WHY - I

“Bye kid, I am late, got to go” Michael said leaving the door. “Bye dad” Lina said waving her hands. Michael walked out of his home and saw the old man who was sitting outside his home which was opposite to his residence. He was smoking, as usual. Michael smiled at him. He didn’t expect a reply smile and he didn’t get one. The old man went on taking his long puffs in his cigarette. Michael had heard that the old man had gone dumb when his family died in an accident. “Shit happens” Michael thought starting his bike.

The old man watched Michael leave, lighting his next cigarette. He felt some pain in his back and he leaned against the wall behind. He watched the house in front of him. The grilled door with a name plate said “Michael, Police department”. After an hour, the old man watched a car approaching at the end of the street. The car parked in front of Michael’s house. Two men got out and rang the door bell. The small girl named Lina opened the door. The men entered the house and the door closed behind them.

The old man finished his pack of cigarettes and fell asleep. He woke up after a couple of hours as he heard some sounds. He cleared his eyes and saw the two people walk out of the home. They started their car and took leave.

The old man was hungry. He took some bananas he had bought and started to eat. He was feeling better. After an hour Michael returned from his office. He again smiled at the old man. The old man didn’t want to respond. He watched Michael get into his house. After a few seconds, the old man heard a loud scream. It was Michael.

After a few minutes, the house was packed with cops. Lina had been slit in the throat. She had been killed. “Oh, my daughter” Michael sobbed. “Michael, you got to relax” his senior said. “How could I sir?” Michael said. “Come on man, you are a cop, we’ve seen a hell lot of things like this, you got to relax and tell me what you saw exactly” his senior said.

“What should I tell? I just came in and found my daughter put to death like this” Michael was crying heavily. “Sorry to ask this, do you suspect any chances of rape, Michael” his senior asked. “No, there cannot be any rape, there are no chances of it” Michael said. “Okay we will send the corpse for autopsy, probably we can get a confirmation” his senior said. “Is that necessary sir? She is just 8 years old, I don’t want her to cut open into two” Michael said.

“Come on Michael, be a cop, we’ve got to do this, there is no other way” his senior said. Michael cried in reply. “Did you find anything missing in your home, Michael? Any chances of theft kind of things?” his senior interrogated. “No sir, everything is still, no chances of theft” Michael said.

“Okay Michael, I will proceed with my duty, and, mark my words, you got to be careful from now on” his senior said. “Why is that?” Michael said wiping his tears. “Someone wants vengeance, Michael, no rape, no theft, what do you expect? It must be some revenge, be very careful until we nab the bastards” his senior said and took leave. The corpse was cleared for autopsy in the next few minutes and the house got dumb now.

The old man noticed Michael’s door shut for the next couple of days. The third day Michael was in his cop’s uniform again and was leaving for job.

Michael looked at the old man. He was sitting there watching time. Michael didn’t want to smile this time. He started his bike and was about to drive when he heard someone calling him. To his surprise, it was the old man.