Benyamin - Yellow Lights of Death

‘What is your investigation about?’ Anita asked while we were waiting for Melvin.

‘It’s about accidental deaths in Diego. About how many people die in boat accidents, fire accidents, falling from heights, electrical accidents. the total toll, how they die — such details.’

‘Shouldn’t you get that from the Public Security office? What will you get from these nurses?’

‘If I wanted only statistics, the Public Security would have been a better option. But what I really want is the experience of the people who directly interact with the accident victims. Doctors, nurses, those in ambulance-boats, yes, even the public security officers. ’

‘Are you mad? Instead of getting married and having a peaceful life with your wife and kids. ’

‘That’s true. But what to do? The one whom I wanted to marry is now the wife of someone else. So, I’m not considering marriage now.’

‘Eh, who is that, the unlucky girl who didn’t get you?’

‘Whoever it was, is gone. What’s the point of going over it now?’

‘You should try again. If she knows about you, she might leave her husband and come to you.’

‘If someone calls you like that, will you go?’ I was expecting an answer from Anita but Melvin’s entry into the room cut short the conversation.

It was well near noon, but Melvin looked like she had just got up. She confirmed it, saying, ‘I’d dozed off.’ The queue of residents that followed her down the stairs showed that it wasn’t just her, the rest of them, too, had got up just then.

‘Are we a little early?’ I asked.

‘This is our routine. If you hadn’t come, we may have slept till noon. Sometimes we wake up only around evening. I’ll make some coffee for us.’

‘Ayyo, no way. I already had a big feast,’ I stopped her.

‘He’s kidding, Melvin. It’s his first visit, but I couldn’t make him anything. I was on duty yesterday,’ Anita whined.

Meanwhile, another resident joined us.

‘This is Mercy. She’s from Kollam. Been here for years. Will be of use to Anita-chechi’s friend,’ Melvin introduced her to us. She gave us a sleepy smile and sat near Melvin.

‘We need coffee for sure.’ Melvin left us with Mercy and went inside.

‘What’s the investigation about?’ Mercy asked.

I repeated my explanation to her, line by line.

Mercy recalled a boat accident that had killed more than sixty-four people and a fire at a four-storey building that had taken the lives of thirty-three Tamil workers. She condemned the incompetence of the Accident and Emergency department that could not handle even small situations like these.

By then, Melvin came back with the coffee. I casually asked her about random things. As someone new on the staff, she wasn’t aware of many things. I asked her to share a moving experience related to accident deaths. She narrated how once, in her hometown, she had to nurse a friend who had jumped in front of a train, and how another girl — a bus accident victim — had jumped up from the hospital bed saying she was fine and then fell dead.

While we were talking, two more women came down the stairs. Jaya and Sudha. Mercy introduced them. They pitched in with their anecdotes when they figured out we were talking about accidents. I didn’t have to repeat my lies. While talking about deaths caused by accidents, Jaya raised an important point. In Diego, a land of water, incidents related to water were very few. So were boat accidents. Most of the deaths were due to electrocutions or fire accidents.

‘It’s surprising,’ Anita said. ‘In this land of water, more deaths are caused by fire, which can be doused with water. Eda, this is another topic you can explore. By the way, what’s the scene with murders?’

I was relieved that the conversation had taken this turn without my intervention.

‘No clue. Very few cases come to our hospital.’

‘You probably pay special attention to such a case even on a hectic day?’ I said.

‘No other choice. There have been cases of a wife set on fire with diesel, or some stabbing cases,’ Jaya said.

‘Does anyone remember if a man was brought there last month or so after being gunned down?’

Everyone fell silent. The conversation came to a halt. I noticed their faces turning pale. Anita, too, looked at me as if at a stranger.

‘We don’t know. We haven’t heard of any such incident,’ Jaya said hastily.

‘None of you?’ I asked, with the sharpness of an investigative officer, scanning their faces one after another.

‘No.’ Jaya was adamant.

‘Let’s leave,’ Anita said, not willing to prolong the conversation.

‘Sure. Thank you, everyone, for all the stories. When I publish my report, I’ll acknowledge all of you, okay?’

‘Oh, that is fine,’ Melvin said.

We said bye and left.

Anita accompanied me to the jetty. We were silent as if there was nothing in particular to talk about.

‘Thanks for making it possible for me to talk to them,’ I said, getting into the boat.

Her reply was a question. ‘Were you lying to me about being jobless?

‘Job? Me?’ My eyes popped out.

‘Tell me the truth. Aren’t you an investigative officer at the Public Security department?

‘I’m not cunning enough for that, Anita.’ I chuckled. ‘Do you know who was the one who died that day? Our Senthil. The Senthil in our class.’

I revved up the boat as she stood startled.

I CONVENED THE Thursday Market on Tuesday. Since it was an unusual occurrence, the others could only assume it was about some urgent matter. I’d not told anyone about getting the second segment of Andrapper’s novel. Not even Biju. On hearing about it, everyone got excited. Mashu would believe in its existence only after seeing the copy. And Salim, only after reading it.

‘Let’s do an opinion poll,’ I said after everyone had read it. ‘Should we bother looking for the rest of the manuscript? That’s the first question.’

‘No, we shouldn’t.’ As usual, Nibu started off. We should, unless it affects my writing in any way, said Mashu. Since it is from an unknown geography, we should at least try to know about it, said Anil. Let others decide, but if there has to be a deciding vote, he’d vote to continue the search, said Nattapranthan. Biju said he would decide after getting to know how this would be of use to Benya.

‘If it’s a story that he has only heard of, a writer can use his imagination and make it a novel. But this one has already been written. One can’t add much to it. At best, Benya can play the role of an editor. That’s why we shouldn’t put in too much effort,’ said Salim.

‘Nibu, why do you say no?’ I asked.

‘Look, if he wanted to, he could have pursued the culprit in a more focused manner. But he is fooling around, unsure whether he wants to be a writer or if he wants to follow up on Senthil’s death. What’ll we gain by tracking the meaningless life of such a person?’

‘He was trying to find out something, and life has taken him on such an unanticipated detour. That’s what is drawing me to his story,’ I said. ‘We should not bother about whether Senthil’s murderer is found or not, and whether the writer’s method is appropriate. What’s the route he has taken? Where did he reach? Shouldn’t we only be concerned about that? And don’t fret about my writing. My Nedumbassery is coming along well.’

‘So the majority is for going ahead with this,’ said Anil. ‘Now how do we get hold of the next bit?’

‘Before we get going, we should sort out the facts we’ve got. That’ll make it easy,’ said Mashu.

‘The maths teacher’s shortcut,’ quipped Nattapranthan.