Chapter 2

Inspector Bakshi yawned and fiddled with his phone in the front seat of the Gypsy. Nek Ram was concentrating in keeping his eyes open and focusing on the road ahead. It had been a couple of hours of rest and they were back on route to Anand Niketan. Instead of going back home Inspector Bakshi had slumped in his chair at the Police Station and managed to get some sleep.

“Nek Ram what do you think about this case?” he tried to keep Nek Ram occupied from dozing off.

“It’s too early to say anything Sir, but the murderer must have been known to the victim and knew details about the house. There was an alarm raised after he or she gained entry to the bedroom”

“Seems to me too as someone who had planned this meticulously. Let’s see who we meet today. We will start with the Guard at the gate before we meet anyone from the family. I want to know his version of the events last night”

They reached the main gate of the colony. Inspector Bakshi alighted and approached the guard who was busy entering details of the maid and domestic helps  lined up in a queue.

“Listen... were you the guard who was here last night? “He asked him.

“No Sir, I come in the morning. Gopal was the guard at night. He has not left the premises yet, he has gone to fetch some water. Is there anything I can help you with Sir?” he said.

“You must have heard about the murder which took place last night?”

“Yes Sir, heard it from Gopal. Very Sad. Madam was a very good person. She used to help us a lot and distribute gifts on occasions, but her husband…”he scowled.

“What about him?” Inspector Bakshi asked

“He had a temper Sirji and did not approve Neha Madam assisting us. He used to argue with her in front of us and……”

“And what?”

“Once or twice he even hit her. We are poor people Sir and do not interfere in personal matters. Neha Madam stopped meeting us after that”

“You keep mentioning “us”. Who else did she help?”

“My family and Gopal’s. Both of us are from the same village. Neha Madam paid our children’s tuition fees. I am sure it must be her husband who has done this “he said disapprovingly.

“What’s your name?”

“I am Ramdin Sir. Oh! There is Gopal.”

Gopal looked quite similar to Ramdin except he was probably younger by a couple of years. Both had the same sets of uniform but his looked a bit cleaner, he probably must be new in the job Inspector Bakshi thought.

“So Gopal, you were on duty last night?”

“Yes Sir I am assigned to the night shift this week”

“Gopal you must be aware of the murder which took place at Mr. Khanna’s. Would like to ask you a few questions about it?”

“So I will take leave Sir, Gopal can assist you with everything. Do get hold of her husband Sir. Bless the poor girl! She should have had a better life “Ramdin said and cycled off.

“Gopal how long have you been in this job?” Inspector Bakshi asked him.

“Sir I have been working here for around six months. Ramdin referred me for this job. We belong to the same village and he brought me to the city.”

“Okay what else can you tell us of yesternight?”

“Sir, I usually arrive at the gate around 9 o’clock at night when Ramdin leaves. Yesternight I arrived at the same time and took charge of the duties. At night it’s mostly the residents and guests who come and go and I ensure the guests enter their details in the register. Neha Madam was dropped at the gate at around 10 o’clock. She and the other Sirji chatted for some time at the gate and then she said goodbye and came inside...”

“Just a moment. You said there was another person who was accompanying her. Have you seen him before?” Inspector Bakshi interrupted him.

“Oh him! He comes to drops her every day.” Gopal said

“Has he ever entered the colony or has he ever put his details in the register, name, car number, anything?”

“No Sir. He always used to leave her at the gate. They used to talk for some time and then she used to enter the colony”

“How can you be so sure he has never entered the colony? He might have come during daytime?” Inspector Bakshi asked.

“Sir it’s either me or Ramdin at the gate throughout the day, and as I mentioned we have known each other for years. Ramdin has been working in this colony for some time. We do know all the residents and anything untoward would have been mentioned to me by Ramdin” Gopal said.

“Hmmm so as per you neither you nor Ramdin have ever seen this other person come during daytime. Have you ever seen his face?”

“No.It’s too dark at night and the colony lights are not bright enough. He must be around your height and might be a bit thinner than you” Gopal said.

Inspector Bakshi stood at 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed around 100 kgs. So the person he was questioning for must be around his height and built.

“Now this might be a silly question but have you ever noticed the duration they spoke?”

“I would say around 15 minutes on a daily basis”

“What else happened yesternight?”

“So Neha Madam was dropped around 10 o’clock and she and her friend chatted as usual and then she entered the gate. She asked me how I was doing and how were my children. Ramdin must have mentioned to you that she funds their education. I said they were doing fine and were scoring well at school. She smiled and proceeded towards her house. From 10 o’clock onwards there were other people who entered and exited the colony, the details of which you can find in that register. But nothing unusual happened.”

The murder must have occured between 1:30 am and 3:00 am Inspector Bakshi thought. They had received the call close to 02:55 am. He checked the entries in the register from 01:30am onwards. There were none till 03:00 am.

“So you are sure no one came or went between 1 o’clock and 3 o’clock?” he asked Gopal.

“Definitely Sir. It would been recorded in the register”

“Do you ever doze off at night?” he asked Gopal

Gopal shifted his eyes and replied” Not generally but yesterday I was wide awake Sirji. I had the chance to take a good nap during daytime. My kids and wife had gone to the market. I was sitting here like a rooster.”

“Let me ask you a question…do think about it and reply. You mentioned this person who came to drop Neha madam generally chatted with her and left. Was it only talking or….did you ever notice anything else?” Inspector Bakshi asked

Gopal was a bit hesitant” Sir they spoke and Neha Madam usually hugged him before she said goodbye and entered the gate"

“Thank you Gopal. That would be all for the moment. Leave your number and contact details with us. Will get back to you if I have any additional questions” he gestured to Nek Ram who had been busy with the register documenting.

“Sir..... do get hold of her husband “Gopal said in a lower tone” She was a good person and he was a total wretch. He ill-treated her. When Mr. and Mrs. Khanna were away and also Neha Madam, he used to come with another girl. He never used to enter her details in the register which was required since she was an outsider. A couple of times he had abused me for being persuasive. Me and Ramdin believe it must have been him who committed the crime.”

“But Mr.Khanna informed us he is not here and has gone out for a few days”

Gopal was a bit puzzled. Inspector Bakshi decided he would have to come back to Gopal and Ramdin maybe later. They knew a lot but he wanted to meet Aditya before taking cognizance of the stories. He nodded to Nek Ram who collected Gopal’s details.

He walked over to the house and opened the gate. He stood there for a moment scrutinizing. It was a sold iron gate around 7 feet in height with iron rungs on top and protruding nails in the middle rung. If someone jumps over the gate, would have to heave himself up taking support of the middle rung and climb over the top. The space between the series of protruding nails in the middle rung was such that if someone placed their feet to climb out, would step on the nails and probably get hurt. He examined the middle rung from left to right. He stopped at one section and peered closely. Attached to the nail was a piece of a torn shoe sole. He wrenched it out and turned it around in his hand. He could not figure out the make or type of shoe it was, he beckoned Nek Ram to get a plastic bag and placed the piece of sole in it. He walked across the porch and rang the bell. Mr.Khanna opened the gate and greeted him.

“Please make yourself comfortable in the hall. Raju has come back, I will ask him to get tea for you “he said.

“Thank you. Has your son Aditya returned?” Inspector Bakshi asked him.

“Yes, he is sleeping. I will wake him up and inform him you are here.”

He walked up the stairway and disappeared. Inspector Bakshi picked up the newspaper and looked at the headlines. On the main page on the right hand section was mentioned the murder. He wondered when did the press arrive and cover the crime scene. It was a rough description mentioning the death of a young woman in one of the upmarket colonies of New Delhi. It had statements from Mr. and Mrs. Khanna describing the nature of events in brief. The edition also highlighted the spurt in murder cases in South Delhi and questioned the Government’s measure to curb the increasing crime rate. He browsed the other sections and was lost deep in the sports column when he saw a young man approaching down the stairway. Close to 30 years of age, tall, with a stubble, dressed in shorts and a T-Shirt he walked down and greeted Inspector Bakshi.

“Hello Inspector, I am Aditya Khanna. Neha was my wife”

His eyes were red which Inspector Khanna could not gauge were caused by the loss of his wife or less sleep.

“Hi, I am Inspector Bakshi. I am assigned to investigate this murder. My condolences are with you. This is my deputy Nek Ram” he said.

Aditya shook hands with Nek Ram and said” Please take a seat. Have you been served any tea, coffee?”

“Not yet” Nek Ram said and yawned.

Inspector Bakshi glared at him and turned back to Aditya saying” We are sorry to disturb you since we know you arrived today morning”

“That’s alright….Raju get some tea for us”

“It’s ready “came a voice from the kitchen. Raju came into the hallway holding a tray with a tea-pot, cups and some biscuits. He must have been around 23years of age as Mr.Khanna had mentioned. He was strikingly handsome to be a domestic help. Fair complexioned and with sharp features he could have tried for Bollywood Inspector Bakshi thought. He tripped on the ledge of the carpet and the tea spilled slightly onto the tray.

“You dumb nut”Aditya shouted” Looks like with the loss of your Neha Madam you cannot seem to control your senses”.

He controlled himself and said to Inspector Bakshi” I am sorry. It’s just that everything happened so all of a sudden. Please help yourself.”

Inspector Bakshi and Raju exchanged glances. His eyes seemed to be hiding something and he looked the other way. He wiped the table, turned around and left.

Inspector Bakshi picked the cup of tea and thought this is surely turning interesting!

To be continued……………….