A PAINTED GATE
PRE-NOTE:
Kindly excuse correct the grammatical mistakes. Thanks
in advance. :)
PART 4:
“It’s true. Why
would I lie about such a thing? The pipe in Vij’s room upstairs starts dripping
at 1 every night,” Indhu practically yelled at the top of her lungs to gain the
attention back. Priya, who was laughing her head off, sealed her lips to
prevent herself from exploding once again. Vrunda clicked her tongue, rose from
her place and sat next to Indhu. “My poor lamb.” She pressed Indhu’s hands and
then looked at Vijay. “It’s your fault, Vij. Why won’t you come home early?”
Vijay winked. “Ah
darling Indhu. You miss me. If you had told me that before, I’d not have mocked
you. Why this pipe dripping drama?”
Indhu threw a book
at him angrily. “These people don’t believe me. That’s okay. But you’re married
to me, Vij.”
Karthick cleared
his throat. “Did you guys exchange wedding vows like when one of you go insane,
the other has to accept and go insane as well?”
Priya began
laughing once again and this time, Vrunda joined the laughter too. Indhu
released her fingers from Vrunda’s and snapped. “Why won’t one of you stay at
Vij’s room tonight? Do you have guts?”
Vimal narrowed his
eyes. “Am I the only one or anyone else here thinks that Indhu might be afraid
of a ghost?”
Karthick slapped
Vijay on his back. “Oh man! I hope it is a ghost. I’ve never seen one of those
things before…”
“Yeah because we
all are keeping one or two in cages as pets…” said Sravya carelessly, barely
taking her eyes off her book.
Karthick continued
as though he was never interrupted. “So Vij, did you call one of those people –
I mean the ones who deal with ghosts and arrest them in little jug. What are
they called? Exorcists, I believe?”
Vijay grinned. “No,
but I called one of those people who deal with pipes and repair them. What are
they called? Plumbers, I believe?”
“So pipe was
repaired. Everything is done and dusted,” said Vimal in a matter-of-fact tone.
“No,” Indhu shouted
again. “Is there anyone listening to me? The plumber came and said that the
pipe was okay. But again it dripped around midnight…”
Vijay yawned. “And
I came at that time and closed it. End of story.”
“No, not end of
story. Either you solve the mystery or I am going…” Indhu looked at Vijay and
said without smiling. Vijay raised his eyebrows and she changed tracks
immediately. “Okay, okay, I am not going anywhere but you should come home
early. I need you more than Purple Penchant do.”
Vimal whispered in
Vijay’s ears. “That’s exactly when you get permissions from wife to keep the TV
remote till the world cup is over.”
“What?” Vijay
looked confused.
“I am just telling
you that this is the time that you can ask your wife do anything for you,” said
Vimal, twinkling.
The puzzled
expression on Vijay’s face cleared. “You know what? It’s great to have someone
more experienced in this marriage business. Thanks, dude.” He clapped his hands
and looked at Indhu. “Okay dear. I’ll come home early and you should stop
talking feminism…”
“Okay, okay, it’s a
done deal then. Let’s talk about the feminism thing later. I’ll bring coffee
for all of you guys,” she jumped and went inside the kitchen.
Both Karthick and
Vimal laughed out loud. Vijay made a face. “Seriously?”
Vimal shrugged his
shoulders. “Obviously she has an experienced friend as well.”
Karthick looked
serious for the first time. “Hang on. I always thought that you two will find
out every way to manage the wife and so when I get married…”
“That’s not going
to happen, my love,” said Priya, pouting.
“I only wish,”
Karthick sighed.
“Tell me again, how
did you two fall in love? I am amazed,” said Vimal.
“Tell you again? I don’t remember telling you
anything for the first time,” said Karthick sarcastically.
“Okay, the real
question is how did you fall in love with this idiot, Priya?” Vijay asked while
Vimal had convulsed with mirth.
“I met him at the
tennis club,” said Priya, a dreamy look coming into her eyes. “You hit a ball
on his face, Vijay.”
“I didn’t mean to.
He should’ve stopped it – that’s the game,” said Vijay defensively.
“Anyway he was
bleeding and all. I helped him. I think that is when love dawned. My heart
melted as I sorted him out,” she said while Vimal and Vrunda exchanged looks.
Vrunda snorted.
“How lucky, Vij! You practically watched love dawning in somebody.”
“No, I was busy
laughing. God, I missed it. Would I ever get such wonderful opportunity again?”
Vijay put a sad face and Priya punched him on the shoulder. “It’s no laughing
matter, Vij.”
Karthick nodded in
agreement. “Yes, she was all sympathy and understanding. That’s when…”
“Love took birth in
your heart? Damn, it seems to be a double miss from my part,” said Vijay,
pulling his eyebrows together.
“Yeah, me too. What
kind of sins did I do in my previous life?” said Vimal.
Priya made a face.
“I don’t know what you were in your previous life. But you’re going to be a
donkey in your next.”
“Again?” asked
Karthick calmly.
Sravya who was
deeply immersed in her book looked up and her lips curved a little. Vijay moved
next to her and tweaked her nose softly. “Come on, kid. How long are you gonna
beat yourself?”
Sravya shut the
book and looked into his wise eyes. “How long are you gonna scare Indhu with
that pipe trick?”
Indhu came in, set
the coffee tray in the middle and looked at Vijay with parted lips. “You did
it?”
“It’s Halloween
time,” said Vijay innocently.
“You’re so dead,”
said Indhu, snatching the book from Sravya’s hands. Vijay dodged her hit and
smiled broadly. “It was just cool to prove to a feminist that she needs a man.
The bet is Sravya’s.”
**********
“What
were you thinking, Vij?” asked Karthick.
Vijay
shook his head. “Just the evening before Halloween. How did you come here by
the way? You were sitting in the front seat with Priya.”
“I
made a few jokes to light up the mood,” said Karthick. “Apparently at a wrong
time, I guess. The ladies royally asked me to get lost.”
“Idiot,”
said Vijay. He licked his dry lips and rubbed his forehead. “You must thank me
for hitting that unfortunate ball.”
“Not
as much as idiotic as Vimal who is digging a grave for his sister,” he pointed
the middle of the courtroom.
Vimal and Indhu gave a weary smile to each other before Vimal
picked up his papers. “How long do you know the defendant, Indhu?
“As long as I remember.”
Gowtham smiled. “Big mistake.” He said to himself and noted
the words in his notebook.
“How long do you know Jason Antony?”
“Since Sravya introduced to me.”
Gowtham said loudly. “Are we supposed to learn those dates
from Indhu’s diary? If so, I wasn’t provided with one. Also defense counsel
chose a lousy procedure to…”
Vimal expressed perfect calmness and told Indhu, “Indhu,
please, give us with the particulars.”
“Oh, sorry. I know Sravya for more than four years and I know
Jason for a year.”
Vimal proceeded with his next question. “And how are they
together?”
“They did very well. She loved him so much. She would never
hurt him.”
“Did they have any fights in the period of their
relationship?”
“No. They are really made for each other.”
Gowtham twittered. “That’s what I was saying too.”
“Advocate Gowtham,” said Judge Bhaskaran not so gently. “If
you’re not going to keep your comments with yourself, I shall fine you for
contempt of court.” Gowtham made an action of zipping his lip and smiled.
Vimal continued. “Whose idea was JK chit funds?”
“Karthick’s,” said Indhu. Her eyes perfunctorily glanced at
the direction of the Prosecution Counsel. Gowtham gave a nasty smile.
Vijay understood where Vimal was getting at. From the first
his lawyer friend’s plan was plain to Vijay: to cast doubt, doubt, doubt. Not
heatedly. With cool humor. The voice of reason . . . Insinuate. Imply. Get away
with whatever you can and to hell with the rules of cross-examination.
“It was neither Jason’s nor Sravya’s?”
“No.”
“How did Jason get into this business?”
“Karthick said that he would want someone innovative and good
at Finance. He said that Jason was his obvious choice.”
“What was Sravya’s reaction?”
“Neither of them wanted it. Jason was working for Purple
Penchant – Sravya was worried that it would mean Vijay losing someone in
Finance. She loved Vij so much and so she didn’t want to get him in trouble. In
other words, she was totally against it.”
“Jason?”
“He had a nice pay and he was comfortable working for Purple
Penchant. So he was in a dilemma. He asked suggestions from Vij.”
“And?”
“Anyway finally it was me who convinced Jason. Karthick is
playful – finally he wanted to do something sensible and I thought it would be
great if Jason was with him.”
“You did this despite the fact that you were losing a good
employee?”
“Yes, in fact, as Sravya predicted, it did get Vij into
trouble and he had to work late night.”
“Was he happy about it? I mean, Jason?”
“Not much. He said that he will be back to Purple Penchant
once Karthick’s business was stabilized.”
“Sravya?”
“She agreed.”
“So neither Jason nor Sravya wanted the job in first place.
Neither of them is interested in huge money as my learned friend Gowtham has
suggested?”
“How could he know? He never met either of them,” said Indhu.
Gowtham lifted his eyebrows. “Mrs. Indhu, please concentrate
on answering the questions.”
“Uh, what was the question again?” asked Indhu, sounding a
little flummoxed. “Oh yes, I’ve already told you that they did not want the
job. They definitely weren’t interested in money. The only aim was not to leave
Karthick alone in his first business.”
“So when you first heard about Jason’s embezzlement, what was
your reaction?”
“We heard it a little late because we were on vacation…”
“We again?” Gowtham
remarked.
Indhu swallowed. “I… I was on vacation celebrating my
husband’s birthday. So the news didn’t reach us. When we… I was back, I was
really surprised. I simply couldn’t believe it.”
“Sravya was in jail for enquiry.”
“That’s right. And the police said that Jason ran away with
the money and Sravya was taken for enquiry as she knew Jason’s place.”
“You spoke to her?”
“I did. She was hurt, she was wounded, she was tortured…”
Indhu’s voice broke at this point and she looked away, blinking back her tears.
Even Vimal didn’t continue for a few seconds. “What did she
say?”
“She was afraid that something happened to Jason and she
wanted Vijay to find him. She literally begged him.”
“She wasn’t furious that she was being tortured on behalf of
Jason?”
“No, she was simply worried about Jason. That’s all.”
“What did she say about the 50 million dollars?”
“She said that she didn’t know anything about it. She thought
that it was a trap.”
“Once she came out, did she still believe Jason?”
“Yes, she did. She waited for him. She said that he would
come back for her. Vijay promised her that he would get him.”
“Did he?”
“Yes.” She looked at Vijay and she wished that she could hold
his hands at that moment. He had advised her not to mention anything about Minister
Janarthan. She nodded at him and faced Vimal again.
Even Vimal knew better and so he changed the subject quickly.
“Now that we established that Sravya did not wait for revenge…”
Gowtham chuckled. “We did not establish anything of that
sort. Sravya could be a sweet little actress and this woman in the witness box
is naïve.”
“I am not naïve,” said Indhu in a firm voice.
Gowtham and Indhu stared at each other for some time and
Gowtham gave up at last. “I am saving my questions for re-examination. Please
continue, Advocate Vimal.”
“You already informed the court that the party was the idea
of Priya and Sravya. What was the aim of this party?”
“You… you didn’t trust Jason. You were angry that your sister
was betrayed. You wouldn’t even want Jason’s name uttered in your house. So
when Jason was back, we thought it would be a better idea to have the party in
my house.”
“Great. Gowtham already asked you the necessary questions
about New Year’s Eve. Now let me take you through it one more time. Please
concentrate.”
“Yes, Vimal.”
“Did Sravya choose the food items?
“No. Priya and I did.”
“Whose idea were the prawns?”
“Priya’s. She said that Sravya could make it.”
“So Sravya wasn’t aware of the plans till she entered the
kitchen?”
“That’s right.”
“She didn’t say anything about…”
“My lord,” Gowtham leaped to his feet. "Pardon me, but
is this a dress rehearsal? Why is our defense counsel walking her through it
instead of asking questions?"
Judge Bhaskaran agreed. “Mr. Vimal, you should stick to the
questions. You shouldn’t prompt the witness to agree with what you are saying.”
“I apologize, my Lord,” said Vimal. “So what was Sravya’s
reaction that day, Indhu?”
“She was thoroughly excited that she was gonna see Jason
again. She was a bit concerned about your response.”
“Is that why she left the kitchen as soon as I arrived?”
Gowtham imitated Indhu. “Yes,
Vimal. That’s right.” He rose, rustling his untidy black hair. “Vimal, I am
sure that I am going to give you a chance to tell your side of story. Now will
you please let the lady tell her side of story?”
Judge Bhaskaran looked at Vimal reprovingly. “This is my last
warning. You shouldn’t lead a witness.”
Vimal frowned but nodded his head. “Indhu, why did she leave
the kitchen?”
“Jason was already in the hall. You just arrived. She thought
that it would be an odd encounter and she decided that she should be part of
it.”
“You didn’t go with her?”
“Somebody has to be in the kitchen. Besides Vrunda was with
you and so I wasn’t troubled much.”
“Was there any trouble outside?”
“I am not sure. But I didn’t hear anything unusual.”
“When did you see all of them together again?”
“When I came out of the kitchen to arrange the dining table.
I couldn’t see Jason or Karthick. Vrunda was straight back from work and so she
asked me if she could use the rest room. She left. Priya and Sravya were
explaining to you why Jason was here. Everything seemed fine.”
“What happened then?”
“Like I said, I started arranging the table. The girls
shortly joined me. Karthick came out of nowhere with the bottles. And Vijay
called.”
“What was it about?”
“He was running late as he was picking up some medicines for
our dog. He asked me to start without him. And I said okay.”
“So your dog was sick?”
“Yes, he was.”
“The call went for 10 minutes. What did you notice during
that period?”
“Not much. You were watching TV in the hall. Vrunda joined
you. Sravya showed up after 2-3 minutes and she went again. That’s it. I was
really into that call.”
Vijay
sighed. “Only if I knew what happened in the meantime…”
Karthick
passed a cookie to him and then asked, “Why do you think so?”
“It’s
not a planned murder. The morphine was taken from Vrunda’s kit. No one knew
that till she arrived. Something happened at that night after her arrival led
to this murder.”
“Nice
argument, mate. But Vrunda knows that she has morphine. So does Vimal.”
Karthick’s tone was a bit challenging.
Vijay
smiled. “But they didn’t know Jason was there, did they?”
Karthick
patted Vijay appreciatively. “That’s very good. So the people who were with
Jason didn’t have the morphine with them. The people who have the morphine
didn’t know that Jason was in your place. So something happened after 9. What
could it be?”
“You
tell me, Karthick.”
“I
don’t know. I was hanging around with Jason, you see. He looked pretty nervous
about meeting Vimal…”
“What
about that 500 million dollars cheque?”
“Listen,
Vij. My dad needed a scapegoat – he picked Jason. He made it look like Jason
did everything but the money was in his control all along. He threatened Jason
perfectly and got things done for him. I agree with everything. But I have no
clue about this cheque.”
“He
didn’t say anything?”
“No.
He showed me the gift box and he believed that Vimal will come along after it.”
“That’s
where the mystery is.”
“It’s
the motive that kills me, Vij. None of us has any. Sravya loved him. Priya was
the one who brought them back together. Indhu doesn’t even belong anywhere in
this problem; she is just the party host. Vimal and Vrunda hated him but they
knew the truth already before the dinner. Jason has a motive to kill me but not
the other way around. So it’s interesting, isn’t it?”
“I
guess it’s not you because you obviously won’t use your own hands to kill
anyone if at all you have to kill.”
“True
that. But still I don’t have a motive.”
“Until
and unless you hid something from Priya and Jason knew it. Jason had to be
silenced before he reveals it to her. How about it for a motive?”
Karthick
grinned. “Very good. But you know very well that there is no ‘something’. I’d
not have brought him to your place in first place if so.”
“Hence
I ruled it out. But it was a good motive though.”
“What happened during the dinner?”
“Sravya gave the champagne bottle to Jason; Jason gave a box
back to her. Karthick presented an expensive watch to Priya; she kissed him in
return. Vrunda said that your gifts will wait till Vijay joins us and so I
wouldn’t feel lonely.”
“Good. So why didn’t Sravya open her gift box? Or why was it
never opened?”
“It was because the stupid bet came before she did. Karthick
asked him to open it in a single shot… Every one of us was screaming and
laughing; there is no time. And then he – J..Jason fell on the floor, choking.”
“So in the entire period, you did not witness anything
unusual?”
“That beats me. But everything was so normal till Jason fell
dead,” said Indhu.
“That’s
what beats me as well,” said Gowtham in an almost inaudible voice.
“Really?”
asked Vaishali.
“Yes,
Mrs. Gowtham,” He smiled. “You know that you look very sexy in your black gown,
darling?”
“I
am not your wife here. I am your deputy and so I might book you in a harassment
case.”
Gowtham
coughed. “The whole point of marrying your own deputy is that you can flirt
with them in the middle of your exhaustive work.”
The
corner of Vaishali’s lips broadened. “Right. Now, concentrate.”
“You
said ‘poor Sravya’. Now Indhu’s witness proves that she is not. No one else
could’ve killed him. No motive, no means, no opportunity.”
“Yes.
But do you think that Sravya planned this? The morphine was taken from Vrunda’s
medical kit. So the idea was born after 9 and the dinner was served at 9:30.
Something happened in this period.”
“We
can narrow it down further. Indhu was with the food till 9:15. It was only
those 15 minutes.”
“That
leaves out Vimal and Vrunda. She just said that they were in the hall during
that phone call.”
“Yes,
they two have a motive as well and they are eliminated. Priya and Karthick do
not have a motive. So I am right, Vaishu darling. It is Sravya.”
Judge Bhaskaran announced. “Gowtham, you may re-examine your
witness now.”
“Thanks, my Lord.” He walked straight to the witness box.
“Mrs. Indhu, how many of you don’t eat prawns?”
“My husband and Vimal are vegetarians. Vrunda doesn’t eat
non-veg on Tuesday and Friday. I hate seafood. Karthick and Priya are very
particular about their food – they don’t have the habit of sharing food.”
“In other words, no one would’ve touched those prawns except
for Jason?”
“Yes.”
“But the champagne… usually in parties, no one opens the
second bottle till the first one was over, right?”
“Yes. But…”
“Yeah?” Gowtham prompted.
“Karthick and Vimal had already poured theirs. I told you
that we went crazy when Jason opened his bottle. He simply poured a glassful
and drank it. We didn’t question it as it was a gift.”
With a little smile, he glanced down his notebook. “Did
Sravya insist that he should drink?”
Indhu bit her lips and stared at him in disbelief. How the
hell did he know? “Yes, she did.”
“That’s all, your honor,” said Gowtham, adjusting his black
gown.
To be continued.
For previous parts, kindly check
Thanks & Regards,
Lavanyaa
