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 8
The morning revealed the ravages that the storm had caused. The General’s beautifully manicured garden looked like a warzone. The pots were strewn all over the driveway and the garage was half-blown away. A large branch of a Deodar tree had crashed through the roof of a gardening shed. Luckily, there was nobody inside. The gardeners and the household staff were running around to repair the damage as best they could.
Binita stood watching the scene from inside the drawing room. It was the same room in which they had met Nandita last evening. It looked a bit more cheerful in the morning light.
“Good Morning!”
Binita turned around to find Mr.Lahiri looking at her. He was dressed impeccably in a three-piece suit as usual. His hair neatly brushed and his glasses shining brightly.
“Did you sleep well?” he said smiling.
“Oh yes. Thank you for everything!” said Binita graciously. “The storm has really wreaked havoc on your lands it seems” she said looking pointedly at the chaos raging outside.
“Oh! it happens every year. We will have to take care of it. Storms in the mountains are really ferocious much unlike what you see in your cities” said Mr. Lahiri shaking his head casually.
“I have asked Ramdayal, our driver, to drop you into town after breakfast.”
“Oh you shouldn’t have. I was just waiting for Keya and we would have called up the hotel to send us the car anyway.”
“It is not a bother at all. Benod specifically asked me to arrange for the car to drop you off at your hotel” said Mr.Lahiri smiling genially.
“Oh! You are too kind!” said Binita feeling genuinely embarrassed.
“Mrs. Sen” said Mr.Lahiri looking at Binita with a frank look in his eyes “You did not come here to express your thanks to Nandita, did you?”
Binita smiled at him and sighed as she shook her head slowly. “No, I did not.”
“And did you find what you came here for?” he asked as a hopeful look entered his eyes.
“I think yes.You see Mr.Lahiri” said Binita slowly turning around towards the window “Things generally clear up after a dark night. The morning helps you look at things in the right way. The way they should be seen.”
“Does that mean….?” Mr. Lahiri began excitedly.
“No not yet” said Binita not letting him finish “Please don’t tell the General anything yet. At least not before I tell you to. I still need to be sure about a few things.”
Mr. Lahiri sighed but nodded as he understood what she meant to say.
“Mr. Lahiri, before I forget” said Binita abruptly “Which one is Mrs. Lobo’s room on the second floor?”
Mr. Lahiri looked up with a surprised expression. He was not at all prepared for this question at least.
“Mrs Lobo?” he asked looking a bit dazed “Her room is the one next to Nandita’s. That has always been her room, ever since the girls were young.”
Binita nodded as new worry lines creased her forehead.
“Do you think she could be given a short vacation. At least for a few days?”
“Holiday? For Mrs.Lobo? She has never left the family ever since she came here. This is her home. She has no other place to go to” said Mr.Lahiri incredulously. Then his face darkened with worry. He lowered his voice that was laced with concern to ask,
“Why do you suggest such a thing Mrs. Sen? Do you think she may have something to do with Annie being missing?”
“No. But maybe she knows who does?” said Binita slowly.
Mr. Lahiri’s eyes widened in surprise. “My God! You mean …?”
“Mr. Lahiri” said Binita suddenly straightening up “I know I should not be asking this, but can you give me an information just to help me.”
“Of course, Mrs. Sen, please go ahead” said Shyamal Lahiri.
“If Anindita cannot be traced. What happens to the property, does all of it go to Nandita” asked Binita with a serious look.
“Well, we will keep looking. If she remains untraceable for seven years, she is legally considered as dead. In that scenario, the property will be handed over to a trust and the existing party will be provided with a monthly stipend. Moreover, if anything happens to the General and Annie is still not found, even then the same conditions hold.”
“A Trust? But why this strange arrangement? Why not give the entire share to the sole survivor?” asked Binita curiously.
“Well, the General did not want to be unfair to any one sister. His property has always been meant for both. So, if, for whatever reason, one does not get it neither will the other.”
“That is indeed a noble and just thought. Does Nandita know about it?” asked Binita after a pause.
“Nobody other than Benod and I, are privy to the actual contents of his Will. He does not trust anybody with this. Not even his granddaughters. Specially after the way they broke his trust. It is only to keep his word given to his dying daughter that Benod is trying to get both sisters here. As for him, he has already washed his hands off them. He is a very emotional and sensitive man. He does not look so from the outside. But in his heart, he is just like a child. If you love him, he will love you to death but if you break his trust once, you will always be dead to him. The girls have hurt him badly” said Mr. Lahiri sadly.
Binita nodded as she took in this new piece of information.
The door opened and both looked around to see Keya enter.
Mr. Lahiri greeted her politely and led them towards the breakfast table. After breakfast, they thanked General Das profusely for his hospitality, hugged Mrs. Lobo and walked towards the portico where the car was waiting to take them back to the hotel. Nandita stood at a distance with the same blank look on her face. As the car drove down the driveway, Binita looked back to notice Somnath watching her from one of the windows on the second floor. A strange cold feeling crept into her heart and she knew she had to act fast now.
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