WHO KILLED ME: The Strangest Whodunnit Read online

  Who

  Killed

  Me

  IRFAN KHAN

  Copyright © 2021 Irfan Khan

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 9798465863346

  Imprint: Independently published

  DEDICATION

  To my mother, Shakila Khan.

  Acknowledgement:

  Cover handmade art: @kritiqart

  Cover designing: Quack Quack Communication

  Cover Conceptualized by Irfan Khan

  Home Sweet Home

  Present.

  They say it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. Yeah, I told myself that too. The truth is that in the real world a journey begins with a promise of a destination. The journey becomes interesting because of the promise. The pain of my journey is endurable because of the impending joy of the destination.

  My name is Nikhil. An average looking guy, worked hard to make it big in life but did not succeed. I grew up and settled down in Sugaoni, which is about 60 km from Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh. Sugaoni has a lot of orchards since that's the main business for most of the families. My parents also became agriculturists in the second half of their life. They gave up their government jobs to find peace in the mountains.

  Since my interest leaned towards IT, I started a small software development unit. I did my engineering and internship in Jammu but decided to settle in my hometown. Firstly, because I loved its beauty. Secondly, a software development company can operate from anywhere provided they have good internet connectivity. Almost all my clients were from out of Sugaoni and all my staff from nearby.

  The good part of staying in small towns is that you can have an independent villa with spacious rooms. Since I grew up in a spacious house attached to a farmland, I wanted my family to also live in a big villa. My son Aashar loved being home. Unfortunately, he couldn’t be here all the time as he studied at Dalhousie Hill Top School and stayed at the boarding. Reema, my charming wife, would rather be in a metro city but finally, she got well adjusted. She always felt that staying here is stunting our growth both socially and professionally. But then Reema was always looking for upgrades and being better. I always wondered where in a city would we get a large lawn and a backyard attached to the house. I never thought a small town could stunt our growth since we did our business online with the whole wide world.

  Today is Aashar’s birthday, he would have been ten today if he didn’t die three months ago due to complications with meningitis. Life has not been the same for anyone of us. This was the single biggest loss of my life. Something I have never recovered from.

  My in-laws are visiting us for a week. They have come here especially for Aashar’s birthday. They want to be around Reema and comfort her. I am perched up at the inhouse balcony outside the bedroom overlooking the living room where Hemlata, Reema’s mother, is watching the videos of the Singapore vacation we took with Aashar. Hemlata is a compassionate woman and loved all three of us equally. She did not look her age, something I attribute to her good soul. She would dress elegantly conveying a dignified personality. She did not put on weight which Indian women do after childbirth. Unfortunately, her daughter did not get all the goodness from her.

  Shivendra, my father-in-law, on the other hand, was more like a rustic tough guy. His work with factory labour made him behave and talk like them. He had an old value system that defined his ethics and morals. He was average height and looked fit. The lines on his face gave him a hard look and that coupled with his brash manner of speaking would have people mistake him for a tough goon.

  Shiv has just walked in looking quite flustered. He is out of breath and sweating which is unusual for nippy weather of Sugaoni.

  “What happened to you? Hemlata asked Shiv “You are looking tense.”

  Shiv reacted as if interrupted from his stupor “No, nothing. Just walked fast for the last few miles.”

  Shiv walked to the washroom. Hemlata looked worried. He never looked this way after his walks. She dismissed it as old age and went back to the video. She thought to herself that she should not be watching these videos because ultimately, they fill her with grief. But she couldn't help herself, when she missed Aashar, she would start watching his videos. The first hour would be filled with love and affection for the grandson and then at some point it would turn into deep sadness.

  Shiv got out of the washroom and went to the kitchen and made coffee, later he strolled out with two mugs.

  Shiv handed the coffee to Hemlata and plonked on the armchair “If Reema sees you watching these videos she will get upset.”

  “I will switch off after I finish the coffee.”

  Shiv commented on the video “Look at Aashu, he was so good at those video games. Great motor coordination and reflex.” His voice was filled with pride and adulation.

  Hemlata was equally proud, “Nikhil spent a lot of time teaching him. He was always encouraging Aashu.” She knew this would irk Shiv, and he didn’t disappoint her.

  “Don’t be stupid! He has no sense of being a good father or husband.” Hemlata shook her head in disagreement. Shiv added with authority “Aashu had taken my family’s genes.”

  Hemlata chuckle in sarcasm and quips, “Yes, your family genes skipped you and reached Aashu directly.”

  She giggled at her joke as Shiv looks at her in disgust.

  He ignored that comment and continued “Look at Reema, she is the reason Aashu is so good. you can see my brains in her.”

  Hemlata asks in a mocking tone, “Your brains? Is that why she chose Nikhil to marry?

  Hemlata let out a guffaw and enjoyed the killer joke. Shiv looked at her with disgust, “If it was not for you, I wouldn’t allow that idiot to marry Reema.”

  They didn’t know I was right there looking at them from the upper room. Good thing I was not in front of them, otherwise I would get back at Shiv with a repartee and then we would get into a fierce argument.

  Just then Reema arrived with grocery bags and greeted everyone while apologising for her late coming. She rushed into the kitchen and started emptying the bags. Hemlata calls out that she has already made rice and dal. Reema thanks her and announces that she will make some veggies.

  Even though she was all disheveled from the shopping trip, Reema always looked beautiful. She had maintained herself well after childbirth and even after losing her only child. She groomed herself well and always ate right. Though she was not big on gyms and workouts, she looked athletic and lean. No way she has taken Shiv’s genes. She is out and out Hemlata’s progeny. I always complimented on her beautiful hair which was a thick mane. Going to parties with her was my ‘jealousy-trip’ day. Men would openly hit on her and I suspect, she loved the attention.

  Reema deposited the grocery in the fridge and started climbing up to our bedroom upstairs with her bag. Her phone rings. She answered it with that tentative tone that you use when you don't know the caller.

  “Yes?

  Her face drained to a pale colour as she sat down on the steps

  “Where?

  She got up suddenly and rushed down the stairs still listening to the phone. She called out,

  “Nikhil!

  I rushed down the steps as she rushed out of the room and ran out of the house without explaining to anyone. Her parents called out to her but she didn't respond.

  . . .

  The Lake Park

  Just off the town is a lake with some picturesque spots where people go for picnics. That is also where the orchard’s ascent to the hills begins. Situated here are tourist hotels and large mansions. Most of the time the traffic is just the trucks ferrying the fruits. There are very few pedestrians. Right now, the
road has been cordoned off and there are several police people all around. This is an unlikely sight in this otherwise sleepy town.

  The police and ambulance are parked at a spot near the woods at Pride Street. The police are looking around the crime scene. Reema dashes off the car even before it comes to a halt. She darts straight to the huddle of the cops off the road around an old walnut tree. A police officer stretches out his arm to hold her back but is only partially successful. I kept pace behind her as I was not in as much of a hurry. For me, the focus of attention was Reema and how she is going to react to what she is about to experience.

  A body is lying on the ground covered with a white sheet. Insp. Madhav is looking at a 'string' hanging from the tree trunk with a twine. There is a puddle of blood at one end of the body.

  Inspector Madhav bends over the corpse which is covered in a shroud. He has not seen many such crimes in Sugaoni but he has plenty of such experience in his previous stint in Patna, Madhav notices Reema’s sobbing and asks her if she is Mrs. Nikhil Kumar. She is too stunned to reply and he presumes her answer. I lean forward to get a better look as Madhav lifts the shroud to reveal the face of the dead body. He asks “Mrs. Kumar, is this your husband”? Reema screams in horror and gets hysterical. Two lady cops have to control her and help her away from the corpse. The look on Reema’s face made me very sad. Oddly there was a sense of fulfilment too. I looked down on the dead body, ‘my’ dead body which had a neat bullet hole on the temple. Somebody has murdered me.

  Yes, I am narrating this story as a spirit. Right from my home to walking around taking in the aftermath of my death. I am unable to offer any comfort to Reema and she is distraught. I have heard of out of body experiences but they were all felt by people who were alive. I stood near Reema and wondered what was going on in her mind. Does a spirit have the power to read people’s mind? That would be an interesting power to have.

  I have filled you with many questions. Now that I have got your attention, spare me a little more time to tell you about the happenings in the last few weeks of my life. All that I wanted was a happy family and a peaceful life. But we must know, our fates are intertwined with the fate of others. Sometimes your boat starts changing directions because of the wind which blew to favor some other boat.

  What transpired during my final days is very intriguing not just as a bizarre story for you, but also for me. In my wildest dream, I would not have imagined all that happened with me and then ended like this.

  Reema was seated on the bench facing the road, she had passed out and was being revived by a lady police. Inspector Madhav was still inspecting the walnut tree looking quizzically at the twine that hung from a nail lodged on the trunk. He beckoned the forensic team to the spot. He came near Reema and informs her that the murder took place 2 hours ago. Reema is still blank as if in a coma. Nothing is registering on her. I am observing Reema and start feeling a bit bad because she looks genuinely disturbed. Madhav, unmindful of her condition starts asking her questions,

  “Did he carry a mobile phone”? Madhav paused to see the reaction, “We did not find it anywhere near the body.”

  Reema remained blank and shook her head with disbelief.

  Madhav went on with his questions, “How did Nikhil travel around?

  “He has a Toyota Etios – white.” Reema mumbled.

  Madhav looked around “I can’t see it anywhere.”

  Reema continued looking zoned out. Madhav instructs a cop to drive her back home. He turns to the truck driver who found the body. Inspector Madhav gives his team instructions to find eyewitnesses around the area.

  Reema is escorted to the car by a lady cop. I follow them and get into the car. Reema is weeping uncontrollably in the car that the cop is driving as I recline in the backseat.

  . . .

  The Kumar Residence

  The scene at home was quite predictable.

  Reema was helped inside the home by the policewoman and my in-laws were aghast. Hemlata rushed to Reema’s aid and got her to lie down on the couch as Shiv looked on quizzically and then turned to the cops. “What happened”?

  The lady cop asked him to be seated. Shiv sat down while still staring at the her.

  The lady cop pulled out her note pad and started questioning “Are you, her father? (Shiv nodded) Your son-in-law Nikhil, has been found dead. He was shot dead.”

  Hemlata looked pale and slumped back in the armchair. Shiv did not look very upset; just startled, he had more questions.

  Shiv rattled on “Have you caught the killer? Who could have done this”?

  The policewoman looked at him sourly,

  She replied in a ‘I don’t care tone’ “You will get more details when the senior officer will visit shortly. We can’t share much till the investigation is over’. She looked around the house and walked towards the kitchen, “How many people live in this house? I want all the names and phone numbers.”

  Shiv started giving her the details

  The Cop closed her note pad and walked towards the door, “My advice is that all house members should be available when the senior Inspector Madhav will visit.” Hemlata asked “Can I call a doctor for my daughter?” The lady cop looked at Reema “No need. She will be better in some time, just a shock.”

  The lady cop left after asking one constable to remain outside for security. Reema and Hemlata were sobbing in chorus.

  Shiv was visibly irritated, “Oh god! What the hell is this new problem? Nikhil is always creating new problems.”

  Hemlata shot back angrily “Shut up Shiv. Don’t speak about the dead like this.”

  Shiv was practically frothing at the mouth “Did you see the way the policewoman asked us to be available for more questions. Now ‘we’ are being seen as suspects.”

  Shiv was being an asshole. Typical guy who is concerned about himself when there is a disaster.

  Hemlata pleaded with him in distraught “Can’t you give us some time to at least grieve for our loss? Do you realise what has happened? If you can’t shut up, go away from here.”

  Shiv starts swearing under his breath “He deserved what he got, rascal.”

  When I was alive it would have got me angry but now, this seemed funny to me. Has death made me calmer or now I simply don’t give a damn? The amount of hate that Shiv had for me, he could have strangled me alive. Wish I could say ‘boo’ to him.

  I started thinking of the reasons that Shiv could have murdered me besides the acrimonious relationship that we shared. Our relationship worsened since a few weeks ago. Shiv had walked in a fight between Reema and me. He overhead my aggressive part of the argument and got pretty upset. He was so possessive of Reema that he wanted to take her away immediately. That day he crossed the limit and threatened me with physical harm if he ever saw his daughter crying because of me. I was stunned beyond belief. Shiv had no knowledge of why we were fighting and who was at fault but he wanted to be the hero for Reema. I could have been aggressive too in retaliation but I kept quiet. Not out of respect but because I was hurt. Though Shiv and I were not on great terms yet somewhere deep I thought he was just an over sensitive father and looked ‘threatening’ only to protect his daughter. But that day I did not doubt that when the moment comes, Shiv will carry out his threat in a heartbeat.

  . . .

  Grave Threat

  Two Day Ago

  After Aashar’s demise, Shiv was tad more aggressive with me and I simply avoided being in the same room with him whenever he visited. It seems he believed that I was responsible for the death of my only child.

  Day before, we had a big showdown. He noticed that I wasn’t speaking with Reema. He kept muttering at breakfast time and I ignored him and went away for my work.

  Shiv came to my office later that afternoon. He started with a conciliatory tone. He must have convinced himself that he will not get aggressive. I was neutral and like always I was not going to be dragged into an argument. My office was hardly the place to do that. When he entered my
cabin there were some staff members confabulating with me and that must have sobered him down. Shiv sat on the couch outside my cabin and waited patiently. When they left, I turned to Shiv who was sipping on his coffee served by my office boy. He kept the mug on the side table and glanced through my glass window to see that no one was around.

  Nikhil looked up and moved away from his desk computer, “What a surprise. Come in, have a seat.” Nikhil beckoned an office help and asked Shiv “Will you have a coffee or sherbet”?

  Shiv shook his head in negative as he sat down in front of Nikhil, “Look Nikhil, I will come straight to the point. I can see that Reema is not happy with you. Last few days I have seen that you are not talking to her or even paying attention to what she is doing”?

  I kept listening without interrupting. Anything I say can escalate the situation. Let the old man get the load off his chest.

  “It is no secret that I discovered your true character much before anyone else.” Shiv was speaking with authority like he was a judge giving the verdict, “I don’t know if Reema has become wiser or not. How long can this go on”?

  He paused and I waited for him to resume. He was either forming his thoughts or trying to calm himself down. The trajectory of his speech was heading straight to a confrontation. I continued with my silence but looked down at my doodle pad and kept making stars on the corners.

  Shiv had paused for me to respond “Don’t you have anything to say? Am I wasting my time here? I came all the way to find a solution.” Now his voice started rising. “Reema is suffering and you are the cause.”

  That made me uncomfortable. My staff behaved as if they couldn’t hear anything. Sid sits near my cabin and he glanced a few times.