Gyarah

There is a line Dr Mukherjee read somewhere- we know the value of something once it’s gone. She knew what it meant objectively, that never take things for granted.

Or people, for example.

ACP Rathore had a reputation in office. He was the boss who was stern during work and rarely showed his emotions apart from being pissed at Rawte or a case in general. He had iron clad check over his emotions, had always backed his team (even when it’s Rawte) and was open to methods as long as it’s inside the line. For Shree, he was pillar of Strength. For Patil, he was the one who took him in post his defence stint and never asked question. For Riya, he was the one who gave her a chance. Liza thinks he’s awesome- she had an entire floor as a proof of his generosity. Aisha was tricky – working with a team who ruined her career pretty much was a hard thing to pass, but he had earned her respect when he had acknowledged his team’s shortcoming privately during A case pre ETF. He has given her a wide berth and encouraged her work, and even if it’s not an ideal situation, an affable boss was a good thing. The team knows he’s a well connected, respected man who’s great at interrogation, had the patience of a saint when it comes to cracking a case and had a good lineage.

They didn’t dig deeper than that. There was no reason.

Arjun noticed it first. Rathore always had never ending streams of meetings. It was a Miracle how he juggled the tantrums of seniors and joined each case with the team – probably a lack of second in command who truly wanted to lead a team made him work extra hard. It’s not that Rawte was incompetent, it’s just that he didn’t care. He worked well within team when they are following his chain of thoughts, and always eager to cross a line. It changes with Riya – only cause at times, her methods toy the line as well and makes him stun into silence.

Arjun knew these things too. 

Even after long nights in office Rathore was the first to arrive, more often with Riya. Today she arrived later – apparently she had an early brunch with Dustin sir, and judging by how quiet she was, it was probably about whatever happened in last couple of weeks. Other arrived one after another as he nodded to their ‘Good morning’s and ‘Hello’s 

Then it was ten five and he started to tap fingers. He almost asked Shree to give Rathore a call – it was rare he was late, and if there was an early morning meeting he would inform someone, most likely Shree about that. But Shree had said nothing, or maybe he didn’t feel like telling. Not that Rawte asked him about it.

Maybe he was over thinking.

The juniors went about their daily work, and he could hear Riya and ASP Aisha’s quiet whispers all the way to his side of desk. She had a book on linguistics- he didn’t know what was that about but most likely on words and languages, and judging but the new officer’s input, she knew about it subject quite well. It’s a surprise how she mostly talks, albeit rarely, to Riya- maybe not being an actual part of ETF helped that bond to establish. With others, she had a cold mask of professionalism and stiff, short words, never revealing much, never going off track.

By eleven, he had enough. “Shree,* the other person looked up, “any news on Rathore?”

He frowned, shaking head and and his heart sank. “I thought he informed you on something.”

He wanted to scoff when has that ever happened but that can wait. He made a gesture, following it with an unnecessary “Call him.” Shree dialled immediately, and Chotu, not able to sit still, rushed out of door to check Rathore’s house.

2 hours later, they all have called Rathore at least 200 times, and it went unreachable. Chotu had checked his house – a department issued small 1bhk enough for a single person, and found no miss. It wasn’t tampered, the house looked clean, Rathore even left for office as per the guards and had his wallet and keys. They tried to track the SUV and found its signal unreachable as well. They went through the familiar road which the chief must have taken a thousand times and found nothing. They were currently checking on hospitals and local ps- the probability of them being onto this was small, it’s was just a few hours as pointed out by Riya. But Arjun wanted to go through everything.

The chief had vanished. 

If the situation was reversed, and one of them had gone missing, Rathore would have banged his fist on desk, yelled “damn it!” And fire off instructions to the rest of them and knew what he was talking about. Difference was Arjun had been in a traumatic situation in past which Makes him go fight or flight, and as there was nothing to fight right now he wanted to go through the city and find the man, no matter how illogical that sounds. And he knew as a second in command- a post he never took seriously and never asked for, it was his job to stay and guide the rest. Rathore deserves that.

It made him want to punch through a wall and hurl something at it.

Then, the receptionist walked through the door. A timid girl, Neha if he can remember correctly. Shree ushered her in and there was a pen drive in his hand.

By the looks of everyone else, they were bracing for a bad news.

Twenty minutes later, he was seething on the rooftop cause that’s how he can reign in his emotions and control himself. A psychopath- a criminal, a man (or piece of scum) who had grudge on Rathore had taken him. It’s officially a kidnapping now. ACP Sameer Damsingh Rathore, two times bravery award winner, rank number one in police academy, rank 23 in upsc, was kidnapped by a thug who stuttered and looked so unhinged that Rawte was surprised how the chief was still alive. He was arrogant enough to not hide his face – wanted to spread his message, Riya said. He had tied the chief to a chair and 3 minutes into his monologue on how Sameer Rathore will pay, did a demonstration of water boarding.

Arjun had enough by now and walked out of the room.

His anger was suddenly directed at Rathore- who the fck does he think he is? He’s the chief of this damn place and he is so careless with his own security. Why can’t he have bodyguards- he’s entitled to it. He’s a high profile person, from family side, from his career and politically as well. How many criminals he has put behind bars, how many Interrogations he has done as a favor to other PSs, how many times he had stood in court and gave testimonies for criminals, defending his peers? The time Arjun had spent in ETF, he can list out at least a hundred names who has threatened the chief of harm. Rathore had to know it, and yet he lives alone, ventures out alone, works without any support. This was a thing waiting to happen.

It was better to be angry at him rather than thinking- this is Roshni all over again and it’s his fault. But she wasn’t taken, he was right there in the room with her and even till the end he was with her. This time, he might have a dead colleague on hand and they will see live torture session of him. Wait, that was not live. Does that mean . . . 

Don’t go there, he had to repeat it to himself.

He didn’t even want to think that once upon a time this man was his friend. 

Whatever was the outcome, he had a job to do. With that determination, he walked back downstairs.

If Rathore was there, he would have been proud at what his team was doing and how they raced against time to save him. First, they had to identify the man in video. Chotu pointed out UAID portal can’t help them, it takes at least 2 days to get a result.

“We don’t have two days.” Rawte growled.

“I know.” Shree snapped back, barely holding in. Chotu stepped behind him, putting a hand over his shoulder and he sighed, taking out his glassed as he pressed hard at his eyes. “Finding him with take time. We don’t have time.”

“There might be another way.” Aisha spoke up, glancing at Riya. “You noticed his accent?” She nodded. “South indian”. 

“How will that help? Chotu asked.

“We can try to find this man in the places where there is Population density of this community is more “ Riya said.

“I don’t that’s an accurate way to find him.” Shree countered “Its not necessary that all those people will live in 3, 4 locations across town.”

“How we know he’s from this place anyways?” Chotu frowned.

“He is from here.” Arjun remembered, what seemed like a life time ago, a long lecture from Riya and countless other examples of cases where it’s established that a criminal commits crime in his comfort zone. Areas he knows very well. The way this man had abducted Rathore, even if he was from another state ( if the south indian theory was true), he knew this place like the back of his hands.

Or maybe he was stalking the ETF chief.

“It’s a start.” He said. “Any list of areas where this community lives? Go by higher percentile, he will blend in. Once you have that, Chotu, you go the local ps where Rathore was taken from, get some constables and visit these areas one by one. This man’s picture should be spread all over the city, someone had to know.” He turned to Aisha. “I have a feeling . . . “

“He was stalked?” at his nod she finished, “I will ask around in office and near his house.”

*Do we put an official statement?” Shree asked.

“I think the criminal would like that. It will feed his ego.” Riya spoke up, deep in thought. “He kept saying this was about revenge and He will show “Chief”. He would want the world to know about his methods. Maybe even send a recording to renowned media houses.”

Arjun eyed the team. “Let me talk to seniors. You go through this.” He turned to Shree, “About the recording. . . “

“I will pull the meta data.” Whatever that was. “Lets hope the criminal isn’t too tech savy.”

“Riya, go through the tape and see if we missed something.” Before she can speak up, he cut in, “I know there isn’t much, and the profile may not be accurate. I don’t care. Give me something. And go through the previous cases of Rathore, see if you can find this man.”

The team spread out. 

Hours later, they had a shit storm on hand. There was more tapes, and as Riya predicted, the man had sent a video to a journalist called Sakshi Anand. To their short lived mercy, she had called Raghu sir first, and her channel was the first one to have the breaking news with the blessings of department. Shree had quietly digged into the lady, and there was some history that didn’t seem important for this case, hence he dropped it. Going through Rathore sir’s life when he wasn’t present felt wrong- even though he had questions that out of all the journalists and media towns in this city, why her? She was a freelancer who got famous by writing on a serial killer, and had connections. Apart from that there was nothing special on her, unless the killer went through Rathore’s life methodically, inch by inch, go even know miniscule details such as this.

The thought made him uneasy.

The good thing was, they found the place where this man had lived and many witnesses confirmed this man was around ETF office and Rathore’s house in last few months. Rawte went through the room where that man lived along with Liza and Chotu – the doctor was filled into the missing case quickly and albeit shaken, she was steady on hands. With passing time, Rawte felt this was a waste of time. Especially when they had the tapes coming- from a nearby courier officer and as there was no cctv, they didn’t know where they were coming- and Rathore looked bad with each one. The last tape they had watched with clenched fists and stiff jaws, he had bruising all over his face, he had one black eye, he has multiple lacerations and blood looked both dried and fresh, he was still on the chair and there was a variety of weapons – tool box, the fcker said, which he wanted to use, one by one.

Rathore didn’t give away anything and it probably made them not spiral out of control. He will hold onto his life till the end, he was a tough man. They just had to work quicker and find him.

When they returned office, Riya Aisha and Shree had ashen faces. He had to pause at the door, fearing the worst, until Aisha raised her hands in universal gesture of surrender.

“We found the man’s identity.”

So Rathore had handled a case 7 years ago in Sinai, TN, his last posting before ETF. Jt was a simple murder case and his testimony put this man in jail for killing his business partner. It looked simple enough, until Aisha pointed out that there were recent developments in the case. It was found out that the man was innocent. Rathore was wrong and he sent an innocent man to jail.

Arjun wasn’t feeling this as an ex friend and a colleague, he also knew an officer can commit mistake. But it didn’t add up. How come this case was reopened and the man walked away, and Rathore wasn’t summoned for his investigation and dragged into court? He would have been suspended by now, he would have beat himself up in guilt and let the man torture him more rather than having that stoic expression. It was obvious he had no clue on what was going on, and Arjun realized only one man can answer him

He called Raghu sir quickly, “Another tape?”

“Rathore sent a wrong man to jail.” There was dead silence from the other side. “He was wrong and a man suffered because of him.”

“Mistakes happen.”

“He didn’t know about it “ he cut through the chase. “he wasn’t summoned for this case, he wasn’t demoted, terminated or interrogated for his mistakes. How is that even possible, unless he knew absolutely nothing about this case.” When Raghu sir didn’t reply, he snapped. “Rathore won’t survive this. Tell me.”

“If it went out, he would not have gotten the promotion.”

“And who makes the decision?”

“His track record along with his bloodline.” He didn’t miss a beat. “ETF chief wasn’t questioned because there was nothing to question. He went by evidences. It was later proved the local police messed up. It wasn’t his fault “

“if he knew . . . “

“He would have quit his job. And then what, you trying to tell me this would not have happened?” His tone turned hard. “This had nothing to do with this case. Better find his location and bring him home.”

Rawte threw his phone outside balcony.

They didn’t scratch the surface of what Shree does or he can .

He cracked the data in the tapes and found out a 2 hour gap between them- the kidnapper was sending them footage of two hours ago. He manipulated the videos for any background noises and based upon sound of alarm which sounded like ambulance, gave them location of hospitals and routes through which ambulance passed the most. As the sound wasn’t frequent enough, Riya pointed out it had to be a less travelled road, a quiet one, which narrowed down location further. There was a particularly impressive thing Shree did – based upon the tapes taken at various hours, he saw how the sun moved, and based upon angle of descend of sun as they moved for sunset, found a trail of locations where sun would be on that time, the intensity of rays and angle for that specific time. 

They found the hide out on the second day, bursting through door only to find a half conscious Rathore slumped on his chair as the mad man press a knife over his neck. The former looked bad, in need of immediate hospitalization but thankfully breathing. Arjun wanted to shoot his head off, but he remembered the tapes and Riya’s repeated warnings- he was unhinged enough to harm Rathore because as per him, it’s the last thing he will ever do. And he will be damned that after all the hard work, he makes one mistake which makes it go south.

Other police officers, alone with Aisha and Chotu had swarmed through the room but not one person can get a clear shot. And then, out of nowhere, Riya entered- basically saying No to Rawte’s orders to sit out and follow then through comms. The man pressed on the knife enough to draw blood, but calmed down once she started to speak – fluent tamil- or at least He hoped that was, in a calm and assured way. Nobody knew what she was saying even though they had an inkling, and they all watches with bated breath as the man, a sobbing mess as moments passed, dropped the knife and sank into floor, no longer the vindictive angry man with wild eyes. 

He looked like he had no reason to live.

Rathore will survive and it was decided among themselves who will spend the night. By the time Arjun and Riya left the hospital, she was quietly yawning to herself, almost dozing off in her seat as the car moved.

If he drove slower and smoothly, he won’t admit.

“How many languages you know?” She sighed at that.

“Not many. I know the words and can speak- learning orally is easier. You know our old scriptures were passed down orally, from teachers go students, completely through oral lessons. There was no written book.” There was an awe. “Its fascinating.”

“So you listen to languages to learn or what . . . “ she quietly laughed at that, the smile slowly going away.

“My mother. . . Ah, you know, postings. All india. All over the places.” Pausing , she added. “I listened to others a lot  didn’t have anyone to speak to.”

“were you the only child in those places?”

“other children had families.” She shrugged. “it was an interesting time.”

“Sounds lonely.” It made sense – how she stays within herself and don’t show her obvious feelings to anyone. 

Her lips quirked up in an ironic smile.

“We are all alone.”

It will take time for Rathore to cine back, hence Rawte had the responsibility to lead the team until the Chief was back. When the letter for Acting Chief came in office, nobody knew how to react. Arjun, as usual, showed no emotions. The people who spent more time in office seemed to stand in edge, and the new entries- three ladies of the core team, wondered how this experience will be.

If anyone asked Riya how Arjun would fare as a leader, she would have thought and agreed that, yes, he would be good. He had a good head, he is dedicated towards work and even though don’t show it, is attuned to others emotions. But then, Dr. Mukherjee wasn’t part of ETF when ACP Rawte arrived at first. She wasn’t there when this unwilling rogue officer who wanted to lead a solo life hunting down criminals and want to avenge his wife was forced to return, given a position which he never wanted and had to start from scratch again. She wasn’t there for the disciplinary hearings, the stream of complaints against him – punching a politician was a start for him. Being disrespectful to fellow officers, not informing his team about his whereabouts, being emotionless and implying wrong things about victim’s families, physical and mental harrassment of suspects, the list went on and on. One can argue he had “mellowed down” somehow, and maybe will give credit to Rathore too. But everyone knew he didn’t mellow or change. He just had a better control now. If anyone crossed him, if anything ticked him off, the bomb will explode.

1 week into Acting Chief, and his fuse blew.

There was a death of an actor- sudden and tragic. It was the premiere of his new movie and suddenly this healthy, 30 something collapsed. The local PS had already did the primary checking and send the body for post mortem, ETF arrived later- more like Chotu Riya and Arjun.

Riya kept thinking how Liza kept crying over the news and Shree quietly put his arms around her, letting her sob.

The manager of the actor, once recovered from the tragedy, started to demand- the best officers, the best investigation, the best pr, the best way to put the news out. He won’t answer without a lawyer, which, as per Riya, was a smart move. He was also not really answering the basic questions- the movie mattered more, obviously.

Somewhere between the passive aggressive back and forth, the manager casualty dropped, “Police is really short staffed, eh?” Eyeing Rawte from head to toe, he added with disdain. “I have seen you in news. You sure, you can handle a sensitive case such a this?”

Rawte’s immediate thought was to wring his neck, but Chotu intervened, passing an uneasy look to his new boss. 

“Can we focus on the case please?”

“Can you assure me he won’t screw this up?” Huffing, he took out his phone, “I will speak to commissioner, I want the best officer of the department. Not a widower who can’t . . . .”

He was slammed into the opposite wall the next moment, Riya almost jumping at the impact of it. She had caught the last few words but didn’t process it, and it wasn’t the time. Chotu pulled him off, and Arjun shrugged off his hold, glared at the manager with every fibre of his being, and left the area fuming 

Chotu looked at Riya, a long suffering sigh on his end. 

Of course, Raghu sir gave him left right and center. “Get out. “ he growled over phone, not one hour after the incident happened. The manager wasn’t saying he will call the commissioner for the heck of it.

“Sir,”

“If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.” There was silence for a few moments. “ETF will handle the case. You will behave. The next time you see him, you will apologize. Solve it without any paperwork. Am I understood?”

“Sir.”

“Am I?”

“Yes “ his jaw clenched.

 The manager seemed shady, desperate the cash this tragedy and narcissist – making it all about how he lost a friend and co worker, but he wasn’t a suspect. Liza was distraught, but she had Steady hands to do a second autopsy. It seemed like it was a sudden cardiac arrest- something becoming increasingly common in 30-40 years age group, despite good health and regular exercises and wellness check ups.

But something didn’t feel right – a sentiment Riya Arjun and Liza shared. But Liza believed what a dead person said, and her favourite actor’s body didn’t tell anything. She admitted it might be her bias. Arjun had a gut feeling, Riya had something but she didn’t share – she never speak up unless she had doubt in something concrete.

The two of then decided to speak to the manager, this time Rawte hovering in background. He didn’t give the apology, had no desire to, and felt like it’s better if he stayed away. The drive on the way and back was silent, and he wondered if his temper tantrum had scared her somewhat. 

Not that he had ever shown himself as someone different. He didn’t want her in office and told her on face. He was condescending, disbelieving at times over her theories. He had shouted at her, blamed her for things she had no hand in. Thing was – he also mended his way, albeit a fraction. He don’t question her methods, learnt from her a lot about criminology. He was the one wanted a truce, he didn’t shout at her anymore. And it felt like such a miniscule thing to do, to be human and behave decently, but he did that. For her. Maybe in the back of his head, along with his inhibitions that someone young like her shouldn’t be here, rang Rathore’s words too. Let her be. Don’t punish her. So he didn’t. And in last couple of months she has went through so much that he can’t treat her as if she was something else, someone who’s beneath him. Unworthy of her place in his world. That’s all she ever wanted- head held high, standing her ground. She fought her mother to be here, she kept her spine straight and told him she’s not responsible for his meltdowns, never accepted something lesser than what she deserves. 

But the thing was – Arjun always knew this day would come. He had this feeling it will come out in the worst possible way, and it happened. It didn’t help that he wasn’t at his best behavior. If that freaked her out, he can’t fault her for that reaction. But the question was – how long can he wait?

He guessed never. Her silence was something which always made him feel uneasy.

“I . . . “ he started, words dying on lips. Riya stiffened a little, then turned to him cautiously.

“My wife . . . She was killed. A few years before.” He couldn’t bear talking more about this. A part of his also wondered- why he was even saying this. Why he wanted to tell her himself even though the truth was out there.

He couldn’t answer himself.

“I am sorry.” Her voice was quiet. But she didn’t ask anything- how long was it? How it happened? Is that what makes him so unhinged? It made him want to explain himself. Or maybe he wanted to unload.

“Not exactly a state secret.” He cleared throat, trying to move past this moment. “It was all over the news when it happened. That’s how the manager knew.”

“Maybe it wasn’t.” She nodded, continuing with that same soft voice. “But everyone deserved privacy. I am sorry yours was a spectacle.”

Nobody ever said that to him.

He stared ahead, taking a few moments to compose himself. When he felt like it had passed, he answered in a hoarse voice.

“Thank you.”

She brightened up. “You are welcome."

(And then she slowly started to talk about what was bothering her about the case, and he followed her stream of thoughts for a few moments, seeing how she buries her nose in file as she reads them, then put theories, one after another, in an interconnected, seamless way, raising questions and answering herself. Probability and I think, and this might have happened, and I suspect, and maybe we should do this, going one after another. He saw the way her lips moved – twisting when thinking something, parted before she thought something and at times will not share her words. Her hair was up in a messy bun, and he remembered in this very car one evening she had came so close that he could smell it, wondering if she still use it. And then she frowned as she talked, and he remembered how she said  I had a feeling you would come one night, and raindrops fell from the edge of her finger, and people had different footsteps the first time he stepped into a room around her, and What defines okay? and We are all alone, but the difference was he didn’t feel alone, not for the longest time. Even when he didn’t share much, even when he guarded his heart and reputation and façade of indifference so fiercely. And then one day she was there, with her murder board and theories and . . . 

But why?

Why.

)