Mystery of the missing mobiles

Oh No! Not again!! Another Sherlock movie??

“Oh no! Not again! Another Sherlock movie??” exclaimed my long suffering wife Sheeja.

It was not a movie to be precise ☺ It was a modernised serial adaptation called Sherlock, which was telecast in BBC with Benedict Cumberbatch playing the role of the great detective as if he lived in modern day London. The same role once had greats like Jeremy Brett and Christopher Lee donning the seer sucker jacket, deerskin cap and pipe.

I did not bother to correct her as my wife was not a great fan of books nor was she of classic style movies. But right now she was not in mood to let it be. Sheeja continued to vent her feelings at Sherlock.

“Who ever created this character did a great disservice to wives like me” she said.

Now that was overstepping the limits for the greatest work of fiction and an inspiration for many authors and aspiring detectives. This I could not let go of easily.

“My dear wifey, if you don’t like Sherlock you should not have married me, after all I almost tried to become a Sherlock myself. If circumstances were different I would have tried my hand at being one detective full time” I said.

“Oh yeah a detective IT version of Sethurama Iyer maybe” she said with sarcasm.

Now my dander was up. “Let me tell you wifey dear I was actually considered a good detective like Sherlock, no jokes I solved quite a few mysteries in my time in IT.”

She looked at me in disbelief.

“I see you find it difficult to believe. I can tell you a couple of instances I had to don the mantle of detective and Sherlock my way to the solution. Just to make you a believer of what I said, I will share a couple of the events which I faced.” I said.

“O yea! You with your wide range of books you have read and with your consulting skills of solution building and communication. Add to that your MBA back ground with which you can make good presentation and make customers running Fortune 500 companies listen to your words and invest in your solutions. So why not make up a few stories to sell your detecting skills to poor me if you want. How difficult it will be for you?” she said.

“Nope every event I tell, you can verify these with people and I will introduce you to them also so that you can confirm the truth.” I said.

“You are serious aren’t you?” she still looked half doubtful but was now not so sure.

“Yes Shee I am serious. I can tell you quite a few real life incidents which will freeze your blood and make you really say truth is stranger than fiction. But that is for later right now I would share a few simple stories of pilfering and theft to get you to understand what I am” I looked at her with seriousness.

There were many things in my life which were dangerous and I did not tell my family to keep them from feeling worried. Some I will still keep hidden in my mind but some I can tell.

Now I am sure all readers must be wondering who this I being referred to be☺.

Let me introduce myself, the “I” mentioned is, me, myself - who goes by the short name of Giri. When I tell my full name there was a joke among friends that it sounded like roaring ☹ – my full name is Giri R R Nair I will not expand the initials here to keep my anonymity. But friends made fun that it is Girirrrrrr due to my slightly infamous temper☺. Like the name the roaring character they used to say.

While the time of telling you this story am 42 years old. I have over 19 years in IT and am an MBA and commerce graduate. Bad combinations as you know I was told by many. Finance, IT and world wise due to globetrotting consultant role that is what is me and my background.

That brings me to my other strong point - as a consultant I travelled over 20 plus countries and was well versed in IT, airport, immigration, foreign exchange and as my wife dear pointed out good communication skills. Handling the, suspicious and always looking for the slightest excuse to refuse an entry to foreigner’s, immigration departments of various countries.

That plus handling airport and port of entry officials with similar and tougher characteristics has made me quick in analysing the people I deal with and change my tactics pretty fast. Exposure to many business in Fortune 500 in Banking, Manufacturing, Telecom, Energy, Iron and Steel, Hardware, Electronics, Services, Media and IT itself gave me a wide range of information which helped me in many situations to solve many life problems and situations.

The Shee is my wife Sheeja at the time of the story she is 35 and mother of our 3 plus year old son Aditya- we call him Paappu. Paappu is ‘The One’ who wraps us around his little finger☺. In fact he wraps every one he comes across his little finger☺.

Sheeja my wife was also an IT gal till we got married. Our company magnanimously did not give her transfer so that we could work in same town; she was in Chennai I was in Trivandrum. We ran from pillar to post with her team, bosses and my team and bosses to get her to my base location. The magnanimity of the award winning famous man owned company stopped short of that.

So I told her to quit IT and at least “you will have peace. Then we can look for alternative work.”

Without any two thoughts or even one argument she accepted and we have never regretted our not so well thought but fast decision considering some main critical facts. A marriage can flounder if in initial stages we decide money is more important than togetherness we felt. So we still have same decision as I more or less am on verge of calling end to my 20 year IT career due to travel and excessive pressure with no adequate feeling of consideration given to employees. This is not just one but majority of Indian companies in IT.

Anyway finally we decided that better she work for herself and she is now settled down running her own brand of ready made garments for kids and ladies. She also does re-selling of ethnic and traditional dress and sarees from various parts of India as well as promotes handicrafts from different parts of India. She also supports up coming artists or new craft ideas for people in similar situation that we found ourselves in few years back.

Shee (I gave her a short name) is an MCA and was very good in IT having been a project leader herself in several projects with top MNC clients. Now she manages the business with just strategic inputs and business finance support from my side. Currently we have several partners whom she negotiates and manages as well as two outlets and several exhibitions a year. She has a team of around 6 and temporary staff of another 6.

Enough of the background I am sure (at least I hope) you are eagerly waiting for the mystery ☺

“Ok so when did this happen and where? Definitely this happened before we got married or I would hear from your friends or seen about it in FB considering that all our friends and relatives put every minor thing on FB and follow it up on watsapp and then a whole bunch of selfies and comments for the next few days.” Sheeja commented.

I smiled and said “Shee the first mystery happened about 15 years back and then onward there had been several over the years. There was no Facebook or watsapp or selfies culture. Forget it even mobiles did not have the 10 MP camera and so on. I will tell you a couple of simple ones so that it will be fast and not time consuming or boring. They will not be in sequence because some of them are not yet ready to be revealed to the world.”

“Interesting and you who tells me all stories, who according to your mother has no secrets and I also feel the same, never told this to any one of us?” Shee looked part aggrieved part unbelieving.

“Hmm some of them had confidential aspects; some were embarrassing for some people so I never told this to anyone. You know I am a very good friend and sensitive to others feelings as much as I am sensitive☺” I said.

“Ok Sherlock then why don’t you tell me your adventures let us see if you are really as good as the Sherlock, or Miss Marple of international fame or Feluda or Byomkesh of Indian fame at least. Start from the beginning” Shee said.

Just then my Mother and Father came in asking “Start what?”

“Mother have you ever heard about Chettan (respect title for elders) being called Sherlock and solving mysteries?” asked Sheeja.

Mother looked surprised “No, what is this new story” she demanded.

“No story, and definitely not new Amma (means Mother in Indian language Malayalam) it was some things that happened many years ago over a long period of time. Some of them I told you outlines of the events but never elaborated. Remember about Sindhu and the laptop, or about Raghu and his diamond earrings?” I asked

“Oh yes I remember they were stolen or something right? Mother asked.

“Yes but there were some things behind it each of these events, which I never mentioned. Also there were some I never mentioned at all even when I was under stress” I said.

“What things?” my Mother asked again to me.

“He is about to tell us” said Sheeja.

“Ok good, we also want to hear. After all you tell good stories” said Mother and sat down.

My Father looked half torn to switch on his usual news which would lead to him and I fighting over the good for nothing politicians and brain dead, self centred, short vision people of our country who let religion, money, language and what ever else be used as tool to fool us people. Fortunately my Father also seemed interested.

They all looked at me expectantly. For a moment I wondered whether I was making a mistake. Then I sat down and settled for a long session like I do in consulting or while conducting training.

I took a breath then got up, “Let me get some water and then I will start.”

“You sit down and I will get it for you” said Sheeja and she ran to the kitchen got my usual water mug and got me water. “Now you can start and no more excuses.”

Again all eyes were on me. I drew my breath again and sighed. I sat back remembering the various events and then decided the first event will not make a good story now. Let me start with one simple event which happened later. After all it is not chronological and no one but I knew the sequences.

I vividly remember the start of the events on that hot mid-summer day in Bangalore in 2003. Bangalore temperatures were already soaring to 35 degrees and more. It was made hotter by a simple but confusing theft which saw me get my dream come true of some one calling me as Sherlock☺.

Garden city and IT hub

I started with some background information about the story and the key characters, so that my family could get the context of these events clearly.

“You know Amma it was in 2003 and I was a consultant on my second assignment in Bangalore now known as Bengaluru. Bengaluru - the so called IT hub and Silicon Valley of India also known as the Garden city. Even though, right now, half the gardens are no longer better than parks in the way they are reduced or maintained so badly now. At that time, I was working with one of the oldest IT consulting practices, under an erstwhile Hyderabad based top IT Company called Truth systems.”

As an aside I added “Truth systems as you know had the owners doing many untruthful things and the owners are still under legal care and the company was renamed and taken over. The owners, a small royal family from Andhra region famous and now notorious and you know the name, the Sharmas. But that is another and well known story this is smaller scale and less famous or reported widely compared to that. You also know where I worked, but not about my clients and details of the life and what all I faced, Shee”

“My client was a Hardware giant called AHM and I was consulting them on overall IT process and delivery. They were also looking at achieving CMMI level3 accreditation. So it was a log term project and already 2 others were there for over 1 year. But I was called on to help and strategize for the level 3 journey. I was based there for the past 3 months by then and was well known to most of the leaders, managers and teams.” I paused and recollected how I was in a hotel near the railway station initially.

Daily used to take almost 45 minutes to commute one way. Later I had shifted to a sort of bachelor 1 BHK near old airport in Murugeshpalya to avoid the daily hassle of almost 45 minutes one way on the usual cab services organized by the AHM Company.

“Since it was supposed to be only 3 months and short term policy of the company allowed me to stay in hotel or paying guest for 6 months and to get it reimbursed after paying each month I made use of that. I was staying initially in hotel and then 1 BHK which was partially a paying guest type of accommodation where the higher rents get en suite rest gets shared bathroom and it was near the old airport road. I had a few old colleagues and friends like Renny and Ramakrishnan who were there in Bangalore from my previous job. You know them from my Bhagwan days in Chennai Amma.” Amma nodded as I paused to look at her.

I continued “So we used to meet weekends and it was ok for the first few months. Then the work started getting boring and I started getting restless. How I got out of it is another story and I will tell that later. Meanwhile monthly once I used to go for 3 days to Hyderabad. I had rented a house which would be cleaned every month only when I was there for the three days. When I joined Truth systems I had not expected this to happen and when I took the engagement to Bangalore I was told it will be only 3 months and it extended to 9 months with special approval to give me short term allowances.”

I sipped some water and settled once more comfortably “Meanwhile in the AHM office I made friends. As you know the old saying, birds of same feather flock together. Being from Kerala, me and the administration head named Manoj, who was also a Keralite, we became good friends. You know there was one thing I always hated about the old style mentality of manufacturing which was a bit too much I always felt on a few areas. This company had 60% of its heads of various IT teams from the manufacturing domain. They were old fashioned and had some very orthodox and hierarchical management thoughts and actions”

I could see my Mother and Shee getting restless with all the background. “Why these details you may wonder, it has significance. I will tell you how as we go ahead. Being of the view that delivery or production is important the leaders arranged seating in such a way that near the entrance and in the main areas the delivery teams sat. They clubbed HR, Finance, Admin, and Quality as support functions and put us at one far corner of the building. So there I was as the external consultant along with the support and quality functions at the farthest corner near the fire exit in the 3 rd floor”

I could still see the corner wall to my right the fire exit in front and the fire alarm and extinguisher. The cubicle for middle level experienced team leads were assigned to us. It was individual cubes and not the usual shared by 4 cubes as given to junior level developers or programmers. It was equipped with intercom and PC which was also as befitting our not so junior positions☺. We all had a half cabinet and a waste bin with the wheeled chair to sit.

Now isn’t that luxury? ☺

“Being at the very end of the building floor every housekeeping activity ends at my seat and just to my right and slightly behind was the admin head Manoj. To my parallel was the rest of the Quality team. To reach us every one had to come past almost a corridor with cabins of leaders on one side and wall on other.” I paused.

Gone in 10 minutes!

I explained my routine in those days to my family to get them clear about the background. “I would get up at around 7 and take bath and get dressed and walk to office which was barely 4 kilometres. I would reach in about 30-35 minutes by around 8.30 – 8.40 only because the heat was bad and the traffic were uncontrolled. I will go to food court as soon as I reach office and have break fast and tea and then come down by 9 to my seat. “

“I remember clearly that it was a Friday because I was planning to leave to Hyderabad to meet my Boss to plead on my release from the project as it was already 4 months. As usual that day began at 8.30 and I had met Manoj when I went up and we were chatting over breakfast.”

I explained “Just as I was a bachelor and I was staying in a single room/ bath apartment with no kitchen utensils or gas or cooking facility even though it had a kitchen. Manoj also was a bachelor but stayed in different place with friends. We used to most days meet at same time for break fast and finish and chat over a cup. We walked down to our floor from food court and Manoj to his seat and I to mine. As usual there were reports, mails, reviews to be done, some rework on processes and I was focused on it and I did not notice Manoj for another couple of hours.”

I remembered and laughed and “What is funny” Shee asked. I smiled and said “You see I was never a great fan of the coffee or tea from the machines you know then and now I hate them. So I used to take the lime tea or tomato soup the Maggi machine used to give those days in the AHM office. I was of a habit of taking a break every hour and a half for soup in morning around 10.30-11 and lime tea in afternoon around 4.”

Shee and Mother laughed when I told this. There was a history of my almost getting ulcers due to my excessive drinking of coffee and spicy food in my early days of employment in Hyderabad. This saw me stop tea and coffee and shift to lime tea and tomato soup instead.

I proceeded ““I had got up as usual at 10.30 to get myself a cup of what passed as tomato soup from the machine. On my return I saw M with a big parcel. "What is that" I asked M. "New set of mobiles" he replied. “Oh so some big shots feel the old ones are old in 6 months?” I was as sarcastic as usual and Manoj laughed.””

I explained again to benefit of my family. “The company had a habit of giving its junior managerial roles mobiles, so for new promoted or joined guys the new lot of mobiles had come. For senior manager bigger mobiles and laptops” I laughed sarcastically.

I continued the story ““So I went to my seat and then heard the phone ring at M’s desk. I heard him move, and he passed by far side and I saw him walk away to the cabin of one of the so called executive leaders of D. "Bugger might be asking to replace his phone with one from new lot" I thought.””

“Thankfully just then the housekeeping was winding up and reached my table to clean and collect the rubbish. I moved back to let them take the waste bin as I saw M come out after few minutes and passed out of my vision range to his seat behind me” I paused to collect my thoughts.

I explained to Shee the routine of housekeeping “They come over and ask if we have any paper to dispose and then take our waste bin and empty into a black garbage bag a big on which by then would be full at least 2/3 rd. So that day also they finished the usual routine and walked to the fire exit and left through that to avoid carrying all the rubbish bags across the entire floor. The usual routine was they then took it sorted it and some items were burned in incinerator. I always thought it was careless to have fire exit and it was always unlocked and unguarded.”

Sheeja said “You always have too much strict attitude towards security and admin, remember Amma how he used to get upset about how people in car was not searched but all walking were searched? He made a point to walk in and make an issue until all security in that offices were careful not to check any one when he used to come in.”

All of them laughed remembering at the way this story was later told to them by my friend Pramod.

I smiled and said “Ok but let me complete this story or not?”

“Oh no you better complete this story, you have started and got us interested now” said Mother and Sheeja in unison.

I settled back and said ““Next thing I noticed Manoj frantically calling some one over our intercom then he rushed to me "Giri you saw someone taking the mobiles?” "Sorry what was that, come again I did not get what you said" I asked. "Giri I had 4 mobiles in sealed packs I had not even opened it, now there are only 2” he said.””

I told my family ““You can imagine how I might have felt at this shocker. I was sort of stunned, I said "But you were gone just a few minutes and no one passed from that side, if they did you and I could see as the cabin and passageway is right in our vision line." "I was gone 10 minutes maximum Giri but some one took it" replied Manoj. He turned and said "I will call security and ask them to search all bags, and check the entire lockers" and he ran back to his seat.””

I still felt grim when I remembered his panic. There was reason for his panic also. I explained to my family that.

“You see the old rigid gang would definitely ask him to pay for it from his pocket as it was his responsibility until he handed those mobiles to the managers entitled for them. Also they will say he was careless and not did his job properly by not locking it securely before moving away from his seat. Without doubt his boss will mention it and it will affect his appraisal. He will be also considered as unreliable and that will affect his career prospects.”

I still felt furious even after 10 plus years over the things I hated about that organization and its so called leaders and the attitude and culture they carried on as I told my family the story now. It was not my favourite management team.

And all it took was 10 minutes and 2 mobile phones were gone!!

O security, security! What for art thou?

I sat silent controlling my fury at some of the unjust actions and deeds as well as words I had seen, heard and faced in my days in IT. Across the 19 plus years and in this case some specifically within AHM Company. My family waited quietly knowing the fury I get at times and how I should be allowed to calm down.

“So Manoj called security and blocked every one at the each gate and entrance. Then he arranged for security to start search inside the premise and also search all bags and personnel. It took close 6 hours by 5 PM it was still not found and no one had any idea but to call the police and report it to them to investigate”

I remembered the unhappiness Manoj felt and the irritation for the management and how some of them was unhappy and took it out on Manoj. All of us knew how painful it will be once police is involved. All wanted to avoid that and now it seemed there was no choice but to call them in.

Unfortunately in India police are not a positive thought for the common man. There are instance where they were more negative and unhelpful and even sometimes dangerous to the innocent. So the reaction will be on Manoj and he knew how it will be and was feeling upset and worried and I was observing all this. I told this to my parents and Sheeja succinctly and shortly and paused to drink once more some water.

““So I went to Manoj and said “come you need a break.” He looked at me like I was crazy. You see as per the policy it is the centre head and HR that has to call the police in. They were not happy with the situation as police does not care if you are VP in AHM or BCD or XYZ☺. Policy says security team and HR has to escort any outsiders around the facility and they should not be given free rein. Try telling that to the police and see how they will accept it or react☺.”” I looked at my family who also were looking tense and more attentive as the story progressed.

“No one was happy and here I was telling to the person whom everyone thought was responsible to relax and take a break. Everyone had given him more than enough of an earful. No wonder he looked at me like I was crazy. To top it all with this complication, legal team also need to be involved and legal adviser also may have to be called in, who will charge an arm and a leg. As it involved police and even court proceedings there definitely was a need and cannot be avoided to involve the legal team.” I paused.

I continued the story “And to the police Manoj and every one will be now a suspect and pawn in the entire board. Police, normally itself, treat people not too kindly or nicely in those days and imagine a criminal case and being considered a suspect. The treatment would be worse. No wonder Manoj felt and looked sick the poor guy!” I stopped to take another sip of water.

I said to my family “It is easy to say cool, relax everything will be alright etc but nothing can really achieve it. But I persuaded him to come with me. So he came with me all upset and said no to taking tea, while I took my usual lemon tea. We sat down on a table. I did get him away for two reasons; one to save him from the selfish so called big shots. And secondly I wanted to ask him the important question that was in my mind.”

I looked at Sheeja and Mother and Father and continued “3 guesses what I wanted to find out, any one can guess” I smiled.

“Stop playing games chetta please tell the story, you got things at such a situation of suspense and now playing games with us” asked Sheeja.

I laughed out then continued “In all the tension everyone missed a few key things. But I remembered while I was standing in front of my chair watching all the commotion and then I looked up to the wall in front of me right above the exit sign of the fire exit. There I felt lay a possibility to get one answer to an important question.”

I paused and asked my family “Any guess? Again it is a standard thing and all of us might have seen it in many places in shops and hotels and if we walk into banks ATM etc”

“Of course I know! Security camera kept at every door!!” Sheeja shouted excitedly.

I smiled “Yes, you got it! Security camera which was focusing straight and in the line of vision was Manoj and me and our seats. I wanted him to check the security cam, which was right in line of his seat focusing on the entire approach to the fire exit so it captures his seat and my seat”

I could see the light in everyone’s eyes. “Ah ha so that was the big detection by Sherlock Giri” said my dear wife.

I smiled mischievously “So you think it was that easy? My dear wife there is nothing that easy in life let me tell you. Only thing easy in life is to cry, everything else is difficult and costly.”

I took a sip from my mug and settled once more comfortably pulling my leg up onto the diwan. Just then my son turned in the bed in the room and sat up. He was sleeping and now he was awake and I walked to him and he came down from the bed and walked to me and wanted me to lift him to my shoulder and carry him out to the diwan.

My son 3 years 6 months old Aditya we call him Paappus. So I settled him on the sofa and he wanted to see cartoon, I switched on the TV and changed channels to some power rangers cartoon. Then he wanted milk and Shee got the milk in bottle and he sat sipping it and settled to watch the cartoon.

Once again the whole family settled in with adults waiting impatiently to continue the story. Only person missing was my nephew Alok Krishna we call him Kuttu. He was in the other bedroom mostly playing with mobiles.

Once we were all settled again I started ““I asked Manoj “Manoj did you or security or anyone checked the camera above the fire exit?” Manoj looked blank. “Manoj listen that camera is right in line with our seats. So anyone taking the mobile or standing near your seat we can find it and that will solve things without involving the police.” Manoj sat still stunned for a moment, then he said “Thank you , Giri Thank you, you saved me Thank you. Come we will go to the security control room and get the recording and check it. You must also come with me please.””

“Manoj was so excited he was laughing all the way calling me a genius and we ran all the way to the security room. On reaching the security room, it took some time to convince them to take the current running tape out and to play it. We took the tape, in those days it was tape and then copied to CD every week and stored for 6 months before re-using it. The dvd or more sophisticated storage systems were still not in popularity as they were costly as new advanced technology those days.” I explained the security camera and back up process to my family.

I continued the story ““Excitedly we had to wait till the security replayed the tape, by now not only security but centre head and HR head also had heard and were standing excited saying “Good idea from you Giri. This may save us some trouble and help avoid the police” On the tape we reached the point where we could see Manoj leaving his seat and a couple of minutes later I kicked myself as I should have had the answer without the tape itself. As I saw who was approaching Manoj’s chair and what he was carrying.””

“Any guesses?” I asked and I got such a look I decided I will now just rather tell the story and not bother about giving them opportunity to solve. “We all watched in tense silence at the housekeeping guy with the black bag approach Manoj’s seat and he first looked at the desk then he bends down and took the waste bin and emptied it. Then he straightened and we could just see his hand move and deposit something with his back to us into the black waste bag and then he walked to wards the camera and fire exit and disappeared from range.”

“Remember I had seen the guy reach me and he emptied the rubbish and had walked past me and I had looked back and seen Manoj still not there and this guy was the only guy who passed his seat. I should have remembered and deduced it then and there. But who thinks of the housekeeping guy doing his job and carrying the rubbish bag? Like the saying to hide something best is to keep it in plain view☺. Or the best way to make people not notice is to look and dress like you belongs in the local way” I smiled.

I smiled again and mischievously said “Now here is the catch, we could not identify if he took anything. One because the camera was not that great in those days and the picture was too wide angle and focused at the immediate arrivals near the door. Two the cubicle half wall obstructed the view of his hand and whatever below the level of the cubicle wall. It was not conclusive but everyone was sure it was the housekeeping guy. But we continued watching as no one approached but Manoj and then the panic attack and rest of the scene and we stopped.”

““The HR and centre head were clear that it was the housekeeping guy who did this, they had no doubts. I was meanwhile thinking since his hand was empty I was sure it was in his black garbage bag. Meanwhile others were planning how to proceed. I told Manoj my suggestion I said “Already we wasted almost 20 minutes. Get the security to go check the place where this rubbish bag is and catch hold of the guy. I was sure he may have removed the mobile from the cover but the cover might be still there in the bag if he thinks no one suspects him.””

““So as Juliet was attributed with “O Romeo, Romeo where for art thou” here we were asking same question in different manner “o security, security what for art thou?” What use was this security was the question running in our mind? Manoj asked me “Giri that camera actually did not give us any evidence. Then what purpose is the security camera, recording and monitoring it? What purpose are we paying so much money for all this so called security if it does not provide us any real or useful output or evidence in such a situation like this where a real crime is committed?””

“He had a valid point there!!☺” I told my family and smiled.

O boy! Here comes the twist

I looked at my tense and eager family and smiled widely then added “As the saying goes, we were just one step away from the finale. And as Indiana Jones says that is when the bottom literally falls out. That is when the story started slipping out of our grasp. We raced to the housekeeping and rubbish room where we had the incinerator also.”

I remembered how badly it turned out “We located and searched all the dustbin bags and guess what? We found nothing, not even the outer cover of the mobiles. We were stumped and stunned to say the least and centre head and HR were looking at me as if I was a nuisance and I had wasted the time.”

““Manoj and I stood looking at each other. “Giri what went wrong? Did we go wrong about the housekeeping?” Manoj asked me. “Manoj you saw the tape no one came near. The other one is you and you also did not have anything in your hand so you also did not hide it so it is logical that this guy only took it” I said””

““Even if you are right, then we need to find the mobiles. Security checked him and everyone, the bags and lockers. Where is it?” asked centre head with some sarcasm. Meanwhile HR had summoned the contractor and we had the guy who had come to collect rubbish also located and he was under security observation right then. We decided to interrogate him””

I looked at my family still remembering how badly it all went “The interrogation did not go well at all. We were faced with a totally different problem. Our suspect housekeeping guy denied having taken it and the contractor a small time politician asked us what basis or evidence we had to accuse his staff. He said he recruited people and had them even police verified (it was AHM policy for all contractors) and now he was threatening us stating that we were abusing an economically backward fellow.”

Sheeja was the one to break the silence “You definitely solved it so why not tell us what your Sherlock brains were doing? I am quite sure you were analysing and trying to find some solution and you found it, otherwise you would not tell this story.”

“Good deduction, Shee” I laughed.

“Well after all I am the wife of Sherlock Giri, right?” laughed Shee and everyone joined in the laugh this time.

“Let me explain something about AHM. They were heavily into ecology and environment protection etc. So they had waste disposal like recycling, bio waste management unit and even an incinerator. They also were employee facility oriented. They had changing and locker rooms even for the house keeping. There we were standing in the garbage room and the next door was the lockers for housekeeping staff to change into uniform and shower etc. Beyond the garbage room was the closed incinerator and the bio waste plant.” I paused to explain this.

“Suddenly I had a brain wave. I knew where the mobile covers might be. It was the only logical option once you eliminate all possibilities and consider all facts. How ever improbable it may seem that will be the solution which will be left that will explain all facts.” I paused again. I had to go to the toilet and got up and went☺.

My family was waiting impatiently for me to return and take up the thread. All, except my son who was enjoying watching the cartoon program on television.

I resumed ““I said to Manoj “Manoj is the incinerator operating every minute?” “No Giri it is operated every evening after 7 PM. Why” “Manoj no time to lose, open it and empty it””

““For the first time the housekeeping guy showed nerves and he was asking to be allowed to leave, making some excuse about buying something for his home or such. I said “Anyway you waited till now wait for an hour more or we can call the police and hand you over.” He went quiet and pale. I was now more than sure I was certain he was the culprit.””

“I could still see in my mind even now the tension and expectation as the housekeeping guys opened and emptied the incinerator and there it was! Two covers and rest of the inner protective covers, warranty etc of 2 mobiles. Manoj compared the serial number with the bill he had and they were same. He looked at me and smiled partially relieved.” I settled more comfortably.

“The tables have turned. We had solid proof that it was deliberate and was part of rubbish so the guy or guys were involved. Now the contractor turned and gave one hard slap to this guy and in Kannada called him a thief and asked him to return the stolen goods.” I smiled even now at how the fellow turned.

I explained “Now it was our turn to put pressure on the guy. He had given us a hard time talking about local poor and backward guy being pushed by us. Now it was our turn to push back asking how he wanted to be treated as an accomplice who tried to defend and aid a thief using his position and political standing.”

I paused and again took a sip of water. I was feeling peckish☺.

“The security and others pulled the contractor and the guy away and HR manager talked to the housekeeping guy his name was Krishna. HR was pointing out that it was evident he will go to jail at least if he returned the mobiles we will not file complaint and he can go. He cannot work here at AHM any longer that is all we will not put him to police. If his contractor wanted or not to employ him, that is his wish but not in AHM anymore.” I stopped for a breather.

I sighed and felt the frustration even now when I remembered it. “The human mind is so complex, I cannot understand even now the reason, but that guy still refused to admit or give up his ill gotten gains.” I paused then continued “we were left with no other choice; it was well past 6 PM. The HR Head/ manager knew the commissioner, so he called him and was assured that police will reach us in another 30 minutes. I am sure he might have given some explanations also anyway he looked a bit relieved. After all we have the culprit.”

Sher-locked

““Manoj was half relieved we got the thief but other half he was still upset the items were missing and he still was accountable. He had not even had lunch and he looked gaunt and tired. He looked at me and said “Here is where we needed a Sherlock Holmes. You have been like Sherlock so far Giri, can you help me once more, and can you locate the phones please” He was literally begging me. The centre head and HR was looking sceptical but still were hopeful partly.””

“I felt really sorry for him,” I said to my listening family even they looked sorry for Manoj even after so many years. “But even I had no clue. We had caught him with in minutes but that 20-25 minutes he had managed to hide the phone and put the cover in the incinerator. If we were late in getting the idea of where the cover was it also would have burned and no clues or proof”

“Come on do not act like suspense movie director, tell us the answer and the rest of the story please” said Sheeja.

“Stop playing with us and tell us now” ordered both my parents.

I was really enjoying it☺. I continued with the narrative. ““I was feeling frustrated and thought if I went out and felt the air even though Bangalore was not fresh air it would be better than the machine and smoky smell of that room. Manoj followed me out, I went to the rest of the housekeeping staff and they were already summoned and were standing outside. I asked “At 10.30 Krishna was cleaning 3rd floor alone, why? Normally there are two guys right? Where was the other guy?” Manoj looked totally aghast as he should have also remembered it and he was supposedly managing the housekeeping function also.””

I carried on with the narrative ““They looked at each other and one of the guys stepped up to us from the group and replied. “Sir I was in the floor duty with him, when some one reported spilled coffee in conference room and I went to clean it and Krishna said he will continue till I caught up. By the time I cleaned and kept the mop away outside the floor I saw Krishna had completed the floor and was going down the steps. The brooms and mops as you know sir is kept in a cupboard in the corridor outside each floor fire exit door near the stair case.” “What is your name yaar?” I asked him””

““His name was Govindu and he had caught up with Krishna just as he was on the 2nd floor stairs he told us as they had 3 bags of rubbish to carry. Krishna had carried them up to 2nd floor when Govindu reached. They had reached the garbage room when Krishna said he left one cover on 3rd floor landing and Govindu said he will go get it and left as Krishna had alone done the work till 2nd floor. Now I and everyone could see what the plan was and how Krishna fooled him to remove him and get time to hide the mobiles and try and dispose the covers.””

““How long were you gone Govindu” I asked him and his reply was he was away hardly 10-15 minutes. And I asked Govindu “What was Krishna doing when you came back?” Govindu thought for a moment then he said “Sir he was in the changing rooms and he had some dirt on his head and shirt which he was trying to wipe off. I asked him how he got dirty. Krishna said there was dirt in the incinerator and he was trying to wipe it when it stuck to him also.”” I smiled at my family this was the vital clue. I could see they also recognized it.

I carried on with my story “Then they were sorting waste and putting it at the incinerator or recycle bin as was the expectation and they were assisted by 2 more guys and getting things ready for the end of the day to activate incinerator and the waste plants. That was when security and all of us came and after that no one had any chance to be alone. It was very clear, what ever happened was within the 10-15 minutes time that this guy Krishna got when Govindu was gone.”

““Manoj looked totally lost he told me “Giri we searched entire lockers and bags nothing we could find there”. He looked dejected. We walked into the room once more and opened random lockers and at bags. Nothing and just then this police officer walks in with team. He was ordering us to get out. He was asking his team to search. He had already taken Krishna under custody. We stood feeling foolish as the air-condition cool breeze came from overhead.””

“I know” said Sheeja and my Mother was also smiling “It was in the air-conditioner duct” they both said.

I laughed and told them “I also thought the same; fortunately I never told it, because I looked up with the same idea as you and saw one serious flaw to that idea.”

“What was the serious flaw?” demanded Sheeja and my Amma.

I laughed and explained “In a second I knew that the key to the mystery was not incinerator or locker room or air conditioner. It had to be a factor or place we never even considered. Because what ever the fault they had AHM housekeeping was thorough. I remembered now that the incinerator door was clean, so was air conditioner duct. It was obvious Krishna got dirt when he tried to hide the mobiles. But he did not get dirt from either the incinerator or the air conditioner. Both were looking clean and dirt or dust free.”

“So if the dirt was not from either, we had to find from where he got dirty. If we could that would solve the case. There was a second point also, I noticed air conditioner duct had screws and no way any one can remove it in 5 minutes and then put it back in and close so properly and tightly in 10 minutes and that too after having carefully dumped the mobile covers into the pile already in the incinerator. Plus the screws definitely needed tools and no tools were in that room. Tools were kept with supervisor and anyone taking it had a log to enter details. I went and found it all from the supervisor. I also confirmed that Krishna had not taken any tools or had never tool and kept any with him. Also this was no pre-planned robbery for him to have carried tools from outside. Again our security if they locate tools while searching them would record it. All it took was 10 minutes to discover this☺.”

“I walked outside the changing room; it had two doors from it. One was door to the incinerator and the other to outside garden. I went out to the garden hoping that some fresh air and a look around may help me. It really did help in a way I never imagined. As I stood there enjoying the light breeze in the evening after the heat of the day and looked around at the flowers and lights and the pathways between them well managed and trimmed. And then I got the answer.” I paused to look at my family.

They were still engrossed and eagerly following my narrative “AHM was very much into environment and health standards. So they have kept carbon level monitors in the office and some air purifiers and AC ducts had outside ducts for water vapour emission and such. They were placed along the outer walls. Some of them were about 3-4 feet high from the ground and were with grills and bars. I could feel the excitement as I went close to one nearest and started looking at it closely.”

I looked at my family and said “That fellow hardly had 5 or 10 minutes and he also knew he needs to be back inside in less time maybe 1-2 minutes before Govindu returned. So he could not go too far, so I looked into each duct. On the 4th duct I stuck pay dirt; or rather smudged and messed dirt. There were smudges on the dust and dirt and I knelt and looked closely into the duct and there it was! A plastic cover tied and hung inside!!”

““I remembered how excited Manoj was and he was about to grab it. I stopped him and told him to get the police and our big shots. Manoj called to one of the security who was standing there and asked him to get everyone. He was literally trembling and he turned to me. “Thanks Giri I think you have found it and you have saved me.” I smiled and then turned to see our guys coming. It took another 10 minutes before the police officers came. Centre head explained our suspicion and the Inspector laughed saying what nonsense etc in Kannada. But he asked a constable to pull it out.””

I remembered even now my irritation at the behaviour of the inspector. ““And there were the phones in plastic covers tied and hanging from the lowest grill. You know all vents will have a sort of projection inside like a ledge it was placed against the ledge. I had solved it. The grill being outside it was dusty and dirty. So trying to tie it and hang it between the grills and on the ledge so that even if cover tore it did not fall off made Krishna dirty. All the clues had contributed, to arrive at the final solution.”

I sat back breathed deeply “so that was how it happened. But Manoj and leaders were happy. We managed to solve it before police but there were some mild hiccups with police later but we solved it. But most importantly the centre head and HR Head shook hands and became my great fans. Manoj was the one to say the statement which was important for me, I said. “Giri you saved my life and career he was sobbing. I have heard about detectives read about Sherlock Holmes but you was a real life Sherlock. Sherlock Giri.””

I sat back and then Sheeja said “so anyone we can verify with about this story?”

“Yes you can, “I said” “Manoj can vouch so can couple of others” I was a bit offended that my family was not trustful of my story.

They looked at each other and Sheeja asked “What model was the phone”

I knew what was coming, “It was the abcd model of Nokia” I said. Sheeja laughed “this is big case? Recovering few thousand rupees worth? If we ask about it to Delphi they may not have made a fuss like a proper old fashioned big company.”

They all laughed.

“Hmm first fact is at that time that model was fresh in market and cost around 8000. It was more than a month’s pay for housekeeping staff. Two pieces he took and one he could sell and one he could gift or use for self. Later the police found he was planning to gift to his girlfriend who was a cafeteria employee in AHM itself. Second it was at those times a good sum where even my salary was just 55000 as gross. Maybe I should stop now since you feel these are silly and not important or worth considering” I said and got up.

“No we were joking, please come on tell us the story of your next exploit, please, please. We really liked the mystery and how you solved it. I am sure the police never would have” said Sheeja.

“Yes, by the way did you go to Hyderabad after all this” asked Amma.

“Oh yes I did as the train was at 9.30 PM. 8 o clock when the police had taken statements and then took this guy away and asked us to come to police station for detail formalities. Once they left I was congratulated and I hurried to my place took my already packed bags, came out took an auto and went to railway station picked a dinner pack and got into the train sharp at 9.15.” I completed.

“Please one more story, please, please!!” said Sheeja and rest looked seriously at me and nodded.

I sighed now that I have started I knew I may have to share a few more stories before they got bored and totally stopped pestering me ☹.

I came back to the sofa and sat down and my mind was racing over each event. It sounds simple now but then when each of the events happened it was definitely not easy or as simple as I made it sound. Now I know why magicians never tell makes people say “How simple and silly☺”

Anyway they were now interested now I had them Sher-locked☺. I smiled in my mind.

Well now that I have started there were a few more I could tell. I was feeling a bit sleepy and it had started drizzling there was nothing I could do outside. Better try and remember one which was short and again not so gory or too complex.

I sat back comfortably looking into the past to select one more to share with my family who was looking at me and sitting expectantly….

Next Chapter: Mystery of the missing laptop