Chapter 10

Next Day,

In a dimly lit room, Sikander sat on a revolving chair, puffing his cigar, “Aahil Raza! Glad to meet you, once again. Please sit.”

“Thank you, boss.” Aahil sat on the chair.

Sikander moved closer on the desk and intensified the light, “Do you remember me?”

Aahil looked intently, “Munawwar? But how are you here?”

Sikander smiled, “You see dear, sometimes even I go undercover, to check my men’s loyalties. When you saved my life, you not only earned my trust but also my respect. And as a reward, I have a special task for you. You ready for it?”

“If I get paid enough then yes.”

“You will be paid more than enough. The safety of my daughter will be your responsibility. If anything happens to her, I will have your head.”

“Babysitting isn’t exactly a part of my job description.”

“You will be in charge of her security. And I won’t take no for an answer.”

“Alright boss, as you wish.”

~

 

Next Day,

ETF Headquarter,

Sameer’s Cabin

 

Sameer, “Neha, the committee has decided that you can return to the team and resume field work as well. This is your first and last chance so be extremely careful from now on.”

“Don’t worry, I got it.” Neha said nonchalantly.

“This is serious.”

“I care about my job and I am doing it properly, right.”

Aisha walked in, “Sir, we have a new case.”

“Already? Yikes!” Sameer glared at her. “I mean, oh no.”

“More like not again.” Aisha sighed.

“Let’s go.” Sameer tucked his gun.

~

The ETF Team reached the crime scene. It was dripping wet from last night’s rain. The media reporters were everywhere, trying to click pictures and talk to the officers.

“We just got here, let us look at the crime scene. We will give you the details when we have it.” Sameer said to one of the reporters.

The team started investigating the crime scene.

~

A few hours later,

ETF Conference room,

“Sir, there is barely any evidence on the crime scene, everything has been washed in the rain.” Aisha reported.

Sameer asked, “We will have to wait for the post-mortem reports. Any identification of the body?”

“School-bag was found, it has details. Girl’s name is Lalita. This Municipal School is twenty kilometers away. But why would she travel so far?” Chotu wondered.

“Sir, the body is at least two days old. It was dumped somewhere between late night and early morning. It was raining so heavily, nobody has seen or heard anything.” Liza added.

“Neha, stop playing with your phone.” Arjun chided.

“I’m not playing. There have been similar cases a few days ago. I was just confirming. One other girl was found in almost similar way two weeks ago. This is the third case in two months. Coincidence? I think not.”

Sameer said, “Neha, get the details of the other two cases, talk to the officers and see if there are any actual similarities.”

“On it.”

Sameer received a call. “The ministry is pressuring us to handle the case. Media is wreaking havoc and questioning as usual. We have to solve this case as quickly as possible. People are getting on streets.”

“Wow!” Neha rolled her eyes, “We have to solve this case immediately not because a 15 year old is raped and murdered but because there is a lot of political pressure and people will start rioting. This is third case in last two months and things are getting out of hands. I mean these ministers seriously don't care about the safety of teenage girls but the fact that their government will fall is their concern. I really don't understand.”

“Don’t have such high hopes from those illiterate idiots.” Arjun looked away.

“Our job is find the offenders and we will do that. Everything else is not in our hands.”

“Sir, the body was drenched in water, we probably won't find any usable DNA evidence.” Liza added.

“Great!”

“Neha, don't-” Arjun tried to stop her.

“Even if we find the perpetrators, what is going to be their sentence, 7 years of imprisonment or will they get a death sentence? I swear if they are let off for lack of evidence I'll rip their throats off with my bare hands.” Arjun held Neha’s hand and shook his head.

“Then find the damned evidence.” Sameer was losing his patience.

“As they say in our hometown, if you can't find any, create one.” Neha freed her hand.

“Don’t even think of it. It’s illegal.”

“And raping a 15 year old and killing her so brutally isn’t? Fucking illegal bullshit.”

“Language, Neha.”

“My language isn’t the fuckin-”

“Go talk to the girl’s parents and try to find any leads from their end.” Arjun ordered, “Go, get your work done.”

“How do we talk to the kid’s parents? What do we say?” Neha asked.

Sameer sighed, “Rawte, you should go with them, there might be media too. You will have to handle it. Please stay calm.”

“Miss Anand can handle her friends.” Arjun tucked his gun and walked out.

~

Arjun, Aisha, Neha, Sakshi and Chotu went to meet the girl’s parents.

Neha looked at the locality, “I have been here before few years, for my NGO’s work.”

There were a lot of people at the house and few reporters too. Arjun stayed outside to stop the reporters from coming in.

“Ma’am, we are here to talk about your daughter.” Aisha said to her mother.

The mother was distraught, “I don’t have anything to say. When will we get to see our daughter?”

“We will try to complete the formalities as soon as possible.” Aisha assured her.

The girl’s younger brother, about 12 year old came to Neha holding a picture in his hand, “Is it you in this picture?”

Neha looked at the picture, it was about three years old, she recognized her handwriting on it, 'You'll be a doctor one day! Study hard! XOXO Neha R. May 2012' “Yes, it’s me.”

“We were coming home after school,” the boy told her, “a blind man came to us and asked for directions to an address. Tai helped him cross the road and she did not return. We searched everywhere. We even went to police station, they wrote the complaint but didn’t find her. Where is my Tai?”

Neha looked at Aisha, her heart was heavy, “I’m sorry beta, I couldn’t bring your Tai home.”

Her mother walked up to Neha, “You are the reason my daughter went to school and never returned. We lived a happy life until you ruined it. She was earning a livelihood washing dishes. You forced her to study and what did we get? Bring me my daughter. Go and bring me my daughter!” she burst into tears.

Neha felt her heart beating faster and a stomach ache, she had started a campaign to convince parents from lower income background to send their children to school and her NGO gave scholarships to support them.

“Get out of my house you -----!” The mother howled.

Neha froze, she had heard that insult in their village, a child-eating demoness.

Arjun came in and dragged Neha out. The team followed. The drive back to ETF was unusually silent.

“Neha,” Arjun said after the others left, “are you okay?”

“Maybe.” Her voice barely audible.

“Dollie-”

“Bhaiya please let me be alone. Please.”

Arjun sighed, “I was not your fault.” He left her in the car.

Sometime later, Neha walked into the conference room, holding her arm tightly. The tissue was soaked in blood. All eyed her with unsaid questions and care.

“I needed a distraction. It’s not that deep.”

Karan quickly gave her first aid.

“Thanks.”

“Give me your guns and knives Neha.” Arjun ordered. She looked at him reluctantly. “Now.” She took out her gun two guns and a few knives. “Is that all?” She glared at him and received one back. She took out another pistol and almost a dozen knives.

“That’s all of my guns and knives.” She said. Arjun picked a knife. “Careful with my babies, they kill. And considering one or more of them might be laced with poison or sedatives, I wouldn’t touch them with my bare hands.”

Arjun looked at her baffled, ‘Can’t believe we raised an assassin in the house.’

The team discussed their strategy. They found few CCTV cameras in the area the girl was last seen and were able to identify a vehicle which abducted her. 

~

Next morning,

6 am,

ETF Record Room,

Neha was sleeping with piles of files around her. Arjun shook her by shoulder.

She opened her eyes drowsily and sat upright. “Give me some time, I will be back.” Arjun helped her get up.

“Seems like she stayed up all night working on these files.” Sameer picked up her tablet and read her notes. Last edited 2 hours ago. “Rawte, we have to make a few calls and work on these leads.”

“Let’s get started.”

Sometime later Neha came into the conference room. Sameer was briefing the team.

“You guys started working on my homework without me?”

“We don’t have much time, let’s not waste any.”

~

The team was able to locate the vehicle and it was found around a minister’s house. Once of the old cases had a DNA sample. It was alleged that minister’s teenage son and his friends had raped a 14-year old few months back, before further investigation could be carried out, the officers were all transferred and the case was closed. ETF had been working hard to find evidences and those boys. 

 

Sameer asked, “Any intel on our three suspects' whereabouts?”

“They are the culprits, why do you keep calling them suspects?” Neha sneered.

“We do not have enough evidences to prove they are the culprits.”

“Gosh! How many more evidences do you need?”

“Ones that are enough to make an actual case against them, so that they do not get bailed out or worse, let off scot free due to lack of evidence.”

“Alright.” Neha walked into the washroom, made sure nobody else was inside and dialed a number.

“Hello! How can I help you?” a husky voice answered.

“Alec, there are three boys, they’re underground. I need their whereabouts.”

“Send me the details, I will have my men find them.”

“Thank you so much! It really means-”

“What are you doing tonight?”

“Working on the case.”

“Meet me.”

“Not tonight, I have a lot of work-”

“If you want those boys found, meet me tonight.”

She sighed, “Where?”

“Once you finish your work, give me a call, I will send my chauffer to pick you up.”

“Okay.”

“Can’t wait to see you tonight.” Alec said in a seductive voice.

Neha disconnected the call and hit her head, “Why did I have to be so desperate? Could’ve called someone else. Stupid me!”

 

~

A fancy hotel room,

“Heyyy! Thanks for coming.” Alec opened the door and let her in.

“I had to.” Neha smiled.

“Please make yourself comfortable.” He sat on the couch. His drink was served on the table.

“Thank you. I would like to freshen up a bit. It was a long and hectic day. I feel little tired.”

“Sure, go ahead. That way.” He pointed towards the bathroom and sipped his whiskey.

Neha walked into the washroom. She looked around carefully, checking for any cameras. After being satisfied that there were none, she proceeded to take a shower.

Ten minutes later she heard knocking on the door. “Hey gorgeous, are you okay in there?” he asked.

She turned off the shower, “Yes, I’m fine. A few minutes.”

A few minutes later, she came out wearing a bath robe and drenched clothes underneath. “Sorry, my dumbass confused the shower and tap options and I got into shower with the only clothes I have. Do you, by any chance have something I can change into?”

“I can give you a shirt, not sure if my pants would fit you.” He chuckled.

“A shirt would do. And if I could have my bag?”

“No, your bag is kept safely, you’ll get it when you leave. For safety reasons.”

She bit her lips, “I need the extra pair of undies. I am all drenched.”

“Oh! Right! Sorry, I will have someone bring it for you.”

Neha looked at him unsurely, “Ok, it’s in a brown paper packet and also my hair dryer.”

A few minutes later a waitress delivered her packet.

Neha changed into his shirt, it reached down her thighs, covering half of her tattoo. She cleaned her half-washed makeup, put on strawberry lip-balm and filled her eyes with kohl. Alec was pouring himself another drink.

“Would you like a drink?”

“I’ll take one.”

“Help yourself. I will give your clothes for laundry.” He called room-service.

She quickly slid a tablet in his drink and mixed it, then poured a drink for herself. She sat at the dressing table drying her hair and sipping whiskey.

“So, beautiful, tell me, what do you want to do?” Alec sat on the couch and sipped his drink.

“Dry my hair before I catch a cold!” She chuckled. “It will take about fifteen minutes. Hope you don’t mind.”

“We got all night darling, take your time. You want me to turn AC off for a while?”

“Sure. Thanks.”

“Anything for you sweet-heart.” He gave her a sly smile and winked. She looked at his reflection in the mirror and blushed. “Never had a drink as intoxicating as your eyes.”

“Guess you haven’t had the best drink in the world yet?”

“What is that?”

“The elixir of life.”

“Which is?” He poured another round for both. She smiled and continued detangling her hair. After few minutes of silence, he got impatient, “are you going to answer?”

She scrunched her nose. “Why are you not saying my name today?”

“Some things are sacred.”

“Nobody ever told me that my name was sacred. You know it is not. It’s just my name.”

“Would you like to dance?” Alec guzzled his drink and made another.

“What songs you got?”

“I have a mixtape, it has Adele, Mariah Carey and Lady Gaga.” He put on the music.

“Let’s do bottoms up!” She gulped her drink.

“With whiskey?” He frowned.

 “Yes, that’s why. Come on!” She gave him a puppy-eyed look.

Alec gulped his drink and the two of them had five shots back to back. “Let’s dance!” Neha held his hand and stood up. He slid his arm around her waist, held her close and began slow dancing.

“You don’t look your usual self, what’s bothering you?”

“I’m just sad and angry at this world. I wanna set this world on fire. I mean how cruel and heartless can people be? Civilization they say… bloody bastards..” She sighed, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to spoil the mood, it’s just too much.”

“You actually want to set things on fire or just figuratively?” He twirled her around.

“I can do anything. I don’t trust myself.”

“Like what?”

She looked in his eyes, “Kiss me.”

“For real?”

“You wanted the answer, here, feel it.” She put her arms around his shoulders. Alec smiled and pulled her closer. He felt her lips with his finger and gently kissed her. She closed her eyes and felt the spicy-bitter taste of whiskey mix with her strawberry lip-balm.

It was sweet, spicy and bitter, the taste and the feel – Alec had tasted the elixir of life, he had always imagined it, this was happening for real. He couldn’t believe it, those eyes he had been attracted to, that smile and those tender lips… were finally his. He was a simple man, he always wanted to be happy, and this made him happy. Love was all he ever wanted. He felt he had it, for now.

“Would you like to run way and start a new life with me?” Alec asked. His heart was racing.

She opened her eyes, “Maybe, but I’m not sure.”

“Why not?”

“I have had a history of trusting the wrong men. So I need to be sure of things.”

“No pressure, take your time.” 

She smiled, “Do you wanna just cuddle and talk about nothing and everything?”

“If that’s what you want, then yes.”

Sometime later Alec was fast asleep, Neha made sure by pinching him. The pill had done its work, she had two hours till he regained his consciousness. She slid from his hold and looked around for his phone. She found it carefully hidden under the couch. She took out her wrist-watch and turned it around. A smart gadget was embedded in it, she turned it on and connected his phone with it. She started cloning his phone data into the gadget.

 

Neha opened her hair dryer and took out the roll of clear tape out of it. She picked tissues, tin of kohl and clear tape. She carefully removed the clear latex gloves worn by Alec and smeared kohl with tissue on his fingertips. Cautiously discarded the excess and picked the fingerprints on clear tape one by one.

She cleaned his fingertips and put back the latex gloves.

She waited for the data transfer to complete, it took about an hour. She kept his phone back, turned off the gadget and went back to sleep.

 

~

Next Morning

 

ETF Headquarters

The team was in conference room, discussing strategies to find the perpetrators and more solid evidences. The leads were promising but would not stand in the court, especially against the juveniles.

“Are we sure these teenagers did it? Feels like some hardened criminal’s act.”

“So you guys are gonna ignore the 25 cases with same MO?”

“Neha, what if someone else is involved and these boys are just the scapegoats?”

“Yeah, Minister father, and some other big names. Look the point is we got DNA evidence and it matches. Right Liz?”

“Yes. If somehow we had those boys confess their crimes.”

“For that we need to know where in hell are they hiding.”

“Chotu, Aisha, any leads?”

“No sir, nothing yet.”

~

Afternoon

Neha received a call. “I am sending you their location. Go get them.” She checked her message and went to Arjun. “Sir, I am not feeling well, a very strong headache. Is it fine if I go home and get some rest? I’ll be back in two-three hours.”

“Okay. Call me when you reach home.”

“I will.”

An hour later,

Chotu, “Sir, my informers have sent the location of those culprits. They are in the minister's farm house. It's about an hour away, we should leave ASAP.”

~

Neha reached the Minister’s farm house. She looked around to find an open door or window. A window from the kitchen was slightly open and jumped in from there. She heard some screams for help. She closed the window and turned on the gas knobs and sneaked in the direction of the noise.

 

The room upstairs was closed. Neha banged on the door loudly for a few minutes and finally one of the boys opened the door.

“Hey idiot, why did you open the door?” A voice from inside boomed.

“What is going on?” Neha pushed the door open and walked in. The smoke in the room filled her senses, she realized it was marijuana. A teenage girl was tied on the bed and two boys were forcing her. “Leave her alone!”

“Shut up and get out!” The same voice said.

“You’re talking to an ETF officer. Do as I say. Hands up and out here.” Neha commanded.

“You can’t do anything. You know who my father is. And we are juveniles, you can’t hit us.”

“If you don’t want me to hit you, get off her and stand here. This is my last warning.”

“Really, what will you do?” Neha pulled him aside and slapped him. Other boy tried to hit her with a vase, she blocked his hand and twisted it. The third boy was still standing at the door. He picked a brass figurine from the table and tried to hit it on Neha’s head but she dodged it and hit him. She then kicked him out of the room, down the stairs. The other two boys ran after her and she pushed them down the stairs.   

“You’ll pay for this! My father will-” She slapped him.

“Just because you are juveniles doesn’t mean you won’t get punished for what you did.”

“My father would never let me go to jail.”

“You’re not going there.” She smirked, “Go in the kitchen, take those kerosene bottles you brought and pour them on yourself.”

“Why would we do that?”

“Look, I can beat you up and make this a whole lot more painful, but I don’t want to. Now you do it or I will.” She unbuckled her belt and flipped it in air around them. “I can kill you in a very painful or very easy manner. Choice is yours.” She looked in their eyes, they scurried off into the kitchen and poured kerosene on themselves. “Have a last smoke.” She gave them their marijuana rolls and walked out. One of them lit the lighter and they burned to death. She walked back into the room and lied there pretending to be unconscious.

~

An hour later,

 

ETF team reached the Minister's farm house. Fire brigade was putting off fire from the right end of the house.

“What happened here?” Sameer asked the fire fighter chief.

“Gas leakage and the cylinder blasted.”

Three badly burnt dead bodies had been recovered by the fire fighters. They brought out two unconscious girls.

“Neha!” Arjun gasped as he saw two people carrying her out. They took her and other girl to the ambulance and were given first aid. After few minutes of being given oxygen, Neha opened her eyes. Her head was still hurting.

“Where’s the kid? Is she okay?” She voiced softly.

“Yes, we are taking her to the hospital.” One of the attending doctor answered. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m tired. My head hurts.”

“Take these painkillers, you will feel better.”

“Thank you.”

“Neha, what happened here? You were going home, how did you reach here and why did you not inform us?”

“I got a call. I wasn’t sure if it was real or hoax, so I just rushed here. I found these boys trying to-” her voice faltered.

“Go on.” Sameer said.

“I think you should let her rest.” A paramedic intervened.

“I tried to stop them, they hit something hard on my head and then I don’t know. I want to go home.” Neha said weakly.

One of the fire-fighter said, “There was a bronze figurine near her.”

Karan looked at her, “You should actually see a doctor, a neurologist possibly, there might be some internal bleeding. Arjun Sir, please.”

Arjun looked at Sameer, he nodded, “Neha, come on. I will call Vikram there.”

“There’s a truck coming, might as well throw me under it.”                    

“Enough.” Arjun held her hand and made her sit in the car and drove away.

 

They were about to enter the city when a truck overtook them and drove at a close distance. Arjun honked a few times but he didn’t budge. Another truck was right behind them.

Arjun looked at Neha, “Don’t sleep Neha, stay awake.”

“I’m not sleeping” Neha said without opening her eyes.

The truck in front suddenly pulled brakes and hit reverse gear, smashing their car from front. Before Arjun could control, another truck hit them from behind. Driver pulled up on their side and rammed it again, pushing their car to the road’s side and escaped.

Neha took a deep breath, “B..bhaiya? You okay?” Arjun nodded. She called the ambulance, got out of the car and went to Arjun’s side, the window was smashed, she pulled the door open and helped him come out. She called Sameer, “Bhai, we had an accident. Bhaiya is badly injured. I called ambulance.”

“What? I.. I’ll be there. Where are you two now?”

“Meet us at the hospital, the ambulance will be here anytime.”

“Okay, take care.”

Ambulance reached there in a few minutes.

~

City Hospital,

Arjun was taken to the emergency room. He had several internal injuries on his right side. Neha was waiting outside. A nurse dressed her wounds. After what seemed like an eternity the doctor came out, “He is stable now. There are some contusions and some internal bleeding but fortunately no fractured bones. We are keeping him under observation for 24 hours.”

“Anything to be worried about doctor?”

“No. You brought him on time. He is fine.” The doctor assured.

“Can I meet him?”

“Only for few minutes, he needs rest.”

“Thank you doctor.”

Arjun was shifted to the ICU. He was given strong painkillers. They were constantly monitoring his blood pressure and pulse.

Neha sat beside him, “Bhaiya, how are you feeling?”

“Better.”

She looked at his hand, the bruised had turned blue, “This looks like some super dope tattoo, doesn’t it?”

Arjun smiled, “Yes.”

“You should get a full arm tattoo like this!”

“Will see.”

“Okay, sleep tight, don’t let the bed-bugs bite!” She chuckled.

“I hope there are no bugs here, except you.”

“Then you’re lucky. I’m outside, if you need anything press the bell.”

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

“I know superhero, you’ll always say that. Now take rest.” She smiled and went out.

Sometime later, Sameer and team reached there. Neha was sitting on the bench outside ICU.

“Neha, how is Arjun?” Sameer sat beside her, “How did this accident happen?”

“He is sleeping, doing fine right now. I don’t know how the accident happened. We were going and these two trucks just rammed into us back and forth. They literally tried to kill us. Thanks to the airbags and seatbelts but bhaiya-” she choked on her words.

“Neha,” Sameer patted her shoulder, “he will be okay. You know he is a fighter and so are you.”

She looked through her teary-eyes, “I’m scared.” 

“Don’t worry, we are here.” Aisha said comforting her.

“I wish I saw who those people were, I can’t remember anything about those trucks.”

“We will find them.” Chotu said.

“Neha, you should take rest. Did you see the neurologist I suggested?” Karan asked.

“I’m fine.”

“You just have to go a few floors above. Come on, let’s go.” Karan pressed. Neha tried protesting but didn’t work. The both went to see the neurologist. An hour later they came back.

“Such a stupid doctor!” Neha scoffed, “He didn’t even laugh when I said hey doc, I’m nervous and I don’t know about my system.”

Sameer looked at Karan, “What did the doctor say?”

“She’s fine, thankfully, no injuries to her brain.”

“I told you that already. He was just surprised how I was still alive. Like bro, does it look like I know the answer? Fuck no!”

“Alright. Go home now.” Sameer shushed her.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Sameer asked the team to go home and rest. An hour later the nurse came and told that only one person could stay there at night and Sameer convinced Neha to go home, she agreed reluctantly.

Sameer went to see Arjun, he was given turmeric-milk. Arjun didn’t want to drink it.

“Come on Arjun, don’t act like a kid and drink up.”

“Rathore, please! I’m not having it.”  Arjun pouted.

Sameer held milk near his mouth, “You don’t have a choice, Arjun.” Arjun gulped it quickly. Sameer gave him other painkillers. “Arjun..” Sameer paused.

“Sam?” Arjun waited for him, “What is it?”

Sameer looked at him, “I’ve never seen Neha this scared before. Is there something we don’t know?”

“I felt that too. She assured me everything is good but her eyes said otherwise. Will have to find out what it is.”

“For that you’ll have to take proper rest for a few days.”

Arjun groaned, “Even after this heavy dose of painkillers, it still hurts.”

“Sleep now. I’m outside if you need anything.”

“Thanks.”

~

Arjun was discharged after two days and advised to take rest at home for a week. He was tired of sitting at home so he would go to ETF for a few hours and do the usual report-checking and other non-field duties.

 

Rawte Mansion,

Morning,

Arjun came in Neha’s room, looking for her. He saw her laptop on the table, ‘Drive H: AXR can now be safely removed’ dialog box appeared on the screen. He took out the chip and closed the dialog box. He heard her coming and moved away.

“Bhaiya, what will you have for breakfast?”

“Anything.”

“Please shut my lappy while I get you breakfast.”

“Sure.” Arjun shuts her laptop and carefully pockets the chip.

 

Arjun gives the chip to Shree, “Shree, I want data of this chip, ASAP.”

“Ok sir.”

Later that day, Shree comes in Arjun’s cabin with a cup of tea, “Good evening sir.”

“What did you find?” Arjun sipped his chai.

“Sorry Sir, the chip is encrypted. I tried to break the encryption but it will take a really long time and the contents will be unusable anyway.”

“You are a tech-expert Shree, do something.”

“We need the encryption key, without that, we can’t use it.”

“Any other way?”

“If we find the device which has the encryption key, the owner’s laptop, then we can access the contents easily. Where did you find it sir, and what is in it?” Shree asked.

“Leave it here, I will call you later.”

“Ok sir.” Shree left.

“Shree!”

“Yes sir?”

“Book two movie tickets, late night show for today. Area should be more than an hour away.”

“Ok sir.”

Sometime later, Shree booked the tickets and gave it to him.

Arjun gave the tickets to Neha, “Why don’t you and Vikram go out for a movie and long drive? You need to take a break from this crazy schedule.”

“Thanks. I’ll ask Vik if he wants to go.”

“It’s my treat to you, please don’t say no.”

Neha raised a brow and shrugged, “Okay. I’ll go.”

 

Later that night, in car with Vikram, “Don’t you find it suspicious that your brother is sending us on a date?”

“I thought so, but I don’t think he knows anything. Maybe we are overthinking.”

“If he gets to know of our secrets, things might be unmanageable for you.”

“I haven’t had a break in a while and I needed it. Can we please stay in the present and enjoy this nice drive and starry night.”

“If he compromises our investigation, it’s on you.”

“He’s my brother, I know him.”

“Exactly my point.”

She scoffed and picked her phone checking messages. “There’s a shortcut, we will reach about 20 minutes early but you’ll have to drive faster.”

“Sounds good.”

 

They reached home. Vikram opened the door and both walked in. Shree was working on three laptops. Arjun walked out of Neha’s room. Vikram gave Neha told-you-so look while she stood there stupefied.

~

Ten minutes after Neha and Vikram left for their movie-date, Arjun and Shree entered their penthouse. Nostalgia filled Arjun as he walked in. The siblings had spent their weekends here watching movies, playing games, chatting all-night. Nothing was changed in the house, but it was more neatly arranged. ‘Vikram seems a perfectionist’, he thought. “Shree, check the laptops and see what you can find out of it.”

“On it sir.” Shree sat with his laptop and opened Neha’s personal laptop. “Sir, do you know the password?”

Arjun typed the password and was able to login. Shree started looking through the files, “Sir, what exactly should I look for?”

“Anything work-related.”

Arjun looked into Vikram’s room, found cases full of weapons and fake id-cards. ‘Why would a doctor need this, unless he’s not a doctor?’ 

He picked a file titled INTERPOL, he opened it, Agent Mona and Agent Viktor of Special Agents Cell, New Scotland Yard are assigned to locate and kill drug-kingpin Alexander/Alejandro/Sikander and destroy his network. They will receive all the needed assistance from European Union and Indian police. 

He turned the page and found Neha and Vikram’s photos and signatures. He placed the file back and walked out of the room.

“Shree, did you find anything?”

“No sir. It is all about her studies, there are books and data for her dissertation.”

“Copy all that data and give it to me.” Arjun gave him Vikram’s laptop, “Check this too.”

Shree opened his laptop, “Sorry sir, I cannot get into this system without alerting Vikram. It is directly connected to London Headquarter and they might even delete the data if they suspect an unwanted entry.”

“What kind of tech-expert are you Shree?”

“The ethical kind. Sir, this is not that easy. Neha’s official laptop is also inaccessible. I’m copying data from her personal laptop.”

Arjun searched Neha’s room and found some files titled ‘Alexander and drug-cartel’, it contained monthly reports for the last two years. He glanced through them, reports focused on European countries, barely anything related to India. 

He looked at the bookshelf and remembered the secret room behind it. He searched for an opening and after some trials and hits, managed to open it. 

He turned on the lights and gaped at the walls. They were filled with details of people involved in various crimes, he recognized most of them. They were all related to Sikander, directly or indirectly. 

Arjun looked at the front wall which had Sikander’s description but no photo, ‘Where did she find this description?’ He felt betrayed and angry. ‘She knew all of this and never told me anything, why?’ 

He read the files and reports carefully and called Shree to digitize them.

“Sir, it’s almost time for their return.”

“Ok, see about the data transfer.”

Shree went out to check the data transfer, it was complete now.

The door opened, Vikram and Neha walked in.

~

“I have a lot of questions.” Arjun said, barely controlling his anger.

Neha looked at Shree, “Get out of here.” Shree looked at her and Arjun simultaneously. ‘I don’ wanna die at the hands of either of these Devi maa, please save your child.’

“You can leave now Shree.” Arjun said.

Shree packed his stuff and hurried out quietly.

“What are you doing here? What is all this?” Neha asked.

“Answer me first. What have you been doing, behind my back?”

“It’s confidential. I cannot give any details.” She asserted.

“Don’t test my patience. You know I will get the answers I want. Don’t make this difficult.”

She looked at his red-raging eyes, “Then find it on your own and get out of my house right now.”

“Neha!” Arjun roared.

“Keep your voice down ACP Arjun.” Vikram said calmly, “Please leave. I don’t want to disrespect you by throwing you out.”

Arjun wanted to punch him in his face but decided to leave. He would deal with her later, on his own.

Neha sat on the couch with head in her hands, “What was I thinking!”

“Would your brother ever hit you?”

“What?” She stared at Vikram, “No! He would never. I know he gets all angry but he would only shout at me, never hit me. I know him.”

“Either I misread the situation or you did. Let’s sleep now, you see what all mess you have to deal with tomorrow.”

“Thanks.” She curled on the couch and closed her eyes.

~