Murder in Retrospect.Last Chp P139,140 Feb13 - Page 96

Originally posted by: -sakshi-

good update dishu..it wasn't boring at all

looking fwd. to next

Chapter 16

After reaching Italy, Abhay and Pia first visited the old address of Angelo as per the records in the club back at Mumbai. They had little hopes of still finding him there, but the current owner Mr. Abbiati told them that he had moved from here only five years back and that he himself had bought the house from Angelo's wife directly. And hence, he had the address to which Angelo and his family had moved to five years back. He also told that Angelo owns quite a few Gondolas in Venice city and currently earns his living by hiring them out to travellers, since his wife gave their sons the power of attorney to run her father's business.

Abhay quickly formulated a plan about how to approach Angelo. He and Pia were going to call at his house pretending to be a honeymoon couple who wanted to visit Venice. They were going to claim their cab driver had told them about some one in this area being in Gondolas' business and so they had been enquiring around till they stumbled upon his address. Pia had doubts that how is this going to lead them anywhere, but Abhay assured her that he just wants to get an idea about his personality. As they approached their house, they could hear a loud voice coming from Angelo's house. They moved closer to listen to what was going on and realized that it was Angelo's wife who was shouting at Angelo, saying: You are ruining my family's reputation by running that low class Gondola business of yours. People laugh at me that I married some fisherman. I don't understand why you need to do any other business at all when we have our family business.

Angelo was calmly replying: I don't think people's words should matter to you after so many years. We have been married for 25 years now. And you yourself handed over the family business to our sons, so how can I take care of it when you don't want me to do it. And I am sorry as a father I feel it's my duty to provide for my sons, rather than expect them to take care of me.

The wife replied back: Oh you resent me giving the business to our sons, don't you? You were always a gold digger, that's why you married me, isn't it? And it's only the money which has kept you with me all these years, else you would have left me for that Indian bi*** long time ago. I bet you still think of going to her if you could somehow get the chance to snatch my money from me. That is why I made our sons the owners of the business as soon as they turned of legal age.

Angelo once again spoke in a calm tone: I don't know why you keep bringing her up always when I have never given you a reason to complain. I have never been disloyal to you or careless towards our sons. As for the money, it is true that my father agreed for your proposal because he was in debts, but if I had been a gold digger, then I would have just enjoyed on my son's business without working at all. But my self-respect is more important to me than money. Had I wanted to leave you, I am sure I would have managed to give her a decent enough living, but that's not how I am or how she was. We both knew that my responsibilities lie with you and my sons and that I could not shun my responsibilities for her.

The wife still replied in anger: Responsibilities, that's all that we are to you. You never loved me or my sons.

However Angelo replied in a sad voice: Love cannot be forced, it needs to be developed.

His wife shouted in anger: It's useless to talk to you. But let me tell you one thing straight, I am never ever going to give you divorce to let you marry her or anyone else and if I ever find you cheating on me, I will make sure to ruin both of your lives forever.

Abhay and Pia moved tried to peek through the window and saw her storming out of the room leaving Angelo murmuring to himself: You never understood me dear. If I could leave you or my sons alone, I would have done so long time ago. But I could never do that. I could have easily found a well paying job in India and settle with her there. But we both did not have in us to deprive my sons the love of a father and you the rights and respect of a wife.

Pia felt sorry for Angelo and urged Abhay to move from there. She urged Abhay saying: Abhay, please let's go from here. Angelo just could not be the man who would have murdered Maya. Look at the way his wife treats him, yet he has always stood by her and been loyal to her. He just could not have killed anyone.

Abhay: I think you are right Pia. But there is no harm in being sure. We would not pretend to be anything. Instead we will introduce ourselves directly.

They knocked on Angelo's door and when he opened the door, Abhay apologized saying: I am sorry we overheard your conversation with your wife.

Angelo was a bit angry and more confused and asked: But who are you, and why were you eavesdropping on us? What brought you here in the first place?

Abhay said in an apologetic tone: Actually we had come to talk to you about I guess the same woman that your wife mentioned.

Angelo's expressions turned soft in an instant and he asked in a soft but excited tone: You mean Maya? Do you know her? How is she? Is she alright? Is she happy with her husband and that little doll Pia?

Abhay could not help but smile at the thought of Pia being referred to as a doll. He looked adoringly at her and she blushed. It was she who spoke up to Angelo: I am the same Pia.

Angelo looked at her in awe and remarked: Oh My! You have grown up so much! And who is this young man, your husband? Why don't you both come in?

It was Abhay who spoke up: I don't think that would be a good idea. Your wife may not like our presence in your house. Do you mind taking a walk with us across the corner to the nearby caf? Maybe we can talk there.

Angelo agreed and accompanied them outside. The trio went to the coffee shop at the corner of the street and began talking. Angelo was shocked to know about Maya's disappearance 18 years ago. He refused to believe that she could have ditched her husband and the little Pia and ran away with someone. He told them that he was sure that Maya only loved him and even on the night when he saw her at the club, he could see love for him in her eyes, yet she was committed to her husband and his daughter. He insisted that something else must have surely happened to her and that they should try to find about her. When Abhay and Pia said that it has been 18 years, how are they going to find anything amiss in her disappearance, Angelo countered back: If you can try to find her after 18 years, then can't you try to find what actually happen to her. I know there is little hope of her being alright if at all alive after all these years, in case she was kidnapped or something, but still at least she will get justice. Please do it for my sake. I would help you whichever way you would want me to, but please try to find her.

Finally Abhay and Pia assured him that they will try to do their best and took his leave. They decided to use the remaining part of their trip roaming around Italy and having some light moments amidst all this tension. They returned early Saturday morning and headed back to their house to get ready to meet Ruhi at Dr. Roy's residence. Kantaben informed them saying some Dr. Roy had paid them a visit and on being asked had said that he was just in the area for a conference and so had thought of paying them a visit. Abhay and Pia thanked her for letting them know and asked het to get their breakfast ready.

It was then while having breakfast in their balcony that Abhay noticed the stairs coming from the terrace to the garden. He exclaimed: Oh what an imbecile I have been. I should have noticed it right in the beginning.

Pia asked in surprise: What Abhay?

Abhay: the place where Maya's body was hidden?

Pia: What, what do you mean?

Abhay: Look Pia, this house was already having a staircase from the hall to the garden, then why would someone bother to construct a staircase from the terrace to the garden if they were going to planning to leave the house or if someone is not interested in gardens at all. Your father and Maya were planning to leave the house and settle somewhere else, so they would not bother with it, and the family which came to live after them was not interested in gardens at all, so they too would not bother constructing a stair case in this manner.

Pia(still confused): I am not getting you Abhay.

Abhay: Pia, the staircase, that's where the body is hidden. The murderer hid or rather buried the body in the garden and got a few labourers to cover it up by constructing a staircase so that any unevenness of Earth would be attributed to the construction work. Wait, I will just ask Kabir to get his team and dig this area up in our absence. And I think we should now get ready to leave for Pune. Let's see what Ruhi has to tell us.

They reached Dr. Roy's office at 2 pm itself and sat there waiting for Ruhi who was to arrive at 3 pm. The clock chimed 3'o clock but Ruhi did not came. They continued to wait further, 3:30, 4'oclock, but no signs of Ruhi. They were getting restless as to why Ruhi did not arrive when Dr. Roy's phone rang. It was the local police inspector asking him to come down to the cliff near railway station immediately. They all left for the place and were shocked to see the dead body of a woman. Her throat had been brutally slashed and she had been thrown off from the cliff into a pit. The inspector showed them a letter which they had found in the dead woman's purse with directions to Dr. Roy's house and asked him if he recognizes the letter. Dr. Roy confirmed that he had written this letter to a woman named Ruhi who was going to meet him at 3 pm today. The police then asked Dr. Roy to confirm if he can identify the body and took him near the body. They turned her body to reveal her face and Dr. Roy exclaimed crying out: Ruhi!!!!!