Writer's POV:-

As soon as Aakarsh said these words, the senior officer's eyebrows shot up. He looked at Aakarsh in confusion then at Vidyut who was sitting with a blank face. The officer knew they are brothers so he somewhere guessed that what Aakarsh is going to say is related to Vidyut only. 

It was time for some past stories he thought as he swept a glance at everyone. His cabin had only five people present: Aakarsh, Diksha, Neev, Vidyut and him! 

Since Neev has been helping Aakarsh from the very start he was also called for some interrogation in the case. 

"Be precise, Mr. Verma. What do you exactly mean?" The officer asked,

Aakarsh took a deep breath and looked at Vidyut who was looking absentmindedly at something distant, lost in his thoughts. 

"I was searching for Palash Roy for some years now. And while searching for him I came to know he is the main culprit of all our sufferings. You must be aware of Vidyut's parents. They died in a car accident six years ago and the culprits are still not arrested." 

"But that was an unintentional accident as far as I know. Even the passengers in the other car were severely injured. One of them died too!" The officer objected, scratching his jawline.

"That was not unintentional!" Vidyut groaned before Aakarsh could answer. His senior looked at him in amusement and confusion.

He realised what he just did and calmed his composure, muttering a slow sorry. Aakarsh could clearly feel the hidden emotional breakdown of his brother as he decided to continue.

"It was not unintentional, Sir. I was with them when they had an accident six years ago. I too was severely injured in that accident. And that's why I still clearly remember how they had banged their car with us. It was not just once but thrice. The third time I guessed they were doing it purposely." Aakarsh sighed, mournfully. 

He looked at Vidyut and could clearly see the pain in his eyes which were red by now. The young man was trying all in his will to control the downpour at the remembrance of his deceased parents. Neev patted his back, pulling him out of his agony. Vidyut turned his face aside and wiped the corners of his eyes.

"If that was the case, why has it still been registered as accident and not murder attempt? Why didn't you guys file a complaint?" The officer's voice drew their attention back to the moment. He was looking warily at the brothers.

"Because, I wanted to reopen the case myself. I knew any other officer would have taken the case as any normal affair, but it was a whole life for me. That's why I asked my family not to reopen it, Sir. Remember, I wanted your permission to reopen an old case?" Vidyut answered and asked his senior.

The officer nodded thoughtfully, remembering his words, "Yes, but you didn't mention it was your parents' accident case!" 

"Because, I wanted to collect enough evidence so that nothing could stop me from punishing the culprits." 

"I see. But, ACP, you must have informed me. I'm letting you go this time because I too want justice to be served. But remember don't repeat anything like this in future. Discuss the matter before proceeding!" Warned the officer.

"Yes, Sir!" 

"Okay, so, Mr. Verma, since the topic is raised, tell me in detail. What happened that day and how is Palash Roy related to all this? Why did he kidnap your wife?" The officer crossed his digits together and kept his hands on the table.

The mention of his wife in all this made Aakarsh look at Diksha. She had the confusion and curiosity etched on her face. Her eyes were fixated on her husband as she too waited for the answers.

"Sir, when Neev and I had hired a PI to find out about the allegations made against me, I came to know that it was Palash Roy. After finding more we come to know he was the same man who had deliberately crashed his cars with us. And now he was back to avenge the death of his best friend Shakti, who died on the spot that day." Informed Aakarsh, 

"And what reason does he have to do so?" The senior officer interrogated.

"See, I'll tell you in short. On the day of the accident, Vidyut's father and I went to our company's storehouse to check a few things. Since the time I had started my studies, my father wanted me to understand the basics of business, hence I often accompanied him and Arjun Uncle. It was one such day." He paused for a moment before continuing,

"As that place was not visited by many, only our office staff, we were not expecting anyone there. But, some low voices caught our attention when we stepped in. Going closer to the source of sound, we saw six young men talking about the three bags kept on the ground. We instantly knew there was something fishy so we shouted at them. They all were stunned to see us and started yelling for interrupting them. By the white packets in the bag, it didn't take us long to guess what it was." 

"Drugs, right?" The officer asked in a confident tone.

Aakarsh nodded his head positively and continued.

"Yes. They tried to threaten us and asked us to go from there, but we were adamant. Uncle told them that he will hand them over to police for drug peddling. Four of them ran away just by the name of police but the two who had the bag didn't leave the spot. They thought we were just scaring them, but uncle seriously called the police. This panicked them and they too tried to run away but we caught them. However, by the time the police arrived those two boys fought with us and we're successful in running away leaving the bags there only. So, the police only got the bags."

"And that's how you guessed that the accident was planned by them?" 

"No, I didn't know it was planned. Though, I guessed it was purposeful, by the pattern of collision… I was not sure about the ones doing it. He was deliberately crashing on the side where uncle and aunty were sitting. They got injured by the constant hits. As I was the one driving, I took the opposite lane immediately to avoid the collision, but the man driving that car took it just in front of us and he didn't notice that a truck was speeding from the other side." Aakarsh said, looking at the officer. 

"The next thing we know was them being hit by the truck and the effect was so severe that their car collided with ours causing a massive accident. The glass shattered brutally from the side where uncle and aunty were sitting as it was the side of direct exposure earlier so it quickly broke into pieces and pricked us."

"My head had banged the steering wheel. I didn't get the time to think about anything because of the concussion and the last thing I saw was them crying in pain and the excessive blood in the car, before I passed out." Aakarsh narrated the accident, looking blankly at the table. 

His face clearly told that he was reliving the moment in his mind. Diksha kept her hand at his and he realised he was clenching his fingers tightly, unknowingly. 

"I was informed first as his last dialled number was mine. Though I tried to reach the earliest but fate always has its different plans. By the time I, Vidyut , Mrinal uncle and aunty reached the hospital. They were already in operation theatre. We waited for hours and when the doctors came out, we were numb. Vidyut's parents were in coma with no scope of reviving anytime soon." Neev continued from there. 

"They had lost excessive blood and doctors were not sure about their life. Aakarsh was safe but he too was kept under observation. He had a fracture in his hand and stitches in his head but not as severe as them." He added, again.

"Next morning brought the worst news for us. They were gone. Doctors couldn't save them. My brother was orphaned in just a span of a single day!" Aakarsh released a defeated sigh looking at Vidyut. 

He was pressing his lips between his teeth, controlling his emotions. 

"I'm very sorry, ACP. It was very unfortunate to hear this. But I'm sure they must be looking after you from somewhere. And don't worry, I will make sure to punish the culprits at any cost." The senior officer patted Vidyut's back, offering his condolences.

Vidyut chose to nod slowly. 

"So, when do you exactly know about Palash Roy? And how were you sure that he would harm your wife that you gave her a tracker?" The officer asked Aakarsh,

"As I said, my PI found all this for us. I came to know it was Palash that had planned Stuti in my life to avenge the death of his best friend Shakti. And when I again stabilised myself even after that fiasco three years ago, they came back to pull me down. And in all this, my brother Neel Verma has an equal share." Aakarsh said and pulled out his phone from his pocket. He opened something and passed the phone to the officer,

"This was the message from Palash as he knew I am after him. He knew I had informed the police about his hideouts in Delhi and failed his biggest consignment. That's why he sent me this threatening message mentioning my wife. But, since this time I wanted him to get arrested with enough proof and evidence, I didn't inform anyone, and planned everything on my own! The tracker was a part of it!" 

Aakarsh explained, pointing at the message he had received from an unknown number some time back. 

"So, you planned this all out? You knew he was going to kidnap your wife, yet you put her life at risk?" The officer exasperated loudly, gasping all the things Aakarsh explained.

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