Malice Aforethought. Chapter 4.

The Dreaded Secret 

 

Past Scene

Savitri's sudden disappearance from his life made Sathya upset and restless. He would pray to get some information, some message from his sister just as an assurance that she is alright. His vacation was spent at the Kapadia House. Rishi being almost 10 years older to Sathya, acted like a big brother to him in this difficult time. Sathya's increasing anxiousness on Savitri gone missing, got Rishi to worry as well, which prompted him to help Sathya in the search. Rishi found out that Savitri hadn’t mentioned anything about the company or the place where she would be put up to anyone at the Ashram. All she had mentioned was after her first week of work they would decide on which part of India they would transfer her. Rishi assured Sathya that he would map the entire corporates of the nearby cities and get to know about Savitri for sure. In Savitri's absence Sathya found Rishi as his best friend, his dear sibling.

 

Soon after the vacations, while at the hostel, Sathya finally received a letter from Savitri. His happiness grew no bounds when the envelope was handed over to him. His heart pumping in excitement, he neatly tore the envelope and unfolded the letter. In it Savitri mentioned on how happy she was in her life, with her job and studies doing very well.  She also mentioned towards the end that she would be shifting job and her place of stay soon, therefore she won't be able to give her contact number and address to Sathya right now. She also assured him that after receiving her first pay cheque she intended to buy a mobile phone which would allow her to talk to him daily.

 

Sathya read the letter multiple times from beginning till the end.

 

A sudden gush of fear gave him palpitation and he ran in lightning speed to make a call.

 

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A month later, Sathya was sitting beside the window of his hostel room, starring at the heavy rains. It had been continuously pouring for two days in the hill-station where his hostel was located. This had made all the ways of commuting to and from the hostel to shut down. Sathya had tears in his eyes. Making his fist tight, he did not know what was greater, the storm outside the window or the storm inside of him.

 

Just then he received a message that there was a call for him from Rishi.

 

Tears rolling down his cheeks, Sathya takes slow steps from his room to the passage, then down the steps to the hallway where the telephone was.  He wiped off his tears and in a calm tone he said,

" Hello Rishi… So late? ….All good?"

 

"My brother. I have called to share bad news with you,” Said Rishi 

 

Sathya tightened his fist, piercing his nails into the skin of his palm.

 

"I am listening Rishi. Please go ahead".

 

"Sathya, the organisation where Savitri was working for, had called the Ashram….She was working at the city 20 kms from the Ashram....Please be strong brother....Savitri on her way from work to residence, met with an accident today. A truck went over her and she died on the spot...Satya are you there?... Savitri is no more Sathya.... I understand you would be in a state of shock to speak anything right now… but you have to be strong….Trust me I will kill that b@@@@d, that truck driver who killed your sister."

 

Rishi could hear Sathya weeping on the phone.

"Sathya please say something. ."

 

"There is nothing left for me to say Rishi. You have said it all. Nothing can change now by me saying anything,” Cried Satya

 

"Sathya there is one more thing. As you are aware you are stranded in a hill-station due to heavy rains, we have no idea how many more days it would take for the water to subside and  for the roads to be clear for commuting. Doctors have informed that Savitri's body is not in a condition to be kept for long and have advised to cremate her tomorrow itself. I hope you don't have issues with me doing the needful" 

 

" I was not there for my Savitridi to protect her while she was alive and now that she is dead, how does it matter. "....then taking a deep breath he continued..."You are my family Rishi, listen to the doctors’ suggestion and do the needful. Thank you"

 

Sathya's world had collapsed. For days he shut himself in the room of his hostel. Few days later as the weather conditions improved Rishi immediately reached the hostel to take Sathya to Kapadia house. Rishi was constantly by his side, asking him to be strong. 

 

Sathya on the other hand was feeling claustrophobic in Kapadia House.  He was mentally preparing himself for days to act normal, refrain from showing any distress or resentment with the Kapadias'. Yet in practice it was so difficult for him.

 

Rishi in turn was unaware of the fact that Satya had started mourning the very same day when he received his sister's letter. 

 

Sathya had sensed something was definitely not in place when he realised that the letter was written forging Savitri's handwriting. When he called the Ashram, he got to know that Asha madam had left the job the very next day of Savitri leaving the Ashram for work. This added to his fear. With great difficulty he got her residence number from one of the caretakers. After persistent calls from a PCO and literally begging Asha madam who Sathya knew was fond of Savitri, she finally broke down. Fearfully and crying profusely Ashamed Madam disclosed to him the dreaded secret which was known only to her. 

 

Asha told Sathya that Savitri secretly disclosed to her in excitement that she was not leaving the Ashram for a job but to marry the father of her child she was 2 months pregnant with. She recollected that Savitri had tears of happiness when she said that she wasn’t expecting anything from this man, yet he was ready to marry her against all society odds as he loved her and his would-be child immensely. Savitri's would-be husband was supposed to pick her from a bus stop which was half a kilometre from the Ashram. Asha  was a bit worried to let a pregnant girl travel alone, as the path to the bus stop and the nearby area was always lonely. But Savitri refused in letting Asha accompany her to the bus stop. So finally, Asha insisted Savitri on taking her mobile phone and talk to her on the Ashram's landline till she reached the bus stop. Few meters before reaching the bus stop Savitri thanked Asha and kept the phone in her bag. Since it was the first time Savitri was using a mobile phone, she forgot to disconnect the line. Asha realized it, yet kept on holding the line in the excitement to get to hear the secret man's voice that Savitri loved.

 

Least did she expect, a gruesome, lethal Maze which Savitri had herself walked into. 

 

Asha heard a man's voice first, 

"Hi Savitri,” said the man

"Hey, hi Vijay. Hope I did not keep you waiting for long ".

Asha got confused why was Rishi's cousin Vijay there. Was he the father of Savitri's child?

"Oh no, not at all, I just reached." Said Vijay

"Okay....so where is......" before Savitri could complete her sentence

"Err. Savitri get in the car please, I will tell you everything on our way. You are going to love the plan."

Asha heard the sound of car door being opened and shut. She was happy for Savitri and decided to disconnect the call. But just before she could disconnect, she heard Savitri ask Vijay.

" But where is Rishi? He did not tell me that he wouldn’t be accompanying you "

" That’s because he is all excited for his big day with you dear. He is busy getting the best arrangements for you."

Asha is now surprised to know that the mystery man is Rishi.

"How I wish I had Satya with me on such an important day of my life. I do not wish to doubt on Rishi's plans either. Once we are married, we have to tell the family before...........Vijay where are we going? ....Why did you take this turn? .........This leads to the forest, right?”

Asha was not sure as to how to feel about it at the same time wondering as to what was happening. Was there something for her to worry about.

" It’s a short cut Savitri. Calm down,” said Vijay

 

" Please turn the car Vijay and drive through the normal route, it’s getting dark, ....going through this whatever short cut of yours is not safe....Vijay are you listening to me? ....Vijay you are scaring me please turn the car... Vijay why did you stop here?  Is there some problem with the car?"

 

Asha had understood that things were definitely not right. She felt helpless, not knowing what to do. Next, she heard was the car door open followed by Savitri's agonizing screams and cries. And in less than a minute, Savitri's cry had turned silent. 

 

Asha's whole body was trembling. 

 

It was clear to her that Ashok Kapadia must have got to know of his son getting married to this orphanage girl and therefore sent his nephew to murder her before his foolish son did a blunder. He must have convinced poor Rishi in letting Vijay go alone to pick her up, while Rishi was getting ready for his big day. Later probably, they would have a fictitious story to tell him against her, as to why Vijay couldn’t get her. Asha was in such a shock that she couldn't even cry. Just then she heard Vijay's voice again. She guessed he was talking to someone on the phone,

 

"The job is done...yes, the girl is dead....Fine, I will bury the body and burn all that she is carrying, in the forest ....but for this clearly I will charge more than what we discussed...."

 

After a pause Vijay gave out a wicked laugh and said,

 

"Now that’s a fair amount. Thank you- thank you Rishi".

 

 

... To be continued