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A puppeteer comes to town and mysteriously, the stories he tells on stage come to life all over Dariba. He tells the story of a girl who, from the pain of separation from her lover, takes her own life. Soon after, there is a suicide in Dariba and the circumstances surrounding it mirror the story told in the puppet show. There are several similar happenings until Mirza takes matters into his own hands and decides to get to the bottom of this mystery.
A famous courtesan is found dead in her kotha after a performance. Before Mirza can collect the clues with the first murder, a second courtesan is slayed and found dead. Gathering clues from both murder scenes, Mirza tracks down the common denominator.
As a series of vicious letters are circulated, resulting in deaths in Dariba, Mirza notices a very unusual behavior in the Darbar. In order to solve the mystery Mirza has to decide if there is a connection between the letter and the deaths or if they are distractions to deflect attention from the actual crime planned by the culprit.
Two of the most loyal guards of the emperor Bahadur shah go through some personal differences and have a fallout. Everybody in the emperor’s court who gave examples of their friendship are shocked to see them being indifferent to each other. When news spreads of the death of one of the guards, all fingers begin pointing at the other guard. Mirza knows that not all answers are that simple. He begins his investigation and reveals the truth.
Everyone in Dariba knows that Mirza is a man who doesn’t believe in ghosts and demons. When people come to him asking for his help in matters related to ghosts, visions and spirits, he laughs it off and tries to explain to people that such things do not exist in the world. But when Mirza has an encounter of his own, he is no longer sure. On one hand he feels that he should change his belief whereas on the other hand he feels that there is a very natural explanation to these supernatural occurrences.
At a private recital in the home of the Emperor’s favourite musician, a man is found dead, and the rest of the audience, unconscious. There are two witnesses to this crime but the only problem is that one is blind and the other, deaf. Mirza Jaan Nawaaz investigates the case with the help of the testimonies of these two witnesses, connecting the dots and catching the culprit.
A beautiful queen is found dead in her room, with a smile on her face. Strangely enough, all those who knew her after marriage, don’t recall seeing her smiling ever. Mirza is called upon to find out the reason behind this smile and the perpetrator who put her there.
On an early morning in Delhi, a body is found in a marshy area, with strange purple fluid oozing out of the victim’s neck. The case is baffling as the body is unrecognizable, creating a stir in the locality. With Basant Panchami around the corner and Prof. Shubendhu Bose, the famous scientist, arriving in the city to be felicitated, the Kotwal doesn’t want any trouble. Mirza is summoned to solve this murder before the professor gets there.
Chess has always been the most beloved game of the nawabs. But sometimes, even the friendliest of games can be soured by the need to win. When two nawabi friends play a game of chess, their camaraderie is only rivalled by their competitiveness. But when both nawabs are found dead at two corners of the city, it’s strange to see that both have died in an identical fashion. Each holding a chess piece in their hands, it leads the investigators to believe that they were playing chess at the time of their deaths. Mirza arrives at the scene to put the pieces together and solve the mystery of their deaths.
Mirza is called in to solve the most challenging and ingenious crime that has come his way. Three knives found on the same body and all three knives have a story to tell. Different versions of the incident are narrated by the suspects leading Mirza to make a startling conclusion.
When a young British officer is found dead, everybody in Dariba is in shock. The Kotwal suspects the local thugs but he is unable to collect evidence against them. Mirza steps in only to discover a murky web of clues.
An influential and powerful landlord is found hanging in his basement but only Mirza knows this is not suicide. There is enough and more evidence that this is premeditated murder. His investigation reveals a dark past of the victim and many enemies who could be possible suspects in this closed room case.
Three begums are found dead in the bibighar one slit by her wrist, the other hanging and the third poisoned. The immediate suspect is the Nawab until the mystery further unfolds throwing Mirza into a web of challenges.
With magic in the air, trouble is not far away. When a famous magician comes to Dariba, the crowd is bedazzled by his aweinspiring tricks. Popular with the masses, his signature trick of making living people disappear and come back never fails to win over audiences. During one such show, he successfully manages to make a young girl disappear. Just before the magician can bring the girl back, he is killed on stage. With no one knowing where the girl is or how to rescue her, the murderer is on the loose with no one on his/her track. Mirza joins the case at the insistence of the Kotwal.
When a nawab is slain in a lion hunt gone wrong, a precious jewel goes missing from his turban. The motive is clear but the killer is clever. Mirza must muster all his insight to bring the killer to justice. Waiting for the killer to make a mistake, Mirza’s eye is on everyone.
An unbreakable and full proof German vault, belonging to two brothers, is found empty. With several suspects, Mirza must get down to the motive of the robbery.
The Kotwal is missing and Mirza must now face the biggest test of his life. He embarks on a mission to find his father figure and mentor while fearing the worst.
A political agent of the East India Company is found dead under very mysterious circumstances. A friend to the Maharajah and many dignitaries, why would anyone want this man dead Mirza must put together pieces of this puzzle by compiling ledger books and bottles of medicines from his cupboard.
A serious epidemic has plagued the residents of Dariba. This is coupled with the disappearance of an emissary from the Afghan court. Is there a connection Where is the emissary, and who would want to do away with him Mirza gets to the bottom of these strange circumstances.
Hindi
31 July 2020
Fiction
Sid Makkar
Sid Makkar
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