Kamal Babu said, “I live in this neighbourhood, on the edge of Hindustan Park, I have seen you many times, wanted to speak to you but didn't have the courage. I got a reason today, so I thought I will meet you and talk about it. A small problem has come in my life.

A problem! Byomkesh held out a cigarette case and said, pray tell me, it’s been quite a while that I have solved any problems.

This discussion was happening in Byomkesh’s Keyatala house on a warm Sunday Afternoon.

Kamal babu looks like Narugopal, but his face is bright and intelligent. He smiled and lit a  cigarette, then began his story, “My name is Kamal krishna Das, I am the cashier at the nearby Branch of Central Bank of India. I came here a year and a half ago after being transferred from Purulia.

"When I came to Calcutta, I fell into trouble; I was unable to find to find a good house on rent anywhere. Finally, a kind man rented me a room on the ground floor of his house. I was unable to bring my Family alongside, I

left my wife and daughter in Purulia and started staying here all by myself.

"The landlord's name is Akshay Mondal. The house is two-storied; there are two rooms on the lower floor and two on the first floor. We both have separate entrances. Akshay Mondal lives alone on the first floor and has some occasional visitors. Akshay Mondal is a sweet-spoken man, but I not aware of what he does for a living. Sometimes Akshay Mondal used to come down to my room to have a good chat, but he never invited me to his rooms upstairs. He hardly spoke to any of his neighbour’s. He had a savings account in my branch hence he used to speak with me.

However, after spending three months like this, one day I had a dinner invitation at my Office colleague’s place. I was late to return home that night. Once back home, I saw Akshay Mondal coming down from the second floor and locking the door of the stairs, he had two

suitcases on him. I asked, “Where are you going at this time of the night?”

Akshay Mondal was bewildered to see me. He came to me with two suitcases in both hands, and said in a deep voice, "Kamalbabu, I have to leave immediately due to some urgent work, I don't know when I will return.”

His eyes were bloody red. I asked, “what is the matter, where are you going?” A smile appeared on his face He said, “Well too far, I should leave immediately.”

I stood surprised. He went a few steps and stopped, then came back and said “Kamalbabu, you work in the bank, and you are a gentleman, let me propose you something. “If I do not return within a week, you can use my entire house and you must pay Rs.150 as rent. I have a savings account in your bank you can deposit the rent in the same account. “Are you fine with this agreement?”

“Akshay Mondal was gone in no time. I stood stunned for a while. Then I realised that Akshay Mondal did not give me the key to the first floor. “However, the hope that I will be able to use the entire house and bring my family from Purulia was exhilarating. It seemed from his words that Akshay Mondal would not be returning for a long time.

The next day I wrote a letter prematurely to my wife – “be prepared to pack up the family belongings and shift to Calcutta. There is a possibility get a good house soon.”

Two days passed in hope that I would finally get my family in Calcutta. After three days, some rotten smell started coming out from the first floor. It was a strong rotten smell, like the smell of decaying fish or chicken.

I got suspicious and informed the police. The police came, broke the lock, and went upstairs. I followed the police upstairs and witnessed a horrible scene. On the floor lay a dead body drenched in blood with a hole in the middle of his temple. I understood what had occurred. That night when I went for dinner at my colleague’s place, Akshay Mondal had shot dead this man in my absence and fled away with his valuable belongings. Hence, he said that he would not be returning soon as he is now a fugitive.

Soon a group of policemen came and surrounded the house. The body was sent for post-mortem. Then Darogababu interrogated me and started searching the entire house. A gentleman from the neighbourhood and I were asked to help conduct the search as impartial witnesses.

But nothing special was found in the police search. Only in one of the drawers were found a few small boxes made of sheet iron; similar to Cigarette cases. These boxes were empty. Darogababu fiddled with them anxiously but could not understand the use of such iron cases.

The Police left after conducting a thorough search of the house. I was feeling uneasy after this incidence. I went to the police station after three or four days and enquired about the incident.

I went there and got the news that the identity of the deceased had been established from the fingerprints and other physical attributes. The deceased was Harihar Singh; A hardened criminal, who was known for smuggling drugs, gold, silver, and other illegal items.

His connection with Akshay Mondal was yet to be established and a look out notice has been issued for Akshay Mondal. Akshay Mondal seems to have vanished in thin air as police have no clue about his whereabouts.

While returning from the police station, I asked with fear. Can I occupy the whole house?

Darogababu said, "With ease." When the fugitive has left the house in your custody then you can use the entire house