What is more important

Some Letters

The pages have turned yellow, and a few have dark brown patches on them as they had been buried in the floor below the stove for God knows how many years. Some of the words have faded and Rajveer is not able to read them clearly. However, he believes that when he reads them from the start, the context will help him predict the word which will be best suited for the given situation. Rajveer opens the letters and starts reading them. They are from different people, and some do not have writers’ names on them. There is also an intact plane paper. He does not want to risk it; therefore, he puts them in his pocket and does not tell any person in his team about them. He was always suspicious about Amma jee and these letters can either prove him wrong or right. He puts the mud back and puts the clay stove over it again. It does seem that they area was dug but Rajveer tried his best to cover as much as he could and was certain that after some time or by the time Amma comes back, everything will seem normal. He comes out of the kitchen and asks one of his officers to get all the pictures they find. He wants to compare things and thinks that he will be able to know something about Madumati or anyone else. After gathering the required stuff and evidence, the team leaves. Rajveer goes into his room and asks everyone outside to not disturb him as he says: “I am in my room. I am not feeling well. If someone comes from the forensic department then send them in my room. Otherwise, unless there is any emergency or important issue that need my assistance, do not call me. I am having severe headache.”

The entire station looks at him with pity and sadness in their eyes, but they agree to what he said. Rajveer enters his room and sits on his chair immediately. He starts to open them up with a lot of care because some of them are slightly burnt and the pages are very old and opening them up with a slight hard hand can ruin them completely. He does not know from where he should start. He decides to read the one which ha the least words on it. The letter read like:

To,

A very loyal person

May 1960

I hope this letter find you well and you are doing great. I also believe that the mansion is not as dull and dead as I left it a few weeks back. I am writing this letter to thank you for your loyal services to this family. Everyone knows that my family and Gujrial’s family are practically one as we have been friends for so many years; therefore, if someone helps that family, they actually help my family. I am very grateful to you for the way you look after Mrs. Gujrial. He may not write her to ask about her, but he asks about her from me or others nearly every day. I hope you are able to convince her to respond to his care in the same way or at least pretend to do so. I would also like to thank you for your services to the Luthra family while we were staying there for a week after Gujrial left for London.

I also want to ask you for something. I know it can be very difficult to deal with her sometimes, but I want you to look after her as if you were looking after your daughter. Please take care of her and do not let her darkness consume her. For your this service, I will give you some gold coins. I know they will be nothing in comparison to your efforts and the duty I am asking you to perform.

My wife and daughter say hi to you and I am sending some money as a thank you gift. If you try to return this reward as you did last time, my family and I will not visit the mansion again. Let us reward you for the services you have provided to two families.

I wish you to be safe, strong and healthy.

From,

Mr. Luthra

At the end of the letter, there is a stamped mark. Rajveer believes that this letter was written after the Luthras went to visit Mrs Gijrial since she was alone in her home after her husband and kids went abroad. He also starts to believe that Amma was probably right as this letter points to her loyalty to Gujrial family and her relationship with them. He is a little impressed by this written evidence of what Amma told them.

He then opens another letter which goes like this:

To,

Laila (helper)

1960

We are both fine here and expect the same from your side. We hope things are not as messy as always since they have left. I wrote to mom, but she did not reply to my letter. Ask her to not drink much in celebration and inform her that we will not be coming back in this summer. I know I do not owe you any explanations, but tell my mom that we are going on a trip with our friends and are willing to live our lives our way. We do not want to hear any drama again and we wish to celebrate with her, her victory once we come back. Also, tell her that we will try to write to her if we get any time.

Good riddance,

Rakesh and Jaya

The letter is short, abrupt, to the point and bold. Rajveer is able to develop some perception about the personalities of the writers through their letters and this letter points to the cold behaviour of the writer. This letter highlights that both Jaya and Rakesh do not care about their mom, who is alone. They preferred to go on a trip rather than come home and comfort their mom who was suffering. This also points to their selfish and cold nature, as the letter was written to inform their mom and not to ask her permission. They also addressed Amma by her name and used the word helper for her in the letter. This means that they were conscious of the person to whom they were writing all the time, as their language would be decided according to a designation. It also highlights that they like to maintain a distance from their helpers and that they believe in disparity and love themselves more than anything. it also points to their relationship with their family.

Each letter is carrying a different story, a mystery that must be told, and Rajveer continues to read more. Some things are changing their course while others are persistent in their way.