Chapter 14
In conference room.
Rathod was looking at the curious faces staring at him for an answer. He tried to change the topic.
Rathod : Guys..back to your work...first concentrate on official case..then unofficial one...
Aisha : But sir..dono cases toh same hain...toh dono case official hain na?
Rathod: But can't link up those...agar kia toh yeh case vi shayed...
Arjun : humse chin lia jayega...better yeh hain ke hum officially murder case ko solve kare...aur jaise jaise clue mile usse case ko dekhte rahe...taaki dono ko jab connect kare tab dono ek saath solve ho jaye.
Rathod : hmm...waise vi uss team kuch khas nahi karr raha...
Chotu : Kaise karega sir! Uss team ne toh bass time pass karr raha hain...taaki yeh case daab jaye..
Arjun : Chotu, Kaal raat jo information mila who sahi hain na? kya iss environment main who log itna bada transaction..
Chotu : Sir, isi baat ka advantages le raha hain yeh log...monsoon hain..toh aas paas log vi kum hoga aur who log aasani se aapna kaam karke nikal jayega...Josph was really excited...he said his boss took care of everything...Aur sir...Tiwari... he's going out of town...
Rathod : Kahan?
Chotu : Pakka toh pata nahi...but last movements ki hissab se uska koi client aane wala tha Thailand se...and he was throwing a party for him...jahan Celina perform karnewali thi...he cancelled that party..toh I think usi client se milne jaa raha hoga...
Rathod : ek aur baat, Nikhil... he used to help Celina...put a tab on him too..
Chotu : He's already under my watch sir. He works for Tiwari...his all legal business samhaalta hain...aur Tiwari ke saaya banke uska peeche rehta hain...
Arjun : That's why he knows about his illegal works too. Aage bolo..
Chotu : He's married...and has a daughter of a year...Tiwari ko chor baaki time family ko hi deta hain.
Aisha : Matlab Celina ke saath jo closeness tha woh eyewash tha?!
Rathod : May be...or may not be...Chotu...do one thing...Talk to Nikhil...shayed kuch pata chale..
Kabir's voice interrupted him.
Kabir : It's not necessary.
Rathod : why?
Kabir : I've already talked to him. Uske saath jo vi karna hain main karunga...waise vi Ruhi was drugged...pata nahi kya kya bataya hoga un logon ko...waise Rathod, subha koi case aaya tha na?
Rathod : Haan..& it's connected to your one.
Kabir frowned, Aisha & Arjun told him about the case, which made kabir more frustrated.
Kabir : Aaj ka din hi kharab hain...subha se sirf bad news hi mil raha hain...
Arjun : Kya hua?
Kabir : kaala Rahim...familiar naam na?
Rathod : You mean that contract killer?
Kabir : Bingo! He's in the town...toh..
Aisha : two & two makes four! It's possible ki Ruhi ne jis kisika vi naam lia..ukno raaste se hatane ka planning ho raha hain...
Kabir : Ho nahi raha hain...ho chuka hain...kafi saare log missing ho raha hain..specially jo log as informers kaam karte hain...upar se yeh Harish ka murder..kuch toh chal raha hain!
Arjun : Yeh Rahim...iski working style kya hain?
Aisha & Kabir : He uses butcher's knife..
Both looked at each other, kabir gestured her to carry on.
Aisha : Rahim basically ek butcher hain...pune ke bahar ek chota sa gaon main rehta hain...keeps a low profile... aapne area main bilkul clean hain...
Kabir : but he's an efficient contract killer..killing is his hobby...politicians, drug lords, gangstars ya terrorists ke liye kaam karta hain...you know like clearing their path..upar se traces vi nahi chorta...maarna, aur uske baad body thikane lagana uski liye bayen haat ka kehl hain.
Rathod : Kavi pakda nahi gay kya?
Kabir : Never...even police ke paas uska koi record nahi hain...baas underworld ki logon ke zuban main hi uska zikar hain...usko bas kuch hi logon dekha.
Arjun : Koi identification mark?
Aisha : He's dark...as dark as the night. That's it.
Arjun : Toh...yeh humara killer ho sakta hain...
Kabir : may be..
Rathod : But motive kya hain? Harish was cooperating Those blackmailers na?
Arjun : May be helping Ruhi too..
Aisha : In that case..life of each and every person was close to ruhi is at stake now.
Rathod : Chotu, Nikhil aur uski family pe nazar rakho...I've a bad feeling about that...something bad is gonna happen to them.
Shree entered with Harish's phone records.
Shree : Harish's call records..kuch khas nahi hain...but 10th of each month he recieve a mms from a privet no...and uski 10 min baad he deposits 2million in a swiss bank account. And another thing...I've hacked his mail..same time usko wahi mms clip send kia jaata tha..
Chotu : Double black mailing!!
Shree : hmm...but when I was checking his phone details... ek strange baat vi hain...
Kabir : Kya?
Shree : His cellphone is a dual sim one...and his second sim is unregistered ...jo bohot hi minimum time ke liye active hota tha...aur uska record milna mushkil hain...thora time lagega..
Arjun : Aab yeh Harish kisse baat karr raha tha?
Aisha : Kahin double cross toh nahi...
Kabir : Yeh toh sirf Harish hi bata sakta hain...
Rathod : But unfortunately... we can't ask him. Aisha...Anita se baat karo, dekho who kuch bata paye ya nahi...aur Saaskhi ko saath le jao...she's checking her background...toh help ho jaygi.
Aisha nodded and left.
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Arjun entered Rathod's cabin and found the chief watching the footage of the club.
Arjun : Rathod?
Rathod : sit, Rawte. I've something serious to talk about.
Arjun settled down in a chair, and patiently waiting for Rathod's opening up. He knew something was bothering him.
Rathod : thanks, Rawte.
Arjun frowned, why Rathod as thanking him.
Rathod : It's from Sr. Anand...I'm conveying his gratitude... and kal club main se Saskhi ko le jaan ke liye bhi..
Arjun remembered when Saakshi was dancing with Varun and he was trying to put his hands inside her top. And it boiled his blood.
Arjun : I've told you Rathod...she cant handle it..that Varun..he's very shrewd...Aur Saakshi is too much naive, childish...usko toh pata vi nahi ki uski saath kaun kya karr rah tha..
Rathod : Yeh tumrahi galat fehmi hain Rawte...dance kart waqt Varun ke shirt main woh powder usi ne daala tha...( he suppressed his chuckle)
Arjun : Toh!!...yeh baccho jaisi harkat hain na?? Varun ne toh uski cider pehle hi spike karr dia..agar hum sab waha na hote toh!...Varun toh aapni mission main almost ...
Rathod : nahi hota...
Arjun : Tum itni confident kaise ho sakte ho Rathod?
Rathod : Kyun ki usse pehle Saakshi ne Varun ko woh spicked cocktail pila dia..woh vi uss spiked drink ko further spike karke...that churan...she managed that from her Dadu's medicine box..& trust me Rawte..aagle 7 din tak Varun toilet se bahar nahi aa sakta.
Arjun : What made you so sure?
Rathod : (sighed) kyunki last time when she tested it on me... I had to cancel that road trip we were planning...( his voice became lost)
Rathod's statement took Arjun to his golden days with Sam & Roshni. After her first visit in Arjun's place, she refused to go with Rathod and decided to stay with Ajun, in his flat. And her decision made him happy. Rathod had to left without her, but seeing her friend sad, Roshni immediately made a plan for a 2 days road trip & a bonfire night. And after a long protesting session, both men realized they've said yes to her. However, Sameer Said he'll bring another friend with him if Roshni would've no problem, and she agreed. The plan was set, Roshni was very excited to go for that trip, but at the D'day's morning, Sam called and apologized that he can't make it, as he had some important work. Roshni was disheartened, while Sam suggested them to carry on...and their road trip turned into a long drive, just Arjun & Roshni. His first outing with a mad girl, he fell in love with.
Arjun : OH! Toh yeh tha tera important work!!( a smile crept on his lips)
Rathod : (didn't noticed Arjun addressing him informally) Haan..that Devil mixed that thing into my kheer...aur 3 din tak mera jo haal hua tha na..puch matt!
Arjun : Accha? Tune kiya kya tha?
Rathod : Mana kia tha humare saath road trip pe aane ko... Main kahan ki main aur Sam road trip pe jaungi...car chota hain...aur tu bhi bacchi...matt aa...usika badla lia hum dono se...bachpan se aisi hain...paagal... Uski naa mano toh saamne wale ka band baza dti hain...aur koi kuch keh vi nahi sakta...
Arjun : Kyun? kaatti hain kya?(he was smiling)
Rathod : Katti nahi katwati hain..oh vi GK se...uss dog ki life main do hi toh cheez hain..khana aur Saakshi...din bhar khata hain...aur sirf Saakshi ki baat manta hain...kavi kavi toh doubt hota hain yeh kutta hain ya Saaskhi ka husband...itna loyal aur possessive..
Arjun : haan...kal dekha maine... Kaise ghurr raha tha...as if Saakshi ko maine drug kia.
Rathod : Because it felt you gonna stole his precious one from him, you know Dogs can smell emotions...fear, hatred, pain, love..
Arjun : ( in heated tone) I don't love her!
Rathod : (Scowled) I didn't say you love her, Rawte!( leaned forward making a serious face) And I ask you to stay away from her, consider it as a warning. Tere wajay se maine Roshni ko khoya hain...Saakshi ko nahi kho sakta..I've promised to take care of her.
Arjun : Yahan yeh sab kahne ek liya bulaya?
Rathod : Nahi...that threat footage...we've to identify other people involved in Ruhi's murder, kuch partial identification clues hain...like sides of faces..accessories...(passed a report) Liza confirmed Varun's DNA matches to one...
Arjun : Iss zyada koi aur evidence ki zaroorat nahi hain, Rathod. Issue a warrant.
Rathod : Can't! It's not our case...for that we've to handover the evidences to the other team. & if we do..commissioner gonna sue us!
Arjun : Uss Varun ko aise nahi chor sakte!!
Rathod : Pakad vi nahi sakte..aur maar vi nahi sakte... he has information... aur woh pehle nikal lena zaroori hain.
Arjun : I've a plan...saath doge??
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Saakshi & Aisha reached Harish's place. The house had a gloomy environment, Harish's in laws were also there, consoling his 6 month's pregnant weeping wife.
Saakshi : Mrs. Chaurasia...plz calm don..you need to b strong...aapki tabiyat kharab ho jayga...aur baby ka vi...
Mrs. Chaurasia : How!! Meri toh dunia hi uzad gaya...
Aisha : aapni baby ke liye you have to do it...aur Anita ke liye vi..uske paas vi toh aab sirf aap ho...
Harish's Mother in law : These girls are right...you need to be strong...aab saare responsibility tumhari hain na!
Saakshi : Anyways where's Anita?
Mrs. Chaurasia : Dehradoon main hain...she's on her way to home...evening tak aa jayega...
Aisha : wahan kya karne gayee hain? Oh toh yehi rehti hain na? aur aapna MBA..
Mrs. Chaurasia : haan...she was here..but two months before..he transferred her there...kah rahi thi wahan ki university better hain...aur Anita vi ek hi baar puchne pe maan gayee..generally asani se koi vi baat maanti nahi thi woh...
Saakshi : Ok..aap rest karo...we should take your leave..
Aisha : Send Anita ETF...we have some questions for her..
Mrs. Chaurasia : Anita kyun??
Saakshi : nothing serious...routine enquiry...records ke liye..
Her voice trailed off by a scream. She looked back to the source and found a fair girl in black poloneck top & white denim, carrying a duffel bag with her. Her wide eyes were teary, and a disbelief was evident in them.
All : anita!
Anita came to her sister in law and hugged her tight.
Anita : Bhabhi!! Yeh...yeh kab...kaise..
And she started crying .
Saakshi put a hand on Anita's shoulder and pressed a little.
Saakshi : Get a grip, Anita...you need to be strong.
Anita : Why!! Mere vai hi kyun! he just trying to save me...it's all because of me...
Aisha : What!
Saakshi gestured her to keep quite.
Saakshi : No..it's not you...plz calm down..and tell us what do you know about this murder.
Anita : (chocked) I don't know...but all I know it's happened only because of me...
Aisha : Kyun? tumne aisa kya kia?
Anita kept crying.
Saakshi : Anita...get a grip...look..your brother won't return...but you have to finish his tasks na..you have to take care of your Bhabhi, your niece or nephew...you are a big girl na!..aur you have to fight for your brother too..right!! he's expecting it from you...
Anita looked at Saakshi, surprised.
Saakshi : If you think it's all happened because of you, then you should do something for your brother right? You want justice for him, don't you?
Anita nodded positively.
Aisha : Toh help us..together we'll get the murderer...
Mrs. Chaurasia : Kya matlab? Anita? Yeh sab kya hain? Kya matlab hain?
Anita : Bhavi oh...
But Aisha gripped her hand.
Aisha : Nothing serious Mrs. Chaurasia, we found soon who was threatening Mr. Chaurasia that they'll harm Anita...toh if she feels she know them, she can help us. Anita... come let's go to your room. Aapni Bhavi ko aaram karne do...
Anita nodded and led the to their room.
Anita's room was a simple one...lilac walls...with minimum furniture and a rocking chair in a corner. The wall above her reading table has collages and sketches of her, with her family and friends. A windchime was hanging over the balcony door, making sweet noises with every gust of wind.
Anita sat on hr bed. Sakshi passed Anita a glass of water and she draught it down.
Aisha : Now, Anita...tell us what was it?
Anita : Our family is a small on..me, Bhai & Bhavi... Bhai was everything to me, mom, dad, brother, even friend...he pampered me as his own child...Bhavi always teased that she had married a man with a daughter... but she always give me love of a mother.From last few months...bhai was tensed...when we asked.. he always changed the topic saying it's a business tension & all that...
She stopped to breath.
Aisha : Phir?
Anita : Something was weird...he used to work for long durations... sometimes goes for trips without informing...started coming home at late night.. and his behaviour was changed..specially with me.
Saakshi : As in?
Anita : He was putting a tab on me..started questioning, doubting and sometimes he even stopped me from going out. On day, when he ordered m to cancel my trip to Goa with my friends...I couldn't stop myself from confronting him...for the first time e fought...& it as an actual one..and h spoke up..
Aisha : Kya?
Anita : Someone was threatening Bhai that they'll harm me if he doesn't pay a good amount to them. And he said he had received some s*x tape of me...(her voice became weak)...he questioned me if I had a BF...& did I..
She lowered her gaze, ashamed. Tars started falling from her eyes.
Saakshi : Did you Anita?
Anita : Never! I couldn't stoop so low in my dreams...but...it s true that someone...& I don't know him...&..&..I can't even remember how..when... but I knew he was telling the truth...it was written on his face..
Aisha : But you too knew that something happened to you, didn't you?
Anita didn't answer, she was sobbing.
Aisha : You really couldn't remember anything...I mean...whenever that happened to you...after that night...I mean I you didn't do anything by yourself...so it's clear that someone forced you...
Saakshi : Aur agar tum uss waqt hosh main vi nahi the..toh hosh aane ke baad toh..kuch toh tumko pata chala na...
Anita : I don't know...(sobbing)
Aisha : Dekho Anita...aise tum chup nahi reh sakti...tumne itni badi baat kyun chupayee? Bolo! Did really someone raped you or it was all happened with your consent...
Anita : No!! I knew someone ruined me...but what did I do..i don't know any name..I can't remember any face...that man..I don't know who was he, from where, why he did that to me...kya kehta...ki koi mere sath... Bhai toot jaata..isiliye main chup thi...kuch nahi kaha ...until he told me about that tape..
Saakshi : Phir?he just sent you to another city?
Anita : No..It was only between us..but when I found I was pregnant...& I didn't want that child...mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha kya karun... agar sab ko pata chal jaata toh..bhai ka reputation...sab barbaad ho jaata...so Bhai sent me out...to another place..we thought they can't find me there..I had an abortion and turned out a new leaf...Bhai supported me...& he said ..he never let that secret out.
Saakshi : Maybe from then he started helping Ruhi..
Aisha : Right..
Saakshi brought out her phone and showed Anita a picture.
Saakshi : did you ever saw this man around you?
Anita : Haan! This man was regular in my gym...but who is he?
Aisha : Hain ek suspect...now tell us about that night..kahan gaye thi?
Anita : It was my friend's bachelor party...so we went to a pub to celebrate...we had loads of fun...
Saakshi : Tumne koi drink lia?
Anita : I don't drink...fruit punch li thi...next morning I woke up in a motel room...my cloths were on floor...and had some weird mark on my body... I had assumed what happened to me...I was devastated...I thought it was someone from my friends...So called one of them and asked who took me from there...but they said I was disappeared in air...
Aisha : aur tum unki baat maan li!
Anita : Haan..coz pub se nikalke woh sab uski Fiencee ki ghar gaya..wahan se ladki ko uthaya aur beach legaya...wahan masti bhi hui..like ek chota sa bon fire...aur wahan sab the...sivay main...toh unn main se koi nahi ho sakta na!
Saakshi : Ok..anita...tum rest karo..agar kuch aur puchna hain toh baad main baat karnge...
She got up signaling aisha.
Aisha : Haan...aur investigation khatam hone tak shahar ki bahar matt jaana. Ho sake toh ghar pe hi rehna. Ok?
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now ladies, you know what to do.😃
Ishaani
12