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Chapter Seven
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What did Tashi do? Chapter Eight
It is a dead endTashi was seated in the Delhi Police Cyber Crime Cell, wearing a simple green shirt with blue jeans, her hands folded neatly on her lap. Her mother, who had accompanied her to the police station, was waiting outside. Tashi sat across from Inspector IndrajitBhowmick, with his scarred, yet polished desk separating them.The inspector had a spacious office lined with shelves full of old folders and creased paperbacks in different colours. A golden framed logo was hung on the wall behind the inspector’s chair with shiny letters proclaiming: ‘Satyameva Jayate’ – ‘Truth alone triumphs.’ His window looked onto the street outside, with a tiny fraction of the iron sky visible from where she sat. Tashi glanced at an odd series of clouds. They looked like misshapen chimaeras breathing ashen fire onto the world.Presently, he was leafing through a file of her case, with several lines he had jotted down during their past hour of interrog
What did Tashi do? Chapter Nine
Just some drunk menKaran Mondal was a final year engineering undergraduate from Durgapur doing his internship at a company in Gurgaon. He had rented an apartment for two months in Sector 29. As was his habit, he sat down on his computer for his usual evening schedule while sipping coffee from a large mug. His room was dimly lit with wires strewn all over the floor. His laptop cover had at least ten different stickers of famous electronics brands. His place smelled of cigarettes. There were several crumpled packets of previous food delivery orders thrown carelessly around the floor.Karan slouched shirtless in his chair and opened an incognito window on his browser. He entered his search item when there were a series of sharp raps on his door.Startled, Karan sat up.He had no friends in the city and the only person who ever knocked on his door was his maid who came to clean up in the we
What did Tashi do? Chapter Ten
Blackcurrant or chocolate?Tashi and Manav were seated opposite Inspector Indrajit in his office. He sat facing them from across the polished desk, his uniform crisp.The police had called Tashi in the morning to inform that the blackmailer had been found and put behind bars. After hanging up, she had immediately called Manav and asked him to accompany her to the police station.“The blackmailer worked in the sales department of a reputed IT company,” Indrajit said, showing them the first page of criminal’s file. “He had awell-paying job, and his friends would have been prepared to swear that they knewthe man well. On the surface, he was an average IT professional with a normal day-to-day life and nothing to hide.”Manav nodded, while Tashilooked at the inspector with rapt attention, her shaking hands hanging by her side.“But inherently,” the inspector continued, “he was a hardened criminal – a pervert who derived
What did Tashi do? Epilogue: And After
It was a chilly Friday afternoon, almost eight months after the blackmailer had been caught. In their cosy two-bedroom apartment, Mrs Chotten was shelling some peas in the kitchen when her phone screen flashed with a call. Wiping her hands on her apron, she leaned over to pick up her daughter’s call. “Mom, I have to tell you something,” Tashi gushed. “Even I have to tell you something,” she smiled. “I got a promotion and a raise,” she squealed in joy, without letting her mother finish. “That is such good news. I am so happy for you, Ashi dear.” “Let’s celebrate by taking a trip to Shimla – just you and I.” “I would love that,” her mother laughed. “Are you sure you don’t want to bring Venkat along?” “Mom!" she chided, blushing. “Venkat is just a friend; you know that.” “Yeah, and who are you going out for dinner and drinks tonight?” “Mom, stop pulling my leg. Tell me, what were you about to say?” “Manav called. He said he is back in town for a few days.” “A
What did Tashi do? Prologue
The man scrolled through the photographs he had saved in his protected folder. It disappointed him slightly; he had seen them all and used them to his heart’s content.He needed more, and he needed them soon.He remembered the woman’s name well. All he had to do was check her Instagram profile. He typed her name in the search bar and pressed enter. When he saw the first thumbnail among the search results, a primal excitement spread in his loins.It was her. And her profile was public.Greed and anticipation making his heart beat faster, he went through the selfies, sunsets, and quotes till he came across a photograph she had uploaded seven weeks back. It was a no-make-up selfie of the woman with her mother. “Chilling at home with mom,” the caption read.What interested the man the most was the location along with the caption. He clicked on the map link and opened a photographic view of her street: he noted she lived in a twelve-story apartment.“Sweet,” he thought, as he
What did Tashi do? Chapter One
You have five minutes. Tick tock. It was eleven in the night.A lone dog greeted the cab that stopped in front of a twelve-storeyed apartment with a low howl. A slender young woman got down, glancing at the deserted street for a moment before turning to pay the driver. Heels rapping smartly on the concrete, she looked at her watch and waited for him to return the change.She was a little over five feet tall, dressed in fitted black trousers and a matching blazer. A large shoulder bag was slung to her right, blocking half her body from vision, failing, however, to hide the alluring shape of her chest. Her thick black hair highlighted with a bold auburn shade fell to her shoulders in cascades, casting shadows on her pale face. Her full lips were painted red and the epicanthic folds in her eyes were rimmed in black kohl.The woman’s name was Tashi Chotten and today had been her first work anniversary as a graduate trainee engineer at a reputed EPC firm
What did Tashi do? Chapter Two
One click and you’re doneA ray of sunlight broke through the mullioned window and cast a checkerboard of brilliant morning light across Tashi’s bed. She raised a hand to cover her face, eyelids fluttering for a while, then opening. She sat up and stretched her arms, taking in the familiar sounds of the cooing pigeons nesting above her window. For a moment, she couldn’t quite place the strange heaviness in her heart. She blinked several times to clear the veil of slumber from her eyes. Slowly, bits and pieces of the happenings of the previous night came back. She had gone to bed late last night, and in her sleep-deprived state, she allowed herself a small hope that maybe all of last night was a bad dream, the product of her paranoia. She held her breath and checked her phone. The last email on it was “If you don’t listen to what I tell you, I’ll mail your naked pictures to everyone who is even remotely connected to you professionally. I’ll destroy your ca
What did Tashi do? Chapter Three
I am right beside you It was a chilly Sunday afternoon, almost three weeks after that first email.Tashi stepped out of her home to do some grocery shopping. She had wanted nothing better than to curl up in bed and introspect, but her mother had forced her out of her room to talk with her. She was concerned about her state of mind, why she kept refusing meals and why she hardly shared anything about her day anymore. Tashi dodged all questions, not wanting to burden her mother. After several failed attempts at proposing an outing, she had reluctantly agreed to go out and buy some milk.But Tashi regretted her decision almost instantly. The weak sun felt harsh on her face and seeing so many people milling around filled her with inexplicable anxiety. Her otherwise lustrous hair hung around her face in lank, oily strands. The deep brown rings rimming her eyes and the tired lines around her mouth were telling of having spent several sleepless nights on end. Her crumple
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