by BS Murthy
Finishing her tale of woes and looking into his eyes directly, she said enticingly that she hoped that at last, her hope won't turn out to be a dupe after all, and that he would set things right for her while she herself assisted him in his endeavors.
As her version matched Pravar's account, Dhruva felt it was indeed a poetic justice that Pravar, who tried to implicate her in a murder she didn't commit, found himself in the dock for a crime that he had nothing to do with. Besides, he felt that her account of her lover illustrated that love and lust alike are manifestations of sexuality in that while love begets affection through sexual union, lust might remain barren in spite of sexual fulfillment.
While she looked at him in hope, he asked her what she thought could have been behind her lover's refusal to part with a penny being in a position to do so; she said that
in hindsight it was clear to her that besides being a mean-being, he was money-minded as well. Whatever, the way he used and reused a trusting woman, wouldn't that make him a regular bastard after all?
When Dhruva extended his hand to her in anticipation, as Radha held it a little longer before releasing, he recalled Ranjit's Rupees twenty-thousand gesture against the promised million Rupee bonanza.
Chapter 13 Backyard of Life
When Radha reported for work the next day, Dhruva led her into his study to thrown open his collection of Holmes, M ason et al for her to pore over them, and as she was engrossed with the former, Raju went up to her to usher her to join his master at the dining table. When she approached him with the lunchboxshe brought along with her, as Dhruva said that the perquisites included free lunches, smiling coyly, she said that she would not mind working extra time if she could have dinners as well.
As Radha came to spend long hours at 9, Castle Hills, Dhruva lost no time in initiating her to drinks with Gin and Thums Up. When he asked her if his smoking a cigar was a bother for her, she said that having savored the smell of pogaku in his breath, she was all-eager to have a feel of its smoke. As he lit his lanka, maintaining that she enjoyed its aroma, she wondered whether he could make rings out of its smoke, the way actor Pran does in the movies. When he showed his prowess at it, as she wanted an encore, he too goaded her to repeat her booze; as he mixed a drink for her, she said that but for her abstinence then, her fate would have been tied up with the illicit couple and added that to usurp M adhu's ill-gotten wealth, Pravar might have aimed at killing three birds at one shot.
What with Radha's seductive balm soothing his jilted wound, and her eagerness to come closer to him tripping his resolve to be tightlipped until he sized her up, Dhruva appraised her how Pravar was fixed in the counterfeits case. When she said that maybe the dubious means justified the desirable end, he told her that Pravar had already confessed to the cop about his dubious role in the double murder. Saying she was glad to hear that, she said cheers all again, and clinking her glass with his own, he told her that he saw a possible role for her in dealing with the peculiar challenges Kavya's release from Pravar's psychological hold posed.
By the time Raju was ready to serve them dinner, Radha had a drink too many, and as Dhruva led her to the dining table by her waist, he was struck by her silken skin. After a sumptuous dinner, when she said that she would like to go home, he suggested that she better stayed back for the night, at which she turned coy and said that it might be risky. When he said that though a ladies' man, yet he was a gentleman, having had a hearty laugh she said that it was about the risk he ran. Meeting his flummoxed look, she lowered her eyelids and said that she heard that a man lets a woman into his house only as a prelude to letting her into his heart. Elated at her unexpected advance, as he said that he who would shy away from such a welcome prospect, she coyly reminded him about the proverbial camel that took over the tent when it was allowed to cool its head. Saying that his heart and hearth were too big for any to fill them, he cajolingly led her into M ithya's room, and as he helped her onto the mahogany cot, she pulled him into her embrace to anoint herself as the reigning queen of 9, Castle Hills.
Heralding a new phase in Dhruva's life, as Radha served him bed coffee; he caught her hand and said that she was hotter than the steamy thing. Saying coyly that she knew
his ardor would keep her ever warm, she watched him joyously as he savored the strong coffee, and when he took her into his arms, she sank into him amorously.
After breakfast though, she went to her place along with him to fetch her wardrobe as a prelude to let her transport herself into his life. Feeling at home in their home and seeing him eating her preparations greedily at lunch, she said coquettishly that she had some dessert to serve as well; while he played innocent, she pushed him all the way to M ithya's room that she made her own.
Breaking up his siesta before her, he went into the study to check the mail, and began reading a letter in Rani's hand that read.
Dear deadly:
Your boy is growing up in me, and it is no blackmail. As I thought he would, my man came around. If I were to be widowed when I still have it in me, you can count on my availability, and God forbid, should fate orphan our boy, I hope the gates of 9, Castle Hills are ever open for him. But for now, your fears about Kavya were not fated to be liars for I heard that she is carrying on with Pravar.
Love,
You know who.
Securing the letter in the chest of drawers, he didn't fail to see the irony oft his only progeny forever remaining anonymous to him, and as Kavya's fall began to trouble him, he had a premonition that her life might induce her to afford him an opportunity to redress his guilt.
When Radha came to serve him some steamy tea, as he was still morose, she said playfully that she was disappointed that even her nascent persona was of no avail to enliven him, and as he took her into his arms, as if to underscore her position in his life, she told him gravely that not all his virility would help her as she underwent hysterectomy, and added, in jest, that she wondered how he yet failed to father M ithya's child. He said that Mithya had had a couple of miscarriages, but when she wanted to know more about her life, he said that she would have that by and by. She said in half-jest that even as she waited for a peep into M ithya's past, what if he took her to the backyard of his life, he led her there, saying mockingly that it was no Garden of Eden.
Possibly a lovechild, he was abandoned at the gates of an orphanage in Devarakadra, and an ayah there named him Dhruva for she felt that he shone like the North star. When it was time to put him into school, since none knew his surname, the headmaster entered the village name in the column, and as he showed his prowess at catching the kitchenware- thieves at the orphanage and retrieving the 'lost' pencils from the wrong boxes at the school, he became Detective Dhruva to all. Thanks to a Good Samaritan, who funded his higher education, he graduated in humanities and joined the police department to have a hands-on-experience in dealing with crimes.
While his ignorance about his caste and creed made him blissfully immune to pride and prejudice, the deprivation of parental love and family ties left him with no emotional baggage to carry. Maybe to retrieve the lost ground of affection, he coveted women' love and so courted the desirable with some luck in between. Though he made a mark at his work, owing to his lacking a caste identity, none knocked at his door to invite him to lead their daughter to the altar. Thanks to the women who fancied him, he didn't miss much, to talk about which to a woman may not be chivalrous for a man; though all that changed when M ithya came into his life, her death brought him back to square one.
Chapter 14 Cuckoo's Nest
As Raju announced Ranjit's arrival, Dhruva said jocularly that Radha might as well meet Mr. Interval, but she told him that it pays to retain his Ace of Hearts for the development implied that the stakes were raised. Leaving her with a pleased look, Dhruva reached the study to find a downcast Ranjit, who said that Kavya had come under Pravar's spell, and sadly, he had every reason to believe that she was carrying on with him. As Ranjit bemoaned how his upright wife chose to ha
ve an affair with a hardened criminal, Dhruva said that he should bear with it all till she got over her aberration induced by the 'Stockholm Syndrome'. Assuming the role of a psychiatrist, the detective tried to convince the cuckold that he should be considerate to his unfortunate wife, while he himself would strain every nerve to get her out of her paramour's emotional clutches.
While Dhruva was closeted with Ranjit in the study, Radha went about arranging her things in M ithya's room and found the main cupboard ajar. Wondering whether it was Dhruva's idea to let her gain access to M ithya's wear, she opened it and came across scores of embroidered saris in an impressive wardrobe. Unable to resist the temptation to find out how M ithya's blouses would go on her, she wore one and as it was wellsuited, she wore a matching sari, and reached for the full-length mirror. While she sized up herself in M ithya's attire, she tried to envision Dhruva's reaction, which gave her a strange sense of fetishism, and drawn by the amazing collection of saris and dresses lying in the cupboard, one by one, she pulled them out, and found at the bottom, a false bottom. Gaining access to the secret shelf, and overawed by the exquisite jewelry lying therein, in ornate boxes, she couldn't stop wondering about the quality of the gems and the beauty of the workmanship. And finding a framed picture of a young girl, who seemed to be M ithya's daughter, she could not help but compare it with M ithya's lifesize picture of on the wall, and felt that both exuded a charm of their own.
When Raju informed her about Ranjit's departure, she joined Dhruva in the study, and he briefed her about Kavya's affair with Pravar, at which she wondered at the ways of life, and said that it could be awful for the husband. While Dhruva was at a loss as to how to redeem himself by freeing Kavya from Pravar's hold before she became his crime-mate as well, Radha said that they should bring Natya into play to gauge Kavya's mind, and that would enable her to keep a vigil on Pravar her own bete noir. Agreeing that they should think of a ploy to bring Natya emotionally closer to her, they toyed with many an idea before he came up with a plan involving Shakeel. While he was calling up Shakeel, she said jocularly that he should summon an ambulance as the cop might suffer a stroke on account of her presence at the Castle Hills; patting her for her naughtiness, he said that he would ask the cop to come in an ambulance.
When Shakeel came as promised, she received him in the portico as planned and before the guest could recover from the shock of her presence, the host jolted him further by introducing her as his assistant in a live-in. Leading Shakeel into the drawing hall, Dhruva joked that it made sense that the cop made up with her as his future admissions into 9, Castle Hills have to be through proper channel. When Radha extended her hand to Shakeel saying that they let bygones be bygones, Dhruva goaded him to make a new beginning with his old suspect. Over drinks that they had together, as she showed no traces of bitterness towards him, Shakeel began to feel at ease, and when Dhruva stressed upon the need to involve her in pinning Pravar, he ended up befriending her. As Dhruva finished the blueprint to bring Radha and Natya together, Shakeel left them wondering how his premonition about her coming closer to Dhruva came true.
That day, when Natya was about to step out from the department stores in the A.C. Guards; a woman constable picked her up for alleged shoplifting and packed her off to the lock-up of Saifabad police station. Soon, Natya had Radha for company, supposedly locked up for her road rage, and as Radha feigned to take Shakeel to task for having booked her for nuts, impressed with her elan Natya was drawn towards her. As Radha rang up Dhruva to speak to Shakeel, Natya pleaded with her to take up her case as well and as the older woman obliged. Readily freed by Shakeel, Radha led Natya to her own Red Hills abode, kept under lock and key, and succeeded in cultivating her young heart; as expected Natya spilled the beans on her wayward life and Radha solicited her about the need to reform Pravar for her own well-being. As Radha convinced Natya about the need to keep Pravar out of the loop as they together worked towards that end, the latter swore that she would act as directed.
Chapter 15 'Untried' Crime
On reaching her 'new home' as she learned that Dhruva was away with Shakeel and was not expected till late in the night, Radha began scanning Mithya's closets to delve deeper into her past. Not finding any sleazy stuff therein, as she was on the verge of giving up on spying, she located a false bottom in the dressing table that led her to many unusual items. Elated at the discovery as she rummaged the shelf, she found Mithya's jottings, leafing through which she came across a handwritten Untried Crime that read:
'That was when M ithya's life was under siege; she faced the unwelcome prospect of divorce, lo, owing to her own infidelity. Barely turned twenty-eight, as she was not for losing the good things of life her marriage afforded, she began planning a perfect murder of her man and her paramour. Leaving no lose ends for the police to tie her up to the murders, wearing a burka she spied upon Dhruva, the Station House Officer, likely to come knocking at her door for the inevitable questioning. While his reputation as an Ace of crime detection only increased her sense of challenge, giving an erotic edge to her criminal cunning, she turned covetous struck by his elan and enamored of his mien.
That late night, after seeing the end of both her men and having alerted the police about their death, she expectantly waited for Dhruva at her 9, Castle Hills, and when he knocked at her door, she received him in lingerie.
"Sorry for my rather scanty cladding," she said alluringly.
"I'm Inspector Dhruva,” he said unable to take his eyes off her hourglass frame.
"I'm M ithya," she said coquettishly, extending her hand invitingly.
"M rs. Ashok I suppose," he said, grabbing it greedily.
"Yes, I'm M ithya Ashok," she said withdrawing from him.
"Do you know where M r. Ashok is now?"
"Aboard the Godavari Express,” she said, "on the way to Waltair."
"Are you sure?"
"You know I'm his wife, don't you?"
"Can't there be secrets between spouses?"
"Have you come to know of any mistress of his?" she said mockingly.
"M aybe he would've been better off in her bed, if he had any but...."
"You mean, better off than in mine?" she said interrupting him
"I've to get into both to know about that," he said naughtily, "but sadly he's no more."
"If it's the case," she said winking at him, "can't you imagine the possibilities?"
"It's no joke, he was possibly murdered," he said searching into her eyes.
"You mean, in the running train!”
"No, it's in your A.C Guards' house."
"Wonder how he landed there!" she said feigning surprise. "But who could have killed him?"
"Who's Dilip?"
"He's my errand boy, don't mind his age,” she said smilingly.
"Is that all?"
"I know privacy is the first casualty in crime investigation.”
"Don't mistake me, it's a routine question."
"To tell you the truth, I am carrying on with him."
"I don't think he's of your class."
"Why that should bother you at all?"
"But surely your man would've been concerned about it."
"You are spot on," she said taking his hand. "You may know that I offered to divorce him."
"Are you in love with Dilip?"
"Didn't you hear me say that I am carrying on with him?"
"When did you last see him?"
"Last night, we were together till ten.”
"Where it was?"
"W here Ashok was murdered that's going by what you've said.”
"You mean you three were there."
"Are you implying a threesome or what?"
"You know I am not privy to your sexual proclivities."
"Given a chance, I won't withhold any from you," she said seductively.
"You may keep that on hold and..."
"As you put me on hold, I can hang on in hope," she said turning bold.
"M aybe by the r
ope,” he said mocking sympathy.
"Don't worry on that count."
"M isplaced though, your confidence is admirable."
"Cerebral though isn't it a misplaced compliment," she said coyly adjusting her lingerie.
"Could be but how Ashok was in the wrong place?"
"How am I to know that?"
"Maybe you could guess."
"I've no clue on earth.”
"What if Dilip too is dead.”
"Oh God, did they kill each other?”
"I haven't said Dilip was dead,” he said and as she was startled a little, he added, "didn't you give away the clue to the case?”
"Brush up your grammar boy, it was but my question," she said recovering.
"Then, 'yes' is my answer," he said bowled by her smartness.
"Oh, losing my man and my paramour."
"What a double jeopardy, I'm really sorry."
"Why be sorry as I'm doubly free," she said taking his hand.
"I guess you've some way to go before that," he said holding it.
"Going by your demeanor, I don't think so."
"Why not follow me there?"
"Can't you spare me all that now?”
"So be it but don't fail to turn up at the mortuary tomorrow."
"Where it is?"
"Sorry for the slip."
"Don't I see you're enamored," she said winking at him.
"I will wait for you at the Gandhi Hospital at ten in the morning," he said in embarrassment.