Part 1 is available in the profile. Please go through that before you read this!
He walked slowly to the office building, his eyes fixed upon the main block where all the employees assembled and few police officers asked questions. He couldn’t hear the questions but he watched them talk animatedly. Only one thing was common in all the employees eyes- confusion and fear. He was about to turn to godown, where he worked when he was beckoned by a police officer.
He walked slowly mentally calculating the questions and preparing the best replies for them. This was a very familiar scene from almost all the crime thriller movies he watched, except that he was not a child anymore and possibly he could be the only witness of the murder. On reaching the policeman, he stood a cautious two-step away from him and greeted with a “Namaste” to which he didn’t respond.
“What is your name?” Police asked.
“Ravi, sir.” His voice was hoarse than usual. For a fraction of a second Ravi thought his voice would betray him before he could defend himself. But the Police didn’t notice the change in his voice or maybe he thought that was his normal sound. He eyed the policeman closely. He will be around 40 and his fit physique made an impression of a sincere police officer. Ravi tried reading the name on the NamePlate- Jacob Thomas, it read.
“What do you do here?” Jacob sir asked.
“I work in the godown sir. I help in loading and unloading the parts and vehicles. I also do the accounts as and when necessary.” He was more confident now that it clearly reflected on his sound. But the look on Jacob sir’s face was disapproving which made Ravi self-conscious.
“What are your work timings?”
“It depends sir. If the days are due for a new load from Bombay or Bangalore, I will have to stay in the office till 10 Pm and on regular days I leave by six in the evening.” He said with a slow pace this time.
“When did you leave yesterday?”
“I was the last one to leave the office premises yesterday. There was a load from Bangalore. The accountant was on leave and I was left alone to manage the whole accounts work and inspection of the load on my own. I think I left around 10.30.”
“Did you see anything or anyone suspicious lurking in this compound yesterday or the day before that or this week?”
Ravi thought for a moment before answering the question. He closed his eyes to think through his memory, but couldn’t find anything “suspicious.” Ravi shook his head in a No.
Jacob Sir looked less convincing. The tension between them escalated and the silence deepened. Jacob shook his head in dismay as if disregarding something.
But then he said, “ You can go.”
Ravi was relieved, for now. He turned around and headed towards godown when he heard
“Wait, one more question…”
©Ganga Ambily Gopi
