In detective fiction over the years, from Sherlock Holmes to Inspector Morse, the super sleuth always arrives at the crime scene, gathers clues invisible to others and cracks the case in no time. However, such detectives are found only in the pages of such popular detective novels.

So what does a modern detective do to earn his/her living? The unglamorous reality is that these detectives often use their unique skills to dig up the history of a prospective bride and groom. Otherwise, most of their assignments require them to keep a tab on kids, and their major clients are the parents of New India.

Sumit Mehra, who runs a private detective firm, says that in the past one year, worried parents have comprised eighty per cent of their clientele. These parents are concerned about their children, and want to ensure their safety in a world which is increasingly becoming unsafe for them.

Every day, the media reports multiple cases of children being abducted or murdered. Therefore, worried parents employ detectives to keep a track of their children's movements and activities. These detectives also have the additional responsibility of ensuring the safety of these children.

Says Neeta, a parent from Greater Kailash, Delhi, "There is no point in blaming the police in case something happens. My husband and I decided to hire a detective to keep a tab on our son, as he often goes out partying late in the night. We are not interested in spying on our son. We only want to ensure his safety.

Krishnakumar Menon, branch manager of Globe Detective Agency, which has been in the sleuthing business since 1967, says that they are getting a large number of cases from parents. Most of the cases involve children in the age group of 16 and 25, he says.

The detectives also collect information about which friends these children spend their time with.

"I just don't want my daughter to go haywire. If she is up to something wrong, the only way to find that out is through a detective. If we are aware of her activities, we can correct something wrong before it is too late," says Hetal Shah, a resident of Bangalore.

Rajat Kulkarni, a detective from Delhi, says that parents tend to get worried when their children keep asking for large sums of pocket money and make up excuses not to return home.

While the world parties over the weekend, these detectives are hard at work. Parents often employ detectives during the weekend to keep a tab on their children, says Rajat.

Some parents have even asked detectives to find out if their children are involved in prostitution and drugs.