Chapter : Whispers Before the Storm

Chapter : Whispers Before the Storm

The vast sky turned a deep onyx , thick clouds covering any trace of stars .

It was around eight at night when Zunaid and his teammate arrived at Reyansh’s apartment as he was busy at the office that day . to their relief, Reyansh was home.

His wife Kavya , opened the door. She appeared startled as the police stepped inside and called for Reyansh who came after a certain time adjusting his shirt sleeves, as if caught off guard.

The moment he heard about Daksh’s sudden death, his expression stiffened. He had already read about Gautam’s passing—an apparent natural death—but the media had begun murmuring about possible foul play. Sanyogita Malhotra’s name had started circulating in hushed speculation.

Zunaid studied Reyansh closely, watching for the slightest shift in body language, the flicker of a lie, the tremor of fear.

But Reyansh kept his tone casual, his posture relaxed—almost too relaxed.

Zunaid leaned forward slightly, voice measured. “Mr. Reyansh, two of your former friends—Gautam Desai and Daksh—are dead. Postmortem reports link Mr Daksh Singh had a keen addiction to drug use and extreme psychological distress. Do you have any addictions or underlying medical conditions we should be aware of?”

"No," Rayansh replied, too quickly, eyes darting, then looking away . , his hands clasped tightly in front of him tried his best to look calm and clean but the tension in his jaw betrayed him.

Zunaid didn't press immediately. Instead, he let silence stretch, then spoke in a gentler, yet sharper tone. "If you do, the police can offer help . But if you're hiding something, lying won't protect you. Not for long “

But Reyansh refused to admit anything.

“No officer, “ he said firmly. “I have a healthy , happy family. I'm a devoted man to my wife , my love . And we have a two years old child by God's grace. Nor am I a womanizer like Gautam Desai or nor an addict like Daksh .

Honestly, I was shocked to learn about their hidden lives. And Gautam… he abused his wife? Disgusting. Chi chi chi! After hearing that, I couldn’t even consider him a friend anymore.” Reyansh’s tone drops with disgust.

Zunaid didn’t miss the subtle shift in tone—a bit too theatrical, too rehearsed. A faint smirk touched Zunaid’s lips as he thought to ask his next question “ Then tell me, Mr. Reyansh… why did Mrs. Sanyogita Malhotra want to drag you to court? Did you harm Miss Janvi Sharma? Are the allegations against you true?”

ACP Zunaid's question that made Reyansh's stomach lurched . His face was pale .

He could feel Kavya's curious gaze fixed on him .“ Court? Harm? Allegations? Reyansh echoed, confused and defensive. “And moreover who is this Janvi Sharma ? I have no idea what you’re talking about, officer. I saw on the news that Mrs. Sanyogita Malhotra—wife of some big-shot businessman—has gone missing, but this…?”

Zunaid calmly turned towards Kavya and explained everything, then shifted to Reyansh who was baffled. He told the officer he was innocent, each word slicing through the atmosphere like a scalpel . He returned his haze to Reyansh, who kept defending his innocence.

“We have confirmation from Mrs. Malhotra’s lawyer,” Zunaid said coldly. “The court notice was delivered to all the accused ten days ago. Your name was on that list.” Your name too was mentioned on that list. So I'm curious why you didn't pay attention to such a sensitive issue? A woman brings allegations against you and you are acting as if nothing comes!! Strange ! A clever taunting smirk danced across Zunaid's lips , making Reyansh startled. Moreover, he didn't change from his statement , and police couldn't arrest him based on how many charges were put against him but it might be quite impossible for them to prove

Kavya's mind drifted back in an Instant to the day , he was behaving slightly strange when she asked genuineness he told her all were stress because of his mother's health issues and also office work. When police arrived five days ago he too averted the matter

As Zunaid and his teammates had left , Reyansh sat on the edge of the couch, his fingers trembling slightly around the glass of water he hadn’t taken a sip from.

Reyansh stammered, “I swear, I never received anything. I don't know this girl. This must be a mistake!”

But Kavya’s thoughts had already begun to spiral. Her mind flashed back to that day—ten days ago—when Reyansh had acted strangely. She’d asked him about it, and he’d blamed stress, citing his mother’s health and mounting office pressure. Even five days ago, when the police had shown up unexpectedly, he’d brushed it off, claiming it was a routine visit.

Now, everything felt like a carefully constructed lie.

After Zunaid and his team left, the silence in the apartment was deafening. Reyansh sat on the edge of the couch, his fingers trembling around a glass of water he hadn't touched. The once-clear image of a devoted husband had begun to crack—and beneath it, something far darker was starting to emerge.

When the door clicked shut softly. Kavya walked in, holding their child. Her face was pale, the light in her eyes dimmed with worry. She placed the baby down gently in the cradle and turned to him.

"Reyansh… why are the police coming here again and again? What have you done? Why does Mrs. Sanyogita Malhotra want to file a case against you in court? Who is Janvi Sharma?"

Reyansh wasn't prepared for anything. He chose silence . Earlier he avoided the matter from his wife but his instincts were telling this time his all lies and secrets will no longer remain hidden before her. If he confessed the truth no one saved him from going into jail. But in that case he would lose both his wife and child , and job. Everyone would despise him.

"I… It’s nothing, Kavya. They’re just investigating old things. I told you—"

Kavya sharply, cutting him off "Don’t lie to me again, Reyansh!"

She picked her baby in her hand and stepped near Reyansh , and put her son in gentle care on the bed . The baby cuddled on the bed, sucking the collar of his small T-shirt which was wearing.

With a stern voice she said “ "Put your hand on your child... and tell me the truth..The allegations Mrs Sanyogita Malhotra had brought about you were holding any truth ? And don't lie to me this time “

He had kept this part of his past buried, locked behind years of pretense and success. But the lock was breaking.And If he chooses with another option of hiding the truth that means Sanyogita would kill him for sure. She was taking revenge for her elder sister's damage from them.

He lowered his hand onto the child slowly. Reyansh stared at her. “ I can say everything to you, but you have to give words to me so you will not snatch my child away from me. And you'll not leave me “

Kavya’s eyes widened. Her breath caught. The fear in her heart deepened—it wasn’t just a suspicion anymore. Something terrible was coming. Something unspeakable.

She didn’t say a word. Just nodded slowly, her arms tightening protectively around her baby.

His lips quivered. His eyes welled up, and the dam he had built over years started to crack. But still… silence. Voice breaking “ I never thought it would come to this..."

Reyansh stood still, his face pale, his voice low, trembling. He told her everything about how he , along with Gautam, Daksh and Nishant used Janvi and spoiled her life. Although it was Nishant Ego who won Janvi’s heart and trapped her in his fake love . But later they lurked as those days they didn't know what was wrong and right. Janvi filed a complaint to the police against them. But the Nishant Gautam family was very powerful. They gave a bribe to the investigating officer . Janhvi ended up hanging, by committing suicide.

As Reyansh finished his words, Kavya stumbled against the bed. Her hips fell over the mattress. She thought her head was spinning around, a pang bitterness pricked her. What person she had Chosen as her better half. The man he thought was one the best men in her eyes after her father, but he had a heinous past.

Making a mistake was one thing and committing a single mistake was another. Reyansh had destroyed an innocent girl's life and also a family, she must have been someone's daughter, a sister. Perhaps she too had so many dreams , but just because of a few perverts an innocent soul had gone through unbreakable pain, shame.

Kavya's voice trembled "You… you were part of that?"

Reyansh requested Kavya to stay but she took her child and told Reyansh, “ You’ve lost the right to address me as your wife. Gheen a rahi hai mujhe tumse. I don't want shadows of you on my child. “

“ Have you thought , when everyone will learn about your heinous crime, how will society treat my child? Nobody will talk to him. Everyone will mock us. “ She closed her eyes and passed as she found the words even shameful to let out " Reyansh, from now we have no connection. Our all ties have broken .”

Reyansh pleaded his wife , his voice was cracking, even eyes went watery " Kavya don't leave me”

Kavya shook her head, the tears now rolling freely. Her voice cracked with fury and disgust."You ruined her life. You destroyed someone’s daughter… someone’s sister. You killed her dreams, her dignity. And now you want me to stay?"

Reyansh pleaded "Kavya… please. Don’t leave me. It was a mistake…Please…forgive me "

But Kavya didn’t look back. As the door shut behind her, Reyansh was left alone in the stillness of a shattered life.

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“Sir, Reyansh refused to admit anything,” Ravindra said as he walked briskly alongside Zunaid down the dimly lit hallway. “No addictions. No illness. Just a clean, rehearsed life story.”

Zunaid didn’t reply immediately. His brows were knitted together, his thoughts circling like vultures over a battlefield

Ravindra continued, lowering his voice, “But there’s something strange… Mr. Malhotra’s PA, Arjun, told us that on the night of Gautam's death, Mrs. Malhotra called in a panic. She sounded terrified. Told him her husband’s life was in danger.”

Zoya joined in, her voice steady but laced with unease. “Sir, if Mrs Malhotra overheard something—maybe a threat—then these four men had more than just secrets. Maybe they were planning something far more dangerous... maybe something against Mr. Prithvi Malhotra himself.”

Zunaid paused mid-step, turning to face them, his expression now taut with focus “ That would make sense . Perhaps they really had done something terrible to Miss Janvi and Mrs Malhotra’s accusations against these boys are all true . But More I wonder , why did Babhi call that day Mr. Malhotra and tell him his life is in danger?” Mr Malhotra's PA Mr Arjun informed us she was sounding very panicked and terrified that day. If babhi had heard anything suspicious from these fours, it's my inkling that these four men must have had a bigger plan to damage Mr. Prithvi Malhotra. But what ? And Why? “

Zoya nodded. “Exactly, sir. Because when Janvi died, Sanyogita was young and powerless. But now she’s married to one of the most influential men in the country. If they brought him down, she’d be isolated again.”

Zunaid's expression turned thoughtful “ You're right , Zoya. These people have a past oaked in darkness . And now, two are dead — both in ways that appear natural . And Daksh can't be proven as a murder , it was completely an accident in anyone Eyes . And Killer has changed the pattern of killing, We need to keep an eye watching over these two . They denied anything so officially we can't give them any protection, and I have a gut feeling the killer is going to strike again tonight.”

He inhaled sharply, the weight of something unseen pressing against his chest. “The killer’s changing patterns,” he muttered. “Indeed smart , leaving no footprints. But I don’t believe for a second that Reyansh and Nishant are just innocent bystanders.”

Zoya and Ravindra exchanged a tense glance, a silent agreement of shared dread.

Zunaid reached into his coat pocket, pulling out his phone. His fingers moved quickly across the screen, then he lifted it to his ear.

“Akhil,” he said the moment the call connected, “I want you to tap Reyansh and Nishant’s phones. Right now. Every call, every message. I'm convinced they are hiding something very crucial “

“Yes, Sir,” came the swift response. “I’ll update you as soon as I have anything.”

Zunaid ended the call, his gaze narrowing as if peering through the veil of darkness surrounding the case.

The night air outside was unusually still—too still.

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Zunaid and Ravindra stayed outside Reyansh residence, while Zoya and Shreya wandering constable Pandey were in a police car outside Nishant Ranawat Villa. All the police jumped, eyes glued to the house like a vulture ogling its prey . They need to see who was the killer, is it Sanyogita or someone else ?

Naina’s words keep ringing in his head “ If a man like Mr Prithvi Malhotra fight against so many people, and beat a goon, again those Narayan sudden businesses are banned in India , followed by his coma . Then how far can he go to save his wife? Moreover, this too can also happen, Mr . Prithvi Malhotra already knows about his wife's whereabouts from his sources , and even this can happen. These four men were behind Sanyogita Malhotra's sudden disappearance. And Prithvi is taking revenge for that ? Cause if it was a case of a random serial killer then anyone else can be targeted , why only specific ones were killed?

Zunaid and Ravindra stayed inside the police car , outside the Reyansh residence, their eyes fixed intently on the apartment. Meanwhile, Zoya, Shreya, and Constable Pandey watched from a police car parked outside Nishant Ranawat's villa. The atmosphere was tense, with all eyes glued to the houses, waiting to see if the killer would reveal themselves.

Zunaid's mind was racing with Naina's words: "If Prithvi Malhotra can fight off multiple people and defeat a goon, how far would he go to save his wife?" The sudden ban on Narayan's businesses, followed by his coma, seemed like more than a coincidence. Could Prithvi's actions be driven by revenge? The targeted killings suggested a personal vendetta rather than a random serial killer.

"If Prithvi Malhotra can fight off multiple people and defeat a goon, how far would he go to save his wife?" The sudden ban on Narayan's businesses, followed by his coma, seemed like more than a coincidence. Could Prithvi's actions be driven by revenge? The targeted killings suggested a personal vendetta rather than a random serial killer.

The night wore on, the clock striking 11:30 PM. Ravindra stifled a yawn, his eyes red from fatigue. He'd been up since dawn, and the long day was catching up with him. Zunaid, too, looked worn, his eyes sunken from lack of sleep and food. He'd had only two hours of rest since the previous night, and tea and cigarettes had become his sustenance. As if before cracking the case he couldn't rest in peace.

"Ravindra, you need rest," Zunaid said, his voice laced with genuine concern. "Go home, I'll manage."

Ravindra shook his head. "No, sir. You haven't rested or eaten either. I won't leave you like this."

Zunaid's lips curved into a hint of a smile. "Ritu must be jealous of mine . You should be with her, not stuck with me."

Ravindra chuckled. "That's true, sir. She's been teasing me about you, too."

"Oh?" Zunaid's interest was piqued.

Ravindra grinned mischievously. "She even told me to get you to marry me instead."

Zunaid laughed, a deep, throaty sound. For a moment, the tension and fatigue melted away, replaced by camaraderie and warmth

Just as Ravindra was about to elaborate, their attention snapped to a figure emerging from the residence. Zunaid's drifted onto the individual, and the atmosphere shifted from casual to intense.

As they watched, Kavya, Reyansh's wife, stepped out, cradling her two-year-old child. A car waited outside, its engine purring softly. The gate swung open, and Kavya slipped into the passenger seat.

"Sir, that's Kavya, Reyansh's wife," Ravindra whispered, his eyes fixed on the scene.

Zunaid nodded curtly. "Yes, something's off. Let's go inside."

Ravindra hesitated. "But, sir, we have no evidence of anything suspicious."

Without hesitation, Zunaid exited the car and sprinted toward the building. The watchmen were startled to see the two officers, who had arrived two hours ago, now rushing up the stairs.

Zunaid's long strides devoured the distance, his footsteps echoing off the walls. Ravindra followed closely, his breathing growing labored. They reached the 10th floor, their chests heaving, but they didn't pause.

The door to the apartment was ajar, and Zunaid's mind buzzed with curiosity. A sense of foreboding crept over him like a chill. With caution, he pushed open the door and stepped inside, his pulse racing.

Ravindra followed cautiously, his gun at the ready and his phone's torch casting flickering shadows on the walls. The apartment was shrouded in darkness. With a creak, he pushed open a door, revealing a lady asleep on the bed . He understood the lady might be Reyansh's mother, who took sleeping pills every night.

Meanwhile, Zunaid's attention was fixated on something else. A blood-curdling scream tore from his lips: "Noooooooooooo..."

Ravindra's heart skipped a beat as he rushed toward the sound.

Zunaid's body trembled as he lunged toward the balcony, his hand outstretched to catch .But Reyansh's legs slipped from his grip, and he plummeted to the ground. Within seconds, his lifeless body lay in a pool of blood.

Ravindra, startled hearing the panicked dripping shout of his senior officer , reached Zunaid's side, understanding dawning on him. "Sir..." he trailed off, taking in the scene.

Zunaid's gaze remained fixed on Reyansh's lifeless body. "I think Kavya discovered the truth, and guilt drove Reyansh to this desperate act. He was different from the others – maybe he had changed and was scared because of his deed and was deeply in love. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her."

Ravindra nodded solemnly, the pieces falling into place.

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Reyansh was hospitalised. Doctors treated him .where doctors worked tirelessly to save his life. He was admitted to the ICU, his heart beating weakly, but still clinging to life. A few minutes' delay would have been fatal.

Zunaid's thoughts turned to Reyansh's mother, still blissfully unaware of her son's desperate attempt. He dreaded breaking the news to her.

Meanwhile, Zoya's voice came through the phone, "Sir, reaching Nishant Ranawat won't be easy. He's well-guarded and extremely resourceful."

"Perhaps," Zunaid replied, "but we can't take any risks."

The night dragged on, with nothing out of the ordinary happening. As the clock struck 5 AM, Zunaid's eyes remained fixed on the surroundings, but he saw nothing suspicious

The night went on , but nothing happened. It was five in the early the morning yet nothing suspicious caught on Zunaid's eyes . Ravindra yawned, struggling to stay awake. Officer Zoya and officer Shreya and constable Pandey told them nothing suspicious fell into their eyes..

Zunaid suggested Ravindra head home, but he refused to leave his senior's side. Zunaid's phone rang repeatedly, his mother worrying about his health, but he remained resolute.

He got umpteen phone calls from his mother who seemed restless for his health . But he didn't shift from his decision.. He informed Kavya who seemed unexpectedly surprised to listen to the news of Reyansh.

Kavya came with her brother . Her eyes were swollen and proof she had cried till her heart was out. But her body was burning with hatred .

Kavya came with her brother . Her eyes were swollen and proof she had cried till our heart was out. But her body was burning with hatred .

He called Kavya, who sounded shocked upon hearing about Reyansh's attempt. "How is he?" she asked, her voice laced with concern

Zunaid interrogate her what exactly happened that Reyansh ready to attempt suicide as soon as she left the home. Kavya's face hung as a hue of embarrassment spread in her features….She found it uneasy to disclose the truth of her husband. Finally she summoned the courage and let out the heart clenching truth to him

Kavya's voice trembled as she revealed, "Last night, Reyansh confessed everything to me..." Her words hung in the air, laced with shame and anguish. "Mrs. Sanyogita Malhotra's allegations are true. He's one of the accused."

She hesitated as she said “Last night Reyansh confessed everything to me. ..” he paused as shame grippled her “ Mrs Sanyogita Malhotra whatever allegations have brought all are true. He is one of the accused " Her voice cracked, but her eyes were brimming with tears..and hatred. " I can't leave life like a man like him. I know he is my husband but being a woman I can't forgive a monster “

Her voice cracked, and tears welled up in her eyes, mingling with hatred. "I can't condone what he's done. He's my husband, but to me, he's a monster.”

Zunaid turned away, his hands on his waist, his mind racing with the implications. He swiftly dialed Zoya's number. "Zoya, arrest Nishant Ranawat immediately."

"Sir, but Reyansh is still alive. Do you think the killer will try to finish the job?" Zoya's voice was laced with concern.

Zunaid's gaze drifted toward the phone, his expression a mix of determination and empathy. "We can't ignore the evidence, Zoya. As police, our duty is to prioritize justice over emotions."

Despite his professional tone, his heart ached. "Zoya, I have a plan. Spread a rumor in the press that Reyansh is alive. My gut tells me the killer will come for their next target."

"Okay, Sir," Zoya replied, her voice firm.