DIVINE VIOLENCE

“I do not wish to be defined. I wish to be someone who you can explore.”, that is what the last page of Nayanika D’Souza’s diary read except- it was all written in blood.

Detective Ruuan Mehta, my father, thought it was all over six months ago- no clear evidences, no fingerprints or DNA, no new leads and no suspects. At the crime scene Nayanika’s body was lying cold on the floor of the school where she used to teach. There was no blood anywhere but her right wrist had two odd pressure marks- as if someone tried to break her wrist with only two fingers. Her phone was never retrieved or any valuable information was ever gained. She had died due to a sudden heart attack. The obnoxious thing was a syringe was found under her desk and that syringe was completely dry as if it contained nothing, petty shenanigans, right? The agency declared the case of Nayanika D’Souza to be a cold case just after two days of investigation. Until tonight- when dad received a package as an anonymous tip. He opened it just to find someone’s blood-soaked index finger lying on top of some dead rose petals.

Two weeks later

“Good afternoon, sir. The forensic results are out.”, said an officer, he handed over the results to Arnav Aggarwal, the forensic detective.

“Alright thank you, you can leave now.”, said uncle Arnav and gestured the officer to leave. Dad was uncle Arnav’s best friend so he was allowed to look into the report. The report read- ‘Mr. Ruuan Mehta’s hair sample and his photographs with Nayanika D’Souza which had a different fingerprint was found under those rose petals. The finger had very identical DNA to that of Nayanika’s but it wasn’t hers, the same was with the photographs was confirmed.’

“Ruuan… I mean you said you did open the box for a brief second, so maybe your hair fell inside but how did the killer get your photographs? Also, the fingerprints don’t match. why?” asked uncle Arnav with a stern voice.

“I…I don’t know how…”, Dad’s voice was cracking every second, his whole body shuddered with fear but he balled up his fist with rage. He knew it was finally over after all these months, a cold case, will be reopened again with a not so innocent suspect, I guess.

Before the conversation could continue two police officers barged into the room and cuffed my dad’s hands.

“You are under arrest for the murder of Nayanika D’Souza. You have the right to remain silent and explain yourself at the court.”, said one of the police officers. He tried to drag my dad out of the room when he suddenly stopped and looked back at his only best friend.

“Arnav, I did not kill Nayanika! You too know it that she disappeared, right? I will tell the truth; She’s not Nayanika-”

“Stop with your nonsense, Ruuan! I know whatever she did was bad but killing your own son’s mother…”

“IT’S NOT TRUE!”, dad barked at uncle Arnav and tears started to roll down. One of the police officers kicked him on his already injured knee and he fell to the ground. “Arnav please take care of my son. Give him his medication also it was Ava-”, dad couldn’t finish his words before the officers dragged him away.

Two months later

The past two months were crazy and hectic. The police just barged into our house to search for more evidences, which they did find like- more photographs, clothes and a woman’s wristwatch (allegedly to be Nayanika D’Souza’s). I was asked hundreds of questions about my father, my former teacher Ms. Nayanika D’Souza which is wrong because that was not her real name. Since I am sixteen, a minor, whose father was on trial because of murder and having no close relatives, Arnav uncle suggested that I should start living with him. Well, my dad trusted him blindly and as if I need an adult by my side just to have my medications? Seriously my dad is too innocent for this world. I guess it was time for me to protect both of my parents now.

“This will be your fresh start, boy. Don’t become like your father ever.”, said uncle Arnav one evening.

“She was my class teacher uncle, so was I not on the suspect list? I mean I have this anti-social personality disorder AKA ‘a psychopath’- my neighbors tagged me and told the reporters that. They were all thrilled to interview me.”, I said with a small giggle to myself.

“You are not like that; we all know it. Just because you cannot feel empathy or guilt doesn’t make you a monster… what makes a human turn into a monster when he is consumed with obsession and guilt.” Uncle Arnav said staring blankly at the ceiling.

“You know she was your mother… Nayanika.”, he said and looked closely at my face, waiting for my reaction as if it was news to me but it wasn’t. I kept a neutral face and he continued again.

“They got married at a very young age I must say. She just left after you were born, no reason, no letters, nothing. He never wanted you to see her face ever again for that reason… When you joined that old school of yours, Ruuan got to know about her for a brief period. Maybe he wanted revenge for your sake… in a deadly manner.”

“You are wrong, uncle. You think my father is a fool?”, I said and I started to laugh with all my teeth out. It is the most hilarious murder mystery ever and surprisingly I was allowed to play detective. I guess it was the time for the truth after all.

“I will tell the truth now, listen carefully. The woman who was killed was Avantika D’Souza my mother’s identical twin sister and I wonder who killed her? Was it YOU?.”, I came closer towards him to read the expression on his face, he too knows how to keep his face neutral but not better than me, it was fear in his eyes. I guess he knows what I know.

“Stop with your nonsense! Who is this Avantika? Your father was blabbing the same, that she’s not Nayanika. How do you guys know that?”, he said and stood up, his voice was hoarse and was trembling.

“You should have done a background check on my mother’s personal history, uncle. There is this one secret my dad never told you… My aunt stayed abroad for most of her life, that’s why nobody knows about her… I think you know that my mother also has ASPD that’s why my grandfather had sent my aunt away just to protect her. One year ago, she came back from Greece and called my father. She had lost everything and had nowhere to go, so she got that job there under my mother’s name because everyone knew Nayanika but not Avantika.”

“You thought after all these years my mother had run away from you so you requested your posting over here just to kill her. How silly! Uncle. The autopsy results said my aunt, Avantika had died due to a sudden heart attack. Did you mimic that somehow? Of course you did! That empty syringe which you used…was it a gas bubble? Interesting and that parcel idea to frame my father, great.”, I shifted my gaze away from him and I kept my hand over my mouth as it was very funny to look at him.”

“Wha…How do you know all these? Nayanika was my college friend…She never told me she had a twin.”, Uncle Arnav said with a trembling voice.

“You are the monster uncle! You are the one who got obsessed with my mother. How… How could you keep her hostage for sixteen years?”

Arnav uncle shifted in his position, his eyes wide and locked with mine. He always praised me for my intelligence but looking into his eyes now he loathes my intelligence.

“Who told you that? You sure are a PSYCHOPATH! Like everyone says.”

“Thanks to aunt Janvi actually, she gave me the diary my mother used to write while being a captive, I know everything now. Aunt Janvi helped her escape too.”

“You have completely lost your mind, haven’t you? My wife helped her escape? She’s dead! Don’t you remember?”

“Thanks to my father for this.” I said and pulled the trigger of Uncle Arnav’s gun which I stole earlier.

Uncle’s dead and for the first time I came face to face with the real Nayanika D’Souza, my mother. Her hands were trembling, the index finger on her right hand was missing yet she managed to smile. If I remember clearly, I did attend aunt Janvi funeral but if she’s dead then who is this woman looking like aunt Janvi, pointing a gun at my mother’s head?

“Silly boy.”, she said and pulled the trigger.