1

Chapter 1

 2 April 2013, 5 PM

A hand passed through the sleeve of the bag as Keerthi lifted and wore it. Dust and sweat covered her face after almost an hour of playing Kho-Kho with her school mates in the school playing ground. She bid goodbye to her friends who were also getting ready to leave and took her usual walking route back to her home. The evening sun illuminated her face as she walked slowly with tired steps.

After a 20-minute walk, she finally reached home. She noticed the outside gate wide open, which seemed peculiar. She also found a pair of male slippers alongside her mother’s in the doorsteps. Keerthi could feel something is not right. She rang the door bell but there was no response. She knocked the door but that was of no use either.

“MOM!!!!” she shouted in an attempt to get her mother’s attention. She peeped through the window but nothing was visible. She impatiently went to the door again and knocked it louder screaming for her mom.

The door finally opened. But the person who opened it wasn’t her mom. A muscularly built man stood before her, a red cloth covering his whole face except his eyes. Keerthi stood stunned, fear freezing her whole body. He walked past her, his eyes never losing eye contact with her as he lifted his lungi and tied it. Keerthi’s head turned slightly, his eyes following him as he crossed the gate.

She snapped to her senses as she rushed in to check in on her mother. She stumbled in the dark, searching for the light switch. When she turned it on, she tumbled backwards and crawled to the corner of the room as the she saw the horror in front of her. Her mother laid lifeless on the floor in a semi naked state, her dead eyes looking at the ceiling above.

“Mom!!!” her voice trembled as she called her out, still hoping she might get up. Her repeated calls are of no avail. The eerie silence of the home added to her dread. The only sounds she could hear are her own hyperventilation and whimper. Unable to see her mother, she dug her face between her knees.

****

2 April 2013, 9 PM

“What’s your name, girl??”

Keerthi's expression remained indifferent as the police inspector posed his question, her emotions masked by a veil of detachment. Hours had passed since she was brought to the police station, following their arrival at the crime scene an hour after she had returned home. The news of the murder had swiftly spread throughout the neighborhood, drawing a crowd of curious onlookers outside the house. The lifeless body had been transported to the mortuary, while Keerthi found herself inside a police vehicle.

As the vehicle finally came to a stop at the C4 Somangalam Police station, a somber atmosphere enveloped the surroundings. Keerthi was led inside and guided to one of the inquiry rooms, where the weight of the situation settled upon her shoulders.

“Keerthana” she replied.

“How old are you??”

“11”

“Your mother’s name??”

“Tamizharasi”

“Tell us what happened??”

“I….I saw a man…he wore a red scarf. He left the house when I came.”

“Around what time??”

“5.30”

Another officer came in as he called him “Prabhu Sir, the AC is here”

“You wait here, Ill be back” he said reassuringly as he went outside. Keerthi could hear them talking

“This is the 2^nd incident in this week. She too was raped and murdered. It must be the same guy.”

“Any evidences gathered??”

“There are traces of hair in her hand. Looks like she must have got that during the scuffle with him.”

“Did the girl say anything??”

“We just started interrogating her”

“We need to inform Child Welfare Committee once its over”

“I know sir”

Keerthi was left in solitude as the officers walked away, their footsteps fading into the distance. She found herself alone in a dimly lit room, encompassed by towering cupboards filled with numerous files.  The silence engulfed her, interrupted only by the monotonous creaking of the fan blades overhead. The musty scent of accumulated dust hung in the air, tickling her nose and unsettling her senses.

Moments later, he returned, holding a small package in his hand.

"Here, eat," he said, offering the bundle to Keerthi. She cautiously unwrapped it to reveal soft and fluffy idlis inside. He then opened the cover of the chutney and served it to her. Keerthi took a hesitant bite, the flavors mingling on her tongue.

"I understand how difficult this must be for you," he spoke gently. “But we need to catch that guy before something happens to anyone like what happened to your mother. Any information provided by you will be helpful for us”

As Keerthi shared every detail she could remember,Prabhu diligently jotted down her account, ensuring that no information escaped his record. Raghu could see her feeling sleepy and tired

“That’s enough for today. Come with me”

He gestured for Keerthi to follow him, guiding her to a secluded spot where he spread a blanket on the floor. "This may not be much for now," he said softly, his voice laced with empathy, "but it's all I can do at the moment. Get some rest."

Keerthi nodded, her weariness evident, and settled herself on the makeshift bed.

10 April 2013, 10 PM

The police station bustled with activity as Keerthi sat in the familiar room where she had spent countless hours during the initial investigation. Over the past eight days, Prabhu had taken care of her, providing her with food and a place to stay within the station premises. The bond between them had grown, and Keerthi felt a sense of security under his watchful eye.

From the window, Keerthi caught sight of a police vehicle screeching to a halt outside the station. A few cops rushed in along with Prabhu.

“Sir,what happened??”

Prabhu let out a weary sigh."We caught the killer, but he injured one of our constables. We were forced to open fire, and the accused died."

Keerthi's emotions churned inside her, a mix of relief and concern. “How is he??”

“We don’t know yet”

As their conversation unfolded, Keerthi's gaze shifted to a young girl sitting on a nearby bench. She looks a bit older than her. “Who is she??” Keerthi asked.

“That’s Varadhan’s……the accused’s daughter”

"Varadhan," Keerthi repeated. "So that was his name."

Yeah.You stay here in the room. I'll find out more information and be back soon.". So saying he left as Keerthi retreated to her room. Couple of hours later, news came that the constable succumbed to his injuries.

12 April 2013, 5 PM

The next two days weighed heavily on the police station as they mourned the loss of one of their own. Despite the somber atmosphere, Inspector Prabhu managed to provide attention and care not only to Keerthi but also to the other young girl, shouldering the responsibility of their well-being.

 

On a particular evening, Prabhu arrived accompanied by a middle-aged woman named Akshaya. "Hi Keerthana. I'm Akshaya. I'm from the Child Welfare Committee," she introduced herself. "Prabhu contacted us and told us about you. We will make sure to arrange everything for you to be placed in a suitable environment."

 

Keerthi's gaze shifted from Akshaya to Prabhu, seeking reassurance. He spoke softly, his voice filled with genuine concern. "Trust me, Keerthi. It will be good there." Keerthi nodded, finding solace in Prabhu's words.

Akshaya led Keerthi to another room where the other girl was waiting..

5 June 2013, 9 AM

The vehicle came to a stop near the orphanage The past month had involved a continuous series of legal procedures to facilitate Keerthi's placement in the orphanage, with Prabhu and Akshaya diligently working to ensure all the necessary arrangements were made.

As they reached their destination, Keerthi turned to Prabhu, a mixture of gratitude and uncertainty in her eyes. Prabhu spoke gently, offering his final words of guidance. "I inquired about this place, and it is considered one of the best orphanages in the locality. Take care."

Keerthi didn’t shift her gaze from him as she said "Thank you."

Prabhu smiled warmly, his gaze filled with genuine care. "That's okay. Now go along."

With Akshaya by her side, Keerthi walked toward the entrance of the orphanage. She glanced back, watching the jeep carrying Prabhu disappear into the distance.

 15 January 2014, 9 AM

Beneath the sheltering branches of a towering tree, Keerthi sought solace within the confines of the orphanage campus. Her fragile mind remained shackled by the weight of her mother's tragic demise. It had been nearly a year since the fateful event unfolded, but the wounds etched deep within her soul refused to heal. Even the death of her mother’s killer couldn’t console her. Grief, elusive and suffocating, eluded her grasp, leaving her in a state of emotional numbness.

“Keerthi??” called one of the staffs which brought her back to her senses. She was taken to the office where she saw a middle-aged man smiling at her

“Hello Keerthi, I am Ramachandran. How are you??”

Keerthi couldn’t reply to him. Her paranoia shut her mouth. The man just smiled and patted her head. He continued to talk to the head of the orphanage regarding adoption procedures as she stood there blankly.

He continued to visit her everyday with the same warmth. Keerthi felt some of her numbness subside. She finally got the courage to speak to him. “Are you going to adopt me??”

“Yes dear. Is it fine with you??”

With moments of hesitation she replied “Yes”

A month later, Keerthi stepped outside the gates of the orphanage, her hand securely held by Ramachandran. She climbed into his spacious car, feeling a sense of security enveloping her. It didn't take long for her to drift into a peaceful slumber, her head resting on his lap.

When she awoke, she found herself standing before a magnificent house. Amazement filled her eyes as she took in its grandeur. A young boy, older than her, stood in the hall, eagerly awaiting her arrival. He approached her with a bright, beaming smile.

"Hi, I'm Tarun," he introduced himself warmly.

Keerthi looked at him, her face amused, and returned his smile. They went inside together before Keerthi asked him “Where are we?”

“We are in Bangalore. And this is my house” replied Ramachandran.