"Good afternoon Masterji! Just a formality, don't mind this little interrogation."

Gifting him a tight-lipped smile, Indroneel settled comfortably on the chair. He was expecting to be called sooner. Vishal and his mother, the complainants had been called the day before. And they were let out by those khaki officials quite early since both of them were not present at the crime scene and could do nothing more than presenting the documents.

Bagchi sighed. He was tired already. And to think of that the culprit has not yet been interviewed, god! Gaining back the spirit, he proceeded to settle in front of Masterji. 'Calling this man here is utterly useless and a waste of time', mused Bagchi. Masterji did not commit the crime and nor did the other flat occupants. However, for the sake of putting up a show, he had to call them all over before he could move to that Ansari.

"Where were you that morning?"

"At school."

What a silly question, Bagchi reprimanded himself. Where else could a Masterji be?

"When did you come to know about the news? Or did you see the body lying?"

"When Veer was hysterically screaming in the corridors, that's when I rushed to the place along with a few others. Yes, I did see her lying there."

Nothing which he did not know, Bagchi was told the whole tale by Veer. How the little young girl had stumbled across the dead woman. How she had called him and how he had screamed. How the whole colony had rushed to the place.

"What was your immediate reaction?"

"Shocked. Had never seen something like that before and so, I was shocked."

Of course, he hadn't, Bagchi could vouch for him. But that Ansari. Well, he must have seen many like that.

"Well Masterji, anyone you suspect of doing that heinous act? Anyone?"

"No. No one that I know of."

Now, this was a dilemma for Bagchi.

On one hand, there was Veer who had clearly raised his doubts about the culprit. And on the other hand, there was Masterji, according to whom that person was not a culprit. Well, he did not exactly say that Ansari was not the culprit. Rather he said that he could not think of anyone as the culprit. There was surely a difference between those two points, concluded Bagchi.

"Very well Masterji, very well. Your job is done, I assure you."

With a smile, he led the esteemed teacher to the gate of the police station. Asking his constables to prepare a vehicle for Masterji, they decided to wait, standing near the gate. An attempt of a small talk to reduce to silence. That's what Bagchi did.

"So Masterji, how is school and all going? I remember you as a person who had more attendance than the students themselves!"

Chuckles here and there.

"Oh yes sir! School is going on. Every year new kids. And about the attendance, maybe you people had cursed me or what, I don't know. But nowadays the headmaster is forcing me to take half-day leaves almost every day! And since I'll be home early, I'll have to cook well or Veer would start throwing tantrums!"

Laughing at Masterji's mortified expressions Bagchi let out a smile. Such a charming man he was, yet not married.

"Masterji, why are you not hitched yet?"

"Oh, I am! I am hitched to Veer, can't you see how we live in the same house and all?"

Smiling, Bagchi let go of the topic. He did not know how the boy was related to Masterji, but he sure meant a lot to him. And the boy too, what a character he was! Grinning he recalled Veer's antics. Just a few hours with that boy, and the stoic faced Bagchi could see his lips turning up all the time.

"Speaking of which. Will Veer be called for the interrogation? When should I ask him to come?"

"No Masterji, no need! I've already spent a lot of time with him, and know everything which I needed to know."

The yellow Hindustan Ambassador ahead of them roared. Sensing its impatience or rather the driver's, Masterji climbed into it. Driving away they had no clue that they were being watched.

For the city always has her eyes on her people. And for once she chose not to feel anything. She let herself be still. Just the way she was. Always.