by Shilpa Jain
“Ok… ok… you don’t lose your cool. Should I join you?”
“You need to rest. My team will be with me tomorrow morning. Right now, I have other matters to handle.”
“Meaning?”
“Oh… nothing… the formalities… you know how much I hate paperwork.”
“Yup.”
She disconnects the line.
Four more victims to go. Are they going to target two victims at a time? Or did they just get lucky because they found twins? The seventh and eighth mahavidya goddesses are Dhumavati, the widow in white and Tripurasundari, the beautiful goddess of wealth.
Tanvi and the police inspector visit the orphanage at Sativali. The orphanage is decorated for Diwali. This is the time when the orphanage receives maximum donations. In spite of the decoration, the atmosphere in the orphanage is glum.
They find no records of the twin girls. None of the orphan girls seem to recognize the twin sisters. Tanvi realises that the girls look threatened.
She looks at the police inspector and says, “Let’s come back tomorrow. The kids are too frightened to talk today. We should come back with child counsellors for more information.”
“Ok ma’am.”
“It’s almost midnight. I will stay back at Tungareshwar as I have to come back to meet the forest officials at 6:00 a.m. Could you suggest a reasonable place to stay?”
“I will make arrangements in the government guest house at the forest department. It is just minutes away from Tungareshwar forest office.”
“Sounds good.”
“Ma’am, there is just one problem.”
“What?”
“I am not sure if the guest house caretaker will be available at this hour.”
“No problem. I’ll manage the night without him,” she replies winking at the police officer.
He chuckles.
Diwali spirit in the form of multi-coloured light sequences is glittering all over the city and village houses and shops. There is happiness and extravagance everywhere. The villagers living near Tungareshwar forest have no idea of the danger lurking over them.
Tanvi and the police officer stop over for food at a local restaurant and then at the guest house. The police officer leaves and Tanvi settles in the guest house.
Her cell phone alarm rings at 5 a.m. Fortunately, she always carries an overnight bag in her car for emergencies. She dresses up and reaches the forest office at 6 a.m.
“Good morning,” Makrand greets her.
“You are already here? Where are the others?”
“Rane and Singh are talking to the forest officer. Patil sir is at the headquarters.”
“Singh is also here?”
“DSP sir asked her to accompany us. There is a lot of media pressure now. He wants us to use all available resources. Everyone on Diwali leave has been called back. The local police will also help us today.”
“Okay. We surely need extra help.”
The local police officer and his team arrives within minutes.
“I am sorry, but some of my team members are held up,” says the police officer who had accompanied Tanvi to the orphanage last night.
“What happened?” enquires Tanvi.
“The burqa killer killed Sushila Oak, the superintendent of Sativali orphanage, and her assistant.”
“Oh! How do you know it was her?”
“The girls of the orphanage saw her.”
“Did they recognize her?”
“No, she was obviously wearing a burqa. She went into the superintendent’s office and came out after a while. She instructed the girls to not go into the office and call the police in the morning.”
“And the girls followed her instructions?”
“They sure did. They were very scared. She wished them Happy Diwali.”
Makrand stares at Tanvi. “Did you go back home yesterday?”
“No, I stayed back at Tungareshwar. Why do you ask?”
“Nothing.”
Their conversation is cut short by another car that halts near the forest department office. Abram and DSP Pai alight from the car. Everyone is shocked to see them.
Tanvi greets DSP Pai, “Good morning sir.’
“Good morning everyone. I want you to use all the available resources to track the killers. We can’t have any more killings.”
He hands over posters of the image of Pari’s abductor captured in the cctv footage. “Put these up in every village. I am sure someone must have seen them.”
“Will do that sir,” replies Tanvi taking the posters from him.
DSP Pai leaves in his car.
Abram approaches Tanvi, “Hey, good morning to you too.”
She crosses her arms and asks, “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be resting?”
“I am fine. Didn’t you hear what Pai said? We have to use all available resources. That’s why I am here.”
Tanvi shakes her head and says, “I think he meant field officers.”
They all gather in the forest department office to plan their moves.
Chapter 15
The forest officer lays out a big map of Tungareshwar forest on his table, “This is Tungareshwar forest. These are the eastern and western parts. My men are guarding all the five entry points of the forest. No trekkers and picnickers will be allowed into the forest today. No one will be able to leave the forest without being thoroughly checked and detained, if necessary.”
“How many shrines and villages are there in the forest?” enquires Tanvi.
“We have 35 shrines in the forest. These are mostly in the form of small idols or stones installed under trees by various devotees. I have asked for extra manpower to man all the shrines. That will be done by noon.”
“Ok. That sounds good. I hope the men are armed and trained to tackle seasoned murderers. How many villages do we have in and around Tungareshwar?” asks Tanvi.
“That is going to be a problem because we have at least 50 small villages near Tungareshwar and about five tribal villages thriving inside Tungareshwar.”
“Do you have the phone numbers of the heads of each village?” asked Abram.
“Yes, but only of those living outside the forest. The villages inside the forest are tribal and do not use gadgets,” replies the forest officer.
“Ok. So, call the heads now and ask them to meet us at a common point. We will distribute these posters and ask them to keep vigil,” suggests Abram.
“I will do that. It is going to be a shock for them. They are all in festival mood. It’s just a day before Diwali.”
Tanvi receives a call from Kabeer.
“Hi Kabeer. Is everything fine?”
“I happened to receive a message from the aghori baba at Kaked.”
“Ok, and?”
“Tonight is Kartik Amavasya. A big day to please Mahakali for mahavidyas. Tonight her divinity is most receptive.”
“Does that mean the killers will try to make all the sacrifices today?”
“I think so.” Kabeer disconnects the phone.
Tanvi’s eyes widen. She turns to everyone and says, “We have to keep a special watch on widows and young girls. From the information I have received, tonight the tantric killers will make their big strike.”
There is commotion in the room.
Abram takes charge, “Alright everyone. No time to panic now. Stay connected and get to work.”
The forest officer continues, “I will place my men inside and outside the forest. But your team and the local police will have to scrutinize the areas and villages between the shrines.”
“I will distribute the areas to everyone, but you call the village heads first,” commands Tanvi.
“Ok. I am on it.”
Tanvi addresses her team and the local police team, a group of about 15 men and women, “I am going to give each officer an area of about 3 km to search. I will mark the tracks to be covered by each one of you. All of you remain in touch with each other through these two-way police radio transcei
vers. We will have a radio operator to connect us with each other, understand? We can track your positions using these transceivers.”
Everyone nods. She continues, “Be alert and safe. If you find anything, first share the information. Don’t attack, if you are in danger. Unfortunately, we do not have enough resources to send you in pairs. The nearest officers will take about 20 minutes to reach you. The forest officers at the shrines will be able to reach you earlier. Watch out for leopards too. I don’t want to lose any of you. Good luck.”
She hands over a route map to each of the officers. Abram does not receive any map and looks at her questionably.
“What?” she asks.
“Where’s my route?”
“After your last experience, I don’t think you are fit to do fieldwork on your own,” she says hurrying ahead.
“I haven’t come here just to sit and do nothing. I want to contribute,” he blocks her way.
She exhales, “Fine, you accompany one of our team members.”
“Ok. I will come with you.”
“I am not the only one in danger Abram, and I don’t need your help.”
Abram seems offended. “You are the only one that matters to me.”
Tanvi clenches her fists and grits her teeth. “This is bigger than you and me.”
Abram does not budge from his place.
She says, “Ok. Fine. You can come with me. I am visiting the tribal villages and may need assistance for interrogation.”
Abram beams. All the officers check their ammunition and disperse on their respective missions. Tanvi and Abram drive towards the western entry point.
Abram notices that Tanvi is worried. “We’ll find the bastards.”
“I hope we find them before the damage is done. Four lives are at stake.”
“Who are the next mahavidya goddesses?”
“Dhumavati, the widow goddess, and Tripurasundari, the most beautiful in all the three mythical cities. She arose from the churning of the ocean. After that is Tara, the blue goddess who wears a tiger’s skin and has her tongue and belly protruding out. She is the illuminator. The tenth mahavidya goddess is Bhairavi. She is golden, wears a pearl necklace and has red coloured breasts. She is fearless and she frees everyone from their fears.”
“You really know what you are dealing with.”
“Not really. None of this information helps getting to the killers. I do not know if the victims will be offered at different shrines or at one shrine.”
“Going by the twins, they will offer them at different shrines.”
“But going by the time limitation and our vigil, they might offer them at one shrine.”
“You have a point there.”
They reach the western gate and sprint towards the first village. They reach the village at about 9:30 a.m. The winter fog in the forest is lifted by now. Abram has to keep wiping his spectacles to see clearly.
The tribal village consists of about eight to ten wooden houses. They survive on the forest resources and are protected by the forest department. They are oblivious to the luxuries and inventions of modern world.
Tanvi meets the village head. She tries to explain the danger they are in. She enquires about missing widows and young girls from the village. Nobody is missing. Abram asks the villagers to guard their widows and young girls. He shows the posters of the tantric killers. No one has seen them around.
Tanvi enquires about Diwali celebrations in their village. They tell her that they just burn oil lamps, perform puja and pray to the forest goddess at night.
Tanvi and Abram proceed from the village. One of the villagers escorts them to the next village. They pass a shrine on their way. Tanvi observes that it is still unmanned.
By 6 p.m., they finish their visits to the remaining four villages with no useful clue about the killers or the victims.
It is pitch dark now. Voices of night life begin to fill the forest. Throughout the day, Tanvi was connected with the other officers via the radio transceiver. No one has any lead on the killers. Abram is sitting in a clear area with the contents of his backpack scattered on the ground. He unwraps a sandwich and hands it to Tanvi. She declines.
“Fine by me. I thought you didn’t want to faint before you find the killers.”
She smirks and accepts the sandwich and takes a few sips of an orange juice for energy. From his backpack, Abram removes and wears a bright head light. He hands over one to Tanvi. Both their head lights illuminate the surrounding area.
Abram enquires, “What’s next? Do we wait here or do we move to the forest office for some news?”
Tanvi is about to reply when her radio transceiver comes alive.
“Hello all units… missing people reported from one of the villages outside the forest… I repeat… missing people… all units come in.”
“People? Copy that. The reports are from which village?” asks Tanvi.
But the radio receiver continues transmitting the message without replying. She checks her phone. No signal.
“Let’s move out fast. We need to reach the village to find the details,“ suggests Abram.
“You are right.”
Abram hears a growl of a wild animal. He is scared. “I think the animals are hungry? How many leopards do you think are in this forest?”
“Not many, but enough to kill us. There are too many of us wandering in their home tonight.”
“I think the forest officer has commanded all officers to pull out from the forest,” says Abram desperate to get out of the forest.
“Okay. Let’s move fast.”
They reach outside the south-western entry point by 7:30 p.m. As soon as a network appears on her mobile, Tanvi calls up the forest officer.
“Which village has reported missing people?” she enquires with the forest officer.
“Badalgaon. I tracked your receiver and have kept a ride ready for you.’
“Good thinking.” They dash towards a waiting car.
They reach the village in about 20 minutes. Panic is in the air at the village. Her team members and a few police and forest officers are already at the village.
Soma updates Tanvi, “A 45-year-old lady and her two teenage daughters are missing. They had left the village yesterday to visit some relatives in Nasik, but they never reached there. The relative called up the village head two hours ago. Everyone is in panic after that.”
“Let me guess, the lady is a widow.”
“Yes,” confirms Soma.
“What are the ages of her daughters?”
“15 and 17.”
“I see. Is any other girl missing from any other village?”
“No, why?”
“Because the killers need four offerings to complete their ritual today.”
“Oh! I’ll find out.”
“Ok. I’ll talk to the village head in the meantime.”
Tanvi walks across a dimly lighted road to the village head’s house.
Little children are playing around small townhouses decorated with multi-coloured light series for Diwali. They are chasing each other with guns loaded with fire crackers. Some of them are lighting sparklers and crackers. These nostalgic scenes make Tanvi smile even in the tense atmosphere.
Ignorance is bliss.
At the village head’s house, the headman is sitting on a cot, his hands tightly gripping its edges. His head is hanging low and he is muttering something under his breath. His wife is standing beside him with a glass of water. She is persuading him to relax and drink water. Makrand is sitting on a chair opposite the village headman. He stands on seeing Tanvi.
“Makrand, what information have you got?”
“The village head dropped the women and her daughters at a bus stop outside the village. He went back for a while to attend some matter in the village. When he came back, they were gone. He assumed that they took the bus to Vasai depot. They were to go to Nasik from there.”
“When was this?”
“Yesterday, at 4 p.m.”
“Oh! And the relatives contacted today?”
“Yes, the relatives assumed that they missed the bus yesterday and would take the bus today. But when they didn’t reach today, they got worried and called the village head to find out. He contacted the forest officer immediately.”
Tanvi enquires with the village head, “Sir, do you remember anyone who was there at the bus stop at that time?”
“I didn’t ask anyone about them yesterday. But after I got a call from their relatives today, I called the forest officer and went to the bus stop to enquire.”
“And?”
“No one remembers anything.”
“They couldn’t have just disappeared. Somebody must have seen them. Any cctv cameras around?”
Makrand interrupts, “No ma’am. Only a paan shop is near the bus stop. The paanwala was busy when the bus came.”
“Holy crap! They are missing since yesterday! Where could they have gone? Let’s go to the bus stop. They couldn’t have kidnapped three people without attracting attention.”
“Ok, I’ll get the others.”
The village head panics on seeing Tanvi’s reaction. “I should have accompanied them. They were dependent on me after my brother passed away. The girls were so excited. I failed them.”
Tanvi comforts him, “Sir, you go back to your house. We will definitely find them.” Her tone is not as confident as it should have been.
Tanvi and her team inspect the bus stop and enquire from people who are passing by. Abram notices something and calls out to Tanvi.
“Look in the pit near the edge of the bus stand.”
“What is it?” asks Tanvi trying to focus with her cell phone torch.
Abram bends down, “Looks like the ash-coloured powder found at Pari’s house.”
“Are you trying to say they knocked out all three of them and then carried them as loads on their shoulders?’
“I don’t know. But if they knock out even one of them, the other two would have to oblige,” replies Abram.
“You could be right about that. It’s more than 24 hours. They could be anywhere. We have lost them.” Tanvi rubs her forehead vigorously.