‘He had his meal last night, after we reached the hotel. Airport authorities have thoroughly checked his suitcase and returned to him.’ Officer Shivdeep explained.
‘How did he escape?’ I asked.
‘We were given a connecting room. There is no other exit from the room. He needs to enter our room to escape.’
‘Then how the hell did he escape?’ Siraj screaming at his officers, while Ashok is back from the basement.
‘Few minutes ago, we entered his room, and he is nowhere to be found. We have no clue how he vanished from the room, last night he was snoring like an animal while sleeping.’
Siraj was gawking them with a red face ‘Did you both had a drink last night?’
Shaking their heads ‘No, Sir.’ Both the officers, showing us the way to the room.
Aditi and me are following Siraj to the hotel room, while Ashok caught hold of me, pressed his palm against my hand and pulled me out
‘You are hurting me Ashok.’
‘What is going on Meghana? What is this about Rahim, police and terrorist?’
‘Ashok, I’ll explain everything once we are out.’ I assured.
‘You are still the same, no matter how many times I warn you.’
‘That is the problem Ashok, you always tell me what I have to do rather taking a stand with my decisions’ I thought he changed, but he hasn’t still. He didn’t utter anything after.
‘Now leave my hand.’ He releases his grip and both of us followed Siraj towards the room.
We entered the room escorted by the officers, past the silvery perfect vase, grey beaded suitcase left exposed with crumpled clothes, suits and full sleeved shirts scattered all over the floor. I followed gushing sound near the washroom, where the tap left open water flowering the basin and fudging sounds. It has patches of tiny blood splatters near the carpet that placed beneath. Nothing else is disturbed in the room. As officers informed, there is no way out, it closed from all ends, not even a window in the room. The small window in the bathroom is also undisturbed. As I was staring at the small window.
‘He could have escaped from that window for sure.’ Shivdeep trying to solve the mystery. As I was about to reply.
Siraj hammers his head, ‘Dumbass, he cannot even fit in that window. Even if he somehow fits, he would die if he jumps from there, we are on the eighth floor,’
‘Meghana, I have found something.’ Aditi in her trembling voice.
We immediately ran back to her, Aditi was reading the letter in an odd, upright hand and signed by the name Rahim Razak.
I don’t belong to this place and I’ve accidentally landed on this sphere far away from the domicile I belong. Packing memories along, I have setback on a journey to discover a way to travel back to my country. I have no idea, how? But I need to leave this place and your world. I am a husband who has come here to meet his beautiful wife whom I’ll guess will never find again, if I’m stuck here. I assume, people at your department would never believe my perception behind the truth and existence of my country Runisia. I have no intention to hurt anyone. I’m returning back. Please do not search for me or my identity and make my journey problematic. Hope we never meet again.
Rahim Razak from Runisia
Those words hung heavily in the air. Baffling our thoughts about him. This gave me a hint, that he may be telling the truth. It was a torn page, from a diary. This note has puzzled each one of us, the mystery behind his identity, existence of Country Runisia and his shadowy escape from hotel room. Everything about him, has become a mystery. Did he just vanish into thin air? What did he mean by “Accidentally landed on this sphere?” My brain is going haywire with thoughts racing my nerves, stomping on each other, breaching my head. I need a break now. Siraj is collecting all the evidences from the scene. But when we were about to leave the room. He stopped us. He has an eye on everyone.
‘One minute,’ he looked at me ‘Aditi has to come with us.’
Aditi slipped her hands into mine ‘She didn’t do anything.’ I answered.
‘I understand, she is wife of Rahim. He mentioned her in the note. We cannot let her leave.’
‘Siraj, I capture what are you trying to say. She got discharged today and doesn’t have any idea what Rahim is up to.’
‘Mam, I get that, we are not arresting her. We just need to ask her some questions and also safeguard her. Rahim could be a threat to her as well.’ Siraj insisted
‘I understand your concern, let us do one thing, she’ll be with me for today. I can get her to you for rest of the formalities.’
‘How can we trust you? Madam?’
‘I was the one, who bought her here. I cannot push her into this trouble now. Trust me, and don’t forget. I’m a journalist and I’m not running anywhere any soon. I’m in complete support with your police department.’
‘At least allow me to send two officers along with you for protection.’ he toned down
‘Sorry, Siraj. Please don’t mind,’ I turned to him ‘I’ll call you if anything is needed.’
Siraj left us. Even though he acted like believing us. He still suspects us at some level.
*****
Ashok stayed back. He drives us back home. It was already six in the evening. Street lights flickering on, cars in a long row, honking at each other. He shifts the gear, as amber changed to green. Two hours of long journey. Aditi fell asleep on my lap. I am all drained too. Until yesterday everything was flat, but from the moment I met Rahim. Everything around is rushing to a void, as if we were trapped with an unending maze with no answers. Last twenty-four hours has been tiring.
