Chapter 9

Romil~

Sir had told me a very different thing, which I still couldn't fathom. His face when he explained to me how we are going to take down Dev was metaphysical. The light on his face told me that everything's gonna be fine and we will be able to catch Dev one day or the other.

But one thing was making me restless. Why did he choose this path of the plan and why not others? it's very very risky for the person who's going to do it. And fortunately and unfortunately both, I was sad and happy simultaneously, that person was not at all me. Obviously, questions raised why not me? He trusts me with his instincts then why not?

Asking myself this question was also not proper as he had mentioned earlier he would not like to involve me in such dangerous matters. I stand at a very important point in his life, he considers me as his son, so it's baseless to ask such questions to myself about why not me?

I remember he had also told me that— that person has a motive to do so and is equally intelligent as Dev to tackle this situation. Such a pity for that person who has got this huge mission. Taking down Dev is not easy as playing with a kid, he is so merciless he kills people brutally. One such incident I remember is when one time I had just joined the police and Dev was just about to disappear too in a so-called hiding place, but as such he has never hidden it was, as usual, a part of his plan.

So the incident was so that Dev had smuggled millions of rupees from a Bangladeshi smuggler and there was one innocent man who saw Dev doing this, knowing it was him he immediately decided to call on the police. The one who picked up the call was none other than me. At that time I didn't know how Dev looks or he was so dangerous and all, but all I knew was he was a high profile criminal and wanted.

As soon as we got the information from the man we, with our forces, went on to drag Dev down. We all went to the place without any police jeeps that would make huge siren noises, instead, we chose vans and stuff. We also went without uniforms so his people wouldn't recognize us. I with my force had been sent by commissioner sir to the place and he told us to split in different directions. It was my second mission as I remember.

The place was an under-construction building which was worn out, it looked more of a deteriorated one. Leakages were present from the top floor as it's strings directly flowed to the ground one. I took my gun out, starting to point out in case any unwanted scene was created. I told my people directions with a huffed voice as soon as I went to the left of the top floor of the building where the terrace was located.

Much to my surprise, there was no one, not a single ant looked that way. I looked for clues if I could find any but none. I asked my team and they responded none too. Then where did the criminals and the witness go? There was a huge question mark on my face. Was it set up or something?

Thinking about this, quickly I ran downwards and ordered my team to get in the van. It could be a plan I told them. Without taking further risks I quickly whisked from there. The very next day, a call came for the commissioner from a village nearby the worn outbuilding.

Sir, two to three police officers from our department ran to see the case.

A middle-aged farmer like looking man was murdered at the side of the lake. His body was stinking with blood and the most heinous thing to see was that his skin was peeled off from his hands and was stitched on his forehead. Sir bent down to look at the body and he found a message written on his stitched skin. What a funny thing, the message was written with blood. It read 'Dev'.

Oh my god! This means it was the dev's doing. The dead body's legs were scratched with blade marks all over, which gave shivers across the spines of the people standing nearby observing the crime scene. Flies were sitting on the body, buzzing over it.

Thank god I was not at the scene. I can't see a dead body in such bad condition. I mean is that person even a human? Who kills such psychotically?. And before killing others in such a bad way, does he think about the pain, about the families and even about himself, that what will happen if anyone kills him in the same manner?. The man who was murdered was none other than the witness who told us one day prior to dev's smuggling. A poor thing without any fault he died such an atrocious death. Truly, Dev has no mercy at all.

I really don't know what's going to happen with the person on this mission. Will he survive? It's the most appropriate question I think rather than will Dev survive?. And yes, Dev always has the habit of slitting the throats of the people whom he killed. Maybe it's his style. Commissioner sir has seen him and he says even if that guy is hard-hearted his face and body structure is one of a kind. He's handsome as heaven that how commissioner sir describes Dev.

Dev~

What was she even doing? I couldn't gain anything for a second and then my mind opened. Was it a hug? Yes! It was a hug. I pushed her away from me as soon as I came to my senses. I frowned at her not knowing what to say after such an act.

"What are you up to You mad lady?". I asked choking for a bit. My gang is getting all giggly from far away. What was so funny in that by the way.

Upon asking her, she again hugged me this time more tightly. I, too, pushed her hard this time that she fell on the ground.

"What are you doing boss? Don't do this please," said Mayank. He came running and helped her get up.

"Silly girl. Why did you hug our boss huh? " asked Suraj.

"I don't want him to go". She answered, still frightened.

I was about to slap her and raised my hand as Raghav stopped me. "No boss, she's not well. Okay you girl you come with us. Let him go."

"Just take her away from my sight," I barked.

As they were taking her away from me, she kicked her hands and legs and didn't want me to leave. She cried forcefully. I understood her behaviour, this whole time I was with her and now suddenly I am leaving her with unknown people. I let out a sigh as I looked at her, she stared at me from far away, taking her as an innocent child. For an instant or so, my heart ached for this innocence of hers leaving me surprised.

~~~~~

"Good morning sir," saluted Romil.

"Oh! Come to my boy," said the commissioner sitting in his cabin.

"Sir, so you have already appointed a person for Dev's case. So why wouldn't we focus on the Shalmali's case now?" Romil asked hastily.

"We could, son, but let's keep it aside for a while now, " the commissioner said, avoiding.

"But sir.. "

"No formal. As I have told you we cannot mix the two cases together, let's first solve; dev's matter and then we'll decide what to do about the other. Ok?" A pen in his hand and a sheet in front of him, while writing something he said.

"Ok sir. " Romil gave a goodbye salute.

Romil's mind was flooding with questions as to why commissioner sir is not paying any attention towards the girl's case?

Does he not want to? Or is there something else? He had to ask him, he noted. He went back again into the commissioner's cabin.

"Sir, is there anything related to the case? That you are not interested in it. I mean I am sorry to say this but my mind cannot stay perplexed," asked Romil.

"Why do such things arise in your mind boy?" asked the commissioner, stopping his work and folding his hands looking straight at Romil.

"I don't know sir, I am sorry but I think you are trying to avoid the case purposefully," Romil put his head down in guilt and uttered.

There was a moment for a moment between the two. Romil was searching continuously expecting answers from his fatherly commissioner. The commissioner's moustache twitched upon the silence and thought to break it.

"No my son, there's nothing like what you're thinking. Why will I avoid it? I am just telling you that the girl's case is not so important. We can do it later. That's about it. Why will I ignore it otherwise. Look she is mentally retarded, she must have gone somewhere on her own. It's not a big problem to solve it immediately," explained the commissioner.

"But sir, you've never done this in any case. Why are you ignoring this case then and saying it's not so important?. You have taken each and every case with utmost dedication and solved it whether it was just a bicycle's robbery, remember? Then here, she is a human, living one. How can you say that's not important, " retorted Romil.

" But, Why are you so much interested in this case romil?", the commissioner asked, taking off his police cap and placing it on the desk carefully.

"I am not saying sir that I am interested in it. I am just saying that, if we handle each and every case importantly then suddenly how this case becomes unimportant to you?" Romil retorted again.

"Huh. I think you should rest for my boy. Don't stress out so much. We will look into it when the right time comes. Don't worry," said the commissioner, rolling his pen in between his fingers.

"No but sir, I told you earlier too, that I think Dev's current murder and Shalmali's disappearance is a connected case," said romil making hand gestures.

"And I'll again say that it's not," the commissioner said dismissively.

"How can you be so confident, sir?"

"Romil, I am telling you it's enough now. Go home and take some rest, you really need it."

Romil put his hand on his head and massaged it and said, "Sir, I am really very worried about that girl. Look sir anything can happen with her, she is not in a good condition so she must be roaming freely so her accident can happen or maybe rape or many people might make her beg on the streets too for money. Sir here my point of saying is that at least we can send a small team of our officers to search for her. I am saying that at least we can look at it side by side rather than focusing on it completely." Romil was trying his best to explain his view to the commissioner.

~~

" Hey, girl, what's your name?" asked Mayank.

" C'mon Mayank what are you asking, she might not know," said Suraj.

" Do you know your name, girl?" now it was Raghav.

They all were making Shalmali shiver with fright as she was looking here and there with all the new faces. They had made her sit on the ground, they sat along with her and were asking these questions making her mind go crazier. She asked them what is a name? and they all laughed like devils. She had clenched both her hands bringing it to her chest along with her knees folded.

"Hey let's not be stupid guys, have at least some sympathy for her. Just look at her condition. Suraj goes and brings a glass of water," pitied Mayank, ordering Suraj.

"Here drink this girl, " Suraj forwarded the glass of water to the mouth of hers. She swayed, rejecting the glass, making the glass bang on the floor with all the water spilling out.

"What did you do girl?" frowned Suraj in anger.

"Let it be suraj, bring another glass we will make her drink it, if not she will faint. Just look at her dry lips. Boss must have not even given her water since yesterday, "pitied Raghav this time.

"Okay I'll bring another one, " complied Suraj.

Mayank took the glass of water and Raghav held both her hands making her throw her body here and there with fear. Mayank promptly put the glass near her mouth and Suraj opened her mouth. All three of them made her drink the water. And they were finally successful. She drank a few sips and later became calm and took the glass and emptied it whole by herself.

~~

"Please Romil now enough is enough. Don't make me scold you. I told you there's nothing in this case to stretch it and stress out so much about it. Just stay calm and let me also stay calm. For me, Dev is more important than anything else. Got it. Now go and don't waste my time," said the commissioner, frustrated.

" Okay sir," Romil got up and gave a salute to him and didn't say anything further after hearing a direct get out from his fatherly figure. He was a bit hurt by his words.

As soon as Romil exited, the commissioner put him down in worry.

His face is completely worried about what's gonna happen further and how's he gonna handle it forward. Don't know till what time he has to hide this secret from his so-called rail about not looking into Shalmali's case.

"Only I know son, how hard it is for me to hide it from you, trust me. But when the time comes I'll surely tell you why I don't want to take her case, " said the commissioner to himself.