Chapter 5

The news of Priya's potential murder sent shockwaves through Kolkata. Newspapers splashed the story across their front pages, speculating on Dhritiman's secret past and the possibility of a double homicide spanning decades. The Chowdhury household became a beehive of activity, reporters jostling for interviews, and the ever-present shadow of Inspector Chatterjee hanging heavy in the air.

Maya, her composure shaken by the revelation, retreated further into her shell. The ghost of Priya, a woman she never knew, seemed to haunt her every step. Ananya, her youthful innocence dimmed by the unfolding drama, clung to her mother for support, a silent observer in the storm brewing around them.

Rahul, ever the opportunist, thrived on the chaos. He spun elaborate tales to the press, painting himself as the victim of Dhritiman's neglect and hinting at Maya's possible involvement in the "family secrets." His flamboyant pronouncements, however, rang hollow to Inspector Chatterjee's discerning ears.

Aparna, ever the shrewd one, maintained a facade of stoicism. However, a flicker of unease in her eyes betrayed her true emotions. Inspector Chatterjee suspected she knew more than she was letting on, perhaps about Priya or the accident itself. Somnath, who had surprisingly revealed his past encounters with Priya, became a person of renewed interest. Inspector Chatterjee subjected him to a rigorous interrogation, scrutinizing his alibis and his motives. Somnath, however, remained composed, his meek demeanor masking a hidden strength.

The investigation took a crucial turn with the arrival of a retired mechanic, Mr. Sen. Years ago, he had been the one who inspected Priya's car after the accident. With a keen eye and a photographic memory, Mr. Sen confirmed his initial suspicions – the brake line had indeed been tampered with, deliberately sabotaged.

The revelation was a bombshell. Who would have wanted Priya dead? Inspector Chatterjee revisited the past, meticulously re-examining the people closest to Dhritiman. Maya's mother, a stern and controlling woman, emerged as a possible suspect. But could a mother truly orchestrate the death of her daughter's rival?

Dhritiman's business rivals were also considered. Did one of them, facing a potential takeover by Dhritiman, eliminate Priya to weaken him? However, none seemed to have a strong enough motive or the opportunity to tamper with the car.

Then, a long-forgotten memory surfaced in Inspector Chatterjee's mind. During his questioning of Somnath, he had mentioned a childhood illness that kept him bedridden for weeks around the time of Priya's accident. Yet, Somnath had confessed to meeting Priya during that period. The inconsistency gnawed at Inspector Chatterjee.

With renewed suspicion, Inspector Chatterjee confronted Somnath. This time, Somnath's facade crumbled. He confessed to a long-held, festering resentment towards Dhritiman. Dhritiman, consumed by grief over Priya's death, had neglected a young Somnath, lavishing all his attention on Maya's mother and her newborn daughter, Maya.

Somnath, a lonely and neglected child, had overheard an argument between Dhritiman and Maya's mother about Priya. Filled with a twisted sense of loyalty towards Dhritiman, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He had tampered with Priya's car, a desperate attempt to remove the woman who, in his warped mind, had stolen Dhritiman's love.

The revelation sent shockwaves through the Chowdhury household. The truth, as always, was far more complex than anyone could have imagined. The murder of Dhritiman, it turned out, was a tragic accident. Consumed by guilt over Priya's death and the poisoning he believed he had accidentally inflicted on Maya (the tampered tea leaves were a harmless laxative meant for himself), Dhritiman had suffered a fatal heart attack.

The revelation brought a sense of closure to the case. Yet, the Chowdhury family was left grappling with the weight of the past. Maya, burdened by the knowledge of her mother's ruthlessness, struggled to come to terms with her family history. Rahul, exposed for his manipulations, retreated into the shadows, his inheritance dreams dashed.

Aparna, relieved that the spotlight had shifted away from her, retreated to her usual stoicism. Somnath, consumed by remorse, was taken into custody. The once opulent Chowdhury mansion now carried the weight of a dark secret, a stark reminder of the destructive power of love, loss, and a long-held grudge.