03-10-2025, 03:15 AM
Banana Cake.
It was late night at the tiny hill station. Cold winds were blowing from north. Swatilekha walked into the hotel reception. A young boy sat behind the desk. Swatilekha asked for accommodation. The boy handed her the key to the room. Swatilekha took the key and walked out of the reception.
Her husband Avinash was parking the car. She smiled at him and called him to the room. After five years since their first honeymoon, they returned to that same hill station for their second honeymoon. It was the same hotel they spend their first honeymoon and eventually they got the same room. He promised her a fortnight ago to return to same place on her birthday and their marriage anniversary.
As soon as they entered the room, Avinash held Swatilekha by her waist and embraced her. Her svelte figurine melted in his warm embrace. Her knees turned weak, blood rushed on her coy face. She hid her bashful smile on his chest. Warmth from his strong muscular body soaked her every pores. Her breath paced. Her ample bosom crushed on his muscular chest. Heat and love engulfed two hungry doves. She felt his lips approaching her succulent buds. She looked up to his lovelorn gaze.
Avinash took her face between palms and cooed in her ears, “You are sweltering today, honey.”
Swatilekha gave a bashful smile and answered coyly, “And you are very naughty.”
She placed her palm on Avinash’s eyes so that his amber daze could not ignite her passions. Yet she felt that she was melting like ice in his warm embrace. His face dipped down on her face. He crushed his lips on her sweet lips. Nectar flowed as they got engrossed in a deep kiss. Both of them were caught in a tempest.
Avinash asked, “Are you happy?”
She threw her arms around his neck and rubbed her nose tip on his and said, “Ummmmm very much.”
Avinash cooed in her ears, “I love you honey. I will never let you wander in this world alone.”
She nibbled the back of his head, pulled his face on to hers and said, “You promised me something more, dear.”
Avinash, “Yes I do remember that.”
Swatilekha, “Are we going to stand here whole night long?”
Avinash, “No honey. How can I keep my nymph waiting for long.”
Swatilekha joked, “I am feeling sleepy. I want to sleep.”
Swatilekha tried to break from his strong embrace but the bond was too magnetic to tear off. She wriggled, trying herself to break out and more she got entangled in his arms. He took her on his lap and placed gently on the white soft bed as if he was handling a drop of pearl on a lotus leaf. He then sat beside her. She was dbangd in a turquoise saree and bedecked in gold ornaments. Slowly the two lovelorn birds mingled with eachother and breezed into the arcadia, submerged themselves in the nectar of love.
Swatilekha was oscillating between slumber and soft morning sunrays. She was still on white soft bed covered in blanket. Her eyes were filled with sweet morning drowsiness. Her hair, dishevelled. Her svelte figurine bore marks of last night’s loveplay. She clasped the pillow across her bosom and reminiscences of the past night floated infront of her eyes. She placed her hand on the other side of the bed, Avinash was not present there. She missed the morning warm embrace of his strong arms. She smiled at herself; last night was filled with tempest.
She called his husband, “Good morning Dear.”
Hoping that he might be in the bathroom, however there was no answer. She got up from bed and wrapped the dressing gown. She thought that she should wait for him. She opened the cupboard, took her dress and entered the bathroom to freshen herself. She came out of the bathroom, yet her husband did not return. He does not keep away for so long. She looked outside the window. There was a fine curtain of fog dangling across the far green mountains. She walked to the balcony. The balcony was dangling over a deep gorge. A narrow stream danced it way far below. The green mountain just front of the balcony was bathed in soft morning rays and misty curtain. She looked around the room, searching for him. She smiled at herself as she remembered. Last night he promised her something favourite. She took out one of his shirt and put on her curvaceous figurine. She danced a little as she felt his strong arm around her.
Swatilekha called him on his cellphone. However the mobile ranged from the bed itself. “Oh no, not again!” she exclaimed, “Why do you forget your mobile everytime you go out. Please come back, Dear. I am dying to behold you.”
She tossed the pillow and found his mobile. Along with the mobile, she found a small piece of paper and a fresh rose bud. On that paper it was written,
“Love you honey. I am going to buy your favourite banana cake as promised.”
She kissed the piece of paper and her face lit with smile. Banana cake was her favourite. She felt solace at least she knew where he has gone. It should not take long for him to return. She opened the cupboard and took out his dress. She prepared his dress as what he would wear after breakfast as they go out for sightseeing.
Time was running by, but there was no sign of Avinash. She looked at her wristwatch. Thirty minutes passed but that interval seemed like a lifetime to her. She strolled up and down the room. Anxiety was taking over her, where is her heartthrob? The bakery shop was round the corner. It should not take long to return.
An hour passed and fear crept in her soul. She kept on murmuring herself as the itching fear caught her veins. “You always keep to your words. What is taking you so long? Why on earth have you left your mobile on the bed?”
She ran downstairs to search her husband. At the reception a young boy sat behind the desk. She asked the boy whether he has seen anyone going outside. The boy answered negatively. She sat at the reception, she could not think of anything. She looked at both the cellphone. His cellphone had her image on the display. She clasped his cellphone and groaned in utter pain, “Please dear come back quickly.”
Her heart was racing like a race horse. He never left her side for that long. Her heart started thumping inside her chest as if it would tear her apart anytime.
She again asked the boy, “Are you sure that you have not seen anyone going out?”
The boy answered, “No madam I have not seen anyone going out. By the way, your room is at the end of the corridor. There is a staircase on the other side. I think sir might have gone through that.”
Swatilekha asked the boy, “May be. For how long you are here?”
The boy answered, “Just thirty minutes.”
Swatilekha sat cowered on the chair. The boy brought a glass of water for her. She gulped water and composed herself. She asked the boy about the bakery shops. The boy answered that there are only few and one is only round the corner. However, it would not take that long to buy a banana cake and return. She went back to her room and waited for him.
However even after a couple of hours, when Avinash didn’t return, fright crept inside every veins of Swatilekha. She wailed and cried, banged her head on the walls. She looked at the piece of paper in her hand and cursed herself, why on earth she asked the banana cake for breakfast.
Swatilekha rushed to the reception asking the boy whereabouts of the nearest security officer station. The boy took her to the security officer station. Swatilekha reported to the inspector that her husband was missing. Inspector Ramesh asked her the details. She handed a photo of Avinash and told him everything. Inspector Ramesh consoled Swatilekha that her husband might have gone for some work and would be back.
Swatilekha said to him, “Inspector, my husband, Avinash is a simple man with simple taste. He is an engineer back in the city. We both are god-fearing person. He does not have any enemies. We arrived here in our car last night and we checked into the hotel. This was our second honeymoon after a gap of five years. Last night he told me that he would surprise in the morning. In the morning, I found his note and I came to know about his surprise. I love banana cake and he wrote in the note that he was going to fetch a banana cake for me.”
Ramesh then asked, “Do you know anyone here. Any place he might have gone to?”
Swatilekha, “No, we do not know anyone here.”
Ramesh, “Do you suspect anyone?”
Swatilekha, “Means?”
Ramesh, “I mean, he could be kidnapped.”
Swatilekha shrieked, “Why the hell on earth someone would try to harm my husband? We are not so rich.”
Ramesh, “May be some old grudge. May be the assailant followed you here and in the morning when he found your husband alone. He might have striked or taken him somewhere.”
Swatilekha nodded, “No no no, it is not possible. We donot have any enemies.”
Ramesh asked for the mobile. Swatilekha handed Avinash’s cellphone to Inspector. After inspecting the call logs for a while, Inspector asked Swatilekha, “Madam, I have a question. Could you please explain as why no one called Mr. Avinash in the last fortnight?”
Swatilekha gave a faint smile, “My husband resigned from his previous job and was on a notice period. For last fifteen days he was there by my side. We were preparing for this trip. Today is our fourth marriage anniversary and tomorrow is my birthday. It was a great day for both of us.”
Ramesh got more suspicious, “You mean to say that no one called him or you in these fifteen days?”
Swatilekha smiled again, “Yes no one called. You can check my cellphone also. When my husband was there by side why should anyone call him?” Her facial contours changed to angst, “Please search him. He never leaves my side for a single moment. He never comes late. He is always punctual.”
Inspector Ramesh nodded and accompanied Swatilekha to the hotel. On arriving at the hotel, he saw that their car was parked in the front of the hotel. Inspector asked the hotel boy regarding Avinash.
The hotel boy said, “No sir, I haven’t seen Mr Avinash going out since morning.”
Inspector Ramesh asked the boy, “Is there any other exit from the hotel?”
The boy, “Yes sir there is. Mr. Avinash’s room is at the end of the corridor and there is another exit from that side.”
Inspector, “So it is possible that Mr. Avinash might have gone out from the other exit.” He then turned towards Swatilekha and asked, “Till what time you were with your husband?”
Swatilekha answered, “We were awake till three on the morning before I was swept into slumber. I woke up at morning seven and I found he was gone.”
Ramesh thought for a while, “So that means, before seven o’clock he went out. At what time he gets up from bed generally?”
Swatilekha, “He is an early bird. He prepares our morning tea everyday and tug me up from my slumber. He gets up at six.”
Ramesh said, “So that means he has gone out between six and seven. If he visits the bakery as the note says, then we must goto the bakery. By the way, can you tell me what dress he wore.”
Inspector then came along with Swatilekha inside the hotel room. He inspected the room and asked about his dress. Swatilekha opened the cupboard. There were two bags in the cupboard. The cupboard had Avinash’s clothes, his slipper. A pair of dark coloured trousers and a white shirt was missing along with his pair of shoes. On the side table, there was cup, a tea bag dipped inside. Inspector asked Swatilekha for the note. She handed him the piece of paper and the rose. She explained that she was fond of banana cake and he wrote this note and kept the rose under his pillow. Inspector smelled the rose bud. It was fresh or might be a day old. He inspected the paper. Inspector asked her where she observed any disturbance in Avinash. She answered negatively. He knew that the hill station was very small one. There are only two or three bakery shops where Avinash could buy banana cake.
Inspector Ramesh tried to console Swatilekha by saying, “Don’t worry madam, we will find your husband. I would ask you to stay at hotel. If he is kidnapped then you might get a call for ransom. We can trace that call and go for further investigation.”
She was unable to accept as why someone would kidnap her husband. She said to Ramesh, “Can we goto the bakery shops and ask them? May be they have seen him?”
Swatilekha requested Inspector Ramesh that she wants to accompany to search her beloved. At first Inspector Ramesh tried to keep her at bay, but her insistence was stronger.
They went to the bakery shops asking for Avinash. Only three bakery shops in the town prepare banana cake. First two shops gave negative answer that they have not seen Mr Avinash. They reached the third shop to enquire. The old man recognised Swatilekha and she was amazed to see the old man.
The old man exclaimed, “How are you? After a long time.”
Swatilekha wailed, “Have you seen my husband this morning? He promised me that he would bring a banana cake for me. He went out and ...” she could not finish the sentence.
The old man nodded negatively and said to the Inspector, “No sir. He did not come to my shop this morning.”
Inspector Ramesh was surprised to see that the old man knew Swatilekha. He enquired, “How do you know them?”
The old man explained, “Sir, this loveable couple came to my shop five years ago.” Ramesh was astonished that the old man remembered them and asked how he remembered them. The old man explained, “That day was special for me as well as them. Mr. Avinash asked to make a special cake for his wife. A cake no one has tasted before and no one should taste after that. He asked me to make that cake a unique one, in taste and in shape. He paid me double the price and I prepared the best banana cake for him.”
Ramesh then asked, “What was so unique in that cake? If you could prepare once then you could prepare again.”
The old man gave a faint smile, “No sir, that cake was unique in true sense. He loved his wife very much. So much that he pricked his thumb and mixed his blood in the dough. He smiled at me and said that his part should remain with his wife forever. The cream dough turned red and I had to bake. He asked me to make a pair of heart, one with marking “A” another “S”. I had to prepare a new dice for that and then I had to break that dice as I promised him.”
Inspector Ramesh looked at Swatilekha who was inconsolable after hearing all that. She wailed and sat cowered on the chair. She clasped the piece of paper on her chest and cried, “Please God, please bring him back. I would never ask anything from him. Please bring him back.”
Time was running like waves. Tempest of fear crept in her soul. Inspector Ramesh asked Swatilekha to return to the hotel. However, she denied to return and said that she wanted to search her husband on her own. Inspector asked her to inform her family members so that they can arrive and help her, console her for her loss. She was adamant not to inform her family members. Inspector Ramesh asked the reason as why she doesn’t want to inform her family members. Swatilekha explained that they had love marriage, much against the will of their family members. Inspector Ramesh persuaded her that no one would harm them.
Inspector Ramesh took Swatilekha to the security officer station and called her family members. He informed Avinash’s brother, Avigyan that his brother was missing. The response that Ramesh got from Avigyan shook the core of his heart. Avigyan asked Inspector Ramesh to keep a weather eye on Swatilekha, as he would arrive as soon as possible. For the whole time Swatilekha was inconsolable and kept on asking about her husband. She cried and cried until she was exhausted. The lady constable tried to persuade her to return to the hotel but she was adamant to go in search for her husband. Inspector Ramesh and others had to resign to her request but they kept her in the security officer station until Avigyan arrived.
Avigyan reached the hill station by evening. He rushed to the security officer station to look for Swatilekha. Upon beholding Avigyan, She gave a grieved look at him. Avigyan sat beside her. She looked at him with flooded eyes and broke down. Avigyan lost his words as how to console Swatilekha.
Swatilekha clasped his collar and wailed repeatedly, “Please bring him back. I promise not to ask anything from him. Please bring him back.”
Inspector Ramesh called Avigyan aside and asked, “What is all these could you please explain to me?”
Avigyan said, “My brother and my sister in law got married five years back. They had a love marriage much against the will of our families. But with passing time the bond was mended. Can you tell me how she arrived here?”
Inspector Ramesh answered, “Madam told me that they came by a car and the car is still parked infront of the hotel. I have seen the car.”
Avigyan’s frame shook like a twig caught in storm. He took a deep breath, a lung full of air before a deep plunge into the truth. Avigyan muttered, “It is not possible. My brother died in a car accident two weeks ago. My sister-in-law could not come to terms that he was no more. She kept herself in a recluse, hiding herself from the whole world. We tried hard to bring her back but everything failed. And most important, Swatilekha don’t know driving.”
Inspector Ramesh looked at Swatilekha in disbelief and asked Avigyan, “How can that be? I have inspected the hotel room. There were a man’s clothes in the cupboard. There was a fresh rose and a note. ”
Avigyan was unable to belief, “Can I see the note?”
Inspector Ramesh handed the piece of paper. Avigyan inspected the handwriting and his eyes popped in disbelief. He exclaimed, “Yes this is my brother’s handwriting. But how can that be possible, Inspector?”
Inspector Ramesh could not think of anything more. His head was spinning, “How can a person come from the dead to write a letter? I can take you to the hotel room.”
They all came to the hotel. Dark night descended in that tiny hill station. A dark loom descended on Swatilekha as she tried to gather herself. She crept in a hard shell. She was abnormally silent. Void and dark oblivion engulfed her heart.
“No, Avinash can’t leave me like that. He was there with me till morning.” She kept on muttering the same.
She opened the door and was astonished to find Avinash standing there at the balcony. Her face lit up with joy. She exclaimed in happiness and ran towards him. She threw her arms around his neck and asked, “Where were you all day long?”
Avinash took his beloved in his arms and cooed, “I was here only. I went to buy the banana cake for you.”
Swatilekha eyes welled as Avinash held her and fed a piece of cake. She opened her mouth to take a mouthful of cake. She smiled with tearful eyes and said, “Please don’t leave me alone like that.”
Avinash held her tightly and walked to the edge of the balcony, “I promise not to leave you alone. My love.”
Avigyan and Inspector Ramesh stood dumbfounded as Swatilekha spoke merrily with some invisible person at the balcony. Avigyan ran towards Swatilekha as she stood at the edge of the balcony. Before he could catch Swatilekha, she took a step forward and disappeared into the dark misty curtain along with her beloved.
______________________________
Banana Cake.
pinuram
It was late night at the tiny hill station. Cold winds were blowing from north. Swatilekha walked into the hotel reception. A young boy sat behind the desk. Swatilekha asked for accommodation. The boy handed her the key to the room. Swatilekha took the key and walked out of the reception.
Her husband Avinash was parking the car. She smiled at him and called him to the room. After five years since their first honeymoon, they returned to that same hill station for their second honeymoon. It was the same hotel they spend their first honeymoon and eventually they got the same room. He promised her a fortnight ago to return to same place on her birthday and their marriage anniversary.
As soon as they entered the room, Avinash held Swatilekha by her waist and embraced her. Her svelte figurine melted in his warm embrace. Her knees turned weak, blood rushed on her coy face. She hid her bashful smile on his chest. Warmth from his strong muscular body soaked her every pores. Her breath paced. Her ample bosom crushed on his muscular chest. Heat and love engulfed two hungry doves. She felt his lips approaching her succulent buds. She looked up to his lovelorn gaze.
Avinash took her face between palms and cooed in her ears, “You are sweltering today, honey.”
Swatilekha gave a bashful smile and answered coyly, “And you are very naughty.”
She placed her palm on Avinash’s eyes so that his amber daze could not ignite her passions. Yet she felt that she was melting like ice in his warm embrace. His face dipped down on her face. He crushed his lips on her sweet lips. Nectar flowed as they got engrossed in a deep kiss. Both of them were caught in a tempest.
Avinash asked, “Are you happy?”
She threw her arms around his neck and rubbed her nose tip on his and said, “Ummmmm very much.”
Avinash cooed in her ears, “I love you honey. I will never let you wander in this world alone.”
She nibbled the back of his head, pulled his face on to hers and said, “You promised me something more, dear.”
Avinash, “Yes I do remember that.”
Swatilekha, “Are we going to stand here whole night long?”
Avinash, “No honey. How can I keep my nymph waiting for long.”
Swatilekha joked, “I am feeling sleepy. I want to sleep.”
Swatilekha tried to break from his strong embrace but the bond was too magnetic to tear off. She wriggled, trying herself to break out and more she got entangled in his arms. He took her on his lap and placed gently on the white soft bed as if he was handling a drop of pearl on a lotus leaf. He then sat beside her. She was dbangd in a turquoise saree and bedecked in gold ornaments. Slowly the two lovelorn birds mingled with eachother and breezed into the arcadia, submerged themselves in the nectar of love.
Swatilekha was oscillating between slumber and soft morning sunrays. She was still on white soft bed covered in blanket. Her eyes were filled with sweet morning drowsiness. Her hair, dishevelled. Her svelte figurine bore marks of last night’s loveplay. She clasped the pillow across her bosom and reminiscences of the past night floated infront of her eyes. She placed her hand on the other side of the bed, Avinash was not present there. She missed the morning warm embrace of his strong arms. She smiled at herself; last night was filled with tempest.
She called his husband, “Good morning Dear.”
Hoping that he might be in the bathroom, however there was no answer. She got up from bed and wrapped the dressing gown. She thought that she should wait for him. She opened the cupboard, took her dress and entered the bathroom to freshen herself. She came out of the bathroom, yet her husband did not return. He does not keep away for so long. She looked outside the window. There was a fine curtain of fog dangling across the far green mountains. She walked to the balcony. The balcony was dangling over a deep gorge. A narrow stream danced it way far below. The green mountain just front of the balcony was bathed in soft morning rays and misty curtain. She looked around the room, searching for him. She smiled at herself as she remembered. Last night he promised her something favourite. She took out one of his shirt and put on her curvaceous figurine. She danced a little as she felt his strong arm around her.
Swatilekha called him on his cellphone. However the mobile ranged from the bed itself. “Oh no, not again!” she exclaimed, “Why do you forget your mobile everytime you go out. Please come back, Dear. I am dying to behold you.”
She tossed the pillow and found his mobile. Along with the mobile, she found a small piece of paper and a fresh rose bud. On that paper it was written,
“Love you honey. I am going to buy your favourite banana cake as promised.”
She kissed the piece of paper and her face lit with smile. Banana cake was her favourite. She felt solace at least she knew where he has gone. It should not take long for him to return. She opened the cupboard and took out his dress. She prepared his dress as what he would wear after breakfast as they go out for sightseeing.
Time was running by, but there was no sign of Avinash. She looked at her wristwatch. Thirty minutes passed but that interval seemed like a lifetime to her. She strolled up and down the room. Anxiety was taking over her, where is her heartthrob? The bakery shop was round the corner. It should not take long to return.
An hour passed and fear crept in her soul. She kept on murmuring herself as the itching fear caught her veins. “You always keep to your words. What is taking you so long? Why on earth have you left your mobile on the bed?”
She ran downstairs to search her husband. At the reception a young boy sat behind the desk. She asked the boy whether he has seen anyone going outside. The boy answered negatively. She sat at the reception, she could not think of anything. She looked at both the cellphone. His cellphone had her image on the display. She clasped his cellphone and groaned in utter pain, “Please dear come back quickly.”
Her heart was racing like a race horse. He never left her side for that long. Her heart started thumping inside her chest as if it would tear her apart anytime.
She again asked the boy, “Are you sure that you have not seen anyone going out?”
The boy answered, “No madam I have not seen anyone going out. By the way, your room is at the end of the corridor. There is a staircase on the other side. I think sir might have gone through that.”
Swatilekha asked the boy, “May be. For how long you are here?”
The boy answered, “Just thirty minutes.”
Swatilekha sat cowered on the chair. The boy brought a glass of water for her. She gulped water and composed herself. She asked the boy about the bakery shops. The boy answered that there are only few and one is only round the corner. However, it would not take that long to buy a banana cake and return. She went back to her room and waited for him.
However even after a couple of hours, when Avinash didn’t return, fright crept inside every veins of Swatilekha. She wailed and cried, banged her head on the walls. She looked at the piece of paper in her hand and cursed herself, why on earth she asked the banana cake for breakfast.
Swatilekha rushed to the reception asking the boy whereabouts of the nearest security officer station. The boy took her to the security officer station. Swatilekha reported to the inspector that her husband was missing. Inspector Ramesh asked her the details. She handed a photo of Avinash and told him everything. Inspector Ramesh consoled Swatilekha that her husband might have gone for some work and would be back.
Swatilekha said to him, “Inspector, my husband, Avinash is a simple man with simple taste. He is an engineer back in the city. We both are god-fearing person. He does not have any enemies. We arrived here in our car last night and we checked into the hotel. This was our second honeymoon after a gap of five years. Last night he told me that he would surprise in the morning. In the morning, I found his note and I came to know about his surprise. I love banana cake and he wrote in the note that he was going to fetch a banana cake for me.”
Ramesh then asked, “Do you know anyone here. Any place he might have gone to?”
Swatilekha, “No, we do not know anyone here.”
Ramesh, “Do you suspect anyone?”
Swatilekha, “Means?”
Ramesh, “I mean, he could be kidnapped.”
Swatilekha shrieked, “Why the hell on earth someone would try to harm my husband? We are not so rich.”
Ramesh, “May be some old grudge. May be the assailant followed you here and in the morning when he found your husband alone. He might have striked or taken him somewhere.”
Swatilekha nodded, “No no no, it is not possible. We donot have any enemies.”
Ramesh asked for the mobile. Swatilekha handed Avinash’s cellphone to Inspector. After inspecting the call logs for a while, Inspector asked Swatilekha, “Madam, I have a question. Could you please explain as why no one called Mr. Avinash in the last fortnight?”
Swatilekha gave a faint smile, “My husband resigned from his previous job and was on a notice period. For last fifteen days he was there by my side. We were preparing for this trip. Today is our fourth marriage anniversary and tomorrow is my birthday. It was a great day for both of us.”
Ramesh got more suspicious, “You mean to say that no one called him or you in these fifteen days?”
Swatilekha smiled again, “Yes no one called. You can check my cellphone also. When my husband was there by side why should anyone call him?” Her facial contours changed to angst, “Please search him. He never leaves my side for a single moment. He never comes late. He is always punctual.”
Inspector Ramesh nodded and accompanied Swatilekha to the hotel. On arriving at the hotel, he saw that their car was parked in the front of the hotel. Inspector asked the hotel boy regarding Avinash.
The hotel boy said, “No sir, I haven’t seen Mr Avinash going out since morning.”
Inspector Ramesh asked the boy, “Is there any other exit from the hotel?”
The boy, “Yes sir there is. Mr. Avinash’s room is at the end of the corridor and there is another exit from that side.”
Inspector, “So it is possible that Mr. Avinash might have gone out from the other exit.” He then turned towards Swatilekha and asked, “Till what time you were with your husband?”
Swatilekha answered, “We were awake till three on the morning before I was swept into slumber. I woke up at morning seven and I found he was gone.”
Ramesh thought for a while, “So that means, before seven o’clock he went out. At what time he gets up from bed generally?”
Swatilekha, “He is an early bird. He prepares our morning tea everyday and tug me up from my slumber. He gets up at six.”
Ramesh said, “So that means he has gone out between six and seven. If he visits the bakery as the note says, then we must goto the bakery. By the way, can you tell me what dress he wore.”
Inspector then came along with Swatilekha inside the hotel room. He inspected the room and asked about his dress. Swatilekha opened the cupboard. There were two bags in the cupboard. The cupboard had Avinash’s clothes, his slipper. A pair of dark coloured trousers and a white shirt was missing along with his pair of shoes. On the side table, there was cup, a tea bag dipped inside. Inspector asked Swatilekha for the note. She handed him the piece of paper and the rose. She explained that she was fond of banana cake and he wrote this note and kept the rose under his pillow. Inspector smelled the rose bud. It was fresh or might be a day old. He inspected the paper. Inspector asked her where she observed any disturbance in Avinash. She answered negatively. He knew that the hill station was very small one. There are only two or three bakery shops where Avinash could buy banana cake.
Inspector Ramesh tried to console Swatilekha by saying, “Don’t worry madam, we will find your husband. I would ask you to stay at hotel. If he is kidnapped then you might get a call for ransom. We can trace that call and go for further investigation.”
She was unable to accept as why someone would kidnap her husband. She said to Ramesh, “Can we goto the bakery shops and ask them? May be they have seen him?”
Swatilekha requested Inspector Ramesh that she wants to accompany to search her beloved. At first Inspector Ramesh tried to keep her at bay, but her insistence was stronger.
They went to the bakery shops asking for Avinash. Only three bakery shops in the town prepare banana cake. First two shops gave negative answer that they have not seen Mr Avinash. They reached the third shop to enquire. The old man recognised Swatilekha and she was amazed to see the old man.
The old man exclaimed, “How are you? After a long time.”
Swatilekha wailed, “Have you seen my husband this morning? He promised me that he would bring a banana cake for me. He went out and ...” she could not finish the sentence.
The old man nodded negatively and said to the Inspector, “No sir. He did not come to my shop this morning.”
Inspector Ramesh was surprised to see that the old man knew Swatilekha. He enquired, “How do you know them?”
The old man explained, “Sir, this loveable couple came to my shop five years ago.” Ramesh was astonished that the old man remembered them and asked how he remembered them. The old man explained, “That day was special for me as well as them. Mr. Avinash asked to make a special cake for his wife. A cake no one has tasted before and no one should taste after that. He asked me to make that cake a unique one, in taste and in shape. He paid me double the price and I prepared the best banana cake for him.”
Ramesh then asked, “What was so unique in that cake? If you could prepare once then you could prepare again.”
The old man gave a faint smile, “No sir, that cake was unique in true sense. He loved his wife very much. So much that he pricked his thumb and mixed his blood in the dough. He smiled at me and said that his part should remain with his wife forever. The cream dough turned red and I had to bake. He asked me to make a pair of heart, one with marking “A” another “S”. I had to prepare a new dice for that and then I had to break that dice as I promised him.”
Inspector Ramesh looked at Swatilekha who was inconsolable after hearing all that. She wailed and sat cowered on the chair. She clasped the piece of paper on her chest and cried, “Please God, please bring him back. I would never ask anything from him. Please bring him back.”
Time was running like waves. Tempest of fear crept in her soul. Inspector Ramesh asked Swatilekha to return to the hotel. However, she denied to return and said that she wanted to search her husband on her own. Inspector asked her to inform her family members so that they can arrive and help her, console her for her loss. She was adamant not to inform her family members. Inspector Ramesh asked the reason as why she doesn’t want to inform her family members. Swatilekha explained that they had love marriage, much against the will of their family members. Inspector Ramesh persuaded her that no one would harm them.
Inspector Ramesh took Swatilekha to the security officer station and called her family members. He informed Avinash’s brother, Avigyan that his brother was missing. The response that Ramesh got from Avigyan shook the core of his heart. Avigyan asked Inspector Ramesh to keep a weather eye on Swatilekha, as he would arrive as soon as possible. For the whole time Swatilekha was inconsolable and kept on asking about her husband. She cried and cried until she was exhausted. The lady constable tried to persuade her to return to the hotel but she was adamant to go in search for her husband. Inspector Ramesh and others had to resign to her request but they kept her in the security officer station until Avigyan arrived.
Avigyan reached the hill station by evening. He rushed to the security officer station to look for Swatilekha. Upon beholding Avigyan, She gave a grieved look at him. Avigyan sat beside her. She looked at him with flooded eyes and broke down. Avigyan lost his words as how to console Swatilekha.
Swatilekha clasped his collar and wailed repeatedly, “Please bring him back. I promise not to ask anything from him. Please bring him back.”
Inspector Ramesh called Avigyan aside and asked, “What is all these could you please explain to me?”
Avigyan said, “My brother and my sister in law got married five years back. They had a love marriage much against the will of our families. But with passing time the bond was mended. Can you tell me how she arrived here?”
Inspector Ramesh answered, “Madam told me that they came by a car and the car is still parked infront of the hotel. I have seen the car.”
Avigyan’s frame shook like a twig caught in storm. He took a deep breath, a lung full of air before a deep plunge into the truth. Avigyan muttered, “It is not possible. My brother died in a car accident two weeks ago. My sister-in-law could not come to terms that he was no more. She kept herself in a recluse, hiding herself from the whole world. We tried hard to bring her back but everything failed. And most important, Swatilekha don’t know driving.”
Inspector Ramesh looked at Swatilekha in disbelief and asked Avigyan, “How can that be? I have inspected the hotel room. There were a man’s clothes in the cupboard. There was a fresh rose and a note. ”
Avigyan was unable to belief, “Can I see the note?”
Inspector Ramesh handed the piece of paper. Avigyan inspected the handwriting and his eyes popped in disbelief. He exclaimed, “Yes this is my brother’s handwriting. But how can that be possible, Inspector?”
Inspector Ramesh could not think of anything more. His head was spinning, “How can a person come from the dead to write a letter? I can take you to the hotel room.”
They all came to the hotel. Dark night descended in that tiny hill station. A dark loom descended on Swatilekha as she tried to gather herself. She crept in a hard shell. She was abnormally silent. Void and dark oblivion engulfed her heart.
“No, Avinash can’t leave me like that. He was there with me till morning.” She kept on muttering the same.
She opened the door and was astonished to find Avinash standing there at the balcony. Her face lit up with joy. She exclaimed in happiness and ran towards him. She threw her arms around his neck and asked, “Where were you all day long?”
Avinash took his beloved in his arms and cooed, “I was here only. I went to buy the banana cake for you.”
Swatilekha eyes welled as Avinash held her and fed a piece of cake. She opened her mouth to take a mouthful of cake. She smiled with tearful eyes and said, “Please don’t leave me alone like that.”
Avinash held her tightly and walked to the edge of the balcony, “I promise not to leave you alone. My love.”
Avigyan and Inspector Ramesh stood dumbfounded as Swatilekha spoke merrily with some invisible person at the balcony. Avigyan ran towards Swatilekha as she stood at the edge of the balcony. Before he could catch Swatilekha, she took a step forward and disappeared into the dark misty curtain along with her beloved.
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