BALI 100 KM (Book 1) ✔

Chapter 43

"Every criminal wants to confess before he dies. This one was no different. As though confessing would attain him his salvation," Samar brooded, "Anyways, it helped us clear some of the incidents related to this case."

"Really...How?"

"As soon as Balwant escaped from prison, he first went in search of you at your house. But he didn't find you, so he stole the money, not having found anything substantial that would have given you a setback, and being broke, he needed that money. Then his men kept a watch on your shop and tailed you every day for an opportunity to kidnap you. The first time they tried, they entered the wrong house and retreated. Then he sends you the warning in the paper ball to coerce you to part with the documents in your custody,"

"I don't have any documents, Samar!" interrupted Bandu in frustration.

"Ok, ok, my mistake. So now Balwant's health was deteriorating fast but approaching a doctor was not an option, so he resorted to kidnap one, and that unfortunate person was Dr. Sanga."

"Dr. Sanga!"

"They imprisoned him in a room at their hideout and used his services, but that too didn't seem to work, and Balwant was beginning to get desperate, so there was that bold attempt to kidnap you where again. They not only failed but had returned with a fatally injured member."

"But why was Balwant so desperate, I wonder?"

"According to the dead man's statement, Balwant was being pressurized by someone else to fast track the mission to find the documents. So whenever they called, Balwant reacted as a frustrated man,"

"That means there is somebody else behind Balwant. But what's with the second warning not being the brain of Balwant?"

"In his statement, the fellow mentioned that they were attacked upon by some unknown persons soon after they returned from their unsuccessful kidnapping attempt on you. Those people destroyed their hideout, took Balwant captive, and killed other members, including Dr. Sanga. This injured fellow gave them the slip by pretending to be dead,"

For Bandu, his sister's face flashed in front of him whenever Balwant's name cropped up. Things were getting murkier with his brother-in-law. It would have been better if the police had caught him instead, but now his fate was in the hands of the people who took him away. He did not like Balwant but would hate to see his sister widowed. At the same time, he did not want the children to be tagged, to have a criminal background because of their father. They were not at fault, to suffer the humiliation brought upon by their father.

"So now since Balwant was out of the picture, who sent THIS warning note to you, Bandu?" at Samar's question Bandu came back from his thoughts.

"The police, too, are ignorant about the identity of the third party. How will they be tracked?" Bandu asked.

"We have our ways, Bandu. The police will catch the culprits, however clever they may be." Samar said and got back to his work.

"Well, now I anticipate more confrontations with this new notorious gang. When will this all end?" He resumed his work, letting out a deep sigh.

Bandu was not able to pack up until 7 pm. As Samar had his cycle parked at Bandu's home, the men rode on Bandu's cycle on the way back home. Halfway into their ride, Bandu became particularly aware of a speeding car approaching from the opposite direction. Since the road was practically empty, this car with beaming headlights was speeding out of its lane straight at them.

It was his presence of mind that saved both their lives. Bandu, at the nick of time, had stirred his cycle out of the road into the bushes nearby. But the sudden change in momentum brought about by the diversion ended with the wheel crashing into a tree. It led to tossing both the men and the cycle to the ground. By the time they recovered from the shock and were on their feet again, the car had vanished. They dusted away the mud and grass from their clothes with their scrapped hands.

Bandu picked up his cycle and examined it for any damages. He was relieved that they didn't have to walk the rest of the way home.

"Must surely be drunkards at this time of the night. The night patrolling has been curbed since a few days, I noticed." Bandu grumbled, walking the cycle back on the road.

"It was so quick out of the blue that even the model wasn't visible. Samar cried angrily, fishing out the mobile and hastily poking away into it.

Bandu, in the meantime, scanned the road up and down with keen eyes. He was not sure why he anticipated another such incident. Maybe he was shaken by the sudden onslaught, he thought, but it was better to be alert.

After reporting the incident to his seniors, Samar and Bandu resume their journey home without further mishaps.

At home, Nand was eagerly awaited Bandu's return home with the new member, whom he then introduced to the family with much fanfare. His mother and sister resolved Bandu's apprehension about the space crunch successfully. The ladies who, with their brilliance, had rearranged the furniture. Even the kitchen was taken over by the ladies, thereby restricting Bandu's entry into that area. They had settled into the new place without many complaints. But for his part, Bandu wanted to make them more comfortable and happy. For that happiness, the case had to end.

The next day Samar announced over the morning tea that there was a change in their plans for the day. Bandu never anticipated anything unusual when Samar said that.

"Oh...What is it?" Bandu asked lazily, enjoying the brew his mother made.

"We have to go meet Miss Sakhi at her home," Samar informed him.

Well, you could say Miss Sakhi got his throat this time, and he began to cough badly enough. For him, it was like a thunderbolt strike. He wanted to protest firmly, but another thought made him check himself at the last moment. His cough subsided, and he gulped up the rest of his brew. It had gone cold, and so was his enthusiasm. Why show any reluctance and draw any attention to that fact? He thought. It was bound to raise Samar's curiosity.

"Really, but why? I mean, I just met her two days back," Bandu asked, keeping his tone casual.

Has she told the police about me and my studs? How much does she know about my life in the past? How does she know all this? Bandu's mind was working up a lot of questions.