The Theory of Zero

by Neel Majumder

noticed that they do not recruit directly. It was affiliated with State Government Board of Recruitment, known as Madhya Pradesh (State) Professional Examination Board [MPPEB]. This was one of the most trusted educational systems of our country. High profile businessmen, literate persons & politicians were part of the governing body of this system. I was more confused. I got a list of all affiliated coaching centre under MPPEB. Sunaina called me. She asked her brother and he identified the reporter. It was the same reporter but she could not email me as she had a bit problem logging into her email account. So she called me to inform. I assured her that there was no danger to send her brother to the coaching institute.

  I could not sleep last night. I had many confusions and unanswered questions. There were some random dots but if I connect them it was forming into something much bigger than I was expecting. I wanted to inform Tamble Sir but I needed more proof. Tamble Sir would return day after tomorrow.

  . I had to find something more before that. I went to the National Library near Bandra. I did not want to involve Sunaina but she insisted as her brother studied in that coaching centre. She joined me too. We were going through most of the newspapers of last two years and noted all accidental deaths of people aged between 25 to 30 years. We found 40 deaths. Sunaina took the death list to match with the student’s database of successful recruitment under MPPEB committee. I went to the News Agency where the dead Reporter was working. I found nothing much but I met the cameraman who used to work with him. He told me that the Reporter was very excited as he found something big , though he never told his camera man about any details. Now I started to join the dots. I again went to the coffee junction where Arjun was last seen. I needed the copy of the video of the day of Arjun’s death.

  Only manager could have given me that but manager was sick from last two days. He hadn’t come to cafe. I took manager’s address and went to meet him. I was anxious. Something bad might have happen. I was driving fast. I noticed that the same Grey Toyota car was behind me. It was a traffic jam. I was stuck there. Manager’s address was nearby just after the crossing. It was almost 10 minutes; I was still stuck in traffic jam. I went out from my car and started to walk. It was the crowd which had collected there which caused the jam. I forced my way inside the crowd. It was the manager’s dead body. Another Accident.

  I called Tamble Sir. I told him my doubt on Manager’s death and requested him to do post-mortem immediately. Tamble sir was not happy because I did not listened to him and still continued my involvement. But he assured me that he will order the post mortem of manager's body. Previously we had no body to examine but if my guess was right, he might be drugged before murder.

  I came back home. Ravi opened the door with a confused face. Sunaina was waiting for me at home.

  She found three students names matched from the accidental death list and one director of another coaching centre related to MPPEB. Sunaina was anxious too when she heard about the manager’s death.

  Ravi had no idea earlier, what was happening. But now he heard all our discussions. Ravi was stunned and more scared. Sunaina asked her brother to skip the coaching centre for few days. Right now we had the dots connected and it was big. very well organized criminals who were always way ahead of us. Our last option was the Manager. Now we had a theory only but no lead. We had to wait for the murderer to do some mistake. If the murderer knew me and was following me then I had to make him more scared or insecure. That’s why before I came back home I went to the Bandra, CBI office.

  Sunaina – You know someone there?

  I – No, I don't know no anybody there but I wanted to show the murderer that my reach is high.

  Sunaina – Indra, you are playing a dangerous game. This is not a normal local criminal case. It’s highly organized. They must have higher connection so they might already know that you were bluffing.

  I – Yes! I know they must have a high connection but still we are human, we make mistakes. I just tried to provoke him. Today, full day that grey Toyota followed me.

  Sunaina – Your intention is honest but you are taking a huge risk. I think, now you should inform your friend, Tamble Sir.

  I – Yes, you are right. I think he just came back from his trip. Tomorrow morning I will meet him and inform him about all the details.

  It was 9.30 pm. I drove Sunaina back to her home. Then I was coming back and I stopped my car at a signal. I saw a strong light coming from a vehicle behind my car that came fast and

  BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  It knocked my car hard. Due to seat belt and airbag, I was not hurt much. I was about to get out from my car and I saw, that same light coming towards me faster this time. I jumped out of my car just before it knocked my car again. I saw my car flew and landed 20 feet away. It was a big truck. I was injured and bleeding. My vision was blurred. Could not see properly. Someone stepped down from that Truck and came towards me. I gathered all my force and kicked on his leg hard. He moaned with pain and fell on knees. I found an iron rod. My vision was clear now. I saw him, he was coming towards me. I think I knew him. He came out from the shadow towards me. He was the Director of the Coaching centre. He had a gun in his hand. I knew It was not possible for me to protect myself with the iron rod against a gun. He asked me "why? What was my problem? Why I started to poke my nose when it was not my business?" Now he had no option but to kill me. He was supposed to make it look like an accident but now he has to shoot me. I had to die. I told him now police knew everything. There was no escape. He was determined to kill me but his shaky hand and body-language showed his doubt . So told him, “You do not have to do it? I know you are forced. You always have an option“. He replied, “No – You know nothing- I HAVE NO OPTION”

  I heard a gun fire. My heart had stopped beating for a second but the source of the sound was different, so I looked in front. I was unharmed. The Director was on ground. The grey Toyota was there. Something happened inside me. I ran towards the car and hit hard with the iron rod. The driver was caught on surprise and his gun fell inside the car. I dragged him out of the car, pushed him on the floor & twisted both of his arms on his back. All of sudden few police car reached there. Somehow I have managed to upper-hand the driver by riding on his back. He was very well build and broad. I heard Tamble Sir’s voice from a distance,

  “Indra, are your fine?”

  I – Arrest this person Tamble Sir. He knows everything.

  Tamble Sir and other police officers came. They arrested him. I was curious to know how Tamble Sir found me. Tamble Sir took me to the Hospital. Invited me to meet him at his home tomorrow, there he would tell me everything. I reached home after I was discharged from the hospital. Ravi was angry and silent.

  Next morning, I went to meet Tamble Sir. I said nothing to Sunaina. She was already scared for her brother. Last night’s unexpected incident might scare her more. Ravi was driving the car because I had injured my hand last night. Ravi was still silent. I know he cared for me and I already apologized for keeping him in the dark. Well, we reached at Tamble Sir’s home. I was a little late. Sunaina opened the door. I had no idea how Tamble Sir knew Sunaina? Still I kept my curiosity to myself. There was another man who was sitting on the couch. His face was known but I wasn’t able to remember at that moment. Finally Tamble Sir came with a big smile.

  Tamble Sir – First of all, Congrats to Indra for his sharp investigation and bravery. You discovered the conspiracy which led us to what we believe is one of the biggest Scam of this era.

  I – Tamble Sir, thank you for your kind words but I did nothing. You gave me a small work due to my passion of finding truth. I just followed my instinct and I have still got lots of details to give you. I am not sure which scam you are speaking of but I am certain this is Big. I am also very sorry Sir that I did not follow your order and continued the investigation.

  Tamble Sir then introduced me with the other man. He was Inspector Sikandar from CBI. One of the most honest and dedicated Inspector of CBI, Mr.Sik
andar had started to investigate a case few years back. It was regarding an accident of a doctor but there were few unanswered questions. Those looked simple but when Mr.Sikandar tried to find the answers, it was dead end. Then he started to investigate unofficially and found some corruption in Pre-Medical Test exams [PMT] of the state which was controlled by MPPEB. The doctor was a part of the team but he complained about internal rigging and corruption, though it was never proved. When I reported Tamble Sir about the fake License plate number car, Tamble Sir had sent a report to the higher authority on suspicious behavior of the coaching centre and the death of Arjun. Mr. Sikandar received it and found that the coaching was under MPPEB. So this created some doubt and he also started to connect the dots.

  Sunaina – I was worried for my brother and also curious when Indra told me about the incident. My brother told me that Vishnu & Rishi had low marks before but later the authority gave them higher marks before recruitment process. They used to change few students mark sheets sometimes in the name of technical glitch. I realized that Indra was right. When Indra dropped me at my home, I saw the same car with same fake number plate that followed Indra’s car. So I called Tamble Sir.