Chapter 3

A/N: I'm so so sorry that I kept you'll waiting for so long, but trust me, I have absolutely not had anytime to get any bit of writing done! :( I hope this update was satisfactory and a bog THANK YOU to all of you'll who reviewed and have liked my work so far! :D

Happy Reading! :D

CID Bureau:

"Kya! Abhijeet kisi anjaan aadmi se milne gaya hai? Koi uske saath gaya kyun nahi!"

"Sir, yeh baat Abhijeet ne sirf mujhe batayi thi..."

"Toh phir tum uske saath gaye kyun nahi!"

"Sir, hum sure nahi the ki woh note asli hai bhi ya nahi... aur uss note mein saaf saaf likha tha ki agar iss case ko leke humein suraag chahiye toh woh suraag woh sirf Abhijeet ko hi woh suraag dega, aur usse woh akele hi collect karna padega."

A look of uneasy deja vu crossed ACP Pradyuman's face. Sensing his apprehension, Daya added

"Sir, maine bohot samjhaane ki koshish ki, par..."

"Agar woh din tumhaari baat sun leta toh shayad aaj..."

Daya looked baffled at first, before the dawn of understanding came to his face of the underlying meaning of the statement. Shuffling his feet uneasily, he was about to say something before Abhijeet entered the Bureau, with triumph on his face. Several sighs of relief could be heard, while Abhijeet headed straight for ACP Pradyuman.

"Yeh lijiye sir."

"Kya hai yeh Abhijeet?"

"Computer par lagaa ke dekhiye sir."

Curiosity filled eyes stared at the computer while Abhijeet inserted the chip inside. A video recording popped up which showed two men arguing - one of them was Akash and the other one was an unknown man. It looked like the other man was blackmailing him. The same thing was being that Manik had let Abhijeet know in the car. Once the video stopped

"Abhijeet, yeh tumhein mila kahan se?"

"Yeh mere khabri ne diya... maine use Akash ki puri kundli nikaalne ke liye lagaaya tha..."

"Par yeh video use mila kahan se? Aur yeh aadmi kaun hai, jo ise blackmail kar raha hai?"

"Sir, yeh Manik hi hai..."

"Manik?"

"Yeh wahi khabri hai jis se main milne gaya tha sir... abhi chaar din pehle maine ise ek mission saupa tha... Mujhe shak tha ki kahin na kahin iss Rajeev ke saath haadse ke peeche Akash ka hi haath tha, isiliye ek experiment karne ke liye maine Manik ko bheja. Use bas Akash ko yeh yakeen dilaana tha ki woh sach mein uske raaz jaanta hai, aur andaaze se maine use Akash ke saamne ek kahani dohraane ko kaha. Aur Akash hamaare jaal mein phas gaya."

"Par yeh shak tumhaare mann mein aaya kaise?"

"Sir, pehle toh mujhe yeh baat bohot ajeeb lagi kikoi aadmi suicide note likhte wakt kyun uska suicide point batayega. Usmein koi logic hi nahi hai. Aur toh aur, Akash ka usi samay ghar aana... itna bada co-incidence. Mujhe tabhi shak hua ki daal mein kuch kaala hai. Uske baare mein bohot sochne ke baad, mere dimaag mein ek theory aayi - Agar Akash ne Rajeev ko apne raaste se hataane ke liye use phasa diya ho toh?

Phir uske liye Rajeev ke pass saboot hone chahiye the. Par kaisa saboot? Aur phir ek naya dhaga - woh company Akash ki hi thi. Shayad woh Rajeev ke naam se yeh company chala raha tha, isiliye jab uss company ko lekar investigation shuru hua, tab Rajeev inn sab mein pakda gaya. Par Rajeev apni begunahi kaise saabit kar sakta tha?

Simple tha. Uska signature. Bhale hi Akash ek handwriting expert tha, phir bhi ek insaan ke signature mein hamesha uske trade marks hote hai. Iss case mein bhi waisa hi tha. Maine company ke kuch purane kagzadon se Rajeev ke signature ka ek copy liya, aur uss doosre company ke papers par se Rajeev ke signature ki copy li. Dur se dekhne par signature same lagta hai, par agar unhein closely observe kiya jaye, toh dono mein bohot saare minute differences hai. Main tabhi samajh gaya tha ki Rajeev ko jaan bhooj ke phasaya gaya.

Jaise ki humein pata hai, Akash iss formula ko ek private company ko bhechna chahta tha. Woh company yahi company thi. Formula agar ek baar Akash ke haath lag jaati, toh phir woh yeh formula kisi bhi third party ko bhechke apna bankrupy hata sakta tha, aur phir bhi uske paas itne paise hote ki kisi ko uspar shak nahi hota. Par Rajeev ise Government ko bhechna chahta tha, aur kyunki uss experiment ka head Rajeev tha, Akash usmein kuch nahi kar sakta tha.

Uski yeh illegal company ke baare mein kisi bhi din Rajeev ko pata chal sakta tha, jisse use blacklist kiya jaata, aur jail ki sazaa bhi ho jaati, jisse uska career khatam ho sakta tha. Isiliye, Akash ne apne game plan ko effect mein laya. Rajeev ke naam ke forged documents Research Center ke chief ko anonymously present kar diya, aur Rajeev ko phasa diya.

Rajeev uss wakt teen din ki chutti pe gaya tha, isiliye use bhanak bhi nahi lagi thi. Woh ek bohot respectable scientist tha, isiliye arrest warrants ko chief ne rok ke rakha tha. Jab woh waapas aaya, usi din usse yeh sab pata chalta. Shayad uss wakt Rajeev ko pata chal gaya ki iss sab ke peeche Akash ka haath hai, aur usne Akash ko saaf-saaf keh diya ki uske paas saboot hai jisse woh bach sakta hai.

Tabhi Akash ne apne suicide ka poora naatak racha, aur Rajeev ko dhoke se Helipad bula liya. Use pata tha ki Rajeev ek naram dil ka insaan hai, aur woh uski baaton mein aa jayega. Bas isi baat ka fayda uthaake usne Rajeev ko khaai mein phek diya, aur waapas aake puri suicide ki scenario set kar di. Aur ab kahin na kahin, yeh Rajeev ya shayad uske naam pe koi aur, iss Akash se badla lena chahta hai, uski project ko dubaake."

Bas isi theory ko thode naatak ke saath maine Manik ke zariye Akash se saamne rakh diya. Aur usne apni pehli galti ki. Darr ke maare apna gunah maan liya. Ismein bohot khatra tha, par hamaari line of duty mein toh risks lene hi padte hai. Ab yeh ateet ka raaz hi hamare case ke taale ki chaabi hai, jo humein iss case mein aur aage lekar jayega."

Everyone looked stunned as Abhijeet finished his explanation. It was a very loose theory that had absolutely no evidence to go on. It was what people would usually call 'hopeful thinking'. And yet - he HAD just created the evidence. Looking at Abhijeet with love and admiration, ACP Pradyuman spoke with determination, his bad mood all forgotten.

"Uss Akash ko kisi bhi haalat mein Bureau leke aao. Aur Daya, tum yahi ruko, aur apni interrogation ki puri taayari karo!"

A chorus of "Yes sir" could be heard, before moved ahead to complete the tasks assigned to them.

At Akash's Home:

Abhijeet, Sachin, Vivek and Kajal reach Akash's house, which is a bunglaow.

"Yeh darwaza koi khol nahi kyun raha hai sir?" Vivek questioned impatiently as Abhijeet rang the bell and knocked the door simultaneously.

"Pata nahi Vivek... Research Center waalon ne toh bataya ki yeh Akash aaj aaya nahi hai?"

"Sir, kahin koi gadbad toh nahi hai?" Kajal asked, her voice carrying an undertone of premonition in it.

"Ho sakta hai..."

Giving a hesitant look at first, Abhijeet extracted a pocket knife, and opened the front door in the next few moments. The house looked quite peaceful. Signalling the other two to search the house in different directions, Sachin headed towards the bedroom, which was located on the upper landing. Opening the door to the bedroom, Abhijeet caught sight of Akash sleeping on his bed.

Looking around him suspiciously for a moment, he deduced that there had been no sort of struggle around, and there was absolutely no sign of anyone's presence having been there. An irritated sigh left his lips. Here they were, banging and breaking his door, and he on the other hand, slept away peacefully. And that's when he scrutinized his expression.

His expression did not have any peace on it. On the contrary, it looked disturbed and troubled. He looked much older now, than the first time he had seen him in his office. He had quite an easy nature, and had a moderately charming face, which had a quality to make people do things against their wishes. He had quite a temper at times though, that was a contrast to his usual self.

But then there was a very strange aura about him. Even though he had the looks and the brains, he was never a likable fellow. He had mood swings as fast as how a cup of tea would get cold, and there were moments where he looked close to having a nervous breakdown. He could be defined as a chap who would always end up chewing more than he could, and would play dirty to get himself off the hook, at whatever cost it may be then. A crook in short.

Even at that moment, his face carried a shady look about it. He looked like he had aged a twenty years more at the elapse of the previous week. Since he was the head of the experiment formula, he had to face the full wrath of the Board of the Research Center, which had led to his suspension. Plus, he had provided 20% of the amount equivalent to the gold bars, whose whereabouts were still unknown.

At that moment, a vivid thought struck Abhijeet. What if this was all about revenge? That the person responsible wanted Akash to go through the same morbid feeling as Rajeev had gone through? It was obviously the only motive in the case. There was still the possibility that the Rajeev Arjun had mentioned in his last breath was another person all together, but in his mind, Abhijeet was certain that he was on the right track.

And the only person who could lead him to the next link was Akash himself. Walking over to him, Abhijeet shook him roughly.

"Akash... aye... aye..." But before Abhijeet could do anything more, Akash's head fell to one side. Looking at him with suspicion, Abhijeet felt for his pulse. Nothing. Just then, Sachin entered the room. Looking at him with blank eyes, Abhijeet said

"Yeh mar chuka hai."

2 hours later:

CID Forensic Lab:

Dr. Salunkhe was at his desk, examining something in his microscope when the whole team except Vivek and Kajal (who were at the crime spot still) entered the Lab.

"Bata Salunkhe, kya pata chala tujhe." ACP Pradyuman spoke in an agitated voice. His fresh spirits from earlier in the day had once gaian been replaced by the same mysterious behaviour.

"Batata hoon..." Looking up from the microscope, Dr. Salunkhe now situated himself near the stretcher. "Boss, iski maut zeher se hui hai."

"Zeher se?!" Abhijeet exclaimed in shock. He had checked the entire body for any sign of physical wounds, but he had found none. The body had also shown no regular symptoms of any type of poison being administered. On the contrary, he had almost come to the conclusion that Akash had died by a cardiac arrest, due to the pressure and stress of these past few days.

"Haan Abhijeet, zeher se... tum theek toh ho?" At that moment, Abhijeet had held the stretcher for support while he looked like he was going to faint. Snapping his head up quickly, while averting his gaze, he covered up hastily.

"Haan... haan sir, main bilkul theek hoon... woh bas thakaan si mehsoos ho rahi thi."

All the pairs of eyes which were observing him with apprehension at that moment relaxed back, except one. Dr. Salunkhe, if anything, looked more tensed. He quickly headed towards his drawer, and took out something and kept it in his coat pocket.

"Kya tha woh doctor sahab?" Abhijeet asked, but his tone was slurry. Looking at Abhijeet with fearful eyes, Dr. Salunkhe asked him in return.

"Abhijeet, kya tumne laash ko check kiya tha?"

"Ha... haan sir... maine aur Sachin ne." This time, however, his tone was normal. Dr. Salunkhe immediately looked at Sachin. He seemed to look alright to him. Shaking his head, he continued once again in his professional tone.

"Theek hai."

"Waise Dr. Salunkhe, yeh kaunse type ka zeher hai?" Daya interjected, while looking at Abhijeet suspiciously. Abhijeet had now turned pale.

"Daya, yeh ek bohot hi rare kisam ka zeher hai, jiske baare mein sirf scientists aur forensic experts hi jaante hai. Yeh koi natural zeher nahi, balki ise lab mein compose kiya jaata hai. Iss zeher ko "The Silent Killer" ke naam se jaana chahta hai. Agar iss zeher ko khule haathon se chu lo, toh insaan do se teen ghante ke andar andar bhi mar sakte hai, kyunki woh zeher skin cells ke saath hi multiply karta hai."

A random picture crossed Abhijeet's mind about him touching Akash's body bare-handedly to check for his pulse. Shaking his head, he removed the thought from his mind. It was not possible at all.

"Yeh zeher ke symptoms laash pe kabhi dikhai nahi padte. Laash ko dekhkar aisa hi lagta hi ki victim cardiac arrest se mara hoga."

"Toh Akash ki maut kitne ghante pehle hui thi?"

"Akash ki maut kam se kam 8 se 10 ghante pehle hui thi. Yaani ke subah ke 2 se 4 baje ki beech hui hai."

"Sir aapko zeher kya iske pet mein se mila?"

"Haan Sachin, mujhe zeher isske pet mein se mila hai. Jiska matlab yeh hai, ki isse zeher khaane peene ke samaan mein hi diya hoga."

"Par sir, uske naukar ne toh bataya ki kal raat 9 baje ko khaana kha liya tha usne, aur uske baad turant sone gaya, na kuch khaya na kuch piya. Aur aapne kaha ki maut 2-3 ghante mein ho jaati hai, par Akash..."

"Haan Sachin, bilkul sahi keh rahe ho... par jab yeh zeher khaane mein mil jaata hai tab iska asar 2-3 ghante der se ho jaati hai. Isiliye kisi ko pata nahi chala. Yeh Akash apni neend mein hi mar gaya hoga."

Everyone stood there silently grasping in everything that was said. ACP Pradyuman said

"Lagta hai yeh naukar ismein mila hua hai. Kal raat khaana bhi usi ne banaaya tha."

"Nahi Pradyuman. Yeh zeher har koi handle nahi kar sakta. Use sirf ek scientist ya expert hi sahi tarah se istemaal kar sakta hai. Yeh zeher mein ek ajeeb si badbu hai, jise koi bhi scientist pehchaan paata hai. Aur Akash khud ek scientist tha. Agar usne woh khaana khaaya hai, toh khooni ne zeher bhi itne acche se milaaya hoga ki Akash ko shak hi nahi hua.

Boss, ek aur baat, yeh zeher itna khatarnaak hai ki marne ke baad, laash ki shareer radio-active jaise ho jaata hai. Uss laash ko agar koi bhi nange-haath haath lagaayega, toh uski bhi maut 2-3 ghante mein ho jaayegi." Salunkhe had barely completed his statement, when a huge crashing sound emanated from behind.

Abhijeet had collapsed on the ground. His head had sweat beads glistening, and he seemed to be trying hard to gasp for breath.

"Abhijeet!" Everyone rushed to him, but Salunkhe and Daya were at the forefront, with Salunkhe trying to ease his breathing while Daya trying to keep him conscious.

"Abhijeet ankhen khuli rakho... please aankhe khuli rakho... agar yeh behosh ho jayega toh bohit badi problem ho jayegi..." Salunkhe seemed to have taken over Daya's job. "Koi jaldi ambulance bulaao!" Was all he managed to instruct out.

By now Abhijeet had no control over himself- he seemed to have been shuttling between consciousness and unconsciousness already, while he left his limbs go numb. He felt like his body was on fire and yet he felt his insides being stabbed over and over with ice knives. He no longer felt himself capable of drawing in sufficient breath.

He felt himself hurting now. He wanted it to end. He wanted the pain to go. He could no longer take the pain of his insides being chewed at. He tried to run towards darkness, but the light still followed him. Along with the blurry silhouettes of his loved ones - his only family.

Salunkhe removed the mysterious object from his pocket from earlier, which was a syringe with its blue contents ready to do its job. Urging him to keep awake, Salunkhe injected him with the syringe in the neck mid-vien, before Abhijeet took one last gasp and fell still.

Haash! :D Finally update ho hi gaya! Constructive criticism will be more than welcome. :D

Now some clarifications,

Firstly the poison I've mentioned here, this has been inspired from Mission Impossible 2 and the way the theory was worked out has been totally inspired from the numerous cases of Castle. :D

That's all for now! Take care until we meet next! :D :D