An Unsolved Case

This story belongs to me.

My name is Vaasu, Inspector Vaasu. Yes, I am a Police Officer…I mean I was once.

When I got this Job, I thought I would be getting interesting cases like I saw in thriller movies – Serial Killer, Psycho, Murder Mysteries, and God knows what more. But when I got posted here, I realized that most of the cases that we encounter are of theft, some fights, and common molestation cases. Few of these cases were solved however, the remaining cases are either trapped in Case Files or forgotten.

There’s a saying that, there comes a turning point in an individual’s life that can change or turn the entire life. Well, that applies to me as well. I encountered something like that – A Case. However, I haven’t ever, even in my wildest/horrific dreams, imagined that a case could have a severe effect on my life. I have lost my sleep due to this Case. Sometimes I couldn’t bear to live, having known to survive such a case.

In this book, I am narrating my experience of my survival and experience the aftermath of a Case that I encountered 2 years back.

2 years back… The Year 2017

One day, a man aged almost 55-60 years, came to our station while crying a lot, he grabbed me and asked:

“Where is Bade Sahab (Senior Officer)?”

I somehow managed to settle him, I gave him a glass of water. I said:

“Bade Sahab (Senior Officer) is a little busy today. You can tell me about your problem, I will…”

“I only want to talk to Bade Sahab (Senior Officer)” – He said.

He didn’t want to listen to anything; he only wanted to talk to Bade Sahab. I asked him about his problem many times yet he is not willing to answer me anything.

That day, Bade Sahab was busy so I asked him to wait for him. He then sat down at the stairs. Quietly. He said nothing. Just sat.

It's now, late evening, Bade Sahab was still busy at his meeting and after some time Bade Sahab left. I couldn’t get time to talk to him. And then the night came. It was around 9-9:30 of night, and that man was still at the stairs, sitting quietly, lost somewhere. I approached him slowly, put my hand on his shoulders, and said:

“I am Sorry sir, I couldn’t talk to Bade Sahab but tomorrow, as soon as he comes to the station, I will talk to him about you.”

“…” – He said nothing.

“Sir, I think you should leave now, you should go to your home, night has fallen, and your family members must be waiting for you.”

He breaks his silence and replies:

“It’s all over”

“Over? What over sir?” – I asked.

“Family. I have no one now.” – He replied.

I was shocked. I asked:

“Sir… Your family? What…happened…to your…family?”

With an unsettling voice, he replied:

“Killed them. Killed everyone.”

“Killed everyone? Who sir? Who killed your family?” – I asked.

With a more unsettling voice, he replied:

“I killed everyone. Everyone.”

“What is he saying” I wondered in my head. I couldn’t figure out whether he was telling the truth or not. Yet I asked him.

“Sir but why did you do that?”

He was silenced. Said nothing.

I want to figure out about his family. So I asked him.

“Okay sir, tell me who is…was in your family?”

“My daughter, her husband, and my 2 granddaughters” – He replied.

“Sir your wife?” – I asked.

He was quiet yet again.

At this moment I didn’t want to believe that he had done, what he said. Suddenly, something struck in my head.

“Sir you said, you have 2 granddaughters. What about them?”

I don’t want to believe my instinct at this moment.

The man started crying. He was sobbing like a child.

I somehow managed to settle him again.

“Sir please tell me what happened?”

He came out of his silence and started telling me everything from the beginning. He narrated his story to me:

[Story of the Man]

My name is Michael, I am a dentist by profession. I had a beautiful loving family. My daughter – Nisha, her husband – Ravi, and my 2 cute granddaughters – Riya and Shriya, they were twins. My wife – Reeta, however, it’s been almost 10 years since our divorce, but this divorce has never intruded on our family relationship. I loved Rita. And she loved me too. But soon after our marriage we got into small fights, when Nisha turned 15, she locked herself in the room because we were fighting. Nisha had to face everything, So, we decided to separate just for Nisha. This was a mutual separation. As time passed, Nisha grew up and she fell in love with a man soon they got married and soon I became a grandfather. I was happy. We were happy. Our family seems to be complete. Rita started to stay for longer. Everyone was happy.

But as they say, this too shall pass. Nothing stays for longer, not even happiness.

One day, Nisha came to me and said:

“Papa, I saw Ravi with a woman today, he was holding her hand”

“Ary, what are you thinking beta? It's nothing. Ravi is such a nice guy, and you are doubting him. Don’t worry, I understand, I will talk to him about this in the evening.”

I trusted Ravi, I treated him like my own son. He couldn’t do that. I know. It was just a misunderstanding or Nisha is interpreting something else.

“Come Ravi sit. Yaar what is Nisha saying? You with another girl or something? Come on tell her that she was your Boss or colleague. Nisha thinks too much beta”

“You got to know. I was wondering how to confront you. Okay, it's nice. So now you know. That girl, I love her and soon I am going to marry her and do you know she is pregnant. Now I have to take care of her and be with her. Right?” – Ravi Replied.

I couldn’t make up my mind, this was really happening, Ravi said all of this. I turned to Nisha, she was silent, and she became numb. I don’t know what I should say now.

“Ravi... What are you saying beta? Come on, don’t joke around. This isn’t the time.” – I said.

“Ary Uncle, you can understand, the way you left your wife, first married her then took a separation, the same is my plan. The way you were not wrong, the same way I am not wrong. I have used your daughter; my mom and dad can never allow me to marry Shanaya. The moment your daughter fell in love with me, I got an idea. Marry your daughter but Love Shanaya. I love her so much that I am going to….”

Ravi kept saying something and something… I don’t know what happened to me at that moment I grabbed a TV remote and with my anger, I hit him hard with the remote right into his head. Ravi suddenly fell.

“RAVI!” – Nisha Shouted. “Ravi! Look at me… You will be fine. Papa, please call the Ambulance… RAVI!”