The Lab Coat

10:00a.m.

IN the Forensics Department of the CID, Sr Scientist, Dr Genelia was working behind a series of painted white racks stacked with chemical solutions. She plucked out a hair strand from the dead body and transferred this sample with forceps to a sterile Petri dish. Her assistant Henry was arranging nylon strips on the hardboard slab that sloped into a wash basin.

“Henry, you will collect the murder weapon today” Dr Genelia instructed him sharply looking up.

“I’ll be sitting at the PINTO’S cafe.”

There was a gleam in Henry’s eyes, exactly the reason why he felt blessed interning under her. No other senior allowed chomping into the lion’s share of the job, as Genelia did.

He gently brushes the gash on the corpse with a gel.

1:30pm

With the last sips of coffee, she was washing down, those facts which otherwise would not go down the throat. “Sana in the thick of all this! Not possible.” Once again she scrolled through the images Henry had taken. He sombrely delivered his report, “the blood-stained knife has been found in her room” “the police have every reason to suspect her”.

Later back in her laboratory, where the tests from the morning sample were taken, they fervently hoped that Sana would be proven innocent. They waited with bated breath, as the printout out the DNA from the stained knife emerged. Henry was curious, and Genelia’s breath turned feeble. The consecutive bands began to fall into synchrony. A line for line, a band for a band. It was clear that the ‘victims’ blood was on the knife....and that Meer Diwan had been murdered with the same weapon ...the butcher’s knife that was found in Sana’s room.

Genelia pulled out her scarf and flopped into a chair. Henry ran for a cool glass of water. He dragged up a nearby stool. “You should relax ma’am. Please. I am very sorry for your friend, but”

“I know Sana better. She can’t be involved in all this....” then looking at the DNA films clipped up against the lighted board, for a second, she rethought “Or could she be???”

Henry proceeded to formalize the reports, as Genelia’s heart remained gravitated to her old friend Sana.

...... “Never imagined I would get back in touch with Sana this way”

7:00 pm

Genelia is about to reach Sana’s house. Old memories chronicled through her mind. Then in college, sharing not only the same room as roommates but also pins, ribbons, headbands, the overpriced jeans, the Mills and Boons.... What a chirpy lass, she was, brimming with life! Post graduation, while she herself managed with scholarships, finding her calling in the world of research, this breezy roommate, began to share her dreams with Dayal, whom she later married.

There was a lump in her throat, as she saw Sana. Thin, and dry. Widowed. Crouching down on the woollen bed sheet, hugging her pale sari, her forehead supporting itself on her knees,,. all alone, as policemen moved around. Genelia lightly tapped at the open door to make her arrival felt. Sana saw Genelia. Slightly rattled, and surprised, she arose. A quaint figure, her charming long tresses still reaching the concavities at her sides. ...her eyes sunk trying to retrieve.

Genelia gutted with helplessness as her old friend wept piteously in her arms. “Someone is framing me” she coughed out as she cried. Genelia wiped her tears. Holding her frail body she bundled Sana into the comfort of her bosom.

“The reports are going against you. The blood sample on the knife matches with Meer Diwan’s DNA.”

“Who hid that knife in your room?”

Sana’s muscles tightened. “I cannot say... I’ve done nothing. Baba liked me so much. After my own parents disowned me, and my Muslim society ostracised me for marrying Dayal, a Hindu, and even after Dayal was gone, Baba, spared no efforts to make me feel accepted, loved and responsible. Though he deeply missed Dayal, and his roaring voice had fallen silent, he kept his pain caged to himself. Why will I kill Baba?”

Genelia gazed at the photo frame on the wall. Dayal was sitting magnificently in his brass and smiling. The warmth in his eyes convincing her that his Sana was innocent and needed help. Genelia felt like a wooden doll, wanting to help her friend... but is helpless.

“Officer, can I see around the house? I am Dr Genelia, from the CID and have permission to inspect the crime scene.” “Sure doctor, eh sure ma'am” the inspector stuttered, who was surprised at the camaraderie of the doctor with the accused.

Genelia put on her gloves, as Sana showed her around. The simple air around Mir Diwan’s room was the first fact that struck her. Not revealing her mind, she looked out for some hidden giveaways, some signs that would blazon out his true identity.... but no. No glasses to splurge upon, no smelly bottles, ... no powder to sensitize the senses. No, nothing! The religious aura, the Krishna, Hanuman calendars, the sealed bookshelf, photographs of the family he belonged to, his collection of antiques, his only indulgence, displayed tastefully, shattered to bits the blood and hair sample reports that awaited the signatory seal, lying on the table back in the lab.

Facing, the family photo wall, sifting her eyes through, Sana familiarised her with the members of their family. Mostly all now in the past tense. Mother, father, brothers, a sister.

“Where is the sister now? “

“She lives in Kolhapur confined to bed, after suffering a hip fracture. Is taken care of well, by her sons.” Sana informed.

“And where is the brother?”

“The elder brother is no more, but ...” Sana’s voice fell uncomfortably silent.

Genelia held Sana by her shoulders “you must tell me so that I can save you.”

“I had not married Dayal then. But Dayal sometimes spoke about his uncle to me. His uncle, who owned a carpet manufacturing business, employed small children and forced them into cheap labour. His cruelty towards children was met with strong dissent by the soft-hearted Mir Diwan. When no advisories and requests from his side, to change his ways worked, Baba cowed down to market pressures. Someone informed the police, and uncle’s property raided upon and the children rescued. The actions won Baba many friends and blessings, but thence an embittered, estranged brother, who was sentenced to jail.”

“Is that uncle still in jail?”

“I don’t know. He was never mentioned in the family”

Sana I truly believe you have got nothing to do with all this. So far, we do not have proof, but we shall dig it out.

Next day Sana was arrested. Genelia had already applied for anticipatory bail.

The two women had to find Baba’s brother. The one, whose blood might be on the stained knife. Blood with a cocktail of alcohol, drugs, nicotine.

As Baba was a teetotaller, it had to be some sibling, whose DNA bands no doubt colluded with Baba’s sample. Sure enough, this shady sibling after killing Mir had cleverly placed the murder weapon in Sana’s room and in the melee stained it with his own blood too....to eliminate Sana ...so that he emerges as the legal heir to Mir’s property.

This person should emerge soon. To present his claim on his brother’s property.

Nothing happens.

A fortnight later:

It was Genelia’s thrilling voice on Telephone.

“Sana, guess what!!” “We’ve found our missing link”

“Sana, this brother is Seer Diwan. Meer Diwan’s identical twin.”

“What??”

“Yes. Henry visited Meer’s sister in Kolhapur, and it is she who told him this.”

“I wonder why no one mentioned? Many others must be aware of the identical twin!!”

“Probably, he is also having more confidant buddies on his side than we know about”

“No doubt his DNA profile matches perfectly!!”

“We have to kick-start the search”

“How?” asked Sana, sounding like goat just rescued from a fatal trap.

“We’ll play his game back on him. If he can trap you, why not let him walk into our trap instead?” Sana blinked disbelievingly, at Genelia’s confident resonating tone.

“We have to rake in some trusting people; for the plan to fall in place for us.”

“And what the plan is?”

“We will be spreading the word around that Meer’s property shall be handed over to the nearest kin by blood. Maybe the ploy brings out the ‘hiding’ brother or leads us to vital clues.”

“Something should be revealed.... yes.” Then Sana vacillated and guffawed in exasperation “it’s not so simple.”

Genelia nodded from the other side. “Things cannot be darker than they are for you, my friend. I am only trying to make them a shade lighter because I know you are innocent.”

A week slipped. Then a month progressing into the second:

Sana, Genelia, and Henry occupied the corner table which gave a full view of the doorway, without themselves being obvious. Their eyes scanned strange faces, their minds trying to superimpose the photograph of the man, they carried in their handbags. The photograph, actually of Meer, but could be used to identify the identical twin.

“Did the caller confirm he saw Seer Diwan here?” Sana asked them after they had waited half the hour.

“He said, he has seen him here, many times.” Henry clarified shrugging his shoulders.

The aroma around the bakery gyrated with the sensuous Bollywood numbers playing. In those relaxing vibes, they too felt relaxed. Just then, Sana turned cynical.

“Maybe the sly fellow ditches us; trying to convey that we forget about nailing him”

“That means he is cracking, under the threat” Genelia smiled reassuringly and softly patted her hands.

Some commotion was heard outside. Few men left their chairs to peep when the cafe door was kicked open, and a young man, armed with a loaded rifle, and cold eyes, pulled the trigger. People in face view of him fell down, lifeless. Others who screamed were also gunned down dead. Some ran for cover, as the armed man continued to rain in ammunition, blatantly, ruthlessly, indiscriminately.

Genelia and Henry pulled Sana, and they ducked under the table. The terrorist ran outside to continue with his shooting spree. There were shouts, screams, silence and then sobs... the bleeding bodies, the blood splattered on the walls, the floor, on chairs, outside, and the inside.

Henry pointed towards a high wall that might insulate them in case the terrorist returned. Behind the wall lay a dark alley, which they sensed would be quite safe. They felt safer slipping backside through the alley towards the open end. Just then, someone, it felt lay sprawled in the midway. Someone in intoxicated slumber, unable to comprehend. The air reeked of wine. Genelia turned the figure over, as Henry flashed on his mobile. They could match their photograph to him to a T.