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Alisha pored over the records which had come in through mail. But she
was distracted by the smell of melting cheese and sauting vegetables. She smiled. She could
hear Arjun potter about in the tiny kitchenette of the cottage preparing a
light meal for both of them. Soon he stepped out with two plates of grilled
cheese sandwiches. Sniffing appreciatively Alisha pushed aside the files in
front of her to make room for them. He went back for the cups of hot cocoa.
As he re entered the dining room he was amused to see Alisha biting
into the warm bread enthusiastically. She smiled sheepishly at him.
"Its awesome!" She said as he settled on the opposite chair.
He nodded with a slight smile and dug into in his own.
Sipping a bit of cocoa he regarded her thoughtfully.
AR : So Alisha! Ghar me kaun kaun hai?
AD: My mother. And about other thirty people. All girls of my age.
Arjun raised his eyebrows.
AD: I am an orphan, Sir. Someone placed me at the doors of the Church
Of The Holy Mother when I was three days old. Don't know who she was. I don't
know who I am.
She smiled. It was a sad smile. Arjun stayed silent but could not help
feeling her sadness.
AR: The Sister who took me in was Agnes D Mello. She gave me my name,
Alisha D Mello raised me as her own child along with a bunch of other kids. I
studied in the Church school. I had to leave it when I went for higher studies
& later the Police Academy but went back to live in its hostel when I was
posted here. Could not stay away from my "family".
She laughed softly and continued munching on the sandwich.
Arjun stared at her for a while and picked up his own.
He was touched by her liveliness despite having a sad past. He was
even more thankful that she did not take this as an opportunity to dig in to
his own past. He had only asked about her family in passing to keep it
informal. He was always wary of asking people about their life. Lest they
should turn around and ask him about his own.
Refreshed after the simple but fortifying meal Alisha & Arjun
settled down for the long haul night scrounging through the mountain of paper
work silently.
Both arrived at a startling revelation at just about the same time.
"Sir..."
"Alisha..."
Both looked up quickly.
"You first," Arjun ordered her.
"Sir, an interesting thing has come up. ...About Ramona,"
she said.
"That Rajneesh & Ramona were not really that much of enemies,
right?" Alisha's eyes were rounded in surprise. "But go on..."
he said
"You are right,Sir," Alisha continued excitedly. " I
have their phone records here. Seems Rajneesh made more calls to Ramona than to
Aadhira while he was away to work or on out of town trips. But how did you
know? "
"Credit card & Bank statements. Both have randomly used their
cards at the same hotels, restaurants and shops at the same days both here and
elsewhere out of the city. Its clear they were together. From the itemized
bills the feminine stuff bought is expected more on Ramona than Aadhira. So Aadhira was not present on these excursions."
Both looked at each other meaningfully.
It was a clandestine affair. Rajneesh & Ramona were cheating on
their partners with each other.
Alisha wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Isnt she an aunt by
marriage to Rajneesh? Such filthy people!"
Arjun pursed his lips."And to mask their shenanigans they
pretended to fight bitterly in front of their respective spouses. But I have a
feeling Amol must have sniffed something,"
So what was it? An affair gone wrong? A jealous husband?
He stood up concentrating hard on the elusive piece of evidence that
would take them to the killer of Rajneesh.
"I think we just hit upon a possible motive for the murder,"
"Dig deeper Alisha," Arjun said urgently. "I need an air
tight case against the woman if she was behind the killing. She is powerful. If
she gets an inkling of our suspicion she might slip the net."
Alisha nodded perked up at the new turn of events.
"What about Alok?" she asked.
"Might be him also but given his disability and the weak
position the family I doubt! But who knows what skeleton he must be hiding "
Arjun replied.
People are never what they seem, Arjun sighed. It was a lesson
he had learnt the hard way.
Soon he was in for another surprising but not so surprising
nugget of information. This time it was in Aadhira's financial statements.
Up until six months ago the major expenses that showed up
were for purchases for a child. A girl child. Clothes, toys and books. There
was also a payment for swimming classes at a high end hotel .
Arjun stared at the paper. There it was again. Signs of
presence of a child in the Sickands' lives.
What happened to her?
It was clear it was Aadhira who took care of the child since
Rajneesh's statement did not show any such entries.
Did Aadhira had a child from her first marriage? he wondered.
He shared his thoughts with Alisha hoping it would niggle
her mind as she was a local and would know about it. But she was surprised herself.
"Not that I kept a watch on them all day but still I used to
spot them occasionally around town now and then. Aadhira led somewhat of a
bohemian life. She loved to visit arty sort of places and she would walk from
one exhibition to another. I am pretty certain she never had a little girl with
her. Same with Rajneesh. But Sir, why is it important?"
Arjun had a far away
look in his eyes. He was remembering Aadhira at the gallery that night staring
longingly at the portrait of the girl.
Every instinct in him told him it was important.
He then noticed another payment entry on the Bank statement.
It was for a Speech Language therapist based in Nasik.
He thought for some time.
"Alisha, I want to
have a chat with Alok . I will bet my last rupee that the man hates his wife.
With the right pressure & nudging he might divulge something that might incriminate
Ramona. I also want to speak to this therapist Aadhira has made payment to. I
am sure that child is important."
"Yes, Sir!"
They were just deciding to call it a night when a raging
thunderstorm broke out.
"Damn!" muttered Alisha. "This is one thing that is so
horrible about these hilly places. You never know when you will be in for a
shower," she said irritated.
"You can't drive down the mountain in this weather, Alisha,"
Arjun said.
"I am sorry to have put you in this situation. But if you
don't mind would you tsay the night here?" he asked hesitantly.
Alisha blushed but composed herself.
"If its not a problem
for you Sir," she replied awkwardly.
"You could use my room. I'll crash here on the couch,"
Alisha blushed more deeply.
"Oh, No! I'd prefer the couch," she said.
Arjun turned to bring the extra duvet and pillow for her.
Alisha began gathering up the papers to hide the awkwardness.
He placed the pillow & cover on the couch.
"Have a good night Alisha," he tried a little smile.
"Good night, Sir," she smiled back.
He walked into his room and closed the door firmly.
Alisha stood staring at the closed door for some time.
She was a sucker for heroes who kept their distance from
damsels no matter how much the temptation. Her respect for Arjun was reaching
alarming heights.
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