SYED Rezaul Karim
Kolkata, West Bengal
Part Eight:
Another Chapter of the Fugitive
One of the most significant inventions of the 20th century is the computer. However, this computer wasn’t built in a day; it developed gradually. The initial concept of the computer was introduced by French scientist Blaise Pascal, who created the first mechanical computer. Later, modern computers were built based on his designs and concepts, with Charles Babbage playing a pivotal role.
The word "computer" originates from the term "compute," which means "to calculate." The root of this word lies in Greek, where it literally means "one who computes." However, modern computers are not limited to calculations. They can process mathematical, logical, and decision-making tasks much faster and more accurately than humans, solving even the most complex and challenging problems. Initially, this technology faced opposition, but now everyone acknowledges its importance, which is undeniable and invaluable across all fields.
Alok Mitra was working on a computer and reflecting on these thoughts. In Gangasagar, nearly 10 to 12 lakh people had gathered. Many pilgrims, forgetting the auspicious moment for the holy dip, had bathed early and left. Alok Mitra had fed the fugitive’s photo into the computer to match it with the pictures of all the attendees. A task impossible for humans was completed by the computer within half an hour. The screen displayed six images. Although they appeared different at first glance, they were clearly pictures of the same person taken from different angles—a saffron-clad monk with matted hair and a water pot in hand. Could this be the fugitive? Alok Mitra felt suspicious.
Before investigating the monk’s activities and details, Alok thought of Inspector Jatin, the only person who had detailed knowledge about the fugitive. If Jatin could take one look at the screen, he would surely recognize the person. Thinking this, Alok called Inspector Jatin on his phone.
When the call connected, Inspector Jatin said,
“Yes, sir! Jatin speaking.”
“Where are you right now? Can you come to the control room?”
“Yes, sir! I’m nearby. I’ll be there shortly.”
Within ten minutes, Inspector Jatin arrived at the control room. He saluted Alok Mitra with a professional stance and stood before him. Alok gestured for him to sit in the adjacent chair. Then he enlarged the monk’s picture on the computer screen and asked,
“Take a look, Jatin Babu! Is this your fugitive?”
A sly smile appeared on Jatin’s face. In response, he said,
“Has the fugitive become immortal, sir?”
Alok Mitra replied,
“No, I mean, you’ve known him since childhood. You recognized the fugitive as Palash. Now that he’s grown up, see if you can still recognize him.”
Jatin leaned in closer to examine the monk’s head in the photo. Alok enlarged the image further for clarity. After carefully inspecting the picture, Jatin sighed and said,
“Yes, sir, this is the fugitive.”
“How can you tell?” Alok asked immediately.
Jatin replied,
“There’s a significant scar on the side of his head. You can see it faintly among his sparse hair.”
“Strange! And what caused that scar?” Alok asked with a tone of curiosity and disbelief.
“A group of thugs tried to kill him by hitting him on the head with a stick and throwing him into a river. And his uncle, Montu Das, orchestrated the attack.”
“What? Why?” Alok asked in shock.
“What else could it be, sir? Village politics, of course. His uncle killed his elder brother to seize his share of the family property. Although the police couldn’t solve the murder, Palash did. He figured out how his father was killed and by whom, with the help of his mentor Bhombolda. That’s why his uncle sentenced him to death. But, by God’s grace, Palash, or the fugitive, survived. However, the scar from that attack remains to this day...”
Part: Nine
Caught but a Fugitive Again
From the early morning of the day of the Ganga bath, the entire seaside area was bustling with activity. Even in the winter, pilgrims gathered for a holy dip in the sea, hoping for blessings. Everyone left their clothes with their companions and entered the water in minimal attire. Some people, holding onto the tail of a calf, tried to cross the river in the hope of fulfilling their desire. The police force kept a strict watch to prevent any untoward incident. Slowly, the sun rose in the eastern sky. As the day progressed, so did the crowds at the Ganga bath.
On the last day of the fair, sales usually increase. The vendors are aware of this. Buyers think that on the final day, traders will sell their goods at a cheaper price and return home, so there is a rush to shop. Understanding this, the traders keep their shops open. Satish Agarwala, a businessman, was no exception. He had instructed his employees to open the shop very early. As per the instructions, his employees had opened "Anjoli Gold Temple" at seven in the morning. Since the shop was located near the police control room, Satish felt confident that no theft or robbery would happen. This strong belief was in the owner's mind. There were several other gold shops near Anjoli, but in terms of quality, Anjoli's gold jewelry was highly regarded. This is why the crowd at the shop had been steadily increasing since morning. And as the crowd increased, so did the danger. To avoid this danger, Satish Agarwala had taken some precautionary measures at the entrance to reduce the crowd inside the shop. He had placed a few security guards outside the shop, ensuring that no unwanted people carrying dangerous weapons could easily enter. Additionally, CCTV cameras had been installed inside the shop so that if anything untoward happened, the culprits could be easily identified.
Around twelve noon, a couple arrived in front of Anjoli Gold Temple. The man was dressed in a suit and coat, with a matching tie hanging from his neck and shiny black shoes on his feet. The woman wore a matching expensive Benarasi saree and blouse, with sindoor on her forehead and jewelry all over her body. Whether the jewelry was real or imitation, it was hard to tell. From their appearance, they seemed to be husband and wife. As they approached the shop, the security guards stopped them. Satish Agarwala was sitting at the counter. As soon as he saw them, his eyes fixed on the couple. He didn't recognize the woman, he had never seen her before, but the man... as he thought about it, he suddenly remembered—could it be Kashi Babu?
Satishbabu had known Kasinath Basu for many years. He was a well-known customer at his shop, purchasing expensive gold, silver, and diamond jewelry from him, especially from his Gariahat store. However, he had not come to the shop for the past two years. Word on the street was that he had gone to Vellore for treatment of his throat. So, when Satishbabu saw him return to the shop after two years, he was naturally delighted. Immediately, he shouted—“Let them come in.”
The guards didn’t have time to check further. Kasinathbabu, accompanied by his wife, entered the shop and stood in front of Satish Agarwala. Smiling, he greeted him and said, “I came to the Ganga Sagar for a religious dip. Your sister-in-law is busy with her work. I came here to your presence. Now you fulfill her wish.”
"Of course, I will fulfill the wish," Satishbabu replied. "But before that, let’s have some coffee. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. This is the first time I’ve seen your wife. My respectful greetings to both of you. But your voice sounds a little different."
Hearing Satishbabu's remark, Kasinathbabu quickly composed himself. Explaining, he said, "Don't say that, Dada! The doctors in Kolkata told me I had cancer in my throat. The doctors in Vellore said it wasn’t cancer, just accumulated cold. When I heard that, my heart filled with joy. My voice might sound a bit off, but I’ve come through the danger."
"Good, very good," Satishbabu said. "So, what kind of jewelry should I bring out for your wife?"
"Bring out whatever you think is best. I won’t be bothered about anything today. If I die today, it will be two days in the next life. If my eyes close, I won’t be able to take any money or wealth with me."
Satishbabu’s employees began bringing out gold, silver, and diamond jewelry, opening boxes and displaying them for Satishbabu to show. Kasinathbabu carefully set aside the boxes of jewelry that he liked. Satisfied with his choices, he asked Satishbabu to bring out more jewelry in new designs. His heart swelled with joy. The jewelry amounted to about twenty-five lakh rupees—no small amount. In the past three days of the fair, he hadn’t sold that much jewelry. Now, one customer was buying it all. What could be more joyful than this?
Suddenly, Kasinathbabu said, “Enough, Satishbabu! No more.”
"Sister-in-law, the jewelry..."
(END)