7

Sahil and Mizan took leave from Raj and came out of the mansion, and as they were walking towards the car, Sahil asked, “According to the forensics, the murder happened at around 11:30 that night, which means that Raj is clean.”

Mizan said nothing to this. He was busy thinking about something else. He was looking at the case from a different angle.

“That caretaker, what’s her name again?” Mizan suddenly asked.

“Aisha,” Sahil replied.

“Call her for interrogation.” And then Mizan added, “those CCTV footages are ready? Of the party?”

“Yes, everything’s ready.”

Mizan and Sahil then reached the police station, and inside the surveillance department, they took help from other officers to scrutinize their research from the night of Krit’s murder.

They all were looking at the footage of Raj’s car leaving the bridge towards the suburbs. They noted the time of the car’s exit. It was 11:35 PM.

“Will you show Rahul’s car?”

“All right, sir. Here it is.”

They all waited for a minute and then watched the footage.

“Here it is.” He played it.

The first recording showed Rahul and Krit entering at 10:20. Mizan was glued to the screen when something outside the room took his attention. His eyes fell on the girl sitting outside on the visitor’s seat. Many people passed by, but Mizan’s eyes were only glued on this girl. There was something attractive for Mizan in this girl. She was looking down at the floor. She looked nervous.

“Should I play this again, sir?” The officer suddenly asked, taking Mizan’s attention back to the screen.

“Yea… yes, please.”

At 11:30, Rahul’s car exits the bridge into the city.

Then came another officer inside the room and addressed Mizan.

“Sir, she’s here.”

Aisha was waiting in the interrogation room when Mizan entered after opening the door. Mizan paused for a moment. There was something special about Aisha that took his attention away. For a while, Mizan forgot everything and admired the beauty of Aisha. She was a simple, beautiful girl with no makeup. Mizan was speechless, but then he realized that he had a job to perform.  

Then Sahil entered the room, and Mizan returned to his senses.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. So miss Aisha, tell us everything you know about the night Krit got murdered.” Mizan finally started his job.

“My Jhunjhunwala always kept a key of the house with him.” She began to narrate her story. “I was in my room on my bed and talking to one of my friends over the phone.”

“Which friend?” Sahil interrupts her.

“Daisy.”

“Girl?” This time it was Mizan.

“Yes.”

“Yes, I love him, daisy. He is my only parent. You should understand that.” Aisha waited to listen to her friend from the other side of the line and then again began, “Btw, did you watch her commercial? Ain’t she the sexist girl alive?” Aisha waits again. She was totally into the conversation. “No, I haven’t met her yet. Only if Mr. Bhasin agrees.”

Then the bell rang.

Aisha hung up the call, “I’ll call you later. There’s someone at the door.” She got up from her bed and moved to the main door. As she opened the door, she saw Rahul and Krit standing. They entered the door after greeting Aisha and walked toward the living room.

Aisha, too, followed them, and as they got comfortable on the sofa, she asked, “Mr. Jhunjhunwala, should I make something for you two?”

Rahul was the one who replied, “No, thank you, Aisha. We’ll help ourselves if something is needed.”

Krit then added, “Your service is no longer required.”

Krit laughed, and Rahul joined him.

“Go and take a rest. We’ll talk tomorrow.” Krit added and told Aisha to go back to her quarters.

“In your statement, you mentioned that the bell rang twice?” Mizan asked after reading her statement.

“Yes. I was asleep then. I thought it was Raj. No one else could have intervened in Krit’s life because he doesn’t like anyone coming to his house without permission.” Aisha replied.

“About what time was it?”

“I am not aware of that. I was asleep.”

Mizan smirked suspiciously.

“When did the cook and cleaner arrive?” Mizan kept on asking the questions.

“There are two different cleaners for two different rooms. They arrive at 6:30 in the morning and finish their job by 7:15. In the meantime, I give water to the plants in the garden. Mr. Jhunjhunwala was very particular about the morning work. He wanted it to finish as soon as possible. He needed breakfast by eight, and sometimes, when he is not in the mood to eat breakfast made by the cook, he used to ask me to cook for him.” Aisha narrated the whole morning schedule of the house.

“Krit wanted to give away some portions of his property to you. Are you aware of it?”

“Yes.”

“And you were to get this property after his death.”

Aisha got agitated, “I haven’t murdered him.”

Mizan advanced towards the seat where Aisha was sitting, and with anger in his eyes, he blasted at Aisha, “What do you think, Ms. Aisha? Are we your friends here whom you are narrating your stories?”

Aisha felt the fear rushing in her body. She was stunned to see that avatar of Mizan.

“I am sorry.”

“Well, you should be. Inside your house, a murder happened, and you claim to be asleep?”

Aisha was crying uncontrollably. Feeling relaxed after flowing her emotions down, she asked, “What are you suggesting?”

“I am simply asking when the doorbell rang for the second time, why didn’t you get out of your room to check?”

“I did go. You can call it my job or my instincts, but I went. It was Mr. Raj on the door.”

Mizan looked at her. He wanted to read her lies, but it wasn’t easy to read. Her body language was remarkably intact. She gave away nothing.

“Why was Mr. Krit giving away his property to a caretaker?” Mizan then asked the vague question to see her crack.

“Why are you asking me this? It would be best if you asked Mr. Krit. He would have told you the reason behind his decision.” Aisha was still crying. It was difficult for her to take on so many things. First, the murder of Mr. Krit and then being questioned by the Police as a suspect of the murder. Everything was taking on her nerves.

“Or else, why don’t you ask Angel? She was the one who tried to sleep with Krit.” Now she looked angry.

Mizan was shocked to hear the revelation. A new angle was just introduced. Mizan looked at Sahil. Sahil unfolds his hands in shock as well.