Smiling Devil: Rage Chapter - 5

The next day, Lakshmikant, Prakash, and Sarfaraz arrived at G.H. Society in full uniform. Lakshmikant and Prakash took their seats while Sarfaraz stood at attention, surveying the residents before them.

The society members were seated in chairs, fidgeting with unease. Some glanced repeatedly at their watches, whispering among themselves. “What a waste of time… I took a half-day off for this,” one muttered. Another added, “Lunch with friends ruined… all because of this investigation.”

Lakshmikant stood, commanding attention. His voice cut through the murmurs.

“Good morning. I am Inspector Lakshmikant, and I’m here because four days ago, your neighbor Indu Vikram tragically died—she fell from the top of this building. We are conducting a brief investigation, and I expect full cooperation from each of you.”

A man in the crowd scoffed, raising his voice. “Sir, why this drama? Everyone has work!”

A woman chimed in, “Sir, this is pointless. My salary might get cut by a thousand rupees today. She could’ve committed suicide on her own—why should we suffer?”

Lakshmikant’s eyes narrowed. “Would you speak the same way if it were one of your own family members?” The crowd fell silent.

He leaned forward slightly, scanning the room. “I understand that most of you have busy lives. But think beyond yourselves. The girl who lived among you just days ago is gone. And before an investigation, some of you are already labeling her death as suicide. Your salary can be recovered next month. Life cannot.”

He paused, letting his words sink in. “This investigation is being conducted here to save you time. So please, cooperate fully. It’s for justice, not inconvenience.” The murmuring subsided, and the previously defiant residents sank back into their chairs, subdued.

Sarfaraz began calling the residents one by one, asking two pointed questions: “Do you know Indu? And what was her character like?” Over three-quarters of the people waved off the questions, claiming they hardly knew her. Of the remaining quarter, most said they knew of Indu but had barely interacted with her.

Only five residents had any meaningful connection to Indu: Rohan, 24, living on the same floor as Indu, muscular and wearing spectacles; Riya, 23, also residing on the same floor; Riya’s parents, longtime neighbors of Indu; Himmat and Sonia, who lived next door; and Diana, a single mother residing in the apartment directly opposite Indu’s.

Lakshmikant decided to conduct a private investigation with the five. They were led to the watchman’s room—a small, dimly lit space where modest sunlight filtered through dusty windows. The walls were unmaintained, a floor mat slanted against the corner, storage cluttered one side, and a single pot of water rested silently.

The room had two chairs: one for Lakshmikant, the other for the resident being questioned. The first to be called was Rohan, young, muscular, and slightly tense, adjusting his spectacles as he stepped inside. Only Lakshmikant and Prakash were present, Prakash standing silently nearby.

Lakshmikant leaned forward, voice calm but firm. “How well do you know Indu?” Rohan replied, “We were childhood friends and also studied in the same college.” Prakash interjected, “So you were close to her?”

Rohan shook his head. “No, sir. We only talked when we met. Nothing more than that.” Lakshmikant’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And her character? Did she have any relationships?”

Rohan replied, “She was kind but could get angry sometimes. She had a boyfriend during college, but they broke up. I think he lives in Bangalore… or Hyderabad, maybe.”

Lakshmikant made a note in his pad, then nodded. “Alright. You may go.” Rohan left, leaving the room silent except for the faint hum of sunlight and the distant sounds of the society outside.

Next, Diya, a 25-year-old woman a chubbier one. Lakshmikant asked, “You were friends with Indu, right?” Diya nodded and replied, “Yes, we were good friends. We used to hang out, chat, and share personal things.”

Lakshmikant probed further, “Did she have any personal problems? Love, stress, anything?” Diya shook her head. “No sir, she had no such issues. She was a girl of good character.” Prakash interjected, “But one of your neighbors, Rohan, said she had a relationship during college?” 

Diya nodded, “Yes sir, that’s true. His name was Vedant. They broke up three years ago, and he’s no longer in Mumbai.” Sanjqayt made a note of Vedant’s name and dismissed her: “Okay, you may go.”

Then it was Himmat’s turn. Sitting across from Lakshmikant, he was asked, “What do you know about Indu?” Himmat responded sharply, “I don’t know what others say, but I can clearly say she is characterless.” Lakshmikant raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Can you give us details?”

Himmat leaned forward, his voice filled with resentment. “Our society knows about her love story. One night she came home drunk and created a total mess. Vikram and his wife faced the shame that night. Why would she love others? Why not trust parent like us? I even warned my daughter, Diya, to stay away from her, but her mother’s overcare made her rebellious. That girl Indu died because of some illicit affair, and she did something wrong. To avoid the consequences, she probably committed suicide—I can clearly say that.” Lakshmikant’s eyes narrowed with anger at Himmat’s words. “Okay sir, you may go now.”

Next came Sonia, Himmat’s wife. Lakshmikant, keeping a neutral tone, asked, “Don’t take this personally, madam, but I need to ask—did your husband have any problem with Indu?”

Sonia replied, “Nothing personal, sir. He just hates this generation of girls.” She continued, “This generation spends most of their time on frivolities—drinking, wasting money, falling in love too early, making mistakes that bring shame to their parents. He complains about this often. Indu was no different, so he was angry with her. We tried to raise our daughter, Diya, with discipline, sir, but she still befriended Indu. That’s all.” Lakshmikant nodded. “Okay, ma’am, you may go.”

Finally, it was Diana’s turn, a 36-year-old woman with visible wrinkles and streaks of white hair. Prakash asked, “You and Indu were close, right? The whole society says you two were like sisters.”

Diana nodded. “Yes, sir. I’m a divorcee and a single mother. Society looks down on people like me, and with the ongoing alimony battle, my life has been very difficult. Indu was my only real supporter in this society.”

Prakash continued, “How was her character? Did she have any personal problems?” Diana answered, “She was a kind soul, always supporting others, but she struggled with her inner life. Sometimes, that led her to make mistakes, and people judged her harshly.” Lakshmikant leaned in. “What do you think about her death?”

Diana’s expression hardened slightly. “I don’t know if it was suicide or murder, sir. But why would a 23-year-old girl go to the top terrace of a building at 2 a.m.? Something about her death feels like murder.” Lakshmikant nodded, satisfied. “Okay, ma’am, that’s all. You may go.”

After a few moments, Lakshmikant, Prakash, and Sarfaraz stepped into the lift. As the doors closed, Prakash broke the silence. “Sir, maybe Indu committed suicide.”

Lakshmikant shook his head. “I don’t think so.” Prakash pressed on, “But sir, four out of five neighbors said she struggled internally. She also drank sometimes, so there’s a possibility, right?”

Lakshmikant’s gaze was steady. “Didn’t you hear Diana? Why would a young girl go to the terrace at 2 a.m.?” He paused, then added thoughtfully, “People never fully understand each other. We show only a part of ourselves, and others judge what they see. You take your stand, I’ll take mine. Let’s see what the truth reveals.”

The lift doors opened onto the top terrace. The three stepped out, surveying the spot where Indu had fallen. Lakshmikant held a photo showing her lifeless body sprawled on the ground, blood pooling around her.

Looking at the image, he asked Prakash, “What did we recover from this place?” Prakash shook his head. “Nothing, sir. No leads. Autopsy didn’t show any external injuries either.” Lakshmikant’s eyes narrowed. “Her phone is missing, right?” “Yes, sir. Still not found,”

Prakash confirmed. Lakshmikant nodded slowly. “Hmm. Tomorrow, we’ll head to her office and question her colleagues. Let’s see what they reveal.” “Understood, sir,” Prakash replied, determination in his voice.

The next night, Indu’s colleagues, including Pravin, were gathered in the conference room. Lakshmikant, Prakash, and Sarfaraz were present as well, all in their police uniforms.

 Lakshmikant addressed the room, his voice calm but authoritative. “Hello everyone, I am Lakshmikant, the chief investigating officer in Indu’s death. As part of this investigation, we will be questioning each of you. I expect full cooperation.” Everyone nodded in acknowledgment. The questioning began, one person at a time.

The first to be called was Rhea. She took a seat across from Lakshmikant. “Where you close to Indu?” Lakshmikant asked. Rhea replied, “Kind of, sir. We used to talk regularly at the office. Outside of work, not much more than that.” 

“How was her character? Did she have any personal struggles or trauma?” he inquired further. “She was an extrovert, sir. Friendly, spoke to everyone freely. I never noticed any trauma. It’s hard to accept that she’s gone,” Rhea said softly.

Lakshmikant leaned in slightly. “Do you suspect anyone?” Rhea paused, thinking carefully. “Well… a few weeks ago at NewClub Pub, a drunk man harassed Indu. It caused quite a scene, and we had to leave. She later mentioned that the same man died that night. Also… Pravin, because he was absent at Indu’s funeral, and… he loved her. But he is too innocent and calm so it will be not him. I guess it someone from the pub only.”

Lakshmikant quickly made a note: NewClub Pub and Pravin. The interviews continued, each colleague giving their account. Everyone expressed sorrow over Indu’s death and spoke highly of her character. Some even recounted Pravin’s quiet, heartfelt love confession.

Lakshmikant and his team carefully documented every statement, piecing together a clearer picture of the events surrounding Indu’s untimely demise. As the questioning progressed, Abhinav entered the room.

He took his seat and leaned back slightly, “Abhinav?” Lakshmikant began. “Yes, sir,” Abhinav replied promptly. “Do you know Indu?” Abhinav responded without hesitation, “Yes, sir. We are all good colleagues.” “How was her character? Did she have any internal struggles?”

Lakshmikant pressed. Abhinav thought for a moment. “She was kind, jovial, extroverted. I don’t think she had any internal struggles.” Lakshmikant nodded thoughtfully and continued, “We’ve interviewed all your colleagues. One name kept coming up repeatedly: Pravin. You sit nearby him. Tell us… what can you say about him?”

A faint smile crossed Abhinav’s face. “I know why everyone mentions him, sir. He loved Indu with all his heart. Pravin is an orphan, and his world revolved around the office, his home, and Indu. He’s calm, never easily angered, and one of the kindest people here. Indu… she was like his heartbeat. After her death, he was completely devastated. We’ve been trying to console him.” Lakshmikant nodded, absorbing the weight of Abhinav’s words.

Then it was time for the final interrogation. Pravin himself walked into the room. Lakshmikant and Prakash fixed their gaze on him. He was an average-built man, his face etched with a deep frown, head bowed low.

Pravin took his seat, completely hollow from within. Observing him, Lakshmikant realized that what Abhinav had said about him was true. Without wasting a moment, Lakshmikant began, “Before you, I questioned your colleagues. They mentioned your one-sided love for Indu and your absence at her funeral. I just want you to answer honestly—just say what you know.”

“When did you start developing feelings for her?” Lakshmikant asked.

Pravin’s voice was steady but soft. “19th February 2024… two years ago. It was love at first sight.”

“Did you ever confess your love?”

Pravin nodded. “Yes, sir. One day before Indu’s death.”

Shock rippled through everyone in the room. Lakshmikant stepped closer, astonished. “What? You proposed her just before she died?”

Pravin nodded silently. Prakash gave a subtle signal confirming the story, and Lakshmikant gestured with his eyes to wait. Then he asked, “Alright… tell me what happened that day.”

Pravin took a deep breath and began, his voice quiet and heavy with sorrow. “That morning, I had prepared myself to confess my love. I waited outside the office for her. When she arrived, I called her over, saying I needed to tell her something. We went to a nearby coffee shop. I confessed my feelings… but she rejected me. She was still in love with her past boyfriend, Vedant. I felt the pain, but I had to accept her love, which was bigger than mine. That evening, we met once more at the office. She asked if I was okay about the morning event. I told her I was. That… that was the last time I saw her.”

Lakshmikant and Prakash exchanged a glance, understanding the depth of Pravin’s grief. The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of lost love hanging in the air.

Lakshmikant paused for a moment, trying to process Pravin’s account. But Prakash, lacking patience, suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Pravin by the collar and shouting furiously, “Tell me, bastard! You killed her, didn’t you? Is that why you didn’t go to the funeral?”

Pravin froze, shocked and confused. Prakash raised his hand, ready to strike. In an instant, Lakshmikant grabbed Prakash’s wrist and slapped him across the face. His voice thundered, “Are you mad? Why are you raising your hands against him?”

Prakash tried to explain, but Lakshmikant cut him off. “Sarfaraz, until I finish this interrogation, he shouldn’t be here.”

Following the order, Sarfaraz and Prakash left the room. Once the door closed, Lakshmikant turned back to Pravin. “Sorry about his behavior,” he said. Pravin nodded quietly. “It’s okay, sir.”

Lakshmikant leaned forward, voice calm but firm. “Alright… tell me, where were you during Indu’s death and the funeral?” “I was at home the entire time,” Pravin replied.

“And the café you went to that morning?” Lakshmikant asked. “Café Coffee Day, just fifty meters from our office,” Pravin answered. Lakshmikant nodded thoughtfully, scribbling a note. “Alright… you may go.”

After a brief pause, Lakshmikant, Prakash, and Sarfaraz settled inside the police van, the driver already in place. Prakash remained silent, brooding. Lakshmikant noticed and said sharply, “Keeping quiet isn’t going to change the fact that I slapped you.”

Breaking his silence, Prakash muttered, “Sir… it’s clear that guy must have killed Indu.” Lakshmikant’s gaze was steady. “Must have? Or could have?”

Prakash’s voice dropped. “Could have… maybe he killed her because she didn’t accept his love.” Lakshmikant placed a firm hand on Prakash’s shoulder. “Until we have evidence, everyone is just a suspect. Patience—we have our first bait. Wait for the hook alert.”

Prakash nodded, swallowing his frustration. Lakshmikant continued, “And control your anger. We were at his office. Even a small mistake could ruin our reputation and be reported to headquarters.”

“Understood, sir,” Prakash replied. The driver asked, “Sir, where to now?” Lakshmikant thought for a moment, then said decisively, “NewClub Pub.”