ArShi GONE CASE | Season 2 Chapter 3 - THE IDENTITY (Pg 28) [OH HOLD] - Page 13

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SEASON 2

Chapter 2 : Missing

Arnav and Khushi recalled the night they had come across Riya.

*Flashback*

They were working on a case in Shanti Nagar. A lady, Maya, was found unconscious in one of the empty Bungalows there. The SPYDER team had reached the crime spot at about 11:40 pm, after two neighbouring residents informed them about the incident that was noticed while they were on a walk. They thought it was a serious matter as Maya was hit on the head by someone. She was admitted to a nearby hospital. Shyam was busy working on another case. Shashi told Arnav and Khushi to check the surrounding area again, and he left as he had to go to Delhi next morning. Lavanya too waited along with Arnav and Khushi which Khushi didn't like at all.

Khushi felt jealous seeing Lavanya constantly trying to get close to Arnav. She couldn't refrain from saying, "Lavanya, could you please go and stand there near the gate?" Lavanya stared at Khushi not expecting this from her. Though Khushi tried to be as sweet and as kind as possible, Arnav could catch her feeling. He smirked seeing how possessive Khushi was. Khushi felt bad but she couldn't help it. She somehow managed the situation saying to everyone around, "We would be able to investigate better if you all stay back at the gate. We don't want the evidences to be destroyed unknowingly. Hope you all understand what I want to say". Everyone agreed.

Lavanya had no choice but to go wait near the gate with others gathered at the crime spot. "This Khushi always spoils my moments with Arnav! I must think of something to deal with her!" she thought as she watched Arnav and Khushi carry out their survey.

After some time, Lavanya came to Arnav. "What is it now?" asked Khushi without thinking. Arnav stared at her sudden attack. "What?!" Khushi spat back. She just wanted Lavanya to go away. Arnav raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Relax Khushi!" said Arnav. Khushi just walked away feeling upset. "Stupid girl!" thought Arnav as he smiled shaking his head staring at Khushi's back.

Lavanya held Arnav's arm and pulled him to make him face towards her saying, "Arnav, look at me!"

Arnav freed his arm at once from Lavanya's grip. He didn't like her being physical with him. "Yes Lavanya?" he said.

"I so love to be with you while you investigate!" said Lavanya with excitement. "But Shashi Sir called me just now and told me to be with Shyam" she said sadly. "You are a great detective unlike Shyam. Look at him, he is still working on the first case!" she added. Arnav didn't react to this. Lavanya continued, "I would have loved to stay here with you, but I will have to leave" She frowned. Arnav was happy that he would be free from Lavanya's irritating talks. "Okay, bye!" he said to Lavanya's surprise. "Bye?" she thought looking at Arnav waiting for him to say something more, something nice. But Arnav had already turned to continue his work and Lavanya left the place silently.

Arnav's eyes were searching for Khushi. His lips curved into a smile as he saw her examining the ground near the door of the bungalow. He walked to her and cleared his throat to let her know of his presence. "What?!" said Khushi without turning. Arnav cleared his throat again, louder this time. An angry Khushi stood up and turning towards him to say something but not seeing Lavanya with him she stopped. She was looking around to see where Lavanya was when Arnav walked closer to her. "She left..." he said making a sad face. "Whatever!" replied Khushi and pretended as if she didn't care. Arnav smirked at Khushi's pretence. "I wish she could stay here longer..." he said frowning, only to tease Khushi more. Khushi just gave him a tough look and continued examining the ground. "Crazy girl!" murmured Arnav and joined Khushi.

*****

Arnav and Khushi were taking a quick round in the area when suddenly a little girl, about 8, came running across their car. Fortunately, Arnav was quick enough to engage the brakes and the car came to a screeching stop. Arnav and Khushi came out of the car to know what exactly had happened and who the girl was. The girl was too scared to speak. She was gasping, crying, struggling to get her breath. Khushi tried to ask her name, why she was scared and why she was running the way she was. The girl was just pointing out to the path from where she had come running and was trying to speak. But before she could say a word, she collapsed, unconscious. Khushi told Arnav to look around and she tried to bring the girl back to senses. She tried sprinkling water on her face from the bottle in the car... but nothing worked.

After a few minutes Arnav came back with nothing. They immediately took the girl to the City Hospital. The girl was admitted there and Arnav and Khushi waited to have a word with the doctor, Dr. Sakshi. After the check-up, having a look at the reports, Dr. Sakshi told them that the girl was stressed and had some kind of fear in her mind due to which she became unconscious; there was nothing much to worry, and she would be fine in a couple of days.

Arnav and Khushi felt relaxed after knowing this. Now they would know the girl's identity and what had happened, when she gained consciousness. And if she didn't by the next day, they would give her photograph in the newspapers.

Arnav and Khushi thought that this girl had probably seen Maya being attacked, and was thus so scared. She may have had seen the attacker too and would prove to be a strong witness. Her identity was not known as she had nothing which bore it.

They told the hospital authorities and the hospital staff to take care of the girl and to inform them if the girl gained back her consciousness or if any other thing about the girl was known. They left for Shanti Nagar again to continue their investigation.

A couple of hours or more had already passed and they knew they would not find anything now. Yet they took their chances. They checked the whole area where the girl was pointing out, but they did not find anything suspicious. Shanti Nagar was a very remote area with all Bungalows which the owners mostly bought for the sake of investment. Hardly anyone stayed there as the area was not yet developed in terms of roads, water and electricity.

Finally, Arnav and Khushi decided to leave now and come again in broad daylight. The Innova sped through the empty roads. It was almost dawn by now and both of them were very tired. Just then Khushi's phone began to ring. Both were surprised at this. Who would be calling at this time of the day? Arnav slowed the car a bit while khushi took out the phone from her pocket. An unknown number was flashing on the screen.

Khushi looked at Arnav who tossed his head as if to ask "Who is it?". Khushi just shrugged to say "Don't know".

Khushi answered the call. "Hello... Khushi here"

She heard a happy voice from the other side. "Hello Ma'am! I am Pooja speaking from the City Hospital"

Khushi remembered that Pooja was one of the receptionists at the hospital. "Has she gained consciousness?" asked Khushi in excitement.

Arnav was excited too. He read Khushi's face to understand the conversation going on.

"No Ma'am" said Pooja, "The girl is still unconscious"

Khushi's excitement faded away. Arnav's expressions also changed according to Khushi's.

Pooja continued in excitement, "But Ma'am, we got to know about the girl's family"

Khushi's face brightened up. She looked at Arnav so that he would know and said, "You got to know about her family?! That's great!"

Though Arnav and Khushi were confused that how the hospital authorities managed to find out about the girl's family, it did not matter much right now.

Signalling Arnav to drive towards City Hospital, Khushi continued, "You do one thing, inform the girl's family and tell them to come to the hospital. We will be there soon"

Arnav took a u-turn towards the Hospital. "What?!" exclaimed Khushi over the phone, Arnav suddenly pressed the brake paddle and the Innova jerked to a stop.

Khushi was shocked as well as angry. "You should have told us in the first place!! How could you let them take her with them?!" she yelled, "We are coming there right away!"

The call ended.

"City Hospital! Now!" she said looking at Arnav.

Arnav obeyed and began driving. He looked at Khushi with a question mark on his face. Khushi looked back at him blankly.

"Do I need to ask?" said Arnav waiting eagerly to hear from Khushi.

"The receptionist..." replied Khushi in anger, "she said that the girl's grandfather took her home!"

"What!" exclaimed a surprised Arnav, "Which hospital gives discharge at this time of the day?"

"Moreover, the girl had not even gained consciousness!" added Khushi to Arnav's shock, "And these people are informing us now! After everything has happened!"

The Innova sped through the way to the hospital. Arnav and Khushi hurried up, skipping intermediate steps, to the first floor.

Reaching the reception, they inquired about the girl's discharge.

"The little girl admitted on this floor in room number 103..." said Arnav, "What time was she discharged at?"

The person at the Reception was confused. "I am sorry Sir, I don't know" was the reply.

"You don't know?!" Arnav was angry. "How can you say you don't know!"

The person was angry seeing Arnav speak to him in the way he did. "Listen, you can't speak to me like this. Who are you?" he asked.

Flashing her I-card Khushi said, "We are private detectives from SPYDER" This scared the person a bit. "Now answer our questions. What's your name?"

"Ramesh" said the person nervously.

Arnav could see that Ramesh was nervous. He tried to sound as gentle as possible. "Okay Ramesh, tell us... Who had come to take the girl home?"

"Sorry Sir" said Ramesh. "I really don't know anything. My duty is actually on the 5^th floor Sir. I have come to the first floor just now. It's actually Pooja's duty here.

"Call this Pooja then!" said Khushi.

"Ma'am, Pooja has left already. That's the reason I am here" replied Ramesh.

Arnav and Khushi exchanged glances sensing something was wrong.

"Pooja has left?" asked Arnav, "Where did she go?"

"She went home, Sir. She suddenly began feeling unwell" told Ramesh.

Arnav and Khushi exchanged glances again. Looking at Arnav, Khushi sarcastically said, "That we are coming here made Pooja Madam sick!"

Turning to Ramesh, Arnav said, "Call Dr. Sakshi immediately. How could she let them take the girl home? The girl was not even conscious!"

"Sir Dr. Sakshi's shift got over long time back" said Ramesh, "She went home"

"What?!" exclaimed Khushi. "The girl was discharged without Dr. Sakshi's permission?!"

Nurses and ward-boys had gathered near the reception by then.

Arnav told Ramesh to call Dr. Sakshi to the hospital at once. "And we want to see the register. Let's see at what time the girl was discharged"

Ramesh handed them the Register and moved aside to call Dr. Sakshi. There was no relevant entry in the register... neither any record of the girl being admitted, nor any record of her being discharged. There wasn't any trace of the girl in the data entered into the computer as well.

The suspect was obvious - Pooja. But why would she do this?

"Dr. Sakshi is on her way" Ramesh informed Arnav and Khushi.

"Is there no doctor here at the moment?" asked Khushi.

"There is Ma'am, infact there are two doctors on this floor for supervision" said Ramesh, "But I don't think they know anything about the girl"

"Whatever" said Arnav, "Call them here, we want to speak to them"

Arnav and Khushi interrogated the doctors, but the doctors knew nothing relevant.

Arnav and Khushi couldn't understand anything. Who was the Girl? What did she know? Who was following her? And the most important question... How did the girl's grandfather come to know that she was in this hospital?? Next question followed... Was he really her grandfather?? And then... How was Pooja related to all this??

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Arnav and Khushi were brought back to the present by the ring of Khushi's phone. It was Shyam's. Khushi was about to accept the call when Arnav snatched her phone in anger and rejected the call without another thought. Khushi was surprised by his action, not knowing how jealous Arnav felt.

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