An ordinary day became the best day of his life when he saw her for the first time. He wondered what was attracting him to a not-so-attractive girl. Perhaps her girl-next-door demeanour. He followed her, walking, matching her footsteps on the curvy roads of Parsik Hills in Navi Mumbai. He deliberately maintained a distance to pass easily as a stroller or an ardent nature admirer. He clicked on photos using a camera phone. Intermittently posing like he was enjoying the scenic beauty around him, he tried to come across as natural as possible.
She was too busy to notice- her newly found stalker. Or she was used to stalkers. Soon, curvy roads found their way to the top of the hill. She looked around to make sure no one was there. He concealed himself behind trees. It was a hot summer day in April. It was unusual for anyone to climb up the hill. She removed a blood-stained knife from her tote jute bag. Savouring the blade with her eyes, she smiled. Suddenly, the calm smile turned into hysterical laughter. He removed his mobile and started recording it. She was about to throw the knife deep into the valley. Suddenly, she stooped. Realizing she hasn’t wiped fingerprints off the blade. She calmed herself, removed a napkin from her bag, and cleaned the knife. She threw the knife away deep into the valley and stood there patiently.
A car arrived to pick her up and drove her away. He ran down the hill and reached the police station. He ran inside the premises and reached a desk. He hurriedly switched ON the computer. He browsed the criminal database and found the girl. He was right about this girl, he thought. The promotion would quickly descend on his lap if he caught the girl. He grinned ear to ear.
Her appearance in the file photo was a bit different. She sported short hair and crooked teeth, although when he saw her today, she had long hair and straight teeth. But appearance can be easily managed, he thought. She was filed in the category of serial killer. He quickly called her a havaldar.
‘Note this car number and collect every detail of this car owner,’ he said. Hawaldar took the orders and left. Determined to catch her at any cost. He started planning his steps ahead. He knew a chance to see a rare criminal like her came very rarely. After thirty minutes, Hawaldar appeared again and gave him the file. He pounced on the report file like an animal seizing on its prey. With each detail he was reading, he realized he could easily catch her this time. He smiled.
He was a senior inspector at the Crime Branch in Mumbai.
Moral: A stalker can also be an inspector.
Happy Reading!
Check out Nisha B Thakur's highly appreciated novel, The Unexpected Trail.