On a cloudy morning, eight years back :

Location - A police station in Secunderabad

" How on earth, sir? " , Inspector Sahni scratched his brows.

" Believe me inspector, Vaibhav Patel has been trapped. And I... I can swear, it's Maanav Hegde who did that. " , Wasim Khan said impatiently.

Inspector Sahni twisted his lips.

" A done and dusted with case, why on earth are you so keen in reviving it? "

" Because I don't want an innocent to suffer!! "

" Ohh sir!! Every single proof went against Vaibhav Patel. Just because he's your friend, you cannot get it registered in your brain that he's not a killer!!!

Sir, if Mohan Patel hadn't changed his mind, Vaibhav Patel was the one who would have got the property. Not his sister. Hence, Vaibhav had the ulterior motive to kill his cousin, much more than Subhadra or Maanav Hegde.

Please sir! Get going. "

" I know right!! The proofs were brilliant and of course too convenient!! But what if Maanav Hegde had two motives together? Property plus revenge! We have come to know that Subhadra was raped by Abheek... "

Inspector Sahni once again scratched his beard.

" Okay. Fine. Now you tell me... what was Vaibhav doing with Abheek on the night of the murder??
Most importantly, why were Vaibhav's finger prints found on the murder weapon? "

" This is something I need to work on still. I have talked to Dharmendra Bakshi, there's some missing link. Something....even Vaibhav isn't keen in talking of. Maybe... he did something to Dharmendra Bakshi, but is way ashamed to share that now!!

And mostly believes that his karma paid back. "

" Wow.
May I know how you concluded that it's Maanav Hegde? "

" Not him directly. He mostly used some eunuchs in the job. "

" What? "

" Inspector Sahni, I'm new in CBI, and I cannot involve them into this. I need your help. I'm not asking you to join in. Just help me out, because I'm almost there. I'll return when I will need to seek your help. "

Inspector Sahni nodded thoughtfully.

A week later :

Inspector Sahni was having a lazy day at the police station when constable Bhargav almost ran in.

" Sir, that..that....CBI inspector.... Wasim Khan.... "

" What???? " , Sahni asked startled.

" He's got a tremendous memory loss. He was found unconscious near his house two days back. After that he recognizes no one.

Guess there's some rumour....that the memory loss isn't natural, though CBI doesn't take up any responsibility for a completely new trainee. I heard these from Adarsh Nagar police station. "

Sahni sat dazed for sometime.

That evening, Sahni did two things.

Visited Wasim Khan's residence in Hyderabad first. The scene was pathetic. The hefty healthy man who had been to him just few days back, was now lying vague and clumsy. Recognized nothing. No one.

Sahni smoked three cigarettes below Wasim's residence. A suspicion growing strong inside his brain. For real. Though he kept completely mum. Said not a thing to a soul.
Wasim Khan's condition was not only pathetic, but terribly frightening...

He next visited Diamond Housing Complex.

Maanav Hegde's residence.

Just as his jeep entered, a local jeep crossed path. Both stopped.

Inspector Umesh got down.
" Sahni, here in Hyderabad? "

" Yeah.... Just..." , Sahni gulped in.

Umesh was thankfully a talkative man. He went on to speak his side.

" I came here to investigate a suicide case.

Shush... these young couple... I don't understand why they get married at tender ages and then kill themselves. "

" Really? "

" Yeah.. Plain and simple suicide. The man fell before everyone's eyes. From the fourth floor. Spot dead.

Was a doctor by profession. His wife too. Caught in extra marital. And why not even? Just twenty five, the wife twenty two, yet married. " , Umesh began laughing like a wolf.

" What's his name? "

" Haan? Name?

Maanav Hegde."

Sahni returned to Secunderabad without visiting Subhadra Hegde. He was not interested in digging up an old case, specially whose new suspect was already dead.

Plus, Khan's condition was frightening.

He only wished, he was not the only one Khan had told of the case he was working on before losing everything.....

---

Three weeks before the first meet between Khan and Sahni :

Kabir Bakshi lay on the bed.

The room had figures sitting quietly.

Reshmi stood at the window, shedding silent tears.

Kabir slowly sat up. Sandhya nursed him putting pillows behind him for support.

Kabir spoke slowly,

" Why are you people behaving so defeated? I am the one who's dying, right?

Then why the hell are you people posing dead already??
Can't you all bid me a happy goodbye? "

Reshmi wailed.
Subhadra ran to her, holding her. She hugged her back and kept sobbing.

" Sandhya aunty...

You are the most sensible human in this room. Much more than my own dad. " , Kabir said softly.

" I request you just two things.

My dad should not have to go through any shame in the society, when I'll not be here to stand by him. "

Dharmendra Bakshi placed his quivering hands on his son's shoulder. Gulping back tears.

Kabir kept talking..

" I don't know how and from where this Wasim Khan dropped in the scene.

He has been working on it for sometime now.
If...by any chance, he reaches the truth, my father's twenty five years of honesty will go in the drain.

Not only that, he'll be jailed for tampering evidence...

Don't let that happen, Sandhya aunty.

My sister, lost everything in life coz of that dog. Vaibhav Patel.
If he somehow comes out scot free, that ass will turn a hero to the nation. A hero who has been wronged!!! That too, to hog property!!
No one will even care for the real reason.....!

And if my soul gets to witness all these after I die, it will never, never be at peace... Sandhya aunty..!!!!

Don't let these happen, for god's sake.. "

Kabir was gasping. Sandhya gave him a glass of water, while Dharmendra kept patting him.

Subhadra hissed,

" I'll end that asshole. Myself.

I'll let no leech cling to the ones I love.

Be it my Maanav, Dharmendra uncle, or Reshmi. "

Sandhya nodded.

" It's not that easy Subhadra.
We won't know if Wasim Khan involved others into it. How many will you end?

Most importantly, killing without a solid reason, is never forgiven. "

Subhadra laughed.
" Who said I'll kill? I'll snatch his memory. That's all. "

Pin drop silence.

Reshmi talked after sometime.

" And what if he's involved others as well? At least told of his suspicion? Won't that lead them to you? "

Dharmendra nodded.
" Exactly. Ruining an officer isn't easy in the first place. Next, it'll solidify every suspicion against us. If someone else knows of it. "

" Ohh god, stop with your ifs and buts!! I'm very sure, a new officer won't get anyone's support in a done and dusted case. He'll work alone till he reaches the end. " , Subhadra was growingly impatient.

" No Subhadra, there's a point. He might not have told his colleagues. But what if he had told his family? Won't they try reaching you once a thing happens to him? " , Kabir coughed.

" Wait a minute.

The case doesn't have a direct evidence that can lead to Maanav Hegde.

Other that Maanav Hegde himself.
Only if he confesses, can he be arrested.

What if....he remains no more? "

Sandhya Hegde almost whispered after a long time.

Every human stared unblinking....deadly surprised..

" Whaat are you talking mom?? " , Subhadra Hegde shouted.

A till now silent figure now smiled.

" Good job mother. Only if I had got your brains...

I'll die.

Kill myself.

How about....a story....of an extra marital affair to get rid of an obsessed wife?

I have a girl at hand too, who can easily be the goat.

Finally the 'poor man' decides to commit suicide, caught in two relationships.

Awesome.

I will die. "

.... Maanav Hegde scratched his stubble.

" Brains? I have got one. And I proudly use that. "