The scent that lingers - 6

Read part 1 - here

Read part 2 - here 

Read part 3 - here 

Read part 4 - here 

Read part 5 - here  
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Their arrival at Sinhal family house wasn’t unexpected, considering they’d been apprised of it much in advance by the security and Khar and Pavil were greeted with an astute preparedness.

Pavil was momentarily taken aback at the imposing grandiose of the interiors when they were ushered into a rather office like seating area, where outsiders who probably weren’t meant to be a part of the house were entertained. 

The woman who received them, lovely in features, impeccably dressed in smart casuals, decked up just enough to justify makeup this late in the evening was most gracious and forthcoming in the way she greeted them. 

A warm smile that wouldn’t budge lit up her face and she looked nothing short of cordially eager to help out with whatever these fine gentleman wanted help with she had said or something like that.

Pavil had strayed from his line of thought and hid his bewildered glazed eyes behind a stoic mask of professional nonchalance, when in fact he found himself unable to take his eye off this lovely creature who seemed to tread daintily on what should have been the floor, but Pavil knew was air. 

Unearthly in her delightfully breeze manner and the way she seemed to put her surroundings at ease, glowing in resplendent elegance that could only be born into, Nehar was indeed a thing of beauty and Pavil seemed to be floating in a subtle scent of some long forgotten memories, his face slowly turning a deeper shade of crimson. His mind in deep benevolence to the universe for creating a creature so ethereal in existence, his heart almost tearing up.

Glancing at Khar to see how he was affected, Pavil was disappointed to note that not only was Khar pigheadedly unmoved but his bearings seemed to put Nehar Sinhal ill at ease.

‘We have only a few routine questions’ Pavil interjected to break her discomfort. It ailed him to see her bothered. 

‘We’d like a statement’ Khar’s indomitable voice silently boomed with a cruel apathy. ‘Please come to the police station tomorrow morning at eight, so we can get this over with’ Khar looked at Pavil and turned towards the door, with Pavil in tow.

‘Why didn’t we talk to her..er..?’ Pavil sounded petulant even to himself and checked his tone immediately ‘sir’ he said.

‘Not while you grinned and gaped like a two-year-old’. There wasn’t any anger in Khar’s voice, Pavil wasn’t sure if Khar ever got angry or screamed even, but he knew how to change the inflection of steeliness in his tone to make it sound mellow or chilled as it did just now.

I wasn’t grinning

‘Yes, you were’ Khar started the engine.

Pavil blew on his styrofoam cup of hot tea on Tuesday morning. Its steam burgeoned into a small cloud on his face, fogging his eyes. The weather had cooled down considerably, he could feel the slight chill penetrate his feet through the stone floors of his office and he wondered where he’d stashed away his woollen socks.

Glancing at his watch he knew it was almost time for Nehar to come in for her statement, but would she come on time; he was still wondering when his office door opened and before he could even feign surprise he felt disappointed on seeing Khar walk in.

Khar’s clothes weren’t much discernible from what he wore yesterday, except that they looked fresh and warm. He noticed the breadth of his biceps for the first time as they formed an almost obscure bulge on his warm sports jacket.

‘I used to do a bit of boxing at some point in my life’ Khar spoke tipping the contents of his flask into a styrofoam cup.

Pavil wondered if his face worked in cahoots with his brain, displaying his every thought when the office door opened again and in walked Nehar.

She came in with a delicate scent faintly touching her like a halo. The scent of some long forgotten memories to Pavil. Nehar looked fresh and superb. Dressed in an immaculately styled pant-suit that though fitting ever so delightfully on those sublime curves was every bit classic as her scent and herself.

Minimally made up, Pavil’s eyes discreetly observed her and a sudden soft tinkle nearly threw him off balance, which came from a bracelet on her right hand. 

She beamed with a glowing smile and greeted them with a voice that no one else except Nehar had any right to possess.

 Pavil pulled out a chair for her and sat facing her, while Khar leaned against a wall that faced her back.

Pavil could see them both, and hoped his face wouldn’t betray any childish emotion this time as he spoke ‘Could you please tell us the series of events from your end on Sunday, November 13th’ 

‘Well’ Nehar brought out the same dewy smile.

‘I drove Tejan to school, picking up his friend Majid on the way’ and she accentuated her tone and smile with a considerate seriousness ‘and dropped them both to school at nine sharp; after which I went back home and left for a parents association meeting at eleven. The meeting ended at one in the afternoon and I went to buy groceries, directly after which I reached YC International school around fifteen past four to pick up the kids’ she paused and looked at Pavil.

Pavil gulped invisibly ‘what happened then?’ he quietly asked.

Nehar continued gravely ‘I went to Tejan’s classroom and found him alone. Upon asking him about Majid he told me that he’d sent a message saying his parents were coming to pick him up. I thought no more of that’ she widened her eyes ‘and took him back home’ she blinked and went quiet.

‘So you were expecting to find Majid with your son in the classroom?’ Khar asked while still leaning on the wall, and Nehar had to look back at him to answer. 

‘Yes, of course’, she continued in her lilting tone, though a little measured now. ‘Majid was coming to stay over for the night’ Nehar turned to face Pavil.

‘Did he often come to stay over at your house’ Pavil continued on that line of query.

‘Yes. Often. Majid and Tejan were best friends, almost inseparable. There were days when Tejan would go for sleepovers to his house too, but I encouraged them to stay in our house more often. It just felt a little more secure’ she said thoughtfully.

Pavil saw Khar staring at him in the brief space of silence and somehow this time he understood. 

‘Did majid and Tejan have any problems with senior kids?’ Pavil brought about an almost official tone, that perturbed Nehar not in the least.

She sagely looked straight at him, and Pavil feared she might read his thoughts too ‘Well, you see’ and she lowered her face ‘Majid was what one would call a problem child. Getting into a fracas with teachers and daily squabbles with his classmates. He got into similar fights with the senior kids as well. I think they’re fifteen-year-olds and bullies too.’ she looked back at Khar who didn’t seem to be paying any attention

‘I know their parents through Parents Association and they’re lovely gentle hearted folk. It’s just this age, and kids often lash out at other kids, but there haven’t been any grievous incidents. At least not that I know of, and they often get bickering with Tejan but that’s the extent of it.’ she said.

‘That or Tejan probably doesn’t tell you’ Khar’s ice cold voice silently crept out from behind her.

Her plastered smile was slowly fading and Pavil hated that he noticed her discomfort.

‘Perhaps’ she said. ‘but I didn’t have any cause for concern so I didn’t much bother, though I often told his parents about the bullying situation and they did speak to their children’ she brought back the melodic jingle to her voice.

No cause for concern

Pavil noted this sentence down and remembered Khar’s words from last night. 

Khar walked to where Pavil was sitting ‘was there anyone else at school?’ he spoke without looking at her and for a brief moment, Nehar’s eyes flashed with annoyance. 

‘Surprisingly the school was empty. It seems everyone had left including the faculty. Mr Savik, I think was still in his office, but I cannot say that for sure and of course the watchman who let me in.’ Nehar regained her lucent smile.

‘Did you not think this odd?’ Pavil questioned.

Nehar thought for a moment before answering ‘Not as such. I gathered the activities were over an hour previous, and the kids often played football after school and Tejan’s trousers were a bit dusty..so..I guessed this is why they asked me to pick them up much later’ her face was triumphant. 

Everything in order 

‘Did Tejan make any calls on Majid’s phone after coming back home, Mrs Sinhal?’ Khar asked looking at her.

‘Please, Nehar’ she smiled effervescently and Pavil felt a prick in his chest. 

‘He must have, though I’m not sure. Majid was his best friend and Tejan was rather upset about not having him for a sleepover that night.’ she spoke thoughtfully.

‘Well,’ Khar said straightening. ‘this is it for now. If we have any more questions or if you remember something please let us know’.

She stood up to leave and won Pavil with her borderline decent but sultry smile and turned towards the door when she suddenly looked back at Khar and said ‘the funny thing is, I don’t remember Majid ever having a phone. Maybe he was gifted a new one recently’ she shrugged, smiled and left.

Pavil looked at Khar ‘Well, what about that?’