A Theft in Post-office!

It was actually the third round of advocate Mr Sanjay Sharma to the post-office in the last two days. He seemed quite frustrated by the behaviour of staff. On the first day, he was told that his letter had arrived but yet to be sorted out from the bundle. After that, the letter will be dispatched mostly by that evening. But to his surprise, he didn’t receive it even till 2 of the afternoon of the next day. Hence, he planned to visit there for one more time. This time, he got a shocking reply from the same clerk that he hadn’t received any letter of his who previously was saying that letter had been received and it has to be sorted out. The higher officials also misbehaved, saying that they didn’t have any clue about this letter. He didn’t have any option left rather to return empty handed with a ton of exasperation.

Raj has just returned Delhi in semester breaks from the “University of California” where he was pursuing undergraduate in ‘Detective fiction and cognitive science”. We were about to meet in some days as “University of Delhi” has also offered me a few days break on the occasion of Holi to discuss our good school days and upcoming trips. He sensed his father condition and enquired about what is it that is troubling him so much? At first, he was reluctant to include his son in this situation but due to the obdurate nature of Raj, he had to tell him every nook and corner of the story.

We met in one fine and bright afternoon near one of the CCD in CP. Raj, as usual, has already ignited one gold flake from the pack and I was waiting for it to be finished so that we can enter the cafe. I settled on one vanilla cappuccino whereas he chose strawberry cheese cake. After reminiscing school days where we used to play and sit together, tease the girls, bunk classes to play matches and sightseeing, Raj’s face at once became grave. On reinforcing, he narrated the trouble in which his father was.

What was in the letter? I asked perplexed.

Some evidence perhaps. Not sure which type. Raj replied.

And who all were knowing about this?

Only two people. My dad and Mrs Khanna. Raj replied promptly.

Mrs Khanna is the same lady, your dad is fighting a case for? I asked to assure myself.

Yeah!

Is there any information about his husband? I asked to frame a plot.

Yes, the two got separated 6 months before, not legally. Also, the reason for their separation is top secret till now which even media has failed to bring into the limelight. When asked, both said that its their personal decision. Raj elaborated.

And your dad is fighting a case for Mrs. Khanna. Can you tell on what is the issue?

Yeah, there is one estate of Mr Khanna in Goa which Mrs Khanna claims to be hers. Raj added suspiciously.

Oh, to saara khel property ka hai. These businessman cares for nothing except their property. I added a remark on the present day scenario. And If your father won’t get that letter on time, then he might loose the case.

It’s not a matter of losing a case only. This case has become high profile one with all the media and people waiting for the result. If my father fails to produce the evidence, he might be accused of bribery which won’t be healthy for his further career. Raj said gravely.

I can understand. I said, taking the last sip from my cappuccino and extending my hands toward his cake.

Don’t you think the case is so simple as in order to win the case and keep the estate on his side, Mr. Khanna is behind the theft of the letter? Being a moneyed man, it’s not much difficult for him. Raj made a point.

But you said that only Mrs. Khanna and your dad knew about the letter. I added what Raj missed!

Do you trust Mrs Khanna? Raj asked ironically.

I neither trust Mr Khanna as well. I replied what I felt.

That’s what! We can’t trust both the khannas.

We can’t trust anyone in these cases. I added my experience. Let’s play a trick. If it worked then we would be the happiest person on the earth. And in the next 5 minutes, I explained the whole of my plan. Raj eyes glowed while he listened.

The next day we were standing near the post office at 10’o clock sharp. We were waiting for the clerk to settle down. Only then we can proceed with our plan. The clerk arrived at 10:30. He was a man in his early 40s, a volume of belly outside the stomach and height about 5 ft. After settling down, he started his routine work of sorting the letters. I told Raj to wait for my signal and myself went over the clerk.

I gestured Raj. The idea was he would call his father and his father would lie Mrs Khanna that he had received the letter and he is going to win the case at any cost. A call to the post-office clerk was expected which will decide the culprit. In case if there weren’t any call, It can be deduced that the culprit is the third person who is in direct/indirect contact with the person who has any kind of benefit from this case.

I engaged the clerk to talk about politics and meanwhile asked him to check one courier from my home. He went away to bring the list and my countdown started. Three minutes from then, a call from unknown number popped up on his cell-phone which was plugged in charging. I quickly noted down the number before he came and picked the call. I was all set to note down his reaction and voice of the other side by immersing myself in my cell-phone to pretend that I am not listening anything. Though voice wasn’t audible, whatever little I heard, I could figure out two things only. The first one, the voice was of a male and the second, the clerk was being chided for something.

Raj was right, I thought myself. Mr. Khanna must be on the other side of the call and he was scolding the clerk for not misplacing the letter properly as it had reached to Mr. Sharma’s hand and he’ll lose the case. But..but…but?

“How come he knew about the letter that it has reached the hands of Mr Sharma”? We have conveyed this information to Mrs Khanna only. My mind striked. There is something black in the lentil. Somewhere husband and wife are connected and they are fooling the world. To assure myself, I waited for few more minutes. Unable to find my ‘courier’, clerk once again asked me the address and started cross-checking the list. His phone rang again! This time it was a female voice and instead of ‘Hello’, Clerk said- Hello Madam. His face became pale as he was being threatened about something. In less than 2 minutes, the call was dismissed.

What happened uncle? Lal-peele kyo ho rhe ho? I asked in a very casual manner!

Kya btau beta in ammero ke chochle. Inke kam karo to bhi problem, na karo to bhi problem. They didn’t leave any way out for poor person like us.

You are calling yourself a poor person? Aapne bhi ghat-ghat ka pani piya hai. I made a sarcastic remark while giggling.

Kya matlab hai tumhara? His face grew red at once.

Nothing, Nothing! I smiled and strolled to Raj, where he was preparing to take the other puff of gold flake.

What happened? Did our trick achieve successful result? He asked and put his cigarette back in its holder.

The case had become more complex but we got one fine result which can act as a bridge to our further investigation.

Tell na? Why are you waiting for some lucky date by the Purohit of locality?

Keep patience Raj. If you will let me tell then I can only tell. I replied annoyingly. Khanna dampati mile hue hai. I continued.

You mean they weren’t separated? Raj asked surprisingly.

Only in the eyes of world they are aloof. Otherwise undono ke bich jarur koi khicri pak rhi hai. I stated firmly.

Are you sure? Raj asked dubiously.

Yes 110% and narrated him,what happened there. He nodded.

Our next move? I asked!

Let’s get to the root of the problem. All these were arising from the estate in Goa. So let’s enquire about this estate in detail at first. Raj’s mind ran fast.

Great! We can get a crucial clue from there. I exclaimed with joy! But how will you get the details of that property?

I had a friend from Goa in my university and he knows every nook and corner of the city. I would get in touch with him. He is a very clever person. I am sure we’ll get our work done. Raj said with determination.

After that, we moved in our directions with a promise to meet the next day along with the information about that estate. I was hovering between the three things remaining day i.e Khannas, estate and the letter. My mind was overpowered by the question that if Mr and Mrs Khanna were united then why Mrs Khanna filed a case against Mr Khanna. The estate would be theirs only irrespective of, on whose name it was registered. I kept making assumptions whole night but couldn’t reach to a definite conclusion. At 8’o clock, I got a call from Raj asking me to meet urgently. I tried to ask what the matter was but he was reluctant to tell on phone.

At 10, we met near CR park. Raj approached me hurriedly and said :

I have got some mind blowing news for you.

Let me cover my head to prevent it from blowing; I joked.

This is not the time for fun. Come on yaar! He showed disappointment.

Accha okay! Tell me what happened? I asked compassionately this time.

The estate about which we were talking about is neither owned by any Khannas!

Then? I asked absent-mindedly.

It is a disputed land. It belonged to a restaurant owner who fled Malaysia with his family 5 years back. Since then he didn’t come back to check this estate. Raj elaborated.

And As far as I know, Mr. Khanna had one estate in Goa and he is in mood of expanding his business. This was the reason he wanted to seize this estate. I added further.

Yes, you’re right. The interesting fact is that this disputed estate was besides Mr. Khanna and very few people were wise enough to notice it that the land was without owner. Hence, he wanted to take the land in his possession anyhow. The ease of expanding business is the other reason. There was strange confidence in Raj’s voice as he spoke.

This was the reason why the husband-wife duo got separated as to make the case appear a trivial fight of property and no one would peep what the real fact was. Everything was getting clear as sunlight has chased fog. But one thing was still unclear till then.

What’s that? Raj asked!

What was in the letter then? I asked

The property papers?

Maybe, but if the property wasn’t theirs, from where they got the papers? I tried to clarify myself.

Paper could be forged also? Raj played his masterstroke.

Wait, wait, wait! What had you said just now? The paper can be forged also. That makes all the sense. I think the Police somehow came to know about this deed of theirs, hence they found better to loose the case than to be locked up. This is why the letter had been sneaked away from the Post-office on their instructions. I concluded from my side.

Yeah, Exactly. Hurrah! Eureka! We solved the case. Raj exclaimed with joy.

Kanun saboot mangta hai. Well begin is half done. Let’s give the Khanna couple- A proper treatment; I said

Okay but how? Raj looked at me questioningly.

Could you get me that letter in which forged papers were there?

I can try. Raj was a little dubious.

Try your best. You can! Tell me when the work would be done.

With that we again moved toward our destinations with a promise to meet soon. The following night I was half asleep and half sleep, thinking about the probability of getting the letter. I had full confidence on Raj but one couldn’t read what’s all going in Khanna’s mind. Night came to an end somehow. I was looking at the screen of my mobile phone at every 2 minutes, waiting for Raj’s call or message about his success. At 11:15, a message popped up. Meet me at 12:15, near Radission blue of CP.

When I reached, I was surprised to see the letter in his hand. I tried to ask ‘how he got it’. He assured me to tell later on. The last thing was about to be done. We dropped a copy of this story along with forged paper, one to Police station and one to ‘The Hindu”. The next day newspaper headline was:

“Popular businessman Mr. Khanna and his wife had been arrested in forging the papers”

A Few days later, we were strolling on the streets of Chandani chowk, tasting some street foods. Raj has to leave for California that night.

How is Amaera? I asked at once.

I don’t know, she may be fine. After saying this, Raj face grew pale.

What do you mean? Is she in some danger? What are you hiding from me? I stared at Raj for a moment and his eyes said it all.

I am coming with you. I boarded the same flight with Raj, ready to investigate the other one…………

– Shashank