The Dead Speaks...

It was already late in the night. The policemen were tired of having longs days already and as the night passed, conversations usually became casual. No, it’s not like the regards for seniors is lost. As the night wore on, the atmosphere became more relaxed and informal. The energy had shifted as midnight approached and only a few officers remained for night duty.

It was a rather unexpected night when a distressed girl rushed to the police station to file a complaint against her boss. She appeared to be in a state of distress, as if she had narrowly escaped from a dangerous situation. Running towards the station, she was stopped by a constable who asked her the reason for her hurry. She explained that she wanted to file an FIR against her boss and was running to save her own life from him. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the constable's reaction mirrored that. He urged her to narrate the entire story, so he could decide whether to file the FIR or not. Her voice was loud and filled with shock, as she huffed while recounting her ordeal. The tension in her voice caught the attention of the five policemen present at the station that night. Listening to a raised voice, they gathered eventually to hear her narration.

The girl began narrating the incident…

“Sir, I really need your help, otherwise his crimes won’t be discovered. He killed her, a 23 year old girl who was returning from office in her two wheeler. I will provide you with the entire story, but please, I urge you to file a First Information Report (FIR) as soon as possible, otherwise all the evidence will be destroyed. The girl who tragically passed away was employed as a secretary for a builder. One day, a few days prior to her murder, the builder approached her and requested her assistance in sending a package from his office to an officer's residence. He insisted that she personally deliver the parcel due to her reputation as a trustworthy employee. The package itself was a box that appeared to be gift-wrapped, and although the builder did not explicitly mention its contents, she suspected it was money. Unfortunately, bribery is a common practice, and she proceeded to deliver the package. In fact, the frequency of delivering such packages increased before the necessary permits were obtained for the construction project. That’s why she had never questioned her boss about the packages.

But then, one day she found her own brother talking to some people whom she had seen with the builder before. That's when she began to suspect her brother, and after conducting a thorough investigation herself, she discovered that her brother had access to drugs. Later this evening, when the builder requested her to deliver a package to a different person, she made a decision to open it and see its contents so that she could deny delivering parcels in future. To her shock, she discovered that the package contained illegal drugs. Determined to uncover the truth, she returned to her office and confronted the builder about the content. Not only she wanted to expose his illegal activities, but she also intended to file an official complaint against him. However, her strong sense of morality and principles proved to be her downfall. The builder, fearing exposure, had her killed and disposed of her body by wrapping it in layers of old and torn clothes, making it almost impossible for anyone to uncover the truth. She did everything to save her brother from becoming an addict.

Sir, please file my complaint. Her parents are frantically looking for her. Please file an FIR for her.”

One of the policemen tried to calm her down by offering a glass of water. Then he asked her if she knew the builder’s name.

The moment she uttered his name, everyone at the police station where stunned! She took the name of a renowned businessman who is well connected in political world. Everyone at the station quickly understood the potential grave repercussions of defying a powerful tycoon. It was evident that this wasn't a mere joke but a serious matter. The constable, hoping to gather more information, took the chance to interrogate the girl regarding the builder. However, despite his attempts, she remained firm in her stance and refused to alter her statement. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the constable advised her to come back once it had been confirmed that the First Information Report (FIR) had been officially lodged.

The girl became silent for few minutes and appeared confused. She asked the person “When did you write down my statement? How did you file an FIR without noting any details? Where is the written copy?”

The policemen understood that the girl would persist in asking them for proof until they provided some. One of the policemen, who had been listening, turned to a third person at the station and asked, "Has the complaint been filed?" The third person confirmed that it had indeed been filed and assured the girl that the necessary actions would be taken promptly. However, the girl remained unconvinced and stated that she would visit the station the next day if the girl's parents were not given her body.

After she had left the station, the policemen were relieved. Afterall, who would desire to go against a person holding power to alter the situation! They were clearly reluctant to have anything confirmed officially. Hence, instead of investigating, they let the matter cool down.

Next day, the girl returned! This time she was well-informed about the processes involving FIR and thus, asked about an FIR copy and the charges filed on the accused. However, she had to return empty-handed.

For the next seven days, she persistently visited the police station, desperately requesting actions and investigations. However, her pleas were met with indifference and apathy. Despite her tireless efforts, the authorities seemed unwilling to assist her. Frustrated and determined, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She issued a stern warning, threatening to create a scene within the station that would attract public attention. This ultimatum struck fear into the hearts of the personnel, yet they remained hesitant to register a formal complaint. The situation had reached a breaking point, leaving her feeling defeated and unheard.

The constable intervened and asked her to take him to the spot where the dead body can be found. She agreed without any hesitation and together they left for that isolated location where the body could be found. Upon reaching the location, she insisted him, to open the well-wrapped sack which had covered the body for the last seven days. With lots of difficulty in darkness, the constable managed to see the face of the dead body.

He was shell-shocked! He could not utter a word after that, nor did he move an inch! After standing frozen for a while, he ran! He literally ran to flee from that place as soon as possible.

Arriving at the police station, he was gasping for breath, his body trembling. Concerned by his distressed state, the staff gathered around him, eager to understand the reason behind his panicked demeanor.

“Sir, it is her! It is her body!”

“Whose body?” asked one of them.

“Sir, the girl who came to file FIR, it was her body.”

“What?” All of them replied in chorus. With sheer disbelief, they left with the constable to investigate further.

To their horror, they realized that the lifeless body they had seen countless times belonged to the same girl. However, as soon as the constable discovered her face, she mysteriously vanished from the jungle, leaving no trace behind. Fearing for their own safety and sensing a paranormal threat, they swiftly filed a report and took the necessary actions.