Ruhana's POV

"Police? Aap yahan?" Vineet asked them wiping his tears.

"Yes.. I am inspector Angel Shekhawat.. Investigating officer for the reason for your daughter's suicide.." she introduced herself.

"Body ko post mortem ke liye bhejo..aur aap sab log iss room se bahar jaye" she ordered.

"Ek minute... kaisa post mortem haan?? Mujhe koi post mortem nahi karwana hai apni beti ka" Vineet said strictly.

"Dekhiye Mr. Vineet Singhaniya, suicide karna is a crime aur ye kyun hua ye toh aap bhi jaanna chahenge na?" she said.

Vineet nodded affirmatively.

Angel signalled and Two of the constables wrapped the body into the white cloth.

I shouted "thik se karo.. Beti hai meri lag jayegi usko"

They took her away out of the house. I stood at the door with teary eyes.

"Mumma I will be back.. Soon"

"Bahut kuch batana hai aapko"

"Will you forgive me?"

Her words were echoing in my ears. Her voice, I will not be able to hear anymore. She was gone forever. I dropped down on the floor and cried.. "Mannu.."

Tera aks hain jo tu

Bhi wo hi kyun nahin

Jaisi teri soorat

Waisi seerat kyun nahin

Arjun made me stand.. "Aunty sambhaliye khudko.." He said trying to console me.

I looked at him and asked "kaise sambhalun? Aaj shaadi thi uski aur wo aise.."

Chehre kyun badalti hai

Saath kyun na chalti hai

Zindagi tu jalti hai

Khwaabon se mere

"Tumhare saath thi na kal raat wo, kya hua aisa jo ye kadam uthaya usne?" I questioned.

Arjun was shocked hearing this.. "What?? No.. wo mere saath nahi thi raat ko"

I gave him a shocked look as Manvi informed me she is going with him. Where was she? What happened to her? How could she commit suicide? My daughter was not a weak person. What made her take such a step? There were too many questions and I had no answers.

I noticed Arjun's expression, there was something he was trying to hide. Before I could question him, I was called by the inspector.

"Jabtak meri investigation khatam nahi ho jaati hai uss kamre mein koi nahi jayega aur kisi cheez ko haath nahi lagayega" she instructed.

I nodded and She left from there.

I sat down on the couch with thud, covering my face with my hands. Vineet sat beside me, I looked up at him.

His eyes were filled with tears. "Kyun kiya usne aisa Ruhana? Hamara zara sa bhi nahi socha.. Agar shaadi se dikkat thi toh pehle bata deti, humne zabardasti toh nahi ki thi" he said with heavy throat.

"Nahi Vineet.. Baat kuch aur hai jo hum nahi jaante hai.." I said tearily.

"Aur ab jaanke kya karenge? Wo wapas toh nahi aayegi na. " he said with grievance.

"Aarav.. Uskii family ko inform karna hoga shaadi nhi.." I said.

Arjun took out his phone "main karta hun.." he called and informed them about the incident. Within an hour, he along with his family arrived at our home.

The whole night passed, I was sitting beside Vineet keeping my head on his shoulder. We both were broken with the loss of our daughter.

Kaisi yeh khalayi hai

Dil ko bhar ke jaaye hai

Besabab rulaye hai

Jaane se tere

Tera aks hain jo tu

Bhi wo hi kyun nahin

Jaisi teri soorat

Waisi seerat kyun nahin

In the Evening, the ambulance siren was heard. The lady inspector entered inside, I stood up.

"Post mortem ho chuka hai.. Report bhi aa gayi hai aaplog inka last rights hai kar dijiye then I will talk about it" she said.

I looked at her face, I asked "mujhe abhi jaanna hai kya hai report mein.."

"Your daughter was raped Mrs. Singhaniya. unki maut se 2-3 ghante pehle" Angel informed.

I was stunned hearing this, the floor shook beneath my feet hearing this. For a moment, I felt numb.

Sab kuch jaise

Thehra hua hai

Tham gaya pal wahin

Pe tu jahan ruki

I rolled my eyes down, where her body was kept. I moved to her and sat on my knees. I caressed her pale face with tears dropping down from my eyes.

Khudne aise tu kho gayi hai

Ab tujhe mera koi

Khayal hi nahin

"Bache.. Uth na please.. You know main nahi jee sakti tere bina kitna kuch kehna sunna baaki hai abhi" I spoke to her.

I hoped for a reply from her but she was lying down with closed eyes silently.

Zindagi sambhal ja tu

Thodi si badal ja tu

Rehem kar pighal ja tu

Zid kyun tu kare

Chehre kyun badalti hai

Her smiling, laughing face was flashing in front of me. I held her hand, the hand which had henna. I remembered the moment.

Saath kyun na chalti hai

Zindagi tu jalti hai

Khwaabon se mere

Vineet sat to other side, he kept his hand on her forehead. He was staring at her with teary eyes.. "Sahi kehti thi tum Ruhana.. Shant ho gayi hai meri beti.. Ab itni shant ho gayi hai ki iss ghar mein kabhi uski awaaz nahi sunayi degi" he said in a teary voice.

Tera aks hain jo tu

Bhi wo hi kyun nahin

Jaisi teri soorat

Waisi seerat kyun nahin

I kissed her forehead for last time, Arjun had prepared the bier. She was placed on the bier. Vineet, Arjun along with two others lift the bier.

I shouted "no.. don't take her away.. "

Tujhko mujhse

Kitne gile hain

Dooriyon mein

"Mannu.." I yelled.. She was taken away for the cemetery.

Kho gayi hain

Kurbatein kahin

Katra katra jeene lage hain

Zindagi tujhe hain kyun

Shikayatein kayi

I cried out loud for my daughter, she not only died but suffered a pain.

Rab se ab gila sa hai

Waqt se mila sa hai

Khud sa fasla sa hai

Ab toh bin tere

Chehre kyun badalti hai

Saath kyun na chalti hai

Zindagi tu jalti hai

Khwaabon se mere

After, few hours Vineet returned. He dropped down on the floor, I moved to him and kept my hand on his shoulder.

"Vineet.."

He looked up at me with teary eyes, he was shattered.

"Jin haatho se uska kanyadan karna tha.. Unhi haatho se chitta jo jalaya hai Ruhana.. Jin kandho pe uski doli uthani thi unn kandho pe.. Maine arthi uthayi hai apni beti ki.."He cried.

Tera aks hain jo tu bhi

Wo hi kyun nahin

Jaisi teri soorat

Waisi seerat kyun nahin.

I hugged him tightly. I was her mother, but he loved her more than me. She was much closer to him than me. I use to scold her and he was her saviour.

"Papa.. bachao please.."

"Are nahi mumma no.."

"Main aur aap dono ko chodke jaungi aisa ho hi nahi sakta kabhi"

Her memories were haunting us. Just then, Angel stepped downstairs. Vineet and I stood up.

She looked at us.. "Main samajhti hun ye waqt sahi nahi hai but it is my duty and I have to ask some questions" she said.

I wiped my tears "pucho jo puchna hai.."

"Kabhi aapko laga ki Manvi kuch chupa rahi ho? Like koi pareshan kar raha hai something like that" she questioned.

"Haan bahut baar laga but usne kabhi kuch nahi bataya itna puchne ki koshish ki humne.." I replied briefly.

She moved towards Arjun and questioned "tum?"

"Main uska bachpan ka dost hun.." he said.

She then moved to Aarav and asked "aur tum.. Last kab baat hui thi uske saath?"

"Parso raat.." he said.

"Alright.. Jabtak mera investigation khatam nahi hota.. Koi bhi iss shahar se bahar nahi jayega" She said and left from there.

Angel's POV

I sat inside my jeep, I ordered my junior "mujhe case ki sab report chahiye.. Manvi ke phone call records subah tak mere table pe hone chahiye"

I drove off, I was thinking about the case. She was raped and committed suicide, but her parents seemed to be supportive. She could have informed them and they would have definitely taken an action.

The next morning, I headed to police station. I marched inside and the call records were still not on my table.

I shouted "Shinde.."

He entered inside "jee madam.."

"Maine kaha tha na mujhe Manvi ke phone call records mere desk pe chahiye kyun nahi hai ab tak" I shouted at him.

"Bas.. aa rahe hai 5 minute mein" he said.

Just than another constable entered inside and forwarded the paper. I snatched it and read the paper.

"Pichle ek mahine mein inn do numbers pe bahut call aaye hai.. Pata karo kiske number hai yeh"

Shinde got the information, one was her fiancee Aarav and another number was of Ritvik.

I immediately headed to Singhaniya house. Within 20 minutes, I arrived there.

I asked whether they know anything about Ritvik.

They gave me a shocking expression.

To be continued...