Into The Shadows, Aayush Borulkar [animal farm read .txt] 📗

not going to help. Whatever happened that night, we were not a part of it, and it was all beyond us. PERIOD!” said Abhimanyu firmly.

“Now, we all should focus on why have we been made to gather here,” added Vibha.

Richa now sat there on the chair, full of cobwebs, least caring about a thing that was going on around her.

Just then, a Times of India newspaper came flying through the broken window and landed right in the middle of the warehouse. Nishant immediately ran out towards the backside of the warehouse, hoping to find the person who did this. Ishaan accompanied him.

In the warehouse, Abhimanyu picked up the newspaper. “To Page number 22” was written on the front page with a red marker. So he flipped through to that page. He skimmed through all the news articles with Vibha pouring in from the side. And then suddenly Vibha exclaimed, “LOOK!” pointing at an article on page number 22.

Abhimanyu looked at that article in disbelief and passed it on to Kaajal. And Kaajal read out the piece of news written in a small column “Twenty years old homicide case to be reopened in lieu of an anonymous tip. The new ACP Erika Lobo to head the investigation”.

By then, Nishant and Ishaan had returned.

“Couldn’t find anyone,” said Ishaan breathlessly.

Kaajal then tossed the newspaper to Nishant. “Holy shit!” cussed Nishant as he read through the article.

Richa just sat there on the chair, giggling and then laughing, “Tick-Tock. Tick-Tock”

Chapter 8

Four days earlier…

“Ekboteji aaj kuthli bhaaji ahe?” asked one of the men.

“Aaj parat shepuchi ahe. Meri wife goa me rehke bhi machii banake nahi khilati hai” replied Ekbote, opening his tiffin, as the other four constables looked at him open it.

“You at least get home-cooked food. I don’t even remember the last time I had home-cooked food,” said a young man, sitting in the group.

“You are Avinash right? the new guy who got transferred here few days back,” said Ekbote trying to recall. “Are you married?”

“Meri shaadi nahi hui hai. I got posted here four days back,” replied Avinash.

“Oh, lucky bastard, huh. You still have to eat a lot of outside food. Enjoy!” exclaimed Ekbote, laughing and patting Avinash on the back.

Just then, a tall, medium built man came racing into the Panaji police station, and everyone’s chairs screeched as they all stood up as he entered.

“Ekbote vo Parshuram ke missing bete ki file ready hai na?” asked the man.

“Yes, sir, it’s ready and on your desk,” answered Ekbote.

“Okay, and a new ACP has been transferred here, and she will be here by tomorrow afternoon, so get the cabin ready.” said the man and then briskly walked towards his cabin.

“He is senior inspector Rodriguez. He has been transferred 17 times in his career,” whispered Ekbote in Avinash’s ear.

“17 times! Is he such an honest policeman,” whispered Avinash, still looking at inspector Rodriguez as he walked into his cabin.

“Nahi re baba. He has four ongoing corruption investigations on him and hence the transfers. Wonder how he still hasn’t been suspended” whispered Ekbote. To this, Avinash just turned and stared at Ekbote in disbelief.

The clock struck three in the afternoon, and the Panaji police station was busy with its usual hustle-bustle. Just then, a white Innova arrived and stopped in front of the station. A man got down from the front passenger seat and opened the back door. A tall woman with hazelnut eyes, wearing a blue shirt and black jeans stepped out from the car and walked into the police station with heavy steps. She walked up to the first desk and asked, “Is Rodriguez around?”.

“Direct unse nahi mil sakte. Pahile Ekbote saahab ke pass jakar baat karo,” answered the constable sitting at the desk, not even looking up at the woman. “Aur tum ho kon aur kaam kya hai?” added the constable.

“My son has gone missing actually, and I wanted to file a complaint,” answered the woman.

“How many hours since his disappearance?” asked the constable.

“10 hours, I guess.”

“Okay then, please come tomorrow. Abhi kuch nahi kar sakte” answered the constable, now looking at the woman mockingly.

“But I am sure that there has been an abduction and that my child’s life is in danger. I just want to file an FIR,” said the woman puzzled.

“Madam humko mat sikhao. Kal aao. After 24 hours” replied the constable, a little annoyed.

“You just can’t refuse to file an FIR,” pleaded the woman. The constable continued working with the papers, not paying attention now.

“According to section 154 of IPC 1973, the police cannot refuse from filing an FIR if the plea is genuine. In that case, the person can move to court for not getting the FIR registered and can mention the officer’s name who denied filing the complaint. And secondly, it’s not compulsory that the person needs to wait for 24 hours to file an missing person complaint,” answered the woman firmly.

“Calm down! Who are you to teach me the law, huh?” asked the constable.

Meanwhile, inspector Rodriguez came out of his cabin and saw a woman quarrelling with the constable. So he went to have a closer look.

“Erika ma’am, you were supposed to arrive tomorrow, right?” asked inspector Rodriguez shockingly, walking up to the her hurriedly. As soon as the constable saw inspector Rodriguez calling the woman “madam", he went pale.

“Yeah. But the police are always blamed for coming in late right? So I thought of changing that notion. And I assume a lot many things need a change around here,” replied the woman looking at the constable.

“Do chai bol and send it to my cabin,” ordered inspector Rodriguez to the constable, who was still stunned by what he had just done.

The commotion had caught everyone’s attention now. So the inspector clapped his hands and gathered everyone around.

“Meet our boss, ACP Erika Lobo, and she will be assuming her office from tomorrow,” announced inspector Rodriguez.

“Thank you so much. And it will be my honour to work for the people of Goa, and let’s make Goa a better place