Synopsis and Character Sketch
When a mysterious and puzzling crime is reported from the residence of politically powerful, wealthy and socially renowned Maheshwari family; it sends ripples of shock and disquiet through the corridors of power. None remain unaffected---whether it be the Union and State Governments, or the worlds of business and high finance.
This sets the stage for a request by the State Government that the enquiry be entrusted to the CBI---they would not like to get embroiled through the Police, which is under the State's jurisdiction. This is an issue which has all the potential to snowball into a crisis, that might bring down the Government itself, they fear. The Maheshwari family is powerfully connected after all, and are the prime leaders in a party which has given outside support to the ruling party in the State Legislature.
The CBI, nudged by a jittery Union Government (which is also desirous of retaining the support, if not the alliance, of the MPs belonging to the Party controlled by the Maheshwaris), entrusts the case to two of its sharpest officers, who have earned their stripes in a relatively short period. Swara Bose and Sahil Sengupta.
Of the two, it is Swara who is reputed to be the true genius---one who has an almost preternatural 'feel' for deciphering clues from a crime scene. However negligible and confusing these might be. Few are able to understand the methodical, highly efficient way she goes about cracking cases, much to the awe of her peers; and even her superiors, jaded as they are by years of investigating crimes. It is as if she is able to put herself in the criminal's shoes, to second guess and understand their motives. Swara normally does not like to talk about her investigative methods, she is discreet and effective, letting her work talk for itself rather than try to claim fame through braggadocio and bombast. But to close friends, she has confided that the process is exhausting, sometimes even traumatic. For to crack a case, she has to literally try to think like the criminal. To set her mind working on the probable motivating factors, emotions and thoughts of perpetrators who are often without conscience, without mercy, without empathy. A tough job indeed, for one who is innately warm, sunny and giving. But Swara loves her job. It is more than a job or a career for her, it is a calling. An incident which happened to someone she loved dearly, when Swara herself was but a girl; had instilled in her a burning desire to make the world a better place. To ensure that on her watch, as far as possible, good and light would indeed triumph over evil and darkness.
Considering the political ramifications of this sensitive case, the CBI Director had asked Swara and Sahil to do their utmost to crack the case within the shortest possible time. And Swara had promised him that she would do her best----not because of the ramifications of the case which was even then, sending shock waves through both the Central and State Governments. But because she could not countenance the fact that a victim should go unavenged, that a perpetrator of such a crime should remain at large.
What Swara would not, could not, and did not ever imagine, even in her wildest dreams; was that she would find herself developing such immensely strong feelings, for one of the prime suspects in the case...
Sanskaar Singh Kachwaha----SK to his close friends and regiment buddies. Or to use his Army CO Rank---Major Sanskaar Singh Kachwaha. He had been just a year ago, promoted from Captain to Major in the Rajputana Rifles Regiment, upon completion of a glorious, meritorious 6 years of commissioned service. And then had come the battle with armed intruders, with Major Sanskaar entrusted with leading his battalion on a reconnaissance mission along the disputed, hostile and high altitude Indo--China border. Under his commanding and inspiring leadership, his battalion had stood their ground against an invading force of the PLA, of far superior numbers. But Major Sanskaar's battalion had held their nerve, refusing to relinquish their posts despite tremendous odds. For his supreme acts of valor, Major Sanskaar had been awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest military decoration. Awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.
But it had come at a price. The shells and grenades lobbed by the invading troops had inflicted lacerating wounds on his right leg, fracturing the shin and knee bones at several points. The Army doctors had held out hope that considering the supremely fit state of Major Sanskaar's health and physique; his well known qualities of fortitude, endurance and iron will, he would ultimately be able to recover between 75% to 85% functionality in his injured leg. It would take months of physiotherapy and often painful exercises, but it could be done. Major Sanskaar, was of course determined that this would indeed be so. In fact, he approached the whole situation with a calm equanimity and even a wry, self deprecating wit which was typical of this gallant man. But while his superiors, peers and subordinates in his Regiment and indeed, the Indian Army at large, fervently wished to see him back in action again; the rules of the Army were clear. Even with a prospective 75% to 85% return to full physical functionality in his leg, the Major could not hope to return to active duty on the frontlines again.
He had had to retire from the Army, an honorable retirement with much of the Army top brass in attendance. They had warmly and emotionally bid farewell and success in his future life; to the young man who had brought prestige to this Disciplined Force, with his immense dedication and courage. It was while the topic of what he planned to do in the future was being discussed, that two of his superiors informed him about a potential career opening as Chief Secretary-cum-Aide de Camp of Durga Prasad Maheshwari, MLA and leader of one of the largest political parties in the State. Indeed, one which had a significant presence in the Lok Sabha as well. Both the Lieutenant Colonel and the Brigadier in Major Sanskaar's chain of command, knew Durga Prasad personally. And considering that the MLA was looking for a highly capable man who would be able to organize his affairs with near military zeal, they had felt that Sanskaar was the best man for the job.
Major Sanskaar had, after making some enquiries and also having met Durga Prasad in person, agreed to take up the job. And he had looked forward to bringing order and his customary superb efficiency, to how the leader of the party organized and conducted its affairs. He would never have expected the events which unfolded around him; unexpected occurrences and puzzling behaviors which would enmesh him in the labyrinths of a murder investigation.
Durga Prasad Maheshwari----Scion of the Politically and Socially prominent Maheshwari Clan. Hailing from the principalities of Barmer and Nagaur in Marwar, his ancestors had had the courage and the vision to migrate eastwards to Bengal, then the glittering and prosperous centre of the British Raj. Setting up prosperous businesses, providing luxurious merchandise as well as loans to leverage their growth further; the Maheshwaris had become close allies of the then Ruling dynasty of the Koch Behar State. Durga Prasad's great-great grandfather, his great grandfather and his grandfather too, had been Dewans to the successive Maharajas of the State---starting from the reign of Nripendra Narayan, and continuing through the successive reigns of Jitendra Narayan and Jagaddipendra Narayan.
Jagaddipendra Narayan had, under the advice of his Council of Ministers headed by his Dewan, acceded his state to the newly formed Dominion of India in 1947, and ceded full ruling powers to the Government of India on 12 September 1949. Durga Prasad's grandfather had then entered active politics in the newly Independent India, running successfully for Parliament for several terms. He had later become Chief Minister of the State, albeit for a brief period. Durga Prasad's father had also been active in politics, but he had been a venal, grasping man, lacking the foresight and patriotism of his forbears. He had flitted in and out of a few subordinate ministries, retaining his foothold in politics and his family's social prominence, but not coming close to the actual seat of power. All that looked to change with Durga Prasad, however----a man who embodied the charisma and determination of his Grandfather and the generations preceding him. His party had grown steadily in strength and influence under his capable, steady leadership; and was now lending outside support to the Governing coalition in the State. His MPs in Parliament were officially neutral between the ruling Union Government and the Opposition, and hence assiduously cultivated by both! They did, however, vote with the Government on most matters of economic reform---one more reason why the Central Government was almost as jittery as the State Government at the scandal which now threatened to envelop the Maheshwaris.
Durga Prasad's son, Lakshya Durga Prasad Maheshwari, after years of near-complete absence from the political arena, had recently become active in the party's youth wing. He had been elected General Secretary in the Party hierarchy unanimously, but lingering doubts remained as to his mettle and capacity to inspire and lead. Was he like his formidable father, great grandfather and generations preceding? Or was he more like his less-than-illustrious grandfather? That was a question which most people could not conclusively decide yet, one way or the other.
All except for one. Ragini Lakshya Maheshwari. Daughter of Janki and Shekar Gadodia of the elite Gadodia clan---one of the Maheshwaris' close family friends and allies, both in business and in politics. She and Lakshya had known each other, not too well, but as casual acquaintances; when they were children. And then he had been sent abroad for his studies, she herself had gone to Delhi to complete her graduation and post graduation; and in the interim, they had completely lost sight of each other. Out of sight, in this case, had indeed been out of mind. Till the day they had met again, at the wedding of a mutual friend. Lakshya had been extremely taken with the bewitchingly lovely, willowy and statuesque Ragini all right. But that was nothing compared to the sheer fascination and devotion which he, for some reason, had inspired in the sublimely beautiful Ragini. He might have been satisfied with a casual fling, a short term relationship of mutual convenience with no strings attached. And to do him credit, he had never tried to reel Ragini in at that time, with false promises. But he had reckoned without Ragini's will and force of character. With a single minded purposefulness which was matched only by her intense, deep adoration for Lakshya, she had succeeded in coaxing him into matrimony. And that too, by making him feel that he wanted to marry her, needed to have her by his side always. Their recent marriage had been the toast of the city, the entire state and most of the country too, come to that. Ragini's wealthy and indulgent father had recreated the Palace of Schonbrunn as a setting for the wedding related functions; and to the bedazzled eyes of the guests, it had seemed the fairy tale start of a truly fairy tale marriage.
It did not take too long for the fairy tale to transmute into a nightmare of dread and consternation, however. When the family came under the cloud of maleficent crimes, the shadow of a cunning, vile and determined murderer. And as if the immense shock of the first murder was not enough----came a second. And then a third...
Was it a politically motivated crime? Committed to cast suspicion and dent the credibility of the Maheshwaris? Who could be involved in that case? Was Major Sanskaar Singh Kachwaha a plant, a dangerous weapon employed by the family's enemies? Or was there something more to the tale----Some grim secret which the killer was desperately trying to conceal?
Edited by Cogito_Ergo_Sum - 8 years ago
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