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

go through the same trauma and frustration like they did 20 years back. The trauma was so brutal, that even a massive gap of 20 years could not diminish the effect it had on them, Richa being the worst affected victim amongst them.

“So we will start by calling each one of you, one at a time and will be recording your statements. And proceed from there, as you all were the primary witnesses on the crime scene back then,” announced Avinash.

“And yes, we are going to do this the old fashioned way. This is going be so much more fun,” exclaimed Erika. “So let’s get going,” she added with a unique spark in her eyes.

The interrogation room was set. A sofa and two chairs opposite each other. A water jug kept on both the ends. A recorder kept on the table that separated the chairs and the couch. A notebook kept neatly besides a pen in such a way that it prevents the pen from rolling off the table. The ticking sound of the clock filling the room with anxiety to the brim. The room was set and ready, and so were the two officers.

“Let’s begin with the most basic question out there. At what time did you arrive at the party,” asked Erika, writing something down in the diary.

“I reached around seven, I guess. If I remember correctly,” Vibha answered as she was the first one to be interrogated.

“Oh, please do. Because that dreadful night is not the one to be forgotten easily, I believe,” Erika said, looking up, raising her eyebrows.

“Seven it was” replied Vibha

“Very good” said the officer. “And were you alone?” she added.

“Yes, I was” replied Vibha, jittering a bit.

The series of questions had begun. All of them were called in turns and asked a wide range of questions. Ranging from when they had reached the party, what they had for dinner, where they had slept that night, to what time did they got to bed, and many more. It looked like Erika was a woman on a mission.

“You were the last one to go to bed that night, right?” Erika asked.

“Yeah, I was. I could not sleep early that night,” Nishant answered.

“So did you check if the windows or doors were locked or not,” she asked.

“I did do that, and everything was closed and airtight,” he answered.

“Or were you busy stuffing the massacred body into the refrigerator?” she questioned.

“What!? I would never do that. And why on earth would a 20 years old boy, commit such a gruesome murder and stuff it into the fridge?” lashed out Nishant. “And trust me, I wasn’t physically cut out for carrying out such a thing back then.”

“Oh no, just joking. How could a young adolescent possibly carry out such an ordeal task,” said Erika looking at Avinash. “Unless he got some external help maybe?” she continued mysteriously as she leaned back on the chair.

“Look! We did not have any motive, no plan to start with, and we would kill no one,” said Nishant leaning forward, clutching his teeth, his jaw moving. “I think you are just wasting your time and resources here,” he added.

Hearing this, Erika sat there silently and then smiled widely, and exhaling she said, “Avinash inko batao sarkari samay kitna kimti hota hai” “I don’t think we are wasting any time here. We are just doing our job and using the resources in the best possible manner” she added.

Saying this, she asked Nishant to leave and asked him to send in Kaajal.

“Kaajal, you were the one that organized Abhimanyu’s party, right?” asked Avinash.

“That was 20 years back and my memory isn’t that strong,” she answered.

“No issues. We have your official statement given on that day. That might help jog your memory,” said Avinash taking out a sheet of paper.

Kaajal read the statement and said, “If it says so, then yes, I did organize the party.”

“Great! So how many guests were invited?”

“Around 30, including us. Abhimanyu always liked his parties to be small and close,” said Kaajal. “And shouldn’t you guys be interrogating all the others too?” she added.

“Yeah, right. We…we are going to do that too,” Avinash said.

“The fact that you guys are the primary witnesses, we are just getting done with you first and next we will be interrogating all the others involved in the case too,” Erika said.

“Yeah, sure,” said Kaajal

“Okay, let’s take a break now and will resume later,” said Erika getting up from her chair.

“We seriously have nothing on them. Plus, they have no motive for killing some random girl,” said Avinash as they walked out of the house. “No forced entry reported. No damage to the property. No unusual activities in the photos clicked. All the statements seem true. And no room for any foul play. We are at a roadblock,” said Avinash hurriedly, trying to keep up with Erika’s speed as they walked out of the villa.

“You know I never wanted to become a police officer,” said Erika, suddenly stopping in her tracks. “It was just that I couldn’t get over the truth, that it was me who ratted out my father. It has been with me ever since, just like my shadow. Hence I became a cop, so that I could help all such falsely accused and bring justice to them. Mein chali thi system badalne. System ne mujhe hi badal diya” Erika said.

“But there is nothing at all here,” said Avinash sounding concerned. “And you have been a little too interested in all of it from the start.”

“Avinash, that envelope contained not only the note but also some cash. It had a thick bunch of Rs.500 currency notes in it. So this only shows that there is someone out there who has complete faith in me and also in my abilities to bring justice. And it’s been a really long time since someone has shown that kind of trust in me,” said Erika firmly.

“But here, in this case, the justice has already prevailed and there is nothing