Into The Shadows by Aayush Borulkar (smart ebook reader txt) 📗

said the DCP firmly. “And the case is personally being investigated by one of our efficient officers, ACP Erika Lobo. She will get to the root of it.”

“It’s for the best, I guess,” said Abhimanyu, getting up.

“Do you want to meet her? Generally, we don’t allow, but you, after all are the son of Mr.Shekhawat,” said the DCP.

“Oh no! It’s fine, we don’t need to do that,” said Abhimanyu immediately when Mr. Sawant was about to ring the hand bell.

“Okay, suit yourself. After all, you will be meeting her the day after. What I suggest is that you two go to your villa and stay there. She has a thing for onsite investigations. She prefers them,” suggested Mr. Sawant.

“Yeah, sure, we will just shift there tonight,” replied Nishant.

“Alright, then. Best of luck!” said Mr.Sawant as he got up from his chair and bid them goodbye.

“He is pretty weird for a DCP. Don’t you think?” wondered Nishant as they were walking down the steps.

“Call Kaajal and update up her on the details and tell her that we all need to go to the villa by evening. And we will all go to the villa together,” told Abhimanyu.

“Yes, boss. As you wish,” replied Nishant.

The sky was turning orange. It was as if someone in heaven had let a pint of orange and yellow colour spill over and mix with each other, painting the whole heaven with the lustrous colours. And amidst this beautiful setting, stood a structure that had witnessed many such skies and seasons, yet it stood there battling through all of these, the “Bardez Villa.” Fifty years old but till glowing like a youth, as the rays of the setting sun hit the walls of the villa that stood steady and quiet.

The gates of this monument had been opened after 20 years as a blue SUV entered the villa. All six of them got down from the car as a man welcomed them.

“The whole villa has been cleaned. Well, four hours was quite a short notice. But I have managed the best I could,” said the man.

“Yeah, no problem. Give me the keys and thank you for the help at such a short notice,” said Abhimanyu as all of them walked into the house. As soon as they entered, they were welcomed by a breeze of cool air. It felt as if the whole air was fresh again. It was like, this was a new villa, completely different from the one they had left 20 years ago. It seemed that the villa was trying to greet them all once again. The caretaker showed all of them their respective rooms and then got busy in making the dinner.

“It’s been quite a long time huh,” said Nishant stretching.

“Yeah, twenty long years, since we last set foot in this gigantic house,” said Kaajal helping Richa climb the stairs.

They all went to their rooms to freshen up and, as per the plan, met downstairs for dinner.

“Where is Abhimanyu? asked Vibha.

“I might know where he could be. I’ll go get him,” said Ishaan getting up from the chair.

He climbed up the flight of stairs and first checked in Abhimanyu’s room but no luck. Then while walking through the passage, he saw the door of a room open.

“I knew I would find you here,” said Ishaan opening the door. “The caretaker is doing a great job keeping that portrait crystal clean.”

“It was all so great when she was around. Life was so smooth and steady. Whenever I got angry, she used to make pancakes and pour extra honey for me. But I let her down. I was not able to be with her when she needed me the most. Went off to study 7000 miles away. But what for?” wondered Abhimanyu as he turned to Ishaan with teary eyes. “I just don’t want to let you guys down too. That was my party twenty years ago. If it was not for that party, then we all would be living our normal lives, without being scared, and Richa would still be sane,” added Abhimanyu, slightly sobbing.

“Hey! It was not your fault in any manner, and why are you even sorry for that night,” said Ishaan, now consoling Abhimanyu, who was crying in his arms. “We were all there voluntarily. And it is not as if we committed the murder. So chill we did nothing wrong and you have no reason to feel guilty,” he continued while consoling Abhimanyu.

“Yeah but…

“Now let’s go down and have some dinner. We all need some rest,” added Ishaan as they both walked off.

Chapter 12

The next day morning a black SUV drove in and stood right in front of the entrance. Erika, Avinash and two constables stepped out from the car. Abhimanyu and Ishaan stood at the door to welcome the ACP and her team.

“I am ACP Erika Lobo, and this is sub-inspector Avinash, and these are constable Balaram and Shinde,” said Erika, shaking Abhimanyu’s hand.

“I am Abhimanyu Shekhawat, and this is Ishaan. The rest are waiting inside for you, so let’s go,” said Abhimanyu welcoming the team.

As Erika was entering, a CCTV camera caught her eye, which was mounted on the entrance door.

“Ye chalta hai?” she asked, pointing at the camera.

“This was installed just five years back, so won’t help us in any manner,” replied Abhimanyu.

Kaajal was sitting comfortably on a sofa reading a magazine. Richa was quietly sitting on the sofa adjacent to Kaajal biting her nails. Nishant was talking on the phone at the window.

“This is ACP Erika and her team,” announced Abhimanyu as they entered the hall.

Everyone put down whatever work they were doing and scampered to the living room and adjusted themselves on the couches.

“I have taken over this case and will carry out the investigation. So it’s going to be a fun ride, I guess,” said Erika smirking and clapping her hands.

No one uttered a word as they could not believe that the case had been re-opened so abruptly and that they now would have to