Khnoj / খোঁজ  (Bengali, Paperback, Dr Parames Ghosh)

Detective Pinaki is pleased to think that the investigation of the crime has brought happiness to the family. On one occasion, finding Chameli and Pranati together, Pinaki asked them to stand back, so that he could watch their backs, instead of their faces. Both had identical long blue hair hanging down their backs. It was difficult to make out who was who. One of them hurriedly held Pinaki's hand and said, 'My parents are going to visit Kashmir for a month. Please spend some time in our house; we will spy on each other.' Pinaki thought, if he wanted to be happy with Pranati, he couldn't just spy. He needed to love Pranati, and have blind faith in her love. Pinaki would never be happy if rules of marriage are taken seriously. Pinaki knew that in Pranati's childhood he was probably the only man, she loved. But now Swapan has taken a lot of space in Pranati's body and mind. Maybe neither Swapan nor Pinaki can be excluded from Pranati's life. Pinaki could not forget how Pranati came into his life. *** Four pairs of eyes scanned Pranati's expression and looked around the room. There was nothing to suggest that Pinaki was there. Disappointed, these inspectors were about to leave when a sound was heard. Someone must have jumped from the roof of this house and fallen into the front street. Pranati realised that he was Pinaki. Before Pranati could do anything, two of those inspectors ran and fired. Two inspectors grabbed Pinaki and dragged him into their police van.