Hello Friends!
This is a continuation of the previous chapter.
That evening, at the bureau…
Shreya: (thinking) The incidents of the morning leave a lot of unanswered questions. If I am to uncover those secrets, I must stick around a bit longer with Purvi.
Purvi: Good night, Shreya. See you tomorrow.
Shreya: Um… Purvi… I was thinking maybe I could spend a few more evenings with you. Until Daya sir returns, that is. I'd get bored to death otherwise.
Sachin: No!
Shreya: No?! Why? Why do you have a problem?
Sachin: N… No… I… I don't have a problem. Purvi may have a problem. Right Purvi?
Purvi: Relax sir. I don't have a problem. Don't worry.
Sachin: Then that's fine, I guess. Purvi, I'd like to talk to you.
Purvi: Sure.
Sachin took her aside. This did not go unnoticed by Shreya.
Sachin: What are you doing?
Purvi: We don't have another option. I can't just shoo her away. Besides, it is just a week.
Sachin: Just a week? What about me?
Purvi: Aww darling… You're so sweet. Can't you manage for a week? (puppy eyes)
Sachin: (sigh) Fine. Just get me my toothbrush and a change of clothes tomorrow.
Purvi: Sure thing.
Sachin: And do that without blowing our cover.
Purvi: I'll try.
Sachin: Good. Wait, what? Try?
Purvi: (loudly) Good night, Sachin sir! See you tomorrow.
With this, Purvi trotted off with Shreya.
Shreya: What was Sachin sir telling you?
Purvi: Nothing. Just about a couple of files that needed work.
Shreya: (thinking) I can bet that was not the case. The day's events afford me enough proof to establish in a court of law that something is amiss. But what? I need to find out.
Purvi and Shreya drove back to Sachvi's house in their own cars.
At Sachvi's house…
Shreya: Purvi, I think we should run the washing machine.
Purvi: Sure.
They dumped their clothes in the machine, and turned it on.
Shreya furtively glanced around the house, hoping to find something that would yield a clue.
Purvi: I'll get some snacks.
Shreya: Okay.
A short while later, the machine beeped to indicate that the job was done.
Purvi: I'll just hang the clothes to dry on the terrace.
Shreya: I'll help you.
Purvi loaded the clothes into a basket, although there weren't too many of them, and carried them to the terrace. The two of them picked up clothes at random and hung them on a clothes line. Suddenly, Shreya held up a pair of trousers, and spoke.
Shreya: Purvi, don't you think these are a bit too long for you? Even the waist is unusually large.
One glance at the trousers told Purvi that she was in trouble. They were Sachin's.
Shreya: And what is this?
Purvi followed Shreya's gaze, only to find that she was staring at an orange shirt in the basket.
Shreya: Orange shirt?! Never saw you in that.
Shreya bent to pick it up.
Shreya: Too large for you, once again.
Purvi: I… I don't seem to remember… Ah, yes. I got those at a sale. They're too large for me, I know. Thought of discarding those.
Shreya: Are you sure? These seem well worn. You wouldn't wear them if you thought they were too large.
Purvi: They must be factory seconds, you see. Poor quality stuff at those sales.
Shreya: Oh, I see.
Purvi: (thinking) Shreya is so easily convinced!
Shreya: (thinking) Something in her voice tells me she's lying. Besides, these are not factory seconds. They're frayed from regular use. Wait a minute. Where have I seen these before? Orange shirt… I've certainly seen this one before. But where?
Shreya's train of thought was interrupted by Purvi's voice.
Purvi: What happened Shreya? Where are you lost?
Shreya: Nowhere. (thinking) Purvi never wears orange shirts.
Purvi: (slyly) Were you thinking about Daya sir?
Shreya: (blushing) No. I was thinking… Let's finish the work.
Purvi: Okay.
They hung the clothes, and moved back down.
Shreya had faint memories of the orange shirt. She had seen it somewhere, and she was sure about it. Exactly where, she could not recall.
They spent the evening chatting, snacking and watching TV. Finally, they had dinner, and went to sleep. It was about 11:30 pm.
As she got into the bed, Shreya suddenly remembered the crucial missing link.
Shreya: (thinking) That's it! I can't be mistaken. How could I not see through this earlier? I took the absence of call records to mean… But it could also mean that they stay close by, and possibly… together! But I'll need more proof before I break this news.
Shreya had an idea. She called the bureau landline.
Sachin: Hello? … Hello? … Who's there? … This is the CID bureau, and I am Inspector Sachin.
Shreya: (muffled voice) Sorry, wrong number.
Shreya immediately disconnected.
Sachin: (thinking) Who was that? Ah, never mind.
Shreya: (thinking) The pieces of the puzzle are slowly falling into place. If all goes well, I'll solve the case before Daya sir returns. In fact, I have to solve it before he returns. I won't have an excuse to stick around with Purvi after that.
Shreya dozed off with an evil smile on her lips, and a sinister plot in her head.
The next morning, Purvi was the first to rise, as usual. She brushed, took a bath, packed a toothbrush, toothpaste and a change of clothes for Sachin. By this time, Shreya was awake.
Shreya: Purvi, you do know that Sachin sir lives nearby, don't you?
Purvi: Of… Of course I do. That's how he gets to the bureau so early.
Shreya: Have you ever visited him?
Purvi: N… No. Why would I?
Shreya: Do you happen to have his address?
Purvi: No. Why do you ask?
Shreya: Just like that. You never know. You may just turn out to be neighbours.
Purvi: Oh, that. Quickly freshen up, then we'll have breakfast.
Shreya: Sure.
They had breakfast, and as they left for the bureau, Shreya noticed something.
Shreya: Purvi, what is that bag?
Purvi: Oh this? Some files that Sachin sir had asked for.
She quickly dumped the bag in the boot of the car, before Shreya could question her any further.
Shreya: I guess I should go in your car today. I'll be returning here anyways.
Purvi: Okay.
They left for the bureau in Purvi's car. At the bureau, they found Sachin asleep at his place, with his head resting on the table. Owing to the incidents of the previous day, Sachin thought it best to sleep in the office, instead of on the terrace, so he could answer calls on the bureau landline.
Purvi: Sachin sir… Sachin sir… (shaking him, loudly) Sachin sir…
Sachin: (sleepy voice) Let me sleep Purvi. We're only five minutes from the bureau.
Shreya: (puzzled) Only five minutes from the bureau? We're AT the bureau.
Sachin was jolted out of his slumber on hearing Shreya's voice.
Sachin: Ye… Yes, that's what I meant. We're AT the bureau.
Shreya: Why did you not go home? It's only five minutes from here.
Sachin: There was some work that had to be done.
Shreya: But I saw the files yesterday. There wasn't so much work that you'd have to spend the night in the bureau. Besides, you could have asked for help. Why did you decide to do it all on your own?
Sachin: I… I… I just like doing file work.
Shreya: What?! Oh, that reminds me. Purvi had a bagful of files for you. Where's that?
Purvi: Oh, I'm so sorry. I left it in the boot of the car.
Sachin: (puzzled, looking towards Purvi) Files? What files?
Purvi: The same ones, sir, that you had asked me to bring. Don't you remember?
Sachin recalled that he had asked for supplies.
Sachin: Oh, those.
Shreya: I'll get them from the car.
Sachin: No, that won't be necessary. Give me the keys. I'll be using them anyways.
Shreya: Using them?!
Sachin: I mean, checking them. For errors.
Purvi handed him the keys, and he took the elevator to the ground floor.
Shreya: Why did he go down?
Purvi: How do I know? You see how eccentric he is? I mean, who likes file work?
Shreya: I don't know about him, but you've also been into a lot of file work lately.
Purvi: That doesn't mean I like it.
Shreya: Only time will tell.
Purvi: What?!
Shreya: Nothing.
A short while later, Sachin appeared, wearing fresh clothes.
Shreya: Sir? Did you go back home?
Sachin: No. Why?
Shreya: Um… Your clothes… They look different.
Sachin: (thinking) Oh no! How could I forget? (speaking) Ye… Yes. I changed.
Shreya: But how? If you did not go home…
Sachin: I had these clothes in the boot of my car.
Shreya: Oh. But then why didn't you change yesterday?
Sachin: Because…
Purvi: (interrupting) You ask too many questions. Sachin sir hasn't had a very pleasant night anyways, and on top of that you bombard him with questions early in the morning.
Sachin: (thinking) Thank you, Purvi! (speaking) No, no. That's not a bother at all. But let's get to work, now.
Shreya: One last question to Sachin sir, if you don't mind, Purvi.
Purvi: Wh… Why would I mind?
Sachin: Yes?
Shreya: Where are the files that you went to fetch?
Sachin: Those files?
Shreya: Yes, those files.
Sachin: I… um… I… left them in the record room.
Purvi: Now, if you're done with your interrogation, let's allow Sachin sir to have breakfast.
Sachin: Yes. I'm going to the canteen. Be back in fifteen minutes.
Sachin left for the canteen. It was 09:00 am already, and Freddy entered the bureau.
Shreya: (thinking) Record room. Somehow, that inferno has been getting too much importance of late. Both from Sachin sir, and from Purvi. There's something unusual about that place. Something between Sachin sir and Purvi. Purvi headed straight for the record room when searching for sir yesterday, when there are so many other places to choose from. Sachin sir dumped the files in the record room, or at least so he claims, but that's usually the job of the janitor.
Purvi: Shreya? Where are you lost?
Shreya: Purvi, don't you think you worry too much about Sachin sir?
Purvi: What?! I mean that poor thing's not gone home in two days. He's been sleeping in the bureau. I pity him. Don't you?
Shreya: That's exactly my point. Why hasn't he gone home in two days? The work wasn't so much to warrant spending even one night, and he's spent two.
The other officers soon streamed in. A case was reported and off they went for the investigation.
Am I the only one who caught the unmistakable Sachvi moment on screen in yesterday's episode? No one else seems to be talking about it. Weird.
Dareya fans, please bear with me. The Anthology update will land before 07:00 pm tomorrow.