Moutushi Ghoshdeysarkar

Thriller

3.5  

Moutushi Ghoshdeysarkar

Thriller

THE (REALLY) MYSTERIOUS MURDER

THE (REALLY) MYSTERIOUS MURDER

12 mins
444


“You never told me about her...” There was a slight tinge in Vana’s tone. “What?” Srini looked up from the mobile – he was looking at the reunion pics. Vanalashmi and Srinivas were on the way back to their hometown Chennai.

They would spend a few days and then head back to Bangalore, their home sweet home. The days to come were exciting - Sanhita and Sahit the twins they had adopted were on the verge of starting college. In another month Sanhita would head for BITS Pilani and in two months Sahit will find him at his baba’s college VNIT – Vallabh National Institute of technology, Vallabh Nagar. 

“Ritu – you never told me about Ritu.” Vana repeated her sentence. Srini kept staring at her for a while, as if searching for an answer in her slightly moist eyes. The stare was so intense that she felt uncomfortable and softly said, “What?” As if in a flash Srini knew what to say, some things never change – Srinivas had always been the orator who knew the right things to say at the right time; in college he had won the most difficult of the debates – the last one being a face saver for the entire fourth year, where he had to speak against the topic – ‘Engineers are the smartest people’.

“Since the day I had first laid eyes on you at your college, and our eyes met, I have been so drowned in them that actually until the reunion day I was not reminded of Ritu.” Srini took Vana’s hand in his and gave it a light squeeze all the while engaging his gaze on her.

“What are you doing?” Vana said visibly embarrassed in hushed tones and dropped the subject fearing further dramatics from her husband. She knew him too well, she knew how he could turn around a notion completely having lived and loved him for so many beautiful years. Fresh in her mind was the story - rather the legend that got reiterated at the reunion – Srini had almost nothing to counter Ashwin from third year who was speaking for the motion in the debate, but just out of the blues he brought the example of the ‘stolen’ election and made his point.

“Who was the third year fellow that brought goons to the first year hostel and later yours?” Vana asked to avoid the uncomfortable situation that Srini had created for her.

---------

Sahit was taller than Srinivas, who himself was quite tall and yet he felt dwarfed by the huge VNIT campus. It had always been huge and impressive being one of the most prestigious colleges but now it looked even grander. The administrative block was decked up with a very modern look – plants adorning the walls and sculptures enlivening the portico. 

Srinivas and Sahit entered were walking across the portico appreciating the architect chatting among themselves when suddenly they heard someone call “Srini?” The father son duo turned sharply.

“Oh dear! I can’t believe this – after so many years – it is you Srini!” A very immaculately dressed gentleman had come close and looked overtly excited. Srini looked at him keenly and after a few seconds reciprocated the feeling starting with a vigorous pat on the gentleman’s shoulder, “Rahul is it not? What a surprise? What’s up yaar? What are you doing here?”

“Chill chill bro Srini, all in good time but who is this?” Rahul looked at Sahit warmly. “This is my son Sahit, we are here to finalize his boarding formalities.” Srini took a pause then continued, “and this is Rahul Singh, my junior in college...” Srini left the sentence mid air.

“I think he will recognize better if you told him this is the infamous Rahul from third year who literally stole the election from us – correct?” Rahul made a gesture with his hand pointing towards himself. The recognition in Sahit’s eyes said it all.

Srini looked embarrassed, which was unusual.

“Come on man – some scars have to be born forever, no matter what I might do to I’ll always be known by that atrocious event that I formulated.” Rahul gave a sigh and paused, “But you know what my dear boy” he looked at Sahit his former enthusiasm back, “That was the incident that changed my life, my attitude towards life – it was as if I got struck by a thunder bolt.”

“Really?” Srini and Sahit said together surprised beyond words.

“Gentlemen I suggest lunch – you get on with the formalities and lets meet in a hour at our canteen – it serves fabulous delicacies.” Rahul sounded pleased with his plan.

Srini and Sahit took his leave and got the formalities done. They then walked towards the hostel building where Sahit was to be put up for the next two years – this hostel was for the first and second year students.

The hostel looked like a star hotel, as they entered the lobby Srini was awestruck by the interiors done up to such excellent taste. He was missing the familiar smell of the bathrooms which used to be at the center surrounded by the hapless fresher’s rooms who had no option but to endure the sensory torture owing to some architect’s experiment.

Having identified the room Srini and Sahit waited as the key bearer accompanying them opened the lock; Sahit’s other room mates were yet to arrive. It was a large room with an adjacent balcony facing east. Morning light was pouring. There were four beds accompanied by a writing desk each.

Sahit chose the bed next to the window almost on an impulse and Srini smiled, “That’s your mom’s favourite you always took the inner most side isn’t it?” Sahit just looked at his dad with warning in his eyes – lest he starts talking about Sahit’s phobia for the supernatural who definitely come in through the windows – in front of the key bearer.

Srini didn’t spill the beans just smirked. Having settled on the bed, Sahit kept his backpack which had a few essentials like toiletries and a night suit. The rest of his things including his books and laptop would be brought in tomorrow by the rest of the family as planned.

The washrooms were at the end of the corridor. Srini and Sahit visit them along with the key bearer. Srini could not believe the décor and the fragrant environment. “They are better than your own bathroom at home hai na?” Srini looked at Sahit who was still gazing at the beautiful paintings and blurted, “And also the 3-star hotel we are put up at.”

The key bearer Santosh took their leave near the administrative building and the father son duo hurried towards the canteen. Rahul was already waiting for them. They ordered lunch and immediately prodded on Rahul to narrate his story.

“Shailaja was a second year student. Like most of the second year students she was also in our favour but then after the ‘the debate’ she came to me and poured her heart out. It was both an amazing and embarrassing moment for me. I had never noticed her particularly just given a glance or two passingly as we used to – stare at most girls – in our days there weren’t too many girls in engineering Sahit remember.” Rahul took a meaningful pause.

“She said many things – one among them struck a chord somewhere – here was a girl who secretly admires me but is bold enough to stand up to me and say that am wrong!” Rahul blushed. “It was love at first fight Srini, you won’t believe – I never thought I could fall for a girl. But man I was jealous when she talked about you and how brains are what matter and not the brawns, that too hired. She also reminded me that I had definitely some brain tucked away somewhere since I had made it to this esteemed institution.”

“I decided that very moment that I needed this girl in my life and to have her I must completely change my attitude.” Rahul gave out a hearty laugh, “So you see my boy Sahit that ‘stolen election’ followed by the ‘tide turning debate’ brought a sea change in my life.”

The trio had a merry time savouring the delicacies and reminiscing the past. Rahul was a visiting lecturer to VNIT and Sahit was looking forward to his lectures – he already liked this guy a lot.

------

Sahit was well into his second month when trouble started. The third year students would visit them often and take away small essential things, not that they needed it but only to impress upon their seniority – initially the visits were infrequent and friendly, more like cultivating familiarity but soon it turned into a bother.

Sahit didn’t want to involve his parents but it just came out one night while talking to his sister and even though she promised not to tell their parents – it did reach their ears.

Vanalakshmi and Srinivas for once were very worried for Sahit as he wasn’t a very calm guy. They were scared that Sahit might respond with violence and in turn attract some too, but except for giving some sermons as they have always done there wasn’t much they could do. They hoped that the things would just tide over.

It was a thursday evening and after the last lecture Sahit was too tired to head to the library which he generally did. Instead he wanted to go back to his room and take a nap. As he was nearing his hostel he saw a boy going into it, he had a hoodie on so recognition was difficult.

“Hey Sahit!” Someone called and he turned sharply. It was Kush. “Hey hey what's up man?” Sahit extended his hand to grab Kush’s. “I was hoping to catch you at the library but you seem to be following Lokesh into the hostel.” Kush smirked.

“Lokesh?” it was clear that Sahit had no clue about the person in context.

“The guy who just entered your hostel, he is Lokesh from third year – you forgot? The one you refused to give your new razor last week?” Kush tried to remind him.

“Oh him!” Sahit did remember the unpleasant incident.

“So it was him going in – but what is he doing here at this hour? Not many first year students would be around, in fact may be there is none at all – whom is he expecting to extort from? Ha ha ha.” Sahit gave a loud laugh.

“But what are you doing here now, this isn’t your time to check in either?” Kush chuckled.

“Kush bro, ‘am feeling a bit tired so thought of taking a nap.” Sahit yawned.

“Cool then catch you later, am heading to the library – hope to see you at dinner, not gonna miss it are you?” Kush started to move waving him goodbye.

Sahit waved back and walked into the hostel. He walked straight to his room and collapsed on his bed, his roommates weren’t there. After a good deal of time Sahit slowly opened his eyes and saw the lights from the adjacent lane pouring into the room through the window. He got up in a haste and went to the washrooms at the end of the corridor where they were neatly lined up after a common entrance.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…” Sahit screamed at the top of his voice. He ran to the boy lying on the floor amidst a pool of blood. It was the hooded figure, Lokesh.

“What the hell happe…” Rijutava could not finish the sentence.

Sahit looked up from the body, his hands were also stained in blood. There were many onlookers but most in shock. Somesh was the first to come near Sahit and helped him get up. “Wash your hands Sahit” He said slowly and guided him to the nearby wash basin.

Soon the hostel was swarming with police and officials. Sahit gave an elaborate account of the evening as he knew. The facts revealed where really baffling.

For one there was nobody else in the hostel when Lokesh entered it. Kush and Sahit were the only people who had seen him enter and Sahit was the only boy who was present in the hostel at the time when this gruesome murder took place.

Evidently Lokesh was hit by a blunt object on the head that killed him and also created the pool of blood, but no such object was found.

The police announced that till further notice none of the students were to leave the town under any pretext. The campus and specially the first year hostel will have security postings.

“I wonder what happened here when I was fast asleep.” Sahit was very shaken. Somesh, Krishnappa and Jeet his roommates were also very disturbed just like all the first year students.

Jeet blurted out what was everyone’s mind, “Sahit do you realize that you could be in trouble.”

“But I didn’t kill him!” Sahit was almost in tears.

“Of course you didn’t, and there is no evidence against you. It is just that ‘Mauka e vardaad’ – I mean you were at the crime scene or rather in the same premises where the crime happened and none else.” Jeet said thoughtfully

“I was sleeping” Sahit said as if in protest.

“Saw who?” Krishnappa raised his eyebrows in that typical style that makes one laugh immediately. But at this instance no body felt like laughing, it was a valid question – none saw Sahit sleeping so there is no proof of that either.

There was gloom in the entire hostel in fact the entire campus – it was the first time that a murder – a (really) mysterious murder - had happened in VNIT.

Couple of days passed without any further incidents but a veil of fear remained hanging. Then a fine afternoon around 3Pm the security of the first year hostel found himself arguing with a beautiful damsel.

“I am here to meet Sahit” The glamorous damsel announced handing over a slip to the security siting beside the first year hostel entrance. “No girls allowed in boy’s hostel.” The security gave a stern look. “I am not a girl!” The beauty was irritated. “I mean I am an official from the crime branch not just a girl” She explained finding the security visibly confused and looking her up and down.

After a bit of a squabble and a phone call from the admin office the security let her in.

As she crossed the corridors and ascended the stairs to go up to Sahit’s room which was on the 2nd floor. The hostel had 4 floors each with 20 rooms and washrooms at both corners of the building to facilitate easy access.

Heads turned and heart beats missed as she passed by finally reaching Sahit’s door.

“Sahit?” She spoke in a soft tone peeping through the door. All four boys swirled their chairs around and were about to get dis-balanced. One a girl, absolutely not allowed in the first year boy’s hostel and then such a bomb!

“Which one of you is Sahit?” She repeated. “I aaa am” It seemed Sahit was more scared to have a girl calling on him than being declared a murderer.

The girl smiled, as if her very presence was not intoxicating enough, the boys gasped in unison. “Relax boys. I am Kaushani Banerjee from CBI crime branch and I am here to help. More importantly I am here to find out the truth!” Her steady voice was both unnerving and comforting at the same time – the boys offered her a chair and gathered around……………………………………………………………………………


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