BALI 100 KM (Book 1) ✔

Chapter 16

"Hello, Bandu."

"Hello, sir."

"The nurse told me about your brave act. Very thankful to you for saving her life," the officer said.

"Please don't thank me, sir. Anyone in my place would have done it,"

"I doubt that, Bandu. You are different. In saving her life, you saved yours too,"

"Really?"

"Yes, she is the key witness to the Bali murder case, which I mentioned to you yesterday. She is Miss Sakhi Rajput."

"Oh! I had no idea," said Bandu, surprised. "Any clues about how the fire started, sir?"

"No, we know nothing as yet, the investigating team has arrived, and I am sure they will find out the reason for the fire."

"I saw the guards sleeping, and they did not move when I tried to wake them up. It was very irresponsible of them."

"I doubt that they were sleeping." said the inspector thoughtfully.

"Oh! Why? Are they alright?"

"They have not yet regained consciousness. Will know what happened once they are awake," He said, in a serious tone, "Come with me, Bandu. Someone wants to meet you." said inspector Sarathi in a sudden change of mood.

Inspector Sarathi took him into a room. It had only two occupants. The interior looked different from other rooms and was chilling cold with no smell of disinfectants. There were monitors placed beside the bed of the two patients, and they were all beeping. A nurse in a white coat was seated at a table at a corner near the door. Both patients were ladies, and they were asleep. For privacy, a big sheet hung between the beds. Inspector Sarathi requested the nurse to visit Miss Rajput.

"Miss Rajput...but..." she spoke spanning through the register but was interrupted by inspector Sarathi, "Miss Sakhi Rajput," he put in, extracting a glance from Bandu.

"She had put forth a request to meet Bandu here who saved her from the fire yesterday," an unwarranted explanation, Bandu thought, but still gained him a smile from the nurse who directed them to bed at the right.

She appeared like a fairy, and her beauty stunned him. He had never met a human so fair with a mane so black, covering her shoulders. The heart-shaped face had beautiful doe eyes, and when she opened them, it was like diving into the sea. It was so captivating that he had to be nudged by officer Sarathi to bring him out of the depth of those eyes. Even then, he was in a trance and stood dumb with a silly smile on his face. He did not even know that he lost his heart in that brown sea.

Officer Sarathi conducted all the conversations, as the patient was not in a condition to talk much. But all the time, her eyes were fixed at Bandu. He felt embarrassed. At some point in time, Inspector Sarathi tried to engage Bandu in the conversation, explaining why Miss Sakhi was not taking part in the conversation. When Bandu's gaze traveled back to their topic of conversation, he found his angel gone back in her dreams. Not wanting to disturb the sleeping patient Bandu drew the attention of his talking companion to the bed. He, thankfully, took the cue, and both, leave the room to go back to their respective destinations.

They discharged Nand by evening that day, and finally, the trio returned to the village. On the way, Bandu informed Partho of Balwant's escape and how fate played when he came to know that the person whose life he saved turned out to be the key witness in the Bali murder case.

Even Partho was left speechless at that piece of news, but he always had a different way of looking at life and, better to say, a positive thought resulting in a lot of good advice. Here too, he opined that instead of being disheartened at Balwant's escape, he should be pleased that the witness was now awake she would soon shed some light on the disappearance of the documents enabling the authorities to solve the case faster.

On reaching home, the first thing Bandu saw a miss was the lock on the main door. He opened the door and stepped in with the sleeping boy on his shoulders. Switching on the lights, he scanned the room, "Did you forget to lock the room yesterday, Partho?" he asked his friend who had followed him behind with a bag.

"I was wondering the same, Bandu," he said, "Look," pulling out the keys from his pocket, "I had locked it myself," his brows crunched, "I better ask Maithili about this," he uttered, having kept the bag on the table nearby.

"Wait," Bandu raised his hand and moved to the bed to let down the burden from his shoulders. "Let me see if anything is missing," moving around and scrutinizing every drawer and cupboard, "The cash is missing," he announced, holding up a small metal case, "There was an intruder here for sure" he knowingly nodded. "Let us ask, Maithili, but Partho, don't mention about the cash. Maithili might panic," a silent agreement passed between them.
They walked out after tucking the boy in the bed.

Partho had already announced his arrival by calling out to his wife as he entered. She came out to his call at once and smiled at both men.

"Did you bring Nand back home, Bandu bhaiya?" her eyes rounded in question.

"Yes, he is back and sleeping," he replied, she sighed in relief at that.

"Did I have any visitor yesterday?" he casually asked.

"No, did you expect anyone? You usually don't have many visitors," she had a puzzled look.

"No, I was not exactly expecting anyone but asked just in case. I misplaced the main door lock. Did you happen to see it anywhere?"

"The lock...oh yes...I found it hanging open on the latch and removed it. I thought my husband here might have forgotten to lock the door yesterday after picking up the clothes for you. What a forgetful man" she walked away into the inner room mouthing the consequences of such a forgetful nature.

Both men carry their conversation outside, "But I had locked the door, I am sure," Partho insisted, still confused.

"It must have been a thief," Bandu added.

"Thief...but we have never had a case like this in our village, Bandu,"

"Yes, I know, maybe this must be the first. I certainly must report this," Bandu said firmly.