Bloody Desires

By Percy PS

The thing about desire is that you don't know when it can turn bloody.

Anu Sharma is a happily married woman living in a posh Pali Hill bungalow. But when a young, single photographer moves in next door, everything starts to change.

Will her Bloody Desires take her to heavenly highs, or lonely lows? There’s only one way to find out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Srishti Publishers
• Release date: Nov 15, 2018

Book preview

Publishers.

Prologue

The body lay in the bathtub, rotting. Only the head and shoulders were visible above the surface of what seemed like blood mixed with water- a blood bath, with mottled rose petals still floating on the surface.

A knife’s tip was sticking out the front of the corpse’s throat- the handle came out the nape. Blood was splattered all over the walls, the tub, and the knife handle itself.

Who called in the murder, Bhonsle? CID Senior Inspector Sam Mendes asked the man beside him.

The neighbour did, sir. She saw blood seeping down the front wall of the house and came to the front door to check. Says the door was partially open, and peeking in, she saw bloody water flooding the house, and called the police. She’s waiting downstairs, if you want to talk to her later, SI Bhonsle replied.

I will, definitely. Make sure she stays there. Looks like a pipe burst somewhere- that’s why this whole place is flooded. And I think this poor sod has been dead for several days, going by the advanced state of decay . Only the autopsy will tell when exactly.

Poor fellow he is. Found with a knife sticking out his throat, lying in a bathtub full of his own blood, Bhonsle commented.

It’s true. The jugular was severed. I think he was stabbed in the nape of his neck, and then the knife stuck out of his throat. He bled a lot, immediately, and death was quick. Is there a way to have this water removed? It’s contaminating the crime scene and eliminating evidence. Dr. Sanyal will be after our blood if her crime scene is tampered with, Sam spoke, scrunching his nose. The stench from the decaying corpse, plus that of the overflowing water everywhere, was unbearable.

I’ll have someone clean this up, sir. The water has spread all over the first floor and most of the rooms downstairs. It’ll be sometime before it can be completely cleaned, Bhonsle replied.

Sir! There is more bad news! another man walked into what used to be an eloquently furnished bathroom, now stinking of death.

What happened, Amar? Sam asked, turning to Inspector Amar Gupta.

There has been another murder.

Where?

In the next bungalow. It’s a male corpse- also in an advanced state of decay. Seems like he was stabbed to death multiple times.

My god! What the hell is going on here? Sam sighed, shaking his head.

Anu darling? I’m going to be late! Nikhil yelled, tying his shoe laces.

Coming Jaanu! his wife replied from the kitchen.

She sauntered into the living room, two minutes later, holding a cup of coffee in one hand.

Ah! There’s my wifey, Nikhil said, smiling and standing up from the sofa.

Hey husband! Anu said, giving her husband a peck on the cheek. He looked handsome in his dark blue tailored business suit.

HONK HONK!

That’s the driver. I’m going to be late. Bye, honey! Nikhil said, picking up his briefcase and kissing his wife on the forehead.

Bye. Try to be home early.

Will do, darling. Bye, love you, Nikhil replied, and rushed towards the front door.

Love you too, Jaanu, Anu said to his retreating back.

She walked to the front door and stood there, one hand on the door frame, watching their chauffeured BMW pulled away.

Just then, a white sedan pulled in the driveway of the bungalow next door.

Two large trucks followed in quick succession, BAPAT PACKERS AND MOVERS written in large letters on the side.

A man got out of the sedan. He was young, fresh-faced, fair complexioned with a mop of unruly hair. Clad in a white shirt, blue jeans and with a Rolex on his wrist, he surveyed his surroundings nonchalantly, sunlight glinting off his aviators.

Anu observed all of this with a disinterested eye, like she was watching a fly hover around a fruit basket.

Taking a last glance at the young man, who was now talking to the movers dressed in blue overalls, Anu closed the main door of the house and went back to having her coffee.

What to do now, Anu darling? she mumbled to herself, slumped on the sofa in front of the TV.

Every morning, after her husband left for work and she was home alone, Anu was struck by the realization that she had very little to do in her own house.

The Sharmas had a maid who took care of household chores- cleaning, dusting, laundry. The cook they hired came two times a day and prepared whatever Anu planned for the day, and did all the grocery shopping under her supervision.

The only thing my Masters degree in Commerce comes in handy for is calculating the expenses at the end of the month, Anu often lamented to her girlfriends.

Why don’t you go out with your girlfriends for a girls’ day or something? You will pass the time effectively, Nikhil used to suggest whenever she called him at work.

Duh! Girlfriends, Anu reflected, with a derisive snort. She wasn’t particularly fond of the women in their friend circle.

Mrs. Khanna, with the extra-large bindi on her forehead and the excessive fake gold jewellery and the expensive South silk sarees. Only likes to