Benyamin - Yellow Lights of Death

Changing times and changed circumstances result in new relationships. New friendships are made, and old ones alienated. They wither away. That was how I explained away Bilal’s response. I was content with my explanation. Until some days later, when I got a mail from Paris.

Gift

THE NEXT DAY, I woke up with the plan to meet Anita and Melvin. I called Anita in the morning to fix up a time, but she didn’t pick up her phone. I decided to try her number after a while, and entered the bathroom for a shower when Momma yelled from outside that I had a visitor.

Who could have come to visit me so early in the morning? Momma said it was a visitor, but nothing about whether it was a man or a woman. Who could it be? I was sure it was someone Momma hadn’t seen before. A row of faces flashed past me of all the people who could visit me and whom I wanted to meet someday. Among them were Anita, Anpu, Leena and Jyoti. And Vijay Mullikratnam, Vinod and Jesintha. Also Alexy, Bilal and Rahim. Senthil’s Appa and Amma, and even Senthil’s murderer, who could have come to confess to me. When I finally went downstairs, it was none of them — it was Johnny. I hadn’t expected to see him, so I was surprised. Johnny gave me a hug. ‘I’d been planning for days to come and meet you. Sorry that it took so much time.’ He then stepped out to go back to the boat, and returned carrying a wrapped gift. ‘Something small from me. I know it’s nothing for you. But just for my pleasure.’

I didn’t understand what was going on.

‘I knew it,’ he continued, ‘if I tell you something, it will be done. Do you know how many people in the department I’d approached to get it done? How many people I’d paid? Nobody did a thing. It was my luck to see you there. I knew the influence the Andrappers still have in the government. A hundred thanks to your kind heart. I got my promotion papers last week.’

Now I understood what it was about. But Johnny had mistakenly assumed that his promotion was the result of my recommendation. I let it be. I needed to get certain things done by him. It was a mystery as to how he got a promotion when he wasn’t in line for it. Who was the unknown god who, in my name, had helped him?

‘Johnny, can you help me with something?’

‘What kind of a question is that? Who else am I going to help? What do you want, tell me.’

‘The incident I told you that day, the murder? We need to look again to see if we can get any details of it in the medical records.’

‘You haven’t let go of that?’

‘Things are getting more complicated. I can’t let it be, Johnny. You know, the Public Security is saying that his death was due to a cardiac arrest?’

‘Oh, I see. By the way, I had inquired in the department on why it was missing in the medical records. They explained that it was a clerical error.’

‘What have they recorded as the cause of death?’

‘I didn’t notice that. I’ll have to check.’

‘Then we should check it today.’

‘Why? If the Public Security says the cause of death is cardiac arrest, the medical records will show the same. No doubt about that.’

‘I know. But still, we should check. I need some more information.’

After finishing the coffee that Momma had brought, I accompanied Johnny to the hospital. It was clear to me that he wasn’t keen on it. He kept making excuses to avoid me but I was shamelessly stubborn. I made him check each and every record in the office computer of Accident and Emergency. There were no records of Senthil anywhere. Johnny was surprised by their absence. Suddenly, another idea struck me. I asked him to check Senthil’s name not just in City Hospital records, but also in all other hospital lists of Diego. That worked. After a lengthy search, Senthil’s file appeared on the screen. As we had anticipated, his death was recorded as a cardiac arrest. According to the file, Senthil was not admitted at City Hospital, but at Pentasia North Health Centre. Even the mortuary in which his body had been kept was mentioned as being of that centre. That meant Senthil’s body was never brought to City Hospital. I was shocked. But these were not the important details I wanted. I was looking for the names and details of the doctors and nurses who were on duty that day at City Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department. I got them. That was all I wanted.

On my way out, Johnny accompanied me till the verandah. ‘What’s your plan now?’

‘I need to find these people. To know where Senthil was actually admitted.’

He was quiet for a minute. Then he said, ‘I don’t know if I can advise an Andrapper. But that’s not the matter. As far as I’ve understood, some big shots are involved in this case. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have turned out like this. My advice is that you let it go.’

‘That means at least you admit that Senthil’s death was a murder, right?’

‘My question is how does it benefit you and me to get involved in this?’

‘Benefit? There’s no benefit. I just want to know the truth.’

‘What’ll you do with the truth? Cook and eat it?’

‘At least to convince myself that what I’d witnessed was the truth. ’

‘I don’t want to argue with you. If this is of any use at all to either of us, I’ll help you! But if it isn’t, please let me go. Even if I got a promotion because of you, please don’t bother me again.’

‘No, I won’t bother you.’

Once I was outside the hospital, I took out my notes. The details of the staff of Pentasia North Health Centre were of no use now. Those whom I needed to meet were the staff of Accident and Emergency. There were more than twenty nurses. Anita or Melvin would know at least one of them. I called Anita.

Feast

AS WE HAD previously arranged, I reached Anita’s place the next morning. On hearing the boat, Anita ran up to the jetty. Her house was really close to the bay. She took me inside, holding my hands. I’d never got such a warm and joyous reception from anyone before. I’d heard stories from my grandmother about that kind of welcome at our relatives’ houses in Alappuzha. These days, greetings are hollow smiles with eyes still glued to the television.

I met the children whom she had showed me in the photograph, and her maid. Wilson had left for work. Since I had expected to find the children at home, I’d stopped at a toy store to buy a spiderman and barbie, and some chocolates. The children were delighted. Though Anita scolded me about the gifts, her face said they made her happy too. I was rarely good at such small courtesies, so I felt proud at having got it right this time.

Anita had prepared a big feast to welcome me: boiled appam , fried banana, half-boiled egg, puffed rice, kuzhalappam , jackfruit chips, biscuits and coffee. There was food enough to feed some ten men. Yet she said, ‘When you called me yesterday, I was at work and so I couldn’t make anything after coming home.’

I ate as much as I could. I even asked for a second cup of coffee. I chatted with the children as I ate. They behaved as if they had known me for a long time. They climbed all over me and their mischief continued despite Anita’s chiding. They took my mobile. My boat’s key. Took off my sunglasses. And my wallet. They were surprised to see their photo in it. Anita, too.

‘You still have it?’ Anita asked. ‘I just gave the photo to you in the joy of seeing you. ’

‘This is the best gift I’ve ever got on this island. You think I’ll throw it away?’

Though she didn’t say anything in response, I saw another glint of delight in her eyes.

After the feast, we left the children with the maid, and went to Melvin’s house. It was more of a palace than a house. I was wondering who had built such a big house in that area. Over twenty hospital staffers lived there on rent. But to whom could the owner have rented it if he hadn’t got such a group of tenants?