THE NAVARATHRI MURDERS

Chapter 3: Rekha

My eyes scanned the newspaper headlines reading ''Navarathri killing Spree strikes terror among married man'', I just rolled my eyes and went on to read the details pertaining to this story.

Apparently, these wives enter into a trance like state, to that of Maa Durga and in a twist they kill their husbands. Now, as I recall growing up in a land that enriches with culture of loving the ones that you are married and be pious of,how could a woman coming from a small village whereby they abided this strict rules could, actually turn kill their siginificant other half?

At the same time, my mind was bickering with other thoughts that I learned from my traditions that, Shiva the dear beloved made the goddess his other half and preaching to the world that she is his equal and that all men were to treat their wives the same way...

So, something was very wrong here? Did those women actually fake the trance like state and kill their husbands? Did they suffer some sort of personality disorder? But, how could all those women have suffered mental disorder and kill their respective husbands at the same time of the year?

Sure, I did want to kill my ex-husband but I did not want to waste my energy by killing a  burden and rotting in jail for that garbage. Moreover, I cannot imagine a life from my daughter Ashika.

My thoughts were interrupted by the ringing in my jeans pocket. I, answered it and to my surprise it was a call from the Commissioner of Police, Kiran.

''Good morning, Rekha.''

''Good Morning, Sir. May I know what is this call regarding?''

''I will come straight to the point! May I see you in my office at 2 pm. It is actually a meeting, can't really brief you over a call....Hope you would understand?''

''Alright then, I will  see you at 2pm sharp!''

"Bye, Rekha''

''Bye, Sir''

I, made a quick check on my watch it was about 11.40 am. I rushed myself into the shower again. I grabbed a red top which screamed with vibrant indian colours, and managed to pull the whole outfit with black tights. I, glanced on the mirror checking the timing of the clock from the reflection of the clock and smearing a thick red lipstick over my lips and applied the final touch of my makeup, applying an eyeliner. 

Oh, wait something is missing not, something but some things. Yes, My geek spectacles and the black shawl to finish it up! I took a final glance at my mirror ''Yes! I look like a 35 year old Indian female criminal pyschologist!'' with that I, trotted down my house staircase grabbed my keys and sprinted towards my white mercedes.

I entered the cabin when I saw three pair of eyes turning to look at me...

I made a quick sweep across the room to see Inspector Raj and some unknown girl in her late twenties with her chin up and her long her hair braided, wearing some 80s indian top with a mandarin collar. She managed to pull it off with a white tights and a pink lipstick and  I can sense some kind of media vibe around her, probably an activist or a Journalist?

''Pardon me, if I am late, Sir!''

''No, it is no problem Rekha you are not late! Or, should I say just in time!''

''Take a seat, Rekha!''

''Thanks Chief!''

"We are all gathered here for a brief yet, an important meeting!''

We just nodded our heads at this statement waiting for him to get into the details.

" You guys know about the navarathi muders, right? Basically, an unsolvable case since like the 70s, but it is has been rumoured to have started in the 60s already!'' after a quick glance to observe our faces streaked with attentiveness he went on.

''Ever since then, this copycat murders had taken a toll and it started spreading at a rapid rate around many surrounding villages!'' 

''I am sure, you guys heard of the the murder at bombay? I think Supriya you can brief them on the case, do you need visual aids?''

''As a matter of fact, I do need it, thanks Sir!''

After a constable came in and set the projecter and screen up, Supriya stood by the side of the screen and started to show us the case details.

''A quick intro guys! I am Supriya Shekar, Journalist at red times! And I have been involved with this case ever since I joined the industry and mainly it revolves around spousal abuse that leads to a gruesome murder!''

''Take a look at the news archives that I have collated, some I had researched and dug upon from the 70s!''

''Like I mentioned, all cases have a similar form of abuse, marital woes which kind of leads to the homicide of their husbands''

''You can take a look at the pictures, one more point a similar case at Bombay was committed by a sixty year old woman hacking her husband with an ax!''

''What shocked me was that how was the woman able to wield an ax ? When I investigated I found out that she had arthiritis and high blood pressure which could lead to a possible heart attack, she mutiliated his body, burnt his severed hands with coal and burnt his feet with a heated rod.''

She ended her presentation and our chief tokk a sip of his coffee giving us a look prompting our thoughts.

I just ran my fingers through my untied hair and and look through the notes I have jotted through the presentation. 

With a sigh I said ''I will go first Chief'' 

''Firstly, a triggering point as repeatedly mentioned is an abuse that foams up over time, which probably affects the victim, in this case the wives which leads to depression...'' my words trailed as I turned to face both Raj and Supriya who were lost in thier deep web of thoughts.

Nevertheless, I continued ''Our brain system is complicated to cope with this it kind changes the gears to deal with this situation and, mind you this defence mechanism to combat it however, in this process the victims develop many types of mental disorders. Probably, in this cases extreme bipolar disorder, Schizoprenia and Split personality which are quite interlinked'' 

''Influences from what they were exposed to like their teachings, environment, media or anything to influence them psychologically surfaces to their mind and takes on this form of disorders, genetics or anything that invades their mind directly or indirectly!''

''We shall take a short break and continue this meeting in another 15 minutes and Inspector Raj, did you bring the relevant case files!'' as soon as our chief said that I rushed out to check my messages when, Supriya tapped me from my back.