Missing in Pattaya
"Let's take a vacation and work on our relationship", said Aditya Sanghvi to his wife. Aditya, a young business magnate, had strained relationships with his wife Neha and his step mother Neeta. Relationships had been dysfunctional ever since he lost his father. Neha and Neeta were thick as thieves, they were gold diggers who cared little about Aditya. Aditya found himself in a predicament because of a clause in his father's will meant he could neither leave them nor live with them. "Our relationship hasn't been smooth, but we can't go on like this forever, let's try to mend fences. How about a vacation. Umm.. Thailand? I'll make arrangements", he said to his wife and stepmother. Though suspicious of this sudden change in behaviour, they agreed.
Aditya made all the travel arrangements. One morning, a couple of days before they were to leave, the fixed line phone rang.
"May I talk to Mr. Aditya? This is regarding the new life insurance policy he has taken" said the lady on call.
"He's not here, may I take your message?" asked Neha curiously.
"Well it's just to let him know that all formalities have been completed", said the lady. After a couple of minutes in conversation Neha came to the point.
"How much is the amount? Who is the nominee?" she asked.
"Well we are not allowed to disclose such information on call but you seem a nice lady so I'll tell you. The policy is worth a hundred crores and his wife is the nominee", the lady replied and hung up. There was a sparkle in Neha's eyes, a hundred crores is a huge amount after all. She ran to Neeta to give her the news. They started getting ideas in their wicked minds.
They travelled to Thailand as per plan. The trip was going much better than expected. Everyone was at their best behaviour, surprisingly. One evening they were at the beach in Pattaya and Aditya decided to go for a swim. He walked into the sea and swam inwards. A few minutes passed, then an hour, but Aditya did not return. Neha was getting worried. She tried to look for him but couldn't see him anywhere. "Neeta, I think something's wrong. Aditya has been gone too long", she said. They waited another half an hour, yet there was no sign of him! Fearing the worst, they alerted the local police. The police came in with sea patrol and divers. They frantically searched the beach and the sea but to no avail. It got dark soon and the police called had to call off the search for the day.
Worried, the two women returned to their hotel. "Why are you so worried? You never had any feelings for him anyways!" said Neeta to Neha.
"Ya but you know..." Neha had hardly spoken when Neeta interrupted, "Oh stop your buts! Tell me, was it your plan to get rid of him?" asked a suspicious Neeta.
"Oh shut up! Why would I do that?" yelled Neha.
"Well, a hundred crores is a big amount!", replied Neeta.
"You think I can do something like this?" asked Neha.
"It is possible!" said Neeta.
"Get out of my room!" shouted Neha and stared to cry.
"OK stop crying. We will have to work smartly here. We will be the prime suspects because of the insurance policy. We need to be prepared and we need to plan well", said Neeta. Neha agreed but now she doubted Neeta and her intentions too.
The next day the police searched extensively before calling off the search. "I think it's pointless looking for him. Our divers have found human remains not far from where he disappeared. We will run some forensic tests post which we will declare him dead", said the chief of police. The news spread like wild fire, as Aditya was a rich and famous personality. "Young Tycoon Aditya Sanghvi Dead in Pattaya" was front page news in Indian newspapers. The next day, Neha's phone rang.
"Hello, who is it?" she answered in a disturbed voice, she had been flooded with calls since the news spread.
"I'm Natasha from the General Insurance company. I have been assigned the investigation of Mr. Aditya Sanghvi's death", came the reply. Shocked, Neha nearly dropped her phone.
"Please stay where you are Mrs. Sanghvi. I'll be there tomorrow evening. See you!", said Natasha and hung up.
The next evening Natasha arrived at the hotel. A smart and classy woman she was. Dark brown wavy hair, dressed in smart formals, pearl earrings and necklace as accessories, a smart Gucci watch and high heel shoes! She was the sort of woman would make heads turn! But she was a no nonsense woman. She met Neha and Neeta and explained to them that this investigation was necessary, since there was a huge amount that was involved. Natasha immediately got in touch with the police and started her investigation. She spoke to the locals, the tour operators, the coast guard, all to try and find some clue. Her obvious suspects were Neha and Neeta. Natasha, accompanied by the local police, interrogated both women. The two were disgusted, "you think we can do something like that?" Natasha was calm as a cucumber. "Well you have a motive. A hundred crores is a strong motive", she said and walked out. The interrogation went on for eight hours after which the women were sent to their hotel and asked to stay put till further notice.
Sensing the situation could get out of hand, they invited Natasha for a drink the next evening. They thought they could convince her to drop the investigation. Natasha accepted their offer. They met the next evening and soon got comfortable with each other. Meeting your country folk in a foreign land is always comforting.
"You women are so awesome, I should not have doubted you. But it's standard procedure, so kindly bear with me", said Natasha.
"Isn't there some way we can work around the so called standard procedure?" asked Neeta taking advantage of their newly formed friendship.
After a long hard thought, Natasha replied, "well Aditya wasn't a friend or relative of mine. But you two are my friends now. So I can possibly work around the procedure, but that would happen at a cost!".
Neha and Neeta discussed and offered Natasha two crores for letting them off the hook. Natasha agreed, and the two women were proud of having worked out this deal for themselves.
The next morning Natasha came to their hotel with a bunch of papers. "My source has received the two crores so here is the deal. Sign these papers, these are all formalities to transfer your money. Do them quickly, I can't be seen here with you so early into the investigation", she said.
The women quickly signed the papers.
"I'll be heading back this evening. I will finish the formalities and transfer the money in ten days. Till then, you will not contact me. We are not friends. Am I clear?" she said authoritatively.
The women agreed. Natasha took the papers and left. Neha and Neeta were to fly out of Thailand after a couple of days. Once back in India, Neha and Neeta waited patiently as Natasha had asked them to. Ten days were up, but the money had still not come through. Another five days went by and now the two couldn't wait any longer. They tried calling Natasha but her phone was switched off. So they went to General insurance company's office.
They met the officer in charge and gave all the details.
"Well, as I can see, the insurance sum has been transferred!" he said, glued to the computer screen.
"But I have not received it! In which account has it been transferred?" asked Neha.
"To his wife's account", replied the officer.
"But I am his wife and I have not received the money", yelled Neha.
"Calm down", said Neeta. "What's the name and account details of his wife's account in your records?" she asked.
"I can't give you the account details, but I can give you her name. Her name is, let me see, ah, Mrs. Natasha Aditya Sanghvi", he replied with a smile.
The women were shocked. They couldn't believe what they just heard.
"But I'm his wife, Neha", said Neha.
"Well, we have a copy of the official marriage certificate with us", said the officer.
"Wait a minute Neha, had you registered your marriage at the marriage registration office?" asked Neeta.
Neha's head dropped down in disappointment as she replied in a soft tone, "No".
"There was a woman named Natasha who worked for your company. Can you give us her details?", asked Neeta.
"Well she left the job a couple of weeks ago!" replied the officer. "She left a note for you before she left", said the officer handing over an envelope.
Neha opened it to see these words written on the paper inside "Head home now, more surprises await".
When they reached home a lawyer had come over with some people and was taking charge of the property.
"Hello, who are you? What is all this?" asked Neha.
"Well Mr. Sanghvi had sold this and the other properties, we are here to take charge!" the lawyer replied.
"But he couldn't have sold anything without obtaining a no objection certificate from us", replied Neeta.
"Come in, I will show you all the documents", replied the lawyer and they went inside.
They were shocked to see all appropriate no objection certificates with their signatures. Suddenly it dawned on them, in Pattaya they thought they were conning Natasha while she was drunk at night, when actually she conned them in broad daylight.
"This is fraud", yelled Neha, "we were duped, we were cheated. We were made to believe we were signing something else".
"Well it has both signatures, so try explaining that to a judge in the court of law", laughed the lawyer.
“That woman, Natasha, she conned us! I'm sure she has presented a fake marriage certificate as well. She knew Aditya is a rich man, she also knew of the policy and decided to take advantage of his death!" said Neha furiously.
"Well, sue her if you feel that way, but now you must leave", replied the lawyer.
"Your ex husband has graciously left you a house in the suburbs. You must take all your stuff and leave immediately", said the lawyer.
Seeing no other option, Neha and Neeta started packing their stuff. As Neha was packing, sitting on the bed, she saw a box of Aditya's stuff that he had left behind in Pattaya. In the box she found Aditya's passport. She picked it up and opened it. She stood up in horror as she saw a big 'CANCELLED' stamp on the passport. She sat down in disgust and held her head in her hands. “He's alive!", she said to herself. Aditya's plans had gone exactly as he had expected. Neha got up furiously and walked out.
"This is fraud, I know he's alive. I will get this case reopened", she threatened and threw the passport at the lawyer.
"Did the Thai police check these belongings there?" asked the lawyer. Again Neha was distraught, she clearly remembered the police checking the passport. This had been a well thought out plan by Aditya and many were involved.
"I'll go back to Thailand and ask for an authentic forensic test on the human remains they found", warned an angry Neha.
"Hahaha, you're behaving so naive. After what you have experienced in the last few days, you think he would have left any loose ends? You think you stand a chance?" said the lawyer. That's when she realised even the lawyer was involved. She was quiet, she knew it was all over because probably every person they encountered, was a part of Aditya and Natasha's plan!
Neha and Neeta walked out with their stuff and asked the driver to load the bags in the car. "Excuse me", said the lawyer, running out of the house. "But that car doesn't belong to you anymore. We have arranged a taxi for you both", said the lawyer pointing to a 'kali peeli' taxi standing outside the gate. While the women were left with nothing, somewhere in the Bahamas on board a personal yacht, Aditya and Natasha were relishing some fine Caribbean rum and enjoying a beautiful sunset. The two were basking in the success of a well made and well executed plan! Aditya's friends in the ministry and in the police force had been hand in glove. Where there were no friends, he had the means to buy their allegiance. They knew they had cheated the insurance company, but Aditya thought of the money as severance pay, for all the toxic years he spent with Neha and Neeta.
Aditya made all the travel arrangements. One morning, a couple of days before they were to leave, the fixed line phone rang.
"May I talk to Mr. Aditya? This is regarding the new life insurance policy he has taken" said the lady on call.
"He's not here, may I take your message?" asked Neha curiously.
"Well it's just to let him know that all formalities have been completed", said the lady. After a couple of minutes in conversation Neha came to the point.
"How much is the amount? Who is the nominee?" she asked.
"Well we are not allowed to disclose such information on call but you seem a nice lady so I'll tell you. The policy is worth a hundred crores and his wife is the nominee", the lady replied and hung up. There was a sparkle in Neha's eyes, a hundred crores is a huge amount after all. She ran to Neeta to give her the news. They started getting ideas in their wicked minds.
They travelled to Thailand as per plan. The trip was going much better than expected. Everyone was at their best behaviour, surprisingly. One evening they were at the beach in Pattaya and Aditya decided to go for a swim. He walked into the sea and swam inwards. A few minutes passed, then an hour, but Aditya did not return. Neha was getting worried. She tried to look for him but couldn't see him anywhere. "Neeta, I think something's wrong. Aditya has been gone too long", she said. They waited another half an hour, yet there was no sign of him! Fearing the worst, they alerted the local police. The police came in with sea patrol and divers. They frantically searched the beach and the sea but to no avail. It got dark soon and the police called had to call off the search for the day.
Worried, the two women returned to their hotel. "Why are you so worried? You never had any feelings for him anyways!" said Neeta to Neha.
"Ya but you know..." Neha had hardly spoken when Neeta interrupted, "Oh stop your buts! Tell me, was it your plan to get rid of him?" asked a suspicious Neeta.
"Oh shut up! Why would I do that?" yelled Neha.
"Well, a hundred crores is a big amount!", replied Neeta.
"You think I can do something like this?" asked Neha.
"It is possible!" said Neeta.
"Get out of my room!" shouted Neha and stared to cry.
"OK stop crying. We will have to work smartly here. We will be the prime suspects because of the insurance policy. We need to be prepared and we need to plan well", said Neeta. Neha agreed but now she doubted Neeta and her intentions too.
The next day the police searched extensively before calling off the search. "I think it's pointless looking for him. Our divers have found human remains not far from where he disappeared. We will run some forensic tests post which we will declare him dead", said the chief of police. The news spread like wild fire, as Aditya was a rich and famous personality. "Young Tycoon Aditya Sanghvi Dead in Pattaya" was front page news in Indian newspapers. The next day, Neha's phone rang.
"Hello, who is it?" she answered in a disturbed voice, she had been flooded with calls since the news spread.
"I'm Natasha from the General Insurance company. I have been assigned the investigation of Mr. Aditya Sanghvi's death", came the reply. Shocked, Neha nearly dropped her phone.
"Please stay where you are Mrs. Sanghvi. I'll be there tomorrow evening. See you!", said Natasha and hung up.
The next evening Natasha arrived at the hotel. A smart and classy woman she was. Dark brown wavy hair, dressed in smart formals, pearl earrings and necklace as accessories, a smart Gucci watch and high heel shoes! She was the sort of woman would make heads turn! But she was a no nonsense woman. She met Neha and Neeta and explained to them that this investigation was necessary, since there was a huge amount that was involved. Natasha immediately got in touch with the police and started her investigation. She spoke to the locals, the tour operators, the coast guard, all to try and find some clue. Her obvious suspects were Neha and Neeta. Natasha, accompanied by the local police, interrogated both women. The two were disgusted, "you think we can do something like that?" Natasha was calm as a cucumber. "Well you have a motive. A hundred crores is a strong motive", she said and walked out. The interrogation went on for eight hours after which the women were sent to their hotel and asked to stay put till further notice.
Sensing the situation could get out of hand, they invited Natasha for a drink the next evening. They thought they could convince her to drop the investigation. Natasha accepted their offer. They met the next evening and soon got comfortable with each other. Meeting your country folk in a foreign land is always comforting.
"You women are so awesome, I should not have doubted you. But it's standard procedure, so kindly bear with me", said Natasha.
"Isn't there some way we can work around the so called standard procedure?" asked Neeta taking advantage of their newly formed friendship.
After a long hard thought, Natasha replied, "well Aditya wasn't a friend or relative of mine. But you two are my friends now. So I can possibly work around the procedure, but that would happen at a cost!".
Neha and Neeta discussed and offered Natasha two crores for letting them off the hook. Natasha agreed, and the two women were proud of having worked out this deal for themselves.
The next morning Natasha came to their hotel with a bunch of papers. "My source has received the two crores so here is the deal. Sign these papers, these are all formalities to transfer your money. Do them quickly, I can't be seen here with you so early into the investigation", she said.
The women quickly signed the papers.
"I'll be heading back this evening. I will finish the formalities and transfer the money in ten days. Till then, you will not contact me. We are not friends. Am I clear?" she said authoritatively.
The women agreed. Natasha took the papers and left. Neha and Neeta were to fly out of Thailand after a couple of days. Once back in India, Neha and Neeta waited patiently as Natasha had asked them to. Ten days were up, but the money had still not come through. Another five days went by and now the two couldn't wait any longer. They tried calling Natasha but her phone was switched off. So they went to General insurance company's office.
They met the officer in charge and gave all the details.
"Well, as I can see, the insurance sum has been transferred!" he said, glued to the computer screen.
"But I have not received it! In which account has it been transferred?" asked Neha.
"To his wife's account", replied the officer.
"But I am his wife and I have not received the money", yelled Neha.
"Calm down", said Neeta. "What's the name and account details of his wife's account in your records?" she asked.
"I can't give you the account details, but I can give you her name. Her name is, let me see, ah, Mrs. Natasha Aditya Sanghvi", he replied with a smile.
The women were shocked. They couldn't believe what they just heard.
"But I'm his wife, Neha", said Neha.
"Well, we have a copy of the official marriage certificate with us", said the officer.
"Wait a minute Neha, had you registered your marriage at the marriage registration office?" asked Neeta.
Neha's head dropped down in disappointment as she replied in a soft tone, "No".
"There was a woman named Natasha who worked for your company. Can you give us her details?", asked Neeta.
"Well she left the job a couple of weeks ago!" replied the officer. "She left a note for you before she left", said the officer handing over an envelope.
Neha opened it to see these words written on the paper inside "Head home now, more surprises await".
When they reached home a lawyer had come over with some people and was taking charge of the property.
"Hello, who are you? What is all this?" asked Neha.
"Well Mr. Sanghvi had sold this and the other properties, we are here to take charge!" the lawyer replied.
"But he couldn't have sold anything without obtaining a no objection certificate from us", replied Neeta.
"Come in, I will show you all the documents", replied the lawyer and they went inside.
They were shocked to see all appropriate no objection certificates with their signatures. Suddenly it dawned on them, in Pattaya they thought they were conning Natasha while she was drunk at night, when actually she conned them in broad daylight.
"This is fraud", yelled Neha, "we were duped, we were cheated. We were made to believe we were signing something else".
"Well it has both signatures, so try explaining that to a judge in the court of law", laughed the lawyer.
“That woman, Natasha, she conned us! I'm sure she has presented a fake marriage certificate as well. She knew Aditya is a rich man, she also knew of the policy and decided to take advantage of his death!" said Neha furiously.
"Well, sue her if you feel that way, but now you must leave", replied the lawyer.
"Your ex husband has graciously left you a house in the suburbs. You must take all your stuff and leave immediately", said the lawyer.
Seeing no other option, Neha and Neeta started packing their stuff. As Neha was packing, sitting on the bed, she saw a box of Aditya's stuff that he had left behind in Pattaya. In the box she found Aditya's passport. She picked it up and opened it. She stood up in horror as she saw a big 'CANCELLED' stamp on the passport. She sat down in disgust and held her head in her hands. “He's alive!", she said to herself. Aditya's plans had gone exactly as he had expected. Neha got up furiously and walked out.
"This is fraud, I know he's alive. I will get this case reopened", she threatened and threw the passport at the lawyer.
"Did the Thai police check these belongings there?" asked the lawyer. Again Neha was distraught, she clearly remembered the police checking the passport. This had been a well thought out plan by Aditya and many were involved.
"I'll go back to Thailand and ask for an authentic forensic test on the human remains they found", warned an angry Neha.
"Hahaha, you're behaving so naive. After what you have experienced in the last few days, you think he would have left any loose ends? You think you stand a chance?" said the lawyer. That's when she realised even the lawyer was involved. She was quiet, she knew it was all over because probably every person they encountered, was a part of Aditya and Natasha's plan!
Neha and Neeta walked out with their stuff and asked the driver to load the bags in the car. "Excuse me", said the lawyer, running out of the house. "But that car doesn't belong to you anymore. We have arranged a taxi for you both", said the lawyer pointing to a 'kali peeli' taxi standing outside the gate. While the women were left with nothing, somewhere in the Bahamas on board a personal yacht, Aditya and Natasha were relishing some fine Caribbean rum and enjoying a beautiful sunset. The two were basking in the success of a well made and well executed plan! Aditya's friends in the ministry and in the police force had been hand in glove. Where there were no friends, he had the means to buy their allegiance. They knew they had cheated the insurance company, but Aditya thought of the money as severance pay, for all the toxic years he spent with Neha and Neeta.
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