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Impractical Dreamer

~ Dr Sweety Shinde: As a butterfly flits; so does the mind waltz in innumerable flights. Mine hovers over books, spirituality ,humor and random gems from everyday life.

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Tag Archives: mystery

Book Review. A Purveyor of Odd Things

30 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by dr sweetyshinde in Debutante Authors

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

anagrams, book review, doppelganger, mystery, supernatural, thriller

‘It is a daunting task to take a three dimensional world, cram it onto a two dimensional surface, and reverse it in the hope that someone will see the message: see oneself as others do.’ – Author, Ernesto San Giacomo

19 pages. Chills, thrills, alter egoes and mirrors that reflect inwards as much as outward.

ernesto

Branson, the skeptical cop is sent on a mysterious ‘dual identity’ case. In the process, he transforms into and discovers Renner – in more ways than one.

As all good short stories, this too ends on a tantalizing edge laced with questions.

That ‘Aha!’ moment when Renner addresses Timmerman as Timmy – it almost hoodwinks the reader. The very next ‘mirror’ scene turns the whole story on its head.

Did they or didn’t they? Who spirited into whom? Who lies beneath the freshly dug graves? When lovely Hannah took time to ‘change’ before getting into Branson’s car – what exactly did she convey?

I wish Renner’s mirror reflection spelled out the color of his eyes – was it dull brown or shark black? The answer would have eased me plenty.

There are plenty of subtle hints – the kind that make you flip back and re-read the story and re-think the obvious.

This short story is part of ‘Ragged Souls’ collection: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J6NGWVS and Goodreads

Genre: Horror/ Supernatural/ Thriller

Edition: Kindle version

Ernesto can be also found on his personal blog: http://ernsangia.wordpre

Faith crumbles – and the web tightens.

03 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by dr sweetyshinde in Random Musings

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

BlogAdda, faith, investigator, kidnap, mystery, plot, scheme, suspicion

Read chapter 21 here.

Game of Blogs. Kalakaar Colony, Circle of Deceit. Round 3 (Wildcard entry)

Chapter 22, . Faith crumbles – and the web tightens.

Jennifer hobbled up to the elevator just as its door sprang open.

“That man I met … your neighbor…” she began excitedly.

“Why the hell are you running around …” Shekhar’s words collided with hers mid-air, “I said I was on the way. Do you think you are Nancy Drew?”

“Mr Ahuja’s pincode was mentioned by Legal Eagle. I couldn’t afford to wait for this trail to go cold.” she blurted out. She put a reassuring hand on Shekhar’s sleeve, “Mr Dutta, I have survived many years alone in Mumbai. I am not Alice in Wonderland. I had my iphone and the ATM solved my finances. Preserve yourself for Roohi. Is this really the time for fragile egos?”

Shekhar shrugged, “What about Ahuja? What’s the connection?”

Jennifer recounted her Google and blog search, the blogger’s face, the article in Crime & Punishment about Ahuja, the private investigator.

“Mr Ahuja knows the kidnapper! He’s vital to our investigation – and he is an investigator too. It cannot be a coincidence.”

Shekhar fished out his laptop and followed Jennifer’s search instructions to the blog.

“It is a pity Ahuja is a snobbish prig. He wouldn’t even lend a ear to my clues. A private investigator ought to pounce upon information. I told him Roohi is kidnapped …”

Shekhar whirled to her, “You told him? Then why did he act so naive? Was he watching for my reaction? Trapping me into a lie?”

He stalked the room restlessly, “Very odd behavior for an investigator to evade information. This blogger who is the kidnapper, the interview with Ahuja who just happens to be my neighbour and my daughter just happens to get kidnapped … too many coincidences.” He stopped pacing and faced Jennifer, “What if Ahuja is involved somehow? We had frequent arguments over the parking space, over his dog littering the building – maybe he holds a grudge.

And now, instead of being our ally, you have tipped him off that his ally is our chief suspect!” suspicion2

Jennifer gasped, “Mr Dutta, believe me, I had no intentions. I was merely trying …”

Shekhar’s eyes narrowed, “No, I don’t know your intentions either, Ms Jennifer. You are the last person to meet Roohi, your camera has the kidnapper’s photo, your iphone zeroes down on the kidnapper’s blog, you evade me to approach Ahuja. Too many coincidences there as well.”

Jennifer blanched, “Mr Dutta …”

Shekhar frowned, “For all I know, the man in your camera accidentally came within the frame. We have only your word that a second biker whisked away Roohi, only your word that the man in your camera matches the biker. You may be putting us on a wild goose chase, while your real partner has my daughter!

Let me warn you, Ms Jennifer. I am going to the police with every ounce of  information. If they catch this blogger, and Roohi is not with him … then Heaven help you. Because then you will be my main suspect.”suspicion6

————————————————————————–

Cyrus felt a trickle of sweat roll down his neck, in spite of the chill that paralyzed his fingers. He had messed up! He had lost Roohi.

His memory scrambled through today’s sequence. Had he left a clue anywhere?, he wondered frantically.

Nobody but the tattooed girl witnessed the kidnap – but his face was hidden. She had been knocked unconscious, so no risk of her spotting his bike registration number.

The little girl might recognize him. Shit! He had been specifically instructed not to reveal his face to her, but he had. His partner was not used to insubordination and would certainly not be amused!

Cyrus had to leave this house, at any rate. He systematically wiped off his fingerprints from the door lock, the refrigerator, the pantry.

But digital fingerprints? How could he wipe those out? The emails, the phone calls, the blog comments which served as a communication pathway. He had to wipe out that trail too. ASAP.

Afterall, all trails would lead only to him. His partner was smug and safe. Cyrus was the kidnapper. Now that he had lost Roohi, Cyrus was no more a partner. He was the lone criminal and the lone fugitive. How did it get so late so soon???

suspicion

The chase continues in chapter 23: http://jigishblaze.wordpress.com/2014/10/04/circle-of-deceit-chapter-xxiii-technology-a-boon-or-curse/

My team & I are participating in ‘Game Of Blogs’ at BlogAdda.com. #CelebrateBlogging with us. game of blogs

Fact is stranger than Fiction: Game of Blogs, Round 2

26 Friday Sep 2014

Posted by dr sweetyshinde in Random Musings

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

BlogAdda, bloggers, contest, Jennifer, mystery, roohi, twists

After the edge-of-seat Round 1, our team has vaulted into Round 2. Click here for my post in Round 1.

Previous Chapter XIX aka 19 (Round 2) of ‘Circle of Deceit’ by Kalakaar Colony can be read here: http://radhika-feelingfree.blogspot.in/2014/09/chapter-19-stranger-or-know-it-all.html

                   Round 2, Chapter XX(aka 20) : Fact is stranger than Fiction.

Blasted idiot! Shekhar’s hands were trembling on the steering wheel as he thought of Jennifer with a mixture of concern and irritation. He had enough heartache with Roohi missing. He honestly did not deserve an extra headache from Jennifer’s untimely hide and seek games.

Why couldn’t she wait? Does everyone think I’m redundant, he reflected bitterly. Mr. Gupta had swatted him away,Tara had not intervened for his sake and now the girl he considered a confidant had sprung a Houdini on him. Everyone acts as if Roohi is theirs to protect & cherish; as if she means the world to everyone but me; and as if everyone knows exactly what to do except me! failure1

He swore as a bicyclist swerved and nearly dented his car. Shekhar nosed his car into the parking lot and hurried to the elevator.

Today was just not his day, he grimaced as he spotted Ahuja exiting the elevator. Cocky, Successful, Society Treasurer & Awardee. He always monopolized the society meetings with disgusting confidence – and disgusting competence.

“Hello,” Ahuja drawled , “My daughter was waiting all of yesterday for Roohi – some  school project on Earthquake that these two were to make. Where is she?”

Shekhar held his breath. Ahuja’s daughter must have related that ugly school scene but she would be unaware of subsequent events. Did Ahuja know?

Of course not, Roohi’s disappearance was not yet public news. Shekhar had been unsure about reporting the fact because it might be a revenge kidnap for Tara’s sting operation. He didnt want to implicate Tara; while Tara had probably confided the fact to her ‘Resources’, who in turn may have told the police; unless influential Mr Gupta had stonewalled the police; or maybe …

‘I am a failure,’ he admitted, ‘I can never take a decision. No wonder Tara is so dismissive.’ He sighed as a brainwave hit him, “Roohi is visiting her Grandpa for a few days.”

As he squirmed uncomfortably, Shekhar noticed that behind nerdy spectacles, Ahuja’s flinty eyes held empathy – and speculation. He knows! Shekhar thought. An overwhelming urge bubbled within him – to unload his burden, to seek Ahuja’s help, to find his sweetheart come Death or Hell; but … he would have to crosscheck with Tara first. Nothing in life seemed to proceed without his wife’s green signal.  Cuckold! he coined himself with a blush.

He waved goodbye hastily. Ahuja gazed after the yawning space that whisked away Shekhar, “He knows I know. Why the pretense?”

Secrecy could mean a lot of things – all of them unpleasant. Either there was some dirty family secret involved, or there had been a threatening phone call from the kidnapper, or the dysfunctional Dutta- Gupta union had decided to bypass the police.

In case of the latter, it could mushroom into further venomous possibilities – Blackmail? Fear of defamation? Business revenge?

Ahuja shrugged. As far as Shekhar was concerned, let Mohammed come to the Mountain! Meanwhile, the Mountain was free to explore avenues on its own! detective

He thought back, ‘The tattooed girl had come straight to me – but why Me? She had mentioned ‘Cyrus’ to Shekhar. Cyrus the Virus; Cyrus the Bakra; Cyrus the … the Legal Eagle?’ He slowed down, as the name hit home.

2 years ago, wasn’t it? He was invited to deliver a speech at a Law College. Oh! The eager questions thrown at him, the naked adulation in their eyes – and that impressionable young man who cornered him for an interview. Tall, lean, bearded. The spitting image of Jesus Christ.

Ahuja whipped out his mobile. The bloodhound had sniffed a trail  …

—————-

Roohi jabbed at her sketch, “This is the one who took me away on his bike.”

Mr. Gupta carefully pried the paper away from her fingers, feeling cold fury within him. If Krishna had not been alert enough, if Krishna had missed his cue – then his precious Roohi would … he felt a sliver of fear streak through him. imagesWPF0D3VL

“Did he hurt you?” he asked guardedly.

Roohi tilted her head, “I was scared, Grandpa. He drove so fast! Even faster than Jennifer … But he didnt hurt me. Even gave me chips – you know, my favorite American Cream & Onion.”

Mr Gupta nodded slowly, and exchanged a glance with Krishna, “Ah, your favorite flavor! I wonder how he knew, indeed. Anything else that you can remember?”

Roohi screwed up her eyes, “He was reading a book – with a dirty picture on it”, she giggled, “A woman wearing just … you know? The author’s name was Run or something.”

Mr Gupta threw Krishna a helpless glance. At his age, the only interesting dirty read  was the Sensex!

But Krishna rose to the challenge, “Run? Bolt? Chase? James Hadley Chase?”

Roohi nodded and then she yawned. It had been an exhausting day.

“Time for dreams, little one.” Mr Gupta scooped her up and carried her to the bed. He arranged the covers snugly around her before he left.

“I’ve put our team already on the track of this Mr. Dirty Chase. Anything else, Sir?” Krishna asked.

Mr Gupta pursed his lips, “This has gotten more complex than I thought. We need to involve the police. I will not let this Bxxxxxd get away. Yet, I cannot afford to have Gupta Enterprises blazing the front pages for the wrong reasons. When Tara approaches the police, they will start fishing for suspects.”

His jaw clenched decisively,  anonymous “It is high time, Krishna, that I receive a ransom call. It will make things look authentic. Nine pm sharp. Make it short,  snappy and effective. Two million in cash. Or else … ”

Who is misguiding whom? Is anyone here NOT wearing a mask? Can Roohi trust anybody at all?

Save your nails, don’t bite them all off! Await more deception and twists in Round 3!

Here is chapter 21 (Wildcard round)

My team & I are participating in ‘Game Of Blogs’ at BlogAdda.com. #CelebrateBlogging with us. game of blogs

—————

Roohi-Jennifer’s tryst with Fate. Game of Blogs – Level 1

13 Saturday Sep 2014

Posted by dr sweetyshinde in Random Musings

≈ 25 Comments

Tags

authors, BlogAdda, blogs, contest, game, mystery

‘KALAKAAR COLONY’- PART III of Mystery Novel ‘CIRCLE OF DECEIT’.

Grab an eyeful of the story so far: http://jigishblaze.wordpress.com/2014/09/12/game-of-blogs-level-1/

…Roohi got frightened and disturbed by her parents’ behavior and ran towards the bus stop when they were busy yelling at each other.

Read on…

She shot past the bus-stop, her cheeks flaming with shame and disgust. She imagined the entire school staring at her. Accusing eyes. Jeering eyes. 

A crowd is the best hideout for solitude!  As she walked on, she suddenly jerked to a standstill. She was out of her comfort zone. She was lost!

Her mobile rang. It was a strictly ‘Incoming only, no outgoing’‘ mobile, as per school rules.

Mother! Roohi punched the ‘Reject’ button. Good, she thought, let everyone miss her. Good punishment.

Her mobile battery was dangerously low. Last night’s verbal war between her parents had rattled her.  She had forgotten to charge the mobile. Infact, she had not even eaten her breakfast! Her stomach growled as she spied a Barista Coffee shop. She furtively checked her pocket money. Rs 150! 

She stood nervously behind a tall young woman, who ordered a Blue Moon mocktail. Roohi stared at the heavy camera slung over slim, tanned shoulders. At the counter, Roohi decided on a Cappuccino and caramel pastry.
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