REVATHI BHASKER

Thriller Others

4  

REVATHI BHASKER

Thriller Others

The Choker

The Choker

9 mins
377


Preeti’s phone was continuously busy ever since the news was flashed on television: “Woman chokes to death on birthday”. The news also carried photographs of Preeti’s aunt, Kanti who had turned eighty just the previous day. Preeti had the same answer to all the relatives and friends that, yes, her aunt had in fact choked on a diamond chain that she wore the previous night at her birthday party and that the tragedy occurred in her sleep.

The media was blaring this news since 6 a.m., and showing the chain from all angles. Kanti was also shown, smiling her best smile wearing the precious diamond chain. It could not be called a choker necklace but was a short chain. Kanti had herself chosen the design and was very excited to wear it as soon as it was bought. Preeti had suggested that she could wear it on her birthday which was just a week away. This news had reached the media person, who made a story of it saying, “Niece suggested to aunt to wear the new chain on her birthday” and went on to elaborate that probably she would not have met her end if she had worn it earlier.

Preeti had got sick of it but she had to face all the calls. She was living with her widowed aunt, a dowager ever since she returned from the US having been awarded a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She wished to set up her own consultancy, but her only aunt wished that she should come and stay with her. Kanti lived in a small town where there was little or no scope for Preeti to set up her clinic. She consented to reside with Kanti for two reasons: the pandemic had posed a threat to her starting private practice and she owed it to her aunt who had brought her up when her parents separated and went their ways leaving her in Kanti’s care. Kanti had been widowed very early and was living all alone. 

Kanti had inherited a lot of estate on the demise of her husband who was a zamindar. She had a whole horde of servants but she longed to be with family and when Preeti completed her education, she was looking forward to being with her. She fussed on her to a fault. Preeti was not used to be doted upon since she was in the US and felt that her aunt was not giving her space at all. Further, she was disappointed in that she could not pursue her career, but on the contrary had to lead a sedentary life indoors. Girls in her age group who were her childhood friends had married and relocated and she felt lonely. The internet connectivity too was erratic and she could not download any files without disruption. All said and done, she was not at all comfortable back home and longed to go back to the US and settle down there.

Of late, Kanti seemed to suffer from periodic memory loss. Sometimes she was very alert and at others, she would keep asking questions repeatedly, annoying Preeti no end. She had lately started yearning for new and latest kinds of jewellery, particularly diamond studded necklaces and chains. Preeti tried to explain to her that she already had a large and exclusive collection of precious jewellery of which she even had no count, but Kanti thought otherwise. “I must have that emerald set which was advertised last evening on TV”, she said. “What am I going to do with such large bank balances? At least before my last breath, let me indulge in shopping what I wish”, she said and asked Preeti to get ready immediately.

Not wanting to argue any further, Preeti did as she was told and both of them got into the car and were driven to the newest opened jewellery showroom. After spending an hour there, she finally made up her mind and purchased a diamond chain and two sets – one of pearl and the other of emeralds. On reaching home, she was all excited to wear each of them one after another, but Preeti pointed out that she could wear them on her birthday which was fast approaching. As she too was exhausted, she put them away and after an early dinner, went to bed.

As it was Kanti’s milestone birthday, Preeti had to get things organized for a lavish party. The cream of society had to be invited, the menu drawn up, games planned, music band arranged and return gifts ordered… the list went on. In one way, she felt happy that she had something on her hands to keep her busy.

As the day dawned, Preeti had been stressed out no end. Kanti had desired that Preeti’s best birthday gift to her would be a three-tiered eggless cake personally baked by her. Lest there be any delay in getting it ready, she took it up as her very first job for the day. She kept a constant eye on the oven so that it would be just perfect. Amid her several chores, she took out the cake at the right time and set it to cool.

She made a strong cup of coffee for Kanti and went to her room. Kanti was up and dressed in her finery and had set out all her three new sets and was deciding which she should wear. Preeti was amused seeing the child-like glee on her face.    

She held out the coffee cup but Kanti’s attention was all focused on the necklaces. She had taken out matching sarees and had not decided the sequence in which to wear them. As she picked up the emerald green sari, she accidentally pushed the coffee cup and all the coffee got spilled on the pure white sari which would match her pearls! Without batting an eyelid, she stretched out her arm and planted a sharp slap on Preeti’s cheek.

Preeti was taken aback. She least expected it and in a fraction of a second, several emotions ran through her. Fortunately, there was no one else in the room. Kanti did not seem to repent in the least but went on to admonish Preeti. With a great deal of difficulty, Preeti swallowed her pride and pretended to be normal. Before Kanti could say anything, she picked up the phone and ordered an identical pure white silk for Kanti to wear during lunch.

She went out of the room and her mind got engaged in a number of things but at the back of it all, there was an ache, an inexplicable feeling - was it hatred? Could it be disgust? Helplessness? Despair? Frustration?... or all of these and much more?

The clinical analyst in her had given up critically diagnosing herself. She was fed up, to say the least. She had earned a good reputation for herself and had also earned enough to be on her own. She had her life ahead of her and if she could get back to the US where she felt she belonged, there were banks to help her out in settling down. She could lead an ordinary happy life and not be bothered about the garish display of zamindari descent.

Post lunch, she spent on icing the cake, an art which she had perfected. Once done, she heaved a sigh of relief. There were servants now to execute all her meticulous plans and see that the party went off well. She was confident that it would be the talk of the town for the amount of time and effort she had put in it.

Around 5.30 in the evening, she looked up her aunt to see if she was still in a foul mood. The white silk sari had arrived in time and was the saving grace. Kanti had draped herself in a sequined black sari which matched the diamonds around her neck. Preeti marvelled at the interest she showed in dressing up. 

Guests began trickling in from 6.30 p.m., and Kanti was on cloud nine. She had shed all inhibitions and was also ready to pick up a glass of red wine. By the time the party reached its crescendo, she was quite high as she had chosen to give her friend company with tequila shots. 

Preeti had still not come to terms with herself or her aunt and though outwardly everything seemed fine, there was something gnawing within her. Around 10 p.m., the party got over but not before the guests had a swell time and left laden with gifts. Two of the housemaids had to escort Kanti to her room where they made her change into a nightgown and put her on the bed.

The next morning, Preeti was woken up by a lot of commotion in the house and the maid came to wake her up. Buaji had choked herself on her diamonds, she said. The doctor was on the way and so were the police. A couple of OB vans and cameramen running here and there signified the presence of media too. Mobiles and landlines were continuously busy and the world was waking up to the news that a dowager choked on her diamonds on her 80th birthday.

Preeti kept her calm and was answering all queries. As there was no one else to wait for, the obsequies were to take place once the requisite certificates were obtained. The media was curious to know what Preeti would inherit. They kept on ranting about the bizarre and freak incident.

It was 4 in the evening when the rites were over and Preeti had time for herself. It was also around that time when Durga, Kanti’s trusted maid returned from her home town. She had gone a couple of days back as her father was ill and wished to come back for Madam’s birthday, but had been delayed. She had been perturbed hearing the news of Kanti.

One look at Preeti and Durga concluded that her Madam had not died a natural though unusual death. Being a localite and one in the employ of a zamindar’s family for several years, it did not take her long to call the police inspector home.

She placed before him her suspicions and asked him to interrogate Preeti, who was caught off-guard. She did not know how to react when she was asked point blank as to why and how she had murdered her aunt. She had been confronted with feelings of disappointment, frustration and anger while interacting with Kanti. Though a well-qualified psychologist herself, the cognitive control mechanisms required to guide her behaviour failed her at the time it was most needed resulting in disastrous consequences.

What made Durga suspect foul play? She had been Kanti’s maid for over forty years. Her Madam always had the habit of removing all her jewellery before retiring for bed, come what may. However tired or inebriated she was, she could not tolerate any item of jewellery particularly around her neck. Durga, therefore, found it strange that she had not removed the diamonds before going to bed. She immediately asked the two maids who had brought Kanti to bed, whether they had removed the diamonds or not beore Madam went to bed. They had said that they could not remember whether they had seen or not seen the chain on her neck and were unsure. 

This small slip gave away Preeti. When Kanti had been irksome throughout the day, Preeti felt uncomfortable but not an iota of an idea of harming her aunt had struck her then. It was later at night when Kanti was laid on the bed, that Preeti picked up the diamond chain from its case and wore it around Kanti’s neck, knowing fully well that when Kanti tossed and turned, the chain would very likely strangulate her.

Preeti analysed her own sudden behaviour which had not been premeditated. She attributed this impulsive act to a probable deficiency of a specific chemical in the brain, such as serotonin, which could induce people to take their own lives or end others, in the face of life’s difficulties or depression.

The media had another story to carry the next day – what pushed Preeti to murder her aunt?  



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