C H A P T E R - 0 1

The Crime Scene

The night was suffocatingly still as Parth Malhotra stepped out of his car, his sharp gaze landing on the grand Saxena mansion. The sprawling estate, usually a symbol of wealth and power, was now shrouded in the grim silence of death. Flashing police lights cast eerie shadows against the stone walls, and the air was thick with the sharp scent of antiseptic and blood.

Parth adjusted his coat against the chill, his mind already racing through preliminary reports. Judge Arvind Saxena had been found murdered in his study just hours ago. The brutality of the crime and the victim's high-profile status had sent shockwaves through the judiciary and law enforcement. Parth had been assigned the case with a strict deadline of 30 days-a tall order even for someone of his reputation.

He strode up the stone steps, his polished shoes clicking against the marble. Inspector Nikhil Sharma, his junior, met him at the entrance.

"Evening, sir," Nikhil said, his face pale. "The scene is... unsettling."

"I've seen unsettling before, Nikhil," Parth replied coolly. "Walk me through it."

Nikhil led him into the study, where a team of forensic experts was already at work. The room was a picture of chaos. The rich mahogany desk was smeared with blood, papers were scattered across the floor, and the walls bore faint smudges as if someone had struggled desperately.

But it wasn't just the blood or disarray that made Parth pause. His sharp eyes caught a faint engraving on the desk, just above a dried pool of crimson. The words, carved with deliberate precision, read: "Truth lies in shadows."

"What's this?" Parth asked, pointing at the inscription.

"Found it during our initial sweep," Nikhil said. "No idea what it means yet."

Parth's jaw tightened. Cryptic messages at crime scenes were rarely good news.

As Parth studied the room, he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. A figure crouched near the window, examining the faint outline of a bloody fingerprint on the sill.

His breath caught.

Jiya Roy.

She rose to her full height, her movements graceful but deliberate. Dressed in a fitted blazer and slacks, she was every bit the professional, her dark hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. But even under the harsh crime scene lights, her beauty was undeniable.

Jiya hadn't noticed him yet, her focus entirely on the evidence. Parth took a moment to steady himself, the flood of emotions catching him off guard. It had been three years since they last saw each other, but time hadn't dulled the sharp edge of his memories.

"Jiya," he called softly, his voice firm but laced with something unspoken.

She froze, her shoulders stiffening before she turned slowly. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the chaos of the room faded into the background.

"Parth," she said, her voice carefully neutral.

Tension crackled between them, unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. Jiya's professionalism didn't falter, but Parth caught the flicker of discomfort in her eyes. The sight twisted something deep in his chest.

"Ms. Roy," Parth said, slipping into his professional demeanor. "I didn't realize you were assigned to this case."

"I wasn't aware you were the lead investigator," she replied, her tone equally cool.

"what do we have here ? What have you found? I need full detail and let's discuss," he said, ignoring the sting of her detachment.

Jiya nodded, stepping forward with a tablet in hand. "The only solid evidence we've found so far is a partial fingerprint on the window sill. It's disoriented, likely smudged during the struggle. I've already sent it to the lab for analysis."

"And the message on the desk?" Parth asked.

"Unclear," she said. "But it's deliberate. Whoever did this wanted us to find it."

Parth's sharp instincts tingled. "And the murder weapon?"

"A hunting knife," Jiya said, her tone clinical. "Based on the wounds, the blade was serrated. It suggests the killer either planned this or had prior experience."

Parth nodded, his mind churning through the possibilities. Judge Saxena's legal career was rife with controversies. There were too many suspects and too few leads.

Jiya moved to the opposite side of the room, her focus back on her work. Parth watched her, a mixture of longing and regret tightening in his chest.

For a moment, the room blurred, replaced by the vivid memory of their first meeting.

It had been at a mutual friend's wedding five years ago. Jiya, in a pink saree, had looked breathtaking under the warm glow of fairy lights. Parth remembered how her laughter had filled the air, contagious and unrestrained.

"You're staring," she had teased, catching him mid-gaze.

"Maybe I am," he'd replied, uncharacteristically bold. "Should I apologize?"

"Only if you don't plan on asking me to dance," she had quipped, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

That night, they'd shared more than a dance-they'd shared dreams, secrets, and the first spark of a love that had once seemed unbreakable.

But life had a way of unraveling even the strongest bonds.

Back in the study, Jiya was wrapping up her examination. Parth leaned against the doorframe, watching her with a mixture of admiration and longing.

"Do you really think you can ignore me forever?" he asked softly.

Jiya didn't look up. "I'm here to do my job, Parth. That's all."

"And what about us?"

"There is no 'us,'" she said sharply, finally meeting his gaze. "You made sure of that when you walked away."

Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. He wanted to explain, to tell her everything, but now wasn't the time.

"Jiya," he began, but she held up a hand.

"I have nothing to say to you," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "Let's keep this professional."

She looked focused, her hands steady as she examined a bloodied envelope found near the judge's desk. But his sharp eyes caught something new-a glint of gold on her left hand.

An engagement ring.

For a moment, the noise of the crime scene faded. Parth felt a sharp pang in his chest as he stared at the delicate band adorned with a single diamond. His mind raced, a mix of disbelief and bitterness washing over him.

"You're engaged," he said, his voice low but cutting through the air like a knife.

Jiya froze for a fraction of a second before resuming her task, carefully placing the envelope in an evidence bag. "I didn't think my personal life was relevant to the case," she said evenly, not looking at him.

Parth's jaw tightened. "It's not. Just... unexpected."

She finally turned to face him, her eyes guarded. "Life moves on, Parth. So do I"

Before he could respond, she packed up her kit and walked out, leaving him standing there, torn between his duty and his unresolved feelings.

Parth took a deep breath, steeling himself. He couldn't let his emotions cloud his judgment.

Before leaving the crime scene, Parth examined the study one last time. The disoriented fingerprint and cryptic message gnawed at him. Whoever had done this wasn't just a murderer-they were playing a game.

Reaching the living room Parth calls "Nikhil, who was the first one to see?".

"It's Mrs. Renu Saxena, Judge Arvind wife, she fainted on the view, it was house maid called for help and police " Nikhil said looking at the Parth.

"I need her statement I will get it, talk to all other house help and security guards and get their statement, ask anything suspicious they found in last few days." Parth said.

The heavy silence was broken only by the occasional sound of a clock ticking in the background. Mrs. Renu Saxena, a dignified woman in her late fifties, sat on a plush armchair, her hands trembling slightly as she held a steaming cup of tea.

Her eyes were rimmed red, her grief palpable, but her demeanor spoke of a woman who had learned to wear her pain like armor. Parth took a deep breath before stepping forward. He knew this would be difficult for her, but the truth had to come out, and her statement could be the key to unraveling the case.

"Mrs. Saxena," he began, his tone gentle but firm, "thank you for agreeing to speak with me. I know this is a challenging time, but your insight could help us uncover the truth behind Judge Saxena's death."

Mrs. Saxena looked up, her weary eyes locking onto his. "Inspector Malhotra, my husband dedicated his life to justice. If speaking to you helps bring those responsible to justice, I will do it."

Parth nodded, respecting her resolve. He took a seat across from her, flipping open his notebook. "I understand the judge received threats in the past. Do you remember anything specific about those threats? Letters, calls, perhaps unusual behavior?"

She hesitated, her hands tightening around the cup. "Arvind rarely spoke about his work. He didn't want to burden me with it. But a few weeks before his... death, he seemed more restless than usual. He mentioned someone had approached him-someone powerful."

Parth leaned in slightly. "Did he mention a name or give any indication of who this might be?"

She shook her head, her brow furrowing. "No, but he did receive a package. I remember asking him about it because he seemed so disturbed after opening it."

"A package?" Parth's voice sharpened. "Do you know what was inside?"

Mrs. Saxena placed the cup on the table, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her saree. "No, but he locked it away in his study. The last time I saw him, he was clutching it, muttering something about 'finally having leverage.' I don't know what he meant, but he looked... afraid."

Parth scribbled in his notebook, his instincts telling him this was a crucial lead. "Did anyone visit him recently? Someone out of the ordinary?"

Her face darkened, and she hesitated before replying. "Yes. A man came late one evening, about a week before Arvind's death. I didn't recognize him, but he seemed... threatening. Arvind brushed it off, saying it was just someone unhappy with a verdict."

"Do you remember anything about this man? His appearance, his demeanor?"

"He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a deep scar running along his left cheek. His eyes... they were cold. I remember them vividly because they sent a chill down my spine."

Parth nodded. This description matched the profile of one of the politician's known enforcers. It was a small piece of the puzzle, but it fit perfectly.

"I know this is painful, Mrs. Saxena, but your statement is invaluable. It helps us piece together the events leading up to the judge's murder," Parth said, his voice softening.

She gave him a tired smile. "If it means justice for Arvind, I will endure this pain."

As Parth rose to leave, she stopped him. "Inspector Malhotra, there's something else. The night before his death, Arvind left a note on his desk. I didn't understand it at the time, but you might."

She handed him a folded piece of paper, her hand trembling. Parth unfolded it carefully. The note read:

"The truth lies in the shadows, but the light will expose them all. Trust no one."

Parth's jaw tightened. The cryptic message only deepened the mystery, but it also confirmed one thing: Judge Saxena had known his life was in danger.

"Thank you, Mrs. Saxena. This will help more than you know," Parth said, tucking the note into his file.

As he stepped out of the Saxena residence, his resolve hardened. The pieces were starting to come together, and he wouldn't stop until every shadow had been illuminated and every guilty party brought to justice.

The clock was ticking, and Parth knew one thing for certain: solving this case would require him to face not only the killer but also the unfinished story between him and Jiya.

And in both battles, the stakes couldn't be higher.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Let me know if the plot is interesting or not.

Words in italics are Flashback

List of Ongoing Stories.

1) Sunn Yaara (RagLak)
2) Falling For my Wife (RagLak)(os) ✓
3) The Twist of Fate (TeZain)
4) You're The One For Me? (TeVin).
5) When We Meet Again (TeVin).

Niha🖤