Bali Mansion, Two days later
"Arghhh…"
The shout of the servant reverberated through the entire wilderness, startling the birds off the trees.
Bhadrak was pale faced when he came to report to Kirtidev about the dead body found next to the Lotus Pond.
"Master, it seems that the person has been dead for more than two days. Since there is no one frequenting that part of the estate, it wasn't discovered any sooner. Had it not been for Young Master Divij's dog who brought back a frozen hand, this matter wouldn't have been found out even till later. Young Master Divij has already gone back to the gurukul and didn't witness the scene," he reported everything dutifully and systematically.
Kirtidev exhaled in a deep manner. "Has the dead person been identified yet?"
Bhadrak lowered his head and replied softly. "I am afraid not. The body is badly bloated and damaged by the scavengers. There is no identification on the body nor is anyone missing in our entire estate, including staff from the outer yard and the internal personnel. Moreover, that part of the land cannot be accessed from anywhere except from inside the mansion. Hence, the whole incident is slightly mind boggling for this servant."
"All the servants were summoned and questioned repeatedly, even under coercive methods but no one has owned up to knowing anything about this incident. This servant has failed to complete the task given by you," he admitted ashamedly.
"Call the local authorities. Since we have been unsuccessful in handling the matter by ourselves, we can only have the experts takeover," Kirtidev said with suppressed lips.
Bhadrak looked at his master for a second but then lowered his head without saying anything.
Other side of the mansion
"Eldest Miss, how could this be? Who would do this? There was no one else apart from us that night, I swear." Ekakshi was going crazy thinking of the person responsible for fishing out the dead body from the pond.
Without waiting for her mistress's reply, she continued speculating in a shaky voice. "The body couldn't have floated out on its own and landed on the dry surface with the heavy stones which had been tied to it. The nanny's sons couldn't have done it either. They are the ones who killed him. What would they gain by bringing out the body? Could it be... did Ganak have an accomplice in the mansion? Or did his spirit come back to..."
Dharitri looked up from the embroidery which she held in her hand.
"What nonsense!"
Even though her response was scornful, she wasn't as calm as she was appearing to be. But she knew that she needed to look composed lest her maid lost her equilibrium and behaved stupidly in front of others.
It had been scary enough when she had sent Ekakshi to be grilled by her grandfather's faithful dog! That man was capable of ferreting out the best kept secrets in the mansion.
Thankfully, he didn't probe her silly-looking maid too deeply, else...
Dharitri lamented the fact that she wasn't the one who went that night for the rendezvous and had sent this chit instead!
Useless people!
"It doesn't matter. You didn't kill him nor did I. Where is the proof of our involvement?" She looked at her maid and asked her brazenly.
Ekakshi bobbed her head in relief and replied. "Yes, you are absolutely right, Eldest Miss. You are…"
Her words were interrupted by the entry of the elder matron who served Madam Lilavati. "Eldest Miss, Madam is feeling unwell and is looking for you."
Dharitri nodded her head and said, "I'll be right there."
For the past two days, her mother was feeling insecure because Dharitri had forcibly made her approve the sudden retirement of Nanny Sumana. Her mother had been absolutely unwilling to let the old woman go but in front of Dharitri's logic, she couldn't help it.
Dharitri had made sure to remind the nanny to leave the town as soon as her daughter's wedding was over, along with her sons. She didn't want either of them to stay in the same vicinity henceforth.
Thankfully, the nanny had coincidentally asked for leave during this period for her daughter's functions and hence managed to escape Bhadrak's scrutiny.
But the burning question remained - who had dredged out the dead groom from the water? And why?
Though she tried to maintain her composure through the day, Dharitri felt goosebumps climb on her body that night onwards. Her skin became clammy and her limbs had a bone-piercing chill which she couldn't seem to shake off despite sitting in front of the blazing fireplace.
Katyayani's courtyard
The actual perpetrators, who had the entire mansion in a frenzy, were sitting next to the fireplace and going through the ledgers of the new beauty centres which Mandodari had sent across that morning.
"I think we can expand the business to the nearby towns on a partnership basis," said Katyayani, stretching her neck languidly.
"Do we need more money? Isn't all this enough to keep us going for a lifetime?" asked Eka in confusion.
Katyayani gazed out of the window and replied in a casual manner. "I have decided to hire a big group of mercenaries to accompany us when we go to Adra next year."
Both Chatvari and Eka were stunned when they heard her. Trini, who was at the entrance of the room, paused in her steps.
She smiled wryly. When her mistress had asked her to take her along for the task to Adra a few months ago with that mercenary group, she had found something to be amiss. During all these years, it had only been the two of them going for tasks. The purpose had been to give her enough real time exposure. But suddenly, she wanted to be a part of a group mission.
Considering she didn't like interacting much with strangers, there had to be a catch involved.
"So, you have been planning this for sometime now! I see that your thoughts are becoming deeper, Young Miss," Trini's dry voice caused Katyayani to feel a twinge of discomfort.