‘We found some contacts from his phone, but none were reachable. His briefcase only contains his essentials and clothes.’
Everything about Rahim is either mystery or just a blind lie. Siraj continued to produce his solid statements and facts.
‘He has a booking for a room under his name at The Imperial Hotel. That is the only real proof we can get. We sent our team to the hotel to check if can find something.’
‘Why would cheat his identification? That too with the country that doesn’t exist.’ I leaned forward and shared my opinion with Siraj.
He dismissed my opinion without giving it a thought. He made his mind about Rahim, that he is lying and he has connections with the terrorists and the recent bomb blasts. I cannot deny the fact that this looks suspicious. Still, you cannot just frame anyone for the crimes. There should be a thorough investigation.
‘What is the real reason for your visit to Mumbai?’ he breathed heavily on Rahim’s face ‘That too now, after a series of bomb blasts. What is your agenda now?’ Siraj enquired further.
‘Sir, please try and understand. I’m middle-class family person. I’m not the one, who you think I am.’
‘I clearly know, who you are? and I’ll make sure, you as well, will admit the truth.’
Rahim is having hard time. This interrogation isn’t in his favour. I could see his frustration and confusion at the same time. He is constantly looking at his passports and other documents. Pleading and convincing officers that he is telling the truth and he has no reason to harm anyone. I believe him in that. He is worried about his wife who is in a critical condition. Meanwhile, Siraj left us alone for a minute to answer his call. Rahim leaned towards me and began whispering in my ear.
‘Find my wife, maybe she could help me to get out of this.’
‘Why don’t you tell the police same?’
‘No, she isn’t in a good condition. This all would definitely trouble her. Firstly, I need to talk to her.’
‘How would that help?’
‘I know she left me. But if she sees me in this situation. She will definitely pull me out of this.’
‘Sorry I cannot.’ I denied to help, even though I wanted to
‘You are my only hope.’ Rahim locked his eyes on me.
Siraj noticed us speaking to each other, he rushed to me ‘Sorry, Mam. I still don’t know? How are you involved in this? What do you do? Also didn’t get your name the first time.’
‘Because, you weren’t concentrating earlier. Myself Meghana Saxena and I’m a Journalist by profession.’ There was a long pause and surprise on Siraj’s face. He turned to his officers; literally abusing them with his eyes. To which they shook their heads in ignorance as they had no idea that I was a journalist.
‘Are you the Meghana Saxena from Times of Mumbai.’ he confirmed.
‘Yes.’ I said with a confident tone. We live in a strange nation where police department is afraid of media personnel, when all the systems are created to help each other. We often fight like siblings messing up the situation.
‘Mam, he is one of the suspects of national threat. Firstly, don’t publish this out. Secondly, tell me, what did he just say?’ he raged his anger onto me.
‘Nothing!’ With a firm tone.
‘I’m afraid, you need to leave the room immediately. If you are not related to the case. You cannot be part of a confidential interrogation.’
‘As a journalist, I have the freedom to be here and cover the story.’ I stood up.
Siraj stood up too and asked Shivdeep to escort me to the door.
‘This is a sensitive case and linked to national security.’ Siraj explained.
‘I totally understand…’
‘Please, this man could be a threat to our country and people,’ he requested me to leave ‘Let me, do my duty.’
I held the door from closing and leaned forward ‘You cannot stop me covering this story.’ he pushed me out and shut the door on my face.
I don’t agree with Siraj. Not everyone who looks suspicious is a terrorist. Specifically, a suspicious Muslim. We should not jump to conclusions. Assumptions can be a lot different from the actuality. As far as my interaction with Rahim. He is a normal person, who just wants to meet his wife. But also, I cannot ignore the facts and proofs provided by Siraj. I need to figure out a way to get the internal developments of this case. My brain will trouble me, until I find some logical solution to this mystery. I have very interesting case study after months. I will solve it for sure.
If I crack this story, it can be a front-page headline on ‘Times of Mumbai.’ As it is a sensitive topic, I need to get complete information and full case study from my end.
‘Man from an unknown land in search of his disappeared wife.’ I said to myself.
This will be the title of my next article. I have to dig deeper for facts. Who is this man? What is he up to? Where is he actually from? Does Runisia exist? Can I believe him? Many questions, none I have answer for? I have only one person to ask these questions.
My only lead ‘Aditi Sharma, his wife.’
I collected my passport from the airport authority, got out immediately; got inside a stationed taxi and reached my home as quickly as possible. I called up Harish Daroja, Editorial Head, Times of Mumbai.
‘Boss, we have a breaking news!’
Chapter III
The next day…
All my contacts are useless. They are unable to trace a single person, even provided with name and incident. Harish also gave a go ahead to cover the story. I cannot step back at this moment. I need to find her at any cost.
Wait a second.
Ashok can help me. He is a Cardiologist at Fortis Hospital. He can quickly get me the details of patients admitted into hospitals around Opera House. But, will he help me? After our messy past. I don’t want to complicate
