The Doll That Talks

#Episode 3

#RhituparnaChakraborty

#thedollthattalks

#thedollthattalksepisode3

Link to previous episodes: #thedollthattalksepisode1, #thedollthattalksepisode2

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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.

The news of Mehek Khan missing spread like wildfire. Daughter of super cop Mushtaque Khan missing! Parents of students of Mehek’s school raised a hue and cry about the situation. They are now scared of sending their children to school. How can the school be so lousy? Why were they not careful? Mushtaque had to arrange a press conference with the school team to make the parents understand that till thorough investigation is done, Parents should not take drastic steps. Mushtaque also said, ‘Till we know what went wrong, who are responsible, it will not be right to blame anyone. Overwhelmed by your support. Thank you so much! We will soon find Mehek.’

Parvati had put in her best people at work. Mehek would be found in soon. By soon she meant real soon. Mehek was Saanchi’s life. Mehek meant the world to Saanchi and Mushtaque. Saanchi had not touched a morsel of food. She had become a statue. All she did was stare at a blank spot.

Cops were sent to every nook and corner of the town to find Mehek. Airports, Railway stations, Bus Stations, Roadways, every spot was traced and cops were on strict vigil.

Saanchi kept on mumbling to herself, ‘I should have never trusted Neeti. She kidnapped my daughter.’ She stopped crying, she stopped eating. All she did was mumble to herself.

Mushtaque and Abhay went to meet Mehek’s friends and their families. First they went to meet Ishaani and her parents Ranjit Singhania and Raina Singhania. Ranjit Singhania was rich. The house was a mansion. It had a huge, well maintained garden right in front. There was a colossal porch with swanky cars. A house help greeted Mushtaque and Abhay and took them inside. The living room had luxurious décor with posh paintings and not to mention opulent furniture.

Within couple of minutes Ranjit Singhania came downstairs. He rushed to greet Mushtaque and Abhay. Ranjit Singhania shook hands with them and said, ‘Please have a seat. I…..I am extremely sorry to hear about Mehek. Please tell me how I can help you?’ Mushtaque said, ‘We need to talk to your daughter Ishaani. Maybe she can help us.’ Ranjit Singhania replied, ‘Sure!’ Saying that he summoned a house help to call Ishaani and Ishaani’s mom Raina. Ishaani came downstairs and seeing Mushtaque smiled warmly at him. Mushtaque made her sit comfortably on the couch beside him and then he asked gently, ‘Sweetheart, you and Mehek are very good friends, right?’ Ishaani said, ‘Yes uncle. I, Mehek, Ruhi and Rhea are best friends.’ Mushtaque then asked, ‘So, can you tell me if Mehek had met anyone else other than her class friends in school?’ Ishaani thought for a while and said, ‘No uncle, Mehek was always with us.’ Mushtaque then asked, ‘And did you see the doll that Mehek played with in school?’ Ishaani replied, ‘Yes uncle. It is such a pretty doll. But Mehek wouldn’t let us play with it. And did you know the secret of that doll?’ Mushtaque looked curiously at Ishaani and said, ‘What secret?’ Ishaani replied, ‘That doll could talk?’ Mushtaque thought for a while and said, ‘You mean to say it’s like those usual toy dolls with batteries that talk?’ Ishaani replied in a tone as if she was an erudite scholar, ‘Nooo uncle. It talked like humans. ’ Abhay was stunned. Mushtaque looked at Abhay. Abhay knew what had to be done. He immediately went out to make a call to Sofia. Just then Raina came downstairs. Clad in a red saree with a bright red bindi and red bangles, Raina came and greeted Mushtaque warmly and said, ‘Sorry, I was stuck in something.’ Raina then fixed her bangles and saree and sat in a couch right in front of Mushtaque and said, ‘I am extremely sorry to hear about Mehek. Please tell me how can I help you?’ Ishaani looked curiously at Raina and said, What happened to Mehek, Mummy?’ Raina tried to change the topic and said, ‘Mehek is fine, child. I was just asking about her well being.’ Raina looked at Mushtaque and asked, ‘Ummm…..do you still have questions for Ishaani or she can leave now?’ Mushtaque said, ‘Yes, she can leave now.’ Raina called Ishaani’s nanny and asked her to take Ishaani to the playroom. Mushtaque then asked Raina, ‘Do you let Ishaani take toys or any kind of doll with her to school?’ Raina said, ‘No, not at all. The school does not allow that.’ Mushtaque the asked, ‘How does Ishaani go to school?’ Raina replied, ‘One of our drivers drop her. Ishaani’s nanny accompanies her.’ Mushtaque replied, ‘And, do you go to drop her or pick her sometimes? Or maybe your husband?’ To that, Raina replied, ‘I barely go. But yes, Ranjit sometimes goes to drop her. But mostly, it is the nanny and the driver.’

Mushtaque then asked Raina, ‘So, what do you do? I mean I know being a home maker is itself a super busy profession. But, other than that, do you work somewhere?’ Raina replied, ‘No, not really. I am at home most of the time, except for meeting some friends occasionally.’

Abhay called Sofia :

Sofia: Yes Abhay

Abhay: The doll needs to examined thoroughly. Bring it to the forensics department right away. I will meet you there.

Sofia: Sure.

Abhay went back to Mushtaque and said, ‘Sir, things in progress.’

Mushtaque nodded and then told Raina, ‘Thanks for your cooperation. We may need to talk to you again.’

Saying that Mushtaque and Abhay left.

On their way to the forensics lab, Abhay asked Mushtaque, ‘The doll talks!’

Tense to the core, Mushtaque replied, ‘They used a doll to kidnap my doll. I won’t spare those m*fckrs’

Abhay could feel the anger in Mushtaque’s voice.

The traffic in the road built up. Abhay tried driving as fast as possible however, the traffic never seemed to end. Mushtaque did not want to think what Mehek must be going through. Mehek, the little girl, whom he had rescued, the little girl whom he had adopted and now this little means the world to him and Saanchi. Saanchi never spoke about having another child because she was worried if she gave birth to one, what if her love for Mehek lessened. She would never let that happen. And now, that little Mehek is missing. Mushtaque’s eyes were blood shot with tears and anger. Saanchi and he had trusted Neeti. Where had they gone wrong. Why did Neeti do this? Worse, Mushtaque cannot fall weak in front of Saanchi.

The forensic lab would take time to share the reports. Mushtaque had to get atleast one clue. Mushtaque sent members of his team to the railway station, bus station and even the airport. Check posts were made strict. Whatever, Mushtaque prayed, the kidnappers should not take Mehek out of this city. All the calls to Neeti’s mom and her aunt were being tapped. So far nothing suspicious.

Now, Mushtaque and Abhay had to meet Ruhi Trivedi, one of Mehek’s friends and her parents, Amit and Ananya. Amit and Ananya were professors in a college. When Mushtaque and Abhay went to meet them, Amit was away on some official tour. Mushtaque and Abhay were cordially greeted by Ananya. Mushtaque then requested Ananya to call Ruhi. Ruhi came. Mushtaque asked Ruhi, ‘Ruhi, did you see Mehek playing with a doll?’ Ruhi nodded, ‘Yes.’ Mushtaque then asked, ‘Can you tell me something about the doll?’ Ruhi replied, ‘It’s very cute uncle.’ Mushtaque then asked, ‘Do you play with it too?’ Ruhi replied, ‘No uncle. My mom tells me not to touch things which does not belong to me, without permission. And Mehek never lets anyone touch the doll.’ Mushtaque asked, ‘Did you notice anything else about the doll? Like, does it play or talk on its own.’ Ruhi giggled and said, ‘Tee hee uncle. No. The doll does not talk and play on its own. It is just a toy.’ Mushtaque then asked Ananya, ‘Who drops and picks Ruhi from school?’ Ananya replied, ‘She goes by the school bus. We have a nanny. She usually picks her up from the bus stop after school.’ Mushtaque said, ‘We will need to meet your husband too. When will he be back?’ Ananya replied, ‘In a day or two.’ Mushtaque said, ‘Once he is home, please give me a call.’ Ananya nodded and said, ‘Sure….’

As Abhay drove the car, he told Mushtaque, ‘Sir, Ishaani said that the doll talks, Ruhi said that the doll does not talk….’ Mushtaque rubbed his forehead with his index finger and thumb finger. He has a splitting headache. He nods and says, ‘The forensic team can tell us better. Call them and ask if the reports are ready. This Doll is crucial….’

Saanchi got up from her bed. She was feeling dizzy. The very thought of Mehek all alone with the kidnapper/kidnappers ripped her soul apart. Her head was in a mess. Pain and worries engulfed every part of her grey matter. Just then she recalled something. Damn! How could she forget that! Neeti, Neeti did tell something over the call…. yes she did……………

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To be continued………….