"Something is up with Ridhhi..." Minerva chipped wondering. Dhritiman looked at her in confusion first, and but then it clicked to him too. True enough! Riddhi had been here, a day before them, and every day he had been out since morning and didn't return till late evening. Not even for lunch. His university isn't even here! Then??

"Even ma doesn't know.."

"You asked ma about him?"

"Of course!" Minerva said in a matter-of-fact tone.

When had she asked about me like that? Oh no no Dhriti! Don't be stupid. Why would she ask about you? You guys aren't even friends. Moreover, before coming here, you two hardly talked! Gulping Dhritmnan accepted the fact.

"Well, I don't think we can find anything about him, unless he wants us to. He is not Tiya after all." Minerva immediately bit her lips saying so. Use the damn filter in our mouth you idiot. She cursed herself.

Dhritiman looked at her as she suddenly paused. Smiling he added, "It's okay babu. If you bite your lips every time you say her name, you are going to end up looking kissed. Throughly." And now it was his turn to pause, bit his lips and look away. Bloody fool! He cursed himself.

"Did you think of anything?" Minerva tried changing the topic. Dhritiman looked at her after full two minutes. She looked so red. Cursing himself again, he nodded his head in negation.

"I think you should take a nap. Naps after lunch work like magic for brain." Minerva suggested getting up.

He never heard such logic before. His own experience said, if you sleep after lunch you are gonna get up more confused and fazed! But before he could say anything she was already out of the room.

Why the hell can't you think before speaking you damned idiot. See, now the girl who had planned to take a siesta is now out! And now you can't even say something. It will make matters worse. Uff! Cursing himself again, he lied down.

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Na.. na.. na.. na

Dhritiman woke up at the sudden noise downstairs. Though he was sleeping very lightly, he couldn't initially gauge what happened.

Checking the phone he saw it was just 4 in the noon. Why are they shouting at this hour? God! The neighbours will come running to complaint.

Ugh! Let them do whatever they want! Dhritiman was about to sleep again when a shrill pitch almost deafened him.

Tiya! What the hell is she doing here? After the ruckus at the restaurant, she dares to come here! Today, I will see the end of it.

Jumping of the bed, he ran down.

The scene at the landing of the stairs made him blood run ice.

Four uniformed polices were standing with Tiya. One of them was holding a handcuff!

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"Please try to understand inspector.. Pillai. I am a ACP. I have four police stations working under me. How can I do something like this?" Dhritiman almost shouted this time. But the inspector was hearing nothing of it. He went on repeating the same words,

"Being a IPS, it doesn't mean that you can't do something like this. The allegation against you is serious Mr. Gupta. You promised Ms. Tiya marriage and made physical relations with her, but finally didn't marry her. Instead you married your family friend's daughter."

Mrs. Gupta couldn't take it any longer. She rushed to Tiya clutching her kurti and started yelling!

"Ma ma.. please stop. You can't do this." Minerva tried to assuage her mother-in-law but she wouldn't budge. Tiya looked at the police with a smug smile

"Mr. Gupta, please remove your wife from here. If she becomes violent with the victim once again, I will forget we don't have a lady constable or inspector. I will arrest her. You can't assault a victim."

Mr. Gupta looked down in humiliation. And then reached for his wife.

Dhritiman saw red. He couldn't believe Tiya would do this to him. How did she become like this? When?

"Sir.." Minerva spoke this time directly to the inspector Pillai.

"My husband had full intention to marry his now ex girlfriend Tiya. It was she who fled away from her house. Even her parents didn't allow her back once she returned. Tiya is completely lying. You can ask her parents."

"You think my parents would say anything against me once they come to know I went to Goa with Dhriti and spent 4 nights with him." Tiya angrily hissed a whisper.

But it didn't go unheard by the Pillai. So, his instincts were not wrong. There's more to this than meets the eye!

Pillai took the charge of the situation again. "Mr. Gupta" he started referring to Dhritiman, "You are only delaying the inevitable. Since you are a ACP I would like to see your i-card and everything and I will give your family three hours time to proof you are innocent. If they can't, I will have to arrest you."

"Inspector one minute." Suddenly Tiya spoke. Pillai nodded.

Tiya went to Dhritiman and said in a low voice, "You can avoid all this, and come back to me. I will withdraw my complaint." Dhritman looked away.

Minerva looked sharply at them as she heard the words. Inspector Pillai too.

He was now sure that this girl, Tiya was upto something. Real victims don't withdraw complains just like this. Moreover his age and experience has made him quiet a judge of character. This young man did seem decent. Still, when a girl comes up with such complaint, being a police he can't ignore. Thank god he didn't write the F.I.R as the girl requested, instead chose to come here.

Mrs. Gupta started crying once more. Dhriti's physical relationship with Tiya was a shocker to her. Well, she knew young people were pretty advanced these days, but still.. and now see what it has led her son too.. God knows how she will face Minerva and her family!

Where the damn are you Riddhi now? Minerva swore.

Pillai had enough of it. This was going nowhere. He used is superlative tone, "I had had enough of it. Mr. Gupta you are coming with us or not. It's already 5 now. Almost an hour since we come here. My shift will be ending soon. But as I said, because you are a police too, I will not arrest you for another three hours. I will remain with you in the police station, though my duty ends in fifteen minutes. If your family can bring up convincing evidences, I will let you go, or.."

Dhritman shook his head.

"But why can't you arrest him right now? His mother attacked me. He still denies doing anything wrong." Tiya's high pitch voice was too annoying. One of the other polices tugged his ear at her voice.

"You made your point madam. Let the police work in it's own accord. You don't teach us what to do.-looing at Dhritiman-are you ready?"

Dhritman nodded and started to walk.

"Dhriti.." Minerva rushed to him. Looking at Pillai she requested, "just one more minute sir."

"Don't worry. We will bring you back. In three hours. Just keep calm, and don't speak anything. Remember whatever you say can go against you. Okay? You will be back home in time. I promise."

Dhritman couldn't help but smiling. She was actually advising him how to handle this situation. He was sure, he would be able to convince Pillai and be back. But looking at this girl right now, his heart went out for her. What not had she faced for him? But still she is standing proud, standing by him. He took his hands in her, this time in his senses unlike other times "I am sorry for all this. I will be right back, and make everything right. I promise."

"I too." They both nodded and each other. And with that Dhritman Gupta left.

N.B: Hello! I know, this is not a very ling part, but please bear with me. I know many of you have many guesses. Its a request, please, do not share your requests here. You can always ping me. Otheriwse I will have to change the whole next chapter. I am waiting for your responses. please please tell me how it the chapter is. Only this time keep my request. 

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