Daylight Murder

By M K Devidasan

Jini, a nurse and Facebook friend of Sreeraj, met with an unexpected twist in her life and went missing. Her identical twin sister tries to unearth the secrets underlying the case of her missing sister. Will she succeed in taking revenge on the culprits? One can read only with goosebumps until the end to answer these haunting questions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M K Devidasan
• Release date: Apr 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005035754

M K Devidasan

M K Devidasan is a graduate engineer in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering  with Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management. He had served the Indian Air Force for 32 years as a technical officer and retired as a Wing Commander.

Book preview

Preface

It is a fact that harassment and atrocities against women are rising despite stringent laws and punishment. The stringent laws might lead to an award of life imprisonment or amputation of limbs, as in certain countries, but the graph of such crimes is still on the rise. Rape and murder are frequent news read in the newspapers, and the culprits get arrested immediately and an adequate sentence awarded within the timeframe. But still, the social insecurity towards women on various counts is on the increase. The rape to satisfy the lust for sex makes a man forget the basic humanity turning himself to be bestial. The act leads towards committing the highest crime of murder, to cover up the mouth of living evidence or accidentally. Is it due to a lack of sex education? It is a debatable point that might find an answer.

The majority of humankind extensively uses the social networks proliferating electronic media. It is a fact that everything has good and bad sides if not utilized properly. So is the case with these networks also. People of all ages -- especially the younger lots living away from their family members in hostels and lodges in foreign countries -- utilize these sites to develop social relationships with other people who share similar personal or career content, interest, activities, and background or real-life connections. These networks can sometimes be counter-productive, harming the harmony and tranquility of the lives of certain innocent people, especially the younger lots, if not careful in handling various situations.

The author knew the difficulties faced by two families, where a girl from an affluent class with good education, leaving her house and giving a call to the boy from the nearby railway station to get her picked by him who became friendly with her, through the Face book. Ultimately, the parents recognized their relationship though they had to undergo various stages of hurdles.

This novel was motivated by particular living examples of the young couple living well contented and happy but with a twist. On the contrary, there might be similar cases in adverse conditions without getting recognized by the parents of both sides having to fend for themselves for their living means if they have to depend on someone for their daily needs.

1

Sreeraj was quite apprehensive of his efforts to find a suitable girl for him. Crossed thirty-five and the annual ritual of visiting different girls' houses during leave periods were always without favorable results. Though not interested in making another useless trip, he was forced to meet the elders' demands. That was the fate of many of his friends employed in gulf countries. Before the short visit on leave, the parents keep ready many suitable cases of girls with matching horoscopes for approval by the prospective groom. Upon the girl's house visit, either of the two might happen in most cases. The girls do not like the boy or the other way. In any case, the boy will get doomed in the disgust that would mount to its pinnacle. Cumulative failures made Sreeraj decide to stay away from marriage and remain single throughout life without responsibilities connected with relationship enhancement. But the social needs and parental compulsions made him break the decision. As the age grew with least mercy on his looks with sprouts of silver strands standing out against the thick background of black hairs was of grave concern of parents to be annulled with all efforts during every leave.

Due to unavoidable reasons, reluctance to come home had to be set aside as his sister's marriage was fixed, and his presence was indispensable. An unavoidable commitment! His boss was convinced of the reasons and granted leave without projecting objections. Father Gokuldas was in a hurry for his marriage as expected handsome dowry was necessary to clear the bank loan planned to take towards daughter Gowry’s marriage expenses. Dowry! A grave social virus! An octopus-like parasite murders the tranquility in innumerable homes!. However significant the hatred faced be, this evil will stay put with the least resistance. Prevailing nation laws prohibit this deep-rooted social evil, but the parents disregard to ensure their daughters are in the safe hands attracted by this. Unless society takes firm decisions irrespective of myths of the unavoidability of this evil, this will never get faded out to oblivion.

Nonsense, Sreeraj muttered unknowingly.

Ram, the friend, college-mate, and neighbor driving the car ran his eyes towards Sreeraj and raised brows.

Looking at Ram, he leaned towards him and said, I was cursing you for compelling me for this avoidable trip. Wastage of time and efforts.

Ram recalled his conversations before going back to the gulf on last year's leave expiry. The previous seven years' vigorous and extensive search for a suitable girl could not yield results, and he wanted to be away from the marriage. Finding the right girl was not in his fate! Ram smiled, remembering his pathetic face condemning the prevailing formalities like matching horoscopes and social status. His horoscope with problems was challenging to find a suitable girl with similar horoscope problems. No one supported his repeated requests to do away with that formal ritual.

The market of gulf employees had nose-dived with frequent returns with loss of jobs. That enhanced the difficulties of getting a suitable girl with his minimum demands.

Ram used pacifying styles to kill his anxiety to be comfortable, promising not to compel after that, provided he did not like the girl.

Uncle Sivan, mother Vimala, and younger sister Gowry sitting behind were curious to know the gist of their conversation and leaned forward. Sreeraj killed their anxiety with casual remarks, we were talking about the fading job opportunities in the gulf.

The car wheeled into the compound of the visiting house crossing the opened gate. Sreeraj saw many eyes casting on the car with anxiety. Ram stopped the vehicle away from the steps for all to alight comfortably. Sivan was the first to get down, and looking at the head of the house, he smiled and wished silently. Opening the door fully, he kept the way for others to get down with ease.

Sivan moved towards Sreeraj and cautioned him of the formalities, and asked to observe the girl correctly without being shy. If given a chance, talk to her, opening your mind, especially of accompaniment to gulf immediately after marriage. Try to be frank with her. He was doing his duty as an uncle with a smile, which Sreeraj abhorred and swallowed with distaste.

XXX

The guests took their seats and looked at each other, easing out the monotony of a long journey of above two hours. Vijay, the girl's father, sitting opposite Sivan, was first to open the conversation. Hope there was not much of a traffic jam en route.

Sivan adjusted his seat to be more comfortable and smiled, twisting his long mustache upwards. That will remain a dream to find roads with least traffic like years back. The unruly traffic with the least consideration to the gentle movements of vehicles is a curse. Overtaking from left and right! That is on the increase with density of traffic. He realized his folly of getting into lengthy talk and smiled. He chuckled. Faced not much of problems.

They got into a conversation showing interest in the job and life of Sreeraj in the Gulf. Sreeraj satisfied them all pleasingly.

One person said with hesitation. The demand in the Gulf for foreign human resources has decreased with more local employment. Earlier the education level among the locals was less. He chuckled. Now, that is not the case.

Sreeraj looked at him and smiled.

Vijay, the girls’ father, looked at Sivan and said with humility. Reena is our only daughter, as Sivan might have told. All my property is for her. I was an income-tax officer and retired recently. He passed his eyes towards the guests to observe reactions on faces. As a law-abiding citizen, I am dead against the customs of giving and taking dowry. He smiled and looked at Sivan to read the uncomplacent face. With a chuckle, he continued. I am not fastidious of not giving away whatever I want to my daughter. Not as a dowry, but a gift to our daughter. He observed the changes in his facial expressions and looked contented. I know we stand as the first on the steps of the formalities. With little hesitation, he demanded. If the girl and boy like each other, what is the demand in your mind? He looked at Sivan to hear from him with anxiety.

The unexpected query made Sivan uncomfortable, and he turned towards his sister Vimala.

Vimala gestured to remain silent, and Sivan conceded and nodded with a grunt.

Looking at everyone, Sivan tried to be formal and said with humbleness. She is your daughter, and your wishes will be honored and respected. Even if you do not give anything and send her away with daily wear ornaments, we will not say a word.

One older person laughed. That shows your culture and humility. Those words are fitting to the present government ban on dowry. Giving and taking is a crime. He looked at others and ensured their support with nods.

Vijay smiled. Looking at his wife, Suma, he gestured to bring Reena.Bring her in.

Suma nodded with a silent grunt and got up.

XXX

All eyes got fixed towards one direction. Reena holding a tray with teacups, entered the hall pinning a smile without shyness, exhibiting boldness. She scanned the room, located the boy, and fixed her gaze on him. Reena moved like a swan, with careful steps accompanied by Suma. For a moment, she looked confused as to who should first be given the teacup – the elders or the boy. Quickly, she moved towards the boy and extended her hand with the tray.

Sreeraj looked up at her face and mumbled thanks and picked up a cup, and waited for her to move away. Turned his face towards his friend Ram and waited for his nod with approval. His eyes moved along the girl as she passed the cups to everyone. His eager eyes scanned with anxiety the whole body critically and smiled unknowingly. Slim and fair girl of above five feet four inches!

With the satisfaction of her performance, Reena moved to take position behind her father, sitting on the sofa.

The exhilarated satisfaction made Sivan turn towards Sreeraj to know his opinion after seeing the girl. His contented gaze was enough to read his mind. Sivan smiled with excitement at winning the first step. With confidence masquerading on the face, he looked at Vimala and saw the flower of satisfaction blooming on her face. Looking at Sreeraj, he asked, You may ask her anything.

Sreeraj cleared his throat and opened his mouth with inborn shyness. Your name? Quickly he realized his folly of asking her name and turned his head around to observe smiles on all faces. He made a face with a chuckle.

Reena.

With a nod, Sreeraj decided to keep quiet.

There was pin-drop silence expecting more questions from Sreeraj. Nothing heard. Instead, they found him sitting face down