Chapter 11

On her way home, she stopped at Sachin's car. He was fast asleep. She drove the car towards her house and then she dragged Sachin into the house and locked him in a room. Then she destroyed the photographs which she had got from Frank.

But now she found Kavin missing. She called him several times but there was no response from him.

While looking for him she found her maid been knocked out. A handkerchief lying next to her smelled lightly of Chloroform. Now she knew where exactly Kavin would be and what must have happened.

Shaking with anger, she crept down into the basement. Kavin had his back to her. He had his eyes only for the treasure which was inside the vault and he didn't even notice Purvi come into the basement. His pockets were bulging with money bills and jewellery. A huge lay at his foot in which he was trying to fit her exquisite Fur Coats.

'What are you doing?' Purvi asked coldly.

Kavin whipped around. Colour drained from his face. 'You - you came back so early!' he said.

'Did you use Chloroform on the maid?' Purvi questioned.

'Yeah, I thought it would be better to keep her out of our way' said Kavin.

'This was not a part of our plan' said Purvi pointing at Kavin's bulging pockets.

'No - I was just looking...' he said flushing.

Purvi sneered. 'Oh were you?'

'Listen Purvi - '

'Kavin, I don't remember ever telling you how to open this vault' she said.

'Yeah... well... Sam told me' said Kavin.

'Oh! Seems you were his closest then! He never let me touch this unless he accompanied me' said Purvi.

'I -'

'You are a liar! You are a filthy cheating scum -'

'Shut up! I will not be spoken to like that! I know you and Sachin have murdered Sam! I know every single detail about your plan! I can turn you in anytime' said Kavin.

'Are you threatening me?' asked Purvi laughing hard.

Kavin stared at her. 'This woman must be mad.' he thought.

'You know every single thing about our plan, don't you? But you are wrong Kavin! You don't know that you are going to die!' said Purvi.

It was now Kavin's turn to laugh. 'Going to commit another murder are you?' he asked.
Purvi noticed that he was still standing inside the vault.

Purvi moved closer to him and said, 'Goodbye Kavin' Before he could even know what was happening, Purvi slammed the vault door shut locking him inside.

'Purvi! Open the goddamn door! What the hell are you doing?' Kavin's muffled screams echoed in the basement. But Purvi didn't reply. She carefully wiped her fingerprints and climbed out of the basement.

Purvi waited for another half and hour and then she went to the garage. She opened the garage door causing the poisonous fumes to escape and then let out a scream, loud enough to wake the entire neighbourhood.

An hour later, flashing police cars had surrounded Purvi's house. Almost the entire town had assembled outside. Purvi was sitting in the living room, sniffing and very puffy eyed. Her maid sat next to her looking very white. She apparently hadn't recovered from the shock of the events which had happened. Sachin was sitting opposite them still clueless why was he handcuffed.

'We would like to record your statement mam, if you please' said a police constable.

'I am telling you! Sachin killed my husband! I have recorded his confession in my cellphone. Arrest him. He is the murderer.' said Purvi.

'What?!' Sachin stood up. 'What the hell are you talking about Purvi!'

'Hey you! Sit down!' the Police Officer said to Sachin. 'Can you show me the recording?'

Purvi handed him her cellphone. Sachin listened in horror as he heard his own voice coming out of it.

[What are you doing down here? Go to bed!'

'What happened?' asked Purvi.

'I have locked him in the garage. He will be dead in a few hours. I will call the police in the morning okay?' he said.

'I - I really don't like this' said Purvi gravely.

'Relax. Don't worry. Just go back to sleep' said Sachin.

'What? How can I go to sleep? He is dying in there! Let him out!' said Purvi.

'Shut up! What's wrong with you? I am not going to ruin my plan. Sam has to die! Go to your room!' said Sachin angrily.

'What's that in your hand?' asked Purvi.

'That's the key of the garage door. I have locked it. Sam won't be able to get out. The poisonous fumes will kill him' said Sachin.]

Sachin couldn't believe it. She had tricked him! He stared into her cold, remorseless eyes and didn't find even a slightest trace of embarrassment in them. He had fallen into her trap so easily. She had never loved him. She had used him to set her free from Sam. Now she would inherit all of Sam's money. He wondered whether she was seeing some other man. He had no alibi to prove that he was innocent. The police had found his fingerprints on the garage door. Purvi had told the police that after committed the murder, Purvi and given him sleeping pills and locked him in the room and then called the police. She had told the police that she wanted to divorce Sam and marry Sachin but Sachin was after her money. He knew Purvi would inherit all of Sam's wealth after his death and hence he had murdered Sam. His plan was to inherit Sam's money and leave the town with Purvi. After interrogating deeper, the police found out Sachin's previous criminal record and the fact that he was on run. The court had given verdict against him.

The maid told the police that she was silenced with Chloroform and she didn't know anything. The case was crystal clear. Sachin was framed from murder and taken away. He was questioned about the whereabouts of Kavin because Sachin was Kavin's friend. But Sachin wasn't able to explain Kavin's sudden disappearance.

O-o-o-o

Kavin was found dead in the vault two days later much to the surprise of the Cops and Purvi. She was glad that she had shut the door for the cops had found a wad of money bills in both his pockets. Greed died ultimately with his police had deduced that Sachin and Kavin were both after Sam's money and had probably planned to rob him once he was dead.

Sam was found murdered in the garage. The doctors confirmed that he had died of asphyxiation due to carbon monoxide.

Sachin was arrested for murder of Sam and taken away by the Cops. They had found convincing evidence against him - his fingerprints on the car's door and the message recorded by Purvi. Purvi still couldn't forget his arrested look on her. It didn't show anger but inflicted pain and betrayal.

Frank was found dead in his office with a bullet wound on his forehead. The Cops were convinced that he had committed suicide due to rising debts.

Sandra, Frank's secretary was believed to have left the town. She apparently had defalcated with the cash in Frank's drawer after she had discovered him dead.

Purvi's maid was innocent and it was proved that she was not associated with the murder of Sam in anyway. She didn't want to work there anymore so she had left the job.

O-o-o-o

Purvi sat in the silent mansion looking around her, puffing a cigarette. All of Sam's money was hers now. She had enough money to lead a luxurious life yet last till the end. Clubs, restaurants, shopping and hot guys - she would have it all. But all that had happened in past few days had left a permanent void in her life. Being rich didn't matter to her anymore. Sachin had introduced her to look at life from a different perspective which gave importance to love and care rather than money. And what had she done? She had betrayed him. She had punished him for the sins he had not committed. She had money to buy the entire world but she had paid a hefty price for it. He had truly loved her, not just her money. She suddenly realised that she had fallen in love with Sachin. She had enough money to get him out of prison. But she knew he would never come back to her. Money can't buy love. Sadly she money to buy everything except love. And suddenly all the money she had was just a square piece of paper.

*** THE END ***