The Theft

Mrs Lal

Bad times are surely upon us, Kal Yug! Daylight robbery and that too in my house! This has never happened before and to say the least, I am shocked and distressed. This is the most secure colony and we have never had any incidence of thefts before. There is no break-in, so someone inside the house must have stolen. Someone who knew where things are kept. Someone who we are very familiar with. 

We have lost jewellery worth about ten lakh rupees. I noticed the loss yesterday when I opened the locker at home to wear some ornaments for the wedding in the night. The last time I opened the locker was five days ago, so I presume the theft must have taken place within the last five days or so.

We are five members in the family and there are three servants whom we have employed. My two sons are out on a business tour for three weeks. My daughter is in college and my husband runs his business of publishing. I more or less remain at home except when I need to do some shopping, attend the Gym or go to meet friends. I am careful enough to ensure that the servants are not left alone at home. 

The locker is located within the wardrobe in my bedroom. The keys are kept in the same wardrobe, along with other keys. We have not taken any insurance for household goods and jewellery. We never felt any need to do so. 

As far as suspicion is concerned, I have no reason to suspect anyone in the house. All the three servants have been with us for more than three to five years and we have never had any occasion to complain. We do have guests visiting us on and off, but I have no particular to suspect their involvement in this theft. Keys of the flat are with me, my sons, my husband and my daughter. One set of keys have been left with our neighbour in case of any emergency. Oh! How much simpler it would have been if I had caught the thief red-handed. Now, whom shall I blame? Whom shall I suspect?

If you ask me how the theft happened, I can’t tell you. But the fact that it has happened leads me to think about it. Someone was definitely involved. By process of elimination, my two sons could not have done it because both are away. If I had done it, I would not have come to the police station to complain. My husband could have done it if he was in some financial trouble. But he is not, and he has no motive or reason to steal his own assets. My daughter too has no reason to steal. I have never known her to blow money on things and she has few hobbies. She is not into drugs, she is not a party animal.No, she would not have done it.

That leaves the servants. Poor things, God forbid any of them should be involved, but who else could have done this? Of the three, Meena, Swarna and Shilpa, Shilpa joined us last, that was two and a half years ago. Meena is the cook, Swarna washes clothes, cleans the floor and does the ironing. Shilpa does the dusting and cleaning of the house and does some shopping stuff for me. All three are poor, God bless them, but I say they are the most honest creatures. Never the ones to lie or shy away from work. Never really had any trouble with them. I don't think they would be foolish to steal from my house, I take good care of them.

But investigate you must. Find out how it happened. I don’t care about the money lost, God will make good. But I dread to think that my house is now no safe place! I can’t live suspecting everyone around me. Find the culprit and ease my conscience.

Shilpa

My name is Shilpa. Shilpa Rathore. I am from Jalore District of Rajasthan. My husband, Vikram Rathore, is a mason, and he works with some contractor in a building project. We are in Mumbai for the last eight years. I joined Madam about three years ago for doing housework. I do dusting and cleaning and help Madam for shopping.

I have five children, all small. We are poor people, but honest. We require money, but not stolen money. Madam has been very kind to me and she gives me loans when I need. Of course, I repay all the loans regularly. I depend on Madam only for my livelihood and as I am engaged for the whole day at her flat, I do not work elsewhere.

 My husband has no bad habits and he has never been into any kind of trouble with the police. I came to know about the theft from the flat from Madam. I do not know where they keep their valuables and have never before been told about jewellery lying at home. Madam is always there when I work. Sometimes, when she is not there, her daughter is at home. When there is no one, Madam asks me to go home and return later.

I do not have any access to the keys. I never clean inside wardrobes, so I do not know about keys or locker. Before working for Madam, I was unemployed and a housewife. I never take my children to the flat when I work. I have no idea who stole the valuables. Lots of people visit Madam at home, but they are all her friends and guests of the family.

A few people visit regularly. Madam’s close friend Aparna Madam visits quite often and stays home for long hours. Madam’s daughter brings her friends home frequently. Two of her friends, Shyama and Lata are very close and visit quite often. Madam’s family is very decent and they respect servants. We had no trouble with them anytime.

Swarna

My name is Swarna Jhadav. My husband’s name is Vijay Jhadav. He works in a factory which assembles machinery. I have been with Madam for almost four years now. I sweep and clean the floors, wash clothes and iron them when they dry. No, I do not keep them inside the cupboard. I leave them out. Madam keeps them herself.

I have two children who go to school. We have our own accommodation which my husband bought many years ago. Yes, I have problems with my husband but that has nothing to do with the robbery. Everyone has problems. He is alcoholic and wastes all the money he earns on drinking. He also beats me often. But that has nothing to do with the robbery. We are always in need of money, but I would not steal to satisfy my needs. I never had any problems with Madam and as far as I know, she is satisfied with my work and behaviour.

Many people come and go to Madam’s flat. I do not remember anyone in particular as I have nothing to do with them. There are two other servants apart from me-Meena and Shilpa. I know both of them well. I don’t think they would steal. They are poor like me but honest and good-natured. Of course, nobody can say about anybody these days, but I have no reason to doubt them.

People always doubt the poor. I feel bad about it, but I guess it is normal behaviour. But if you ask me, it could be someone very friendly to Madam’s family. I don’t know, but somehow I feel it could be either Shyama or Aparna, both of whom visit her frequently and stay for long hours in the house. Madam shares a lot with her two friends. No, do not put this statement about her friends on record, Madam will fire me for this. But I can’t help suspecting them. Both are like those villainous ladies you watch on K series serials on TV!

Of course, others come and go. You have these maintenance guys like plumbers, electricians-you know, people who come to fix something or other in the house. But sirs, how many people you can suspect?

If you ask me, Madam does not even know when this happened. It could have been months ago. Who knows, Madam may have misplaced it somewhere and it may even be found! You know these rich people are very careless about their belongings. They use things and forget to put them in the proper place.

I have no use for jewellery, what use is money, so much of it? We poor people need money to survive, food, some clothing and shelter. We never can dream to be rich. We are not born to be rich, that is God’s will.

But you police people have your own job to do. You will have to question everybody and suspect all. It is your job to suspect. I hope you find the culprit soon and this thing is over so that we can do our work peacefully. The whole family is disturbed and their behaviour has changed. We are now suspects, thieves who could have stolen things from the house.

Sir, it is difficult to live under suspicion. I feel so bad. Every day now I dread to go to the house. I am extra careful about what I do. If anything happens anywhere, we are blamed.

You must ask madam’s friends I told you about. I shall be at your service whenever you want, but please do not harass us. We have only our reputations to protect and live for, so be sensitive to our sensibilities also.

Meena

I am not married. And I am not a thief. I do not want to talk about this as I don’t know anything. You know, I cook well and everyone loves what I cook. I come twice in a day, stay in the kitchen and go. I don’t even know how many rooms are there in the flat.

Madam’s two sons, you know, they are dirty boys. They always bother me, knowing I am good looking. And unmarried. I am thirty-five years old, yet these boys don’t leave me alone. But Madam is so good, I tolerate the boys. No, I never face any problem with her husband. He is a thorough gentleman!

Madam calls me to cook for her kitty parties. She has good friends you know, and they tip me well. Who could I suspect? It is not my job to judge anyone. I don’t like to indulge in loose talk, so I cannot name anyone. No, I do not have any intention of marrying. I have my disabled mother to look after. She is paralytic and my father left her long ago. I don’t know where he is, but I heard he married someone quite younger to him.

I have no brothers or sisters. I am paid well and the money is sufficient for me and my mother. No, I have no relation with the boys, I hate them. They are simply mischievous kids, nothing more. 

I have nothing to say. I know nothing. I want to know nothing. Leave me alone.

Sub-Inspector Wagle

These rich people are all the same. Some little thing happens and they make a hue and cry. Look at this case. The lady says jewellery worth ten lakhs is missing. She can’t even give a proper list of stolen items. She does not know when the stuff went missing. No suspects. No motives. No clues. What are we supposed to do? And on top of it, there is pressure from the top to solve this case. Why do they have to rush to the top to get their jobs done? Do they think we are all incompetent at the police station?

I think we should book one of the servants and extract a confession. We can say the theft took place long ago and the stolen items are not recoverable. 

You know, a few days back when I went to meet the lady’s friend, Aparna, how she humiliated me! She refused to let me in her house and abused me for suspecting her. She threatened to report me to top authorities and have me suspended. I had to tell her I am doing my job and it was my duty to question her amongst many others.

This lady, Aparna, acted strangely. She wanted to know why we are questioning her, who had taken her name. She even called up Mrs Lal to ask her whether she was suspecting her of the theft and had given her name to the police. She is very upset that the police should come to her house. She abused Mrs Lal of being so conceited as to suspect her friends. She, in fact, told me Mrs Lal does not even own that much jewellery and all this hue and cry about theft may be a story. 

Look at this statement. “I have known the Lal family for ten years, and I have never seen Mrs Lal wearing any jewellery. In fact, she does not like wearing any valuable stuff on her. So how do I know she had jewellery, and why would I be interested, when I am quite rich and have sufficient jewellery myself! Mrs Lal is an eccentric person. She has problems with Mr Lal, and I have reasons to believe they are not doing well in business. Mrs Lal often complained that her husband was poor in investments. She told us he would invest money in stocks which did not do well and suffered heavy losses. Maybe he sold off the ornaments to invest in stocks, who knows. And the two boys of theirs, they always spend money on gadgets and cars and clubs. They could have made use of the ornaments. Who knows, and how dare she name me as a suspect! Our family is rich for generations. Now, that is all I will say and bother me no more, or else I will take this up with the Home Minister.”

Imagine, talking to Home Minister for such a small thing! These people think they are God. How can we policemen ever do our work with these snobs putting pressure on us?

And the other lady, what's her name? Lata. You know, her husband is a rotten chap. I gather he is into a lot of illicit business, liquor, and makes his money there. He did not even allow me to speak to his wife. He says they don’t know the Lals much to say anything and if Lal felt suspicious about his wife, he better go to court. What sort of friends are these? 

And the queer lady, Shyama. She is a butterfly, did you know that? She would sleep with anybody without qualms. A socialite who has no purpose in life except to club and wine and dine and sleep with men. Her father left her tons of money to be spent and wasted. I suspect she has an affair with this Mr Lal. She was so bitchy about Mrs Lal, accusing her of being petty-minded. These rich people have no morals. Their friendship is as bad as their hatred for each other.

I think we should take the boys in and trash them. They must have stolen the mother’s ornaments for their lavish expenses. How do we solve all these family problems? Mrs Lal has no documentation to show. They have not declared anything in their tax returns either. I think we should tell the tax people about this.

The Lal Family

Mr Lal: You know dear, you should have told me before calling the police. There are so many complications you don’t know about. All those ornaments were cash purchases, you know, the money we don’t show to the tax people. You should have been more careful about talking about what we have or do not have to people. You don’t even know what all was stolen or how much they cost!

Mrs Lal: Fine, I know, I know. But a robbery happened in this house and I can’t just let it be! I must find out who stole. I am upset and distressed and I can’t live with the fear of having a thief in our midst. Tomorrow someone can murder me or anyone in the house. More distressful than the loss is how my friends have behaved. You know, that police officer showed me Aparna and Shyama’s statements to the police. It is the limit. They say I never owned the ornaments! How can they be so bitchy about this? And I thought they were true friends!

Dolly Lal: Mom...dodon't be upset. You should not have told the police about them at all. How can you name your friends as suspects! Look, let’s withdraw the complaint and close the matter.

Mrs Lal: Fine...you don’t understand the value of money. It’s not even money I am worried about, it’s your safety, our safety. How can you sleep knowing you are not safe. Who stole this and how? I must know, or I will not die in peace.

Anurag Lal: I suspect Meena. She is always cooking up something and she is a fishy person. Mom, you are too lenient with the servants. Always giving them something and spoiling them. I am sure they took advantage of your liberal attitude and goodness. Let us sack all of them and get new servants.

Chirag Lal: Why do you have to keep such stuff at home. You never wear them. You could use lockers to keep valuables safe. It’s your mistake. How will be police find out who did it? You don’t even know when it happened?

Mrs Lal: To be honest, I don’t think the servants are involved at all. They can’t be. They are too good and honest. I hate to say this, but I fear that one of us here, in the Lal family, could be the thief.

Mr Lal: You mean, you suspect the children? How preposterous! You have gone mad. Why would they do anything like this?

Anurag: Mom...you always hated me. I know you think I stole your stuff and sold them off. You always think I am squandering all the money. 

Mrs Lal: Don’t be stupid. Its only natural for me as your mother to caution you. You have to be disciplined in life, you cant forever live on your parents’ wealth. And if I rebuke you for something does it mean I hate you? How can a mother hate her son? Tell me. Anurag, you break my heart. You shouldn’t speak such things. Oh..how can I suspect my own children!

 

Dolly: Mom is right. You know Mom, I too felt like you do. It’s not for the first time that you hear about someone in the family does such things. I don’t say it happened here, but you can’t blame Mom or anyone if such a thought occurred, especially under such stressful circumstances. I know Mom was saving all this stuff for my marriage, and she is quite upset. But don’t worry Mom, things will be alright. But we must surely know how all this came to happen. So that we are more careful.

Chirag: How can you say this Dolly? You have no right to presume that the jewellery was for you. It’s a family investment and belongs to all of us. So all of us are equally concerned about the loss. Anurag and I are fully involved in Dad’s business. We are equally responsible for profits and losses. You and Mom never bother to understand or appreciate how hard we toil and struggle to keep the business afloat. How difficult it is to be competitive, and what all we have to do in business.

Mr Lal: Enough of this! All this is doing no good for anyone. What is the purpose of this discussion? We have lost some money and that is it. No one needs to worry and we will make good the losses. Why do we have to start blaming each other? No one stole the jewellery. I took it and mortgaged it for business. I did not tell you, Mrs Lal, because you are emotional about everything. You don’t understand business or money. You are impetuous and that is why I say you should have spoken to me before going to the police! Now, look at what you have done. You have upset everything, everyone.

Mrs Lal (Crying): Oh my God! I should have known! I should have known! You stupid husband. What have you done? You have wasted enough money on your worthless business. Everything is mortgaged; this flat, my ornaments, your business. We are paupers and you are responsible for all this. And now, my own children, my sons are against me. You are responsible for that too. And poor Dolly. She has nothing in this house, you have left nothing for her. 

Anurag: Dad! I’m shocked. Is it true that everything is mortgaged? You never told us.

Chirag: And I thought you were the best businessman. All the money I earned for you, is lost? Do we have nothing?

Mr Lal: ( in anger) It’s fine you blame me for everything. You two good for nothing. You say you are involved in the business, but what do you do apart from running after girls and spending hard-earned money on them? How dare you say I have lost everything you earned? Have you two ever cared to study the financials of the business?

Sub-Inspector Wagle

Can you believe this? We have been asked to drop the investigation into the Lal theft case! It seems they are not interested in pursuing the case. These rich snobs. Whenever they want they bother us, make us sweat, and whenever they want they withdraw. What do they think we are?

I have gathered some interesting information. Did you know that all their assets are mortgaged? They are in deep shit and I doubt whether the lady of the house knew about this. 

All these rich people look good from outside but are hollow inside. I don’t understand why they put up such a pretence? You know, I have reasons to believe that the Lal chap is sleeping with the Lata lady. The socialite. I gather he borrowed money from her too for his business. And this lady wanted him to sleep with her in return. I really pity these people. What all they do to keep their face powdered. 

I have good reason to believe that there was no theft at all. The husband needed the money and he must have taken his wife’s ornaments, without her knowing about it. Or maybe she knows! And they call themselves powerful! These guys are most insecure, worse than the servants. Imagine living in fear and dread of losing everything you own. Thank God, he did not give us anything much to lose. 

Why can’t we arrest the Lal chap for the theft? Let’s rough him up and get a confession. He deserves to be in prison. He was not caught red-handed but now the family knows he’s the thief. I wonder what kind of punishment the family will give him.

Just throw the file away, will you? Case withdrawn by the complainant.