["One Lalmohan\t Babu\t looked\t up\t from\t his\t book\t and\t said,\t \u2018Rammohan\t Roy\u2019s\t grandson\t owned\t a\t circus. Did\tyou\tknow\tthat?\u2019 Feluda\twas\tleaning\tback,\this\tface\tcovered\twith\ta\thandkerchief.\tHe\tshook\this\thead. Our\t car\t had\t been\t standing,\t for\t the\t last\t ten\t minutes,\t behind\t a\t huge\t lorry\t which\t was\t loaded\t with bales\t of\t straw.\t Not\t only\t was\t it\t blocking\t our\t way,\t but\t was\t emitting\t such\t thick\t black\t smoke\t that\t we were\tall\tgetting\tchoked.\tOur\tdriver\thad\tblown\this\thorn\tseveral\ttimes,\tbut\tto\tno\tavail.\tI\twas\ttired\tof being\table\tto\tsee\tnothing\tbut\tthe\tpainting\tof\ta\tsetting\tsun\tand\tflowers\ton\tthe\tback\tof\tthe\tlorry,\tand\tall that\t a\t lorry\t usually\t said:\t \u2018Ta\t Ta\u2019,\t \u2018Horn\t Please\u2019,\t \u2018Goodbye\u2019\t and\t \u2018Thank\t You\u2019.\t Equally\t bored\t and tired,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t had\t started\t to\t read\t a\t book\t called\t The\t Circus\t in\t Bengal.\t His\t next\t book\t was going\tto\tbe\tset\tin\ta\tcircus,\tso\the\thad\ttaken\tFeluda\u2019s\tadvice\tand\tdecided\tto\tdo\ta\tbit\tof\treading\ton\tthe subject.\tAs\ta\tmatter\tof\tfact,\twe\thad\tstopped\tin\tRanchi\tearlier\tin\tthe\tday\tand\tseen\tposters\tadvertising The\t Great\t Majestic\t Circus.\t It\t was\t supposed\t to\t have\t reached\t Hazaribagh\t which\t was\t where\t we\t were going.\tIf\twe\thappened\tto\tbe\tfree\tone\tevening,\twe\thad\tdecided\tto\tgo\tand\tsee\tthe\tcircus. Winter\t had\t only\t just\t started.\t All\t of\t us\t wanted\t a\t short\t break.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\u2019s\t latest\t book\u2014The Vampire\t of\t Vancouver\u2014had\t been\t released\t last\t month\t and\t sold\t two\t thousand\t copies\t in\t three\t weeks, which\t naturally\t pleased\t him\t no\t end.\t Feluda\t had\t objected\t to\t the\t title\t of\t the\t book,\t pointing\t out\t that Vancouver\t was\t a\t huge\t modern\t city,\t a\t most\t unlikely\t place\t for\t vampires.\t For\t once,\t Lalmohan\t Babu had\t overruled\t Feluda\u2019s\t objection,\t saying\t that\t he\t had\t been\t through\t the\t atlas\t of\t the\t world,\t and Vancouver\thad\tstruck\thim\tas\tthe\tmost\tappropriate\tname. Feluda,\t too,\t was\t free\t for\t the\t moment.\t He\t had\t solved\t a\t case\t in\t Bihar\t last\t September.\t His\t client, Sarveshwar\t Sahai,\t had\t been\t so\t pleased\t with\t Feluda\u2019s\t work\t that\t he\t had\t invited\t us\t to\t his\t house\t in Hazar ibag h.\t He\t did\t no t\t live\t ther e\t per manently.\t It\t r emained\t empty\t fo r \t mo st\t o f\t the\t time.\t T her e\t was\t a cho wkidar,\t who se\t wife\t did\t the\t co o king .\t We\t co uld\t stay\t ther e\t fo r \t ten\t days.\t All\t we\t wo uld\t have\t to \t pay for\twould\tbe\tthe\tfood. The\t offer\t seemed\t too\t good\t to\t miss.\t We\t decided\t to\t go\t by\t road\t in\t Lalmohan\t Babu\u2019s\t new Ambassador.\t\u2018Let\u2019s\tsee\thow\tit\tperforms\ton\ta\tlong\trun,\u2019\the\tsaid.\tWe\tmight\thave\tgone\tvia\tAsansol\tand Dhanbad,\tbut\tchose\tto\tgo\tthrough\tKharagpur\tand\tRanchi\tinstead.\tFeluda\tdrove\tthe\tcar\tuntil\twe\tgot\tto Khar ag pur,\t then\t the\t dr iver \t to o k\t o ver.\t We\t r eached\t Ranchi\t in\t the\t evening \t and\t stayed\t o ver nig ht\t at\t the Amber\t Hotel.\t This\t morning,\t we\t had\t left\t Ranchi\t at\t nine\t o\u2019clock,\t hoping\t to\t reach\t Hazaribagh\t by\t a quarter\tpast\tten.\tBut,\tthanks\tto\tthe\tlorry,\twe\twere\tdefinitely\tgoing\tto\tbe\tdelayed. After\t another\t five\t minutes\t of\t honking,\t the\t lorry\t finally\t moved\t and\t allowed\t us\t to\t pass.\t Much relieved,\t we\t took\t deep\t breaths\t as\t our\t car\t emerged\t in\t the\t open.\t The\t road\t was\t lined\t with\t tail\t trees, many\tof\twhich\thad\tweaver\tbirds\u2019\tnests.\tIf\tI\tlooked\tout\tof\tthe\twindow,\tI\tcould\tsee\ta\trange\tof\thills\tin","the\t distance.\t Small\t hillocks\t stood\t by\t the\t side\t of\t the\t road.\t We\t passed\t these\t every\t now\t and\t then. Lalmohan\t Babu\t saw\t all\t this\t and\t muttered\t \u2018Beautiful!\t Beautiful!\u2019\t a\t couple\t of\t times.\t Then\t he\t began humming\t a\t Tagore\t song,\t looking\t more\t comical\t than\t ever.\t He\t was\t totally\t tone-deaf\t as\t well,\t and inevitably\t cho se\t so ng s\t that\t wer e\t quite\t inappr o pr iate.\t Fo r \t instance,\t o n\t this\t co o l\t No vember \t mo r ning , he\thad\tstarted\ta\tsong\tthat\tspoke\tof\tthe\tnew\tjoys\tof\tspring.\tHe\thad\tonce\texplained\this\tproblem\tto\tme. Apparently,\t he\t felt\t like\t bursting\t into\t song\t the\t minute\t he\t left\t Calcutta\t and\t came\t into\t closer\t contact with\t natur e;\t ho wever,\t his\t sto ck\t o f\t so ng s\t being \t r ather \t limited,\t he\t co uldn\u2019t\t always\t think\t o f\t a\t suitable one. But\tthere\twas\tone\tthing\tfor\twhich\tI\thad\tto\tthank\thim.\tIn\tthe\tlast\ttwenty-four\thours,\the\thad\ttold\tme\ta lot\t of\t things\t about\t the\t circus\t in\t Bengal\t that\t I\t did\t not\t know.\t A\t hundred\t years\t ago,\t it\t was\t circuses owned\tby\tBengalis\tthat\twere\tfamous\tall\tover\tthe\tcountry.\tThe\tbest\tknown\tamong\tthese\twas\tProfessor Priyanath\t Bose\u2019s\t The\t Great\t Bengal\t Circus.\t There\t were\t American,\t Russian,\t German\t and\t French ar tists,\t in\t additio n\t to \t Indian.\t Even\t wo men\t used\t to \t take\t par t.\t An\t Amer ican\t called\t Gus\t Bur ns\t used\t to work\t with\t a\t tiger.\t Unfortunately,\t when\t Professor\t Bose\t died,\t there\t was\t no\t one\t to\t take\t charge.\t His circus\twent\tout\tof\tbusiness,\tas\tdid\tmany\tothers\tin\tBengal. \u2018This\t Great\t Majestic\t in\t Hazaribagh\t .\t .\t .\t where\t does\t that\t come\t from,\t I\t wonder?\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu asked. \u2018It\thas\tto\tbe\tsouth\tIndia,\u2019\tFeluda\tanswered.\t\u2018They\tseem\tto\thave\ta\tmonopoly\tin\tthat\tline\tnow.\u2019 \u2018How\tgood\tis\ttheir\ttrapeze?\tThat\u2019s\twhat\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tknow!\u2019 In\tthis\tnew\tbook\the\twas\tplanning\tto\twrite,\ttrapeze\twas\tgoing\tto\tplay\tan\timportant\trole.\tOne\tof\tthe artistes\t was\t going\t to\t grab\t the\t arm\t of\t another\t while\t swinging\t in\t mid-air\t and\t give\t him\t a\t lethal injection.\tHis\thero,\tPrakhar\tRudra,\twas\tgoing\tto\thave\tto\tlearn\ta\tfew\ttricks\tfrom\ttrapeze\tartistes\tto\tbe able\t to \t catch\t the\t culpr it.\t When\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t r evealed\t these\t details\t to \t us,\t Feluda\t r emar ked\t dr yly, \u2018Thank\tgoodness\tthere\tis\tat\tleast\tone\tthing\tleft\tfor\tyour\thero\tto\tlearn!\u2019 We\tsaw\tthe\tsecond\tAmbassador\tsoon\tafter\tpassing\ta\tpost\tthat\tsaid\t\u201872\tkms\u2019.\tIt\twas\tstanding\tby\tthe side\tof\tthe\troad\twith\tits\tbonnet\tup.\tIts\tdriver\twas\tbending\tover\tit,\tonly\tpartially\tvisible\tfrom\tthe\troad. Another\tgentleman\twas\twaving\tfrantically\tat\tus.\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tdriver\tput\this\tfoot\ton\tthe\tbrake. \u2018Er \t .\t .\t .\t ar e\t yo u\t g o ing \t to \t Hazar ibag h?\u2019\t the\t man\t asked.\t He\t was\t pr o bably\t ar o und\t fo r ty,\t had\t a\t clear complexion\tand\twore\tglasses. \u2018Yes,\twe\tare,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied. \u2018My\tcar\t.\t.\t.\tthe\tproblem\tseems\tto\tbe\tserious,\tyou\tsee.\tSo\tI\twonder\tif\t.\t.\t.\t?\u2019 \u2018You\tmay\tcome\twith\tus,\tif\tyou\tlike.\u2019 \u2018So\tkind\tof\tyou.\tI\u2019ll\ttry\tand\tget\ta\tmechanic\tand\tbring\thim\tback\tin\ta\ttaxi.\tCan\u2019t\tsee\twhat\telse\tI\tcan do.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\thave\tany\tluggage?\u2019 \u2018Only\t a\t small\t suitcase,\t but\t I\t can\t take\t it\t with\t me\t later.\t It\t shouldn\u2019t\t take\t me\t more\t than\t forty-five minutes\tto\treturn.\u2019 \u2018Come\ton\tthen.\u2019 The\tman\texplained\tto\this\tdriver\twhat\the\thad\tdecided\tto\tdo,\tthen\tclimbed\tinto\tour\tcar\tand\tsaid\t\u2018So kind\t o f\t yo u\u2019\t ag ain.\t Then\t he\t to ld\t us\t a\t g r eat\t deal\t abo ut\t himself,\t even\t witho ut\t being \t asked.\t His\t name","was\t Pritindra\t Chowdhury.\t His\t father,\t Mahesh\t Chowdhury,\t was\t once\t an\t advocate\t in\t Ranchi.\t He\t had retired\tten\tyears\tago\tand\tmoved\tto\tHazaribagh.\tEveryone\tthere\tknew\thim\twell. \u2018Do\tyou\tlive\tin\tCalcutta?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\thim. \u2018Yes.\tI\tam\tin\telectronics.\tHave\tyou\theard\tof\tIndovision?\u2019 I\t remembered\t having\t seen\t advertisements\t for\t a\t new\t television\t by\t the\t name.\t Mr\t Chowdhury worked\tfor\tits\tmanufacturers. \u2018My\t father \t tur ns\t seventy\t to mo r r o w,\u2019\t he\t went\t o n.\t \u2018I\t have\t an\t elder \t br o ther.\t He\t has\t alr eady\t r eached Hazaribagh,\tand\tso\thave\tmy\twife\tand\tdaughter.\tI\twas\taway\tin\tDelhi,\tyou\tsee,\tso\tI\tvery\tnearly\tdid\tnot make\tit.\tBut\tmy\tfather\tsent\tme\ta\ttelegram\tsaying\t\u201cMust\tcome\u201d,\tso\there\tI\tam.\tCould\tyou\tplease\tstop the\tcar\tfor\ta\tminute?\u2019 The\t car\t stopped.\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t took\t out\t a\t small\t cassette\t recorder\t from\t his\t shoulder\t bag\t and disappeared\tamong\tthe\ttrees.\tHe\treturned\tin\ta\tcouple\tof\tminutes\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018I\theard\ta\tflycatcher.\tIt\twas still\t there,\t luckily.\t It\t is\t something\t of\t an\t obsession\t for\t me\u2014I\t mean,\t this\t business\t of\t recording\t bird calls.\tSo\tkind\tof\tyou.\u2019 The\tlast\twords\twere\tmeant\tto\tconvey\this\tthanks\tfor\tstopping\tthe\tcar.\tStrangely,\talthough\the\ttold\tus so\tmuch\tabout\thimself,\the\tdidn\u2019t\tseem\tinterested\tin\tus\tat\tall. We\tdropped\thim\toutside\tEureka\tAutomobiles\tin\tthe\tmain\tpart\tof\tHazaribagh.\tHe\tsaid\t\u2018So\tkind\tof yo u\u2019\t yet\t ag ain\t and\t g o t\t o ut.\t Then\t he\t suddenly\t tur ned\t ar o und\t and\t asked,\t \u2018Oh,\t by\t the\t way,\t wher e\t will you\tbe\tstaying?\u2019 Feluda\t had\t to\t raise\t his\t voice\t to\t make\t himself\t heard,\t for\t a\t lot\t of\t people\t were\t gathered\t nearby, talking\texcitedly\tabout\tsomething.\tWe\tlearnt\tthe\treason\tfor\tsuch\texcitement\ta\tlittle\tlater. \u2018I\t can\u2019t\t give\t you\t directions,\t for\t this\t is\t our\t first\t visit\t to\t Hazaribagh.\t All\t I\t can\t tell\t you\t is\t that\t the house\tbelongs\tto\ta\tMr\tSahai,\tand\tit\tisn\u2019t\tfar\tfrom\tthe\tDistrict\tBoard\trest\thouse.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tthen\tit\tcan\u2019t\tbe\tmore\tthan\tseven\tminutes\tfrom\tour\thouse.\tDo\tyou\thave\ta\ttelephone?\u2019 \u2018Yes\u2014742.\u2019 \u2018Good.\u2019 \u2018My\tname\tis\tMitter.\tP.C.\tMitter.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\teven\task\tyour\tname.\tSorry.\u2019 We\t said\t goodbye\t and\t went\t on\t our\t way.\t \u2018He\u2019s\t probably\t tense\t about\t introducing\t a\t new\t product,\u2019 Feluda\tobserved. \u2018Eccentric,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tproclaimed\tbriefly. T he\t Distr ict\t Bo ar d\t r est\t ho use\t was\t no t\t difficult\t to \t find.\t Mr \t Sahai\u2019s\t ho use\t sto o d\t o nly\t a\t few\t ho uses away.\t Our\t car\t stopped\t and\t tooted\t outside\t the\t gate\t over\t which\t hung\t colourful\t branches\t of bougainvillaea.\tA\tshort,\tmiddle-aged\tman\temerged\timmediately\tand\topened\tthe\tgate.\tThen\the\tstood aside\tand\tgave\tus\ta\tsalute.\tWe\tdrove\tup\ta\tlong\tdriveway\tand\tfinally\tstopped\tbefore\ta\tbungalow.\tThe man\t who\t had\t opened\t the\t gate\t came\t running\t to\t take\t our\t luggage.\t It\t turned\t out\t that\t he\t was\t the chowkidar,\tBulakiprasad. I\trealized\thow\tquiet\teverything\twas\twhen\twe\tgot\tout\tof\tthe\tcar.\tThe\tbungalow\twas\tsurrounded\tby\ta huge\tcompound\t(Lalmohan\tBabu\ttook\tone\tlook\tat\tit\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018At\tleast\tthree\tacres!\u2019).\tOn\tone\tside\twas a\t garden\t with\t pretty\t flowerbeds.\t On\t the\t other\t side\t stood\t quite\t a\t few\t large\t trees.\t I\t could\t recognize","mango\tand\ttamarind\tamongst\tthem.\tBeyond\tthe\tcompound\twall,\tin\tthe\tfar\tdistance,\twere\tthe\tKanari Hills,\tabout\ttwo\tmiles\taway. The\t house\t seemed\t ideal\t for\t three\t people.\t Three\t steps\t led\t to\t a\t veranda,\t behind\t which\t were\t three rooms.\t The\t one\t in\t the\t middle\t was\t the\t living\t room,\t the\t other\t two\t were\t bedrooms.\t Lalmohan\t Babu chose\t the\t one\t that\t faced\t west\t since\t he\t thought\t it\t would\t give\t him\t a\t good\t view\t of\t the\t sunset\t every evening. We\thad\tonly\tjust\tbegun\tunpacking,\twhen\tBulakiprasad\tcame\tin\twith\tthree\tcups\tof\ttea\ton\ta\ttray,\tand said\tsomething\tthat\tmade\tus\tdrop\teverything\tand\tstare\tat\thim. \u2018When\tyou\tgo\tout,\tsir,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018please\ttake\tgreat\tcare.\u2019 \u2018Why?\t Are\t there\t pickpockets\t about?\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t asked.\t \u2018No,\t sir.\t A\t tiger\t from\t the\t Great Majestic\tCircus\thas\trun\taway.\u2019\tWhat!\tWhat\ton\tearth\twas\tthe\tman\ttalking\tabout?\tBulakiprasad\tdid\tnot hesitate\tto\tgive\tus\tall\tthe\tdetails.\tA\thuge\ttiger\thad\tescaped\tfrom\tits\tcage\tonly\tthat\tmorning.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t know\t how\t that\t had\t happened,\t but\t the\t entire\t town\t was\t in\t a\t state\t of\t panic.\t The\t star\t attraction\t of\t the circus\t was\t this\t tiger.\t I\t remembered\t the\t painting\t of\t a\t tiger\t on\t all\t the\t posters\t I\t had\t seen\t in\t Ranchi. Feluda\thad\teven\tnoticed\tthe\tname\tof\tits\ttrainer.\t\u2018A\tMarathi\tman,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018his\tname\tis\tKarandikar.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tremained\tsilent\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments\tafter\thearing\tthis\tnews.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018This\thas to \t be\t telepathy.\t Wo uld\t yo u\t believe\t it,\t I\t had\t been\t wo nder ing \t if\t I\t co uld\t include\t so mething \t like\t this\t in my\tbook?\tI\tmean,\ta\ttiger\tescaping\tfrom\ta\tcircus\tis\tsuch\ta\tthrilling\tevent,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\tBut\tyou,\tFelu\tBabu, must\t r emain\t to tally\t inco ng ito .\t If\t they\t r ealize\t yo u\t ar e\t a\t detective,\t they\u2019ll\t g et\t yo u\t to \t tr ack\t the\t animal down,\tmark\tmy\twords!\u2019 Feluda\tand\tI\twere\tboth\tso\ttaken\taback\tby\twhat\twe\thad\tjust\theard\tthat\tneither\tof\tus\tbothered\tto\tpoint out\tthat\tthe\tword\twas\tactually\t\u2018incognito\u2019.\tHe\tneed\tnot\thave\tfeared,\thowever.\tFeluda\tnever\tdisclosed his\tprofession\tto\tanyone\twithout\ta\tgood\treason. Bulakipr asad\t also \t to ld\t us\t that,\t in\t the\t past,\t the\t cir cus\t used\t to \t be\t held\t in\t a\t par k\t called\t Cur zo n\t Par k which\twas\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\ttown.\tBut\tthis\tyear,\tfor\tsome\treason,\tthey\thad\tgone\tto\tan\topen\tarea\tat one\tend\tof\tthe\ttown,\tbeyond\twhich\tstretched\ta\tforest.\tThe\ttiger\tonly\thad\tto\tcross\tthe\tmain\troad\tto\tgo into\tit.\tThere\twere\tsmall\tAdivasi\tvillages\tin\tthe\tforest,\tso\tit\tcould\tquite\teasily\tfeed\ton\ttheir\tdomestic animals. None\t of\t us\t had\t imagined\t we\u2019d\t hear\t something\t so\t sensational\t within\t minutes\t of\t our\t arrival\t in Hazaribagh.\tBut\tit\tseemed\ta\tgreat\tpity\tthat\twe\tcouldn\u2019t\twalk\tin\tthe\tstreets\twithout\thaving\tto\twatch\tout for\ta\twild\tanimal.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsuggested\tafter\twe\thad\tfinished\tour\ttea\tthat\tit\tmight\tbe\ta\tgood\tidea to\tvisit\tthe\tcircus\tin\tthe\tafternoon\tto\tfind\tout\twhat\texactly\thad\thappened. \u2018When\tyou\tsay\tvisit\tthe\tcircus,\tdo\tyou\tmean\tgoing\tto\tthe\tshow?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018No,\t not\t really.\t I\t was\t actually\t thinking\t of\t meeting\t the\t owner.\t He\u2019d\t be\t able\t to\t tell\t us\t everything, surely?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tBut,\tin\torder\tto\tdo\tthat,\tMr\tJatayu,\tyou\tmost\tdefinitely\tneed\tthe\tassistance\tof\tFelu\tMitter.\u2019","Two Bulakiprasad\u2019s\twife\tmade\tarahar\tdaal\tand\tchicken\tcurry\tfor\tlunch.\tWe\tdid\tfull\tjustice\tto\tit,\tand\tthen left\t in\t the\t car.\t Feluda\t was\t clear ly\t as\t cur io us\t as\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t abo ut\t the\t escaped\t tig er.\t He\t r ang \t the lo cal\t po lice\t statio n\t befo r e\t we\t left.\t He\t had\t had\t to \t wo r k\t with\t the\t po lice\t in\t Bihar \t o n\t his\t last\t case,\t and Sar veshwar \t Sahai\u2019s\t name\t was\t well\t kno wn\t in\t Hazar ibag h.\t The\t inspecto r \t who \t answer ed\t the\t pho ne\u2014 Inspecto r \t Raut\u2014r eco g nized\t Feluda\u2019s\t name\t as\t so o n\t as\t he\t had\t intr o duced\t himself\t and\t explained\t why he\t was\t calling.\t We\t did\t need\t help\t from\t the\t police\t to\t see\t the\t owner\t of\t the\t circus,\t under\t the\t present circumstances.\t\u2018One\tof\tour\tmen\tis\tposted\toutside\tthe\tmain\tentrance,\u2019\tInspector\tRaut\tsaid.\t\u2018He\twill\tlet you\tin.\u2019\tFeluda\ttold\thim\the\twanted\tto\tgo\tthere\tpurely\tout\tof\tcuriosity,\tnot\tto\tstart\tan\tinvestigation. On\t our\t way\t to\t the\t circus,\t we\t saw\t groups\t of\t men\t gathered\t around\t street\t corners,\t still\t talking animatedly.\tNear\ta\tbig\tcrossing,\tsomeone\twas\tactually\tbeating\ta\tdrum\tand\tshouting\twords\tof\tcaution. Feluda\t stopped\t at\t a\t small\t stall\t to\t buy\t a\t packet\t of\t cigarettes.\t The\t stallholder\t told\t him\t the\t tiger\t had been\t seen\t near \t a\t villag e\t called\t Dahir i\t to \t the\t no r th\t o f\t Hazar ibag h,\t but\t ther e\t wer e\t no \t r epo r ts\t o f\t any damage. My\theart\tsuddenly\tlifted\tat\tthe\tsight\tof\tthe\ttents\tas\twe\tgot\tcloser\tto\tthe\tcircus.\tIt\treminded\tme\tof\tall the\tcircuses\tFeluda\thad\ttaken\tme\tto\twhen\tI\twas\ta\tsmall\tchild.\tThe\tblue-and-white\tstriped\ttent\tof\tThe Great\t Majestic\t Circus\t was\t very\t neat\t and\t tidy,\t which\t meant\t they\t were\t true\t professionals\t and\t knew their\t trade\t well.\t A\t yellow\t flag\t fluttered\t on\t top\t of\t the\t tent,\t and\t rows\t of\t bunting\t had\t been\t carefully arranged\t between\t the\t compound\t fence\t and\t the\t main\t entrance.\t Hundreds\t of\t people\t were\t jostling o utside\t near \t the\t ticket\t co unter s.\t The\t sho w\t was\t g o ing \t to \t g o \t o n\t even\t witho ut\t the\t tig er.\t Var io us\t o ther posters\tshowed\twhat\telse\tthe\tcircus\thad\tto\toffer.\tThe\tartist\twho\thad\tdrawn\tthem\tdid\tnot\tappear\tto\tbe particularly\tgifted,\tbut\twhat\the\thad\tmanaged\twas\tenough\tto\tarouse\tboth\tcuriosity\tand\texcitement. The\t constable\t on\t duty\t had\t been\t told\t about\t us.\t He\t gave\t Feluda\t a\t smart\t salute,\t and\t let\t us\t in immediately.\t\u2018Mr\tKutti\u2014that\u2019s\tthe\towner\u2014has\tbeen\tinformed,\tsir.\tHe\u2019s\twaiting\tfor\tyou\tin\this\troom,\u2019 the\tconstable\tsaid. Behind\tthe\ttent\twas\tan\topen\tspace.\tIt\tended\twhere\ta\tpartition\tmade\twith\tcorrugated\ttin\tsheets\tbegan. Mr\tKutti\u2019s\tcaravan\tstood\tjust\tbehind\tthe\tpartition.\tLike\tthe\ttent,\tit\twas\ttidy\tand\twell\tmaintained.\tThere were\trows\tof\twindows\ton\tboth\tsides.\tCurtains\twith\tattractive\tpatterns\thung\tat\tthese,\tthrough\twhich\tthe sun\t came\t in\t and\t formed\t patches\t on\t the\t furniture.\t Mr\t Kutti\t rose\t as\t he\t saw\t us\t arrive\t and\t shook\t our hands.\t Then\t he\t gestured\t towards\t a\t mini\t sofa.\t He\t seemed\t to\t be\t around\t fifty,\t although\t his\t hair\t had turned\t totally\t white.\t When\t he\t smiled,\t his\t teeth\t gleamed\t in\t the\t semi-darkness\t of\t the\t caravan.\t They were\tclearly\this\town,\tnot\tdentures. Feluda\texplained,\tas\tsoon\tas\twe\twere\tseated,\tthat\the\thad\tdecided\tto\tcall\tnot\tbecause\the\thad\tanything to\tdo\twith\tthe\tpolice,\tbut\tbecause\the\thad\theard\ta\tlot\tabout\tthe\tGreat\tMajestic\tand\twanted\tto\tsee\ttheir","show.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tsuch\ta\tpity\twe\tcan\u2019t\tsee\tyour\tbest\titem!\u2019\the\texclaimed.\tThen\the\tintroduced\tLalmohan\tBabu as\ta\tfamous\twriter\twho\twas\tinterested\tin\tthe\tcircus\tand\twanted\tto\twrite\ta\tbook\tabout\tit. Mr\t Kutti\t nodded.\t \u2018Before\t I\t joined\t a\t circus,\t I\t spent\t six\t years\t in\t Calcutta\t working\t for\t a\t shipping co mpany,\u2019\t he\t to ld\t us.\t \u2018I\t like\t Beng alis.\t They\t seem\t to \t under stand\t and\t appr eciate\t the\t tr ue\t spir it\t o f\t the cir cus.\t Please\t do n\u2019t\t be\t disappo inted\t just\t because\t o ur \t tig er \t is\t missing .\t Ther e\t ar e\t quite\t a\t lo t\t o f\t o ther things\tto\tbe\tseen.\tWe\thad\ta\tspecial\tshow\tyesterday.\tMany\twell-known\tpersonalities\twere\tinvited.\tI\tam inviting\tyou\tnow,\tyou\tare\twelcome\tto\tany\tof\tour\tshows.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tspoke\tunexpectedly.\t\u2018How\tdid\tit\thappen?\tI\tmean,\tthe\ttiger\t.\t.\t.\t?\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\t all\t very\t unfortunate,\t Mr\t Ganguli,\u2019\t said\t Mr\t Kutti,\t \u2018the\t door\t of\t the\t cage\t was\t not\t fastened pr o per ly.\t T he\t tig er \t pushed\t it\t o pen.\t Even\t so ,\t it\t mig ht\t no t\t have\t g o t\t o ut\t in\t the\t o pen,\t but\t so meo ne\t had r emo ved\t a\t po r tio n\t o f\t the\t par titio n\t to \t make\t a\t sho r t-cut\t and\t then\t fo r g o tten\t to \t r eplace\t it.\t So \t the\t tig er slipped\tout\tthrough\tthe\tgap.\tI\thave\ttaken\tsteps\tto\tfind\tout\twho\twas\tresponsible,\tand\tmake\tsure\tit\tdoes not\thappen\tagain.\u2019 \u2018Didn\u2019t\t a\t tig er \t o nce\t escape\t like\t this\t in\t Bo mbay?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked.\t \u2018Yes,\t fr o m\t the\t Natio nal\t Cir cus.\t It actually\tgot\tout\tin\tthe\tstreets\tof\tBombay,\tbut\tthe\tringmaster\tcaught\tit\tbefore\tit\tcould\tget\tvery\tfar.\u2019 Mr\tKutti\ttold\tus\tsomething\telse\tabout\tthe\tescaped\ttiger.\tApparently,\tit\thad\tbeen\tspotted\tby\tat\tleast fifty\t different\t people.\t There\t had\t been\t reports\t from\t various\t sources.\t A\t lady\t had\t seen\t it\t enter\t her co ur tyar d\t and\t pr o mptly\t fallen\t into \t a\t swo o n.\t Why\t and\t ho w\t the\t tig er \t had\t left\t her \t unhar med\t was\t no t known.\tThen\tthere\twas\ta\tNepali\tman\twho\thad\tseen\tthe\ttiger\tcross\ta\troad.\tHe\thimself\thappened\tto\tbe driving\t a\t scooter\t at\t the\t time.\t Startled\t by\t the\t sight,\t he\t had\t driven\t straight\t into\t a\t lamp-post\t and\t was now\tin\ta\thospital\twith\tthree\tbroken\tribs. \u2018Surely\tyou\thave\ta\tringmaster?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tKarandikar.\tBut\the\thasn\u2019t\tbeen\ttoo\twell\tfor\tsometime.\tHe\tis\tnearly\tforty,\tyou\tsee.\tHe\tgets\ta pain\t in\t his\t neck\t ever y\t no w\t and\t then,\t but\t g o es\t o n\t to \t per fo r m\t despite\t that.\t I\t have\t to ld\t him\t a\t millio n times\t to\t see\t a\t doctor,\t but\t he\t won\u2019t\t listen.\t So,\t about\t a\t month\t ago,\t I\t got\t another\t trainer,\t called Chandr an.\t He\u2019s\t fr o m\t Ker ala\t and\t is\t ver y\t g o o d\t in\t his\t wo r k.\t It\t is\t he\t who \t acts\t as\t the\t r ing master \t when Karandikar\tfeels\tunwell.\u2019 \u2018Who\tperformed\twith\tthe\ttiger\tat\tthe\tspecial\tshow\tyesterday?\u2019\tFeluda\twanted\tto\tknow. \u2018Karandikar.\tHe\tseemed\tfine.\tThere\tis\tone\tspecial\titem\twhich\tonly\the\tcan\tdo.\tChandran\thas\tnever tried\t it.\t Karandikar\t puts\t his\t hands\t into\t the\t tiger \u2019s\t mouth,\t opens\t it\t wide,\t then\t puts\t his\t head\t in\t it. Unfortunately,\t something\t went\t wrong\t yesterday.\t He\t tried\t twice,\t but\t the\t tiger\t refused\t to\t open\t its mouth.\t Instead\t of\t trying\t again,\t Karandikar\t simply\t gave\t up\t and\t finished\t his\t show.\t There\t was\t some applause,\tbut\tmany\tpeople\tbooed\tand\tjeered\tat\thim.\u2019 \u2018Didn\u2019t\tyou\tdo\tanything\tabout\tit?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\tHe\u2019s\tbeen\twith\tme\tfor\tseventeen\tyears,\tbut\tI\thad\tto\tspeak\tto\thim\tvery\tsternly\tlast\tnight. Now\the\u2019s\tsaying\the\twill\tleave\tthe\tcircus.\tThat\twould\tbe\tmost\tunfortunate,\tboth\tfor\thim\tand\tfor\tus.\tHe can\teasily\tperform\tfor\tat\tleast\tanother\tthree\tyears,\tI\tthink.\tHis\twork\twith\tthe\tGreat\tMajestic\thas\tmade him\tquite\twell\tknown.\u2019 \u2018Hasn\u2019t\tanyone\tfrom\tyour\tteam\tgone\tto\tlook\tfor\tthe\ttiger?\u2019 \u2018Karandikar\tshould\thave\tgone,\tbut\the\tflatly\trefused\tto\thave\tanything\tto\tdo\twith\ta\tsearch\tparty.\tSo\tI sent\tChandran\twith\tpeople\tfrom\tthe\tForest\tDepartment.\u2019","\u2018Could\t we\t see\t Karandikar?\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t asked\t rather\t boldly.\t \u2018You\t could\t try,\t but\t there\u2019s\t no guarantee\the\u2019ll\tagree\tto\tsee\tyou.\tHe\u2019s\textremely\tmoody.\tI\u2019ll\task\tmy\tbearer,\tMurugesh,\tto\ttake\tyou\tto his\ttent.\u2019 Murugesh\twas\tstanding\toutside.\tHe\tcame\twith\tus\tas\twe\tthanked\tMr\tKutti\tand\tleft\this\tcaravan. The\t ringmaster \u2019s\t tent\t was\t divided\t into\t two\t sections.\t One\t half\t of\t it\t acted\t as\t a\t living\t room.\t The other\twas\tclearly\twhere\the\tslept.\tMuch\tto\tour\tsurprise,\the\tcame\tout\tof\tthis\t\u2018bedroom\u2019\tas\tsoon\tas\the was\tinformed\tof\tour\tarrival.\tOne\tlook\tat\thim\ttold\tme\twhy\ta\ttiger\tobeyed\this\tcommand.\tI\thad\trarely seen\tanyone\twho\tlooked\tso\tstrong\tphysically.\tHe\twas\tas\ttall\tas\tFeluda,\tbut\this\tbody\twas\tmuch\tmore muscular.\tA\tjet-black\tmoustache\ton\ta\tfair\tskin\tgave\thim\tan\tadded\tair\tof\tstrength\tand\tpower.\tHis\teyes seemed\t distant,\t but\t sometimes\t they\t glowed\t with\t emotion\t as\t he\t spoke.\t He\t told\t us\t he\t could\t speak Mar athi,\t Tamil\t and\t Malayalam,\t in\t additio n\t to \t Eng lish\t and\t Hindi.\t Feluda\t decided\t to \t speak\t to \t him\t in English. The\t first\t thing\t Mr\t Karandikar\t asked\t was\t whether\t we\t had\t been\t sent\t by\t a\t newspaper.\t Perhaps\t the notebook\t and\t pencil\t in\t Lalmohan\t Babu\u2019s\t hands\t prompted\t this\t question.\t Feluda\t had\t to\t choose\t his words\tcarefully\tbefore\tmaking\ta\treply.\t\u2018Suppose\twe\twere\tnewspaper\treporters.\tWould\tthat\tmake\tany difference?\tI\tmean,\twould\tyou\tobject\tto\ttalking\tto\tthe\tpress?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Oh\t no .\t On\t the\t co ntr ar y.\t I\u2019d\t be\t g lad\t to \t talk\t to \t them.\t Peo ple\t must\t be\t to ld\t that\t if\t the\t tig er \t escaped from\this\tcage,\tit\twas\tcertainly\tnot\tthe\tfault\tof\this\told\ttrainer.\tThe\towner\tof\tthis\tcircus\tmust\ttake\tall responsibility.\t A\t tiger\t does\t not\t obey\t two\t different\t trainers.\t It\t can\t respond\t to\t only\t one.\t Sultan\t had started\t to\t get\t irritable\t soon\t after\t the\t other\t trainer\t arrived.\t I\t had\t explained\t this\t to\t Mr\t Kutti,\t but\t he didn\u2019t\tpay\tany\tattention\tto\tme.\tNow\tI\thope\the\u2019s\thappy\twith\tthe\tresult.\u2019 \u2018Why\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\tgo\tto\tlook\tfor\tyour\ttiger?\u2019 \u2018Why\tshould\tI?\tLet\tthem\tfind\thim\tagain!\u2019\the\tsaid,\tsounding\tdeeply\thurt. Lalmohan\t Babu\t whispered\t something\t into\t Feluda\u2019s\t ear.\t This\t meant\t he\t wanted\t to\t ask\t Mr Karandikar\tsomething,\tbut\twas\tafraid\tto.\tFeluda\ttranslated\tquickly. \u2018Would\t you\t go\t if\t the\t others\t fail,\t or\t if\t your\t presence\t becomes\t absolutely\t necessary\t for\t some reason?\u2019 \u2018Why,\tyes!\tIf\tI\thear\tanyone\tis\tthinking\tof\tkilling\tmy\tSultan,\tI\u2019ll\tcertainly\tgo\tand\ttry\tto\tsave\thim.\tI look\tupon\thim\tas\tfamily\u2014no,\tI\tthink\the\u2019s\teven\tcloser\tto\tme\tthan\ta\tfamily\tmember.\u2019 I,\ttoo,\twanted\tto\task\thim\tsomething.\tAs\tit\tturned\tout,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\thave\tto.\tFeluda\tspoke\tbefore\tme. \u2018Did\ta\ttiger\tever\tscratch\tyour\tface?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tit\twasn\u2019t\tSultan.\tI\tused\tto\twork\tfor\tThe\tGolden\tCircus\tbefore\tI\tjoined\tthe\tGreat\tMajestic. It\twas\tone\tof\ttheir\ttigers.\tIt\tclawed\tmy\tface;\tone\tof\tmy\tcheeks\tand\tmy\tnose\twere\tbadly\tinjured.\u2019\tHe than\t to o k\t his\t shir t\t o ff.\t We\t wer e\t amazed\t to \t see\t endless\t scar s\t o n\t his\t bo dy.\t Heaven\t kno ws\t ho w\t many times\the\thad\tbeen\tmauled. Before\twe\tleft,\tFeluda\tasked\thim\tone\tlast\tquestion.\t\u2018Will\tyou\tcontinue\tto\tstay\there?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tA\tsmall\ttent\tin\ta\tcircus\thas\tbeen\tmy\thome\tfor\tmore\tthan\tseventeen\tyears.\tNow\t.\t.\t.\tI may\twell\thave\tto\tlook\tfor\tsomething\tdifferent.\tWho\tknows?\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t wanted\t to\t see\t all\t the\t other\t animals.\t He\t had\t already\t spoken\t to\t Mr\t Kutti\t about\t it. When\t we\t left\t Mr\t Karandikar,\t Murugesh\t took\t us\t to\t where\t the\t animals\t were\t kept.\t There\t were\t two","other\ttigers,\ta\tlarge\tbear,\ta\thippopotamus,\tthree\telephants\tand\tsix\thorses.\tSultan\u2019s\tcage\tstood\ton\tone side.\tThere\twas\tsomething\trather\teerie\tabout\tits\temptiness. By\tthe\ttime\twe\tgot\tback\thome,\tit\twas\tfive\to\u2019clock.\tBulakiprasad\tcame\tin\twith\tthe\ttea\ta\tlittle\tlater, and\ttold\tus\tthat\tsomeone\tfrom\tMr\tChowdhury\u2019s\thouse\thad\tcalled\tin\tour\tabsence.\tHe\twould\tcall\tagain later,\the\thad\tsaid. Pritindra\tChowdhury\tarrived\tat\thalf\tpast\tsix.\tThe\tsun\thad\tset\tby\tthis\ttime,\tand\tthe\ttemperature\thad dropped\tappreciably.\tWe\thad\tall\tslipped\ton\tour\twoollen\tpullovers. \u2018You\t didn\u2019t\t tell\t me\t you\t were\t a\t detective!\u2019\t Pritin\t Babu\t said\t most\t unexpectedly.\t \u2018When\t I\t told\t my father\tabout\tyou,\the\tsaid\the\tknew\tyou\twere\tcoming.\tYour\tclient,\tMr\tSahai,\tknows\thim,\tyou\tsee.\tHe had\thappened\tto\tmention\tyour\tvisit.\tI\tam\there\tnow\tto\tinvite\tyou\tto\tour\tpicnic\ttomorrow.\tBaba\twould like\tall\tof\tyou\tto\tcome.\u2019 \u2018A\tpicnic?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\traised\this\teyebrows. \u2018Didn\u2019t\t I\t tell\t you?\t It\u2019s\t Baba\u2019s\t birthday\t tomorrow,\t so\t we\t are\t all\t going\t to\t Rajrappa\t for\t a\t picnic. We\u2019ll\t have\t lunch\t there.\t If\t you\t came\t to\t our\t house\t in\t your\t car\t at\t around\t nine\t o\u2019clock,\t we\t could\t all leave\ttogether.\tOur\thouse\tis\tcalled\tKailash.\tIt\u2019s\tnot\tfar\tfrom\there,\tI\u2019ll\ttell\tyou\thow\tto\tfind\tit.\tAnd,\u2019\the added,\t\u2018if\tyou\tcame\ta\tlittle\tearlier\tthan\tnine,\tyou\u2019d\tbe\table\tto\tsee\tmy\tfather \u2019s\tcollection\tof\tbutterflies and\trocks.\u2019 Rajrappa\t was\t fifty\t miles\t from\t Hazaribagh.\t It\t had\t a\t waterfall\t and\t an\t old\t Kali\t temple\t called\t the temple\tof\tChhinnamasta.\tIt\twas\twell\tknown\tfor\tits\tscenic\tbeauty.\tWe\thad\theard\tof\tit\tbefore\tand\thad,\tin fact,\tplanned\tto\tgo\tthere\tourselves\tduring\tour\tstay. \u2018But\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tbegan\tdoubtfully,\t\u2018haven\u2019t\tyou\theard\tabout\tthe\ttiger?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse,\u2019\tPritin\tBabu\tlaughed,\t\u2018but\tthere\u2019s\tno\tcause\tfor\talarm.\tMy\tbrother\tis\ta\tcrack\tshot. He\u2019ll\tbe\ttaking\this\tgun\twith\thim.\tBesides,\tthe\ttiger\tis\tsupposed\tto\thave\tgone\tto\tthe\tnorth.\tRajrappa\tis to\tthe\tsouth\tof\tHazaribagh,\tnear\tRamgarh.\tYou\tmay\trelax.\u2019 Feluda\t thanked\t him\t and\t said\t we\t wo uld\t ar r ive\t at\t his\t ho use\t at\t eig ht-thir ty.\t Pr itin\t Babu\t g ave\t us\t the necessary\tdirections\tand\tleft. \u2018Why\tis\tthe\thouse\tcalled\tKailash,\tI\twonder?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked.\u2019 \u2018Possibly\tbecause\tits\towner\tis\tcalled\tMahesh,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied.\t\u2018Mahesh\tis\tanother\tname\tfor\tShiva, isn\u2019t\tit?\tSince\tShiva\tlives\tin\tMount\tKailash,\tMahesh\tChowdhury\tdecided\tto\tcall\this\thouse\tby\tthe\tsame name.\u2019 It\twas\tnow\tpitch\tdark\toutside.\tBut\twe\tdid\tnot\tswitch\tthe\tlights\ton\tsince\tthe\tmoon\thad\trisen\tand\twe wanted\tto\tsit\tby\tits\tlight\ton\tthe\tveranda.\tFor\tsome\tstrange\treason,\tLalmohan\tBabu\twas\tmuttering\tthe word\t\u2018Chhinnamasta\u2019\tunder\this\tbreath,\tover\tand\tover.\tThen\the\tsuddenly\tstopped\tat\t\u2018Chhin\u2014\u2019\tbecause Feluda\thad\traised\ta\thand. We\t sat\t in\t silence\t for\t a\t few\t seconds.\t There\t was\t no\t noise\t outside\t except\t the\t steady\t din\t made\t by crickets.\t Then,\t from\t the\t far\t distance,\t came\t a\t different\t noise.\t It\t froze\t my\t blood,\t for\t I\t had\t heard\t it before.\tIt\twas\tthe\troar\tof\ta\ttiger.\tWe\theard\tit\tthree\ttimes. Sultan\t was\t calling\t from\t somewhere.\t Only\t an\t experienced\t shikari\t could\t tell\t how\t far\t he\t was,\t and from\twhich\tdirection\the\twas\tcalling.","Three I\t had\t thought\t the\t news\t of\t an\t escaped\t tiger\t would\t be\t the\t highlight\t of\t our\t stay.\t But\t who\t knew something\telse\twould\thappen,\tand\tFeluda\twould\tget\tinextricably\tlinked\twith\tit?\tI\twill\tnot\tbe\table\tto forget\tMahesh\tChowdhury\u2019s\tbirthday\ton\t23\tNovember\tfor\ta\tlong\ttime\tto\tcome.\tAnd\tthe\tmemory\tof the\t scenes\t in\t Rajrappa,\t particularly\t the\t temple\t of\t Chhinnamasta,\t standing\t against\t its\t strangely beautiful\tdry\tand\trocky\tbackground,\twill\talways\tstay\talive\tin\tmy\tmemory. But\tI\tmust\tgo\tback\tto\tthe\tprevious\tevening.\tThe\troar\tof\tthe\ttiger\tmade\tLalmohan\tBabu\tgo\trather pale.\tHowever,\tjust\tas\tI\twas\tabout\tto\tsuggest\the\tshould\tsleep\tin\tour\troom,\the\tannounced\tthat\the\twas fine,\tbut\tcould\the\tplease\thave\tthe\tbig\ttorch\twith\tfive\tcells?\tThe\treason\tfor\tthis\twas\tthat\the\thad\theard somewhere\ta\ttiger\twould\tretreat\tif\ta\tbright\tlight\tshone\tin\tits\teyes\tfor\tmore\tthen\ta\tfew\tseconds.\t\u2018Mind you,\u2019\the\tsaid\tbefore\tgoing\tto\this\town\troom,\t\u2018if\tthe\ttiger\troared\toutside\tmy\twindow,\tI\u2019m\tnot\tsure\tif I\u2019d\thave\tthe\tnerve\tto\topen\tit\tand\tshine\tthe\ttorch\tin\tits\tface.\tBut\tBulakiprasad\ttells\tme\the\thas\ta\tweapon, and\the\u2019s\tnot\tafraid\tof\twild\tanimals.\u2019 Luckily,\teven\tif\tthe\ttiger\tdid\tpay\tus\ta\tvisit\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tnight,\tit\tdecided\tnot\tto\troar;\tso\tall was\twell. We\treached\tKailash\tthe\tfollowing\tmorning\ton\tthe\tdot\tof\teight-thirty.\tLalmohan\tBabu\ttook\tone\tlook at\tthe\thouse\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018The\tShiva\twho\tlives\tin\tthis\tKailash\tmust\tbe\tan\tEnglish\tone!\u2019\tFeluda\tand\tI\thad to\tagree\twith\thim.\tIt\tmight\thave\tbeen\tbuilt\tonly\tten\tyears\tago,\tbut\tits\tappearance\twas\tthat\tof\ta\thouse built\tfifty\tyears\tago\tduring\tBritish\ttimes. A\tchowkidar\topened\tthe\tgate\tfor\tus.\tWe\tpassed\tthrough\tand\tparked\tin\tone\tcorner\tof\tthe\tcompound. There\twere\tthree\tcars.\tPritin\tBabu\u2019s\tblack\tAmbassador,\ta\twhite\tFiat\tand\tan\told\tyellow\tPontiac. \u2018Look,\tFelu\tBabu,\tI\thave\tfound\ta\tclue!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\texclaimed.\tHe\thad\tfound\ta\tpiece\tof\tpaper near\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tlawn.\tLike\tMr\tSahai\u2019s\thouse,\tKailash\thad\ta\tgarden\ton\tone\tside. \u2018How\tcan\tyou\tfind\ta\tclue\twhen\tthere\u2019s\tno\tmystery?\u2019\tFeluda\tlaughed. \u2018I\tknow,\tbut\tjust\tlook\tat\twhat\u2019s\twritten\ton\tit.\tDoesn\u2019t\tit\tseem\tsort\tof\tmysterious?\u2019 It\twas\ta\tleaf\ttorn\tfrom\ta\tchild\u2019s\texercise\tbook.\tA\tfew\tletters\tfrom\tthe\talphabet\twere\twritten\ton\tit. There\twas\tno\tmystery\tin\tit\tat\tall.\tWhoever\thad\twritten\tit\tseemed\tto\tbe\trather\tfond\tof\tthe\tletter\t\u2018X\u2019.\tIt said: XLNC XL XPDNC NME OICURMT Feluda\tput\tit\tin\this\tpocket\twith\ta\tsmile.","A\t very\t old\t Muslim\t bearer\t was\t standing\t near\t the\t portico.\t He\t said\t \u2018Salaam,\t huzoor \u2019,\t and\t took\t us inside.\t A\t familiar\t voice\t had\t already\t reached\t our\t ears.\t We\t saw\t Pritindra\t Chowdhury\t as\t soon\t as\t we stepped\t into \t the\t dr awing \t r o o m.\t He\t came\t fo r war d\t to \t g r eet\t us\t war mly:\t \u2018Oh,\t do \t co me\t in.\t So \t kind\t o f you\tto\tcome!\u2019 We\t returned\t his\t greeting,\t then\t stood\t still,\t staring\t at\t the\t walls.\t Instead\t of\t framed\t paintings,\t they wer e\t co ver ed\t by\t fr amed\t butter flies.\t Each\t fr ame\t had\t eig ht\t o f\t them,\t car efully\t pinned\t and\t beautifully displayed.\t There\t were\t eight\t such\t frames,\t which\t made\t a\t total\t of\t sixty-four\t butterflies,\t each\t with\t its wings\tspread,\tlooking\tas\tthough\tthey\twere\tready\tto\ttake\tflight.\tThe\twhole\troom\tseemed\tto\tglow\twith their\tbright\tcolours. The\tcollector\thimself\twas\tseated\ton\ta\tsofa.\tHe\trose\twith\ta\tsmile\twhen\the\tsaw\tus\tenter\tthe\troom.\tIn his\t youth,\t he\t must\t have\t been\t both\t good\t looking\t and\t physically\t strong.\t He\t was\t still\t tall,\t and\t held himself\tstraight.\tHis\tcomplexion\twas\tvery\tfair,\the\twas\tclean-shaven\tand\tdressed\tin\ta\tfine\tdhoti,\ta\tsilk kurta\tand\ta\theavily\tembroidered\tKashmiri\tshawl.\tOn\this\tnose\twere\tperched\trimless\tglasses. Pritin\t Babu\t only\t knew\t Feluda\u2019s\t name,\t so\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t and\t I\t had\t to\t be\t introduced\t by\t Feluda. Before\t Mahesh\t Chowdhury\t could\t say\t anything,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t piped\t up,\t \u2018Happy\t birthday\t to\t you, sir!\u2019 Mr\t Chowdhury\t laughed.\t \u2018Thank\t you,\t thank\t you!\t I\t don\u2019t\t see\t why\t an\t old\t man\t like\t me\t should celebrate\this\tbirthday,\tbut\tthis\twhole\tthing\twas\tarranged\tby\tmy\tdaughter-in-law.\tLook,\tshe\teven\tmade me\tdress\tup.\tBut\tI\tam\tvery\tglad\tyou\twere\table\tto\tcome.\tHope\tyou\tdidn\u2019t\tfind\tit\tdifficult\tto\tfind\tour\tK dash\teyelash?\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t and\t I\t stared\t dumbly\t at\t him.\t But\t Feluda\t raised\t his\t eyebrows\t only\t for\t a\t fleeting second\tbefore\tsaying,\t\u2018No,\tsir,\twe\tfound\tit\tquite\teasily.\u2019 \u2018Good.\t I\t knew\t you\u2019d\t get\t my\t meaning.\t You\t must\t be\t used\t to\t dealing\t with\t codes\t and\t ciphers. However,\tyour\tfriends\tare\tstill\tlooking\tpuzzled.\u2019 Feluda\t had\t to\t take\t out\t his\t small\t notebook\t and\t pen\t and\t write\t the\t code\t down\t to\t explain.\t \u2018K\u2014 eyelash,\u2019\t he\t wrote.\t \u2018Now\t say\t the\t words\t quickly,\u2019\t he\t said\t with\t a\t smile.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t promptly started\t saying\t \u2018K\t eyelash,\t K\t eyelash\u2019\t rapidly,\t breaking\t off\t suddenly\t to\t say,\t \u2018Oh,\t oh,\t I\t see.\t It\t does sound\tlike\tKailash,\tdoesn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 I\thad\tto\tlaugh.\tThen\tI\tsaw\ta\tlittle\tgirl\tof\tabout\tfive,\twho\twas\tsitting\ton\tthe\tfloor\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe room\twith\ta\tdoll\tin\ther\tlap.\tIn\ther\thand\twas\ta\tpair\tof\ttweezers.\tShe\tkept\tpinching\tthe\tdoll\u2019s\tforehead with\tit,\tpossibly\tto\tpretend\tthat\tshe\twas\ttweezing\tits\teyebrows. \u2018That\u2019s\tmy\tgranddaughter,\u2019\tMr\tChowdhury\tsaid.\t\u2018She\u2019s\ta\tdouble-bee.\u2019 \u2018I\t see.\t Yo u\t mean\t she\t is\t called\t Bibi?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked.\t This\t time,\t even\t I\t co uld\t fig ur e\t o ut\t do uble-bee could\tonly\tmean\tBB.\tFeluda\tand\tI\toften\tplayed\tword\tgames\tat\thome,\tso\tthis\twasn\u2019t\tdifficult. \u2018Yes.\tI\tlike\tplaying\twith\twords,\u2019\tMahesh\tChowdhury\texplained.\t\u2018Let\tme\tget\tmy\tbrother,\u2019\tsaid\tPritin Babu\tand\tleft\tthe\troom.\tWe\tsat\tdown.\tMr\tChowdhury\twas\tsmiling\ta\tlittle,\tlooking\tstraight\tat\tFeluda. Feluda\treturned\this\tlook\twithout\tthe\tslightest\ttrace\tof\tembarrassment,\tand\tsmiled\tin\treturn. \u2018Well,\t well,\t well!\u2019\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t said\t finally.\t \u2018Sarveshwar\t Sahai\t praised\t you\t a\t lot.\t So\t when\t I heard\tyou\twere\there,\tI\ttold\tTrey\tto\tcall\tyou.\tMy\tlife\tis\tfull\tof\tmysteries,\tMr\tMitter.\tLet\u2019s\tsee\tif\tyou can\tsolve\tany.\u2019 \u2018Trey?\tDo\tyou\tmean\tyour\tthird\tson?\u2019","\u2018Right\tagain.\u2019 \u2018I\tlike\tword\tgames,\ttoo.\u2019 \u2018Very\t good.\t My\t oldest\t son\u2014I\t call\t him\t Ace\u2014can\t occasionally\t understand\t my\t meaning\t when\t I speak\tin\tcodes,\tbut\tTrey\tis\tquite\thopeless.\tAnyway,\thow\tlong\thave\tyou\tbeen\tworking\tas\ta\tdetective?\u2019 \u2018About\teight\tyears.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tWhat\tabout\tMr\tGanguli?\tWhat\tdoes\the\tdo?\u2019 \u2018He\twrites\tmurder\tmysteries,\tunder\tthe\tpseudonym\tof\tJatayu.\u2019 \u2018Really?\tWhat\ta\tfine\tcombination!\tOne\tcreates\tmysteries,\tthe\tother\tdestroys\tthem.\u2019 \u2018I\tcan\tsee\tyour\tcollection\tof\trocks\tand\tbutterflies,\u2019\tFeluda\tremarked,\t\u2018but\tis\tthere\tanything\telse\tyou used\tto\tcollect?\u2019 The\t rocks\t and\t stones\t were\t displayed\t in\t a\t glass\t case\t that\t stood\t in\t a\t corner.\t I\t had\t no\t idea\t stones could\tbe\tof\tso\tmany\tdifferent\ttypes\tand\tcolours.\tBut\twhat\tdid\tFeluda\tmean?\tMr\tChowdhury\tlooked quite\t taken\t aback\t and\t asked,\t \u2018Why\t do\t you\t ask\t about\t other\t collections?\t What\t else\t could\t I\t have collected?\u2019 \u2018Those\ttweezers\tyoung\tBibi\tis\tusing\tappear\tto\tbe\tquite\told.\u2019 \u2018Brilliant!\t Brilliant!\u2019\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t exclaimed.\t \u2018What\t sharp\t eyes\t you\u2019ve\t got!\t But\t you\t are absolutely\tright.\tI\tused\tto\tcollect\tstamps,\tand\tthose\twere\tmy\ttweezers.\tEven\tnow,\tI\tsometimes\tlook\tat the\tGibbons\tcatalogue.\tPhilately\twas\tmy\tfirst\tpassion\tin\tlife.\tWhen\tI\tused\tto\tpractise\tas\ta\tlawyer,\tone of\t my\t clients\t called\t Dorabjee\t gave\t me\t his\t own\t stamp\t album\t to\t show\t me\t how\t grateful\t he\t was.\t He must\thave\tlost\this\tinterest\tin\tstamps\tby\tthen,\tor\tcertainly\the\twould\tnot\thave\tgiven\tit\taway\tlike\tthat.\tIt had\tquite\ta\tfew\trare\tand\tvaluable\tstamps.\u2019 I\t felt\t quite\t excited\t to\t hear\t this.\t I\t had\t started\t to\t collect\t stamps\t myself,\t and\t knew\t that\t Feluda,\t as\t a young\tboy,\tused\tto\tdo\tthe\tsame. \u2018May\twe\tsee\tthat\talbum?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Pardon?\u2019\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t said\t after\t a\t few\t moments\t of\t silence.\t He\t had\t suddenly\t grown\t a\t little preoccupied.\tThen\the\tseemed\tto\tpull\thimself\ttogether. \u2018The\talbum?\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018No,\tI\u2019m\tafraid\tI\tcannot\tshow\tit\tto\tyou.\tIt\u2019s\tlost.\u2019 \u2018Lost?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tDidn\u2019t\tI\tjust\ttell\tyou\tmy\tlife\twas\tfull\tof\tmysteries?\tMysteries\t.\t.\t.\tor\tyou\tmay\teven\tcall\tthem tragedies.\tBut\tlet\u2019s\tnot\ttalk\tabout\tit\ton\ta\tfine\tday\tlike\tthis\t.\t.\t.\tCome\ton,\tAce,\tlet\tme\tintroduce\tyou! Pritin\tBabu\thad\treturned\twith\this\tbrother.\tHe\twas\tmuch\tolder,\tbut\tthere\twas\ta\tmarked\tresemblance between\tthe\ttwo\tbrothers.\t\u2018Ace\u2019\twas\ta\thandsome\tman,\tif\tjust\ta\tlittle\toverweight. \u2018Trey\t could\t probably\t tell\t you\t a\t lot\t about\t mikes,\u2019\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t said.\t \u2018Ace\t can\t only\t talk\t about mica.\tHe\thas\ta\tbusiness\tthat\tdeals\twith\tmica\tHis\treal\tname\tis\tArunendra.\tHis\toffice\tis\tin\tCalcutta,\tbut his\twork\toften\tbrings\thim\tto\tHazaribagh.\u2019 \u2018Namaskar,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid,\t\u2018you\tare\tAce\tand\tPritin\tBabu\tis\tTrey.\tIs\tthat\tDeuce?\u2019\tHe\twas\tlooking\tat\ta photograph\t in\t a\t silver\t frame.\t It\t was\t a\t family\t group\t photo,\t taken\t at\t least\t twenty-five\t years\t ago. Mahesh\tChowdhury\tand\this\twife\twere\tstanding\twith\ttwo\tyoung\tboys.\tA\tthird\tmuch\tsmaller\tboy\twas in\this\twife\u2019s\tarms.\tThe\tyounger\tof\tthe\ttwo\tboys\tstanding\thad\tto\tbe\tDeuce. \u2018Yes,\tyou\tare\tright,\u2019\tMr\tChowdhury\treplied,\t\u2018but\tyou\tmight\tnever\tget\tthe\tchance\tto\tmeet\thim,\tfor he\thas\tvanished.\u2019","Ace\u2014Arun\tBabu\u2014explained\tquickly:\t\u2018He\twas\tcalled\tBiren.\tHe\tleft\thome\tat\tthe\tage\tof\tnineteen\tto go\tto\tEngland,\tand\tdid\tnot\treturn.\u2019 \u2018We\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tthat\tfor\tcertain,\tdo\twe?\u2019\tMr\tChowdhury\tsounded\tdoubtful. \u2018If\the\tdid,\tBaba,\tsurely\tyou\u2019d\thave\theard\tabout\tit?\u2019 \u2018Who\t knows?\t He\t didn\u2019t\t write\t me\t a\t single\t line\t in\t the\t last\t ten\t years!\u2019\t Mr\t Chowdhury\u2019s\t voice sounded\tpained. No\tone\tspoke\tafter\tthis.\tThe\tatmosphere\tsuddenly\tseemed\tto\thave\tbecome\trather\tserious.\tPerhaps Mr \t Cho wdhur y\t r ealized\t this.\t He\t sto o d\t up,\t and\t said\t cheer fully,\t \u2018Co me\t o n,\t let\t me\t sho w\t yo u\t ar o und. Akhil\tand\tShankar\thaven\u2019t\tarrived\tyet,\thave\tthey?\tSo\twe\thave\ta\tlittle\ttime.\u2019 \u2018You\tdon\u2019t\thave\tto\tget\tup,\tBaba,\u2019\tArun\tChowdhury\tsaid.\t\u2018I\tcan\ttake\tthem\tupstairs.\u2019 \u2018No,\tsir.\tThis\tis\tmy\thouse;\tI\tplanned\tit\tand\tI\thad\tit\tbuilt.\tI\twill,\ttherefore,\tshow\tit\tto\tmy\tvisitors.\u2019 We\tfollowed\thim\tupstairs.\tThere\twere\tthree\tbedrooms,\tand\ta\tlovely\twide\tveranda\tthat\toverlooked the\t street\t on\t the\t north\t side.\t The\t Kanari\t Hills\t were\t dimly\t visible\t in\t the\t distance.\t Mr\t Chowdhury\u2019s bedroom\twas\tin\tthe\tmiddle.\tThe\tother\ttwo\twere\toccupied\tat\tthe\tmoment.\tArun\tBabu\twas\tin\tone,\tand Pritin\tBabu\twas\tin\tthe\tother\twith\this\twife\tand\tdaughter.\tThere\twas\ta\tguest\troom\ton\tthe\tground\tfloor, we\twere\ttold.\tMahesh\tChowdhury\u2019s\tfriend,\tAkhil\tChakravarty,\twas\tstaying\tin\tit. I\t noticed\t more\t butterflies\t and\t rocks\t in\t Mr\t Chowdhury\u2019s\t bedroom.\t A\t bookshelf\t in\t a\t corner contained\trows\tof\tnotebooks,\talmost\tidentical\tin\tappearance.\tMr\tChowdhury\tcaught\tFeluda\tlooking at\tthese\tand\tsaid\tthey\twere\this\tdiaries.\tHe\thad\tkept\tdiaries\tregularly\tover\ta\tperiod\tof\tforty\tyears.\tOn\ta bedside\t table\t was\t another\t small\t framed\t photograph\t of\t a\t man,\t but\t not\t of\t anyone\t from\t the\t family. Lalmohan\tBabu\trecognized\thim\tinstantly. \u2018Ah,\tit\u2019s\tMuktananda,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tMy\tfriend\tAkhil\tgave\tit\tto\tme,\u2019\tMr\tChowdhury\treplied.\tThen\the\tturned\tto\tFeluda\tand\tadded, \u2018He\thas\tthree\tcontinents\tto\tback\thim\tup.\u2019 \u2018Correct!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsounded\tquite\texcited.\t\u2018He\tis\ta\tfamous\tTantric\tsadhu.\tAsia,\tEurope\tand America\u2014he\thas\tfollowers\teverywhere.\u2019 \u2018How\tdo\tyou\tknow\tso\tmuch\tabout\thim?\tAre\tyou\ta\tdevotee\tyourself?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tno.\tBut\tone\tof\tmy\tneighbours\tis.\tHe\ttold\tme\tabout\this\tguru.\u2019\tThere\twas\tnothing\tmore\tto\tsee on\tthe\tfirst\tfloor.\tAs\twe\tbegan\tclimbing\tdown,\tI\theard\ta\tcar\tarrive.\tThe\ttwo\tmen\tMr\tChowdhury\twas waiting\tfor\tsoon\tmade\tan\tappearance.\tOne\tof\tthem\twas\tof\tabout\tthe\tsame\tage\tas\tMahesh\tChowdhury. He\t was\t wear ing \t an\t o r dinar y\t dho ti\t and\t kur ta\t and\t had\t a\t plain\t dar k\t br o wn\t shawl\t wr apped\t ar o und\t his shoulders.\tIt\twas\tobvious\tthat\the\thad\tnever\thad\tanything\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\tcomplex\tworld\tof\tthe\tlaw;\tnor did\the\tseem\teven\tslightly\twesternized\tin\tany\tway.\tThe\tother\tman\twas\tmuch\tyounger,\tprobably\tunder forty.\tHe\thad\ta\tsmart\tand\tintelligent\tair.\tHe\tcame\tforward\tquickly\tand\ttouched\tMr\tChowdhury\u2019s\tfeet as\tsoon\tas\the\tsaw\thim.\tThe\tolder\tgentleman\twas\tcarrying\ta\tbox\tof\tsweets.\tHe\tpassed\tit\tto\tPritin\tBabu and\tsaid,\t\u2018Look,\tMahesh,\tplease\tlisten\tto\tme.\tDrop\tthe\tidea\tof\ta\tpicnic.\tThe\ttime\u2019s\tnot\tauspicious\tat all,\t and\t then\t there\u2019s\t that\t tiger\t to\t be\t considered.\t What\t if\t he\t decides\t to\t visit\t the\t temple\t of Chhinnamasta?\u2019 Mr\t Chowdhury\t turned\t to\t us.\t \u2018Please\t allow\t me\t to\t introduce\t you.\t This\t man\t here\t who\t cannot\t stop seeing\tdanger\tand\tpitfalls\teverywhere\tis\ta\tvery\told\tfriend,\tAkhil\tBandhu\tChakravarty.\tHe\tused\tto\tbe\ta schoolteacher.\t Now\t he\t dabbles\t in\t astrology\t and\t ayurveda.\t And\t this\t is\t Shankarlal\t Misra.\t I\t am","exceedingly\tfond\tof\tthis\tyoung\tman.\tYou\tmight\tsay\tI\tlook\tupon\thim\tas\ta\tsort\tof\treplacement\tfor\tmy missing\tson.\u2019 We\tgreeted\tone\tanother,\tand\tthen\teveryone\tbegan\tto\tget\tready\tto\tleave.\tAkhil\tChakravarty\ttried\tone last\ttime:\t\u2018So\tnobody\u2019s\tgoing\tto\theed\tmy\twarning?\u2019 \u2018No,\tmy\tdear,\u2019\tMr\tChowdhury\treplied.\t\u2018I\thear\tthe\ttiger\tis\tcalled\tSultan.\tThat\tmeans\the\u2019s\ta\tMuslim. He\u2019s\tnot\tlikely\tto\twant\tto\tvisit\ta\tHindu\ttemple,\tnever\tfear.\tOh,\tby\tthe\tway,\tMr\tMitter,\tdo\tgo\tand\tsee the\tcircus,\tif\tyou\tcan.\tWe\twere\tinvited\tthe\tday\tbefore\tyesterday.\tI\twent\twith\tlittle\tBibi\tand\ther\tmother. I\t had\t no \t idea\t that\t Indian\t cir cus\t had\t made\t such\t pr o g r ess.\t T he\t items\t with\t the\t tig er,\t par ticular ly,\t wer e most\timpressive.\u2019 \u2018But\tdidn\u2019t\tsomething\tgo\twrong\ttowards\tthe\tend?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tthat\twasn\u2019t\tthe\tringmaster \u2019s\tfault.\tEven\tanimals\thave\tmoods,\tdon\u2019t\tthey?\tThe\ttiger\twas\tnot in\t the\t r ig ht\t mo o d,\t that\u2019s\t all.\t After \t all,\t it\u2019s\t a\t living \t being ,\t no t\t a\t machine\t that\t will\t r un\t each\t time\t yo u press\ta\tbutton.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tsee\twhat\tthe\tanimal\u2019s\tmood\thas\tdone,\u2019\tArun\tBabu\tremarked.\t\u2018There\u2019s\tpanic\teverywhere. That\ttiger\tought\tto\tbe\tkilled.\tThis\twould\tnever\thave\thappened\tif\tit\twas\ta\tforeign\tcircus.\u2019 His\tfather\tsmiled\tdryly,\t\u2018Yes,\tyour\thands\tmust\tbe\titching\tto\tpick\tup\tyour\tgun.\tAnyone\twould\tthink you\twere\tthe\tpresident\tof\tthe\tWildlife\tDestruction\tSociety!\u2019 We\tmet\tanother\tperson\tbefore\tleaving\tfor\tRajrappa.\tIt\twas\tPritin\tChowdhury\u2019s\twife,\tNeelima\tDevi. Like\tthe\trest\tof\ther\tfamily,\tshe\twas\tvery\tgood\tlooking.","Four Rajrappa\t was\t eighty\t kilometres\t from\t Hazaribagh.\t We\t had\t to\t take\t a\t left\t turn\t when\t we\t reached Ramgarh,\twhich\ttook\tus\tthrough\ta\tplace\tcalled\tGola.\tBeyond\tGola\twas\tthe\tBhera\triver.\tAll\tcars\thad to \t be\t left\t her e,\t and\t the\t r iver \t had\t to \t be\t cr o ssed\t o n\t fo o t.\t Rajr appa\t lay\t o n\t the\t o ther \t side,\t o nly\t a\t sho r t walk\taway. Shankarlal\tMisra\tdid\tnot\thave\ta\tcar,\tso\the\ttravelled\twith\tus.\tTwo\tbearers\thad\talso\tjoined\tthe\tgroup. One\t of\t them\t was\t the\t old\t Noor\t Muhammad,\t who\t had\t been\t with\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t since\t he\t started working\t as\t a\t lawyer.\t The\t other\t was\t the\t tall\t and\t hefty\t Jagat\t Singh,\t who\t was\t carrying\t Arun Chowdhury\u2019s\trifle\tand\tcartridges. Mr\t Misra\t proved\t to\t be\t very\t friendly\t and\t easy\t to\t talk\t to.\t From\t what\t he\t told\t us\t about\t himself,\t it seemed\tthere\twas\ta\tmystery\tin\this\tlife\tas\twell.\tHis\tfather,\tDeendayal\tMisra,\tused\tto\twork\tas\tMahesh Chowdhury\u2019s\t chowkidar.\t Thirty-five\t years\t ago,\t when\t Shankar\t was\t only\t four,\t Deendayal\t suddenly went\t missing\t one\t day.\t Two\t days\t later,\t a\t woodcutter\t found\t his\t body\t in\t a\t forest\t nearly\t eight\t miles away.\tHe\thad\tbeen\tkilled\tby\ta\twild\tanimal.\tNo\tone\tknew\twhy\the\thad\tgone\tto\tthe\tforest.\tThere\twas\tan old\tShiva\ttemple\tthere,\tbut\tDeendayal\thad\tnever\tbeen\tknown\tto\tvisit\tit. Mahesh\t Chowdhury\t took\t pity\t on\t Deendayal\u2019s\t child.\t He\t brought\t him\t to\t his\t house,\t and\t began\t to bring\t him\t up\t like\t his\t own\t son.\t In\t time,\t Shankar\t proved\t to\t be\t a\t very\t bright\t student.\t He\t won scholarships\tand\tfinished\this\tgraduation\tfrom\tRanchi\tUniversity.\tThen\the\topened\ta\tbookshop\tcalled Shankar\t Book\t Store\t in\t Ranchi.\t Recently,\t he\t had\t opened\t a\t branch\t in\t Hazaribagh.\t He\t travelled frequently\tbetween\tthe\ttwo\tcities. This\tmention\tof\tbooks\tprompted\tLalmohan\tBabu\tto\task,\t\u2018What\tkind\tof\tbooks\tdo\tyou\tkeep\tin\tyour shop?\u2019 \u2018All\tkinds,\u2019\tMr\tMisra\treplied,\tsmiling,\t\u2018including\tcrime\tthrillers.\tWe\thave\toften\tsold\tyour\tbooks.\u2019 After\t a\t few\t moments,\t Feluda\t asked,\t \u2018Mahesh\t Chowdhury\u2019s\t second\t son\t must\t have\t been\t the\t same age\tas\tyourself.\tIs\tthat\tright?\u2019 \u2018Who,\tBiren?\tHe\twas\tyounger\tthan\tme,\tbut\tonly\tby\ta\tfew\tmonths.\tWe\twent\tto\tschool\ttogether,\tand were\t in\t the\t same\t class.\t All\t three\t brothers\t went\t to\t Calcutta\t for\t higher\t studies,\t but\t Biren\t was\t never really\tinterested\tin\tthem.\tHe\twas\talways\trestless,\tfond\tof\tadventures.\tI\twas\tnot\tsurprised\twhen\the\tleft home\tat\tnineteen.\u2019 \u2018Does\this\tfather\tbelieve\tin\ttantrics\tand\tholy\tmen?\u2019 \u2018He\tdidn\u2019t\tearlier.\tBut\the\thas\tchanged\ta\tlot\tover\tthe\tyears.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tsee\tit\tmyself,\tbut\tI\u2019ve\theard\tthat he\t used\t to\t have\t an\t extremely\t violent\t temper.\t He\t may\t not\t actually\t visit\t holy\t men,\t but\t today\t .\t .\t .\t I believe\tthe\treason\tfor\tgoing\tto\tRajrappa\tis\tthat\ttemple\tof\tChhinnamasta.\u2019 \u2018Why\tdo\tyou\tsay\tthat?\u2019","\u2018He\t do esn\u2019t\t talk\t abo ut\t it,\t but\t I\t have\t g o ne\t to \t Rajr appa\t with\t him\t befo r e,\t mo r e\t than\t o nce.\t I\u2019ve\t seen how\tthe\tlook\ton\this\tface\tchanges\twhen\the\tvisits\tthe\ttemple.\u2019 \u2018Could\tthis\tbe\tlinked\tto\tsomething\tin\this\tpast?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tI\tknow\tvery\tlittle\tabout\this\tpast.\tDon\u2019t\tforget\tI\twas\tonly\this\tchowkidar \u2019s\tson,\tnever really\tone\tof\tthe\tfamily.\u2019 At\taround\tten-thirty,\tthree\tcars\tstopped\tby\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\tBhera\triver.\tOurs\twas\tthe\tlast,\tjust\tbehind Pritin\tChowdhury\u2019s\tcar.\tWe\tsaw\thim\tget\tout,\ttape\trecorder\tin\thand,\tand\tdisappear\tamong\tthe\ttrees\ton our\tleft.\tMahesh\tChowdhury\twas\tin\tthe\tfirst\tcar.\tHe\tgot\tout,\tand\tcame\ttowards\tus.\t\u2018Let\u2019s\thave\ta\tcup\tof coffee\tbefore\tgoing\tacross,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018Rajrappa\tisn\u2019t\tfar\tfrom\there.\tThere\u2019s\tno\tpoint\tin\thurrying.\u2019 We\t walked\t towards\t the\t river.\t There\t wasn\u2019t\t much\t water\t in\t it\t now,\t but\t after\t the\t monsoon\t it\t often became\tknee-deep,\twhich\tmade\tit\tdifficult\tto\tcross.\tEven\tnow,\tit\twas\tflowing\twith\tconsiderable\tforce, rushing\t over\t a\t great\t many\t rocks\t of\t various\t sizes\t and\t different\t colours,\t polishing\t and\t smoothing their\tsurface,\tas\tif\tit\twas\tin\ta\tgreat\thurry\tto\tjump\tinto\tthe\tgreat\tDamodar.\tRajrappa\tstood\tat\tthe\tpoint where\tthe\tBhera\tmet\tthe\tDamodar. Neelima\t Devi\t opened\t a\t flask\t and\t began\t pouring\t coffee\t into\t paper\t cups.\t We\t went\t and\t helped o ur selves.\t Pr itin\t Babu\t was\t the\t o nly\t o ne\t missing .\t Per haps\t he\t had\t had\t to \t g o \t deeper \t into \t the\t wo o d\t to record\tbird\tcalls.\tA\tvariety\tof\tbirds\twere\tchirping\tin\tthe\ttrees. I\tlooked\tat\tand\ttried\tto\tmake\ta\tstudy\tof\tevery\tnew\tcharacter\tI\thad\tmet\tsince\tmy\tarrival.\tFeluda\thad taught\tme\tto\tdo\tthis,\talthough\this\town\teyes\tcaught\tdetails\tthat\tI\tinevitably\tmissed. The\tyoungest\tin\tour\tgroup\thad\tplaced\ther\tdoll\ton\ta\tflat\tstone\tand\twas\ttalking\tto\tit:\t\u2018Sit\tquietly,\tor I\u2019ll\tthrow\tyou\tinto\tthe\triver.\tYou\twouldn\u2019t\tlike\tthat,\twould\tyou?\u2019 Arun\t Babu\t finished\t his\t coffee,\t threw\t the\t cup\t away,\t then\t disappeared\t behind\t a\t bush.\t The\t faint smoke\tthat\trose\ta\tlittle\tlater\ttold\tme\tthat\the\tdidn\u2019t\tsmoke\tin\this\tfather \u2019s\tpresence. Mahesh\tChowdhury\twas\tstanding\tquietly\tby\tthe\triver,\tstaring\tat\tits\tgushing\twater.\tHis\thands\twere clasped\tbehind\this\tback. Feluda\thad\tpicked\tup\ttwo\tsmall\tstones\tand\twas\tstriking\tone\tagainst\t the\t other\t to\t see\t if\t they\t were flint,\t when\t Akhil\t Chakravarty\t walked\t up\t to\t him\t and\t said,\t \u2018Do\t you\t know\t what\t sign\t you\t were\t born under?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t sir.\t Aquarius.\t Is\t that\t good\t or\t bad\t for\t a\t detective?\u2019\t Neelima\t Devi\t picked\t up\t a\t wild\t yellow flower\tand\tstuck\tit\tinto\ther\thair.\tThen\tshe\tlooked\tat\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tsaid\tsomething\twhich\tmade him\tthrow\tback\this\thead\tand\tlaugh.\tBut,\tonly\ta\tsecond\tlater,\the\tstopped\tabruptly,\tgasped\tand\tjumped aside.\t Neelima\t Devi\u2019s\t laug hter \t br o ke\t o ut\t this\t time.\t \u2018T hat\t was\t o nly\t a\t har mless\t chameleo n!\u2019\t she\t said. \u2018Don\u2019t\ttell\tme\tyou\tare\tafraid\tof\tthem?\u2019 I\tlooked\taround\tfor\tShankarlal,\tbut\tsaw\tthat\the\thad\talready\tcrossed\tthe\triver\tand\twas\ttalking\tto\ta man\tin\tsaffron\tclothes,\ton\tthe\tother\tside.\tA\tbusload\tof\tvisitors\thad\tcrossed\tover\ta\tfew\tminutes\tago. The\tsaffron-clad\tsadhu\tmust\thave\tbeen\tone\tof\tthem. We\t finished\t our\t coffee,\t and\t Pritin\t Babu\t returned.\t It\t was\t now\t time\t to\t wade\t through\t the\t river. Everyone\tlifted\ttheir\tclothes\tby\ta\tcouple\tof\tinches.\tLittle\tBibi\tdecided\tto\tride\ton\tNoor\tMuhammad\u2019s back,\t and\t I\t saw\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t stop,\t close\t his\t eyes\t and\t mutter\t something\t before\t stepping\t on\t to\t a stone.\t He\t nearly\t lost\t his\t balance\t at\t least\t three\t times\t before\t he\t got\t to\t the\t other\t side.\t Then,\t landing safely\ton\tthe\tdry\tground,\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Hey,\twho\tknew\tthat\twas\tgoing\tto\tbe\tso\teasy?\u2019","There\t were\t more\t trees\t here,\t though\t not\t enough\t to\t call\t it\t a\t wood.\t Nevertheless,\t from\t the\t way Lalmohan\t Babu\t kept\t casting\t nervous\t glances\t over\t his\t shoulder,\t I\t knew\t that\t he\t had\t not\t forgotten about\tthe\ttiger.\tWe\tturned\ta\tcorner\tin\ta\tfew\tminutes,\tand\tstopped.\tIt\twas\tas\tif\ta\tcurtain\thad\tbeen\tlifted to\treveal\tRajrappa.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid,\t\u2018Waah!\u2019\tso\tloudly\tthat\ttwo\tlittle\tbirds\tflew\taway. He\thad\tevery\treason\tto\tsay\tthat.\tI\tcould\tsee\tboth\trivers\tfrom\twhere\twe\tstood.\tOn\tour\tleft\twas\tthe smaller \t r iver,\t the\t Bher a,\t and\t to \t o ur \t r ig ht,\t do wn\t belo w,\t flo wed\t the\t Damo dar.\t Ther e\t was\t a\t water fall, not\tyet\tvisible,\tbut\tI\tcould\thear\tit.\tHuge\trocks\tstood\tout\tfrom\tthe\twater,\tlooking\tlike\tgiant\tturtles.\tThe forest\tbegan\tat\ta\tdistance,\tbeyond\twhich\tstood\tthe\thills\tin\ta\tfaint,\tbluish\tline.\tIt\twas\ta\ttruly\tcharming sight. The\ttemple\twas\tonly\ttwenty\tyards\taway.\tIt\twas\tobviously\tquite\told,\tbut\tparts\tof\tit\thad\tbeen\trestored recently.\tOnly\ta\tfew\tdays\tago,\twe\twere\ttold,\ta\tbuffalo\thad\tbeen\tkilled\there\tfor\tKali\tPuja.\t\u2018I\tbet\tonce they\tused\tto\thave\thuman\tsacrifices!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tmuttered\tinto\tmy\tear.\tHe\tmight\twell\thave\tbeen right. None\t of\t the\t passengers\t who\t had\t come\t by\t bus\t seemed\t interested\t in\t the\t scenery.\t All\t of\t them\t had gathered\tbefore\tthe\ttemple.\tShankarlal\twas\tright\tabout\tMahesh\tChowdhury.\tI\tsaw\thim\tstand\tstill\tat\tthe door\tof\tthe\ttemple\tand\tstare\tinside.\tHe\tspent\tnearly\ta\tminute\tthere,\talthough\tit\twas\tso\tdark\tinside\tthat the\tstatue\twas\talmost\tinvisible.\tThen\the\tmoved\taway,\tand\tslowly\tfollowed\tthe\tothers. The\t water fall\t came\t into \t view\t in\t a\t few\t minutes.\t The\t two \t bear er s\t beg an\t spr eading \t a\t dur r ie\t o n\t the sand. \u2018This\tis\tan\tunexpected\tbonus,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid.\t\u2018Who\tknew\twe\u2019d\tbe\tinvited\tto\ta\tpicnic on\tthe\tsecond\tday\tof\tour\tvisit?\u2019 \u2018This\tis\tonly\tthe\tbeginning,\u2019\tFeluda\tobserved. \u2018Really?\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\tever\tplayed\tchess?\u2019 \u2018Good\tGod,\tno!\u2019 \u2018If\tyou\thad,\tyou\u2019d\thave\tunderstood\tmy\tmeaning.\tWhen\ta\tgame\tof\tchess\tcomes\tto\ta\tclose,\tand\tonly a\t few\t pieces\t ar e\t left\t o n\t the\t bo ar d,\t so mething \t like\t an\t electr ic\t cur r ent\t flo ws\t between\t the\t two \t player s. Neither\t of\t them\t moves,\t but\t they\t can\t feel\t it\t with\t every\t nerve\t in\t their\t body.\t All\t the\t members\t of\t the Chowdhury\t family\t remind\t me\t of\t these\t pieces.\t What\t I\t still\t don\u2019t\t know\t is\t who\t is\t black\t and\t who\t is white\u2014or\twho\u2019s\tthe\tking,\tand\tif\tthere\u2019s\ta\tbishop.\u2019 We\t cho se\t a\t spo t\t between\t the\t temple\t and\t the\t place\t wher e\t the\t main\t picnic\t was\t being \t ar r ang ed,\t and sat\t down\t under\t a\t peepul\t tree.\t It\t was\t not\t yet\t eleven\t o\u2019clock.\t Everyone\t was\t relaxed\t and\t roaming around\t lazily.\t Bibi\t was\t sitting\t on\t the\t sand,\t and\t Akhil\t Chakravarty\t was\t talking\t to\t her,\t explaining something\t with\t different\t gestures.\t Neelima\t Devi\t was\t sitting\t on\t the\t durrie.\t I\t saw\t her\t take\t out\t a paperback\tfrom\ther\tbag.\tIt\twas\tprobably\ta\tdetective\tnovel.\tPritin\tBabu\twas\twalking\taimlessly;\tthen\the sat\tdown\ton\ta\tsmall\tmound\tand\tbegan\tinserting\ta\tnew\tcassette\tinto\this\trecorder.\tArun\tBabu\ttook\this g un\t fr o m\t Jag at\t Sing h,\t and\t Mahesh\t Cho wdhur y\t picked\t up\t a\t sto ne\t fr o m\t the\t g r o und,\t o nly\t to \t thr o w\t it away\tagain. \u2018Shankarlal\tis\tnot\taround,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcommented. \u2018Yes,\the\tis,\tbut\tat\tsome\tdistance.\tLook!\u2019","I\tfollowed\tFeluda\u2019s\tgaze\tand\tsaw\tthat\tShankarlal\twas\tstanding\tunder\ta\ttree\tbehind\tthe\ttemple,\tstill chatting\twith\tthe\tsadhu. \u2018So mewhat\t suspicio us,\t isn\u2019t\t it?\u2019\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t asked.\t I\t lo o ked\t at\t Feluda\t to \t see\t if\t he\t ag r eed,\t but before\the\tcould\tsay\tanything,\tArun\tChowdhury\twalked\tover\tto\tus,\tgun\tin\thand. \u2018Is\tthat\tadequate\tfor\ta\ttiger?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\thim. \u2018T hat\t tig er \t fr o m\t the\t cir cus\t is\t no t\t g o ing \t to \t co me\t her e,\u2019\t Ar un\t Babu\t laug hed.\t \u2018I\t have\t killed\t sambar with\tthis\tgun,\tbut\tusually\tI\tonly\tkill\tbirds.\tThis\tis\ta\ttwenty-two.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tso\tI\tsee.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\thunt?\u2019 \u2018Only\tcriminals.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\twork\tfor\tan\tagency?\tOr\tare\tyou\tprivate?\u2019 Feluda\thanded\thim\tone\tof\this\tcards\twith\t\u2018Pradosh\tC.\tMitter,\tPrivate\tInvestigator \u2019\twritten\ton\tit. \u2018Thanks,\u2019\tsaid\tArun\tChowdhury.\t\u2018I\tmay\tneed\tit\tone\tday,\twho\tknows?\u2019 Then\the\tmoved\taway. I\t saw\t Feluda\t clutching\t the\t same\t piece\t of\t paper\t we\t had\t found\t near\t the\t lawn\t in\t Kailash.\t This surprised\tme,\tfor\tI\thadn\u2019t\tseen\thim\ttaking\tit\tout. \u2018Why\tthis\tsudden\tinterest\tin\tletters\tfrom\tthe\talphabet?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\twanted\tto\tknow. \u2018Look\tcarefully.\tThese\taren\u2019t\tjust\tletters\tfrom\tthe\talphabet.\tThese\tare\twords,\tproper\twords.\u2019 \u2018Nonsense!\tIf\tthey\tare,\tit\tmust\tbe\tsome\tstrange\tforeign\tlanguage.\u2019 \u2018Not\t at\t all.\t These\t are\t ordinary\t English\t words,\t and\t you\t know\t them\t very\t well.\t Try\t reading\t them out.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tleant\tacross\tto\tread\tthe\tletters. \u2018Eks\tEl\tEn\tSee,\u2019\the\tread,\t\u2018Eks\tEl.\tEks\tPee\tDee\t.\t.\t.\toh,\tI\tsee!\tThe\tfirst\tword\tis\t\u201cexcellency\u201d,\tisn\u2019t\tit? One\thas\tto\tread\tit\tquickly.\tAnd\tthe\tsecond\tword\tis\t\u201cexcel\u201d.\tThen\tit\u2019s\t\u201cexpediency\u201d,\tand\tthe\tlast\tword is\t\u201cenemy\u201d.\tBut\twhat\u2019s\tthis\tbeginning\twith\tan\tO?\u2019 \u2018OICURMT,\u2019\tI\tread\tquickly.\t\u2018That\u2019s\t\u201coh\tI\tsee\tyou\tare\tempty\u201d.\u2019 \u2018Good.\tHow\tclever!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tbeamed. With\ta\tgrin,\tFeluda\tturned\tthe\tpaper\tover.\tMore\twords\tand\tfigures\twere\twritten\toh\tit: UR 2\tgood\t2\tme 2\tbe 4\tgot \u2014 10 \u2014 \u2018Read\tit,\u2019\the\tsaid\tto\tLalmohan\tBabu,\twho\tseemed\tto\thave\tgot\tthe\thang\tof\tthings\tand\twas\tenjoying\tit hugely. \u2018You\tare\ttoo\tgood\tto\tme\tto\tbe\tfour-got-ten?\tI\tsee,\tthat\tshould\tread\t\u201cforgotten\u201d.\tYes,\tthat\u2019s\tright.\u2019 \u2018OK,\tnow\tlook\tat\tthe\tother\twords.\tTopshe,\ttry\tand\twork\tit\tout.\u2019\tI\tlooked\tcarefully.\tThere\twere\ttwo columns,\tone\tshowing\twords,\tand\tthe\tother\tpossibly\ttheir\tmeaning:","Revolution to\tlove\truin Telegraph great\thelp Astronomers no\tmore\tstars Festival evil\tfast Funeral real\tfun \u2018Anagrams?\u2019\tI\tasked. \u2018Yes.\tThe\tlast\tthree\tare\tcalled\t\u201cantigrams\u201d,\tfor\tthey\tgive\tyou\tthe\topposite\tmeaning\tto\tthe\treal\tone.\tI mean,\t\u201cfuneral\u201d\tcould\thardly\tbe\tcalled\t\u201creal\tfun\u201d,\tyet\tif\tyou\trearrange\tthe\tletters\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018.\t.\t.\tWhere\tdid\tyou\tfind\tthat?\u2019\tasked\ta\tvoice.\tMahesh\tChowdhury\twas\tstanding\tnear\tus,\tsmiling. \u2018It\twas\tlying\tnear\tyour\tgarden,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied. \u2018I\twas\tjust\t.\t.\t.\ttrying\tto\tfind\tsome\tamusement.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\thad\tguessed\tas\tmuch.\u2019 All\tof\tus\tbegan\trising,\tbut\tMr\tChowdhury\tsaid,\t\u2018Please\tdon\u2019t!\u2019\tand\tsat\tdown\tbeside\tus. \u2018Let\t me\t sho w\t yo u\t ano ther \t piece\t o f\t paper,\u2019\t he\t said.\t He\t wasn\u2019t\t smiling \t any\t mo r e.\t He\t to o k\t o ut\t his wallet,\tthen\textracted\tan\told\tfolded\tcard\tfrom\tit.\tIt\twas\ta\tpicture\tpostcard,\tshowing\tthe\tcity\tof\tZurich including\tthe\tlake. \u2018This\t was\t the\t last\t postcard\t sent\t by\t my\t second\t son,\u2019\t he\t said\t gravely.\t On\t the\t other\t side\t of\t the postcard\tthere\twas\tno\tmessage\tat\tall.\tAll\tthat\twas\twritten\twas\this\tname\tand\taddress. \u2018That\u2019s\twhat\the\thad\tstarted\tto\tdo,\u2019\tMr\tChowdhury\texplained.\t\u2018He\tsent\tpostcards\tjust\tto\tlet\tme\tknow where\the\twas.\tHe\twas\tnever\tmuch\tof\ta\tletter\twriter,\tanyway.\tHis\tearlier\tpostcards\tseldom\thad\tmore than\ta\tcouple\tof\tlines.\u2019 He\ttook\tthe\tcard\tback\tfrom\tFeluda\tand\tput\tit\tback\tin\this\twallet.\t\u2018Did\tyou\tever\tlearn\twhat\tkind\tof work\tyour\tson\tBiren\tdid\tin\tEngland?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018No .\t He\t wasn\u2019t\t the\t type\t to \t do \t an\t o r dinar y\t jo b.\t He\t was\t a\t r ebel,\t to tally\t differ ent\t fr o m\t mo st\t yo ung men.\tAnd\the\thad\ta\thero.\tAnother\tBengali,\twho\tleft\thome\ta\thundred\tyears\tago\tand\twent\tto\tEngland, working\t as\t crew\t on\t a\t ship.\t Eventually,\t he\t ended\t up\t in\t Brazil\u2014or\t was\t it\t Mexico?\u2014and\t joined\t its army.\tHe\tbecame\ta\tcolonel\tand\tgreatly\timpressed\teveryone\tby\this\tvalour\tand\tcourage.\u2019 \u2018Do \t yo u\t mean\t Sur esh\t Biswas?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked.\t Lalmo han\t Babu,\t to o ,\t had\t r eco g nized\t the\t name.\t His eyes\tgleamed. \u2018Yes,\tyes,\u2019\the\tsaid\thurriedly,\t\u2018Colonel\tSuresh\tBiswas.\tHe\tdied\tin\tBrazil.\u2019 \u2018Right,\u2019\tMahesh\tChowdhury\twent\ton.\t\u2018My\tson\tBiren\thad\tread\tthe\tstory\tof\this\tlife.\tHe\twanted\tto\tbe like\thim,\tand\thave\tas\tmany\tadventures.\tI\tdid\tnot\ttry\tto\tstop\thim,\tfor\tI\tknew\tI\tcouldn\u2019t.\tSo,\tone\tday,\the vanished.\tTwo\tmonths\tlater,\tI\tgot\this\tfirst\tletter\tfrom\tEurope.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\talways\twrite\tfrom\tEngland, you\tknow.\tHe\thad\tseemed\tto\ttravel\tall\tover\tEurope\t.\t.\t.\tHolland,\tSweden,\tGermany,\tAustria.\tHe\tnever told\tme\twhat\the\twas\tdoing.\tHis\tshort\tletters\tsimply\tmeant\tthat\the\twas\talive.\tI\twas\tvery\tsorry\the\thad left\t me\t witho ut\t a\t wo r d;\t at\t the\t same\t time,\t I\t co uldn\u2019t\t help\t feeling \t pr o ud\t to \t think\t that\t he\t had\t made\t it entirely\ton\this\town.\tThen\t.\t.\t.\tafter\t1967,\the\tstopped\twriting\taltogether.\u2019 Mahesh\tChowdhury\tstopped,\tlooking\tsadly\tat\tthe\tdistant\thills.\t\u2018I\tknow\the\twill\tnever\tcome\tback\tto me,\u2019\the\tsighed.\t\u2018I\twill\tnever\tknow\tany\tpeace.\tI\thave\tbeen\tcursed.\u2019 \u2018What?\tSince\twhen\tdid\tyou\tstart\tto\tbelieve\tin\tcurses?\u2019","This\twas\tanother\tvoice,\tand\tit\twas\tspeaking\tlightly.\tWe\tturned\tto\tfind\twe\thad\tbeen\tjoined\tby\tAkhil Chakravarty. \u2018You\tonly\tlooked\tat\tmy\thoroscope,\tAkhil,\u2019\tMahesh\tChowdhury\tcomplained.\t\u2018You\tdidn\u2019t\tbother\tto consider\tme\tas\ta\tman.\u2019 \u2018Rubbish.\t A\t man\t and\t his\t horoscope\t are\t linked\t together.\t Didn\u2019t\t I\t tell\t you\t in\t 1942\t a\t big\t change would\t come\t over\t you?\t Have\t you\t forgotten\t that?\u2019\t He\t turned\t to\t Feluda.\t \u2018Would\t you\t believe\t me,\t Mr Mitter,\tif\tI\ttold\tyou\tthis\tamiable\told\tman\tthat\tyou\tsee\ttoday\thad\tonce\tpushed\this\tcar\toff\ta\tcliff\tin\ta\tfit of\trage,\tjust\tbecause\tits\tengine\thad\tdied\ton\tthe\tway\tfrom\tRanchi\tto\tNetarhat?\u2019 Mr\tChowdhury\trose\tslowly\tto\this\tfeet.\t\u2018People\tchange\tas\tthey\tgrow\tolder.\tOne\tdoesn\u2019t\tneed\tto\tbe an\tastrologer\tto\tsee\tthat,\u2019\the\tsaid\tshortly\tand\twalked\taway,\tpossibly\tto\tlook\tfor\tstones. Akhil\t Chakravarty\t took\t his\t place.\t He\t seemed\t to\t be\t in\t the\t mood\t to\t tell\t stories.\t \u2018Mahesh\t is\t an extraordinary\tcharacter,\u2019\the\tbegan.\t\u2018I\tused\tto\tbe\this\tneighbour.\tWe\tcame\tfrom\ttwo\tdifferent\tworlds.\tI was\tonly\ta\tschoolteacher,\tand\the\twas\ta\trising\tstar\tin\this\tprofession.\tI\tworked\tfor\ta\twhile\tas\this\tsons\u2019 private\t tutor\t and\t got\t to\t know\t him\t well.\t He\t didn\u2019t\t believe\t in\t conventional\t medicine.\t If\t any\t of\t his children\t was\t unwell,\t he\t used\t to\t come\t to\t me\t for\t ayurvedic\t herbs.\t Never\t did\t he\t let\t me\t feel\t that\t we belonged\tto\ttwo\tdifferent\tsocial\tclasses.\tHe\ttreated\tmy\tson\twith\tthe\tsame\taffection\tthat\the\ttreated\this own.\tHe\twas\tdevoid\tof\tsnobbery.\u2019 \u2018What\tdoes\tyour\tson\tdo?\u2019 \u2018Who ,\t Adheer ?\t He\u2019s\t an\t eng ineer.\t He\t went\t to \t IIT\t Khar ag pur,\t and\t then\t to \t Dusseldo r f.\t He\t spent\t ten years\tthere,\tbut\the\treturned\thome\tand\t.\t.\t.\u2019 The\tsound\tof\tan\texplosion\tmade\thim\tstop. \u2018Uncle\u2019s\tgun!\u2019\tBibi\tshouted.\t\u2018Uncle\u2019s\tkilled\ta\tpartridge.\tWe\u2019ll\thave\tit\tfor\tdinner!\u2019 \u2018Let\t me\t go\t and\t find\t Mahesh,\u2019\t Akhil\t Chakravarty\t said,\t getting\t up.\t \u2018At\t his\t age,\t he\t shouldn\u2019t\t go looking\tfor\tstones.\tHeaven\tforbid,\tbut\tif\the\tslipped\tand\tfell\tnear\tthe\twater,\this\tbirthday\twould\t.\t.\t.\u2019\the moved\taway. \u2018It\tdoesn\u2019t\tfeel\tlike\ta\tpicnic\tat\tall!\u2019\tsaid\tNeelima\tDevi.\tShe\thad\tput\ther\tbook\taway\tand\tcome\tover\tto join\tus.\t\u2018Why\thas\teveryone\tdisappeared?\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\tworry,\u2019\tFeluda\treassured\ther.\t\u2018They\u2019ll\tall\tturn\tup\twhen\tthey\u2019re\thungry\tand\tit\u2019s\ttime\tto\teat.\u2019 \u2018Probably.\tIn\tthe\tmeantime,\twhy\tdon\u2019t\twe\tplay\ta\tgame?\u2019 \u2018Cards?\u2019\tasked\tLalmohan\tBabu.\t\u2018But\tall\tI\tcan\tplay\tis\tScrew.\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\u2019m\tafraid\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tbring\tany\tcards,\u2019\tNeelima\tDevi\tsaid.\t\u2018It\twill\thave\tto\tbe\tsomething\twe\tcan play\torally.\u2019 \u2018Let\u2019s\ttry\twater-earth-sky.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcould\tjoin\tus\tquite\teasily,\u2019\tFeluda\tsuggested. \u2018How\tdo\tyou\tplay\tthat?\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\t very\t simple,\t really.\t Suppose\t I\t look\t at\t you\t and\t say\t \u201cwater!\u201d\t or\t \u201cearth!\u201d\t or\t \u201csky!\u201d\u2014and\t then start\t counting\t up\t to\t ten.\t You\t have\t to\t think\t of\t a\t creature\t that\t can\t be\t found\t in\t it,\t within\t those\t ten seconds.\u2019 \u2018Is\tthis\ta\tvery\tdifficult\tgame?\u2019 \u2018Try\tit,\u2019\tNeelima\tDevi\tsmiled.\t\u2018Let\tme\task\tyou\tthe\tfirst\tone.\u2019 \u2018OK.\u2019\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t to o k\t a\t deep\t br eath,\t and\t sat\t cr o ssleg g ed,\t ho lding \t himself\t str aig ht.\t Neelima Devi\t lo o ked\t at\t him\t in\t silence\t fo r \t a\t few\t mo ments.\t The\t she\t suddenly\t sho uted,\t \u2018Sky!\t One,\t two ,\t thr ee,","four\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Er\t.\t.\t.\ter\t.\t.\t.\ter\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018\t.\t.\t.\tfive,\tsix,\tseven\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Bafrosh!\u2019 Feluda\twas\tthe\tfirst\tto\tbreak\tthe\tamazed\tsilence\tthat\tfollowed\tthis\tperfectly\tweird\tremark. \u2018What,\tpray,\tis\ta\tbafrosh?\tA\tcreature\tof\tthe\tsky\tin\ta\tdifferent\tplanet,\tperhaps?\u2019 \u2018N-n-no.\tYou\tsee,\tI\thad\tthought\tof\ta\tballoon,\ta\tfrog\tand\ta\tshark.\tBut\tI\tmixed\tthem\tall\tup!\u2019 \u2018A\tballoon?\tYou\tthink\ta\tballoon\tqualifies\tas\ta\tliving\tcreature?\u2019 \u2018Why\tnot?\tEvery\tliving\tbeing\tneeds\toxygen.\tSo\tdoes\ta\tballoon.\u2019 \u2018Really?\t Well,\t I\t must\t confess\t I\t did\t not\t know\t that.\t I\u2019ve\t heard\t of\t hot\t air\t balloons,\t hydrogen\t and helium\t balloons,\t even\t balloons\t that\t fly\t with\t gas\t made\t from\t coal,\t but\t this\t is\t the\t first\t time\t anyone mentioned\toxygen.\tPerhaps\tyou\u2019d\tlike\tto\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Neelima\t Devi\t raised\t a\t hand\t to\t stop\t further\t argument.\t As\t things\t turned\t out,\t she\t need\t not\t have bothered.\tSomething\thappened\tat\tthis\tmoment\tthat\tautomatically\tput\ta\tstop\tto\tall\targuments. It\twas\tPritin\tBabu. A\tlong\ttime\tago,\tFeluda\thad\tshown\tme\ta\tpainting\tby\tLeonardo\tda\tVinci,\twhich\tshowed\ta\tman\twho had\t both\t fear\t and\t sadness\t etched\t in\t every\t line\t on\t his\t face.\t Pritin\t Babu\u2019s\t face\t wore\t the\t same expression. He\t emerged\t from\t behind\t a\t bush,\t took\t a\t few\t unsteady\t steps,\t then\t sat\t down\t quickly,\t trembling visibly.\tNeelima\tDevi\tgot\tup\tand\tran\ttowards\ther\thusband,\tbut\tFeluda\thad\treached\thim\talready.\tPritin Babu\thad\tto\tswallow\ta\tfew\ttimes\tbefore\the\tmade\tan\teffort\tto\tspeak. \u2018B-b-b-baba,\u2019\the\tmanaged\tfinally,\tpointing\tat\tthe\tdirection\tfrom\twhich\the\thad\tcome.","Five By\t the\t time\t Mahesh\t Chowdhury\t was\t brought\t home,\t it\t was\t half\t past\t two.\t He\t was\t still\t unconscious. Judging\tby\tthe\tinjury\ton\this\thead,\the\thad\tbeen\tstanding\twhen\the\tfell.\tThe\tdoctor\twho\texamined\thim said\t it\t was\t a\t hear t\t attack.\t His\t hear t\t was\t no t\t par ticular ly\t str o ng ,\t anyway.\t The\t attack\t mig ht\t have\t been caused\tby\ta\tsudden\tshock.\tHis\toverall\tcondition\twas\tcritical;\tthe\tdoctor\tcould\tnot\thold\tout\tmuch\thope for\ta\trecovery. He\twas\tfound\tlying\tin\tan\tarea\tbehind\ta\tlarge\tboulder.\tWe\tcould\tsee\tthe\tboulder\tfrom\twhere\twe\tsat, but\tnot\twhat\tlay\tbehind\tit.\tNone\tof\tus\thad\tseen\thim\tgo\tthere.\tPritin\tBabu,\twho\thad\tclimbed\tup\ta\tslope to \t g o \t into \t the\t tr ees\t o n\t the\t to p\t o f\t a\t hill,\t fo und\t him\t o n\t his\t way\t back,\t as\t he\t came\t o ut\t in\t the\t o pen\t and looked\tdown.\tAt\tfirst,\the\thad\tthought\this\tfather\thad\tdied.\tThat\twas\twhy\the\thad\trushed\tto\tus,\tlooking deathly\tpale.\tFeluda\tfelt\tMr\tChowdhury\u2019s\tpulse\tand\tsaid\the\twas\tstill\talive.\tHis\thead\thad\tstruck\tagainst a\tstone\tthe\tsize\tof\ta\tbrick.\tA\tpool\tof\tblood\tlay\taround\tit.\tLike\teveryone\telse,\tI\tfelt\tdazed,\tbut\tcouldn\u2019t help\tnoticing\ttwo\tpretty\tyellow\tbutterflies\tfluttering\taround\tthe\tunconscious\tman. A\tminute\tlater,\twe\twere\tjoined\tfirst\tby\tArun\tBabu,\tand\tthen\tAkhil\tChakravarty.\tShankarlal\twas\tthe last\tto\tarrive.\tHe\tbroke\tdown\timmediately\tas\the\trealized\twhat\thad\thappened.\tThere\tcould\tbe\tno\tdoubt about\this\tattachment\tand\tdevotion\tto\tthe\told\tman. It\twas\tclearly\timpossible\tfor\tus\tto\tpick\thim\tup\tand\tcarry\thim\tacross\tthe\triver.\tHis\ttwo\tsons\tleft\tat once\t to\t go\t back\t and\t get\t an\t ambulance.\t It\t took\t them\t more\t than\t two\t hours\t to\t return\t with\t a\t medical team,\tand\tanother\thour\tto\tmove\ttheir\tfather\taway\tin\tthe\tambulance.\tAll\tof\tus\treturned\tto\tKailash\tand r emained\t ther e\t fo r \t a\t while.\t Since\t no \t o ne\t had\t had\t any\t lunch,\t Neelima\t Devi\t ser ved\t the\t fo o d\t that\t had been\t packed\t fo r \t the\t picnic:\t par athas,\t alo o -dum\t and\t kababs.\t Once\t she\t had\t g o t\t o ver \t the\t initial\t sho ck, she\thad\tregained\ther\tcomposure\tfully.\tI\thad\tto\tadmire\ther. Little\tBibi\twas\tthe\tonly\tone\twho\tdidn\u2019t\tunderstand\tthe\tseriousness\tof\tthe\tsituation.\tShe\tkept\tsaying her \t Dadu\t had\t simply\t had\t a\t dizzy\t spell,\t and\t wo uld\t so o n\t be\t playing \t with\t her \t ag ain.\t We\t waited\t in\t the drawing\troom.\tArun\tBabu\tremained\tupstairs\twith\this\tfather,\tand\tPritin\tChowdhury\tcame\tand\tjoined us\tevery\tnow\tand\tthen.\tShankarlal\twas\tsitting\tstill\tlike\ta\tstatue.\tHe\thadn\u2019t\tspoken\ta\tsingle\tword\tsince we\t left\t Rajr appa.\t Akhil\t Chakr avar ty\t was\t saying \t the\t same\t thing \t o ver \t and\t o ver :\t \u2018I\t to ld\t him\t no t\t to \t g o out\ttoday,\tbut\the\tdidn\u2019t\tlisten\tto\tme!\u2019 We\tleft\tat\taround\tfour\to\u2019clock.\t\u2018We\u2019ll\tcome\tback\ttomorrow,\u2019\tFeluda\ttold\tPritin\tBabu.\t\u2018Please\tdo\tlet us\tknow\tif\twe\tcan\tdo\tanything\tto\thelp.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\u2019 On\t reaching\t our\t own\t house,\t each\t of\t us\t had\t a\t quick\t wash\t before\t going\t and\t sitting\t on\t the\t front veranda.\tI\twas\tstill\tfeeling\tdazed.\tFeluda\twasn\u2019t\tspeaking\tmuch,\twhich\tmeant\the\twas\tthinking\thard.\tI knew\t he\t wo uldn\u2019t\t like\t being \t distur bed,\t but\t ther e\t was\t so mething \t I\t felt\t I\t had\t to \t ask\t him.\t \u2018I\t hear d\t the","doctor\tsay\tMr\tChowdhury\u2019s\theart\tattack\t might\t have\t been\t caused\t by\t a\t sudden\t shock.\t How\t could\t he have\treceived\ta\tshock\tin\tRajrappa,\tFeluda?\u2019 \u2018Good\tquestion.\tThat\tis\twhat\tI\u2019ve\tbeen\tthinking.\tOf\tcourse,\twe\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tthat\tfor\ta\tfact.\u2019 \u2018So\t all\t we\t need\t to\t do\t is\t wait\t until\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t gets\t better.\t Then\t the\t whole\t thing\t will\t become clear,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tremarked. \u2018Yes.\tBut\twill\the\tget\tbetter?\u2019\tFeluda\tsounded\tdoubtful. He\t was\t clear ly\t cur io us\t abo ut\t Mahesh\t Cho wdhur y.\t While\t we\t wer e\t waiting \t in\t the\t dr awing \t r o o m,\t I saw\thim\tlooking\tclosely\tat\tthe\tbooks\tand\tevery\tother\tobject\tin\tthe\troom.\tHe\tdid\tthis\tvery\tdiscreetly, but\t I\t knew\t he\t was\t making\t a\t mental\t note\t of\t everything\t he\t saw.\t The\t group\t photograph\t of\t all\t the Chowdhurys\tseemed\tto\tintrigue\thim\tthe\tmost.\tHe\tspent\tat\tleast\tfive\tminutes\tlooking\tat\tit\tclosely. Drums\twere\tbeating\tin\ta\tdistant\tvillage.\tIt\tsuddenly\tmade\tme\tthink\tof\tthe\tescaped\ttiger.\tObviously, it\thad\tnot\tbeen\tcaptured,\tor\tBulakiprasad\twould\thave\ttold\tus. It\twas\tnow\tquite\tchilly\toutside.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tpulled\this\tcap\ttighter\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018It\u2019s\tsignificant,\tisn\u2019t it?\u2019\t Perhaps\t he\t had\t expected\t one\t of\t us\t to\t ask\t him\t what\t he\t meant\t by\t that;\t but\t when\t we\t didn\u2019t,\t he expanded\t fur ther,\t \u2018When\t Mr \t Cho wdhur y\t suffer ed\t this\t hear t\t attack,\t we\t wer e\t with\t Neelima\t Devi\t and that\t little\t girl\t was\t playing\t with\t her\t doll.\t But\t we\t know\t nothing\t of\t the\t movements\t of\t the\t others,\t do we?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t we\t do ,\u2019\t Feluda\t r eplied.\t \u2018Ar un\t Babu\t was\t tr ying \t to \t kill\t bir ds,\t Pr itin\t Babu\t was\t r eco r ding \t bir d calls,\tAkhil\tChakravarty\twas\tlooking\tfor\this\tfriend,\tShankarlal\twas\tchatting\twith\ta\tsadhu,\tand\tthe\ttwo bearers\twere\tsitting\tunder\ta\tcotton\ttree,\tsmoking\tbeedis.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t I\t saw\t them.\t But\t what\t abo ut\t the\t o ther s?\t T hey\t wer e\t all\t o ut\t o f\t sig ht.\t Ho w\t do \t we\t kno w\t they\u2019r e telling\tthe\ttruth?\u2019 \u2018There\tis\tabsolutely\tno\treason\tto\tthink\tthey\tare\tnot.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tthem\twell,\tand\tI\u2019m\tnot\tprepared to\tstart\tby\ttreating\tthem\twith\tsuspicion.\u2019 \u2018OK,\tyou\u2019re\tright,\tFelu\tBabu.\u2019 But\tLalmohan\tBabu\thad\tmore\tto\ttell.\tIt\tcame\ta\tfew\thours\tlater,\twhile\twe\twere\tat\tdinner.\tI\tsaw\thim give\ta\tsudden\tstart,\tslap\this\tforehead\tand\tsay,\t\u2018Oh\tno,\tno!\u2019 \u2018Whatever\tis\tthe\tmatter,\tLalmohan\tBabu?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018I\tforgot\tto\ttell\tyou\tsomething\u2014something\tvery\timportant.\tI\tfound\tanother\tclue,\ta\tterrific\tone\tthis time.\t As\t we\t got\t close\t to\t the\t spot\t where\t the\t body\u2014sorry,\t I\t mean\t Mr\t Chowdhury\u2014was\t lying,\t I stumbled\tagainst\tan\tobject.\tIt\twas\tPritin\tChowdhury\u2019s\ttape\trecorder.\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\tgot\tit\twith\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No.\t I\t thought\t I\u2019d\t pick\t it\t up\t later\t and\t give\t it\t back\t to\t him.\t But\t with\t all\t the\t hue\t and\t cry\t and everything,\t I\t totally\t forgot.\t When\t we\t were\t returning,\t however,\t I\t did\t remember,\t but\t by\t then\t it\t had gone!\u2019 \u2018Maybe\tPritin\tBabu\thimself\thad\tpicked\tit\tup?\u2019 \u2018No.\tHe\tmost\tdefinitely\tdid\tnot\tgo\tanywhere\tnear\tit.\tBesides,\tit\twas\tlying\tunder\ta\tbush.\tI\twouldn\u2019t have\tseen\tit\tmyself\tif\tmy\tfoot\thadn\u2019t\tactually\tstruck\tagainst\tit.\u2019 Feluda\tstarted\tto\tmake\ta\tcomment,\tbut\twas\tstopped\tby\tthe\tphone\tringing. It\twas\tArun\tBabu.\tFeluda\tspoke\tbriefly,\tput\tthe\tphone\tdown,\tand\tturned\tto\tus. \u2018We\tmust\tgo\tback\tto\tKailash.\tMr\tChowdhury\thas\tregained\tconsciousness,\tand\tis\tasking\tfor\tme.\u2019","It\ttook\tus\tonly\ta\tminute\tto\treach\ttheir\thouse\tby\tcar.\tEveryone\twas\tgathered\taround\this\tbed,\twith\tthe exception\tof\tBibi.\tMr\tChowdhury\twas\tlying\tin\this\tbed\twith\ta\tdressing\ton\this\thead,\this\thands\tfolded and\tresting\ton\this\tchest,\this\teyes\thalf\tclosed.\tHis\tlips\tparted\tin\ta\tfaint\tsmile\tas\the\tsaw\tFeluda.\tThen\the slowly\traised\this\tright\thand\tand\tstraightened\this\tindex\tfinger. \u2018A\tj-j-j-\u2019\the\ttried\tto\tspeak. \u2018A\tjob\tfor\tme?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tanxiously. Mr\tChowdhury\tgave\ta\tslight\tnod.\tThen\the\traised\this\tmiddle\tfinger\tas\twell. \u2018We\t.\t.\t.\twe\t.\t.\t.\u2019\the\tfolded\this\tfingers\tand\traised\this\tthumb,\tshaking\tit. With\t an\t effo r t,\t he\t then\t mo ved\t his\t head\t and\t lo o ked\t at\t the\t bedside\t table.\t Muktananda\u2019s\t pho to g r aph r ested\t o n\t it.\t As\t he\t tr ied\t to \t str etch\t his\t ar m\t to war ds\t it,\t Ar un\t Babu\t picked\t it\t up\t and\t o ffer ed\t it\t to \t him. Instead\tof\ttaking\tit,\tMr\tChowdhury\tlooked\tat\tFeluda.\tArun\tBabu\tpassed\tthe\tphoto\tto\tFeluda\twithout\ta word.\tMr\tChowdhury\tsighed\tand\traised\ttwo\tfingers\tagain.\tHe\ttried\tto\tspeak\tonce\tmore,\tbut\tno\twords came. After\ta\twhile,\the\tgave\tup\ttrying\tand\tjust\tstared\tin\tsilence.","Six We\t had\t r etur ned\t to \t o ur \t r o o m.\t The\t passpo r t-size\t pho to g r aph\t o f\t Muktananda\t was\t no w\t with\t Feluda.\t I could\tnot\timagine\twhy\tMr\tChowdhury\thad\tgiven\tit\tto\thim\tand\ttold\thim\the\thad\ta\tjob.\tLalmohan\tBabu, however,\tventured\tto\thazard\ta\tguess. \u2018I\tthink\the\tasked\tyou\tto\tbecome\ta\tfollower\tof\tMuktananda,\u2019\the\tobserved. \u2018Then\twhy\tdid\the\traise\ttwo\tfingers?\u2019 \u2018Maybe\t he\t meant\t .\t .\t .\t as\t a\t follower\t of\t Muktananda,\t your\t skills\t at\t your\t job\t would\t double themselves?\t Mind\t you,\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t added\t sadly,\t \u2018I\t cannot\t figure\t out\t why\t he\t then\t shook\t his thumb\tat\tyou!\u2019 Ear ly\t in\t the\t mo r ning ,\t Akhil\t Chakr avar ty\t r ang \t us\t to \t say\t that\t Mahesh\t Cho wdhur y\t had\t br eathed\t his last\ttwo\thours\tafter\twe\thad\tleft\this\thouse\tthe\tprevious\tnight. By\tthe\ttime\tthe\tfuneral\twas\tover,\tit\twas\tpast\televen\to\u2019clock.\tOn\tour\tway\tback\tfrom\tthe\tcremation ground,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t asked,\t \u2018Where\t do\t you\t want\t to\t go\t now,\t Felu\t Babu?\t To\t Kailash,\t or\t back home?\u2019 \u2018I\t do n\u2019t\t think\t we\t sho uld\t spend\t any\t mo r e\t time\t in\t Kailash,\t just\t at\t this\t mo ment.\t They\t ar e\t bo und\t to receive\ta\tlot\tof\tvisitors.\tI\twon\u2019t\tget\tany\twork\tdone.\u2019 \u2018What\twork\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019 \u2018Gathering\tinformation.\u2019 After\tlunch,\tFeluda\ttook\tout\this\tblue\tnotebook\tand\tbegan\tscribbling\tin\tit.\tWhen\the\tfinished,\the\tlet us\tsee\twhat\the\thad\twritten: 1.\t Mahesh\t Chowdhury:\t Born\t 23\t November\t 1907;\t died\t 24\t November\t 1977\t (Natural\t causes?\t Heart attack?\t Shock?).\t Fond\t of\t riddles,\t stamps,\t butterflies,\t rocks.\t A\t valuable\t stamp\t album\t given\t by Dorabjee\u2014lost\t (how?).\t Attached\t to\t second\t son.\t What\t about\t his\t feelings\t towards\t the\t other\t two? Deep\taffection\ttowards\tShankarlal.\tNo\tsnobbery.\tViolent\ttemper\tin\tthe\tpast;\tdrinking.\tA\tchanged man\tin\tlater\tyears,\tamiable.\tWhy\ta\tcurse? 2.\tHis\twife:\tDead.\tWhen? 3.\t First\t son:\t Arunendra.\t Born\t (approx.)\t 1936.\t Deals\t with\t mica.\t Travels\t between\t Calcutta\t and Hazaribagh.\tFond\tof\tshooting.\tDoesn\u2019t\ttalk\tmuch. 4.\t Seco nd\t so n:\t Bir endr a.\t Bo r n\t (appr o x.)\t 1939.\t Ver y\t br ig ht,\t a\t r ebel.\t Left\t ho me\t at\t nineteen.\t Admir ed Col.\tSuresh\tBiswas.\tWrote\tto\tfather\tuntil\t1967.\tAlive?\tDead?\tFather\tthought\the\thad\treturned 5.\tThird\tson:\tPritindra.\tYounger\tthan\tArunendra\tby\tat\tleast\tnine\tyears\t(basis:\tfamily\tphoto),\ti.e.\tborn (approx.)\t 1945.\t Electronics.\t Bird\t calls.\t Talks\t a\t lot,\t chiefly\t about\t himself.\t Left\t tape\t recorder\t in Rajrappa. 6.\tPritin\u2019s\twife:\tNeelima.\tAge\ttwenty-five\/twenty-six.\tIntelligent,\tsmart,\tcollected.","7.\tAkhil\tChakravarty:\tAge\t(approx.)\tseventy.\tEx-schoolteacher.\tMahesh\u2019s\tfriend.\tAstrology,\tayurveda. 8.\tShankarlal\tMisra:\tBorn\t(approx.)\t1939.\tSame\tage\tas\tBiren.\tMahesh\u2019s\tchowkidar\tDeendayal\u2019s\tson. Deendayal\t died\t in\t 1943.\t Question:\t why\t did\t he\t go\t into\t the\t forest?\t Mahesh\t raised\t Shankarlal. Owner\tof\tbookshop.\tGriefstricken\tby\tMahesh\u2019s\tdeath. 9.\tNoor\tMuhammad:\tAge\tbetween\tseventy\tand\teighty.\tServing\tMahesh\tfor\tover\tforty\tyears. Feluda\t was\t r ig ht\t in\t thinking \t ther e\t mig ht\t be\t a\t lo t\t o f\t visito r s.\t When\t we\t ar r ived\t at\t Kailash\t lo ng \t after lunch,\t we\t wer e\t to ld\t the\t last\t o f\t them\t had\t just\t left.\t Mr \t Cho wdhur y\u2019s\t two \t so ns\t and\t Akhil\t Chakr avar ty were\t in\t the\t drawing\t room.\t Pritin\t Babu\t seemed\t more\t restless\t than\t ever.\t He\t was\t sitting\t in\t a\t corner, fidgeting\tand\tcracking\this\tknuckles.\tAkhil\tBabu\twas\tsighing\tand\tshaking\this\thead\tfrom\ttime\tto\ttime. Only\tArun\tChowdhury\tseemed\tcalm\tand\tcomposed.\tFeluda\taddressed\thim\tdirectly. \u2018Are\tyou\tgoing\tto\tbe\there\tfor\ta\tfew\tdays?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Why\tdo\tyou\task?\u2019 \u2018I\tneed\tyour\thelp.\tYour\tfather\tgave\tme\ta\tjob\tto\tdo,\talthough\the\twas\tin\tno\tcondition\tto\texplain\tthe details.\tWhat\tI\twant\tto\tknow\tis\tthis:\tdid\tany\tof\tyou\tunderstand\this\tmeaning?\u2019 Arun\tBabu\tsmiled\tslightly.\t\u2018Few\tof\tus\tcould\tunderstand\this\tmeaning\teven\twhen\tBaba\twas\talive\tand well.\t A\t ser io us\t man\t in\t many\t ways,\t ther e\t was\t a\t childish\t str eak\t in\t him,\t which\t yo u\t pr o bably\t saw\t fo r yourself.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tthere\tis\tany\tneed\tto\tpay\ttoo\tmuch\tattention\tto\this\tlast\twords.\u2019 \u2018But\this\tlast\twords\tdid\tnot\tstrike\tme\tas\ttotally\twithout\tmeaning.\u2019 \u2018No?\u2019 \u2018No.\tBut\tobviously,\tI\tcould\tnot\tunderstand\tthe\tsignificance\tof\teach\tlittle\tgesture.\tFor\tinstance,\u2019\the turned\tto\tAkhil\tChakravarty,\t\u2018I\tdo\tnot\tknow\twhy\the\twanted\tme\tto\thave\tthat\tphotograph.\tPerhaps\tyou can\thelp\tme\tthere?\tDidn\u2019t\tyou\tgive\tit\tto\thim?\u2019 Akhil\t Chakravarty\t smiled\t sadly.\t \u2018Yes,\t I\t did.\t Muktananda\t once\t came\t to\t Ranchi,\t and\t I\t went\t to\t see him.\tHe\tstruck\tme\tas\ta\tgenuine\tperson,\tso\tI\tsaid\tto\tMahesh:\t\u201cYou\thave\tnever\tbelieved\tin\tsadhus\tand gurus,\tbut\tif\tyou\tkeep\ta\tphoto\tof\tthis\tone\twith\tyou,\tit\tcannot\tdo\tany\tharm.\tHe\tis\tworshipped\tin\tthree co ntinents,\t his\t influence\t can\t o nly\t do \t yo u\t g o o d.\u201d\t But\t I\t had\t no \t idea\t he\t had\t kept\t it\t in\t his\t bedr o o m.\t I never\twent\tinto\this\tbedroom\tuntil\tyesterday.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tknow\tanything\tabout\tit?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tArun\tBabu,\twho\tshook\this\thead. \u2018No,\t I\u2019m\t afraid\t not,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018In\t fact,\t I\t didn\u2019t\t even\t know\t he\t had\t such\t a\t photograph.\t I\t saw\t it yesterday\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime.\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tanything\teither,\u2019\tPritin\tBabu\tpiped\tup\tbefore\tanyone\tasked\thim. \u2018Very\twell.\tBut\tmay\tI\trequest\tyou\tto\tgive\tme\ttwo\tthings?\tThey\twould\thelp\tme\ta\tgreat\tdeal.\u2019 \u2018What\tare\tthey?\u2019 \u2018The\tfirst\tthing\tI\u2019d\tlike\tare\tthe\tletters\tand\tpostcards\tyour\tbrother\tBiren\tsent\tyour\tfather.\u2019 \u2018Biren\u2019s\tletters?\u2019\tArun\tBabu\tsounded\tvery\tsurprised.\t\u2018What\tdo\tyou\tneed\tthose\tfor?\u2019 \u2018I\tbelieve\tyour\tfather\twanted\tme\tto\tgive\tthat\tphoto\tto\this\tsecond\tson.\u2019 \u2018How\tstrange!\tWhat\tmade\tyou\tthink\tthat?\u2019 \u2018Well,\t yo ur \t father \t asked\t yo u\t to \t pass\t the\t pho to \t to \t me,\t and\t then\t r aised\t two \t fing er s.\t All\t o f\t yo u\t saw that.\t It\t could\t be\t that\t he\t meant\t to\t say\t \u201cdeuce\u201d.\t Isn\u2019t\t that\t what\t he\t called\t Biren?\t I\t could\t be\t wrong,\t of course,\tbut\tI\tmust\tproceed\u2014at\tleast\tfor\tthe\tpresent\u2014on\tthat\tassumption.\u2019 \u2018But\thow\twill\tyou\tfind\tBiren?\u2019","\u2018Suppose\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t was\t right?\t Suppose\t he\t has\t returned?\u2019\t Arun\t Babu\t forgot\t himself\t for\t a mo ment\t and\t bur st\t o ut\t laug hing .\t \u2018Mr \t Mitter,\t do \t yo u\t kno w\t ho w\t many\t times\t in\t the\t last\t five\t year s\t my father\tclaimed\tto\thave\tactually\tseen\tBiren?\tHe\twanted\tto\tbelieve\the\thad\treturned.\tIf\the\thad,\twouldn\u2019t he\thave\tgot\tin\ttouch?\tBesides,\thow\tcould\tanyone\texpect\tto\trecognize\thim\tafter\ttwenty\tyears,\tif\tthey saw\thim\tfrom\ta\tdistance?\tParticularly\tan\told\tman\tlike\tmy\tfather,\twith\tfailing\teyesight?\u2019 \u2018Please\tdon\u2019t\tget\tme\twrong,\tArun\tBabu.\tI\tam\tnot\tsaying\the\tcame\tback.\tThat\twas\ta\tsuggestion\tmade by\tyour\tfather.\tHowever,\teven\tif\the\tis\tliving\tabroad,\tI\tstill\thave\tto\tfulfil\tmy\tresponsibility.\tI\tmust\ttry to\tfind\tout\twhere\the\tis\tand\tarrange\tto\tsend\thim\tthe\tphoto.\u2019 Arun\tBabu\tseemed\tto\trelent\ta\tlittle. \u2018Very\twell,\tMr\tMitter,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018I\twill\tseparate\tBiren\u2019s\tletters\tfrom\tmy\tfather \u2019s\tcorrespondence\tand give\tthem\tto\tyou.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\tThe\tother\tthing\tI\twant\tare\tMr\tChowdhury\u2019s\tdiaries.\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tsee\tthem,\tif\tyou\tdon\u2019t mind.\u2019 I\thad\texpected\tArun\tBabu\tto\tobject\tto\tthis,\tbut\tsurprisingly,\the\tdid\tnot. \u2018You\u2019re\t welcome,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018My\t father \u2019s\t diaries\t are\t no\t secret.\t But\t you\t are\t going\t to\t be disappointed.\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019 \u2018I\tdoubt\tif\tanyone\tever\tkept\tdiaries\tthat\tcould\tbe\tas\tdry,\tmundane\tand\tboring\tas\tmy\tfather \u2019s.\tYou won\u2019t\tfind\tanything\texcept\tthe\tmost\tordinary\trecord\tof\this\tdaily\tlife.\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tmind.\tI\tam\tperfectly\twilling\tto\trisk\tbeing\tdisappointed.\u2019 \u2018All\t r ig ht,\t so \t be\t it.\t Yo u\t may\t take\t the\t diar ies\t r ig ht\t no w,\t if\t yo u\t like.\t I\t will\t let\t yo u\t have\t the\t letter s tomorrow.\u2019 We\t thanked\t him\t and\t came\t out\t a\t little\t later,\t all\t three\t of\t us\t carrying\t heavy\t packets\t wrapped\t with newspapers.\tThere\twere\tseven\tof\tthese,\teach\tcontaining\tMahesh\tChowdhury\u2019s\tdiaries.\tFeluda\twould get\tvery\tlittle\tsleep\ttonight,\tI\tthought,\tfor\tthe\ttotal\tnumber\tof\tdiaries\twas\tforty\tand\the\thad\tpromised to\treturn\tthem\tthe\tnext\tday. As\t we\t emerged\t out\t of\t the\t house\t and\t reached\t the\t driveway,\t we\t saw\t Bibi\t roaming\t in\t the\t garden, playing\twith\ther\tdoll.\tShe\tappeared\tto\tbe\tlooking\tfor\ta\tflower\tto\tput\tin\ther\tdoll\u2019s\thair.\tShe\tturned\ther head\tto\tface\tus,\tand\tspoke\tunexpectedly. \u2018Dadu\tdidn\u2019t\ttell\tme!\u2019\tshe\tcomplained. \u2018What\tdidn\u2019t\the\ttell\tyou?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\ther. \u2018What\the\twas\tlooking\tfor.\u2019 \u2018When?\u2019 \u2018The\tday\tbefore\tyesterday,\tand\tthe\tday\tbefore\tthat,\tand\tthe\tday\tbefore\tthat.\u2019 \u2018Three\tdays?\u2019 \u2018I\tsaw\thim\tlooking,\tbut\tI\tasked\thim\tonly\tone\tday.\u2019 \u2018What\tdid\tyou\tsay?\u2019 \u2018I\tsaid:\t\u201cWhat\thave\tyou\tlost,\tDadu?\u201d\tbecause\the\twas\tin\this\troom,\tand\the\twas\tmoving\this\tbooks\tand all\tthe\tpapers\ton\this\ttable\tand\teverything\telse,\tand\the\twouldn\u2019t\tplay\twith\tme\t.\t.\t.\tso\tI\tasked.\u2019 \u2018What\tdid\the\tsay?\u2019 \u2018He\tsaid\t.\t.\t.\ta\tpier,\tthat\twhich\topens\tand\t.\t.\t.\tand\tthat\twhich\tshuts.\u2019","\u2018What\tutter\tnonsense!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tmuttered\tunder\this\tbreath. Feluda\tignored\thim.\t\u2018Did\the\ttell\tyou\tanything\telse?\u2019 \u2018No.\tNo,\the\tsaid\the\u2019d\texplain\tlater,\tand\the\u2019d\ttell\tme\teverything\t.\t.\t.\tbut\the\tdidn\u2019t.\tHe\tdied.\u2019 Bibi\thad\tfound\ta\tflower\tfor\ther\tdoll.\tShe\tlost\tinterest\tin\tus,\tand\tturned\tto\tgo\tback\tinside.\tWe\tcame away.","Seven Since\t Feluda\t was\t now\t going\t to\t start\t reading\t the\t diaries,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t and\t I\t decided\t to\t go\t for\t a drive\tsoon\tafter\ta\tcup\tof\ttea\tat\tfour\to\u2019clock. \u2018If\t we\t g o \t to war ds\t the\t main\t to wn,\t we\t mig ht\t g et\t to \t hear \t the\t latest\t o n\t Sultan,\u2019\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t to ld me.\t \u2018Your\t cousin\t may\t have\t found\t a\t mystery\t related\t to\t Mahesh\t Chowdhury\u2019s\t death,\t but\t I\t think\t an escaped\ttiger\tis\tmuch\tmore\tinteresting.\u2019 We\tdidn\u2019t\thave\tfar\tto\tgo\tto\tget\tnews\tof\tthe\ttiger.\tWe\thad\tto\tstop\tfor\tpetrol\tat\ta\tlocal\tstation,\twhere we\t saw\t ano ther \t g r o up\t o f\t men\t g ather ed\t r o und\t so meo ne\t who \t was\t speaking \t ver y\t r apidly.\t He\t r aised\t a hand\tand\tpawed\tthe\tair,\tso\tthere\twas\tno\tdoubt\tthat\the\twas\ttalking\tof\tthe\ttiger.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tgot\tout o f\t the\t car \t and\t went\t fo r war d\t to \t make\t enquir ies.\t This\t wasn\u2019t\t easy,\t fo r \t his\t Hindi\t was\t no t\t par ticular ly good.\tHowever,\twhat\twe\teventually\tmanaged\tto\tlearn\twas\tthis: To\t the\t east\t of\t Hazaribagh\t was\t a\t forest,\t near\t the\t town\t of\t Vishnugarh.\t Sultan\u2019s\t new\t trainer, Chandran,\t and\t a\t shikari\t from\t the\t Forest\t Department,\t had\t found\t Sultan\t there.\t Apparently,\t it\t had looked\tfor\ta\twhile\tthat\tthe\ttiger\twas\twilling\tto\tbe\tcaptured,\tbut\the\thad\tthen\tchanged\this\tmind\tand\trun away\t ag ain\t after \t clawing \t Chandr an.\t The\t shikar i\t had\t sho t\t at\t him,\t but\t no \t o ne\t knew\t whether \t the\t tig er was\thurt.\tChandran\twas\tin\ta\thospital,\tbut\this\tinjuries\twere\tnot\tserious. \u2018Do \t yo u\t kno w\t anything \t abo ut\t Kandar ikar ?\u2019\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t asked\t his\t info r mant.\t I\t felt\t o blig ed\t to correct\thim.\t\u2018It\tis\tKarandikar,\tLalmohan\tBabu,\tnot\tKandarikar.\tHe\u2019s\tthe\told\ttrainer.\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tanything\tabout\thim,\u2019\tthe\tman\treplied,\t\u2018but\tI\tdo\tbelieve\tthe\tcircus\tisn\u2019t\tdoing\tso well\tsince\tthe\tmain\tshow\twith\tthe\ttiger\tis\toff.\u2019 We\twere\tboth\tcurious\tto\tknow\thow\tMr\tKarandikar\thad\treacted\tto\tthe\tnews\tof\tSultan\tbeing\tshot\tat, so\twe\twent\tfrom\tthe\tpetrol\tstation\tstraight\tto\tthe\tGreat\tMajestic. Normally,\tif\tFeluda\taccompanies\tus,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tkeeps\tto\tthe\tbackground.\tToday,\thowever,\the walked\tup\tsmartly\tto\tthe\tman\toutside\tthe\tmain\tentrance\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Put\tme\tthrough\tto\tMr\tKutti,\tplease.\u2019 God\tknows\twhat\tthe\tman\tthought\tof\tthis\tstrange\trequest,\tbut\the\tlet\tus\tin\twithout\ta\tword.\tPerhaps\the had\trecognized\tus\tfrom\tour\tfirst\tvisit. We\t found\t Mr\t Kutti\t in\t his\t caravan,\t but\t what\t he\t told\t us\t sounded\t like\t another\t mysterious\t riddle. Karandikar\thad\tdisappeared\tthe\tprevious\tnight. \u2018The\t audience\t has\t been\t demanding\t to\t see\t the\t tiger,\u2019\t Mr\t Kutti\t said.\t \u2018I\t went\t and\t personally apologized\tto\tKarandikar.\tI\tpromised\thim\tI\twouldn\u2019t\tallow\tanyone\telse\tto\ttrain\tthe\ttiger,\tif\tit\tcould\tbe captured.\tEven\tso,\the\tleft\twithout\ttelling\ta\tsoul.\tHe\tused\tto\tgo\toff\toccasionally,\tbut\the\talways\tcame back\tin\ta\tfew\thours.\tThis\ttime\t.\t.\t.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\the\u2019s\tcoming\tback.\u2019 There\t didn\u2019t\t seem\t to\t be\t anything\t else\t to\t say.\t We\t thanked\t Mr\t Kutti\t and\t left\t the\t circus.\t Lalmohan Babu\t said\t as\t we\t came\t out,\t \u2018Now\t we\u2019ll\t never\t get\t to\t see\t Sultan\t being\t captured,\t Tapesh.\t We\t simply won\u2019t\tget\tanother\tchance.\u2019","I,\t too,\t felt\t sad\t and\t depressed.\t So\t we\t decided\t to\t go\t for\t a\t long\t drive\t instead\t of\t returning\t home. Debating\t over\t whether\t to\t go\t towards\t the\t Kanari\t Hills\t in\t the\t north,\t or\t Ramgarh\t to\t the\t south,\t we eventually\ttossed\tfor\tit\tand\tgot\tRamgarh. \u2018There\t are\t hills\t there,\t didn\u2019t\t you\t see\t them\t that\t day?\t They\u2019re\t just\t as\t beautiful,\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu remarked. I\tagreed\twith\thim,\tand\twe\tset\toff\tin\tthe\tdirection\tof\tRamgarh.\tNeither\tof\tus\thad\tany\tidea\tof\twhat lay\tin\tstore. Things\t began\t to\t go\t wrong\t as\t we\t passed\t a\t signpost\t that\t said\t \u201811\t kms\u2019.\t To\t start\t with,\t Lalmohan Babu\u2019s\tcar\u2014which\the\thad\tbought\tonly\tsix\tmonths\tago\u2014hiccuped\tthree\ttimes,\tslowed\tdown\tand\tthen died\t altogether.\t His\t driver\t got\t out\t to\t investigate.\t He\t was\t our\t only\t hope,\t for\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t knew nothing\tof\tcars\tand\tengines.\t\u2018If\tI\tcan\tmove\tabout\twithout\tknowing\thow\tmany\tbones\tand\twhat\tmuscles I\t have\t in\t my\t leg s,\t wher e\t is\t the\t need\t to \t wo r r y\t abo ut\t ho w\t my\t car \t mo ves\t o n\t its\t fo ur \t wheels?\u2019\t he\t had once\tsaid\tto\tme. We\tclimbed\tout\tof\tthe\tcar\tand\twent\tand\tsat\ton\ta\tculvert.\tThe\tsun\twas\tabout\tto\tset,\tand\tthe\ttime\twas 5.20\tp.m.\tThere\twere\tdark\tpatches\tof\tclouds\tin\tthe\tsky,\tbehind\twhich\tthe\tsun\thappened\tto\tbe\thiding\tat the\tmoment.\tIt\tpeeped\tout\tfor\tjust\ta\tsecond\ta\tlittle\tlater,\tonly\tto\tcall\tit\ta\tday\talmost\tat\tonce. \u2018I\tthink\tI\u2019ve\tfixed\tit,\tsir!\u2019\tthe\tdriver\tcalled.\t\u2018I\tam\tready\twhen\tyou\tare.\u2019 We\trose,\tand\tI\tlooked\tat\tmy\twatch.\tIt\tsaid\t5.33\tp.m.\tIt\tis\timportant\tto\tmention\tthe\ttime,\tfor\tit\twas\tat this\tprecise\tmoment\tthat\twe\tsaw\tSultan. I\tmight\thave\tdescribed\tthe\tevent\tin\ta\tmuch\tmore\tdramatic\tfashion,\tbut\tFeluda\thas\talways\ttold\tme not\tto\tuse\tcliches\tand\tother\thackneyed\tphrases\tjust\tto\tcreate\tan\teffect.\t\u2018Keep\tyour\tdescriptions\tbrief and\t simple,\u2019\t he\t tells\t me\t often,\t \u2018and\t you\t will\t see\t how\t effective\t that\t can\t be.\u2019\t I\t shall\t therefore\t try\t to relate\twhat\thappened\tas\tbriefly\tas\tpossible. I\t had\t seen\t a\t tig er \t in\t the\t wild\t befo r e,\t abo ut\t which\t I\t have\t wr itten\t in\t The\t Royal\t Bengal\t Mystery.\t On that\t occasion,\t we\t were\t accompanied\t by\t several\t other\t armed\t men,\t including\t Feluda;\t and\t Lalmohan Babu\tand\tI\twere\tsitting\ton\ta\ttreetop,\tout\tof\tharm\u2019s\tway.\tNow,\twe\twere\tstanding\tby\tthe\tside\tof\tan\topen road\tthat\twas\tlined\tby\ttrees\tand\twoodland.\tThere\twere\tbound\tto\tbe\twild\tbears\tin\tthe\twood,\tand\tit\twas quickly\tgetting\tdark.\tWorst\tof\tall,\tFeluda\twas\tnot\twith\tus. The\ttiger\tcame\tout\tof\tthe\ttrees\tto\tour\tright\tand\tappeared\ton\tthe\troad,\tbarely\tfifty\tyards\taway.\tAll thr ee\t o f\t us\t saw\t it\t to g ether,\t fo r \t each\t o ne\t tur ned\t into \t a\t statue.\t T he\t dr iver \t had\t str etched\t o ut\t an\t ar m\t to open\t a\t door.\t He\t stood\t still\t with\t an\t outstretched\t arm.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t had\t leant\t forward\t slightly\t to blow\t his\t nose.\t He\t remained\t in\t that\t position,\t clutching\t his\t handkerchief.\t I\t was\t in\t the\t process\t of dusting\tmy\tjeans.\tMy\thands\tremained\tstuck\tat\tmy\twaist. The\ttiger,\tat\tfirst,\tdid\tnot\tsee\tus.\tIt\tbegan\tto\tcross\tthe\troad,\ttook\tfour\tsteps,\tthen\tsuddenly\tstopped and\tturned\tits\thead\tto\tlook\tat\tus. My\tlegs\tbegan\tshaking\tand\ta\thammering\tstarted\tin\tmy\tchest.\tYet,\tI\tcould\tnot\tmove\tmy\teyes\taway from\tthe\ttiger.\tOut\tof\tthe\tcorner\tof\tmy\teye,\tI\tcould\tvaguely\tsee\tthe\toutline\tof\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tbody g etting \t lo wer \t and\t lo wer,\t which\t co uld\t o nly\t mean\t that\t his\t leg s\t wer e\t g o ing \t numb\t and\t wer e\t unable\t to suppo r t\t the\t weig ht\t o f\t his\t bo dy.\t Then\t my\t visio n\t beg an\t to \t blur.\t The\t fig ur e\t o f\t the\t tig er \t became\t hazy, and\tits\tstripes\tsuddenly\tstarted\tto\tvibrate.","It\tis\timpossible\tto\tsay\thow\tSong\tSultan\tstared\tat\tus.\tThe\ttime\tseemed\tendless.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tlikes to\tcall\tit\teight\tto\tten\tminutes,\tbut\tI\tthink\tit\twas\teight\tto\tten\tseconds.\tEven\tso,\tit\twas\ta\tlong\ttime. Once\the\thad\tfinished\tlooking\tat\tus,\tSultan\tsimply\tturned\this\thead\taway,\tcrossed\tover\tto\tthe\tother side\tand\tmade\tfor\tthe\twood.\tWe\tsaw\thim\tgradually\tdisappear\tamong\tthe\ttall\ttrees. Strangely\tenough,\twe\tremained\trooted\tto\tthe\tspot\tfor\tnearly\ta\twhole\tminute\teven\tafter\tSultan\thad gone\t (Lalmohan\t Babu\t said\t fifteen\t minutes).\t Then\t we\t uttered\t only\t three\t words\t before\t getting\t back into\tthe\tcar.\tThe\tdriver\tsaid,\t\u2018Sir!\u2019;\tI\tsaid\t\u2018Coming!\u2019;\tand\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid\t\u2018G-go!\u2019\tFortunately,\tit turned\t out\t that\t the\t driver \u2019s\t nerves\t were\t strong\t and\t steady.\t He\t began\t to\t drive\t with\t admirable equanimity.\tApparently,\twhen\the\tused\tto\twork\tin\tJamshedpur\tbefore,\the\thad\tonce\tseen\ta\ttiger\tby\tthe roadside. We\t returned\t home\t to\t find\t Feluda\t still\t deeply\t engrossed\t in\t Mr\t Chowdhury\u2019s\t diaries.\t I\t knew Lalmohan\t Babu\t was\t dying\t to\t tell\t him\t about\t our\t experience,\t so\t I\t said\t nothing.\t Instead\t of\t coming straight\tto\tthe\tpoint,\the\tdecided\tto\tcreate\ta\tpreamble.\tFirst,\the\tbegan\thumming\ta\ttune,\tthen\tremarked casually,\t\u2018Tell\tme\tTapesh,\ttigers\thave\tpadded\tfeet,\tdon\u2019t\tthey?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tso\tI\u2019ve\theard,\u2019\tI\treplied,\thiding\ta\tsmile. \u2018It\tmust\tbe\ttrue,\tfor\twe\tdidn\u2019t\thear\tits\tfootsteps,\tdid\twe?\tAnd\twe\twere\tonly\ta\tfew\tfeet\taway!\u2019 Sadly,\tthis\tgreat\tbuild-up\tto\this\tstory\thad\tno\teffect\ton\tFeluda.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\teven\tlook\tat\tus.\tAll\the\tdid was\tput\tone\tdiary\taway,\tpick\tup\tanother\tand\tsay,\t\u2018If\tyou\thave\tseen\tthe\ttiger,\tyou\tshould\ttell\tthe\tForest Department\timmediately\tabout\tthe\texact\tspot\tand\tthe\ttime\tit\twas\tseen.\u2019 \u2018The\ttime\twas\t5.33\tand\tthe\tplace\twas\tnear\ta\tculvert\tclose\tto\tthe\t\u201c11\tkms\u201d\tsignpost\ton\tthe\troad\tto Ramgarh.\u2019 \u2018Good.\tThere\u2019s\ta\tdirectory\tin\tthe\tliving\troom.\tThe\tForest\tDepartment\u2019s\toffice\twill\tbe\tclosed\tat\tthis hour,\tbut\tyou\tcan\tlook\tup\tthe\tresidential\tnumber\tof\tthe\tChief\tForest\tOfficer\tand\tinform\thim.\tI\u2019m\tsure he\u2019ll\tappreciate\tit.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tlicked\this\tlips.\t\u2018You\tare\tasking\tme\tto\tring\tthe\tofficer?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tYou\tsaw\tthe\ttiger,\tI\tdidn\u2019t.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\ttrue.\tSo\twhat\tshould\tI\ttell\thim?\t\u201cThe\ttiger\twhich\tescaped\tfrom\tthe\tcircus\t.\t.\t.\u201d?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\tright.\tGo\ton.\u2019 I\t found\t the\t number\t in\t the\t directory.\t Perhaps\t I\t should\t have\t made\t the\t phone\t call\t as\t well,\t for Lalmohan\tBabu\tpicked\tup\tthe\tphone,\tcoughed\ttwice\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Er\t.\t.\t.\tthe\tcircus\tthat\tescaped\tfrom\tthe Great\tMajestic\ttiger\t.\t.\t.\toh\tsorry!\u2019 Luckily,\t Feluda\t had\t hear d\t him\t fr o m\t the\t next\t r o o m.\t He\t r ushed\t in,\t snatched\t the\t r eceiver \t fr o m\t his hand\tand\tpassed\ton\tthe\tinformation\thimself.","Eight Bulakiprasad\tbrought\tus\ttea\tin\tour\troom.\tHe\thad\talready\ttold\tFeluda\tabout\tthe\tattempt\tmade\tto\tcatch Sultan,\t and\t Chandr an\t being \t injur ed\t in\t the\t pr o cess.\t It\t was\t Feluda\u2019s\t belief\t that\t no \t o ne\t but\t Kar andikar could\tcatch\tthe\ttiger\talive. Lalmohan\tBabu\ttook\ta\tlong,\tnoisy\tsip\tfrom\this\tcup\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Did\tyou\tfind\tanything\tinteresting in\tthose\tdiaries?\tOr\twas\tArun\tBabu\tright?\u2019 \u2018You\ttell\tme.\u2019\tFeluda\topened\ta\tdiary\tand\tpushed\tit\ttowards\tLalmohan\tBabu. \u2018Self\telected\tpresident\tof\tclub\u2014meeting\ton\t8.4.46,\u2019\the\tread\taloud.\t\u2018Tea\tparty\tat\tBrig.\tSudarshan\u2019s, and,\ton\ta\tdifferent\tpage\u2014Trial\tfor\tnew\tsuit\tat\tShakur \u2019s\t.\t.\t.\twhy,\tFelu\tBabu,\tyou\tthink\tany\tof\tthis\tstuff has\tany\trelevance?\u2019 \u2018Topshe,\thave\ta\tlook\tand\ttell\tme\twhat\tyou\tthink.\u2019 I\thad\tbeen\tleaning\tover\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tshoulder.\tNow\tI\tpicked\tthe\tdiary\tup. \u2018Bring\tit\tcloser\tto\tthe\tlight,\u2019\tFeluda\tordered.\tI\twent\tforward\tand\tput\tit\tdirectly\tunder\ta\ttable\tlamp. A\tshiver\tof\texcitement\tran\tdown\tmy\tspine. The\t diary\t was\t fairly\t large\t in\t size.\t The\t main\t entries\t had\t been\t made\t in\t ink,\t but\t on\t the\t top\t of\t the page,\tover\tthe\tprinted\tdate,\tsomething\thad\tbeen\tscribbled\twith\ta\thard\tpencil.\tThe\twords\twere\tbarely legible. \u2018Why,\tthis\tseems\tto\tbe\ta\tmessage\tof\tsome\tkind!\u2019\tI\texclaimed.\t\u2018Read\tit\tout.\u2019 \u2018Conveyance\tdestroyed\tbecause\tof\ttwo.\u2019 Good\theavens,\tmore\tpuzzles?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tgave\ta\tstart.\t\u2018Yes.\tNow\tlook\tat\tthis.\tThis\tis\tthe\tfirst diary,\tgoing\tback\tto\t1938.\u2019\tOn\tthe\tvery\tfirst\tpage,\tMr\tChowdhury\thad\twritten:\t\u2018Shambhu\tis\truled\tby two\tand\tfive.\u2019 \u2018Who\t is\t Shambhu?\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t asked,\t surprised.\t \u2018Shambhu\t is\t another\t name\t for\t Shiva,\t like Mahesh.\tMr\tChowdhury\treferred\tto\thimself\tin\this\tdiaries\tby\tusing\tvarious\tnames\tfor\tShiva.\u2019 \u2018All\tright,\tbut\twhat\u2019s\tthis\tabout\t\u201ctwo\tand\tfive\u201d?\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tknow\tabout\tthe\tsix\tdeadly\tsins\tthat\tHindus\tbelieve\tin?\u2019 \u2018The\tsix\tripus?\tYes,\tyes.\tThey\tare\t.\t.\t.\tlet\tme\tsee\t.\t.\t.\tkaam,\tkrodh,\tlobh,\tmaud,\tmoha,\tmatsarya.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tnot\tin\tthat\torder.\tThe\tcorrect\torder\tis\tkaam,\tkrodh,\tlobh,\tmoha,\tmaud,\tmatsarya.\tWhat\tdo they\tmean?\u2019 \u2018Lust,\twrath,\tgreed,\tattachment,\tdrinking,\tenvy.\u2019 \u2018Right.\tSo\ttwo\tand\tfive\tare\twrath\tand\tdrinking.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee,\tI\tsee.\tThat\u2019s\teasy,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tNow\tif\tyou\tlook\tat\tthe\tmessage\tTopshe\tread\tout,\tyou\u2019ll\tget\this\tmeaning.\u2019 I\t had,\t in\t fact,\t alr eady\t wo r ked\t it\t o ut.\t \u2018Co nveyance\t destr o yed\t because\t o f\t two .\t Co uld\t that\t mean\t car destroyed\tbecause\tof\twrath?\tBecause\tof\this\ttemper?\u2019\tI\toffered.","\u2018Shabaash.\tBut\tthere\u2019s\tmore.\tI\thave\tnot\tyet\tbeen\table\tto\tunderstand\twhat\tthe\tsecond\tmessage\tmeans, and\tthat\tinvolves\tthese\tsame\tsix\tnumbers.\u2019 Feluda\thad\tmarked\tthe\tpages\twhere\tcoded\tmessages\tappeared.\tHe\topened\tone\tof\tthese\tand\tshowed it\tto\tus.\t\u20182+5=X\u2019,\tit\tsaid. \u2018X\tis\tan\tunknown\tquantity,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked.\t\u2018Why\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tjust\tignore\tit?\tWhy\tare you\tassuming\tevery\tstrange\tmessage\thas\ta\tsignificant\tmeaning?\u2019 \u2018If\ta\tman\twrites\ta\tcode\ton\tjust\ttwenty\toccasions\tin\ta\twhole\tyear\u2014and\tdon\u2019t\tforget\the\twrites\tin\tthat diary\tthree\thundred\tand\tsixty-five\ttimes\u2014then\tI\tmust\tassume\tevery\tcode\thas\ta\tspecial\tmeaning.\tI\tjust have\tto\twork\tharder\tto\tfind\tout\twhat\tit\tis,\tthat\u2019s\tall.\u2019 \u2018Isn\u2019t\tthere\tanything\telse\tin\tthe\tdiary\tthat\tmight\thelp?\u2019 \u2018No,\tbut\tthere\u2019s\tanother\tmessage\tten\tdays\tafter\the\twrote\t2+5=X.\tLook!\u2019\tI\tread\tthe\tmessage\tFeluda pointed\tout:\t\u2018Old\tfriend\u2014herbal\thair\toil.\tCalms\ttwo.\u2019 \u2018A\thair\toil\tthat\tmight\thelp\thim\tcontrol\this\ttemper?\tThis\tone\u2019s\teasy,\tFelu\tBabu.\tOnly,\tI\tcan\u2019t\tmake out\twhy\the\tcalls\tit\tan\told\tfriend.\tMaybe\the\u2019d\tbeen\tusing\tit\tfor\ta\tlong\ttime?\u2019 \u2018No.\tYou\tdidn\u2019t\tpay\tattention\tto\tthe\t\u201cdash\u201d\tafter\tthe\tword\t\u201cfriend\u201d.\tIt\tcan\tonly\tmean\tan\told\tfriend\tis in\tsome\tway\trelated\tto\tthe\toil.\u2019 \u2018Akhil\tChakravarty!\tHe\tknows\tabout\tayurvedic\therbs,\tdoesn\u2019t\the?\tHe\tmust\thave\tgiven\tthe\toil\tto\this friend!\u2019\tI\texclaimed. \u2018Very\tgood,\tTopshe.\tNow\tread\tthese\tother\tmessages.\u2019 Ther e\t wer e\t two .\t The\t fir st\t said,\t \u2018Getting \t r id\t o f\t five\t fr o m\t to day.\u2019\t That\t meant\t he\t g ave\t up\t dr inking . But,\tonly\ta\tmonth\tlater,\the\twrote:\t\u2018Bholanath\tgoes\tback\tto\tfive.\tFive\thelps\tforget.\u2019 \u2018The\t question\t is,\t what\t did\t he\t want\t to\t forget\t so\t desperately?\u2019\t Feluda\t muttered.\t Lalmohan\t Babu looked\tat\tme,\tI\tscratched\tmy\thead.\tNow\tit\twas\tobvious\twhy\tMr\tChowdhury\thad\tsaid\this\tlife\twas\tfull of\tmysteries.\tFeluda\topened\tanother\tdiary\tand\tshowed\tus\tone\tmore\tmessage.\t\u2018I\tam\tas\tfeather\ttoday.\tI took\tcharge\tof\tSM.\tSM\twill\tbe\tmy\tsalvation.\u2019 \u2018SM\tis\tShankarlal\tMisra,\tsurely?\u2019\tI\tsaid.\t\u2018But\twhy\tis\the\tas\ta\tfeather?\u2019 \u2018I\tthink\tthat\tsimply\tmeans\t\u201clight\tas\ta\tfeather\u201d,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied.\t\u2018He\twas\thappy\tand\tpossibly\trelieved by\t something.\t Maybe\t a\t load\t had\t been\t lifted\t from\t his\t mind.\t Taking\t charge\t of\t young\t Shankarlal clearly\thad\ta\tlot\tto\tdo\twith\tit.\u2019 Feluda\t r o se\t and\t beg an\t pacing .\t I\t sat\t star ing \t at\t the\t diar ies.\t If\t Mahesh\t Cho wdhur y\t had\t lived\t a\t little longer,\the\tand\tFeluda\twould\thave\tgot\ton\tvery\twell.\tFeluda\twas\tjust\tas\tinterested\tin\tword\tgames\tand riddles.\tLalmohan\tBabu\twas\tsitting\tquietly,\tfrowning\tthoughtfully.\tAfter\ta\twhile,\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Why\tdon\u2019t you\t have\t a\t chat\t with\t Akhil\t Chakravarty?\t He\t knew\t him\t pretty\t closely,\t didn\u2019t\t he?\t He\t made\t his horoscope,\tgave\thim\tayurvedic\tmedicines\t.\t.\t.\tsurely\the\u2019ll\tbe\table\tto\ttell\tyou\ta\tlot\tmore\tabout\tthe\tman than\this\tdiaries? Feluda\tstopped\tpacing\tand\tlit\ta\tCharminar.\t\u2018I\twas\ttrying\tto\tget\tto\tknow\tthe\tman\tmyself,\tthrough\this thoughts.\tThose\tfew\tmessages\twritten\twith\ta\tpencil\thave\tkept\thim\talive.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tfind\tanything\tabout\this\tsons?\tDid\the\tmention\tany\tof\tthem?\u2019 \u2018There\tisn\u2019t\tmuch\tin\tthe\tfirst\tfifteen\tyears.\tBut\tlater\u2014\u2019\tFeluda\tbroke\toff.\tA\tcar\thad\tarrived\toutside. It\tstopped\tand\ttooted\tat\tthe\tgate.","We\t came\t out\t on\t the\t veranda\t to\t find\t Arun\t Babu\t getting\t out\t of\t his\t Fiat.\t In\t his\t hand\t was\t a\t small packet. \u2018I\twas\ton\tmy\tway\tto\tsee\tMr\tSingh\u2014he\u2019s\tour\tForest\tOfficer,\u2019\the\texplained.\t\u2018Since\tyour\thouse\twas on\tthe\tway,\tI\tthought\tI\u2019d\tstop\tby\tand\tgive\tyou\tBiren\u2019s\tletters.\tThey\tcan\thardly\tbe\tcalled\tletters,\tmind you,\tbut\tyou\twanted\tto\tsee\tthem,\tso\t.\t.\t.\u2019\the\tshrugged. \u2018I\u2019m\tvery\tsorry\tif\tI\thave\tcaused\tyou\tany\ttrouble.\tYou\tmust\thave\ta\tlot\ton\tyour\tplate,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid. \u2018No ,\t no ,\t it\u2019s\t no \t tr o uble\t at\t all.\t Fr ankly,\t I\t canno t\t imag ine\t what\t Baba\t mig ht\t have\t tr ied\t to \t say.\t See\t if you\t can\t figure\t out\t his\t meaning.\t I\t hardly\t knew\t my\t father,\t you\t see.\t My\t visits\t to\t Hazaribagh\t have always\tbeen\tshort.\tI\tused\tto\tcome\there\tfrequently\tin\tthe\tpast\tto\tgo\ton\tshikar,\tbut\tnow\tbig\tgame\thas been\tbanned.\tHowever,\tI\tmay\tget\ta\tchance\ttomorrow.\tLet\u2019s\tsee.\u2019 \u2018What\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\t the\t reason\t why\t I\t am\t going\t to\t see\t Mr\t Singh.\t I\t believe\t the\t tiger\t has\t been\t spotted\t near Ramgarh.\tOne\tof\tits\ttrainers\tis\tlying\tin\thospital,\tand\tthe\tother\thas\tdisappeared.\tI\u2019ve\talready\tspoken\tto Mr\tSingh.\t\u201cIf\tyou\tmust\thave\tthe\ttiger\tkilled,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201clet\tme\tdo\tthe\tjob.\u201d\tIt\u2019s\talready\tbeen\tshot\tat.\tIf\tit was\tinjured,\tit\u2019s\tnow\ta\tmost\tdangerous\tbeast.\u2019 I\t opened\t my\t mouth\t to\t say\t the\t tiger\t hadn\u2019t\t appeared\t to\t be\t injured,\t but\t shut\t it\t at\t a\t glance\t from Feluda. \u2018I\t am\t taking\t my\t .315\t with\t me,\u2019\t Arun\t Babu\t continued.\t \u2018There\u2019s\t panic\t everywhere.\t I\t believe\t it attacked\t a\t her d\t o f\t g o ats\t in\t a\t villag e.\t I\t do n\u2019t\t think\t being \t killed\t in\t a\t fo r est\t is\t in\t any\t way\t wo r se\t than growing\told\tin\ta\tcage\tin\ta\tcircus.\tAnyway,\tyou\tcan\tcome\ttomorrow,\tif\tyou\u2019re\tinterested.\tWe\u2019ll\tleave early\tin\tthe\tmorning.\u2019 \u2018OK.\tLet\u2019s\tsee\thow\tfar\tI\tcan\tget\twith\tthis\tother\tjob\tI\tam\ttrying\tto\ttackle.\tMy\tgoing\twith\tyou\twould have\tto\tdepend\ton\tthat.\tOh,\tby\tthe\tway\t.\t.\t. Arun\tBabu\thad\tturned\tto\tgo.\tAt\tFeluda\u2019s\twords,\the\tturned\tback\tagain. \u2018It\twas\tyou\twho\tfired\tthe\tshot\tthat\tday\tat\tthe\tpicnic,\twasn\u2019t\tit?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. Ar un\t Babu\t laug hed.\t \u2018I\t see\t what\t yo u\t mean.\t Yo u\t must\t be\t wo nder ing \t what\t happened.\t I\t fir ed\t a\t sho t, but\tdidn\u2019t\tproduce\ta\tdead\tbird.\tYour\tdetective\u2019s\tmind\tfinds\tthat\tsuspicious,\tdoesn\u2019t\tit?\tThe\ttruth\tis,\tMr Mitter,\tI\tmissed\tit.\tIt\twas\ta\tpartridge.\tSometimes\teven\tthe\tbest\tof\tshikaris\tmiss\ttheir\ttargets.\u2019","Nine The\t letters\t sent\t by\t Biren\t Chowdhury\t told\t us\t nothing.\t They\t were\t all\t postcards,\t most\t of\t which\t had nothing\t but\t Mahesh\t Chowdhury\u2019s\t name\t and\t address\t on\t them.\t The\t few\t that\t had\t hastily\t scribbled messages\thad\tbeen\tsigned\t\u2018Deuce\u2019. Bulakiprasad\t served\t dinner\t at\t nine\t o\u2019clock.\t Feluda\t came\t to\t the\t dining\t table\t with\t some\t of\t the diaries\t and\t his\t notebook.\t There\t were\t a\t few\t more\t coded\t messages\t that\t he\t hadn\u2019t\t yet\t been\t able\t to so lve,\t he\t to ld\t us.\t I\t saw\t Feluda\t wr ite\t these\t do wn\t in\t his\t no tebo o k,\t using \t his\t left\t hand\t as\t easily\t as\t he used\this\tright.\tHalfway\tthrough\tthe\tmeal,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid,\t\u2018Look,\tFelu\tBabu,\tdo\tstop\twriting;\tor you\twon\u2019t\tbe\table\tto\tdo\tany\tjustice\tto\tthis\tterrific\tlamb\tcurry.\u2019 \u2018I\tam\tbusy\twith\tmonkeys,\tLalmohan\tBabu,\tso\tplease\tdon\u2019t\tdisturb\tme\tby\ttalking\tof\tlambs.\u2019 Feluda\twas\tfrowning\tdeeply,\tbut\ta\tsmile\tplayed\taround\this\tlips.\tI\thad\tto\task\thim\tto\texplain.\tHe\tread out\ta\tline\tfrom\ta\tdiary: \u2018Great\tgenerosity\tby\tthe\tworshipper\tof\tfire.\tThe\tnine\tjewels,\taccording\tto\tthe\tmonkeys,\tvalue\ttwo thousand\tShylock\u2019s\tdemands.\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t swallowed\t quickly.\t \u2018There\u2019s\t a\t loony\t bin\t in\t Ranchi,\t isn\u2019t\t there?\u2019\t he\t asked.\t \u2018I\u2019ve heard\tthe\tpeople\tof\tRanchi\tare\tall\ta\tbit\t.\t.\t.\tyou\tknow,\tnot\tquite\tnormal!\u2019 Feluda\t ignored\t this\t remark.\t \u2018Parsees\t worship\t fire,\u2019\t he\t commented,\t \u2018but\t the\t rest\t of\t the\t message doesn\u2019t\tmake\tany\tsense\tat\tall.\u2019 \u2018Shylock\t.\t.\t.\tisn\u2019t\tthat\tfrom\tThe\tMerchant\tof\tVenice?\u2019\tI\tasked.\t\u2018Yes.\tThat\u2019s\twhat\tmakes\tme\twonder. What\tdid\tShylock\tdemand,\tTopshe?\u2019 \u2018A\tpound\tof\tflesh?\u2019 \u2018Correct.\tBut\tthat\tdoesn\u2019t\thelp,\tdoes\tit?\u2019 \u2018Felu\tBabu,\tplease\tgive\tit\ta\trest,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tpleaded,\t\u2018at\tleast\twhile\tyou\u2019re\teating!\u2019 Perhaps\tFeluda\twas\treally\ttired.\tSo\the\tput\taway\tthe\tdiaries\tand\this\tnotebook,\tand\tsaid\the\u2019d\tlike\tto go\tfor\ta\twalk\tafter\tdinner\twith\tboth\tof\tus. The\t moon\t had\t just\t risen\t when\t we\t set\t out.\t It\t still\t had\t a\t yellow\t glow.\t But\t there\t were\t patches\t of clouds\t as\t well,\t which\t made\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t say,\t \u2018I\t think\t the\t moonlight\u2019s\t going\t to\t be\t shortlived.\u2019 Gusts\tof\twind\tcame\tfrom\tthe\twest,\tbringing\twith\tthem\tthe\tfaint\tsounds\tof\ta\tcircus\tband. A\tright\tturn\tsoon\tbrought\tKailash\tinto\tview.\tWe\tcould\tsee\tthe\thouse\tthrough\ta\trow\tof\teucalyptus trees.\tA\twindow\ton\tthe\tfirst\tfloor\twas\topen,\tand\tthe\tlight\twas\ton.\tSomeone\twas\tmoving\trestlessly\tin the\troom.\tFeluda\tstopped.\tSo\tdid\twe.\tWhose\troom\tcould\tit\tbe?\tThe\tmoving\tfigure\tcame\tand\tstood\tat the\twindow.\tIt\twas\tNeelima\tDevi.\tThen\tshe\tmoved\taway\tagain\tand\tbegan\tpacing\tonce\tmore.\tWhy\twas she\tso\tagitated? We\t beg an\t walking \t o nce\t mo r e.\t Kailash\t disappear ed\t fr o m\t sig ht.\t Each\t ho use\t we\t passed\t had\t a\t lar g e compound.\t A\t radio\t was\t on\t somewhere.\t We\t could\t hear\t snatches\t of\t the\t local\t news.\t Lalmohan\t Babu","cleared\this\tthroat\tand\thad\tbegun\thumming\tanother\tunsuitable\tTagore\tsong\t(\u2018In\tthe\trice\tfields\ttoday, do\tthe\tsun\tand\tshadows\tplay\thide-and-seek\u2019),\twhen\tmy\teyes\tfell\ton\tthe\tfigure\tof\ta\tman\tcoming\tfrom the\topposite\tdirection.\tHe\twas\twearing\ta\tblue\tpullover. I\trecognized\thim\tas\the\tgot\tcloser.\t\u2018Namaskar,\u2019\tsaid\tShankarlal\tMisra.\t\u2018I\twas\tgoing\tto\tcall\tat\tyour house.\u2019\tHe\tseemed\tto\thave\trecovered\tsomewhat,\tbut\thad\tnot\tyet\tregained\this\tnormal\tcheerful\tlooks. \u2018Is\tanything\tthe\tmatter?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tpolitely. \u2018I\t.\t.\t.\tI\twould\tlike\tto\tmake\ta\trequest.\u2019 \u2018A\trequest?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tPlease,\tMr\tMitter,\tstop\tmaking\tenquiries.\tDrop\tyour\tinvestigation.\u2019 I\twas\tquite\ttaken\taback\tby\tsuch\ta\trequest,\tbut\tFeluda\tspoke\tcalmly. \u2018Why\twould\tyou\tlike\tme\tto\tdo\tthat,\tMr\tMisra?\u2019 \u2018It\twon\u2019t\tdo\tanyone\tany\tgood.\u2019 After\ta\tshort\tpause,\tFeluda\tsmiled\tlightly.\t\u2018Suppose\tI\ttold\tyou\tit\twould\tdo\tme\tsome\tgood?\tI\tcannot rest\tin\tpeace\tif\tthere\tare\tdoubts\tin\tmy\tmind.\tI\thave\tto\tsettle\tthem,\tMr\tMisra.\tBesides,\tsomeone\tspoke to\tme\tfrom\this\tdeathbed\tand\tasked\tme\tto\tdo\tsomething\tfor\thim.\tHow\tcan\tI\tleave\tthat\ttask\tundone?\tI am\tsorry,\tMr\tMisra,\tbut\tI\thave\tto\tcontinue\twith\tmy\tinvestigation.\tAs\ta\tmatter\tof\tfact,\tI\tneed\tyour\thelp. Differ ent\t peo ple\t may\t say\t differ ent\t thing s\t abo ut\t Mahesh\t Cho wdhur y,\t but\t yo u\t had\t ver y\t deep\t r espect for\thim,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\u2019\tMr\tMisra\u2019s\treply\tcame\ta\tfew\tseconds\tlater,\tpossibly\tbecause\the\tcouldn\u2019t\timmediately accept\t what\t Feluda\t had\t said\t to \t him.\t Then\t he\t added\t mo r e\t fir mly,\t \u2018I\t cer tainly\t did.\t But\t .\t .\t .\u2019\t his\t vo ice chang ed,\t \u2018sho uld\t o ne\t allo w\t that\t r espect,\t all\t tho se\t feeling s,\t to \t be\t destr o yed\t by\t o ne\t sing le\t blo w?\t All that\thad\tbuilt\tup\tover\ta\tnumber\tof\tyears\t.\t.\t.\tshould\tone\tlet\tit\tgo,\tjust\tlike\tthat?\u2019 \u2018Is\tthat\twhat\tyou\twere\tdoing?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\t Yes,\t I\t nearly\t allowed\t that\t to\t happen.\t But\t then\t I\t realized\t my\t mistake.\t I\t will\t not\t let\t anything destroy\tmy\tbeliefs.\tI\thave\tdecided\tthat,\tand\tnow\tI\thave\tfound\tpeace.\u2019 \u2018May\tI\tthen\texpect\tyou\tto\thelp\tme?\u2019 \u2018Certainly.\tHow\tmay\tI\thelp\tyou?\u2019\tMr\tMisra\tsounded\talmost\tlike\this\told\tself.\tHe\tmet\tFeluda\u2019s\teyes directly. \u2018I\t wo uld\t like\t to \t kno w\t ho w\t Mahesh\t Cho wdhur y\t felt\t abo ut\t his\t o ther \t two \t so ns.\t No \t o ne\t but\t yo u\t can give\tme\tan\timpartial\tassessment.\u2019 \u2018I\tcan\tonly\ttell\tyou\twhat\tI\tfelt.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tMr\tChowdhury\thad\tany\taffection\tleft\tfor\tanyone\texcept Biren.\tArun\tand\tPritin\thad\tboth\tdisappointed\thim.\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019 \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t know\t the\t precise\t details,\t for\t I\u2019ve\t never\t been\t very\t close\t to\t either\t of\t them.\t But\t Arun\t had started\tto\tgamble.\tMr\tChowdhury\thimself\ttold\tme\tone\tday;\tnot\tdirectly,\tbut\tin\this\town\tpeculiar\tstyle. He\t said,\t \u201cI\t wo uld\t have\t been\t pleased\t if\t Ar un\t was\t g o o d.\t But\t I\t wo r r y\t because\t he\u2019s\t better.\t I\t believe\t he visits\tthe\tequine\tcommunities\tquite\toften.\u201d\tIt\ttook\tme\ta\twhile,\tbut\teventually\tI\tfigured\tout\tthat\t\u201cbetter\u201d meant\tone\twho\tlays\tbets\tand\tthe\t\u201cequine\tcommunities\u201d\tsimply\tmeant\thorse\traces.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tBut\twhy\tshould\tPritin\thave\tdisappointed\thim?\tSurely\the\u2019s\tdoing\tquite\twell\tin\telectronics?\u2019 \u2018Electronics?\u2019\tMr\tMisra\tsounded\tperfectly\tamazed.\t\u2018Is\tthat\twhat\the\ttold\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Why?\tDoesn\u2019t\the\thave\tanything\tto\tdo\twith\tIndovision?\u2019","Mr\tMisra\tburst\tout\tlaughing.\t\u2018Good\tGod,\tno!\tPritin\thas\ta\tvery\tordinary\tjob\tin\ta\tsmall\tprivate\tfirm, which\the\tmanaged\tto\tget\tonly\tbecause\this\tfather-in-law\tknew\tthe\tright\tpeople.\tPritin\tis\ta\tgood\tman, basically,\tbut\tis\textremely\timpractical\tand\timpulsive.\tLuckily\tfor\thim,\this\twife\tis\tthe\tonly\tdaughter\tof a\twealthy\tfather.\tThat\tcar\tyou\tsaw\thim\tusing\tbelongs\tto\this\tfather-in-law.\tHe\tcame\there\tlater\tthan\this wife\tand\tdaughter\tbecause\the\thad\tproblems\tgetting\tleave.\u2019 It\twas\tour\tturn\tto\tbe\tastounded. \u2018But,\u2019\tMr\tMisra\tadded,\t\u2018his\tpassion\tfor\tbirds\tand\tbird\tcalls\tis\tabsolutely\tgenuine.\u2019 \u2018I\thave\tone\tmore\tquestion.\u2019 \u2018Yes?\u2019 \u2018You\twere\tseen\ttalking\tto\ta\tman\tdressed\tas\ta\tsadhu\twhen\twe\twent\tto\tRajrappa.\tWas\tthat\tBiren?\u2019 Mr\t Misra\t was\t naturally\t taken\t aback\t by\t such\t a\t question,\t but\t he\t recovered\t quickly.\t The\t reply\t he made\t sounded\t rather\t cryptic.\t \u2018You\t are\t so\t clever,\t Mr\t Mitter,\t I\u2019m\t sure\t you\u2019ll\t soon\t unravel\t every mystery.\u2019 \u2018There\tis\ta\tspecial\treason\tfor\tasking\tthis\tquestion.\tIf\tindeed\tthat\tman\tis\tBiren,\tI\thave\tgot\tsomething that\this\tfather\twanted\thim\tto\thave.\tI\tmust\thand\tit\tover\tto\thim.\tCan\tyou\tarrange\ta\tmeeting?\u2019 \u2018I\t will\t tr y\t my\t best\t to \t make\t sur e\t Mr \t Cho wdhur y\u2019s\t last\t wish\t is\t fulfilled,\t I\t pr o mise\t to \t tr y\t .\t .\t .\t but\t I cannot\ttell\tyou\tanything\tmore.\u2019 Mr\tMisra\tturned\tabruptly,\tand\twent\tback\tin\tthe\tsame\tdirection\tfrom\twhich\the\thad\tcome. I\thadn\u2019t\trealized\thow\tfar\twe\u2019d\twalked.\tFeluda\tlooked\tat\this\twatch\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Ten-thirty.\u2019\tWe\tdecided to \t g o \t back.\t When\t we\t r eached\t Kailash,\t the\t who le\t ho use\t was\t in\t dar kness.\t T he\t sky\t was\t no w\t o ver cast, the\t moon\t had\t disappeared\t and\t the\t distant\t band\t was\t silent.\t Purely\t out\t of\t the\t blue,\t Feluda\t broke\t the silence\t by\t sho uting \t o ne\t wo r d:\t \u2018Mo nkeys!\u2019\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t auto matically\t tur ned\t his\t head\t and\t asked, \u2018Where?\u2019 \u2018In\tthat\tdiary,\u2019\tFeluda\texplained\tquickly.\t\u2018Sorry\tif\tI\tstartled\tyou,\tbut\tI\u2019ve\tjust\trealized\twhat\the\tmeant by\t it.\t What\t a\t brilliant\t mind\t that\t man\t had!\t I\u2019d\t totally\t forgotten\t about\t those\t monkeys\t that\t produce catalogues.\u2019 \u2018Felu\tBabu,\twhy\tare\tyou\tdoing\tthis\tto\tme?\tMonkeys\twas\tbad\tenough,\tbut\tnow\tyou\twant\tmonkeys that\tproduce\tcatalogues?\tWhat\tcatalogues?\u2019 \u2018Gibbons!\tGibbons!\tGibbons!\u2019\tFeluda\tshouted\timpatiently. Of\t course!\t Gibbons\t was\t a\t species\t of\t monkey.\t I\t knew\t that,\t but\t could\t never\t have\t made\t the connection. \u2018He\twould\thave\tmade\ta\tlot\tof\tmoney,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid.\t\u2018Who?\u2019 \u2018The\tthief\twho\tstole\tthe\tstamp\talbum.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tremained\tin\tour\troom\tuntil\tmidnight\tto\twatch\tFeluda\tsolve\tmore\tpuzzles.\tHe\thad\tto call\t Arun\t Babu\t at\t eleven\t o\u2019clock\t to\t get\t the\t answer\t to\t one\t of\t them.\t On\t 18\t October\t 1951,\t Mr Chowdhury\t had\t written,\t \u2018He\t passes\t away.\u2019\t Arun\t Babu\t told\t Feluda\t that\t was\t the\t day\t his\t mother\t had died,\tand\tshe\twas\tcalled\tHeronmoyee.\tThat\texplained\twho\t\u2018He\u2019\twas. A\tfew\tentries\tmade\tin\t1958\tsaid,\t\u2018Be\tfoolish\u2019,\t\u2018Be\tstubborn\u2019,\t\u2018Be\tdetermined\u2019.\tThese\tsounded\tlike mottoes,\tbut\t\u2018Be\u2019\tin\tthis\tcase\tcould\tonly\tmean\t\u2018B\u2019,\ti.e.\tBiren. One\tpage\tin\t1975\tsaid,\t\u2018A\tis\truled\tby\tthree.\u2019\tHe\twas\tobviously\treferring\tto\tthe\tsix\tdeadly\tsins,\tand \u2018A\u2019\tmeant\tArun.\tHis\tfather\tthought\the\twas\tgreedy.","The\tlast\tentry\thad\tbeen\tmade\tthe\tday\tbefore\the\tdied.\tAll\tit\tsaid\twas,\t \u2018Come\t back.\t Hope,\t return.\u2019 The\tfollowing\tpages\twere\tall\tblank. By\tthe\ttime\twe\tfinished\twith\tthe\tdiaries,\tit\twas\tone\to\u2019clock.\tI\twent\tto\tbed,\tbut\tFeluda\tbegan\treading the\tbook\ton\tthe\tcircus\tin\tBengal\tthat\tLalmohan\tBabu\thad\tlent\thim.\tIt\thad\tbeen\tagreed\tlong\tago\tthat Feluda\twould\tread\tit\tafter\tLalmohan\tBabu,\tand\twould\tpass\tit\tto\tme\twhen\the\thad\tfinished. I\theard\thim\tspeaking\tjust\tas\tmy\teyes\tbegan\tto\tfeel\theavy. \u2018When\t there\u2019s\t a\t murder,\t the\t police\t place\t a\t mark\t over\t the\t spot\t where\t the\t body\t is\t found.\t Do\t you know\twhat\tit\tis?\u2019 \u2018X\tmarks\tthe\tspot?\u2019\tI\tsaid\tsleepily. \u2018Exactly.\tX\tmarks\tthe\tspot.\u2019 I\tfell\tasleep\talmost\timmediately,\tand\thad\ta\trather\tawful\tdream.\tA\thuge\tfigure\tof\tKali\twas\tstanding before\tme,\ther\tarms\tand\tlegs\tspread\tlike\tthe\tletter\t\u2018X\u2019.\tBut\tshe\twasn\u2019t\tlooking\tat\tme.\tShe\twas\tstaring at\tArun\tBabu,\tand\tsaying,\t\u2018Three\trules\tyou,\tthree\trules\tyou,\tthree\trules\tyou!\u2019 Then,\tsuddenly\ther\tface\tdissolved\tand\tit\tbecame\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tface.\tHe\twas\tgrinning\tfrom\tear to\tear\tand\tsaying,\t\u2018Three\tthousand\tcopies\tsold\tin\tone\tmonth\t.\t.\t.\tKalmohan\tBengali,\tthat\u2019s\tmy\tname!\u2019 Then\tI\twoke\twith\ta\tstart.\tA\tnoise\tat\tthe\tdoor\thad\twoken\tme.\tThis\twas\tfollowed\tby\tthe\tsound\tof\ttwo men\tstruggling\twith\teach\tother.\tIt\twas\training\toutside. I\t reached\t out\t automatically\t and\t pressed\t the\t switch\t of\t the\t bedside\t lamp.\t Nothing\t happened.\t I\t had forgotten\tBihar,\tlike\tCalcutta,\thad\tfrequent\tpower\tcuts. Something\tfell\ton\tthe\tfloor\twith\ta\tthud.\t\u2018Get\tyour\ttorch,\tTopshe,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\u2019s\tvoice,\t\u2018I\tdropped mine.\u2019 I\t g r o ped\t in\t the\t dar k\t and\t eventually\t fo und\t my\t to r ch,\t but\t no t\t befo r e\t I\t had\t kno cked\t o ver \t a\t g lass\t o f water\tand\tbroken\tit. Feluda\twas\tstanding\tnear\tthe\tdoor,\this\tface\tflushed\twith\thelpless\trage. \u2018Who\twas\tit,\tFeluda?\tHe\tgot\taway,\tdidn\u2019t\the?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tsee\this\tface,\tbut\the\twas\tlarge\tand\thefty.\tI\tthink\tI\tknow\twhy\the\thad\tbeen\tsent\there.\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019 \u2018To\tsteal.\u2019 \u2018Did\the\ttake\tanything?\u2019 \u2018No,\tbut\the\twould\thave\ttaken\tsomething\tvery\tvaluable,\tif\tI\twasn\u2019t\ta\tlight\tsleeper.\u2019 \u2018Something\tvaluable?\tBut\twe\thaven\u2019t\tgot\tanything\tvaluable,\thave\twe?\u2019 Feluda\tdid\tnot\tanswer\tme.\t\u2018One\tthing\tis\tnow\tquite\tclear,\tTopshe,\u2019\the\tsaid\tslowly.\t\u2018I\tam\tnot\tthe\tonly o ne\t who \t was\t been\t able\t to \t wo r k\t o ut\t the\t meaning \t o f\t Mahesh\t Cho wdhur y\u2019s\t r iddles.\t But\t fo r \t this\t o ther man,\tit\tis\ta\tbit\ttoo\tlate.\u2019","Ten When\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t heard\t about\t the\t thief\t the\t next\t day,\t he\t said,\t \u2018I\t told\t you\t to\t keep\t your\t door locked,\tdidn\u2019t\tI?\tThere\thave\talways\tbeen\tpetty\tthieves\tin\tthese\tareas!\u2019 \u2018You\t keep\t your\t door\t locked\t for\t fear\t of\t the\t tiger,\t Lalmohan\t Babu,\t not\t because\t of\t possible\t theft. Come\ton,\tadmit\tit.\u2019 \u2018All\tright,\tbut\tit\u2019s\tbetter\tto\tbe\tsafe\tthan\tsorry,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\tA\tlocked\tdoor\twould\tprotect\tyou\tfrom\tboth\ta thief\tand\ta\tferocious\tanimal\t.\t.\t.\tBulakiprasad,\twhere\u2019s\tour\tbreakfast?\u2019 \u2018Why\tare\tyou\tin\tsuch\ta\thurry\tthis\tmorning?\u2019 \u2018Why,\taren\u2019t\twe\tgoing\tto\twatch\tthe\tcapture\tof\tSultan?\u2019 \u2018Who\u2019s\tgoing\tto\tcatch\thim?\tKarandikar\thas\tvanished,\thasn\u2019t\the?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\the\u2019s\tstill\tbound\tto\tbe\taround\tsomewhere,\tand\tI\tbet\the\u2019s\theard\tof\tplans\tto\tkill\this\ttiger.\tHe won\u2019t\tbe\table\tto\tstay\taway,\tFelu\tBabu,\tmark\tmy\twords.\tJust\tthink\twhat\ta\tthrilling\tevent\twe\tmight\tget to\twatch!\tOh,\twe\tmustn\u2019t\tmiss\tthis\tchance.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tunderstand\thow\tyou\tcan\ttake\tthis\tso\tcalmly.\u2019 We\tfinished\tbreakfast\tby\teight\to\u2019clock\tand\tgot\tready\tto\tgo\tto\tKailash\tto\treturn\tthe\tdiaries\tand\tthe letters.\tAkhil\tChakravarty\tturned\tup\tunexpectedly. \u2018One\tof\tyour\tneighbours\tis\ta\thomoeopath,\tand\ta\tfriend\tof\tmine,\u2019\the\texplained.\t\u2018I\twas\tgoing\tto\tsee him,\tbut\tI\tthought\tI\u2019d\tjust\tdrop\tin\tto\tsay\thello,\tsince\tyour\thouse\twas\ton\tthe\tway.\u2019 \u2018Good.\t Please\t have\t a\t seat.\t Tell\t me,\u2019\t Feluda\t said,\t \u2018did\t the\t herbal\t oil\t help\t in\t controlling\t your friend\u2019s\ttemper?\u2019 \u2018Good\theavens,\tdid\tMahesh\tmention\tthat\tin\this\tdiary?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tamongst\tother\tthings.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tTo\ttell\tyou\tthe\ttruth,\twhat\treally\thelped\tMahesh\twas\this\town\twill\tpower.\tI\tsaw\thow\tdifficult it\twas\tfor\thim\tto\tgive\tup\tdrinking,\tbut\the\tdid\tit.\tIt\twasn\u2019t\tsimply\tbecause\tof\ta\therbal\toil\tor\tanything like\tthat.\u2019 \u2018Since\tyou\tmention\tthe\tword\t\u201cwill\u201d,\tcan\tyou\ttell\tus\tif\the\tmade\tone?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tthe\tdetails,\tbut\tI\tdo\tknow\tthat\tMahesh\tchanged\this\tfirst\twill.\u2019 \u2018I\tthink\this\tsecond\tson,\tBiren,\twas\tdropped\tfrom\tthe\tsecond\twill.\u2019 \u2018What\tmakes\tyou\tsay\tthat?\tDid\the\tmention\tthis\tin\this\tdiary?\u2019 \u2018No.\tHe\ttold\tme\tjust\tbefore\the\tdied.\tDo\tyou\tremember\this\tgestures?\tHe\traised\ttwo\tfingers,\tthen\the said\t\u201cwe\t.\t.\t.\twe\t.\t.\t.\t\u201d\tand\tthen\the\tshook\this\tthumb.\tHe\tcouldn\u2019t\tquite\tmanage\tto\tsay\t\u201cwill\u201d.\tIf\tthe\ttwo fingers\tindicated\t\u201cDeuce\u201d,\tthen\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tmessage\tcould\tonly\tmean\tthat\tDeuce\thad\tnot\tbeen\tleft anything\tin\this\twill.\u2019 \u2018Brilliant!\t And\t you\u2019re\t quite\t right.\t Biren\t had\t a\t share\t in\t the\t first\t will\t Mahesh\t made.\t But\t when\t he stopped\twriting,\tMahesh\twaited\tfor\tfive\tyears\tbefore\tchanging\tit,\tcutting\thim\tout\taltogether.\tHe\twas deeply\thurt\tby\tBiren\u2019s\tsilence.\u2019","\u2018If\tBiren\tcame\tback,\tdo\tyou\tthink\tMahesh\tChowdhury\twould\thave\tchanged\this\twill\ta\tsecond\ttime?\u2019 \u2018Undoubtedly.\tI\tam\tsure\tof\tit.\u2019 Feluda\tpaused\tfor\ta\tsecond\tbefore\tasking\this\tnext\tquestion.\t\u2018Did\tyou\tever\tthink\tBiren\tmight\thave become\ta\tsadhu?\u2019 \u2018Look,\tit\twas\tI\twho\tdrew\tup\tBiren\u2019s\thoroscope.\tI\tknew\the\twould\tleave\thome\tquite\tearly\tin\tlife.\tSo the\tpossibility\tof\this\trenouncing\tthe\twhole\tworld\tand\tbecoming\ta\tsadhu\tcannot\tbe\truled\tout.\u2019 \u2018One\tlast\tquestion.\tThat\tday,\tin\tRajrappa,\tyou\tsaid\tyou\twere\tgoing\tto\tlook\tfor\tyour\tfriend.\tBut\tyou arrived\ton\tthe\tscene\tlong\tafter\twe\thad\tfound\tMr\tChowdhury.\tDid\tyou\tget\tlost?\tIt\u2019s\tnot\ta\tvery\tlarge\tor complex\tarea,\tis\tit?\u2019 \u2018I\tknew\tyou\u2019d\task\tme\tthat,\u2019\tAkhil\tChakravarty\tsmiled.\t\u2018You\u2019re\tright,\tof\tcourse.\tIt\u2019s\tnot\ta\tcomplex area,\tbut\tyou\tmust\thave\tnoticed\thow\tthe\tmain\tpath\tparts\tin\ttwo\tdirections.\tI\twould\thave\tfound\tMahesh easily\t eno ug h\t if\t I\t had\t tur ned\t left.\t But\t I\t tur ned\t r ig ht\t instead.\t Do \t yo u\t kno w\t why?\t It\t was\t o nly\t because my\t childhood\t memories\t suddenly\t came\t back.\t Fifty-five\t years\t ago,\t I\t had\t visited\t the\t same\t spot\t and carved\tmy\tinitials\tand\tthe\tdate\ton\ta\trock.\tI\tremembered\tthat\tand\tfelt\tan\tirresistible\turge\tto\tgo\tand\tsee if\tit\twas\tstill\tthere.\tAnd\tit\twas,\tas\twere\tthe\tfigures\tI\thad\tcarved:\tABC,\t15.5.23.\tIf\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tbelieve\tme, you\tcan\tgo\tand\tsee\tit\tfor\tyourself.\u2019 We\treached\tKailash\tto\tdiscover\tthat\tArun\tBabu\thad\talready\tleft.\tOld\tNoor\tMuhammad\ttold\tus\tPritin Babu\twas\tat\thome,\tand\twent\toff\tto\tinform\thim.\tHe\tcame\tdown\tto\tsee\tus\tin\ta\tfew\tmoments. We\t handed\t him\t the\t packets\t o f\t diar ies\t and\t the\t letter s\t and\t wer e\t abo ut\t to \t leave,\t when\t so meo ne\t else entered\tthe\tdrawing\troom,\tit\twas\tNeelima\tDevi.\tI\tnoticed\ther\thusband\tgoing\tpale\tas\tshe\tcame\tin. \u2018There\tis\tsomething\tyou\tought\tto\tknow,\tMr\tMitter,\u2019\tshe\tsaid.\t\u2018My\thusband\tshould\ttell\tyou\thimself, but\the\tdoesn\u2019t\twant\tto.\u2019 Pritin\tBabu\tlooked\tat\ther\tappealingly,\tbut\tNeelima\tDevi\tdidn\u2019t\teven\tglance\tat\thim.\t\u2018When\the\tfound my\tfather-in-law\tthat\tday,\u2019\tshe\twent\ton,\t\u2018my\thusband\tdropped\this\ttape\trecorder.\tI\tfound\tit\tand\tput\tit\tin my\tbag.\tI\tthink\tyou\u2019ll\tfind\tit\tuseful.\tHere\tit\tis.\u2019 Pritin\tBabu\ttried\tonce\tmore\tto\tstop\this\twife,\tbut\tfailed. \u2018Thank\tyou,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\tand\ttook\tthe\tsmall,\tflat\trecorder\tfrom\tNeelima\tDevi.\tThen\the\tput\tit\tin\this pocket. Pritin\tBabu\tlooked\tas\tif\the\twas\tabout\tto\tbreak\tdown. I\t had\t a\t feeling\t Feluda\t was\t as\t interested\t in\t watching\t the\t capture\t of\t the\t tiger\t as\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t and myself.\tThe\tinstructions\the\tgave\tour\tdriver\tupon\tleaving\tKailash\tproved\tthat\tI\twas\tright. Lalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tenthusiasm,\thowever,\tnow\tseemed\tto\tbe\tmixed\twith\ta\tdegree\tof\tanxiety. \u2018Arun\tChowdhury\thas\ta\tnumber\tof\tguns.\tWhy\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\task\tfor\tone,\tFelu\tBabu?\u2019\the\tsaid\tafter\ta while.\t\u2018What\tgood\twill\tyour\tColt\t.32\tdo\tif\twe\tsee\tthe\ttiger?\u2019 \u2018Well,\t if\t a\t fly\t came\t and\t sat\t on\t the\t tiger,\t my\t revolver\t would\t be\t quite\t adequate\t to\t destroy\t it, Lalmohan\tBabu,\tI\tassure\tyou.\u2019 Then\tFeluda\tlapsed\tinto\tsilence,\tholding\tthe\trecorder\tclose\tto\this\tear\tand\tlistening\tintently.\tHe\tdid not\ttell\tus\twhat\the\theard,\tand\twe\tknew\tbetter\tthan\tto\task\thim. Last\tnight\u2019s\train\thad\tleft\tthe\tearth\twet\tand\tmuddy\tin\tmany\tplaces.\tAs\twe\tgot\tcloser\tto\ta\tcrossing,\tit became\tclear\tthat\ta\tcar\tand\tother\tvehicles\thad\tturned\tleft\tfrom\there,\tfor\tthere\twere\tfresh\ttyre\tmarks","going\t towards\t the\t forest.\t We\t made\t a\t left\t turn,\t too,\t and\t followed\t these\t marks.\t A\t mile\t later,\t we\t saw three\t different\t vehicles\t standing\t next\t to\t a\t banyan\t tree:\t a\t jeep\t from\t the\t Forest\t Department,\t Arun Babu\u2019s\t Fiat\t and\t a\t huge\t truck\t from\t the\t circus\t that\t had\t the\t tiger \u2019s\t cage\t in\t it.\t Five\t or\t six\t men\t were sitting \t under \t the\t tr ee.\t T hey\t to ld\t us\t a\t team\t had\t alr eady\t g o ne\t into \t the\t fo r est\t to \t lo o k\t fo r \t the\t tig er,\t and po inted\t us\t in\t the\t r ig ht\t dir ectio n.\t I\t r eco g nized\t o ne\t o f\t the\t men,\t having \t seen\t him\t at\t the\t cir cus\t befo r e. Feluda\tasked\thim\tif\tSultan\u2019s\ttrainer\thad\tgone\twith\tthe\tothers.\tHe\tsaid\tthe\tnew\ttrainer,\tChandran,\twas with\tthem,\tbut\tthere\twas\tstill\tno\tsign\tof\tKarandikar. We\tgot\tout\tof\tthe\tcar\tand\tbegan\twalking.\tI\thad\tno\tidea\twhat\tlay\tin\tstore,\tbut\tknew\tthat\tArun\tBabu had\t a\t g un,\t and\t the\t shikar i\t fr o m\t the\t Fo r est\t Depar tment\t was\t undo ubtedly\t similar ly\t ar med.\t T her e\t was therefore\t little\t fear\t of\t the\t tiger\t being\t allowed\t to\t attack\t anyone.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t looked\t a\t little disappointed,\tpresumably\tbecause\tChandran\twas\tthere\tinstead\tof\tKarandikar. Faint\tfootprints\ton\tthe\tdamp\tground\tguided\tus.\tThere\twere\tnot\tmany\ttrees\tin\tthis\tpart\tof\tthe\tforest, so\tmovement\twas\tfairly\teasy.\tA\tpeacock\tcried\tout\ta\tcouple\tof\ttimes,\twhich\tcould\twell\tbe\ta\twarning to\tother\tanimals\tthat\ta\ttiger\twas\tin\tthe\tvicinity. Ten\t minutes\t later,\t we\t heard\t a\t different\t noise.\t It\t was\t decidedly\t the\t tiger,\t but\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t actually roaring.\tIt\tsounded\tmore\tlike\ta\tgrowl,\tas\tthough\tthe\ttiger\twas\tirritated\tby\tsomething. We\twalked\ton\tand,\tonly\ta\tfew\tminutes\tlater,\tthrough\tthe\tgap\tbetween\ttwo\ttrees,\tour\teyes\tfell\ton\ta strange\tsight.\tI\tcall\tit\tstrange\tbecause\tI\tnever\tthought\tI\u2019d\tsee\tsomething\tlike\tthis\toutside\tthe\tarena\tof\ta circus. Three\tmen\tstood\tin\ta\trow\ta\tfew\tfeet\taway\tfrom\twhere\twe\thad\tstopped.\tTwo\tof\tthem\thad\tguns.\tThe one\tin\tArun\tChowdhury\u2019s\thands\twas\traised\tand\tpointed\tat\tsome\tobject\tin\tfront\tof\thim. What\tthey\twere\tfacing\twas\tan\topen\tarea,\ta\tbit\tlike\ta\tcircus\tring.\tA\tman\twas\tstanding\tin\tthe\tmiddle of\tthis\tring,\ta\tlong\twhip\tin\this\tright\thand\tand\ta\ttorn\tbranch\tin\this\tleft.\tJudging\tby\tthe\tdressed\twound on\this\tleft\tshoulder,\the\twas\tthe\tnew\ttrainer,\tChandran. Chandr an\t had\t his\t back\t to \t us.\t He\t was\t mo ving \t fo r war d\t slo wly\t and\t with\t extr eme\t cautio n,\t cr acking his\t whip\t every\t now\t and\t then.\t The\t animal\t he\t was\t approaching\t was\t one\t we\t had\t met\t already.\t It\t was Sultan,\tlast\tseen\ton\tthe\troad\tto\tRamgarh. Four\tother\tmen\twere\tstanding\tat\ta\tlittle\tdistance.\tTwo\tof\tthem\twere\tholding\ta\theavy\tchain,\twhich would\t no\t doubt\t be\t put\t around\t Sultan\u2019s\t neck,\t if\t he\t allowed\t himself\t to\t be\t captured.\t What\t was\t most amazing\t was\t Sultan\u2019s\t behaviour.\t He\t clearly\t did\t not\t wish\t to\t be\t caught,\t but\u2014at\t the\t same\t time\u2014was making\tno\tattempts\tto\trun\taway.\tHis\teyes\tseemed\tto\tconvey\tnot\tanger\tor\tferocity,\tbut\tannoyance\tand a\tgreat\tdeal\tof\tcontempt.\tThe\tlow\tgrowl\the\tkept\tup\tindicated\tthe\tsame\tthing. Chandran\t was\t getting\t closer\t every\t minute,\t but\t he\t did\t not\t seem\t too\t sure\t of\t himself.\t Perhaps\t he could\t not\t forget\t that\t the\t same\t animal\t had\t attacked\t him\t already.\t I\t cast\t a\t quick\t look\t at\t Arun\t Babu. From\tthe\tway\the\twas\tholding\this\tgun,\tI\thad\tno\tdoubt\tthat\the\twould\tfire\tat\tonce\tif\tSultan\tshowed\tthe slig htest\t sig n\t o f\t ag g r essio n.\t Feluda\t was\t standing \t befo r e\t me,\t a\t little\t to \t the\t left;\t and\t Lalmo han\t Babu was\t by\t my\t side.\t His\t mo uth\t was\t hang ing \t so \t wide\t o pen\t that\t he\t didn\u2019t\t lo o k\t as\t if\t he\u2019d\t ever \t be\t able\t to close\tit.\tHe\ttold\tme\tafterwards\tthat\tthe\tmemory\tof\teverything\the\thad\tseen\tin\tcircuses\tbefore\thad\tbeen totally\twiped\tout\tby\tthe\tshow\twe\twitnessed\tin\tthe\tforest. When\tChandran\tcame\twithin\tfive\tyards,\tSultan\tsuddenly\tstiffened\tand\tbegan\tto\tcrouch.\tAt\tthe\tsame instant,\t Feluda\t leapt\t and\t r eached\t Ar un\t Babu,\t str etching \t a\t hand\t to \t chang e\t the\t po sitio n\t o f\t his\t g un.\t Its","point\tnow\tfaced\tthe\tground. \u2018Sultan!\u2019 A\t deep\t voice\t boomed\t out.\t We\t had\t been\t joined\t by\t another\t man.\t Feluda\t had\t obviously\t seen\t him arrive\tand\tdecided\tto\tact\tbefore\tit\twas\ttoo\tlate. \u2018Sultan!\tSultan!\u2019 The\tvoice\tbecame\tsofter,\tand\tthe\ttone\tmuch\tmore\tgentle.\tThe\tman\tstepped\tforward\tand\tentered\tthe stage.\tIt\twas\tKarandikar.\tIn\this\thand\twas\tanother\twhip,\tbut\the\twas\tnot\tcracking\tit.\tHe\tmoved\tcloser, calling\tSultan\tsoftly\tin\ta\tlow\tvoice,\tas\tif\the\twas\ta\tpet\tdog\tor\ta\tcat. Chandran\tlooked\tabsolutely\tamazed,\tand\tstepped\tback.\tArun\tBabu\tlowered\this\thands.\tThe\tofficer from\tthe\tForest\tDepartment\tgaped,\tvery\tmuch\tlike\tLalmohan\tBabu.\tThere\twere\televen\tmen\tpresent\tin the\tforest\tto\twitness\twhat\tfollowed\tin\tthe\tnext\tfew\tminutes.\tWith\tincredible\ttenderness\tand\tdexterity, Sultan\u2019s\t old\t trainer\t calmed\t him\t down,\t put\t the\t chain\t around\t his\t neck\t and\t then\t walked\t him\t over\t to wher e\t the\t tr uck\t sto o d\t with\t his\t cag e.\t The\t men\t waiting \t o utside\t quickly\t o pened\t its\t do o r \t and\t placed\t a hig h\t sto o l\t befo r e\t it.\t Mr \t Kar andikar \t cr acked\t his\t whip\t just\t o nce\t and\t said,\t \u2018Up!\u2019\t Witho ut\t fur ther \t ado , Sultan\tran,\tjumped\ton\tthe\tstool\tand\tinto\tthe\tcage.\tThe\tmen\tlocked\tthe\tdoor\tinstantly. We\thad\tfollowed\tMr\tKarandikar\tand\twere\tstanding\tat\ta\tdistance.\tHe\tturned\tto\tface\tus\tas\tsoon\tas\tthe tiger\twas\tsafely\tback\tin\this\tcage.\tThen\the\tgave\tus\ta\tsalute,\tand\tmade\this\tway\tto\ta\ttaxi\twaiting\tnear\tthe other\tcars.\tWithout\ta\tword\tor\ta\tglance\tat\tanyone\telse,\the\tgot\tinto\tit\tand\tdrove\toff. \u2018Brilliant!\u2019\texclaimed\tArun\tChowdhury.\tTurning\tto\tFeluda,\the\tadded,\t\u2018Thanks.\u2019","Eleven All\tof\tus\treturned\tto\tKailash.\tWith\tArun\tBabu\u2019s\tpermission,\tFeluda\trang\tsomeone,\tthough\tI\tcouldn\u2019t tell\t who\t it\t was.\t Then\t he\t joined\t us\t in\t the\t drawing\t room.\t Neelima\t Devi\t sent\t us\t tea.\t Pritin\t Babu\t was taking\t her\t and\t Bibi\t back\t to\t Calcutta\t the\t very\t next\t day,\t we\t were\t told.\t On\t hearing\t about\t Sultan\u2019s capture,\tAkhil\tChakravarty\tsaid,\t\u2018Oh,\tI\twish\tI\thad\tgone\twith\tyou!\u2019 \u2018I\t think\t tomorrow\t I\u2019ll\t go\t back,\t too,\u2019\t said\t Arun\t Babu,\t \u2018unless\t you\t need\t me\t here\t for\t your investigation.\u2019 \u2018No,\t that\t won\u2019t\t be\t necessary.\t I\u2019ve\t finished\t my\t investigation\t and\t even\t arranged\t to\t fulfil\t your father \u2019s\tlast\twish.\u2019 Arun\tBabu\tgave\tFeluda\ta\tstartled\tlook\tover\tthe\trim\tof\this\tcup.\t\u2018You\tmean\tyou\tknow\twhere\tBiren is?\u2019\the\tasked,\tvery\tsurprised.\t\u2018Yes.\tYour\tfather\twas\tright.\u2019 \u2018Meaning?\u2019 \u2018Biren\tis\there.\u2019 \u2018In\tHazaribagh?\u2019 \u2018In\tHazaribagh.\u2019 \u2018I\t find\t that\t .\t .\t .\t amazing!\u2019\t Arun\t Babu\t said,\t his\t tone\t implying\t that\t he\t also\t found\t it\t impossible\t to believe. \u2018Yes,\t that\u2019s\t understandable,\u2019\t Feluda\t said.\t \u2018But\t isn\u2019t\t that\t something\t you\t yourself\t had\t started\t to believe?\u2019 Arun\tBabu\tput\this\tcup\tdown\ton\tthe\ttable\tand\tstared\tdirectly\tat\tFeluda. \u2018Not\tonly\tthat,\u2019\tFeluda\twent\ton\tcalmly,\t\u2018you\twere\tafraid\tthat\tyour\tfather\tmight\tmake\ta\tnew\twill\tand leave\tyou\tout\tof\tit,\tgiving\tyour\tshare\tto\tBiren.\u2019 No\tone\tspoke\tfor\ta\tfew\tseconds.\tThe\tatmosphere\tin\tthe\troom\tsuddenly\tbecame\tcharged.\tLalmohan Babu,\twho\twas\tsitting\tnext\tto\tme,\tgrabbed\ta\tcushion\tand\tclutched\tit\ttightly.\tPritin\tBabu\tsat\tin\ta\tchair, supporting\this\thead\twith\tone\thand.\tArun\tChowdhury\tslowly\trose\tto\this\tfeet.\tHis\teyes\thad\tturned\tred and\ta\tvein\tthrobbed\tat\this\ttemple. \u2018Listen,\t Mr\t Mitter,\u2019\t he\t roared,\t \u2018you\t may\t be\t a\t famous\t detective,\t but\t I\t am\t not\t going\t to\t let\t you\t sit there\tand\tthrow\ttotally\tbaseless\taccusations\tat\tme.\tJagat\tSingh! His\tbearer\tslipped\tinto\tthe\troom\tthrough\tan\topen\tdoor. \u2018Stop!\t If\t you\t take\t another\t step,\t I\t will\t shoot\t you,\u2019\t Feluda\t threatened\t coldly,\t holding\t his\t revolver. \u2018Jag at\t Sing h,\t it\t was\t yo u\t who \t sto le\t into \t o ur \t r o o m,\t wasn\u2019t\t it?\t I\t manag ed\t to \t take\t o ff\t a\t fair \t amo unt\t o f your\thair.\tAnd\tI\tknow\twho\tsent\tyou\tthere,\twith\twhat\tpurpose.\u2019 Jagat\tSingh\tfroze.\tArun\tBabu\tsat\tdown\tagain,\this\twhole\tbody\tshaking\twith\trage. \u2018Wh-what\tare\tyou\ttrying\tto\tsay?\u2019\the\tdemanded.","\u2018Listen\t very\t carefully.\t You\t knew\t your\t father\t was\t thinking\t of\t changing\t his\t will.\t You\t didn\u2019t\t want him\tto\tfind\tand\tdestroy\tthe\told\tone.\tSo\tyou\thid\this\tkey.\tBibi\tsaw\thim\tlooking\tfor\tit,\tand\the\teven\ttold her\twhat\the\twas\tlooking\tfor:\t\u201ca\tpier\t.\t.\t.\tthat\twhich\topens\tand\tthat\twhich\tshuts\u201d.\tBy\ta\t\u201cpier\u201d\the\tmeant\ta \u201cquay\u201d.\tBearing\tin\tmind\tthat\the\tliked\tto\tplay\twith\tthe\tsound\tof\twords,\tI\trealized\tthat\tthe\t\u201cquay\u201d\twas r eally\t a\t \u201ckey\u201d,\t so mething \t which\t co uld\t be\t used\t to \t o pen\t and\t shut\t an\t o bject.\t Pr esumably,\t the\t will\t was kept\tin\ta\tlocked\tdrawer.\tBut\teven\tafter\tstealing\tthe\tkey,\tyou\tweren\u2019t\tsatisfied,\twere\tyou?\tSo,\tthat\tday in\t Rajrappa,\t you\t seized\t your\t chance\t and\t played\t your\t trump\t card.\t You\t knew\t it\t would\t come\t as\t an enormous\tshock\tto\tyour\tfather,\twhich\tmight\twell\tbe\tenough\tto\tkill\thim.\tIf\tthat\thappened,\tyou\twould no\tlonger\thave\tanything\tto\tworry\tabout.\u2019 \u2018You\tare\tmad.\tYou\u2019re\tjust\traving.\tYou\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhat\tyou\u2019re\tsaying,\tMr\tMitter.\u2019 \u2018I\t do,\t I\t can\t assure\t you;\t and\t I\t can\t produce\t witnesses.\t There\t are\t three\t of\t them,\t although\t none\t of them\t mig ht\t wish\t to \t admit\t what\t they\t have\t seen\t and\t hear d.\t Yo ur \t o wn\t br o ther,\t Akhil\t Chakr avar ty\t and Shankarlal\t.\t.\t.\tthey\tall\tknow.\u2019 \u2018Well\t then,\t Mr \t Mitter,\t if\t yo ur \t witnesses\t wo n\u2019t\t talk,\t I\t think\t yo u\t ar e\t wasting \t yo ur \t time,\t do n\u2019t\t yo u? How\tare\tyou\tgoing\tto\tprove\tyour\tcase?\u2019 \u2018Very\tsimply.\tThere\tis\ta\tfourth\twitness\twho\twill\tnot\thesitate\tat\tall\tin\trevealing\tthe\ttruth.\u2019 Suddenly,\t the\t room\t was\t filled\t with\t strange\t noises.\t Where\t were\t they\t coming\t from?\t There\t were birds\tcalling\tfrom\tsomewhere,\tand\ta\twaterfall\tgushed\tin\tthe\tbackground. Feluda\tquietly\tplaced\ta\tsmall\tblack\tobject\ton\ta\ttable.\tIt\twas\tPritin\tChowdhury\u2019s\ttape\trecorder. \u2018What\t yo ur \t br o ther \t accidentally\t saw\t and\t hear d\t that\t day\t made\t him\t dr o p\t his\t r eco r der \t near \t a\t bush. His\twife\tsaw\tit\tand\tpicked\tit\tup.\tThere\tis\tmuch\tmore\ton\tthat\ttape\tbesides\tthe\tchirping\tof\tbirds.\u2019 Arun\tBabu\tswallowed.\tHis\theightened\tcolour\thad\tstarted\tto\trecede.\tIn\tjust\ta\tfew\tminutes,\the\tturned quite\t pale.\t Feluda\t kept\t his\t revolver\t raised\t and\t pointed\t at\t him.\t The\t tape\t recorder\t continued\t to\t run. Now\tthere\twere\tvoices,\trising\tover\tthe\tsound\tof\tthe\twater. \u2018Baba,\twhat\tmakes\tyou\tthink\tBiren\thas\tcome\tback?\u2019\tasked\tArun\tBabu\u2019s\tvoice. \u2018If\tan\told\tman\tlikes\tto\tbelieve\this\tmissing\tson\thas\treturned,\twhy\tshould\tthat\tbother\tyou?\u2019\tMahesh Chowdhury\tasked. \u2018You\tmust\tforget\tBiren.\tHe\twill\tnever\tcome\tback.\tI\tknow\tthat.\tIt\tsimply\tisn\u2019t\tpossible.\u2019 \u2018How\tcan\tyou\tsay\tthat?\tWho\tare\tyou\tto\ttell\tme\twhat\tto\tbelieve?\tYou\thave\tno\tright\u2014\u2019 \u2018I\thave\tevery\tright.\tI\tdon\u2019t\twant\tyou\tto\tdo\tsomething\twrong\tand\tunfair,\tjust\tbecause\tof\tyour\tstupid belief.\u2019 \u2018What\tis\twrong\tand\tunfair?\u2019 \u2018I\twill\tnot\tlet\tyou\tdeprive\tme\tof\twhat\tis\trightfully\tmine!\u2019 \u2018What\tare\tyou\ttaking\tabout?\u2019 \u2018You\t know\t very\t well.\t You\t changed\t your\t will\t once,\t thinking\t Biren\t was\t not\t going\t to\t come\t back. Now\tyou\u2019re\tplanning\tto\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018What\t I\t am\t planning\t is\t my\t business.\t I\t was\t going\t to\t change\t my\t will,\t in\t any\t case,\u2019\t Mahesh Chowdhury\thad\traised\this\tvoice,\tsounding\tangry,\tas\tthough\this\told\tviolent\ttemper\twas\tabout\tto\tburst through.\t\u2018How\tcan\tyou\texpect\tto\tbe\tmentioned\tin\tmy\twill\tat\tall?\u2019\the\twent\ton.\t\u2018You\tare\tdishonest,\tyou are\ta\tgambler,\tyou\tare\ta\tthief!\tYou\ttook\tDorabjee\u2019s\tstamp\talbum\tfrom\tmy\tsafe\u2014\u2019","Arun\tBabu\u2019s\tvoice\tcut\thim\tshort,\t\u2018And\twhat\tabout\tyou?\tIf\tI\tam\ta\tthief,\twhat\tare\tyou?\tYou\tthink\tI don\u2019t\t know\t about\t Deendayal?\t Your\t screaming\t and\t shouting\t woke\t me\t that\t night.\t I\t saw\t everything through\ta\tchink\tin\tthe\tcurtain.\tI\u2019ve\tkept\tmy\tmouth\tshut\tfor\tthirty-five\tyears,\tbut\tI\tknow\texactly\twhat happened.\t You\t hit\t Deendayal\t on\t the\t head\t with\t a\t heavy\t brass\t statue\t of\t Buddha.\t Can\t you\t deny\t that? Deendayal\tdied.\tThen\tyou\tgot\tNoor\tMuhammad\tand\tyour\tdriver\tto\ttake\this\tbody\t.\t.\t.\u2019 He\tbroke\toff.\tSomething\theavy\tfell\twith\ta\tthud,\tand\tthen\tthere\twas\tnothing\texcept\tthe\tbirds\tand\tthe waterfall.\tFeluda\tswitched\tthe\trecorder\toff\tand\treturned\tit\tto\tPritin\tBabu. There\t was\t absolute\t silence\t in\t the\t room.\t Everyone\t was\t looking\t tense,\t with\t the\t only\t exception\t of Feluda.\t He\t put\t his\t revolver\t back\t in\t his\t pocket.\t \u2018What\t your\t father\t did\t was\t utterly\t wrong,\u2019\t he\t said. \u2018There\tcan\tbe\tno\tdoubt\tabout\tthat.\tBut\the\trealized\tit,\tand\tfor\tthirty-five\tyears\the\tsuffered\tin\tsilence, trying\t to\t make\t amends\t in\t whatever\t way\t he\t could.\t Still\t he\t didn\u2019t\t find\t any\t peace.\t From\t the\t day Deendayal\tdied,\tMahesh\tChowdhury\tbegan\tto\tthink\the\twas\tcursed\tand\tone\tday\the\twould\tbe\tpunished for\this\tsins.\tWhat\the\tdid\tnot\tknow\twas\tthat\tthe\tfinal\tblow\twould\tcome\tfrom\this\town\tson.\u2019 Arun\tBabu\tsat\tvery\tstill\tstaring\tat\tthe\tfloor.\tWhen\the\tspoke\this\tvoice\tsounded\tfaint,\tas\tthough\the was\tspeaking\tfrom\ta\tlong\tway\taway. \u2018There\twas\ta\tdog,\u2019\the\tsaid\tslowly.\t\u2018An\tIrish\tsetter.\tBaba\twas\tvery\tfond\tof\tit.\tFor\tsome\treason,\tthe dog\tdid\tnot\tlike\tDeendayal.\tOne\tday,\tit\ttried\tto\tbite\thim,\tso\tDeendayal\tgot\tvery\tcross\tand\thit\tit\twith\ta heavy\tstick.\tThe\tdog\twas\tinjured.\tThat\tnight,\tBaba\treturned\tquite\tlate\tfrom\ta\tparty\tand\tfound\tthat\this dog\twas\tnot\twaiting\tfor\thim\tin\this\troom,\tas\tit\tdid\tevery\tday.\tNoor\tMohammad\thad\tto\ttell\thim\twhat had\thappened.\tBaba\tcalled\tDeendayal,\tand\tin\ta\tfit\tof\trage\t.\t.\t.\twhen\the\tlost\this\ttemper,\tyou\tsee,\tBaba used\tto\tbecome\ta\tdifferent\tman\taltogether.\u2019 We\trose\twith\tFeluda\tto\ttake\tour\tleave.\tAkhil\tChakravarty\talso\tgot\tto\this\tfeet. \u2018Could\tyou\tcome\twith\tus\tfor\ta\tminute?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\thim.\t\u2018There\u2019s\tsomething\tI\u2019d\tlike\tyou\tto\tdo.\tIt won\u2019t\ttake\tlong.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell,\u2019\tAkhil\tChakravarty\treplied.\t\u2018With\tMahesh\tgone,\tthere\u2019s\tnothing\tleft\tfor\tme\tto\tdo\there, anyway.\tI\thave\tall\tthe\ttime\tin\tthe\tworld.\u2019","Twelve Akhil\tChakravarty\tbegan\ttalking\tto\tus\tin\tthe\tcar.\t\u2018I\tdid\tgo\toff\tin\ta\tdifferent\tdirection,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018but\tI didn\u2019t\tgo\tfar.\tIn\tfact,\tI\tcould\thear\tevery\tword\tfrom\twhere\tI\tstood\tnear\tthe\trock\twith\tmy\tinitials\ton\tit.\tI used\tto\task\tMahesh\twhy\the\tgrew\tpreoccupied\tat\ttimes\tand\tsank\tinto\tsilence.\tHe\tused\tto\tlaugh\tand\ttell me\tto\tlook\tat\this\thoroscope\tto\tfind\tout.\tIt\tis\tamazing,\tisn\u2019t\tit,\tthat\tsuch\tan\timportant\tevent\tin\this\tlife remained\ta\tsecret,\teven\tfrom\tme?\tPerhaps\tit\u2019s\tmy\town\tfault,\tI\tfailed\tto\tstudy\this\tstars\tproperly.\u2019 As\t our\t car\t drew\t up\t outside\t our\t gate,\t I\t realized\t who\t Feluda\t had\t called\t from\t Kailash.\t Shankarlal Misra\twas\twaiting\tfor\tus. \u2018Mission\tsuccessful?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\thim,\tgetting\tout\tof\tthe\tcar.\t\u2018Yes,\u2019\tMr\tMisra\treplied.\t\u2018Biren\thas come\tto\tmeet\tyou.\u2019 We\twalked\tinto\tthe\tliving\troom\tto\tfind\tthe\tsame\tsadhu\tfrom\tRajrappa\tsitting\ton\ta\tsofa.\tHe\trose\tas he\tsaw\tus\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Namaskar.\u2019\tClad\tin\tlong\tsaffron\trobes,\the\twas\ttall\tand\twell\tbuilt,\this\tthick\tmatted hair\talmost\treaching\this\twaist.\tAn\tequally\tthick\tbeard\tcovered\tmost\tof\this\tface. \u2018He\tagreed\tto\tcome\tonly\twhen\tI\ttold\thim\tabout\this\tfather \u2019s\tlast\twish,\u2019\tMr\tMisra\tsaid.\t\u2018He\thas\tgot nothing\tagainst\this\tfather.\u2019 \u2018No,\u2019\tagreed\tBiren,\t\u2018but\tthen,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tfeel\tany\tlove\tor\tattachment\tfor\thim,\teither.\tShankar\ttried\tvery hard\tto\tbring\tme\tback.\tHe\tthought\tif\tI\tsaw\tmy\tfather\tand\tother\tmembers\tof\tmy\tfamily,\teven\tfrom\ta distance,\tI\tmight\twish\tto\tcome\tback.\tThat\tis\tthe\treason\twhy\tI\twas\tin\tRajrappa\tthat\tday.\tBut\tI\trealized after\tseeing\tmy\tfamily\tthat\tthat\twas\tnot\tgoing\tto\tmake\tany\tdifference\tat\tall.\tI\thad\tceased\tto\tcare\tfor them.\tMy\tfather\twas\ta\tcomplex\tman,\tbut\the\twas\tthe\tonly\tone\twho\tseemed\tto\thave\tunderstood\tme.\tSo, in\tthe\tbeginning,\tI\tused\tto\twrite\tto\thim.\tBut\tlater\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018But\t those\t letters\t were\t not\t sent\t from\t abroad,\t were\t they?\t I\t don\u2019t\t think\t you\t ever\t left\t the\t country!\u2019 Feluda\tsaid\tcoolly. We\t gasped,\t but\t Biren\t Chowdhury\t simply\t stared\t at\t Feluda\t with\t an\t expressionless\t face.\t Then, unexpectedly,\t he\t smiled.\t \u2018Shankar\t had\t told\t me\t how\t clever\t you\t were.\t I\t was\t only\t testing\t you,\u2019\t he laughed. \u2018Very\twell.\tNow\tyou\tmay\ttake\toff\tyour\tdisguise,\u2019\tFeluda\tsuggested.\t\u2018It\tmay\tbe\tenough\tto\tfool\tthe whole\ttown\tof\tHazaribagh,\tbut\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tfool\tme.\u2019 Biren\tChowdhury\tcontinued\tto\tlaugh\tas\the\ttook\toff\this\twig\tand\this\tfalse\tbeard.\tI\tgave\tanother\tgasp as\t his\t face\t was\t r evealed.\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t clutched\t at\t my\t sleeve\t and\t whisper ed,\t \u2018Kan-kan-kan\u2014\u2019\t He had\t g o t\t the\t name\t wr o ng \t ag ain,\t but\t I\t was\t to o \t asto unded\t to \t co r r ect\t him.\t Mr \t Kar andikar \t lo o ked\t at\t us and\tnodded. Akhil\t Chakravarty\t broke\t the\t silence.\t \u2018What\t do\t you\t mean,\t Mr\t Mitter?\t Biren\t never\t went\t abroad? Well\tthen,\this\tletters\u2014?\u2019 \u2018It\tis\tpossible\tto\tsend\tletters\tfrom\tabroad,\tMr\tChakravarty,\tif\tone\thas\ta\tfriend\tlike\tyour\tson.\u2019","\u2018My\tson?\tWhat\u2019s\the\tgot\tto\tdo\twith\tanything?\u2019 \u2018Mr\t Mitter \u2019s\t right,\u2019\t Biren\t Chowdhury\u2014or\t should\t I\t call\t him\t Mr\t Karandikar?\u2014replied,\t \u2018Adheer was\t in\t Dusseldorf,\t wasn\u2019t\t he?\t I\t wrote\t to\t him\t and\t got\t him\t to\t send\t me\t several\t European\t postcards. Then\tI\tused\tto\twrite\tBaba\u2019s\tname\tand\taddress\ton\tthem,\tsometimes\tadding\ta\tline\tor\ttwo,\tput\tthem\tin envelo pes\t and\t send\t them\t back\t to \t Adheer.\t He\t wo uld\t then\t ar r ang e\t to \t have\t them\t po sted\t fr o m\t var io us parts\tof\tEurope.\tHe\ttravelled\ta\tlot\thimself.\tBut\twhen\the\treturned\tto\tIndia,\tnaturally\tI\thad\tto\tstop.\u2019 \u2018How\textraordinary!\tWhy\tdid\tyou\thave\tto\tbe\tso\tsecretive?\u2019 \u2018There\twas\ta\treason,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid.\t\u2018I\twould\tlike\tMr\tKarandikar\tto\tconfirm\tif\tmy\tguess\tis\tcorrect.\u2019 \u2018Yes?\u2019 \u2018Yo u\t wer e\t much\t impr essed\t and\t inspir ed\t by\t the\t life\t o f\t Co lo nel\t Sur esh\t Biswas,\t and\t yo u\t wanted\t to be\tlike\thim.\tI\tknew\tColonel\tBiswas\thad\tleft\thome\tas\ta\tyoung\tman\tand\tmade\this\tway\tto\tEngland\tand Brazil,\t but\t what\t I\t didn\u2019t\t know\t was\t that\t he\t was\t the\t first\t Bengali\t who\t had\t learnt\t to\t train\t tigers\t to perform\tin\ta\tcircus.\tI\tread\tabout\tthis\tlast\tnight\tin\ta\tbook\tcalled\tThe\tCircus\tin\tBengal.\tOne\tof\tthe\titems for\twhich\the\tbecame\tfamous\twas\tparting\tthe\ttiger \u2019s\tmouth\tand\tplacing\this\thead\tin\tit.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\topened\this\tmouth\tto\tspeak\tonce\tmore.\t\u2018Sh-sh-sh-sh\u2014\u2019\the\tbegan. \u2018What\tis\tit,\tLalmohan\tBabu?\tWould\tyou\tlike\tus\tto\tbe\tquiet?\u2019 \u2018N-n-no.\tSh-shame\ton\tme,\tFelu\tBabu,\tshame\ton\tme!\tI\tread\tthat\tbook\tbefore\tyou,\tand\tyet\tI\tfailed\tto pick\tthat\tup.\tI\tmust\tbe\tcrazy,\tI\tmust\tbe\tblind,\tI\tmust\tbe\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018All\tright,\tall\tright,\tyou\tcan\tblame\tyourself\tlater.\tNow\tplease\tlet\tme\tfinish.\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t simmered\t down.\t Feluda\t went\t on,\t \u2018Biren\t Chowdhury\t wanted\t to\t work\t with\t wild animals,\tlike\this\thero.\tBut\tan\teducated\tyoung\tman\tfrom\ta\twell-known\tfamily\tis\tnot\texpected\tto\tjoin\ta circus\tas\ta\ttrainer\tof\ttigers,\tis\the?\tMahesh\tChowdhury\tmight\thave\tbeen\tdifferent\tfrom\tmost\tmen,\tbut even\the\twould\tnot\thave\tapproved.\tBiren\tknew\tthat,\tand\tso\the\tdecided\tto\tindulge\tin\ta\tlittle\tdeception. Am\tI\tright?\u2019 \u2018Absolutely,\u2019\tBiren\tChowdhury\treplied. \u2018What\tis\tmost\tastonishing\tis\tthat\tMahesh\tChowdhury\tcould\trecognize\this\tson\teven\tafter\tso\tmany year s\t when\t he\t went\t to \t the\t cir cus\t o n\t the\t fir st\t day.\t Ar un\t Babu\t failed\t to \t do \t that,\t altho ug h\t he\t saw\t yo u from\tonly\ta\tfew\tfeet\taway.\tYou\thad\tto\thave\tplastic\tsurgery\tdone\ton\tyour\tnose,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou,\twhen\tyou were\t attacked\t by\t a\t tiger?\t That\u2019s\t why\t you\t even\t look\t different\t from\t the\t old\t photo\t in\t your\t father \u2019s house.\u2019 \u2018Ah,\t that\t explains\t it!\u2019\t Akhil\t Chakr avar ty\t exclaimed.\t \u2018I\t did\t wo nder \t why\t ever yo ne\t was\t calling \t him Biren,\tand\tyet\tI\tcould\tnot\trecognize\thim\tat\tall.\u2019 \u2018Anyway,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid,\t\u2018I\tmust\tnow\ttell\tyou\twhy\tI\treally\twanted\tyou\tto\tcome\there.\u2019 He\ttook\tout\tthe\tphoto\tof\tMuktananda\tfrom\this\tpocket.\tThen\the\tturned\tto\tBiren\tChowdhury\tagain. \u2018You\t are\t probably\t unaware\t that\t your\t father\t made\t a\t new\t will\t when\t he\t became\t convinced\t that\t you would\t never\t return.\t He\t left\t your\t name\t out\t of\t it.\t However,\t he\t didn\u2019t\t want\t you\t to\t be\t deprived altogether.\tSo\the\tleft\tyou\tthis\tphotograph.\u2019 Feluda\t turned\t the\t photo\t over\t and\t took\t it\t out\t of\t its\t frame.\t A\t small\t folded\t cellophane\t envelope slipped\tout.\tThere\twere\ta\tfew\ttiny\tsquare,\tcolourful\tpieces\tof\tpaper\tin\tit. \u2018There\tare\tnine\trare\tand\tvaluable\tstamps\there,\twhich\tcome\tfrom\tthree\tdifferent\tcontinents,\u2019\tFeluda explained.\t \u2018Mr \t Cho wdhur y\t was\t afr aid\t his\t album\t mig ht\t be\t sto len,\t so \t he\t r emo ved\t the\t mo st\t pr ecio us","stamps\t and\t hid\t them\t here.\t According\t to\t the\t prices\t mentioned\t in\t the\t Gibbons\t catalogue\t twenty-five years\tago,\tthe\ttotal\tvalue\tof\tthese\twas\ttwo\tthousand\tpounds.\u2019 \u2018How\tdo\tyou\tknow\tthat?\u2019 \u2018There\twas\ta\tmessage\tin\tyour\tfather \u2019s\tdiary.\tHe\treferred\tto\tthese\tnine\tstamps\tas\tthe\t\u201cnine\tjewels\u201d, and\tGibbons\tas\t\u201cmonkeys\u201d.\tThen\the\tsaid\tthey\twere\tworth\t\u201ctwo\tthousand\tShylock\u2019s\tdemands\u201d.\tTapesh reminded\tme\tthat\tShylock\thad\tdemanded\ta\tpound\tof\tflesh.\tThat\u2019s\thow\tI\tgot\tthe\tword\t\u201cpounds\u201d.\tBut now,\tI\tthink,\tthese\tjewels\twould\tfetch\ta\tlot\tmore.\u2019 Biren\t Chowdhury\t took\t the\t envelope\t from\t Feluda\t and\t stared\t at\t it.\t Then\t he\t said,\t \u2018I\t am\t only\t a ringmaster,\t Mr\t Mitter.\t I\t spend\t my\t life\t like\t a\t nomad,\t travelling\t all\t the\t time.\t What\t shall\t I\t do\t with so mething \t like\t this?\t Wher e\t shall\t I\t keep\t it?\t It\t will\t be\t such\t a\t liability!\t Mr \t Mitter,\t what\t am\t I\t g o ing \t to do?\u2019 \u2018I\t can\t understand\t your\t problem,\u2019\t Feluda\t replied.\t \u2018Tell\t you\t what,\t why\t don\u2019t\t you\t leave\t them\t with me?\tI\tknow\ta\tfew\tstamp\tdealers\tin\tCalcutta.\tI\twill\tspeak\tto\tthem\tand\tsee\tthat\tyou\tget\tthe\tbest\tpossible price.\tThen\tI\twill\tsend\tyou\tthe\tmoney.\tIs\tthat\tall\tright?\tCould\tyou\ttrust\tme,\tdo\tyou\tthink?\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tabsolutely.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tBut\tI\tshall\tneed\tto\thave\tyour\taddress.\u2019 \u2018The\t Great\t Majestic\t Circus,\u2019\t Biren\t Chowdhury\t replied.\t \u2018Kutti\t has\t realized\t he\t cannot\t do\t without me.\tI\tam\tgoing\tto\tbe\twith\tthem\tfor\tsome\ttime.\tIn\tfact,\tSultan\tand\tI\twill\tbe\tperforming\ttonight.\tPlease do\tcome\tand\twatch\tus,\tall\tof\tyou.\u2019 We\twent\tto\tfind\tBiren\tKarandikar\tafter\tthe\tshow\tthat\tevening\tto\tthank\thim\tand\tto\tsay\tgoodbye.\tHe and\t his\t tiger\t had\t enthralled\t the\t audience\t by\t working\t together\t with\t perfect\t understanding\t and co o r dinatio n.\t T he\t idea\t o f\t seeing \t him\t backstag e\t was\t Lalmo han\t Babu\u2019s.\t It\t so o n\t became\t clear \t why\t he was\tso\tkeen. \u2018I\tam\tgoing\tto\twrite\ta\tnew\tnovel,\u2019\the\ttold\thim.\t\u2018The\tmain\taction\twill\ttake\tplace\tin\ta\tcircus\tand\tthe r ing master \t will\t have\t a\t ver y\t impo r tant\t r o le.\t May\t I\t please\t use\t the\t name\t \u201cKar andikar \u201d\t in\t my\t no vel?\t I quite\tlike\tit.\u2019 \u2018Of\t co ur se,\u2019\t Bir en\t Cho wdhur y\t laug hed.\t \u2018It\t is\t no t\t my\t r eal\t name,\t so \t yo u\t may\t use\t it\t wher ever \t yo u want!\u2019 We\tthanked\thim\tand\tcame\taway. \u2018So\tyou\tchanged\tyour\tmind\tabout\tthe\tinjection?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tLalmohan\tBabu\tas\twe\temerged\tout of\tthe\tbig\ttent. \u2018Certainly\tnot.\tThe\ttiger\twill\tnow\tbe\tgiven\tan\tinjection.\tIts\tsecond\ttrainer\tis\tgoing\tto\tbe\tthe\tvillain. He\u2019ll\tgive\tthe\tinjection\tto\tmake\tthe\ttiger\tdrowsy,\tso\tit\tdoesn\u2019t\tperform\twell\tand\tthe\tringmaster\tgets the\tblame.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tWhat\tabout\tthe\ttrapeze?\u2019 \u2018The\ttrapeze?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tgave\ta\tderisive\tsnort.\t\u2018The\ttrapeze\tis\tnothing.\tWho\twants\tit\tnow?\u2019","Author\u2019s\tNote I\t have\t been\t an\t avid\t reader\t of\t crime\t fiction\t for\t a\t very\t long\t time.\t I\t read\t all\t the\t Sherlock\t Holmes stories\twhile\tstill\tat\tschool.\tWhen\tI\trevived\tthe\tchildren\u2019s\tmagazine\tSandesh\twhich\t my\t grandfather launched\tseventy-five\tyears\tago,\tI\tstarted\twriting\tstories\tfor\tit.\tThe\tfirst\tFeluda\tstory\u2014a\tlong-short \u2014appeared\tin\t1965.\tFelu\tis\tthe\tnickname\tof\tPradosh\tMitter,\tprivate\tinvestigator.\tThe\tstory\twas\ttold in\tthe\tfirst\tperson\tby\tFelu\u2019s\tWaston\u2014his\tfourteen-year-old\tcousin\tTapesh.\tThe\tsuffix\t\u2018da\u2019\t(short\tfor \u2018dada\u2019)\tmeans\tan\telder\tbrother. Although\tthe\tFeluda\tstories\twere\twritten\tfor\tthe\tlargely\tteenaged\treaders\tof\tSandesh,\tI\tfound\tthey were\tbeing\tread\tby\ttheir\tparents\tas\twell.\tSoon\tlonger\tstories\tfollowed\u2014novelettes\u2014taking\tplace\tin\ta variety\tof\tpicturesque\tsettings.\tA\tthird\tcharacter\twas\tintroduced\tearly\ton:\tLalmohan\tGanguli,\twriter of\tcheap,\tpopular\tthrillers.\tHe\tserves\tas\ta\tfoil\tto\tFelu\tand\tprovides\tdollops\tof\thumour. When\tI\twrote\tmy\tfirst\tFeluda\tstory,\tI\tscarcely\timagined\the\twould\tprove\tso\tpopular\tthat\tI\twould\tbe forced\t to\t write\t a\t Feluda\t novel\t every\t year.\t To\t write\t a\t whodunit\t while\t keeping\t in\t mind\t a\t young readership\t is\t not\t an\t easy\t task,\t because\t the\t stories\t have\t to\t be\t kept\t \u2018clean\u2019.\t No\t illicit\t love,\t no\t crime passionel,\tand\tonly\ta\tmodicum\tof\tviolence.\tI\thope\tadult\treaders\twill\tbear\tthis\tin\tmind\twhen\treading these\tstories. Calcutta February\t1988 Satyajit\tRay","","THE\tBEGINNING Let\tthe\tconversation\tbegin... Follow\tthe\tPenguin\tTwitter.com@PenguinIndia Keep\tup-to-date\twith\tall\tour\tstories\tYoutube.com\/PenguinIndia Like\t\u2018Penguin\tBooks\u2019\ton\tFacebook.com\/PenguinIndia Find\tout\tmore\tabout\tthe\tauthor\tand discover\tmore\tstories\tlike\tthis\tat\tPenguinbooksindia.com"]
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