“Do you know, Mishra uncle killed his wife“, asked Raman in excitement while walking towards school. “No, he didn’t.”, said Anand. “How can you say that he didn’t kill her. Police arrested him and they found a lot of cash from his house as well“, said Raman. “What about murder weapon?“, Anand asked curiously. “Police uncle said that they are looking for it. They even asked me if I have seen someone coming in or going out of their house“, Raman said with pride. Anand was thinking and was quiet but kept walking. His stray friends were walking alongside him.
During the recess, the playground was full with kids but Anand was sitting in a corner with deep thoughts. The scene outside Mishra uncle’s house was bothering him. Those Police cars that zipped past him… the cries of Mishra uncle sitting outside his house….while his neighbor’s son Rahul standing besides him…. and the conversation between the Police uncle and Mishra uncle……the entire scene was running on Anand’s mind. He was not able to talk and looked devastated, still thinking, “Mishra uncle killed his wife ? I can’t believe it“.
Mukund Mishra worked as an accountant at a shoe company. He was a quiet person. Anand never saw him with other men in park after office. Mishra uncle wasn’t talkative and neither did he interact much with his neighbors. But, he was a helpful person. He in fact helped Rahul get a job as a shoe designer in his company. Rahul was their neighbor. Mishra aunty and Rahul’s mother were good friends.
Anand came back from school when it started raining. He couldn’t go outside, so he decided to finish his homework first and wait for the rain to stop. In the evening when the rain stopped, Anand saw a police van parked outside Mishra uncle’s house. Anand walked straight to the police van. He was looking curiously inside their house when an Inspector noticed him. He asked Anand, ” Have you lost something in here kid?“. “No, I was wondering how could you believe that Mishra uncle killed his wife.“, replied Anand. The Inspector laughed and said,”So, you think the killer is someone else. And what made you think that “. He continued, “Go away from here“. Anand feeling rejected, started walking towards home.
Suddenly, the Inspector called out, “Stop kid, come here“. Anand turned around, he saw the Inspector waving his hand. “You seem to be a curious kid. Come with me, I will tell you the full story“, said the Inspector. He took Anand to Raghu’s chowmein stall and asked him, “Will you have something? I am starving“. “No, Thanks. I am good“, replied Anand. The Inspector ordered his meal at the stall and continued talking to Anand, “So, the story is like..Mr.Mishra was having an affair with his colleague in office. His wife came to know. They argued and he killed her in rage“. Taking a quick sip of water, the Inspector continued, “Mr. Mishra also committed a fraud and hid money in his cupboard at home. He was a bad man“. Anand was disappointed. The Inspector carried on, “It’s an open and shut case“. Anand asked softly, “Has Mishra uncle accepted that he has done this?”. “Will anyone say that he is a criminal? Mr.Mishra is denying all the charges right now, but; we will make him confess soon“, said the Inspector. “Did you find the murder weapon?“, asked Anand. “You ask lot of questions. You want to become a detective? Hahahahahaha” , laughed the Inspector.