“Do you have any concrete suspicions? Anything which may hint at foul play?”
“I’m afraid not,” the older woman replied with a sigh. “Does that mean that what I feel instinctively is just a figment of my imagination?”
“Not necessarily,” Sonia admitted. “Sometimes when you don’t have information, you have to rely on instinct. Can you tell me about the inhabitants of this house?”
Mrs Dharkar nodded. “First I must tell you about our children - Raujibua’s disciples. Sumeet, Kirit, and Bishan have lived with us for several years, studying classical music under Raujibua. They call him Guruji and me Guruma and they have been like our own children. Recently all three completed their training and just yesterday they were to leave us to begin a new life on their own. They were very devoted to their Guruji, specially Sumeet. But for the last few months, there have been. how should I put it. certain disagreements. Petty jealousies, arguments, and dissatisfaction…”
“Dissatisfaction?” Sonia prodded for more details.
Again, Mrs Dharkar nodded. “Nothing very drastic, of course, and no vulgar display of jealousy, either. But I could sense the undercurrents. You see, even though Raujibua treated all his students equally, he was bound to have a favourite. Someone he would’ve wanted to carry on his name as a Guruji. And he had chosen Sumeet. And - I must say this - his choice was faultless. Sumeet is a wonderful boy. Disciplined, and a superb singer. Sumeet is definitely the right person to carry on his Guruji’s name. But unfortunately Bishan and Kirit did not seem to share our view. Both are good singers, too. But you need something more than good singing. A commitment, an involvement. And Raujibua knew his students well enough to know the difference.”
A tall, dusky girl in her twenties swept into the music room, her eyes searching for Mrs Dharkar. Her features were sharp and she was a spitting image of the older woman.
“What is it, Vandana?” Mrs Dharkar asked at once, sounding concerned.
“There are people outside who have waited a long time to offer their condolences to you.” Vandana spoke hesitantly. Her curious eyes flicked over Sonia and Jatin.
“I’ll be with them in a minute.” Mrs Dharkar turned to Sonia apologetically. “Please excuse me. I’ll be right back.”
“It’s no problem, we’ll wait.”
As the two women walked out of the room, Sonia glanced at Mohnish, an eyebrow raised in inquiry.
“Her daughter, from her first marriage,” he explained. “Vandana is into Computers, but has learnt classical singing from Raujibua. Although I don’t think she has much of a musical voice. Still, he insisted that, as per the tradition of his house, she had to learn.”
A few minutes later, Mrs Dharkar returned, smiling faintly. “I’m sorry about that. But Raujibua has so many well-wishers. All wishing to help. All so sincere, but it does take its toll on me. I don’t know how I am going to see it through these next few days. Of course, Vandana and the three boys are a tremendous help. Specially Sumeet. He really loved his Guruji. My husband had been suffering for several years. He had a very complicated health condition which got worse because of a weak heart. These last few years, Sumeet insisted on dismissing all the nurses and looked after Raujibua himself. Administering his medicine, accompanying him for walks, and ensuring his regular dose of exercise - his own son would have not served Raujibua better than Sumeet did.”
Mrs Dharkar’s eyes moistened. “But I’m straying from the main point. I was telling you how Kirit and Bishan were jealous of Sumeet. All three are exceptionally talented, but it has been obvious that Sumeet does have an edge over the others. And three days ago, my husband discovered that Bishan has been indulging in all those things that traditionally a disciple should refrain from during training. I believe Bishan said something to Raujibua which angered my husband and upset him so much that he threatened to disown Bishan. Yesterday, Raujibua was very restless. When I asked him what the matter was, he said people are not always what they seem and the best of people can give you pain and hurt. The argument with Bishan had really affected him deeply. The three of them had gifted him with an audio CD, and unfortunately it was while listening to it last evening, around seven, that he had a massive heart attack.”
Sudden tears welled up once more in her eyes. The others maintained a respectful silence as she grappled with the reality of her loss. At length, she shook her head. “It’s going to be really hard to live life without him.”
“But why do you feel that something’s not right here?” Sonia persisted.
“For the simple reason that it was most unexpected and shocking. Because the Doctors had assured me that if the medication continued, nothing would happen to my husband for at least a couple of years”
“Perhaps his medication… ”
“No, Sumeet took special care of it. Raujibua did not miss a single dose. And I was also there to supervise and keep an eye on things. It was definitely nothing to do with careless medication.”
“Doctors can go wrong in their diagnosis,” Sonia pointed out, very gently.
“Yes, I’m aware of that, but I’m not convinced,” Mrs Dharkar remarked. “My one solace is that he passed away listening to music, as was his most dear wish.”
Sonia nodded in sympathy. “Rimaji, what do you want me to do?”
“I know you think that Raujibua’s passing away is completely natural. And that I am making an issue out of nothing. But I still would like you to investigate the matter - privately, of course. Talk to people, do whatever you think necessary, but satisfy me that I am wrong and that no mischief featured in my husband’s death!”
Sonia flashed Mohnish a glance. “I understand that you’re upset, Rimaji. And that you think life has been unfair in taking your husband away from you before his time. And I’m willing to
