"Please don't mind, Mr. Dutt. Your words can't be taken seriously anymore."

"Why? Why, Inspector?"

"At dawn, about 100 feet away from this police station, you were found lying on the sidewalk, face down."

"Did your constable see you with his own eyes?"

"No, no, I'm not questioning that. I'm just summarizing. You were wearing an expensive silk pajama, and if your watch dial is gold, I wouldn't be surprised. Someone like you isn't usually found lying on a sidewalk. Anyway, you came to the station, supported by Constable Harimohan's shoulder. You had some water and felt a bit better. All is well. There was no trace of alcohol in your breath, and you had no injuries."

"What's the point of telling me all this? I'm trying to inform you about an urgent matter, Inspector Mishra."

"We'll get to the urgency later. You rushed to the station around 3:30 AM. That's fine. But why did you end up lying on the sidewalk?"

"I'm not entirely sure. Maybe my head spun. After all, I left a fresh corpse at home."

"A fresh corpse?"

"I mean, it wasn't a long time ago. The murder didn't happen long ago. Please, don't delay any further. Get the car ready, Inspector. The day is passing."

"Wait, the summary isn't over. Your name is Anil Dutt. You have three cement factories, two near Kolkata and one in Chhattisgarh. Your four-story house is at 22, Douglas Park Road, Kolkata-68."

"Correct."

"Your wife's name is Reba. You have two sons; the elder, Deepak, is managing the business with you. The younger, Dilip, is an actor in Tollywood and has made a name for himself. Both are married; the elder has two sons, and the younger is childless. Your secretary's name is Mrinalakanti Ghosh, a bachelor. Everyone lives in the house at 22, Douglas Park Road. Did you tell the Sub-Inspector all this?"

"Of course. But I don't understand why we're discussing all this here instead of focusing on the urgent matter. It would have been better to call Detective Anirban Sanyal."

"Detective Anirban?"

"Yes! Anirban Sanyal from North Kolkata. He's a police officer, and surely you've heard that last month he solved the serial murder case in Burdwan and amazed the police."

"Burdwan's serial murder?"

"How is it that you're a police officer and don't know this basic news? Whenever there's a complex case, the big officials from Lal Bazaar consult Anirban. A thriller movie is even being made about his Burdwan case. Actually, my younger son, Dilip, will play Anirban's role in the movie."

"That sounds thrilling. He seems like a skilled detective."

"If you had called him, the matter would have been resolved quickly. Instead, I'm wasting time here. For the past four hours, Mrinalakanti's corpse has been lying in my drawing room, and everyone in the house is tense. Look, I'll say it again... if you don't leave with a team now, then..."

"What will you do?"

"Harassing a respectable citizen like this! You know not only MP or MLA, even the state's Cabinet Minister, Manohar Singh, is a childhood friend of mine. With one phone call..."

"Manohar Singh? Cabinet Minister? He's also your friend? What's his portfolio?"

"I didn't come to the police station to improve your general knowledge, Inspector. Since you're not cooperating, I'll have to take my own measures. I'll call Anirban and ask Manohar to give you a hard time..."

"Hard time? Arguing with police at the station? If you weren't so old, I'd have punched you in the jaw."

"How dare you? How dare you...?"

"Listen... I don't know if you're crazy or a cheat... but if you give me one more lip, I'll rot you in this police station."

"Cheat? That's your language? I'll... I'll..."

"Shut up! I won't tolerate it anymore."

"Silence!"

"Shut up! I'll speak, and you'll listen. At this age, you came to the police station to mess with the police? Should I give you two slaps? Anil Dutt, the cement tycoon, huh? There's no businessman by that name in this area, and there is no 22, Douglas Park Road in Kolkata, let alone in this area."

- " Shut up!"

"You shut up! And listen more. Your younger son is a famous Tollywood actor? Listen, there is no such actor as Dilip Dutt currently in Tollywood. And Anirban, the detective? Burdwan's double murder? Can't you find a better place to mess around? I'll make such a ruckus that..."

"I... I will... I will... Manohar will..."

"Hey, fool. There is no such Cabinet Minister by that name... no MLA either in this state. So, which party is your Manohar Singh from?"

"The ruling party. Bengali Revolutionary League."

"Ugh... I can't take this anymore. Ramapada, get this guy out of here. Now."

-----------------------

"Inspector Subimal Mishra, nice to meet you, Mr. Mishra. Now, shut up and tell me what the problem is..."

"No, Mr. Chatterjee, the matter is quite silly. Very silly. And it's not an official case. So, coming to see a famous writer like you might not have been the right thing to do."

"Please don't worry, Inspector. But when the police come to your house early in the morning, it's a bit unsettling. Now, let me see what's going on... what's the matter?"

"Actually, it's just a bit of curiosity..."

"Speak freely. Would you like some tea?"

"No, thanks. Let me get to the point. It's embarrassing... but... you know, I don't read many storybooks."

"You do well. There are many important things to do in the world besides reading storybooks. But... when people read, it puts a few paisa in our pockets, right? Cigarette?"

"Thanks."

"Speak, Inspector."

"Well... my wife is quite fond of storybooks. And she's a fan of your writing."

"Extremely kind of her."

"This time, I asked her that strange question. Are you writing a detective story these days? No, I mean... my wife said..."

"I hope that's not a crime. Heh heh. Most of my writings are romantic. But last year, I wrote a detective story for a Pujo issue and got a great response. In fact, I've written a new adventure featuring that detective. I hope it comes out in this Pujo issue..."

"Well... is your detective's name Anirban, by any chance?"

"Anirban Sanyal."

"And the plot of your story was about a serial murder. The serial murder in Burdwan, right?"

"Actually, I thought readers would be more interested in seeing detectives solve small mysteries in Kolkata. A rural setting could be a fresh element. That's why Burdwan. But since you mentioned you don't have much interest in reading books, how did you hear about Anirban, the detective?"

"I heard it from my wife yesterday. That's why I came to see you this morning. If you don't mind... about the next story featuring Anirban, the detective... can you give me a slight hint about the plot? I know the question is quite odd, but please believe me..."

"It's intriguing indeed. And since the writing isn't finished yet, I can't say much about the plot."

"I won't share it with anyone, Mr. Chatterjee. I promise."

"You're a very interesting person, Inspector Mishra. I can give you a hint. But this time, it's not set in the rural areas, and it's not a serial murder. If I don't change the flavor, the market won't accept it. This time, the story is set in Kolkata. A business tycoon's secretary is murdered in the middle of the night, in the tycoon's own house. A huge house, a large family. With servants and staff, there are many people around. Various motives, different characters."

"This business tycoon... his business is... is it cement?"

"What! How do you...?"

"And his four-story house? On the fictional Douglas Park Road. His wife's name is Reba. His younger son acts in movies. His friend is a Cabinet Minister, Manohar Singh."

"Inspector! Be quiet! What's going on here? I'm writing on my own laptop... but... what's happening?"

"There's been no hacking. Actually... a man named Anil Dutt came to my station about a month ago."

"In a detective story, the role of a corrupt police officer is very critical. It's through his contrast that the detective's character shines to the reader. Even though we've never spoken, why did I agree to meet you today? Because of your name! Because of your name."

"What do you mean?"

"In Anirban's new adventure, the corrupt police officer I've written about is named Subimal Mishra. Inspector Subimal Mishra."

"That... that's..."

"Go away... you can come now. I won't finish the story."

"Mr. Chatterjee, believe me, I..."

"You come now, Inspector. It seems the ghost of writing a detective story has possessed my mind. Ugh! Enough of this nonsense!"