Again Sunil trapped in the Word of Damsel in Distress
Mostly people who are in trouble go to temples in front of God, government officers, politicians or justice courts with their complaint. But in the world of Sir Surender Mohan Pathak sir, People visits Blast (The fictional daily newspaper of fictional city of Rajnagar which depicted in Sir SMP Sunil series novels) to meet Sunil Kumar Chakravarty, the crime investigator journalist. Especially women who are Damsel in Distress type were the regular image of Sunil series. And the most important thing of Sunil, he is always ready to help them and get rid of their problem. Sunil always solve the problems of troubled damsel and always entrap himself trouble. Sunil fast friend Ramakant, his rival but honest police inspector Prabhu Dayal and his junior journalist Arjun always admonish Sunil that he will face a serious problem in future like a door to prison. But Sunil never discourage himself to help the People and always love to do such adventure to find the truth.
“Khali Kartoos” or “Blank Cartridge” starts with the interaction of Sunil with a damsel in distress Sheela Gyanchandani. She was searching Mr. Kanhaiyalal Sajnani, a friend of Sunil. She thought that may Sunil have any information about Mr. Sajnani. But Sunil have no information about Mr. Sajnani but gave a hope to Sheela that he will trace out the location of Mr. Sajnani. After many of tries to Sajnani office and home, Sunil traced out Sajnani and met him. He informed Sajnani that Sheela was searching him. Sajnani ask for the help of Sunil to be a representative of Mr. Sajnani in a deal of sale of Hotel.
The story is revolves around a deal of purchasing and selling of Hotel namely Neelam. Sheela got 40% share in hotel after her father was murdered. Sheela father was not ready to sale his share at the price of Land dealers, that’s why he was murdered. Sheela got afraid of that incident. Mr. Kanhaiyalal Sajnani as a well-wisher of Sheela bought 15% share from other 4 partners while Mr. Manoharlal succeed to buy the 45% other share from them. Now Manoharlal putting pressures to both Sheela and Sajnani to sale their share to get hold on Hotel. Sunil is going for the same deal to do with Mr. Manoharlal as a representative of Sajnani.
Sunil met Mr. Manoharlal in Sesil hotel and ask for the offered amount from Manoharlal for Sajnani share. Manoharlal offered 1.5 Lacs for the same. Sunil interrogate him some time with some questions. But Manoharlal denied entertaining Sunil more as someone coming to meet him. Sunil waited sometime outside of hotel. He saw Mr. Sajnani entrance and exit from hotel. He also saw Sheela entrance and exit from hotel.
Sunil contacted to Sajnani to give the report of meeting with Manoharlal. Sajnani take Sunil to Sheela home where Sheela gave the report of meeting with Manoharlal. During the same time Sajnani has shown an antique pistol to Sunil.
Next day, Sunil got news from Arjun that Mr. Manoharlal was murdered in his room in Sesil hotel. The murder time was same, when Sunil visited Manoharlal hotel. Sheela and Sajnani were also present there during the time proposed by police of murder. Sunil get the same pistol from Gopi Sajnani, son of Kanhaiyalal Sajnani, fired one bullet and give the same to Sheela to save her after request from Kanhaiyalal Sajnani.
Police found many suspects in this murder case:-
Sunil: - Sunil was strong suspect as murderer from the prospective of Inspector Prabhudayal. He was blamed to do such work to help out Mr. Sajnani.
Kanhaiyalal Sajnani: - He was at crime scene and during the crime time. He has reason to murder Manoharlal to save Sheela from him.
Sheela – She was also seen at crime scene and during the crime time. She has strong reason to murder Manoharlal. Sheela got the info from somewhere that Manoharlal had murdered her father.
Mrs. Gopi Sajnani – She has newly married to Gopi Sajnani. She was a Cabre dancer in a restaurant in Vishalgarh and had good relationship with Manoharlal in past. Police thought that Manoharlal was blackmailing her that’s why she murdered Manoharlal by the gun of her husband.
Mr. Gopi Sajanani- He was suspected due to same reason as of his wife but from the prospective as a husband.
The novel is limited in characters. Manorma the ex-receptionist and Mangla the current receptionist of Mr. Kanhaiyalal Sajnani office, done their remarkable presence in this novel. Apart from these characters, Ramakant, Prabhudayal, Arjun and Renu were also in this novel.
Sunil is found himself trapped in this case. But after request of Mr. Sajnani to save Sheela, he did something which creates confusion in case. He found himself in big trouble. Police found murder weapon from home of Sheela. After forensic test it was found that the lethal shot was fired from this gun. They found the blank cartridges of bullet in the gun.
The story progress very speedily and Sunil made this story like a web and cyclone of sea by using his intelligence and investigation. You will get all the spices in this novel which is need in a crime-fiction novel. The important thing of Sunil series like smart talk, mystery, thrill, suspense etc. are there in which always bound readers to this series. The rivalry of Inspector Prabhudayal and Sunil is at peak point in this novel with the ingredients of ultimate murder mystery.
This 79th novel of Sunil series was first time published in 1980. After 30-35 years of publication of this novel, the story does not look like old or outdated. The story does not seem like it is 30-35 years old. The humor and thrill of this novel is remarkable. The helping nature of Sunil is always ideal theory of all readers. I recommend all the readers to read this novel not that I am fan of Sir SMP but due to its story and different climax.
Regards
Rajeev Roshan