Chapter 15
Geet found herself standing on patio of Khurana residence. It wasn't her first time there but every time she was there, memories came in abundant waves. She was surprised at the phone call she received that morning from senior Khurana. Maan's father owned a law firm of his own and was an incredibly busy man. He had instructed her to come in late in morning when there would be no one to interrupt their conversation.
I don't want Maan to be here when we talk. The subtle tremble in his voice had left her wondering about the older man's worry.
"Come in Geet. I have been waiting for you. Do you want some tea?" He asked as soon as she was ushered in to his study.
"Tea will be great, thanks," she said sitting down in a chair opposite to him. She had met him couple of weeks ago when she had dined with the Khuranas on a slow Sunday afternoon. However in the days that followed something had started to bother him and like Maan, his face sported a residue of that worry.
"What's going on Geet?" Mr. Khurana didn't bother indulging in small talk and dove right to the point he wanted to discuss.
Geet stared at the older man and waited. She had no idea what he was talking about.
"What's wrong with Maan?" The question was blunt and it startled Geet. She hadn't expected senior Khurana to ask her something like that.
"I think he is fine uncle," she replied. She had known the man for years and he was a friend of her father. She addressed him as 'uncle' and he saw her as his own kin and her, a father figure.
"Please don't insult my intelligence by blatantly lying Geet. I may not have a degree in psychology but years of dealing with lying cheats, I have picked up a thing or two along the way." His voice was sharp and so where his eyes. His hand trembled a little when he removed spectacles and wiped his eyes with his free hand. Geet sighed. She knew she would be breaching Maan's trust by discussing the case outside the team but she had to tell his father about the tremendous amount of stress he was under.
"It's the case…which I think is getting to him," she said slowly. "It is triggering his memories," she added.
Senior Khurana sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. His breathing was shallow and his hands shook more.
"Uncle?" She asked worriedly when he didn't speak for several minutes.
"Which case are you working on right now?" He asked her getting himself to sit up straight forcibly and taking several breaths to calm the avalanche in his heart.
"It's two double homicides; parent and child were found murdered in their homes." She replied narrowing her eyes as she studied the fear grow in his eyes. "Do you know something about it uncle?" She asked gauging his reaction at a micro level. He didn't trust his voice thus resigned to mere shake of head.
"Maan uncovered three more unsolved murders that took place in his current jurisdiction more than two decades ago. The cases were unsolved. My father and then inspector Venkat worked on the case." Her eyes furrowed when she saw the older man grip tea mug tight enough to whiten his knuckles.
"Maan trusted on his instinct and searched for similar homicides going back two decades and he hit jackpot," she said leaning back in chair. Anytime now, she thought.
"He is a smart boy," the older man said refusing to believe the alternate. Geet nodded in response.
"Mr. Khurana, do you think Maan is aware of these old cases?" Geet had neatly dropped the informal address.
"I…am not sure Geet…It's possible that he would have heard me discussing about them when your father came over…I don't know," he said. His hands shook violently and the tea cup cracked due to the force with which he placed on the table.
"I am…sorry…" he apologized as she grabbed tissues and wiped the spilled tea on the table.
"Are you alright uncle?" She asked. He looked at her and nodded slowly. She felt him age several years in past few minutes as if a heavy burden was suddenly placed on him – the one which he had been avoiding for years.
"Take care of him Geet," he said and pulled himself off the chair and slowly walked out of the study leaving her alone with her thoughts.
She decided to look through the three older cases as soon as she could spare a moment. There was something about the cases which had shaken the Khuranas and had to know what it was.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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