Chapter 3
Deeya's bruised body lay on the cold floor.
Arjun woke up breathless, his heart pounding loudly. He looked at the watch, 4:00 a.m. Arjun looked at Deeya, alive, breathing. I can't see. He held his head between his hands as the vein on his forehead throbbed. He looked up, feeling a hand on his shoulder. “Rosh?”
“Tum thik ho?” She whispered.
Arjun sighed. He was beginning to sweat, in an air-conditioned room.
“Bahar chalte hai, tumhe better feel hoga.”
He nodded, glancing at Deeya before walking out with Roshni towards the gallery. The chilly morning air brushed against his face. Roshni held his hand, caressing it gently. Arjun took slow, deep breaths to calm his racing heart. The subtle jasmine fragrance enveloped them in the tranquil atmosphere. They stood in silence, Arjun placed his head on her shoulder. “I am scared, Roshni.” He whispered. Roshni stroked his hair, comforting him.
“Ye sab meri galti hai.” His voice was shaky. “Mujhe Deeyu ko aise akele nahi chhodna chahiye tha. Agar usse kuch ho jata toh main kya karta.”
Roshni held him in embrace.
Deeya lay in a pool of blood.
Yash had his chance.
Sir, ek hafte pehle Yash ne ek ladki ke sath club gaya tha aur wo aaj bhi lapata hai.
The flashes of his nightmare, bartender's confession and the information by Chotu spun in his head. As Deeya's face came to his mind, Arjun's tears began to flow uncontrollably, his body shaking with the weight of his fears and regrets. Roshni held him tighter, offering him a shoulder to cry on. She whispered soothing words, assuring him that everything would be okay.
"Shh... It's alright, Arjun," Roshni murmured softly, wiping away his tears. “Arjun, right now our priority is Deeya, her health and safety. Deeya is safe with us, and we'll make sure her culprits are punished. Let's wait for her to tell us what actually happened."
Arjun buried his face in Roshni's embrace, finding solace in her warmth and understanding. He let out all his pent-up emotions, allowing himself to be vulnerable in front of her. Roshni continued to hold him, her presence a source of strength and comfort amidst his turmoil.
"We'll get through this together," Roshni whispered, pressing a gentle kiss on Arjun's forehead. "I promise.”
~
Morning.
Roshni and Arjun sat beside Deeya.
“Deeya,” Roshni held her hand. “Club mein kya hua tha, bataogi?”
Deeya fidgeted with the IV tube. “On the dance floor I felt a bit lonely, so I went to have a drink. Also there was this brat who wouldn't stop talking to me. I had half the drink and it felt off. So I went to the washroom and tried to throw up.” She took a deep breath. “I tried but couldn't. Like my body felt numb and dizzy. And I felt someone came there and hold m-me. I froze for a moment and then pushed him off. Then I think I walked outside. I don't remember much, it was very hazy.”
“Do you remember his face, name, anything?” Arjun asked.
“No. I don't think so.”
~
In the dimly lit interrogation room. The air is thick with tension. Riya and Chotu sit across from Sumit, who is Yash’s close friend.
Riya, leaning forward. “Sumit, we need answers. Yash is dead, and we’re running out of time.”
Sumit looked at the two, “I know nothing.”
“Is that why you were running away to Indonesia?” Chotu asked sternly.
“That vacation was planned months ago.” Sumit answered.
“Your bestfriend dies and you go off for a vacation?” Riya looked at him with disgust.
“I- I was scared when I saw his dead-body. I couldn’t think of anything so I went home and locked myself in my room. I couldn’t believe he was gone. When my group reminded me of the vacation, I thought it would be a good break.”
“What, exactly, did you see?” Riya asked.
Sumit, nervously. “I know who killed him, madam.”
“Go on.”
Sumit said with a trembling voice. “It’s that girl, Yash was after. She was very feisty and didn’t really pay attention to either of us. When Yash went to talk to her, she ignored him first. But then…”
Riya asked. “Then what?”
Sumit: “She asked him to follow her. He went towards the stall with her and I followed them as I didn’t feel good. She lured him in and killed him in cold blood. She's a very dangerous woman, underneath that lovely face lies a cold blooded murderer. She walked off like nothing happened, leaving my best friend dead. I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it happen.”
Riya, scribbling notes. “Why didn’t you report it?”
Sumit, still trembling. “I was scared.. I thought she’d come after me since Yash was gone and I saw her do it. So, I hid and ran away.”
“I hope,” Chotu leaned ahead. “All that you said just now is true, otherwise, you will have no place to run or hide.”
“I’m not lying sir. Please trust me.”
~
Conference Room,
Riya leaned back in her chair, her gaze shifting between the evidence board and her teammates - Chotu and Shree.
“Yash Rajput,” Riya mused, “a promising young man with political ties. His death was brutal, calculated. And Deeya…” Riya glanced at the file in front of her. “Deeya, the last person to see him alive.”
Chotu scratched his head. “The bartender’s confession complicates things. Spiked drinks, a malicious plan.” “But what about Deeya?” Riya tapped her pen against the table. “We need to talk to her. Find out what happened in that stall. Was it self-defense? Or something else?”
“I don’t think you should question her without Arjun sir’s approval.” Chotu said.
“What if I only ask for her statement. Uske liye toh sir manaa nahi karenge na.”
“Riya, sir ko aa jane do, phir Deeya se baat kar lena.”
Riya sighed and got up. “Chotu, tum aisa kuch jaante ho jo hume nahi pata?”
“Nahi. Bas ye keh raha hu, ki Arjun sir jo bhi karte hai, soch samajh kar karte hai.” Chotu looked at her. “Aur tumhe Sumit ki baat pe itna bharosa kyu hai?”
“Aisa nahi hai yaar Chotu.” Riya clicked her tongue. “There's something about her that just doesn't feel right to me. Matlab, uss din jab sir mujhe ghar chhodne aa rahe thhe. She very casually talked about murder, even.”
“Aur sir ka reaction kya thha?” Chotu raised his brow.
“He laughed it off.” She pouted.
“Guys!” Shree called them. “Mujhe ye purana news article mila hai.” He showed the laptop screen to them.
“Kuldeep Kulkarni and his wife dead in a car accident.” Riya read the headline. “It's about 14 years old.”
“That means Deeya would be 10 at that time. That's quite a young age to lose both your parents.” Shree voiced. “And how is Arjun sir related to her?”
“Not sure but she's definitely his family.” Chotu looked at Riya.
“Now it's even more important for us to figure out the truth.” Riya determined.
~
Rawte Mansion.
“Madam aap andar nahi jaa sakti.” The security guard stopped her outside the gate.
Riya pulled out her ETF ID. “Mujhe Arjun sir ne ek zaroori kaam se bulaya hai.”
“Lekin Arjun baba to abhi ghar pe nahi hai. Main unhe phone-”
“Meri baat ho gayi hai sir se, wo aate hi honge.”
The guard looked at the ID carefully, noted it in the visitor’s book. “Madam yahan apna phone number aur sign dijiye.”
Riya quickly penned down the details and drove in. The mansion stood tall, its façade a symphony of architectural mastery. Creamy limestone walls, adorned with intricate carvings. She was welcomed by a rather loud german shepherd, barking as she stepped into the foyer.
“Bob, calm down.” A soft voice was heard from inside. The guard dog gave a good sniff to the unexpected guest and went back in the lawn.
Riya gulped nervously before stepping inside the house. She raised her hand to ring the bell. “Come in.” She heard the same voice and walked in. The foyer opened into a palatial hall with a crystal chandelier hanging from the tall ceiling. Sunlight filtered through stained glass windows, casting faint patterns on the marble floor. She looked at the two women sitting on the sofa. Deeya was sitting in a corner, being fed fruits by the woman on her side, she had seen her somewhere.
“Riya Mukherjee, ETF.” Riya introduced herself after taking a deep breath. The smell of flowers on the table relaxed her senses.
Roshni, feeding fruit, paused to glance at Riya. “Batao, kaise aana hua?”
“Mujhe Deeya ka statement lena hai.”
“Statement? For?” Deeya looked in her direction, quizzically.
“Regarding the death of Yash Rajput.”
Deeya frowned. “Who this?”
“The guy, you were dancing with, in Moonlight Shadow Club. We found his dead-body.” Riya showed her a picture.
“Sorry, I have no clue about this.” Deeya shook her head, without looking at the picture.
“I would like to record your statement regarding this.” Riya pulled out her notepad. “Tell me everything that happened in the club.”
“I had a dry Martini, went on the dance floor, danced a bit, returned for another drink and then back home.” Deeya shrugged.
“More details please.”
“Honestly, sweety, I don’t know what more details I can provide?”
“Riya, are you here to record a statement or conduct an interrogation?” Roshni asked.
“And why should I answer this?” Riya said rather curtly.
“I’m Advocate Roshni Thakur. This is my client.” Roshni fed another bite to Deeya.
“Ma’am, its usual statement. I don’t think a lawyer is needed.” Riya looked at the two.
“Ask.” Deeya said.
“So, Yash, who was with you on the dance floor, can you tell me something about him?”
“No clue, to be honest. I don’t even remember his face. There was some annoying brat on the floor who wouldn’t stop talking to me. I went back to have a drink and he kept talking my head off. So, I went to the washroom and then I think I bumped into someone. I wasn’t feeling well so I came back home.”
“Who did you bump into?”
“I didn’t see.”
Riya took a deep breath. “What else do you remember?”
“Nothing.”
“Deeya, if you could please remember, anything particular-”
“I don’t.” Deeya looked at Roshni.
“Riya, I hope you’re satisfied with the statement you wanted. That would be all from my client.” Roshni put the fruit bowl aside. “Hamare ghar pehli baar aayi ho toh chai nashta zaroor kar ke jana.”
“Thank you ma’am. I would like to ask a few other questions to your client. If I may.”
Roshni glanced at Deeya who was looking uncomfortable. “No, we have provided you with a statement, that’s all.”
“Deeya, I wanted to ask about your bracelet. We found it near Yash’s body.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“And the broken glass-”
“No-” Deeya winced, holding her head.
“Riya, please stop bothering my client. You should leave now.” Roshni smiled.
“I just had another-”
“Sure, some other day, we would love to host you and your questions, but today, we have other appointments.” Roshni picked up the bowl of fruit again. “Darling, you have to finish this.”
Deeya pouted, “N-no.” She looked in Riya's direction. “Waise maine aap dono ka formal introduction nahi karwaya. Riya, meet Mrs. Arjun Rawte, meri bhabhi!”
Riya looked at the two, flabbergasted. “Bhabhi?”
Roshni smiled at Riya. “Topic change karne ka koi fayda nahi hai, Deeyu, ye fruit bowl toh khana hi padega.”
“Haa, wo toh khana hi padega.” Arjun said as he walked in with his mother, Shalini.
“I'll eat it after 15 minutes.” Deeya sighed.
“Alright.” Roshni turned to Riya. “Tumhare liye kya banwau?”
“Nothing ma'am, I will take your leave for now. See you later.” Riya hurriedly packed her bag.
“Itni bhi kya jaldi hai.” Arjun glared at Riya.
“Sir, wo main-” Riya gulped. “I was here to take Deeya's statement. Subah Sumit ne-”
“We'll discuss it when I'm in ETF.” Arjun said. “Next time, don't try to do things I've warned you not to.”
“Sorry, sir.”
“Oye hero!” Deeya clicked her tongue. “Don't bother her, she was here to see how I was doing.”
Arjun looked at Deeya and Roshni and before he could answer, the loud bark of their guard dog alerted him.
Arjun unlocked his gun and ran towards the door. A delivery boy was being attacked by Bob. Arjun looked at the boy, who held a gun in his hand. He quickly shot the gun away. “Kisne bheja hai tujhe yahan?” He asked.
“Aapko pata hai.” The delivery boy smirked.
“Ab yahan se zinda wapas nahi jayega tu.” Arjun hissed.
“Zinda toh tumhari ladki nahi bachegi.”
Arjun punched his face and let Bob, the German Shepherd, attack him.
Arjun walked inside and told Riya. “Chotu ko bolna, iski khatirdari kare, main aata hu.”
“Yes sir.”
“Kya hua? Ye Baburao itna shor kyu kar raha tha?” Deeya asked, unfazed by the blood on his shirt.
Riya looked at her. She's a very dangerous woman, underneath that lovely face lies a cold blooded murderer.
“Kuch nahi.” Arjun ruffled her hair. “Tu kha le, itna pyar se toh teri bhabhi ne aaj tak mujhe bhi nahi khilaya.”
“Tera hath tod du toh khana khila degi bhabhi. Whatsay?” Deeya chuckled. Roshni shook her head, smiling.
“Pehle tu thik ho jaa phir jo marzi ho, karna.”
“Alright, as you say. Dad.” Deeya winked.
Arjun sighed. “It's not funny.”
“No, I'm serious. You should hear yourself. Also, the Oxford people designated you as my dad, it's not my fault if you kept pestering them with questions.”
“It's their fault, they should have verified properly.”
“They did it twice, lol.” Deeya laughed. “On a serious note, if you don't put a ring on her within a month, I'll make Sunshine my mommy.” She winced as Arjun smacked her head. “Shut up, idiot.”
Riya looked at them, “Take care Deeya, see you.”
Deeya waved in her direction.
Arjun sat beside her after Riya left. “Accha, sun. Maine doctors se baat ki hai, they think that sending you to Singapore for further treatment would be the best.”
“They think it's treatable?” Deeya mumbled.
Arjun lowered his eyes, “Yes, it is. You'll be able to see, very soon.” He assured her and himself. Roshni patted his hand.
“Let's pack your bags.” Roshni said.
~
Riya got in her car. Tears welled up her eyes.
Riya, meet Mrs. Arjun Rawte, meri bhabhi!
~
Hope you enjoyed reading! Drop in your comments! 
I really enjoyed the first chapter. Riya saying no to everything with her proper reasoning was hilariously embarrassing. 
thanks a tonne!!! 
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