Vikram turned to Lakshmi, gave her a disarming smile and asked, ‘Was Madam suffering from a cold?’
Lakshmi said, ‘Yes Sir. Richa didi was prone to colds and used to take cold relief medicine at night whenever she had a cold. In fact, before she went to her bedroom she asked me to take out a new bottle of Nyquil from the storeroom, but as it was already quite late, she said she had enough for the night and asked me to get the new bottle the next day.’
With tears in her eyes, Lakshmi continued, ‘Didi was always so considerate.’
‘Was Madam in a good mood last night?’ Vikram asked.
‘Richa didi was not feeling well initially – possibly because she had the cold. At around 8 pm, after dinner, she took the cold medication. After that she was probably feeling better because she looked quite happy and joked and laughed a lot with the family. After watching television for around an hour, she went to bed.’
‘What did she have for dinner?’
‘The entire family always has dinner together. Kinshuk baba and his mother, Rohan Sir and his wife, were all gathered together in the family dining room in the ground floor. They had rice, dal, chicken curry and a salad.’
‘What did Richa madam drink with her meal?’ Vikram asked.
‘As she had a cold, she had warm water. It was given to her in a jug. As Kinshuk bhai was also not feeling well, he too had the same warm water from the jug with his meal. The rest had cold water from the fridge.’
‘What did the servants eat?’
‘Sir, there is the cook and two more maids and live-in drivers. They all stay in the separate servants’ quarters on the ground floor. Only Mala and I stay in the first floor servant’s quarters. All of us eat together. We ate the same thing. The general rule is that whatever is cooked is sent to the dining table. Whatever is left over we manage with that.’
Inspector Reddy looked at Lakshmi. ‘Did Richa Madam regularly take any other medication?’
Lakshmi said, ‘Other than an occasional cold, she was in good health and at most took a saridon or an antacid, and that too very rarely.’
Vikram asked, ‘How long you have been working here?’
‘Sir, both Mala and I have worked here for more than twenty years. They have taken care of us really well. Arre baba, we are ready to die for them. I became a widow at quite a young age. Richa didi’s mother gave shelter to me and my young son. I worked in Richa didi’s father’s house. Uncleji is a living God.’
‘Who is Uncleji?’
‘Why Uncleji is Richa didi’s father. Arre, he is a very famous person. Everybody respects him a lot. He is always being shown on television. Uncleji has taken care of my son’s education. I can never repay his debt. I have looked after Richa didi since she was a slip of a girl and I came along with her here to this house after her marriage. But I could not save her life. Hey Bhagavan, why did you not take my life instead?’ Slapping her forehead, she buried her face in the pallu of her saree and started crying softly.
Both Inspector Reddy and Vikram felt a trifle embarrassed at this uninhibited display of grief.
Inspector Reddy looked at Vikram and asked, ‘Do you have any more questions?’
When Vikram shook his head, he looked at Lakshmi and said roughly but kindly, ‘Control yourself. No use crying over spilt milk– send in Mala now.’ Still mopping her eyes with her saree, Lakshmi left the room.
Mala entered the room looking slightly apprehensive. Inspector Reddy asked her, ‘Don’t be nervous. We just wanted to ask some questions regarding Richa Madam’s death.’
Mala relaxed visibly.
Vikram asked, ‘How many children did Richa madam have?’
‘Sir, Richa didi had three children, Kinshuk, who is twenty-one, Gautam, who is thirteen and Tia, who is six.’
When asked about the events of Richa’s death, she more or less repeated what Lakshmi and Rohan had already mentioned.
After Mala left, Inspector Reddy turned towards Vikram and said, ‘Mrs Richa Lohia was in an excellent mood when she went to bed. So that rules out suicide.’
‘Yes, that definitely rules out suicide, plus she did not leave any suicide note,’ Vikram responded absently.
He continued, ‘But the question is that if she was poisoned, how was the poison administered? When was it administered? She had a normal dinner and whatever she ate the entire family ate the same. She drank the same water as her son did. Hmm, this needs some serious thought.’
After inspecting the room thoroughly and finding nothing suspicious, the two men collected the medicines and the water jug to be sent for forensic examination. A policeman was posted till the time the door was repaired and the room sealed. They then went downstairs. Rohan was still sitting in the same position as they had left him. He looked tired and weary.
He looked up as they entered the drawing room and asked, ‘This is really dreadful. We are so anxious to avoid publicity. Any leads?’
Inspector Reddy said, ‘So far no pointers. We will need to see the autopsy report to understand whether she was really poisoned or if it is some other problem.’
Vikram looked at Rohan and said, ‘Do not worry Rohan. We will sort this out.’
Mr Dalal, who had been conferring with Rohan said, ‘Yes, we will definitely sort it out.’
Refusing Rohan’s offer of breakfast, Vikram and Inspector Reddy came out of the house. Vikram accepted Inspector Reddy’s offer of a lift. He had enough of auto drivers for the day.
A Season for Dying: A Vikram Rana Mystery (Vikram Rana Series Book 2) Page 14