Karmadrika

By Avipsha Sandil

Deep red blood dripped from the decapitated head that was hung from the huge Himalayan oak. There was a puddle of blood on the clayey soil beneath. Inspector Adrika and sub-inspector Czar looked at the head with much precision. Czar moved around in a circle just below the cut off head rubbing his chin and examining.

Instantaneously, four constables rushed towards the two and said with urgency in their voice, "We searched for the body in every possible place ma'am, but couldn't find a single trace of it." They were accompanied by two K9s, German shepherds, who went on to hunt for the body. They had this ferocious yet reliable look in their eyes, well trained good boys who did a great job in contributing their part to the forces. "Are you guys certain?", enquired Czar. "Yes sir, no footprints, no murder weapon, no fingerprints or any other evidence." The only sign that made them sure of the killer was the sanskrit engraving, " Sarve Karma Vasha Vayam" which translates to - We all are under our Karma. It was cleverly engraved on the same branch where the head was hanging lifelessly. 'Aman Singh', Adrika said with much surity in her voice. Sub-inspector Czar agreed. Both of them were pretty sure it was that Aman Singh who they were searching for since the past 6 months. His name was in the most wanted list. He used to randomly pick his target at night, rob them and cruelly cut off their heads to hang it from a tree with no trace of their bodies. The same way his own head was hanging now. Robbing was done for his survival is understood but killing people in such a manner was just his toxic pleasure. Twenty four people were killed by him and found in the same way. And now he was added as the 25th head in his own list by someone he'd never imagined. Peculiarly this killer used to hunt and kill other most wanted serial killers in town the same way they murdered their victims. This case was one a kind and provoked deep thought and challenge in the police department. The only clue to reach this killer was his trademark Sanskrit quote, which was left after each kill. Even though there was a psychopath moving around in the city, people were out of any form of terror. It was well known to them that this time the heineous criminals are being punished. Rather the psychopath killers were the ones scared and provoked at the same time. "Send the head to the forensics",commanded Czar. It was released and bought down by the constables who left with the head after sealing the area. The huge crowd of people also started vanishing leaving the grove as silent as it was at the time when the crime took place. Adrika leaned on one of the large boulders puffing on a cigarette when Czar stood in front of her and said, " Intriguing! Isn't it?" Adrika casually passed him the cigarette and replied with irritation, " Bastard! Just wants to show us how brilliant he is. Simply enjoys doing all these." " I bet. He has this motive ma'am. Basically wants to kill the killers and establish justice. The idealistic killer types." " He is just another psychopath Czar. It thrills him to outsmart these serial killers who strategically carry out their sins." Czar was about to answer when his phone rang in the tunes of Ringa Ringa displaying his love for South Indian Cinema. He took a minute to talk to who appeared to be his wife. Just then Adrika's phone flashed with a call from the DGP and she picked up with much hesitancy. " So, Aman Singh is dead", said the DGP. " Yes, sir", both Adrika and Czar replied with embarrassment. " What is the update on the case?", the DGP questioned. " Sir, the killer is apparently targeting our most wanted serial killer list." " So, you guys just want to sit back and look at the farce? Is this a show going on?", the DGP roared. " Sir we are already aware of his strategy and his next victim is most probably Reshmi Devi, the one who manipulates brides to perform a small sacred ceremony before their marriage, takes them to a deserted place, tricks them to drink poison naming it as a holy offering and takes all their jewellery. Leaving them dead on the ground." " Look Adrika, the person has already killed 3 people brutally and I don't want him to do our job unlawfully. We don't have much time, just get him behind bars." " Definitely sir", assured Adrika. Both of them sharply saluted the DGP and left his office. Previous to killing Aman Singh, this killer had already killed two other most wanted psychopath murderers. Daman aka D was the one with whom this series begun. He was one of the most brutal killers who was also a sadist. Abducting young men and torturing them for days is what he did. He would slit their whole body, beat them blue black giving them bruises and punch them multiple times till they fell unconcious. Then he would throw them into a big tank of ice cold salt water which freezed them to death. Screams and begs were all he liked to hear all these time. All his victims had died a slow painful death. For no apparent reason. In the same condition, he was found all injured and dead in his hideout. Submerged in the cold salt water tank with nothingness on his face. Following to him, next one in line was Raju Sharma, a transgender who was found dead in the train strangulated with missing kidney, liver and eyes. He would often roam around in trains after midnight asking for money while searching for a convenient victim. Once he found him/her in a vulnerable environment, he would strangle them to death, remove their kidney, liver, eyes and sell them to earn money. The above incidents too had the sanskrit sloka written, on the water tank for the former and on the train seat in case of the latter. That night when Adrika went home, Vanav her fiancé, who was also a budding doctor had also reverted from a two month Neurological Disorder Training in New Zealand. The moment Vanav opened the door Adrika jumped into his arms and they kissed lovingly. "Aagaye Doctor sahab", Adrika pulled his cheeks. "Haanji Inspector Sahiba", Vanav tickled her. Both of them laughed and hugged each other. They had no idea that their life was going to turn upside down and that it was gonna happen real soon. Vanav on his way back had bought Adrika a beautiful Maa Durga pendant which he made her wear after dinner. He was talking continuosly about his trip, his colleagues, the training and was showing her all the gifts he had got for her and their families. But Adrika appeared to be absent minded and after prompting her several times she finally spoke, " Vanav, I know that he's as psycopath criminal who has taken lives unlawfully but I just can't justify why I am kind of idealizing him", she said with confusion. " Relax Adrika, he made her sit on the bed, sat beside her and contined, I am sure you are not alone. There are many people who are praising and applauding him all over the news and social media. You are a human being too, it's natural to have such feelings", he said assuringly. " I mean he is reaching these killers before us and punishing him the way they deserve to be. Sometimes I feel like doing exactly what he is doing but you are aware that my hands are tied with law." " Yes but you are in a noble profession and you must go with what is right. At the end of the day no matter whatever so called delivery of justice he's doing, he is still a killer." "You're right, I get it", she smiled. In two days Adrika along with her team had to leave for Kasol, they had got tips for Reshmi Devi being present there. Previous to the day they were supposed to leave, Vanav woke up in the middle of the night to find that Adrika was not beside him. He went downstairs to search for her and had found her in the basement. After being called by Vanav she acted as if she just woke up from a dream and didn't know what was happening or how she got there. It was strange of her but he just let it go. Next afternoon in Kasol, Adrika along with Czar and their team had almost caught hold of Reshmi Devi in an abandoned house on the hills but she just vanished after a 15 minutes chase and was nowhere to be found after that. Adrika was the last one to see her. In between all these chaos, Vanav had called her multiple time but there was no network. She gave him a call back next morning and all she heard from Vanav was asking her to come back immediately. She wasn't informed about any particular reason but was told that it wasn't good for her to be there and she was a danger to others. She was clueless as to how she made an unsafe place for everybody else. Meanwhile, Czar knocked on the door urgently and as Adrika opened it, he said something that totally shocked her. "Ma'am, Reshmi Devi is dead." "What the hell Czar?! When? Where? How??" "She was found dead today in the morning dressed as a bride in the same abandoned house we found her in. A local boy informed the Kasol Police and they told us." They rushed to the house on the hill, the areas was sealed and as Adrika along with Czar entered the house, the first thing they could see was written in big and bold, " Sarve Karma Vasha Vayam." Reshmi Devi was lying there lifeless dressed in red bridal wear laden with bright gold jewellery. Her mouth was covered with white foam indicating poisoning. Adrika bent down resting her arms on her knees and began scrutinizing her. She was looking closely at the body when she found something clasped tightly on Reshmi's hand that shook her to the core. It was the same necklace that Vanav had gifted her. Back at her home when she confronted Vanav about it, he took her immediately to the basement. The big cupboard along with big antique boxes were out of their place and the wall posessed something that horrified Adrika. It was a full-fledged planning of the kills of D, Raju Sharma, Aman Singh and Reshmi Devi. Top to bottom all the details and information contained there. There was a different place dedicated to the Sanskrit Sloka written in bright red vermillion, at a higher place on the wall below which everything was carried out. "Adrika, listen to me carefully, what am gonna say may shock you but listen to me with all your intellect. You may have this mental disorder called as Multiple Personality Disorder. The kills are all done by you or rather an extreme personality in you. You have no idea when all these happened, the second personality in you knows everything about you and hence the most wanted criminals. When all of these was happening you were not in your senses. I discovered this when you were gone and you idealizing the killer explains it all. So, in a nutshell all these while you were just hunting for yourself without actually even knowing about it." Tears rolled down Adrika's eyes and her mind was filled with mixed emotions. She just stared unbelievingly at the curves of "SARVE KARMA VASHA VAYAM."

By Avipsha Sandil