The scent that lingers - 18

Read Part 1 - here

Read Part 2 - here

Read Part 3 - here

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Read Part 5 - here

Read Part 6 - here

Read part 7 - here
Read Part 8 - here 
Read Part 9 - here
Read part 10- here
Read part 11- here 
Read part 12- here
Read part 13 -here
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Read part 15 -here
Read part 16 -here
Read part 17 -here

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Pavil couldn’t bring himself to believe how easy this entire episode had been. There had been no hyperactive discussions or overheated arguments that he’d prepared himself for; not that he was disappointed, just nonplussed at Veda’s acquiescence. He didn’t dispute the photographs, had no alibi, and didn’t squabble over DNA collection either.

Now, this raised one too many questions in his head.

Was he confident that there’d be no DNA match or did he just give up?

Perhaps he was aware of the affair between Nehar and Jumaid and had known the consequences or perhaps he just didn’t care.

Didn’t the gravity of this situation seep into him?

Perhaps they were close to solving the mystery and though Pavil felt a pang of pity for the rather graceful Veda he allowed himself a smile ton being closer to truth, however, such assurance as he felt burgeoning inside of him slowly lost all steam because Khar’s grim face was less than sanguine, which had appeared almost halfway optimistic en route Sinhal residence, but shortly after their conversation with Mr Veda Sinhal Khar appeared not quite as sure of this theory.

Pavil hoped it was due to the DNA report which the forensics had finally delivered.

The only evidence found at the crime scene were those of three cigarette butts apart from a broken phone and their DNA results were almost what they’d expected, though not entirely.

All the cigarette butts, three in total had only Majid and Tejan’s DNA present. The killer hadn’t left a cigarette butt, at least not on the crime scene, though the ash residue in the phone’s battery compartment had confirmed that the killer smoked similar cigarettes.

Khar’s gaze, as he flipped through the pages of the file, had appeared murderous. He'd hoped that the DNA evidence would help some with implicating Veda if he did kill Majid, but how would they ever make a confirmed arrest now.

Even if circumstantial evidence pointed towards Veda, there was no incriminating proof and without that, there could be no arrest. 

Was Veda Sinhal somehow aware that the police would be confounded? Was it mere chance that the DNA report conveniently exonerated him the very day that he was almost accused of the crimes?

He was, after all, a top-notch politician.

No! Khar wouldn’t let himself down the dark alleys of malignant suspicions cloud his reasoning, but then again, why did Veda not plead innocence nor give an alibi. He isn’t above the law, or is he?

 A small voice inside of him nagged to look in deeper. It’d begun screaming the moment Veda agreed to a DNA analysis and search warrant. He didn’t have an alibi or maybe he didn’t want to disclose it.

Pavil could have interrupted Khar’s reverie had it not been for the sinewy ridges of obvious muscles visible from under his sweater and so he did what he’d learnt in all these days of nearly living with Khar.

Pavil poured him some tea from his flask and sure enough, Khar’s sullen gaze morphed into a dispassionate one. He looked over at Pavil with kind eyes and almost smiled.

‘There was something Dr Chattur had told me’ Khar resumed his brooding stance 

‘He’d asked to bring in suspects’ clothes for questioning, at least the clothes he wore that Sunday’

‘What? oh. ah!’

Pavil was to accompany the forensics team that would collect Mr Veda’s DNA sample. It wasn’t as much as a team as a diminutive man who resembled a goat. 

He wore wiry spectacles high on his nose and walked hunched. A side effect, Pavil thought, of sitting in labs too long.

This was one of the many visits Pavil would be making to this beautiful large house. There’d soon be a search warrant and he knew exactly what he wished to retrieve from the shed and Veda’s wardrobe.

He didn’t understand the point to the collection of this sample since there was no other DNA present at the crime scene save that of the two children, but it could be useful for future references.

And what if there was no one other than the two children? One who died, and one who lives. 

But that’s ridiculous. Children are not that vicious, but then again, what did he know of children?

Nehar wasn’t home yet, it’d been a few hours since their last meeting with Veda who looked and sat composed while the DNA swabs were taken and carefully packed. 

Pavil wished for something fantastical like an on the spot confession from Veda, because as mysteries go, this was turning out to be rather anticlimactic, but what was he expecting?

Exploding helicopters wasn’t much befitting this scenario, even so, he hoped for some jitteriness, some resentful noises, a plead for innocence or even threat, but the goat-like bespectacled man was done with his work in less than ten minutes, after which Mr Veda retired to his workstation, and though his face never betrayed tribulation, his back as he walked was that of a defeated man. 

He looked broken, his polished nuances steadily depleting with every step and Pavil realized someone staring at him.

He turned back with a start because that hot gaze was burning holes through his skull and saw Nehar, looking impossibly beautiful.

Her long flouncy hair, shining a coffee hue of gleaming richness as the sunlight caught her in places that could shatter a heart. 

She was a portrait of perfection.

Her smile, however, was amiss, and she was silently taking note of her husband's disheartened visage before he disappeared into his carpentry workplace.

‘What happened?’ Her lilting voice was raspy.

‘Uh..Mrs Sinhal. I’m afraid there’s some terrible news’ Pavil looked for words that might hurt less.

She had shifted glances and now looked at the hunched technician from the forensics.

‘What’s going on?’ Her voice was alarmed.

‘We suspect, well, it's purely circumstantial..err’ Pavil stuttered

Nehar’s eyes had widened and a visible moisture had begun threading them a heartless red.

‘It’s just routine. There’s been no arrest. We’ll get a search warrant, err, he has no alibi for that day, and uh, some other evidence corresponds to his presence at the crime scene on Sunday November 13th’

‘No no no no. This is all wrong. You’re out of your mind. He wasn’t even here. He was traveling’ she cried.

Pavil found himself growing a foot smaller each second and hoped he could turn into a fly and buzz away. 

He looked at the forensics technician who had by now walked towards their car and sat quietly.

‘It’s just procedure, Nehar’ 

At this, she broke down and her beautiful dew kissed face contorted into a painful picture of lamentations. She drew back her lips and shut her eyes, and rained tears.

When was the last time Pavil felt so heartbroken?

He wanted to flow towards her, collect her in his arms, stroke her luxurious hair and tell her it would be fine, though it wouldn’t be. 

If there was evidence then nothing would ever be fine for them.

Pavil watched Nehar walk towards her husband's hobby shed and a few heartbeats later he left.