Hello Friends,
I am back now! A lot happened in last 2 months due to which I was unable to write any updates....illnesses, job stress, vacation, kid's school starting and birthday party. But now all thats over and although I am still down with terrible back pain, I still managed to complete this update. Its extra long to make up for all the delay. Thanks for ur patience! Loved all ur comments and feedback!
Ghost and Mrs Khanna……Part 17
They lived like two strangers in that cursed house. They shared the same space, breathed the same air, ate at the same table but there was an ice- cold silence, a wall of mistrust between them!
Kripa slept in the spare bedroom, although sleep was far away from her dry eyes. She tossed and turned all night, totured by visions of Angad and Mishti. Her heart wanted to believe in his innocence but her mind vetoed her feelings. The evidence was too strong, his reactions were too suspicious! The way he had counter-accused her of lying was shockingly painful to her. Bitter words had been exchanged, words she had never imagined would come between them!
Meanwhile Angad retreated into his singularly male domain. He slept in the main bedroom, working on his laptop till late at night. He returned home later than ever. He buried his nose in a book or the newspaper whenever she was around.
She ignored him and rejected his company with equal disdain.
Kripa served his meals in silence, every morning they shared a ride into town in silence. The silence between them was deafening.
Practically the only sound that could be heard in the old Victorian villa was the sound of crashing waves on the beach outside.
Even the ghost seemed to be hibernating. Or perhaps Abby's spirit was waiting silently for judgement day, the day of Brody's testimony!
**************************************************************
Kripa attended the hearing with Mrs. Reed. It was held at the District Court a few miles away, in the neighbouring town. Mrs Reed and Kripa took a cab to the courthouse and were greeted by a half a dozen news reporters outside the building.
All of them mobbed Kripa: Miss, Miss….is it true that Abby's ghost appears to you? What did she say?
Ma'am, can you tell us what the ghost looks like? How did she communicate with you?
Mrs. Reed tried to shield a visibly shaken Kripa from the volley of questions: Excuse me, folks! Mrs. Khanna is here merely to attend the hearing. She cannot answer any of your questions! Now would you please move, and let us pass…
Her stern look and biting words had little effect on the over zealous media who continued their assault: Mrs K, Mrs K (obviously Khanna was too difficult to pronounce): Mrs K, are you here to testify on behalf of the spirit? Did she tell you how she died? Did her husband kill her?
Kripa flinched and hid her face as a few flashbulbs went off. More reasons for Angad to be furious, more unwelcome publicity!
Fortunately, Officer Brian came out of the courtroom just at that moment. He shooed away the reporters and escorted the ladies safely inside the court room.
Kripa looked around and saw the large room was bustling with familiar faces from Bayside. They were all agog with curiosity at the trial, eager to know the truth about the mystery surrounding Abigail Wilson's death.
After all, Abby was the most famous resident ghost of their town.
Kripa and Mrs. Reed sat down in the front row, their hands clenched together in tense anticipation.
The Judge stepped up to his lofty perch and summoned the court to order. The DA presented the outline of the Wilson case, explaining there was reason to believe that there was foul play involved as new evidence pointed out it was not a suicide.
The bailiff was ordered to summon the chief witness for the hearing.
Retired Bayside Sheriff Brody was escorted inside by the bailiff.
Kripa craned her neck eagerly to get her first glimpse of him…. her heart was thumping with nervous excitement!
Brody walked in slowly, with a slight limping gait. He was short and stocky, with a tuft of white hair circling a shiny bald head. Dressed in his erstwhile police uniform, he looked every bit a tough old cop. His spine was still straight at 84, his bearing proud and arrogant. He stepped up to the witness box and took his oath with a brusque impatience. Then he took his seat and faced the court.
Suddenly his eyes turned straight on Kripa! She drew a sharp breath and froze in shock. He knew who she was! His cold, pale blue eyes seemed to pierce her shell and draw out her identity.
The DA started questioning Brody in his usual format, starting with his name, his rank at Bayside Precinct, his acquaintance with the Wilsons, how well he knew them, etc etc.
Brody scowled and fidgeted irritably at the lengthy legal procedural. He had no patience for mundane questions and answered them quite brusquely.
Suddenly he turned towards the Judge and burst out: Your Honor, I want to make a statement! Do I have the permission of the Court?
The Judge was taken aback but gave his nod of approval: Yes, you may…give your statement to the court.
Brody's glance veered on Kripa again. She shrank back in her seat, as if to escape those ice blue knowing eyes!
His eyes still fixed on her, he spoke slowly, somberly in a heavy voice: For 50 long years, I have carried this burden of guilt. Friendship and loyalty to my hunting buddy had made me overlook my duties as an officer of justice. I had wronged a dead woman, I had suppressed evidence, I had falsified the time of death! This guilt has been scouring my conscience for 5 decades. It's a black mark on my otherwise spotless career. Now is the time I have to come clean or else…I wont be able to close my eyes in peace!
Brody took a deep breath and continued as the courtroom listened in stunned silence:
[When I met Abigail and Adrian, I was just Officer Brody in Bayside Precinct. The Wilsons had recently bought the house on the beach and Adrian befriended me at the local Church Fair. Both of us found a common interest in hunting game birds and he invited me to his hunting parties. I was quite awestruck by the glamorous couple. Abigail Wilson was a very fetching woman and some of us admired her from afar. Adrian was smart and successful! He was a good friend, a great guy, a gracious host! We had some great times hunting in the woods and swamps of the island.
Everything was going well but…. 2 years later, suddenly their lives started falling apart! Adrian's investments started failing, his business ventures floundered. Abigail had an unfortunate accident and lost her child! After that tragedy, she lost her mind. She was a waif of her former self, shutting herself in that house, lamenting and mourning for months.
Adrian and Abby grew apart. We heard rumors that Adrian had a mistress in town, a rich heiress he was planning to marry once he gave a divorce to his half-crazed wife. Frankly speaking, I could not blame him. Every man looks after his own self interest. But there was a major snag… the law doesn't allow a husband to divorce a mad wife. So he was stuck with Abby, his business was stuck in doldrums, his love life on hold.
During those days, he would often hang out with me. We would drink together at my place at night and Adrian shared his troubles with me. I told him jokingly, the only way he could get rid of his wife was by bumping her off! Adrian was shocked but I laughed aloud that I was only joking.
But later I wondered……did my words strike his mind? Did he plot the whole thing?]
There was pin drop silence in the courtroom. All present seemed to be holding their breaths, their eyes and ears focused on Brody. The singular question beating in every heart was " What happened that night?"
The DA had to voice it: Tell us…What happened that night?
Brody looked at him coldly:{ I am coming to that now. The same night, over shots of rum, Adrian showed me a photograph of Charlotte. She was a rich divorcee who had inherited a vast fortune from her grandfather. He had known her family for many years. He was having an affair with Charlotte but presently she was pushing him for marriage.
Adrian lamented that he had made a mistake in marrying Abigail. They were from completely different backgrounds, different ideologies. She wanted a home and hearth and children, he wanted fortune, adventure, a glamorous lifestyle. She was a country-bred homely girl, he was a sophisticated urban guy. Charlotte suited him more. I had to agree, looking at the photograph. Charlotte certainly had what it takes to attract a man! She had money as well, to help Adrian tide over his financial losses!
I advised him to ask Abigail directly for a divorce. She was very unhappy and suffering and might agree to leave Adrian and return to her mountain home! Adrian decided to follow my advice.
The next weekend, he sent the servants and housekeeper away on leave. He wanted complete privacy when he approached Abby with the divorce papers. He wasn't sure how she would react in her mental condition.
That night I got a frantic call from Adrian at 3 A.M. He urged me to come immediately to Wilson House as something terrible had happened. I rushed there at once. Adrian met me at the door, looking pale and dishevelled in his dressing gown. I was rather shocked to see Charlotte was also present in the house, standing behind him in a night robe. She was wringing her hands and sobbing loudly: Im sorry, it was an accident! I didn't mean to kill her. Please save me, Adrian! I didn't do it on purpose!
What…what happened? I asked the anguished couple. Adrian pointed upwards with a trembling hand: She is upstairs….there was an accident!
I rushed up the stairs, and there she lay in the hallway outside the main bedroom, face downwards, her dark hair spread out on the wood panels, a dark red stain at the back of her skull. I kneeled down beside her and checked her pulse. It was still beating, though very faint. She was barely alive!
I stood up and asked sternly: How did this happen?
Adrian gulped and asked: Is she still alive?
Yes, but she wont live long! We have to take her to the hospital immediately.
Its better if we let her die! Adrian's words shocked me!
WHAT DO U MEAN? WE CANNOT JUST LET HER DIE!
Adrian held out his hands: Please, Brody, hear me out! Just listen to what happened and then u will understand why its better for her to die….better for all of us and her!
Apparently, what happened that night was this:
Adrian returned home around 10 that night after his usual tryst with Charlotte in town. He promised her that he would get Abby to sign the divorce papers somehow. When he entered the house, it was dark as usual, Abby hadnt bothered to turn on the lights. He went upstairs and found her where she spent most of her time, in the small bedroom that was to be the baby's nursery. She was fast asleep on the bed in the corner facing the baby crib. Adrian hesitated to wake her, she might get hysterical again. Perhaps it was better to talk to her in the morning when she felt better. As he retired to his own bedroom, Charlotte called on the phone: Did u speak with her? Did you give her the papers?
Adrian told her no. That infuriated Charlotte! She got into her own car, still dressed in her nightgown and drove at high speed all the way from Manhattan, fuming and seething. She rushed into the house and demanded to see Abby at once. Adrian tried to stop her but Charlotte was determined to confront Abby that very night: You have been putting this off for months! I refuse to wait any longer! That woman MUST leave you!
She marched into the nursery and screeched out her name! Abby woke up with a start, shocked and horrified to see her husband's alleged mistress in the house!
Charlotte demanded to talk to her! Abby came out of the room and faced her rival in the hallway. Charlotte snatched the divorce papers from Adrian's hands and threw them at Abby, demanding she sign them and put everyone out of their misery.
Abigail was devastated as she read the divorce form silently. Then she looked up at Adrian and shook her head firmly: No, I wont give you a divorce.
Charlotte yelled: WHY? Why the hell not?
Abby looked grimly at her rival: Because I believe in the institution of marriage! I wont hand over my husband to you! I think Adrian and I can still make it work. In fact I had made up my mind to talk to him tonight. Adrian, we will go away somewhere and start a new life. I want to try again, I know I have been an unfit wife for the last few months but we can start all over again, we can, I have utmost faith we can make it work this time…
Adrian wavered….he was moved by the pleading in her eyes. Her faith was affecting him! Charlotte saw this and became desperate.
She screamed: NO! DAMN YOU! ADRIAN DOESN'T LOVE U ANYMORE! HE LOVES ME! ASK HIM! ADRIAN, TELL HER U DON'T LOVE HER! TELL HER YOU LOVE ME! GO AHEAD, TELL HER!
Adrian shuffled his feet: Abby, I ….I ….don't know…if we can..
Abigail turned away from Charlotte and walked towards Adrian: Please, Adrian, don't give up on us yet. I will put the past behind us and try to be a good wife again. I still love you and I know you still have feelings for me….
Adrian blinked and gulped, torn between his loving wife and his demanding mistress. The typical predicament of a faithless man!
Charlotte lost it! Abby was getting closer to Adrian. Soon she would be so close, Adrian would not be able to refuse her.
Charlotte looked around her in a haze of red fury! Her eyes fell on a heavy metal vase sitting on a hallway console. She picked it up and rushed forward, screeching crazed curses: NOOOO, YOU CRAZY *****! HE BELONGS TO ME! GET AWAY FROM HIM!
She brought the heavy vase down on Abby's head with a deadly blow! Abby cried out and fell down on the floor with a crash! Blood slowly seeped out of the wound behind her head.
Charlotte realized what she had done in a fit of jealous rage. She dropped the vase with a deafening clang and burst out in tears. She flung herself on Adrian's chest and sobbed like a helpless female: Oh Adrian, I didn't mean to kill her! Please save me! Do something! I cannot go to prison, please….help me!
Adrian thought of the only person who could help them, his friend Officer Brody. }
Brody paused and looked around at the mesmerized faces in the courtroom. Even the Judge seemed to have turned into a statue..
He sighed and continued: {And that is how I came into the picture.
When Adrian finished narrating, I asked him: So what do you want to do with your wife?
Adrian shook his head: If she survives and gives a statement, Charlotte will go to prison for sure. We cannot let that happen. That will be terrible blow for her reputation, for her family prestige! It will also ruin my reputation and destroy whatever business I have left.
So we let her die? I asked grimly.
Adrian shrugged: We have no choice.
I shook my head: Sorry pal, I cannot let that happen! I am a cop first and its my duty to help the victim of a crime.
I bent down to pick up Abby's inert form. I saw that she had stopped breathing. I checked her pulse again. She was gone! We had wasted too much time in talking. She was dead! I felt a sudden pang when I realized I had let her die! I could have rushed her to the hospital instead of talking to Adrian….but no, I had wasted time and let her die.
She is gone! I announced quietly.
Adrian heaved a sigh of relief. Charlotte sobbed louder: OH GOD! NOW I WILL DEFINITELY GO TO PRISON!
Adrian shook his head with a sly look: No, darling, you are not going anywhere. Abigail killed herself.
What do u mean? …We both asked him.
That means you, Brody, will help me string her up in the main bedroom. That means Abby was suffering from depression and she committed suicide.
I was shocked and repulsed but it made sense. It was no use ruining 2 more lives when Abby was already dead. Perhaps she was better off dead, given the circumstances, was what I felt.
I helped Adrian carry Abby to the main bedroom. Adrian fetched a high stepstool. We hung a sturdy rope from a hook in the ceiling. Then we put the noose around……..around her neck and hung her from the ceiling. There wasn't any blood on her white nightgown. The vase had caused blunt trauma so the wound did not bleed much. We kept the stepstool near her feet so it would appear as a suicide.
Adrian carefully washed the guilty vase and put it back on the console. I advised Charlotte to drive back to the city immediately. The divorce papers were burned on the kitchen stove. All evidence of manslaughter was gone and the stage was set to make it look like a suicide. I returned home and a few minutes later, Adrian called me and reported the "suicide" of his wife Abigail by hanging. We decided to fix the time of call at 11 PM instead of 4 AM. Adrian had his alibi, Abby had supposedly killed herself before he returned home. I managed to convince the Coroner to overlook the head wound, lying to him that her corpse had a bad fall while the police team was taking her down. Nobody knew that Charlotte had been there that night.}
Brody paused and looked up at the countless faces gazing at him with disbelief, disgust and disapproval. Officer Brian's face was mottled with fury. He couldn't believe that this senior cop had actually helped his friend dispose of his wife and allowed the killer to go scot free!
Kripa closed her eyes, feeling sick to her stomach! Abby's death was even more horrific than they had heard! Adrian helped Charlotte kill Abby! He had watched her die and did nothing to save her! And this Brody, this reprehensible cop had helped him do it!
The Judge rebuked Brody strongly in a stentorian voice, chastised him for bringing disgrace to his profession, for failing in his duty to protect and save an innocent victim! Instead of upholding the law, he had aided and abetted in a crime. He was guilty of letting his personal friendship override his official duties.
Brody hung his head down in admittance of his guilt : Your Honor, I wont try to defend my actions. I know what I did was wrong. All I can say is… at that moment, I could only think about saving 2 lives as opposed that of a woman who was almost dead! What good would it do to arrest Charlotte, to ruin Adrian and her life when Abby was already half gone?
The Judge reminded him that he should have still tried to save Abigail's life instead of saving his friends from the law.
Brody said he was ready to accept any punishment that the court would impose upon him.
The Judge looked grim and ruled that Officer Brody had committed a crime by hiding a murder and aiding the killer to escape justice. He ordered the court to take Brody into custody and place him under house arrest, pending a formal hearing and trial. The court was adjourned for the day. A deeply scowling Officer Brian, escorted Brody out of the courtroom, though not in handcuffs.
Kripa stood up as Brody passed in front of her row. Her eyes reflected the same disgust she felt for this man as for Adrian. Brody suddenly stopped in front of her and turned in her direction. His icy blue eyes had lost most of their arrogance and just looked defeated.
He said softly, slowly: If you see her again, tell her I am sorry! I didn't want her to suffer anymore. But I was wrong! She had the right to live….tell her I am paying my dues as Adrian and Charlotte paid theirs!
Kripa knew he was referring to Abby's spirit. She frowned deeply: I don't know what you are talking about.
Brody looked at her quizzically: Didn't you know? Adrian saw her too, he was tormented by her spirit. He drowned his boat on the high seas, he knew a storm was coming. He sailed away to his death.
And Charlotte? Kripa narrowed her eyes: How did she pay her dues?
Brody flushed slightly: Charlotte? She died of a bad disease, contracted from the many lovers she had after Adrian's death…. she suffered for 2 years before merciful death finally released her!
Kripa's eyes widened in comprehension. She exchanged glances with Mrs Reed who looked just as surprised.
Brody nodded slightly and moved on with Brian.
Kripa felt numb, emotionally drained as she left the courtroom with Mrs Reed. Now that she knew how Abby had actually died, a lot of things were clearing up. Now she knew why the spirit groaned and heavily dragged her feet in the hallway outside the bedroom…..because that was where she was killed!
**************************************************************************************
Angad opened the morning paper at breakfast table and went ballistic!
The Abigail Wilson murder case had made headlines even in Long Island Newsday as the cover story.
There were photographs of a bewildered and nervous Kripa standing with Mrs Reed outside the courtroom, ex-Police Chief Brody being led out by cops, an old photo of Adrian and Brody on a hunting trip and of course a beautiful photo of Abby in her happier days! They had even printed a blurred image of Charlotte at a New York soiree and titled it : The mistress who killed the wife!
Angad's furious eyes scanned through the pages with shocked incredulity. He pushed back his chair violently and stood up with a muffled curse. He flung the paper on the table, almost knocking down the sugar pot . Kripa started, dropping the toast from her fingers and looked up.
Angad burst out: YOU HAD TO DO IT! YOU JUST HAD TO DO IT! AAKHIR TUMNEY WAHI KIYA JISKA MUJHEY DARR THA! DUNIYA KE SAAMNEY ELAAN KAR DIYA TUM EK BHOOT KE SAATH COMMUNICATE KARTI HO! AB POOREY NEW YORK KO PATA CHALEGA THAT YOU ARE DELUSIONAL!
Kripa stood her ground, stuck her chin up proudly: JEE NAHIN! Poorey New York ko pata chalega ke Abby ka khoon hua tha, usney atmahatya nahin kee thi! Brody ke bayaan se yeh saabit ho gaya ke mujhey koi vehem nahin hua, sab kuchh sach tha! Jo bhi mainey dekha, suna, sab ek ishara tha, Abby was trying to tell me that she didn't kill herself!
Angad glared at her, she looked back coolly, proudly and continued in a calm, steady voice: Aur haan, mujhey apney aap per naaz hai ke mainey ek aurat ko insaaf dilaya, ek anjaaney katl ka khulasa kiya! Aur phir ismein meri apni bhi bhalayi hai. Mujhey asha hai ke iss investigation ke baad iss bhatakti rooh ko shayad chain mil jaye aur wo mujhey pareshan karna band kar de! Aur main khud bhi chein se iss bhoot bungaley mein jee sakoon!
Her words irked Angad's conscience. After all she was being forced to stay here because of his own mistake!
His fury toned down a little but he shook his forefinger in warning: You don't know what you have done! You are just inviting trouble! Paper mein tumhari tasveer hai, iss makaan ka zikr hai! Now just wait and watch, the Circus will begin! …he turned and marched off to take a shower.
Turned out Angad was right in his dire predictions. As Kripa cleaned the breakfast dishes in the kitchen sink, she suddenly heard a lot of commotion outside the house! Startled, she went to the front door and opened it!
She was horribly alarmed to see that a sizeable crowd had collected in front of the house.
There were curious stragglers and townspeople, gaping at the house and talking loudly amongst themselves! There were two vans belonging to a local news channel who were already filming footage of the house! They eagerly zoomed their lenses on her as soon as they spotted her at the door! Excited voices hurled questions at her: Mrs K! When did you….
Kripa slammed the door shut in alarm! OH GOD! Angad was RIGHT! Yahan toh poora Circus aa gaya!
She went to the front facing window and peeped through a tiny slit in the curtains. It WAS A CIRCUS! This house and she had become the center of attention for the media and the public! Hey Bhagwaan! Aisa toh mainey nahin socha tha!
She had not wanted this unwelcome publicity! All these people with their cameras and constant chatter! Their morbid excitement and fascination repelled her, made her sick to the stomach!
Suddenly she felt Angad's warm breath on her nape. He was standing right behind her, freshly showered and dressed for work. She could smell his after-shave and cologne. Inspite of their ongoing cold war, she felt her senses react to his masculine fragrance! Her breaths quickened, pulse raced with a familiar feeling. She turned her head, her lips almost touched his crisp striped shirt but he stepped back a few paces, putting a safe distance between them.
His chiselled lips curled in a mocking smile: Kyun? Shuru ho gaya naa Tamasha? Iseeka mujhey darr tha! Now how the hell will I go to work?
Angad fretted, flinging his muscular arms in exasperation. He paced the room with restless worry: Aaj 11 bajey mera ek bahut important meeting hai! How will I get there in time when this circus is outside waiting to pounce on me?
He turned on Kripa with accusing eyes: Now see what you have done! Yeh makaan ek tamasha ban gaya hai! Ab hum apney hi ghar mein qaid hongey! We cannot go out anywhere! Yeh log humein paagal kar dengey! I have to go to work, dammit!
Kripa's brows knitted in worry. Really, how can they get rid of this circus? Then she remembered how the media was bombarding her outside the courtroom but Officer Brian had chivalrously stepped in and rescued her from their clutches. She ran to the telephone and called the number for the police station. The junior cop Timothy was there but she explained the situation to him while Angad watched her with a deep scowl of disapproval.
Tim responded at once: No problem, Mrs K! Officer Brian is on his rounds now, I will radio him right now to drop by your house and get rid of those people!
Within 10 minutes, Officer Brian arrived there in his police car and shooed off the public from the premises.
He announced loudly on his horn: All of you folks, move away from this private property! You are all trespassing and that is a crime in this state! I can arrest you for trespassing!
All the curious stragglers scampered away after that threat.
The news channel was more difficult to remove but Brian spoke with them quietly and convinced them to do an interview with Mrs. Reed and not bother the nice young lady who was a tenant in the house. He even hinted that Mrs Khanna wasn't too fluent in English so she wouldn't be able to answer their questions anyway.
If Kripa had heard his lies, she would have laughed out loud! But as the saying goes: A little white lie never hurt anyone!
After the last newsvan had left, Kripa went out and thanked Officer Brian effusively for his prompt response to her distressed call.
The middle-aged cop smiled and shook her hand: Anytime! Anything for you, Mrs Khanna!
A very grumpy Angad left the house without even greeting the Officer who had helped them! He got into his car and drove off at normal speed. After all, he couldn't speed in the presence of a police officer.
Brian shrugged and raised his brows at Kripa: That Mr Khanna?
She nodded apologetically: Yes, Im sorry he had to leave abruptly like that, hes running late for a meeting.
Officer Brian looked worried: Do you want some kind of police protection ? I can post one of my boys here so people don't harass you!
Kripa quickly refused, she knew Angad would get mad if cops guarded the house: No thanks, Officer. I am leaving for work myself and nobody will be home till dusk….so I don't really need a guard!
So long, Mrs. K, if there is anymore trouble, you know where to call!
The cop left after reassuring Kripa of his continued assistance. In his eyes, Kripa was quite the hero, having unmasked a killer and solved a 50 yr old mystery.
Kripa watched him leave with troubled eyes. She hoped Angad would return home early at least today! If he cared for her safety at all, he will!
She was feeling a bit nauseous and realized she had not eaten anything at breakfast. So she drank a cup of ginger tea with dry toast and felt slightly better. There was no smell of lavender in the kitchen. Kripa sighed….now Abby will leave me alone! I hope she finds peace at last!
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