STORY 1- VIPERS.
The brutal murder of an elderly woman who lived alone at her own apartment sent shock waves through the city of joy, Kolkata.
Will Soumojit Mukherjee & His team be able to solve the mystery?
Vasudha Nandi, only daughter of retired IPS Animesh Nandi, a strong, couragious girl. After completing her studies, she put all her efforts in accomplishing her childhood dream to become a police officer just like her father. After qualifying written & physical test, Vasudha joined as Sub Inspector. First six months, she was posted in Darjelling but later she got posted in Kolkata Police Women Protection cell. At that time, her father fixed her marriage with Dhiraj Mitra who was a software Engineer in an Multi National Company. Though Vasudha was not much interested in marriage so early in her career, but still her parents convinced her to meet with Dhiraj & his family. After meeting with them, Vasudha found no points to reject Dhiraj. He was a soft spoken, well behaved man & also He & his parents has no objection regarding her job & she felt they are quite co-operative & open-minded. So, she agreed to marry Dhiraj. Her parents was so happy. They started preparing for marriage. Vasudha was busy in her duty & was also mentally preparing herself for the marriage. Two weeks before her marriage, she got her new posting in Crime Branch under Senior Inspector Soumojit Mukherjee. Apart from Her & team leader Soumojit, they have three members in team, Himanshu Roy, Niladri Sarkar & Tapas Dey. All are young & friendly but she found Soumojit was quite proud, over-confident, shrewd & bossy in his attitude though he was famous in Department. Everyone knows Soumojit as honest, uncompromising officer. Vasudha also heard that Soumojit’s presence of mind, observation power & calm attitude differs him from others which Vasudha yet to discover as she took leave for her marriage, so, not getting chance to work with the team. On the day before the wedding, the mahandi artist was painting her hand with traditional art, she noticed her mother rushed towards the other room & she looked tensed. She told one of her friend to see what’s happened. After sometimes, his cousin brother Pratik came & gestured her to follow him. She came in her parents room & noticed her mother is crying & his father is sitting holding his head. Her all close relatives are present in the room & they too looked sad & tensed. Vasudha rushed towards her mother & hugged her tightly.
“What happened mom? Why are you crying? Dad, what’s happened?”
Animesh Nandi remained silent. Pratik came near her.
“Sis, Police arrested Dhiraj.”
Vasudha’s eyes widened. “Why?”
Pratik ( in an angry voice)- That Bastard Dhiraj is a fraud. While He was posted in Mumbai, he used to live with a lady their & promised her that he will marry her. But later, he took posting here in Kolkata giving the excuse of his mother’s illness. Somehow that lady get to know about Dhiraj marriage. She came here & filed an FIR against Dhiraj.
Vasudha remained silent. She can heard her father broken voice.
“I made such wrong decision for my daughter! All my years of experience failed.!”
Vasudha- I want to meet with Dhiraj. ( Looking towards Pratik)
Pratik- But……
Vasudha- Else, I will go alone. ( She completed in a cold tone)
Pratik took Vasudha in Police Station. Dhiraj was sitting in a bench lowering his head. Vasudha came near him.
Vasudha ( in a cold voice)- Is everything true what I heard?
Dhiraj only gulped. Neither he lift up his head nor he responded.
Vasudha- Why are you silent? Are you even a man? You are such a characterless, backboneless man. Why the hell you hide everything? You would have say me once, I , myself will break the marriage! Why you insulted me & my family in this way? blo*dy cheat, fraud…. chi…. Shame on me! Despite being a Police Officer, I made such a blunder in understanding you.
Vasudha was fuming in anger. Finally, she was unable to control herself & gave a tight slap on Dhiraj’s cheeks.
Vasudha was rushing outside. A young lady came near her.
The Lady- I can understand your pain & I know I am the reason for it. I am sorry. But I can’t do anything. I am pregnant with his child & abortion is almost impossible because of my body complications.
Vasudha- I don’t even know you. so, no need of sorry & I am not broken. I
am just worried for my parents. Anyway, you take of yourself & your child.
Vasudha came back in her home. Doctor is checking her mother as she fainted because of low BP. She noticed DCP Debnarayan Halder, their family friend also present there handling her dad. After Doctor left, she came & sit beside her mother & hugged her. Vasudha wiped the tears from her mother’s cheeks.
Vasudha- Mom, please don’t cry. Yours tears & Dad’s broken state hurting me more. I am an Independent girl. I can handle myself. In fact, I am relieved that I get to know Dhiraj’s truth before marriage & Dhiraj cheated us, So, he & his family will be ashamed, not us. End of discussion. We will not going to give any explanation to others & those who really loves us, they will not going to question anything.
At evening, Vasudha was sitting in her bed in darkness. How can she do such blunder? How she blindly accepted each words said by Dhiraj & his family? Why she never tried to find details about him? For this stupidity, now she & her family is suffering! Suddenly she heard a knock on the door. She switched on the light & opened the door. His dad Animesh Nandi & his dad’s friend DCP Debnarayan Halder stepped inside.
Vasudha- Dad, you want to say something?
Animesh Nandi looked nervous. He looked towards his friend Debnarayan.
Animesh- I can understand your pain dear…
Vasudha- Dad, I am not upset. I am only worried about You & Mom.
Animesh- & I & your mom is worried about your future.
Vasudha- No dad, just think what would have happened if we come to know about Dhiraj’s truth after marriage? So, please dad leave the matter. I am an independent, working girl. So, I can take care of myself.
Animesh (some hesitation in his voice)- We found a nice guy for you…
There was few moments of silence.
Vasudha- what?
Animesh- You too know him. Your team leader, Soumojit Mukherjee. Your DCP uncle said He is a very good guy.
Vasudha- Dad, are you out of your mind? Please enough is enough, give me a break.
Animesh- No Vasu, I can’t. Yes, I agree I failed to judge Dhiraj but I am dreading the sour words of people. I just can’t tolerate if anyone mocks you.
Vasudha- I am ready to confront everyone.
Animesh- But I am not. You don’t know the society my child & think about your mom. She has gotten terrible shock. Her health is deteriorating.
Vasudha- So dad, you are saying my marriage is only solution for every problem!
Animesh- Vasu, don’t misunderstand me. Please trust my decision once. Soumojit is an Gentleman.
Vasudha- I don’t know Inspector Mukherjee dad. He is my senior & my team leader. Hope You & uncle understand how formal & Professional our interaction must be plus I know him only for a week & why should he marry me?
DCP Debnarayan- I & your dad talked with him. He agreed. I can assure you He is a gem of a person.
Vasudha- Dad, you are not understanding my situation! I am not mentally prepared to accept anyone else.
Animesh sighed. “Deb, let’s go from here. I am unable to understand my daughter. As a father, I failed! I don’t know how to handle Veena.”
Vasudha- Dad, I am ready for the marriage. But never ever say that you failed as father. Both You & mom are precious for me. Do as you wish.
Animesh face lit up.
Vasudha- Hope You & uncle have nothing more to say. I am tired dad. Want to rest & don’t worry.
DCP Debnarayan- Don’t you want to talk with Soumojit?
Vasudha- No uncle. I am trusting your’s & dad’s decision. Plus, you said He agreed to marry me without talking to me. So, I think it’s not necessary to talk.
Animesh- Vasu, He said your decision will be final.
Vasudha- I already said I will marry Him tomorrow. Good Night dad & uncle. I need rest.
They left sighing. Vasudha closed the door & sat in her bed. She felt like she is a burden to her parents else how her marriage can be the solution of every problem! & Why that over smart Officer want to marry her? She switched off the light & sat in darkness. She finally looked tired & broken. Droplets of tears escaped from her eyes.
Vasudha is sitting on a pidi, covering her face with betel leaves & her cousin brothers are lifting her up by the pidi & taken round her groom in seven circles. After completing “Saat paak”, the priest told the bride & the groom to look at each other as this marks the beginning of the couple to be together in witness of their family & friends. Vasudha slowly removes the betel leaves in front of her face & looks at her groom. His “Sir” Soumojit Mukherjee standing in front of her as her groom. Both their eyes met & Soumojit quickly averted his eyes. Amidst so many guests & by their constant teasing, he looked quite embarrassed. After that, the bride & groom exchange garlands of flowers three times marks as the first step of accepting each other as man and wife. Vasudha is feeling numb but she performed all the rituals. Her trance got broken when suddenly one of his cousin brother puts puffed rice that is “khoi” in her hand & the priest told her to stand. Vasudha & Soumojit both stood up. On priest instructions, Soumojit hold Vasudha’s hand from the back. Vasudha can feel his hand sweaty & slightly shivering & the throbbing of his hand. “Always confident Senior Inspector Soumojit Mukherjee is shivering!” She bites her lips to stop her smile & they together started to pour the puffed rice into the holy fire of “Yagya” & she felt a warm, soothing feeling while in his embrace. At last, when Soumojit applied Sindoor on her hair partings & someone covered her head with a new saree as a veil, Vasudha felt goosebumps & wondered now, she is the wife of Soumojit Mukherjee! Alas! this called fate. They sat together & everyone congratulated them. After eating dinner, Vasudha came in her room & locked the door. She changed her wedding attire & wore a comfortable nighty & lie down on her bed. Her mind only occupied with the thought of her future.