Without thinking, he sprinted out of the office and into the garden. Just in time to see a figure, draped in floating white, dash past the expanse of the garden.
The moonlight and the wind streamed through the white sheet, billowing it into a big balloon. Suddenly the white material snagged on a branch, dragging the cloth away. Jatin froze. A face turned, framed by long gleaming dreadlocks, and flashed a venomous look. Jatin involuntarily stepped back, shocked. The next moment, the tall man tugged viciously at the cloth, ripping it, and vanished into the street.
“He’s no ghost! He’s more flesh and blood than most of us!” Jatin remarked to Sonia and Devika. “I never saw such horrible hair! Those dreadlocks!”
Sonia started. “Did you say dreadlocks?” Immediately the image of the malevolent beggar on the street rose before her eyes. The white bedsheet, the small mean eyes, the dreadlocks. Her skin crawled at the memory.
“Yes! He was wrapped in a white bedsheet which caught on a branch and slipped, exposing his dreadful hair. And I’ll never forget the expression on his face when he looked at me. So much hate!”
“If I’m not mistaken, I’ve met this ‘ghost’ before” Sonia frowned. She narrated the incident of the beggar she’d encountered during Ganpati. “I’m quite sure that our ‘ghost’ is this same beggar. But what I don’t understand is, what is he doing on our premises? Is he passing by? Or does he have intentions of stealing?”
“I really think we should hire a night watchman,” Devika spoke up, sipping her chai.
“I’m beginning to agree with you,” Sonia admitted. “From what I remember of this fellow, he’s a type to be wary of.”
“In that case, we ought to take no risks. We all work late into the night. I’d feel much safer with a watchman outside. Or even a dog!”
“A dog! You think Nidhi’s going to allow that?” Sonia grinned.
“Why not? My cat and dog live together. Nidhi is too spoilt. She’s monopolized all your love and attention. She needs to share it with another animal. In fact, the more I think of it, the more I like the idea. A dog would be ideal here!” Devika seemed quite taken with the concept. “At least think about it, Sonia.” She rose.
Sonia nodded. “We’ll talk about this again. Bye, thanks for dropping by.”
“Thanks for the lovely tea, both of you. My day really begins well!” Devika flashed them a smile and left the room with a wave of her hand.
And yet, within minutes Devika had returned.
“I found this tucked in your nameplate. Take a look!” She thrust a piece of paper at Sonia.
The detective accepted the now familiar piece of paper, her heart sinking. Another one of those awful notes! Jatin leaned over her shoulder to read.
“Stop the astrological nonsense or you will never see your cat again!”
“My God!” Jatin gasped.
Sonia’s eyes spontaneously moved to Nidhi, who was bathing contentedly in the sun streaming in through the window.
“I don’t like this at all,” Devika said. “It’s a threat!”
“Yes, Boss, it’s getting worse with every note!” Jatin protested. “You mean there have been more of such notes?” Devika asked, surprised.
Sonia nodded. “Nothing really to worry about.”
Devika folded her arms. “That’s not the impression I get!” “Hey, you don’t need to worry, okay?” Sonia smiled, faintly. “Until now I’d thought that this was a jealous lunatic. But now I realise that I need to look into the matter. I can’t have anyone threatening my darling Nidhi!”
“Good. I hope at least now you see why we need a dog? If only to protect our beloved Nidhi! Well, see you later, then.” Devika sailed out of the room.
Jatin glanced at his Boss as she studied the note carefully.
“The same print, on similar paper. Undoubtedly the work of the same person who sent the earlier two notes. But who’s doing this, and why?”
“Someone dead against Astrology, for sure! And against you, Boss.” Jatin picked up the empty cups and some files from the table. “I’m in the outer office if you need me.”
Sonia nodded absently. She was too deep in thought for his words to register. It was only when the strains of the signature tune of a news channel on Jatin’s TV trailed into the room that she rose. Jatin was watching the news.
“The renowned classical singer Pandit Raujibua Dharkar of the Gwalior Gharana - a famous and popular musical school and legacy - passed away last evening. He was listening to music when he had a massive heart attack" the reporter announced.
Sonia stood beside Jatin as they watched the news report.
“Pandit Raujibua Dharkar, fondly known as Panditji, was seventy-five. He had been suffering from a grave illness for the past several years. Panditji had performed all round the world, taking Indian music on the international circuit. He is survived by a wife and a daughter. Offering condolence to his family, the Prime Minister has expressed his grief, saying that the country has lost a great Maestro. His death is not only a great loss to Indian music but to the whole world. The Chief Minister… ”
Sonia turned as Mohnish entered the office.
“I just did a report on that. Such a great man!” he remarked, as the voice of the news reporter droned on in the background.
“He put Pune on the international map,” Sonia agreed.
“Though I don’t understand much about classical music, I do know that he was the greatest, with hundreds of students trained under him,” Jatin added, as he turned down the volume of the Television. The news report was now featuring Raujibua’s performances in various shows, and photographs of his family. “I believe he married a woman much younger than
