My Favorite Victim

Chapter - 4

"Cha poruppe illa" Sarath was playing with the paper weight on the table while he and the others were waiting for AK to submit their findings, they were seated in a big conference room with a long table and 7 to 8 chairs placed around the table. All their heads turned towards the direction of fierce opening of the door as AK entered with ultimate hurry. "Sorry guys I am three minutes late, something came up, lets start" AK said and sat near Sarath on the chair which was in center and with clear focus to the display screen. One of the officer stood up to explain his findings. AK turned towards Sarath and said "Poruppe illela enaku" with a smile. Sarath became pale on hearing his comment and stammered not able to utter any words, and finally managed to say "Apdilam illa sir" he started to sweat. AK smiled and signaled to listen to listen to the officer. "Aaha bayangaramana aala irukaare pa" thought Sarath and started listening to the officer.

[No dedication at all][I have no dedication at all right][Nothing like that sir][He is for sure a dangerous person]

The officer started to explain with pictures displayed from the crime scenes simultaneously, "Yeah it was a murder as sir suggested, she is right handed and hence the slash was expected on left and from top to bottom, but in this case the slash was in right and from bottom to top, so for sure someone should have done that. No sexual assault or any other body wounds, there was no break in the house as well, we all know how much secured the house of a Minister will be, that night of the incident both minister and his wife went to outstation for a marriage and she stayed back due to her exams. The watchman was in the gate 24*7, he confirmed no entry apart from keerthi who came from college around 4 pm, the cook left around 6 pm, and Keerthi was very much alive then, as per the postmortem report she was killed around 9-10 pm". "Mmmm" said AK, he was listening to every details keenly.

"Anything from her SM" asked AK. "Nothing sir, she was not at all active in SM, last year she made some comment on an issue and it did not end up well, leading to a huge bad name for Minister, since then she stayed lowkey, even in WhatsApp she talked only to her close friend Indu nothing much just normal stuffs" said Kathir, one of the officer. "Any suspicious calls?" questioned AK. "No sir, nothing suspicious, mostly to Indu but that too not for longer durations" answered Kathir. "Ok, asked for her friends to come right are they here?" asked AK. "Not many friends, only Indu and she is waiting in your room sir" said Sarath.

"Ok" said AK and got up to go to his room.

As he entered he could see a girl in yellow kurta and blue jean wearing specs, she appeared to be really tensed, and was sweating profusely. "Its just another government office, please don't be scared" saying that AK sat before her, she immediately stood up from her chair. AK signaled her to sit down. "Indu right?" asked AK and she nodded. 

"Please tell me all about Keerthi, you may find it silly, aana kuda ellame sollunga" said AK 

[Tell everything even if you think its silly]

"Sir, she is really a nice girl and very down to earth even being Minister's daughter, naanga rmba close sir ellame solva enta" her voice broke and tears started to roll down her cheeks.

[We are very close and she will share everything to me]

"relax relax" AK calmed her down and gave her a glass of water. "Ok, then you did not notice anything unusual about her, just think hard, it will help us catch your friend's murderer come on think think" said AK.

She thought for sometime and said "Sir, two days before the incident, she went for an art gallery opening with her father for some child welfare cause, apa anga oru painter semaya irundhaaru nu sonna, avaru rmba different phone kuda use panna maataru nu sonna, oru painting kuda vanguna nu nenakiren, ava endha paiyana pathiyum apdi solli na ketadhe illa first time crush nu ellam sonna, aana meet pannangala enna aachunu therla na adutha naal college leave fever naala and annaki night dan" saying her voice broke again, she calmed down herself and said "avlo dan sir"

[there she saw a painter, she said he was the most handsome man and very different as he was not using phone in this generation, she even bought a painting I guess, she have crushed on someone for the first time as far as I know, I am not sure what happened then as I was on leave the next day due to fever and the same night....that's it sir]

AK was relieved as they have some lead at last and said "Thanks for coming Indu, edhachumna we will call again, please don't leave town without informing". Indu nodded and left the place.

[If needed we will call again]

AK immediately took his phone and checked Keerthi's insta to find a picture with her father from that art gallery. He called Sarath showed him the post "Odane idha organize pannadhu yaaru, displayed paintings details and painters oda address ellam collect pannunga fast and we need to go to victim's house" said AK

[Find the organizers, paintings and painters details]

Both AK and Sarath reached the Victim's house, Keerthi's mother was crying before her daughter's pic "Vanga thambi" she wiped her tears off on seeing them and welcomed them.

[Welcome]

"Amma Keerthi room knjm check pannanum" said AK, she lost her only daughter, her eyes reflected both pain and anger. "Sekiram pudichurunga pa avana" said Keerthi's mother and lead them to her daughter's room. Her anger on the killer could be very much sensed from her words. "Kandipa ma" AK assured, a sense of satisfaction and trust spread through her face, she tapped AK's shoulder and left them alone with the search.

[We need to check Keerthi's room][Please catch him soon][Sure]

"Ipo namma enna sir thedanum, adan ellam eduthache" asked Sarath. "Namaku adhu ivlo naal evidence nu theriyadhu" said AK and was searching in the cupboards, Sarath was confused by his statement but still searched through. AK found a chart holder on loft, climbed on the chair and took it. He opened it and was left in shock, Sarath who came closer seeing his shocked expression, was shocked to death "Sir sir idhu epdi" sarath stammered. It was a painting of the crime scene of Keerthi and the sign of the artist was just below the blood pool saying "Mr.K" in a stylish manner. AK and Sarath looked at each other in shock and AK received a call. "Forwarded all the addresses sir, only 6 painters displayed all their best paintings in gallery, it was around 30. The gallery was conducted to help Children affected with cancer by an NGO Helping hands, adhoda contact kuda send panniruken" said Kathir on the other end. "Thanks Kathir" AK replied and cut the call, he immediately searched through the painter names and could not find any person name starting with K. 

[What should we search sir, we have taken everything already right][We did not know about this evidence earlier][Sir sir how is this possible.....][Even have sent their contact]

[Note: I know rmba delay aaiduchu due to personal reasons, innaki kuda pote aanumnu poten not sure if it's upto your expectations, sorry if disappointed 🚶🏻‍♀️🤧 Next update as soon as possible]