Chapter One: Arrival in Calcutta

Peter Wawemurder, an Australian police officer, returned for the first time to India, a country he had to leave on the orders of his father, twenty years ago.

"The Doctor Martha Wavemurder Found Dead at the University of Calcutta!"

The Sun carried my mother's name on the front page, a philanthropist who had been killed during a lecture she was giving at the University of Calcutta, due to her commitment to her philanthropic causes. I took Air India urgently due to the news of his her death, dressed in a black tuxedo. Interestingly enough, this trip feels like a pilgrimage since I had to leave India long ago on the orders of my father. Waking up at 3 a.m. was much harder than I thought it would be, and a frugal breakfast of eggs, cheese, and a bean salad did not help. Even though I look young for my age, my glasses give away the facade due to my worsening vision.

Even though I am old now, I was something else in my youth. India reminds me completely of my wild days, as I partied the nights away with alcohol and women. As amazing as those times were a part of me cringes as I remember the past. The phone call from Scotland Yard came as a shock to me, and reminded me that no matter how much you try to run away from your past, it somehow catches up to you. The more I think about it, the more questions I have; what had I really learned from my mother?

In order to answer those questions, I need to see my daughter again. I have not seen my daughter Aparna for the past 10 years due to the terrible financial times I had to handle thanks to the family's Pagliaci Group suffering. Aside from seeing Aparna, I am also excited to meet my uncle, Basil, who is supposed to pick me up from the Netaji Subhash Chandra Internationl Airport in Calcutta.

As I landed at the airport, it gave an air of modern architecture without any soul. The airport had a modern arch and people all appeared to be walking through the terminals as one. I finally saw Basil, a man with a receding hairline, waiting by his Roll Royce for me, along with a frail and thin woman wearing a heavy cardigan in the Calcutta heat, standing behind him and giving me curtsy. "This strange woman might be the key to my mother's death," I thought.

As I got into the car, I saw that Basil and my aunt were austere and silent and the air had a somber tone to it. My plan of engaging them in small talk went out the window, so instead I tried to familiarize myself with my surroundings, given the fact that it had been almost 20 years since I returned to Calcutta.

The air was fresh and crisp and I was deep in thought about finding out what was written in my mother's will. She had remained a confidante for Uncle Basil and kept diaries about everyone in the family, which now that she has passed no one has any clue where they are. Hopefully I can find them and get answers to all these never-ending questions in my mind.

My train of thought was interrupted as we stopped in front of the Novotel. Suddenly my heart started racing and the reality of meeting Aparna started to sink in. A young waitress greeted us and took my bag cautiously. There was a tension in the air, and I could sense her discomfort as she kept looking in my direction. She leaned towards Uncle Basil and greeted him warmly, bowing down to him with a 'namaskar'. As she came back up and I meet her wary gaze again, I realized it was her; I had finally found Aparna. The last time I had seen her she was 16. She was now a tall woman, 180 cm, with jet-black hair, styled in a bun. She had a lean and muscular body, which her black and white uniform could not completely conceal, which surprised me as I remember her as a skinny girl who was a picky eater. Her forehead was broad, and she had skin like sandalwood courtesy of her mother, and deep green eyes courtesy of me.

As I stepped towards the counter, Aparna stopped me and asked, "Do you have a reservation and if so, under what name?" I responded, "I have a reservation for Peter Pagliaci and have booked a suite for more privacy." "Very well sir, I will accompany you and get your luggage. All the amenities you requested are available and you can either dine in your room or enjoy out restaurant," Aparna responded, in a relaxed tone, deep and smooth, just like her mother's. She quickly strode through the reception area and led me to a presidential suite.

As we were entering the elevator and ascending to the top floor, I could feel a heavy silence settling between us, and as the elevator finally dinged and I followed her out, she handed me the keys to my suite along with a complementary welcome bottle of wine. My heart started racing again and to prevent myself from breaking into a full-on sweat I started breathing deeply and trying to compose myself. Aparna was looking at me with a mixture of confusion and concern on her face, and before she could say anything I hugged her as tight as I could as tears started to fall down my face. I led her to the kitchen of the suite, and braced myself as a mixture of anger and joy filled me and I was just grateful my Bulbul was still alive.

I was not sure how to begin but I started with "Aparna, I am here undercover in India because I needed to tell you about Thakurma's death. I know I haven't been the best father and I wasn't there for you when you needed me the most. I can never forgive myself and I am not asking for your forgiveness either my Bulbul. I came here because I know you were very close to Thakurma’s and I wanted you to know personally before the Times of India publishes the news; I would have never wanted you to find out that way."

Aparna looked back at me, tears welling in her eyes, "Baba, I thought you had abandoned Ma and I. Thakurma’s told me you had left because Dada asked you to follow in the MacDouglas family's footsteps. There are so many thoughts in my mind right now, and you must be tired. I will meet you tomorrow and we will talk more. Good night Baba, it's nice to see you again."

My heart is overjoyed to be able to see you again my Bulbul. Good night and sleep well," I replied, knowing that getting a wink of sleep would be difficult, with all the adrenaline running through my veins. Luckily I was able to get some sense of sleep, as I woke up to the sound of koels and the orange-red sunrise. I am looking forward to getting to spend the day with Aparna, but before that I need to meet my cousin Adrien Pagliaci's son, Vittorio. I always have an encrypted phone, courtesy of Scotland Yard, on me, as being a diplomat's son comes with certain risks. Walking around Calcutta brings back memories of my time in the police force there and makes me more aware of why I am always on-edge.

My train of thought always seems to get interrupted, and this time it was courtesy of Vittorio. He was waiting for me in the lobby of the hotel and I made the journey down elevator after quickly brushing my teeth and changing out of my pajamas into a cotton button-down shirt and linen shorts. As the elevator dinged open and I walked into the lobby, I saw Vittorio. He was standing there, towering at 191 cm tall, with deep brown hair, green eyes with specks of brown and gold that were prominent in the sun, tan-golden skin, a toned physique, and a jawline that could cut cheese. Although his days as a runway model were over, traveling the world modeling for all the luxury brands under the sun, his handsomeness persisted.

"Buongiorno Zio Peter, how are you?" Vittorio exclaimed with his classic warm smile that showed all his pearly white teeth. Honestly that man must have been sculpted by the deities themselves. Reunions with Vittorio are always delightful and fun, but this one came with a tone of seriousness.

As I walked down with Vittorio towards the bar, Vittorio stopped like a deer in the headlights. He was staring intently ahead of him, totally in a trance. "Hello sir, may I help you?" Aparna asked Vittorio warmly. Vittorio stayed silent, looking intently into Aparna's eyes and his mouth almost dropping in shock. This was a reaction I was all too familiar with, as this was the same reaction I had looking at Aparna's mother. Yes, I was a womanizer back in the day, but Aparna's mother is the one woman I can say truly has my heart.

No thank you signora, I am fine. Have a wonderful day!" Vittorio managed to stammer out. I had never seen him this flustered before, and had to fight back a chuckle. Ignoring Vittorio's clear interest in her, Aparna whispered to me "Baba, I will talk to you in the evening. Take care."

"Okay, takes care my Bulbul," I whispered back. "Do you know her well?" Vittorio asked, puzzled. "You could say that, yes." I replied back, amused. "Anyways, Vittorio, do you have the will?" I asked him, hurriedly, with a twinge of panic in my voice. "Relax Zio, I have it here," Vittorio assured me as he pulled out a carefully packaged binder with the Wavemurder engraving. "Thank you Vittorio, you are a God send; I owe you one" I sighed in relief. "If so Zio, then join me for dinner tonight," Vittorio playfully suggested. "I will definitely join you mio caro, but tomorrow night. Tonight I have some things I need to sort out," I vaguely stated, hoping Vittorio wouldn't press further. "No worried Zio, I'll see you tomorrow then!" Vittorio joyfully exclaimed as he walked out of the hotel into his red Maserati. "See you tomorrow," I somberly waved back.