Chapter 4: The Investigation.

Same day Morning: On the way –

Unaware of all the happenings DAYA was constantly trying to contact ABHIJEET while SACHIN drove the CID SUV and SHREYA waited at the backseat to reach to the camp site to investigate two missing persons from camp.

DAYA kept calling ABHIJEEET until the network itself gave up in the jungle area.

Camp site –

The students were sent back to their town last evening after two students went missing from the camp except two students who stayed back to provide help to the CID with their queries.

DAYA, SHREYA and SACHIN from CID Mumbai reach to the camp site to investigate the two missing students. The three remained shocked to hear PURVI's name who is their colleague ABHIJEET'S sister as one of the missing person.

SHREYA asked the girl name VANI: how did she go missing?'

VANI: That's strange. She was all the time in her tent and even didn't come out of it.'

SHREYA: Then when did you get to know that she went missing?'

VANI: Around 9 o'clock I left her in the tent while she was reading a book and when at 11 o'clock we return to the tent to sleep, she was not there. First I thought she just went out but she didn't return.'

The three officers looked at each other as they know PURVI very well.

DAYA sensed something fishy as ABHIJEET was unreachable from yesterday. Last time he saw ABHIJEET at the CID bureau the day before yesterday evening since while leaving the bureau.

DAYA looked at the boy and asked him: Who is the other person went missing?'

The boy name SAAHIL answered: Sir, RAJAT.'

DAYA: how did he go missing?'

SAAHIL: Sir, after setting up the tents he went into the jungle saying he is going to the jungle for a while and will be back by the night but he didn't returned at all. But sir I don't think he went missing.'

DAYA asked: Why?'

SAAHIL: The next day when we realized that the two students are missing from the camp, we went to look for them into groups. We looked for them till evening. If they just lost in the jungle then we would have found them. When we were returning to the camp, I found a stick.'

SACHIN: So?'

SAAHIL: All the way to the campsite RAJAT was playing with a stick. When he left in the jungle, and then also the stick was in his hand. At the spot where I found that stick, I even saw some blood stain on the ground and a log lying nearby.'

The three officers looked at each other.

DAYA looked serious and asked the boy: Where is that place?'

SAAHIL took them to the spot at 10 minutes distance from the camp by walk. They found the log there that was used to hit RAJAT and SACHIN saw the blood stains too.

SACHIN to DAYA: He is right sir. This can't be a mere missing case.'

DAYA: That means it's either they got kidnapped or are in danger.'

DAYA asked the guy: Do you have any idea who could do this to him and why?'

SAAHIL: I don't know sir why would someone kidnap him. He has no family and also not that rich for kidnappers to get ransom. '

DAYA: Does he have any fight or argument with someone recently?'

SAAHIL nodded in no.

DAYA: Any enemy who could do this to him?'

SAAHIL: As much as I know him, he only had one enemy in the college.'

DAYA asked: Who is he?'

SAAHIL: Me.'

The three officers looked in surprise at him as SHREYA asked: Didn't you say you are his friend?'

SAAHIL: yes. Now we are friend but once we used to be enemies. So other than me he had no enemy in college.'

DAYA: and out of college?'

SAAHIL: He never went out of the college hostel unless it's necessary. He even spent all his vacations at the college hostel only. So it's impossible for him to have an enemy outside of college.'

SHREYA exclaimed: That's strange.'

SAAHIL looking at SHREYA agreed in an extended tone: yeah.'

DAYA'S one glare made the boy avert his gaze off of SHREYA.

SACHIN asked the boy diverting the moment: By the way, what was the problem between you two that you two use to be enemies?'

SAAHIL spat: He was a rude jerk. I didn't like him since the first day of the college. First he turned out to be my roommate, then classmate and then in my football team. Talking to him was like talking to a wall. I was the captain of the football team and every time he left without a word or not answering, he got on my nerves. He was a nice player so I couldn't drop him either. One day I had enough of him and lose my temper. I started it and…'

SHREYA asked as the other two looked curious: And?'

SAAHIL continued: And he ended it breaking my arm. It was so close to our football tournament. I cursed him all day long but the next day I got to know that he too dropped his name from the football team voluntarily. And for the next three weeks he did all my work to help me with my broken arm without asking. Despite of my disliking towards him, he kept doing it dedicatedly.'

SAAHIL continued as the three listen to him: After three weeks he even apologized to me saying he didn't meant to hurt me, it's just happened that way. He joined the football team the day I joined the team after my recovery.'

SAAHIL smiled looking at the three officers: That day I got to know that he wasn't rude but he is just that way. He is little grumpy around people but is a quite interesting person to be with. After that day I understand his silence and he listened to my words. That way we get well together now.'

SACHIN: If he has nothing to do with anyone then why would someone kidnap him?'

DAYA: We have to figure it out. Let's go.'

SHREYA asked the boy before leaving: Are you sure PURVI and RAJAT haven't seen each other in the camp?'

SAAHIL: No ma'm, I don't think RAJAT would have seen any of the girl's faces in the camp.'

SHREYA looked backed at the two officers and nodded at the boy: ok.'

The team left saying thanking the two students for co-operating.

In the SUV –

SACHIN drove the SUV while DAYA again got busy with his phone to find any network by chance as he said to the other two: I am having a feeling that ABHIJEET is up to something, we don't know.'

DAYA: But the question that is bothering me more is why would someone kidnap two students from two different colleges who ended up together by chance and have no connection with each other?'

SHREYA: Do you think sir that PURVI might get kidnapped from the camp and the kidnappers tried to blackmail ABHIJEET sir.'

SACHIN: It happened once before also. What about RAJAT then?'

SHREYA speculated: what I think is if there is no motive for anyone to kidnap RAJAT, then is it possible that someone kidnapped PURVI from her tent and on the way RAJAT saw them or tried to stop them and in that way he too get ended up being kidnapped.'

DAYA and SACHIN both glanced at her from the rearview mirror for her theory that suited well if the first theory of PURVI getting kidnapped is true.

SACHIN agreed: It can happen that way too.'

SACHIN asked DAYA: What do you think sir?'

DAYA out of the blue shouted: I GOT IT!'

That made SACHIN pull the break and SHREYA startle as SACHIN and SHREYA looked at DAYA, SHREYA asking: got what?'

DAYA again excitedly shouted: I got network.'

SACHIN and SHREYA looked at him dumbfounded as he shouted like that for getting network and SHREYA murmured under her breath: he shouted like as if he got PURVI'S location.'

SACHIN again drove while DAYA called at CID bureau Mumbai.

Nikhil picked the call: yes sir!'

DAYA: NIKHIL, track ABHIJEET's phone location immediately.'

NIKHIL: right sir.'

He checked ABHIJEET's location and informed DAYA: Sir, last ABHIJEET sir's phone was active at the MALWADI road.'

DAYA wondered: MALWADI road? What he was doing there?'

NIKHIL asked: Is there any problem sir?'

DAYA: ABHIJEET'S phone is unreachable from yesterday that's why I asked you.'

NIKHIL nodded: Sir, yesterday ABHIJEET sir asked me to track a cell phone number he got a call from.'

DAYA: What number?'

NIKHIL: it was a private number. So I couldn't figure out its location.'

DAYA: why didn't you tell me this before?'

NIKHIL: ABHIJEET sir asked me to not to tell anyone.'

DAYA in a disappointed tone: NIKHIL…'

NIKHIL: sorry sir!'

DAYA asked SACHIN to turn the SUV to drive to MALWADI road and SACHIN did so.

DAYA in phone to NIKHIL: NIKHIL, if you find anything about the private number or get any call from ABHIJEET, inform me right away.'

NIKHIL: right sir.' And they hang up the call.

Seeing DAYA'S worried expression SHREYA asked: What happened?'

DAYA: There is surely something wrong. Day before yesterday night ABHIJEET got an anonymous call from a private number, the same night PURVI went missing. ABHIJEET is unreachable since yesterday and his last phone location is detected at MALWADI road. I highly doubt that the call ABHIJEET got has something to do with PURVI going missing.'

SACHIN: In that case SHREYA'S theory seems quite possible.'

DAYA: we will get all our answers at MALWADI road.'

And the SUV moved fast on the way to MALWADI road.

In the jungle –

TARIKA took the handcuffed man at her gun point and asked him: Without wasting the time, effort and energy tell me everything you know if you want to live. Otherwise it won't take me think twice to kill you.'

The man was scared but was reluctant to say anything looking at the surroundings.

ABHIJEET prompted him: Don't doubt her intentions. She can really do that. And it's too dangerous to test her patience. So speak up?'

TARIKA looking at the two injured people said: As soon as we will find the two students, you will be able to reach hospital for your treatment. Otherwise you both are going to die here in few hours for not getting treatment on time.'

Finally one of the injured man opened his mouth telling them everything how they kidnapped the student and they get switched with the other party in the jungle and also how the captives escape at the time of trading.

Man: The boy took the girl and ran into the jungle.'

ABHIJEET: where are they now?'

Man: They are still in the jungle and our men are looking for them.'

ABHIJEET: How many people are there in the jungle?'

MAN: we were 6 people and the other party also has 6-7 people with them.'

ABHIJEET and TARIKA looked and nodded each other.

TARIKA warned the goons before leaving: if you any of you try to escape from here, you are going to be shot at sight next time.'

And both the officers went deeper in the jungle leaving the 5 men there.

After walking 5 to ten minutes TARIKA said: This won't work.'

ABHIJEET suggested: we should split up.'

TARIKA nodded: you go that way, I will go this way.'

And the two went to different directions.