20. Parents go to the Commissioner

CHAPTER 20

Parents go to the Commissioner

Chandru and Madhavi were sitting in front of the commissioner with tears in their eyes.

Madhavi said, “Sir, it is my daughter’s engagement function today.”

Commissioner nodded. “Yes, I know. Jaidev told me about it. But why are you crying? Is anything wrong?”

Chandru said, “What should not have happened has happened sir.”

“Tell me what had happened.”

Chandru clutched his head in his hands. “Sir, I don’t know how to tell you. My daughter has run away.”

“Eh? What are you saying?”

“Yes sir, it is a fact.”

Madhavi started telling all that had happened.

After listening to her story, Commissioner said, “See, most probably, they must have left after 2pm. They must be either in bus stop, railway station or at the airport. Don’t worry, we will catch them. Do you have your daughter’s photo?”

Madhavi said, “I will bring it to you sir.”

“Do you doubt any particular person?”

“In the beginning, she agreed to the marriage. But later she started to say that she does not want to get married so soon. Also she used to come home early in the evening. But later, she started coming home late at night. Today, she told us that she has computer exam. We believed her.”

“Ok. But do you suspect anyone?”

“Sir, one day, I saw a burka in her vanity bag. I asked her about it. She said that it belongs to her friend. But as far as I know, she does not have any Muslim girl friends.”

“Looks like her lover is very intelligent.” Said the Commissioner. He closed his eyes and thought for a while and then called an inspector. “Mr. Raju, give information to all police stations from the control room. Tell them to look for a burka lady with a man and two suitcases.”

Raju nodded. “Yes sir. I will send the information immediately.”

Commissioner looked at Shermi’s parents. “Madhavi, tell me, at what time did she leave the house?”

“At 11am sir. We dropped her at her computer institute.”

“Do you have the phone number of the institute?”

“Sir, we went to the institute on our way here. They told us that there was no exam today. And that she left the class at 2: 30pm.”

Commissioner looked at his watch. It was 4:30pm. “It is 2 hours since she left. She can’t have crossed 50 kms. We will inform all the check posts. Don’t worry; we will catch both of them.”

Commissioner picked up his phone and tried to call Jaidev. “Jaidev has switched off his cell.”

Chandru said, “Sir, he told he has tender today.”

“Ah! He told me too. They switch off the cell at that time.”