“My God! What a plan!” Mohnish remarked, amazed.
“Yes, a well-scripted and enacted plot of an obsessed mind,” Sonia agreed. “But it was all conjecture on my part, without a foundation of solid proof. And that became the major difficulty - proving it all. The only and last chance we had was the message on Jaya’s answering machine. Harmless though it appeared on the face of it, it would indisputably prove that Deepa was a liar, since she was not really pregnant. I guessed that she would try to erase the message at the first possible chance. I was pretty sure that she hadn’t done so already, since the constables were on constant guard outside the house. So I asked Karan to inform her that the case was off and that we were convinced that Anup and Jaya had indeed killed each other. Deepa was satisfied. Perhaps she even enjoyed a good private laugh at our expense. She instantly seized the opportunity of going over to Jaya’s house. Unfortunately for her, her near-perfect master plan fell to pieces at that point.”
“Excellent!” Inspector Divekar exclaimed.
“But what exactly did Anup have in mind? He surely did not expect to get away with murder?” Jatin asked.
“I’m not sure, but I think he would’ve pocketed the fake bottle and declared that the bottle which contained the deadly poison was standing on the stool ready for use, placed there by the stage manager. He would have disclaimed any knowledge of how the poison had got into the bottle. And it could’ve worked, for a lack of substantial motive. After all, why would he kill a colleague he got along famously with?”
“The things people do for love.” Inspector Divekar shook his head.
“You know what saddens me the most?” Sonia asked. “Deepa’s hard-hearted remorselessness. Her absolute belief in her actions. Not a shred of regret, no guilt. She truly feels she did the right thing. That conviction is the most dangerous quality in a person, certifying her as a real criminal.”
“I feel sorry for poor Jaya. Caught in a crossfire - between a jealous lover and a murderous wife. Jealousy sure is man’s biggest enemy!” Mohnish sighed.
“And absence from the police station will be mine if I don’t return to headquarters soon.” Inspector Divekar grinned. “Good work, Sonia. Keep it up and see you later.”
He lifted his Police cap from the table and with a wave strode out of the room.
Jatin picked up his chai cup. “Boss, aren’t you happy we didn’t remain on the fringes?”
“I am,” Sonia accepted.
“And that you were willing to let go of the past for the present? You know what I mean, Karan - ”
She blushed. “All right, Jatin, you’re dismissed for the day!”
“If you say so. But, Boss - don’t you think Karan resembles Mohnish a lot? The same face and even the same thick straight hair with the flick!” Her Assistant winked at her suggestively, swallowed his tea, and buzzed out of the room.
Mohnish glanced at Sonia and raised an eyebrow. “What was all that about?”
“Just Jatin and his fancy ideas!” She shrugged.
“Not the whole truth, Boss.” Her Assistant had popped his head in.
Sonia made a face. “Goodbye, Jatin. Isn’t Naina waiting for you?”
Jatin guffawed and shut the door.
“Who’s Naina?” Mohnish looked bewildered.
“Oh, that, I can very truthfully say, is the beginning of a brand-new love story.” Sonia grinned.
CHAPTER IV
Cheating Destiny
The July rain lashed against the Stellar Investigations Office, and the windows shut with a bang. Nidhi jumped, startled. She had eaten her fish and was cuddled up on the pillows. The rain poured on the streets, like the sizzling of a frying pan. The cat meowed and Sonia glanced up momentarily from the piece of paper she was studying.
“It’s all right, sweetie. I’m here with you.” She spoke soothingly and moved to the cat, to stroke a comforting hand over her silky head.
Nidhi immediately closed her eyes, stretched her neck, and allowed her Mistress to scratch her under her ears and her collar.
“What do you make of it, Boss?” Jatin demanded, entering the room.
Sonia gave Nidhi a final stroke, then returned to the table and took the piece of paper in her hand. “Cut the Astrology trash!” stared back at her, rather insolently.
“I still think this is a rather cheap expression of rivalry,” she answered dismissively.
“But, Boss, this is the second note. Don’t you think we should do something about it?” her assistant asked, with a frown. “I mean, you can’t allow some stupid person to keep sending us threatening notes.”
“I think it’s too soon to give it so much importance,” Sonia remarked, a little stubbornly.
“To give what so much importance?” Mohnish interrupted, as he strode into the room. He moved one hand carelessly through his thick hair, which glistened with raindrops. The other held three freshly roasted bhuttas - maize corncobs - with a mixture of lime, red chili, and salt rubbed on them. The smell of the roasted bhuttas filled the room as he handed one to each. “To Sonia and Jatin. To celebrate the beautiful monsoons!”
“Thanks!” the other two exclaimed and Nidhi raised her head to sniff what had arrived. Sonia broke off a few grains from the cob and dropped them before her. She examined them, took a grain into her mouth, and munched it reflectively.
“She likes it!” Sonia laughed. “Which means these bhuttas are good!”
“I’m glad I got the approval from the highest quarters!” Mohnish grinned.
The rain thrashed outside, as the bhuttas continued to be devoured.
“Hmm… delicious,” Sonia murmured appreciatively, and Mohnish observed her with a great deal of interest. Her absorption in the bhuttas was fascinating.
“Take a look at this.” Jatin interrupted Mohnish’s observations. “Boss doesn’t seem to think it the right time to
