A Case of Missing Diamond

Summary

A stolen diamond from Princess Noor's ring leads to an investigation involving a detective, the princess's nocturnal visitor, and a pigeon with an unusual droppings, which may hold the key to the mystery.

Abstract

In the flash fiction piece titled "A Case of Missing Diamond," Princess Noor is distraught over the theft of a diamond from her ring, which was still on her finger but missing its centerpiece. Despite her insistence on its return, the detective assigned to the case requires more details, leading the princess to reluctantly reveal the identity of her nighttime guest. The investigation takes an unexpected turn when Bhaskar Chowdhury, a man tending to his rooftop garden, discovers an ailing pigeon whose excrement contains a large stone resembling a diamond. However, Bhaskar dismisses the possibility and discards the stone, leaving the true resolution of the case unclear.

Opinions

Princess Noor is portrayed as desperate and frustrated, emphasizing the value she places on the stolen diamond.
The detective is depicted as professional and methodical, seeking detailed information to solve the case.
The princess's revelation of her nocturnal visitor suggests a level of trust or resignation, despite the potential implications for the individual's reputation or involvement in the theft.
Bhaskar Chowdhury's actions reflect a compassionate nature, as he cares for the injured pigeon, but also a lack of discernment regarding the potential value of the stone found in the pigeon's droppings.
The story implies a twist of fate, where the solution to the princess's problem might have been overlooked by a simple act of kindness and the dismissive opinion of an ordinary man.

She revealed the name of her nocturnal visitor but…

A diamond was stolen from Princess Noor’s ring. The ring was still on her finger, with the prongs that held the diamond bent slightly.

“I don’t give a damn! I want it back at any cost,” said the princess, almost shouting in frustration, at the detective.

“Your highness, with all due respect, you must provide me with more detail,” replied the detective.

She understood what he was prodding at. Reluctantly, she revealed the name of her nocturnal visitor.

But it didn’t solve the case — the detective, after a meticulous investigation, concluded confidently that the lover was not the culprit.

While watering the plants in the morning in his rooftop garden, Bhaskar Chowdhury found a pigeon lying on the floor. It was barely alive. Not knowing what to do, he gave it some water to drink and left it on a cushion of fallen leaves outside his workshop.

The bird healed and flew away. When Bhaskar came back to check, he found that it had pooped massively and among it was a stone, quite big for a bird’s digestive system.

He probed the stone with a twig; by its cut and the reflection of sunlight, one could believe it to be a diamond.

“That big — it can’t be a diamond,” he thought and threw it with the leaves in the garbage bin.

Flash Fiction

A Case of Missing Diamond

She revealed the name of her nocturnal visitor but…