To be completely honest, I had no idea what time it was. It wasn't one of those days when you couldn't tell seven in the evening from nine. It was one of those when you suddenly wake up from deep sleep only to see that it's still dark outside and you can't figure out if you've slept too much, or not enough. Except I hadn't been asleep, I'd Just been lost in my thoughts.
I had just been back home, after what seemed like a really long run. My house was exactly how it was when I left, well, I'd only just gone for a run. I guess my wife knew I didn't like change, but still, it can't be easy maintaining a large, beautiful house with two boys, twins, my twelve year olds.
Everything was just as perfect as it had been when I left. Except, my wife and kids, they weren't here anymore. It wouldn't have been as serious had it not been three in the morning. Don't ask me what I was doing running till three in the morning, cardio is important. All their numbers were out of service. I did the only thing I knew, I called the police, and I didn't realize when they had reached, until I found myself subconsciously answering them.
'Sir, I know this is tough for you. But the faster you cooperate, the faster we could get on with our search.'
'Hmm...' I looked up, bemused. Two senior policemen looking down at me.
'Sir, I said the faster-'
'Oh, right, yes. What do you guys want from me?'
'We don't really know anything about what has happened. These cases aren't very common. We need to know what happened. It's protocol.'
'I have just come back. I don't know why she did what she did.'
'Would you call your relationship abusive?'
'No.'
'What would you call it then?'
'Many things.'
'Sir..' He sighed. 'The sooner we know ever-'
I knew what he was going to say. I'd seen enough CSI shows with my wife to know I had no other option to tell them everything I knew, or rather, everything I understood. And so I did.
They heard whatever I had to say with a slight doubt on their face. Then, I saw them speak, the officials.
'This sounds exactly like the statement we received ten years ago from the gentleman who had witnessed his family getting murdered, and him losing his sanity in the event.' The official with the book whispered to the other.
'Yes, Mr. Joshi and his family. An unforgettable case. You think this guy's playing a prank?' Asked the other.
'Maybe'
Her laugh, a soft mellow laugh, it became my existence, I had found my solace is in it. I remember so vividly, before I went out for my run, we were lying together, watching the stars, through our bedroom window. I remember how the cloud had come in the way, and hidden most of them.
I knew they thought she'd ran away, but it wasn't like that. I loved her, and she loved me. My children were happy. We all were. When I was with my family, I felt warm, I felt secure. The feeling you get when you're wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold winter night.
I had gotten lost in my thoughts again.
After what seemed like forever, they caught my attention again. The official reading the book which had the case details broke the silence.
'Okay, Sir, I see this is going nowhere. We'll give you some time to get yourself together. Thank you Mr. Jos-'
I could see the blood drain away from his face.
'Wh-What is your name' He asked, stuttering, with the most numb voice I've ever heard.
'Hardik, Sir, Hardik Joshi.'
The news was playing in the background. Everybody's attention seemed to be glued to it.
6 A.M
22nd June, 2006.
Headlines: Mental patient escapes from hospital. Local PD alerted.
I had just been back home, after what seemed like a really long run. My house was exactly how it was when I left, well, I'd only just gone for a run. I guess my wife knew I didn't like change, but still, it can't be easy maintaining a large, beautiful house with two boys, twins, my twelve year olds.
Everything was just as perfect as it had been when I left. Except, my wife and kids, they weren't here anymore. It wouldn't have been as serious had it not been three in the morning. Don't ask me what I was doing running till three in the morning, cardio is important. All their numbers were out of service. I did the only thing I knew, I called the police, and I didn't realize when they had reached, until I found myself subconsciously answering them.
'Sir, I know this is tough for you. But the faster you cooperate, the faster we could get on with our search.'
'Hmm...' I looked up, bemused. Two senior policemen looking down at me.
'Sir, I said the faster-'
'Oh, right, yes. What do you guys want from me?'
'We don't really know anything about what has happened. These cases aren't very common. We need to know what happened. It's protocol.'
'I have just come back. I don't know why she did what she did.'
'Would you call your relationship abusive?'
'No.'
'What would you call it then?'
'Many things.'
'Sir..' He sighed. 'The sooner we know ever-'
I knew what he was going to say. I'd seen enough CSI shows with my wife to know I had no other option to tell them everything I knew, or rather, everything I understood. And so I did.
They heard whatever I had to say with a slight doubt on their face. Then, I saw them speak, the officials.
'This sounds exactly like the statement we received ten years ago from the gentleman who had witnessed his family getting murdered, and him losing his sanity in the event.' The official with the book whispered to the other.
'Yes, Mr. Joshi and his family. An unforgettable case. You think this guy's playing a prank?' Asked the other.
'Maybe'
It had happened ten years ago, on 22nd June, 1996. The devastating event occurred at around 3.10am. Local investigators worked through the night to gather evidence related to the case. It was a small town, the only place in India with a controlled population, the only place where everyone knew their neighbors, and had a good relationship with the vegetable vendor. The Joshi's were a very respected and loved family, except for the fact that Hardik Joshi, the breadwinner of the family, was an international athlete, and had several competitors- which lead to several enemies, which lead to the catastrophic event. It was supposed to be him, not the family, but Hardik wasn't a man of habit. He was out for a run. His body was never found. No one really knew what had happened to him for the next two years. Finally, someone recognized him. He had lost his sanity. It was a shame. He had been sent to a mental hospital. There had been extra precaution to make sure the incident never made it to the media. He was an international entity, and it was in the country's best interest if it never made it to the books.I couldn't get myself to pay any attention to what they were saying. I was just too lost in my own oblivion.
Her laugh, a soft mellow laugh, it became my existence, I had found my solace is in it. I remember so vividly, before I went out for my run, we were lying together, watching the stars, through our bedroom window. I remember how the cloud had come in the way, and hidden most of them.
I knew they thought she'd ran away, but it wasn't like that. I loved her, and she loved me. My children were happy. We all were. When I was with my family, I felt warm, I felt secure. The feeling you get when you're wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold winter night.
I had gotten lost in my thoughts again.
After what seemed like forever, they caught my attention again. The official reading the book which had the case details broke the silence.
'Okay, Sir, I see this is going nowhere. We'll give you some time to get yourself together. Thank you Mr. Jos-'
I could see the blood drain away from his face.
'Wh-What is your name' He asked, stuttering, with the most numb voice I've ever heard.
'Hardik, Sir, Hardik Joshi.'
The news was playing in the background. Everybody's attention seemed to be glued to it.
6 A.M
22nd June, 2006.
Headlines: Mental patient escapes from hospital. Local PD alerted.
