The woman who had a sister

The woman had her sister murdered. Her driver conspired and helped her dispose off the body. It’s not clear how the sister was killed. She has been missing since 2012. A partially burned body of a young woman had been found around the same time at a farmhouse in Lonavala. It’s not yet clear if it’s the sister. The woman and the driver have both been arrested.

It turns out that the murdered one is not the sister but the daughter of the murderer. The woman has at least two ex husbands and one partner; one of them is the father of the victim. One of her two ex husbands has also been arrested but it’s doesn’t seem to be the one who is the father of the victim. 

The alleged murderer has a current husband. All this while he believed the lady he was seeing around the house – since she lived with them - was his wife’s sister. After all, the resemblance was there. Daughters look like mothers and sisters look alike too. 

Rather recently however it has come to his notice that the young lady was not his wife’s sister but his wife’s daughter. Someone had muttered something on these lines a while ago but he dismissed the rumour. One can’t take everything one hears seriously. Those days are gone.

Although he has not seen the lady around much since 2012, he didn’t really question the lack of contact since she had gone abroad. Out of sight, out of mind maybe? Or maybe just the impossibility of keeping in touch once abroad? God knows how these others manage to do it. 

Also, there was so much else to do. Who cares really? Sister or daughter? It’s all pretty much the same. Naturally, the latest revelation – which he is now having to take quite seriously – has sent the poor man into shock.

How the fact that it was his wife’s daughter missed him totally is a riddle in this intriguing tale since the husband’s son from an earlier marriage was romantically linked with the daughter of his present wife. Did she manage to keep her mother’s identity secret even from her lover – the son of the husband? It is possible. Anything is possible. 

The murdered daughter has a brother – somewhere in the north eastern part of the country. He appears not to have lived with his mother and her current husband. The brother is certain the mother did it. He even knows why.  

And here comes the part that I find most upsetting. He has promised to reveal all when the time comes. And we know from our past experience in India – look at Aarushi, Sunanda and god knows how many others – that this time never comes. The last chapter that Agatha always delivered is perpetually missing in this country.

Anyway, he – the brother - has in fact been trying to trace his sibling since 2012. Perhaps not too aggressively you might think? After all, he is almost abroad – many don’t count Guwahati as part of India in any case. 

And even though he asked, too many questions tended to upset his sister…uum mother. His sister had after all gone abroad. Who has access to these people who go abroad? In this day and age?

Did the current husband know of this son? Or did he think he was his brother-in-law? His wife’s brother perhaps? Yes, he thought so. So what if the age gap seemed a bit glaring….people do have children very late almost as an afterthought. It is possible. Anything is possible.

There’s another daughter in the saga. From the second husband and adopted by the current one. Her role as of now is unclear.

Friends of all concerned are in shock. The murderer who was a charming lady has some not so thin white haired support on television. After months, there is a story worth watching and reporting. The gleam in the anchors eyes gives them away.

The friends of the daughter – some of whom had been aware that she was posing as the sister – are in shock. They did try to contact her but failed. Besides, the mother was using her daughter’s phone and pretending to be her. She even managed to end her relationship in absentia so to speak. Virtually? In this busy day and age, it is possible. Anything is possible.

In the midst of all this action, I have a few things to say to some people although not to any of the characters involved. Bollywood, please shut shop. Who needs you when this is real life? Agatha, please return from your grave and solve this one. India needs you. All is forgiven – just come back. And De, if you aren’t on to your next book project, here’s something meaty to mull over. Suhel could help.