Albert Houston, the famous painter was at his home, at Park Avenue, Kolkata, sitting relaxedly and watching, 'The Grudge'. It was 12:30, just at the peak of midnight. He solely lived in his three storey bungalow. It was the month of chilling December, when usually by now, it’s very cold in Kolkata. People hardly go out as they feel cold chill running through their spines. Before Albert could speak up for a second, the world came to an end for him.

It was out in newspapers early next. Albert was dead! There was a small mark on his forehead. Nobody could say whether he committed suicide or was killed, as there were no other marks of physical torture. As he lived a lonely life, nobody questioned about his whereabouts. The cops from nearby police station took whole affair lightly. They started late investigation on as they usually do for other cases. The shock and jerk came when final reports of postmortem came.

It was clearly stated that through a finely cut hole made by a micro sharpest razor, was protruded inside the skull, thereby cracking it and damaging the ‘cerebellum’ part of brain!

The cops including police in-charge were astonished. ‘How is it ever possible to attack someone from outside like this?’ They started discussing. They investigated the whole house, but nothing was moved out of place or any robbery committed!

Annie Thompson studied in the final year Doctorate in micro-robotics at prestigious Calcutta University. She was an intelligent girl as depicted by her teachers. Good looking, with partially blonde-black hair, deep-dug brown eyes, tall and a slim figure with chubby cheeks—really made her very attractive. She was the only daughter of John and Marilyn Thompson. They belonged to upper-middle class of an Anglo Indian family. Her parents were proud of her as she was in verge of donating some essential elements for sake of India.

The interesting and essential fact about Annie was that she loved to attend all the seminars at University. While at home, she was an ideal girl, parents would like to have! She helped mother with her chores whenever she got opportunity to do so.

That was a busy Monday morning. As usually, Annie left for university after helping her mother. She was on her way walking on the road when suddenly she met with an accident. After that particular day, everyone had completely lost trace of her!

The police started investigations but to no avail. People had started discussions and were in doubts. What had actually happened to Annie? Was she murdered or kidnapped?

A month passed with no definite clues! This issue had spread like wild fire. From common people to intellectuals all were questioned but with no strong results. Annie’s parents were totally devastated. Her mother got a stroke and dad became quite speechless after that event. And, it became just a closed chapter!

Bob Marlyn, a surgeon of repute, lived with his family in beautiful place of Palm Avenue, Kolkata. He lived with his wife, a manager at local bank. His son and wife were staying at the states. Usually Bob, a sixty-five year old, started jogging, usually as he did every morning. That day was a lovely one with a bright sunshine on lush green trees; it always gave a pleasant feeling! Bob became very happy. His son would be coming soon from abroad and settle in Kolkata permanently.

He was thinking about all this, when suddenly he got severe pain in abdominal zone. He collapsed. There were no signs of blood. When taken to the hospital, it was stated that he had expired ten minutes ago. When examined thoroughly, it was found that because of some dangerous acid intake, he got the pain. But who gave him acid?

People at top levels started fearing about the different incidents happening all over. When the question was put forward to his wife, she said that they kept a good and honest cook. She never knew cooking. It was clearly stated that he was slow poisoned! The cook was questioned. He said, ”Sahibs, I really don’t know about this! From childhood, I am working here. I love my munib a lot!”

Who was next to be questioned, remained a bigger issue than the question itself. Important people of Kolkata, restricted their level of going out after this third issue.

By this time, police in-charge retired and a new one came at his place. His name was Zaheer Ahsan. People said he was too intelligent. He achieved this position by his hard work and dedication. He was just a twenty-eight year old with a stout body, Indian hero like looks which reminded everyone of the famous Salman Khan. His colleagues said at his back, ”Isse toh cinema mein jana chahiye!”

But, gradually they came to learn that wherever Zaheer went, it always meant for some serious work! As soon as he came to this post, he piled up all the late closed files lying under heaps of dirt and dust and stared his investigation. After his duty times, he still would sit at the police station and continue work.

Nevertheless, to say that Zaheer was partially blind but his parents had sent him to a nearby Braille school as they were desperate about the fact that he should be literate even when he is blind. Zaheer, from his early childhood, had shown traces of his uniqueness from the other children. With one word, the teachers used to describe him as ’Naturally unique’. This was exactly how Zaher the top cop was! He lived with his parents in Howrah.

“We need to complete our investigations as soon as possible.” He informed his higher authorities. The higher authorities were impressed by his work. Everyone silently realized that Zaheer was too dedicated to his work as at times he forgot to eat and even go to washroom for nature’s call. People started respecting him and loving him simultaneously.

Though Zaheer needed support but he always stood strong. The way he spoke, demanded that people should give him extra attention. He used to come on his holidays to work. Wherever any help was needed, he tried his best to leave aside everything and give aid.

Eden Desouza, the robotics scientist had gained a lot of reputation and recognition. He lived at a place called Rashbihari more in his grand palatial house. It was said by his neighbors that his parents were renowned as they both were famous scientists, had left a large sum of money for their son and daughter’s welfare. Eden‘s sister Diana, lived separately with her husband but everyone said that Eden’s parents lived in London.

Eden grew up to be very decent as we generally see the stereotypical scientists of India. He looked just fantastic in his dark complexion and French cut beard. His way of wearing a coat broadly separated him from all the categories of people wearing coats and ties.

People were attracted by his wearing a pair of sunglasses of ‘ray ban’ brand. Though they were a bit in suspicion that he wore those only or he had a greater collection of the same brand. He was very organized.

People also said that he had a girlfriend and both of them love each other in tones. They were depicted as ‘love birds’, by all who see them coming in or going out. As generally people hardly seen Eden going out of his house!

They said that he was very studious and had transformed a portion of his house into a laboratory and huge library. Usually he doesn’t entertain any guests but when they come, they see him doing something constructive.

Recently it was announced in papers that both Eden and his girlfriend were planning to get married.

As it was said after a few days both of them actually got married. It was again heard that very few people were invited at ceremony. But nobody was sure whose names were there in that special list.

The news of a female beggar getting smashed on head was again becoming hot topic like a hot and new tasty pastry! The murder took place ten days back at Entally, one of the busiest market and populated area of Kolkata. In Kolkata, no one has heard of getting ‘smashed on the head‘ by a stone recently as this was something that had come to limelight years back, when ‘the stoneman’ issue had erupted! This case was a worse one. The place where the beggar was staying, was whole filled with permanent blood that didn’t fade even after weeks of that horrible incident. The beggar was roughly around thirty years of age and mentally challenged.

No one hardly spoke to her and avoided her as much as possible. Whatever little food that she ate, she got to eat from any person who fell pity and gave her. The viewers said that nobody knew her whereabouts so doing investigation in this meant that it the whole event would go blurred once more. But Zaheer instantly said that very recently and within a few months, he would come up with the original case!

The murder had taken place during the noon time. Generally by this hour, the whole place is flooded with people, then how come nobody noticed? Usually the Kolkatans are said to be very caring people. Then, why didn’t anyone take her to the hospital? Her head was so badly bruised that the nerves of her brain could be seen from outside.

This was the first murder that was happened with so much violence. Cops became so much sure of the fact that the head was smashed by a roadside stone only. But what had this poor beggar done? This question still remained in the dark. But few policemen were a bit assured that zaheer would be able to disclose everything at the right moment.

Specimens of the blood and related stuff were collected for further inquiries. After this, time was gradually moving on. For sometimes, there was a long deserving peace of serenity in kolkata. People felt relieved a bit. Gradually Christmas was approaching. This is the best time of the year in Kolkata too. Everywhere people with their warm clothes on move out in clusters. The churches all over Kolkata are nicely decorated with beautiful hymns heard from outside that further soothe the minds of people. From all corners of homes, irrespective of different religions, Kolkatans bake varieties of cake at their homes and it becomes a time of grand celebration for everyone.

As people started forgetting about all worries another brutal murders happened a day after the Christmas Eve. Abdullah Ali, sixty year old Scientist was found dead at his residence. By looking at his face, everyone would automatically say that he had a peaceful natural death. But if it’s noticed carefully there were some scratches, some marks which cannot be clearly stated but it actually looked like the legs of a monkey.

The intellectuals were now in tremendous doubt. In Kolkata it’s totally an absurd issue to find a monkey then how come it’s killed a human being as monkeys are not supposed to be hard attackers. Abdullah was found dead at an isolated garden near his home.

The government informed all the citizens to be aware of this and not to frequently tred out of their homes. Police vans were put on guard in different areas of Kolkata.

“Life has just become more dangerous than a nightmare.” The people used to discuss among themselves at their different areas tea-stalls, food-stalls etc. One more question suddenly cropped up and that was: can a monkey‘s nails become so dangerous so as to kill a person?

The police from various districts were called and Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee had a thorough discussion with all of them. She also told them to find out about this cause immediately and within a month.

Mr. Sanyal, a retired officer was returning home, after attending his elder sister’s birthday celebration in Puri. He was there in his car with his driver. It had become quite late in the evening, where suddenly in the midst of the bushes, Mr. Sanyal saw a huge monkey-like creature. It was a bit different from the general size of the monkeys. With a more ghastly and hairy look!

He told his driver to immediately follow this creature. The creature started walking at its own pace. Mr. Sanyal had told the driver to completely stop making any sounds and follow the creature silently by keeping some pace. Both were really at their wits end, when they saw the front portion of this animal. He described later that ‘it was partly ghost like, partly monkey like and partly human like. It had big bulging eyes, nose was a bit burnt. Hands were hairy and nails were like ‘sharp claws’ or something bigger than claws. As it was walking, ground started cracking from the pressure of its walk. Sanyal and driver kept very close to this. But gradually as a gust of wind blowing, leaves alongwith dust was blowing all over the area.

The driver said, ’sir it will be good and safe if we go home immediately.’

Mr. Sanyal had agreed readily after seeing the pathetic thing. With a heavy and fearful heart, he sat more firmly on his seat. The car started moving on.

It was late at night when he came back home. After taking his dinner and when he realized that he was totally relaxed and safe, he thought of discussing this with his wife.

‘I saw such a dangerous combination of an animal that I was really on my wit’s end!’ He silently told his wife. Further he also said that he could have got trace of that thing but the ‘gust came in between’.

‘You don’t say anything to police. I am really scared. I don’t want you to fall in trouble dear!’ His wife assured him.

Both of them had a peaceful night’s sleep.

Now there needed to be some sort of a change in cop replacement. A senior officer was recruited to assist Zaheer in the case as more people stated of seeing the monkey-man. Zaheer did his best to go to different spots that was attacked by the monkey–man, as he attacked only a chosen number of people. But his existence made Kolkatans to be panic stricken!

Though our honorable Chief Minister did her best to help the victims’ family and assured everyone to be relaxed. She also said that something must be immediately done to perceive the trace of monkey-man. Top police officers were recruited for work. Mr. Das was recruited to assist Zaheer. At one point he found Zaheer to be the criminal.

Eden, monkey-man all are getting merged. Zaheer smiled