Watched: Don't Say a word

by Preeti Singh

  “Sir, when you knew from the very beginning that my father killed my mother, why did you urge me to be a CBI officer and find my mother’s killer ?”, Kinjal asked with coldness in her voice.

  “Kinjal beta, I guess you found the letters I wrote to my son. Your efficiency is the main reason, I handed the case to you. I knew Gautam killed your mother but by the time I returned from duty, all the vital clues had been wiped off and your mother was cremated. I had nothing to arrest him. Moreover, after his fatal accident what more punishment could one give him? But after five years when the same series of killings appeared and your father was crippled lying in hospital, I knew someone was following the same MO, your father had used. Two of your mother’s friends were killed in the same manner. And the only person who could feel my pain as her own, the pain of losing Mansi Joshi, could only be her daughter. I felt, maybe you could find the new killer and save your mother’s 3 surviving friends. That’s when I thought of enrolling you in this case, Agent Kinjal.” The DIG clarified her first question.

  Kinjal made it a point to notice that DIG Uncle also wore a black strapped watch on his wrist. No matter how helpful he maybe, he was not yet off her suspicion list. She let him continue.

  “I never interfered in your parents’ marriage, Kinjal, and let Mansi go gracefully to the man she loved. But Gautam’s doubt about us having an affair was his male ego, unable to accept another man also in love with his wife. After he confessed his crime to me, he had the accident and his karma had returned, for killing the woman who doted on him. I do not have any proof to prove my innocence that I had nothing to do with his accident, beta, but God above is watching and I do not want to gain bad karma by lying, Kinjal. One day, I wish to meet your mother up there, with a pure heart”, he said firmly. Something in his eyes spelt truth and Kinjal could see it, clearly.

  “Ok Sir. Now I want to know why did you give your son to Pinky Bindra ? How could you do that to an infant and deprive him of a father’s love?” she asked gently, showing him his snap with Pinky in Dehradun, giving him no chance to deny this fact.

  “The answer to your question is in my study. Please follow me, Agents”, the DIG said as he walked towards the inner room. The whiskey was having its effect and he already seemed tipsy.

  Kinjal stood still as soon as the DIG switched on the lights. The room walls, the cabinet shelves and the side tables were full of beautiful pictures of her mother, Mansi Joshi. Each corner of the room spoke volumes of his love for her. Kinjal faintly recalled the standard perfume her mother wore; it was all over the room.

  The DIG opened his cupboard and showed Kinjal the nail polishes and Mansi’s unwashed dupatta he had still kept with him. “Each evening, Kinjal, I unwind the stresses of the day, with her dupatta and lovingly touch her favourite colour nail polish to feel close to her.”, he said, caressing the nail polishes once again.

  Such blind devotion, such a crazy obsession was nothing but unconditional love for her mother. For a moment, she even respected DIG Uncle for loving her mother so much, but it was still not reason enough to abandon his own child.

  As if reading her mind, the DIG spoke up, “My world began and ended with your mother, Kinjal, even though she was never mine. There was no place for anyone else. I was forced into marriage and after my wife died at childbirth, I was unable to look after the child due to my duties all over the nation. I took my baby and went for a two month vacation, without telling anyone”, he sighed, poured another drink and spoke on.

  “I was good friends with all of your mother’s 5 friends but Pinky confessed she was madly in love with me, since college days, though she always knew how much I loved Mansi. Pinky chose to remain single when I got married. But when my wife died, I visited Pinky at Dehradun, stayed with her for 2 months and handed her my baby, because the woman who loved me like mad, was the only one who could look after my child. Then when I was posted at Uttrakhand and Gautam was posted at Dehradun, I saw it as a perfect opportunity to be close to Mansi and visit her often. Pinky and me, then got into a relationship, but she never told my name to any of her friends or my son; just to protect my reputation”, he said looking down, apologetically.

  “So, I understand, you used Pinky to raise your child and fulfil your desires without commitment, just to be close to my mother?” Kinjal asked bitterly.

  “Yes, I admit I used her. But for Pinky it was love. The way I loved Mansi, Pinky loved me, but I could not reciprocate her love. But, I made up by paying her regularly for Vikash’s education and communicated with him through letters, but didn’t want him to know who I was. You can say, beta¸ I did not have the guts to face him”, the DIG confessed.

  Both Milan and Kinjal knew under alcohol, a man would never lie. Moreover, his eyes spoke truth and he was totally emotional today, pouring his heart out. They didn’t interrupt and let him speak further.

  “But after her fatal accident, I admit, Pinky was of no use to me. Moreover, Gautam was posted out of Dehradun so I could not see Mansi too. Though I stopped communicating with Pinky, I was regular in sending letters and money to my son. But since the last few years, all my letters and cheques kept coming back. On making enquiries, I was told, both Vikash and Pinky had died when a gas cylinder burnt down their house. That ended that chapter of my life. Now, I live in just memories of the child I abandoned and Mansi, the woman I loved and lost”, he said, sadly and had another drink, his eyes dreamy and moist.

  Kinjal, Amber and Milan looked at each other, bewildered. The DIG had no clue Vikash was alive and in Chandigarh only, since the last 6 years? Kinjal was not convinced.

  “But Sir, didn’t you try to find their bodies from the blast? Maybe they survived?” she probed cautiously.

  “No, beta I didn’t. I surrendered to fate and like your mother would have said....my bad karma returned for using Pinky and dumping her. I never went to Dehradun to explore further. Moreover, if Pinky was alive, she and my son would have contacted me because she loved me so much.” he concluded, totally unaware of the reality.

  “Sir, most of the clues left by the killer are also in your house; like a dupatta, nail polish remover and a bike parked outside with a helmet. Can you please tell me why has your red Maruti car been circling my house, lately?” She asked shrewdly.

  The DIG smiled and said, “Kinjal beta, I understand your doubts. The dupatta and nail polish are the memories with which I keep Mansi alive in my life. The bike outside is used by my servant to run errands for me sometimes. And in my red Maruti, I daily drive pass by your house, just to ensure you are safe. In a way, you are my responsibility after Mansi went away”, he concluded with utmost warmth in his eyes.

  While he excused himself to the washroom, Milan, Kinjal and Amber decided to tell the DIG the truth, but not now. He needed to be sober and alert to understand that Vikash, his son was very much alive and under custody.

  As soon as he returned, the trio took their leave, asking him to rest. The DIG was tired as well and instantly dropped off into deep slumber, his heart feeling lighter after sharing with Kinjal his dark secrets. Mansi would have liked that; he smiled.

  Joshi’s Villa,

  Sector 12, Panchkula.

  Her father was asleep when she reached home but today Kinjal left her compassion aside and woke him up harshly, to get her answers. If he had killed her mother, he did not deserve any kindness right now; he just needed to tell her the truth.

  “Be gentle with him, KJ. He’s not well, dear.”Maggie said softly.

  “Let her do it, Maggie. The truth needs to be out. You don’t know these men and what they are capable of. Let KJ handle it her way, Maggie,” Amber ushered Maggie out of the room.

  Kinjal just wanted one answer from her father, “Daddy, I have found a letter in your pocket. Is it true that you killed Mama? Blink your eyes twice if you want to say YES or press my hand if you want to say NO.”, she said coldly, not mincing any words.

  Dad just looked at her and tears welled up in his eyes. She kept l
ooking at him with bated breath and her heart pounding. Gautam Joshi then blinked his eyes twice.

  Kinjal instantly left his hand and stepped back, shocked. Her father then managed to join both his quivering hands, seeking forgiveness. All he wanted to say was a ‘sorry’ to his little girl, but destiny didn’t even allow him that.

  Kinjal didn’t leave the room but just sat by his bed and cried. DIG Uncle was right all along; just a silly doubt in her father’s head, had ruined all of their lives. And yes, Karma had returned for her father. Daily, he was living in agony with the thought that he doubted and killed his devoted wife.

  But Kinjal could not stay angry for long. By next morning, she kissed her father on the forehead, tucked him in bed and left for duty. He may have been a lousy husband and also a killer but he had been a good father; she had to give him that.

  ***

  Amber and Maggie were keeping themselves busy arguing as to who will go with Kinjal on duty and who will stay back to look after her father.

  “Quiet! Both of you...no fighting! Today, you both stay at home and have a romantic time”, she said winking at Maggie, woman to woman.

  “Oh! Really! KJ? Romantic! eh?” Amber asked licking his lips. Wow, man! He thought lovingly licking Maggie till she rolled over.

  Kinjal rolled her eyes at the duo doing their masti and quickly called Milan and DIG Uncle to meet her at the police HQ.

  DIG’s Office

  Police HQ

  Sector 9 D, Chandigarh

  “Yes, Kinjal please tell me what was so urgent that you called us here?” the DIG asked, smartly dressed in his uniform. Though they saw his emotions last night, his duty came first and emotions had no place during work.

  “Sir, please come with me to the prisoner cells below. I need you to meet someone,” Kinjal gulped.

  “Meet who, Kinjal?” he asked casually, wiping his specs.

  “Your son, Sir, Vikash,”Kinjal said softly.

  “Wh...what? My...my son? He is alive, Kinjal?” the DIG jumped with joy dropping his specs. He came close to her and held her by the shoulders, “Is he okay? But, wait, you said in the prisoner cell? Why, what has he done?” the DIG asked confused, looking from Kinjal to Milan.

  “Sir, we have reason to believe that he is our serial killer,” Kinjal replied.

  “What rubbish are you talking, Agent Kinjal? He is my son...a police officer’s son...how can he be a killer?” fumed the DIG pacing up and down in the office.

  Kinjal went up to him, broke protocol, held him by his arm and said firmly, “DIG Uncle, the moment you left him with Pinky Bindra, you lost your son. He does not even know your name or your identity, as you and Pinky kept it well hidden.” she said, “You poured your love for my mother in each of those letters but never mentioned your feelings for his adopted mother, Pinky, the only mother he really knew. In your letters, you described vividly my Mom’s murder by my father. You were innocently sharing your emotions with your son, but that boy grasped the same Modus Operandi to kill his mother’s friends; the same friends who abandoned her after her accident. He took revenge on all her women friends one by one, torturing them. You did not realise, Uncle, but in each letter you wrote, you ignited the devil in him.” she concluded gently, as she watched the efficient DIG slump into a chair, becoming an emotional wreck. He looked defeated, sad and broken.

  “Come, Uncle, let’s go and meet him. Maybe now you can make up for the lost time.” Kinjal said, lifting him up and ushering him towards the door.

  All through the lift journey from the DIG’s office, down to the prisoners’ cells, Kinjal and Milan filled him in, as to how the murders were carefully planned and executed. The DIG listened with a heavy heart, still unable to believe that he was meeting his son under such circumstances.

  “And where is Pinky ? Did she survive the fire too?” he managed to ask Kinjal.

  “Sir, firstly there was no fire. It was a fake incident created by Vikash, in their shed to make you believe they had died. He just didn’t want anything to do with you and that’s why your letters and cheques kept returning to you. After her accident, Vikash got her here for treatment at the Paraplegic centre, Mohali, where he himself joined as a doctor. He cut his mother off from the world as his main focus was to take revenge on the ones who wronged her. She died of a heart failure two days back, Sir.” Kinjal said and watched the DIG shut his eyes in pain. He had nothing to say.

  Vikash was already waiting in the interrogation room, handcuffed. Kinjal had told him, he would be meeting his father. Needless to say, he was nervous as well as excited.

  Kinjal took DIG Uncle inside but he asked her to leave, wanting to be alone with his son. She obliged as he was her senior and she also understood it would be an emotional moment for both of them.

  The DIG ordered the cameras and microphones in the room to be shut down. She and Milan stood watching from a glass window as both father and son spoke for about an hour. There was an exchange of angry words, tears and finally hugs between the two.

  But as he was bidding Vikash goodbye, the boy, though handcuffed, slapped his father hard on the face and then smiled, satisfied. He had wanted to do this, since he was a child.

  Mission accomplished.

  Immediately, Milan and Kinjal rushed inside. Milan held Vikash tightly, while Kinjal helped the shattered DIG get up. He just gave one long, last look at his son and then stepped out saying, “I think I deserved that. I will take the day off, Kinjal. Thank you, for helping me to meet my son, beta.” He hugged her with tears in his eyes, “But, I will fight tooth and nail, get the best lawyer in town and get my son out of jail,” the father in him spoke and left the building.

  Kinjal then went in to meet Vikash. “That was not needed, Vikash. No matter what, he is your father! Anyway, I kept my promise, but please tell me why are you not accepting bail?” she asked him hopeful to catch a clue from his reply.

  Milan had loosened his grip on Vikash and he was made to sit on the chair. But Vikash got up from his chair and kissed Kinjal on her forehead. “Sweetheart, my goal is achieved of meeting my father and slapping him once. Now, I am going to be a happy man when they hang me to death. ” saying that he smiled and walked towards the inner room where the guard was waiting to take him to his cell.

  Kinjal and Milan drove home in silence. Milan had seen her emotions for Vikash and felt sorry for her, but he too had nothing to say. She dropped him home and yearned to curl up in bed with Amber and Maggie.

  Yet, a doubt kept pending in her head. Why was Vikash so happy being punished?

  “You are just being paranoid, KJ,” said an ever wise Maggie as Kinjal sat with them in bed and discussed the father-son meeting. “It’s just an open and shut case, KJ, we have our killer and now you must rest.” Maggie advised.

  “No, Maggie, KJ is right. Something is not right here, as so far, not once did Vikash admit he killed the 4 women. He has just been giving diplomatic replies confusing us. But like my USA trainer always said ‘Time will tell’,” he concluded wisely and all 3 cuddled warmly with each other.

  ***

  The consistent ringing of her mobile woke up Kinjal. Sleepily, she looked at the time. It was 4 am. Amber also sat upright, careful not to disturb Maggie’s cute sleeping position.

  It was Milan.

  “Ma’am, the DIG is no more.” he said.

  “What??” asked a shocked Kinjal, her eyes opening wide.

  “Ma’am, the MO is the same. His wrists were slit and he was strangled by your mother’s dupatta. His nails were smeared with nail polish remover too and the cotton swab was found near his body. The song was written on the wall, with his blood itself. But this time the killer had a drink instead of coffee, with pizza. The DNA samples from the pizza in Suman Mishra’s house, are the same, found in the drink at the DIG’s house today, Ma’am”, Milan reported.

  “But the killer is in jail, Milan. Vikash is our killer!” Kinjal shouted, trying to get ready at the same time.

  “
Is he, Ma’am?” Milan asked sarcastically. “I have to go, Ma’am, my mobile battery is running out. I will meet you at the crime scene”, Milan said hurriedly and the phone went dead.

  Kinjal quickly called the jailor to check on Vikash. Maybe he escaped. But she was wrong. Vikash was in deep sleep in his cell.

  “KJ, are you sure our killer is not Milan? The way he cut the mobile seemed strange?” Amber observed.

  Not caring about the unearthly hours, Kinjal opened up her diary and called Milan’s adopted parents in Gujarat and asked all details about him. They had adopted him.

  Maybe he planted them as an alibi, she thought doubtfully. She still had his wife’s flat address. On the way to the crime scene, Kinjal rang the bell consistently, till the sleepy wife came to the door with a half naked man.

  After an exchange of nasty words with Kinjal, Jaya, Milan’s wife, shut the door on her face.

  Milan was clean. Then who killed the DIG, when Vikash also was in safe custody?

  By the time she reached the DIG’s house, his body was being taken for an autopsy and the place was swarming with policemen. She was in tears, totally shattered at losing her only father figure. She was ushered aside by some policemen and Milan briefed her that the new SP in town, would now be investigating the murder of the DIG, who was brutally killed overnight.

  Milan went his way and Kinjal drove back home. Both seemed lost and defeated. What was going on?

  As she entered her home, Kinjal received a message from an unknown number. It read ‘Sweetheart, my shadow will always be around you. He is watching you, Kinjal. The irresponsible, cruel polished people of society, like my mom’s fake friends and my father don’t deserve to live.. But my legacy will live on... Hahaha!’

  Kinjal froze. It was Vikash. She was in shock. Who did he mean by his ‘shadow’?

  She stepped inside her house, scared and feeling insecure once again. Amber and Maggie were fast asleep.

  Kinjal’s didn’t sleep a blink that night.

  Next morning, Amber and Maggie woke up to find her lying on the floor, curled in a foetal position, feeling broken and shattered. She briefed them about the DIG’s murder and how she had been taken off from the case, labelling her as incompetent.