‘Oh, was she?’ Vikram commented.
‘Yes, she was a petty and jealous woman. She even suspected the governess of having an affair with Gaurav and she got rid of her as well. Truth is that Gaurav is such a cold fish that he could not have affairs with anyone! He is so selfish and arrogant that it is impossible for any woman to get along with him. But I must say one thing about him. He is an overindulgent father. His children are growing up to be spoilt brats.’
Kiara smiled contemptuously and added, ‘What else would you expect with such a nasty set of parents?’
Kiara had no sympathy for Richa’s children. She did not even pretend to feel any sympathy for either the dead Richa or her children. Now he understood why Rohan had never allowed his wife to come close to his friends. She was too nasty. His friends would have invariably pitied Rohan had they known about his wife’s true nature. It’s very clear that her beauty was all on the outside. She was a scheming, vindictive and arrogant woman. She could not hide her satisfaction that Richa was dead. There was only spite and malice and a secret joy that her arch rival was at last out of the way, Vikram thought in disgust.
So far, Vikram had seen no real grief that Richa had died such a violent death so early in life. Rohan had shown shock but his only concern had been that there should not be any scandal. Decorum and good breeding naturally enjoined that his demeanour should be much as usual, yet Vikram could not help wondering if this self-control were really a matter of great difficulty. There were no red eyes, no signs of secretly indulged grief. He felt that the maid, Lakshmi was the person most affected by the personal side of the tragedy. He would need to interview Gaurav and his children to understand how they felt about Richa’s death.
While these thoughts went through his mind, Kiara eagerly asked with ghoulish curiosity, ‘Do you suspect anybody of her murder? Was she really poisoned?’
He responded politely, ‘It is too early to know. We are yet to receive the autopsy report. Where was Rohan last night? Did he like Richa? Can you tell me how Richa was poisoned?’
Fear and surprise jumped into her eyes. ‘Why do you ask? How could Rohan poison Richa? Rohan came home from his office by 7:30 pm as usual. I also came back home at the same time in his car. In fact, I was with Rohan in his office all through the day. Yes, of course he was fond of Richa. We all had dinner together, as was our usual practice. We talked and made jokes and then we watched television together. Richa had a bad cold, so she went upstairs to go to bed earlier than us. Neither I, nor Rohan have anything to do with her death.’
‘But is it not a fact that if Richa has really been murdered and Gaurav is convicted of her murder and hanged, you and Rohan will gain a lot of money?’ Vikram asked brutally.
‘How dare you speak to me like that?’ Kiara said icily. ‘Please leave my office immediately.’
Vikram got up and said expressionlessly, ‘Thanks for accommodating me, Mrs. Lohia. I will come back to you if I need any more information,’ before letting himself out of her cabin. Before closing the door, he looked back at her – a graceful, lovely figure in that expensive business suit; diamonds dripping down her body, frustration and jealousy in her heart.
He went down to the car park, but did not get into his car. He lit a cigarette and summarised the information he had gathered so far in his mind.
Kiara was a desperately unhappy woman who hated Richa as she was given more importance by the press and society by virtue of being Gaurav’s wife – the tabloids had reported this part quite accurately for a change.
Richa herself was an unhappy woman who suspected Gaurav of having an affair with first Kiara and then with the governess of her children. Why did she suspect Gaurav of having affairs? Was she a suspicious woman by nature? Or was there some other reason? Did Gaurav really have an affair with the governess? There were more questions than answers. He had a lot to find out.
He called Rohan. ‘Rohan I have finished talking to Kiara. I would like to meet you today if possible. Do you have some time today?’
Rohan replied in the affirmative and they decided to meet at the Secunderabad club at 8 pm.
4
Rohan Lohia
Rohan was waiting for Vikram at the Secunderabad Club. He had already ordered a drink for himself and ordered one for Vikram as well as soon as he saw him enter the bar. Rohan was a tall and good-looking man in his late thirties. He was muscular and it was clear that he spent long hours in the gym. Though he was balding, his muscular body pulled off the power bald look. This look made him dominant and powerful, like The Rock or Bruce Willis. Rohan was always acting. In fact, he was a better actor in private life than he was on stage. Today he was playing the role of a grieving brother-in-law. His face was unshaven, his hair (whatever little there was), was unkempt, and he wore dark glasses as if to hide eyes that were red with tears. Vikram, who understood Rohan quite well, knew that he was not much attached to Richa. They led their own lives and did not bother each other much.
They sat at a secluded corner in the bar. Then Vikram asked, ‘How do you feel now? Is the press still at you?’
Rohan responded, ‘No, now that Gaurav has come back to Hyderabad, it is easier to handle the pressure. He is handling the press and I am kind of relieved.’
‘The kids have come back as well?’ Vikram asked.
‘Yes they are back. Richa’s body will be released after the autopsy tomorrow and we are planning to do the last rites then.’
Vikram decided that he would meet Inspector Reddy and they would go to meet Gaurav and his kids, two days after the last rites had been performed. That would give the family enough time to compose themselves, yet not enough to get over their grief – if they really felt any grief, he thought cynically.
Rohan dramatically asked, ‘Do you have a clue then regarding what killed Richa bhabhi? You have to find out at all costs. Poor bhabi, we have to avenge her murder.’
Vikram gave an exasperated sigh, ‘You are always dramatizing yourself. You know Rohan I have just started the investigation. How can I magically tell you what really happened?’
Rohan had the grace to look slightly shamefaced. ‘Well, let me know what help you need. I will try my best to facilitate your investigation.’
‘And, by the way, why did Kinshuk not wake up in spite of his mother’s loud screams?’
Rohan glanced around to check no one was eavesdropping. Then he said, ‘He takes drugs. Both Gaurav bhaiya and Richa bhabi were trying to cajole him into giving up drugs. But they were having a tough time with him. He has grown up to be an obnoxious brat. Well, I do not blame him. Gaurav bhaiya was always scolding him. He is particularly mean to Kinshuk, though he takes good care of the other two kids, Gautam and Tia.’
‘But why is Gaurav so mean to Kinshuk?’
‘Well, I think Gaurav wants absolute obedience from his children. Kinshuk does not always do what he is told to do. He is not easily controlled and Gaurav finds this to be intolerable.’
‘Thanks Rohan, that is indeed useful information and you must inform the household to cooperate with me when I question them. They must answer all questions openly and truthfully and trust me not to make the family secrets public.’
Rohan nodded, ‘Of course I will inform them. I have also informed the security to let you enter the house at any time you see fit. Is there anything else you need?’
Vikram said, ‘No that will be all for now. I will contact you if I need any more help.’
Rohan then produced a check for one lakh and said, ‘Keep this as your retainer and for all related expenses.’
Vikram suddenly felt awkward. He said, ‘How can I take fees from you Rohan? You are my childhood friend!’
Rohan smiled. He was now playing the role of a magnanimous employer. ‘You are doing work for me now. You must not let our friendship hamper your investigations in any way.’
Vikram accepted the check reluctantly. ‘Tomorrow I plan to meet Richa’s personal maid Lakshmi. Can you please inform her? Tell
her to not be afraid, I am working hard to find whoever murdered her mistress and she must tell him everything she knows so that it becomes easier for me to investigate.’
Rohan said, ‘Sure, it will be done.’ After a few more drinks together, they decided to go home. ‘It is good that Rohan has a chauffeur,’ Vikram thought idly. ‘We are both too tipsy to drive.’
Rohan meantime had become slightly drunk and was singing sad old Hindi film songs. Dropping Vikram at his house, Rohan returned to his own home.
5
Vikram Interviews Lakshmi
The next day, Vikram decided to drop in on the Lohia residence once more to chat with Lakshmi. He was sure that grilling her would yield good results. He called her and set an appointment at 11:30 am. The family would be busy with the cremation. It would be a good time to talk to her in private.
To compensate for yesterday’s fry-up, Vikram was served only porridge after he had come back from his morning walk. Grumbling, Vikram ate his porridge and was served green tea without sugar. He decided that he would have a nice coffee latte with three sugars in the nearest Cafe Coffee Day.
He then called Inspector Reddy to find out if the post mortem report had arrived. Inspector Reddy confirmed that Richa’s death had indeed been caused by poisoning. The autopsy report revealed that a large amount of phenelzine was found in her urine sample. But the phenelzine overdose alone would not have caused the stroke and the seizures that she had suffered before her death. Some other untraceable poison must have been used.
‘Did she take antidepressants?’ Inspector Reddy asked.
‘As far as I know she did not. The maid told us that she took only cold medicine and antacids occasionally. No other medication. I am meeting her today. I will ask her again,’ Vikram responded.
‘By the way, I was going through the mobile records of the family. I found that Rohan had contacted Richa quite often. Was he having an affair with her?’
‘I genuinely doubt that. Rohan is too nice a person. He was probably just good friends with her.’
‘Hmm,’ Reddy said, as if he had doubts about Vikram’s opinion.
Around 11:20 am, Vikram drove his newly-repaired car to the Lohia mansion after dropping Veena off at her office. On the way, he had stopped and had a coffee latte with two sugars and a chocolate chip cookie. There was no crowd of paparazzi this time. He parked his car outside the gate and walked up the security hut. The security personnel had obviously been told by Rohan to give him free access because they simply saluted and opened the gate for him. He walked up the imposing driveway and went directly to the first floor drawing room to meet Lakshmi, who was waiting for him.
Sitting down on one of the plush sofas scattered around the huge drawing room, Vikram gave her his ‘cop’ stare.
‘Look Lakshmi, cooperate with me and answer all my questions truthfully and honestly,’ he said.
Lakshmi stared back grimly at Vikram and said, ‘Of course I will answer all questions truthfully. Have I not looked after Richa didi since she was a slip of a girl? She was like my own daughter. I want her murderer to be hanged.’
Vikram softened, ‘Look, I know that you are supposed to keep the family secrets to yourself but your beloved Richa madam was murdered brutally. You need to answer my questions truthfully if you want her murderer to be found and punished. Tell me now, how was Madam’s relationship with Gaurav sir?’
‘Richa didi loved him with all her heart. I came with her when she got married to Gaurav bhaiya. I have known her since she was a small girl of ten. She was a lovely person. Even though she was born and married into a rich, aristocratic family, she never ever treated me with disrespect. Her father is such a wonderful man – he is like my God. Such a pious person. He does pooja every day and there will be regular homams done. They would call Brahmin poojaries once a year and feed them food cooked in pure ghee. This family does not bother with such things. That is why God is angry with these people and has taken away Richa didi.’
‘But Richa madam was not religious-minded?’
‘Sir, she attended satsang and occasionally visited temples. But Gaurav bhaiya is not at all religious-minded. Always he is reading books or on the computer. No interest in God. Now he is facing the wrath of God. The children also are not learning to be God-fearing. I tell them, Gautam baba you must pray more often to God. Tia is a good child. She climbs on to my lap when I do pooja and prays along with me. I try to make them a little more religious by telling them stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. But I am after all only a maid in the family – how much would they listen to me? I still try for Richa didi’s sake. She was always very generous and would help me with money and everything. She took care of my son’s education and now he is a software engineer, working in the USA.’
Vikram was surprised. ‘Then why do you still work here?’
‘Sir, these people are now my family. They took care of me so well that I do not wish to go anywhere else.’ Lakshmi was one of the rapidly disappearing tribe of faithful servants who would give their lives for their masters – Vikram thought to himself.
‘What are the sleeping arrangements like?’
‘The children have separate bedrooms. Tia is next door to Gaurav bhaiya. On the other side of Gaurav bhaiya’s room was Richa didi’s room. Next to Tia’s bedroom are Gautam baba’s and Kinshuk baba’s bedrooms.’
‘So Gaurav and Richa had separate bedrooms?’ Vikram asked, hoping that it might lead to more revelations about Gaurav and Richa’s bedroom habits.
‘Yes, but there was a door connecting the two bedrooms.’ Lakshmi was protecting all the family secrets – Vikram thought ruefully.
He tried again. ‘I heard that Richa madam used to suspect Gaurav of having affairs with other women? Is that true?’
‘I have no idea. As far as I can judge, Richa didi was the perfect wife, and mother to his children. Regarding Gaurav bhaiya’s interest in other women, I stay at home with madam so what happens outside I cannot say. But he did not seem to have affairs with anybody. He used to go to office by 9:00 am and come back by 7:00 pm. He would stay at home during the weekend. No mysterious phone calls or anything which would suggest that he was having an affair. So I really do not think that he had any other woman. Whatever spare time he had he used to spend with his children.’
‘So they had no marital problems?’
‘I am just a servant in this house. It is hardly likely that they would fight in front of me. They attended all official parties together and she was the official hostess.’ Somehow Vikram could feel in his bones that Lakshmi knew more than she was revealing.
He tried again, ‘Are you sure that you have not forgotten to tell me something important? If you truly loved Richa madam, tell me everything. Your own life might be in danger if you supress information. We are dealing with murder here. The murderer will kill you without hesitation if he or she feels that you are a source of danger to him or her.’
Lakshmi looked at Vikram earnestly and said, ‘I have told you everything I know, Sir.’
‘Were the children close to their mother?’
‘Kinshuk baba was closest to his mother. Tia and Gautam loved their father more I think. He is always buying them toys or taking them on vacations. Whatever they wish, they have immediately. Gaurav bhaiya spoils them rotten. They do not listen to me and are rude to me. If I complain to Bhaiya, he just says that they are children, they will be okay once they grow up. Richa didi scolded them for not listening to me. So they like their father more. But I wish he was a bit stricter with them.’
‘I believe that they had a governess?’
‘Who, Juhi madam? Yes. But she left two months back. The children are grown up. Why would they need a governess anymore? I took care of their needs and they were going to full time school and Gautam baba would go to coaching classes after school. Kinshuk baba goes to college full time.’
‘Who appointed Juhi?’
‘Around two years back Richa didi was seriously i
ll. Her car met with an accident – a truck came from the wrong way and hit her. She escaped with a broken leg and had to be hospitalised for two weeks as she had a compound fracture. At this time Gaurav sir’s secretary appointed the governess. He had placed an ad, and in response to that ad, Juhi madam applied.’
Again, Vikram felt that Lakshmi was being very conservative in her answers. He decided on a direct attack.
‘Was there any relationship between Gaurav and Juhi madam?’
‘Sir, we are mere servants – we cannot know all the intimate details – but to be honest, I do not think that there was any relationship between the two. So he maintained a distance though he was probably very fond of Juhi madam.’
‘Okay one last question. Tell me something about Kinshuk.’
Again the slight hesitation before answering.
‘Sir, to be honest he was becoming somewhat wild. My Kinshuk baba was such a lovely child. But recently he had been running around with a wild bunch of kids. Gaurav bhaiya was seriously thinking of sending him to London so that he could be free of the bad influence of his friends here. But he was resisting very hard. His mother also doted on him. She had a large amount of properties given to her by Chetan Bajaj sir. She had willed all her wealth to her children. But just a day before her death Richa and Kinshuk had a huge fight. He had taken one lakh rupees from his mother’s cupboard. Richa didi noticed and asked him what he had done with the money. There was a huge brawl between them. She had even threatened to cut him out of her will.’
Vikram thought that he had enough information now. He said, ‘Lakshmi, what you have told me has certainly been very helpful. If you remember anything more just call me on my cell. What is your cell number?’
Vikram Rana Investigates: Tales of Murder and Deception in Hyderabad Page 3