Epilogue
ETF Interrogation Room – 1:30 AM
The dimly lit room held an eerie stillness, the kind that settled deep in the bones. The criminal—Ramesh Khanna, a mid-level but highly connected fixer—sat in the metal chair, hands cuffed to the table, a smirk playing on his bloody lips.
Across from him, Arjun Rawte leaned forward, elbows on the table, his eyes cold, calculating, lethal. Riya stood behind him, arms crossed, her silver lehenga slightly torn at the hem but her expression razor-sharp.
Rathore, Shree, and Chotu observed from behind the one-way glass. This was Arjun’s game now.
"Toh, Ramesh Khanna," Arjun’s voice was low, measured. "Khel khatam ho chuka hai. Ab sirf tumhare bachne ki ummed baaki hai."
Khanna chuckled, licking the blood from his split lip. "Agar tumne mujhe chhoda, toh main zyada bolne ke mood mein hoon."
Arjun smirked. "Tumhe lagta hai, tumhare pass choices hain?"
Thud!
Arjun slammed his palm against the table, making the cuffs clink violently. Khanna flinched.
Riya leaned forward slightly. "Hume sab kuch pata hai. Bas yeh batao… mastermind kaun hai?"
Khanna’s smirk didn’t waver. "Jis aadmi ka haath tumhari gardan pe ho, uska naam lene ka matlab samajhti ho, ACP Rawte ki khoobsurat assistant?"
Arjun’s jaw tightened. Riya’s eyes flashed dangerously.
Arjun leaned in, his voice dropping into something menacing. "Tumhe lagta hai, sirf tumhare boss ke paas power hai?"
Khanna shrugged. "Sahi waqt pe sahi insaan ka saath ho toh koi bhi jeet sakta hai, ACP."
"Sahi waqt? Sahi insaan?" Arjun scoffed, pushing back slightly. "Yeh sun ke toh lagta hai, tumhare boss ne tumhe itni bhi importance nahi di ki sahi tareeke se bachne ka plan de sake."
Khanna’s fingers curled into a fist.
Arjun’s smirk widened. Gotcha.
He leaned forward again. "Tumhari value sirf tab tak thi jab tak tum unka kaam kar rahe the. Ab jab tum pakde gaye ho, soch lo… kya wo tumhe bachane aayega?"
Silence.
Riya’s voice was silky, but her words cut deep. "Tum sirf ek mohra the, Khanna. Sacrifice hone ke liye tayaar ho?"
Khanna’s jaw clenched. A flicker of doubt crossed his eyes.
Arjun let the moment settle before speaking again, voice cold, ruthless. "Agar tumhara boss itna hi powerful hota, toh ab tak tum yahan nahi hote. Sach ye hai, tum sirf ek gun fodder ho. Disposable."
Khanna exhaled sharply, his hands twitching.
Riya tilted her head. "Ek sawaal hai. Tumhe lagta hai, tum jail jaoge?"
Khanna looked at her, confused.
She stepped closer, eyes gleaming. "Nahi, Khanna. Tum wahan tak nahi pahunchoge."
Arjun’s fingers tapped lightly on the table. "Agar tum abhi bhi chup rahe, toh jail tumhara sabse chhota problem hoga."
Khanna swallowed.
Silence stretched.
And then—
He broke.
"Mujhe protection chahiye!" He almost stammered, eyes darting around the room. "Jo bhi tum chaho, main bataunga. Par mujhe guarantee chahiye ki main bacha rahunga."
Riya and Arjun exchanged a glance. Bingo.
Arjun sat back, his lips curving into a smirk. "Ab aaye na line pe."
Riya exhaled softly, shaking her head. "Tum jaante ho, Khanna… tum jaise logon ke saath kya hota hai?"
Khanna gulped, but before he could speak, the interrogation room door creaked open.
DIG Dustin Coelho walked in.
His presence immediately changed the atmosphere. Powerful. Unshakable. Commanding.
He gave Khanna a long, unreadable look before turning to Arjun. "Agar yeh bolne ko tayaar hai, toh iska bayan record karo."
Arjun gave a single nod. "Already recording."
Coelho turned back to Khanna. "Ek akhri baar soch lo. Tum jo naam lene ja rahe ho, uske baad wapas mudna namumkin hoga."
Khanna inhaled deeply. His lips trembled before he spoke the name.
And the moment he did, everything changed.
Arjun went still.
Riya’s breath caught.
Even Coelho’s brows inched upward.
Behind the glass, Rathore stiffened, while Shree and Chotu exchanged stunned glances.
This case wasn’t just about one wedding.
It was about something far, far bigger.
Arjun slowly stood up, eyes blazing. "Yeh toh bas shuruaat thi."
Riya nodded, voice barely above a whisper. "Ab asli shikar shuru hoga."
And as the storm gathered in Arjun Rawte’s eyes, one thing became clear—this wasn’t just another case anymore.
This was war.
Edited by SarafWasima - 5 months ago
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