Small Story 346.

Small Story 346: Pravin and the Philadelphia Mystery – Solved by a Dog’s Loyalty After a long and comfortable journey, Pravin landed in Philadelphia for his first assignment. It had been arranged by his trio of mentors—Chief OO1, Director Pal, the brilliant investigator Ranjitha, and training coordinator Radhika. As he collected his luggage and stepped out of the airport, memories of his farewell crossed his mind. Just as he was looking for a cab to reach his hotel, a woman whispered, “Welcome to Philadelphia, Pravin. I’m Sophia from the FBI. As per Ranjitha’s recommendation, I’ll take you to your hotel.” During the drive, Pravin noted Sophia’s polite manner and engaging conversation. She even praised the academy where Pravin had trained. Once they reached the hotel, she informed him that she would return at 4 PM to take him to the house of Mr. Pramod, where a mysterious incident had taken place. At exactly 3:45 PM, Sophia arrived, and they proceeded to Pramod’s residence—a grand house owned by one of the city’s leading business tycoons. A sum of five million dollars had mysteriously gone missing from his home. After brief introductions and some tea, Pravin began asking questions. Soon, Pramod’s wife, Mathura, joined the conversation. “This year marks my late father’s 100th birth anniversary,” Pramod explained. “His lifelong dream was to produce a film featuring breathtaking locations. Unfortunately, he had to abandon the idea ten years ago. Now, to honor his dream, my son Prakash is collaborating with Pioneer Warner Bros and an Indian director to make it a reality. We had kept five million dollars in a secure locker to hand over to our partners. I kept the key punch with me. But the next day, I found it missing. Even though I know the code, the locker won’t open without the key.” Pravin nodded thoughtfully. “Do you have any pets at home?” he asked casually. “Yes,” Pramod replied. “We have a four-month-old dog, Toto.” “Where is Toto now?” Pravin inquired. “He’s with Prakash in the other room. Prakash was playing with him—throwing a ball for him to fetch.” Pravin whispered, “If my guess is right, there’s no need to worry. Did you leave the key punch on the table by any chance?” “Yes,” Pramod said, thinking back. “I did.” “Can you show me Toto’s cage?” Pravin asked. Pramod led him to Toto’s small shelter. It was a beautifully kept space with a cozy bed, some pillows, and lots of toys. Pravin began searching through the toys and bedding. Soon enough, he retrieved the missing key punch. He explained, “Toto is used to fetching objects. Since he often sees Prakash putting on the collar and taking him for walks, he may have considered the key punch as something important or playful. He must have brought it here and hidden it with his toys.” With excitement and hope, Pramod rushed to the locker. He opened it using the recovered key punch—and there it was: the bag with the full five million dollars, untouched. Overwhelmed with relief, Pramod praised Pravin’s sharp observation and calm approach. “Incredible work, Pravin. What’s taken us eight days, you’ve solved in one afternoon.” Pravin simply smiled and said, “All thanks to the training from our OO1 Chief’s academy.” Prakash and Mathura were equally amazed at the brilliant and unexpected solution. Pramod invited Pravin and Sophia to join the family for dinner that evening. During the meal, Sophia whispered, “Ranjitha is a close friend of mine. She made a strong impression at the OO1 academy and personally recommended you for this mission. I’m sure you have a bright future ahead.” Everyone at the table nodded in agreement, fully endorsing Sophia’s words. K.Ragavan 23-8-25