Nirupama

Nirupama-4

Nirupama

(Some Secrets May Better Remain Secrets Forever)

'I cannot bear this', 'I want to pluck my eyes out' only these two sentences were the clues which the late girl Nirupama left in writing one on a wall and one in a book quite unintentionally and involuntarily to know about the reason for her committing suicide. Her father Ranganath, detective Smaran and his niece Menaka along with Nirupama's friend Sukanya pretty well understood that Nirupama did not want the said secret to be known to anyone else. But since her father Ranganath hell bent upon knowing about the said secret, detective Smaran and his niece Menaka ruthlessly investigated the matter only to unearth the said ghastly, shocking and astounding secret which the dead girl terribly wished to keep only with her in her grave forever.

x x x x x

"I cannot guarantee it. She stays hours together whenever she goes to her friends' houses." Nirmala said. "But don't forget coming here again. Nirupama is a very interesting girl. You really like her."

Smaran nodded his head. "I think Nirupama helps you a lot in your work."

"She helps of course." Nirmala laughed. "But it all depends on her mood swings. If her mood is good she does not let me do any work. If it is sour she yells and quarrels with me and would not help me even a little bit."

"Do her friends come here to talk with her?"

"Why don't they? It is a strange question. They come here and she goes there. Especially that Sukanya. I don't see such close friendship between any friends. That Sukanya also is a lovely girl."

"I think now also she went to that Sukanya's house." Leaning back in his chair and crossing his fingers, Smaran said.

"You guessed it right. They both sure would have involved in endless talking and playing. I don't know how long she stays there. My husband should go there to fetch her back."

They talked like that for some more time. So far not very much useful information but he felt satisfied as he made her talk like that.

Suddenly Smaran got up from the chair and said. "My time is up. I cannot stay any longer. I do come here again." Ranganath also stood up to accompany Smaran.

"Remember that you owe a visit here again." Nirmala said from behind.

"Sure I do." Smaran laughed and said without turning back.

"That is the way she behaves." When they both came out, Ranganath said.

"You don't worry. It is not serious madness." Smaran said.

"But she is always imagining Nirupama so."

Smaran was about to say something but stopped. "When I do come here again we talk at length. But one thing I can say precisely here. You need not worry about your wife's madness."

After that he did not stay there

***

Menaka was completely involved in the novel she was reading at that time. That book was very much interesting to her. Very rarely such type of books came into her possession to read. She was that much indulged in what she was reading that she did not come into this world until her cell phone rung long. She snatched it with a jerk and felt a pleasure shock as it was her uncle that her mother's brother. Hurriedly she pressed the answer button.

"What is that book you are reading?" her uncle Smaran asked her. "That made you not attend my call this long."

"Tell me your dreams" by Sidney Sheldon. I think you also read that book." Menaka felt so happy talking with her uncle. She always felt like that while talking with him.