Source: www.jewelgleam.com |
Wednesday dawned bright and early. Anand was already up and ready by the time everyone came down for breakfast. By then the word had spread and the entire family knew that Anand would be looking into the theft. Every single member of the household except Manav, the twins and Daadiji looked uncomfortable. Each person ate their breakfast silently, while Geeta nervously served them. Anand spent the entire meal observing everyone at the table, but was not at all surprised by the discomfort he saw around him.
He had already
visited Devendra and Geeta’s room before breakfast to check the drawer in which
the necklace has been kept. The drawer had no lock attached to it. With an
embarrassed look on his face, Devendra had said that he had intended to move it
to the locker. There were no other signs of a break in. Nothing around the
drawer or inside the drawer had been disturbed. Glancing around, Anand had seen
things which would not have been visible to others. Anyone else would have seen
the room to be normal, but the slight separation of the beds, cupboards that
otherwise were positioned together, now spaced apart and the separation of
hooks to hang their clothes, told Anand that things were not going fine between
Devendra and Geeta. Keeping this knowledge to himself, he had joined the rest
for breakfast.
After what
seemed like ages, breakfast ended and everyone hurriedly begun to leave.
“Belaji” Anand
called out, making Bela freeze in her tracks.
“Err… yes,
yes Anandji?” Bela turned around and looked at him.
“Do you mind if we speak for a few minutes? Just
wanted to check with you on something” and he
walked towards his room.
Left with no
option, Bela followed him.
She was a
beautiful woman with extremely elegant features. Her hair tresses fell unto her
waist and today they was adorned with a red rose. Anand took in every minute
detail he could of her. She was the only person in the house he had never met
before.
“Belaji, sorry to take your time, but I need to know a
few things. Who do you think stole the necklace?”
Bela was shocked
by the directness in Anand’s question. She hadn't seen it coming. Quickly she
gathered herself and said “Anandji, I
know you won’t like this, because she is your sister. But I think Geeta has
taken it” she looked at him, hoping that she had managed to unnerve him as
much as he had her.
But Anand had
been expecting this. The line of questioning he had adopted was to help him
make the best of the limited time he had. The shock he had seen all over Bela’s
face was normal, and so was her response. He knew she would allude to her
relationship with Devendra, sooner than later.
“Why do you think that is? Wasn't it meant for her?” He leaned forward and asked.
“Well, you are the detective here, why don’t you find
out?” Said Bela with a smug look on her face.
Anand looked at
her intently, unable to decipher the look. Finally he shrugged
his shoulders and said
“I don’t think I have any further questions, you may
leave”
Surprised that she had managed to get away so easily, Bela got up and began to
leave.
“Why have you not married till now Belaji?” the question made her turn around and snap “that’s none of your business. Don’t poke your nose into things that
don’t matter to you. If Dev-“she gasped at the slip of her tongue and ran
away.
It had been a
satisfactory meeting as far as Anand was concerned.
“A cup of tea is what I need before I speak to Champaji and Ajeeetji” he thought. Just about to leave
the room, he was surprised when Bhaanu barged in.
“Saab, I know
you must think I did it. But trust me Saab I did not. You can come to my room
and check if you wish. I don’t like this house but I stay on for the
sake of Geeta Didi and Daadiji. I would never do anything to hurt them. Saab,
please believe me” and she fell at his feet, crying
rivers of tears.
“Its ok Bhaanu, don’t you worry, I know you have
nothing to do with it” he consoled her till she had
quietened down. He knew she had too much at stake with this family; she
wouldn't have taken the risk.
“Now will you make me a nice cup of tea? I need to
find out who the real thief is” he smiled at her
and then followed her to the dining room.
In the dining area,
he found Manav. “Mama, can I help you please? This is so exciting, I have
always wanted to be a part of your adventures” he said.
“No beta,
this involves your family members. I wouldn't want you to get involved” Anand did his best to convince Manav.
Finally Manav
gave in but said “I can help you with
information. I have been observing people around here, trying to follow in your
footsteps to become a detective one day”
Knowing this was the best way to keep Manav away, Anand agreed and asked him to tell
him all that he knew. Manav opened up and let out all the secrets he had kept
all these years- How Ajeet Chacha manipulated in the business and how
Champa Chachi disliked his Ma. That Papa was very rude to Ma and she took care
Ekta and Gowri.
There was
nothing new in this information, but that Manav had an idea about the darker side of his family troubled Anand.
“Well, that’s a problem to be tackled
on a different day” he thought, telling Manav that he had helped him a lot
more than the child could imagine.
Now, he had to approach
Champa. He knew she would be in her room; she rarely ventured into
the kitchen or to do any household work. The door was open when he got to Ajeet
and Champa’s room. The biggest room in the house, he thought his single bedroom
flat could fit into it entirely.
“Champa Didi,
can I speak to you for a minute?” he asked politely
knowing how brash she could be.
“Hey bhagwan! How dare you enter my room when I am alone?
Thankfully Ajeet is in the bathroom. Once he is out you can speak to both of us.
I will not speak to you alone!” she turned her back
before Anand could react.
He didn't have
to wait long. A minute or two had passed by, when Ajeet emerged out of the
bathroom, all ready to leave for their shop.
“What is it Anand? Have you come to speak about the
necklace? Please sit down, ask what you want.”
Ajeet seemed more than ready to help him out.
“Just a few
questions Ajeetji and then I won’t trouble you. Can you tell me if you have any
idea who could have stolen this necklace?” Asked
Anand, with his eyes focused on Champa.
“Frankly, I wouldn't know. Champa do you have any clue?” Ajeet
looked very confused.
“Me! How
would I know? Yes, I did want it, but I had already asked the Jeweler to get
another made exactly like it for me. In fact I had chosen the colours for the
embellishments to be done as well. You should ask Bhaanu, greed must have taken
over her! Or who knows, Geeta would have misplaced it. Dimwit that she is!” scorned Champa forgetting for the moment that Anand was Geeta’s
brother.
Knowing that he
couldn't get any more information from them, Anand thanked them and excused
himself. Moment he was in his room, he called the jeweler to confirm Champa’s
story. Yes, she had called and already booked a similar necklace. This piece of
news put her and Ajeet in the clear.
The list now
narrowed down, Anand went out looking for Devendra, who he found lounging
outside in the garden.
“Jijaji, can
I speak to you?” he asked, settling himself down in
the garden chair next to Devendra.
“Do I have
the option of saying no? “He muttered and continued
“before you ask anything, let me tell you, I had nothing to do with this. I
kept the necklace in the drawer, you see I was meaning to give it to Geeta
later in the night” he avoided looking at Anand as he spoke.
“I have nothing else to say"
Devendra gave him an imploring look and walked
back towards the house.
The talk with
Devendra had left Anand confused. He sat back mulling over his conversations
since morning. Not a single suspect had shown clear motive, yet the necklace
had gone missing. Going by Devendra's reluctance to speak to him, it seemed as if he had something to hide. Could he have hidden the necklace on purpose? If he had wanted to give it to Bela, wasn't a theft the perfect cover? He continued sitting in the garden, watching the birds chirp
and the bees suckle onto the flowers until he was called for lunch.
Lunch was a
quick affair with everyone preferring to have it in their own rooms. It was as
if each person wanted to avoid the other. Anand knew that this was the best
time to speak to his sister, with no one but the walls to give them company.
“Geeta is there anything you are not telling me?” he asked when she was done clearing the table.
Heaving a sigh,
she sat next to him and said “Bhaiyya,
you don’t believe that I could have done this do you?”
“No, the
necklace was meant for you, why would you steal it?”
he asked, nervously looking at her face.
“Well, I haven't done it but the necklace… well it wasn't meant for me now was it? By now, you and I both know who it was meant
for. She got up and began to walk away but not before a
tear had trickled down and fallen on Anand’s hand.
Suddenly she turned around and asked "Do you really believe it is stolen?”
Suddenly she turned around and asked "Do you really believe it is stolen?”
Read the conclusion here
Correction: Ajeet and Champa have been referred to as Manav's Chacha and Chachi when in essence they should be referred to as his Tau and Tayi resp.. Despite the realization I have decided to leave the addressal as it was to ensure consistency and not confuse the reader.
ooh!! Poor Geeta! she is such trauma!! :-/
ReplyDeleteI wonder what happens next..
oops! she is facing** such trauma!
DeleteYeah and I am sure there are women like Geeta who undergo such trauma... :(
DeleteThe story progresses nicely, waiting to see how it all ends.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachna.. this one is rather simple :)
DeleteOoh just got more interesting......Nicely done Seeta....waiting for the conclusion. :)
ReplyDeleteTomorrow, I promise :)
DeleteThe beauty about the ability to review an already written story is that we can often adapt it subtly as we see fit. I see changes and changes are good. Suddenly, I am no longer sure if the person I thought was the culprit, is the culprit anymore. Interesting twist, Seets
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely *nodding her head vigorously*. Glad you felt that.. because that was precisely the idea :)
DeleteI feel really bad for Geeta .. What a life!
ReplyDeleteThis is proving to be an interesting read Seeta. In fact, I sat down to refresh my blogger dashboard expecting to see the next part :)
True Aarthy, that is not a life anyone should lead :( Wow... that really made me feel good, you made my day :)
DeleteVery nice build up !
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the weekend because your interesting story is going to conclude :).
Done today.. hope your weekend will turn out good. Mine is considering that you commented on my blog after so long ;-)
DeleteCuriouser and curiouser, as Alice would say :)
ReplyDeleteThis was a rather simple one Suresh.. once you read the final part I am sure you will agree :)
Deleteit gets more and more interesting !
ReplyDeleteThe final part is up, hope it sustained the interest :)
DeleteIt is getting more and more interesting with every part ... I'm still not sure who I think is the thief... :)
ReplyDeleteRandom Thoughts Naba - It's her decision!...
Now you will, Part 4 is up!
DeleteWaiting for the conclusion....I am liking this Manav kid a lot :)
ReplyDeleteHa Ha Beloo, now I wonder why you said that?? :P
Deletehmm..the focus seems to be on Devendra..but I don't think so..come on, this suspense is killing...is it Daadiji???
ReplyDeleteSo who do you think it is?? Final part is up!
DeleteSeeta, you have put in a lot of thought behind this Whodunnit. Not many can dabble in this genre. The concluding part should wrap things up.
ReplyDeleteNot really Alka, I keep thinking I kept it too simple... trying to experiment with different Genre's of Fiction, that is the best way to learn I guess :)
Deletei did say i dont have patience .. hence going to conclusion part :) before i write anything about the Geeta or manav..
ReplyDelete