Blue, But as Azure as Pastel.

Red, But as Scarlet as Sunsets.

Love is erratic. It has no rules, no bounds and surely no rhyme or reason whatsoever. Several lovers have come and gone throughout history but the constancy of sacrifice is a common theme to each of them. Whenever we think of the word ‘love’, our mind makes an absurd connection with the colour red. If you ask someone to describe Love with any colour, they are bound to reply, “The colour, red.”

Red- The colour of love, the colour of roses and the colour of blood. People have gone to great lengths for the sake of their beloved and sometimes lost their life in the process. Love is probably the most intense feeling one could ever feel but there is another feeling which is no less intense- Hatred.

Mr. Ford gathered everyone on the deck of the ship. After the night of storm, the weather has become quite frigid.

“First of all, I would like to thanks Kristoff, for he helped me to find the true identity of the criminal or should I say criminals?”, said Ford.

There was visible excitement among the miniature crowd. Captain Thompson was the first person to speak, “You have solved the case Detective?”

Ford smiled and said, “Just a cop, not a detective.”

Hoffman said, “Does it really matter? Can you please stop stretching your monologue!”

Ford smiled and continued, “Dr. Stevens is the finest suspect in these types of murders. A crime of passion for the lost Love. He was also the last person to see Mr. Arthur Brown alive. Is that right Doctor?”

“Yes.”, replied the doctor.

“But Kristoff informed me last night that you arrived at the dining hall on the day of the murder just after two or three minutes of Lady Anna’s arrival but it would be impossible for a person to kill Arthur and go to the dining hall within that short amount of time. You would have required at least thirteen minutes to do the deed.”, said Ford.

There was eerie silence over the deck of Neptunus, as if the wild waters of Atlantic have calmed down for Ford’s explanation.

“Kristoff told me something interesting last night after I made him drink some whiskey with me. He said to me that he had heard Lady Anna scream in pain on the evening of her husband’s death. She was screaming as if someone was beating her. But all the four of us, myself, Hoffman, Patel and Stevens were at the deck, enjoying our beer.”, continued Ford.

The face of Lady Anna was now turning pale. She somehow managed to say, “What is the meaning of this? Why would I be screaming for no reason?”

Ford turned towards her and said, “Lady Anna… you were not a faithful wife, were you? I don’t blame you to be honest. With a husband like Arthur, it was quite natural you tried to find solace from someone else.”

Lady Anna’s face turned red as she stood there, speechless. Every pair of eyes on the deck were on her.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to bring out the lover of Lady Anna!”, exclaimed Ford.

Everyone glanced at Dr. Stevens but the finger of Mr. Ford pointed somewhere else after a few seconds. Everybody followed the finger of Ford and saw the person who was standing opposite to it was no one but… Margaret.

Everything became silent for a few moments. The absurdness of the theory was not validated by the Victorian minds of the gentlemen.

“Is this some kind of joke? Have you gone crazy? Doctor you should check his pulse or something.”, said Hoffman.

Margaret came forward. Her head held high, proud of her identity, proud of her being.

Ford continued, “I don’t mean to offend but those screams that Kristoff heard were not of pain. The poor lad had misunderstood. Those screams were sounds of pleasure. Ms. Margaret and Lady Anna were making love on the very evening of her husband’s death. “

Confusion was visible on every face. After a pause Ford continued, “I am not sure of the next incidents. These are my assumptions. Correct me if I am wrong Lady Anna. That night after the drunken fight at the dining hall, Mr. Brown was fast asleep… so you went over to the room of Ms. Margaret. Unfortunately for you, Mr. Brown woke up from his sleep and when he saw you were not in bed, he went to search for you to the very next room and he saw you and Ms. Margaret in a very intimate moment. He was a man of short temper, so I assume he started beating you, rather animalistically… so in the heat of the moment you stabbed Mr. Arthur. Am I right?”

Margaret spoke for Anna, with a confident voice, “It was me. I stabbed Arthur; I couldn’t stand that pig torturing Anna. I do not have any regrets, if you people imprison me, just don’t drag Anna into this, she is innocent.”

Anna broke out in tears and said, “Do not take the blame on yourself Margaret! It was me Mr. Ford. I stabbed my husband.”

Margaret was going to disagree but was stopped by Ford, who has now started talking, “You managed to drag the body to your room and somehow managed to draw out more blood from the dead body by cutting his Achille’s Tendon. The next day, you went first to the dining and hall and Margaret went after you so that she could confirm your alibi.”

Mr. Patel said,” But Stevens had seen him putting on a shirt… It just can’t be…”

Ford said, “I can assure you; Stevens had not seen any such thing because Lady Anna would never keep her door open after keeping a dead body in her bed.”

Patel argued, “Why would Dr. Stevens lie?”

‘For love. For the love he always wanted but was never his. As soon as Dr. Stevens examined the body of Mr. Arthur, he understood that the murder was committed last night and he also understood that the murder was committed by his beloved… but he didn’t say anything… He took the risk of being the last person who saw the victim alive just for the sake of his love. Maybe he went to Anna’s room last night because he thought he deserved an explanation.”, reasoned Ford.

“That is quite right detective…!”, said Dr. Cornelius Stevens. “But I do not regret anymore… I know Anna and Margaret love each other and Margaret will always keep her happy. If Anna is happy, I am more than happy.”, said the doctor.

“Thank You…!”, muttered Anna as a tear drop rolled through her cheeks.

“You are a very strong woman, Ms. Margaret.”, said Ford.

“Being a black woman in England… You have to be strong”, replied Margaret.

“My work here is done gentlemen. Since we are now on international waters, I do not have any right to arrest them but the Captain of the ship has. It is completely up to Captain Thompson of his further actions.”, said Ford.

Kristoff was really annoyed by the fact that the lady of his dreams was in love with another woman… another black woman… He thought Anna deserved some kind of punishment for her sexuality.

Everyone waited for the verdict of the Captain. The woman with whom hundreds of men were in love with never belonged to a man. She was one of a kind.

The Captain kept quiet for a few moments and finally said, “The Bible says it is wrong to practice homosexuality… and as a devout Catholic I also believe that… or rather I would say I used to believe that… I have never seen love so intense. It is true, I do not understand homosexuality… but just because we don’t understand something does not always mean it is wrong. I hope Lord will one day make me understand… He has his ways of making me understand and maybe this was His way of making me aware that Love has no rules. Maybe you wouldn’t have killed him unless it was for self-defence. There are thousands of crimes committed on the sea because the laws of England are not applicable here… and those crimes are always forgotten and stays among the vastness of ocean… I think this maybe one of those crimes which shall be forgotten and hence… forgiven.”