Unfolded Underwater Mystery

‘Listen to what Mother Nature says…Water always makes ways...follow the opposite of right and the sun God makes the hidden world shine bright…!’ 

“This had to be decoded as there was a major clue in these words” Charu uttered repeatedly.

She was a law student and Abhay, her college friend, was a police inspector. Both were trying hard to understand what could be the inner meaning of these imperative as well as declarative sentences. Charu whispered, “Here was the reference of Mother Nature and guidance to listen to her. It could mean that we have to search at natural landscape- mountain and the lake. The opposite of right meant left to be followed. On left side is the lake. On mountain nothing is hidden but the Sun God can shine the hidden world of underwater.”

Abhay supported her idea as water was mentioned in the second line. How could water make the way in this case? That was the question.

They unanimously agreed on one point that water body was an important clue in this case. Something very suspicious could be hidden in the lake and this was well known to Uncle Vincent who had fled to Egypt just to avoid any question regarding this. Was it some treasure? What was that expensive secret article?  

Abhay said, “Missing of the sword is not a case of normal theft incident. It has so many mysterious angles that are beyond our comprehension, so many twist and turns that we are meeting with daily and all these unseen obstacles are delaying investigation.”

Since childhood Charu was fascinated by the task of treasure hunt. She loved all games where something hidden had to discover. Her parents knew that and so whenever she faced any boredom they created a game like this and she was recharged again. Her inquisitive nature, subtle observation, daring spirit and determination to finish a task however difficult it might be, led her to choose a law profession. At home if something was missing it was Charu who was given the responsibility of finding the article within a time limit.

She was very clear any clue even the smallest, irrelevant to the case or very obvious should not be ignored. Abhay knew well how intelligent Charu was in investigation so he never questioned her moves unnecessarily. He was proud of her and always wished to work together but she went to New York and that wish remained unfulfilled. But her arrival and acute interest in the recent case was a golden chance to spend time with her and to know her little more closely. Though Charu was studying abroad but her love for Indian tradition and culture was very much prominent. She was concerned about her grandma’s health and was sure that her activities would not disturb her. Every evening she used to read religious books loudly to soothe her grandma. She was under no confusion that her past life reality and presence of previous life’s people in current life definitely had a purpose. In holy books too return of karmas have been documented. Even at the cost of her life she desired to fulfil the purpose of her life successfully so that she would never have to reborn again as a dead ringer. 

The nurse Sharmila was in the house for grandma’s care whole day and night and so but became part of the family. She gave Charu necessary medicine without asking if found her stressed and motivated her to do some exercise to keep mind and body fresh. She always prepared herbal tea for Charu and joined her in reading sessions. At night when she found Charu sleepless, she was her companion. Both loved to talk about spirituality and how to save humanity. 

Charu was upset as her time to return was nearby but the unsolved mystery kept her restless. She was definite something very important happened around the mountain as well as the lake. She was so absorbed in the case that one night she had a nightmare. What she dreamed was beyond explanation. She found herself in the villa as Sheryl Verghese. There was a heated argument between her and uncle Vincent. She was accusing him of stealing valuables from the villa and selling it to foreign clients. Mr. Vincent was denying and presenting proofs of his honesty. Sheryl was furious as her husband had caught Mr. Vincent red handed. He was given last warning to mend his ways otherwise he had to face dire consequences. 

Mr. Vincent returned to his chamber, called a servant and commanded him to do what he had instructed earlier. He went to the villa with the covered object given by the trusted servant. It was dinner time so the royal couple was in the dining hall. He secretly entered bedroom of the couple and left the covered article opened below the bed. Soon a venomous hooded serpent slithered up and reached the bed. It crawled beneath bedsheet. He closed the door and joined the couple. 

Unknown to the awaiting death in room the couple was busy discussing with how to leave an impression on the painter by carrying Egyptian sword in style. At night Anthony Delsworth had to pose with the Egyptian Sword. A painter from Egypt was invited for the purpose of presenting him in the royal way for an international magazine cover. It was almost midnight when the portrait was over and Anthony instead of resting in his bedroom preferred to be with the painter so that he could be observe the final touch given to the painting. Sheryl too avoided her bedroom and spent the night with Anthony and the painter. She was carefully observing each and every detail of the process so that it could be a treat to eyes.

 Mr. Vincent’s evil plotting of killing Anthony fell flat. But the serpent didn’t ditch its master and took life of a lady attendant who went to the couple’s bedroom for cleaning. Before dying she saw Mr. Vincent, the plotter in the mirror who was nervous as the mission was unaccomplished. She asked for help but the frightened plotter with his attendant packed her inside a huge box with the serpent and threw it into the lake. Charu woke up, sweating profusely, thought whole night about the dream. 

Next morning Charu narrated her dream to Abhay and he immediately sent a probe team to search the lake. They once again read the clue. Water always make the way- does it mean to begin search in lake? The opposite of right was undoubtedly the west where the lake was situated. Time was morning when Sun God revealed the hidden world. The divers went inside and found a huge chained chest shinning bright in the daylight. It was brought up by crane. The police had to struggle a lot to unchain the casket as it was rusted for being many years in water. Ruth, Martha were called and in their presence the box was opened. Two skeletons one of the lady and the other was of the serpent were found. What Charu dreamed was true.

Mentally weak octogenarian Martha was out of control when she saw the body. It was her sister’s body remains who joined the villa as a housekeeper and was killed brutally. Martha was howling. She recalled how she was worried when not getting her newly appointed sister during dinner time. She searched the entire place and the surrounding area too but couldn’t trace her. She asked everyone but none had seen her. A week passed and she was still missing. One night her soul narrated Martha about her death and name of the killer in her dream. Martha tried hard to convince Sheryl to send a search team in the lake but she didn’t believe her. So, Martha wrote the entire incident in her diary and it was published with the cover page of an idol of a lady without eyes later. The idol symbolized Sheryl as she was too blind to perceive truth which Martha wished her to notice. 

A summon was sent to Uncle Vincent when he arrived at airport after a week. He was so petrified, nervous and puzzled how a crime done years ago could be exposed and lent him to jail. He created rumour of haunted lake side so that none would dare to go there and his life could be saved till death. His crime was proved and faced life time imprisonment. Charu’s dream played a vital role in solving the case and it was also proved sin could never be hidden for long and sinner could never escape punishment. At Uncle Vincent’s residence the police discovered all the details of the clients who he had sold the real Sword and other valuable artefacts. 

Charu’s past life connection did help her to build a bond with the descendants of Varghese family. They met her, thanked her, remained her well -wishers and honoured her as Sheryl Varghese’s death ringer. Martha was in need of a nurse so Sharmila visited her. What a Justice of God! The dead sister of Martha was serving Charu’s grandma in the current life as Sharmila was the rebirth of Martha’s sister. It came into light when Ruth and Martha found great resemblance in both of them. Ruth brought old photograph and Showed to Sharmila who was awestruck when found her mirror image in old photographs.

An old book, a mysterious event of the missing Egyptian Sword, a determination to solve the mystery played significant role in weaving love story of Abhay and Charu. Abhay was all praised for Charu and one fine morning in front of her father he proposed her. She too had developed soft feelings for him, so gladly agreed. Charu returned New York to complete her study. After giving long five years to career building senior inspector Abhay exchanged wedding vows with an advocate Charu.