A STEP CLOSER

ROLI'S CABIN

The adversity in the atmosphere made Gautam wonder what happened. From the last hour, Siddhant wasn't executing any of his plans to get near Roli which has pushed Gautam into his thinking mode. He glanced over Roli once, her sulking face made his heart heavier little, swiftly his head turns to Sid who also was sitting silently.

It's been more than four hours Roli was unable to get any clue which made her frustrated, Madhav's dead body was flashing in her mind every time. She looked at the letter written by Snappy once more to get any clue but to her dismay, there wasn't any, moreover, the letter was typed instead of handwritten which has obviously made her pull her hair mentally.

And Siddhant he was just sitting silently nodding his head whenever required. He couldn't say anything to add his points as many of them were directly or indirectly indicating towards one person whom he want to protect... Rudra. 

The first clue they can easily catch upon was that Snappy is a lefty for the wound on the Madhav seems to rely on the same and this discovery has put Siddhant into the slight freezer mode for Rudra is a lefty too.

Secondly, Snappy surely had an idea about Madhav's house in and out everything because of the precision in his footsteps to reach for the matters he needed and here also Rudra can be fitted properly for Rudra has been to Madhav's home when it was on the renovation and in fact, Rudra's friend was the one who designed Madhav's house so it's obvious that he can know everything.

Well from the letter they couldn't find anything solid but the Tangerine fonts have caught Sid's attention as he remembers that it used to be Rudra's go-to font unless he is asked to change it. Every clue was kind of not so valid for it is a common one but everything existing in Rudra's habit sends chills inside Sid's body. On every question, Roli asks to get his opinion gave him shivers. His heartbeat wasn't normal for he was scared to spit out anything about Rudra moreover Rudra's face kept revolving inside his head making things worse for him. He felt so hard to maintain his composure to not give it away with his facial expressions.

Gautam noticed the tensions between the two, he knew they didn't get the result they were expecting. He moves near Roli who by now was sitting covering her face feeling dejected. Gautam smoothly held her hand furthermore looks into her tired eyes he spoke so slightly " it's ok didi, I know you are trying your best "

Roli glances at him nodding no, she murmured " I don't think so, these many hours passed but there's nothing I can say about it "

" But you are trying didi, don't worry you will get soon " Gautam whispered kissing her knuckles giving his all support to her, he then backs off a little   stretching his arms says " come here I will hug you, you will feel a little better than you can think it over again peacefully from starting "

Roli was awed by the way her little brother is giving his all support even after he doesn't know the dynamics of the situation they are in, still, she couldn't hold herself after his words and leaped to hug him tight, Gautam rubbed her back smoothly. 

Siddhant smiles glancing at them while a part of his mind traveled back to the moments when Rudra used to do the same whenever he felt conflicted in his mind...

Roli closed her eyes and composed herself a little on his shoulder then started to think from the beginning. After a few more minutes which went in silence, Roli suddenly spoke " Oh how I forget about it " 

" What? " Siddhant asked urgently with a thought that she got the lead.

Roli pulls herself back from Gautam pecked his head whispering a " thank you " she turned to Sid then points " Shoe imprints, we didn't get the details yet, it should have been here by now "

" yes, you are right " Siddhant agreed while Roli called to get the info about the shoe if any.

Alok entered the cabin with the report " no advantage for keeping these I think because it isn't matching with any company... the only thing which we got to know is the size of the shoe that's 11 " 

Roli sighs in remorse for the information she got as this might have become a good lead until now but couldn't, on the other hand, Siddhant sighs in relief for this isn't Rudra's size, he felt peace in his mind for knowing it's not him, his little boy isn't the one he was thinking... For a while, Sid even cursed to himself that how can he even imagine Rudra at Snappy place. A part of him was still confused about his behavior and that's what he wants to clear out soon.

All were in their own thoughts regarding this shoe matter that's when Tarun entered inside with news that will change the entire atmosphere...

" Anything new? " Siddhant inquired as soon he saw Tarun for he knows the look at his face has something in it.

" A blast I guess " Tarun replied reaching beside him handing him the reports he had.

" And what it is? " Alok and Roli ask in unison.

Siddhant read the report and his lips curved up into the slight smile which confuses both of them, he raised his head and grins " It surely is Tarun... You did a great job "

" will any of you tell what it is " Alok asks for he lost the patience in their build-up while Roli curiously looked at Sid for the answer.

" Not so helpful I guess but still very useful" Siddhant chips in starting the thinking process in the backside of his head.

" don't beat around the bush, come to the point " Alok lets out frustrated.

" of course officer Asthana coming to that only " giving a grin, he starts " so officer Asthana the thing is you were right about all the information you just gave but missed something which Tarun got us."

" What it is Siddhant " Roli interferes finally after she couldn't hold her marbles.

" so the thing is, Tarun revisited the crime scene and measured the heights of depression which were caused by the jump and there is something very interesting in it and that is... " Siddhant stops for a while and shows them the measures of it...

Tarun continues Sid's talk "The shoe was indeed of size 11 but the foot inside it wasn't"

" What? "

" Yes look here, at the depressions carefully. Usually, the size 11 is used for 28 cm foot but if you notice the pressure by jumping is clear only till 26.5 cm which is for size 9, and the front part near the toe of the shoe is quite abrupt and unclear... Can you find the difference, that means he used the bigger size maybe to mislead us but eventually caught " Siddhant finished narrating

There was a pin drop silence for a moment, Roli was looking at Sid with a shock plus a short smile whereas Asthana too was impressed by it. He asked " so now we have to find a guy whose shoe size is 9 probably 5'9" in height right? But still, the question is HOW??? " 

Roli fixed her gaze at Siddhant, looking for his expressions she told " here comes the second thing... As no company is yet found for it that means it was made by any local souter, and we are going to work on finding the souter to have some clue for Snappy... Am I right? "

Siddhant frequently nodes yes four to five times in a row than with a wide grin he exclaims " exactly my point "

Asthana's eyeballs were moving to and fro in between Roli and Siddhant, he knew that Roli and Siddhant's thoughts go similarly but never realized it to be similar to this extent. He adds later " so we have to inquire every local souter for it and as there were the difference in sizes this far so he may remember about Snappy at least a little bit which can be a strong lead for us "

" Yes " all shout in unison agreeing to Asthana.

" Btw, what were you doing there at this time" Asthana asked Tarun as he didn't get any news about anyone visiting the crime scene again...

Tarun replied scratching his forehead " I was just looking at the pics again and this caught my eye so just went to confirm it "

" Good job " Rosid spoke together appreciating Tarun before Asthana say something, Asthana was actually about to say but stopped after Roli too said the same.

Asthana node then asserts " ok so it's closing time for today, I'll make sure that we have the list of names of souters in the city to begin our investigation with... Be prepared next day is gonna be so hectic I guess "

" Yes sir " Roli nodes while Sid and Tarun too agreed " sure officer Asthana "

Asthana moved out of the cabin behind him Tarun too went, Gautam who had isolated himself to the corner after Asthana entry came back to Roli running, he hugs her excitedly " got the clue? "

" Yes a small one " Roli answers ruffling his hair 

Gautam parts away, holding her hands he says " so happy now? "

" little bit " Roli confessed showing little through her fingers.

" That's still ok, you got some right that's enough "

" more than enough for now " Roli says making him smile...

" so now home " 

" yes let's go home," Roli told pulling his cheeks... She turned to get her files, bag and noticed Sid standing folding his arms glimpsing at the siblings with a smile, she says snapping her fingers in front of him " don't you wanna go home today " 

" home... Yes, why not? Of course, I wanna go home"

" Then go " Gautam ordered looking straight at his face showing like he isn't backing off yet, Siddhant easily understood the meaning of that look, he too stares at him with confidence upon his face which surely depicts that he is up to something, Gautam thinks to himself " something is wrong Gautam be aware " 

" Uh, Ms. Roli how are you going to go home btw " Siddhant asks in his sweet polite tone.

" We have our car, so will go by that and there is... " 

Siddhant didn't let Gautam say, he interrupt in middle " that's great then Ms. Roli if you don't mind can you give me a lift or maybe drop me at my home? Please if you don't mind " as Sid finished Gautam's eyes turned wide in shock and his mouth too got open in reflex, he didn't see this coming... Siddhant giggles at his expression, he totally gets satisfied by the look of Gautam right now, and to add more fuel Sid winks at him.

" Ya sure Mr. Siddhant I'll drop you at your home don't worry " 

Roli's acceptance gave pleasure to Siddhant but displeasure to Gautam, Before Gautam could protest Roli moved from there leaving both of them alone. Siddhant mischievously smirks at him by raising his eyebrows in a teasing manner.

Gautam irks " my eyes will be on you "

" And my on hers " Siddhant says quite dreamily but Gautam's glare made him notice the slip of his tongue, he smiles sheepishly, and before Gautam could act he ran out of the cabin behind Roli...

IN CAR 

Roli was behind the wheel whereas Gautam was sitting beside her and Siddhant steals the opportunity to sit on the backseat diagonally to Roli... First, he was trying to get a seat in front but Gautam didn't let him so now he found an alternative from the backseat too which annoyed Gautam...

Siddhant kept glancing at Roli now and then and as Gautam was in front there wasn't much hindrance to his relief but Gautam can't sit simply when he knew that Siddhant is looking at Roli... " Stop the car " Gautam shouts flinching both. Roli stops the car in jerk and gaped at Gautam, Siddhant's face showed slight horror for he knew the reason behind his anger. As the car stops Gautam says again " I wanna sit with Mr. Bhardwaj.. "

" you will give me a heart attack one day stupid " Roli scolds him a little for the act he just did and unlocks the door for him and here Sid mumbles " but he will give me an attack now "

" huh, did you say something Mr. Siddhant " Roli asks as felt he was murmuring something 

" What were you saying Mr... I too wanna know " Gautam raises a question getting into a back seat pushing Siddhant into the other corner just behind Roli which won't give any way for him to look at her.

" nothing " Siddhant spits out gulping the lump after noticing Gautam's glare at him and within a second he just looked outside the window and didn't turn inside to look at any of the siblings until his home comes.

" Bye Mr." Gautam greets before the car halts at the gateway.

Siddhant murmured something then gets out of it, he turned to say bye to Roli but again Gautam interferes " getting late didi let's go " 

" ok, bye " Roli just said and drove away without waiting for Sid's reply.

" First had to make a trap for this little lion " Sid uttered looking at their car, he picks out his mobile then sent Roli's photo to someone whose number is stored as ' Sneaker ' then he typed a message to him... 

_______________

Want each and every detail of her along with her family and especially the little brother... ASAP...

_______________

Siddhant entered the house and found his parents were sitting on the couch in the living area probably waiting for both the kids, Siddhant and Rudra.

Rudra still isn't home yet, seeing Siddhant Shekhar and Gauri asked him about the highlights of the case, he told them everything related to whatever he found including the shoe thing when Sid was narrating the last bit Rudra entered the room gaining everyone's attention, especially Siddhant's.

Siddhant looked at him but Rudra tried to hide his eyes not making any contact because of last night's incident he still couldn't come to terms in having a face-to-face conversation with him. Siddhant felt sad the way Rudra downs his eye, he turned his attention to his parents then told " well not to him exactly but this clue will surely bring us A Step Closer to Snappy for sure " 

Rudra recoiled a little on this description sowing the seeds of doubt again in Sid's heart. Siddhant was in relief that it's not Rudra after knowing the shoe size but the way Rudra's face turned pale he couldn't hold himself doubting at him again... 

The next second without saying anything Rudra left the place, giving the excuse to change Siddhant too went behind Rudra, he gave a call too but Rudra taking long strides entered inside his room closing the door resisting Siddhant outside. From Inside taking the support of the door, Rudra slumped down, tears left from his eyes, he kept his head back on the door then cries profusely... Outside Siddhant softly pats on the door then says " What it is Ru, you know you can share with me... I'm here... Like always " After getting no reply for long Siddhant went back having tears in his eyes...

A few days passed by, Siddhant kept trying for a chance to talk to Rudra but every time Rudra was successful in keeping himself away from him. Siddhant's Sneaker was yet to give all the details about Roli so till now he couldn't do anything regarding Gautam.

Asthana still didn't want to work with Siddhant but still, they were all on it together, and after searching for many days they found Abdul who claims that a person was here with the same choice ...

And today, after five days from the murder they as in Roli and Siddhant are going to interrogate Abdul further.....

your reaction

0

nice

3

awesome!

3

loved

0

lol

0

omg

0

cry