Olivia

"How was your day?" Sheena asked Dennis. Dennis grumbled, "The usual."
Sheena is Dennis' wife. Both of them are with Calcutta Police. While
Dennis is only an inspector, Sheena, who is part of the elite state
police service is Deputy Commissioner, Central. Dennis is
Officer-in-Charge, Esplanade Police Station, which is infamous for all
kinds of reasons. Sheena has a plush, well-decorated office in Fort
Red, the state police headquarters. When Dennis had married Sheena, she
was still a student. He was a professor in a well-known college at that
time. Then, one of his students accused him of molesting her. A court
case followed and Dennis was proved innocent. By then, Sheena was
already in the state police service. She asked him to join the service.
After a little dilly-dallying Dennis did take the examination. But he
was not able to clear it. Instead, he had to join the police force as
an Assistant Sub Inspector. That was ten years back. Now, Dennis hated
his wife's superiority. In fact he resented being married to her. But,
he had got used to the luxuries that they were able to afford with
their double income. "So, when are you catching Benny?" Sheena asked
Dennis. "You are the DC," said Dennis, "why don't you catch Benny? I am
just an inspector." "We are going to get Benny before the sun rises
tomorrow," Sheena said with great determination. Dennis found that
Sheena's words had made him very angry indeed. Benny was a well-known
drug-dealer who had also committed five murders. He lived in Welly
Square which was part of Esplanade area. He was responsible for the
sharp rise in the number of teenage drug addicts in central Calcutta.
He used the candy-shops near elite schools to peddle drugs. He was
known to boast that he could deliver any narcotic substance you wanted
within twenty-four hours. He was friendly with rich, bored ladies and
wealthy, restless men who depended on him for their supply of the
fanciest addictive substances. Calcutta Police had been trying to catch
Benny for a long time. Dennis, in whose area Benny lived and operated
repeatedly conducted raids on his many residences. This was where
customers gathered for their daily dose. But neither could Benny be
found, nor any evidence unearthed. A lot of policemen were laughing at
Dennis now. He was actually reporting to his wife these days and if he
failed to catch Benny, his wife would be asked to lead a team to do the
same. That team was going to start working tonight. And Dennis had to
do something before that. He really had to. It was a small two-storey
house. According to Dennis' sources this was where Benny lived
currently. Dennis rang the bell twice and the door was opened by a very
beautiful looking lady. She looked very pale though. "Does Benny Box
live here?" Benny said. "Yes," the lady said, "He is not at home at
present". The lady looked worried. "Can I come in?" Dennis said. The
woman frowned and then said, "All right." The house was old and
definitely needed repair. The furniture in the drawing room looked
cheap. There was a dirty-looking sofa near the window. After a few
seconds' hesitation Dennis decided to sit on the sofa. Then he asked
the lady, "Shall I call you Mrs Box.?" "Just call me Olivia." "Are you
Benny's wife?" Dennis enquired. "Kind of," Olivia said, "My father had
borrowed money from Benny. When he couldn't pay back Benny agreed to
forgive him on condition that I be handed over to him. I have been with
Benny for the last three years." "I am from the police," Dennis said(he
was in plainclothes). "I know that." Olivia stated. And Dennis was
surprised. He began to ask about Benny. Well, Olivia didn't know where
he was now. But, he treated her badly. He would come home drunk and
beat her up mercilessly. There were marks on Olivia's forehead and face
that Dennis could see. It was about eight pm now. Without asking Olivia
brought some sandwiches and coffee and placed the food on the table
near them. Dennis was hungry and the sandwiches were good. The coffee
was welcome too. Dennis began to feel that both Olivia and he were
unhappy. Her life was a mess. He felt bad about his own life too.
Suddenly, he got up and kissed Olivia on her right cheek. Olivia
responded by kissing him warmly on his lips. He knew where this was
going and he let events take their course. They went to the bedroom and
then, their loneliness got better of them. They loved each other with
great passion. It was as if two ignored, unhappy people had finally
found solace in uninhibited union. It was five thirty in the morning
when Dennis woke up. He found Olivia sitting on a chair in the drawing
room. She looked sick. Olivia smiled faintly. Then she said, "Thank
you. You have made me a happy woman at last. I am suffering from
cancer. It's probably the last stage. Thank you again," And then Olivia
died. Suddenly Dennis' mobile phone began to ring. It was Sheena.
"Hello sweetheart,"she said, "Our mission was successful. I have killed
Benny Box with my own gun. Love you sweety. See you at breakfast."
There was only one thing left to do. Dennis put his gun to his right
temple and fired. He died instantly.