Chapter 3
Two hours later, they met in the office to start with the initial brief of the crime.
Riya stood up and started speaking. "Vishakha Malik, the victim, hails from Shimla and is 24 years of age. She has been working with Suruchi Design House which designs for events and interiors for around 3 years, her first job, which she got through a friend's reference. She moved out of her parents' place when she joined and bought this house a year ago on a loan. Her EMI payments have been regular. She has been much appreciated for her work in her office, earning her out of turn promotions and increments."
"So if it is a murder, it can be jealousy." Sree quipped in.
"Yes. She is known to be quite professional and sociable. Her friends from the workplace were quite moved when we informed them of her death but I don't think any of them were very close to her as they had no idea about her immediate plans. There is also one strange thing- none of the people from her office have ever been to her house. I find this fact to be very strange because house parties are very common among the folks she hangs out with and her house is impeccably maintained to the highest standards possible in her income group."
"That could also be because of the fact that her house is quite far from her workplace in a strictly residential colony. Why would anyone travel 2 hours just for a house party?" Chotu mused.
"I think we should question the guard about the visitors and search the house well. It is possible that she was hiding something." Arjun concluded and looked around to meet approving glances.
"Vishakha has a younger sister named Nalini who resides in a hostel and is pursuing engineering. Nalini The hostel is at the periphery of the city and she is coming to meet her as we speak. is 4 years younger to Vishakha. From the maid, I have come to know that the sisters met every weekend. Vishakha sometimes invited Nalini for meals but they usually spent their time shopping and checking out the city. Vishakha also had a boyfriend who is currently out of town but will report to the police station first thing tomorrow. His name is Rajan Shekhawat and he works for an event management company which is a regular client of Suruchi Designs. According to her friends, they have been in a relationship since a year. That's all I have right now. Vishakha's parents are leaving for Mumbai now and are expected to arrive sometime tomorrow."
"I am going to check her computer now. Photographs of the crime scene are here." Sree said waving a packet.
Arjun got up from where he was sitting and walked around the table to address the team.
"I looked around the house but it seems we need to search more thoroughly. From what I have observed, the following things strike me as odd. Somebody, please make notes of this. First of all, Vaishakhi consumes alcohol and sleeping pills in her bedroom and walks to the kitchen, collides with the counter, breaks a crystal glass, falls and dies. This is odd behavior as you wouldn't really get up from your bed if you know that you will fall."
"Suicide by taking sedatives can be interpreted as a sign of depression. A depressed person is often fatigued and seeks "peace" by committing suicide which is why most of them do it while lying down on their bed or in a Jacuzzi. So, yes, this is odd behavior." Riya contributed.
"Secondly, I could not find any opened alcohol bottle in the house and the glass she used didn't have the insoluble remains of the pills she must have dissolved in it even though forensics indicate that its laced with sleeping pills. I am waiting for a more detailed report, but for now from what I see, somebody spiked the bottle and gave it to her."
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