"Do you have any idea how to write a fantasy ?", she asked. " Do you expect a criminal psychologist to write a fantasy story? Why can't you figure it out yourself? And by the way, I had already warned you to apply for Law or Psychology, not everyone understands Literature ."
"Dad, enough of it, I thought you could help me, but it's fine, forget it.
"Actually I do remember a real-life fantasy, but I am not very sure whether this will get your acceptance, your Highness !", I replied. She looked puzzled, "What do you mean by real life fantasy?"
"A few years back, I encountered an absurd but fascinating story of a thief, whose whole life looks like a cooked up fantasy book by an amateur writer. If you have some spare time, I can narrate his 'real life fantasy'.
" Go ahead I am ready to listen "
About 5 years ago I had gone to Mumbai Jail for a session. I happened to meet my classmate who was a Junior Inspector back then. He invited me to have a cup of coffee in a nearby restaurant. After random talks, I asked him about his experience in Mumbai Jail. My 'honest friend', narrated me, one of his memorable case.
The story is about Sushant, who by the age of 22 had pulled off whimsical but successful heists, yet the police were clueless about his existence. At the age of 14, he had run away from his house and was doing odd jobs in Mumbai. Mr. Shroff, my friend narrated me his life, in his own words during his interrogation :
'It was my first robbery. An elite bungalow, without a security guard, made me confident enough to target it. On that day, the lights were off. Seizing this opportunity, I entered into the house, breaking the lock of the back door. I stole the jewelry, cash and almost everything I found. As I was preparing to escape I heard someone giggling. As I tried peeping from the reading room, suddenly the lights were switched on. I saw a young man apparently of my age entering in the house with someone and I heard Happy Birthday to you in chorus! All his friends, who were hidden in the hall, showed up. It was a surprise birthday party! I soon realized that there was no way to escape. Soothing my nerves I observed that it was a costume party. Each of his friends was either a Batman, Spider-Man or even a Joker. That was perfect! Without a hint of discomfort, I entered the hall and joined the celebrations! None of them suspected the masked robber costume. I joined him with one of his friends and even congratulated him. He then cut the delicious cake and the party started. I even drank his whiskey and tasted that delightful cake. Within hours, most of them were dead drunk. Slipping off to the reading room, I picked up the loot and escaped from the main door without anyone suspecting foul play.'
"That's crazy, wasn't there any police complaint ?", my puzzled daughter asked.
"Well actually, it was a setup. The owner had planned the robbery of his own house, as an income tax inquiry was about to take place. Sushant unknowingly became the part of it."
"What happened next?", she asked.
"Then it was his second heist"
'This time I had planned to play it safe. My target was a flat on the fourth floor of a seven-story apartment. My escape route was from the garden near the building. Crossing the fence from the backyard I entered the house through the pipe. I stole the cash and other valuables and was preparing to leave. Accidentally I hit on a glass frame and it fell on the floors. Everyone woke up. I was trapped this time. I hid in the bathroom. Soon the watchman was alerted. There was no chance to exit from the pipe as both the ends were been guarded. I saw someone approaching near the bathroom and I heard suddenly, "Hey the thief has been caught ."As I was about to surrender myself, I saw that they had caught someone in the lobby! Soon a dozen of men dragged him towards the watchman. Bewildered, I peeped out of the bathroom window, to see no one guarding the backyard. Everyone thought that the thief had been caught! Thus I walked away from the pipe with the loot while they were busy questioning the thief about the loot!'
"That was quite an escape. What happened next? How was he finally caught ?" , she asked with curiosity.
"All his escapes were because of sheer luck. His thefts were full of flaws, neither planned nor premeditated. After two successful robberies, he smashed three more. Robbing a stolen car to stealing someone's bribe, his robberies kept getting audacious. None of them were reported, for obvious reasons. But there was a twist in the tale. Meanwhile, a barbarous murder had taken place in the town. Investigations were on full swing. With every passing day, the pressure was mounting. Police had hatched a plan to nab the murderer. Thanks to their reliable sources, they ended up catching Sushant! Taken aback, he couldn't interpret the situation. They repeatedly asked him about his location, at the time of the murder. He kept lying repeatedly. Realizing that there was no escape, he admitted that he was a thief, and was busy robbing a car at the time of the murder. No one believed him. He had to interrogate himself and explain his thefts to prove himself a thief."
"Finally convinced, they arrested him officially for burglary. As the police had to file an FIR against him, they started arresting everyone involved in the case. His re-stolen car was seized. Men involved in bribery were arrested. The bungalow owner was called. Everyone arrived with their lawyers. After an hour of deliberate discussion, every knot got resolved. It was concluded that no car was ever stolen, no one had bribed anyone and no theft had ever taken place in any bungalow! So how can any innocent be punished under Indian Penal Code? With no charges against him, he walked away with all the loot and ended up being the PERFECT THIEF. "
As I ended the story, my daughter walked away saying that this was not a fantasy. Was it?