It was supposed to be their day. Kalyan and Mridula had planned a quiet afternoon at the lakeside, just the two of them—no distractions, no interruptions. But when Aarushi called that morning, bubbly and enthusiastic, asking what they were up to, they hadn't had the heart to tell her no.

Now, as they sat on a picnic blanket under the shade of a large tree, Aarushi was in full flow, talking animatedly about her latest adventure. Her words filled the air, her laughter bright and carefree. She hadn't stopped since she arrived, and somehow, the romantic picnic had turned into a third-wheel hangout.

"And then I told my boss—no, listen to this—it's hilarious!" Aarushi said, launching into yet another story, barely pausing for breath.

Mridula exchanged a quick glance with Kalyan, a hint of amusement in her eyes. This wasn't what they had planned, but neither of them could suppress a smile. Aarushi had a way of taking over a conversation, but she also had a charm that made it hard to be frustrated.

Kalyan leaned back on the blanket, his hand gently resting on Mridula's, as he listened to Aarushi with a bemused expression. "You know, Aarushi, I think you should write a book about your life," he teased. "You're never short of stories."

Aarushi grinned, completely oblivious to the fact that she had hijacked their date. "You think so? I could fill volumes!"

Mridula chuckled, squeezing Kalyan's hand. Despite the shift in plans, they were content. They shared a silent understanding—today wasn't about them, not really. But there would be other days, and for now, they were happy to let Aarushi have the spotlight.

30 September 2024

2:30 p.m.

Gautham and Kalyan headed out to recheck the CCTV footage for the second time. The weight of the past few hours hung heavily between them, but Gautham knew that persistence was their greatest tool. Sometimes, it was the small, easily overlooked details that broke cases wide open. As they settled into the cramped office, the familiar black-and-white surveillance footage flickered to life on the screen.

For two hours, they sat in silence, watching, rewinding, and watching again. The streets seemed quiet, the occasional passerby or vehicle rolling past, but nothing significant enough to raise alarm. Kalyan's eyes strained against the grainy footage, his mind racing with every second that ticked by.

And then—something caught his attention.

"Wait," Kalyan muttered, leaning forward, his brow furrowing in concentration. "Rewind that."

Gautham tapped the controls, rewinding the footage by a few frames. Kalyan studied the footage and so did Gautham. As they read the frozen screen, as in recognition Kalyan's eyes widen in shock. He shook his head as words failed to form.

Before Gautham could confirm his own finding, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the caller ID and immediately straightened.

"Gautham," he answered. The voice on the other end was Prathibha, the forensic agent in charge of the case. Her tone was clipped but calm as she relayed the findings from the lab.

Gautham's face grew tense as he listened, his eyes flicking to Kalyan. "Understood. We'll be there soon."

*-*-*-*-*

5:08 p.m.

Back at the apartment, the atmosphere had lightened, if only slightly. Poornima's children, Netra and Neil, filled the space with the sounds of their innocent giggles. They sat around Mridula and Viha, the baby girl, their laughter echoing softly through the living room. For a brief moment, it was as if the heaviness of the last day had lifted, replaced by the joy of children, unaware of the crisis swirling around them.

In the kitchen, Poornima stood by the stove, watching the tea boil as Aarushi entered, her face filled with concern. "Is there any update? Where's Kalyan?"

Poornima glanced at her, her eyes calm but observant. "Kalyan's gone with Gautham to review the CCTV footage again. They're following up on a few leads." She poured the tea into cups, the steam rising as she moved gracefully, her hands steady despite the tension she surely felt.

Aarushi seemed restless. "I didn't get to talk to him before I left earlier. I was just wondering... how he's holding up."

Poornima handed her a cup of tea, her eyes lingering on Aarushi for a moment longer than necessary. There was something she had noticed, something unspoken in the way Aarushi's concern seemed focused entirely on Kalyan. "He's coping as best he can," Poornima said gently, though her gaze remained sharp.

They both moved to the living room, sitting down near the children. Netra and Neil's laughter provided a welcome distraction, their innocent play lightening the mood around Viha, whose bright eyes watched the other children curiously.

As they sipped their tea, Poornima struck up a conversation, keeping her tone casual. "How's work going at the pharmacy?" she asked, her eyes casually shifting to Aarushi.

Aarushi smiled, clearly relieved to talk about something familiar. "Busy, as always. But I'll miss it when I leave Chennai."

"Shifting?"

"Yeah," she replied, sipping her tea. "To begin a new live somewhere far."

Poornima nodded, taking another sip of her tea. Her eyes dissecting and calculating every word and action of Aarushi.

*-*-*-*-*

5:32 p.m.

Back at the forensic lab, Gautham and Kalyan stood in the dimly lit room, the faint hum of machines buzzing around them. Prathibha, the forensic agent in charge, stood in front of them, her expression serious as she laid out the findings.

"The substance in the vial is a sedative, commonly used to induce sleep. It's edible, usually mixed with food or drink, and takes about an hour or two to activate fully."

"That means Mridula didn't fall asleep because she was tired," Kalyan muttered as things began to get clearer.

"Hmmm... Whoever gave this to Mridula knew exactly what they were doing," Prathibha said.

Kalyan's fists clenched at his sides, his mind racing. "They drugged her to make sure she wouldn't wake up nor notice anything when they took the baby."

Prathibha nodded. "That's our working theory. But there's more." She flipped through her notes, her expression grave. "We ran a fingerprint analysis on the vial. It belongs to common people in the house. Similar fingerprints have been everywhere in the apartment."

Kalyan's chest tightened with anticipation to confirm his own findings through the CCTV footage earlier. "Who?"

*-*-*-*-*-*

6:52 p.m.

The evening felt heavy. Mridula sat quietly on the sofa, her mind numb with exhaustion and grief. The apartment, though filled with the usual sounds of life—the distant ticking of a clock, the soft murmuring from Poornima as she tidied up the kitchen—felt hollow. The absence of Mridula's son hung like a dark cloud over everything.

A knock at the door shattered the uneasy silence.

Poornima stepped forward to answer, her usual calm demeanour in place. She opened the door to find an inspector standing outside, flanked by two lady constables. Their presence was quiet but firm, and Poornima immediately sensed that they were here for something serious.

"Ma'am," the inspector said, his voice steady, though laced with the weight of his mission. "We're here for Aarushi."

At that moment, Aarushi, who had been sitting with her cup of tea, stood up, her face paling as the meaning of the words settled in. Her hands shook slightly as she set the cup down, her eyes darting between the inspector and Poornima.

"What do you mean?" Aarushi's voice trembled, though she tried to keep it steady. "Why are you here for me?"

The inspector stepped inside his expression unreadable but firm. "You're being taken into custody for questioning regarding the abduction of Mridula and Kalyan's son. Your activities on the day of the disappearance, along with certain pieces of evidence, have raised suspicion. We need to take you in for further inquiry."

The room seemed to shrink, the walls closing in as the inspector's words echoed through the apartment. Mridula, who had been silent until now, turned to face the scene unfolding in front of her. Her eyes widened, but she remained rooted to the spot, unable to process what was happening.

Aarushi's face turned ghostly pale as the reality of the situation hit her. Her lips parted, and for a moment, it seemed like she might protest, but no words came. She took a step back, shaking her head, her voice barely a whisper.

"No... no, this can't be happening," she stammered, her eyes locking with Mridula's, searching for something—perhaps an explanation or a lifeline. "I didn't do anything. Mridula, please... you know me. Tell them."

Mridula's breath hitched in her throat. She wanted to say something, to ask questions, to shout that this was all a mistake. But she couldn't move, couldn't speak. Her friend—someone she had trusted for years—was now being accused of taking her child. It didn't make sense. How could this be happening?

The lady constables moved closer to Aarushi. Their expressions neutral but sympathetic, ready to escort her out.

Aarushi's voice cracked as she turned to Poornima, her panic rising. "Poornima, you know me. I've done nothing wrong. I would never hurt them. Please, tell them. Please!"

Poornima, ever the steady presence, stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Aarushi's arm. Her voice was soft, but there was a firmness in her tone that couldn't be ignored.

"Aarushi," Poornima began, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and calm resolve. "Let them do their job. If you're innocent, then you have nothing to worry about."

Aarushi's eyes filled with tears, her body trembling. "I am innocent. I swear it."

Poornima gave her a sad smile, her voice soothing as she tried to ease Aarushi's panic. "Then you'll clear your name. But fighting this now will only make things worse. Go with them, and get this sorted. If you've done nothing wrong, it will all come to light."

Aarushi swallowed hard, her tears spilling over as the lady constables gently took her by the arms, leading her toward the door. She gave one last, desperate look toward Mridula, but all she saw was the same stunned, silent shock on her friend's face.

The door clicked shut behind them, leaving the apartment in a suffocating quiet.

For a long moment, Mridula stood frozen in place, her mind struggling to make sense of what she had just witnessed. Aarushi? Her trusted friend? The person who had been by her side, helping her care for her children, now being taken away under suspicion of abducting her son?

Her legs felt weak beneath her, and she sank down onto the sofa, her body trembling with the weight of it all. Poornima moved toward her, her gentle presence filling the space, but she said nothing—waiting, watching.

Finally, the silence broke.

"So... my son?" Mridula's voice was barely above a whisper, the words shaky, as though she were afraid of the answer. "Did she... did Aarushi take him?"

Poornima knelt down beside her, her hands resting on Mridula's knees, her eyes filled with empathy. "We don't know yet," she said softly. "But they're doing everything they can to find him."

Mridula's eyes brimmed with fresh tears. "How could this be happening? Aarushi... she's been with us for years. She was there when my babies were born. How could she be a part of this?"

Poornima squeezed her hands gently. "We don't know the whole story yet. Let the police investigate. And remember, we're all here for you. Gautham and Kalyan are working on it. We'll find the truth."

Mridula's tears finally spilled over, her heart breaking all over again. It was one thing to lose her son, but the idea that someone so close to her could be involved in that loss—it was too much to bear.

Poornima stayed by her side, offering quiet, steady comfort, as the evening dragged on, with more questions than answers and the heart-wrenching uncertainty of what would come next.

~ Was her friendship too meaningless to be exploited ~