A family of six is found dead inside their home.
A 70-year-old grandfather, a 73-year-old grandmother, a 40-year-old son, his 39-year-old wife, a 12-year-old grandson, and a 5-year-old granddaughter all of them were found hanging. There were no internal or external injuries; the only injuries were caused by hanging.
The house was completely locked from the inside. There was a swinging glass panel installed at the door. This is a murder case, yet no fingerprints were found anywhere.
You are a detective. You must tell why is this a murder, and how did it happen?
After reading the question, Dhruv grabs his head and says,
"What kind of question is this? I don't understand anything. They're found dead, there are no fingerprints, no internal or external injuries, and the entire house is locked from the inside. They didn't even try to defend themselves. If someone was killing them, wouldn't they try to protect themselves? This looks like suicide to me."
Hearing this, Akash says calmly,
"No. This is a murder."
"But how?" Dhruv asks.
Akash smiles slightly and says,
"Think carefully."
"How am I supposed to think? They don't have any injuries, which means they didn't resist. On top of that, the whole house was locked. So how?" Dhruv says, frustrated.
Akash begins to explain.
"Listen carefully. This is not an ordinary question. At first glance, it feels simple, but it's actually a very cleverly designed psychological question."
"What do you mean?" Dhruv asks, surprised.
Akash speaks in a calm tone,
"This question very deliberately mentions the ages of the people who died. That's where people get divided. Some think the ages hide a mystery, and others think they don't. Then those who suspect something in the ages notice that the granddaughter is very young too young to hang herself. That leads them to believe someone else must have hanged her.
"At this point, people start thinking they've found proof of murder. But then their mind immediately counters it maybe the family hanged her themselves, because there are no internal or external injuries, and such cases do exist. People get stuck in this loop.
"Then they read that the house was locked from the inside. And that's where they get completely trapped and stop thinking clearly."
Listening to this, Dhruv gets restless, pulling his hair, and asks,
"Then tell me, brother, how did the murder happen?"
Akash laughs lightly and says,
"The answer is hidden right there. It says no fingerprints were found."
"So?" Dhruv asks.
Akash replies,
"This is the psychological trick. It never says that the murderer's fingerprints weren't found. It only says fingerprints weren't found. Earlier, the question clearly labels it as a murder so that the reader assumes the fingerprints being discussed belong to the killer.
"But in reality, not even the family members' fingerprints were found. That's impossible. Someone had to hang the little girl she couldn't do it herself. So fingerprints should exist. And not just that somewhere in the house, fingerprints should exist. But the entire house had none."
Hearing this, Dhruv stammers,
"But… but… it also says the house was locked from the inside."
"That's another trick," Akash answers. "First, it gives a clue the swinging glass panel on the door. Then it deliberately states that the house was locked from the inside."
Dhruv nods and says,
"That's a sharp mind behind such questions."
Akash smiles.
"It has to be. But what can we do? Not everyone has it, and that's why most people fail these questions."
Dhruv suddenly pauses.
"Wait… what did you just say?"
"What?" Akash asks.
Angrily, Dhruv says,
"You indirectly called me an idiot."
"No?" Akash says, pretending to be shocked.
"Now you're lying too," Dhruv says.
"No, you're not understanding," Akash replies.
"What am I not understanding?" Dhruv snaps.
Akash smiles calmly and says,
"That I didn't indirectly call you an idiot. I directly called you one."
"What?!" Dhruv shouts angrily. "That's it. I won't talk to you. You're not a friend like a brother anymore."
"Why are you getting angry? I was joking, brother just joking," Akash says.
"No. I won't talk," Dhruv says, lowering his head.
"Alright, friend, forgive me," Akash says.
"No, I won't," Dhruv replies stubbornly.
"Seriously, forgive me," Akash insists.
"Fine, okay. But don't say things like that again," Dhruv says.
"Thank you very much," Akash replies. "Next time, I'll do even better."
Both of them start laughing. Seeing them laugh, the entire class turns toward them, and the four officials ask,
"What happened? Why are you laughing so much?"
Akash loudly replies,
"Oh, forgive us. It was nothing."
"Alright, fine. Continue with the exam," they say.
"Oh, thank you," Akash responds.
"Let's write the answer now."
Akash begins writing:
This is a murder. The evidence lies in the absence of fingerprints throughout the entire house, which is impossible. Moreover, the little girl could not have hanged herself, meaning someone else did it. The murderer must have been someone known to the family. He likely gave them sleeping drugs, then hanged all of them. To make it look like suicide and avoid suspicion, he wiped all fingerprints and escaped through the door with the swinging glass panel.
Dhruv then asks,
"But Akash, how do you know this answer is correct?"
Akash replies,
"There is no single correct answer to this question. It was deliberately designed this way. The real test was to create an answer that logically fits all conditions. That's why I wrote the answer that makes the most sense."
Hearing this, Dhruv widens his eyes and says,
"Wow. I have to admit you really are intelligent."
Akash smiles and says,
"That's true. And thanks for the compliment. Now, let's move on to the next one."