Vikram waited for another ten minutes to make sure that Kalyan was not coming back before walking back to his car. Somehow he did not feel that Juhi would be too happy to see him at this moment.
When he was driving, his cell phone rang. He told Inspector Reddy that he was driving and he would call back. Once he reached home, he called back.
Inspector Reddy said, ‘I have important news. We think that Kalyan is a drug dealer. He has met Kinshuk Lohia twice.’
‘Is that so?’ Vikram said. ‘I will meet Kinshuk soon and will try to find out more. I will update you.’
After concluding his call with Inspector Reddy, Vikram thought that more information they learned, the more confusing the picture became. He would need to reflect a lot to understand the can of worms that was opening up. Who was Bittoo? Was Juhi really attracted to Bittoo?
10
Kinshuk Lohia
Vikram’s cell phone rang. It was Lakshmi. Kinshuk wanted to speak to Vikram regarding his mother’s death. Could he possibly come over in an hour?
When Vikram arrived back at the Lohia mansion, only Lakshmi seemed to be available. She asked him to wait as Kinshuk was on his way back from college. She looked a trifle dejected.
He did not see any trace of Gaurav, Rohan or Kiara. Lakshmi mentioned that Tia was sleeping while Gautam had gone to his coaching classes.
Vikram sensed an unease in her. ‘Is something wrong?’ he asked.
Tears welled up in Lakshmi’s eyes. Mopping her eyes, she said, ‘No – nothing. I realise only now how good Richa madam was to me. Only due to her love, I have been able to continue in this house. But never mind . . . I will look after her children. She would have wanted me to take care of her . . . I will go and get some water for you.’ She hurriedly left the room as if she wanted to avoid further discussions with Vikram.
Vikram wondered if Lakshmi was now being persecuted by the Lohia family for being too loyal to Richa. Was her privileged position among the other servants at risk now that Richa herself was not there to help her?
He had been waiting in the drawing room on the first floor for around ten minutes when he heard a car roaring up the driveway. He looked out of the drawing room window to see Kinshuk emerging from the yellow Porsche.
Kinshuk tossed the car keys to one of the drivers and then in a minute or two came up to the drawing room.
He had a runny nose and was wiping his face with a napkin. His eyes were red and bloodshot, and his pupils looked dilated. He seemed to be in strangely high spirits – it would have been impossible to guess that his mother had died a violent death only a short time back.
Kinshuk had lost all traces of boyhood. But it was clear that he loved his food. He was exceedingly fat, almost obese. Speculation was rife that he once ran over a person and killed him, but the Lohia power and money had kept him out of jail. Being heir to millions has its perks – Vikram thought.
Lakshmi rushed into the drawing room and asked, ‘Kinshuk baba. Do you want some juice?’
Kinshuk looked at her coldly and said, ‘If I want something, I will ring. And close the door after you,’ as Lakshmi scurried out again. He was so shockingly rude to Lakshmi that Vikram’s hands itched to slap him.
His voice was as deep as any man’s. He gave a magnanimous smile to Vikram and made fluid arm movements to exaggerate his buoyant speech. His aggressive behaviour and dilated pupils confirmed Rohan’s statement that he was a drug addict.
Vikram made a mental note that he would need to confirm this with Lakshmi. Was this the information she had been holding back when he had grilled her the other day? What other details had she suppressed?
‘It is very good of you to come so promptly, Mr Rana. I am sorry I missed you in the morning.’
‘You wanted to see me. How can I help you?’ Vikram asked.
‘Who asked you to investigate this case? Was it Rohan uncle?’
Vikram did not respond immediately. He pretended to think about his answer. This was a calculated move on his part. He realised that Kinshuk was an impatient kind of person and delay in responding would goad him into further speech. He was not wrong in his judgement.
Kinshuk again rushed into speech, ‘Tell me – I must know. The police are already investigating the case. Why are you butting in? As Mrs Richa Lohia’s son, I have the right to know! It is not fair to leave me in the dark.’
Vikram gently asked, ‘Don’t you want to find out who poisoned your mother?’
Kinshuk waved his hand impatiently, ‘Would finding out who killed her bring her back to life? Why can’t you let sleeping dogs lie? You know, like how will it help? Do you understand what I am trying to say? Like why bother?’ He kept wiping his nose as if he had a cold and kept repeating his phrases.
Vikram looked at Kinshuk thoughtfully.
‘That is a dangerous stance to adopt, Kinshuk. A person who has murdered once can murder yet again to save his neck. The first murder is always the most difficult one. The second becomes easier and then the murderer can kill again and again, sometimes to get a perverted pleasure.’
‘Has such a thing happened in this case? Has anybody else been murdered?’
Vikram shook his head. ‘I beg your pardon. It has not happened in this case – but it might happen any time.’
Suddenly Kinshuk started shaking. He hurriedly said, ‘Excuse me, I will come back,’ and rushed out of the room, without waiting for a response from Vikram. Vikram looked on in bemusement. In his experienced eyes, Kinshuk looked like a heroin addict.
When Kinshuk returned looking relaxed, he decided to go on the offensive. ‘Do you do drugs?’
Kinshuk became nervous. He said, ‘No . . . Of course I do not do drugs. Who told you that?’ Suddenly he was behaving aggressively.
Vikram said, ‘I happen to know who is supplying you with drugs.’
Kinshuk wiped his nose. ‘Oh yeah?’ he sneered. ‘So tell me who it is.’
Without realising what he was saying, Kinshuk was indirectly confessing that he did do drugs.
Vikram said, ‘I know it is Kalyan.’
Suddenly Kinshuk looked frightened. ‘I don’t know what you are talking about.’ But his facial expression told Vikram that he had hit the nail on the head.
‘Well, I suggest that you stop handling this case. I can pay you any amount you care to name for your efforts so far,’ he continued.
A note of steel now entered Vikram’s voice. ‘Once I take up a case – I do not leave it till I have solved it. No amount of money can tempt me. Did Kalyan ask you to talk to me and try to stop me from further investigation?’
Kinshuk now blustered, ‘I do not know what you are talking about. But I will tell you something. My father is a very influential man. I will see to it that you are put out of business.’
Vikram smiled contemptuously and walked out saying, ‘Do what you can.’
Vikram walked back to his car and drove out. Then parking his car in a shaded spot, he lit a cigarette.
He was still burning with rage. But he also found Kinshuk’s behaviour interesting. Why would Kinshuk ask him to stop the investigation? Was he afraid that people would come to know that he was a drug addict? Or did he want to hide the fact that he had stolen money from Richa’s cupboard to feed his drug addiction? Did Kalyan pressure him to try to stop further investigations? If that was really so, Kalyan must be more deeply involved than was apparent. After all, Kalyan wanted Juhi to marry Gaurav. Did he kill Richa to clear the path for Juhi?
Kinshuk had probably already killed before, Vikram thought, albeit accidentally, when he ran over a person sleeping on the road while driving drunk. Even though there was no proof of that incident and he had never been formally convicted, looking at his attitude and arrogance, Vikram was sure that he had been guilty and worse, remorseless. But in this case had he been so desperate for funds that he had killed his own mother? Vikram was determined to find out.
He called Inspector Reddy. ‘Hello Reddy sir. I have important new
s.’
Inspector Reddy replied, ‘I have even more important news. Kalyan and his wife have been stabbed to death in their own house. The house has been ransacked and no one has any idea what happened. The apartment looks like the set of a horror movie. Blood spatters everywhere, things strewn about. The murderer killed them both and searched for something in the apartment. Whether he got what he was searching for – we don’t know.’
‘Oh – what a terrible news! But what happened to Juhi? Is she safe?’
‘Juhi is unhurt. She had gone to the doctor and hence the murderer did not hurt her. But she is in a state of shock and has been hospitalised. She has been given a sedative, but as soon as she is able to talk, we are going to question her. We are guarding her round the clock so that no attempts are made on her life.’
11
A Meeting with the Suranas and Dr Shetty
The mansion the Suranas lived in was not as ostentatious as the Lohia mansion, but it was still imposing. Vikram let out a whistle when he saw the house. It was painted white and there was a terraced garden and a swimming pool. The house itself was Italian Baroque in style. There was a driveway where two identical Mercedes cars were parked.
As had been arranged, Inspector Reddy was waiting for Vikram on the private road leading up to the palatial bungalow. They arrived together and parked their cars in the space marked ‘Visitor Parking.’
The front door was opened by a servant and they were shown into the large, ornately furnished drawing room decorated with magnificent murals and works of art.
Mrs Surana was sitting there eating chocolates. She was a stout, petulant-looking woman with a man's name - Bhawani. She was plain-faced with grim-looking, small, black eyes - no black grease by the lash line, no blue powder on the lids, eyebrows not plucked up high and thin. She looked as unlike a typical rich Page three socialite as possible. As Vikram and Inspector Reddy entered, a small Pekinese dog rushed forward, barking furiously and circling dangerously around Vikram’s ankles.
‘Jimmy! Jimmy, come here. Come here to mother, dear,’ she called and picked up the dog.
By the time they were seated, Mr Piyush Surana came in.
After the necessary introductions, Inspector Reddy said, ‘Mr Gaurav Lohia told us that their ex-governess now works for you. Can you tell us something about her?’
Mr Surana said, ‘I am a plain man, Inspector Reddy.’
Inspector Reddy made a noncommittal gesture with his right hand. It expressed appreciation for the solid worth of Mr Surana and his modesty. In any case, it gave no clue to the thought that was uppermost in his mind, which was that Mr Surana was certainly an extremely plain man in the literal sense. Inspector Reddy’s eyes rested critically on the swelling jowl, small pig eyes, the bulbous nose and the close-lipped mouth.
Mr Surana was continuing, ‘I have personally seen how Gaurav’s children improved noticeably under her guidance. She is gentle yet strict. I would not spend my hard-earned money on her otherwise.’ It seemed to Vikram that Mr Surana could be extremely tight fisted as far as money was concerned.
Mrs Bhawani Surana also nodded her head in agreement. ‘She is honest and takes good care of my son and daughter. We send a car for her to come here by 7:30 am. She gets both the children ready for school, and then drops my son to day school and my daughter to play school. She then waits till play school is over and brings my daughter home, feeds her and teaches her. They play together till my son comes home around 4 pm. After he freshens up, she helps him with homework and then she leaves. The car drops her back.’
Mr Surana who was fidgeting, now spoke up. ‘I think my wife will be able to provide all the answers. If you do not have any specific questions for me I would like to leave.’
Vikram asked him, ‘How long have you been working for Gaurav?’
Mr Surana said, ‘I have been working for him for more than ten years. He is now more like a friend than my employer. I enjoy working for him and I have helped him to grow richer and have also benefited myself in the process. He has made me a rich man and I am grateful to him for that.’ Again the reference to money – Vikram noted in amusement.
Vikram looked at Inspector Reddy and said, ‘I have no more questions for you now.’
Mr Surana said, ‘Well, Inspector Reddy I will leave you to get on with it,’ and with a short nod he left the room.
Vikram now looked at Mrs Surana and said, ‘The governess does not stay here?’
Mrs Surana said, ‘No – I think this arrangement is much better. It helps me to remain close to my children and yet allows me to do my own work during the daytime.’
‘And this arrangement does not allow your husband enough time to get close to the pretty young governess,’ Vikram thought to himself. Clearly Bhawani Surana was a very smart and shrewd lady and was aware of rumours of Gaurav’s weakness for Juhi. She had taken steps to prevent a repeat story. They did not have any more questions. Refusing her offer of tea, they drove back to the police station.
The next day, Vikram was in a foul mood. He was helping Veena pack her luggage. It was Sunday and she was taking an evening flight to Mumbai. Veena had bought identical smart trolley bags for both of them and they had been arguing over this unnecessary expense. As usual, Veena had the final word. Now she had asked Vikram to help her with the packing while she finished cooking lunch. To soften him up, she was cooking his favourite mutton kofta curry.
His cell phone rang. It was Inspector Reddy. Without preamble he said, ‘The Daily Blaze has got hold of Richa’s autopsy report. They have put out the information on the third page. Did you know?’
Vikram testily responded that he did not read tabloids. Ignoring his irritable response Inspector Reddy continued, ‘Now the other newspapers will also publish this information. Gaurav Lohia will blame us for leaking news to the paparazzi. Anyway, I will find out who leaked this information from our department and take strict action.’
Vikram said, ‘Do not worry too much about it. What is done cannot be undone. Let us focus on the murder. It is pretty much clear that someone from the Lohia family must have given the phenelzine to Richa. But how was the phenelzine obtained? Who obtained it? Once we find that out, the murderer will be found. By the way did you take Juhi’s statement?’
‘Yes we did – she says she has no idea who killed her uncle and aunt or why.
‘So another dead end,’ Vikram thought.
As Inspector Reddy had predicted, next day the newspapers and television were full of the autopsy report. In a way it helped the investigation for, a few days later, on hearing the news that Richa had been poisoned with phenelzine, a pharmacist in Jubilee Hills came round with the information that Gaurav had bought the medicine from him. He had produced a prescription written by Dr Shetty, who was a reputed Orthopaedic doctor.
Inspector Reddy called up Vikram about this breakthrough. But Vikram was a bit sceptical. Why would a man of Gaurav’s stature buy his own medicine? He had plenty of minions to do such work. Inspector Reddy said, ‘Maybe he wanted to keep the fact that he was buying phenelzine a secret? He may be famous in business circles, but he probably did not expect a common pharmacist to recognise him.’
They decided to meet Dr Shetty to find out why he had prescribed phenelzine to Gaurav.
Dr Shetty was busy, but agreed to meet them in his chamber for fifteen minutes. His chamber looked modern but not too trendy. Every room, from the reception and waiting area to the chamber, was in harmony with one another. The chairs in a waiting room were simple and comfortable. The lighting was bright and cheerful. Reading material was plentiful and conveniently displayed. The actual chamber was well lit and designed to put patients at ease. The walls were painted a soothing sea green and posters adorned the walls. A skylight created a healthy environment.
The doctor was an elderly, cheerful-looking person with a kind face. He looked confident, empathetic, and had a reputation for being thorough.
He shook hands with both Vikram and Inspector Re
ddy. He had a firm grip. He smiled at them and asked, ‘How can I help you gentlemen?’
Vikram said, ‘We wanted to enquire about your patient, Gaurav Lohia.’
Dr Shetty raised his eyebrows and said, ‘You mean the industrialist, Gaurav Lohia?’
Inspector Reddy nodded. Dr Shetty said, ‘But he was never my patient.’
Inspector Reddy and Vikram looked at each other, dumbfounded.
Then Vikram looked at Dr Shetty and said, ‘Are you sure?’
Dr Shetty said testily, ‘How can I forget a patient like Gaurav Lohia? Of course I am sure.’
Vikram said, ‘In that case we are sorry to have wasted your time, but a pharmacist told us that Gaurav had come to buy medicines from him and he had a prescription issued by you.’
Dr Shetty looked at him and said, ‘I did not issue any prescription to him. What was the medicine prescribed?’
Inspector Reddy said, ‘Phenelzine.’
‘Phenelzine? But why should I prescribe such a strong antidepressant? I never prescribe such strong drugs.’
‘Hmm, strange.’ Vikram said. ‘This needs some serious reflection. Are you absolutely certain you never gave him a prescription?’
Dr Shetty tapped his pen impatiently on the table. He said, ‘I repeat, Gaurav was never my patient. I did not issue any prescription to him.’ He looked impatiently at his wristwatch. Vikram rose from his chair, ‘We will not take up any more of your time. We’ll get back to you if we have further questions.’
They took leave of the good doctor and drove back to the police station. Vikram said, ‘I suggest that we go to Lohia Mansion and confront Gaurav directly as to why he produced a fake prescription and procured the phenelzine.’
They sought an appointment with Gaurav’s secretary. They were told that Gaurav would be able to meet them at his home the next day at 11 am.
Vikram Rana Investigates: Tales of Murder and Deception in Hyderabad Page 6