LOST INNOCENCE

The perennial rains had enveloped the Himalayan range which was the life source of plantation and humans alike. The fertile land and the picturesque view housed many towns amidst its fold. It was one such town which was uncontaminated from the new world and its people of pure heart and virgin intentions.

Inspector Manhas was a admiring the scenic beauty a gift from the Himalayas. The natural carpet of pine, deodar and oak trees, plantations of varies kinds, lush green fields, and the Yamuna River replenishing and making it greener. He took a sip of the Darjeeling tea and captured the awe inspiring view in his eyes from his veranda relaxing on his grey sofa.

Manhas’s mobile phone ranged which disturbed his daily ritual and reluctantly he pressed the receive button, “Inspector Manhas” he said. Manhas listened patiently for some moments, “What? Murder!” he said.

Murder the word froze his body, a murder that to in our town. “Sir” the voice said which broke Manhas’s daze, “you there?” the voice added.

He gathered his thoughts, “you sure?” he said.

“Two school children reported it”

“Give me the location?”

“Kinnar Ghat” the voice said, Manhas wrote the information on his pad, “we recovered the body and have placed it under a makeshift roof” the voice further added.

Manhas was finding it difficult to digest the fact that a murder had been committed in his town. His was a peace loving and sleepy settlement; it’s true that some incidents of fights, thefts were reported from time to time but murder never.

Before Manhas could instruct a commotion was heard from the speaker, it was difficult for him to understand what was happening, “Sunil talk to me?” he said, the commotion was getting louder which increased his irritation “what the hell is going on?” he added.

“Sir, some locals have gathered we are trying to keep them away”

“You handle the situation I get Dr Chahun” Manhas paused, “call all volunteers if you want” he added.

“Sir”

“And follow the procedure” he said and disconnected the phone. What procedure?  In all thirty five years of police service he has never handled a murder investigation, and now when there’s only two months left for retirement he gets a murder investigation.

Manhas hurriedly goes to the bedroom and was changing into his uniform when Mrs Manhas enters, “Everything all right?” she said.

Manhas gave her a puzzled look, “a body is found at Kinnat Ghat” he said. Mrs Manhas covered her face with hand as a reflex to the shocking news. Manhas walked passed her to the dining room and picked up his cap along with raincoat. Getting out of the door he picked up his umbrella.

The persistent rain had made puddles all along the road which had made driving difficult even for him also, he who had spent all his live in this town. Manhas took a left and settled into a consistent speed knowing that this stretch of the road was newly laid. He picked up his phone and dialed Dr Chahun, “Chahun Saab you in office?” he said.

“Yes” Chahun said.

“A body had been found at Kinnar Ghat, I am on my way to pick you up” he said and disconnected the phone to concentrate on the road.

A plethora of questions were encircling Manhas’s mind, who and why? These incidents happen in big cities like Delhi, Mumbai ours is a small town where everyone knows everyone else.

Manhas stopped his green coloured Mahindra police jeep as he saw Dr Chahun waiting for him outside the clinic. Dr Chahun quickly ascended the jeep and Manhas put the jeep into gear and went towards their destination.

On the way Manhas updated Dr Chahun with information which hawaldar Sunil had provided, the silence that followed was so dense which the constant pelting of rain failed to dispel. Manhas saw a thong of curious onlookers who had assembled at the Ghat.

Manhas and Dr Chahun descended the jeep and walked towards the makeshift shelter made of bamboo sticks and plastic sheets, they were quickly joined by hawaldar Sunil, “Sir, we got a call at the police station that Negi’s children who study in 7th class of The Government school saw a body half submerged at Kinnar Ghat, we got here as soon as we could and secured the crime scene the best we could in this weather” he said. Manhas looked as the volunteers who tried their best to maintain the parameter and prevented onlookers getting close.

Sunil continued “I dispatched hawaldar Manoj to the Negi household and lodged the FIR”.

Manhas kept his emotions in check, “Have we been able to identify the body?” he said in a flat tone.

Hawaldar Sunil didn’t come with a prompt reply which bothered Manhas; are my worst fears going to come true, do we know the decreased?

There was a thunderous sound of lighting in the sky and the relentless rain showed no sign of abetting.  Manhas repeated his question and noticed Sunil trying to avoid his eyes. Manhas stopped walking as he became fearful to ask any further, victim is someone familiar? Manhas looked at Dr Chahun whose faced conveyed the same emotions which he was trying to conceal, “Damn it Sunil tell me who is he?” he blurred out.

“It’s a she,” hawaldar Sunil said

Both Manhas and Dr Chahun looked at each other and then looked at Sunil. Finally Manhas gestured him to go further, “Its Nafisa Khan” hawaldar Sunil blurred out.

“Khan Emporium?” Manhas said

 Sunil shook his head gingerly to confirm the sad news. Manhas walked briskly towards the body as if disbelieving the information, you are all wrong this can’t be Nafisa Khan, not my Nafisa.  On reaching the makeshift shelter he saw the truth which neither he nor anyone else could refute. Nafisa a girl of sixteen lay motionless on the bed. Manhas turned towards Dr Chahun, “you complete your work I will wait for you?”

Manhas walked over to the river and sat over a stone, life is like water as no one can stop the flow of water in the same way no one can hold onto life, but why her, why Nafisa?

Tears flowed down Manhas cheeks from afar one can’t differentiate whether these were tears or rain drops. Manhas was draw back sixteen years to the day when his childhood friend Karim Khan and his wife Sakina Khan were blessed with the birth of a baby girl which they lovingly named Nafisa Khan and made Manhas her godfather, what will I tell her mother? Manhas thoughts were broken by arrival of the ambulance.

Manhas got to his feet as he saw Dr Chahun approaching, “Dr Chahun, your initial findings?”

“Nafisa had been first subjected to rape and then murdered by smashing her head with a big stone or boulder and then her lifeless body was thrown in the river.” he said.

Manhas took the information with a heavy heart. Chauhan continued “for complete analysis we have to wait for report from District Hospital” Manhas and Chauhan watched as Nafisa’s body was being carried to the ambulance.

Manhas in a poignant voice “after Karim’s death she was my responsibly...I failed him...what am I going to tell Sakina that her last hope at life is no more”

Both Manhas and Dr Chahun kept silently following Nafisa body which was taken on a stretcher like they were following her funeral procession. “Who could do such an evil act to a pure child like Nafisa?” Manhas said.

Very dejectedly Manhas looked at the departing ambulance and fell silent. Chauhan place a hand on Manhas shoulder and urged him towards the Mahindra jeep. “Sampa has lost its purity, it is not a virgin anymore” Manhas said

Manhas looked at the picturesque surroundings but somehow the magnetism which had drawn him from birth was absent.