The Cosmic Clues (33 page)

Sanjay thrust a restless hand through his ample hair. “The sweater that we'd bought on a holiday in Kashmir? I stopped wearing that particular sweater long ago.”

“That doesn't matter. You still have to prove that you were not at home, attacking Rani last night.”

Sanjay stared at Mohnish, an imploring look in his eyes. Finally, the factory owner shrugged resignedly. “Okay, I may as well tell you. I was with Anita, the girl I'm going to marry after I divorce Rani!”

A loaded silence ensued.

“Is that where you were last night? At Fountain Hotel with Anita?” Mohnish asked.

“Yes. We've been seeing each other for the last six months. Anita works as a manager at the hotel. We met at a party and fell in love. I've been wanting to tell Rani for some time now, but of late she's been getting more and more moody. It was impossible to communicate with her, since we always ended up having a roaring argument. Finally, I walked out of the house. I had some work in Goa. I returned to Pune last night, then went straight to Anita at the hotel. She's got a room there. And then this morning I came here, with the full intention of handing my wife the divorce papers.”

“Divorce papers!” Mohnish exclaimed. “Do you know what that will do to Rani? She's already suffering so much!”

“Do you have the papers with you, Mr. Gosavi?” Sonia asked.

“They're in my car.”

“Could you fetch them, please?”

“Right away.” Sanjay rose readily.

The moment he was out of the room, Sonia bent forward and picked up his mobile. To Mohnish's astonishment, she flicked it open and speedily ran through the numbers. The mobile was back in its place before Sanjay returned with the papers.

“Here they are.” Sanjay handed Sonia a sheaf of official documents.

Sonia flipped through them, then passed them on to Mohnish.

“So you're serious about this relationship with Anita,” she remarked. “Is there any particular reason why you don't wish to continue your marriage to Rani?”

“To be honest, when we got married, we were very much in love. But we had different likings, our ideas and concepts varied; in fact, it turns out we have nothing in common. Rani became possessive and moody and she began throwing tantrums. Actually, there are so many things that didn't work out. And finally it dawned on me that we were simply not suited,” Sanjay explained.

“Mr. Gosavi, I want to ask you something very private. Something which you as a husband would know. Do you know if, as a child, Rani had any particularly unpleasant experience? I mean, I know that she came from a poor family, but was she in any way molested? . . .” Sonia paused delicately.

“It's strange that you should ask, because not a soul under the sun is aware of this. Rani told me about it on our honeymoon. Yes, as a child she used to live in a lower-middle-class
chawl
—you know, a building with one-room flats and common toilets—and there was an uncle living next door. Once when Rani was about fourteen, she was alone in her flat. And this guy tried to force himself on her. She raised a cry and was rescued in time, but it left her extremely paranoid about men.”

A small silence followed as Sonia digested the bit of news. So she'd been on the right track. The scratches on a building were not formed in a day, she thought. . . . The past demons did tend to catch up with the present. . . .

“Do you know where I can find this man?” she asked.

“I know the place, since Rani once pointed out her old house to me. It's in Gokhalenagar. But his name . . . I think he's called Bhajimama.”

“Bhajimama? What an odd name!”

“Apparently he would bring fried onion
bhajiyas
for all the children in the building to eat, so they nicknamed him Bhajimama.”

“Right. Thank you, Mr. Gosavi, you've really passed a valuable piece of information on to us.” Sonia stood up.

“Are you going to Rani now?” Mohnish asked Sanjay.

“I can't. I promised Anita that I would break up with Rani and never enter the house as long as she's there!”

“I don't believe this! Rani is facing such grave danger—someone has attacked her, for God's sake! And instead of being with your wife and taking care of her, all you can think of is your lady love! You're despicable, Sanjay, and I'm truly glad that Rani's rid of you!” Mohnish threw his old friend a scalding look, unable to control his anger anymore. He strode out of the office without a backward glance.

“I'm so glad you dropped by,” Rani told them. “Because I have another of these letters that I wanted to show you.”

She held out another computer printout.

Seated on the sofa, Sonia and Mohnish read the bold, printed lines.

TO-NIGHT. I'LL GET YOU!

Sonia glanced at Rani. There was deep fear in the other woman's eyes. She was looking at Mohnish, an unspoken appeal on her face. A wave of sympathy swamped Sonia. Fear can cripple the best of people, and Rani was just a lonesome young woman. Poor Rani. She had a lot to face before she extracted herself from this mess.

“When did you get this?” she asked, gesturing at the printout.

“It was slipped under the door a while ago,” Rani explained despondently. “I'm getting quite used to it by now.”

“Don't!” Mohnish exclaimed. “Don't talk as if this is going to continue all your life.”

Rani looked at him resignedly. “I wish that were true,” she whispered. “I wish I knew that I would get out of this situation without getting hurt.”

“Of course you will!” Mohnish took her hand in his.

Sonia stood up abruptly. “Do you mind if I look around the house?”

“Not at all.”

“Can you just tell me what is where, so that I don't get lost?”

“The kitchen is on your right and there's a guest room on the left. Upstairs are three rooms. One is our bedroom, one is Sanjay's study, and the other is a spare room.”

“Thanks. I'd just like to check them out, if you don't mind.”

“Go ahead.”

Sonia made her way upstairs. Her mind was in a whirl. Mohnish and Rani were so comfortable with each other. Rani was truly leaning on him for support, and Mohnish was only too eager to lend it. They seemed to really hit it off well, like the mouse clicking on an icon. Now, why did that analogy crop into her mind? She looked down at the anonymous note in her hand. A computer printout. Someone who had access to Sanjay's sweater
and
a computer. A sweater which he claimed he'd stopped wearing long ago. Had Rani given the sweater away to someone and then forgotten the fact?

Sonia opened doors and peeped into rooms, feeling more like an intruder herself. Somehow she felt uncharacteristically uncomfortable moving through Rani's house. As if she ought not to. But that was surely ridiculous. This was a question of Rani's life. Anything could happen if she did not get to the bottom of this affair . . . and soon. She pushed open another door and surveyed the room. A computer setup on a table caught her attention. Sonia slipped into the room and shut the door behind her.

“Poor Rani, I'm beginning to get really worried about her,” Sonia commented, as they drove toward the city.

“I know. I am, too,” Mohnish agreed. “And to think that Sanjay is going to drop her like a hot potato just when she needs him most!”

“Mohnish, these things happen. Marriages either work, or bust up. That's life,” Sonia reminded. “And we don't really know who is to blame in their breakup. There's no point you getting all worked up over it!”

“I can't help it. Rani is suffering so much! It must be tough, learning that someone is trying to hunt you down for no rhyme or reason.”

“Maybe there is a reason,” Sonia murmured. “Perhaps this visit to Bhajimama will provide us with the motive.”

“You mean you suspect Bhajimama of having something to do with the stalking? But that incident happened years ago!”

“It's an extremely likely answer, although I shall refrain from forming definite opinions right now.”

They drove on in silence, both deep in thought. Sonia stole a look in Mohnish's direction. His firm jaw was set in a grim line and his brows were knitted in a reflective frown.

“Don't worry, she'll be fine.” Sonia spoke softly, resting a hand on his shoulder.

“I hope so. Of course, the fact that Inspector Divekar's men are on guard outside her house now makes me feel a whole lot better. But I can't help feeling tremendously sorry for her, especially now that I know that Sanjay is going to drop his bombshell.”

“I know what you mean. This is Gokhalenagar, right?”

Mohnish turned into a lane with narrow buildings on either side and stopped by a grocery store.

“Excuse me, can you tell me where Bhajimama lives?” he asked the storeowner, in Marathi.

The storeowner looked at them in surprise. It was not every day that two sophisticated people asked for a drunkard like Bhajimama! “Oh, he must be at home, drunk and asleep.” The storeowner laughed, but readily pointed out the well-worn
chawl
building and floor.

Within minutes, Sonia and Mohnish were in a corridor, knocking on a dilapidated wooden door. The paint was peeling so badly through the rotten wood that there were gaps in the door. It was a while before it was opened by a very unsteady hand.

“Who's it?” a coarse voice demanded.

Mohnish thrust the door open and they stepped inside a room which reeked of country liquor. A single iron bed occupied the cubicle.

A man in his fifties, with a white stubble and a lean face, glared back at them.

“Who're you?” he demanded.

“Police!” Mohnish rasped.

The man gaped.

“What have I done, Saheb?” he asked unsteadily, but fear rose in his eyes.

“Tried to rape a young girl and then tried to blackmail her,” Sonia remarked.

“What . . . what are you talking about? I've done no wrong. I don't know no girl!”

“Of course you do. We're talking about Rani, the girl who lived next door!”

Bhajimama's face blanched. “I don't know what—”

“Stop it! Don't pretend you know nothing about this. You attacked her two nights ago, didn't you?” Mohnish added, stepping forward. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes.

The drunk cowered in fright. “Attack . . . no . . . I didn't! I haven't seen Rani in years, Saheb! I don't even know where she lives now!”

Mohnish held him by the scruff of his torn collar. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, Saheb, I know nothing about this girl. Why should I attack her . . . please believe me, Saheb!” Bhajimama begged.

Sonia tapped on Mohnish's arm. “Let him go,” she commanded quietly.

Mohnish released the collar and the old man went staggering backwards. “If I ever discover that you went
anywhere
near Rani, you'll be in lock-up, remember that!” he warned.

“Never, Saheb. Never, I swear!”

The moment they stepped out into the corridor, Bhajimama slammed the door on their back. Mohnish and Sonia ignored the sound and headed to the van.

“What happened? Why did you ask me to stop?” Mohnish asked Sonia, puzzled and still angry.

“Because he was speaking the truth. That man cannot be the stalker. A person who can barely stand on his two feet cannot be a stalker. And he's certainly not in a position to use a computer and send computer-printout threatening notes! I doubt if he's ever sober!”

“But I thought . . .”

“We just came here to confirm my doubt,” Sonia explained.

“I don't understand—”

“You will, soon. Can we drive to my office?”

It was dusk by the time they reached F.C.Road. Sonia sat in silence during the drive, a finger twirling a lock of hair. Mohnish thought it wise not to disturb her. By now, he knew when something was on her mind. The moment they parked, she jumped out of the van and ran inside.

“Jatin, don't disturb me for a while. Mohnish, do you mind?”

“Not at all, just go ahead and do what you have to.”

He watched in fascination as Jatin switched on the music system and loud beats rocked the office. Sonia settled down at her table, laying out two horoscopes before her. She studied them with the concentration and intensity of a cat observing its prey. She seemed totally unaware that she made a very pretty picture. At length, she glanced up, and the excitement on her face caught Mohnish by surprise. Without a word, she moved to the computer in the outer office and connected to the Internet. In a moment, she was surfing and gathering information. Suddenly, Mohnish's mobile rang.

Sonia swung around in her chair towards Mohnish. “Wait! Don't answer it yet!” she exclaimed.

Mohnish paused in his action. “Why?”

“Because that is Rani calling. Now listen carefully. . . .” Sonia's voice was urgent as the mobile continued to ring insistently. “Be very careful what you say to her. She's going to ask you to come to her house. She's scared and panicky. Soothe her down. Tell her you'll be there any minute. That you're on your way. Tell her that you care for her well-being—which is not a lie—that you
want
her to be safe and sound. Will you remember all this?”