Souls I Have Ruined
Part 01
"He collects women"
Yash Handa sat across the table with his hands folded on his lap and was scrutinizing the barely clad bar dancer, Sasha, sitting across him. But this singular statement broke his chain of thoughts. He felt his good friend and partner-in-crime rather partner-anti-crime gasp with his mouth opened at a perfect 'O'.
"Well Adi, saints like you should not be listening to this, would you like to go out and have some fresh air?", said Yash with his signature get-out-now-will-get-back-to-you-soon look. Adi got his cue and stode out of the club. He barely had to wait for ten minutes when Yash joined him with an irritated look on his face.
Staying together with a man for almost a decade has some inevitable. One such is concluding facts based on his facial expressions. Adi knew Yash did not get what he wanted and hence the best thing to do at such times is to keep shut.
The drive to their apartment was eerily silent. Buit like sudden fireworks in a quiet night sky, Yash exploded the moment he stepped inside his living room.
"Tell me something Adi, why can't women ever speak to the point? I asked the girl if she has anything against the man to nail him, but she started her own sob story, what do I look like'some agony aunt?"
"Umm'Yash, I don't know if this is the right time to say this, but in case you remember, I have been in the hospital since yesterday evening till you barged in my cabin and dragged me to that club. So, as much as I want to, but I cannot really figure out which man you are talking about."
His usually patient friend's words calmed Yash down. Yes, he knows nothing about the case nor the man. So, first he needs to brief him and decide a new strategy to go after his prey because his previous lead has proved to be rather useless and annoying. Women'he thought again.
"Sit down Adi, and lets discuss."
With that said, the ever so famous private investigator Yash Handa guided his friend, partner and chronicler Dr. Aditya Sinha to the old arm chair and began with his monologue.
FLASHBACK TO MORNING : MONOLOGUE OF YASH HANDA
Adi has not returned and had an overnight duty at the hospital. So, I had my breakfast alone and picked up my violin (sorry, I could not resist this), to start another monotonous crime free day. Whatever happened to the great dark minds of Delhi, I thought and sighed.
Just as I was about to start, I was disturbed rather happily received a phone call.
"Hello, is that Detective Handa?"
"Yes"
"Sir, my name is Roshan Manchanda, could you spare me half an hour of your time, I need to discuss something important."
"Yes sure Mr. Manchanda, you can be at my place at 10 if that suits you."
"Oh it suits me perfect Mr.Handa, I will be there at 10, thank you."
Precisely at 10AM Mr. Roshan Manchanda stepped into my living room. He was a large, broad, clean-shaven man with an honest personality. Frankness shone from his eyes and a good humor played round his smiling lips. I ushered him to the sofa, but his eyes were looking for someone else as well.
"Are you expecting someone, Mr. Manchanda?"
"Well I do, I hoped to find Dr. Sinha as well, specially when we are dealing with a man like him."
"But I am afraid Mr. Manchanda, he wont be available now but I assure you he will be as and when necessary. Now without any further delay I would like to hear your case, since you seem to be in awe of a certain someone."
"Have you ever heard of the Prince of Rajgarh?"
"You mean the charmer?"
"There is no getting past you Mr. Handa. So you have already sized him up as a charmer?"
"It is my business to follow things Mr. Manchanda. Who could have possibly avoided the news surrounding him specially women. I am even sure he killed his mistress as if I had seen him do it, it was a purely technical legal point and the suspicious death of a witness that saved him. Well, what has the Prince been up to? I hope it is not the old tragedy that has come up again? "
"No, it is more serious than that Mr. Handa. To revenge crime is important but to prevent it is more so, wont you agree?"
"I surely do so"
"In the first place, you have no doubt heard of General Santosh Khanna?"
"Yes, I have heard of him."
"He has a daughter, Sameera Khanna, young, rich, beautiful, accomplished, a wonder woman in every way. It is this daughter that is now a prey in the clutches of the fiend."
"And the prince has some hold over her, then?"
"The strongest of all holds where a woman is concerned- the hold of love. The prince, as you may have heard is extraordinarily handsome, with a most fascinating manner, a gentle voice, and that air of romance and mystery which mean so much to a woman. He is said to have the whole sex at his mercy and to have made ample use of the fact. Sameera dotes upon him, she is obsessed with him. Everything has been done to cure her of her madness but in vain. He and Sameera have announced their engagement and are to be married soon. You have to stop this wedding Mr. Handa and save the girl."
"Does Ms. Khanna know about the mysterious death of the mistress episode?"
"She does Mr. Handa, and the devil has twisted facts to make himself out to be an innocent martyr. She blindly believes his version and will listen to no other. "
"If I may ask Mr. Manchanda, what interest do you have in this whole crisis?"
"Santosh Khanna is my childhood friend and Sam is the one I knew since she wore short frocks. My friend is heartbroken and bed ridden Mr. Handa, so the duty of saving his only child has befallen me."
"Apart from what you have told me, any other further information you would like to share?"
"He is an architect Mr. Handa and heads the biggest construction company in the country. He has expensive tastes. He is a horse fancier. He collects books and pictures. He is a man with a considerable authority over Chinese pottery and he practices tai chi."
"A complex mind, well all great criminals have that. Anyways, the prince's present address please?"
"Khurana Mansion, in south Delhi"
"And his full name would be?"
"Maan'..Maan Singh Khurana."
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
So how was it?😕
I know, no Geet and only mention of Maan but behno'''sabar ka phal meetha hota hai.😉
Hope the Holmes Maniacs (including myself) didn't mind me naming the desi Holmes and Watson as Yash and Adi, because these two are my most favorite male characters even in the show apart from the obvious.😆
This adaptation is done entirely out of love for the show and Holmes series. I never intended to hurt anybody's feelings. If objectionable please let me know, I will discontinue it then and there.😊
Now shoot.
Edited by -Manashi- - 13 years ago
Cricket
Bhabhi Ji Ghar Pe Hain?
