My plans were all set and we waited for Diwali. I convinced Aditi to come over for a booze party with some of our common friends to celebrate Diwali at the guesthouse. My plan was to have the dog in the bedroom and keep him waiting for the “deed”.
I would be celebrating Diwali with the guests in the adjacent guest house while Chandrakant will let loose the killer dog in the living room. The living room opened to a bathroom, a bedroom and a small kitchen. The end of the room had a flight of stairs connecting to the terrace.
The plan was to alert Chandrakant as Aditi attended the call in the living room. With her back turned towards the bedroom, Chandrakant would blow the whistle. The dog would then run towards the victim and finish the “task”. Meanwhile, the fireworks were supposed to muffle the scream of the woman.
I had planned to call Aditi to ask her to visit the guesthouse at 7 p.m. But, an hour before the call, I began to lose my nerve as I began to profusely sweat. The night prior my dreams were filled with her face and the torn doll I had seen months ago. But, I made up my mind - I had to call her.
Aiditi picked up the phone and appeared to be cheerful when I told her to be on time for the party at the guesthouse. I told her that there was no one to take care of Caesar. Hence, he would be chained in the bedroom and that she need not be afraid of him. I told her I would meet her at the guesthouse after a few social calls.
At around 7 p.m., I saw Aditi drive and some of the invitees beginning to stream into the guesthouse. I surveyed the place for any possible witnesses walking unexpectedly and found none. I closed the main gate and walked in 15 minutes late and apologised. I invited her and four others to the terrace of the adjacent guesthouse terrace to burst fireworks.
Whisky bottles were opened and soon liquor flowed freely. As other guests began to drink, I excused myself to pick up some side dish. Now was the time to strike.
As per plan, I picked up the receiver and kept it off the hook. Then, I with some fried chips I began to climb the stairs of the adjacent guesthouse. Aditi was a bit drunk, like some of her friends. I told her someone was calling on the landline.
She expressed surprise to be called on the landline and began to descend the stairs. Meanwhile, Chandrakant stood inside the bedroom with clear view of the phone. An hour earlier, Chandrakant had led the canine into the bedroom through the backdoor with a key that I had lent him.
Caesar’s chain was tied to the window. He watched as Aditi picked up and said “hello”. Chandrakant in his excitement had dropped the whistle. Even as he searched and picked up the whistle, Aditi banged the receiver on the hook. As she was about to leave, Chandrakant called up from his mobile phone.
She picked up the call and said “hello”. Aditi was now at the right place. By then, I had begun to light the fireworks – the loudest were the first. Music system was also on full blast, an idea which was not part of the plan.
I hoped that the crackers and the music would muffle the screams of the terrified victim. Chandrakant waited for nearly 15 minutes before he blew the sonic whistle for the second time, a cue for the dog to stop his assault.
After nearly half-an-hour, as the other guests had drunk themselves, I began descending the stairs and making my way towards the guesthouse. I tiptoed to my car and picked up pliers.
My idea was to cut the leash into two. The one end was to be tied to the dog collar and the other to the bedroom window. The idea was to show that the drunken victim had provoked the dog, leading to such horrific consequences.
I began to feel queasy as I approached the guesthouse. As I approached the living room, I could hear Caesar’s whining. I entered the room with sweat profusely dripping down my temples.
I saw Caesar and then the blood dripping down his jaws. The sight terrified me but the canine appeared to be calm. The sight of blood was so terrifying that I didn’t have the guts to approach the dog at first.
Caesar was acquainted with me and hence remained quite friendly as I patted him gently. I cut the one end of the chain and tied it to the window. I had deliberately brought a rusted and a thin chain. I then made my way towards the sofa in the hall. It had been quite a struggle, the phone receiver was off its hook and the tablecloth had been pulled down. Aditi apparently was tenacious till the end.
Aditi was lying on her side, her back facing me. She lay in a pool of dark red blood. As I approached the body with dread, I turned her around. Her neck was torn and her vocal cords and the skin of her lower face lay ripped till her chin. The sight was so repulsive that I began to retch.
I recovered my composure and called up the police. I told them that my dog had broken loose and had fatally attacked one of my guests. Meanwhile, I broke the news to other guests. Some were too shocked to react. One cried, while the others were too shocked to react.
I waited for the arrival of the Police and the Press. I was ready with my story. I knew there would be an investigation but my plan had been ingenious, I would get away. But, then…
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