Chapter 7

6 months ago

Anushkaa

@nushhkiee

Chapter 7

The days dragged on, each one bringing new uncertainties. The mansion that had once been alive with laughter and conversation now felt cold and oppressive, filled with suspicion. Every corner seemed to hide a secret, and every family member wore a mask of grief that, to Maan’s trained eye, looked a little too rehearsed.

Maan spent hours going through Ranjit’s papers, speaking with the family, and trying to piece together the puzzle. But every time he thought he was on the verge of an answer, another question emerged, clouding his judgment further.

Dev had been avoiding Maan for the past two days, locking himself in his study or disappearing for long walks around the estate. It was as if he were trying to escape the investigation, or perhaps, avoid the inevitable confrontation that Maan was preparing for.

Maan knew that he couldn’t waste any more time. He had to confront the suspects head-on. But for now, his focus was still on Dev, who seemed to have the most to lose.

---

It was late in the evening when Maan finally caught up with Dev in the mansion’s garden. The air was crisp, the sky dark, and the distant hum of crickets filled the silence between them.

Dev stood by the stone fountain, his back to Maan, looking out over the lush, moonlit grounds. His expression was unreadable, but Maan could sense the tension in his posture.

“Dev,” Maan’s voice cut through the stillness, calm but firm.

Dev turned slowly, offering a tight smile. “Maan. Didn’t hear you coming.”

Maan didn’t return the smile. “We need to talk.”

Dev’s face darkened at the mention of his late uncle’s name. “I’ve told you everything I know. What more do you want from me?”

Maan stepped closer, his gaze sharp. “It’s not about what you’ve told me, Dev. It’s about what you’re hiding.”

Dev flinched, just slightly, but Maan noticed. The tension in the air grew thicker, the unsaid words hanging heavy between them.

“What are you implying?” Dev’s voice was low, a hint of anger seeping through his calm exterior.

“I’m not implying anything,” Maan replied, his voice steady but filled with underlying suspicion. “But you seem to know an awful lot about the investigation. Too much, in fact. You were the one who first mentioned Arjun as a suspect, weren’t you? A bit too eager to divert attention, wouldn’t you say?”

Dev’s jaw clenched. “You’ve always been quick to judge, Maan. You don’t trust anyone, do you?”

Maan took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. “It’s not about trust, Dev. It’s about motive. And you had the motive. You’ve been struggling with debts for years. And then there’s the will...Chacha Jiwas planning to cut you out. That, too, is something you didn’t expect. Isn’t that right?”

For a moment, Dev didn’t respond. The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Finally, he spoke, his voice strained. “What are you trying to say? That I killed him?”

Maan didn’t flinch. “I’m not saying anything. But you have to admit, it looks suspicious. Your financial troubles, the changes to the will, your constant attempts to shift the blame onto others. How am I supposed to look past that?”

Dev’s eyes flickered with something...anger, or perhaps guilt. But before he could say anything further, Naina’s voice interrupted them.

“Dev, Maan,” she said softly, her tone laced with worry. “What’s going on here?”

Both men turned to see her standing a few feet away, her posture tense. Her eyes flicked between them, studying their expressions, her own unreadable.

“Chachi Ji,” Maan said, his voice sharp, “We were just talking about Ranjit Chacha.”

Naina’s face softened with feigned concern. “I understand. But please, Maan, this investigation...it's tearing the family apart. We need to keep our heads clear.”

Maan’s gaze lingered on her. There was something in her words, in the way she held herself, that felt calculated. She wasn’t just mourning her husband; she was playing a part. And Maan was beginning to wonder if she was trying to deflect suspicion from herself, or worse, hide something far darker.

“I’ll let you two talk,” Maan said, his voice cold as he turned to leave. But as he walked away, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

---

The next morning, Maan decided to take another look at Ranjit’s study. There was something about the way the room had been left in disarray that didn’t sit right with him. The police had already gone through the room, but Maan knew they might have missed something. Ranjit’s study had always been a place of secrets, filled with papers, ledgers, and personal correspondence.

As Maan rifled through the papers on Ranjit’s desk, his eyes caught something...a letter, partially hidden beneath a pile of receipts. It was addressed to Ranjit, but the handwriting wasn’t his. Maan’s heart skipped as he read the name at the bottom: Naina Khurana.

Without wasting a moment, Maan opened the letter, his hands trembling as he read the words:

"Ranjit, I cannot continue to live in this cage. If you don’t release me, if you don’t let me go, I will be forced to make drastic decisions. I’ve had enough of your control. I will not live in your shadow any longer. You’ve made me weak, but I will not let you destroy me. If you don’t act now, I will. You won’t have a choice."

Maan’s breath caught in his throat. The letter was old...at least a few months...but the threat was chilling. The words spoke of a woman who felt trapped, controlled, and desperate. Naina had been planning something drastic long before Ranjit’s death. And now, reading this, Maan’s suspicions grew even stronger. The timing of her actions, her coldness at the funeral, and the way she seemed to have no real grief...all pointed to something far darker.

---

Maan couldn’t keep the letter to himself. He needed to confront Naina, to understand why she had written such an ominous message to her husband.

He found her later that afternoon in the garden, sitting by the same stone fountain where he had spoken to Dev. She looked up as he approached, her face still, like a mask.

“Chachi Ji,” Maan began, his voice cool but unwavering. “We need to talk.”

She didn’t answer at first, merely glanced up at him, her eyes calm and unreadable. “About what?”

Maan pulled the letter from his pocket, letting it unfold in the still air between them. Her eyes flickered to it, then quickly away, but Maan saw the flicker of panic in her gaze.

“I found this,” he said flatly, his eyes locking with hers. “You wrote this to Chacha Ji. You told him you were ‘forced to make drastic decisions.’ Is that why he had to die?”

Naina stood up abruptly, her face now a mixture of shock and rage. “You… you don’t know anything!”

“Then tell me, Chachi Ji,” Maan pressed, his voice hardening, “Tell me the truth. What really happened between you and Chacha Ji?”

For the first time since Maan had known her, Naina’s composure cracked. She took a step back, her face pale. “I… I didn’t kill him, Maan. I swear. I loved Ranjit. I did! But there was so much I couldn’t say. So much that was eating me up inside.”

Maan’s mind raced. Was she lying? Or was she simply another victim of circumstance?

Before he could push her further, a voice interrupted them...Dev’s voice, sharp and filled with urgency.

“Enough, Maan!” Dev stormed into the garden, his face flushed with anger. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. She has nothing to do with this!”

Maan’s gaze shifted between the two of them, his suspicions mounting. Dev and Naina both seemed desperate, but for different reasons. And the more Maan dug, the more certain he became that one of them was hiding something. Something that would change everything.

But which one of them was the killer? And why were they willing to protect each other?