Poisoned Arrow

By Ibne Safi

Translated from the Urdu by Shamsur Rahman Faruqi.

In an unnamed city somewhere in Hindustan, a man is killed by a poisoned arrow outside a popular nightclub. The subsequent investigation, led by the intrepid Colonel Faridi and his assistant, Captain Hameed, opens up a shadowy underworld network of pimps, drug dealers, and foreign spies. But who is behind it all? The diminutive Goan named Finch? The beautiful yet mysterious Tara Nayadu? Or the enigmatic American arch-criminal, Doctor Dread?

Welcome to Ibne Safi’s "Jasusi Dunya," an intricately demented world of larger-than-life villains, mad genius detectives, and beautiful femmes fatales. With a huge cult following among readers in both India and Pakistan, this series spans 125 novels published between 1952 and 1979. They remain some of the bestselling books in Urdu even today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blaft Publications
• Release date: Aug 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9789380636023

Ibne Safi

Ibne Safi was born in 1928 in India. During the 1950s, he created two great mystery series, Jasoosi Duniya and the Imran series. Both gained massive popularity and were translated into several languages. He died on his birthday on July 26, 1980 in Karachi.

Book preview

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The Body in the Smoke

Hameed had barely stepped out of the ballroom at the Arlecchino when someone caught hold of his arm. Startled, he turned around. He was annoyed to see that it was a stranger. He hated it when someone tried to get his attention by touching him, and he despised those who were given to making physical contact with people before addressing them.

What the hell…? He looked the fellow over from head to foot and glared.

Sir, I beg your pardon for taking the liberty. The stranger’s voice was heavy and pleading. But I’m a bit shaken up right now.

Hameed took a closer look at the stranger. He was a fairly good-looking young fellow, somewhere between twenty-five and thirty. He was well-dressed, and did not appear to be of a lowly status. But Hameed detected fear in his eyes. His face was pale, and he kept running his tongue over his dry lips.

Sir, I know who you are, he said in a near whisper. That’s why I dared to catch hold of you. Your presence here is fortuitous. If you weren’t here, I would expect my life to be over within a few hours.

At this, Hameed softened a bit. I don’t understand…

I request the favour of your company for a few hours.

But why? Any reason?

My life is in danger.

Have you swilled one drink too many, my dear fellow?

No sir; I am entirely sober.

Just three or four days ago, Hameed said, smiling, right here in the Arlecchino, I heard a fellow saying that God had sent him to earth on a special mission, but he was unable to rise from his chair… There were two empty quarter bottles of gin on the table in front of him.

Sir, I am in mortal danger! For God’s sake, I need your protection! The man spoke in a voice laden with fear, and he looked around furtively, as if his enemy might be lurking somewhere very close by.

You say you know who I am? Hameed’s tone was dry.

Yes, sir.

Then you may also know the consequences of wasting my time.

Please, dear sir, believe me, and hear me out!

Okay, come sit here. Hameed gestured towards a table. Let me try and discover the cause of your delusions.

The stranger moved towards the table with uncertain steps. This convinced Hameed that he was indeed drunk.

Let’s teach him a proper lesson, he thought. The stranger sat at the table, and Hameed sat down opposite him. I can give you five minutes. If you’re unable to give me a sound reason for detaining me like this, well, then you yourself will be responsible for the consequences. You say you know who I am.

"I know very well, sir. As of now I have no means to prove the truth of my statement, but I assure you: My life is in danger."

Okay, let’s suppose that’s true, Hameed said, looking the stranger in the eye. So what do you want?

Please keep me with you, or else arrest me and throw me in jail. Perhaps I would be safe inside. Please believe me! After all, why would I lie to you?

On the other hand, why wouldn’t you? Hameed spoke drily. In any case, I would certainly like to know who it is you’re so afraid of.

It’s a gang, sir. I just saw one of them here, but he disappeared immediately. I’m quite sure that he was looking for me, and for me alone.

Why should you believe that?

I am, perhaps, aware of their criminal intentions—to a certain extent.

Hameed scowled. Speak plainly. I don’t like all this beating around the bush.

Please, come with me to my home. I’ll be able to tell you a lot more there.

And if I insist on hearing everything here?

If we go there, I can give you documentary evidence against that gang. I have a lot of material.

Hameed looked at him searchingly, and spoke softly. So you are afraid of some people against whom you have documentary evidence, and you fear them precisely because they know that you have it?

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.

And this evidence is safely stashed away in your home?

Yes.

But these fellows would rather kill you off than secure the evidence for themselves?

Yes!

I don’t understand. What if these gentlemen steal the evidence from your home in the meantime?

That’s exactly the point. They haven’t been able to do it. They’ve tried many times, without success.

And now, having failed, they want to do away with you?

Yes! That’s the only possible conclusion from the facts at hand.

Fine. Then I’m afraid all I can do is offer you a peg of whisky.

You don’t believe me, the stranger said sadly.

On the contrary: I believe you fully. Now I must take your leave.

Suddenly the stranger’s expression changed. He seemed extremely upset and looked as if he was about to lose his temper. He stared angrily at Hameed for a few moments. Well, he said, I’d hoped that this could be sorted out without any sort of commotion. But it seems you are an exceedingly cautious man. I’ve been wasting my time with you.

Hameed shrugged and looked at the stranger nonchalantly.

Whatever happens next, the man said, rising, the responsibility will rest squarely on you.

Hameed kept smoking his pipe, acting unconcerned. But as the stranger rose to go, Hameed tracked him with his eyes, even as he emptied his pipe in the ashtray and returned it to his pocket. The stranger was walking to the bar. He stopped there, and Hameed watched him pick up a bottle… and then he saw him smash the bottle over the barman’s head.

The barman’s scream resounded throughout the hall. A number of people rushed over to the bar counter, but the stranger began flailing his fists wildly, throwing punches at anyone who came near. Several of those who had charged towards the counter fell back, their hands held to their bruised chins and faces.

Hameed, too, rose. By the time he reached the bar, a number of men had knocked the stranger down and were securing his hands and feet.

Someone called the police. The precinct station was not far from the Arlecchino, and in less than ten minutes, the police arrived. Hameed watched it all from a distance, standing near the door. He glowered at the stranger as the police hauled him out. The stranger smiled triumphantly the moment his eye fell on Hameed, as if to say, Did you see? That’s how things are done!

By now Hameed’s interest was keenly aroused. He followed the policemen out to the street. The police station was close enough that no vehicle was needed to transport the man. Hameed walked behind them, but at some distance. He did not think it necessary to keep a close eye on the perpetrator—he was more interested in seeing what the man did once they reached the station. He wasn’t paying careful attention to the other people around him, either.

Suddenly there was a piercing scream. Hameed jumped, and looked for the source of the sound. A short distance ahead, the stranger had slumped with his face to the ground, still handcuffed. Hameed rushed towards him. The constables were trying to haul the stranger to his feet. Hameed saw an arrow embedded in his right arm.

Oh hell… we’ve lost him! the head constable said, utterly perplexed. Then, looking at Hameed, he said, Move away! Who the hell do you think you are?

Hameed, who was bending over the body, straightened. Captain Hameed, from the Intelligence Bureau.

Oh! I beg your pardon, Captain. I didn’t recognize you, sir.

That’s okay, Hameed said. He was looking off in another direction. Then he began to walk in that direction, in a hurry.

He had barely taken a hundred quick steps when there was an explosion. He turned around, bewildered. The pedestrians and rubberneckers were taking to their heels in whatever direction they could, and there was a dense cloud of smoke at the spot where the stranger had fallen. Hameed felt his eyes begin to burn, and decided not to rush back towards the smoke. Slowly but steadily, the cloud expanded until it covered the entire width of the street. Not even the lights on the other side of the road could be seen. Hameed kept retreating; the burning sensation in his eyes was getting worse. Eventually, the smoke began to dissipate.

All the cars on the road had stopped. Confusion and commotion reigned over the whole area. It took nearly fifteen minutes for the smoke to disperse completely. When it did, Hameed saw that the body was still there—but now it was entirely naked, and even the arrow was missing from the arm. As the crowd began to gather again, somebody threw a sheet over the corpse.

Hameed walked slowly back to the spot where the