"Tick..tock..tick..tock.."- tiles cluttered underneath as it felt the footsteps approaching ..
They were faint yet definable..the two sharp ones following a lousy one..becoming stronger every second they stopped suddenly..
"We are here.."- a heavy voice heaved..
And in the next the door swooshed open and in entered a calloused hand pushing past to make way for the ones following him..a tall man and a dainty woman..they remained mute as they followed the rugged old man walking ahead..
"No..."- the woman squeaked as the old man removed the tartans from the remains of what you can call once upon a human being..
"Nandini..shhh..look it's not him.."-the tall man cooed the little woman who had her head covered in his chest and wiped her tears..
Shivering , the woman raised her head and peeked a look at him...
As if looking for something peculiar her eyes searched his and when they found what needed , she turned around bamboozled...
"Look..Cabir was never a fan of tattoos.."-the tall man pointed to the fading ink in limp red arms of a battered corpse in front of him..
The woman heaved a sigh of relief but then her eyes got stuck at the adjacent bed in sight..
"Navya.." - stumbling she reached the farther end with that hulk of a tall man on her tail..
She felt her pulse quickened as she slid the crusty draping from around the crushed corpse..
Her palms folded and pressed against her agape mouth..her shaking form stilled at ease as she exhaled in appease..
"Manik...it's not..It's not Navya.."-she managed to breath..
The tall man perched high as he examined the child of a woman in front of him ..placing one hand of her shoulder he tried assuring her ..though still in doubt he croaked -" How.."
The woman turned facing him and repeated - " How can I tell it's not Navya.."
The man nodded..
" How can I not Manik..she's is my best friend like Cabir is yours..I know her like the back of my hand.."- Her tears pricked at the thought
********
"It's not them.."-the man repeated with his head low..
"I understand mr Malhotra that it's difficult to see your friend in such condition ..but.."-before the other one could say anything the man in front of him stood straight.. his eyes were raging red..exhaling heavily he clutched the table so hard that his knuckles turned almost white..
"No you don't understand inspector .."
"Mr Manik Malhotra..calm down..this is not your house but is a police station..."-the inspector spoke in an agitated voice..
"You..."-before Manik could say anything a voice little calmer and mature than him cut him off - " Mr Abhimanyu Singh..we know that this is a police station but why don't you get it..we are not Cabir and Navya's friends but best friends and really do you think we would fail to recognise them ..they are not the one who's ...there.."- a girl shakily pointed to the secluded mortuary..
"..but they might be in danger for all we know it's their car that's been blasted..where are they..if they were not in the car.."-the girl whispered...
"How can you be so sure..it's not them.."-the inspector who was quiet till now scrunched his eyebrows in question..
"Well ..for sure if you would have carefully examined instead of just toe curling in your seat..you would have seen.."-Manik spoke with a grimace and then added -" the bodies..they are not that damaged.."-he stopped as if waiting for something but started once again as he saw the clueless face of the inspector..-" Are you sure..you are an inspector..well if you are ..you would have known.. nobody survives the car blast..not even the corpses..they look like they have been placed after the blast to fool us..who ever has done it isn't very clever.."-Manik scoffed as he stared in one dim corner..
"Hold on...what so if the bodies were placed after the blast..may be Cabir and Navya escaped the blast but killers did eventually find them and you know.. how can you be so sure that they aren't Cabir and Navya .." - inspector Abhimanyu asked..
"Another dumb question...of course they aren't Cabir and Navya..you had their pictures from the marriage records before..didn't you..but still you can't see the difference..can you ...the tattoos..Cabir was never fond of them ..yet the corpse's arm was devoured with many of those striking patterns..and Navya .."-he stopped looking at Nandini as if urging her to continue..
Nandini nodded and mumbled - " Manik is right..she isn't navya ..navya had a deep cut on her left leg which even healed left a big scar ..and there isn't a single scratch on that.."-she again pointed to the mortuary..perhaps afraid ..her conscience refused to acknowledge link of the corpse in morgue to her best friend..
"Cut..you say..how did she got the cut.."-Abhimanyu frowned...
"It doesn't matter..not anymore..but as I was saying what matters is they are not them .."-Manik replied..
"Then where are they.."
"For god sake inspector..that's your job to find out..everything is clear right in front of you..."-Manik huffed and dragged Nandini outside..
"Is it..."-Manik and Nandini heard a fainter voice questioning before they left the police station..
.
.
"Manik..wait..where are we going ..and why did you ran away like a crazy bat from hell ..." - Nandini tugged at manik's sleeve in impatience ..
"Nandini..they are hiding something from us.."
"What.. the police...but why.."
"I don't know why..but I will find out..for now let's go.."
"Go..where..let me phone amms..she would bring pari with her..Oh god no..that's not a good idea.."-Nandini panicked ..
"What..why not.."
"Manik..why don't you understand..."
"Understand what Nandini.."-Manik asked blankly..
"Really Manik..do you have any idea how am I going to face her..after..after.."-pausing for a while she continued.." and besides what I am going to say to her...what if she asks me about her momma and dadu..how am I .."-before Nandini could blabber much Manik cut her off and reassured -" You know Nandini that Navya and Cabir themselves told pari about her staying with you.."
"Yes..Manik..but that was for a week..what about after then.."
"Let's not worry about that..we for sure will find them..I will talk to my dad.."- Manik spoke determined..
"But Manik.."
"No buts please Nandini.."-Nandini nodded and they both left for nandini's home..
.
.
Soon enough as they reached , Nandini opened the gate for manik's bike..
Leaning inside Manik stopped as he noticed the wooden engraved letters on the nameplate - " Nandini Murthy.."
His lips twitched a little trying to fight a smile as he remembered their unusual tiff on the day they met for the first time..turning his head a little his eyes searched for the sneaky little devils..her German white lilies..her most prized possession as she said...
"What are you looking at.."-Nandini asked after a moment when she realised she all was walking alone there while Manik was fixed on a random plane..
"Nothing .."- was all he said as he looked back at her with a strange glint in his eyes..
"Oh..alright..let's go inside then.."-and they both went inside, settling with a heavy heart awaiting for the hopes tomorrow may bring..
******
In morning
"Please ..I beg you, please..I have never wanted anything more in my life I swear..anything..I promise..I will do anything..if you ..please..please eat pari.."- Nandini was standing with a spoonful of homemade cereal in front of pari who by the way was busy making different frowns and pulling funny faces at the scowling Nandini..
( Something like this ..Yup 😆 )
While standing in one corner Manik bursted like a hyena as he watched Nandini pushing all her luck to make pari eat a spoonful of her specially prepared cereal in the early morning..
"What's so funny.."-Nandini seethed at him..
"You are.."-was his immediate response..
" Shut up..."- Puffing a few short breaths , Nandini concentrated back on pari ..
"Pari...see..what is this..a bird..a plane.."-swirling indescribably the spoon was mercilessly shoved in pari's mouth..
Just as when Nandini was about to celebrate at her successful first attempt of making pari eat from her spoon , her plans turned futile when pari barfed out the sticky cereal..
"Ewww.."-Nandini wiped the slimy blobs of the funky mixture of saliva and cereal from her face..
"Stop cracking like a loon ..and help me..."-Nandini pleaded to the cackling Manik ..
"Aww..does someone need my help..I didn't hear please.."- Manik chortled as he saw Nandini raging like a mad bull..
Clenching her fists , Swallowing her pride , Nandini grinded the most hated word - " please... Manik..would you help me ..please.."
"Aww..of course baby..you just have to ask.."-Manik cooed softly approaching the vexed Nandini.. and as his breath tickled the haywires in her ears , she felt her insides slightly melting..
Galloping the lump back in her throat , she straightened herself quickly , giving a sharp look at Manik she spoke further.. -" Let's see ..what you can do mr Malhotra..show your jalwa.."
"Okay boss..."-Manik saluted with a huge grin on his face before turning himself back to the kitchen cabinets..
"What are you looking for.."- Nandini almost repeated for the nth time as Manik continued on his rampage of kitchen cabinets to find God knows what..almost throwing everything on the floor he stopped with a huge box in his hand..
"No..Manik..you can't..she is a baby.."- before Nandini could stop Manik..he stuck his finger in pari's mouth..
Slowly and surprisingly pari almost licked the entire thing of his finger as he grinned with victorious look towards Nandini..
"See.."- he bluffed pointing at his neatly licked , almost shiny finger..
"How..."-Nandini bemused..
Smirking like a devil , he leaned in closer as he whispered -"All girls like chocolate ..don't you my dear Nandu.."
Almost like a whiplash, Nandini jumped to the farthest as Manik stood tall with a box embossing -" Hershey's chocolates "
Still alarmed , Nandini narrowed his eyes at him ..but before she could say anything..manik's phone buzzed with the most erotic tune as he slid the unlock to receive the urgent call..
"Hello.."
"Yes..I am Manik Malhotra..who are you.."
"Oh.."
"What.."
"What the hell are you talking about.."
"Shut up and listen.."
"Fine..we will be there.."
His rants continued as Nandini stood aside with almost no clue while pari kept tugging at manik's finger..
Quite after a while , Manik dumped his phone on the couch as he plopped nearby.."listen..we need to go to meet Cabir's lawyer.."- Nandini raised his eyebrows at his sudden confession..
"Why..what about.."-Nandini couldn't do almost anything but ask..
"It's..it's about..pari's custody.."
Hello Guys 😊
Hopefully i believe this chapter might have cleared your doubts and prepared you for the mystery i was talking about 😳
Throughout still , i would very much like to hear your views..what are your thoughts ..Please Post me below ❤️
Edited by ShiLee - 9 years ago
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
