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Barti Mandel had only worked for the Talwaf family for a week but had already settled into a rhythm.

The 35-year-old housemate had recently relocated to the Indian capital of Delhi in search of work.

She was soon hired to clean the home of Rajesh and Newport Talwaf, a husband and wife who lived

in the south of Delhi suburb of Noida. Rajesh and Newport were both the dentists with busy

schedules and needed someone to cover for their usual maid who was on leave.

They lived in an enormous 1886 apartment complex that was home to almost 10,000 people.

Barti would visit their three bedroom home twice a day to dust, clean the floors and wash the dishes.

The Talwaf also employed a live-in servant named Hemraj Benjade.

Every morning and evening he would lap Barti into the home after she rang the doorbell

installed by an exterior mesh security door. At 6am on Friday, May 16, 2008, Barti arrived for

her first shift of the day. She rang the doorbell as usual but Hemraj didn't appear.

Barti rang the bell a second time and when she was again met with no response, she figured Hemraj

was just taking his time. She walked up a set of stairs where the family's bucket and mop was

kept and carried them back to the front door. Still, there was no sign of Hemraj.

Barti rang the doorbell for a third time and appeared down the hallway inside.

There was a second mesh door at the end of the hall.

Immediately behind it, in the same frame, was a wooden door that opened to the apartment.

The wooden door finally opened and Barti was surprised to see a woman standing there instead

...