My friend's father dies of cancer 

One day, I received  a message from my friend  Raj Ahuja that his father was critically sick.  I had been very close to Raj Ahuja and his family.  I rushed to  Kolkata  to enquire about health of his father. Next day, I reached his place.   His father, Ravi Ahuja was around Ninety years .  Just a year ago, I had seen him walking briskly. I was astonished to see how he suddenly fell so sick.

Mr. Ravi Ahuja  breathed his last in my presence.  I could not hide my tears.  I had seen him since my very childhood.  He was a strict religious person.  He would perform  Yajna in morning and evening chanting Gayatri mantra.  I would also sit there with Raj and his other siblings.  I could not even imagine how such a pious and religious person who was utterly honest  and never drank alcoholic drinks and tobacco products could die of cancer.  But strange are the ways of God. 

The dead man appears:  Police enquiry  

I went home with a very heavy heart.  Gradually, I became normal.  One day, a police officer came to me. He showed me a photo and asked- Do you know this man?

I told- Yes, This is photo of Ravi Ahuja, my friend’s father.  He just died a few months back.

The police officer said-  But this is untrue.  Ravi Ahuja is still alive.  He went to his pension disbursing bank- State bank of India.   There he came to know that he was reported dead and even his death certificate given to bank. So, his pension was discontinued.   His specimen signature and photo in bank clearly indicate that he is real Ravi Ahuja.

I was taken aback.  Ravi Ahuja was treated in Hospital for about a year.  Many friends and well wishers must have gone to see him in hospital.  Hospital records clearly indicated that Ravi Ahuja was treated for cancer and he died.    

The police officer interrupted my chain of thoughts saying-  All this appears conspiracy.  On death of Ravi ahuja, his son Raj was to get major share of his property.  He could not wait for normal death of his father.  So he conspired and admitted some other cancer patient in name of his father.   Other siblings and relatives are also involved.  You also knew him well.  So you are also not beyond suspicion.

This was too much to listen.  I retorted:  I simply went to see my friend’s ailing father and incidentally he died.  How you dare name me.  I still believe that uncle Ravi died.   In fact,  the individual now claiming himself as Ravi Ahuja  must be fake.

Police suspects conspiracy 

At this the police officer shouted:  Stop this nonsense.  There is nothing to doubt that Ravi Ahuja is alive.  His specimen signature are genuine.  He recognizes even the persons who saw him years ago.  Even some of ex bank employees met him and talked about their past memorable events.   Ravi Ahuja is definitely alive and you people had  hospitalized a fake person and cremated him after his death.

I said- I cannot believe in what you say.

Police officer-   An enquiry is going on.  You are required  at  Kolkata  at the police enquiry.

Okay- I said.  I promised to go to kolkata shortly.

Meeting the dead man 

I left for Kolkata same evening.  I was stunned and worried.  As I entered ahuja house, I found that Ravi Ahuja  was sitting in sofa quite comfortably.   He said-  lalu- You also say that I died.

I said- I am so surprised.  I have nothing to say.   

Ravi Ahuja enquired about my wife and children.  During talk, I noticed that  he remembered even petty details about my family members, my parents etc.  a fake person could not.  Now I also suspected  Raj. After all, I had seen the bed ridden man and not talked to him.  Most probably, police officer was right.

Next day,  I gave my statement in writing to police investigating officers.  I stated that I sincerely believed that Real Ravi Ahuja was admitted in hospital.  He died in my presence. I participated in the funeral in good faith.  The police officer was convinced with my innocence. But he asked me to cooperate in future as the enquiry was still on.

Mystery of dead man resolved   

Two months later,  I was again summoned by Kolkata police.  There,  the police officers  showed me many photos of Ahuja family.   Suddenly,  I saw a photo of  two small children looking alike.  The police officer asked me- Do you know, who these children are.  

Neither I nor Raj or anyone else could recognize.  Suddenly, Ravi ahuja almost jumped from his sofa and said-  This photo!   Oh!   I had almost forgotten this.  This is my photo . the other person is my cousin just a week elder.  We both looked alike.  He is missing since long.  I do not know where he is.

The police officer asked Ravi that he could be real.  But where was he during the period another individual in his name was admitted  and being treated.

Ravi told- I had just gone to Himachal.  I am fond of visiting hilly tracks.  I  was bitten by a snake.  I was almost dead.  But the villagers treated me with local medicines.  I do not know how many years or months I was away from home.  But when I came back to Kolkatta, I was stunned to see that I am dead in government records.

Police asked me some more questions and thanked me for cooperation.  I came back my home       

A month later, I received a letter from Raj.  He was happy as the case was resolved.  During the period Raj was away,  his cousin seen in the photo was wandering in Kolkata.  Raj took him as his father and got him treatment.  There was no way to doubt that the person suffering from cancer was some one else.   Although the case was resolved,  Ravi  Ahuja  was in tears.  He lamented death of his  cousin.