A/n: Another one on account of Kamal di's bday.. An investigative two shot, including Sachin, Kavin, Purvi and Shreya. No Couple. Enjoy reading. First part will be little boring.
Disclaimer: I am not the owner of the lead characters.
Murder Delivered!
An Investigative three-shot
The Claridges,
New Delhi
"The first runner's up award goes to Nidhi Kapoor. Please welcome her with a huge round of applause." The hall echoed with claps and hooting. A girl dressed in a blood red gown went up to the stage and the judge placed a runner's up tiara on her head.
"and...and... the winner of this beauty pageant is none other than the beauty queen Natasha Kulkarni. Here comes Natasha" A spot light fell on the right side of the stage and a girl came on to the stage, with a beautiful smile. She was wearing a body hugging red shimmery gown. The winner of the previous year placed the winner tiara on her head. Only sound everyone could hear was the claps and cheers and hooting.
"aur main yeh aapko bata doon, Natasha is going to take part in the All India Beauty Queen competition in Himachal Pradesh. Woh Parso hi nikal ho rahe hain Himachal ke liye. We wish the very best to Natasha" The anchor announced and hall was once again echoed with claps and cheers.
CID Bureau
Mumbai
The cops were doing their file work, after completing a case that day, when Acp came in with a huge grin on his face.
"Suno sablog!" everyone's head shot up and they gathered around Acp "humare liye ek achhi khabar hain"
"Shayad mera firse promotion ka letter aaya hain" Freddy whispered to Pankaj, who saw an envelope in Acp's hand
"Nahi Sir. Mera promotion letter hain" Pankaj whispered back and winked at Freddy
"Tum dono ko pichle mahine hi promotion mila tha, ab firse promotion hoga?" Acp who heard their whispers, said in a sarcastic tone. Everyone suppressed their laughter. Yeah! It was true. Nikhil, Pankaj and Freddy have been promoted from sub-inspector to inspector the last month, who very well deserved that.
"Toh Sir kya hain is envelope mein?" Pankaj asked innocently.
"Purvi aur Shreya ki promotion letter"A huge smile spread across Purvi and Shreya's face hearing what Acp just said. "aur saath mein ek felicitation program bhi hain. India ka police department ki log honge wahan. Aur yeh program hoga Himachal mein. Toh tum dono parso Himachal ke liye nikal rahe ho. Waise toh mujhe aana tha, lekin aa nahi paunga. Issilye Kavin aur Sachin, tum dono jaoge Shreya aur Purvi ke saath. Okay?" Acp said it in a go.
"Yes sir." Sachin and Kavin responded. Everyone congratulated both the girls who were happy and smiling like anything.
1 day later.
Landing in Shimla, where the felicitation program will be taking place, the four cops boarded on a mini bus provided by the hotel where they would be staying for next two days; Hotel Raddison.
Purvi got a seat near a girl who was in her early 20's, while Shreya seated herself on a seat near another girl of nearly same age as the other. Kavin and Sachin sat together.
"Hey, can you please lend me a pen?" the girl seating near Purvi asked her. She had a map in her hand and she was marking places with her pencil when the lead broke.
"yeah sure" Purvi replied with a smile and forwarded her a pen that was in her pocket. The girl thanked her and again marked some places.
"aap naye ho yahan?" Purvi asked the girl considering her to be a new comer of any college.
"actually haan. I am Natasha Kulkarni. Yahan Hotel Raddison pe ek beauty pageant hone wala hain kal aur parso. All India Beauty Queen competition. Aur Main Delhi ko represent kar rahi hu. Nayi jagah ghumna mujhe pasand hain. So map pe mark kar rahi so that kabhi bhatak naa jau" Both Purvi and Natasha let out a laugh.
"Aur main Purvi Malhotra,yahan ek felicitation program ke liye aayi hu jo Hotel Raddison pe hi hain."
"Really?" Natasha asked, with gusto. "I mean this is great. Aap please mere competition mein aana. It will encourage me."
"Sure. Humein jab hi time mile hum aa jaayenge. Mere saath mere colleagues bhi hain."
"This is great."
The bus reached the hotel and all of them got down. The manager came forward and ordered different bell boys to show the guests their rooms.
"humein bohot khushi hain ki iss baar government ne humare yahan aaplogon ki felicitation program rakhne ki socha! Yeh ek bohot hi garv ki baat hain, jo log humein 24 ghante protect karte hain unnlogon ke liye kuch karne ko mile toh." The manager Mr. Kumar said as he took the cops to show their room, personally "waise pehle maine single rooms dene ki socha lekin fir aapke colleague ka call aaya ki aaplog do double rooms lena hi pasand karoge. Issiliye maine do kamre thik karwa di hain. Room no 402 and 403. Aaplogoke program hone wala hall bhi issi floor pe hain. Hall no. 4A. " Manager led them and gave them keys reaching the rooms.
"Waise iss floor mein aur kitne guests hain?" Kavin asked.
"aap chaaro ke alawa aur 5 log hain Sir. Do businessmen, ek photographer aur ek couple." Manager replied.
"thank you manager saab.. ab aap jaayiye. Hum bhi thoda fresh ho jaate hain. Kal program hain toh aaj thoda jagah bhi ghum lenge." Sachin said.
"good day ma'am,good day sir. enjoy your stay " Manager wished them and left.
"sablog ab fresh ho jao, aadhe ghante baad milte hain. Kuch khaa ke thoda ghumne jaayenge." Sachin said, to all of them.
"Haan sir. Case solve karte karte last kab ghumne gaye the main toh bhul hi gayi" Shreya replied with a smile.
Four of them retired to their rooms.
"Waise Shreya aaj mujhe ek ladki mili bus pe. Yahan pe ek beauty pageant ke liye aayi hain, kal unka show dekhne jaayenge haan. humare program ke baad." Purvi said to Shreya bringing out clothes from the bag.
"Purvi tune nayi friend bhi bana li?" Shreya asked in amazement.
"Friend nahi. Hum dono ek saath baithe the toh baton baton mein pata chala ki woh Delhi beauty pageant ki winner usne bola agar hum aayenge toh unhe encouragement milega. toh maine bhi han keh diya" Purvi replied.
"Achha baba hum jayenge, main fresh hoke aati hu fir tum ho jaana." Purvi nodded while Shreya went to washroom. And Purvi dialled bureau's number to inform everyone that they have reached safely.
Half an hour later four of them met in the lobby, had some light dish and went to explore the beauty of Shimla. After visiting different places nearby the hotel they went back, deciding to have their dinner early and have a good sleep. After spending some light moments, they called it a day and retired for their rooms.
All them were sleeping in their rooms,enjoying the warmth of the blanket when a soul shearing scream fell in everyone's ear.
Purvi jerked her eyes open and looked near her and saw Shreya sleeping with a frown on her face. At first Purvi wasn't able to understand if the scream she heard was real. After straightening her ear for some other sound, she lay stiff on her bed.
"Shayad mere kaan baj rahe the. " Purvi thought to herself, not hearing anything for some good minutes. As she was about to close her eyes again she heard a knock on the door and Kavin calling them.
"Purvi, Shreya..open the door" Purvi looked at the clock which showed 3:20 a.m. She dragged herself out of the cosy bed, wrapped a shawl around her and opened the door. Till then Shreya too woke up.
"Sir, sab thik toh haina?" Purvi asked as she saw Kavin standing at the door, tensed. "aur Sachin sir kaha hain?"
"woh tumne awaaz nahi suna? Sachin wahin dekhne gaya hain. " Kavin said.
Shreya too came out by then and they again hearing a scream., started running to find the source.
"Sachin!" Kavin called out as they saw Sachin coming from other direction "kuch mila?"
"Nahi Kavin,shayad niche ki floor se aa raha ,dekhte hain"
As soon as they reached the third floor, they saw crowd gathered. Rushing onto them they saw a girl, crying and sweat dripping from her face. It was evident that she was scared of something.
"Natasha!" Purvi recalled her name, baffled at her condition.
"Tu janti hain isse?"Shreya asked when she heard Purvi mumbling a name.
Purvi looked at Shreya who was looking at her strangely "haan aaj hotel aate waqt bus pe mili thi. Bataya tha naa maine tujhe."
"kya hua hain yahan?" Sachin asked no one specific.
"yahan...yahan... pe kuch hain. Mujhe... mujhe maar dalega woh. Please bacha lo mujhe. Please... Please bacha lo" Natasha said in a scared tone. Kavin and Sachin rushed inside her room while Shreya brought her a glass of water and handed it over to one of her friends to make her drink.
Kavin and Sachin checked every inch of the room but found nothing.
"lekin yahan pe toh kuch bhi nahi hain." Sachin said coming out of the room after making sure it was all okay
"nahi kuch hain...woh..aap..apke piche khada hain, pleasemujhe bacha lo" Natasha said,shivering out of fear. Sachin turned around and found nothing.
"Natasha" her one friend held her hand and said "kuch nahi hain yahan. Chalo tum mere kamre mein mere saath so jao. You need to relax. Kal competition hain naa!" the girl took Natasha with her and others too went to their room.
"yeh kya ho gaya tha Natasha ko?" Purvi asked in a confused tone.
"Shayad kuch horror movie dekha hoga sone se pehle" Sachin replied. Although that answer didn't satisfy Purvi, still she shrugged her thoughts off and went to sleep. Rest of the night went peacefully.
Next day:
It was a great day for both Purvi and Shreya as they would be awarded bravery awards along with their promotion letters. Both of them chose to wear saree.
Attending the function, receiving the praises from higher authorities, both the girls' heart squealed with joy and the senior officers accompanying them felt proud of them. Infact Sachin video recorded the whole program as ordered by Daya who was too eager to attend the program but was unable due to workload.
After the spending almost the whole day in program, they were now in the restaurant, sipping their evening tea and coffee and were deciding what to visit, when Purvi offered to watch the beauty pageant that was being held in the same hotel.
"Waise Purvi tumhe pata kaise chala iss fashion show ke bare mein?" Sachin asked as they came out of the restaurant.
"woh sir kal main bus mein jis ladki ke saath baithi thi jisne, raat hungama kiya tha, usne bhi participate kar rahi hain." Purvi replied
"chalo aaj fashion show enjoy karte hain" Kavin said climbing down the stairs.
They reached the hall, hall no. 3B, went inside and saw a crowd gathered around the stage.
"yeh yahan pe itna bheed kyun hain" Sachin asked,jogging towards the crowd, rest three following him.
"hatiye,kya hua hain yahan?" Kavin asked, Purvi and Shreya tried to clear the crowd.
As they climbed up the stage they saw Natasha, lying on a bed, that was used in dance.
"kya hua hain inhe?" Sachin asked looking at the crowd.
"Pata nahi Sir." A boy replied "Dance kar raha tha. Woh uthne wali thi bistar se lekin woh utha hi nahi"
Purvi checked the body and looked at trio "she is dead" Purvi declared. As soon as Purvi said that two girls screamed.
"thik se bataye hua kya tha." Sachin said.
"Aap kaun?" a middle aged man asked.
"CID" Kavin replied showing them the badge.
"woh Sir baat yeh hua ki" (imagine the man was telling them this)
The All India Beauty Pageant was going on. And before the fashion show starts all the participants need to perform a group dance. Two teams have already performed and it was time for Natasha to show her dancing skill.
(Those who have watched the video of 'o khuda' from Hero movie, Imagine Natasha was performing the same)
As the music started, a masked man came and covered her mouth with a handkerchief that was shown to audience as the masked man has used chloroform. The man took her on his shoulder an took her to some other place and made her lie down on the bed. And according to plan she should get up within some 6 seconds. But she didn't. They stopped the music and started calling her "Natasha..utho Natasha get up"
"aur jab woh uthi nahi Stage ke paas bheed jama ho gaye aur tab hi aaplog aa gaye" The man ended.
"aur aap kaun?" Shreya asked the man.
"Madam main ek judge hu iss show ka. Humne Ambulance ko phone kar diya hain Sir aate hi honge."
"Purvi" Kavin called out "kuch mila?"
"no sir, body pe koyi bhi ghav ke nisaan nahi hain."
"aur yeh ladka kaun tha Natasha ke saath jo dance kar raha tha?" Sachin asked. A boy came forward. "kyu bhai tumne zeher de diya?" Sachin asked in an angry tone going near the boy.
"nahi sir. Main toh khud hairan hu ki yeh kya ho gaya. Sir bottle mein toh zeher chodo kuch bhi nahi tha. Yeh toh sirf dikhane ke liye tha sir." The boy forwarded a bottle and kerchief to Sachin. Sachin took both the things on a handkerchief and gave it to Shreya.
"Tum ho kaun? I mean naam kya hain tumhara?" Kavin asked the boy.
"Siddarth, Siddarth Pandey sir."
"Shreya, yahan ke CID ko call karo aur ek forensics expert bhejne ko kaho. " Shreya nodded getting Sachin's order and went aside to call.
"aur yeh show organizer kaun hain? Bulayiye zara unhe" Kavin looked at the crowd "aur iss hall se koyi bahar nahi jayega jab tak hum permission naa de."
"Sir, forensics expert 20 minute mein aa rahe hain." Sachin nodded as Shreya said that.
"Aap show ke manager hain aur aapko yeh nahi pata yahan ke participant ka kaise khoon ho jaata hain?" Kavin barked at a man who was standing with his head down "mujhe iss show ka CCTV footage dekhna hain. abhi!"
"ji sir aayiye.. control room uss taraf hain" The man showed with his hand to the left side. Kavin followed the man.
"Sir, body pe aisa kuch bhi nisaan nahi hain. Pata nahi chal raha, khoon hua toh hua kaise." Purvi, who checked the body keenly approached Sachin, unable to find any marks.
"Dekhte hain forensic expert aake kya bolta hain. Tum dono stage ke aas paas dekho kuch milta hain kya." Sachin ordered them and both went off to search near the stage.
"excuse me please" everyone heard a voice asking the crowd to made way for her.
"hello I am Dr..."
"Dr. Nyla Rajyadhakshya" Sachin completed her sentence.
"Sachin! aaplog yahan? Oh toh aaplogone call kiya tha! Body kaha hain?" Nyla asked wearing gloves and forwarding the three cops a pair each.
"yahan. Maine body ko achhi tarahse check kiya, lekin aisa kuch mila hi nahi." Purvi led her to the body. Nyla forwarded Shreya the roll of yellow tapes to seal the crime spot.
"Maut zeher ki wajahse hua hain" Dr. Nyla announced after checking the body so very keenly, for 30 minutes.
"What?! Zeher.." these were the words that came from the cops and the crowd too.
"Are you sure Dr.?" Kavin asked who has just entered the scene. "I mean zeher dene se toh nakhhon, hoth neele pad jaate hain. Iss case mein nothing that sort of happened."
"Mr. Kavin, right?" Nyla asked. Kavin nodded his head in agreement. "zaroori nahi har case mein aisa ho. Kuch zeher aise hote hain jo piche koyi sabot nahi chodte aur kuch aise hote hain jo thodi der baad hi apna saboot dikhate hain ." Nyla went on in an experienced tone.
"to kaunsi zeher hain yeh?" Shreya asked.
"not sure. Lekin body ko lab leke jaati hu. Tab pata chalega. And aaplogon ko yahan dekhke achha laga. Kuch clue milte hi main aaplogo ko call karti hu." Nyla, saying this went away, instructing her assistant to send the body to the lab.
"Kavin tumhe kuch mil cctv footage se?" Sachin asked
"Nahi Sachin, main yeh footage ki tape leke aaya hu. Room mein chalke dekhte hain. Tab tak ke liye inn logon ko apne room mein bhej dete hain." Sachin nodded at Kavin asked everyone to go to their rooms and asked them not to leave the hotel.
Everyone went to their room and the cops went to the boys' room. Kavin opened his laptop and everyone started watching the CCTV footage.
"sabse pehle Acp sir ko phone karke bolo hum yahaa do din aur rukenge. Aur Dcp Sir ko phone karke bolna hoga, ki yeh case humein handle karne de." Sachin said. Shreya instantly dialled Acp's number saying "Dcp ko main phone nahi karne wali"
Sachin and Purvi looked at Kavin with mischievous grin.
"Kya? Main? Main Dcp ko phone karu?" Kavin asked as if someone has asked to give his life.
"HAAAN" Purvi and Sachin nodded their head.
"Yeh galat baat hain haan Sachin, Purvi. Iska badla Zaroor lunga main." Kavin said rolling his eyes, faking anger,but Sachin thrust a mobile in Kavin's hand. Unable to deny, Kavin dialled Dcp's number.
"Sir, kuch samajh nahi aa raha. Kam light ki wajahse" Shreya said who has already talked with Acp and now was watching the CCTV footage.
"haan Sir. Ab kya kare?" Purvi asked in a tensed tone "Sir kyu naa hum show ki video recording dekhe?" Purvi asked in hopeful tone "agar All India basis ka competition hain toh zaahir si baat hain video recording toh kiya hi hoga."
"Haan Purvi. Tum dono jao aur event manager se pucho kisne video kiya tha. aur woh recording bhi leke aao. Tab tak main firse iss footage ko ek baar dekh leta hu."
The girls nodded and sprang onto their feet.
After 15 minutes they came with a person, and some memory cards.
"Sir. Isne shuru se har program ki recording ki hain. Yeh memory cards." Shreya forwarded Kavin the memory and asked the person to show them the video.
Watching the video keenly for five times, Sachin spotted something.
"pause karo. " the man followed the order. "rewind karo aur firse play karo slow motion pe." The man did that instantly.
"Dekho. Woh jab stage pe aayi hain tabse thoda disbalance lag rahi hain." Sachin pointed.
"haan Sachin aisa lag raha hain jaise she is not in her self." Kavin agreed with Sachin.
"aur Sir yeh dekhiye. Natasha ki aankhein. Aisa lag raha hain jaise she is trying hard not to close her eyes." Shreya added.
"aur to aur sir, Choreography ki hisab se jab woh ladka unhe behosh karega tab Natasha unke taraf jaayega. Lekin video dekh ke aisa lag raha hain jaise Natasha pehle behosh ho gayi aur woh ladka, Siddarth dance ko kharab hone se bachane ke liye unko behosh karne ka act kiya."
"Haan Purvi thik keh rahe ho" Kavin replied "Iss Siddharth se milna hoga. Unko kuch toh malum hain. Shreya tum siddarth ko bulake lao. Aur Purvi yeh Natasha ke saath Delhi se aur koyi aaya tha?"
"Haan Sir, aur 6 log aaye the. Total 7 logo ke group the.
Mr. Ranjit Rastogi, Natasha ke Fashion school ka guide. Sab log use Master Rastogi ke naamse bulate hain.
Nidhi Kapoor, Delhi competition ka first runner's up aur dance choreographer bhi
Sneha Chauhan, background dancer
Rajendra Tripathi, photographer.
Siddarth Pandey, lead Dancer
Aur Suraj Bohra, waise Suraj team member nahi hain. Woh sirf Natasha ka boyfriend tha."
"tumne yeh sab information collect kab ki?" Asked an amazed Sachin.
"woh sir jab aapne video lane bheja tha, tab hi collect kar lit hi reception se." Purvi smiled sheepishly.
"good job" Kavin praised her intelligence to which she smiled, nodding her head.
Just then Shreya entered with Siddarth.
"Siddarth, baitho" Sachin said showing Siddarth a couch. He sat the uneasily. "bolo Siddarth kya hua tha."
"Sir humlog Dance kar rahe the. Mujhe Natasha ki tabiyat thik nahi lag raha. Aisa lag raha tha jaise woh apne hosh mein nahi hain. Fir woh almost girne wali thi, tab maine do dance step skip karke woh choloroform wala step kar liya. Fir maine 5 second baad unko uss bistar pe lita diya. Fir kuch 3-4 seconds baad woh nahi uthi. Maine usko jagane ki koshish ki fir bhi she didn't budge. Tab almost humare group ke sabko pata chal hi gaya tha ki kuch gadbad hain. Issiliye humare Master ne dim lights off karwa ke main lights on karwa di. Stage ke paas bheed bhi jama ho gaya aur isse pehle kuch hota aaplog pohuch gaye." Siddarth said.
"okay!" Kavin said "dance shuru hone se pehle tum Natasha se mili thi?"
"Nahi Sir. woh apne green room mein thi aur main apne. "
"tumhe kisipe shaq?" Sachin asked
"aisa toh koyi bhi nahi hain hain Sir. Humare team mein job hi sab trustable hain" Siddarth said.
"Lekin khoon toh tumhare team ke kisine ne hi kiya hain naa." Shreya said in a stern tone.
"Ma'am mujhe pata hain khoon hua hain,lekin mujhe jo sahi lag raha hain main wahin bol raha hu. Meri nazar mein aisa toh koyi nahi hain humare team mein jo Natasha ka khoon kar sake. Kisipe galat ilzaam toh nahi laga sakte naa." Siddarth retorted.
"thik hain tum jaa sakte ho." Sachin ordered him. He nodded and went when Kavin again called him "Siddarth aur ek sawal." Siddarth spun around on his heels "Delhi se Natasha ke saath dancer sirf tum aur Sneha aaye the, yahan pe dancing show pet oh aur 6 log the,kahase aaya?"
"Har participant ko organisers 6 background dancers de rahe the Sir." Siddarth replied.
"Thik hain. Tum jao." Kavin said.
"Sir main aur thoda informations collect karke aati hu. Dinner time tak pohuch jaungi." Purvi said grabbing her jacket and wearing it.
"Akele Purvi?" Shreya asked, clearly hesitated.
"Hotel ke bahar nahi jaungi Shreya, don't worry."
2 hours later:
The four cops were having dinner in the girls' room.
"Kuch pata chala tumhe Purvi?" Kavin asked, serving himself some daal.
"Bohot kuch Sir. Agar humein yeh pata chal jaata ki poison kaunsa hain ab tak Shayad case bhi solve ho jaata. Mujhe Doctor Nyla ka call aaya tha. initial testing se zeher ka pata toh laga liya, lekin woh aur kuch further testing karna chahte hain to confirm it. Ab kal autopsy results aane ke baad hi pata chalega Sir." Purvi replied.
"Kaunsa zeher?" Shreya asked.
"Naam nahi bataya. Kal batayenge. Ab jaldi dinner khatam karo. Mujhe bohot kuch interesting information mili hain." Purvi said and placed a spoon full of rice and palak panner in her mouth, savoring the delicious dish.
Done with the dinner, all of them sat around the table on the couches. Purvi brought out three photos and placed it on the table.
"Sir yeh hain Nidhi Kapoor" Purvi showed them a girl's picture. "she is not only the choreographer but Delhi Beauty Pageant ke 1st runners up bhi hain. Matlab agar Natasha kisi bhi tarah se yeh competition join nahi kar paaye ultimately usse chance milega Delhi ko represent karne ka. She tried very hard to win the Delhi show. Nidhi ke paas strong motive hain Natasha ka khoon karne ka."
Purvi then placed a boy's photo near Nidhi's. "Yeh hain Rajendra Tripathi. Photographer hain aur ek number ka flirt. Delhi waali show usne Natasha ke saath flirt karne ki try kiya tha. Natasha ne sabke saamne use gaali di. Kuch slangs bhi use kiya. Aur Rajendra ki ego hurt ho gaya. Aur usne Natasha ko yeh bhi kaha tha ki woh uss insult ka badla zaroor lega."
She placed another photo on the table "Mr. Suraj Bohra. Natasha ki over possessive boyfriend. Kal shaam dono ke beech bohot bada jhagda hua tha. Suraj ke paas bhi motive hain."
Purvi ended.. Kavin and Sachin looked at the photos keenly and started recalling the whole thing and tried connecting the dots.
A/n: Pheww! Done with the first part. 4k+ words, oh em gee :p
So any guesses who is the murderer? Tell me in reviews about your guesses. I will be waiting.
Will be back with the next part soon.. Kamal di. Happy birthday once again.. May shine brighter than a shooting star.. chhotu loves you badi behen.. mmuaah.