At the hospital's exit gate, Vivek glanced at Kabeer, his tone light but hopeful. "Sir, join us for dinner?" Kabeer shook his head, his expression distant. "Not tonight. I need to clear my head." With that, they went their separate ways.In the restaurant, Vivek, Garima, and Karthik sat around a table, picking at their food. The hum of conversation filled the air until Vivek broke the silence, his voice low and troubled. "Something's off with Kabeer."
Karthik raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing. "What, because he skipped dinner?" Vivek shook his head, frustration creeping in. "No, it's more than that. Sometimes he plays it so safe, almost clueless, and other times he's all in. It's like he's holding back."Garima waved a hand, her tone dismissive but kind. "Vivek, you're too deep in this case. Relax and eat." Vivek sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Maybe. Let's just focus on the food." They nodded, diving back into their meal, their chatter fading into the rhythm of the evening. But Vivek's unease about Kabeer's absent-mindedness lingered, a restless undercurrent in his thoughts.
The day ended, and early the next morning, Karthik, Garima, and Vivek were back at the station, immersed in the case. Karthik pored over the notebook, highlighting sections that matched Nishi's revelations, while Vivek transcribed key moments from the video recording of her confession. Garima, hunched over her laptop, scoured the internet for evidence of the abortions or anything suspicious tied to the Singhania family.
Then, Garima's eyes widened. She found a grainy video of David Singhania's car accident, barely viewed—only about 10,000 hits. She watched it closely, her pulse quickening, and called out, "Karthik! Vivek!" They hurried over, and Kabeer, who had just walked in, joined them. "What's going on?" he and Karthik asked in unison.Garima's voice was steady but urgent. "David Singhania's death wasn't an accident—it was murder."
Karthik scoffed, his tone skeptical. "Nonsense. The court ruled it an accident. The video clips and evidence were clear.""Look at this," Garima said, pulling up CCTV footage from two nearby locations, about a half-hour apart. "The first camera shows David's car. The second, half an hour away, shows it losing balance, veering off the highway, and exploding. But here's the thing—it took him 45 minutes to travel between them, 15 minutes longer than it should have."Vivek frowned, his voice analytical. "That can't be right. The court gave it a clean chit as an accident. The footage could be edited."
Garima's eyes flashed with irritation. "Edited or not, explain the 15-minute delay."Karthik smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "Maybe he stopped to pee."Garima rolled her eyes, her tone sharp. "Fifteen minutes? What, does he have a tank for a bladder?" Vivek chuckled, nudging her. "You're funny.""Guys, I'm serious," Garima snapped, her frustration mounting. "This could be a real clue."Karthik nodded, his tone sobering. "If you're right, it means there's a chance David is alive."Vivek's brow furrowed. "If he is, where's he been? Why hasn't he come forward?" He grinned, unable to resist. "Still fixing that bladder tank?" The trio laughed, the tension breaking for a moment.
Just then, Kabeer stepped through the front door, his face fresh but his eyes curious, as if trying to decipher their laughter. "Good morning, everyone," he said, his tone probing. They greeted him back, their voices warm but tinged with urgency. "How's the case going?" he asked, settling into his chair."Sir, Garima found a new lead," Vivek said, his excitement clear. Kabeer smiled, a rare glint of pride in his eyes.
"Well, well, Garima, you'll be promoted before these two," he teased, patting her shoulder. "Girls use their brains better." Garima grinned, thanking him, and played the CCTV footage.Kabeer watched, his expression neutral. "So? It's just a car accident."Karthik shook his head, continuing the joke. "Unless he was fixing his bladder tank." Vivek and Garima chuckled, but Kabeer looked puzzled. "Sorry, what?""Sir, the cameras are half an hour apart, with no traffic," Garima explained, her voice firm. "Yet it took David 45 minutes to get from one to the other."Kabeer's eyes narrowed, his tone thoughtful. "That's worth checking out. The Manali bungalow might hold answers."
The team nodded, their resolve strengthening—until a hand grabbed Kabeer's shoulder, spinning him around forcefully."Raajveer," Garima whispered, her voice tense. Karthik stepped forward, pushing Raajveer back. "Sir, please, mind your manners," Vivek said, his tone sharp but controlled.Raajveer's face was red with fury. "You're all useless! Can't find a single damn clue about that video!" Kabeer straightened his collar, his expression calm but his eyes hard. "Say something!" Raajveer shouted. "You know how much this has ruined my reputation?"Kabeer's voice was low, cutting. "And you know what it means to assault an on-duty officer?" Raajveer's eyes widened. "Are you threatening me?"Kabeer didn't flinch, calling for constables. "I don't know about your criminal case, but you'll be arrested for raising a hand against an officer."
The constables dragged Raajveer away, his protests echoing down the hall."Whoa, what an action replay," Vivek said, a mix of awe and amusement in his voice.Karthik's tone turned serious. "We should get back to work." The team dove back into their tasks—Garima secured the search warrant, the flight tickets to Manali were booked, and they prepared for the next day. Nishi, still under hospital observation, remained a looming question mark.The day ended, but that night, Kabeer was restless, scrolling through his phone. Raajveer's threats replayed in his mind, each one a jab at his career and his team's reputation. If he didn't find the real culprit, it would be a stain on his record.
His head throbbed, torn between the case, the Singhanias' pressure, and his team's expectations.Somehow, the night passed. Early the next morning, Kabeer, Vivek, Garima, and Karthik met at the railway station, their faces set with determination. The station was abuzz with calls and messages from their colleagues, reporting that the Singhania family was causing havoc to secure Raajveer's release. Kabeer's voice was firm as he ordered, "No one releases him. Understood?"As the train pulled in, they boarded, settling into their seats. Vivek's voice broke the silence, heavy with concern. "Sir, what if the Singhanias pressure the DIG to suspend us? We're so close to the truth."Kabeer placed a reassuring hand on Vivek's shoulder, his tone steady.
"Let's focus on the investigation, hmm? We'll handle the rest." Vivek nodded, reassured but still uneasy. The team pored over files on the Singhania family's history, confirming David's role in building their empire single-handedly, while Kabeer's thoughts churned. Deep down, he worried about suspension, but his determination to uncover the truth burned stronger.Back at the station, Nia Singhania, Raajveer's wife, stormed in, her voice dripping with menace as she demanded his release.
"Under Section 353, assaulting an on-duty officer is a non-bailable offense, ma'am," Ashwin, the junior head of three departments, said calmly.Nia's eyes flashed. "I don't care. Release my husband, or I'll make sure you never wear that uniform again."Riya, Ashwin's assisting officer, stepped in, her tone firm. "You're free to try, ma'am, but we can't violate the law."The day rolled on, and as it ended, Kabeer and his team checked into a hotel in Manali. Their hearts raced with anticipation, each beat echoing their eagerness to uncover the truth. Tomorrow, they hoped, would unravel the Singhania family's darkest secrets.