Page 49 of Shattered

My thoughts wander back to the events of two nights ago.

I was pacing in my room, replaying the memory of Reyansh dropping me home after the party, when my phone rang. Seeing Officer Viraj’s name, I hesitated to answer it. However, remembering that the unknown person had mentioned being unable to meet due to a sudden issue, I realised this might be the perfect time to speak with Officer Viraj.

I answered the call and spoke, “Officer, I can’t talk over the phone. I need to meet you now.”

“I’ll come to the lane next to your house in ten minutes,” he said before hanging up.

With my heart beating wildly, I spent a few minutes in my room, trying to calm myself before quietly sneaking out of my house and stepping into the dimly lit alley. I immediately spotted the Officer’s car and stood a few feet away.

Officer Viraj approached me cautiously. His eyes darted around, ensuring we weren’t being followed.

“What’s the matter?” he asked, standing in front of me.

I bit my lip nervously but held his gaze steadily.I relayed the details of the ominous messages and the culprit’s threats against involving the police.

He nodded his head. “I knew this is what would happen. I’ve been searching and pulling at threads, hoping for the rat to come out of its hole. His trying to get in touch with you and keep tabs on you was bound to happen. That’s the reason I called you; I wanted to give you a mobile phone that can’t be traced, and I am glad I brought it along with me,”he said as he slipped a secure mobile phone into my hand. “Use this burner phone to contact me and keep me updated.”

I took the phone with a quick nod and headed back home, feeling relieved.

From that moment on, Officer Viraj and I had maintained contact through this untraceable phone, ensuring the culpritremained unaware of our communication. I had kept him in the loop at every step, including sending him a copy of Nisha’s emails, photos of her diary, and a list of her classmates.

The sound of a car horn passing by pulls me back to the present. With a sigh, I get into my car and start the engine. I need to find out more if I want to catch the culprit. I need to dig deeper into this mystery and the shadows that surround it.

Chapter 24

Reyansh

I hate it. I fucking hate it. Seeingthe worry etched on Kavya’s face breaks my heart. It just drives me to the brink of madness.It’s like my very being is begging me to lose control, and only I know how I am managing to maintain my composure.The intense rage bubbling inside me is almost too much to bear, and all I can think about is finding out whoever is responsible and making them pay.

It’s been an hour since Kavya met with Suman and came back empty-handed. My stomach still churns as I recall the disappointment on her face when she recounted how unhelpful the meeting had been.I wanted nothing more than to take her away from all of this, somewhere far, to clear her mind. But I knew that running was not an option, nor would it be of any help.We had to update Officer Viraj and figure out our next step.So, I suggested we meet at my place, where we could discuss everything in private.

Sitting on the couch beside Kavya, I gently hold her hands as they rest on her lap, listening to her conversation with Officer Viraj. They have been exchanging thoughts back and forth eversince we settled down in my living room, but so far, they haven’t been able to reach to any conclusion.

Taking a deep breath, I try to focus on their conversation, but my heart keeps pounding with the realisation that Kavya is here, in my home. I had always dreamed of the day she would step into my house. However, the reality is far from what I had imagined. Instead of seeing her smiling and joyful, I find her tense and worried. Crap! Seeing her like this is breaking my heart, bit by bit.

Officer Viraj’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts and pulls me back into the conversation.

“Are you absolutely sure that none of her friends or classmates ever seemed strange or unusual to you? Not even the slightest doubt on anyone? Or did Nisha happen to share anything out of the ordinary?”

Kavya sighs deeply. “I don’t know any of her classmates well enoughto be suspicious of anyone. Nisha hasn’t shared anything with me either.The only person I’ve ever seen her bring home is Suman.”

Officer Viraj turns his attention toward me. “Mr. Kundra, regarding the person your bodyguard caught outside Kavya’s house, did he happen to see the person’s face?”

I shake my head. “He couldn’t see the face because he was wearing a mask.”

“And you mentioned finding a tracking device, correct?” Officer Viraj inquires.

I nod. “Yes, I sent it to my friend Sidharth to trace where the device was purchased.Unfortunately,the purchase was made without a name on the bill. He’s currently working on retrieving footage from the shop to identify any customers from the past few days.”

Kavya wipes a tear from her cheek and suggests softly, “Perhaps we should keep quiet for a few days and not ignore that he has threatened my sister’s life.”

Officer Viraj gives Kavya a small nod. “I agree with Kavya. Let’s play the waiting game and see what his next move is.”

“But what if that gives him an opportunity to attack her?” I ask, uncertain if it’s a wise decision.

“I doubt he would risk doing anything reckless that might lead to him being caught. However, I won’t underestimate him. We’ll stay vigilant and keep our ears and eyes open for anything unusual. We’ll continue our quest for answers, but we’ll do so quietly, giving the culprit the impression that we’ve closed the case,” Officer Viraj explains.

Kavya nods. “I agree.”

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