Nothing Lasts Forever - No Secret Can Stay Buried

by Vish Dhamija

  'I'm sorry, sweetheart.' Raaj realised his mutterings had been insensitive. 'I cannot think of any other solution.'

  'You will. It's not like you have to do something today. Two years is not a small period of time.'

  Mumbai

  March 1996

  'I have a plan,' Raaj called Serena at her office.

  'I'm relieved,' she said. 'What is it?'

  'It's a little too detailed for a phone call. We'll discuss it when you get home, sweetheart.'

  Serena was home by seven after her driver waded successfully through the Mumbai traffic. 'Tell me now, love?' she asked as soon as she entered the apartment.

  'It's still nascent, but the outline of the solution is clear in my mind and we just need to work out the details.' Raaj pointed towards the chair in his office, requesting her to sit down.

  'Let's go to the living room.'

  'Good idea; let's have a drink first.'

  'Let me change and come while you fix the drinks,' she said before disappearing into the bedroom.

  Raaj was nervous. He, nevertheless, tried to look optimistic for Serena. She came out of the room dressed in white spandex shorts with a wide elastic waistband that had a metallic drawstring and a screen-printed hot adorned in red. They hugged her tightly, showing off her bare legs, under the tight white T-shirt that ended over her belly button.'

  So you want to play?'

  'It's been a while. Let's hear the plan first.' She hinted at a total lack of intimacy in the past few months.

  Raaj handed her a drink, lit two cigarettes, passed one to her and sank into the black leather sofa. When she accepted her drink and turned towards him, he realised that her shorts were more abbreviated than he initially thought. 'When did you buy these?' he salivated.

  'Last time I went shopping with Kim, when you didn't come along.'

  'Did she buy a pair as well?' he smirked.

  'Stop imagining and tell me your plan.'

  Raaj composed himself for a brief moment. 'I need to die…' he started.

  'Not again. Please don't start this thing all over again,' Serena snapped back.

  'Let me complete. I need to die for the world.'

  'I am not sure I understand.'

  'Let me rephrase it for you, sweetheart. I need to disappear like I am dead, but I don't, truly, die. So, when the shit hits the fan and — if and when — I am exposed, I would be long gone from memory. They cannot possibly come after a dead guy, can they?' Raaj took a long sip as he finished the sentence. He went on to detail that if he faked his death in the next few months, the police and public would forget about him by the time the bubble burst, the enquiry took place and they would never suspect or pinpoint him. He would need to separate from Serena for some time. She would have to mourn him, but continue to work, and after enough time had elapsed, she could take a posting abroad to join him.

  'And how would you disappear from the face of the earth? Wouldn't the police need a body to confirm you're dead?'

  'It would have to be a finely choreographed spectacle. The police would find a dead body, my dead body,' he said.

  'Is this the second part of your plan?'

  'The first one was a plan sweetheart. This will be a performance,' he buoyantly said, seeing Serena unconvinced.

  'How will we produce a dead body?'

  'We will dig a grave and get a body out if need be.'

  'We can't do that.' She was aghast at the whole idea shaking her head in distress, almost on the verge of breaking down.

  'There is no other way out unless you can think of something better. But before that, I need to offload all my stocks in the market, collect all the cash and transfer it abroad,' Raaj carried on.

  'How and where?' She seemed to buy the idea now.

  'I will make arrangements for one of the big money launderers to deliver me hard cash, in US dollars, in Switzerland. Let me speak to a few people first.'

  'Who is going to Switzerland?'

  'We will go for another honeymoon so that I can pull off your sexy shorts, sweetheart.' He got up, lifted her and took her into the bedroom.

  'Thank God for that.'

  25

  Zürich, Switzerland

  June 1996

  Surrounded by five countries, Switzerland is a banking haven. All information on clients and their assets is protected by law, and some of the banks, consequently, go a step further to issue the fabled, numbered account rather than opening one in the name of the customers, to give absolute privacy and peace of mind, since the disclosure and access of such accounts are highly restricted to a few senior employees only. Raaj had spoken to a few of the banks prior to travelling to know the exact documentation requirements for identification and account opening. The amount of cash, though significant for him and Serena, was tiny for the big banks, and they would hardly suspect any money laundering that could instigate investigations.

  As the couple flew into Zurich, they saw the beautiful and picturesque Alps, which they had seen only in films and in posters. The temperature was around twenty degrees when they got down, a welcome relief from Mumbai's hot and humid June. They checked into a lesser-known hotel in District One, on the bank of the River Limmat and discovered, after checking-in, Lake Zurich was visible from the balcony of their room. As the cash was expected the next day, they went for an evening stroll on the promenade. Both of them were awe-struck by the panoramic view of the city with a number of churches beautifully filling the skyline. They wandered into the old city as the clock on St. Peter's church struck nine. Serena, filled with fear and remorse, recognised this was their last holiday together, for a long time to come, and stood outside the church praying for a long time.

  'What did you ask for?' Raaj asked when she finished praying.

  'I hope all goes well after this. I am very nervous.'

  'You worry too much, sweetheart.' They kissed in front of the church. Despite the brave front, he was scared too, this being a large punt; the biggest gamble of his life. It was a scary prospect, and the chances of succeeding were only marginally greater than zero.

  But, they weren't zero, he convinced himself.

  ***

  Raaj set out early next morning for the neighbouring District Six to receive the cash. It filled a suitcase even after shrinking the rupees into dollars. He had asked Serena to meet him at the bank around eleven in order to avoid coming back to the hotel with the baggage. Serena knew her job well. She wore the finest blue pin-stripe pencil-skirt suit that made her look like a senior director of some significant private firm, although the shirt was unbuttoned quite low down in case she needed to distract some bank manger. She waited for him, around the corner, with a cigarette in her hand.

  'You look real corporate.' He was dressed in a matching blue Armani suit.

  'I can be a tease too.' She pushed her chest out to show Raaj her cleavage.

  'Let's go in.' Raaj opened the door for her.

  Dirk, the bank manager with whom Raaj had fixed the appointment, was waiting for them. He took them to a discreet private banking lounge and made them comfortable. It took a good part of the day to complete all the formalities and deposit the cash. They insisted on a numbered account, to ensure total privacy, and got one.

  'Keep this card.' Dirk handed over a plain card with no emblem, logo or name; just a telephone number. Raaj and Serena looked at it for a while but did not quite fathom how it worked.

  'All you need to do is call this number and punch in a few details to establish your identity. Once that's confirmed, whoever comes on line would have your details and would carry out your instructions. You don't need to mention your name and details every time you call on us,' Dirk explained. 'Could I help you with anything else?'

  'That should be enough for the day. Thanks.' Raaj shook hands with Dirk. It was almost two in the afternoon.

  'One less thing to worry about,' Raaj said as they went down the steps in the bank. 'Let's do some shopping now.'

  As they ambled aiml
essly, holding hands, Raaj spotted a jeweller and got reminded of Serena's desire for an expensive watch. 'Let me buy you an original.'

  'I don't need it.' Serena, surprisingly, wasn't in a shopping mood.

  'Let's see some at least.'

  Once in, Serena fell in love with en expensive Omega she tried on herself. 'It's too expensive,' she said, looking at the price tag.

  'But you like it.'

  'We don't have to buy everything I like.'

  'You only live once, sweetheart.' He finished the argument and asked the sales attendant to bill the same.

  They were back at the hotel by six to get ready to go out for dinner. Both of them changed out of the formal attires they had donned since the morning. Raaj wore a pair of denims with a white shirt and a navy cotton jacket. Serena, as usual, took time to dress up. She looked stunning when she was finally ready, in a great looking knee length, plain black tunic dress with a chiffon overlay. Going with bare legs wasn't an option here so she matched her dress with black calf leather boots that also added a bit of height.

  'Are we seeing someone?' she asked as Raaj looked at the time in her watch.

  'Yes.'

  'Who?'

  'Me.'

  'And…'

  'More of me,' he said. 'I was only admiring your new watch, sweetheart.' He smiled, took her arm and walked out of the hotel room.

  On the way back around midnight, Raaj fell down in the hotel lobby and twisted his left ankle. The hotel staff wanted to call in the emergency services, but Raaj did not agree it was required. The first-aider on site helped him limp to the room after they were certain that it wasn't a fracture or something serious. They gave him some pain killers and asked Serena to inform the hotel front staff if the pain persisted.

  Raaj got up with excruciating pain in the morning and seemed unable to move. Serena called in the hotel staff who immediately phoned for help from the nearby private hospital, and they quickly sent an ambulance. They were told that the hospitals are not keenly priced in the country, but the couple did not mind that at all. The Hirslanden-International hospital ran quite a few tests to figure out if there was anything serious, but it looked more like cramp. During some of the tests, whilst Raaj was under sedatives, Serena caught up with the consultant, Dr. Bernhard, a large German doctor, who must have been in his late fifties. 'I hope it is nothing serious,' she asked.

  'Nothing to worry at all,' Dr. Bernhard comforted.

  'Could we have a DNA test done? Raaj never met his father so he would be pleased to know about his origins,' Serena requested.

  'Why not? I will ask the nurse to get your signature on the forms… I am sure you know it will cost you extra…?'

  'That's okay. Thanks.'

  ***

  'We now know where you come from,' Serena informed Raaj that she had got his DNA test done while he was out.

  'I don't believe it.' He looked at Dr. Bernhard.

  'It's true. We used your blood sample to determine the same,' Dr. Bernhard explained.

  'What if my hairs do not agree with my blood?' Raaj shocked Dr. Bernhard with his question.

  'What do you mean?'

  'Could you do DNA analysis from my hair and prove it has the same origin as my blood?' Raaj asked innocently.

  'I can. But there's no point as I already know the result. It's only going to cost you an additional test,' Dr. Bernhard argued.

  'Let's see.' Raaj gave a hair or two to the nurse when she came to collect the sample. As Dr. Bernhard had mentioned, the test results were identical. Raaj's pain subsided by the afternoon and, after a consultation with Dr. Bernhard, he was discharged from the place by four o'clock. Both of them were quite happy with the treatment and the reports.

  'I am glad everything is fine,' Raaj said as they walked out of the hospital.

  ***

  At the Zurich duty free Serena was fascinated by lingerie in one of the shops, while Raaj looked around, sipping a coffee, till he saw a convenience store. He walked into it to buy a cigarette lighter.

  'What did you buy?' he asked Serena when they boarded the flight.

  'You will see all when I wear them,' she teased. 'Did you buy anything?'

  'Yes.' He pulled out a bottle of anti-freeze liquid for car windscreens.

  'Why do you need that? It doesn't snow in Mumbai.' She looked at him, baffled.

  'Read the contents, sweetheart,' he said and requested the flight attendant for some drinks. 'We have to add creativity to logic for a perfect recipe. Success never just happens'.

  Serena noticed that the anti-freeze contained roughly twice the amount of alcohol than any regular drinking spirit.

  26

  Dubai

  August 1998

  'Keep in touch,' Serena said to Kim, who she was on the phone to. 'My mobile phone is ringing; I'll talk to you later.' And she disconnected the call to pick up her mobile.

  'Hi!' She knew who the caller was.

  'Hello, sweetheart. You left a voicemail for me.'

  'Yes. We're going out partying tomorrow night. Why don't you come over please?' she requested.

  'It's very risky. What if someone recognises me?'

  'There is no way anyone here will know you. I have checked out the entire team and no one who works here could possibly know you from Mumbai or your earlier banking days,' she insisted.

  'Serena, please don't be irresponsible. It could endanger our plan and lives,' Raaj said.

  'I haven't seen you for two years now. Please… I have pined for you every single day. I have been living with old memories. Please come once to give me a chance to make new ones, with you, to live by for some more time… p l e a s e…' She was almost choking.

  'Please don't get emotional. Let me check the flights and come back to you, but you have to promise me that you will not repeat this request.'

  'I promise.'

  'Where are you guys going?'

  'To a place called The Lodge.'

  'I'll try.'

  'What do you want me to wear?' she asked cheekily.

  'Nothing.'

  ***

  She was over the moon when she had seen him staring at her dancing with Adam with envy, and the manner in which he had come forward to manage the whole situation, wearing blue lenses as if anyone, who knew him, would not recognise him. She had got a bit jittery when Elena had started flirting with him openly at the bar, and wondered how he would manage to evade her for Serena. But he did. When they lay in bed panting after making love, he explained to her that it was risky calling him to Dubai, as all their hard work could be wasted if someone familiar to them, from their past, saw him.

  'And I got this last minute flight with great difficulty. I don't even have a direct flight tomorrow; it transits via Frankfurt and I would have to wait for a couple of hours to catch the connecting flight,' he said.

  'Wasn't it worth the effort?' she teased.

  Part Three

  'The game isn't over until it's over.'

  — Lawrence Peter 'Yogi' Berra

  27

  Mumbai

  July 1998

  In the aftermath of the SEBI announcement (a few years earlier) decreeing that all shareholders had to swap their paper-based shares for dematerialised online versions, the capitalists figured they did not have an alternative. With no one contesting the rule, the time had come to start opening Demat accounts and begin registering their investments with companies through various banks that provided the service.

  In the process of dematerialising stocks, it was unearthed that there were a few counterfeit share certificates. Some miscreants, it seemed, had printed bogus share certificates of a few high trading companies and floated them in the market. The buyers and sellers traded on these for years without any authentication by the issuing companies. Now, when the counterfeit certificates were sent to the respective companies for dematerialisation, the reality was stark. The companies refused to honour them, and the individuals who owned them were not ready to lose all their
wealth they had invested in these papers for years. There was a passive majority who had put large sums of unaccounted wealth into these and made little more noise than a whimper, but there was also a vocal minority whose hard-earned life-savings had got wiped off in the scam, and they couldn't stop screaming.

  Politics being an epitome of rhetoric pageantry, a local political party came up with an agenda to accommodate the aggrieved by clearing the chaos and providing justice to the affected investors. The support was never meant to be more than cosmetic, but it soon became the pretext of the upcoming local elections. The zealot party took up the gauntlet to bring the condemned outlaws to book. As was customary, a committee was set up to look into the whole case, and one of the local politicians, known for all the wrong reasons, was appointed as its head. With no record of how many hands a particular counterfeited certificate had passed through, it was acknowledged that it would be an uphill task to go through humongous paperwork, dating back many years, to trace the person, or persons who, initially, floated them on the market. An enquiry like this could easily take a couple of years, at least, before any report could be published. Nevertheless, it provided some respite to the situation for the time being, for the investors were relieved that the government was looking into their grievance.

  As the days passed, it was revealed that there was almost a parallel market of counterfeit share certificates. It became apparent to the investigating committee that there could well be more than one source, as this would have led to more money than one individual could hide or escape with. Or, it could well be that a group jointly floated these fake certificates, and distributed the unaccounted money later to avoid any unnecessary attention. Where all the money had ended up was a further mystery for everyone.