The journey behind my debut crime thriller: The Number You Are Calling Is Switched Off

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There’s a saying that everything in life happens for a reason. Often, it’s only in retrospect that we understand why certain events, which may have seemed insignificant at the time, unfolded the way they did. In my own life, many such moments have revealed their true purpose over time. One such moment, nearly two decades ago, planted the seeds for my debut crime thriller, The Number You Are Calling Is Switched Off.

I spent 17 years as a journalist, dedicating the majority of that time to covering crime—a beat that earned me recognition and respect. Yet, when I transitioned to the business bureau later in my career, I found myself starting from scratch. My younger colleagues, with far less experience, were already well-established. I often wondered why I had ‘wasted’ so many years covering crime, where my days were spent chasing stories at police stations and courts, racing to crime scenes, and standing for hours in the sweltering Delhi heat outside hospitals, awaiting post-mortem reports. While press conferences at five-star hotels were unheard of in crime reporting, they were the norm in business journalism. I couldn’t help but feel I had missed out.

But as time passed, I realized that crime reporting had left a lasting impression on me. There’s no better way to learn the ropes of journalism than by covering crime—it’s where the rawest and most fascinating stories lie. Looking back, it’s clear that my time on that beat wasn’t wasted at all; in fact, it provided the foundation for my later career and, of course, my novel.

The genesis of The Number You Are Calling Is Switched Off can be traced back to those very days I once began to question. I vividly remember it was sometime in 2005 when I was a regular at the Delhi Police Headquarters. During one such visit, I met Mr. Karnal Singh, then Joint Commissioner of the Special Cell, the counterterrorism unit of the Delhi Police. This was after his team had cracked one of the most high-profile cases in the country’s history. Over tea, he asked me a question that would stick with me for years:

“Tushar, how would you track a mobile phone that’s switched off all day, except for a few minutes when it’s turned on to make a call, and each time it shows a new location?”

I assumed there must be a way. “Can’t the caller be traced through the documents used to purchase the SIM card?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said, “but what if the SIM card was bought using forged documents? And over two months, it has made only a few calls—to just one person—who, like the police, has no idea who the caller is?”

This wasn’t a hypothetical situation—it was a first-of-its-kind case the Special Cell had dealt with the previous week. A faceless, nameless man, a ghost on the radar, made sporadic calls from different locations, evading the police at every turn. The complexity and audacity of the case fascinated me. It was one of the most compelling stories I ever covered, and it stayed with me long after the investigation concluded.

Years later, when I shared the story with my wife, she recognized its potential immediately. “This could be the plot for your first novel,” she said. And she was right.

The novel is a fictionalized account, inspired by real-life events I witnessed as a crime reporter. It tells the story of a cunning individual who outsmarts the system by tapping the phone of one of India’s most powerful politicians. But beyond the headlines lies the real intrigue: the unprecedented investigation that unfolded behind the scenes.

My personal relationships with the investigators gave me rare insights that never reached the public. This depth of understanding helped shape the narrative of my book.

I also drew from other high-profile cases I covered, weaving elements of these investigations into the fictional narrative. One such case was the infamous twin cinema hall blasts in the heart of Delhi, which were also cracked by a team led by Mr. Karnal Singh. That story remains one of my most memorable investigations, and its echoes can be found throughout the novel.

The response to my debut novel has been overwhelming. At first, I was apprehensive—why would anyone read a novel by a first-time author whose English is, at best, “a reporter’s English”? But to my surprise, some of the most well-read people I know—including senior pilots, editors, and voracious readers—have told me they finished the book in one sitting. For someone who isn’t very active on social media, getting the word out has been a challenge. But the positive feedback has been heartening, and I hope more readers will give it a chance.

As with everything in life, I believe this novel has its own destiny. Whether it succeeds or not, I am already looking forward to writing my second book. Until then, I hope the number you are calling isn’t switched off.

‘About the Book’

Seven days. One cryptic call. A prime minister’s dream on life support. Netaji is on the brink of becoming India’s prime minister when his trusted confidante, VJS, receives a chilling call on his secret line. It’s a phantom call—a disposable phone activated only for brief, devastating moments, each one shattering Netaji’s lifelong ambition. The Delhi Police Special Cell is thrust into a desperate race against time. Can they track a ghost in a city of millions? A single phone. Eleven calls. A web of lies. Every second brings them closer to a truth that could topple the government. This electrifying thriller is a heart- pounding chase where loyalty whispers and deception roars. Every moment counts, and every call could be the last clue. Buckle up for a relentless pursuit that will leave you questioning everything until the shocking climax.

(Used with permission from South Asian Herald. The opinions do not reflect those of Parikh Worldwide Media)