhimanyu………………………….” Abhimanyu could not do anything but just watch as a silent mute witness as his wife was burnt alive. He stood frozen on the spot, unable to do anything.

It took a considerable amount of time for the fire department to extinguish the fires but it was, unfortunately too late for Priyanshi. Everyone was shaken and taken aback at this sudden assault and death of a beautiful girl. This beautiful girl was also the newlywed wife of DCP Abhimanyu Pratap Singh.

Abhimanyu kept his emotions in check and calmly gave his resignation on the spot and went away with the charred remains of his beloved wife.