TIME
HAS COME
It was
getting late enough to be worried. I once again stepped into the balcony and
looked down. Except for a drenched street dog that was lying down miserably
near the gate, there was not a soul to be seen anywhere. Rain water had puddled
under the lamp post. A breeze ruffled the mango tree in the courtyard and a few
twigs fell down and broke. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Did I hear a soft
knock at the door? I turned back. I craned my neck to see if indeed someone
knocked the door. Waiting for someone eagerly does create hallucinations. I
wanted to be sure and did not want to risk. I was just hallucinating. Why would
he want to help me? Is it a trap? Why did he chose such a place? Rumour has it
that the family that lived in this house consumed poison and committed suicide.
People believed that this place is haunted and it has never been occupied ever
since. It was a two story house in the middle of big square plot completely
surrounded by huge trees. It had different varieties of trees but the number of
mango trees outnumbered the rest. With no one to take care, the place looked
eerie. It was dark and the only light was the one coming from the half moon.
Many people do not realise that the eyes can get used to darkness after a while.
It was not very clear but at the same it was not completely dark either.
The person who
asked me to come is definitely smart. Though it was a residential area, this
house was at the dead end and people had no reason to come this place. His instructions
were very clear. I had to come alone and I should leave the vehicle away from
the house and reach the house without anybody’s knowledge. He has asked me to
come at 10.30 p.m. as no one would be awake at that time. But now it was well
past midnight. I am used to eerie places but every minute of delay was making
me nervous. What he said over the phone kept ringing in my ears. “I have what
you want” he said over the phone. I was just hoping that what he said was
indeed true. I was in the middle of a dangerous game. One slip and I could be
finished. I have always had the belief that the truth surfaces no matter what
but more often people dig a grave and bury it. People have so much greed and
expectation that there is always a price for the morally weak and corrupt. But
I have always been the other kind. The ones who are far too less to find but do
exist nevertheless. And I prided myself for being such a person. He was very
particular that I come alone. Obviously he did not trust anyone else. Even if
he had not mentioned that I still would have come alone. Being honest is like
being a mutant that they show in X- Men movie. We all look the same but there
are very few of us. In my profession being honest automatically makes one a
prey for the traitors.
After being
lost in thoughts the sudden sound of the bark brings me back to the present.
Should be the stray dog at the entrance gate. Probably he is here I think. I
peep out from the balcony. I could not see anyone. Another instance of getting
duped by hallucination. “Sir” the voice shocks me. He is there right in front
of me. “Sorry Sir. I had to make sure no one else was there” he says. I could
understand his fear. “What is that you have?” I ask him very sternly. And as an
after though , I add “Who are you?”. “Sir. I am Nithilan, a student of
journalism. I have something that will be very helpful to you in the case that
you are investigating”. “Nithilan! Let
me ask you something. The way you were careful in choosing the place and the
time, it shows that you are indeed aware of the perils of getting involved in
this case. So why would you want to help in a high profile case like this?” I
ask him intently looking at his face keen on reading his body language as well.
“Vetri Sir. I am a journalism student
but my aim is to get into Civil services and become an IPS officer like you. And
Mr.Anbu Sezhian IAS whose suicide case that you are handling was a mentor to
many of the aspirants including me. He used to regularly visit the Govt Study
Circle for IAS aspirants to give pep talks where I am preparing right now ” he
paused to see if I was listening. I nod my head and gestured my hand. He
understood and continued “In fact I was collecting information for him about
various Granite companies that are into rampant illegal mining and causing loss
to the exchequer. I just used a pretext of doing article on the employment
generated by Granite companies for my college assignment to avoid the
suspicion. For some reason he found me more trustworthy and he gave me a C.D.
that is password protected. And he specifically asked me to hand it over to you
if something should happen to him. And he also asked me to tell you this sentence"Time
has come and the mystery will be unravelled”. I thanked him and left the place.
I came back
home and was trying hard to figure out the password. I can get this opened up
by experts for sure but I cannot afford to do that given the situation. I was
angry on my inability to figure out the password. I had to solve the mystery
because I too had my own connection with the deceased Mr.Anbu Sezhian IAS. My
thoughts drifted and into the past.12 years back to be precise. Anbu and myself
came from a humble rural background and we met each other in the Government
Center which trained aspirants for Civil Services Examination coming from
disadvantaged sections. He was senior to me by 2 years and a great mentor. I
was very keen on becoming an IPS officer while he wanted to only become an IAS
officer. We both were determined to do well because of the humiliation we had
faced as commoners and we wanted to be different when got into position of authority.
He got selected 2 years before me and I was very happy for him. Both of us were
honest officers and as result we were transferred from one place to another and
it was by chance that we got posted to the same place. He had an amazing memory
which was unbelievable. He could clearly narrate the incidents that happened in
his childhood. He could recite the couplets of Thirukural if somebody just
mentioned the number of the couplet. I was getting frustrated that I could not
crack the password because he left me a clue and obviously for that I have to
remember the past and that would be key for me to figure out the password. “Time
has come and the mystery will be unravelled” I slowly repeat to myself. Then a
sudden flash and my eyes lit up. I picked up the laptop and quickly keyed in
the letters ‘M-A-N-D-R-A-K-E ‘into the system and the password was accepted. No
wonder. It was the title of the short story he penned for a contest in a
magazine and Mandrake was the character that utters the dialogue. Never in my
dreams did I think that one day the same words will apply to the mystery of his
own murder.
It had 2
video clips and a huge 1500 page document in PDF version. Knowing very well the
kind of person Anbu was, I was very certain that he would have done a thorough
investigation. I opened the first clip. The visuals were recorded in the point
of view of the user of the camera. It had to be a spy cam that Anbu used
without the knowledge of anyone else. It showed Charles, M.D of the Best
Granites initially trying to be friendly and gradually losing his cool and
trying to threaten Anbu over the irregularities of Granite scam. Later on he is
being pulled away by the people who accompanied him. The place looks familiar.
It is the same traveller’s bungalow where Anbu purportedly committed suicide.
The second video has Anbu himself talking towards the camera telling “Though
finding irregularities has never been a new thing this time it is different
here. If at all something happens to me then Charles would be responsible for
my death”.
Next day
afternoon I complete all the formalities to make the arrest based on the
evidence available. Armed with the warrant I arrest Charles amidst all the
drama. Condescendingly Charles mocks at me saying that he will be out in time.
I go near him “Charles! You are
probably right. But you never know. Anything can happen. Life is full of uncertainties”.
Charles starts clutching the chest and signalling that he is having a heart
attack. Before even we try to call the ambulance we could hear an ambulance
siren. Paramedics quickly put Charles in a stretcher and rush up to the
Ambulance. While all this is happening I could see the Lawyer representing
Charles smile at me. I smile back at him and he is puzzled. He thinks
everything is happening according to his plan. Influential persons when
arrested feigning a heart attack is not new. But this time the only difference
is the heart attack is real. How do I know that? It was my handiwork. Thanks to
the forensic expert who agreed to help me.Truth is he never had any other
choice after I gently reminded him that it was not possible to make a murder
look a suicide unless they had the support of the forensic experts.
Time did
come for Charles but the mystery won’t be solved. Farewell Anbu! See you in the
next world.
