The Other Side(73)

“You are on to something for sure,” Mandar was enthused. “The evidence certainly establishes their marriage and honeymoon. There is enough evidence for me to pick up this Prem chap and ask him some hard questions. But I will have to talk to the SP of Muzaffarnagar first. There must be a file on Poonam's suicide in Jhinjhana Police Station. I will assign one of my tougher inspectors to the job and monitor the case myself. We should be able to work something out in a couple of days. You stay in my guest room till then. We will know by Saturday morning whether you are a nutcase or Prem Gupta is a shrewd and heartless criminal,” Mandar added, calling for the drinks.



Rajiv slept well for the next two nights; without any nightmares. Saturday morning found him up early and he looked forward to the day with anticipation. But he was surprised to see that Mandar had already left.

“ASP sir went out very early. He said that he would be back for lunch. He asked you to wait for him,” the servant informed. He noticed the servant had become pretty amiable towards him after almost pushing him out that night.

Mandar was back before lunchtime. He told the whole story to Rajiv as the servant laid out the dishes.

“You were right. We picked him up at night and interrogated him. He tried to bluff his way out initially but soon broke down on seeing the photographs and certificate. I lied a bit and said that he and Poonam were seen at the PHC together by witnesses on the day of the incident. Once he knew he was trapped he started singing like a canary and spilled out the whole sordid story,” Mandar informed.

“Well, it is good to know that I am not suffering from a psychiatric disorder and there was indeed a paranormal presence at the PHC. But tell me what really happened that day,” Rajiv prodded.

“I still don't subscribe to the spirit part but Prem and Poonam were having an affair. They got married at the Civil Court and went on a honeymoon to Ooty without telling their families. Poonam conceived as a result. By then Prem was having second thoughts about their decision and realised that both their families would not accept the marriage. He was also tiring of Poonam and her rustic mannerisms, he said. He had applied to HDFC bank and had cleared the initial rounds. He wanted to escape from her clutches while Poonam was insistent on making their secret marriage public. Poonam coaxed him to go with him to Jhinjhana and help in convincing her parents.

“They drove to Jhinjhana on his bike and went to the PHC as Poonam knew nobody stayed there in the evening. She asked him to wait there as she did not want to take him directly to her house. She thought that she would talk to her parents first and then invite him. But it did not work that way. Poonam's parents refused to accept any alliance outside their community. In the end, Poonam rushed out of her home and ran to the PHC. She told Prem that it was a mistake coming here and her parents would never accept their marriage. She said that she was willing to leave her family. She wanted to go back to Muzaffarnagar and start living together with Prem as they were already married but he had other ideas. They started arguing while standing near the well and suddenly on an impulse Prem pushed her in. He waited till she drowned, drove back to Muzaffarnagar and told everyone the story of her suicide the next week. He picked up all her stuff from the PG accommodation and destroyed it. It was a matter of chance that the photographs below the mattress escaped his attention and eventually fell in your hand. He feigned depression, used it as an excuse to quit his job and promptly joined HDFC. He was under the impression that he had gotten away with his crime,” Mandar finished.

“So that is about it,” Rajiv sighed.

“He is already under arrest. I have talked to my counterpart in Muzaffarnagar as Jhinjhana falls in their jurisdiction. Rest assured that Prem Gupta will have to pay for his crime. And thanks to you, I have a remarkable success early in my career,” Mandar smiled, digging into the food.



Rajiv's heart asked him to do one last thing that he could not deny. He made his way to Subhash Ghaat and hunted up the traditional Panda (Priest) of the Chaudhury family of Jhinjhana, Muzaffarnagar. He informed him that he wanted to offer the Pind daan(Ritual prayer for the departed) for Poonam.

“Are you a relative?” the priest enquired.

“I think you can call me a friend,” Rajiv replied.

“Since no one else has come. I guess you can do it,” The priest

was anyway loath to let go of a prospective client and decided that a friend would do if there were no family to complete the rituals. Rajiv offered the prayers on the banks of Ganges and completed the act. He prayed for the release of the disturbed soul. After signing the register and making the dakshina (donation) to the Panda, he felt incredibly light, like a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.