The Astral Alibi Read online

  “Thank you, Deepaji, I think that’s all for now. If we need to talk again, we’ll get in touch with you.” Inspector Divekar rose and the others followed his example. “Karan, can we talk outside?”

  “Yes, of course.” Karan readily led the way outdoors, to where the Police Jeep and Sonia’s van were parked.

  “About what you told Deepa—do you really believe that Anup and Jaya were having a serious affair?” the Inspector asked.

  Karan nodded. “I didn’t want to believe it at first. I’d kept hearing the jokes being cracked behind their backs, how they went off together in separate cars but then met at a hotel in the city. But gradually, when I saw things for myself—little things, the intimate looks, the way their hands brushed, the manner in which they talked—I didn’t like it at all. Apart from the fact that I was…interested in Jaya myself, I was worried Deepa would get wind of it. She’s very sensitive and caring and she’s treated all of us like family the last few months. I didn’t want her to be hurt or even hear the rumours, specially if they were true. I knew it would break her heart. She loved Anup deeply. But if Anup and Jaya were having a fling—or worse, if it was serious between them—it would destroy Deepa emotionally. But yes, Inspector, I do believe now that the two of them were having a passionate affair behind all our backs. It explains why Jaya insisted on Anup being present for all the sessions, including her dress rehearsals. It also explains why she was so upset just before the play. She was seen leaving his makeup room and she was very, very angry. She even told me that she would never work with Anup again. I thought then that they’d just had a friendly tiff. But obviously it was much more serious. Serious enough, perhaps, for her to take his life!”

  “You think it’s possible? That Jaya could’ve intentionally poured poison into Anup’s glass?” Inspector Divekar questioned.

  Karan shrugged. “I don’t really know. I loved Jaya but I wasn’t unaware of her faults. She did everything with passion. Her roles, her friendships, her needs, and her hates. She could hate with vehemence and she never forgave people. I remember once, we had a Spot Boy who ruined her dress. She was so unforgiving with the wretched boy that she made certain he was fired. And her maids! She never took back a maid who left her without notice. I know that you’re going to laugh at my examples. But I think they explain the kind of person she was. Unforgiving and passionate. Even vindictive.”

  “Vindictive enough to take someone’s life?”

  “If someone was important enough to her and he was planning to drop her? I’m beginning to wonder now.”

  “Was Anup planning to drop her?”

  “I couldn’t be sure. But during the lunch we had at Anup’s house, Deepa and Anup were very fondly talking about their ‘project twins.’ They desperately wanted to have twins. There was absolutely no sign that Anup ever planned to leave his wife for Jaya. He seemed completely devoted to Deepa. In fact, when Deepa, who is an excellent actress, was mimicking all of us, Anup was totally in synch with her, supporting her. On the other hand, his behaviour towards Jaya that day seemed kind of cold and dismissive. Could that have been an indication of the reversal of his affections? But then, maybe I am wrong. Maybe it was all an act!”

  “You could be right, of course,” Inspector Divekar agreed. “And what about Anup? Do you think he could be capable of murder?”

  “I think Deepa would be the best person to answer that. I knew Anup as a friendly, talented actor, always willing to take special efforts on his role. He had his bouts of temper, of course. And he was uncontrollable when enraged. But capable of murder?” Karan shrugged.

  “Had Anup loaned Jaya any money, do you think?”

  “Not that I know of. And just now I heard Deepa mention Anup’s debt for the first time. So I’m quite in the dark about his money matters,” Karan replied.

  “Right. Thank you, Karanji. We’ll get in touch with you if we need to talk again.” Inspector Divekar shook hands with Karan.

  “Had she recently bought cockroach poison or asked you to buy a bottle?” Inspector Divekar asked.

  Mrs. Wakil, Jaya’s housekeeper, shook her head. “Not that I know of. And actually, I always took care of these matters and she never interfered with my work. I can’t see Jayaji going out to the chemist store to buy cockroach poison. It just isn’t like her. But you never know about people, do you?”

  Inspector Divekar, Sonia, and Jatin sat in the actress’s plush hall. The interior designing, apparently newly done, gave the hall a grand feel. Jaya had really begun to do well in her career, Sonia thought. Or had the money come from another source? Anup?

  “How was she yesterday? I mean, what mood did she seem to be in?”

  “She was upset about something,” Mrs. Wakil answered. “And not just yesterday. She’s been like that for a couple of days now. Snappy and waspy. She’s usually not like that. In fact, she’s rather polite and patient, as long as you don’t cross her. But I guess my decision to quit upset her more than I thought!”

  “How long have you worked for Jayaji?” Inspector Divekar asked.

  “For a year now. We got along quite well. But my husband took a job up north and I have to leave by the end of this month. Unfortunately, Jayaji did not take the news well.”

  “Has anything unusual happened in the last few days? Anything that you can think of?”

  The housekeeper shook her head. Then grinned. “Yes, there was something. Anupji did not turn up during the last couple of days!”

  Inspector Divekar and Sonia flashed each other a glance.

  “Anup was a frequent visitor here?”

  “He came here every single day. She was crazy about him. I warned her that no good would come of this relationship. He was married and his wife was a wonderful woman. I’d met Deepaji a few times and I thought she was a very warm and caring person. It wasn’t right of Jayaji to break up their marriage. Because that’s what it would’ve come to if this tragic incident hadn’t occurred. I’d tried explaining to Jayaji, but she was so happy and so much in love that nothing I said would’ve seeped into her brain. And Anupji seemed totally smitten, too, so who was I to interfere? Then the last two days, things seemed to have cooled between them. And, suddenly, yesterday, just before she was leaving for the show, Jayaji came to me and said, ‘Never trust men! The most loved one can stab you in the back!’ She seemed very upset and angry and I did not pursue the subject. I assumed, quite naturally, that she’d had a lovers’ tiff. Then she suddenly added, ‘Oh, but it’s different with you. You’re married and have a child. Ultimately it’s always the legal status! Believe me, that comes from the horse’s mouth!’ And she left. That was the last I saw of her.”

  Sudden tears welled up in Mrs. Wakil’s eyes. “Poor Jayaji. She wanted so much from life and she got so little….”

  Sonia sat in her office, a hand absently caressing Nidhi, who sat cuddled on her lap. She felt a deep sadness and her heart felt heavy. Karan’s play was a disaster. His whole future had shattered around him and he had to start all over again with new actors. Not to mention the bad publicity, which would repel crowds from the play. Poor Karan. Deepa’s tearstained, grief-struck face flashed before her eyes. Even Mrs. Wakil had been moved by the mutual killing. Why had they killed each other, when they were so much in love? What had they achieved? Sonia wondered. Then suddenly her hand stilled. She reframed the question carefully in her mind. What had the mutual murder achieved? A vague answer cropped up in her mind and she straightened. Could it be possible? No. She shook her head. No, it wasn’t possible. But even as she shook her head again to convince herself of the impossibility, the thought took firm hold on her mind. She had to look this up, she realised. She would find the answer in the horoscopes. But, with a sudden sense of deep frustration, she realised that she didn’t have any horoscopes. She hadn’t even asked Karan, who was her college friend, for his horoscope. But that was when she had decided to stay out of this affair. Not anymore! She couldn’t treat this case from the fringes. She would h
ave to plunge in! But how could she get hold of the horoscopes without raising questions?

  Jatin strode into the room and stopped, seeing the stricken expression on Sonia’s face.

  “Boss, what’s the matter?” he asked, instantly concerned.

  “Jatin, I’m an idiot! And I have a confession to make. All along, I’ve been too concerned about my own emotions! I didn’t want to get too involved in this case for a simple reason. You see, I had a crush on Karan when we were in college together. And I was too scared and unnecessarily concerned that I would revive the old feelings!”

  “A crush on Karan! Did he reject you?” Jatin asked, with delayed indignation.

  “Of course not! He never even knew I had a crush! But that’s beside the point.”

  “What’s the point, then?”

  “The point is that I’ve been allowing my personal persuasions to override my better judgement as a detective!”

  “What does that mean?”

  “That means that I should have left my apprehensions in the past and concentrated on the case in hand, even if Karan was involved in it. And because I allowed my past to control my better judgement, today I don’t have my horoscopes in hand, as I normally would have, to experiment with my theories!”

  “Aw, come on, Boss, you’re only human, like me!” Jatin grinned. “And since you’ve been so honest about your failure, let me give you a little reward.”

  Sonia stared in confusion at the look of triumph on her assistant’s face. What exactly was Jatin up to?

  He held up a plastic bag and with a flourish drew out a sheaf of papers.

  “Are those…?” Sonia asked incredulously.

  “Right, Boss. These are the horoscopes of Anup, Deepa, Karan, and Jaya!”

  “I don’t believe this! You actually went and got them? You’re exceptional!”

  “So are you, Boss. This is the least I can do as your assistant.”

  “You’ll get a raise for this, Jatin. You deserve it!”

  “Thank you, Boss. Now can I leave you to it?”

  But Sonia had already aligned the horoscope papers on the table. With a pleased smile, Jatin turned to the CD player and selected a violin instrumental. He turned on the volume and hastily stepped out of the office, with a complete sense of accomplishment.

  Sonia took up each horoscope, staring at them in contemplation. Jaya, Anup, Deepa, and Karan. Artistic and talented, all of them. But of what use was their art now? Anup and Jaya were dead and Karan and Deepa were tainted with the brush of murder!

  Then, suddenly, she stiffened. My God, she thought, this certainly was a perfect mutual murder—the culmination of a poignant romance! As the classical violin began its journey, Sonia’s heart began thudding, responding to the music and the discovery in the horoscope that was staring her in the face. Passing remarks and comments that she’d overheard that day replayed in her head, over the rising tones of the violin. She perched on her chair, her mind revolving like a giant wheel. The image of a string instrument being tuned flashed in her mind. A musician tightened each string for the perfect tone. He continued to tighten the string, till it became taut, and yet produced that perfect musical sound that he desired. This was what lay under these murders, she realised. Tightening of bonds, till they suffocated.

  Without warning, the last scene of the play rose before her eyes as clearly as if she were seeing it again. The beauty of it struck her afresh. So wonderfully enacted, such powerful emotions, more meaningful because they were real. Every look the two actors gave each other, every moment of shared love, anxiety, and pain was real. She could admit that freely now. Because she could read those sentiments and the passion in their horoscopes. The strong attraction between Jaya and Anup was obvious in their charts. And now she understood, as clearly as if someone had announced it, what the mutual killing had achieved! Poetic justice for love…As the violin began its soulful crescendo, tears gushed down Sonia’s cheeks. A spontaneous response to a beautifully moving and masterfully rendered musical piece…

  Jatin popped his head in through the door. “Boss? Karan’s here!”

  Astonishment flickered on Sonia’s face as she hastily brushed away the tears. “Send him in.”

  The door opened and the Director stepped inside, a trifle hesitantly.

  “Sonia, I hope I’m not intruding on your time?”

  “Not at all. Come right in and take a seat.” She gestured to a chair. “What brings you here?”

  Lines of strain etched on his face did little to mar Karan’s good looks. His discomfort was obvious as he seated himself opposite her.

  “I must talk to you. You’re the only one who would understand.”

  “Understand what?” Her curiosity was at its peak. Apart from the mixed reaction to the presence of Karan—a symbol of her carefree younger days—in her office, she managed to keep her piqued interest in check.

  “I’ve been thinking a lot. And I’m convinced that we are barking up the wrong tree. I mean, the money angle and hatred. The more I think of it, the more I realise that Anup and Jaya really and truly loved each other. But they had some insurmountable obstacles. That’s why they conspired a combined death, to overcome their irresolvable problems. And as a kind of poetic culmination to their love.”

  Sonia sucked in a quick breath. The horoscopes she had read minutes before were still fresh in her mind.

  “And I believe that we should accept that fact and let go,” Karan continued. “Let go and allow their souls to rest in peace.”

  “You mean stop investigating the case?” she confirmed.

  The Director nodded.

  “And you are prepared to live in ignorance as to what really happened, and why, on the first night of your play?” she asked, studying his face closely.

  “We have already agreed that Anup and Jaya killed each other. All we’re trying to do now is unearth the motive behind it. I believe that they wished the reason to remain anonymous, otherwise they would surely have left a note of explanation. I admit that I am not immune to curiosity which the lack of details will invariably arouse, but that will have to take a backseat for a bigger cause. We have to respect their silence.”

  “I’m surprised at your willingness to let go and that you actually spelled out your opinion,” Sonia admitted.

  “I had this gut instinct that you would understand. You would understand the extraordinary cravings and urges of creative people and their need to give vent to them in the strangest of manners.” He was regarding her with an unswerving, intent look.

  For a fleeting moment, the expression in his eyes reminded her of Mohnish.

  She quickly averted her gaze. Then a faint smile curved her lips. “I’m glad you came here and voiced your innermost thoughts. I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Thank you,” he said simply.

  “The constables have been asked to lift guard from Jaya’s and your house. They’ve called off the case,” Karan remarked.

  Beside him on the sofa, Deepa was replacing photos in the album. Now she glanced at him. Her face was expressionless.

  “The police are convinced that Anup and Jaya were madly in love and couldn’t live without each other,” he continued.

  Deepa winced and closed her eyes.

  “I’m sorry, but the unquestionable has to emerge as the ultimate truth. Anup and Jaya chose to depart together. You must accept it and forgive them, Deepa. You must forgive him!”

  Deepa opened her eyes. There were tears in them. “Can you forgive Jaya? You loved her, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, I did. But it was not meant to be. Jaya loved Anup too much to ever really be mine,” Karan murmured sadly.

  “And now they’re gone. I don’t understand this. Why didn’t he simply tell me that he loved her so much? Why didn’t he reveal his true feelings to me? I would have released him. It was so stupid to keep me in the dark and take each other’s lives!”

  “Perhaps he loved you too much as well? I know you don’t quite believe t
hat at present. But I do. I think, in his own way, Anup did have deep feelings for you. But sometimes passion overrides love and this is how it ends up!” Karan sighed. “Anyway, I want you to know that I’m here for you, whenever you need me.”

  He leaned forward and pressed her hand.

  Deepa smiled faintly. “Thank you. I know I can depend on you.”

  “Perhaps you can even think of taking up acting again? Gradually, of course.”

  Deepa nodded. “I may.”

  Karan rose and gave Deepa a hug. “Always remember I am a phone call away,” he said solemnly.

  She watched him leave and her heart felt as if it would burst! Poor Karan. Poor us, she thought wearily. Forgive Anup for what he had done? For his infidelity? For the travesty of their marriage? For betraying her trust and her love? She wondered. Perhaps one day her undying love for him would heal the deep gash in her heart.

  The doorbell rang and Mrs. Wakil opened the door.

  “Oh, Namaste, Deepaji!” The housekeeper looked surprised. “Do come in. I’m just getting the house cleaned up. Some of Jayaji’s relatives are coming down from Kolkata.”

  “Thank you. I won’t take your time. Jaya had some of my things in her office. Can I go collect them?” Deepa asked.

  “Sure! Go ahead, you know the way.”

  Deepa nodded and immediately turned to the room on her left. It was Jaya’s private office, with a separate phone line. She had been here several times with Karan and Anup for script discussions. She opened the door and stepped in. The curtains were drawn, blocking the afternoon light and the heat. The office was cool, spick-and-span, with the table clean and sparkling. Yet Jaya’s presence seemed to fill the room. Even her perfume lingered in the air.

  Deepa headed to the phone and stared at it contemplatively. Hesitating just slightly, she switched on the answering machine.