Sophia's Freedom

Chapter 44 : Where is Sophia

Something was definitely wrong with the statements that Nishi Jethu had provided. He knew very well that Garima was alive and still he lied. I am still confused.

Suddenly it appeared like uncle is trying to find somebody else in the surrounding. Probably he is searching for his daughter 'Aamaya di' or 'Abhinu' in the vicinity and praying for her safety.

"Do you know where my Aamaya is?... Please tell me she is alright?"

I was completely thrown off by his complete lack of concern about Abhinu at that moment, he only seemed to be consumed by an overwhelming worry of his one and only surviving daughter Aamaya. I couldn't help but think at that inopportune moment about what Abhinu once told me. ‘No matter how much you care about someone your own blood will always come first.’

Nishi Jethu interrupted my thought and continued in a worried tone "I... I am really sorry to pass a piece of inconclusive information to you, there was an accident near the railway gate..." he paused and continued empathetically "Your daughter was taken to the Gopalpur hospital for some test. On the way, there was an accident, the driver was unhurt but the paramedic accompanying her is seriously injured and unconscious.”

“A severely burnt and unidentifiable body has been located near the ambulance. Based on the initial investigation our forensic team established the body as a female, approximately 15-years of age. Since the body is burnt beyond recognition, our investigative team reached a dead end in arriving at a decision about the identity of the corpse."

As uncle Banerjee got the news of the unidentified dead body and its attributes, the first name that cropped up in his mind was probably Aamaya di and with that uncle went into a state of catatonia. Even though it was a wild guess, but the probability cannot be ruled out. I know the feeling of losing someone whom you hold dear. 

I was nearly broken when I heard the news of Aarohi's demise and today uncle was probably going through the same, with the loss of his family. Uncle really loved Aamaya di more than any other members of the family.

“And what about my Sophia… where is she?” Asked uncle.

I guess I was wrong in judging uncle so soon. However, when Nishi Jethu asked him a counter-question, it made me believe that the elders had already devised a plan when they were huddled in the room, and everyone seemed to be playing their roles perfectly.

“I beg your pardon, who?”  Nishi sir asked with a confused look.

“My youngest daughter Sophia… the one who was getting treated in the hospital?” replied uncle.

“But you just said her name is Aamaya…”  Nishi Jethu countered.

Uncle tried to convince Nishi Jethu that it was Sophia who was getting treated at the hospital and that Aamaya was the one who was at the hospital to take care of her.

“Ok… Mr. Banerjee, please calm down… do you have any photographs of your younger daughter… so that I can ask my men to talk to the hospital authorities…” asked Nishi Jethu.

“Yes… if I am allowed to go inside the house, I can arrange a photograph of Sophia for you.” Uncle responded.

Nishi Jethu agreed and both of them went inside the room to get a picture. As they went inside, Mom came close to me and said “Honey… remember, you don’t know anybody by the name of Sophia… nobody by that name ever existed… you keep visiting the Banerjee’s only to meet Aamaya…”

I guess Abhinu’s rescue plan was set in motion and that’s why she is asking me to act like that. I responded with feelings of joy and decided not to ask her anything right now and wait for the right moment.

A few minutes later Nishi Jethu and Uncle came out together. “So Mr. Banerjee… you have anything else that might prove the existence of this so-called Sophia Banerjee that you are talking about” Nishi Jethu enquired.

"Actually I do... can you call us the hospital and ask them for the patient in Room No. 302... I am pretty sure they will tell you her name is Sophia Banerjee"

Nishi Jethu picked up his walkie-talkie and began to fiddle with it and then began to channel out a message "Hello... control room... this is the IG Crime Branch Puruia Region..."

"Good Morning sir... how can I help you..."

"I want you to dispatch my call to any of the PCR units close to Mother Teresa Hospital... this is an emergency..."

"yes sir... let me check who is available right now..."

It took about 2 minutes and then we heard the voice again. "Sir S.I. Goutam Mandal is close to Mother Teresa... I am dispatching the call to him..." 

"Sir... P.S.I. Goutam Mandal reporting sir..."

"Gautam... how far are you from Mother Teresa Hospital..." 

"Sir we are just 2 minutes away..."

"ok... I want you to go to the hospital and enquire about the patient in Room 302... I want to know the name of the patient and how old he or she is?"

"Ok, Sir... please give us some time we are almost at the hospital..."

"ok... just make sure to keep the channel open I want to hear everything... this is a matter of someone's life and death..."

"Ok sir... no worries..."

I could hear a lot of commotion on the other line as the PSI directed his driver to turn on the siren and move towards the hospital.

"Ok Mr. Banerjee we will know about your so-called Sophia in a few minutes"

"I.G. sir... it seems like you really don't believe in the existence of my Sophia..." asked Mr. Banerjee in an agitated tone.

"You know our job sir... it's just that I only trust my instincts and nothing else... but let's wait... Mr. Mandal will definitely let us know in a short while..."

at that moment we heard the voice through the walkie once again. "Sir... we are at the reception of the hospital... I am just going through the entry register..."

"Ok... check room number 302 and tell me who was the patient..."

I could hear the officer mumbling "302... 302... 302... 302... sir the name on the list says  Aamaya Banerjee..."

"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE... IT'S NOT AAMAYA ITS MY SOPHIA..."

Nishi Jethu and then he looked at Uncle indicating him to be quiet and then he said "Mr. Mandal... can you check something else please... can you go through the register and see if there was someone by the name of Sophia..."

He was probably going through the pages and began to murmur some of the names "Joy, Johnny, Kenny. Sudip. Anjan, Ranjan, Aindrilla and Aarakshi... No sir there is no one by this name..."

Nishi Sir spoke to the PSI on his radio and said "Ok, thank you Mr. Mandal... you can leave now..."

 "Jai Hind sir... have a nice day..."

"Jai Hind... have a nice day to you too..." and then he disconnected the call.

Nishi Jethu looked angrily at Uncle Banerjee and asked again "Anything else Mr. Banerjee..."

Uncle was probably in a dilemma and then responded, “Actually I do… you can ask Mr. Christopher’s daughter… she has been a friend of Sophia for 6 years… she can confirm her existence…”

Nishi Jethu approached me and asked “Bacha… do you know anyone by the name of Sophia in this house…” he paused a little and then continued “Mr. Banerjee is saying that you have been her friend for six years.”

I caught hold of Dad’s hand and pretended like hiding behind him to express my fear. Dad asked assuringly, “Sweetie… don’t be scared… you can tell him the truth… I am with you…”

With a lot of hesitation, I replied, “Sophia… who is Sophia? uncle... I don’t know anyone by that name… It is true that I am a friend of his daughters, but I visit them just to meet Aamaya di as we like to spend our time together…”

Suddenly uncle made a move to intimidate and force me to tell the truth but dad was quicker on him and spoke menacingly “Wow… wow… Mr. Banerjee… control yourself… you are not touching my daughter…”

Uncle managed his aggression to speak politely “Why are you lying Monika… please tell the truth…?”

Before I could say anything Dad continued loudly “Mr. Banerjee… enough… if my daughter said that she doesn’t know anyone called Sophia… I believe her… you cannot force her to say anything, she doesn’t know…”

At that point Nishi Jethu interrupted and continued “Mr. Banerjee… it seems like you still doubt my officer too... let's go to the hospital so that you can verify it with your own eyes... maybe that way you would also give me peace of mind and stop imagining things about some Sophia, Abhinu, Sujoy or whatever the name is..."

I could see uncle's facial expression changed the moment Nishi Jethu mentioned the word Abhinu... "Sir what did you just say... did you just mention the name Abhinu and Sujoy...?"

For once it felt like Nishi Jethu did that on purpose. He purposefully reminded him the names of Abhinu and his Dad. 

Nishi sir looked at him and with a surprised look said "A... what...?"

"Abhinu... and Sujoy!!!"

"Abhinu!!! do you know someone by that name...?" asked Nishi Jethu.

Uncle still surprised to hear the 2 names after almost 7 years, he almost made sure to erase the 2 names from Abhinu's life. He suddenly changed the tone of his voice and replied "it's nothing... please take me to the hospital… you will understand that I am not lying…” he paused a little and continued again “Sir… Please, can I see the body of the girl you recovered from the accident site? I just want to know if that is my Aamaya."

"I think that will be managed…" said Jethu. He raised his right hand and pointed towards the vehicles parked outside, "Let's go..." and they left on one of the jeeps...

It was already 10:30 a.m. Seven hours passed since I left my bed. Waking up so early in the morning is giving me a headache, and drowsiness. My tummy has also started to growl to add to my discomfort. I just wish for a soft cushion for support to rest my head.

I felt like God heard my prayers, dad came to me and picked me up in his arms. I laid my head on his left shoulder and felt his hands patting softly on my head. I love it when he does that. It has been a very long time since I missed the security and warmth of my dad's shoulder.

Dad started walking, it felt like he was moving towards the Banerjee uncle’s residence, but I was too engulfed by the warm comfort of my dad's embrace to focus on my surroundings.

He asked someone, "Can we leave, we have been here since 3:30 a.m."

"Yes... Christopher Sir... you can leave... your child might be feeling sleepy."

Dad took a turn to move towards our house. My mind was spinning out of control with all the concern I had for my brother and Abhinu. The growing apprehension about their safety along with the white lie Mom asked me to fabricate in front of the authorities escalated my confusion. I was not able to understand why they asked me to deny the existence of Sophia in front of Banerjee uncle.

As we reached home, dad lowered me on the couch and went ahead to help mom in the kitchen for our breakfast.

It took them about 15 minutes, all I could hear was the sound of the grinder. After a while, dad brought 3 glasses on a plate to our living room and poured my favourite Strawberry milkshake. I was so hungry that I didn't wait for them and started gulping it down.

"Sweetheart, I want to tell you something, until we find out Joe you are not going to school," In the middle of our breakfast Mom told me emphatically.

"But mom..." dad interrupted my attempted protest and said, "We are doing this for your safety." He continued with a pause, "the brutal murder of the members of Banerjee family, with Joe and Abhinu missing probably kidn*pped within the span of a night, I strongly suspect that you or Mr. Banerjee might also be in imminent danger."

"I don't care about that man, but I sure do care about the 3 of you," Dad said.

Finally, mom said, "You must be exhausted, why don't you go off to sleep."

"Your dad and I are going out to talk to the cops, I have asked Koushik to keep a watch on our house."

Mom gave me a kiss on my forehead as I retired to my room for a nap. Even with my many years of yoga practice, the memory of bloodied lifeless bodies of Darika and Garima was giving me the shivers.

I turned on my Walkman and played my favorite song "Coward of the County". The only thought in my mind was : 

Who killed the family? 

Where is my brother? 

And why was I told to lie in front of everyone? 

With the lingering thought and the soothing voice of Kenny Rogers, I finally went off to sleep...

                                                TO BE CONTINUED…

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