Into The Shadows

by Aayush Borulkar

  Few hours later…

  “You got the file along with you?” asked Erika

  “Yes, I got it right here,” answered Avinash getting into the car.

  “Okay, so the address says 365/15, Porba Vardo, Bardez” readout Erika.

  “But when I contacted on the landline number, the person who answered the call, said that the people who stayed there had shifted to Mumbai,” said Avinash. “I enquired about Imran, and then he told me that Imran had been shifted to a mental health institution in Pune, which was around five years ago when he had purchased the house from Imran’s son,” added Avinash.

  “But how does the man…

  “He knows this because once Imran’s son had called the man to the institution, as few legal documents needed to be signed urgently, and that’s where he had met Imran. The name of the institution is Juano Self Improvement Centre,” interrupted Avinash.

  “Arey waah! That’s some thorough investigation huh. If this thoroughness is shown in all areas, then Goa could become the safest place on Earth, let alone India,” chuckled Erika.

  “Thank you. But I think we should reschedule the whole trip after two days, I guess, because Pune is a 10-hour drive, and I don’t think it’s feasible to drive right away,” suggested Avinash.

  “We are heading out right now. And I think we will reach Pune by early morning and then head straight to the institution,” said Erika enthusiastically.

  “I mean okay, madam. Let’s just stop at my place, and I will get my bag ready,” said Avinash baffled.

  “Okay, in that case even I will get my bag from my place. So let’s meet at my place in an hour,” said Erika.

  It was a long journey. They both took turns in driving the car, and finally, after a strenuous journey of 10 hours, they reached Pune at 9 am in the morning. They directly headed to the Juano Self Improvement Centre without wasting another minute.

  “Patient’s name Imran Sheikh,” said Erika to the receptionist.

  “Nativaik (relatives) ahaat?” asked the receptionist looking into the computer.

  “Nahi…

  The receptionist interrupted Erika by showing her the signboard by stretching his hand out that read ‘Relatives Only’, still pouring into the computer screen. Now Erika had no other choice, so she took out her badge from her pocket and placed it on the counter with a thud. The receptionist looked up and stood up startled, looking at the Goa Police badge.

  “Sorry, madam. Vo aap civil mein hai na tho pehchana nahi” said the receptionist fumbling.

  “That’s okay, sit down and tell us the room number now,” said Avinash.

  The receptionist nodded and sat down, frightened. He scrolled through the computer and said, “Room no. 212. second floor”. The duo left the receptionist baffled and walked towards the elevator.

  As soon as they reached the second floor, they saw a long passage with rooms on either side. Some with their door closed, and some open. Some patients were sleeping, some patients were playing with collectibles, and some were walking in their room aimlessly.

  “210, 211, and yeah, this is 212,” said Avinash reading out the room numbers.

  The door was half-open. Erika first knocked on the door but then pushed it open. As soon as she opened it, they were welcomed by a cool breeze and a well lit up room. The white paint on the wall made the room bright and welcoming. They walked a little further and then saw a middle aged man with long hair sitting on a chair by the window staring into infinity. They both walked up to him and stood right beside him but got no response at all. Avinash brought a chair for Erika and stood beside her.

  “I am ACP Lobo, and this is sub-inspector Avinash. We would like to talk to you regarding a case,” said Erika trying to catch the attention of the man, which she failed at.

  “Sir, we know you were in charge of a homicide case twenty years back at Bardez villa,” said Avinash.

  “He won’t talk to anyone. He has barely even reacted to anyone or anything since he came in,” said a nurse who entered the room with a tray.

  “He was admitted five years back when he met with a bike accident. The severe head injury cost him his ability to hear. Now he can’t hear anything. He has even stopped reacting to people or things. Been like this for a while now. Just a numb piece of human flesh,” she added in a robotic tone.

  Both Avinash and Erika were taken aback by this because it was cold of her to say something like that.

  “Call me once you people are done. Khana khilana hai inko,” said the nurse leaving the covered tray on the side table.

  “Avinash, start the recording. I will try one more time,” said Erika leaning forward. “Sir, we know that you were in charge of a homicide case, and we just wanted to know a few facts, that’s it,” added Erika, but still no response from him. “We know that there was some foul play involved, and we need to unearth the truth. We need your co-operation for that,” pleaded Erika.

  Still, there was no response from Imran. He sat there as cold as he was when they first came in. It felt as if all the words were just escaping through the ears without being processed in the brain. He just sat there with a poker face staring out of the window into infinity.

  After a few attempts, Avinash suggested that they should try some other time as this was just not yielding the results. So Erika got up from her chair and said for the last time “Sir, truth is like a shadow. It never leaves you. It becomes a part of you and stays with you till your very last breath. So truth be told”. Saying this, she went to turn the recorder off.

  At that moment Imran moved, and said in a heavy voice “It wasn’t just a homicide case”. Erika stopped suddenly, and her eyes lit up, and she went back to her chair.

  “It was not just a homicide case,” repeated Imran in the same voice. “The Truth Be Told! Truth Be Told!” added Imran loudly. His eyes had now grown bigger, and his legs had started shaking. His temper and voice were increasing with every second and he had begun to get violent. Avinash ran to call the nurse. Erika too tried to get up, but Imran caught her wrist firmly and kept on saying, “Truth Be Told!”. By then, the nurses had come, and they held Imran firmly and injected him with a sedative.

  “Did you get that on the recorder?” asked Erika.

  “I did,” answered Avinash, a little shaken by the sudden turn of events.

  “Let’s go back Avinash. We have a case to reopen,” said Erika sharply.

  Chapter 11

  Present Day

  Nishant stood with the newspaper in his hands, all six of them perplexed about what they had just read and heard.

  “But after 20 years?” asked Nishant, confused. “It doesn’t make any sense now. The case was closed, and the suspect was convicted right. So why now?” added Nishant.

  “Richa might have somehow gone to the cops again,” suggested Ishaan

  “Could we stop with the blame game please? I thought we were already done with this!” exclaimed Kaajal.

  Vibha took the newspaper from Nishant and read the whole article again. “Guys! Guys! I don’t think it was any of us. It reads that the new ACP Erika Lobo in Goa Police has re-opened the case due to some novel findings in the 20 years old homicide case” readout Vibha. “And in her statement, she has clearly stated that the new findings are conclusive enough for the case to be re-opened”

  “Conclusive evidence, huh? After 20 years?” wondered Ishaan.

  All this time Abhimanyu was standing quietly by one of the broken windows with hands in his pockets. He was aloof from all the chaos in the warehouse. Vibha saw that Abhimanyu had cut himself off from the rest of them, so she walked up to him, wondering if something was wrong.

  “Are you planning on fixing the window?” said Vibha on a lighter note, but it did not change the situation.

  “Yeah. I mean, no. I was just trying to get myself together,” said Abhimanyu breaking the silence. “It’s just that the whole trail of events of that fateful night started playing on repeat in front of me. The dead body, the p
olice, my dad, and everything about that night was so messed up. Gives me goosebumps,” said Abhimanyu cringing at the very thought of it.

  “It was the same for all of us Abhimanyu. We just coped up with it in our different ways,” said Vibha looking at Richa, who was now sitting bent forward on a chair filled with cobwebs, scratching her head.

  “Yeah, but now if I have to relive the whole thing again then it would be one hell of a ride,” sighed Abhimanyu.

  “We have to do, what we have to do,” said Vibha, still looking at Richa.

  By now, Nishant and Ishaan had also joined the duo.

  “How on the planet earth are they going to solve this case after twenty years? Should I say re-solve” questioned Nishant.

  “That is not our concern, I guess,” replied Ishaan

  “It indeed is…

  “Because it’s Abhimanyu’s farmhouse, remember?” said Vibha cutting Nishant mid-sentence.

  “We have to go up to the police station though, because we have to find more information about this,” said Abhimanyu.

  “Abhimanyu and Nishant could go to the police station while we three would go back to my room,” suggested Vibha.

  “But where is Kaajal?” asked Abhimanyu

  “She might be around. Don’t sweat it. She must have gone for a smoke. You guys carry on, we will take care of Richa,” said Vibha.

  They all exited the abandoned warehouse, which was on its last leg. Nishant accompanied Abhimanyu in his car and Kaajal was accompanied by the girls, while Ishaan went alone in his car. All of them drove their separate ways.

  Abimanyu and Nishant drove towards the Panaji Police headquarters. On reaching, they went to the first desk they saw, and inquired about DCP Dattatray Sawant. One of the constables told them that he was in a meeting and that they could wait until they were called. They both sat on the adjacent benches.

  “I had a question about that night which has been lingering in my head. Do you mind me asking?” asked Nishant.

  “Spit it out,” said Abhimanyu, somewhat exhausted.

  “Did they find out what we were trying to hide that night?” whispered Nishant. Hearing this, Abhimanyu got alarmed but did not let that reflect on his face.

  “Yeah, the drugs they found it,” whispered Abhimanyu.

  “What!? They did?” exclaimed Nishant. “But how did it not trickle down to us?” he added, surprised.

  “But seriously? That’s what is on your mind and bugging you right now,” said Abhimanyu irritated.

  “Just a curious mind at work,” sighed Nishant.

  The clock struck three, and it had been over an hour that the two were waiting. Both of them tried their luck by once again inquiring about Dattatray Sawant, but received the same answer. Finally, at half-past three, the cabin’s door opened, and three police officers exited the cabin.

  “Now could we go?” asked Nishant going up to the desk.

  “10 mintaat java aat"

  They waited and then they went towards the cabin and entered the cabin but were surprised to find it empty. The peon inside clearing the desk told that Sir was on a break and that he will be back in a while. They could wait in here till then. Finally, after 15 minutes, the door opened again, and Dattatray Sawant entered the cabin.

  “Tell me what brings you two here today?” asked Dattatray sitting on the chair.

  “We are here to discuss about the 20 years old homicide case that is being re-opened now,” answered Abhimanyu.

  “Oh, so the news has already reached so far and wide huh. How are you people connected to this, if I may ask?” he asked.

  “We are the prime witnesses in that case, and this is Abhimanyu Shekhawat, the owner of the farmhouse,” explained Nishant.

  “Oh, okay! You are Mr. Abhimnayu Shekhawat, son of the respected high court lawyer Mr. Ranvijay Shekhawat. Even you have quite a reputation in the Maharashtra high court, huh” greeted Dattaray.

  “Yeah, so, we were just wondering, about the reason to re-open the case. As in, what ground breaking discovery has been made?" asked Nishant intently.

  “Oh, about that. I am afraid I can’t disclose as it’s a sensitive matter,” answered the DCP. “But what I can tell you is that, we checked this puzzle from a different angle, and what we found is, that the very centre piece of the puzzle is missing. And when that is missing, we have to re-open the case right?” he added.

  “But why now, after 20 years?” asked Abhimanyu.

  “Look, we have to follow the protocol. We have found pieces of evidence that could lead to a different outcome. Hence we have to re-open the case,” said the DCP firmly. “And the case is personally being investigated by one of our efficient officers, ACP Erika Lobo. She will get to the root of it.”

  “It’s for the best, I guess,” said Abhimanyu, getting up.

  “Do you want to meet her? Generally, we don’t allow, but you, after all are the son of Mr.Shekhawat,” said the DCP.

  “Oh no! It’s fine, we don’t need to do that,” said Abhimanyu immediately when Mr. Sawant was about to ring the hand bell.

  “Okay, suit yourself. After all, you will be meeting her the day after. What I suggest is that you two go to your villa and stay there. She has a thing for onsite investigations. She prefers them,” suggested Mr. Sawant.

  “Yeah, sure, we will just shift there tonight,” replied Nishant.

  “Alright, then. Best of luck!” said Mr.Sawant as he got up from his chair and bid them goodbye.

  “He is pretty weird for a DCP. Don’t you think?” wondered Nishant as they were walking down the steps.

  “Call Kaajal and update up her on the details and tell her that we all need to go to the villa by evening. And we will all go to the villa together,” told Abhimanyu.

  “Yes, boss. As you wish,” replied Nishant.

  The sky was turning orange. It was as if someone in heaven had let a pint of orange and yellow colour spill over and mix with each other, painting the whole heaven with the lustrous colours. And amidst this beautiful setting, stood a structure that had witnessed many such skies and seasons, yet it stood there battling through all of these, the “Bardez Villa.” Fifty years old but till glowing like a youth, as the rays of the setting sun hit the walls of the villa that stood steady and quiet.

  The gates of this monument had been opened after 20 years as a blue SUV entered the villa. All six of them got down from the car as a man welcomed them.

  “The whole villa has been cleaned. Well, four hours was quite a short notice. But I have managed the best I could,” said the man.

  “Yeah, no problem. Give me the keys and thank you for the help at such a short notice,” said Abhimanyu as all of them walked into the house. As soon as they entered, they were welcomed by a breeze of cool air. It felt as if the whole air was fresh again. It was like, this was a new villa, completely different from the one they had left 20 years ago. It seemed that the villa was trying to greet them all once again. The caretaker showed all of them their respective rooms and then got busy in making the dinner.

  “It’s been quite a long time huh,” said Nishant stretching.

  “Yeah, twenty long years, since we last set foot in this gigantic house,” said Kaajal helping Richa climb the stairs.

  They all went to their rooms to freshen up and, as per the plan, met downstairs for dinner.

  “Where is Abhimanyu? asked Vibha.

  “I might know where he could be. I’ll go get him,” said Ishaan getting up from the chair.

  He climbed up the flight of stairs and first checked in Abhimanyu’s room but no luck. Then while walking through the passage, he saw the door of a room open.

  “I knew I would find you here,” said Ishaan opening the door. “The caretaker is doing a great job keeping that portrait crystal clean.”

  “It was all so great when she was around. Life was so smooth and steady. Whenever I got angry, she used to make pancakes and pour extra honey for me. But I let her down. I was not able to be with her when sh
e needed me the most. Went off to study 7000 miles away. But what for?” wondered Abhimanyu as he turned to Ishaan with teary eyes. “I just don’t want to let you guys down too. That was my party twenty years ago. If it was not for that party, then we all would be living our normal lives, without being scared, and Richa would still be sane,” added Abhimanyu, slightly sobbing.

  “Hey! It was not your fault in any manner, and why are you even sorry for that night,” said Ishaan, now consoling Abhimanyu, who was crying in his arms. “We were all there voluntarily. And it is not as if we committed the murder. So chill we did nothing wrong and you have no reason to feel guilty,” he continued while consoling Abhimanyu.

  “Yeah but…

  “Now let’s go down and have some dinner. We all need some rest,” added Ishaan as they both walked off.

  Chapter 12

  The next day morning a black SUV drove in and stood right in front of the entrance. Erika, Avinash and two constables stepped out from the car. Abhimanyu and Ishaan stood at the door to welcome the ACP and her team.

  “I am ACP Erika Lobo, and this is sub-inspector Avinash, and these are constable Balaram and Shinde,” said Erika, shaking Abhimanyu’s hand.

  “I am Abhimanyu Shekhawat, and this is Ishaan. The rest are waiting inside for you, so let’s go,” said Abhimanyu welcoming the team.

  As Erika was entering, a CCTV camera caught her eye, which was mounted on the entrance door.

  “Ye chalta hai?” she asked, pointing at the camera.

  “This was installed just five years back, so won’t help us in any manner,” replied Abhimanyu.

  Kaajal was sitting comfortably on a sofa reading a magazine. Richa was quietly sitting on the sofa adjacent to Kaajal biting her nails. Nishant was talking on the phone at the window.

  “This is ACP Erika and her team,” announced Abhimanyu as they entered the hall.

  Everyone put down whatever work they were doing and scampered to the living room and adjusted themselves on the couches.