The Community Home (continued)

Jayanta said, “Had someone thrown a lit cigarette stub in the ashtray last night, surely it wouldn’t be still smouldering this morning.”

              “No.”

              “Therefore, it is clear that someone had been present in this room just a little while ago?”

              Suren gulped and stammered, “But-but, I beg you to believe me, I didn’t see him.”

              Jayanta said in an ominous voice, “There’s cigarette smoke inside a locked room, can you tell me where the cigarette smoker has gone?”

              Suren could tell him nothing.

              Sundarbabu came forward and asked, “Surenbabu, who first approached you to lease this room?”

              Tarapadababu. I later learned that it was he who was the association’s secretary.”

              “What do you know about him?”

              “Not much. However, one day while chatting about something or the other I learned that was in Singapore before the last war.”

              Sundarbabu startled visibly at this and said, “In Singapore?”

              “Yes sir.”

              “Could you find out anything else?”

              “Yes sir. Tarapadababu and his association members don’t like to mingle with anyone in the mess. They are busy with their own work, and talk amongst themselves in hushed voices. And if anyone expresses any curiosity about their work or looks in, they get irritated.”

              “Didn’t you find their behaviour mysterious?”

              “Of course I did!”

              “This Tarapada fellow, what does he look like?”

              “Extremely good looking! He could be mistaken for a prince. A rosy pink complexion, eyes, eyebrows, lips, nose all drawn in painterly brushstrokes, a slim but well-built body, shoulder length curly hair, a thin moustache just above the lips. On the other hand, his body is not very manly, and he is also rather short.”

              “What would his age be?”

              “Between twenty-six or twenty-seven and thirty.”

              “How was his attire?”

              “Extremely elegant. His clothes, his shoes, everything was expensive. I have never seen him wear anything other than a silk panjabi, sometimes with diamond, and at other times, with pearl buttons. On both his hands there are expensive gemstone rings, even his gold wristwatch has rows of dazzling diamonds. Wherever Tarapadababu passes, he leaves a lingering fragrance of expensive perfume behind. To tell you the truth sir, I have never come across a dandy like him in my life. He is undoubtedly descended from the god of wealth himself.”

              Sundarbabu said, “Hmm! Thank you Sundarbabu, I got a wonderful word photograph of Tarapada from you. Come on Jayanta, we can leave now.” He took a couple of steps forward, then suddenly stopped and said, “Oh, Surenbabu, one more thing that I’d like to say. If you don’t want to court danger yourself, you- ”

Starting in fear, Suren said, “Danger? Why? Are Tarapadababu and his associates a bunch of revolutionaries?”

Sundarbabu said – and he said in an excessively serious voice, “What they are, even we don’t know. But remember one thing – and remember it well if you want your own good. Not even a whisper of the fact that we had come here today should reach the ears of a single member of the association. Come Jayanta, come on Manik!”

Once they were on the street, Jayanta said, “Sundarbabu, why did you get so excited upon hearing that Tarapada used to live in Singapore?”

Sundarbabu spoke, his voice loaded with meaning, “Not here brother, not here. Let’s get home, then I’ll tell you everything.”

Just then, Jayanta’s old family retainer, Madhu, appeared. He hurried towards them and said, “Babu, a woman has come to call on you.”

Jayanta frowned and said, “A woman? Where is she?”

“I seated her in the drawing room, babu! She said, “Your babu is needed right now, hurry and call him!” That is why I have come running to call you.”

The three of them strode quickly towards the house and went to the drawing room.

Jayanta looked around and said, “Why Madhu, there’s no one here.”

A baffled Madhu said,  “But I seated the young woman on that very chair before I went out to call you!”

Jayanta stepped up to the chair and said, “There’s no human form on the chair; however, I see that there’s a piece of paper lying here.”

He picked up the paper and read aloud : “Jayantababu, beware! You did not keep my request, and picked Sundarbabu’s side after all. Very well. Since you have stuck your hand inside the bumblebee’s hive, you have to bear the agony of the sting. Do you know what this sting is? Inevitable death – certain death!”

*

(to be continued)

#HemenRoy #hemenroy #detective #crime #thriller #adventure #pulp #Bengalibooks #translation

Would you like to read my translation of another Hemen Roy adventure in print? Click Here :