The Doll That Talks

#Episode 9

#RhituparnaChakraborty

#thedollthattalks

#thedollthattalksepisode9

Link to previous episodes: #thedollthattalksepisode1, #thedollthattalksepisode2, #thedollthattalksepisode3, #thedollthattalksepisode4, #thedollthattalksepisode5, #thedollthattalksepisode6, #thedollthattalksepisode7, #thedollthattalksepisode8

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#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.

‘Bakua’ is a tiny village. Finding Shaanti Kumari will not be difficult provided she was in the village. Mushtaque’s team checked every bus station, railway station, every taxi rank in and around Bakua to check if ‘Shaanti Kumari aka Savita’ had used any of these means of communication. It was difficult because not every bus or cab would ask for any identity document. There were fair chances that she would either hide in Bakua or any neighbouring village.

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Officer Kadambini and Shekhar were sent to the Singhania house. Ranjit Singhania had still not come back from his official trip. Kadambini and Shekhar observed Ishaani. She looked pale and her wounds had healed. However, out of the blue, there would be sudden cuts in her hand which would again heal on its own. Kadambini and Shekhar were dumbfounded when they saw that. Raina Singhania was waiting for her husband anxiously. He was on his way but somehow it was taking a lot of time. Shekhar called Mushtaque.

Mushtaque: Yes Shekhar.

Shekhar: Sir, this is the weirdest scenario I have ever come across. Ishaani has some strange wounds appearing on her body and then they heal but the scars are weird.

Mushtaque: Can you send me some pictures of those wounds?

Shekhar: Yes Sir.

Mushtaque then hung up and called Saanchi and asked her to send the pictures of Mehek’s wounds.

After couple of minutes, Mushtaque got the pictures. Ishaani’s and Mehek’s wounds looked similar. Mushtaque then called Dr. Sen.

Mushtaque: Hello Dr. Sen, this is Mushtaque Khan

Dr. Sen: Yes….I was about to call you. I have recorded all that I observed in the doll.

Mushtaque: What is it?

Dr. Sen(concerned): Well, Abhay and Sofia must have told you about the rest of the stuff, but today something mysterious happened. The doll got some wounds and those healed but the scars stayed.

Mushtaque(Astounded): Can you send me the pictures of those wounds please.

Dr. Sen: Right away. I have recorded all the sets of events. Will send them all.

Mushtaque: Thank you doctor….

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Mushtaque called up Saanchi again.

Saanchi: Hi… Mehek and Neeti, both are fine.

Mushtaque(relieved): Great. I want to talk to Neeti.

Saanchi: Right away.

Saying that Saanchi handed over the phone to Neeti.

Mushtaque: Neeti, I know this is not the right time to ask you questions. But, I need your help to nab the criminal. Tell me all that happened….

Neeti: Sir, Shaanti is Ishaani’s nanny and I meet her often. She would talk to Mehek a lot and she is the one who had gifted a doll to Mehek. She would call very often on my phone to talk to Mehek. But her main concern was, whether Mehek played with the doll or not. And then out of the blue we were kidnapped. I picked up Mehek from the school bus and then one of those two huge guys came to me asking for an address. He then showed me his gun tucked in his waist and asked me and Mehek to do as we were told.

Mushtaque: Did you hear these guys and Shaanti talking to anyone else other than you, Ishaani and Mehek?

Neeti thought for a while and said, ‘Well…..those guys always talked to some ‘Boss’. And Shaanti, whenever she was with us, she would barely talk to anyone else. But once or twice, I heard her talking to someone over phone. But it was a very casual talk and it was only about some toys and dolls. That’s all.

Mushtaque: Okay! Thanks ! Can I talk to Mehek?

Neeti handed over the phone to Mehek.

Mehek: Hello Daddy….

Mushtaque: Sweetheart, do you remember the doll you used to play with, in school?

Mehek: Yes daddy. Where is it now? It used to talk to me.

Mushtaque: Are you sure sweety?

Mehek: Yes daddy. It also told me once that I should come to school at night so that I can play with it whole night. I said I cannot come at night. It used to giggle if I said that and whenever I said ‘no’ to something, it would scratch me. But it was a cute doll. Where is it daddy?

Mushtaque: I will try and find that. Now you need to get some rest. Okay! Bye.

Mehek: Yes daddy. Bye bye.

Saying that Mushtaque hung up the call.

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Mushtaque then called Abhay

Abhay: Was about to call you Sir…

Mushtaque: You got the phone details?

Abhay: Yes Sir and Shaanti Kumari aka Savita was in touch with one specific number through out and that number was the last dialed number of the phone that you had given.

Mushtaque: Did you find out who it belongs to?

Abhay: It’s in the name of some organization and this organization is new and their work area is different.

Mushtaque: Send me the details. I will find out.

Abhay: Sure Sir.

Mushtaque: Also, get the files of Singhanias, Trivedis and Rathods. I need to look at those and after that we will have to go to the crime site where Neeti and Mehek were kept. Have our officers reached already and have they sealed the site?

Abhay: Yes Sir.

Mushtaque: Good. Now if the master mind has left any clue, we will get that.

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After some time Mushtaque’s phone rang again. It was from one of his officers who was sent to Bakua to find Shaanti aka Savita:

Mushtaque: Yes John

John: Sir, we found Shaanti. She was not in Bakua though. We found her in Sundarpur, a neighboring village of Bakua. We are bringing her with us.

Mushtaque: Did she say anything?

John: She has been crying since we caught her. She said she never meant any harm. All she did was give a doll to Mehek. She did not know anything else.

Mushtaque: And did she tell, who asked her to give that doll.

John: Not yet Sir. But Alka is interrogating her. Will text you everything once we get all the information.

Mushtaque: Okay.

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Abhay reached with the files. Mushtaque took the files and started reading them closely. Mushtaque said, ‘Singhanias are into business, Trivedis are into academics and Rathods are into software. Ishaani said the doll talks and Mehek actually talked to the doll. However, Ruhi and Rhea said that the doll does not talk. Ishaani was the one who had touched the doll once. Singhanias have a lot of dolls and embroidery work at their house. Trivedis have a simple 2 bhk house with usual stuff, books and laptops and Rathods have a 3 bhk house with usual stuff and work laptops. The doll had threads and ash. If the Singhanias were connected, why would their daughter suffer? And why would they use their own employee Shaanti for this? That would make it all the more obvious that they are behind this. But why is Ranjit Singhania taking so much time to reach home? The Trivedis are academic folks and the Rathods are into technology. Academy and Technology do not go well with what the doll is about. There is more to this doll. Abhay asked, ‘Did you get any information about the organization, I talked about?’ Mushtaque replied, ‘No not yet. They are not answering my calls. I have mailed them from a dummy email id enquiring about opportunities there as a prospective employee. Let’s see what requirements they seek. If they don’t reply, we will have to visit that place. As of now, let’s go to the site where Neeti and Mehek were held captive.’

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The mastermind reached the site where Neeti and Mehek were imprisoned. Seeing police everywhere, it was apparent that the plan crashed. Now Ishaani can be a threat and so can Shaanti. However, what about the mission! That cannot go futile. The mastermind quietly returned home and did what had to be done.

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Mushtaque’s phone rang. It was from Dr. Sen.

Mushtaque: Yes Dr. Sen

Dr. Sen(trembling): The doll…..the doll is missing.

Mushtaque(surprised): What are you saying!

Dr. Sen: I told you….it’s a strange doll.

Before Mushtaque could say anything, there was a call from John. Mushtaque put Dr. Sen on hold and received the call.

John(distressed): We have no clue what happened Sir. Shaanti Devi suddenly fainted and….and she is not breathing. There is blood oozing out from her neck. She is no more……

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To be continued…………..