Chaitali stood straight wearing her designer dress, and flannel pants, arms crossed over her chest. She looked seriously inside the interrogation room at the lawyer. Her ponytail braid swaying in the light wind. Biraj and Vaibhav stood by her side.

"This is why you make reports, first!", said Chaitali angrily looking through the glass into the interrogation room.

"We're still investigating!", Biraj tried to chime in.

"The men in their might just stop the investigation", Chaitali replied angrily, "because you're investigating!"

Vaibhav scratched his chin and intently observed the four men inside the room having a heated discussion. The lawyer stopped Biraj and him from interrogating Aishik any further.  They immediately called Chaitali.

Vaibhav inhaled loudly before speaking, "I don't think Aishik even knows those guys!"

"Considering the lawyer's vigour, he knows his place among them, he receives orders pretty high up...", observed Chaitali.

"You mean, the one that Naitik was talking about, Master da?", Vaibhav looked at Biraj, who upturned his lip in response. Vaibhav continued, "what we need is to find the person who bankrolls these. Petty robberies and supernatural flare won't buy you the genius of Aishik Routh. The silver in those machines alone cost crores!"

"Stop talking, you two!", Chaitali waved violently before Biraj and squinted looking at Vaibhav. Almost appearing frantically helpless. Vaibhav raised his brows and pouted in response, then he pointed inside the interrogation room.

"I'll handle this the same way every legal proceeding is handled", Chaitali noticed the lawyer ushering her inside the room. She walked over and twisted the door handle, turning to Vaibhav, "lawyers just love words! You two be ready because I have a strong suspicion that he will want to depose both of you!"

Chaitali was right and minutes later Biraj sat in front of the camera, avoiding looking at it. The lawyer sat in front of him turning pages on his file. Chaitali sat on the chair beside him. Biraj could almost smell her perfume. Naitik and Saikat were transferred back to their cells.

"Why aren't they here?", Biraj tries to break the uncomfortable silence. He heard Chaitali gritting her teeth. He may have just initiated a long and painful conversation to avoid a long and painful silence. Vaibhav was to arrive after him, hopefully, he will manage this better.

"I'm Soumen Maitra.", the lawyer began speaking putting down his pen, "please state your name for the record"

"Constable Biraj Basu!", Biraj was feeling irritated speaking even one word.

"Vaibhav. Dr. Vaibhav Roy!", Vaibhav was a lot less angry. At least that's what Soumen thought.

"You know it is customary to have legal aid during questioning a suspect!", the lawyer checked his pages, "you violate article 22!"

"Do not let my ponytail fool you into thinking that I'm a first-year law student!", Chaitali smiled from the corner of her lip, "the political conflict makes article 22 null and void, I can preventatively detain them!"

"I can make the judge see that the police hasn't changed their ways. So enthusiastic violating laws, I mean how did you investigate by the book?"

Biraj looked back and forth. He found it wise to stay quiet. Vaibhav on the other hand was fluent in his delivery, "Saikat was arrested with questionable cargo and Naitik assaulted a police officer right here inside the station. Are you saying there is room for doubt in the grounds of their arrests?"

"What about Dr. Routh?", Soumen asked back looking at Chaitali both of the times.

"He confessed to building destructive machines for the insurgents!", Biraj answered louder remembering Aishik's praise for the mystery storm maker.

"Yes quote cloud seeding technology with a missing mechanism of ion condensate formation unquote. What, what is that?", Soumen said like he didn't understand the language.

".... something not good...", Vaibhav did not stammer like Biraj on this part. He was slow answering it before though. Vaibhav continued mocking, "That is all I can say without the technicalities!"

"You're not convincing me!", Soumen was a persistent fellow.

"Are you questioning Dr. Roy's credentials? Because as an employee of the government of West Bengal, I'm afraid you've to take that up in the high court", Chaitali cut in during Vaibhav's questioning looking Soumen dead in the eye. Biraj just kept quiet about his persuasion skills.

"I'm just trying to know the people prosecuting my clients!", Soumen smiled at Chaitali looking back at Vaibhav, "so you say this is your first time dealing with a naxal!? What about Swarnali Mondal?"

Vaibhav kept quiet for the first time. Looking around the room and breathing heavily, deep in thought about what to say something he has never done before.

"I'm still waiting Dr. Roy?", Soumen urged on hoping for Vaibhav to fold.

"I refuse to answer.", Vaibhav slumped back into the chair with flared nostrils.

"That is...", Soumen began his triumphant speech.

"Mr. Maitra!", Chaitali hit her hand on the desk, "Dr. Vaibhav Roy has invoked his Article 20 clause C rights! And this time there is no nullifying..."

"Then I want to file a writ!", Soumen spoke in the middle, "claiming arrest of the one they call Master da! I'll see you in court, Ms. Karmakar!"

Soumen stood up and put his papers in an attache case. He walked out of the room eyeing Vaibhav, smirking all the way.