The Case of the Love Commandos by Tarquin Hall Read Free Book Online Page B

Bandit Queen, who’d once been the scourge of the area.
    Despite the evidence of bygone deluges, this year’s monsoon was late here too, and the earth was wracked with thirst. Even at this early hour, it was evident that today would bring no reprieve. There was not a wisp of cloud in the sky: just the reds and pinks of dawn and the promise of a harsh, punishing sun.
    The legions of truck drivers, who spent the best parts of their lives in cramped cabs hauling goods over thousands of miles, knew this better than most. Their battle-scarred carriages jostled for position along the highway, charging atone another like angry bison in a race against the fiery globe inching over the horizon. The tiny hatchback found itself boxed in amongst monster wheels and lopsided loads that threatened to topple over at any second. Engines roared and air horns blared, drowning out any attempt at conversation. Puri and Facecream were forced to pass most of the journey in silence. Indeed, it wasn’t until they’d covered nearly a hundred miles and the traffic had begun to thin that the detective outlined how he intended to proceed.
    “Better if I travel to Ram’s village alone,” he said, reasoning that it would be a mistake for them to be seen together. “We will find a dhaba or some such place on the highway where you can wait.”
    Facecream could sense a certain distance in Puri’s manner. This was born, no doubt, from her admission to moonlighting with the Love Commandos. He was somewhat possessive, after all, and probably looked down on the organization’s activities to boot. Puri could be stubbornly old-fashioned about certain things, and the institution of arranged marriages was one of his pet issues. She’d heard him voice opinions on the subject before. Although he was no caste apologist, he’d sounded pompous and out of touch.
    She soon realized that despite dropping everything and rushing to her assistance, he also harbored serious misgivings about the case and even suggested that the whole thing might be a ruse.
    “Sir, there’s no doubt Ram was abducted,” Facecream insisted. “There was every sign of a struggle and all his possessions were left behind.”
    “You’re certain, is it? No chance whatsoever he decided not to go the marriage way?”
    “No, sir. I’ve no doubt he loves Tulsi very much.”
    Puri’s expression suggested he considered this a flimsyargument. “There are other considerations in life, also,” he said.
    “Sir, I agreed to help Ram because I believe in him,” said Facecream. “In this day and age, why shouldn’t he be able to choose his life partner freely and she hers?”
    Puri frowned and Facecream decided not to push the point further. She was deeply grateful to him for coming all this way. In spite of his quirks, he was the one person she could rely on to help.
    “All I can tell you is that Ram planned to marry her,” she reiterated. “We were planning to take them to the temple right away.”
    “And these other volunteers, your Love Commando types, they’re all to be trusted?”
    “No question.”
    “What if one of them betrayed Ram?”
    “If you met them, sir, you’d see they’re all loyal and dedicated.”
    Puri’s nod indicated that Facecream’s judgment on this matter at least was good enough for him.
    “What else you can tell me about the boy?” he asked.
    “I’d call him brave. He’s not backed down despite everything. He’s resourceful as well. As a child he didn’t go to school. His family are traditionally swine herders. But he saved enough to buy books and taught himself. Eventually, with his mother’s help, he got a place in a high school in Lucknow and moved into the city. When it came to getting accepted into university, he had to fight hard to get a place. Despite the reserved seats for his subcaste, he faced a lot of discrimination. He’s been beaten up more than once.”
    “When did you see him for the last time?”
    “Yesterday, before we set off