The Mechanic Strikes Again: Chapter 2 - The Flat

A heavy gloom hung over the place when Shivangi visited it .. A never-ending silence left after a storm had passed through. But strangely everything appeared untouched.

All the furniture - the bed, sofa, cupboards, curtains - wanted to convey acts of a night in which they had been mute spectators. The dining table was clean, her dinner plates were lying in the sink and the subtle aroma of biriyani still filled the air . Suparna's dresses were lying on the sofa. She had morning shifts now and made sure that she didn't had to waste time choosing them. A glass of kingfisher sat lonely on her bed-side table - her favourite beer, along with the TV remote. The bed was neatly done and it seemed she was just about to settle down with her favourite show. Everything was there except her.

Shivangi tried to strain her ears for a sound coming from the washroom .. the sound of water trickling. That leaky tap, she deduced. The last time she paid a visit they had decided upon the necessity to call in a plumber but it seemed it hadn't been repaired yet. That was the one thing she hated about Suparna. She was never punctual when it came to housekeeping .. always liked to lead a bohemian life. Times have changed and girls ought to be more organised and willing to take care of themselves these days. Not having a boyfriend at an age of 26 was also a matter of concern.

The absence of parents made Shivangi responsible towards seeing her younger sister settle down into marital life. But she was at a loss of inventing ways to convince her. There wasn't much age difference between them which made it even more difficult to act her mom. Moreover, Suparna was a born introvert and it seemed she had recoiled more into herself since their parents' deaths.

Last night she had called her. There was something so queer about the whole incident, whenever she thought if it. It was difficult to believe that Suparna would finally give in and take such a drastic step. They weren't on talking terms after that argument following the decision to sell off their ancestral property in Burrabazar. Actually it was Upendra's decision.

Suparna was in the final year of her college when their parents died in a car accident. She had reluctantly stayed with her elder sister's family - Shivangi and her husband in Chandannagar for a couple of months. Then after she landed a job in BPO she moved over to Saltlec. Shivangi had caught her taking anti-depressant pills one day .

Though she had pledged to dessist from such acts of self-destruction again, she knew once alone she would resume her habits. How many times Shivangi had asked her to refrain from watching those bullshit on TV. She had even locked up some TV channels in her Saltlec flat - but to no avail. She said the shows gave her thrills and made her forget her loneliness.

But Shivangi knew that strong emotions like fear were harmful for asthma. Medical science also affirmed a link between asthma, anxiety and depression. Her doctor had made it clear that no matter what but Suparna should not be provoked. Too much excitement was fatal for her. Since young, Suparna loved to thrive in an imaginary, make-believe world. It was peculiar that given her age her bookshelf still abounded with fairytales and childhood fantasy books; not to mention the thrillers, mysteries and horror titles which sometimes even questioned her sanity. Did she appear to be frightened on telephone yesterday ?

One by one the man was entering the missing person's sex, age, height, built, complexion, dress when last seen, hair cut, visible identification marks, tattoo on hands etc.

'Does your sister have any habits, like smoking .. liquor .. drugs .. ?

It seemed to Shivangi that the question was aimed at her.

No

Boyfriends ? Anyone particular she was seeing ?

I know some of her friends but no one particular.

Why ?

If there was someone she would've told me.

Have you checked out with relatives .. her friends ? You sure she hadn't gone to anyone of them ?

No Sir.

Okay. I'll need the details of all your relatives and friends. We have to interrogate them.

What is the address of the location from where the person reported has gone missing ?