Witness of Ghosts

 

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Witness of Ghosts

Chapter-1

The Corona pandemic resulted in frequent lockdowns imposed by the government, and almost all businesses suffered losses. For example, the company where I worked earlier in Guwahati was closed, and I lost my job. 

My name is Ranjit. I am a Mechanical engineer and a Diploma holder in business administration from Lucknow. Despite possessing good academic qualifications, I was jobless and hence returned home. Whatever savings I had were diminishing rapidly, a matter of great concern for me and my wife, Anima. We both were worried and frustrated. 

The recruitment agency in Kolkata called me this morning to inform me that a tea estate at Golaghat in Assam had a vacancy for a mechanical engineer to look after a tea processing factory. 

The head office of the company was situated in Kolkata, and the recruitment agency had already sent my resume to them, and they had shown interest in me. 

I received an email from the tea company asking me to attend an interview in Kolkata. 

This was good news for me, and I consented to attend the interview the following day. 

The company sent me a return flight ticket and intimated that a car would pick me up from the airport. 

Anima was happy to hear about this and packed my suitcase with clothes and other utilities. 

The following morning my flight was at 9 am from Lucknow airport, which landed at Kolkata in one hour. 

Kamal, an employee of the Green Gold Tea Company, called to inform me that he was waiting outside the Exit gate. 

I collected my baggage and came out. A young man approached and introduced himself as Kamal from the Green Gold Tea Company and directed me to a Maruti Swift Desire car waiting in the parking. 

It took about 40 minutes to reach their office in the Salt Lake area. This was a multistoried commercial building. The company office was on the 12th Floor, and their guest house was on the 5th floor. 

The lady caretaker cum cook opened the door. The drawing cum dining room was spacious and well furnished.

There were four rooms for guests.
Kamal placed my baggage in room no.1. There was a double bed with crisp fresh white bedsheets and pillow covers, a television, coffee table, a three-seater sofa, and a mini freezer stuffed with drinking water bottles and beverages. 

The toilet had good fittings and fixtures from Parry Ware and Jaguar. Set o towels and toiletries were placed on the shelve. 

"Sir, please freshen up and have breakfast. Your interview is scheduled for 12.30 pm. I will come and take you there," Kamal said and left. 

The lady caretaker introduced herself as Babita and asked whether I would like tea or coffee. 

"A cup of black tea, please," I said. 

An electric kettle was on a table with sachets of tea, coffee, milk, and sugar on a tray. She poured the hot water into a cup, dipped a tea bag, and gave it to me with sachets of sugar and assorted biscuits. 

After a few minutes, Babita informed me that breakfast was ready at the dining table.

After having breakfast, I returned to my room and opened the door leading to the balcony. It looked great with the potted flowers and green plants, but it was sunny and hot outside, so I returned to my room. 

Babita was standing there. 

“Sir, what would you like to have in lunch?” she inquired. 

"A simple homely Bengali food of your choice," I said, smiling. 

"Fine, sir," she said and left. 

Babita was about 40 years old fair-complexion lady. Her speaking manners revealed that she was a reasonably educated woman. 

"Sir, please get ready; your meeting is scheduled shortly," she reminded me. 

I looked at the wall clock; it was already 11.45 am. 

I wore  two-piece light blue suit and a white shirt with a navy-blue tie and looked in the mirror. I looked good and was satisfied. 
I put on my black leather shoes. 

Babita came, looked at me, and smiled. 

“What happened? Why do you smile?” I asked. 

“You are looking great, sir. I pray that you should be successful,” she said. 

"Are you from Kolkata?" I asked her.

 
"I am originally from Golaghat, Assam," she replied. 

"How come you are here in Kolkata?" I wanted to know. 

"That is a long story; I will tell you later," she said. 

There was a knock on the door, and Kamal entered the room. 

"Are you ready, sir," he asked. 

"Where will the interview be, and who will be there?" I asked him. 

"The office is in this building itself, on the 12th floor. Our Managing Director, Mr. Amal Singh Roy, and General Manager, Mr. Sarat, will be there," he replied. 

He took me to the company office on the 12th floor, asked me to sit in the reception area, and went to inform the Secretary to the Managing Director. 

Within a few minutes, I was called by the Managing Director. 
He shook hands with me and asked me to take seat. The other person there was Mr. Sarat, General Manager. 

I handed over the folder containing my original certificates, which they examined and compared with my resume. 

"I can see that you have graduated in mechanical engineering and possess a Business Administration diploma. Can you explain the reasons for achieving these qualifications?" Mr. Singh Roy asked. 

“Sir, I have remained fascinated by the working of petrol, diesel engines, aircraft, and factories right from my childhood, which inspired me to study mechanical engineering. Business administration can be an added qualification for any engineer to commercialize manufacturing plants and products. Hence, I took a two years diploma course in Business Administration,” I explained. 

"You worked in a coal processing factory at Sonapur, Assam, for three years and then remained idle for 18 months. Why?" he questioned. 

“Yes, sir, that is right. I worked in a Coke factory, but due to frequent lockdowns during the Corona pandemic, the factory was closed by the owner, and as such, I returned to my home in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh."

"Do you have any idea about a tea processing factory?" He questioned. 

"Sir, I have not worked in a tea processing plant, but I have visited many factories, including tea plants, and being a mechanical engineer, I have fair knowledge to manage a tea processing factory," I answered. 

"One of our tea processing factories is located at Golaghat in Assam. In addition, we have our tea gardens, producing 100 million kilograms of tea every year," Mr. Amal Singh Roy said. 

"Can you look after the factory at Golaghat and the Tea Gardens?" he asked me. 

"Sir, I am a hardworking person and assure you that I would leave no stone unturned to achieve the goals set by the Company," I promised him. 

"Mr. Ranjit, I am glad to see your self-confidence and am sure that your qualification in Business Administration will be an added advantage for proper administration and management of the factory and the tea gardens," he said. 

"Congratulations Ranjit. You are a young, energetic, and confident person. Therefore, we would like to appoint you as the Chief Executive Manager in charge of the tea processing factory and the tea estate at Golaghat, Assam."

"You will be responsible for the factory and the tea gardens, management, workforce and production, and any additional works, which the company may assign you," he declared. 

"Your monthly salary will be Rs.1,50,000 initially, a free furnished residential accommodation, a personal peon and an official car. In addition, you will be entitled to 15 days of leave and medical insurance for your family. Are you agreeable to the offer?" He asked. 

"I accept the offer; thank you very much, sir. This is a good offer for me, and I promise to work to the best of my ability," I responded. 

"Good. Your previous employer has also given you an excellent certificate. We shall issue an appointment letter and a contract agreement, which you shall sign tomorrow. I suggest that you stay here until tomorrow and collect your orders. After that, we shall brief you in detail regarding the priority works to be done," he said. 

The M.D. asked me to sit with General Manager, Mr. Sarat, who would brief me on the factory and the tea gardens. 

I thanked Mr. Singh Roy and came out with General Manager, Mr. Sarat. 

Mr. Sarat gave me a copy of the address by the Managing Director for the last financial year and asked me to go through it to have a complete idea about the company. 

He gave me a paper containing the company's key personnel's names, positions, and contact numbers. 

Mr. Sarat mentioned that he was the Chief Executive Manager in Golaghat earlier and came to the head office in Kolkata recently on promotion. 

He also mentioned that the company’s residential quarter, earlier occupied by him, was vacant, and I could stay there. 

I was thrilled to get the job and a good package, which I shared with my wife, Anima. She was delighted to hear the news. 

Mr. Sarat instructed the office manager to make business cards for me. Then, he collected my details and sent them to an official printing press. 

I returned to the guest house, where Babita and Kamal were waiting. Kamal congratulated me and informed me that the lunch was ready.

The lunch was typical Bengali homely dishes: steamed rice, lentils, vegetable curry, cooked Ilisha fish curry, fried fish, green salad, curd, and dessert. 

We enjoyed the food and thanked Babita. 

 
Chapter-2 

Kamal asked me whether I would like to do any marketing. 

“Where will you take me?” I asked. 

"Sir, there are many renowned markets in Kolkata. However, the AC market was a good place to get good quality Indian and imported garments, perfumes, gift items, and electronic goods," he apprised me. 

"What time can we go?" I asked. 

"Sir, it is lunchtime now. We may go around 4 pm," he suggested. 

We went to the AC market later. It was a huge market having plenty of shops selling clothes, gift items, electronic goods, etc. 

I bought some clothes and perfumes for Anima and myself. I bought a T-shirt for Kamal also. He was a nice fellow and had become very friendly to me. He was very impressed. 

Kamal said restaurants nearby were famous for rumali roti, and we could try it. So, we went there and entered a restaurant, where there was less crowd, and ordered rumali roti with mutton curry for us. 

"Mr. Amal Singh Roy seems to be a charming and kind person. Isn't it? I asked Kamal. 

"Yes sir, he is a highly experienced person, very considerate and helpful to the employees," he replied. 

"What is your opinion about Mr. Sarat, General Manager?" I asked. 

"Mr. Sarat does not have a good reputation. He is alleged to have a bad character and is a womanizer. He was in charge of Golaghat Tea Estate earlier and was also disliked by the workers and public due to his dishonesty and cruel behavior," Kamal said. 

"Due to several complaints against him, he was removed from there and posted here in the head office. The owner of our company Mr. Amal Singh Roy, does not trust him at all," he concluded. 

"Kamal, you say that our M.D., Mr. Amal dislikes Mr. Sarat and is against him. If that is correct, why did he not sack him?" I wanted to know. 

"The reason is he does not have enough proof against him," Kamal replied. 

"Proof of what?" I was curious.

"Two young girls belonging to the families of workers on the company’s payroll; suddenly disappeared at Golaghat Tea Garden, and their families suspected Mr. Sarat responsible for that; however, in the absence of proof, the police did not take any action against him," Kamal clarified. 

I was puzzled! Did Mr. Sarat do any crime, I wondered. 

We left the restaurant and returned to the guest house. 

I felt highly disturbed after hearing about the misdeeds of Mr. Sarat, hence I decided to dig into the case as soon as I joined my duty at Golaghat. 

The time now was 6 pm, and I was about to change my dress when I received a call from Mr. Amal, the M.D. 

"Ranjit, I have sent you; my location. Please come to my house without letting others know about it and maintain secrecy," he said. 

I changed my dress to a casual pink shirt and light blue jeans. 
Babita saw me going out. So, she told me; she would keep my food in a hot case and leave by 9 pm, and Kamal would wait for me in the guest house. 

I checked the location of Mr. Amal's house. It was Green View Villa, 155 Tollygunge. So, I booked an Ola cab and went down to the lobby. 

The taxi driver; called me, and I came out. An Ola taxi had just stopped on the road. I checked the car number and stepped in. 
The driver asked for the OTP and moved on. It took about 25 minutes to reach the destination.

The driver dropped me in front of a three-storied building. A security guard approached me, confirmed my name, and took me inside. 

The premises were large and maintained. The exterior walls of the building were clad with a combination of gray and white Kota marble stones from Rajasthan. It gave a majestic look. A young man in a black safari suit was waiting on the porch. He confirmed my name and took me inside the building.

 Mr. and Mrs. Singh Roy were sitting there in the large drawing room. 

I greeted them, and they responded.

"Meet my better half Shalini," Mr. Amal introduced his wife to me.

"Good evening, mam," I said.

The drawing room interior was very grand.

Mr. and Mrs. Singh Roy stood up and signaled me to follow them.

We entered inside, which was a massive dining hall, and, in the corner, a capsule lift was there. Next, we went to the 3rd floor, which consisted of bedrooms, a living cum dining room, an open kitchen, and a large balcony, where we sat.

It was a charming place, having a luxurious sofa set and a bar counter, where the best brands of alcohol were displayed. We settled comfortably on the sofa, and Mrs. Shalini went to the bar counter. The green leafy plants and flowers in pots created a superb ambiance.

She placed a bottle of Blue Label whisky, an Ice bucket, soda water, and mineral water on the center table in front of us. Next, a maid rolled in a trolley containing snacks.

Mr. Amal poured the whisky, and I added ice and soda water. Finally, we three sat and raised a toast.

 Mrs. Shalini placed the bowls of snacks on the table. I was thrilled to be with my boss and his wife today. Mrs. Shalini was also one of the partners and a Director in the Company.

"Ranjit, please tell us in detail about your family and your goal in life," Mrs. Shalini said.

"My dad was a civil engineer, and my mother a social activist. Both have passed away. I do not have siblings. I was married three years back to Anima, a girl from Lucknow, and we have a happy conjugal life. Anima has completed a master’s degree in psychology from Lucknow University. She is a very creative lady and would like to get a job. We have no child yet,” I apprised them about my family.

“We may require a psychologist to help our workers. Let your wife send her resumes to us,” Mrs. Shalini responded.

“Ranjit, I am thrilled and appreciate your manners and attitude, and we are sure you will handle your work efficiently,” Mr. Amal said.

“I want to let you know that Mr. Sarat was earlier posted at Golaghat, but he earned a bad name and also tarnished the company’s image."

"He is a man of loose character, and many complaints about him were received. So, we were planning to remove him from there. Still, suddenly two girls working in our factory went missing, and the police report stated that they committed suicide by jumping into the river Brahmaputra,” he narrated, with sadness in his eyes.

“Sir, if you do not trust him, why did you promote him to the rank of General Manager and post him in your office here?” I inquired.

“The reason is that we have no solid proof against him yet. Therefore, I was waiting for the placement of a new and competent person to take charge there and investigate the case thoroughly and confidently," he continued.

"He is related to one of our partners, who requested not to take action against him; since the police report suggested accidental death due to drowning. Hence, we cannot take any action. Once we get valid proof, we will ensure that he is punished as per the law, and we will throw him out,” he halted.

“You will report to me directly for all official work. I am sure you will succeed in your job,” he said, looking at me.

“Tell me frankly, are you happy with your salary package?” he asked me.

“Sir, I was not expecting such a liberal package. I was looking for a Factory Manager job, but your offer is for the higher post of Chief Executive Manager, who will also look after the tea gardens. Hence, you must know what package I deserve,” I continued.

“Sir, as far as I am concerned, I am delighted with the offer,” I concluded.

Mr. and Mrs. Singh Roy both were impressed by my attitude.
“Why are you drinking so slowly? Do you not like it? This is a very rare brand of scotch whisky,” Mrs. Shalini said.

“I very rarely drink alcohol, Mam,” I told her, smiling.

“You are a family member to us now, and let’s celebrate,” she said, pouring another peg into our glasses.

She served me a few pieces of grilled chicken legs. I started eating and continued the second round of drinks.

“Has Babita cooked dinner for you? Mr. Amal said.

“Yes, she said she would keep the dinner in the hot case,” I replied.

“That is fine. She is a good cook,” Mrs. Shalini said.

Mr. Amal asked me to attend his office the following day and collect my appointment letter and sign the contract agreement.

With these words, I was ready to leave. Mr. & Mrs. Singh Roy came down with me. A car was waiting on the porch to drop me at the Guest House. I thanked them for their hospitality and shook hands.

“See you tomorrow, Mr. Amal said, and I waved.

  
Chapter-3 

On the way, I dialed Kamal. He said that he was waiting for me in the guest house.

He came down to the lobby to receive me. Then, we proceeded to the guest house on the 5th floor.

I told him to join me for dinner, and he agreed. 

I changed my clothes to a lose comfortable pajama and kurta, and went to the dining area, where a sizeable hot case was placed. Babita had already kept two full plates and glasses on the dining table. She was pretty intelligent.

“Are you married?” I asked Kamal.

“Not yet, sir. I am the only earning member in our family and must look after my old mother and two younger sisters; hence there was no immediate plan for marriage,” he replied.

“Who is Babita? She appears to be educated and could perhaps get a better job,” I asked him.

“Babita’s story is pathetic. She is a widow, and her only daughter Vinita and one more girl went missing in Golaghat. The police suspected they drowned in the river; while taking a bath. This unfortunate incident has caused great agony to her,”

“Our M.D. decided to bring her to Kolkata and engaged her in the guest house,” he stopped.

 “I will leave, sir; it’s quite late now,” Kamal said.

I retired to bed after he left. I was unable to sleep. In my mind, the thought of Babita’s daughter kept wandering.

In the morning, I woke up after hearing the sound of a calling bell. I checked the time; it was 6 o’clock. I got up and opened the door.

Babita was standing there.

“Good morning, sir,” she said.

“Good morning, Babita,” I replied.

She came in and removed the hot case from the dining table.

“Thank you for the nice dinner. I and Kamal; both enjoyed it,” I told her.

“Thank you, sir,” she responded and entered the kitchen.

She brought black tea for me. I was happy to drink it.

“Babita, I want to talk to you,” I told her.

She pulled a chair and sat in front of me.

“Sister, I have heard about your daughter’s death, but I want to hear everything about her from you; in detail; so that I can investigate the case as soon as I join in Golaghat. Also, I hope you must have heard that I have been appointed Chief Executive Manager at Tea Estate,” I said.

“Yes, sir, I have heard, and I am hopeful that you can investigate and find out the truth,” she replied. Then, there were tears in her eyes, and she started crying.

“I will tell everything in detail,” she said and paused momentarily.

“I was married to Sunil, who worked in the tea processing plant at Golaghat. We had a daughter Vinita 16 years old, and we lived happily. Everything was fine until Mr. Sarat joined there. We stayed in the outhouse behind the bungalow of Mr. Sarat,” she started narrating her story.

“Sarat was single man and a womanizer. There were regular parties in his house, where he used to invite his close friends, both males and females,” she continued.

“Several times, he entered my house; when my husband was away on duty in the factory; and once he molested me. I complained about him to my husband, who scolded Sarat and warned him to stay away from our house. This infuriated him, and soon after that, my husband died in an accident,” she halted for a moment, looked at me, and continued.

“My husband died when a car knocked him; while returning from the factory on his bike,” she was sentimental again.

“Was there any police inquiry?” I asked.

“Yes, the police investigation was done. But unfortunately, the report said that Sunil was under the influence of alcohol, and his bike hit a standing truck. This caused brain hemorrhage and due to which he died,” she said and started sobbing.

“How can someone be under the influence of alcohol; while returning from office!” she cried. 

I tried to console her, “If foul play exists, I will find out. Tell me about your daughter.”

“After my husband’s death, I was appointed in the factory as a skilled labor, on the compassionate ground,” she continued.

“My daughter Vinita used to go to school in the morning, and after school, she used to pick me up from the factory, and we went home together. However, sometimes she went home directly if the school closed before the scheduled time,”

“One day, I found Vinita crying when I reached home,”

“She told me that Sarat had come to our house and had tried to molest her. However, she was lucky to be safe; since one of her friends, Zoya, arrived suddenly, and he left,” she continued.

“What happened after that? Did you talk to Sarat?” I spoke.

“Yes, I warned him to keep away from her, else I would report to the police,” she said.

“Tell me what happened to Vinita?” I asked impatiently.

“There was a community picnic arranged on the bank of river Brahmaputra by the factory workers and their families on New Year’s Eve. I also attended the same with Vinita. Suddenly, I fell sick and was senseless,” she continued.

“When I came to my senses, I was looking for Vinita, but she was missing along with her friend Zoya,” she stopped as her voice was choking.

“Some of our people started searching for them, and someone reported to the police,”

“The O.C. of Police Station, Golaghat Rural, came and, after searching, found a few clothes of Vinita and Zoya lying on the bank of the river,” she halted and looked at me. There were tears in her eyes.

“What did the police report say? I asked.

“The police report said that Vinita and Zoya went for a bath in the river, away from the picnic spot, and were drowned. The proof was their clothes found lying there, on the bank of the river,” she said.

“Their bodies were not traceable due to the high current of the mighty Brahmaputra River, the report stated.”

“I told police about Mr. Sarat’s character, inappropriate behavior and, attempted molestation. However, police stuck with their theory of death due to drowning,” she started crying loudly and was inconsolable.

It was a deplorable incident, and I was determined to reveal the truth when I joined the Golaghat tea estate.

I assured Babita; I would go to the bottom of the case and find the truth out. If any foul play, the culprits would not be spared.
 She calmed down and left.
 

Chapter-4 

Mr. Singh Roy called me to the office, and I went. He handed over the appointment letter to me and asked me to go through the agreement and sign the same.

 “You might require some funds for your travel to Golaghat with family and other miscellaneous expenses, so I have sanctioned an advance of Rs.5,00,000 to you, which will be adjusted from your salary."

"Please sign this voucher and give your bank details so our office will transfer the money,” he directed.

“Thank you very much, sir,” I reciprocated.

Kamal came and handed over the business cards which were ordered for me yesterday.

 I came out from MD’s chamber and went to meet Mr. Sarat.
 He congratulated me, but apparently, he did not look pleased.

My office work was over, and I returned to the guest house and had lunch with Kamal. I bought some famous Bengali sweets from a nearby shop for Anima. 

We came back to the guest house. I checked my air ticket. It was at 10 am the following day by Air India flight. Kamal told me; he would accompany me to the airport.

I called Anima and talked with her. She was very cheerful after learning about my job. I told her to pack our luggage, as we would be leaving for Golaghat the day after tomorrow.

I had already booked our tickets from Lucknow to Jorhat with Indigo Airlines.

 I contacted the administration office and talked to the Executive Manager, Mr. Devendra Dutta, at Golaghat.  He said; he had already received instruction from the Managing Director, Mr. Amal Singh Roy, that I would be joining there the day after tomorrow. As such, he had engaged people to clean and take up urgent repairs in the house.

I gave him my flight details from Lucknow to Jorhat.

Kamal said he would come tomorrow at 7 am to drop me at the Kolkata airport; and left.

Babita brought tea for me with biscuits.

I asked her about Zoya’s family and their contact number. She said that Zoya’s father had died a few years back and gave me her mother’s mobile number. She was a resident of Golaghat and had her own house in town.

“Who were close friends of Mr. Sarat?” I asked her.

“The officer in charge of the police station, Golaghat Rural was a close friend and visited him regularly,” she said.

“Do you guess what might have happened to Vinita and Zoya?” I inquired.

“I had fallen sick after taking a glass of beverage, and when I was, in a sense, I was looking for them, they were not there. People started looking for them but could not find them," she replied.

"So, someone intimated the Police Sub-inspector. He came with some constables and launched a search. They could not find these two girls, except their clothes, lying on the bank of the river one km away from the picnic spot,” she replied.

“Sarat, Chief Executive Manager, and the Sub-Inspector had left the picnic spot when I was not normal. Hence, I suspect their involvement,” she said.

“Do you have any picture of Vinita and Zoya?” I asked.

“I have it at home,” she said.

“Where do you stay? I spoke.

“Nearby. 5 minutes walking distance. Will you come?” she asked me.

I went to her rented a house nearby. It was a one-room apartment flat arranged by the company.

It was a small flat, well maintained by her. She gave me a chair and took a photo album from her briefcase.

It was a picture of two young girls. Both were wearing salwar suits of blue and pink color and looked beautiful.

“This is the last picture of Vinita and Zoya clicked on the picnic day,” she said.

I clicked a picture of the same on my mobile. Then, she brought some sweets and gave them to me. I picked and ate one piece and returned to the guest house. She came after five minutes.

My flight was the following day, so I started packing my luggage, and Babita went to the kitchen to cook dinner.
I had an early dinner and went to bed.

Kamal will be coming in the car at 7 am.

Anima called me to inform; me that she had almost completed packing luggage for taking to Golaghat. I told her I was sleepy and that she should wake me up at 5 am.

“Good night, honey; see you tomorrow,” I said and disconnected.

I woke up, and Anima was calling.

“Good morning, dear; it is 5 am now,” Anima said.

“Good morning, honey, thanks,” I responded.

I had a shower and changed my dresses. Kamal came at 7 am and informed me that the car was ready.

Babita served breakfast for Kamal and me. It was finally time to leave for the airport. I asked Kamal regarding the payment of my bill. He said I was the company’s guest and the office would bear the expenses.

I gave a tip to Babita; she had made my stay very comfortable and homely. I told her I would find out the truth about her missing daughter and Zoya and call her.

Kamal said he was still waiting to see Golaghat and would like to visit whenever possible.

He dropped me at the airport and left.

The flight was on time, landing in Lucknow by 11.30 am. Finally, I reached home; Anima was pleased to see me.

I gave her the dresses and perfumes which I had bought for her. She was pleased to see the salwar suit.

“Your choice is so good,” she complimented.

 She showed me the baggage which she had packed for us.

“We have two pieces of baggage for check-in and two hand baggage,” she said.

“We can buy the cookware and dinner set from Jorhat,” she continued.

“What to do regarding furniture?” she asked.

“Do not worry, honey. We are getting a furnished house,” I told her.

She served lunch, and we rested in bed for some time. She asked me about the officials of the tea company in Kolkata. I informed her that all were very good. The M.D. was excellent, and his wife was very good to me. I did not tell her anything about the missing girls.

I had fallen asleep and woke up in the evening. We went to the famous Hanuman temple and offered our prayers. The priest knew us and asked about our welfare. I told him about my new job in Assam. He asked us to wait, brought two numbers of Tabij (Amulet), and asked us to wear these on our necks using red cotton threads. He said that these Amulets had been specially prepared and energized on the birthday of Sri Hanuman as per Vedic practices and were mighty Yantra, which would save us from any trouble.

We felt perfect and relaxed after wearing it. Finally, we paid respect to the priest and left.

Our house was a double-story building constructed by my father. The ground floor was given on rent, and we occupied the first floor. 

We met the tenant and told him to watch our house in our absence.
We had an early dinner and retired to bed. Our flight by Indigo airlines was at 11 am, so we shall leave for the airport at 8 am tomorrow.

We had slept well and woke up in the morning and checked our baggage to be carried with us. Finally, we were ready to go to the airport at 8 am.
  

Chapter-5 

Our flight landed at Jorhat in time. I received a call from David, my steno at Golaghat; he had come with a car to welcome me.
We exited the terminal, David took the baggage trolley from me, and we proceeded to the Inova car waiting in the parking. The driver, Ravi, greeted us and loaded our baggage.
“How far is Golaghat from here?” I asked Ravi. He replied, 50 km.
“What is the travel time?” I asked David.
“One hour fifteen minutes, sir,” he replied.

The scenery outside was very nice. Lush green trees, plants, and paddy fields were very soothing to our eyes. Anima was busy taking pictures with her Sony camera. She stopped the car, and we took pictures.

We entered Golaghat town. A branch road and signboard displayed that Golaghat Tea Estate was 7 Km away. The road was a double lane with the bituminous pavement. A large steel signboard displayed:

“Green Gold Tea Company, Golaghat”

A security guard lifted the barrier, and our car entered the campus.
The tea plants were visible all around. We crossed the tea processing factory spread over a vast area. Little ahead, we could see a hospital and school buildings.

Further ahead of us was a market building, and then the quarters for workers could be seen on both sides of the road. The buildings were semi-permanent Assam-type with galvanized corrugated iron sheet roofing painted red.

The car slowed down in front of a massive building. A boy named Hari came running and opened the steel gate.

There was a concrete road leading to the porch. The plinth height was 3 feet high from the ground level. Some laborers were busy polishing the wooden floor. 

There were four bedrooms, a drawing room, a dining room, a large kitchen, a store room, and a servant room: front and back verandah. A garage for two cars was also available outside.

A sprawling compound had a badminton court and many fruit-bearing trees like guava, mango, blackberry, red berries, jack fruits, custard fruits, and papaya. 

Cleaning of the wild grasses in the compound was still in progress. It may take another two days to complete the cleaning. But everything was there; beds, sofa sets, dining table & chairs, curtains, gas stove, oven, and freezer.

The Executive Manager, Mr. Devendra Dutta, came to meet me and said that whatever was possible to be done on short notice, he had tried to do. The remaining work would continue and be completed in a couple of days.

He apprised us of the irregular electric supply from the electricity board, and hence, whenever there was a power cut, we had our electric power generator. He said that an inverter with a battery would be installed tomorrow.

 A personal peon cum cook Hari Singh was already posted in the house. All groceries and vegetables were purchased and stocked in the kitchen, along with a gas stove and LPG cylinder.

I called Hari Singh and asked him what the arrangement was for food; he said that almost everything was stocked in the house.

“Sir, what would you like to have now?” Hari asked.

“Do we have drinking water and milk for tea or coffee?” Anima asked him.

“We have packaged milk from Amul, coffee, tea, sugar, biscuits, and bread in the freezer, mam,” he replied.

Anima went with him to inspect the kitchen. She returned after some time with Hari Singh carrying coffee and biscuits in a tray.

We were sitting in the drawing room. Painting in this room was completed recently, and the pungent smell still existed.

A technician was installing new LED television in the drawing room and our bedroom, along with a DTH disk.

I told Devendra Dutta, Executive Manager, to take me around the campus in the car. He showed us the tea processing factory, the market, staff quarters, the hospital, and the tea plantation, and we returned to the house.

My wife had set up a meditation room and a picture of Lord Hanuman in the drawing room. The sweet aroma of the incense sticks lighted by her had spread throughout the house and premises. We went round the house and saw plenty of fruit-bearing trees in the rear side of the compound.

We were observing the condition of each tree, and when we reached the red berries tree, an unexpected wind shook the tree, and the red berries fell to the ground. 

It seemed as if someone was deliberately shaking it, and we looked up; there was no one. So I leaned down, picked up a few berries, and found something unnatural. The soil texture there was loose and damp compared to other places.

The laborers and technicians left the house around 4 O’clock. The Executive Manager also left. The driver parked the car on the porch, handed over the key, and went. The evening set in, and we realized the house was too big for us.

We were only four persons in the house now: me, Anima, Hari Singh, and his wife, Sita. Sita would help in cleaning the place and utensils as well as cooking.

I was happy that we were four people there. We closed all the doors and windows. The house was well-lit from the inside, but the surroundings looked scary due to the lack of lights in the compound.

The tall trees looked as if someone was standing there.
Hari Singh and his wife Sita were busy in the kitchen cooking dinner. Someone was blowing horns outside our compound. I told Hari Singh to see who was there; I also came out to the front verandah and looked at the gate.

A man in a khaki uniform approached me and introduced himself as the Officer In-charge Golaghat Rural Police Station. I asked him to come inside and told him to sit.

“My name is Ram Chandra Thakur; I have been posted here recently,” he said.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Ram,” I said.
“Thank you, sir, I learned that you have joined today, so I decided to meet you,” he said.

“I assure you of our full cooperation, and you may call me anytime, if necessary,” he assured.

“There is an unsolved case of two missing girls belonging to your workers’ family. The previous officer In-charge had closed the case with a report that the girls were drawn in the river Brahmaputra while bathing. However, the senior police officers were not satisfied with his report, so he was transferred, and I took over the charge,” he stated.

“There were complaints against Mr. Sarat, the then C.E.M., but given the police report, no action was taken against him. However, your Company just transferred him to Kolkata. I need your cooperation to solve the mystery,” he concluded, wanting to leave.

“Please take a cup of tea or coffee, Mr. Ram,” I requested, and he agreed.

I called my wife Anima and introduced them. She went inside and told Hari Singh to serve tea.

“Sir, I stay together with my wife. She would be glad to meet you and mam,” he said.

“Please bring her; I would be glad to meet her,” Anima said.

Hari Singh served tea, biscuits, and sweets for all of us. I saved the cell number of Mr. Thakur and gave him mine. 

He left after some time, and Hari Singh locked the entrance gate.
Hari Singh said he had laid the dinner on the dining table, so we went there.

He was a good cook; we liked the food.
After dinner, we brushed our teeth and retired to our bed after washing our feet.

“Did you like the house, honey?” I asked Anima.

“Yes, good house, but too big for us,” she said.

“Are you scared?” I asked her.

“No, not scared. And we have the Tabiz from Hanuman temple,” she replied.

“Yes, that’s true. Lord Hanuman is mighty and kind to his followers,” I held her close and kissed her.

We were in a deep sleep, but raindrops on the roof woke us. There was no light for a brief moment, and suddenly our calling bell rang.

I was startled; I wondered who would press the bell so late at night!

Anima was still in a deep sleep. I came out from our bedroom and found Hari Singh also coming out from his room.

I told him not to open the door as no one from outside could enter our compound, since the entry gate was locked. But we went near the drawing-room door; someone was there.

"I could hear two women whispering among them. I looked through the magic eye in the door and found two women standing in the rainwater. The light outside needed to be increased. 

It was raining, so I could not see them correctly.

Hari Singh also peeped through the magic eye and got scared after seeing two women in white robes.

“Sir, Ghost,” he whispered.

“Do not be scared; they did not mean to harm us. Probably they wanted to tell us something,” I told him. 

“Do you believe in ghosts?” I asked.

“Yes, sir. Ghosts are there but have no physical body and cannot harm us. The ghosts are the soul, who have not attained peace,” he replied.

“That’s good, Hari. Nothing to be scared of; they do not harm you unless you have done something wrong to them. Do not mention anything to your wife; else she will panic,” I advised him.

He went to his room, and I returned to my bedroom. Anima was still in a deep sleep. The rain had stopped, and I also fell asleep.

Anima had brought tea for me, and she woke me up. I brushed and sipped the black lemon tea. 

Hari Singh came and gave me a piece of paper. Something was scribbled there; I tried to read.

It was written in red, “Hi from Vinita and Zoya. Call Sarat. He killed us.”

I wondered whether court will admit it as an evident!

I was shocked. My hairs were erect, and I shivered.

Can ghosts write? I wondered. 

I thought for a moment and then dialed Mr. Amal Singh Roy.
 He picked up the phone.

“Sir, I suspect Vinita and Zoya were killed on the premises of this house. Yesterday, late at night, someone rang the calling bell, and I looked through the magic eye and saw two girls in white robes standing outside.” I told him.

“Why do you suspect that they were Vinita and Zoya? He asked.

“Our peon Hari Singh found a slip outside the door in the morning. A picture of the slip is being sent to your WhatsApp account. So kindly see it,” I told him and disconnected.

M.D. called back, “so, what do you suggest?”

“Sir, I suspect the girls were sexually assaulted, murdered, and buried in the compound near the red berry tree,” I said.

“How can; you be sure?” he inquired.

“Sir, we were inspecting the compound yesterday afternoon. As soon as we reached below the red berry tree, there was a storm, and the berries fell on the ground. I leaned down to pick up a berry and found the soil texture very loose compared to other places. I feel that someone hurriedly dug a grave and filled it with loose earth,” I narrated.

“Then night time, we saw two ghosts, and in the morning, we found the slip,” I continued.

“It seems that the souls of the girls wanted to prove that Sarat killed them,”

“The new officer-in-charge of the police station met me last night and said that the senior officers in the police department suspected that there was some foul play in the report prepared by the previous O.C,” I said.

“Sir, I suggest digging the ground and checking for evidence. And it should be done by the police department in the presence of Mr. Sarat. My heart says that the dead bodies are lying there, and some other evidence may be there,” I said.

“Ok, Ranjit. I will come there today itself with Mr. Sarat. Contact the new O.C. and make a plan for digging the ground tomorrow in our presence,” he said.

  
Chapter-6 

I called Mr. Ram Chandra Thakur, the officer In-charge of Golaghat Rural Police Station, and requested to come to my house urgently.
 In the meantime, I entered the restroom for a shower.

Mr. Thakur came to my house, and I narrated what had happened last night and about the writing on a white paper. Further, I told him about the loose soil below the red berry tree.

He went with me to the redberry tree and touched the ground. He also found that it was freshly dug soil. 

He said all indications suggested the presence of dead bodies there. So, he contacted his senior officers and was asked to dig the spot in consultation with me.

The Managing Director and General Manager arrived in Jorhat in the evening, and I suggested that they halt in the hotel at Jorhat and come to the tea estate in the morning. So, I sent David and Narendra Dutta to Jorhat to look after them.

I attended the office during the daytime and met the staff in the tea garden office and factory. I collected the technical and non-technical staff list, the up-to-date production of raw and processed tea leaves, and the monthly sale and stock available for discussion with the M.D. In addition, I collected up-to-date balance sheets from the Accounts Executive.

Mrs. Shalini Singh Roy also accompanied her husband, so I told Anima to be ready to go with me to Jorhat at 5 pm.

I returned from the office, picked up Anima, and met Mr. & Mrs. Amal Singh Roy at their hotel in Jorhat. 

They were pleased to see us. Anima had brought two flower bouquets, which we presented to Mrs. Shalini Singh Roy and Mr. Amal Singh Roy.

Mrs. Shalini hugged Anima and asked whether she would like to work as Consultant Psychologist in the Hospital at Golaghat, and she accepted the offer.

“How much salary would you require?” Mrs. Shalini asked.

“I have no demand, mam; whatever you offer, I would accept,” Anima replied.

“You have already given an excellent package to Ranjit, so I do not require a high salary. The job would keep me engaged, and I would be helpful to the people serving in the tea industry,” Anima concluded.

“You are so nice, Anima. Ranjit is lucky to have a life partner like you,” Mrs. Shalini commented.

She discussed this with Mr. Amal and finalized her salary at Rs.85,000 monthly. Anima was thrilled to get the offer.
She hugged Mrs. Shalini and said, “Thank you, mam.”

“Nowadays, people have to endure many tensions and stresses in life. It may be due to an overload at work or the stresses at home, which can lead to severe psychiatric problems and diseases. A psychologist is very helpful in assessing such issues and providing psychological treatment,” Anima said.

“I am not only interested in financial gain, but helping the people to maintain calm at work as well as home front,” Anima explained.

We discussed the last night’s incident.

“If this case of missing girls is solved, we will give you due credit, and the staff and public will have a very high opinion of you,” Mr. Singh Roy said.

“Everything will be clear tomorrow,” I responded.

“Well, why worry about tomorrow? Let us celebrate the evening. We have a reason for the celebration; since a qualified Psychologist will be joining our organization,” Mr. Singh Roy said with a smile.

He called the room service for snacks, drinking glasses, ice, water, and soda. Anima was looking at me, but I smiled. Mrs. Shalini told her that another way of reducing stress and tension was by taking a limited quantity of wine, and she giggled. Anima kept quiet.

The stewards brought the snacks and arranged them on the center table. Next, they placed the glasses, ice bucket, soda water, and mineral water bottles on the side table.

Mrs. Shalini opened her baggage and took out a bottle of Chivas Regal Scotch whisky, and gave it to me for breaking the seal, which I did. She poured small pegs into all our glasses; and added ice and soda water. We all raised our drinks, and Anima also followed us.

 “Cheers,” said Shalini, and we all said, “cheers.”

 I enjoyed looking at Anima and smiled. Anima saw me smiling and was very wild with me, but she could not say anything to me. We all took our sips slowly, but Anima was so agitated that she quickly drank the whisky and finished before us. Mrs. Shalini also finished her drink and made one more drink for both.

“Hey, Anima, don’t drink so fast,” I warned her, but she did not listen to me and continued.

Shalini understood that this was the first time she was drinking and stopped giving drinks to her. Instead, she fed her more snacks, and Anima was under control now.

“Ranjit, your wife is learning fast to drink,” Mr. Amal said with a wink.

I was smiling. She will not be scolding me for drinking in the future. We all were enjoying the 25-year-old Chivas Regal with the snacks.
Mrs. Shalini requested Anima to sing a song.

Anima sang a Bollywood Hindi song from the movie Raja Hindustani:   

                 “Aye  ho meri  jindagi me, tum  bahar  banke
                  Mere dil me yun rahna, tum pyar pyar banke”
 
Meaning of the song in English: 

                “You have come into my life in the guise of spring 
                                            Stay in my heart always as love.” 

Wow, she was singing in such a melodious voice; I was surprised. But, of course, the whisky was responsible for extracting this hidden talent in her. I smiled. 

Mrs. Shalini and Mr. Amal were astonished by her sweet voice. They requested that she sing one more song, and she sang another number nicely. 

Mrs. Shalini appreciated her singing talent and said,” Ranjit, you won’t get bored at Golaghat now. She will keep entertaining you with her melodious songs.” 

We had a good time, and now it was time to leave. I handed over the progress report prepared by the office to the Managing Director, and he was pleased to see it. 

“See you tomorrow, Ranjit,” M.D. said. 

“Good night, sir, and good night, mam,” I said, and we exited their room.

 I was worried about Anima, but she was fine and walked out with me. 

The driver brought the car, and we boarded. We reached home by 10 pm. Hari Singh opened the gate, and the vehicle reached the porch. The driver left after giving the car keys to me. 

“How are you, Hari? Is everything ok?” I asked. 

“Yes, sir, all is well. We have placed the dinner on the dining table in hot cases,” he said. 

We ate and then retired to bed. 

Someone was knocking at the door, and I woke up. I did not open the door but looked out through the magic eye on the door. 

Two girls were standing there; on the porch. They were wearing white robes, and their hair was open. Overall, a scary scene. One held a piece of paper and dropped it on the floor. 

I looked again after a few minutes, but they had disappeared. 

I returned to my bedroom, fell asleep, woke up at 5 am, and looked out; there was no one. So, I opened the door and came out. A piece of paper was lying on the front verandah; I picked it up and returned to my room. 

I opened the paper. Something was scribbled there in red. I tried to read it. 

“Look for Sarat’s wristwatch and hairs in our hands. Vinita & Zoya.” 

I took a picture of it and kept it carefully in the envelope with the other slip I received earlier. 

 
Chapter-7 

Babita called me and informed me that she was coming by air, and her flight was expected to land at Jorhat airport at noon. 

She had requested to arrange for transport from the airport to my house. I told her that someone would be available at Jorhat airport with a car.

I instructed David to arrange a company car to pick up Babita.

It would be a hectic day today. I, therefore, freshened up early and put on a comfortable dress. Anima was also getting ready.

I finalized the program as follows:
  1. Mr. & Mrs. Singh Roy and Mr. Sarat will reach my office at             12.30 pm. 
  2. Mr. Ram Chandra Thakur, Officer In-charge, Golaghat                        Rural Police Station,       will arrive at my house by Noon                  with force and labor with tools for digging the soil. The                      forensic department of the Police should collect all the                        evidence, fingerprints, etc. 
3.  Vinita’s mother, Babita, would reach my house by 1 pm. She will       help in     recognizing the bodies. 
4.  Zoya’s family should reach by 1 pm. 
5.  Digging of the grave will commence at 1.30 pm. 
6. A mortuary van should be kept ready to carry the dead    bodies to      the hospital at Jorhat for postmortem. 
7. Videography of the whole operation should be done. 
8. Security arrangements should be strong to tackle any situation.
 
I discussed all the above points with Mr. Ram Chandra Thakur, O.C. Police, and asked him to call Zoya’s mother staying in her house in Golaghat town. 

I reached my office at 9 am and found that David had arrived. Some urgent files were lying on my table, which I cleared. 

Next, I went to the factory and told the Foreman; to show me the factory and explain the complete processing system. 

Mr. Amal Singh Roy, Mrs. Shalini, and Mr. Sarat arrived at my office at 12.30 pm. I called all senior executives for a review meeting. Which continued for about one hour, and then lunch was served to them. 

Mr. Thakur, O.C. Police, called me to inform me that his team was already in my house. Babita had arrived from Kolkata, and Zoya’s mother was also there. I told him that we would reach there within 10 minutes. 

I told the status to Mr. Amal Singh Roy, M.D. 

“Let us go and inspect your house now,” he told me and asked others to follow him. 

We all reached my house, and I made them sit in my drawing room. 

Mr. Ram Chandra Thakur, Officer In-charge, Golaghat Rural Police Station, entered my drawing room and dramatically announced that two girls, Vinita and Zoya, had disappeared from a picnic spot on Brahmaputra bank six months ago, have been located. 

Mr. Sarat, General Manager, was shocked to hear this and reacted, “As per police inquiry, they were drowned in the river Brahmaputra.” 

“Yes, the report was based without proper verification and without tracing their bodies. However, the police department rejected that report, and we have located them now,” Mr. Thakur said. 

Mr. Sarat’s face became white; after hearing this. He became restless and asked for a glass of water. 

“Mr. Sarat, we have inquired; and found that the incident occurred during your incumbency as the Chief Executive Manager here, and you were staying in this house at that time,” Mr. Thakur said. 

“Sir, we have come to know that you drugged Vinita’s mother, Babita, abducted the girls, kept them forcibly in your house, raped and killed them,” Thakur told him bluntly. 

Mr. Sarat became nervous and tried to escape, but Thakur held him and made him sit. 

“Do you admit to the crime?” 

“No, this is false; I did not bring them here. So please don’t blame me unnecessarily,” Sarat lied. 

“Truth; cannot be hidden, Mr. Sarat; please admit your crime. We have proof that you and your associates raped and killed them,” 

“Sir, they were drowned in the river, and their bodies were untraceable, so how can you prove that they were raped or killed?” Sarat reacted. 

“We can prove that you left two pieces of their clothes on the river bank to misguide others, and you forcibly took them to your house, where you and your friends raped them and then killed them. We can produce the evidence to the court,” Mr. Thakur said. 

Sarat was nervous, yet telling lies. He told Thakur that he was not feeling well and wanted to leave. 

“You are still lying, Mr. Sarat. Tell us, where did you dispose of their bodies?” Thakur pressed him. 

“I have done nothing; please stop making false charges,” he replied. 
The police videographers were recording the conversations. 

“Ladies and gentlemen. I have given an ample chance to Mr. Sarat to admit his crimes, but he is reluctant. Hence, I will now produce evidence of his involvement in the crime; please follow me,” Thakur said. 

Thakur said that those with weak hearts; need not come. 

We all went out. Thakur was leading us to the rear side of the house. Sarat was reluctant to go with us, but two police constables held him firmly and made him sit on a chair near the red cherries tree. Then, Thakur signaled the laborers, and they started removing the loose soil.

Sarat had known that he could not escape now. He kept a handkerchief on his face, and tears started rolling down his eyes. Videography was continued. 

Removal of the loose soil had progressed up to 4 feet, and the dead bodies would be revealed soon. Another 20 minutes and the loose soil was removed. Two decomposed bodies were lying there. The bodies were lifted to the ground. They wore printed trousers and vests. 

Their mothers recognized the bodies from their clothes and the ornaments they wore. A steel rod with blood clots was found buried and used as a weapon for the murders. 

Two pairs of shoes belonging to the two victims were also buried there. A purse containing credit and debit cards, driving license, PAN card, Aadhar cards, and a few pictures belonging to Sarat was found, which had fallen in the pit accidentally. 

A watch and some hairs were found in their hand, which belonged to Sarat. 

“Sarat, this wristwatch belongs to you; and these hairs in their hands are also from your head,” Mr. Thakur charged him, and Sarat admitted. 

Mr. Thakur, the Officer In-charge; of Golaghat Rural Police Station, prepared a report listing details of the bodies and all the materials found on their bodies.

 In addition, the forensic department’s officials took pictures of the murder weapon and the materials found. 

After seeing all the evidence, Sarat admitted his involvement in the crime. The police arrested him and would produce him in court, seeking police custody for interrogation. 

The police sent the two bodies to a Government Hospital in Jorhat for postmortem.

Mr. Amal Singh Roy, Managing Director, placed Mr. Sarat, General Manager, on suspension immediately after receiving a copy of the FIR.

 I told Babita to stay in my house and do the funeral and last rites of her daughter Vinita from our house. 

David arranged a Black label Scotch Whisky bottle and served it to Mr. & Mrs. Singh Roy and us. We were all tense since yesterday and needed to cool down. 

It was a sad occasion, but we felt relaxed after recovering the bodies. M.D. and his wife were kind enough to spend some time with us. They appreciated my solving the case within two days of joining the company.

 Mrs. Shalini found Anima missing, so she searched and brought her. She had to give us company. 

Mr. & Mrs. Singh Roy left for Kolkata the next day and called an emergent Board Meeting to appraise the status of Mr. Sarat, General Manager. The Board approved the action taken by the Managing Director and also agreed to pay some financial compensation to the families of the two girls.

Sarat was in Jorhat jail under non-bailable sections and would probably get a death sentence. We cannot have any sympathy for a criminal like him.

My wife Anima has already joined in the company's hospital as Consultant Psychologist. 

The last rites of the two girls have been completed and we are living peacefully. We both are having a good relation with the workers as well as the local public. 

Performance of our Tea Processing Factory and the raw tea production has substantially increased and the financial growth is substantial. The Board of the Company was very happy with my performance and decided to upgrade my post to the rank of General Manager.

Anima is happy with her work. She is attending hospital regularly and happy to treat people suffering with psychological disorder. 

We often visit Kolkata for office works and get opportunity to meet  Amal and Shalini Singh Roy and have parties.

Babita is still working in the Company's  Guest House as Cook cum Caretaker at Kolkata

Mr. Sarat has been convicted in the murder case of the two girls and is in jail. His lawyers have appealed in the High Court, Guwahati against the order passed by the Lower Court.

 

Disclaimer: This story, or any other story posted on this Blog/Web site, is entirely a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents portrayed in these are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to the actual person/persons, living or dead, events localities is entirely coincidental.

 

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