Anirudh- The Story Of A Misread Barrister

Chapter-99: Chandrachur Spills The Truth

Somnath and I reached the deserted area on the outskirts of Krishnanagar. There was a hut amidst thick vegetation that shielded it from the outside world. We entered inside the dimly lit hut and spotted our prey tied to a chair. Subash, his brother and few other men who hunted the prey were already present there.

"Hello, co-brother. How are you doing?", I asked an agitated Chandrachur, who was wriggling to free himself from the capture.

"Well, you are supposed to be my co-brother, but have been like a cobra, spitting venom in my life. Didn't you?", I asked coldly, giving him a death stare.

"What nonsense, barrister babu?", he tried to behave innocent, after wrecking a havoc.

"You should tell me. Prior to that, I want you to have some sweet and take part in my celebration." I told, signalling Subash to handover the sweet box to me.

Taking a piece of Kheer kodom, I stuffed into his mouth forcefully, even before he could oppose or accept.

"I have officially become Bondita's neighbour and thought to give you this piece of good news with a sweet; because you are the one who want it otherwise. You want to separate me and Bondita, don't you? Today I stood in the house next to hers; tomorrow I will stand beside her, holding her hand. Don't worry. I will not let that occasion pass with a simple sweet. I will obviously treat you with the wedding feast, if you manage to survive today.", I almost gave a death threat, forcing another piece of sweet into his mouth.

"Does this sweet remind you of something?", I asked an alarmed Chandrachur.

He looked perplexed and frustrated but managed to say, "What's there to remember anything. It is kheer kodom, a famous Bengali sweet, very much similar to roshogulla."

Then suddenly he started groaning in pain. "Water...I need wa-t-er. Anirudh, give me water. It's burning.", referring to his throat.

I laughed sadistically panicking him further.

"Wh—a-t did y.. mix..?"

"The same thing which you mixed in kheer kodom served in Bondita Bhojanalay. Poison!", I declared.

He widened his eyes. There was shock more than regret in those pain-stricken eyes of his, which made me fall in a dilemma. Initially, he didn't even seem to react oddly at the mention of the sweet, unlike a real culprit. Real culprits would get nervous when they come into contact with the weapons or things they used to do the crime.

"Spill out the truth, Chandrachur and you will be saved.", I declared, asking Somnath to show him the injection.

"If you confess your crime truthfully, my brother will give you the antidote to the poison. Otherwise, we will let you die peacefully by feeding the remaining sweets too.", I threatened.

"Ani---ru----dh..", he gasped, "Wa--ter...plea---se."

"Why did you poison the food in Bondita Bhojanalay? Those people too must have felt the same way on eating poisonous food."

"I....I...didn't...", he breathed.

"Stop lying, Chandrachur. I know you don't want me to get married to Bondita and you will go to any extent to separate us. Didn't you arrange a fake suitor for Bondita and asked him to escape from the mandap, so that you can act like a saviour and marry her in the name of saving family honour? Didn't you send us false message about Sumati ma's health and take Bondita away? You also attempted to kill me, didn't you? I very well know you are behind this poisonous scandal. If you confess, I will let you live. Or else..."

"Anirudh", he uttered with utmost difficulty as the burning sensation in his throat amplified, "Believe me, I didn't poison the food. I know the plan though. I only instigated people to speak against Bondita, so that thakuma will call off the wedding."