Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary – Chapter 3

Two sisters. Alike in appearance but contrary in nature. Both leave home but where one of them returns the other goes missing. Binita Sen steps in to help in another bizarre search after Debts of Desire.

Read  - Chapter 2

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The Upasana Express chugged off on its way to Dehradun. Binita arranged her bags in the First-Class AC coupe for two and was settling down with a book when Keya climbed down from the upper berth and sat down beside her.

“Have you thought of how you will get into General Das’s mansion?” she asked without a preamble. She was not very sure that her mother had done the right thing in deciding to help Sheetal.
“What if they insult you? It will be so embarrassing” she continued with a worried look.

“Why would they do anything of the sort?” asked Binita surprised “From what Sheetal told me General Das seems to be a well-respected gentleman of the area. Moreover, he is an ex-army man. I respect those who have devoted their lives to the Defence services. I do not think they can do anything untoward.”

“Oh Ma. You are too naïve!” said Keya with an anxious look. “The world is not so innocent anymore.”

“No it is not” said Binita sadly shaking her head “Why else do you think Sheetal has been banging her head on every door to look for a woman? Shouldn’t she be coming out of her own free volition to meet her grandfather?”

“You mean to say the woman is hiding herself voluntarily?” asked Keya looking at her curiously “She may have missed the notice. It is possible.”

“If Nandita saw it, Anindita should have seen it too” said Binita simply.
“But what if she is not in the country. It is possible. They have not advertised it in international papers, have they?”

“Probably not and it is possible that Anindita may have left the country” said Binita focusing her gaze back on her book.

“So, if Anindita is not in this country at all then why are we travelling all the way to Mussorie?” asked Keya confused.

“Like you said dear,” said Binita softly “The world is not an innocent place anymore. People love living in shadows and sometimes these shadows become so dark that they start losing their way in them and cannot return to light. I just want to make sure the shadows don’t get any darker than they already are.”

Tea arrived soon afterwards. They sat sipping their cups of tea and nibbling on the biscuits lost in their thoughts.

Binita’s mind was full of questions. If Anindita did want to meet her father’s side of the family, why did she not visit them when she came to Kolkata? Why did she not even contact Nandita? Being twins they must have been inseparable. Were they not on friendly terms then? If not, why? And then if she is still in this country then why is she not responding to her grandfather’s invitation? Has she then, as Keya suggested, left the country? Something is not fitting in and Binita knew she had to meet the family to figure out what that missing piece was.

At around 7 pm dinner arrived. Binita must have dozed off as Keya gently shook her awake. They had ordered a simple vegetarian fare as Binita was not too keen on experimenting with the railway catering. She had wanted to get food from home, but Keya dissuaded her from taking the hassle saying.
“If you want a holiday, do it in the right spirit”.

After dinner, they discussed the case for some more time. Keya then moved up and curled up in her berth with a book. Binita settled down with her thoughts raging in her mind once again till sleep overcame her.

The train reached Dehradun station the next day at 6.30 pm. A half an hour delay was acceptable by Indian Railway standards. Sheetal had arranged for a taxi who would meet them at the quaint little station and drop them off at their hotel in Mussorie.

It took them about an hour and a half to reach Mussoorie. By the time they reached their hotel, The Royal Oak, it was almost 8 pm. The hotel, a pretty little structure that was perched atop a hill. Keya had a friend working there and she had helped her make the arrangements.

Navika, Keya’s friend, was a smart and efficient girl who helped them check in easily and even arranged for a taxi the next day for sight-seeing and shopping.

The room was small yet comfortable. A queen size bed stood in the center flanked by two little side tables. A plush soft carpet covered the floor. A cosy looking recliner stood before a huge glass wall that served as a window overlooking the hills on one side. A cupboard for storing their clothes and a sideboard with a kettle along with multiple sachets of tea, coffee, milk powder and sugar completed the room décor.

“You will get to see the sunrise right from your room Aunty” Navika informed them with enthusiasm. “This is the best room in our hotel. I had the room reserved for you when Keya informed me that you both will be visiting Mussorie.”
“Thank you dear” said Binita “It will not make much of a difference for your friend though. By the time she is up the sun is ready to set.”

“Don’t be silly, Ma” said Keya indignantly as Navika grinned mischievously before wishing them goodnight.

Having finished the dinner that Navika had brought in for them, Binita changed into her nightclothes in the en-suite washroom that was small yet adequate.

She was massaging moisturizer on her arms when Keya joined her on the bed.
“What’s the plan for tomorrow Ma? Do we move towards Landour?” she asked.

“Not yet. Tomorrow let’s go around the town a bit” said Binita as she took out the file Sheetal had given her before leaving. It contained details of the Bagchi sisters. She switched on the bed side lamp and pored over it closely. As was her habit she kept marking out relevant details with a pencil. Once she was satisfied that she had all the details, Binita realised she had a lot of homework to do before she met General Das and his granddaughter.

Read Next – Chapter 4

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