The Truth behind the Deceit

9 months ago

Mikky

@MidnightLibrary

The Truth behind the Deceit

Rishi's eyes glazed over, his pupils dilating as his gaze turned icy and suspicious. Then, without warning, a low, mirthless chuckle escaped his lips, sending a shiver down Zunaid's spine. "What evidence could you possibly have, Officer?" Rishi sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "I'm fascinated...do enlighten me on how far the Mumbai police can stretch to harass ordinary citizens when they're too busy neglecting their duties."

Zunaid's expression remained impassive, but his mind was racing, dissecting every micro-expression on Rishi's face. He detected a flicker of unease in Rishi's eyes, a fleeting hesitation that betrayed his otherwise confident demeanour.

"Wait, Mr. Ex-Reporter!" Zunaid's voice cut through the tension, his eyes locking onto Rishi's. He noticed a sudden, almost imperceptible twitch in Rishi's cheek, a tiny crack in his composure. "You see, every criminal leaves behind a trail of evidence...and you, have a masterminded plot to sabotage Mr. Prithviraj Malhotra's reputation."

Rishi's face underwent a transformation, his eyes flashing with anger, his lips curling into a snarl. Zunaid's gaze bore into Rishi's, his mind racing with the implications of the sudden change in demeanour.

Rishi's eyes widened in mock surprise, and he burst into a fit of laughter, shaking his head and tossing his hands up in the air. "So, the Mumbai Police caught me because of who... that rich businessman... Officer, I highly appreciate your efforts... most of the time, the police are sleeping while chasing a criminal. But I'm sorry to inform you that you've wasted your time and mine. I know nothing about Mr. Prithviraj Malhotra."

As he spoke, Rishi leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest and flashing a sarcastic smile. His legs stretched out before him, feet crossed at the ankles, exuding a relaxed and uninterested air.

Zunaid's gaze remained fixed on Rishi's face, his eyes narrowing slightly as he leaned forward in his chair. "Rishi... I've already told you we have evidence," he said calmly, his voice firm but controlled. "Near the cyber cafe, we found footage on the CCTV camera, and the cafe owner gave us a description of your appearance. When we showed him your sketch, he agreed with us."

As Zunaid revealed how the police had tracked Rishi, the latter's facial expressions darkened. His smile faltered, replaced by a look of anger and desperation. His eyes narrowed, and his jaw clenched, as if suppressing a surge of fury. His legs straightened, and his feet uncrossed, planting themselves firmly on the ground, radiating tension and aggression.

"And the checkmate is... you were so thrilled with your mission that you forgot to cover your digital tracks," Zunaid declared, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. "Thanks to that oversight, our digital team, led by the exceptional Inspector Ravinder Nagar, was able to trace your online activity and bring your entire profile to our fingertips."

Rishi's eyes flashed with anger, his teeth clenched in frustration as Zunaid continued to taunt him.

"Your former colleagues at MTC News Channel told us how you became increasingly overconfident, even arrogant, with each minor success. You started making mistakes, and your reputation began to suffer. And let's not forget your history of stealing news stories from your roommate. Shame on you, Rishi Chawla."

As Zunaid spoke, he leaned forward, his eyes boring into Rishi's, his voice dripping with disdain. Rishi's face reddened, his jaw working furiously as he struggled to contain his rage. His fists clenched, and his body tensed, as if ready to spring out of his seat.

Rishi's jaw clenched, his teeth grinding in frustration as he spat out the words, "Okay, Officer, you and your team did a wonderful job catching me. But what's the punishment? Neither you nor the law can give me the death sentence. I know the laws inside out. I'll probably get 3-5 years in jail, but what then, Officer?"

Zunaid's eyes narrowed, his gaze intensifying as he stared at Rishi with an unblinking, tiger-like focus. Rishi, seemingly unfazed, pulled his legs back over the chair and crossed them in a meditative posture, as if he were lounging on his comfortable couch.

"Stop glaring at me with those eyes, Officer," Rishi said, his voice dripping with disdain. "You and your police can't do anything to me."

With that, Zunaid's expression turned icy. He pulled out his police stick and brought it down with a swift, impactful motion, striking Rishi's body and legs with a loud thud. Rishi's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat as he winced in pain.

Rishi's face contorted in rage as he shouted, "You stupid police! D'kh ke toh mara karo na!!! (Just kill me by looking at me!)... Chal, waise bhi (Anyway), I don't know anything about the videos, trust me... I only viralized them... because that Prithviraj Malhotra destroyed my entire journalist career! Just because of him, I won't get any job anywhere in India. He fired me from my TV news channel!"

Rishi's voice cracked with desperation, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and helplessness. Zunaid's expression remained stoic, his eyes fixed intently on Rishi.

"Mr. Malhotra did that because you were insulting his wife at their reception party," Zunaid said, his voice firm but calm.

Rishi's face turned beet red, his veins bulging as he spluttered, "That's a lie! I was just asking her questions... she's a public figure, after all!"

Zunaid raised an eyebrow, his gaze piercing through Rishi's defences. "Save it for the judge, Mr. Chawla. Your actions have consequences."

"By the way, Officer, I didn't insult Sanyogita!!" Rishi exclaimed, making a comical face and poking his chest with his finger. "I was just doing my job as a journalist! What did I ask her? Only about her feelings after marrying a rich businessman like Prithviraj Malhotra. Who gets fired for that?"

Rishi's expression turned incredulous, his eyes wide with feigned innocence.

Zunaid's gaze remained sceptical. "Mr. Malhotra claimed you insulted Mrs. Malhotra at their reception party."

Rishi burst into laughter, his gestures exaggerated and foolish. "Officer, now ask Mr. Prithviraj Malhotra what insult I allegedly made to Mrs. Malhotra! I'm sure he'll have a hard time recalling anything!"

Rishi's laughter trailed off, replaced by a smug grin. "You know, Officer, I think Mr. Malhotra is just trying to cover his own tracks. Maybe he's afraid of something?"

"Rishi, Mr. Malhotra claims you were obsessed with Mrs. Malhotra before her marriage, and when she rejected you, you sought revenge," Zunaid said, his eyes narrowing.

Rishi burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the room. "Who loves her? Ha! Officer, if you knew her history, you'd think twice before falling for her charms."

Zunaid's curiosity was piqued, his gaze intensifying. "What history?"

Rishi sneered, his tone dripping with malice. "Sanyogita's sister was a prostitute, and she's no better. She trapped a rich businessman, just like her sister. They're two peas in a pod. Now, think about that, Officer, before accusing me of being Sanyogita's lover."

Zunaid's eyes flashed with anger, his face reddening. With a sudden jerk, he sprang from his chair and began to beat Rishi mercilessly, his fists raining down on him like a storm.

The local boy, who had been waiting outside to deliver tea to the night-duty police officers, trembled with fear as Rishi's screams echoed through the corridors. He had never seen anyone being beaten like that before.

Rishi cowered under the onslaught, his arms raised in a futile attempt to defend himself. "Stop! Officer, stop! I'm telling the truth!"

Zunaid's anger only intensified, his blows landing with precision and force. "You're a disgusting excuse for a human being, Rishi! You'll pay for your lies and your twisted games!"

Just as it seemed Zunaid would beat Rishi into a pulp, he suddenly stopped, his chest heaving with exertion. "Get him out of my sight," he growled, turning away in disgust.

The constables rushed forward, dragging Rishi away as he spat on the floor and cursed at Zunaid's back.

As the door closed behind them, Zunaid's expression turned thoughtful. He couldn't shake off the feeling that Rishi's words had struck a chord. Was there truth to the allegations about Sanyogita's past? He made a mental note to investigate further.

Zunaid's expression turned stern as he thought, "Rishi's allegations against Mrs. Malhotra are serious. I need to investigate this further and gather evidence before making any conclusions."

He remembered his training and the importance of remaining impartial. "As a police officer, it's my duty to uphold the law and ensure justice is served. I cannot let personal biases or fears influence my investigation."

Zunaid's thoughts shifted to the potential consequences of Rishi's actions. "If Rishi's claims are true, it could lead to serious repercussions for Mrs. Malhotra and her husband. But I must prioritise the truth and follow the evidence wherever it leads

**************

Zunaid's eyes narrowed as he gazed at Rishi, who cowered in a room under the eyes of a junior officer . Despite the brutal beating, Zunaid sensed that Rishi might be more than just a pawn in the game. His instincts whispered that Rishi could be a crucial piece of the puzzle, just like Mohini.

Zunaid's mind raced back to the mysterious figure who had vanished into the hotel corridor, leaving behind a trail of questions. Who was it? And what was their role in Prithviraj's drugging?

With a deep breath, Zunaid called for the doctor to examine Rishi. "Check for any tooth surgery, no matter how minor," he instructed. "We can't afford to overlook a single detail."

The doctor nodded and began the examination. After a few minutes of probing and scanning, he nodded gravely. "Zunaid, Rishi has had a recent tooth surgery. The root of his molar has been tampered with."

Zunaid's suspicions skyrocketed. "Potassium cyanide?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.

The doctor's expression turned grim. "Possibly. We need to run further tests to confirm."

Zunaid's eyes locked onto Rishi, his mind racing with the implications. The mastermind behind the sinister plot was still at large, pulling the strings from the shadows. Zunaid's determination grew stronger. He would leave no stone unturned to uncover the truth and bring the puppeteers to justice.

********************

ACP Zunaid's eyes sparkled with insight as he connected the dots. "The tooth surgery, Mohini and Rishi... it's too coincidental. Our mastermind has a medical background."

He turned to his team. "Let's bring Rishi in for further questioning. I want to know if he knows anything about the doctor who did this surgery to him"

Rishi was brought in, looking nervous. "I don't know anything, I swear," he pleaded.

Zunaid's gaze bore into him. "Don't play dumb, Rishi. We know the man who sent you the money that has a medical degree. Tell us what you know."

Rishi's eyes widened in terror as Zunaid revealed the shocking truth. "You were given a potassium cyanide ampule in your teeth, Rishi. You're a ticking time bomb."

Rishi's face contorted in a mix of fear and desperation. He shook his head vigorously, but Zunaid noticed a faint glimmer of panic in his eyes. "I know nothing, Sir. I swear. Please, save my life. I don't want to die now."

Zunaid's gaze pierced through Rishi's facade, witnessing the transformation from an arrogant, selfish individual to a helpless, trembling creature. The man who had calmly played Kaun Banega Crorepati during the interrogation now cowered, his ego shattered by the prospect of imminent death.

"Your life is in your hands, Rishi," Zunaid said, his voice firm but measured. "Tell us the truth, and we might be able to save you. But continue lying, and... " He left the sentence hanging, letting Rishi's imagination fill in the blanks.

Rishi's eyes frantically scanned the room, searching for an escape route, but found himself trapped. His voice cracked as he begged, "Please, Sir. I'll tell you everything. Just save me." His body trembled, and sweat dripped from his forehead.

ACP Zunaid's expression remained stern, but his eyes showed a hint of empathy. "Speak, Rishi. Tell us everything."

Rishi took a deep breath, his words spilling out in a desperate rush. "I was drinking in a bar with my friend, venting about Prithviraj. He'd ruined my career, my family was suffering, and even my new finance event rejected me after I lost my job. I couldn't afford to pay rent for my apartment in Mumbai."

He paused, collecting his thoughts. "That day, I couldn't even pay my bill. But as I was about to leave, a waiter approached me with a paper written in printed black ink. It said, 'If you need a job, contact this number.' I was skeptical, but desperation got the better of me."

Rishi's eyes dropped, shame etched on his face. "I called the number, and a voice told me to meet them at a location. I was scared, but I went anyway.

Zunaid's eyes never left Rishi's face, searching for any hint of deception. He knew that in this web of lies, trust was a luxury he couldn't afford.

Rishi's voice trembled as he continued his confession. "At first, I thought about ignoring the message, but desperation got the better of me. I decided it was better than doing nothing. So, I visited the lonely spot, a little away from the main city, as instructed by the mysterious number."

He paused, recalling the eerie atmosphere. "The place was deserted, except for one or two stray dogs. I was scared, thinking I might be walking into a trap set by antisocial goons or terrorists. But I had to know what it was about."

ACP Zunaid's face remained stern, but his eyes betrayed a hint of surprise as Rishi revealed the details of his confession. His eyebrows furrowed, and his jaw clenched as Rishi described the eerie atmosphere of the lonely spot.

Rishi's hands shook as he described opening the parcel. "Inside, I found another note that read, 'Do the work. You will get more.' And then, I saw it - a photo of Prithviraj with a woman on my mobile. My blood rushed with happiness, and every cell in my body wanted to take revenge on Prithviraj."

As Rishi's hands shook while describing the parcel, Zunaid's gaze intensified, his eyes boring into Rishi's face. His expression turned sceptical as Rishi claimed his blood rushed with happiness at the sight of Prithviraj's photo.

His eyes widened in fear. "I agreed to the deal, thinking the person was my saviour. But now, I realise he's plotting my death... that scoundrel! I received a few photos of Prithviraj with a woman in the morning. As soon as I received them I WhatsApp them to Sanyogita's whatsapp number.”

Sweats trickle down from Rishi's forehead “ But I used another person's mobile which I purchased from a chor bazar market for these things because I knew that if By chance the police traced the message I'll not be tracked down easily. And those videos Clips this evening, but I never saw that man or met him. Officer, please save me. I'm innocent.

Zunaid's eyes widened in incredulity as Rishi revealed he had sent the photos to Sanyogita's WhatsApp number using a mobile purchased from a chor bazar market.

As Rishi finished his statement, ACP Zunaid's gaze bore into him, his eyes narrowing in scepticism. His mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle, but the more he thought, the more convoluted it became. The mysterious figure who vanished into the hotel corridor still lingered in his thoughts, and he was convinced it wasn't Rishi.

His mind racing with possibilities. Who was the real mastermind, and what was their motive? He knew he had to move fast to unravel the web of deceit and conspiracy.

As Rishi pleaded for innocence, Zunaid's expression turned from scepticism to frustration. He threw his hands up in exasperation, his voice firm but controlled. "Rishi, Rishi, Rishi... How could you be so naive? You're deeper than you think.”

Zunaid's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through Rishi's fear. "You're not innocent, Rishi. You're a pawn in a much larger game. But I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself. Tell me everything, and I'll do my best to protect you.

“I need to know more about this mysterious number and the person behind it," Zunaid said, his voice firm but controlled. "Every detail counts. I want to know about the tone, the language, and everything.”

Rishi nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I'll tell you everything, officer. I swear."

Zunaid's face softened slightly, his expression a mix of empathy and determination. He knew Rishi was trapped, and he needed to extract as much information as possible to unravel the web of deceit.

Zunaid's eyes never left Rishi's face, his gaze piercing through the layers of fear and deception. "I want to know about the tone, the language, everything. Was it a man or a woman? Did they have an accent?"

Rishi hesitated, his mind racing to recall every detail. "It was a man, officer. He had a deep voice, and he spoke in Hindi. He didn't have any accent, but he used very polished language."

Zunaid nodded, his mind processing the information. "Polished language? What do you mean?"

Rishi thought for a moment before responding. "He used complex sentences and words that I didn't understand. It was like he was trying to show off his intelligence."

Zunaid's eyes narrowed, his suspicion growing. "I see. And what about the number itself? Was it a local number or an out-of-state number?"

Rishi shook his head. "I don't know, officer. I didn't think to check the number. I just assumed it was a local number."

Zunaid sighed, his frustration growing. This case was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Every lead seemed to end in a dead-end.

********

Just then, Inspector Ravinder Nagar burst into the room with a sense of urgency, his face flushed with excitement. "Sir, we've hit a dead end. The number can't be traced, it's a burner phone."

Zunaid's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications. "A burner phone? That means our mastermind is more sophisticated than we thought."

Inspector Ravinder nodded in agreement. "Yes, sir. But we're not giving up yet. We're trying to track the phone's last known location, but it's like searching for a needle in a haystack."

Zunaid's jaw clenched in frustration. "Keep trying, Ravinder. We need a break in this case."

Just then, sub-inspector Suresh Yadav spoke up, "Sir, I think I might have something. I've been going through Rishi's statement, and I think I found a discrepancy."

Zunaid's eyes turned to Suresh , a glimmer of hope in his voice. "What is it?"

The sub-inspector hesitated before speaking. "Rishi said he received a few photos of Prithviraj with a woman in the morning, but he didn't mention anything about the location. What if... what if the mastermind is trying to lure us into a trap?"

Zunaid's expression turned grim. "You might be onto something, Yadav . Let's get Rishi back in here and ask him some more questions."

The team nodded in agreement, their faces set with determination. They knew they were in a cat-and-mouse game with the mastermind, but they were determined to catch him.

Zunaid's voice was firm and commanding. "Ravinder, we need to know more about those photos."

Inspector Ravinder nodded and quickly exited the room, returning with Rishi in tow. Rishi looked nervous, his eyes darting around the room.

Zunaid's gaze bore into Rishi's face. "Rishi, tell me more about the photos you received. Where were they taken?"

Rishi hesitated, his voice trembling. "I-I don't know, officer. The location wasn't specified."

Suresh spoke up, her voice firm. "Rishi, we need to know the truth. Were you told to send those photos to Sanyogita's WhatsApp number?"

Rishi nodded, his eyes downcast. "Y-yes. I was told to send them to her number."

Zunaid's expression turned sceptical. "And you didn't think to question why?"

Rishi shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was desperate, officer. I didn't think about anything else."

The team exchanged knowing glances. They were getting closer to the truth, but the mastermind was still one step ahead.

Just then, Officer Sharma's incoming call was propelled on the screen of ACP Zunaid Yusuf Imam Mallick.

"ACP Zunaid," he answered.

"Sir, this is Officer Sharma from the Bank," a voice said. "We've traced the transaction. The money was withdrawn by a man's name with......

To be continued…

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