Disclaimer: All characters appearing in this story are a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.
Chapter 1
She vowed never to let a man come near her. She felt filthy and infected. She couldn't look at herself in the mirror. All men were alike, she thought. Ruthless. Heartless. All they desired was sex. Love or emotion didn't exist for them.
Revenge was the only thing she seeked. She was burning from inside.
'I will kill you for what you did to me. You will pay you bastard. You will pay dearly. I will spare no one. Enjoy today because tomorrow you won't live to see the light of the day', she almost shouted in the empty room.
Same Day, few hours later-
Inside a huge mansion, Harish was talking on the phone. 'Thank you. I am glad it worked out that way. Sure. Tomorrow I will take the first available flight to Dubai.' he said and hung up.
The doorbell rang. He looked to the clock. It was five minutes to 10.
'Itni raat ko kaun ho sakta hai', thought Harish.
He opened the door. There stood a beautiful girl of about 30. She was smiling widely. But Harish was not at all happy to see her.
'Shanaya tum yaha? Kyu aayi ho yaha? Kaha tha na tumse mujhse dubara mat milna?' said Harish sneering at her.
She pulled out a gun and pointed at him. He started backing off. 'Ye kya kar rahi ho? Pagal ho kya? Dekho uss raat jo bhi hua wo ek accident tha. Maine paise diye hai na tumhe? Aur paise chahiye toh main bhej dunga. Mujhe kuch mat karo please', he begged.
But he saw a mad gleam in her eye. He threw a flowerpot at her which missed her by inches. He toppled over a chair. She moved toward him almost zombie like. He was now behind a three seater. She aimed the gun at his forehead and fired.
'Nooooooooooo', he yelled and collapsed on the floor. He was barely conscious. She dropped the gun and drew out a butcher knife. She stood beside him and raised the knife high. Pure terror was reflected in his eyes. She plunged the knife into his stomach and he was no more.
She felt savage pleasure coursing through her veins. She struck the knife again and again into his body. She had lost the track of time. Then suddenly she stood up and wiped the knife clean on his shirt. She picked up the gun. She scanned the room to make sure she hadn't left any fingerprints or evidence.
Then she took one last look at Harish and then feeling satisfied went out of the house shutting the door behind her.
The next day, CID Bureau, Mumbai -
The telephone rang.
'Hello, Inspector Daya speaking, CID Mumbai. Kya? Lekin kaha pe? Ok. Hum abhi pochte hai.' he said and hung up the receiver.
'Kya hua Daya?' asked ACP Pradyuman.
'Sir ek khoon hua hain. Hume abhi jana hoga', said Daya.
'Thik hai. Daya, Sachin, Shreya tum log crime scene pe jaakar dekho', said ACP Pradyuman.
They reached the crime scene. A huge crowd had already assembled. Pale, white faces were staring at them as they approached. There was a kind of tension in the atmosphere.
'Dekhiye hum log CID se hai. Kisne phone kiya tha?' asked Daya.
'Sir maine call kiya tha. Mera naam Anish hai. Main yahi pados me rehta hoon.' said Anish.
'To batao kya jaante ho tum?' said Sachin.
'Sir main Harish ko college ke dino se jaanta tha. Baad me uski family Delhi shift hogayi. Lekin phir pichle saal uske pita gujar gaye aur phir wo yaha wapis aa gaya. Bohot successful businessman tha. Aur uska kisise ladhai jhagda bhi nahi tha. Main to shock ho gaya ki koi harish ka khoon koi kaise kar sakta hai. Sir bohot buri halat hai laash ki.' said Anish.
'Laash ko kab dekha tumne?' asked Shreya.
'Aaj subah hum dono saath me breakfast karne wale the. Jab bohot der ho gayi use aane me tab main use milne gaya uske ghar par aur wahi maine uski laash dekhi.' said Anish.
'Dikhao jara laash kaha par hai', said Daya.
Anish led the way towards a huge, magnificent bunglow. He pushed open the door but didn't go inside. 'Sir aap dekh lijiye. Main yahi rukta hoon. Mujhse phirse dekha nahi jayega.' said Anish.
They stepped inside. Puddles of blood were lying around. The furniture was toppled over. Magazines and newspapers were scattered around the floor. A bloody foot was visible from beyond a huge three seater.
Three of them went a bit ahead and saw the corpse. The sight was gut wrenching. The victim was stabbed at least a dozen times with a knife in his stomach. His intestines were churned out of his body due to stabbing. He had also been shot right at the centre of the forehead. His face was covered entirely in blood.
Daya heard a sharp intake of breath beside him. He shot a sideways glance at Shreya who was staring dumbfounded at the corpse apparently at loss for words. Her face was white and she was shivering a bit. Daya shaked her lightly.
'Shreya tum thik ho na? Tum baki ke evidence utha lo tab tak hum laash ki jaanch karke use forensic lab bhej dete hai.' said Daya.
Shreya obeyed him silently and went outside.
'Sir... Ye sab... Pehli bar aisa kuch dekh raha hoon', said Sachin.
'Haan Sachin. It's horrible. Jisne bhi maara hai. Koi bohot badi dushmani hogi uski iss Harish se.' said Daya.
They came out again. 'Anish iske family me aur kaun tha? Shaadi hui thi kya iski?' asked Daya.
'Sir bachpan me hi iski maan gujar gayi. Ise bhai behen koi nahi hai. Aur pitaji bhi pichle saal gujar gaye. Iski ek girlfriend thi. Lekin kuch mahine pehle uska breakup ho gaya. Tabse toh woh akela hi hai.' said Anish.
'Sir Mujhe toh ye business rivalry ka case lagta hai.' said Sachin.
'Haan. Par filhal kuch keh nahi sakte Sachin. Anish thank you hame inform karne ke liye. Agar kuch aur madad lagi to tumhe bula lenge', said Daya.
'Sir maine pura ghar acchi tarah se check kar liya hai. Lekin sir murder weapon nahi mila. Aur sir pure ghar me kahi bhi fingerprints nahi mile', said Shreya.
'Hmmm. Khooni bohot hoshiyar hai. Lagta hai ye khoon bohot planning ke saath kiya hai.' said Daya.
'Sir ye case toh bohot complicated lag raha hai', said Sachin.
'Hmmm. Par case jitna jyada complicated ho solve karne me utna hi maja aata hai. Chalo bureau chalte hai.' said Daya.
Later that day all of them continued working on the case without much progress. Dr. Salunkhe too had told them that his forensic analysis would take some time as the dead body was in a very bad condition.
Finally at 9.30 pm everybody left.
It was mid- June and Bombay was experiencing first rain of the monsoon season. The smell of the earth was amazing. Trees danced and swayed along with the light wind.
Daya went down to the parking. He saw Shreya standing on the road with an umbrella waiting for an autorickshaw. Daya went to her. 'Shreya tum yaha kyu khadi ho? Gadi kaha hai tumhari?' he asked.
'Sir! Aap gaye nahi abhi tak? Actually meri gadi start nahi ho rahi. Isliye autorickshaw ka wait kar rahi thi', said Shreya.
'Chalo main chod deta hoon tumhe', said Daya.
'Sir aap kyu takleef le rahe hai? Aap thak gaye honge. Mujhe drop karne ke liye aapko 10-12 kms opposite direction me jaana padega', said Daya.
'Wo mera problem hai na. Main dekh lunga. Zid mat karo. Chalo jaldi.' said Daya.
She obliged and they sat in the car. They were silent for a few minutes. Shreya watched the droplets of water chase each other and race down the car window. The bigger drops then eventually would eat the smaller ones.
Both forwarded their hand at the same time to switch on the radio. Daya's hand brushed slightly with hers. She shivered.
'Uh... Sorry...' he said quickly.
She turned on the tuner. A song totally apt for the situation was being played.
(A song from the movie Wake up Sid)
Boondon Ke Motiyon Mein Khul Ke Ehsaas Aaya,
Waqt Se Nikal Ke Lamha Dil Ke Pass Aaya,
Chooke Guzra Tha Par Dil Ko Na Mehsus Hua
Ab Jo Dekha to Woh Lamha Dil Ko Raas Aya
Yoon Ke Tehh Kar Na Paaoon Re
Dil Ki Baat Main Hawake Zariye Pahunchaoo Re
Ya Khud Hawa Pe Chalke Aaoon Re
Tum Se Pyaar Hai Ye Khul Ke
Jin Me Keh Paaooon Re
Lafz Who Kahaan Se Laooon Re
Daya wanted to tell her right then. He loved her. She was so beautiful and caring. Just perfect for him.
'Kaise kahu Shreya tumse apne dil ki baat? Aaj aabhi shayad sahi mauka hai. Hum dono akele hai. Ye mausam bhi kitna romantic hai. Aur gaana bhi! Mujhe pata hai tum bhi mujhe pasand karti ho.', thought daya.
He opened and closed his mouth several times.
Damn! He can't even propose a girl! No! No! No! Daya aaj tujhe bolna hi hoga Shreya se! Shayad aisa mauka phir kabhi nahi milega. Sirf I love you hi toh bolna hai!' thought Daya.
'Uhhh... Shreya...' he began.
She looked at him.
'I... I... Kya tum abhi mere saath coffee pine chalogi?' said Daya before he could stop himself.
'Haan sir! Chaliye. Barish me bohot maja aayega!' said Shreya brightly.
Daya smiled at her and cursed himself. He had failed yet again.
'Sir please windows khuli rakhiye na! Kitna accha mausam hai', said Shreya excitedly.
Daya lowered the car windows and cool air blew in.
Shreya put her hand outside catching drops of rain in her palm. Daya watched her happy face.
'Daya tera kuch nahi hoga! Zindagi bhar bina shaadi ke hi rahega tu!' said his inner voice.
'Nahi par abhi bhi chance hai. Thank god Shreya ne coffee ke liye haan kardi. Senior Inspector Daya you can do it this time! A lot can happen over coffee!' he thought.
They stopped at CCD on the weren't many people in sight.
They sat around a small wooden table and Daya ordered two lattes for them.
'Pehli baarish kitni khoobsoorat hoti hai na! Infact har cheez pehli baar bohot khoobsoorat lagti hai', said Shreya.
'Haan. Pehla pyar bhi bohot khoobsoorat hota hai', said Daya absent mindedly.
'Kya kaha sir aapne?', asked Shreya wide eyed.
'Kuch nahi', said Daya quickly.
The waiter arrived with their coffees.
They sipped their coffee silently. Daya was battling with his head on how to propose Shreya. While Shreya was lost in some deep thought.
Daya came back to his senses. 'Aaj to main kuch nahi bol paunga. Phir kabhi try karta hoon', Daya thought to himself.
'Shreya chalo. Bohot late ho gaya hai', said Daya.
She didn't reply. He touched her arm. 'Shreya kya soch rahi ho itna?' he asked.
'Kuch nahi sir wo subah ki murder ke baare me soch rahi thi. Koi itne berehmi se kaise maar sakta hai kisiko? Wo laash itni buri halat me thi. Dimag se nikal hi nahi paa rahi hu wo tasweer. Kabhi kabhi bohot darr lagta hai. Kisike saath bhi aisa kabhi bhi ho sakta hai. Pata nahi mai itna kyu soch rahi hu. Par bohot dar lag raha hai. Pehle kabhi nahi hua mere saath aisa. Is baar aise lag raha hai ki kuch bura honewala hai', said Shreya shuddering slightly.
'Ssshhhh... Shreya ye kya bol rahi ho tum? Achanak itne saare negative feelings kyu? Aur wo sab bhool jao. Uske kisike saath dushmani rahi hogi. Trust me kuch bhi nahi hoga tumhe. Main hoon na', he said tenderly keeping his hand on hers.
She looked at him surprised.
'Mera matlab hai ki ham sab hai na. Toh kisiko kuch nahi hoga', said Daya.
'Haan. Main bhi na kuch bhi sochti rehti hoon', said Shreya.
'Chalo. Ghar jaake thoda rest karlo. Accha lagega tumhe. Aise bure khayal bhi nahi aayenge.' said Daya.
He dropped her home and then went to his house. He was so tired that he immediately went off to sleep.