Bhairvi

By Ritiqa Pachauri

Guntur, a small peaceful city wakes up to the horror of serial killings. A pedophile is on a lose and the city police is unable to make the head or tail of the case. After several failed attempts, Maya Sharma is called to take charge of the unsolved murders, but soon realises that it's going to be a tricky ride.

With media breathing down her neck, her anxiety taking a toll, and her family being in danger, will Maya be able to solve these cases? Will she be able to catch the murderer? Or will she end up dead?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Book Basket Publishers
• Release date: Jan 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215362204

Book preview

अयि गिरिनन्दिनि नन्दितमेदिनि विश्वविनोदिनि नन्दिनुते

गिरिवरविन्ध्यशिरोऽधिनिवासिनि विष्णुविलासिनि जिष्णुनुते ।

भगवति हे शितिकण्ठकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकृते

जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १ ॥

Dedicated to

––––––––

Swami Maharaj and Maa Pitambar

CHAPTER 1

This is horrifying. I never saw such a gruesome case in my career.

Me neither sir. It seems that the modus operandi was the same as in the last two cases. But we’ll wait for the forensic department to confirm.

They will confirm Atul. They will confirm. We are dealing with a psychopath.

What should we do sir?

We have to solve this case as soon as possible. We have no other option. Shinde! Come here. The senior officer took a few steps away from the corpse lying in front and called the constable.

Senior inspector Rohit Agarwal and Sub- Inspector Atul Markande were left bewildered as another case of child abuse and murder resurfaced in the town. The crime scene investigators were clicking photographs, the coroner was putting the corpse in the ambulance and the inspectors were feeling defeated yet again in the small town of Guntur. This was the third case in the last one month and this time the criminal was not only a pedophile but what looked like was also a psychopath. 

Atul, while we wait for the forensics to confirm with our assumptions, run a photograph of the girl in other police stations and find out whether a missing complaint had been filed or not. Also, ask the people living in the nearby area whether they saw or heard anything. Rohit ordered Atul.

Yes sir. Atul replies and heels away, leaving behind Rohit who feels clueless as to who could be behind these monstrous crimes. He felt like the gates of hell had opened and a demon had gone lose to torture the lives of the once peaceful town.

Rohit wipes his brow with the back of his hand, too miserable to find his handkerchief that was still in his pocket. He could feel his hands shaking while driving the jeep back to the station. After all it wasn’t just the murders he was witnessing. He had witnessed several violent crimes in the past and never had he felt so weak. It was the nature of these crimes which was excruciating for him. His insides were churning and there was nothing he could possibly do about it. All he could do was, to hold his hands from shaking, stop his heart from racing and make it safely back to the station.

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CHAPTER 2

We were right sir. The girl was raped and then murdered. Atul hands the forensic reports to Rohit as he enters the police chamber.

Any news on who was the girl? Rohit asks while flipping through the report.

Yes sir. Her name was Mala Singh and she lived in a nearby village with her parents and an elder brother. They had filed a missing complaint in the Akhada police station two days ago. I also had a word with the inspector of that station. They were investigating the case but couldn’t find any lead. Atul said.

Of course, they couldn’t find any lead. Rohit slams the file on his desk. This was the third case of child rape and murder and it had left him completely baffled.

Guntur is a small town in Andhra Pradesh. Away from the noise and the pollution of the metros, Guntur was bonded by peace and communal harmony. There were hardly any cases reported and those which were, got solved within no time at all. In normal circumstances in such cases when the criminal goes rogue he is bound to make a mistake and leave a trace behind. But in this case, there were no such leads. The incidents were reported by the national media and once it was aired on prime time, Rohit found himself in deep soup. He had been in this town for the past ten years but was facing the heat for the first time. He was a capable officer but what he was facing was way beyond his understanding.

And he was aware of it. While he was still tossing the possible ways of solving the case, a phone call further increased his troubles. 

Hello. This is I nspector Rohit Agarwal. Rohit speaks into the receiver.

Rohit, this is Police Commissioner Rudra Pratap.

Jai Hind sir. Rohit immediately stands up straight from his chair. The sweat beads on his forehead were a clear indicator of nervousness.

I want you to come at my office by five pm today along with the progress report on the pedophile case. The commissioner orders.

Yes sir. Rohit said. His voice ailing.

And Rohit.

Yes sir?

I better see some progress. The Commissioner hung up the phone while Rohit stood there with the receiver in his hand, looking at a distance. He knew it was over for him.

Because there was no progress. He had met a dead end. He needed more time but time was what they didn’t have. At least not in this case.

Are you okay sir? Atul asks Rohit who stands still, lost in the whirlwind of his thoughts.

The Commissioner wants to see the progress on this case. And we have none. I have a bad feeling Atul. Rohit shakes his head and makes his way out.

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CHAPTER 3

Keeshu! Come inside beta! It’s dark now.

Coming maa.

Six-year-old Keeshu packed her toys in her back pack and decided to walk towards her house which was across the street from the park. Her mother had already went inside thinking that she would be home any minute. After all, how much time does it take to cross the street! Hardly two minutes.

That was thirty minutes ago.

It was half past six in the evening. It was completely dark outside as it would be in the month of December. Cold winds ripped through Keitki’s sari but she didn’t bother. She didn’t even bother to wrap a woolen shawl around her. In a frenzied state of mind with her neat bun now in a tangled mess she was howling and searching for her daughter who was nowhere to be found. Her daughter Keeshu, was missing from the park which was just across the street.

*****

When was the last time you saw her? Alok Singh, the police inspector asked.

At six pm. She was playing in the park across the street. I had asked her to come back home as it was getting dark. I thought she’ll come home in another five, ten minutes. But after twenty minutes when she didn’t come I went to the park but she was nowhere to be found. Keitki choked on the last words.

Did you ask her friends? Alok inquired.

We did sir. They said they don’t know anything. Keitki started crying again.

Give us a photograph of the child and we’ll start our investigation. The inspector said.

CHAPTER 4

March 2019

I think I’m going to be late again. All because of that stupid party Avijeet dragged me to. Why do people have to celebrate their tenth, twelfth or even fifth marriage anniversary!? If you want to show your love for your spouse, do it in the bedroom for God’s sake! I keep cursing my husband’s friends as I pour a cup of coffee and stuff my mouth with a cheese sandwich. Being a police officer isn’t easy. And being a lady police officer makes it even tougher. The job makes you tough but because you’re a woman you’re expected to be delicate. Or in my case, at least behave delicately. Well, I refuse to do both. I don’t believe in being a delicate darling, only to regret later in life.

Good morning ma.

Good morning sweetie. I kiss my ten year old daughter as she sat in her chair ready for school.

You look tired. She says while digging into her bowl of cereal.

You bet! Your dad’s got weird friends. I don’t like them. I say while gulping down my still warm coffee. This weird couple celebrated their tenth marriage anniversary. It was so...Bollywood type. Romantic music and dance. Ugh! I make a face as I keep the dishes in the sink.

Then why did you go? The familiar husky voice catches me off guard. I didn’t realize that my husband had made his way in the dining room. His voice startled me but I decide to stand my ground.

Because you forced me too. I remark. And I hate refusing you. I say and plant a kiss on his lips.

Uff! Ma! Kiara shuts her eyes as she always did when her father and I kissed each other. Even if it was a small peck she would cringe.

I really don’t like your friends, Avijeet. I think they show off a bit too much. I say while making my way out of the house. I might get late today; I have a new case I need to look into. You two please have dinner and don’t stay up late. I wave my two lifelines goodbye and in a moment a shed away the layers which are restricted within the comforts of my house with my family and in a moment, I became Maya Sharma the IPS from Andhra Pradesh.

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CHAPTER 5

It wasn’t a rosy day for Rohit Agarwal. Not only was he taken off the case but he was also called one of the worst police officers of Andhra Pradesh. He was frustrated and disheartened and felt as if the sky had fallen on his head. It indeed was a tough case to crack and never in his career did he feel so lost while trying to crack one open but being called the worst, stinged!

Rohit ordered another beer as he finished his second bottle. It was a local bar situated in the worst localities of Guntur but he needed his alone time. He contemplated his life as he waited for his drink. It wasn’t that Rohit was a bad cop, but this case had him going bonkers. Despite of being taken off the case he refused to let go.

So Maya Sharma is going to take over my case. Huh. Rohit scoffed while drinking his beer. He knew she was one of the finest in the country but he just wasn’t ready to give up.

Maybe if I talk to her she’ll let me be on the team. Rohit’s eyes sparkled at the thought and gulped down his drink in one go. He realized it was a mistake the moment he got up. His head felt dizzy and he gripped the table to regain his balance.

Had too much to drink? A waiter asked him as he supported him from his shoulders.

Yeah. Had a drink after a long time. Got swayed away with the buzz and ended up having too many. Rohit confessed in a slurry speech. Thanks bhai. I’ll walk from here. Rohit thanked the waiter and started to walk towards his jeep parked outside the bar.

Once seated he took out his cellphone and dialed Maya Sharma’s number. When it went unanswered he decided to call again after sometime.

I’ll call her again after reaching home. He said to himself and ignited the engine.

She’ll understand once I explain myself to her. Rohit thought while driving. She knows me very well and will decide to keep me on the case. He pushed the gas with a revived spirit. He suddenly felt elated, hopeful.

Rohit wondered whether Maya will do him justice or not. His thoughts drifted from the case to the first day he had joined the force. He was only twenty-two at that time. Young, handsome and devoted towards serving his country. Ten years had passed since then and all he did was serve his country. He didn’t marry. His parents had died when he was only two years in to service. He practically had no one to call his own.

While he was still thinking about his lonely life he saw Suraj, the trash picker with his dog Buddy. He was now closing near his house and Suraj was an every- day face in the locality. He waved to the young boy and realized his life was not much different than his. Like him Suraj also had nobody, well, except for his dog. They both were so much alike. Rohit, in his sober self wasn’t fond of either Suraj or his dog. He felt he was a trouble maker. Nothing but a menace.  But today, he felt differently.

I’ll be good to the little guy from now on. He promised to himself and drove ahead.  With these thoughts mixed with the booze kicking in full swing inside his head, Rohit parked his jeep in his driveway.

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CHAPTER 6

Welcome Maya. The Police Commissioner says as we shake hands. I was in the Police Headquarters of Guntur, which happens to be my hometown. I was born and raised in this small town and I was completely baffled on hearing the criminal onslaughts that had recently shook the town. When Rudra requested me to look into the case, I agreed in a second.

Have you been updated with the facts and findings? Rudra asks.

"Yes sir. Atul has briefed me up. I believe he’ll be