CUFFLINKED FOREVER

Savi:

We reached the location: an old bungalow, nearly in ruins. The body lay in front of the main door, her eyes wide open in shock and a pool of blood near her head.

A sudden whisper shuddered me, "Same pattern...hmmm..interesting." the man beside me stated to himself.

And then I noticed too: the body lay exactly like the previous one.

The locals around were walking away, fear evident in their faces.

"Dekhiye, aap logo ko darne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai..humein please bataiye aap mein se kisne call kiya tha?"

Everyone looked at each other.

"Pata nahi mem saab..humme se kisi ne nahi kiya" a young lad spoke.

An old lady suddenly spoke up, "Mujhe pehle se pata tha..ki ye hoga.."

Her statement made Mr.Thakkar turn around.

"Kaise? Kaise pata tha aapko ki aisa kuchh hoga..Maa ji please bataiye!"

"Pichhle 6 saalon mein iss ghar k taraf kisine dekha tak nahi..kyunki iss ghar mein pehle bhi ek aisa haadsa ho chuka hai..jiske baad ye pura parivaar iss ghar ko chhodkar chala gaya..aatmao ka niwas hai yahan..ye--"

"Kya bakwas kar rahi hai aap? Bhoot, aatma, pishaach ye sab kuchh nahi hota! Dekhiye maa ji, agar aapko Sach mein pata h k ye haadsa kaise hua toh hi bataiye..Varna dimaag mat ghumaiye humara." our boss stated.

Iss admi ka kuchh nahi ho sakta.. Achhi khaasi ye aurat sab bolne waali thi, beech mein muh aada di..Matlab hadd hai!

Something in the old woman's eyes changed as she glared at our boss and suddenly started smiling, the creepiest one I had witnessed till date.

Slowly, she snarled:

"Nahi dhoond paaoge...jab tak iss sheher ki 7 aur ladkiyaan mar nahi jaati..wo nahi rukega.. NAHI RUKEGA!"

I stared at her, horrified while Mr.Thakkar advanced towards her.

"Usse jaakar keh dena, ki ek aur ladki ko haath bhi lagaya na, toh main nahi rukunga".

The woman shook her head and walked away.

He gestured me to follow her, and so I did.

Her slow steps hastened when she reached the market, and I swiftly followed. Although I had spent 5 years in this village..the unexpected turns in the villages always confused me to the core. The woman, in her saree, surprisingly started running and disappeared into an alley.

I followed her, and when I entered, I was astounded by the darkness around me. The sun had just set behind the hills but the rest of the market wasn't this dark.

My phone vibrated and I took the call-- it was Dikshu.

"E----ll--o S----v---k--h" everything was inaudible. In an attempt to get a proper connection, I walked towards the mouth of the alley,the one which would lead me back from where I came.

I was busy fidgeting with the phone when I sensed stealthy footsteps behind me. I clutched my pistol and turned sharply around:

A little girl in rags was standing before me. The darkness didnot let me look at her properly but I could decipher her features.

She tugged on to my pant and I bent down. That was when, the strong smell almost blinded my senses..

The girl was smelling strongly of some chemical..the one which...my head...it's turning heavy...heavier...I'm feeling extremely slee.....

Everything blacked out.

Rajat:

This damned girl wouldn't pick up my phone. I tried her the fiftieth time over, but there was no response.

The telephone of the P.S rang and Patil received it.

The voice was of a man, a young man...

"Acp se baat karao" he stated boldly over the phone.

"Hello, Rajat Thakkar this side."

"Re! Acp badal gaya! Chalo koi baat nahi..mujhe ek important baat batani thi tujhe yaar.."

"Kya badtameezi hai ye!?"

"Chill bro, relax. Tu na, teri officer ko itni baar phone mat kiya kar..baar baar mujhse kaata nahi jaa rha h tera call."

Just as I was expecting, Ms. Chavan had been kidnapped.

Diksha:

My blood ran cold hearing his words..

S-savi!

"SAVI!!" I couldn't stop myself from shrieking aloud, while our boss gave me a stern stare.

"Re re Didi shaant!....Shaaaaant....aapki Savi theek hai, aur rahegi bhi, agar aap mere kaam k beech mein naa aaye..aur agar aaye..toh laash milega aapko" and the call disconnected.

"Uss number ko track Karo, abhi!" he instructed and Patil called up Nihal, our cyber expert.

I watched how our boss dashed into his cabin, and taking the keys of the van, beckoned me over.

On our way, we followed the location sent by Nihal and stopped our car in front of the gate----

The crime scene of the second case.

Making minimal noise, we entered the bungalow and I immediately suppressed a sneeze.

"Diksha.." he whispered, "Main upar jaata hoon, tum neeche dekho"

And he left me, disappointed and all alone in the ground floor.

Savi:

The tape on my mouth was burning my skin underneath and the ropes around my wrists were causing a horrible pain.

I banged myself against the cupboard door but it was upto no avail. But all of a sudden, I heard hastened footsteps. And into the room, looking worried, entered Mr.Thakkar.

-----------------------

Their moment awaits in the next chapter!