AN UNFILED CASE
The serial
murder case was handed over to CBI. Officer Kanal was called to lead the
investigating team. He met The Deputy Superintendent of Police to get details
and case files and returned to his desk. The time flashed 10:14 AM. He dialled
to Ram and ordered to arrange for the team meeting at 11:00 AM sharp.
Kanal was
quite tall 6’2”. Handsome, little fair complexioned. His broad shoulder and
gripped chest will give opponents a threat. His hypnotising sharp eyes can make
any mouth speak truth. He had roaring voice on case dealings and pleasant tone
to please others. By the way he is my husband. We got married 6 months before. Myself
Madhu. This is a part of our story....
I
had many dreams on my married life particularly at that time. Kanal was the
first groom to see me and vice versa. It sparked inside me on the first sight
at him. When he called on me for a formal 5 minutes talk I had felt the same
warmth from my father. Yes I felled for him. I loved him like no one can. My
menses of that 3 months gap reminds me him for no particular reason. My search
for the hero of my love stories hit the result as Kanal. Yes I was damn kooky
about him.
The
strict rules prohibiting talking to each other before marriage made my waiting
hell. I couldn’t wait to hold his hand and lay on his shoulder. I had selected
every aspect of my marriage carefully. Our engagement ring had a special
feature that the little heart inside the bigger heart was movable but could not
be pulled out. Finally we got married. Not so grand but a satisfied destination
wedding. At my first night, I have heard the same old dialogue “Duty is my
first wife” from my Kanal.
Out
of overwhelmed love my heart beats double the time for Kanal. From day one I
showered my feels for him. He was very duty conscious and takes less time for
me. I didn’t mean that he did not love me instead he didn’t find time to show
them. I could only blame the terrorist and accused for making my husband so
busy. Kanal never came home in a fixed time. Most of the time would be alone. I
used to call him in working hours to just remind my presence.
One
day when I called Kanal, he raised his voice that brought my tears out. Evening
he returned home early to console me. He took me out for dinner and at that
night we compromised with some suggestions both sides. He brought me books for
my pass time at home and promised me to be at home before 9PM every day. I hardly
accepted that inconvincible compensation. From the next day I engaged my free
time with books at our corridor facing park opposite to our appartment. Though,
I missed him a lot.
At the
middle of that 11:00AM meeting Kanal got a call from Madhu. Before he could
talk the voice of the watchman interrupted that Madhu was found unconscious in
their apartment. Kanal told him to take her to the nearby hospital and he will
be there soon. But the watch man wanted him to come at once as Madhu was
behaving queer. Aborting the meeting Kanal rushed to hospital.
He didn’t
find time to park his car in parking. Leaving the car in front of the gate he
went inside the sick bay. Approaching towards the ward he heard a loud scream
KANAL! KANAL! KANAL! in the voice of Madhu. Entering into the ward he saw 2
care takers holding her tight and a doctor examining for illness. Madhu looked
abnormal. Her pupils were hidden inside the upper eyelids. Kanal called her
name to make her know his presence but she didn’t react. He headed to touch
her. She shouted his name and started regretting. After some serious makeover
she got consoled. She hugged Kanal and sobbed.
After the
primary check the physician said that the disease seems new and
uncharacteristic and suggested to consult with an ENT specialist. When Kanal
was about to move Madhu held his hand tight and said not to leave her alone. After
testing her, the specialist told that she was quite normal on account of her
organs but her way of behaviour that murmuring Kanal’s name all time seems that
she might have get hurt at brain. These suspicious suggestions of the doctors
irked him. She didn’t let him move an inch that whole day.
Kanal had a
great taste on books. The books he brought were ultimately good. As I read, I
sunk into the words and started to live the words. The park opposite helped my
cherished imagination of words. I made myself the heroine of the book and Kanal
as hero. Living with him in book words made missing him real life even worst.
One day I was reading Helen Keller’s story “Three Days to See”. The story of a
blind who got three days to see the real world and her experience in that days
moved so good. While I was reading it happened to see a couple at the park. The
man was seemed to be blind and deaf accompanied by his wife all the time. I got
into my thoughts so deep missing Kanal.
Next day morning Kanal got ready to
leave for office. Madhu cried out his name, and as he came near she caught his
arm and said not to leave. No choice left he bunked his duty that day. He made
her relax and prepared food and fed her. He cuddled her like a child. He
visually shed tears seeing his wife in that state. He was annoyed to consult
with a doctor. He called his team mate and explained his unhelpful state. He
also explained the plan to catch the criminal and commanded to get into action.
He realised her importance in his life and vice versa. The search for the right
doctor and his leave continued for 2 more days.
Next day he got
the information that the A1 was caught in unconscious state and was kept for
observation. This time he denied her wish and rushed to do his duty. He met the
doctor treating the serial killer and got permission to investigate with him.
Kanal couldn’t find an in-depth reason in the statement of the A1 who kidnapped
and killed some notable personalities of the state. The psychiatrist after
observing the video of investigation gave a conclusion that the patient was
affected by Histrionic personality
disorder (HPD).
This mental
disease was an outcome of seeking attention. These patients behave in an
abnormal way to get attention from others or by a targeted audience. Kanal
laughed out at this hilarious statement of the psychiatrist. He asked him, ”How
can we conclude that the murders were done only for seeking attention from
police and nothing else?” Doctor replied, “Did you got any other clues for the
murders?” Kanal shook his head in confusion. Doctor continued that HPD patients
take serious efforts to seek attention both in positive and negative ways.
The scene of
the couple at the park remind still in my mind till I sleep that night. I read
the story of Helen Keller many times before I sleep that night. Next day I was
sound asleep. Kanal didn’t disturb me for his breakfast. My sleep was over but
I couldn’t open my eyes. I felt someone patting me on my back but I couldn’t
see or hear. I was scared, I searched for Kanal, I screamed and cried for him.
I miss him near me right then. I have no idea where I was and who were all
holding me. My scary feel increased every moment. I can only do search for my
Kanal. Even my screams couldn’t heard by me. I opposed every unfamiliar touch. At
last I felt ring with heart inside a heart. It was my husband. He found me. I had
never let him be away from me thereafter. I had Kanal’s nearness after becoming
blind. I prayed “If this nearness will remain forever I should not get my
vision back.”
Shock struck Kanal got a spark in his
brain. He requested the psychiatrist and took him to his house. The
psychiatrist examined Madhu and the house. He asked Kanal for their marriage
date and the places and events they visited together after marriage. But Kanal
could answer only to the marriage date and excused that “he didn’t find time”
for other questions. The doctor said that he had noticed the books she studied
and the furniture and little little things that reflect the books. She was
sensitive, she lived in world of stories she read. The last book she read was
found near the bed. She was at the state of HPD. She required Kanals attention
and his nearness. Kanal stood motionless in shock. Doctor prescribed some
medicines and instructed Kanal that the medicines will not work more than his
nearness to her.
I was inside
his love circle for several hours. He cooked for me, cared me, and treated me
like a queen. I just disremembered that I was blind by seeing him in my virtual
eyes. My desire on his love was accomplished. Lucky me was under his love
shower. That day he kissed my forehead before leaving for work. I missed him,
badly wanted to see him. At evening he took me to the park and we sat at the
same bench the couple sat that day. I slept in his arms. My sleep turned out hearing
alarm and the time showed half passed six in his mobile. I got up and prepared
coffee for us and placed his coffee bed side and woke him up. He pulled me
holding my hand as I fell upon him. He placed a kiss on my cheek said I LOVE
YOU before sipping his coffee.
