Read Online Murder at Crescent Point by G. S. Dutt - Free Book Online

crazy.
     

 
     
    — CHAPTER TWELVE —
    Hidden Facts
     
    Nikki reached the Taneja Mansion (as the house was called) in the evening. Mrs Taneja was in the living room watching a television programme. She saw Nikki and said, ‘Hello, dear.’ Then looking at her face she seemed shocked, ‘Why, you look haggard! What is the matter?’
    ‘I took a road trip with my friend. It was very exhausting.’
    Mrs Taneja frowned looking a little disbelieving. ‘It is almost dinner time. Why don’t you freshen up and join us for the meal.’
    ‘Aunty, can I have dinner in my room? I am very tired and want to sleep early,’ said Nikki.
    ‘No problem. I will ask Savitri to take your dinner to your room.’
    ‘Thanks Aunty,’ said Nikki.
    Nikki took a shower and changed. Trembling, she sat down on the bed and started thinking about the nightmarish experience she had been through in the last two days. She was lucky, for the Tanejas thought she was with friends! Not only had the last couple of days been an emotionally traumatic experience, she had also lost all the evidence: Asha Sayal’s letter, her bank statement, Jyoti’s photograph, Feroz’s pencil sketch and even the contact details given by Inspector Rajan. Everything. And she had unwittingly got herself implicated in an impersonation case. What to do now?
    Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Savitri, the maid, had brought her dinner. Nikki got up and asked her to keep the tray on the table. As she was turning to go, Nikki asked, ‘Savitri, could you please sit down. I want to talk to you.’ When Savitri sat down, Nikki asked, ‘How long have you been working here?’
    Savitri said, ‘Oh, a long time, ever since baby was born.’
    ‘Baby?’ asked Nikki.
    ‘I always called Jyoti “baby” even after she became a big girl like you.’
    ‘You must be close to her?’
    ‘I practically brought her up. Madam was always busy with her parties or social service work. Baby used to spend most of her time with me. I really loved her. Even now I often feel that she will enter the house and greet me with a smiling face.’ Savitri started crying.
    Nikki held her hand and said, ‘I can understand your feelings. She was a very lovable person.’
    When Savitri composed herself, Nikki asked, ‘Can you tell me whether in the recent past you had seen Aunty meeting any stranger in this house?’
    ‘Well…there was one Madam, a simple looking woman, maybe a widow…’ Nikki looked questioningly at the maid. ‘She was dressed in plain white sari and she visited Madam twice,’ said Savitri.
    This was unexpected. Nikki asked, ‘What did the woman want from Aunty?’
    ‘I really don’t know. Both times Madam took her to her own bedroom. I was a bit surprised because she never takes strangers there.’
    ‘Did you hear anything that the woman said?’
    ‘Not really, but during her first visit Madam asked me to give her a glass of water. When I entered the room the woman was crying and saying, “Don’t be cruel. I have already suffered a lot…” Madam immediately took the glass from me and asked me to leave. I was taken aback. Why do you ask me about that woman?’
    Nikki replied, ‘…that woman was also killed on the same day when Jyoti was killed, and at the same place.’
    Savitri’s face turned pale. She started crying again. Nikki tried to console her, ‘I know how you feel. The mere mention of Jyoti’s death causes you distress. Savitri, please do not talk about our conversation to anyone… not even to Aunty.’
    Savitri nodded between sobs. ‘You were her friend, but baby was like my own child.’
    The next day Nikki got up to see the entire household buzzing with activity. Soon she realised that the arrangements were being made for a puja—to offer prayers for the peace of the departed soul. A number of people were expected to come. The puja was to be held in the afternoon but preparations had started from early morning. Nikki noticed that a