THE JOY OF COLOURS: #MYFRIEND ALEXA - RED

 RED

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It was a day of jubilation for the CBI, and for the police force of the city. Notorious serial killer, Kalia, had finally been nabbed after an exhausting hunt.

Kalia, who had murdered eight men over a period of twelve years, had terrorized the entire state. No one knew where he would turn up and since his weapon was an axe, he always left behind a scene covered with lurid streaks of blood. The forensic team would have to wade through rivers of red before they could pick up anything that could serve as a clue. Kalia also seemed to have a warped sense of humour. On the wall above where the body was found, he would draw a crude smiley with the victim’s blood, a sight which made the investigators irate indeed.

“It is almost as if he is mocking us, isn’t it?” AJ Sinha, the chief investigator, remarked, his eyebrows raised in disgust.

“Yes, Sir, no doubt about that! He thinks he is above us,” his second-in-command, Bakshi responded, as he delved around the body, using tweezers to gently place little objects in a plastic bag. His gloves were already drenched with blood.

There were no fingerprints of the killer anywhere. He swooped down on his unsuspecting victim, butchered him, and disappeared into thin air. The victims were all men in their late thirties who had mediocre jobs and seemed happy to remain where they were, without striving for promotions or raises. They were family men who seemed content to live in a sea of complacency.

It was the eighth victim’s body that provided the investigators with their first clue, a chance fingerprint that got away from the murderer. That fingerprint was checked against their records and finally it led to a nondescript criminal who had been caught in a petty robbery. His name was Kalia, and after his first bout in jail, he had vowed that he would never be caught again. When the murders began, he was methodical enough never to leave his fingerprints anywhere, but he was also diabolical enough to want to make a mark, without implicating himself. Hence, the crude smileys in red!

The investigators knew that they had a watertight case. There was enough evidence to send Kalia to the gallows where he would be hanged until death.

Govind Ram, the lawyer, prided himself on his sense of justice. Every criminal deserved a chance to be heard in court, and when he was appointed Kalia’s advocate, he made up his mind to do the best job ever. If he succeeded in proving that Kalia was not in his right mind, it would be a feather in his cap. After all, this case was making headlines all over, and he wanted to be right there, in the public eye.

Kalia was sitting in his cell, staring at the grimy wall, when Govind Ram made his first visit. As the jailor rapped at the bars, Kalia turned his head, and looked at the two men. His eyes were expressionless, and the lawyer felt a chill go down his spine.

“Hey, you, this lawyer has come to see you!” the jailor rasped.

Kalia’s eyes flickered for a moment, and he laughed, a strange, nasal laugh.

“I don’t need any lawyer. I can fight my own battles.”

“You will go to the gallows if you fight your own battles,” retorted Govind Ram. The nasal laugh came again and Kalia sized the other man up. Finally, he nodded, pointing to a worn-out chair in front of him.

Two hours later, they had finished their discussion and the lawyer felt that he had the upper hand. He had managed to convince Kalia that he would be hanged unless he had the proper person to argue the case for him. Kalia was chastened and he was willing to do anything to escape the gallows. Sinha and Bakshi approached Govind Ram, trying to convince him of how dangerous the prisoner was, but the lawyer took no heed of their warnings. This was a case that would bring him much publicity after which the sky would be the limit.

The sessions began and Govind Ram coached Kalia on what he was to do and say in court. Kalia proved to be a willing pupil and often, he astonished the lawyer with how well he followed his orders.

“Can I confess and say that I am sorry for my actions? Will they let me go then?” he suddenly asked one day.

The lawyer shook his head. “Your hands are stained with red. Eight times over, and each time an innocent has died. There is no way any jury will let you off, if they feel that you were sane when you committed the murders.”

Kalia listened gravely. There was remorse in his eyes. He had no idea why he had shed so much of blood. Maybe, there was a trace of insanity within him that had made him commit the murders.

Govind Ram was elated at the way the case was progressing. He had chosen the jury members with care, and Kalia had changed into a model prisoner. In court, he did exactly what he was told to do. After months of arguing and deliberation, the case was finally coming to an end. The night before the verdict was going to be announced, Govind Ram went to Kalia’s cell.

“Tomorrow is D Day, Kalia. After that, if the verdict does our way, you will be termed insane and will be put away in an institution. However, if the doctors find that you are improving, you could be out some day.”

Kalia folded his hands in gratitude. This was more than he had expected.

The next morning, Kalia was declared insane and sent to an institution recommended by the court. The headlines sang praises of Govind Ram and his victory. This was, indeed, a feather in his cap. When Kalia was taken away, he smiled at the lawyer victoriously.

Two days later, in the middle of the night, Govind Ram heard a noise in his kitchen and went to check.

The next morning, he was found in a pool of blood, a smiley in red on the wall above. Kalia, who had escaped from the institution, had struck again.

  I am taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter's #MyFriendAlexa. You can read all posts at BlogChatter

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Comments

  1. Gripping, good ending...I liked the story and your writing style

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    1. Thank you so much, Chetan Maheshwari. This is my last story in the challenge. I am glad you enjoyed it.

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  2. Love it like all other stories from your pen.....

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  3. Manisha - I was kind of anticipating it and it was true. Very interesting read, loved reading it.

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    1. Manisha, thank you so much. I am happy that you enjoyed the read!

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  4. Sensational and thrilling uptil the end.

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  5. Enjoyed reading the story and looking forward to read more from you

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    1. Thank you so much, Ms Arora! This is the last story in the eight story challenge. Do read my other stories as well, if you have the time. :)

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  6. Thats an engaging story your style of narration is impeccable

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    1. Rakhi, that is so kind of you, Thank you so much.

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  7. Oh...spine-chilling ending! I love crime thrillers and enjoyed reading Kalia's story. You must think of converting this one into a novella.
    Just wanted to share with you that my father was a lawyer in Mumbai and he once defended Mumbai's famous gangster Kalia Anthony. Reading your story brought back visuals of the past incidents that I had read about Anthony.
    More power to your pen, Deepti! Looking forward to reading more from you.

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    1. Mayura, wow, that gives me goosebumps! Your father actually defending a gangster called Kalia!!! Thank you for sharing that with me and for your lovely comment. I am thrilled.

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  8. oh my god, goosebumps in the end So amazing love the story.

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    1. Gurjeet, thank you so much for your kind comment!

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  9. You are an amazing writer. Your stories are really gripping. This one is really good.

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    1. Neha, That is music to my ears! Thank you ever so much!

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  10. This was such a gripping tale, you are so talented!

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    1. Thank you so much, Ninu, for your generous comment. I am thrilled.

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  11. That's a fantastic story, all the way till the end . And your narration made me longing to know what's coming next

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    1. Thank you so much for your wonderful comment!

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  12. I need to read the other posts in the series.Sounds gripping

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    1. That's so kind of you, Amrita! I would love you to read the other posts as well.

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  13. Wow. Evil stayed on. Amazing narration and ending

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    1. Yes, indeed, Deepika! Evil can be so compelling. Thank you so much!

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  14. Oh wow it was totally Sensational and thrilling uptil the end.

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    1. Jyoti, thank you so much for your heartwarming comment!

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  15. Very well-written. You kept me hooked till then end.

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    1. I am so happy to hear that, Charu! Thank you so much!

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  16. Wow that is deep! I was totally waiting for the end.

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    1. Cindy, I do hope the end satisfied you. Thank you so much!

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  17. Quite a gripping story. Enjoyed it

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    1. Thank you, Milan. I am so glad that you enjoyed the read.

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  18. What a thriller. I stay away from such stories as i have seen so much loss in real life. But you have a knack to keep the reader glued.

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    1. Thank you so much, Harjeet! That's music to my ears.

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  19. That was quite interesting. Especially, the end was completely unexpected.

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    1. Thank you so much! I am happy that the twist worked. :)

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  20. Wow! You are a gifted writer. It was really engrossing and the end was a shocker.

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    1. Madhu Bindra, thank you for your kind comment. I am thrilled.

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  21. Oh...dear...when will he be caught?

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    1. Jayanthi, I will have to think of a sequel to answer that! :)

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  22. It was a gripping story. Will look forward to reading more stories by you.

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    1. Thank you so much, GB. There are seven stories more in the same vein... all based on colours.

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  23. What a gripping story. Loved the ending. I was kind of expecting this ending when I started reading.

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    1. Thank you so much, Abha! I am glad that the ending still thrilled you. :)

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  24. I simply loved the whole series ma'am, one with each color. And this was a fitting finale

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    1. Harshita, thank you so much for all your generous comments.

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  25. Woah! That was incredible. Loved the ending. I need to catch up on the complete series.

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    1. Thank you so much, Ritu. Do let me know what you think of my other stories as well. :)

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  26. Your writing style has a knack that kept me glued till the end Deepti. Thoroughly loved it!

    Archana Srivastava
    archusblog

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    1. That is such a wonderful comment, Archana! Thank you ever so much.

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  27. Your writing style is very interesting and the story is gripping.

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    1. Thank you so much. That is wonderful to hear.

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  28. Oh my god, what an end. I like thrillers so much and I enjoyed reading yours thoroughly

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    1. Geethica, thank you so much for your generous comment. I am thrilled. :)

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  29. The story kept me hooked till the end. The ending was good although it was spine chilling. Loved your story writing style.

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    1. Deepa, thank you ever so much. That is music to my ears.

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  30. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  31. Great buildup and what an ending..

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  32. Lovely narration and kept me hooked till the end. But could anticipate the ending while reading the story.

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    1. Thank you, Debidutta. I am glad that the story still kept you hooked despite your having anticipated the ending. :)

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  33. A very good plot and wonderful way of stitching it and giving the reader an urge to read till the last word. Very well written

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    1. That is so wonderful to hear, Srikanth! Thank you so much for the generosity.

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  34. The intensity of the serial killer was best sketched with your words.

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    1. What an amazing way to describe my story! Thank you, Sivaranjini!

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  35. Wow, wow, wow, Deepti! This story is sheer perfection. I was hooked from the start to the end. I'm reading your fiction for the first time, and I'm a fan now. #MyFriendAlexa #TinasPicks

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    1. Tina, that is, indeed, music to my ears. Thank you ever so much.

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  36. Wow I never about these details before

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  37. Love the story and ur writing style. . A great read.

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    1. That is so generous of you, Yogita! Thank you.

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  38. Poor chap Govind, who knew he was freeing his own death. Good captivating writing.

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    1. MeenalSonal, thank you so much. I am happy that you enjoyed the story. :)

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  39. Once again a wonderful story!!!

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    1. Thank you so much for that lovely comment, Jayashree!

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