Chapter 9
Dr. Roy returned after 15 minutes and found Abhay and Pia still standing there like ghosts. He asked them what was wrong and that's when Abhay and Pia came to their senses. Abhay mustered some control and asked him: Errmmm... Are you sure that Major Rathod was indeed delusional. I mean didn't you doubt that he could be speaking the truth?
Dr. Roy smiled and replied: I can understand how young people are attracted to such mysteries. It's like their own personal adventure. But, I had no doubt that Maya had indeed left. There was a note of leaving that she had left on the table, her clothes were missing and plus I got those letters later to remove any doubt which I could have had.
It was then that Pia gathered some courage and spoke: Are you sure that those letters were written by her? What if they were forged?
But Dr. Roy assured her saying: No they were not forged. Maya used to write me from her boarding school also and I knew her hand writing.
Abhay and Pia somehow managed to hide their disappointment and took Dr. Roy's leave asking him to find those letters if he could. They would very much like to see them to be sure if Major Rathod was indeed delusional and Dr. Roy assured them that he indeed was and if they want they can go and check at the asylum he was submitted to. They took the address of the asylum from him and decided to pay a visit there.
After returning home there was complete silence between Abhay and Pia. They did not know what to say. Pia almost seemed on the verge of breakdown but Abhay sensed it and pulled her into his embrace. He was consoling her and Pia broke down into sobs and spoke: Abhay, what if my father was the killer?
Abhay: Pia, we are still not sure of that.
Pia: But everything points in that direction Abhay.
Abhay: Still Pia, there is that issue of those letters. Didn't Dr. Roy said that he was sure they were not forged.
Pia: But he could have forged him easily by a handwriting expert.
Abhay: Then that could have been done by just about anyone Pia.
Pia: But everything points in his direction Abhay, he even confessed it.
Abhay: If he were to confess it, then why would he send those letters? Pia there is something missing in all this.
Pia: Abhay, but what if he does turn out to be the murderer? Will you still love a murderer's daughter?
Abhay cupped Pia's face in his hands and made her look into his eyes before speaking up: Pia, do you really think that what your father did or did not do is really going to change my feelings for you? No, Pia. I love you for your beautiful heart which I know is as pure as pure can be. Nothing can change the purity of this heart and so nothing can change my love for you. Your father may or may not be a murderer, but you are no way responsible for it, then how can I not love you for something you never did?
Pia hugged Abhay more tightly and began crying more. Just then Kantaben entered the hall and seeing Pia crying, asked in an urgent tone: Sir, is everything alright? Why is madam crying? Is her..
But Abhay did not let her complete and interrupted her saying: Kantaben, could you please get us some coffee?
Kantaben replied: Surely Sir, but coffee is not advisable for madam in this condition. I have heard that it increases the blood pressure creating a risk for..
Abhay again interrupted her and told her in a slightly irritated tone: her blood pressure has fallen below normal and that is why she is crying because of sudden weakness, so could you please get us some coffee fast!
Kantaben hurried into the kitchen and quickly brought coffee with a few snacks for them. Abhay gently fed the biscuits to Pia and made her drink coffee. He then carried her to their bedroom and made her sleep in his arms. Pia slept restlessly as she was scared and worried about the events and their outcome on her and Abhay's life. Though Abhay had assured her of their love and she trusted him, but she still felt jitters wondering whether things really would be the same if she indeed turns out to be the daughter of a murderer.
Next morning Abhay decided that they visit the asylum that day and find what the doctors there had to say. Fortunately from them, the doctor who took Major Rathod's case still worked in the same hospital and was a friend of Dr. Roy. So it was easy to obtain the reference and get an appointment. The doctor there treated them warmly and assured them that Major Rathod was indeed delusional and that he was 100% sure that he did not commit a murder. On asking what made him so sure, the doctor replied: Well, I have studied enough cases to know human nature. Major Rathod might have been an army man, but he was not the man who could murder someone in cold blood or in a fit of rage. Besides, I have also seen cases when someone does commit a murder in a fit of rage and confess when realizing what they have done. But such people do not go out of their way to hide the body.
Pia and Abhay gasped at this and asked: What do you mean by saying that he hid the body?
The doctor gave them a confused expression and replied: I did not say that he hid the body, I am saying that there was no dead body to be found anywhere. Had he murdered her in a fit of rage and then felt guilty, then he would not have hidden the body, and if he had murdered her after careful planning, then he would not have confessed it. Besides, we asked him several times that if he indeed killed his wife, then what did he do with the body, but he kept saying that he had left her body lying dead in their bedroom itself where he had murdered her before going to Dr. Roy to confess his crime, but Dr. Roy as well as the house maids at that time had confirmed that there was no body to be found in the bedroom or any other part of the house.
Abhay: So are you sure that he was indeed delusional?
Doctor: Absolutely and unfortunately he remained so till his end which came just a few months after his arrival here. He kept writing the same thing in his diary too.
Pia: Can we have that diary, please?
Doctor: Of course, being his only surviving heir, you have a right over his personal belongings. I will just go and fetch the diary for you.
The doctor returned with the diary in a few minutes and Abhay and Pia took his leave. Pia read the diary through their drive back to their home and she found that on each page, her father had written the same thing - that he murdered his wife in their bedroom upstairs and then left her body there and went to Dr. Roy to confess his crime, but they did not find the body there. Instead there was a note saying that she has ran away with someone. He kept saying that the note is false and that he had killed her but nobody believed her.
After reaching home, Pia shut the diary closed and started crying. Abhay asked her why is she crying now to which she replied: It's clear now. Isn't it? My father only murdered her and then hid the body somewhere and then created this confession drama.
Abhay replied calmly: On the contrary Pia, I am now convinced that it was someone else who was present at your house just at that moment and he was the one who murdered Maya and then hid the body in your father's absence.
Pia: what makes you say so? Who else could it be?
Abhay: I don't know who it was, but I do know that it just cannot be your father.
Pia: You are not saying this just to pacify me are you?
Abhay: No Pia. It is clear that your father did not murder her.
Pia: How can you say that Abhay when my father kept saying that he murdered her in their bedroom upstairs all throughout this diary?
Abhay: that's exactly why I say he did not murder her Pia. Just say again what your father says about where he murdered Maya.
Pia replied in a confused tone: In their bedroom upstairs!
Abhay: and where did you see the murder happening?
And that's when the realization struck Pia as she irritably answered Abhay: In the hall downstairs!!!!
Edited by ..dishu.. - 13 years ago
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Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
