chapter 5
529 Words
Inspector Singh, Saurabh and I sat in ACP Rana’s office in the Hauz
Khas Police Station. Saurabh repeated what had happened.
‘A Karva Chauth murder' Rana said, taking a sip of tea. ‘Delhi never
ceases to amaze me. This chai is boring. Singh, you want a real drink?’
‘On duty, sir,’ he said.
'You are also boring,’ Rana said and smiled. 'Anyway, my gut feel...
actually leave it. Singh, this is your case. You handle it.’
‘No, sir, please give me your thoughts,’ Singh said.
Rana finished his tea and kept the empty glass aside. 'Complicated.
Could be anything—accident, suicide or murder.’
‘I will explore all angles, sir' Singh said.
‘It’s not suicide' Saurabh said.
‘Huh?’ Rana said. ‘Why?’
'She was looking forward to seeing me. I have the chats.’
'So accident or murder' Rana said. ‘To save everyone a headache, let’s
just hope it was an accident.’
‘People don’t just fall off like that, sir' Singh said.
‘Good luck then. Media will be all over this. They will hang you for not
finding out who did it in two hours. What about the post-mortem?’
‘We will do it, sir' Singh said.
‘Good' Rana said. ‘Do a full forensic as well. Lot of people in the
house?’
‘Joint family. A maid. And him too' Singh said, pointing at Saurabh.
Saurabh was about to speak when ACP Rana stopped him.
‘Singh, these boys are fine. They may look stupid, but they can actually
be useful. I hate to admit it, but they did help in that Zara Lone case. And
now I finally have this ACP office.’
‘But, sir...’
‘Well, Singh, solving a high-profile case will help your career like
nothing else. Take all the help you can get for this one?
‘He was on the terrace, sir' Singh said. ‘He’s a suspect?
‘But don’t do an FIR yet. Talk to the family first. Can you do that for
me? I take responsibility. He won’t run away?
‘Why would I run away, sir?’ Saurabh said.
‘Can you keep quiet when I’m talking on your behalf?’ Rana said in a
stem voice.Saurabh nodded, looking downcast.
‘That’s doable, sir,' Singh said.
‘Good,’ said Rana. ‘Now let them go home. Take family testimonies
and we will discuss again?
Singh nodded. Saurabh and I stood up to leave. Rana walked us out of
his office.
‘Thank you, sir,' I said to Rana as we came outside the police station.
‘Welcome. But even if you have done the damn murder, don’t run
away,’ Rana said and laughed.
‘Of course not, sir,’ Saurabh said. ‘I mean I haven’t done anything?
‘Good. Now cry less and think more. If the media sticks the blame on
you, it won’t be easy to shake it off. Arranged match, right?’
‘Well, technically yes, sir. But...’
‘But what? Then why cry so much?’
‘I loved her?
Rana laughed and shook his head.
‘Love screws you,’ Rana said.
He hailed an auto rickshaw for us. The driver saw the police officer and
screeched to an immediate halt.
‘What’s in the bags, Keshav?’ Rana said.
‘Milk, atta and daal. Want some, sir?’ I said as the rickshaw sped off.
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