Sonia strode to a cupboard and turned the handle. It was locked.
“That is Parmeet’s cupboard and the other one is Vidya’s,” Renuka explained.
The second cupboard opened easily. Sonia looked through the contents. Ironed saris, with matching blouses and petticoats and a couple of Salwar Kameez, all hung neatly on hangers. Every article had a place and was neatly folded. Even her handkerchiefs. Vidya had been a disciplined and tidy person. The drawer contained some receipts, papers, and a money purse. Sonia casually riffled through the papers and to her great surprise found a booklet. Vidya’s horoscope! What luck! Sonia’s immediate impulse was to open the horoscope and begin reading it. But she curbed the desire. She had to go about this case logically and patiently.
“You know, I just thought of something,” Renuka said eagerly.
Closing the cupboard, Sonia quickly turned around at the tone in her voice.
“Vidya was in the habit of writing her diary regularly,” Renuka continued. “She wrote everything in it!”
“The Police must’ve surely found it,” Sonia remarked.
Renuka shook her head. “I doubt it.” Her eyes gleamed. “Vidya hid her diary really well, because she never wanted her in-laws to get their hands on it. She told me once that her mother-in-law secretly went through her cupboard and her mail, so she kept her diary in a place Mrs Sahay wouldn’t ever think of looking.”
“But then it could be just about anywhere in this house.”
“Luckily for us, I know exactly where it is!” Renuka dec-lared grandly.
Much to the surprise of the detective, she walked towards a pile of clothes wrapped in a bedsheet and placed on a stool near the cupboard.
Renuka untied the clumsy knot, which revealed an untidy stack of old clothes. She plunged her hand into the pile and then, with a triumphant smile, she withdrew a cheap, red plastic-covered diary.
“I knew it would be here. Vidya once showed me the hiding place. She said that her mother-in-law would never touch her old clothes!”
She handed the diary to Sonia, who took it with spiralling anticipation. Her pulse quickened as she flicked through the pages filled with a childish scrawl. It suddenly and forcefully reminded her of how young Vidya had been. What a waste of a good life…
“The Police would love to have this diary, but I’m going to get it photo-copied before handing it to them. I’m sure the Inspector will understand.” Sonia passed the diary to Jatin, who nodded and slipped out of the room.
“This diary will definitely prove that Vidya’s in-laws killed her…” Renuka began happily.
“Wait a minute, Renuka!” Sonia cut in. “We don’t really know what happened here. At the moment the evidence is definitely pointing towards Mrs Sahay, but we still have to get all the details. So I’d advise you to be careful with what you say. I know that you’re convinced this is an open-and-shut case. But until that is proved, you cannot raise your hopes and you cannot denounce anybody!”
“Okay, though I know in my heart that Vidya died because of these monsters.”
Sonia and Renuka returned to the hall to find Inspector Shinde speaking on the phone and the three Sahays whispering in hushed tones.
“Excuse me,” Sonia said. “I know you feel that I am intruding, but believe me, I can be of help. If you could tell me exactly what happened last night… ”
“Nothing happened!” Parmeet exclaimed. “I had a night shift and returned early morning to find Vidya still sleeping. Which was really unusual. I shook her and was startled to find her body hard and… and… blue. I immediately called my parents and the doctor. The police arrived soon enough. Believe me when I say that this is a nightmare. Did my wife really die of an overdose of pills? And who could’ve done such a thing? I can’t believe this is happening to us!”
Parmeet fell silent as he struggled to control his confused feelings. Sonia observed him reflectively.
“What about the milk?” she asked. “Did anybody see her drink it?”
Parmeet shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Where exactly do you work, Parmeet?”
“I’m a Supervising Engineer at Chetan works. And I often have night duty from nine omwards.”
Sonia nodded. She drew a stool and sat down beside the stunned husband. “Parmeet, tell me very honestly: Did you love your wife?”
All eyes were trained on the widowed man. Renuka - hostile; his parents - anxious. Even Inspector Shinde, who had finished his conversation on the phone and was heading out of the room to talk to his Constables, paused.
“Yes.” The single word slipped out in a whisper. “Yes, I loved her a lot!”
“Liar!” sneered Renuka.
“She was a warm and a wonderful person,” Parmeet continued in a broken voice. “And I never realised it until now!” Suddenly, he broke into sobs.
Renuka glanced at the young widower scornfully, as his parents huddled around him to comfort him. Sonia watched them all thoughtfully. Inspector Shinde signalled to Sonia and she rose. For a moment she stood undecided, then she followed him down the stairs and into the open air.
“Miss Samarth, I just spoke to Inspector Divekar and he said you’re unique!” Shinde smiled, politely.
“The Inspector is very kind,” Sonia replied. Jatin briskly walked towards her and handed her the diary.
“He said you would be an asset to this case.” Shinde added. “Thank you. We found Vidya’s diary in her room. I’m sure you’ll find it useful.” Sonia handed the Inspector the red book, which he accepted with a look of surprise. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve photocopied a few pages… ”
The Inspector nodded. “All for the ultimate justice… which should be very near.”
“What do you mean?” Sonia asked.
“Look at the evidence. Vidya died of an overdose of sleeping pills. There can be no doubt of it. I spoke to the neighbours and to Renuka, her close friend. They all voiced the same motive. That the dead woman’s inlaws had been harassing her
