The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal

Author:Shobhan Bantwal
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-05-27T00:59:53+00:00

166 Shobhan Bantwal

She glanced at the framed photograph of a radiant Nikhil and herself, which she placed on the end table. They’d been on their honeymoon in Mount Abu. “But even my worst fears could never have foreseen murder.” She pressed a hand over her mouth to keep the emotions at bay. “I believe someone killed Nikhil for triggering an investigation into Karnik’s business affairs.”

It took Harish a minute to absorb that. “I can see how Karnik would consider Nikhil a threat to his livelihood and his reputation.”

“I know your sister-in-law is an ob-gyn and I don’t want you to think I’m including her with the likes of Karnik.”

“Don’t worry. Prachi has strong opinions on women’s rights.

She’d never dream of performing abortions just to get rid of girls, especially when she has a little girl of her own.”

Isha took a short breath of relief. “Thank goodness for a few good doctors.”

“Hopefully more than a few,” he said dryly. “I know every one of them through the local medical association and they seem so dedicated, so humane, including Karnik. I can’t imagine the mild-mannered old man could be capable of murder.”

“Neither could I, until I found out it wasn’t a robbery gone bad but a foul murder that was probably planned and executed by someone whom Nikhil and I knew so well. I still can’t believe such a gentlemanly individual could possibly be involved with such primitive violence. I guess he hired some killer to do his dirty work for him.”

“Of course. Karnik wouldn’t soil his own hands with something gruesome like that. Did Nikhil seem different just before he passed away? Did you notice anything strange?”

She attempted to recall those difficult, stressful days prior to Nikhil’s death. “There was a lot of tension around the house with my pregnancy progressing and Baba and Ayee gradually increasing the pressure on us. There were arguments, and naturally it led to problems between Nikhil and his parents, and as a result between him and me.”

“Did he even hint at anything?”

THE

FORBIDDEN

DAUGHTER 167

She shrugged. “The whole stupid affair was a strain on our nerves and Nikhil was in a surly mood. The stress left him brooding a lot, which wasn’t his usual nature. He had a short fuse, but he also got over it quickly, and he always laughed a lot.

He was a charming, likeable man.”

“And your in-laws don’t see their son’s death as a direct result of this illegal abortion business?” Harish still looked dubious.

“I’m not sure if they don’t see it or choose not to see it, because if they do, then the blame shifts to them. I can’t say for sure, but maybe if they hadn’t pressured us, Nikhil wouldn’t have been so rebellious and so adamant about exposing Karnik.”

“You mean if his parents had never suggested abortion, Nikhil would have left the matter alone despite knowing that Karnik was performing illegal abortions?”

“I really don’t know, Harish. Maybe I’m just deluding myself, dreaming up every excuse to blame my in-laws for what happened.

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