What's in a name!
Chapter 1
Shreya fitted the earphone into her ears and moved out for jogging. She crossed the main gate of the society running leisurely. Suddenly she was pulled back forcedly by someone's grip on her arm.
Shreya was literally shaken by this sudden unexpected incident. She looked up at the person in consternation. It was the watchmen on duty; gawking at Shreya holding her hand. Shreya freed her hand with a jerk and removed the earphones. She was amazed because it was not the regular man, it was someone else.
"Ye kya badtameeji hai? Kaun ho tum?" Shreya yelped losing her temper.
He was smiling stupidly at her.
"Madam maine good morning bola aapko, aapne jawab nahi diya. Hum chote log hain lekin iska matlab ye to nahi ki aap bade log humari good morning ka bhi jawab na de."
Shreya was enraged by his impudent reply. "Lekin ye kaun sa tareeka hai good morning bolne ka? Tumhari himmat kaise hui mera hath pakadne ki? Aur tum ho kaun han, Shankar kaha hai?"
"Aap chilla kyun rahi hain madam? Ladkiyon ko aawaj aur aankhe dono neeche rakh kar hi baate karni chahiye. Aap bhi jara aram se baat kariye na!" He spoke with an unpleasant look causing Shreya's teeth set on edge.
She shook her head, "Oh! Warning de rahe ho mujhe ya advice han?"
Meanwhile the secretary of the society reached there seeing Shreya quarreling noisily.
"Kya ho gaya Shreya ji?"
Shreya turned to him, "Kaun hai ye badtameej aadmi han? What is he doing here?"
"Arey ye Prabhakar hai, Shankar ki jegah duty pe hai. Day shify ki duty hai iski." He said turning to the new watchmen, "Madam ke sath badtameeji ki tumne, maafi mango turant!"
"Mujhe maafi nahi chahiye, aap abhi turant ise naukri se nikaliye." Shreya shouted.
"Arey, nahi Shreya ji, main samjhata hu na ise, next time se aisa kabhi naha hoga. Aur waise bhi bas 7 dino ke liye hi rakha hai ise. Shankar ke wapas aane tak." He said and turned to Prabhakar, "Tujhe sunai nahi diya. Ghoor kya raha hai. Maafi maang Shreya ji se. Cid inspector hain wo. Tameej se reh warna jail me daal dengi samjha!"
He looked at Shreya with a smirk. "Maaf keejiye Shreya ji. Galti ho gayi!"
"Fine!" Shreya said gritting her teeth. She began to move when she heard him saying.
"Waise naam achha laga aapka!"
Shreya gave him a fierce look and stormed off.
She reached bureau in a bad mood caused by the morning incident.
"Hi Shreya!" Purvi said.
"Hi!" Shreya said trying to smile anyway.
"Kya hua sab theek hai na?" Purvi asked finding her disturbed.
"Han han, sab theek hai." Shreya said smiling.
"Tum humare naye officer se mili?" Purvi said with a grin.
"Nahi, abhi nahi!"
Same time Sachin and Nikhil entered with the new recruit. A young man with tall and slender physique. He was holding a cup of coffee and chatting with Sachin and Nikhil.
"Good morning Rishi!" Purvi said waving towards him.
"Good morning!" He said smiling and moved to Purvi and Shreya.
"Shreya wanted to meet you!" Purvi said.
Shreya nudged her. Rishi looked at Shreya.
"Shreya, naam to bahut achha hai aapka. Nice to meet you!" He said forwarding the same hand holding the coffee and accidentally poured the hot coffee on Shreya's hand.
"Aahhh...aahhh!" Shreya started screaming holding her hand.
Rishi was staring at Shreya as if enjoying to see her in pain.
Same time Daya entered and found Shreya screaming. He ran to her and held her hand. "Shreya, kya hua ye!"
Purvi glared at Rishi. "Sir wo Shreya ka hath jal gaya."
"Rishi se coffee gir gayi." Nikhil told.
Daya shot an angry look at Rishi, "Tumse ek coffee nahi sambhal rahi cid officer kisne banaya tumko?"
Rishi smirked instead of saying sorry to Shreya.
"Galti se ho gaya sir. Shukar hai coffee jyada garam nahi thi." He said glancing at Shreya and moved from there.
Daya frowned but he was gone. "Nikhil, jara ice lana."
Shreya looked at Daya holding her hand in concern. She found Sachin and Purvi grinning mischievously.
Shreya gently freed her hand. "It's ok sir. Main theek hu."
"Han but take care han!" Daya said and moved from there looking briefly into her eyes.
"Usne sorry bhi nahi bola. Such a cheap man!" Purvi said feeling disgusted.
Nikhil smirked, "Han abhi pata chala ki cheap hai. Kal to sab bada impress ho rahe the inspector Rishi se."
Purvi became angry, "I was never impressed. Actually kal tak to theek tha but abhi mujhe bahut gussa aa raha hai uspe. I am not going to talk to him."
Shreya was lost in her thoughts.
"Aaj ye ho kya raha hai mere sath. Pata nahi kiska muh dekh liya subeh subeh. "
Meanwhile the landline rang. Sachin received the call. He got an information about a murder.
A team of cid reached at the spot consisting Daya, Shreya, Sachin and Nikhil.
A young girl was murdered by cutting the neck with a fine toothed hand saw.
"Sir khooni ne ek hand saw hi kyun use kiya? Aur yahi chod kar chala gaya?" Shreya asked doubtfully.
Daya wore his gloves and grabbed the weapon. "Hmm...ye to kisi bhi simple tool box me ho sakta hai. Jaise ki...
"Kisi plumber ke paas!" Shreya added.
Daya looked at her, "Right! Shayad khooni plumber ban kar ghar me ghusa hoga."
"Ya phir shayad wo professionally ek plumber hi ho!" Shreya shared her opinion.
"Ho sakta hai. Lekin ek plumber ki kisi se kya dushmani ho sakti hai?" Daya said. "Neighbors se kuch pata chala?"
"Sachin sir aur Nikhil interrogate kar rahe hain" Shreya told.
Sachin and Nikhil arrived.
"Sir, ye ladki akeli hi rehti thi. Aur iska naam..." Sachin paused looking at Shreya, "...Shreya khanna hai!"
Daya and Shreya exchanged looks.
"Shreya khanna!" Shreya whispered.
Nikhil pointed towards a girl. "Sir ye ladki Shreya khanna ki friend hai."
The girl came ahead. "Sir mera naam Pooja hai." She was looking horrified. "Sir main aur Shreya ek hi gym ke member hain isliye dosti ho gayi thi usse. Sir mujhe lagta hai ye usi ne kiya hai."
All were confused. "Kiski baat kar rahi ho tum?" Shreya asked.
"Rohan ki! Wo bhi humari gym ka member tha. Shreya ko Kai dino se pareshan kar raha tha. Kal usne gym me Shreya ke sath bahut gandi harkat ki jo Shreya bardasht nahi kar saki to usne sabke samne use thappad maar diya tha. Phir Rohan ne gusse me uska gala pakad liya aur use marne ki dhamki dene laga. Bahut mushkil se baki logo ne Shreya ko uski grip se bachaya. Aur ye usi ne kiya hoga. I am sure. Aap use pakadiye sir!" Pooja said crying.
Daya turned to Sachin and Nikhil. "Jara is Rohan ko pakad kar bureau Lao."
Sachin and Nikhil nodded.
The body was sent to forensic lab.
Daya was discussing something with Acp Pradyuman, Abhijeet and Shreya. Suddenly Purvi and Rishi arrived with a file.
"Sir mujhe ek bahut hi shocking baat pata chali hai." Purvi said.
"Kaisi baat Purvi?" Acp asked.
Purvi opened the file. "Sir ye Mumbai local police ki FIR register ki copy hai. Pichle 4 dino me city me 4 ladkiyon ka khoon hua hai. Aur jo baat hairan karne wali hai wo ye ki...in sabhi ladkiyon ka first name 'Shreya' hai."
Purvi said and all eyes automatically turned to Shreya. She was bewildered.
"Aur sabhi murders me ek hand saw ka use hua hai. Wo bhi ekdum freshly purchased." Rishi added staring at Shreya but as she looked at him he looked away. Shreya felt strange with his behavior.
"My god!" Acp exclaimed.
"Sir murder weapon same hai. Murder karne ka tareeka bhi same hai. mujhe lagta hai ye koi serial killer hai." Daya said.
"Jo sabhi 'Shreya' naam ki ladkiyon ko maar raha hai?" Shreya uttered looking at Daya.
"Hmm!" Acp nodded, "In ladkiyon me aur koi connection hai Purvi?"
"No sir, sirf ye ki inka naam ek hai." Purvi said.
"Sir, mujhe lagta hai hume ek alert announce kar dena chahiye. Jis bhi ladki ka first name Shreya hai, use sawadhan karna chahiye." Abhijeet said.
Acp nodded. Sachin and Nikhil entered.
"Sir wo Rohan faraar hai. Sare samaan ke sath. Uske landlord se chabi lekar humne uska pura ghar check kiya but koi khas saboot nahi mila uske khilaf." Sachin informed.
Shreya moved away from all feeling horrified. "Koi aisa kyun kar raha hai? Ek hi naam ki 5 ladkiyon ka khoon ho chuka hai. Aur un sabka naam wahi hai jo mera hai."
Everybody looked at her. Purvi moved to her. "Wo tumhe kuch nahi kar sakta Shreya, don't worry!"
Abhijeet moved to call someone.
"Ab tum kise call kar rahe ho?" Daya asked.
"Ek Shreya meri life me bhi hai bhai!" Abhijeet said teasingly. Daya and Shreya shared a quick eyelock turning red.
Acp Pradyuman grumbled. "Tum logo ko majak sujh raha hai. Us khooni ko pakadne ki koi chinta nahi." He turned to Daya. "Daya turant ek press conference bulao aur announce karo ki Shreya is case ki chief officer hogi."
Shreya gasped.
"Kuch bhi karke Shreya ko limelight me lao. Us khooni ko pata chalna chahiye ki humari officer ka naam bhi Shreya hai." Acp Pradyuman added.
Daya and Shreya looked at each other. Daya looked at acp with an expression of disapproval.
"Matlab aap chahte hain ki use Shreya ke bare me pata chale aur wo Shreya ko marne ki koshish kare. You are inviting that bloody killer to kill Shreya?" Daya asked.
"Exactly!" Acp nodded.
"Lekin sir, aise kaise aap...matlab... Sir wo kaun hai...kaisa hai hume nahi pata. Ek anjaan dushman humesha khatarnak hota hai. Hum Shreya ki jaan khatre me daalkar itna bada risk nahi le sakte sir." Daya said sounding vexed.
Shreya stared at Daya hoping him not to argue with acp sir for her.
Acp glared at Daya. "To kya kare? 5 Shreya mar chuki hain. Aur pata nahi aur kitni marne wali hain. Tum chup raho Daya aur jitna bol raha hu utna karo."
Daya went silent after getting the scolding.
Acp turned to Shreya. "Tum taiyar ho na Shreya?"
Shreya looked at Daya inhaling a deep breath and nodded with a indecisive look on her face "Yes sir!"
.
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...to be continued
A/N: don't forget to comment your guesses if you have any.
