#Disclaimer: This is an original work of fiction with no relation to any person/organism living or dead. Every episode, every character is a work of imagination. Any resemblance to any person, organism, place, character or situation is purely coincidental. There is no intention to hurt or rebuke anyone or any profession through this work. This story/episode cannot be copied, published or reproduced without the permission of the author RhituparnaChakraborty.

Mushtaque was right. There were traces of drugs in the blood report of Deepika. As per Sonal, Deepika can never be into drugs. However, meticulous investigation was the key to solving all the mysteries. Sonal and Deepika could both be into drugs. Sofia can find that out . Sofia already has all the instructions of finding every information about Deepika and Sonal. All the same if Sonal and Deepika had been into substance abuse for long, they wouldn’t have been able to survive in Ranjanpur. Addiction is hard to control. So, there is a high probability of Deepika being drugged unaware here in Choudharys’ mansion.

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Mushtaque walked around in the garden. He walked in the area behind Deepika’s room. He went to the tree again where Deepika had gone once with a scarf in her hand. The window of Deepika’s room was open. He went to the window and inspected it. He found some sticky oily substance on the frame. He did not have a pair of gloves with him. He picked up a twig, scraped that oily thing on the stick and went to his room. He found a packet and put that twig there. He smelled that substance carefully. The fragrance was familiar. He had come across that fragrance somewhere. Although he smelt it very carefully and that too a tiny wisp, he felt little dizzy and stuffy. After smelling that, he felt suffocated. He needed some fresh air. Once he inhaled long wisps of fresh air, he felt better but he felt thirsty. Whatever that substance was, it was strong.

Just then Sofia called. Mushtaque answered the call.

Sofia: Sir, I checked thoroughly. Sonal and Deepika do not have any involvement with drugs whatsoever. Right from their attendance to their academics, everything is perfect.

Mushtaque: Any romantic involvement with anyone in college?

Sofia: No Sir.

Mushtaque: Any travel trips with groups of students?

Sofia: Yes Sir. A few. I found out all about the places they visited, the hotels they stayed in, food joints, everything. Nothing suspicious.

Mushtaque: Ok! Where is Abhay?

Sofia: He is on his way to Ranjanpur. He has the details you had asked for.

Mushtaque: Great.

Sofia: See you Sir.

Mushtaque: See you.

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Mushtaque was walking in the pathway right in front of the Choudhary mansion. Shama came to call him for tea. Mushtaque knew this was one opportunity to talk to Shama.

Mushtaque: It was a lovely Holi celebration.

Shama nodded and said, ‘Come for tea , Sir.’

Mushtaque then asked, ‘Why didn’t you and Reshma play holi?’

Shama evaded the question and said, ‘Sir, Tea and snacks are getting cold. Please come and have.’

Mushtaque asked, ‘I asked something Shama….

Shama hesitated and said, ‘We are women….’

Mushtaque: So?

Shama: There are rules…….

Mushtaque: What rules?

Shama: Women….cannot play Holi in front of so many men, with so many men.

Mushtaque: But Sonal and Deepika played…

Shama: Charade Sir……no women is allowed to play Holi. Just because guests are here, they are just showing off….

Mushtaque: Who ‘they’?

Shama: Please don’t ask more questions. Or else……

Before Shama could say something mores, Samarth came and called, ‘Mushtaque come for tea…..’

Shama swiftly walked away.

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Early next morning Abhay and Sofia arrived. They were staying in an office accommodation. Mushtaque went to meet them. Abhay gave all the details to Mushtaque. Mushtaque then told Abhay, ‘I will give you a list of names who were on ICU duty, the day that attacker died. I already interrogated them once. I want you to speak with them one more time and confirm the details I got.’ Abhay said, ‘Ok Sir!’

Mushtaque then told Sofia, ‘You have to be with the girls, Deepika and Sonal. Deepika has been behaving weird since she came to Ranjanpur. Her blood reports say that there are traces of drugs in her blood. We need to find out how is this happening, is someone providing her drugs or is it happening without her knowledge?’

Sofia said, ‘We will need to take samples of whatever Deepika consumes. However, that should be done without anyone’s knowledge. And that’s going to be a challenge.’ Mushtaque nodded, ‘Hmm.’ Abhay patted Sofia and said, ‘But I know you can do that.’ Mushtaque replied, ‘That we all know. That’s why she is here.’ Sofia laughed. Sofia then asked Mushtaque, ‘But Sir, how am I going to be there with Deepika and Sonal? I mean you will need to convince the Choudharys.’ Mushtaque replied, ‘ This is a police case. They have to agree here. You and Abhay come with me. Till we solve the case, Sofia will sleep over at Deepika’s room.’

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Mushtaque introduced Abhay and Sofia to Saahil, Sonal and the Choudharys. When Mushtaque said, that for security reasons, Sofia should be with Deepika all the time and sleep over at Deepika’s room, Devi Choudhary laughed and said, ‘Why does Sofia have to stay so uncomfortably. Sofia can stay in one of the newly constructed guestrooms.’ Sofia smiled and said, ‘I am on duty. Comfort does not matter here.’ Devi Choudhary said with a warm smile, ‘That’s great. I appreciate that.’

……………………………………………………………………………………….Sofia kept an eye on what Deepika ate. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, most of the meals were with family. So food was the same which everyone ate. Sometimes Deepika used to have tea alone in her room, but then when Sofia was there or Sonal was there, tea was served from the common tea pot and the snacks were common. Sofia tried to gather all the samples of food Deepika consumed, very tactfully.

Deepika’s counselling sessions were on but still there were bouts of depression attacks that Deepika got. Deepika seemed to improve after the sessions, but she would be in daze when she came for the sessions. No one in the Choudhary mansion knew that Deepika went for those sessions.

The food and drink samples that Sofia had collected were sent for tests. No trace of drugs there.

The sticky thing that Mushtaque had collected on a twig was sent for tests too. Yes, that element had some chemical which could make people feel dizzy. It was apparently from a tree sap.

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Sofia was confused. Where was Deepika getting drugs from? Sofia observed Deepika’s routine closely. At night, Deepika would have dinner and go to bed. However, there was something peculiar in Deepika’s room at night. In the middle of the night, there would be a strange fragrance and Sofia and Deepika, both would feel stuffy. Deepika would then go to the window to get some fresh air and then drink some water kept in a steel bottle kept in the corner table. Sofia would try breathing deep and then would drink water from her own water bottle. Sofia realized, the fragrance made her dizzy. But after drinking water, she would feel better. But Deepika would doze off after drinking water. And this water kept in a steel bottle at the corner table, had not been tested as yet.

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Sofia narrated all of it to Mushtaque. Mushtaque said, ‘Deepika must move to a different room. However, the moment we say that, the criminal will be alert. Well, anyway, the criminal is alert. With the case becoming a police case, the criminal is alert for sure. Hence, we need to nab the criminal fast.’ Mushtaque was very close to solving the case. He knew the fragrance of the sticky substance. He had found that fragrance somewhere. He remembered the accent he had heard in the hospital and now the water. Well, he can confront directly, but arresting with evidence will be victory.

Mushtaque also knew, very soon, someone will go missing.

Mushtaque was right. Next morning itself, someone went missing.

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House of Tales Episode 13

Written by Rhituparna Chakraborty

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