Till Human Voices Wake Us: Last Part: Page 175 - Page 34

Chapter 12:

"Is it possible for you to get in touch with the fourth victim's family as there is no information on them in this preliminary report? You should be having at least a name and address of the victim when the police beat jeep first arrived on crime scene?" Maan asked the inspector as he climbed the jeep.

"I think I should be able get it, but what is the reason for doing so? I should be able to justify bringing up old memories in that woman life with a concrete lead in case the family comes back to us for divulging the information", the inspector retorted.

"I only want to know if she made her assailant's behavior public like talking about it with her friends or telling anyone else. Also I want to know if she knew Geet when they were kids. And with her identity we can estimate a concrete timeline." Maan said. Satya realized why Maan wanted to know more about the fourth victim.

If Geet had listened to those stories then it could have fueled her imagination and added on to the delusion. The inspector nodded.

"If it was only Geet's delusion, then why did the killer say – you are not her?" Satya said starting the jeep.

"Maybe the girl misheard. She went through something traumatic and then adrenaline is pumping and her mind is reacting and trying to comprehend the situation and then the guy mutters something. It could have been anything Satya." Maan said. Somehow he was caught on with the fact that Geet was probably imagining the whole thing. But even in his mind he couldn't come to accept it. He saw that Satya was concentrating on driving and thinking hard.

"What is it Satya?" He asked relaxing in his seat.

"The girl was assaulted from the back. The assailant looked at her and then discarded her without caring two hoots about her. What was she doing the time when he looked at her and talked to her? Did she shout? Did she freeze in fear? What was her reaction? Who called the police?" Satya asked one question after another. Maan opened the very thin report containing minimalistic information.

"The call came from a resident who was watering the plants in her garden. Her statement said that she saw a man attacking a girl. The police arrived within ten minutes and the girl was still standing there, terrified. She had already called her father from that woman's house and he was there with her when the police started questioning. She gave information about the man who attacked her. Her father refused to file a complaint. Thus there was no case."

"I can see why family wanted to hush it up. But sir ji, how did the police manage to score a picture of her if there is no case filed?" Satya asked.

"I am not sure. I think some cop really wanted to follow this up. Remember what the inspector said? They built a case around this and wanted the family to put charges on the original rape victim so that he can be convicted for three rapes and one attempt to rape." Maan speculated.

"I felt I have seen that girl somewhere before sir ji. She has features like Geet but she isn't really all that similar to Geet."

"I thought the same thing as well." Maan noted. After reading the report at least two times, Maan closed it and sighed.

"There are too many variables in this case Satya. I think the entire mess started here, in this town and ended back in our city. The simple game of cat and mouse turned deadly and dangerous." Maan said. Satya merely nodded.

"Tell me Satya, in your perception what strikes you as odd?" Maan asked.

There was information around them but nothing gave them a concrete picture. New information only managed to add more question and made the case even more dynamic. But Maan knew that irrespective of how many variables the case had the answer would be fairly simple and the motive anticlimactic.

"The stalkers suicide is the oddest thing of all sir ji."

"Why do you think so?"

"Let me rewind a bit sir ji. Mal said that Geet actually talked to the stalker once. He talked to her like a man would to a woman he has crush on."

"What's wrong with that?" Maan asked fully knowing where Satya was heading. When Mal had explained this previously, it had made very less sense to him. But her explanation hadn't delved outside the realm of reality so he hadn't given much thought.

"A stalker would be extremely obsessive about his object of interest. Till that point he had refused to confront her and suddenly he decides to meet her? It's the calmness of the stalker that has been bugging me all the time. It is the first time he is meeting her face to face and he subtly hints about killing himself? That definitely doesn't make sense. For the stalker it's the fantasy of being together with their object of obsession that gives them control on their own lives. They love and worship their targets to the point of killing them if they cannot be together with their targets. He has exhibited everything perfectly till that meeting with Geet. Suddenly all his obsession gets rationalized? If not anything he should be more devolving how years has passed and he is still in the same state of mind where he started from. That aggression is missing in his behavior." Satya finished.

"But Satya, there is no definitive way how a stalker truly devolves. Why do you see rationalization of the situation as a plausible solution?"

"When these people start stalking it can be for the dumbest thing in the world. The triggers for their actions are never similar and most of the times the object of obsession or the target wouldn't even know about it. The meetings that we forget easily thinking how inane they were, could be life altering to those criminals."

"So, what do you think about that?" Maan asked.

"They are lying." Satya said.

"Both Mal and Geet?" Maan asked. Satya nodded.

"It's possible that something else happened that night. They are just covering up. What do you think sir ji?"

"I don't think that night happened at all", Maan said. His phone rang.

"Inspector? That was quick." Maan said on the phone.

"I found the girl's name in the register that our men on patrol duty carry. Since she was the victim, they had noted down her name and address. Her name is Malvika. I will text you the address after this call", the inspector said.

Maan was speechless for a moment as he was finally able to name the face that he felt was familiar. He recovered and thanked the officer hanging up the phone. Satya looked at him questioningly.

"The fourth victim was Mal."

"That is why the girl looked familiar."

"Satya, Mal is from the same town as Geet. What are the odds they haven't ever crossed their paths even once? Both are lying through their teeth." Maan grumbled.

"Let's find out then. I have a haunch." Maan picked up his cellphone and dialed.

"Mr. Handa, this is ACP Khurana. I forgot to ask you something back there. You mentioned that Geet went to art classes and she loved going there right? Can you please text me the address? I don't need full address just if you can tell me the street and area in general." Maan paused.

"Thank you very much Mr. Handa", he hung up. Within moments the phone buzzed. Maan checked the text message and smiled the first smile of the day. Satya looked at him curiously.

"Mal was in the same lane when she was attacked where Geet's art classes were."

"That cannot be a coincidence", Satya hummed. Maan nodded.

"Let's see what else we can find in their college. We will have to corroborate everything Mal has told us till now", Maan said closed his eyes.

-- About noon, Tuesday --

The college principal shook their hands once they introduced themselves. He was a small balding man with a pleasant face and a gracious smile.

"I am sorry ACP, I didn't understand fully what your intention really is", he said politely.

"Sir, do you remember the stalker case from almost a decade ago? A girl was stalked by a boy of this college and the guy even went to her room once." Maan said. The principal looked thoughtful for moments.

"Are you talking about Geet Handa by any chance?"

"Yes sir", Satya replied.

"Oh, I remember that. I was a professor back then and head of the electrical department. The entire staff was interviewed by the police after the stalker went into her room and took pictures of her. Is it regarding that old case?" He asked incredulously.

"Yes sir. We believe that the stalker maybe involved in string of murders in past few years. The investigation led to this place", Maan said not giving away too many facts and not lying either.

"Oh okay. What do you need from me?" The principal asked.

"We need records sir", Satya said handing a note with names of people.

"What records are you looking for?"

"We need to see all the documents they submitted when they joined this college during admission including their pictures. Can you please provide copies of those?"

"Mal and Geet are suspects too?" The principal asked without answering Maan but in turn questioning him. Maan didn't reply and it seemed like the older man realized that Maan probably couldn't answer that question.

"ACP Khurana, in their third year the students go through mandatory counseling before the placement talks and tests begin for campus recruitment. I will see if I can get you transcripts for these people", the principal said.

"Sir, can we get a map of this college? Or at least a high level plan?" Maan asked.

"Sure. Madan, come here for a second!" He yelled. A man in his late forties came in.

"Give them campus plan and take them around if they wish to." He barked his order and picked up phone to get the records.

Once they had the plan, Satya spread it out.

"Does each building in this college represent a specific department?" Satya asked.

"Yes sir. Except for electrical and electronics all other departments have their own independent buildings other facilities", Madan answered.

"Correct me if I am wrong in understanding the plan here. Are architecture and computer science department are almost on the opposite side of the campus?" Maan asked. Madan only nodded. Satya and Maan looked at each other.

"Why would a computer science student be doing in architecture department? Will they have any classes there?" Satya asked.

"No sir. Unless a student is there to meet his or her friends, there is nothing academically connecting."

"What about classrooms being shifted temporarily?"

"Then we would assign rooms which are closer to that department and not across the campus." Madan said.

"Didn't Mal say that she was in drawing classes?" Satya asked Maan.

"There are classes built specifically for drawing in mechanical engineering, civil and architecture departments. And they are all on the opposite side of the campus. These buildings were built when the college first started. Computer science division is less than two decades old making it much newer building in this campus and that's why it's quite far from here." Madan explained. Maan and Satya didn't say anything on that subject.

"Where is the ladies hostel?" Maan asked.

"After this patch of land sir", Madan said pointing to the map. "Chemistry department kind of acts like border for the college beyond which is just plain land and then there is ladies hostel and other facilities available only for that hostel. We can go there if you'd like", Madan said. Maan nodded.

"Have there been lots of changes to the hostel in past decade?"

"There is an extensive remodeling done in the interiors sir and the security is improved a great deal given how kids these days are hell bent of breaking rules. But as such the premises haven't changed much since the time it was built."

"Do you remember Geet Handa stalking case?" Maan asked. Madan nodded.

"Have there been any other cases like that in this college?"

"That was the one and only stalker case in our college's history. We mostly deal with alcohol and drugs being smuggled in the school sir and nothing of that variety." Madan answered.

"Were there any gossips at that time in college?"

"Oh yes sir. There were gossips that Geet was totally faking the whole thing and she was imagining a man following her all the time. And few said that it was an elaborate prank by Mal and Geet." Maan raised an eyebrow at that.

"I know how it sounds sir but that was the gossip around here. Mal and Geet were pretty tight and the entire college knew it. So when Geet complained to the warden about losing her things and looking genuinely scared, only then the staff became serious about it. Police were also involved but no one found out who the stalker was."

"How do you know so many things?" Satya asked.

"For two years we talked about this in almost every staff meeting and the story is like a legend out here. Actually there was another cop who came in last year asking questions about Mal and Geet." Madan said folding the map.

A cop? Was someone else investigating?

"Did that person leave a name or their business card?" Maan asked.

"I don't think so but let me see."

"Madan sir, will you be able to identify the man if we showed you any pictures in future?" Satya said realizing the oddity.

"I think I should be able to sir." Maan and Satya nodded at that.

They walked back to the principal's office and had the documents ready when they came in.

"Here you go gentlemen", he said handing three files.

At least Mal was right about the stalker being a senior. And the certificates, marks cards, photo everything matched to the ones found in the stalker's apartment. The stalker was exactly who he was. Academic records showed that he pursued computer science engineering just like Geet and was a year senior to her. Once finishing his engineering degree, he joined a one year business program in the same college in his own department. That continued to give him access to Geet and resources.

"Sir, during college festivals, department level events and other college events held in college, were there any photographs taken?" Maan asked.

"Yes, we did get official photographers for the events. But you know kids used to bring their own cameras most of the time since not everyone could be a part of center of the event."

"I would like to see those for the years Geet and Mal studied here", Maan said going through the documents. Principal walked out of his cabin to organize for the photos leaving Maan and Satya alone.

"What are you thinking sir ji?"

"If Mal hung around with Geet all the time, then she couldn't have missed the stalker. If we assume that she had had a look at him when she was assaulted, then she must have recognized him, correct?"

"But sir ji, if she hadn't seen him then? And even if she did see him, then what are the odds of finding him in this college? I don't think Mal even knew that the stalker went to same college as her till the day he died."

"Maybe you are right."

"What is your basis of assumption sir ji?"

"Let's go with the fact that Geet and Mal are actually childhood friends. Mal knew that Geet was being stalked. And it was confirmed when she was attacked after being mistaken for Geet which means that she had evidence that Geet was being stalked. Why didn't she tell that to the police? Or even Geet's parents for that matter?" Maan said.

"Because she knew who the stalker was. And she knew that if she kept an eye on him, he wouldn't trouble Geet anymore. She didn't want to drag herself of Geet into a bigger mess of dealing with law enforcement and perhaps even unwanted publicity." Satya finished.

"That could probably be the reason. But the guy did trouble Geet and Mal couldn't do a thing about it." Maan hummed.

"Then it's probable that she didn't recognize him fully. She knew his voice and saw a part of his face. So there wasn't any hard evidence to implicate him. She must have known that it wouldn't have helped either her or Geet if their names were dragged for no reason. And besides, they were going away from the town for college so she must have thought that they could leave all this behind. And she was right. The first two years, things were pretty calm." Satya threw in another line of argument.

"This sounds more plausible", Maan said.

The principal came back to the cabin holding photographs from events held in their college during Geet's tenure. Satya took the first album which was taken during Geet's final year. Maan had started from first year and started taking out all photographs which feature either Mal or Geet.

And then he saw what he was looking.

Every now and then the stalker's face would pop up in the background mostly looking at Geet. There were more photos of her in second year during a festival hosted by computer science department. The stalker was there in almost every photo Geet was in and probably along with the stalker, there were couple more who were photographed repeatedly in the background.

"You have to look at this sir ji", Satya said breaking Maan's concentration.

Satya handed him couple of final year photos taken when the college management had given an official send-off party to the seniors. There was a photo of Mal talking to the stalker behind a group of people making funny faces at the camera. The other photos also had Mal and the stalker talking to each other.

But didn't Mal say that neither she nor Geet recognize the stalker? What was she hiding?

To be continued.

I was hoping to have the glint of it before I head to slumber myself.

will come back to comment..

Thx for the update sooks..

Originally posted by: -Sookie-

Am going to be stuck on that red line in above post. 😊 Alright, let's see how this is gonna go 😊

Maan has gone and interviewed Geet's parents and have told a part of her life that she has hidden from them. Anjali is dead for almost four days now and Geet hasn't told her parents. And am sure being parents, they would have called her as soon as Maan turned his back on them. After knowing this, Geet will be majorly pissed than being smitten.

Did I mention that Maan is an ACP? Meaning he doesn't have just one area but several under his jurisdiction? If I see him stay closer to Geet because of her past or anything, then am gonna sue him and his department for civil negligence. 😆 But yes, he should now provide protection detail to Geet. And that is not going to be him mainly because he has to run a big department. Sure Geet is in trouble but is she the only one? What about other civilians? 😊

And Maan feels sorry for every victim he has encountered. If he doesn't feel that empathy, then he cannot be so good at his job. Sure, he would risk his life for the sake of civilian but he is not the guy who will sit out on investigation. He would be on street looking for the killer knowing fully well that he is smart, tough and intelligent.

Does that answer your theory? 😊