Write: Kaalan
Chapter 5: Love and Fury
As Pradap wondered, at times we also wonder about the world we know and we are living in, which suddenly turns upside down and we have been fooled to believe that everything around us is normal. There may be pages stuck together in a notebook and we skip it unknowingly. Once we use the notebook beyond those pages and come to know about jammed pages, it is just useless papers and we end up accepting it by striking it across. Love and fury is something similar to that, we may skip the slow development of it but there will be a day we realize it has grown too far and all we can do is accept it and strike it across.
June 27, 2008
A day with a lot of surprises awaiting.
Mr. Senthil (Divya’s father) and Raghu were under Radar of Dhana’s team. Pradap comes to know that the entire guy is faking around him, Raghu suffers from a hangover without realizing he has broken the secrets of Bhuvana but Bhuvana was expecting news that Raghu got arrested.
Dhana had a meeting with the Chennai police commissioner. Commissioner was so happy that nothing happened yesterday and strongly believed that the heavy patrol idea is working out. Dhana earned goodwill from entire higher officials.
Pradap has seen his mobile which had three missed calls from Durga. He sent a text message that he missed the calls as he was boozing with Raghu. Meanwhile Pradap made ginger tea which is a quick remedy for hangovers. Once Raghu was out of hangover, He questioned Pradap about last night as he couldn’t recollect it.
Pradap understood that Bhuvana pulled in Raghu’s theory and communicated the same with Durga to deviate police behind Raghu so that they will not dig more on Sundeep history and find out about Bhuvana’s connection with him.
Pradap hid that Raghu was sharing about Sundeep and Bhuvana also Pradap doesn’t want to reveal anything and lose them though they are not honest with him.
Pradap was a lonely kid grown up in residential school at ooty. His parents were abroad so they are able to visit him only once in a year which made him lonelier, all he loved is his friends as because he doesn’t even know how the parenting will be. Since his world is friends and friends only. He has many friends, but Sundeep’s gang is his close one. As legends say, a lone wolf is stronger and more dangerous than the wolf in a pack. Pradap had a maturity that loneliness was going to bring him the dark side so he always maintained to avoid loneliness.
Pradap got a call from Durga. “Hello, good morning cop” Pradap said with a bright voice as he pretended to be normal.
“I have really emergency and important news to tell you, please don’t tell any of your friends and meet me at 1 and where we met yesterday” Durga said and disconnected.
Ramesh and Ganesh spent the entire night in Dhana’s office because spying on Raghu and Senthil was interesting like in Bond movies. With darkened eye circles and dried up lips Ganesh and Ramesh were having their 10th tea from last night.
“Guys, what happened” Dhana exclaimed when he entered and saw them like hippies.
“Sir, we have good directions on both Raghu and Senthil” Ramesh said.
“That’s interesting, go ahead” Dhana said.
Ganesh turned towards the case board they usually maintain. There is an hourly timeline as columns and places as rows. It looks like a tabular form. Ganesh started his theory about Raghu…
Let’s take Raghu first; he said he was in Erode at the night of Sundeep’s murder. I have called Erode police to check whether any case filed on the same day. They have said there was a homicide that happened near Pallipalayam and that is where exactly Raghu said he got changed into a car from a truck. There were truck tire marks found near the crime scene. Later in Chennai you have seen him on the day of triple attack. First one was a homicide near Kamala theatre, which is where we found Raghu’s fingerprints. Autopsy report said that the murder has been taken place in between 1 AM to 1.30 AM. You have seen him at 2.30 to 2.40 again, second attack happened at 2.20 in Vadapalani bus stop as per report, ten minutes is walkable distance from Vadapalani to the place where you saw him. Third attack is at 3.30 A.M in porur, which is drivable in 30 minutes from Sundeep’s apartment by bike plus he has said to you that he will be travelling by bike but there is no proof for Raghu’s presence there. Everything points towards Raghu except Sundeep’s murder. We are yet to check with his office. Raghu used to call and message a number very frequently which was finally switched off near Erode. Ganesh finished his report and felt proud by himself as if he closed the entire case.
Ramesh started on Senthil’s story board. Senthil is a great human in his native, he doesn’t have history in police stations nor his family members. On the day of Sundeep’s death he made a call to a number. We found the number belongs to goon named as Karupu in his native. Karupu is a blooming politician and real estate person. He has police history on assault cases and attempt murder cases. We have asked Senthil’s native police to investigate him. We may get a call in an hour. Ramesh finished his part.
Dhana lost into deep thinking, after a few minutes, the room’s door burst opened by Durga.
“Have you guys seen newspaper” Durga said
“Another killed?” Ramesh asked
“No, there is an article about a Serial killer at Chennai” Durga said and tossed the newspaper into desk.
By the time Dhana came back to consciousness and read the newspaper about the serial killer theory and it matches the theory of Raghu. One thing missing in the newspaper is Raghu’s name and Erode incident.
This news is going to bring more concern in Chennai people’s minds and pressure to us. It has been recorded last night that average people travel at night has been reduced drastically.
Noon 1AM of June 27, 2008.
Dhana went with one of the constables to Raghu’s home as Ganesh and Ramesh went to take rest.
Durga was having lunch with Pradap. She spoke about Raghu’s theory fully as she personally learnt from Ganesh at office.
“I want you to be careful, Raghu is in a bad position now” Durga said.
“He is my friend, he is no harm” Pradap said
“Bhuvana also Raghu’s friend but she has a doubt on him” Durga said
“They might have or had some friction which made her do so” Pradap said and maintained the secret.
Meanwhile she got a call from police station
“Madam, we received a call from Raghu’s office and they said he is no more employed there, they fired him last week itself as he fought with the manager and gave a fist it seems.” Policeman said and disconnected.
Durga immediately called to Dhana, her speed and surprise expressions made Pradap bit panic.
***
“He is not picking the call! what he is doing” Durga started murmuring.
“What” Pradap asked after a few hesitations to try to interrupt her.
“Do you know Raghu is unemployed” Durga asked.
“What, seriously” Pradap adopts Durga’s seriousness.
She kept dialing Dhana, after a few more attempts Dhana picked up.
“I have something important” Dhana said
“Stole my words” Durga replied
“Raghu is not in home, he flee” Dhana said
“Don’t think he is in office, he got fired last week” Durga said.
“Oh dear god, okay, Meet at office” Dhana said and disconnected.
“Your friend is in trouble, when you find him or if he contacts you, ask him to come to the police station else he will be arrested wherever he found” Durga said angrily and left the place.
Pradap on one side and Dhana on another side kept tiring Raghu’s mobile, it was switched off.
At evening 4 PM
Ramesh received a call from Nanjilpatti, who is Senthil’s native. Ramesh noted down all the details have been informed over the phone and disconnected the call.
“Sir, Karupu was in Chennai on the day of Sundeep’s murder. Nanjilpatti police made an offline investigation and found that he came to Chennai in a car. He is still in Chennai” Ramesh said.
Dhana immediately rushed to the Bolero, Ramesh and Ganesh followed without any question when Durga was puzzled what to do. Dhana kept driving towards Sundeep’s house with a rough face. There was a silence till they reached Sundeep’s house.
“Hello sir” Divya said
“Where is your father” Dhana asked.
“He is resting in one of the bedrooms” Divya said
Meanwhile Mr. Somasundaram Sundeep’s father reached the doorstep.
“What happened sir” Somu asked
“I want Mr. Senthil, right now” Dhana raised his tone, usually it won’t happen.
Divya brought her father to the hall where Dhana was eagerly shaking his legs and waiting for Mr. Senthil.
“What happened sir” Mr. Senthil asked in a casual tone.
“Do you want to tell here or in the police station” Dhana asked.
“Police station” Mr. Senthil said and bowed his head down out of shame.
Divya’s jaw dropped in shock as well as her in-laws. “Shame on you Dad” Divya said and cried out loud on her mother in law’s shoulder. Sundeep’s parents were more worried as they lost their son and Senthil is a suspect now.
“Yes, I did it” Mr. Senthil started confessing
“I was so angry that my daughter loved another caste guy and she had no regret or guilt saying that. She was very stubborn to marry him irrespective of threats I have given to her and the beatings she got from me. She still wants him.” Senthil gave a break and sipped a glass of water.
“I made a plan to kill Sundeep after marriage so that I can convince Divya for a second marriage” Senthil sounded horrifying.
“I arranged to execute him before their honeymoon so that no one will question her virginity” Senthil said.
“So who helped you since you have alibi at Sundeep’s house when homicide happened?” Dhana asked
“My caste doesn’t have backstabbers” Senthil said with pride which means he is not going to reveal the person who helped him.
“Don’t have brains also it seems, we tracked Karupu. He called from Chennai to his darling – illegal wife at the time of murder happened” Dhana said.
Senthil dragged to a lockup, on the other side Divya and her in-laws were devastated hearing all these.
Pradap was calling to Raghu from noon, he never gave up on him and he so badly wanted to save Raghu from serious troubles. At last the line was connected late evening.
“Hey, what’s up dude” Raghu said. He sounded cool as if he doesn’t know what is happening around him.
“Dhana sir was searching for you, where are you, it is an emergency” Pradap said.
“Oh is it, I am in Salem I have an urgent work here, can I come at morning” Raghu said
“Let me check with Dhana, give me a second” Pradap said and disconnected. Pradap immediately called Dhana and checked with him. Dhana said it is fine if he is reachable over the phone as Dhana doesn’t want to scare Raghu and lose him. Also mentioned if his mobile goes off we won’t wait and we will alert the entire route from Salem to Chennai.
“Dhana sir said okay, you have to be here by tomorrow and your mobile should not be switched off” Pradap said.
Raghu disconnected the call when he crossed a famous theatre in Salem junction where Rekha was enjoying the movie. She is a movie buff and she felt a different world inside these four walls. A man came and sat next to her, she realized it very soon as the master figure moved towards her. She thought for quick business, she then focused on attempts of seducing him. She maintained eye contact with him often, then she smiled at him and he did so. She slowly slides her hand towards his lower abdomen and places her cold soft hand on him. He was surprised and turned towards her. She whispered into his ears that rupees hundred for a quick tug of war. She smiled and winked at him. He immediately took a hundred and gave it to her. She moved her hand further down in the loosened lengthen and he relaxed his back in the theatre seat and his legs started to get stiff with the pleasure he was receiving.
After a few hours the movie ended and the pleasure too with earning a few hundreds more. Rekha then reached a motel that was a usual place for her to pick up a customer. She takes the customer to another motel near Aiveli and she returns with another customer to Salem. Each ride is forty-five minutes, so she takes three round trips in a night. Mostly she tries to finish it off soon. She knows men and their desires well, her expertise helped her to let them complete soon with satisfaction. If she likes them, she let them do it till Aiveli.
“Hey dude, have you heard about Rekha” one of the truck drivers asked another truck driver who had a tall structure with a stiff face and large mustache on it.
“No, who is she?” a mustache truck driver asked.
“She is famous here. She is nailing the job it seems” another truck driver said and winked.
“Bro can you drop me in Erode” Raghu interrupted the talk. When the driver turned towards Raghu, He immediately recognized it was him who helped last time to reach Salem.
“Hey you, this time also you are going to drive, that was a very good break for me” Mustache guy asked.
“If you wish, yes” Raghu said.
Next day morning, Aiveli police station received a call that there was a woman found dead in the bushes near the bridge.