AN UNFILED CASE

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.