FARIDABAD: The morning of June 10 started like any other for the Mehto family, with no sign of the tragedy that would soon unfold — one that would leave a mother alone, and an entire neighbourhood in stunned silence. There was no warning. No argument. Just routine. That Tuesday morning, 36-year-old Manoj Mehto woke up to his usual rhythm. The family’s cramped single-room home in Subhash Colony, shared by Manoj, his wife Preeti, and their four young sons, stirred to life. The boys bathed early to escape the rising heat. Preeti made parathas for breakfast. Manoj strolled through the alley outside, chatting with neighbours — the way he did on the days he didn’t go to work, which was often. “It was just a normal day,” Preeti recounted tearfully on Wednesday, sitting alone in the same room that once echoed with the voices of six. “He even asked me to come with him and the children. He said he wanted to take them to the park, maybe make it a family outing. But I wasn’t feeling well, and there was housework.” She never imagined that would be the last time she saw them alive. A Deceptive Calm The room they lived in was too small to keep secrets. It served as bedroom, kitchen, and living area. Neighbours say in such places, even unspoken tensions can be felt. Yet, there was no indication of the storm building inside Manoj. Preeti did recall one unusual thing: he wore new clothes. But she dismissed it as part of the cheerful mood he seemed to be in that morning. Later, he left with the four boys — Pawan (10), Kaaro (7), Murli (5), and Chotu (3). Instead of heading to a park, Manoj took them to the railway tracks beneath the Elson Chowk flyover. He bought them snacks—chips and soft drinks—before sitting them down on the tracks. For nearly an hour, witnesses say, they waited. Then, as the Golden Temple Express approached, horror unfolded. According to eyewitnesses, the children struggled, but Manoj restrained them. He reportedly placed the younger two on his shoulders and held the arms of the older boys, ensuring none could escape. All five were killed instantly. No Clarity, Only Questions Police have launched an inquest but are yet to establish a clear motive. Preliminary findings suggest Manoj may have been troubled by personal suspicions. He was reportedly upset about a man in his wife’s village — a neighbour of Preeti’s parents in Lakhisarai, Bihar — who helped her communicate with them since they had no phones. The man, referred to by Preeti as a “cousin,” was allegedly a source of growing mistrust for Manoj. “There was nothing more to it,” said Rajender Singh, officer in charge of the Ballabgarh railway police post. “But Manoj may have developed paranoia or mistrust over it.” Neighbours in Subhash Colony described the family as quiet. There were no recent fights or signs of discord, they said. Preeti told police they had not argued recently. The couple had fallen in love and married 11 years ago. Her sister had married Manoj’s brother. They had moved to Faridabad three years ago, where Manoj insisted she stay home to care for the children rather than seek a job. “I still can’t believe it,” Preeti sobbed. “He loved the children so much. How could he do this?” Community in Shock As news of the tragedy spread, people who barely knew the family visited to offer condolences. Seema Devi, a neighbour, said, “We’re devastated. We just want to understand what pushed him to such a horrific step.” The bodies of Manoj and the four boys remain at the BK Civil Hospital mortuary. Police say the post-mortem will be conducted once Manoj’s brother arrives in Faridabad on Thursday. As Preeti sits in silence, surrounded by unanswered questions and the echoes of a once-bustling home, the community around her remains haunted — searching for reasons, mourning a loss too heavy to comprehend.