Team: Alphabet Soup
Read the previous part of the story here
Chapter 12
“A fake idol!”
Shekhar stood there with his eyes
aghast.
“Where is the original idol? Where is
our Amma Mahamaaya?”, someone piped in.
“What is the use to ask this dim
witted viduan? He can’t even do a proper theft. Even now, look at his face.” It
is Sudheeran Varma, his face flushed with these unprecedented events. Clearly
this festival too has no plans to go unnoticed from the media eyes.
The wise mad man saved Shekhar from
the trouble of replying, “Only the chosen child can take the idol out of the
temple. Anyone else attempting that will become the victim of Devi’s wrath”.
“What! What if I have gotten Devi’s
wrath? Why did you make me do it?”, Dutta screamed.
“It was my karma, and you are safe.
The idol is fake”.
He turned to the police, “He will be
fine. But be quick in finding the idol before doom falls on the entire Vajrakshipuram.”
Saying so he walked away, brandishing that heavy stick of his against evil
spirits.
Shekhar sighed heavily. This is
going to be a very long day.
*****
Inside the temple office Sudheeran
Varma paces restlessly as the High Priest looks on. Years of experience have
taught Memana Namboori of the fury of his patrons and he dared not step in.
“We can’t afford a media exposure now.
It will only delay the investigation”, it’s the Inspector. They all know what
such news can do with the already restless devotees – riots and blood bath.
Bloody hell! He is not in a situation to meet an agitation now. His hands are
full enough.
“And you need to address the crowd,
Mr. Varma”
"And what do I tell them?", Sudheeran sounded confused.
"If I may suggest, there are no auspicious hours this month. You could tell them that the idol has been found and the procession will have to be postponed", it is Memana Namboori.
"And what do I tell them?", Sudheeran sounded confused.
"If I may suggest, there are no auspicious hours this month. You could tell them that the idol has been found and the procession will have to be postponed", it is Memana Namboori.
“Hmph”, Sudheeran too seems at a loss
for words.
“But we can’t let the crew leave the
place.”
“That won’t be necessary. We are not
leaving anyway, that is without getting an answer”, says Tara bombarding the
meeting with her calm, cool demeanor.
“Well! Well! What’ve we got here? A
journalist spy in our midst! Mrs. Dutta, do you have any problem reading that
‘no entry’ sign in front of the door?”, clearly the Inspector doesn’t welcome
the addition to the audience.
“Only when it concerns my daughter
Roohi, and the reputation of my husband”.
“And we are partaking in this
investigation”, she added as an afterthought.
*****
Her
media training has equipped Tara well for situations like these. She just needs
to play the correct cards and this will produce an exclusive for the channel. As
expected the Inspector is suspicious of her intentions, but the temple
authority is devoid of alternatives. Alienating the press won’t be a bright
idea at this juncture; it required only a slight probing from her part for Mr.
Sudheeran to put the seal of approval.
“Mamma”, Roohi’s voice took her back
to the present.
“Oh, my darling. I am so glad to see
you safe”
“See, see, look at the pictures I took
with Jenny Aunty”
“You both seem to be in nice terms
already”, she welcomed Jennifer with a warm smile.
“She is a dear. No one can resist
loving her”
Tara updated Jennifer with the latest
turn outs.
“Sounds interesting. Count me in”
*****
Cyrus has come to a dead end; if he
needs to further this case there should be a lead, an invisible link to connect
the scattered dots. He has gone through the files again and again. Nothing.
Except a mere gut feeling that something is definitely fishy.
He may get some answers from the
procession. But it seems the plans are to be changed for one month. That silly writer has spoiled everything with his stupid theft. Yet, something is not
exactly right. If the idol is found, then why the heavy guard inside the
temple? Only one way to know.
Just before the ring goes to voice
mail, Jennifer’s deep voice cuts in.
“Cyrus, can we talk later?”
“This is urgent. Can we meet?”
“I am busy right now. You know of my
assignment with N9”
“You won’t regret it”, he sounded
desperate even to himself.
“Let’s take a walk. Meet me near the
street light. Five minutes.”
It seems the police
or the assurance of Sudheeran has failed to pacify the devotees. Anxious faces
lurk around; there won’t be any peace till the procession and festival happens.
The Bhagawati has to be satiated to bring prosperity to the land.
In spite of her
visible tiredness, Jennifer has retained the sharpness in her eyes.
“What’s it all about?”, as usual there
is no time for pleasantries.
“Heard about the commotion inside. I
was worried. About you.”
“Seriously Cyrus, is that all? Then I am fine, as you
can very well see.”
“Sure”, Cyrus smiled wryly. This is
not going as expected. “So it seems they are postponing the procession”
“Mm”
“I was curious. Why do they want to do
that if the idol is found?”
“Let’s cut this crap.” Jennifer
narrowed her eyes, “What about you telling me the real intention of your
visit?”
He doesn’t know her. Not enough. But
the odds are against him. It is either packing the bags for Delhi or having to
trust someone.
Cyrus took a deep breath. His
moustache glistened with sweat under the afternoon sun.
“This happened fourteen years back
during the last procession. The child who carried the deity was found dead. The
priest who accompanied her was unconscious and half paralyzed. They carried out
one investigation, but the postmortem report sounded convincing enough for them to close the case. The child
drowned to death. The priest just remembers slipping and falling, nothing after
that. I came upon this case for my project work. This all sounded too
unconvincing and I thought this year’s procession may show some light to it.
That’s why I’m here. I know there is more to the theft that happened today. But
only you can help me in that.”
He can see Jennifer is not convinced.
He opened his back pack and showed her the case files, his hunches, notes and
related reports.
“I was intending to publish this in my
blog but thought better of it. It might cause many controversies and open up Pandora's box. Not that I
have many followers!”
‘Alright.’ She
tells him what happened inside.
‘Yes! I knew it.
Last time when the child died, the priest also collapsed. I felt this was too
mysterious. This might have some connection to it.’
‘Wow! Cool down man. Don’t make any conclusions now. And one important thing. You should investigate on your own. If the culprit is around, he’ll soon know that we are working on the case. He’ll keep an eye on us. But when you work aloof, he wouldn’t know. We won’t meet anymore. Our conversations should be discreet. Is that clear?”
‘Wow! Cool down man. Don’t make any conclusions now. And one important thing. You should investigate on your own. If the culprit is around, he’ll soon know that we are working on the case. He’ll keep an eye on us. But when you work aloof, he wouldn’t know. We won’t meet anymore. Our conversations should be discreet. Is that clear?”
Sounds weird to
him. Can he trust her? Is she here for photography or is there something hiding behind that foxy, watchful eyes?
He pushed those thoughts aside. All the same, he needs her.
He pushed those thoughts aside. All the same, he needs her.
He will have to
trust her. At whatever cost that may be.
You can find the next part here
"Me and my team, Alphabet Soup, are participating in Game of Blogs at BlogAdda.com. # Celebrate blogging with us."
You can find the next part here
"Me and my team, Alphabet Soup, are participating in Game of Blogs at BlogAdda.com. # Celebrate blogging with us."
