Benyamin - Yellow Lights of Death

‘Who was it?’

‘A friend.’

‘Did he also dream that Anita-chechi’s friend would come there?’

We laughed.

‘Not just today, that would be a dream that comes to her every night. It was Anpu, sister of Senthil,’ I said when the laughter ended.

‘Oh, I see. What’s the matter?’

‘Senthil’s office had sent some papers to be signed. She wants my advice on that.’

‘What are you planning to do about it?’

‘Nothing. I had gone to see Dr Iqbal. He said he had not attended such a case. Without a witness, I can’t do anything.’

‘If I’m sufficient as a witness, I’ll come.’

‘But you are not a witness. The Public Security won’t accept your account. Will Sudha-chechi come?’

‘I don’t think so. She is scared. The hospital records are supposed to be confidential. It was because I compelled her that she talked to you. Tell me, was there anyone else at the scene?’

‘When the incident happened, I was with my friend Jesintha. But she is a pragmatic person, she will not put herself at risk. She won’t come forward. I don’t know any of the others who were there.’

‘Try to remember. Some face might surface. In cases like this, it is usually the public who bravely come forward.’

I stood up to leave. Melvin accompanied me to the gate.

‘I have noon shift, otherwise I’d have come with you to Pentasia.’

‘Why? Did the dream last night have such a climax?’ I quipped.

‘Oh, you are still at it! Well, it had a better ending.’

‘Really, what was that?’

‘I’ll tell you later.’ A blush spread on her face.

We parted smiling. But Melvin could never share the dream’s ending.

Coffee Shop

TILL MELVIN SUGGESTED it, the possibility never occurred to me. I had been tracking Senthil’s death through government records. I didn’t give a thought about the living records — the eyewitnesses. There were some ten or twenty people present when the incident took place. About a hundred people must have seen Senthil lying dead. Won’t at least one of them be brave enough to admit he had seen it? Won’t at least one of them be uneasy, like me? Actually, I should have started my inquiry with the witnesses. This is the difference between an investigative officer and an imaginative writer. Even a common man would have approached the case with more discipline and order, and may even have cracked it by now. I had just wasted time going round and round, to no avail.

The fact was that I didn’t remember the face of anyone who was present at the time of the incident. Who else was there other than Jesintha and I? Searching for a third face, I spent three days picking my brain. Suddenly, I remembered one person: the coffee shop owner. Damn, how did I miss such an obvious thing! He had feigned ignorance when I’d asked him earlier. But this time, I decided not to let him slip away. I rushed to the place immediately. I hurried thinking I must reach there before he disappears. I didn’t want to miss him because of a momentary delay. I ran to the coffee shop, leaving my boat at the bay.

Luckily for me, he was there, seated on a tall chair. I was relieved. I slowed down and went to my usual table. He raised his hand seeing me. I signalled him to join me.

‘I’m going to the mainland, do you want to accompany me?’ I threw a bait.

‘Oh, really? When?’

‘Next week.’

‘I’m also coming! I’m also coming. I need to see the mainland. There is no point to a life if you don’t visit the mainland at least once. What do I need to do?’

‘Nothing. You just need a clearance from the Public Security department. You’ve been in Diego for how many generations?’

‘Ah, who knows. I know that I was born here. That’s all.’

‘Where is your family from, originally?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Do you know your great-grandfather’s name?’

‘Great-grandfather’s name. I don’t remember. Why are you asking these questions? Is it that difficult to go to the mainland?’

‘If you have been here for less than four generations, you can get PIO status. But don’t worry. You have a passport, right?’

‘Yes. I got it five years ago, in the hope of visiting the mainland someday.’

‘Then let’s arrange for the visa. It’ll take only three days, and costs just ten dollars. And then the packing. That’s all. The Public Security is a hurdle. How will we get the clearance?’

‘I’ve no idea, sir. ’

‘I’ll take care of it. You’ll have to come with me to the Public Security office.’

‘Oh, I’ll come. I’ll come wherever you want me to. I need to see the mainland somehow. Oye, Majid, we are going to shut the shop for a week. I’m going to the mainland. Make a super special coffee for sir. ’

‘Sit down, let me tell you something.’ I slowly eased him on to a chair. ‘When we go to the Public Security, we need to talk about one more thing.’

‘What?’

I moved closer to him.

‘About the shooting that took place that day.’

‘What shooting? Here? I don’t know about any shooting. ’ He got up in panic. ‘Nothing of that sort has ever taken place in my coffee shop.’

‘Who ordered you to say so?’ I stiffened my voice as much as I could. ‘Look, I now work at the Investigation Directorate. I’m in charge of the case now. Don’t lie to me.’

‘Yeah right, an investigating officer! You think I’ll get scared hearing that? Better don’t go around saying that, you’ll be the first to get into trouble.’

That shook me. ‘How will I be in trouble?’

He came close to me. Stared at me. ‘Like me, you are also an eyewitness. It doesn’t take much time for a witness to be called an accused. So, let it go. Let’s stick to talking about the mainland.’

I finished my coffee and got up. There was no point in lingering. We had nothing more to say to each other. He had made it clear that he was not willing to cooperate with me.

I walked slowly to the jetty. I had been so excited before meeting him, and confident that everything would fall in place. I had even dreamt of going to Vijay Mullikratnam and challenging him: Look, here’s the second witness. Now can you tell me that no shooting happened?

But man is a coward. If something costs him even a scratch, he won’t stand up for it. Why should I put my life on the line for the sake of someone else? What will I get out of it? What have I to do with him?

I reached the jetty and was about to get on to the boat when someone tapped on my shoulder. It was the waiter at the coffee shop. ‘I’ll come with you, wherever you want. I was also a witness to the incident.’

The Outsider

I DIDN’T HAVE anyone other than Melvin with whom to share the happy news. So I called her immediately. She, too, was excited by the turn of events.

‘See, this is why you should sometimes ask women for their opinion!’

‘Oh yes, I agree.’

‘When are you going to the Public Security?’

‘Before he changes his mind. Not to the Public Security though, but the Diego Daily . I need to get a story done by Rajanbabu sir.’

‘Can I come? I’m off hospital duty tomorrow.’

‘Why are you interested in visiting a newspaper office?’

‘It’s not that, I wanted to meet. ’

‘The guy? I’ll take you to the coffee shop one day.’

‘Not him, Anita-chechi’s friend.’

‘Me? Didn’t we meet yesterday? Anything urgent?’

‘Mm. I was thinking of going home next week. I might get leave. Before that, I wanted to tell you something.’

‘Let me put an end to this case. Then I’ll come and meet you.’

‘So you won’t come tomorrow?’

‘Tomorrow? I’ll try to drop by in the evening.’