Author's POV

"Hey, reached home?" Akshita sent a text to Ekansh. "Yes, just taking care of something..." came his instant reply. "Is it something I should be concerned about?" she replied, thinking it could be something related to the case. "Nope just some silly banter I need to take care of 😩" he replied. "Well then... Goodnight." "Goodnight...🌙💖" Akshita smiled at the emoji choice. 

"AKSHITA!" Amarpal screamed from the hall. "Bande!" (on my way!) I say and head to the hall for dinner after turning my lights off.

Ekansh's POV

"I saw you eat it!" Mridhula's voice echoed through the kitchen - maybe even through the chimney - as she stared down at Abhimaan red-eyed. "Mridhu baacha, calm down. It's just chocolate. I'll buy you more-" I tried to console Mridhula. "No bhaiya! DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT! He always steals my chocolate! At least he could ask me?! I would have given him a piece happily-" 

"Vahi toh, ek itna sa tudka nahi chahta tha an." (That's the thing, I didn't want a Scrap piece of it.) He said with a pout, lowering his head. "Priy Anuj, ye kya anarth kar diya? Jeete ji narak-yatra ki itcha hai kya?" (Oh dear younger brother, What sin have you committed? Was it a wish of yours to experience a living hell?) I ask as Mridhula looks at him with pure rage in her eyes. 

Abhimaan raises his head at my words but as soon as he sees Mridhula his flight response activates as Mridhula chases him down like a wild tigress behind a goat, through the hall and into the guest rooms. Abhimaan tried to hide behind the couch, the beds of the guest room, and even the pillars and curtains but nothing could stop Mridhula.

A small smile made its way on my face watching them play their brutal version of tag. "Iss dharti mai ek kshetra bhi nahi hai jisse tum mujhse chup sakte ho Abhimaan. Bahar aao aur apne kaal ka samna karo!" (There is not a place on the surface of this earth from which you can hide Abhimaan! Come out and face your doom!) Mridhula screamed as I shook my head.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I took my phone out to see a text from Akshita "Hey, reached home?"
 "Yes, just taking care of something..." I replied instantly.
"Is it something I should be concerned about?" 
"Nope just some silly banter I need to take care of 😩" I replied.
"Well then... Goodnight." "
Goodnight...🌙💖" 

My bright mood was interrupted by Abhimaan who came running back and stood behind me. "Bachaiye Jesht bhrata. Apki behen ko nyay ka smaran karaye," (Save me elder brother. Remind your sister about equality/justice) he said with terror in his voice. "Dharm ka smaran karwau to app hi apradhi kehlaoge priy anuj. Meri baat man jao. Kshama manglo..." (If I am to remind her of justice, you are to be held guilty. Take my advice and apologize.) I advised him and he instantly knelt on the floor.

His hands and head touched the floor, with his knees bent to his chest. "Priy behen, apne jesht bhrata ko kshama kardo. Ayeinda esi galti nahi duharaunga, kshma karde devi. Kshama karde." (Oh dear sister, forgive your elder brother. From now on, I won't repeat such mistakes. Mercy devi- {a tern used to respect women} Mercy.) He begged.

Mridhula took a deep breath, "You are forgiven." she said as he looked at her with wide eyes, "Really?" he asked and she nodded. I chuckled at their childish behavior as both of them left for their rooms, side-hugging each other. "Esa agli bar kiya to chodungi nahi mai." (If you do this again, I won't forgive you.) she said twisting his eye while he whimpered in pain

I shook my head, chuckling at their behavior. I walked into the kitchen, preparing a glass of lemonade, and kept it in the refrigerator.

Author's POV

He sat in the living room for a while, till it would cool after which he would go to sleep.

*Harry Potter Theme Intensifies* 

Ekansh's eyebrows scrunch wondering who would call him at this hour. He took his phone out of his pocket to see it was Ashwin. "Hello?" I asked. "Hello Ekansh, It's me, Prajakta..." "Oh hello Praj Bhabhi kesi ho?"(Oh hello Praj Babhi, How are you?) I ask to hear from her after a long time. "Thek hu, mene Ashwin se suna that you are dating?" (I am fine, I heard Ashwin saying you are dating someone?) she asked. 

"Haan didi," he replied smiling shyly. "Toh, shadi kab hai?" she teased, "Aree didi app bhi..." He said, the smile not leaving his face. Something tingled in his heart at the word 'Shadi'. "Ashwin keh raha that ki vo bahut acchi hai." (Ashwin was saying she's very nice) she teased. 

I heard Ashwin's voice from the background, "Who are you talking to Praj?" he asked. "Ye phir see aa gaya tang karne." (Here he comes again to annoy me) she muttered annoyed, "Chalo Ekansh, phir kabhi baat karte hein," (Okay then Ekansh, We'll talk again sometime) she said sweetly. "Good Night Bhabhi," "Good Night!" she greeted and cut the call. 

Prajkta, Ashwin's wife was like an elder sister to Ekansh. They met at Ashwin's wedding and clicked instantly. They teamed up against Ashwin teasing and annoying him. The smile on Ekansh's face didn't leave. The phone call had significantly brightened his mood. He walked back to the kitchen and took out the lemonade. 

He drank it sip by sip thinking about Akshita and how life would be peaceful and happy after they got married. 

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A week later, Tuesday morning.

The sharp buzzing sound woke Ekansh as he groaned into the pillow. He turned to face the ceiling but the sunlight fell right into his eyes. He sat up, turned the alarm off, and opened the curtains to let all the sunshine come into his room.

He finished his morning routine and went to the hall - dressed in just a pair of beige shorts and a towel around neck - to wish his family before going to the gym when the clock struck 7. "Good Morning ma, Good Morning Chachi." he wished his mother and aunt who were preparing breakfast in the kitchen. 

[That first sentence is unnecessarily long lol.]

He bent down to touch their feet. "Sukhi Raho beta." They blessed him with a smile. "Good Morning Chachu." he greeted his uncle who was reading the newspaper on the couch. He bent down to touch his feet, "Jug jug jiyo, beta." he blessed his nephew. 

Aadhirath was out of town to seal a deal with the Chauhans. He left for Madhya Pradesh alone yesterday morning and he would be back tomorrow night.

"Good Morning bhaiya!" Mridhula greeted descending the stairs, "Good Morning baccha." he greeted walking back to the kitchen. "Mummy, mera gym ka time ho raha hai, mera milkshake?" (Mom, it's my gym time, where's my milkshake?) he asked, not finding his bottle of milkshake on the counter like he usually would. "Mai kya hi batau beta..." (What can I even say child...) she said shaking her head and kneading the dough for chapatis.

"Aagayi ye maharani? Iss see hi pucho kal raat ka karnama." (Has the queen blessed us with her presence? Ask her about yesterday night's feat.) she said, passing Mridhula a glare. "Konsa karnama?" (What are you talking about?) she asked, clueless. "Nautanki bas karlo beta. Kheer mai bahut cheeni bhi acchi nahi lagti." (Stop your gimmicks child. Too much sugar in the kheer doesn't taste good.) said making a face of fake anger towards Mridhula. 

Mridhula went to her chachu first, wishing him and bending down to take his blessings, "Bhagwan tumhe apni maa ke koop se suraksha de." (May god protect you from your mother's anger.) he blessed her, earning a chuckle from her.

Ekansh scrunched his eyebrows at his mother, "Ye kahawat kabhi nahi suni mene." (I have never heard of this proverb.) "Isa isliye beta kyunki Sharani ji ne meri anokhi bhateeji ke liye anokhi kahawat rachai hai." (This is so because Sharani ji-{a word of respect} has created a unique proverb for my unique niece.) she said, smiling at Mridhula. 

Hearing this, Mridhula comes hopping into the kitchen with a wide smile, "App world ki best Chachi!" (You are the world's best chachi!) she said, hugging her. "Hamse kush raho, beta," (Always stay happy) she said, kissing her forehead. 

Ekansh shook her head, "Ma, mera milkshake?" (Mom, my milkshake?) he whinnied. "Mujhese baat mat karo beta, Apni Chahna chachi se bolo," (Don't talk to me, talk to your Chahna aunt,) she said bitterly. "Anokhi bhateeji, anokhe karname..." (unique niece, unique gimmicks...) she muttered under her breath. 

Ekansh raised his head to the ceiling. "Why me?" he whispered to himself. "Chachi... Mera milkshake..."(Aunt... My milkshake...) he whined. "Are Ekansh beta, ye Abhimaan hai an, kal usne pata nahi kyu sare doodh ke packet uske room mai like kaha gayab karya diye pata nahi." (Oh Ekansh, you know Abhimaan right, yesterday he took all the packets of milk to his room and has vanished them somewhere.) she said shaking her head at her son.

"Kya?" (What?) Ekansh asked hearing his brother's unique new accomplishment. "Mai bol rahi hu Chahna, Abhimaan ne nahi, is Mridhula ne hi kuch kiya hoga," (I am telling you Chahna, Abhimaan has not done this, Mirdhula herself has done something.) Sharani said, pointing the chapati roller at her daughter. 

"Nahi mummy, mujhe kuch nahi pata ma." (No mom, I don't know anything) she defended herself. "Well sorry Ekansh beta but unless you go out and buy milk before working out you won't get your milkshake," Chahna said expressing her apologies. 

Ekansh decided against it and convinced himself nothing could go wrong with a milkshake. He finished his morning routine after working out in the private gym and left for work.

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At The Malhotra Enterprise

"Head of the executive department, Pankaj." Ashwin started, holding a clipboard with gloved hands standing next to a dead body bordered with evidence marking cones. 

Lying between the compound wall and the building, his eyes were lifeless, blood still flowing from the arrow shot at his heart. His feet and wrists were tied together with duct tape. 

"This arrow is a handmade model of the Gold Tip's Series 22 shafts - the old heavy Series 22." Ashwin huffed and squatted down examining the body more carefully, "By the looks of it, it must have been shot from a distance." He said and looked forward. 

There was a large plot of land filled with lush green land. "There's no way we'll get to the archer. However, judging by his details we may be able to find out if our suspicions are right," he said. Ekansh and Abhimaan stood in front of him, mindlessly listening to Ashwin's words as melancholy took over their hearts.

Ekansh did not know what he had done wrong for his company to suffer such losses. 

"Let's meet in the conference room after an hour or two. I should receive the files by noon. We'll hold the conference- "
"Talk to Vikas about it."
"Talk to Anirudh about it." Both the Malhotra brothers mentioned at once referring to their PAs as they were too exhausted to think about anything.

Both the brothers look at each other, sharing a look they leave for their office before nodding goodbye to Ashwin. Ekansh entered his office. Locking the door, he sat on the couch with his head in his hands. Taking a deep breath he called his father.

Abhimaan on the other hand called for Dushala straight away.
"Hello?" she asked, her voice heavy.
"Hello, kya kar rahi ho?" he asked, noticing the variation in her voice.
"Kuch nahi, bas garden mai kuch kaam kar rahi ho, kya hua?" 
"Phone speaker pe hai kya?" 
"Haan, kyu?" 
"Accha, to sab lagon ko bata do. There was another murder at the office today." 
"Kya?" 
"Sahi suna, Pankaj, Head of the Executive department." He said lowly, 
"Do you have any leads?" 
"None as for now.... Ashwin is working on it, there's a meeting in the evening..." he said, solemnly. 

~ 2,008 words

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Hello, my lovelies! <3
How's life?

I hope you're doing great and you must have wondered why there was no note at the beginning of the chapter. (I hope you did) 

Well, that's because I am really late on this update and tbh I have not written this chapter so well, maybe there are some spelling/grammar mistakes I have not corrected. 

I guess I am just too excited (and tired of editing) this chapter.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed. This chapter was more focused on the Malhotra family.

And about those Milk packets. I would love to hear your thoughts on what Abhimaan did with them 😂 {Only creative answers are allowed}

Also, What are your thoughts on the criminal behind these murders? 

Just a question to mess with you.

Do you think the murderer is already introduced? Or do you think it's someone not mentioned yet? 

Keep guessing 😁*Evil Grin*

Until Next Time,
Lot's of Love

Happy Reading <3

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~ 2, 161 words