III
“What is the matter with you?” Usha was irritated with Rohit. She realized he had not wet his bed.
“Nothing, just feeling unwell” the boy lay facing the wall.
“You always make excuses to bunk school. You could take an auto-rickshaw today. Why avoid classes needlessly?” Usha loved her brother but thought discipline was important.
“What happened?” Rohit whispered.
“Imarti has gone to the hospital with high fever. Why do you whisper?”
“I heard what Ma said to you” the boy spoke and turned towards his sister.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“I think I know who did this. I woke up around four in the morning on the verge of wetting my bed. It was raining and something drew me to the long crack in the backdoor.”
“What did you see?”
“I saw two dark figures run towards the main road. I am almost certain they were the culprits. They spoke in hushed voices which sounded familiar”
“You sure you did not dream or imagine this?”
“No. Should we go to the police?”
“Let them file a case. You relax” Usha replied and went to the living room to call a friend for advice.
She was neither sure of Rohit’s version of the events nor of his being taken seriously as a minor by the police. Her friend told her it was best to await the medical report and possible investigation.
At eleven thirty in the forenoon the doctor from the hospital called to say that Imarti had slipped into coma and her chances of recovery appeared slim. The police had filed a medico-legal case and detained Dulichand as the prime suspect.
That evening the SHO of the Kamala Market Police Station was informed by a subordinate that a lady doctor accompanied by a young lady and minor boy wished to meet him. A stabbing had been reported from Ajmeri Gate and he was in a bad mood.
“Regarding what?” the SHO enquired in irritation.
“Janab, they mentioned the Imarti-Dulichand case.”
“Show them in and get some tea” the SHO said clearing his desk.
“It seems my son saw the perpetrators of this heinous crime. He insists that his statement be recorded” the Doctor said to the SHO.
“Doctor Madam, I know that a testimony of a minor is admissible in the court under certain circumstances. But I think that your son is unsure of what he saw. Is there any corroborative evidence which can make his testimony credible?” the SHO peered at Rohit, a sarcastic smile lurking under his thick black mustaches.
“But why have you arrested Dulichand?” Usha asked. The SHO’s subordinate stared at her.
“The officers on duty at the hospital did their duty. They felt he could not be trusted with his statement and therefore detained him. Once we verify his alibi, he will be released and a different investigation opened.”
The SHO disliked college girls. Of late his high school going daughter had become argumentative and there was no peace at home.
“Now I will have to deal with this insolent bitch!” he thought but kept a straight face.
His argument failed to convince the visitors.
“Madam, you don’t know that these sweepers drink too much and beat their wives. You are kind-hearted studious people but you don’t really know these people. Experience tells me that it is convenient for these wretched drunks to blame others for what they do.”
The comment reminded the Doctor of her alcoholic violent husband she had divorced four years ago. The conversation in the musty room became distant to her for a while and Usha read her thoughts in silence.
“Remember the Rameshwar case of the Committee Square?” the SHO shot at his subordinate, who stood next to his desk, for effect.
“Yes Janab, what a vile bhangi he was. Killed his wife on mere suspicion” the subordinate replied with a grimace. The two-year old case had spun the gossip wheels for a few weeks in the area making people briefly over suspicious of the lower castes.
“I advice you to go home. If we need a statement you will be contacted and the statement will be taken in the presence of an elder. Now, please excuse me” the SHO said getting up from the chair to show that matters more urgent awaited his attention.
Two days later the Doctor announced that Imarti’s parents had taken her away to the village to revive her with the help of herbal remedies and a renowned local shaman.
Dulichand confessed under under ‘sustained’ interrogation and his relative denied his alibi. According to the police he had spent the night in the Municipal Committee office junkyard with a bottle of cheap whiskey that had been recovered. Apparently he had killed his wife in a fit of jealous anger.
The police confiscated the meagre possessions of the couple and had the jhuggi demolished with the help of the Municipal sweepers and chowkidars.
Rohit disbelieved the police and developed a life long phobia of moonless nights.
The End
