8

I reached the station and noticed Nikhil pacing outside my cabin.

"Nikhil," I called.

"Sir, here." He handed me a file.

"What is this?" I asked, a nervous weight settling in my chest.

"Sir, these—" He paused, hesitating to look me in the eye.

"These what, Nikhil?" I pressed, my impatience growing.

"Sir, these are proofs of your Mamaji's illegal activities. The file contains records—transactions, phone call logs, and a series of messages exchanged between your Mamaji and several individuals. Sir, they all claim that your Mamaji borrowed money from them and never returned it."

The ground beneath my feet seemed to shift. My hands trembled as I opened the file and scanned its contents. My eyes froze on one name: Anna.

"Anna," I whispered.

"Sir, Anna was right. Your Mamaji did borrow money from her," Nikhil added, his voice cautious.

I could feel my world crumbling. Tears blurred my vision as I clutched the file tighter.

"Inform Anna and the others. I want to meet them tomorrow morning," I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside.

"Yes, Sir," Nikhil replied before leaving.

I drove home, my mind numb. After a cold shower, I sat on the bed, staring at nothing. Kiran walked in and immediately noticed my state.

"Kya hua, ji?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

I told her everything—the illegal transactions, the betrayals, and the people demanding their money back. She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

"Hum Mummy ji ko kya batayenge?" she asked, tears glistening in her eyes.

"I don't know," I replied, my voice breaking.

Kiran came closer and pulled me into a comforting embrace, letting me bury my anguish in her shoulder. Her presence was my only solace as I drifted into an uneasy sleep.

NEXT MORNING

I woke up early, got ready, and reached the station. Outside, I saw Anna with a group of people. They all looked angry and tired, their frustrations clearly etched on their faces.

I approached them and folded my hands. "I am truly sorry for what my Mamaji has done," I said, guilt heavy in my voice.

Anna cleared her throat, her expression unreadable. "So, did you bring our money?" she asked.

I looked at her, tears threatening to escape again. I shook my head.

"Ma'am, I didn't know about Mamaji's activities. Please give me a few days. I need to check if he still has the money," I pleaded.

"What if he spent it all?" asked Dhanush, another man from the group.

"Please let me investigate first. I beg you, don't drag my family into this. I swear I wasn't involved," I said, my voice desperate.

I could see doubt in some eyes, but there was also understanding.

"This isn't his fault," Ananya, a woman in the group, finally said. Others nodded in agreement.

Anna sighed. "Fine. There's one solution. Sell your Mamaji's properties and distribute the money among us. Even if it's not the exact amount, we'll manage. Right, everyone?"

"Yes," the group agreed.

I exhaled deeply. "Thank you so much," I said, bowing slightly before leaving.

TWO DAYS LATER

I sold Mamaji's house—it didn't feel right for someone like him to have it anyway—and recovered some of the borrowed money. Half of it was already spent, but I managed to distribute the rest among the people. They thanked me and left, but their gratitude couldn't erase the sting of betrayal.

Back at home, I picked up a vase outside my room and smashed it on the floor. My emotions, pent up for days, erupted in that single moment of destruction.

Kiran found me minutes later. She placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, her worried eyes meeting mine. I turned and collapsed into her embrace, crying silently as she held me close.

NEXT DAY

I forced myself back into work mode. A missing person's report occupied my desk in the morning, but my thoughts kept drifting to the bride. Why was she killing men? The question gnawed at me endlessly.

Shanaya must have relatives, I thought. Someone who might know her better than we do.

I went to Deepika's house and asked if Shanaya had any family.

Deepika recalled, "Once, during a parent-teacher meeting, a lady came with Shanaya. She told me it was her maasi (aunt)."

That was my lead. I tracked down Shanaya's maasi. What she told me left me stunned.

TO BE CONTINUED

Please vote and comment