EARLY morning on Jan 1, 2012 I wake up with a slight hangover of the New Year night as my intelligent alarm system goes off which triggers breaking stories across the world. I tried to sit up on my bed to turn off the alarm. But I could barely move. I pressed the laser button on the side of my bed that linked it to my mobile phone. I made the call. A voice answered, “Good morning, CMIR hospital. How can I help you?”
“Could you please send an ambulance…I think I have been poisoned.”
There was a momentary silence on the other side. I gave her my address. I hung up, accessed my camera through the laser beam, checked a particular video, and then turned on my laptop.
Dr S Roy was sitting in his study, looking intently into his mobile. It has been hours since he received the news of his friend’s tragic demise. And here, in his hands, lay the only decisive solution to the mystery. He read it again for the fifth time now:
“Sandy…need your help. I have been poisoned. Last night, I was late and drunk and in exhaustion, left my handy cam running. I know it’s my wife…but I don’t know what possible motive she could have had...Don’t inform cops. I’ve deleted the video. I wanted someone to know the truth…”
The doctor looked up from his mobile as a woman silently entered the room and took a seat opposite to his desk. He took a deep breath, and with deliberate emphasis said, “I got a mail from a man who was killed this morning, a childhood friend of mine. I must appreciate his intellect. He managed to figure out the culprit just moments before he passed out. And the assassin has been way too casual. Overlooked a running handy cam! Outrageous!”
“How very intriguing!” said the lady. He slowly walked to the woman and whispered closely into her ears.
He stared silently for a very long time before he whispered, “Of all people, he chose me to investigate the motive. So, before I kiss you, would you be kind enough to return my gun, Reema.”
She smiled.
By Somdotta Sarkar, Times of India, Kolkata