NEW ASHLOK FICTION : GUILTY Chapter 29page 140 - Page 9

Shlok kept on looking at her, hoping she'd look at him and answer. But she continued to avoid making eye contact with him.

She narrated to him how her husband had just returned home early around 9.00 pm after attending a Charity Dinner for Underprivileged Kids organised by the Rotary club.

She had been in her room, she said her room...shouldn't it be our room. I shall get to the bottom of this unusual marriage. Moving on...what were you doing...he jumped in...I was listening to music and doing a crossword puzzle. What were you listening to...that's not important, you gonna crack this case with that info...what's wrong with you man...he couldn't take back the words...she looked up at him, surprise written all over, she seemed reluctant to disclose ...why he pondered. Finally...he thought. Is that important she asked back. Einstein jawaab do.. It'll help me to understand your state of mind...good one Shlok...she seemed convinced. Bieber. Came the meek answer. What...as in Justin Bieber...god kill me now. How Old are you 10. Who in in your right mind would want to listen to that pansies songs. May be your poor husband found out and stabbed him self to death. He felt like telling her. She is a child and he a Pede.

Where's the paper. What paper? The one with the crossword puzzle...he questioned. She seemed irritated. I do online puzzles. She shot back. Ok so now your showing me some other emotion other than the water works. He was constantly in conversation with himself.

May I continue? By all means, I'm dying of suspense...what next watching Dora the explorer. He chuckled. She choose to ignore and continue...I didn't hear him come in how Could you...with that pansy cooing in your ears. I had my headphones on. Of course you did. How very convenient. His inner voice was on a roll today.

When did you find out your husband was being attacked he asked her. I had locked the door from inside. So he called me to come and open the door. I went down and opened the main door. He stepped in with two men behind him. Their faces covrered. His hands held behind by one of them. And a knife held to his throat. He asked me to do as they say and we'll be ok. One man was taller than the other one. Taller than your husband. He asked. Yes both were taller than my husband and very well built. The taller one seemed to be incharge. He asked me to close the door and get him a glass of water. I stepped towards the door and I remember something smothering my face. I don't know what happened after that.

When I finally gained consciousness it was all dark. But I could see my husband lying on the floor. He wasn't moving. I dragged my self up and went to him. He wasn't breathing. I tried to wake him up. But he didn't open his eyes. His hands were very cold. Very cold. You know, I tell him that his hands are always very warm. Always. Even if it's freezing clod his hands are never. Not today. She was talking nonchalantly. She seemed to be in trance. Eyes fixed towards the direction of the crime scene.

She was genuinely mourning the death of her beloved husband. She was missing him. He could see it in her eyes. He refused to believe it though. It was too good to be true. Can a young girl like her really love a man like that. No. Not in his books. No, according to all the shit he's seen and heard. There's always a ulterior motive. True love does not happen in real life it only exists in fairly tales, in books. And he was fine with that. He felt sorry for all the emotional fools out there who are waiting, believing that they're in love. They have found love. What a load of crap. Idiots.

"Is that all?"She asked him disturbing his train of thoughts.

"Did you call the emergency line with your phone?" He asked.

"No I used my husbands phone. It was lying next him."

"What can you tell me about the two men. Did you notice anything unusual in them. The way they talk, walked. Did they have a accent, what color was their eyes? Did you see any scars or tattoos on them?"

He saw her getting perplexed. Too many questions, Shlok Holmes. Give the girl some space to breathe.

"Mrs. Almeida I'm sorry, I know all may be over whelming. But I need you to think carefully and tell me all that you remember about the two men." He said trying to calm her nerves.

"They were dressed in full black overalls. Only their eyes was visible. The tall one was left handed. How can you say? Cut in he. He was holding the knife in his left hand. Taller guy the one holding the knife had light brown eyes. Both were wearing dark glasses. But when my husband tried to wiggle out of his grip it fell off. He had a very deep voice. And he didn't say much. Just asked for the glass of water. And signed me to close the door. He didn't have a distinct accent. Even if he had I was in state of shock to,notice it.

Why did he come home from the dinner so early. Is it normal for him to do so. He asked her again.

He usually comes very late. He didn't call me and inform either that hes coming home early. But he was perfectly fine when he left around 7.30" she added.

Does he drink? Alcohol I mean... He asked.

"He was not a heavy drinker. He knew his limits. Specially at social gathering like this he would limit him self to one or two glasses of vine. He hardly takes hard liquor" she said.

"Why didn't you...Mrs. Almeida accompany him" he asked again.

"He knows that it's not my kind of thing" Join the club, finally another living soul that thinks like me. Can we have a hallelujah! Whats the need to have them in the first place. If you want to donate money, do charity just give the money and ,just shut then f... Up. Whats the need to put up this whole act. I should just shut my mind he thought.

She continued, "Anyways it was just his presence that was required. So he let me be. He never forced me to do anything I'm not comfortable doing" said she with a distant look on her drained yet pretty face. Pretty, there you go again. Women are not pretty they're just sexy or not. That's it.

Mrs. Almeida, can you think of anybody that would want to harm you husband? Did he have any enemies? Did you notice anything out of the ordinary in his behaviour? Like panicking when ever the phone rings, extra care to make sure the doors and windows are locked, extra security or any nuisance calls, blank calls. Anything that made you suspicious. Or made you think everything is not ok" he stopped when he noticed her getting anxious.

Mr. Agnihotri... pleaser call me Shlok. He cut in..

My husband spent very few hours at home. He was a very hard working man. And a very busy one as well. I don't get to spend much time with him. He comes home late most of the days, and sleeps till late morning, and he leaves for work again. And you spend the days and nights listening to that pansy and do cross word puzzles. Do you think I was born yesterday. All women are the same, you would cheat and sleep with every tom dick and Harry that comes along. When Women who are married to good looking, caring husbands cheat with the Gardner and the driver and very pair of pants that comes along do you expect me to believe your different. He wanted to tell her exactly that.

He clutched his fist, she continued on...

I didn't see anything out of the ordinary in his behaviour. He was his usual self. He was anyway a man of few words. Everything was just as any other day" she wiped a lone tear.

If anything was wrong do you think he'll share it with you, Mrs. Almeida. He asked one more.

What are you suggesting Mr. Agnihotri, that my husband kept secretes from, or that he didn't trust me? She was angry and hurt he could say. Yeah! You think. Bravo! Freud. You cracked a mystery.

Mrs. Almeida, that's not what I meant. I got me all wrong.

Why don't you enlighten me then Mr. Agnihotri" Ouch! Very touchy, I wonder why. I would've if you'd just let me just finish what I was going too say! Ms. Narky. His fist was void of any blood by this time. That probably saved himself from a disorderly conduct inquiry. He thanked his training in neuropsychology at the University of Maryland.

Mrs. Almeida, what I meant to say was, may be he didn't want to stress you, he didn't want to frighten you unnecessarily. Is he likely to have done so? He asked her with his anger subsiding.

Her expression changed, yeah! Now you're sorry, typical of women. You react and them think. She looked very sad and vulnerable all of a sudden. Another trick women use. He's proven right again and again, he knew them all.

Yes! Came a mere whisper. "He always use to tell me, you don't need to worry about anything. I'll take care of everything" she closed her face with her hands.

He felt sorry for her. Her protected secluded life has come crashing down. Without any warning. He knew the feeling. One more question and were done for today" he asked almost apologetically.

Do you think anything is taken from the house. Did you check the safe? "I don't know. I don't think so" she answered. Can you show me where it is. He asked.

She just stood up without saying anything, he stood up, it was his way...she turned to walk, and the next moment he was holding her forearm and she his other hand.

He felt an electric current pass through him. His whole body felt it, if he was Frosty he surely would've melted. What the hell...she's just warm...she's probably having fever. He wanted to come down to earth, as soon sad possible.

He had stepped on the edge of her hand quilted blanket that she was wrapped in. He blinked to see if he's seeing correctly. What is that hideous thing she's got on her. He felt like ripping it off her body. Pyjamas, with Black and white cows, who would want to wear them I'd rather die naked. Not even farmers. Is it even legal to look this ridiculous. I really need a drink. I don't think she's all there in her top floor.