Suddenly they were not talking to each other. Just the
three of them and one of them was marked killer! Extreme suspicion and
antagonism; they quietly, surreptitiously moved away from each other, each
trying to find a safe corner, a citadel of security in that cursed house. They
were completely foxed at the monumental scale of crime therefore the state of
mind of the killer. Something happened in the past that incensed the killer so much
that he went to extraordinary length to undertake this recourse to set the
score right. The amount of preparation, the planning that went into this
undertaking clearly showed utter contempt of the killer. It occurred to E Babu
that this desperate man will not stop at anything therefore both Manyawar
Diwakar and Chacha Reba don’t look like the killer individually but they could
collectively make lethal combination. Manywar Diwakar with his steady, slow paced
reasoning could make him the master planner and schemer and Chacha Reba with
his choleric anger and sharp reflex the master executer. ‘Are they into this
together?’ seemed improbable but not impossible. The question then arises why
aren’t they surfacing into open now that most of the men have been eliminated? May
be, he rationalized, they are acting cautious after all he is still alive and
if their plan fails they can still act innocent. He decided not to wait to get
killed instead become proactive. So looked around furtively and quietly eased
out of room. Once out he quickly descended the hill looking back now and
then. Once at the bottom of hill, he ran
towards Bhai Madan’s house throwing caution to the winds.
Bhai Madan’s house was on the other side of narrow crevice
splitting the Chandakhal structure about fifty odd meters from the base of the
hill on which their house stood. When he reaches the house, he was surprised by
the open front door flap swinging in the night breeze. Inside he was greeted by
deathly stillness. Bahi Madan was
already sent to sleep, “kisi ne unko nahlaa diyaa thaa” In a state of shock E Babu
didn’t know what to do. His last hope was dashed by the elimination of Madan
Bhai. The killer was always one step ahead of him……..
next the final act.....
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