Accidental Inquisitors Read online

  Accidental Inquisitors

  Ananth Gunasekaran

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Day 1

  Day 2

  Day 3

  Day 4

  Day 5

  Day 6

  Day 7

  Day 8

  Epilogue

  All characters and entities in this publication are fictitious. Resemblance to persons or entities, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Prologue

  The knife struck the masked man on his face. He stumbled and fell on the ground face-first. Raj gasped. A murderer was the last thing he wanted to become. With a broken ankle, he limped his way down the subway at the Central Railway Station, Chennai.

  Enduring the pain, he limped his way to the Kaveri Express that was about to leave from the third platform. The unreserved compartment never turned anyone away. Seeing him in pain, the passengers made space for him to place his leg, undisturbed. He had a tough time staving off questions from them. One woman offered him painkillers that she had handy. When the pain in his leg subsided, the pain in his heart grew bigger.

  Geetha.

  His fear had come true.

  ***

  ‘Another massacre,’ said Alison, flustered. Detective John looked up from the report he was peering into, eyes wide.

  ‘This time in Cuba,’ said Ally. John looked out of his window from the fourth floor of the South Wales Police Headquarters.

  ‘Another country that doesn’t give a shit about testing on animals’ Ally nodded.

  ‘What does your friend say about this?’ asked John.

  ‘He says he will soon have evidence to link Canine Delight to the massacre.’

  ***

  Geetha arrived on time. Raj had asked her to wait near the Canara bank ATM outside the Central railway station. Her attempts to call him went in vain. His phone was switched off. She put her dupattah on her head attempting to cover herself but the very effort worked against her intention.

  She was startled by a flurry of movement. Two masked men sprinted away from the station, pushing aside other people on their way. She prayed for Raj to appear before her.

  Their plan was to elope and get married. She had feared that he would betray like he had done before. But she was there after convincing herself he would not. Love has made me blind.

  He didn’t show up. Her fear had come true.

  ***

  The car screeched to a halt at the empty traffic signal. There was hardly any traffic in this part of town so late at night. The driver seemed to be petrified. He stepped out of the car and examined the bonnet. Everything was fine.

  At the next traffic signal, he applied brakes and the car accelerated. Unable to comprehend what was happening, he pressed the brake pedal harder and the car rocketed. It rammed into the cars parked outside a hospital.

  The last thing the man saw was a familiar face looking at him while he was rushed into the hospital on a stretcher.

  His fear had come true.

  Chapter 1

  ‘Welcome to Toin International Terre General Insurance Company,’ boomed the CEO, seated at his rightful place in the board room. The twenty new recruits murmured their gratitude.

  ‘I said Welcome!’ the CEO was surprised at the lack of excitement. ‘Thank you, Sir’ said a feminine voice, aloud. ‘Call me Gowtham. No “sir”’

  ‘Okay Sir,’ the trainee said and muffled laughs erupted. ‘What is your name?’ the CEO asked the trainee. ‘Jainika sir,’ she said. ‘You speak really loud.’ The other trainees giggled.

  ‘Now that you have undergone a classroom training program, you shall begin your on-the-job training from Monday. The twenty of you will be spread out across the Metro cities. I believe you have been intimated your respective cities. I was told that your travel has also been arranged. So good luck to you.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said the trainees together.

  Rajasekar looked at the circular placed on the table in front of him, his hands crossed. Chennai. He sighed and looked across the table. Priyanka was eyeing him. ‘Everything will be fine’ she mouthed. Raj and Priyanka were classmates during their post graduation in Delhi. Priyanka was also posted in Chennai and was happy about it. Raj had given Chennai as his location preference even before he attended the job interview. His girlfriend was in Chennai and her parents had not taken the news of their relationship well.

  Jainika, who was sitting beside Raj, bent over and said, ‘Priyanka and you are going to Chennai. I am going to stay here in Mumbai.’ When Raj did not respond, she pouted. ‘You can go to Chennai and be with your girlfriend. I will be here with Prithvi.’ Raj ignored her again.

  That evening, the twenty management trainees headed to the Chattrapathi Shivaji International airport, Mumbai. They had been in Mumbai for a month. Raj helped carry Priyanka’s luggage which had inflated after all the shopping at Fashion street, Linking road and Chor bazaar. Seated beside Priyanka, Raj closed his eyes and thought about all that had happened during the last two years. Geetha.

  A gentle hand on his shoulder broke his reverie. He saw Priyanka mouth, ‘It’s ok.’ He closed his eyes and sleep took over till the rubber hit the road at Arignar Anna International Airport, Chennai.

  ***

  ‘I don’t like trainees,’ said Detective John, his lips curving upwards. The lone trainee sitting across his large desk could not figure out if there was a smile on the detective’s face. ‘But my counterpart Mr. William is screwing his girlfriend in Greece and I have to put up with you.’ Alison forced a smile. ‘But I must say your achievement is commendable.’

  ‘Thank you inspector,’ said Alison in her soft voice. ‘Five years after joining as a volunteer, you’ve been sworn in as a constable,' said the detective and Alison nodded. ‘It’s not often that the South Wales Police swears in a volunteer as a trainee investigator.’ Alison thought that the compliment bordered on accusation. She was aware that the regulars did not take well to volunteers being recruited into the police force. ‘Thank you Detective,’ she managed to say.

  After a curt nod, Mr. John said, ‘I’ll give you some of William’s old files. Go through the reports and get back to me with your detailed analysis.’

  ‘I will, inspector,’ said Alison as she followed him to collect the files.

  ***

  ‘The tenth and twelfth board exams will decide your future,’ said the principal shifting his weight from his left leg to the other, breathing into the mic on the podium. He was delivering the keynote address at the Valedictory ceremony held in the school auditorium that evening. ‘We are in December,’ he said as he stroked his grey hair, scanning the seven thousand student strong audience, ‘Exams begin in March. Prepare well. I tell you again, these results will decide your future.’

  On the fourth row from the front sat a boy of seventeen who turned to another boy of his age sitting beside him, ‘Do our futures really depend on the marks we score in five subjects?’ The other boy whispered, ‘Viki, they are training us to become slaves.’

  ‘Slaves to whom, Bala?’

  ‘Corporates. They set up stupid metrics. Those who score high on their metrics are good slaves.’

  ‘See all these toppers?’ said Bala pointing at the students seated in the rows before them, ‘they will make really good slaves.’

  ‘How do you say that?' asked Viki, grinning.

  ‘Corporates do the same thing. Here we are given subjects and a
sked to score marks. In companies, we are given other targets and asked to score high on some set of stupid parameters. So these guys are well trained to do whatever fetches them rewards. They don’t care if they enjoy it or not.’ Viki’s grin broadened. ‘You know so much.’ Bala smiled and said, ‘When will you stop saying that?’

  ‘All the best!’ said the principal and walked down the stage to lifeless applause. A junior girl came on stage and spoke at length thanking the staff. ‘A special mention is required for two students who have done the school proud. Vikram and Bala of twelfth standard who won the Silver and Gold medals respectively in the one hundred metres race at the Tamil Nadu Open State Championship. St. Anthony’s engineering college has offered seats to both these athletes. Give them a big round of applause.’ Thunderous applause erupted as Viki and Bala nodded in all directions to acknowledge wishes from students.

  Doss, an eleventh grade student walked up to them from one of the back rows and shook hands. Almost everyone in the school knew Doss was an avid fan of the two athletes. The principal craned his neck to see Doss walk away from the two boys. He smiled as he recalled a teacher’s complaint he had received about the boy. Every examination answer sheet somehow had the names Vikram and Bala in them. The principal had to call up Doss’s parents, who were in the Middle East, in order to make him stop filling answer sheets with stories about his idols.

  ‘See this,’ said Bala, offering the newspaper to Viki and pointing at a particular article. ‘Courses to choose for jobs after five year,’ screamed a large article. Viki skimmed through. ‘Toys industry is set to grow,’ he mumbled, ‘banking and insurance will grow.’

  ‘Did you see that article about heath care?’ asked Bala. ‘Yeah, looks like impotency is on the rise for Indians,’ said Viki and chuckled. Before folding the newspaper Viki saw the title of an article, ‘Acquisition of Chitra Enterprises to impact job market.’ Little did he know that the acquisition would impact his own life.

  Chapter 2

  ‘We underwriters focus on the bottom line. Sales people focus on the top line.’ Priyanka and Raj were sitting in the training room at the Chennai office of TITGIC. The

  Branch Underwriting Manager, Mr. Ashok was explaining them the dynamics of the company, which they had heard enough of. ‘The sales people have monthly targets. They bring proposals from agents and brokers, sometimes even from customers directly’ the BUM said.

  ‘Also from banks,’ added Raj. ‘Banks are brokers. Corporate brokers. They sell our insurance products for commission,’ said the BUM. Raj understood that the man had a big ego. He was told that the underwriters generally considered themselves the intellectual capital of the company and hence, the big egos.

  ‘We underwriters see if the risk is good. If we are comfortable with the risk, we accept it. If we are not comfortable, we reject it. So the sales people hate us. We reject some of the deals that could earn them huge incentives. But we underwriters have to be loyal to the company. We cannot accept every proposal that comes in.’

  ‘“We work like dogs to find a customer and then you reject it?” is what the sales people ask us.’

  ‘Why don’t you tell them beforehand what kind of customers you are comfortable with?’ Priyanka asked. ‘We have told them that a hundred times. Once you start working you will understand.’ The BUM was irritated. Raj shook his head, yawning.

  ‘However,’ the BUM continued,‘there are many products that do not require the approval of an underwriter. For example, the personal accident policy sold through the bank. Anyone can pay one thousand rupees and take the policy. The ticket size is very small and it is a waste of underwriters’ time if we have to approve each proposal.’

  When they were out of the training room, Priyanka asked, ‘Waste of underwriters’ time?’

  ‘It’s his ego speaking. Personal Accident insurance does not require approval because the probability of accident is same for all common people. The salesperson should be cautious while selling it to people who work in hazardous jobs. This bloody underwriter thinks its’s to save his time.’ Priyanka giggled, walking next to Raj.

  ‘I am going to her place,’ Raj said abruptly. ‘Her place?’ asked Priyanka incredulously then said,’Yes, the longer you wait, the higher the possibility of the girl’s parents making her change her mind.’

  ‘I am going tonight.’

  ‘I am coming too,’ she said. If she expected Raj to protest, she was disappointed.‘How long did you say it has been since they locked her at home?’

  ‘Two months’

  ‘My God! Her parents must be uncivilised’

  ‘Well, for your information, her father is a CA and her mother is a paediatrician.’

  ‘And you’re not coming.’ Priyanka put up a sad face.

  ‘I don’t know how her parents will behave. A friend of mine, Amba, lives in Chennai. I will put you in touch with him. Incase something happens to me, he’ll let you know.’

  ‘What could happen to you?’

  ‘Nothing, just being cautious.’

  ‘Be careful. Give me Amba’s number.’

  ***

  ‘Why does everyone have to do Engineering?’asked Bala, irritated after receiving a courier.’ Do what you like bro,’ said Doss, ‘that’s what sets you apart from the rest.’ He was sitting on the parapet wall of the hostel terrace.

  ‘I will convince my parents somehow,’ said Bala, pacing up and down the length of the parapet wall, holding the many application forms his parents had sent. ‘They say I will get a job only if I do Engineering.’

  ‘You know that lady in the front office who joined recently?’

  ‘Yes, the pretty face,’ said Bala, ‘Viki told me she cries all the time.’

  ‘I don't know about that,’ said Doss, ‘she is a relative of the Vanita ma’am I guess’

  ‘Okay,’ said Bala. ‘She is a University topper in engineering,’ said Doss. ‘And she’s working here as an office assistant?' asked Bala, in disbelief, then said, ‘Probably, that’s why she’s crying all the time.’ Doss laughed. ‘Engineering does not guarantee a proper job,’ he said, ‘you know how much our principal earns right?’ Bala smiled and said, ’I know. He only has a B. Ed degree but decades of experience.’

  ‘He earns a lot more than his salary under the table’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Didn't you know?' said Doss, dropping his voice, ‘Capitation fees.’

  Chapter 3

  B10, Raj kept repeating in his head as he entered the apartment building where Geetha’s family lived. His finger trembled as he placed his finger on the bell next to the door on which were embossed, the letters B10. His heart had been pounding hard ever since Geetha sent him the last text message but the wait after ringing the door bell seemed to make his heart hammer him from inside. The door swung open and a tall man stared down at Raj, through his spectacles. Raj had seen enough of Geetha’s family photos to identify her family members. This man was not Geetha’s father.

  ‘Go away now,’ the man barked. Evidently, he had identified Raj. ‘Sir, I need to talk to Geetha’s parents,’ Raj said calmly. ‘Whatever it is, talk to me,’ the man said, stepping outside. ‘This is personal. I have to talk to her parents.’

  ‘I am her maternal uncle,’ the man shouted. ‘I don’t care who you are,’ Raj shouted back, ‘I want to talk to her parents.’ The towering man suddenly staggered and a lady appeared from behind him, grabbed Raj by his arm and pulled him inside, kicking the door shut. The man who opened the door was left outside. Raj identified the woman, Geetha’s mother. He couldn’t help but notice how much Geetha had inherited her mother’s features, the mono-brow, the sharp nose and thin lips. He thought, looking at the furious woman in front of him, Geetha did not look very different from her mother, when furious.

  ‘Are you trying to create an issue by shouting in public?’ she asked between quick shallow breaths. ‘I...’ Raj began but was interrupted by another man entering t
he hall through a door. The door adjacent to the kitchen remained locked. The man wore a green trouser and a white shirt with the top two button open, revealing his thick gold chain and hairy chest. He had a small paunch, thick moustache and a horizontal streak of vermillion on his forehead. Raj knew the man.

  ‘Who is he?’ asked Geetha’s father to his wife. ‘He’s the demon who has corrupted our daughter’s mind,’ she spat. ‘Sir, I have no intention of causing trouble. I want to explain things to you.’

  ‘Shut your mouth boy!’ the man shouted and fell back on a sofa. Raj felt small. ‘What is your caste?’ the man asked. Raj tried to recall what caste he belonged to. He had filled it up in his engineering admission form after asking his parents. He had heard it once or twice before but never managed to register it. ‘You are ashamed to say the name of your caste,’ the man said and laughed, ‘it means you belong to a low caste.’

  ‘Seenapeena,’ Raj said. He had managed to recall. The man eyed Raj carefully. ‘You don’t look like a Seenapeena’ he said. ‘I am Seenapeena,’ Raj said affirmatively. The man sighed. ‘We are Dengu Lanjala Gandu,’ the man said with pride.

  Raj looked at Geetha’s father with a blank expression. He did not know how he was supposed to react. He had never heard those words before. He wondered how Geetha could have a monstrous father like the one sitting in front of him.

  ‘I know you are shocked,’ the man said with a smirk, ‘I can see you are regretting about meddling with such a powerful caste. I will forgive you if you go away now’

  Raj remained silent.

  ‘You must feel privileged that you got to enter our house. But you should also empathize with us,’ the man paused and looked at Raj like a teacher would at a helpless student, ‘this quality of empathy is very important for any human being. You should put yourself in my shoes and imagine how embarrassed I would feel even to imagine letting you marry my daughter. It would be a blot on our lineage. You should learn to empathise. Then you will not do mistakes like this.’