The Case of the Vicious Vampires by Ketaki Karnik

Author:Ketaki Karnik [Karnik, Ketaki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Notion Press
Published: 2017-09-26T04:00:00+00:00

“Dr. Patel, this is Venkataraman. I need you in my office. Now,” Venky sir had dispensed with any niceties such as ‘hello’ or ‘please.’ His voice was dry and contained, though from the deep red on his face, it was clear he was an about-to-explode volcano. There was something in Venky sir’s tone that made Moshin sir literally run to his office, on the ground floor of the Faculty Block.

“Gate security informs me that you had a visitor named Yatin, earlier today. Who is he?” Venky sir shot out even before Moshin sir could catch his breath. I noticed Venky sir didn’t bother asking him to sit.

“A friend,” gasped Moshin sir, his eyes downcast.

“Your friend,” said Venky sir, emphasizing the word ‘friend,’ “assaulted Raima. You have 30 seconds to explain yourself before I call the police. And have both of you arrested.”

“Please Dr. Venkataraman, please don’t call the police,” Moshin sir pleaded. “Yatin is a private detective, investigating the theft of the Nizam’s jewellery. He obviously went overboard, became over enthusiastic.” Moshin sir’s voice turned whiny and his eyes watery.

Venky sir was unmoved. “On whose authority did you employ a private investigator?”

“Reddy’s sister,” Moshin sir barely managed a whisper. Venky sir’s nostrils flared as he glared at the shuffling man in front of him. Moshin sir was lying – no doubt about that.

Instead of confronting Moshin sir, Venky sir astutely picked up his phone. “Dr. Reddy, where are you?” An even, no-nonsense tone. I had once overheard my principal use that with a teacher and I swear the teacher turned into jelly. “Stay there. We’ll come to your room.”

Wordlessly, Moshin sir and the five of us followed Venky sir to the VIP guest house. I could see Moshin sir was desperately trying to say something, but not a whimper emerged. Each step he took was forced, out of his control, dragged by a mega-magnet. Moshin sir was dying to disappear from the scene.

Venky sir knocked on the door and pushed it open without waiting for an answer from Reddy sir.

A tornado had hit Reddy sir’s room. Clothes scattered all over – on the bed, chair, writing table, side table.

Books and papers piled alongside the clothes. An iPad popping out from between the clothes, laptop lying on the floor. A large suitcase lay unzipped, both halves thrown open. More papers heaped inside.

“Dr. Reddy, your private investigator cannot enter ISIC without my permission. Immaterial of what has transpired, that is unacceptable,” Venky sir was polite but curt. You definitely don’t want to get onto the wrong side of Venky sir.

Reddy sir stared blankly. “Private investigator? For what?”

“Your sister…” Venky sir narrowed his eyes as he turned to Moshin sir.

“No, no Dr. Venkataraman,” Moshin sir’s words tumbled out. “I engaged the private investigator after speaking directly with Reddy’s sister. I called her two hours back to seek permission and she was more than willing. Reddy doesn’t know about any of this.”

“So, my sister put you up to it,” more statement than question. The spite in Reddy sir’s voice was obvious.

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