Not one to take the public humiliation lying down, Hiya retorted, again within earshot of everyone around, “I don’t take this to my heart, you know. You’re a f***ing fossil who’s probably not getting any. I understand your frustration!”
Rituja walked out of the sets immediately.
There is widespread rumour in the industry that director Aniruddha Goswami is seriously considering a replacement for Rituja further to this incident.
Knowing Rituja Bose over the years as a woman who can go to any length to settle scores with her enemies, we wait with bated breath for the aftermath of this shockingly public fallout.
Agni looked up from the laptop screen, his mind drifting to another time in another world. Rituja Bose could indeed go to any length to have her way. No one knew it better than Agni. Images flashed before his eyes, images he had been trying to keep at bay all these years, images that reminded him of what could have turned out to be an early professional disaster. Seeing Rituja in person at the bar the other day had only prodded a wound that refused to heal with time.
A clock struck two somewhere at a distance, bringing Agni back to the present.
He looked at the date of the incident in the studio. It was a week before Hiya’s wedding, nineteen days before her gruesome murder.
Chapter 15
Ten years back
‘I’m told you are among the best we have and the right man for this job,’ Deputy Commissioner Upadhyay looked around the room seeking corroboration. The other senior officials in the room nodded in affirmation.
Inspector Agni Mitra found it difficult to contain his elation that bubbled inside, but said, ‘Thank you, Sir’ with a deadpan face.
‘As you have been briefed by ACP Bardhan, Rituja Bose, the famous actress, is being threatened by a stalker,’ the Deputy Commissioner gestured to Agni to pull up a chair. ‘It started with e-mails and phone calls at odd hours. Rituja tried to ward him off first through polite dissuasion, and then by choosing to completely ignore his advances. Last week, someone sneaked into the backyard and broke into her house. Luckily, she was out on a shoot. That’s when she realised she had had enough and decided to seek our help.
We will need to offer protection and find the stalker. To start with, two armed constables will be positioned at her house round the clock. We will set up surveillance in the premises. We will also need to beef up her security when she appears in public events. And we want you, Agni, to oversee all the arrangements to her satisfaction, and bring the stalker to book. Do you have any question?’
‘Do we have any idea who this person might be?’
‘We have no idea at the moment, Agni. It seems the stalker is someone who’s intent on causing harm—to her and to her property.’
‘Could be one of her many admirers,’ suggested ACP Bardhan with a smirk.
‘I won’t be surprised,’ said the DCP.
‘Did Rituja recognise the voice on the phone?’ Agni asked.
‘The man has never spoken to her. Rituja said she had only heard someone breathing heavy at the other end of the line every time. The calls are being made from public phone booths—a different one every time,’ the DCP replied.
‘Have we tracked the e-mails?’ Agni asked again.
‘Yes, Agni. No luck there as well. They were sent from nondescript neighbourhood cyber cafés, again a different one every time. As you know, these cafés never do proper identity checks of their customers.’ The DCP sounded frustrated.
‘Finally, how do we know it’s a man?’
The DCP smiled. ‘That’s an interesting question. We came to that conclusion from the tone of the e-mails. Moreover, Rituja’s security guards reported that they had seen a hooded man hanging around in the neighbourhood late in the night a couple of days before the break-in. The man reportedly had his eyes on Rituja’s duplex bungalow. The guards assumed he was a fan. One of those who hover around her house round the clock hoping to catch a glimpse. The guards didn’t act at that time.’
‘The man whom the guards saw might have been just that...a harmless fan,’ Agni smiled back at the DCP.
‘I don’t deny. Though the security guards now feel that that man might as well have been the intruder.’
‘I’m assuming we have a description of this man,’ Agni checked.
‘We don’t, unfortunately. The descriptions from the guards were inconsistent and weren’t too helpful.’ The DCP confirmed. ‘Agni, I want you to get into action immediately.’ He paused briefly and then said, ‘You know, Rituja has connections in all the right places.’ He smiled meaningfully.
Agni did not have any doubt. Rituja had of late been seen attending political rallies and events organised by the ruling party. He, of course, nursed a not-so-secret admiration for the actress, making it a point to watch each one of her movies, her political preferences notwithstanding.
Agni felt excited. Not just because he would have an opportunity to work in close quarters with Rituja, but also because his being put in charge of her security meant that there was growing confidence in his abilities among his superiors.
Chapter 16
Rituja walked in to the ground floor hall with her secretary.
Agni stood in front of the glass door leading to the backyard, which the stalker had broken to get into her house a few days back. It had been repaired recently.
He had come down to Rituja’s house that morning to check the surveillance system that had been installed. He also wanted to check the ground floor hall where the stalker had broken into. He gave appropriate instructions to the armed constables who had been posted in the premises and to the ones who would accompany Rituja’s security staff when she went out. Agni also wanted to have a word with Rituja herself to find out who she thought the stalker might be.
Agni turned towards the actress and his heart skipped several beats.
Rituja was in a lemon green top and her jeans were a second skin. The aroma of musk wafted in the air. The heartthrob of millions stood at an arm’s length from Agni. For a few seconds, Agni’s favourite scenes from Rituja’s movies unfurled themselves before his eyes and words failed him. And then, he reminded himself of the business that had brought him there that morning.
Rituja pushed her shades up past her forehead, and her kohl-rimmed eyes landed on Agni. And stayed.
‘My, my! Here’s a good-looking cop!’ Rituja exclaimed.
It was one thing to be confident about your looks and something quite different to be appraised from head to toe by the most desirable woman in town. Agni suddenly felt bare and vulnerable before his favourite actress. He was instantly conscious of the fact that, he had had to skip his workout that morning to reach Rituja’s house on time before she left for a shoot.
‘ACP Bardhan did call me in the morning and said great things about you.’ She looked into Agni’s eyes and held the gaze. ‘You do look the part for sure!’ Rituja inched closer. ‘I can breathe easy now. I’m in safe hands.’
However gratifying her compliments might have been, Agni thought he should remind her that he was not her bodyguard—definitely not her Kevin Costner fantasy.
He then held himself back, and said instead, ‘Ms. Bose, I wanted to talk to you about this stalker. If you have some time now, we can...’
Rituja did not let him finish. ‘Listen,’ Rituja said, ‘I’ll have to leave now for a shoot. Are you going to come along with me?’ She almost sounded like a helpless child afraid to go out in the dark.
‘There are a couple of armed constables who will accompany you, Ms. Bose,’ Agni smiled reassuringly. ‘Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. I’ll come back later.’
‘Call me Ritu,’ Rituja smiled warmly, running her fingers through her curls.
She turned and left.
Agni was still in a trance.
Chapter 17
Present day
Agni drove past St. Paul’s Cathedral, that fascinating specimen of Indo-Gothic architecture, standing tall in its serene and tranquil g
ardens right in the middle of the racket of the city, the bright morning sun reflected from its steeple.
As he passed by Victroria Memorial, Agni noticed holidaying crowds make a beeline for the decked-up horse carriages for a ride by the Maidan and the Fort William grounds.
Agni had started early and the autumn mist still hung on the vast expanse of the Maidan, the skyscrapers beyond the greens forming smoky outlines on the clear blue sky. The traffic was yet to peak, and it was only the odd horse carriage chugging along leisurely that slowed Agni down.
He was headed for a shooting location not far away. He had set up an appointment with Rituja Bose through her secretary.
The shooting lasted for a couple more hours after Agni had arrived at the spot. He walked around in the gardens, teeming with holiday crowds and curious bystanders, and frequently checked his watch. From time to time, he checked on the progress of the shoot, its slow pace getting on his nerves. He could see the director and the cinematographer, both of whom seemed to be quite agitated for reasons not immediately apparent to Agni. The centre of attention, of course, was Rituja who was in a skimpy knee-length yellow dress, romancing her hero, whom Agni did not recognise. He looked several years younger than Rituja. The song being picturised played on loop, as the pair, with their non-existent chemistry, and the dancers in the background tried to get their moves right.
When the director was finally satisfied, Rituja walked up to her van. Her secretary whispered something into her ears, pointing at Agni who was a few feet away.
‘Of course I know him,’ Rituja dismissed her secretary with a gesture and turned towards Agni. ‘Come in.’
She stepped into her air-conditioned van. Agni followed.
Agni had always felt that Rituja looked better without her loud make-up like what she had on now. Her hair was done for the shoot, her eyes hypnotic as always. She sat with her legs crossed, the short dress riding high on her ample thighs.
She lit a Marlboro Light and looked at Agni in the eyes.
‘You don’t mind, I hope. I remember you didn’t mind, when we last met.’ She didn’t allow Agni to speak. ‘How long has it been, Agni?’ She asked, blowing the smoke off the corner of her mouth.
‘Ten years...’ Agni paused and then added, ‘and four months.’
‘Long time, huh?’
‘Long time, indeed.’
‘I keep reading about you. You are doing well for yourself!’ She blew out again and gazed at Agni with cold appraising eyes. Agni wished he could figure out what was going on in her mind, but her blinding beauty got in the way like a veil through which it was difficult to see her true self.
‘Ms. Bose...’
Rituja stopped him.
‘Call me Ritu. Please.’
Agni went on, ‘If you don’t mind, I wanted to talk to you about Hiya Sen.’
‘Ah, poor girl!’ Rituja took a long drag and looked at Agni with narrowed eyes. ‘Are you in-charge of the case now? I thought I saw a different name in the papers.’
‘I’m trying to do my bit.’
‘Of course. I’d love to help. The whole thing was so shocking! It was unbelievable! We were shooting together for Aniruddha’s movie just a few days before it happened...’ her voice drifted away. She kept smoking silently for a few seconds, her eyes fixed on the floor. She then looked back at Agni and asked, ‘What do you want to know?’
‘You said that, the two of you were working together at that time....’
‘We were! And then she went away for her big, fat wedding.’ The sarcasm in her tone was not lost on Agni.
‘There were reports of friction on the sets between the two of you.’ Agni did not want to waste time beating about the bush.
Rituja suddenly burst out laughing. ‘So the super cop also finds time for gossip mags?’ She stamped over the cigarette butt and lit another.
She smoked silently again for a few seconds and then said, ‘Well, let’s just say we had our differences.’
‘I believe the two of you had a bitter exchange of words on the sets of Aniruddha Goswami’s movie? I also heard that the project was very important for you.’ Agni chose his words carefully.
‘Every project is important for me, Agni. I’m not sure where you’re going with these questions.’ Her eyes narrowed again.
‘I read she had insulted you in front of the Press. There was also a suggestion in the report that, further to the altercation, the director realised that the two of you could not be allowed to continue to work together, as the conflict was slowing down progress. He had to let one of you go. And he considered replacing you with another senior actress. And you aren’t the forgiving sort, are you?’
Their eyes met for a split second, during which Agni’s own words raked up tormenting memories. Agni wondered if Rituja’s mind had raced back a decade during that fraction of a second, as well. Even if it did, Rituja had the acting chops to not let it show.
‘Agni, let’s stop beating about the bush’, Rituja sounded impatient. ‘Are you suggesting I had a role to play in Hiya’s murder? She was raped and killed by a group of hooligans, for God’s sake!’
‘You didn’t answer me.’
‘Look, I’ve been in the industry for more than twelve years now. My work is my worship. I find it difficult to get along with girls who take this up as just another glamorous job! A job that’ll eventually get them loads of money and a rich husband.’
‘Is that how you thought Hiya was?’
‘Do I have to say this? And what difference does it make? I mean...she’s dead now....’
‘It won’t hurt. You’re only helping me get to know her better.’
‘Alright...if I have to tell you...I didn’t rate her too high on discipline,’ Rituja lit her third cigarette and added, ‘and morals. Maybe because her rise was fast. She got everything served on a silver platter, without having to work too hard....’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘What would you say about a girl who first gets engaged to a millionaire, who has but recently broken off his wedding, then has a fling on the side with a hunk and finally dumps the poor guy to go back to the millionaire and get married? And lets her work suffer while she has all the fun? She kept cancelling shoots. The producers ran up huge losses. She would keep senior actors waiting for hours without showing any respect. And never feel sorry for her actions!’ Rituja stopped, trying hard to get a hold on her anger. Her cheeks were flushed.
Agni was watching and listening for any sign that Rituja was lying or exaggerating, but her words came out easily, and with surprising honesty.
‘Did you mention a fling on the side while she was engaged to Manav Chauhan?’
‘Everyone knew about it. She had a torrid affair with Mayank Kapoor.’ Rituja shook her head, trying to get a strand of hair off her face, and reached for a can of Diet Coke.
‘You mean the guy who models for the Chauhans’ malls and housing complexes? I read in a tabloid the other day that he also acts in TV serials these days.’ Agni refused the soft drink Rituja offered him with a gesture of his hand.
‘Yes...he’s the one! Mayank was shattered! He’s doing a movie now, by the way. I’m helping him gather the pieces of his life.’
Rituja finished her smoke.
There was a knock on the door of her van.
‘Ma’am, we are ready.’
Rituja stood up. She looked into Agni’s eyes.
‘What are your plans this Friday?’ Agni did not miss the flirtatious tone of Rituja’s voice.
Agni’s heart skipped a beat. Memories came flooding back.
‘Do you want to meet Mayank? You could come with me on Friday night.’ Rituja winked. ‘What were you thinking?’
Chapter 18
Ten years back
Agni was ushered in by one of Rituja’s female attendants as he walked in through the main door that opened to the spacious ground floor hall.
‘Ma’am is upstairs. She returned from the shoot a while back,’ sa
id the girl as she escorted Agni up the staircase.
The staircase ended in a lounge with a plush settee and a few chairs tossed around. There was a low table at the centre of the room. Agni could see a bottle of Chivas Regal, an unfinished glass and an ash tray brimming with cigarette stubs. A door at the other end of the lounge, facing the settee, led to a bedroom.
The temperature inside was too low for comfort. Agni rolled down his sleeves as he sat down on the settee.
‘Please wait. Ma’am will be with you shortly. Would you like to have something to drink...tea or coffee?’
‘Thanks, I’m fine. I’ll wait.’
The girl walked back down the stairs.
Agni’s eyes went back to the table. He could spot the lipstick on the numerous cigarette stubs and on the edge of the whisky glass. Rituja was obviously stressed for some reason. It was a little past four in the afternoon, too early for the heavy drinking.
Agni needed to know Rituja’s schedule for the week. When he texted her earlier in the afternoon mentioning he had not been able to reach her secretary, Rituja informed him that her secretary had taken the day off and Agni could come down to her bungalow. Agni jumped at the opportunity, thinking he would finally have time to discuss the case with Rituja. He had several questions for her.
Agni heard a door open behind him. In no time, the room was permeated with the familiar musky aroma. Agni turned around to find Rituja walking down the lounge in wobbly steps, the diaphanous pink pallu of her saree barely covering her breasts. Her eyes were glazed. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders, bare except for the thin straps of her blouse. Her saree sat low on the curve of her waist.
‘Hey Agni...so good to meet my knight in shining armour again...’ Rituja slurred, only too happy to settle down on the same settee at less than an arm’s length from Agni. She picked up the unfinished whisky. ‘Care for a drink, Agni?’
The Colours of Passion Page 5