Chapter 22:
"How
did you get this address Khushi?" Saini speaks to Khushi directly ignoring
us three.
"How
do you know this is Khushi?" Keith quips not so softly. Everyone eyes turn
on him and his ear tips run pink. "Well
Mr. Sahai did say you were underground or something." Keith isn't wrong.
It's something that has crossed my mind. Except for us cops everyone else seems
to know more about what we are searching for. It isn't pleasant working in an
environment like this but this is how it has been. Corporates have more access
to inside info compared to us and private security have better resources than
police. It was ironic how in the end, we still held the legal responsibility
and cleaned up after everyone.
Saini raises an eyebrow and steps aside to
allow us enter his home. "I do have
access to a computer and internet, you know?"
"Cyber
stalking then." Keith doesn't let the older man to get the last word. Saini
only smirks in response.
"You
didn't answer my question Khushi." The man iterates.
Khushi's shrug is non-committal. "I asked a question and people answered
uncle. That's all there is to it." Saini looks at her skeptically for a
moment longer than what I imagined and finally sits down, easing a little. "I don't know if you remember who Ranvir is-"
"I
know who he is. Your father raised Ranvir. I heard he left us." Saini's tone is accusatory.
"Yes.
Yes, he did." Khushi nods and repeats the answer. It is strange to see her
tensed given how composed she always looks and generally is. "He tried to kill me last week but I managed
to kill him instead."
"Quite
brutally at that," Keith quips, his lips curving upwards a little. I know
that smile doesn't have jest in it. The potency of gore has shaken Keith more
than all of us. Ironic how he watches torture po*n movies without as much a
grimace but its real life counterpart evokes empathy.
Khushi looks sharply at him but he ignores
her. "I couldn't...risk..." Khushi
trails. I don't want this argument again. We have had a lot of these in past
few days and it's just a waste of time.
"The
thing is Mr. Saini, there have been strange ritualistic murders happening
around the city for three decades - the latest two being in this month alone. I
have been attacked and so has Khushi after we started working together. Someone
clearly don't was to find out who they are and the few things we have tying the
two murders are - a pimp, culture of your community, Ranvir and an emerging
political party. Venkat told us to start looking at the roots and gave your
address. So here we are." I summarize.
Saini looks at me for a full minute and
finally nods in understanding. "What do
you want to know?" He asks me.
"Who
is the person who started this new cult? Three decades ago Khushi's father told
someone all the secrets of your community. Tell us who that is." I am
hoping to get all answers here and close the case permanently.
Saini smiles softly. "ACP Raizada, first you have to understand that a cult isn't a gang. It
isn't mafia or militia. Unlike these, the cult isn't about a means to make
quick money or get a taste of violence for the sake of it. It is more evolved
than organized crime and operates as a society in itself. The crime is
justified inside the cult and they exist by their own laws. The members of cult
prefer living in an isolated locality unlike gang members or mafia. It isn't
because they are scared but they want to maintain their beliefs and faith in
private."
"Okay,
that's basically what most cults are and what they do. So?" Shukla speaks
up for the first time. Usually he has patience to deal with bullshit of the
f**ked up minds but this case has reduced him to my levels of patience.
Saini fishes for something on coffee table
and sighs in relief when he picks a cigarette box underneath newspaper. He offers
in our general direction first. My hands itch to hold one but I bite my cheeks
to withhold the urge. Saini shrugs and lights up one for own.
"Your
approach to this has been wrong since the beginning." Saini is
condescending on purpose, I can see. I don't care to answer and ignore the
tone. The man continues as if my reaction didn't incite him. "Khushi knowledge about the culture is
pretty much complete. But she lacks the practical application though she would
have told you almost everything about our history."
I let out a frustrated sigh. Was being purposefully obscure and obtuse a part
of this community's DNA?
My temper is flailing. "It would have definitely helped if people
of your community stopped f**king around with facts if they were forthright
from the start - Khushi included. You have managed to waste our time, get us
hurt and run about the city worried and generally hiding complete truth. So
yes, we have been wrong since beginning and since you seem to know everything, enlighten us."
"Is
there a threat in there ACP Raizada?" Saini sits straight. I chuckle
without humor as I pull the cigarette carton and snatch one from the box. The feel
of it between my fingers is relaxing.
I take a long drag. "Give us the f**king answer. If I find out somewhere down the line that
you knew the answer all along and tried to string us along...I will personally
ensure that the rest of your life is miserable." I hear Khushi exhale
louder than usual and I find myself not caring a bit. This charade has gone too
far.
Saini looks perturbed and looks at Khushi, cigarette
burning away between his fingers. "If I knew,
I would answer him right now." She says softly.
Shukla and Keith turn and look at her, open
mouthed. I am not sure if she is latching on my very realistic threat to push
for an answer without wasting any more time or if she is really scared.
I don't care which it is but I am glad for
the additional help.
Saini slumps a little and shows his
annoyance and irritation at my words by killing the smoke viciously on ashtray.
I still don't care. "I never got around finding
out his name because I wasn't part of...all that. But I do know for sure that his
father worked closely with some minister back in 80s. He was obsessed with money
and power which both his father lacked but employer had in abundance. After
this man's father was fired from the job, the family was ruined or something
because of what followed after. He was hell bent on avenging his family."
"How
did he meet my father?" Khushi asks.
Saini shakes his head. "Like I said, I wasn't part of the group
that questioned your father Khushi. But if I were to fathom a guess, I would
say gambling joints - horse racing to be specific. I think he also worked there
and that's how your father and the man became fast friends." Saini replies.
I see Keith shooting off a quick email to
Deshmukh. We have a new direction and enough information to re-start the whole
thing. I only hope I am not too late.
"Of
all the things he could have done, why did he start a cult?" Shukla ponders
openly.
I can only smile mirthlessly at that. "Some people like to pretend to be better
than others. Many presume that by emulating those people, they become better by
association. And each cult is unique with its composition and finds a punch
line to define their way of life."
"It
isn't like that...not always," Khushi answers immediately.
I turn and give her a smile. "You really don't have a solid case to prove
otherwise."
Khushi widens her eyes as if she is slapped
and arranges her lips to a thin line. I am f**king tired of the nonsense and pretentiousness.
I need goddamn answers so that I can close this case and give closure to many
families out there.
They deserve to know what happened to their
loved one.
comment:
p_commentcount