From this point, Kaal’s true journey began. The society that previously stood was inadequate for his purposes. He craved solitude—somewhere he could be surrounded by people yet remain hidden from them. To bridge this gap, Kaal devised a plan during a conversation with Khan. A plan that would not only alter the course of his life but also profoundly impact everyone around him.
Chapter 9 – ‘Demolish it, rebuild it’ – The first step towards the haunting society
— Anurag (@LekhakAnurag) August 27, 2024
From this point, Kaal’s true journey began. The society that previously stood was inadequate for his purposes. He craved solitude—somewhere he could be surrounded by people yet remain hidden from… pic.twitter.com/APA1JWojnl
The next day, when I arrived at the office, the war room was already bustling. Without delay, I asked Tushar if there had been any progress with the list of people to interrogate. “Before we delve into the journal, any updates, Tushar?” I inquired.
“Sir, Khan or Naseeb Khan was the father of the attorney who now manages the properties. His son, Jawed Khan, has been tracked down. He has only one client, Kaal. Essentially, our ‘dear friend’ has Jawed on his payroll, so he should have considerable knowledge about him. As soon as you give the green light, I’ll instruct the team shadowing him to pick him up.” It was clear Tushar hadn’t slept the previous night. To be fair, I doubt any of us had. “Let’s continue,” I said, and we resumed.
26 January 1990
I am meeting Khan today. He sounded displeased on the phone when I proposed the new regulations for the tenants. I also need to review the property documents with him. I’m unsure why he mentioned it would take several hours. Why does he want to waste my time for hours? Ridiculous… Anyway, it’s 9 AM, and I have a few tasks to complete before he arrives. I discovered that Abba had a collection of swords he never mentioned to me. It was in a small, storeroom-like space within their master bedroom.
I went to inspect it last night. The swords were magnificent. One in particular, which I believe is called a Gupti, caught my eye. The way the blade is concealed within the stick is remarkable. I’m keeping it with me; it will come in handy for spontaneous action. I just need to have it sharpened—a skill Abba taught me with a broad smile. I recall him emphasising the importance of keeping the swords clean and sharp. I always thought we only had the three swords hanging in the living room, but the collection he had hidden away left me astounded.
I’ve arranged for it to be moved to my new house. By this evening, it will be here, and by then, Khan will be gone. I can then sit and examine each sword. I hope the record book includes details of how many people were killed by each sword. That would be intriguing to read.
List of Chapters:
- Chapter 1 – How It All Started
- Chapter 2 – The Opening of the Case
- Chapter 3 – The Raid Was an Eye-Opener
- Chapter 4 – The Horror Was Worse Than We Thought
- Chapter 5 – The Birth of a Serial Killer
- Chapter 6 – Kaal’s First Kill
- Chapter 7 – The Aftermath of Parents’ Death
- Chapter 8 – Shifting to a New House
- Chapter 9 – ‘Demolish it, rebuild it’ – The first step towards the haunting society
© Lekhak Anurag. Any unauthorised reproduction, personal or commercial, without permission is prohibited. For reproduction or commercial use of the story, please ping me on mailme[at]lekhakanurag.com.
Disclaimer: All the stories under #StorySutra are works of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The author does not intend to malign any individual, group, or organisation.
