Episode 2: The New Game
It was a stormy night in downtown Bandra. The monsoon season was worse this year and it was pouring like crazy in the streets. But that didn't stop an elderly woman from approaching the most cautious territory of the district...Bandra Police Department. The woman waited outside in the waiting room, holding onto the ends of her chiffon blue saree, tearing up. "Mrs. Qureshi." an officer called out, coming out of the officer's office. The woman stood up from her seat. "The inspector will see you now." the officer said.
Mrs. Qureshi nodded her head and headed inside the office. Once she entered inside, she saw a tall, lean and well built woman, dressed in an Indian police officer uniform, with her back turned to the window of her office. "Sit." the woman said.
Mrs. Qureshi sat down in front of the officer's desk. "What can I do for you?" the officer asked, her back still turned away,
"What do I say, ma'am?!" Mrs. Qureshi wept. "My husband was found dead in downtown Bandra. Officers said he had been shot...his body was soaked in blood. And now...my son has gone missing as well! I'm so helpless, ma'am! Please ma'am...please-"
"Ma'am? Ma'am sounds too formal...for my liking," the officer said. "In this office,I'm known by one name and one name only. And that is...Inspector Raina Shroff."
The woman turned around to Mrs. Qureshi. Her raven black hair was carefully tied back in a bun. She had a very confident looking face as she sat down in her chair. "Now, I understand the situation, Mrs. Qureshi," Inspector Raina continued. "Its not only you. In fact...only recently have we seen a strange rise in the amount of murder and missing people cases in the area. We're already investigating. Well...at least I am."
"Then what do I do, Inspector Raina?" Mrs. Qureshi asked. "I want justice for my family!"
"Mrs. Qureshi, I serve justice like a fresh pizza," Inspector Raina said. "You will get what you want. And I will give you answers. Until then, you go back home safely with one of our officers. We will inform you about the whereabouts of your son and your husband's killer."
Mrs. Qureshi cried as she folded her hands in front of Inspector Raina. She left the room, walking with one of the officers. Just then, a male officer knocked on Inspector Raina's door. "Officer Rahat...please come in." Inspector Raina welcomed the officer in her office.
"Raina, the situation is getting worse. And we have yet to pinpoint the people behind these disappearances." Officer Rahat said as he entered inside the office.
"One thing is sure. They're all within the same time frame. Which means...the same killers are committing each of these crimes." Inspector Raina replied.
"Raina!" an officer exclaimed as he entered inside the office.
"Yes?" Inspector Raina asked.
"ACP Kamal needs us in the board room." the officer said.
"Fine. Lets go." Inspector Raina said.
In the board room, all the employed police officers of the Bandra Police Department had gathered for a meeting. The head of the department, ACP Kamal Kumar, stood in front of the officers and said, "I have called this meeting to discuss the recent disappearances occurring in the Bandra area, And from what it looks like...Inspector Raina Shroff has been doing great research on the situation. Inspector Raina, please proceed."
"Thank you, sir," Inspector Raina thanked as she stood up from her seat. "From my studies, I have concluded that these disappearances and murders have been committed by the same murderer or murderers."
"Please elaborate." ACP Kamal ordered.
"Of course, sir! Let us look at the recent findings. On August 8th, 2014, five murders were reported. Afterwards on August 15th, 2014, there were a total of six murders and three disappearances reported," Inspector Raina continued. "On August 22nd, 2014, seven murders were reported. And if we continue to look at the numbers, the pattern continues over a weekly basis with an increase in murders and disappearances. Can this be a coincidence? No. Because, the same group is committing these crimes on every week. The only piece of the puzzle that is missing are who this gang is that is committing the crimes."
"For that, I may have a clue." an officer said, standing up.
"What is that, Officer Rajat Singh?" ACP Kamal asked.
"Take a look at the screen." Officer Rajat said as he loaded a picture on the large computer screen in the room.
The officers turned to the screen to see a picture of a man walking with his back turned away. From the back, one could see on his jacket the initials K.S.
"This photo was taken under surveillance near the scene of the last murder. And the initials on this jacket caught my eye." Officer Rajat explained.
"What could K.S. stand for?" Officer Rahat asked.
"We'll have to find out. Inspector Raina...can you handle this job?" ACP Kamal asked Inspector Raina.
"Sir, criminals surrender at the sound of my name," Inspector Raina grinned. "I'll make sure...that these murderers are put down to their knees...till the last bullet."
Meanwhile, in the hideout, the sound of flying bullets erupted inside. Kabir and Sahir rushed inside a room to see it was Aryan firing. He continued to shoot, aiming his bullets at a white teddy bear that sat on a chair, holding a stuffed red heart in its hands. "Aryan, stop it!" Kabir ordered. Aryan continued to fire, ignoring Kabir. Kabir went up to Aryan,trying to pull the gun away from him. "Leave me alone!" Aryan shouted.
"Stop acting like a child, you idiot!" Kabir yelled, snatching the gun away from Aryan. Sahir turned around to the teddy bear on the chair, which was shot multiple times at its face and the heart it held. Sahir cackled, "Why waste bullets on a stuffed animal?!"
Aryan turned to Sahir in fury. He went up to him, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. "Don't laugh at things you don't understand!" Aryan shouted, holding Sahir by his shirt collar tightly.
Kabir tried to control Aryan while Sahir tried to get free of Aryan's grip. During all this commotion, Raja entered inside the room, shouting "HEY!" The three boys turned to Raja, composing themselves. "What's going on here?!" Raja asked angrily.
"Raja bhai, Aryan was shooting the bear again. So we just tried to stop him, that's all." Kabir explained. Raja went up to Aryan, who couldn't even look at Raja in the eye. "Look at me, Aryan." Raja ordered. Aryan didn't look, hesitating. "I SAID LOOK!" Raja shouted. Aryan looked at Raja, frightened.
"What do you get out of this?! Shooting a lifeless toy?!" Raja asked Aryan. He turned to the teddy bear, holding its barely stuffed self. "Don't waste your bullets on such petty memories!" Raja said. "You have better people to finish off. Now, you might as well come and eat. Otherwise, I'll trash your dinner along with the bear."
Raja left the room with Kabir and Sahir following him. Aryan stood alone in his room, breathing heavily as sweat dripped down his arms. He picked up his gun, putting it away. He then picked up the teddy bear, holding it as one of its legs fell off from the horrific state it was in. Aryan held the teddy bear near his forehead as tears poured down his face. He fell to the ground on his knees, still holding the bear.
Raja, Kabir, and Sahir were eating dinner in the main area of the hideout. They ate pieces of chicken along with round, dark colored pieces of naan and had beer along the side. Aryan then entered the room. "And he arrives. Eat before I throw your food in the dustbin!" Raja ordered. Aryan sat down and began to eat while Kabir and Sahir eyed him in his depressed and toned down state.
"A man's not a man if he continues to cry over past memories." Raja taunted Aryan as he ripped a piece of naan and then stuffed it in his mouth. Aryan didn't respond, clenching his fist as he held the piece of naan tightly.
"Raja bhai." one of the guards said entering the main room.
'What?!" Raja asked as he washed his hands in a pot of warm water.
"Someone is here to see you." the guard said.
Just then, a shrouded figure entered inside the room. The figure wore a black cloak with a hood that was worn to cover the face. Raja smirked, going up to the figure. "What could I possibly do for you?!" Raja asked the figure. "If its a clothing store you're in need of, then you're at the wrong place! Now get out before I get out the trigger!"
As Raja turned, the figure said, "I don't think you want to speak to a lady like that." Raja gave a confused face. He turned around while the three boys had their attention on the cloaked figure as well. The figure lifted the hood off, revealing to be a young woman. The girl lifted her shiny, silky black hair out of the hood and gave a grin on her face. "I go by many names. But I liked to be called...Damini." the woman grinned.
Edited by -Meryl- - 11 years ago
Anupamaa
24