Curious Case of Mr Eknath
- Writers Pouch
- Aug 20, 2016
- 8 min read
18th November 2015
The grim corridor of the dreaded jail stretched endlessly before Detective Govind and Ankitha as the prisoners on either side howled and jeered as he walked past their cells, cheering their new guests. Inspector John, a man in his thirties, explained, “The victim was a loner who was kept separate from the rest. He was not one to initiate fights, nor was he one to back down.”
Observing the inmates trying to be as intimidating as they could, Govind wondered aloud, “Then, why was he killed today?”
Before the Inspector answered, they arrived at the cell, and the body was being taken on a stretcher. Govind halted the bearers and pulled back the veil to look at the victim’s face. It appeared as pleasant as a man asleep. After a moment, he signalled for them to proceed.
Next, they entered the room where the victim had been seated to write his exam, taking the preliminary report from the medical staff. The table was pristine, like a blank slate, illuminated by the harsh glow of incandescent bulbs. The second chair sat directly across from him. Bloodstains marred the floor. The Jailer seethed with anger, and the Inspector, though equally furious, concealed it.
“He seems thinner since I last saw him, probably due to the jail’s meagre rations,” Govind remarked, smirking at the fuming Jailer.
The Jailer remained unimpressed, prompting Govind to deduce, “Apparently, there are no visible injuries on the rest of his body except that his hands look pale yet unharmed.”
Confused, the Inspector remarked, “Was he killed by a single blow?”
