NEW! Arjun/Riya (Ariya) FF: Strings of Desire- Note p34 URGENT - Page 16

Hmmm nice interlude... now it is understood why riya is this tough as a person. Rahashya aur bhi ulajhta ja raha hai..

Originally posted by: ariyabestfan

Awsome update..love it..

The killer asked her to choose in-between herself n Riya..?n she chooses herself..?

She put some letter in sand..?did I understand correct..?

Mistry is getting as deep as sea..

PlZ continue soon

Originally posted by: ishitadalal

Hmmm nice interlude... now it is understood why riya is this tough as a person. Rahashya aur bhi ulajhta ja raha hai..

Atleast riya would get some clue when she would get holf of her sister's letter... keet it up dear...

PS: A suggestion: don't u think that beaches of digha are a bit too crowded for d story... u can try beaches of mandarmani or shankarpur or tajpur or udaypur or even talsiri.

Chapter 10(A): Old Habits

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"I did not know hand pulled rickshaws were still a thing Arjun says to Riya as they slowly weave through the city, sitting in the back of one. Kolkata was hit by a strike of the autos and taxi drivers, forcing the city to resort to the hand pulled rickshaws to get from one place to another. Since it was 9:00 AM when they had reached, the city was thrumming with the energy of the people who had things to do and places to be. "They were banned in 2005, but the ban was reversed because no alternate means of livelihood was in place. They want to come up with alternatives before banning them again. Talks are still underway Riya says, while looking around in the city, her eyes lighting up as she spotted relics from her childhood still standing exactly as and where she had left them. Rathore had called them and told them to report to the makeshift ETF headquarters as soon as they would land. Riya had wanted to shower before, but that would have to wait.

Arjun takes the time to observe the city and the people within it. The city is a juxtapose of old and new, and Riya seemed physically brighter as they went deeper and deeper into the city. She taps his shoulder and he looks to her with a quirked eyebrow. "Up ahead, you will see my school she says, her eyes soft. Soon, a grey white building looms closer and Riya leans out slightly, all dimples and smiles. Arjun looks at the building, and then at his companion. Her happiness makes a fond smile break out on his face. It was as if they were both children again.

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They walk into the ETF quarters, lugging their suitcases behind them. "Leave the suitcases be, we'll take them with us when we go back to our accommodations says Rathore by way of a greeting. Shree and Chhotu rush forward to hug Riya and take the suitcases from her and Arjun's hands. "It's fine guys she protests, but it falls to deaf ears. Shaking her head at her two friends, she follows them into them into the room that had been set up for the ETF. The room looks reasonably up to date in terms of tech support but the whiteboards are still blank. "Why aren't they filled yet? asks Arjun. "We thought we should set up an individual murder board for each of the murders. It's easier this way to catch out details we may have missed before says Shree. Arjun nods absently, already mentally filling up the murder board. "When can we start? he asks Rathore. "Right after breakfast he says. "We were waiting for you people before calling for some food. Riya nods gratefully. She had eaten very little the night before and was ravenous.

"I know this great place that serves luchi and cholar dal only two minutes away from here. I will go and get us some food Riya volunteers. "Er, what's luchi? asks Shree, but no one pays attention to him. Rathore nods. "Take Chhotu with you. We'll set up all of the murder boards till then. She nods, grabs her wallet and her phone and heads out with Chhotu following. "What's luchi? Shree shouts after her. Riya laughs and says it's a surprise.

Once outside, Riya breathes in deeply. "I had forgotten how much I missed this city she tells Chhotu, as they make their way to the shop. "I left a long time ago and didn't come back - but the streets of Kolkata will always feel like home even if nothing else does Riya tells Chhotu as they approach the shop. "Didi tumi? Aatey dirghau pare? (Didi you? After so long?) says the boy sitting at a makeshift cash register. She smiles and says "aami aaje shokale phire esechi. Tumi kemon achho? (I came back just this morning. How are you?)

Chhottu looks between them, obviously lost, and clears his throat politely. Riya straightens up. "Sorry, Chhotu.. she says sheepishly. Turning to the boy and says in bangla, "give me five packs of the luchi and cholar dal no? We will talk after that. As the boy walks away to get her order made, she turns to Chhottu. "I used to frequent this shop in college and with... There is an uncomfortable silence, but then she pushes on as though nothing had happened "they made the best luchi and cholar dal in the city. The people in the shop know me. Chhotu looks around the place. "You know this city pretty well huh? he asks. "Well, yes. We moved places quite often when I was younger, so I am well acquainted with most of the city. When I was in college, I used to get bored very quickly. After the first semester, we would hardly attend classes. Anyway, there used to be almost constant clashes between student led political parties so more often than not, classes won't happen anyway Riya answers.

The boy comes back and she turns to him and gestures to Chhotu, "Eta amar bondhu. Tini bangla ke jaane na (this is my friend. He doesn't know bangla). The boy looks between them slyly and asks "Sudhui bondhu? Besi kichhi naa? (just friends? Nothing more?) and Riya smacks him on the back of his head. The boy laughs loudly and turns to Chhotu. In hindi, he asks him, "this is your first time in the city? Chhotu, who had been completely lost so far, looks at the boy gratefully and starts talking to him about what he should visit in the city. For the sake of secrecy, the ETF had decided to not tell anyone but top-level brass about their investigation and for the world, they were just taking a much-needed work relaxation retreat. Since before this case, the ETF had dismantled an intricate network of bombs, there would be little contest as to the need of such a retreat. Only select, trustworthy members of the local police were intimated about their case, and they were sworn to secrecy. It was unfortunate that they had to behave like thieves at their own jobs, but it could not be helped. The media was sniffing, and the last thing they needed was mass panic.

The luchi and cholar dal arrives, wrapped in newspaper and plastic. "I thought you were obsessive about hygiene says Chhotu, and Riya looks at him scornfully. "I'm not obsessive about anything and the place may look small but it's one of the few clean places in the city. "You're not obsessive? he asks her mockingly, and gets a sharp slap on his back. Chhotu laughs in response, but doesn't say anything. They both start walking back to headquarters, bickering all the way. Occasionally, Riya would catch sight of something and get a haunted look in her eyes. Chhotu, being the good friend that he is, pretends he doesn't see it.

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After a delicious breakfast, the team crowds in front of the murder board and starts reconstructing the murder boards. There were two killers, while they had been searching for just one, which means they were re-examining the evidence. It was lucky that Rathore was meticulous to a fault about paperwork, and had insisted every inch of all the crime scenes be documented in photographs. They use the photographs for reference, and start working on the murders in Kolkata. The crime scenes were fresher, and therefore, the propensity for new clues to emerge would be more. They start with the latest murders first.

"Two victims - one man, and one woman. Mr and Mrs Kamei. They had moved in from Assam - the husband had a bank job that regularly transferred him from place to place. The couple was seemingly happy according to all people around them. As per always, there was no forensic evidence to suggest a murder had happened - except for the two bodies in there. One body left, slashed brutally, left in the living room and another body, arranged in the bedroom, drowned. Shree recites.

"Why do they change patterns in here? Earlier they used to just drown one member, now why kill the other member? And look at the number of slashes! There's so much anger here Riya murmurs. The group did not say it out loud, but they were all thinking it. Was this deviation from pattern an escalation of insanity or just an act of random, casual violence against someone who was in the wrong place at the wrong time?

"There is something strange here, according to the time of death in both the cases in this city Chhotu says, while shooting a quick look to Riya whose face was perfectly blank, "the people who were drowned were murdered after the bodies had been slashed - the time of death of the slashed bodies is earlier than the drowned bodies - there is difference of nearly twenty minutes

"Actual drowning takes just 3-5 minutes, how were the excess 15 minutes spent? demands Rathore as Shree makes an intonation on the murder boards. "Do we know where the victims were before they were murdered? asks Arjun.

"Sir, as to the last murders, there is no movement recorded by anyone, they had come back from their jobs

"Who came back first? "The wife sir, and she was murdered first. Then, the husband came home and he was murdered as well

"What about the first murder? asks Rathore, referring to the murder of Bhavya and Arjoon Roy.

"The husband had come back from work early. We checked with the office and we followed his usual path home and stopped and asked people on the way. There seem to be no stops says Chhotu.

"What about outside the house? asks Arjun suddenly.

"What? asks Chhotu, looking at the board distractedly.

"Outside the house. The inside of the house has been cleaned but outside - welcome mats, lifts etc - did we check those? Maybe we'll find something there?

"Sir, we checked everywhere. The front door was ruined beyond recognition because of the sheer amount of people running back and forth through it. And we checked the lift too, nothing out of the ordinary. For both the cases

"What was she wearing, when you found her? asks Riya. "Er.. jeans and teeshirt? says Shree, confusedly. "No, what specifically was she wearing? Riya insists.

"A tank top and jeans with a loose shrug sort of thing? It was lilac says Shree.

"Okay she says. They all look at each other as she lights up a cigarette and stares at the murder board.

"These murders don't have the classic dominant submissive relationship that you often find in serial killer duos. It's almost as if they were two killers who found each other and decided to collaborate she says. The rest of them latch on to her obvious change of subject eagerly.

"Or, the dominant watches as the submissive does the actual killing? Arjun hypothesises.

"But then who slashes the victims? asks Rathore.

Arjun looks up. "Maybe, the dominant slashes them

"But you just said- Shree begins.

"No hear me out. The dominant has a certain vision of how things have to happen in these murders. There has to be one victim and a clean house. But someone else walks in. Now, the vision is not perfect. In the resort, he had more control because actions of the people were accountable but city life is more chaotic. It's possible the people came in while he/she was waiting and ruined the fantasy. Which would explain the brutal anger with which the victims are slashed at

Riya taps the cigarette to get rid of the excess ash. "Did we find anything about the initial murders? she asks. "Nope Shree says, popping the p.

"So, we just have more questions and no answers says Rathore, dejectedly. Riya looks up from the dying embers of her cigarettes. "Do we have answers on how they're ensuring the crime scene is spotless, even under luminol sweeps?

"The pharmas responded to us last week and demanded warrants. I've sent them the warrants and the information came in yesterday. I sent those files to the labs since they are more equipped to tell us which of those chemicals would help confound a good old fashioned luminol sweep. Answer should be in our hands within tomorrow says Rathore. The ingredients needed to make solutions strong enough to counter luminols were not things you could buy over counters. They were specific chemicals on which orders had to be placed months in advance - and needed a licence for. This would help them create a suspect pool, if nothing else. Riya cracks her knuckles. Beside her, Arjun twirls his pen - deep in thought.

"I think there is nothing more for us to do now. Let us get lunch and get back to this says Rathore, and they nod. "I have to report all we do know to the brass, they're getting restless. Just FYI, a press conference is going to be announced if we don't wrap this thing up within next week he says, and the others groan in protest. Press conferences were the worst. The media remained determined to demonize the ETF always, and asked extremely personal and intrusive questions while slyly insinuating that they weren't doing enough. The last time a press conference was announced, Arjun was about to beat up a reporter who had suggested he was too busy angsting after his wife to do his job properly. They were vultures out looking for their pound of flesh and the team generally preferred not to interact with them.

"I.. Riya begins, and then stops. "I have some work to do. I'll be taking one of the cars. Why don't I join you guys after lunch?

The others nod, and she walks out quickly. Looking around to see if anyone had decided to follow her, she slips into the car and drives off quickly. Arjun looks at her retreating back with a quirked eyebrow. He knew then, in his heart, that she was about to do something monumentally stupid.

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Proof read later. Not happy with this chapter at all... Sorry for the delays, the real world and it's professional commitments are a little too much right now. Much love.

Awesome amez super update

Nice update
Thanks for the pm
Continue soon 😊

Amazing..

They are now at Kolkata..

Riya is remembering her childhood n little relax..

But again back to case,make her serious..

Now where she is going..?

To her house or her sister's ?

I hope Arjun will go after her..

PlZ continue soon

Superb amazing update
Continue soon

wow! I found this story today.. have read your story glass in ipkknd forum.. loved that one.. excited for this one as well.. pls pm me when you update next.. promise I'll be a regular reader :)

Chapter 10(B): The Sand Trickles Down
Arjun walks out of the room after telling Rathore he too would be joining the team post lunch. The rest of the team has little to do but stare at each other in confusion as they hear him thunder down the stairs and then hear the car start. Rathore shakes his head and walks out of the room. Shree turns to Chhottu the moment Rathore is out of earshot.

"Have you noticed... says Chhottu, and Shree nods tersely as Rathore walks back inside. "I too, have noticed says Rathore roughly. Shree and Chhottu exchange tense glances. They knew their chief did not approve of any form of non-professional banter in the workplace. That he was mentioning the growing intimacy between Arjun and Riya meant that it was more serious than both of them had initially thought.

"To be fair, I don't think either of them have realized. It's probably because they had to live in close quarters, that they are so comfortable with each other now points out Chhottu. "Pointing it out would only make things more awkward, Shree adds.

Rathore caresses his chin and stares unseeingly at the murder board in front of him. He had noticed the growing intimacy between the two from the start and had chosen not to interfere. But something had changed between Arjun and Riya at a level where it was noticeable now. Without realizing, the two worked together seamlessly and seemed to automatically gravitate towards each other. Rathore had noted how Arjun's eyes had followed Riya out of their office. He had also not missed the subtle nod she'd thrown his way.

"I trust them to not do anything unprofessional says Rathore finally. Shree and Chhottu take it for the dismissal that it is, and start looking for places to eat lunch.

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Arjun curses and slams his palm on the steering wheel. The congestion and slow-moving traffic was difficult to navigate through and in the ensuing chaos, he had lost Riya's trail. With a dejected sigh, he decides to turn around and head back to the ETF offices. The traffic is slow moving and frustrating, but Arjun manages to make it back to the ETF offices within the hour. He enters the room as the rest of them seem to be finishing up their lunch. "Do you know where Riya is? demands Arjun. "Riya is an adult, Rawte. She will come back without her team mates worrying for her says Rathore firmly. "Now, if you would be so kind, can we focus back on the murder at hand? Arjun dearly wants to retort, but notices how Shree seems to be concentrating extremely hard at the conversation. Something else was happening here. Arjun sits down on the chair, and begins twirling his pen once more.

Three hours pass, and there is no sign of Riya. In their time, they realize all the people who were drowned were engaged in some sort of extra-marital affair. Arjun remembers what Riya had said, about impurity and cleansing. He feels that the theory seems all the more probable now. When he mentions this out loud to the rest of the team, they agree and start drawing up a basic profile to track the killer with.

All this while, Shree casts tense, periodic glances at the ticking alarm clock, and Chhottu has taken to pace the room agitatedly as he updates the murder boards. Rathore keeps glancing at his phone. Arjun grows more and more still as the minutes pass, to the point where he looks like he is sculpted from stone. The conversation is terse and punctuated by harsh silences. No one wants to admit that they were afraid, and waiting for Riya.

Finally, at the three and half hour mark, Rathore reaches for his phone. Just then, they hear the tell-tale screech of the car being parked hurriedly. They all stand up without meaning to as Riya bursts through the door. Arjun notes three gashes on her body - her shoulder, her stomach and her collar bone. The shirt she is wearing is drenched in blood. Her expression however, is unmistakably triumphant.

"Riya, what- gasps Shree as Chhottu rushes around to find a first aid box. "You'll be getting a call from police station she gasps. "I went out to confirm a hunch and got lucky enough to find someone loitering near the scene. They're the killers - I heard them talking She draws out an evidence bag with some paper in it. "My sister left this behind she says, before sinking to the ground. Arjun rushes forward and catches her before her knees hit the ground. His hands tremble and all he can think of is knives and blood and knives and blood and knives and blood and - "Check my phone, I think I managed to capture one of the killers on it. They're killing people who cheat on their spouses Riya says faintly. "Call and ambulance Rathore! Arjun shouts, tamping down the blind panic inside him with sheer will power. He picks up the barely conscious girl and pressing against her wounds to stem the flow. So much blood. "I did it she whispers quietly to him and raises a bloodstained hand to cradle his cheeks. Arjun feels his blood freeze and then warm over again, as she looks at him with her wide, trusting eyes. "Couldn't see the second one though she mumbles, and nestles closer into Arjun's chest. "Riya, tell us when you're conscious Shree snaps. "No time to waste. Find them she whispers and then closes her eyes. "Riya! RIYA! shouts Arjun. "Ambulance ETA 1 minute. Riya, just keep breathing! Rathore yells. Distantly, they can hear the sirens of the ambulance wailing. "f**k Shree shouts just as the paramedics' rush into the room and lift Riya off Arjun's arms. Arjun rushes down the stairs Riya is locked up in the ambulance with Rathore in tow. Shree and Chhottu get in the car and Arjun tells them he would follow up with the local police and that they should keep him posted. Once the car turns around the bend, Arjun stumbles back into the office and collapses on the chair. In the seclusion of the empty office, Arjun buries his face into his palms. His phone rings a second later, it's the local police giving him details of what had happened so far. Arjun picks up the phone and reaches for a bottle of water. "Hello, yes...

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We're drawing near the end. 10 C up next, and then two more chapters, and then an epilogue. Sorry for the delay in updating. I was travelling and like a fool forgot to pack my laptop charger -- but I'm back now, and will try to bring back my regular updating schedule.

PMs Later