Gignesh Mitra P.O.V

1st November (continuation)

After successfully passing through the mid day traffic, I halted the car at 'Anandi Bhavan'. Parking the car was not an easy task after all it's a late home minister's villa.  We were allowed to enter after the completion of security checking.

Strolling through the freshly irrigated lawn I wandered again in my musings . Unable to shut them I diverted my thoughts to the  interrogation we are about to do. I  learnt my lesson that keeping mum is not gonna work. Sighing to myself I stared at my co-workers who were currently busy waiting for me at the entrance. I sped up my pace and walked towards the door.

After ringing the doorbell for the fourth time it was opened by a elderly woman who might be in her late sixties.  There was a slight frown on her ageing face with gloominess striking over the wrinkles of fate.

"Yes?"

"Good morning Mrs. Basu,  sorry for the inconvenience we are about to cause. We are from CBI ,just came to investigate the death of  Mr. Basu. We know you and your family must be facing hard times....but as fast as we can solve the case,  justice can  prevail.

Her face was raw and emotionless but something seemed bothering her. After a moment or so with a straight face she replied.

"Come in"

"Arnab, make coffee for the guests"

"Please sit down "

"So...."

"Mrs. Basu, let me get this straight,  do you think your husband was murdered?"

Surya was eyeing me seriously while Satya was out of the frame. Where the hell did she disappear?

"Ah...Mr.....?"

"Mitra"

"Yes...yes..... Mr. Mitra you can call me Mrs. Gowri and I really can't say anything about my husband's death. It's an absolute shock you know him suffering,  business loss, his death and my son stuck in the states.

"Your son is stuck in the states?"

"Yes, due to some complications and business issues "

"Oh..... he didn't even come to his father's Antyestikriya?" (Funeral)

Her silence was the answer.  Not knowing what to do I proceeded further.

"The forensic reports say that Mr. Basu has been suffering from arthritis and had a long term medication of NSAID and might have died due to the medicines. Mrs. Gowri, why had he not opted for surgery as he is just 64 and the risk factors are less?"

"Well you see he has a phobia and had been paranoid about the surgery so the doctor suggested the medicines, incase the pain increases they recommended the knee replacement to be done as fast as possible but he had been delaying it"

A middle aged man entered the hall with the coffee tray and placed it on the lavish table. Ignoring the servant Mrs . Basu continued...

"- I don't know about the dosage or the prescription of the medicines. Abhi takes care of it."

"Abhi?" I asked her, raising my eyebrows.

"My son Abhiram"

"Mrs. Gowri, are you suspecting anyone or you know the party members,any political fights, business ?"

"I don't know anything about his business nor his job but his emerald ring had been missing since he died. I had informed my son and asked him if I need to call help to find it but he insisted that it should be somewhere in the house"

"You had not informed this to the police?"

"No not really but I think he might have kept it in the safe or I might have misplaced it." She replied unsure.

"Well then we'll take a leave. Thank you for having us Mrs. Gowri and sorry for the inconvenience we had caused "

Surya and I stood and left the house  thanking her. Where the hell is Satya? She has not been seen anywhere. Mentally consoling myself we head out of the Anandi Bhavan.

"Surya where is Satya?" I asked or more like  yelled

"main yahaan tumhaaree aankhon ke saamane hoon"

("I am here in front of your eyes" )

"tum kahaan the?("Where were you?") You freaking scared me!"

"Ok Drama boy, if you had done your yelling I need to tell you three things"

"You mean the golden words Satya?" Surya teased her.

Ignoring the 5 foot 9 inches man she continued.

"1. No yelling Mr. Mitra
  2. No formality, please officer at least for this case
  3. I've found a clue or maybe a red herring who knows? A try won't hurt right? And I'm driving. "

She stated clearly. After agreeing to her three golden wishes she drove us to the nearest  jewellery store.  Our confused looks was enough for her to answer but she ignored us for a solid half an hour and came out.  God knows what she did there. Other than the home  minister's death this suspense is killing us.

Surya and I rose our eyebrows at her questioningly

"Kya?" (What?)

"Kya kya?"

"Why are you both eyeing me like I committed a crime?"

"We want answers Satya"

"Oh, sorry I forgot to inform"

"You fo-forgot?" Surya shuttered at the unbelievable officer

Grinning sheepishly  she answered, "Yeah sorry about that . Anyways listen while we were at Mr. Basu's house I sneaked a bit and managed to take a shot of the missing ring.  When I enquired the owner of this shop he replied that this ring is specially designed for the home minister and at present there's only one in Kolkata, the one home minister owns. What's surprising is that this ring has a secret storage space and what's more interesting is that today morning a woman came to enquire about the same ring. So what do you think?"

"Smart work Satya " Surya complimented her.

"A woman came to enquire? Was it Mrs . Basu?  If not, who is she?"