The Crimson Diaries

The Crimson Diaries –

-Biswadeep Ghosh Hazra (11/EC/33)

**In the early 2000’s Calcutta was haunted by the most devastating and deadly serial killers of all times, he was precise, immaculate and left no traces, but…**

Part-I

The Protagonist-

“Rajesh you’re going to be late for your office again”, chirped Anjali as she turned around face to face with Rajesh. “Same can be said for you too, darling”, Rajesh interrupted while smiling. Anjali rose, placing the white bed sheet over her naked breasts. Rajesh and Anjali were living in a dream, or so it seemed. They were living in for the last 3 years in their small but cozy and heavily furnished apartment in the newly created posh 1300 sq. ft. apartment in sector V of Salt Lake.

Not having worked, she got up, tied the bed sheet itself in the form of a nighty and went to make hot coffee the way Rajesh liked it. Rajesh was madly in love with Anjali and some days back in their 3^rd anniversary Rajesh gifted her a precious diamond set using most of his savings and Anjali was no step further when Rajesh realized he had been a gainer of a Diamond tipped Mont Blanc classic fountain pen and a Titan gold hand watch, and for these Anjali depleted her previous years provident fund. It was like the story of the “Gift of the Magi”. Yes Rajesh and Anjali were the Gen Y of India and the country’s future depends on people like them.

Everyday Rajesh would get into his newly bought i10 car at precisely 8:10 am and would drop Anjali down at sector II where she was a teacher with the private school and he would get off at sector V at the MNC where he worked at an important position (well everybody reckoned he was an important employee and so did he himself was of the opinion that he was), but the bitter truth was he was just the software engineer that every parent dreams his son will be if not a doctor.

The event-

The story begins with the death of Rajesh’s Girlfriend cum fiancé in a desolate and empty lane of the city of joy. Rajesh dearly loved her- well he was having an affair with their neighbor (well they were in a live-in relationship for the past 3 years), so what he loved her dearly and was weeping over her dead body. The yellow street lamp fell perfectly on the knife wounds and the crimson hue on the street reflected the pale black night sky above. The lipstick she wore as well as the perfume were her favorite, saved for the occasion (she was supposed to meet Rajesh for their 3^rd anniversary) and instead Rajesh found himself attending his fiancé’s dead body.

She looked lovely even when she was dead; people who circled him were gasping and were making muffled cries. Rajesh for the last time saw her and found that from the places where the killer had pushed the knife, a steady flow of blood was still coming out forming a small puddle where the sky above had formed a perfect reflection along with the street light. Sadly Rajesh savored her smell for the last time before giving away to the authorities and the hospital people for completing the formalities. The city of joy lost the vividly emotions it once had down a stick.

Rajesh let out a deep painful cry, “NOOOOOOOOOOO, what have I done? What have I done?” He continued repeating the line over and over again. It took the authorities quite some time to separate between Rajesh and Anjali’s lifeless body.

**Flash Forward**

Part-II

The Antagonist-

Session #1

Name of subject: Imtiaz Ahmed

Preliminary Diagnosis: Mentally Unstable and psychologically ill

“What implores you to attack a female (oblique) a male, please describe each experience and that too with details”, inquired the psychiatrist. Imtiaz weighted his options though he knew he had none. Two muscular individuals were standing right next to him, to torture him whenever the psychiatrist did not get satisfactory answers. “Look Imtiaz, we all want what’s best for you, so if you want not to get a 440 volt shock and get paralyzed for the rest of your life, I suggest you speak the truth and that too quickly”.

“The neck for girls, I cannot control myself when I find them necks, smooth, soft and fair skinned, believe me doc, I just cannot control myself”, and he made one of those faces that everyone makes before their family before having a needle injected or having a crucial operation.“That is it? “Enquired the doctor, “You kill because of their necks? What do you do after you kill them? Play with their dead corpses? I know a lot of your brothers do shit like that all the time, such a gross thing to do. If we had the power, we would straight away kill you and no one would have the faintest idea about it”, Sighed the doctor. There was a brief silence which followed and during this time Imtiaz who kept his head low whispered “It’s not what I do after I kill them, it is what I do before as life is the essence of all the fun which I have” and gave such a blood curling growl which led to the ward boy pressing the red button, the one which passes fatal current. This had an interesting effect on Imtiaz, he continued laughing until a high dose of sedatives was injected into his veins and he fell into a deep slumber. The psychiatrist grumbled and instructed the ward boys to leave him in this dilapidated condition as he wanted answers soon.

Imtiaz was linked to the city’s most dangerous criminals in the recent times. He was alone responsible for the deaths and rape of uncountable law abiding citizens, who were Imtiaz’s sheep while he kept on hunting men and women alike.

**Flash Backwards**

The transformation (Weeks before the event)-

Anjali was born and raised by an orphan house in Moulali and her only guardian was Father Andrew of the church where she was raised.

Rajesh, a brilliant child during his growing years was into drugs before he was 16 years old as his dad was killed after being robbed. Wasting his later years he got admitted into a private engineering college and again got into drugs. If it was not for Anjali, Rajesh would be a typical bad-ass doing nothing useful with life. Once or twice Rajesh was even admitted to a rehab for being over drugged and had severe personality related problems as well- and many attribute these facts to his father being killed in the streets. He started developing sensing some changes within him but thanks to Anjali he was so immersed in her love, he soon forgot everything but as in every relationship there has to be a hiatus, a saturation point and that point came when Rajesh again began to find something which could appease his mind, but sadly did not find anything which would calm him.

Rajesh felt his heart palpitating, racing with the thoughts of his father being killed and also his relationship being on the edge, he needed to have a bit of fresh air. Anjali was afraid as she was now witnessing the metamorphosis of Rajesh as she saw years ago when they were in college, only this time she was seeing for the worse. And she did not choose to complain as she chose to be with Rajesh and this decision she knew would take her into grave trouble, but she being optimistic decided to take these problems solving them one by one in life’s stride.

The following morning it was Rajesh who surprised Anjali with coffee and a sorry card telling how sorry he was and how he could not forgive himself and other lies which men usually resort to.

Rajesh: I could kiss every square inch of your body!!!

Anjali: Really? I bet it would be exquisite and ethereal!!!

Rajesh and Anjali thus gets into a foreplay realizing little that they were late, never the less they had a quick sex after so many days and though it was exhausting, both of them felt good.

They went to their respective work stations and when Rajesh reached his office, he heard from his colleague that the bully Ashish was killed yesterday night and now police were scrambling over the office in every possible direction. Rajesh’s boss was flabbergasted and was mumbling possibly about the losses to his public image and to his office by the presence of all the police who were there.

Mr. Bhardwaj who was leading the investigation was from the looks of it, a capable policeman and the honors on his uniform proved it right. So, he asked Rajesh looking at him and inquiringly- “so you’re Rajesh hmmm?” “Yes I am,” said Rajesh with a matter of factly tone.

Mr. Bhardwaj: Nothing, just so you know Ashish was my friend from school and we really used to bond together.

Rajesh (shrugging): Why are you telling me all this?

Mr. Bhardwaj: This is because he called you yesterday night about 2 hours before the murder. And he was found murdered in the streets in the same way as the recent deaths have been found.

Rajesh:  Yes, he called me up regarding work and a new project which was to come to us. Being our team leader he used to call almost every one of his colleague. Look, I am sorry for your friend, but a man’s gotta do what he gotta do right? So I suggest you all interrogate me and then let me go, because we all have our work, don’t we guys said Rajesh and turned his head back to ask his colleagues for help. 14-16 men in unison sang out vehemently demanding the police to release them A.S.A.P.

Mr. Bhardwaj: Well we need to interrogate you guys one at a time for a couple of questions and then we’ll be happy to go and let you guys do all your software bingo.

Part-III

Imtiaz Ahmed

A murderer by nature he had known the mure as his second home and most often visited there due to petty theft and once or twice, even for murder too but it was never proved. He lived in a chawl near Rajarhat-Newtown area and lived off looting and killing everyone he wished. He was a total psycho and freaked out even the chawl-wallas kept the distance from him. But he was rumored to have a medically sound mind and even knew how to operate a computer. Until now he could easily kill but evade, but something changed it.

Even though he was not a pedophile before but these recent days it seems some kind of mutation is occurring within him, some kind of infected disease is spreading and even though he is a sick psycho, he cannot help it. Every night like some predator searching for his prey he sneaks up on unknown people who get what they do not expect at all- death and that too painful and slow. Killing people had made Imtiaz realize: people are basically balloons containing blood and one pinch (with a knife) can cause devastating effects.  

Mr. Bhardwaj

Mr. Bhardwaj was the officer in charge of Newtown area and though he was good in solving cases, no one could deny the fact that he was corrupt. Nevertheless reminiscent in the nascent thoughts of the cheerful time spent with his school buddy Ashish, and he clutched his fingers tightly and became determined in finding the person attached to his murder. Though he has generally been able to collect some evidence or the other over the past couple of years, this time he has not been able to collect anything this time-the crime scene was clean as if someone has already done a sweep. The next idea to strike him was the place where the body was kept- it was those portable garbage disposal containers and buried near a foot deep of garbage as if wanting to keep clandestine from the rest of the world. A truck which came for its routine rounds (after almost 2 days) discovered the body after the boy who was loading garbage onto the truck discovered it in a dilapidated condition. No trace of evidence was found, shocking!!! He immediately summoned two of his best men to go to the crime scene and again sweep for evidence if necessary.

Domestic Affairs (the day before the event)

Rajesh (at dinner one night): I will be having night duties too for some days.

Anjali: For how many days? I mean I was going to take a holiday and planning to have a long drive to a far off place, only you and me away from all this chaos and din.

Rajesh: Honey, I told you I have worked the coming few days, take Sangeeta and the other girls with you no? Take the car with you; I can carpool to office in Mr. Bhatia’s car.

Anjali: And have a lesbian act? Rajesh I want to spend time with you not the girls’ yaar.

Rajesh (Looking deeply at Anjali): Let this year end, we will have completed the project by the 10 of January and then we can go to Mandarmani and have a nice time there.

The later part of the discussion was about the day and Anjali’s persistence to take the holiday before and talks gave away to heated arguments between them. The question of affair even comes once or twice followed by the most obvious question Anjali makes to Rahul, when will they get married? Is something the cause of their delay in marriage? The verdict: a good appetite is lost and two moods are spoilt badly.

Tomorrow was the last day of this year and Rajesh decided to make it to her and since they were having arguments over the last few weeks of their live-in relationship, he had pre-decided and bought tickets to a movie hall and the last dinner of the year at Oly-Pub in Park Street. But Anjali smiled only when Rajesh promised her unlimited shopping at any mall across Kolkata- Girls and their tantrums!!! At the end they both kissed each other good night in bed; little knowing tomorrow would change their lives.

Part- IV

**At the crime scene**

Inspector Bhardwaj appeared on the crime scene minutes after Anjali was killed and like any skilled detective set to work on the body. Wearing his gloves he was going to frisk Anjali for evidence when suddenly out of the blue Rajesh appeared, his eyes red and swollen due to iterated crying,

Rajesh: I am not going to let you touch her Inspector, NEVER…

Inspector: Look Rajesh, get over with it, she’s dead man, replied the inspector calmly, please let us do your work.

Rajesh: *silent*. Puts his head down and cries uncontrollably like a baby.

Bhardwaj: I know this is not easy for you to go through, believe me I too lost a good friend last week and believe me tough guys like me also feel the loss of losing someone special. And tell me Rajesh cause I heard this recently, did you have by any chance been offended by Ashish? Maybe once or, you know like multiple times? We are policemen Rajesh and we have every information of everyone in your office and every one of you is a

Rajesh: what is this all about? Oh I get it, yes look inspector he is a bully ok? He had bullied me several times, made me fell low the minute I enter office and even forced me to suck his penis. How can such a lowlife be your friend?

Which obviously does not mean I will kill him, does it? And even if I assume I did, I’ve been punished double, triple times over by Anjali’s death. I can cooperate with you to find this killer or I’m gonna find him and kill him then conjure his spirit and kill him again and again till I’m satisfied.

Bhardwaj did notice the vendetta which had already born in Rajesh’s mind to punish the wrong doer who killed his dear wife. Out of moral obligation, Bhardwaj the police decided to help but he could never keep Rajesh off the suspects list as the inspector sensed something wrong with him from the start. Rajesh was like a façade, the mask of a deceptive outlandish person whom no one yet knew.  

Rajesh: Promise me inspector, you’ll find out Anjali’s killer and give him the harshest punishment possible by Indian law.

Meanwhile the forensics team reported the place was surprisingly immaculate and clean and what is even more surprising is the fact, there are no murder weapons available, I mean most murderers dispose of their murder weapons somewhere near the body.

Bhardwaj: What is your name? Are you new?

Forensics expert #1: Madan sir, I have been assigned in this case from yesterday only.

Forensics expert #2: Sir! I think I have found something…

They all ran to the area where Meera had obviously found something important, Bhardwaj who was a stone cold corrupt (but solved cases) had a soft corner for Meera and longed to see her every day.

Bhardwaj: What is it Meera?

Forensics expert #2 (Meera): There is a packet of those cheap ice lollies lying around here (those we know most commonly as the Re.1 Pepsi) but have no fingerprints or any evidence whatsoever.

“Well Orange is my favorite flavor among these thingy’s”, said the inspector trying his hand at humor but Meera did not respond to his dry humor and seemed genuine busy with her work.

Rajesh gets naïve

Reaching home, Rajesh was suddenly taken back by the shadowy appearance on the sofa in the living room. For a few seconds Rajesh thought it was Anjali but when he was going to shout her name, the lights of the lamp adjacent to the sofa were back on and there sat Nilanjana.

 Nilanjana was Rajesh’s second love after and they met in the Cognizant office at Sector-V and from there Rajesh and Nilanjana had seen many ups and lows of life. “Somebody jabbed something sharp into my Anjali- she had a duct tape and which prevented her from calling help” and saying this Rajesh went into a semi-conscious state and fell helplessly on the sofa.

Nilanjana: What happened sweetie? Janu what happened to you tell me!

Rajesh: *speaks un-coherently and babbles like a child struggling to say something*

Nilanjana: *Helps Rajesh sleep on her lap and after a few moments silence he begins foaming in the mouth, shaking uncontrollably*

**After 2-3 hours Rajesh wakes up in a hospital and becomes normal, but Nilanjana notices something different about this Rajesh, he was not the same Rajesh he knew. Rajesh demands to be taken home against the doctor’s wish but he persisted and ultimately the doctor declaring him naïve discharged him. Returning home, Rajesh went out to his office to have a chat with his boss. **

Rajesh’s boss (Mr. Balaguruswamy): Anna Rajesh, man you’re taking this decision based on something which has occurred to you and you know you cannot get your wife back. Please take time to consider this; I can give you a week’s time to think this over. Don’t be naïve Rajesh, you need this job! Everybody does. Ask dadu her and he pointed at the old sweeper who was sweeping the boss’s personal cabin, “shall I kick you out?” yelled Mr. Balaguruswamy as he knew dadu ha hearing problems, suddenly the old man turned athletic and dived aiming the boss’s legs.

Part-V

Session #2

Name of subject: Imtiaz Ahmed

Preliminary Diagnosis: Mentally Unstable and psychologically ill

Treatment: Repeated shocks their direction being from cerebral to the inner cortex.

Duration between the first and second session: 7 days

The psychiatrist (Dr. Hembrem): so how are we felling today? Ibrahim?

Imtiaz: My name is Imtiaz, not Ibrahim you bast@$d, his mouth salivating from the excessive shocks Hembrem had administered.

The psychiatrist (Dr. Hembrem): So tell me, Imtiaz how did you get caught? I mean after managing to get off for nearly a year, how did you suddenly get caught? Give me the answers if you’re prudent enough about yourself and want to get out of here as soon as possible.

Imtiaz in reply did not pondered over the matter carefully and seemed to be going to a trance state and doctor realizing he had slapped him twice, thrice but then he had already gone into a deep slumber.

**At Rajesh’s flat**

The doctors state that Rajesh’s condition was caused by excessive tension and stress and advised him to have complete bed rest for a month or two. Rajesh found out the perfect way to find out his wife’s killer is to use this time and though he knew he had to be reticent and keep Nilanjana out of all this he also knew with time everything would come to light. He had in his teenage years a personality disorder so he didn’t mind being called a sociopath once again. So he asked Nilanjana to move to her flat as it would not be a viable option to stay in Rajesh’s flat in this duration.

Nilanjana: I cannot leave you; I love you too much…

Rajesh: And I love you more than you do, which is why I’m asking you to move to your flat for the next 1.5 months cause I cannot lose you, otherwise I will die.

Nilanjana: I know, you’re having another affair, aren’t you? Please do not do this, and on an impulse she slapped Rajesh.

Rajesh: I do not wish to hurt you baby, I am not having an affair, and it’s that I must avenge her death-otherwise I would never forgive myself.

Nilanjana: Why, if I had died I doubt if you go on such lengths to avenge me!

Rajesh: I would take my VRS and then find your killer the entire life span, until the time I die.

Rajesh and Nilanjana then touched their foreheads together and kissed and slept together for the last time little knowing again this would be the last time they would be happy.

A complete paradigm shift occurred and Rajesh on a daily basis went out to lure the killer by himself acting as bait. He put on his most expensive clothes and since this was his personal crusade, he wore everything which had a touch of Anjali.

**Within the next few days**

Sir, another body has been discovered in the Burrabazar area, this is the third one in twelve days and with the same phenomenon, he too has links to serial killing.

Bhardwaj: Then we can say for sure that someone from the victim’s families is targeting the serial killers. Let us go for a visit and also inform the Burrabazar police to keep the tabs running with us so we may have a complete update of everything. Also according to me this new victim will be possibly from Anjali, Ashish and the other victims’ family. Take my word Sundar (a constable). 

The crime site was a real mess; it looked like someone killed with no ethics, feelings or regret. The man called Vijay had not been a hardcore killer but had killed on a few occasions and basically stole to earn his daily bread.

“Hi, got any leads?” boomed a baritone behind Bhardwaj and turning around he noticed Inspector Roy, his arch enemy and also his good friend.

“Yes, positively these new killings are a result of any one of the victim’s families taking their revenge for killing their loved ones.”

Inspector Roy: Well, seems legitimate that both way our state is cleaned of unwanted dirt, isn’t it? What do you think?

Bhardwaj: I am developing some theory about these murders; let’s see how far it goes. And regarding the removal of dirt, which is our duty, not someone with a vengeance to take matter into their own hands.

**The chase**

The news reporters were piling up and not only Bhardwaj but many others like him were screwed by the media for not able to do anything regarding the increasing murders on the streets of Kolkata. On the other hand, we find Rajesh running seamlessly following someone which he thinks killed his dear Anjali. He (Rajesh) is for some reason dressed as an ice-cream wallah carrying those thermocol boxes, of late he had visited and roamed about in so many areas, he had to remove any reminiscence of Rajesh and totally be someone else. And yes out of so many options to dress like and camouflage himself, Rajesh chose a cheap ice-cream wallah towing around with those middle sized thermocol boxes.

Part VI

**The chase continues**

Rajesh is searching for her spouse’s cold blooded killer so he might avenge her, one night while searching Rajesh saw someone and started following. Rajesh was in the Shyambazar area and the chase was taking place in the narrow lanes. Rajesh raddled along clearly he had walked enough and it was beginning to show, but just as Rajesh was about to blink his eye, his eye caught something and the moment he saw him, he knew he was a murderer as days of roaming and killing two serial killers himself had taught him things he even could not imagine on doing. It was tacit to Rajesh that, the shadowy figure needed following and he carefully did so hopefully without the knowledge of the man. Once or twice Rajesh had to run almost at full speed to follow the figure which seemed to be looking for someone, someone worth killing maybe? Rajesh held in his hand an expensive Swiss army knife gifted to him by Anjali herself for his passion of knives. The night was cold and Kolkata was freezing- but two men were engaged in a fight and of them would win.

Rajesh followed the figure for an exact of about half an hour when suddenly the figure took a sharp turn to one of the streets and when Rajesh ran and took the left turn the figure vanished. This made Rajesh uncomfortable as he thought the person was ubiquitous and he felt his pulse rise and he could now hear his own heartbeat. Grapping the knife tightly, Rajesh relaxed his pulse as he knew he had to be cool to face this deadly snake of an assassin.

**The confrontation**

For a full seven minutes Rajesh was not attacked by anyone and remained in the anticipation he would be soon. Soon a blow lands on his head from the dark and out emerges Imtiaz smiling slyly. Rajesh is determined to kill him but cannot do so as he is completely overtaken by the appearance of Imtiaz. He looks like the same exact copy of Rajesh, as if they were clones or identical twins. Rajesh almost withered as Imtiaz looked at him with contempt. Though Imtiaz had unruly hair, soiled clothes and a dirty looking grin matching with soiled shoes and nails…

Rajesh: Wh... Who are you?

Imtiaz: Oh, you do not recognize me? ME? ME? ME?

Rajesh’s ears seemed to ring with the last words of Imtiaz as he felt he was head over heels and felt his knees clattering, almost making a mechanical sound.

Rajesh (still spellbound): I… I still do not understand anything…

Imtiaz:  Smiling devilishly… Oh you can’t? Look basically it’s all simple, I am you and you’re me…

Rajesh: Again the words “I am you and you’re me…” resonated within Rajesh’s ears long enough to make him mad.

Imtiaz: I killed Anjali, yes I killed her, no wait, better still you killed her, you see you’re my alter ego, my better half which lives in a good flat with two good lovers and a good job, but I, look at me; I live to kill, to murder…

Rajesh now looked at his own hands and saw them smeared in blood, Anjali’s blood; he felt like killing himself. Completely broken and utterly confused he sat on both his knees sobbing like the time when he saw Anjali’s dead body. Imtiaz again laughed his blood curling laughter and stood there waiting for Rajesh to take his first step.

Suddenly as if in a flashback, Rajesh remembered everything. He dressed as Imtiaz the ice-cream seller and also killed people with icicles crafted carefully and then wrapped by the Pepsi packets (Re.1 ones) for better grip and insulation. Result- people were killed but no murder weapon, no evidence.

Rajesh:  I killed her, I killed her, I killed her and the same thoughts circulated within Rajesh’s head again and again, he is a murderer and a stealer of happiness from people.

Saddened, devastated and disillusioned Rajesh decided the hard way for himself. He decided to die and readied the sharp Swiss knife but in a moments swift action it was kicked out by his evil half.

Imtiaz: Are you mad? You trying to die? But why?

Imtiaz looked visibly perplexed and very much confused because for him, killing people was an art, which only some people in the world can perform- “sooner or later they all get caught for killing, but how long they can run is the main skill”, Imtiaz always used to think.

Rajesh now had no other option than the frosted icicles, “What better way to die than this”, he thought but again this time Imtiaz jumped at Rajesh to prevent himself from dying. Almost an hours’ fight continued between ensuring local people nearby to inform the police about the whole ongoing incident.

**Sometime Later**

Bhardwaj: I am not shocked, frankly, I sensed something wrong with him the moment I saw him.

Constable: Local people saw him fighting with himself, said they thought he was loony.

Bhardwaj (in a whisper, to himself): You were not fighting with yourself were you Rajesh? You were fighting with the devil inside you, were you not?

**Present Time**

The psychiatrist (Dr. Hembrem): *Slapping Imtiaz* wake up, wake up someone is here to see you.

Imtiaz (Salivating profusely): Wh... Who?

Nilanjana (Sobbing): What have you done Raj? What have you done? *muffled cries*

**Rajesh a.k.a Imtiaz had a severe personality disorder and though this was kept in check but growing tension and stressful life may be the reason behind its eruption, but whatever the cause be, he is now under treatment and after he is cured, he will serve his sentence which may either be lifetime imprisonment or death by hanging. Why Imtiaz as his second name? No one knows, Imtiaz was so convinced of the existence of himself that he even made his own ration card, voter card and other stuff like that. Police have raided the chawl and found them. Nilanjana left Rajesh and married a businessman. Inspector Bhardwaj still takes money under the table but he is till date the best detective ever (or so everybody says). Life has moved for everyone but for Rajesh/Imtiaz it stands still. **

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