Chapter 4

Note – DO NOT READ if you have not read the previous chapter(s)

Inspector Mahadev abruptly stopped in the corridor and stood speechless. Doctor Nageshwar was puzzled at the other end as there was silence for couple of seconds.

“Sounds like I have surprised you enough… Are you still there?”

Mahadev answered, “Yes.. I’m.. Are you sure that they are artificial eyes?”

“Yup.. I’m suspecting a crazy experiment done on those chimps”

“I…. I would like to know more on this… Shall we meet now?”

“Sure.. You are welcome…. I can share you more interesting observations..”

“Ok doctor.. I will be there as soon as I can”

Inspector Mahadev walked to the parking area and jumped into his SUV. He instructed his driver on the destination.

While on the way, Mahadev’s mind was running through the conversation with Doctor Nageshwar.

‘Why should someone plant artificial eyes on the chimps?’

‘Who is behind this act?’

‘What could be their motive?’

Just then, Mahadev’s mobile phone rang. He looked at the display and it was sub-inspector Venugopal. Mahadev put his hands-free on and attended the call.

“Yes Venu…”

“Sir… Got some information on the van that we seized”

“Tell me”

“A guy named Habibullah, is owning a car service center in Pudupet area. He saw the pictures of the van in the newspaper today and had called the nearest police station. As per his statement, the van was brought to him for service last week. The van was in his service center a full day for various repairs and service.”

“Hmm.. How was the person able to identify that it was the same van? There can be many vans of the same colour and model across the city”

“That’s a good question sir… And he got an answer.. As we speak, can you check your WhatsApp? I just shared you the picture of the van shared in the newspapers”

“Hold on”

Mahadev opened the WhatsApp and saw an unread message from Venugopal. It was an image was of the seized van.

Mahadev looked at it and went back to the call.. “I have the image..”

“Fine sir… The image shows the backside of the van. If you could zoom it, you would be able to see a quote written on it…”

“Ok.. Give me a second”

Mahadev zoomed the image and giggled at it..

“Got that Venu… That was a funny typo in the quote. Instead of ‘Use Dipper at night’ it was written as ‘Use Diaper at night’ “

“Exactly… Habibullah had noticed this one while the van was in his service center. “

“Ok.. Did he have any information on the owner of the van?”

“He didn’t have the name of the owner, but of the driver of the van. The guy was James. He is both a mechanic and a part time driver with a corporate company”

“Did he say which company?”

“No sir… He didn’t know that”

“Venu!!!”

“Sir?”

“Initially I thought that this would be a tough case to crack. Now we got some hopeful clues. Right now, I’m on the way to veterinary hospital to meet doctor Nageshwar who did the postmortem of the chimps. Can you come to veterinary hospital along with Habibullah?”

“Sure sir..”

“Habibullah is our trump card. We have to depend on him for some important clues in this case.”

“That’s right… I will meet you there shortly in the hospital”

“Bye…”

The call was disconnected.

Location – Veterinary Hospital

Mahadev was seated in front of Doctor Nageshwar in his private room. There was a bunch of reports on the table.

Nageshwar said, “Inspector!!! The postmortem report of both the chimps are alike. The third one is still unconscious and in critical condition.”

“Is there any chance of saving it?”

“Chances are too feeble.  Except its heart, the rest of the parts are going down one by one. We are trying our best to save. One way or the other, you will get to know by today evening.”

“I wanted to hear from you on the artificial eyes that were implanted on the chimps. Is this possible in real world?”

“Let me explain. In the world of science, nothing is impossible. As new technologies emerge, possibilities are enormous. There are new research, discoveries and innovations happening every hour around the world. When it comes to the drugs, any new drug, before it comes to market, is tested on mammals like rats, rabbits or chimps.  This is not an unusual procedure. However, it has to go through an approval process from the World Health Organization. Any research or procedure that does not have approvals is considered illegal. I suspect that the case we are dealing now with the chimps may be of this kind too. I believe that it could the reason why the van and chimps were abandoned in the forest.”

Mahadev who was keenly listening to Nageshwar asked, “Can I ask you something?”’

“Sure”

“Will I be able to have a look at the prosthetic eyes implanted to the chimps?”

“Oh ya…”

Nageshwar rose from his chair and walked to the refrigerator at the corner of the room. He took a glass jar that had a solution and the prosthetic eyes were floating in it.

TO BE CONTINUED