Agni turned towards Mushtaq. ‘What do you have to say? Looks like you were the mastermind!’
‘Asif Bhai promised a lot of money, Sir,’ Mushtaq muttered, not looking at Agni. ‘And now, we’re screwed!’
‘Who is Asif Bhai?’
‘Asif Bhai takes contracts, Sir, and we do the dirty work. He got us a number of jobs in the past. We don’t ask him questions. That’s how we work.’
‘But Asif Bhai would surely know who paid him?’
‘He might. We have no idea.’
‘Where is he now?’
‘No trace of Asif Bhai, Sir. That’s what we heard....’ Mushtaq turned towards Arya. He looked crestfallen. ‘We work for him, Sir. He said he would make sure we were out of town the very next day. Instead, he himself went into hiding. And we landed up here! The police doesn’t seem to have any idea who paid him for the job.’
‘Why don’t you answer my first question then? The situation can’t get any worse for the three of you, can it? Who were you after—Hiya or Manav?’
‘Do we have to say this in the court, too?’ Mushtaq sounded apprehensive.
‘It’s entirely up to you,’ Agni leaned back in his chair.
‘Our target was...H...Hiya,’ Mushtaq sounded hesitant. The three men could not figure out what the cop was up to.
‘What about Manav Chauhan and his driver?’
The three men looked at each other. ‘They resisted us, Sir.’
‘And you beat them up!’ Agni completed the thread for Mushtaq.
‘When did you last meet Asif Bhai?’ Agni asked next.
‘The day before the operation, Sir. We had no idea he had been planning to leave the country. He had never gone into hiding in the past, Sir. We don’t know why he fled this time!’ Rishi finally spoke, unbridled rage writ large on his face. His eyes burnt like embers.
‘He still owes you some money, I assume,’ Agni smiled.
‘Of course he does,’ Rishi thumped on the arm of his chair. ‘That bastard!’
‘You better get a good lawyer,’ Agni stood up and signalled at the constable to take the three men away.
As they were being taken away, Agni could hear Ashfaq still muttering, ‘I don’t believe I slit her throat....’
‘Very interesting, indeed!’ Agni smiled and turned towards Arya.
‘Agni, when we questioned them earlier, they kept saying they had been paid for the job,’ Arya said.
‘I wouldn’t be surprised. That, in any case, seems to be the livelihood of these boys. I have a feeling they really don’t know where the money trail started from, if there was one at all. Did we look for this...Asif Bhai?’ Agni asked.
‘We checked on his whereabouts based on the information we gathered from the three of them. Asif Bhai operated from a slum in Tiljala. He would normally take contracts over phone and the money would be transferred to anonymous bank accounts. He would then engage his boys to execute the contracts. They were not supposed to ask questions. It seems Asif Bhai fled the country before the incident. We are yet to track him, Agni. We have now got in touch with Interpol for their help in tracking him down.’ Arya answered.
‘Don’t you find it odd that these three men were overexposed and almost courted arrest?’
‘Yes—they keep saying that Asif Bhai had assured them that they would be out of town the very next day.’
‘But the reality was quite different, wasn’t it? They were almost handed over to you on a platter!’ Agni muttered, without looking at Arya. He seemed lost in thought.
He spoke after a while. ‘So the money trail has effectively dried up?’
Arya said, ‘It has, unfortunately. We have a watertight case against these three men, with motive as well as opportunity. That will be good enough to get closure on this case for the media and the public. The conspiracy theorists can, of course, go on speculating. But, for my peace of mind, I want to trace the alleged money trail to its origin.’
‘This case involves the who’s who of the city, Arya. The Commissioner tells me that, the media is watching every single move we make. The Chief Minister has been asking for daily updates.’
‘Agni, let’s see if we can get to the bottom of this. We need to figure out very quickly who wanted to harm the couple, and hired Asif Bhai for the job. Assuming, of course, that those three men are speaking the truth. Otherwise, we have a fullproof case against these three men, and we can conveniently follow that line of investigation,’ Arya said.
Chapter 5
As Agni drove through the rush hour traffic with Arya for company, he soaked in the festive spirit in the air. With Durga Puja around the corner, there were frenzied activities all over Kolkata. Clubs in every locality were gearing up for the biggest festival of the year, going around collecting donations from households in the neighbourhood. Narrow lanes of the city were blocked off to accommodate pandals, which were being built over several weeks. Most of those lanes would remain out of bounds for vehicles for weeks after Durga Puja, well past Diwali. All through his drive, Agni had to take long detours along congested roads.
Decorators commissioned from faraway towns like Chandannagar were busy setting up elaborate lighting arrangements inside the pandals and lining the roads leading up to them. With several corporate and publishing houses introducing awards in a variety of categories over the last few years, a spirit of healthy competition had been infused into Puja arrangements in Kolkata. The height of the idol, the theme of the pandal, lighting and interior decorations, environment friendliness, community spirit—there was a prize up for grabs for everything.
The artisans were busy giving finishing touches to the idols in their workshops in Potuapara and Kumortuli. Enthusiasts across the city thronged to these workshops to watch the clay idols come to life with impeccable strokes of the brush. The roads were already overflowing with people going around shopping for the grand festival.
When Agni finally reached the private hospital on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass where Manav Chauhan and his driver Lakhan Sahu had been admitted, it was well past noon. Lakhan was at the wheel of the car in which Manav and Hiya were returning home from the club on that fateful night.
As they walked into the hospital, the stark contrast with the general air of mirth outside was conspicuous. There were patients being carried around in gurneys, relatives waited anxiously in the lobby, the air was heavy with the smell of sickness, and everyone seemed to be in a hurry.
Agni and Arya were directed to a room on the first floor.
‘The Chauhans are very kind to their chauffeur, aren’t they?’ Arya remarked as they stepped out of the elevator.
‘So it seems,’ smiled Agni.
Entering the room, they saw an emaciated man on the bed, his bandages leaving very little of his face discernible.
Agni and Arya introduced themselves. Conscious of the constraint on time, Agni came straight to the point.
‘Lakhan, can you tell us what exactly happened that night when you were returning from the club?’
Agni listened intently as Lakhan recounted the incidents of the night, speaking almost in whispers.
‘We were in New Town. Three men on a bike stormed past our car and suddenly blocked our way, making a turn along the breadth of the road. I pressed the brakes with all my strength to avoid running into the bike. By that time, they had stepped down and had started walking towards our car. Two of them were carrying iron rods. Before we realised what was going on, they started smashing the windows. One of them reached inside the car and hit me on the head with a rod. Everything around me was reduced to a blur. I passed out.’
‘You remember nothing of what happened after that, I assume?’
‘No, Sir. When I woke up, I was in the hospital.’ Lakhan wept silently. ‘I came to know the next morning. The horrible things they did to Hiya bitiya. Chhote Malik was also beaten up, I heard.’
‘Didn’t you see the bike following you all the way from the club? Weren’t you suspicious at any po
int in time?’
‘Sir, on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, there were a number of cars and bikes. There was no reason to be suspicious. When I was driving through New Town, it was quite late and I was concentrating on the road ahead. I did notice the bike behind us, but I never suspected anything.’
Agni had more questions, but they were interrupted by the nurse walking into the room. ‘I’m sorry, Sir, but your time is up. It’s lunch time,’ she announced with a tone of authority.
Agni looked at his watch and gestured to Arya. It was time to leave. He thanked Lakhan and walked out.
When they came out in the lobby, Agni looked at Arya and asked, ‘How do you think it went? Anything struck you as odd?’
‘The same story, Agni. I didn’t hear anything we didn’t know already.’ Arya looked somewhat crestfallen.
‘Well...I cannot put my finger on it, but something didn’t sound right,’ Agni’s brows were creased. Arya failed to understand why.
Agni looked at his watch and said, ‘We have some time before we get to meet Mr. Chauhan. Let’s get some lunch.’
The two men headed for the cafeteria.
Chapter 6
The man who greeted Agni and Arya with a feeble smile and gestured to a sofa set adjacent to his bed had graced countless magazine covers over the last couple of years. He had a bandage across his forehead, and his right arm was in a plaster cast. So were his legs under the bed sheet. His hair was dishevelled, a few strands across the bandage on his brow. His stubble was a few days old, and his sharp nose and cheek bones seemed to have been accentuated further by the general frailty of his face. His large brown eyes had none of the confident shine with which he stared into the eyes of the reader from the pages of business and lifestyle magazines and tabloids every other day. The white shirt of the hospital uniform, however, strained against his broad chest and his sculpted biceps that reminded one of the rigorous exercise routine that Manav Chauhan famously subjected himself to, every day of the week.
The doctor in charge had warned Agni that although his physical wounds were healing fast, Manav was yet to recover completely from the intense trauma that the incident had caused. Agni, therefore, had to exercise caution while speaking to Manav and make sure that he did not dwell on the incidents of the night.
After the exchange of pleasantries, Agni said, ‘Mr. Chauhan, I know you have already spoken to the police. You must also be aware of the fact that the miscreants are now in custody. I have been requested by the Commissioner of Police to look into, let’s say, a few irregularities in the statements of the three men who have been arrested. This won’t take too long, I promise.’
‘Go ahead, ACP Mitra. It doesn’t matter, really. Those scenes keep haunting me every time I close my eyes, in any case. Your asking me a few questions will not make it any worse. It must be the doctor who has warned you!’ Manav smiled.
‘Thanks, Mr. Chauhan,’ Agni came straight to the point. ‘Your fairytale wedding to the late Ms. Sen took everyone by surprise. How long had the two of you known each other?’
Arya noticed a dry smile flash across Manav’s face.
‘It was, what they call, a whirlwind romance. We met during an event in one of my properties in South Kolkata. She had been invited as one of the guests of honour. We warmed up to each other rather easily. She was not just a very beautiful woman. She had a great personality, she was a whole lot of fun, she was kind and most importantly, she listened to her heart and spoke her mind. How many of us can do that? And, unlike most people around me, she was not intimidated by my authority. I found that refreshingly different. I realised she was the woman who would keep me grounded.’ Manav paused and let out a deep sigh.
He looked away from the policemen and said, ‘But that was not to be.’
He quickly gathered himself and smiled at Agni, ‘Can you believe it? She was the one who asked me out on our first date! I had just broken up with my fiancée and had not been too sure about getting into another relationship. But Hiya swept me off my feet. We decided to get married within two months!’
‘Destiny always has its way, doesn’t it?’ Agni had a wry smile on his lips. ‘It had been less than a fortnight after your wedding, right?’ he asked Manav.
‘Let me see, ACP Mitra,’ Manav paused briefly and then said, ‘Twelve days to be precise. Hiya wanted to go on a honeymoon...I was the one who suggested we go later as I had a few business meetings lined up here in Kolkata. I wish I had listened to her!’
‘If I may ask you about the events of that fateful night, what happened inside Tipple?’ Agni asked, his voice betraying the caution he subjected himself to.
Manav closed his eyes for a moment, as if to get his thoughts together. Arya saw fleeting glimpses of pain across that heavily bruised face.
When he opened his eyes again, Manav looked at Agni and said, ‘It was meant to be our private outing and Hiya had purposely not taken her bodyguards along. Those three men, the ones you now have in your custody, had been drinking heavily and started misbehaving with Hiya on the dance floor. As you will understand, being an actress, Hiya was used to public attention and overenthusiastic fans. There had been instances in the past when the odd fan had crossed limits. However, that evening, those three men were coming on to her with lewd remarks and gestures. That was when I lost my calm. We had a heated argument. Blows were exchanged, though I am not the sort of person who would normally get into a bar brawl. But then, it was not destined to be your regular night, was it?’ Manav shifted painfully on the bed. He looked outside the window. It was a dull grey autumn afternoon. Manav saw the trees tossing their heads in the breeze, their leaves beginning to turn yellow. There was an air of melancholy in the room even as the city outside geared up for festivities.
He said almost in whispers, ‘The games our destiny plays with us! Maybe I should have ignored those bastards that night, after all.’
Everyone in the room went quiet. Arya realised Manav Chauhan’s life had been reduced to one of endless regrets.
Agni broke the silence after a while.
‘While you were on your way home, you never noticed the bike following your car?’
‘No, we did not pay attention.’
‘I believe Lakhan was attacked first.’
‘He was,’ Manav closed his eyes again. ‘He is still in this hospital.’
‘Yes, Mr. Chauhan. We met him some time back. He is getting better.’
‘He has been with me for more than five years now. He is like family.’
‘I understand.’ Agni paused for a while and continued, ‘Mr. Chauhan, when you saw Lakhan taking the blow, didn’t you call someone for help? Of course, it must have been too unexpected and you might not have had the time to react.’
‘You are right, ACP. We were in the backseat and absolutely shocked by the turn of events. And by the time I had somewhat recovered from the shock, one of the men had smashed the window next to me, unlocked the car and placed a gun on my forehead. One of the other men then took away all our phones and wallets. I’m told the police haven’t been able to find those yet.’
Manav’s breathing was laboured. Agni realised that Manav, in his mind, was dangerously close to the most traumatic events of that tragic night. Agni did not want to continue.
He stood up and thanked Manav profusely for his time.
When he was close to the door of the executive suite, Agni stopped and turned around.
‘Mr. Chauhan, those three men have to say that this was a job they had been paid for. If they are right, then, what they did inside Tipple was meant to provoke you to get into that brawl in front of dozens of eyewitnesses. It was premeditated. It was someone’s idea to make the whole incident look like those three men retaliated for what had happened inside the club. Now, being one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the city, I’m sure you’ve more enemies than friends, Mr. Chauhan. Do you have anyone particular in mind?’
Manav almost gaped.
‘That possibility n
ever crossed my mind, ACP Mitra. As for my enemies, well, there are too many! Far too many of them, ACP Mitra.’ And then, he closed his eyes and almost whispered to his unknown adversary, ‘But why drag Hiya into all this?’
There was an awkward silence inside the room for a few seconds, and then Agni said, ‘Mr. Chauhan, I know it will be difficult for you. But I will need to know more about the events of the last few months the next time we meet.’
Manav nodded, still staring at the slowly descending pall of darkness outside the glass windows.
Chapter 7
Three months back
Manav Chauhan, looking dapper in his dark grey, pin-striped suit, natty tie and navy-blue shirt, left his chair and smiled warmly as Priyanka, his secretary, led the lady into his office.
‘Good Morning, Mr. Chauhan. I’m Shilpa from Business Today. Thanks for your time this morning.’ The journalist introduced herself, stretching out a rather cold hand.
Manav shook her hand. ‘Have a seat, please. What would you like to have? Everyone loves the filter coffee in my office.’
The charm that Manav Chauhan exuded was overpowering. Shilpa looked overwhelmed. She managed a feeble nod, setting in place a few unruly strands of her hair.
Manav turned towards Priyanka who had been waiting for Shilpa to make up her mind about her choice of beverage. Manav made the decision for Shilpa, to the latter’s relief.
‘Would you send in two cups of filter coffee for us, please, Priyanka? Thanks.’ He smiled. ‘And no calls for the next one hour please.’
Turning back to the journalist, he said, ‘Shilpa, I’m really sorry I had to cancel this interview thrice over the last two weeks. I’ve been travelling almost every day, and everything seems to...‘
Manav’s phone buzzed.
He looked at the screen and rejected the call with a swipe of his thumb.
Shilpa, in the meantime, placed the recorder on the table and was getting ready to start the interview. She had been eyeing this assignment for months now. Manav, on the other hand, was looking forward to the interview himself. It was every entrepreneur’s dream to appear on the cover of Business Today.
The Colours of Passion Page 2