Story 87: The Mystery of the Missing Wallet Ranjitha stepped into the luxurious house, greeted warmly by the security. "Welcome, Madam. The lady of the house is expecting you; please go this way." She walked inside and took the elevator to the first floor. There, the service lady greeted her, offering a seat and promising to bring some juice. "Madam Nandhini will be here shortly," she said. As Ranjitha sipped the fresh juice, she heard footsteps approaching. “Good evening, Ranjitha. How are you?” Nandhini, the lady of the house, entered with a friendly smile. “Is your boss doing well?” Nandhini asked. “Yes, Madam, he is fine,” Ranjitha replied politely. Nandhini led Ranjitha into a private room, her face etched with concern. "From 2 p.m., I’ve been so worried," Nandhini confessed. "Last week, my husband Sanjay and I returned from Singapore after visiting our daughter, Vasanthi. Before we left, we locked our cupboards using a secret code and placed a wallet containing three crores worth of diamonds inside. But when we returned this morning, we were shocked to find the wallet missing." Ranjitha examined the cupboards, which were secured with a secret code, and nodded thoughtfully. "I remember clearly," Nandhini continued. "Last year, my daughter gave me two green wallets from Europe. I’m certain I placed it there." Her eyes welled with tears as she spoke. "I’m not as concerned about the money, but the diamonds have been a part of our family for generations." "Do you suspect anyone in the house? The maids or the other employees?" Ranjitha asked. "No," Nandhini replied, shaking her head. "I first came here at 7 a.m. and opened the locker around 2 p.m. Then I took a rest and played with our pet cat, Nimmy. She’s been with us for five years. She’s cute and very smart. Last year, Nimmy was happy with the color of the wallet I gave her. She was keeping it safe in her small room, but one day, she misplaced it while playing. I fed her this morning before I opened the locker." Ranjitha asked, "When did you feed her?" Nandhini explained, “I fed her before I came to rest. Afterward, I took her with her milk bowl to the locker room. As I was opening the locker, my phone rang. I went to answer it." "Who called?" Ranjitha asked, observing her closely. "A beauty company. They were asking for my support with their products," Nandhini explained. Ranjitha, still thinking carefully, called out, “Nimmy, come here.” The cat walked over and jumped into Ranjitha’s lap. "How are you, Nimmy?" Ranjitha asked gently as she petted the cat. Then, turning to Nandhini, she asked, "Where exactly is the green wallet?" Nandhini gestured to a spot near the locker, hidden by a beautiful curtain. "It’s behind there," she said. The room was elegant, with a soothing ambiance. Ranjitha pondered for a moment before speaking. “If I’m not mistaken, Madam, I think I know where the wallet is.” Ranjitha walked over and gently pulled back the curtain covering Nimmy's house. There, on a small cushion, was the green wallet. Nandhini’s eyes widened in surprise. “How did you know?” she exclaimed. Ranjitha explained calmly, “When you went to answer the phone, Nimmy must have seen the wallet. She took it with her, probably thinking it was the same wallet you gave her last year. She must have remembered it and brought it to her house.” Nandhini opened the wallet. All the diamonds and cash were still intact. Overcome with relief and gratitude, she hugged Ranjitha. "What an incredible deduction! You truly are amazing!" Excited, Nandhini immediately called her husband, Sanjay, to tell him that the mystery had been solved. “OO1’s assistant, Ranjitha, figured it all out!” she said proudly. Sanjay, on the other end of the line, applauded Ranjitha’s keen investigation. "Well done, Ranjitha. You've truly earned your place in the team. The mystery is solved!" Ranjitha smiled, her job well done. The mystery of the missing wallet had been solved, thanks to her sharp thinking and attention to detail. K. Ragavan | 24-11-24