The words spill out with an almost breathless tone. "You're joking," I tell them flatly, attempting a laugh. "It can't be Ram Bhaiya. He wouldn't..."

I trail off, watching Karthik and Neel fidget in their seats. "You believe them," I say, and it isn't a question.

Neel hesitates but speaks up. "Dhavi, the evidence states that it's him. I have to examine the drugs to make sure it's nothing deadly, but perhaps we should consider...?"

Unbelievable. They actually think it's Ram Bhaiya. Deciding to shrug it off for now, I focus on the next thing. "So where exactly are we going?"

Karthik lets out a relieved sigh, and flicks a glance at the GPS. "We're needed at the autopsy lab in Andheri. Neel, did you grab the kit?"

My best friend nods, holding up his lab kit. "I need to test the drugs found and see what they are. Only then can we determine the situation."

However, he looks worried. When I ask for the reason, he replies, "The problem is, most drugs stay in the blood system for four to five hours at a maximum. I might miss something."

"The autopsy was conducted an hour and a half after you found the body. I don't think that's good for us," Karthik says, his forehead creased in worry.

Confused, I hold up a hand. "Just wait right there. What are you talking about? You just said they found-"

Neel cuts me off. "Traces of drugs, to be precise. They aren't fully sure which because it's been so long since the period of ingestion."

"But how can you be sure that the drugs that are with Ram Bhaiya are the same drugs that were given to Mrs Sharma?!" I ask, and they look at each other and answer, "We don't."

"Okay. How long has it been since we found Mrs Sharma?" I continue.

"About thirty seven hours," Karthik says, and then groans. "Ridiculous. The drugs must have worn off by now. Why are these people so slow?!"

An idea strikes me.

"Karthik, turn the car around," I command. "We need to go back to my apartment, because there's got to be something we missed last time."

The other two stare at me skeptically for a moment. "Are you sure?" Karthik prompts. "Because that's a bit far and-"

I glare at him. "Either you drive, or I will." This is enough for him. He takes a u-turn and we drive back to my apartment, sitting in dead silence.

A feeling of both worry and suspense bubbles in my stomach, along with anticipation. I have a very strong feeling about this. "Why?"

Neel's quiet voice breaks me out of my thoughts and I look at him, a bit disoriented. "Sorry, what?" I ask.

"Why do you want us to turn back so urgently, Dhavi?" He repeats.

"Last time, Karthik yelled at me which made me run from the crime scene, right? That was when I found Ram Bhaiya. But we didn't check the crime scene properly, did we?" I explain.

Karthik opens his mouth, probably to protest that we did, but I give him a stern look. "Alright, maybe we didn't. But that's because you screamed."

I roll my eyes. "Yes, it was my fault for finding Ram Bhaiya's body. I'm a terrible person. Now could we get back to the point?"

"So we're going back to search for anything we missed," Neel summarizes, and I award him with a smile.

"Right on."

Karthik's phone rings loudly, startling us for what seems like the umpteenth time. "You really need to change your ring tone," I tell him.

He ignores me, picking up. "Yes, Karthikeyan Rajeshwar speaking."

Neel sighs and turns to me. "Dhavi, I know you wouldn't say anything unless it were important, but what makes you think this will work?"

"If we did find something, wouldn't it be great?" I say simply. "And if we don't, wouldn't it be a terrible waste of time?" Neel counters.

He has got a point but I can't let this pass me by. I have to make check once more. The possibilities are too great.

We might even find something that could turn this whole investigation around. Besides, even if we don't find anything, at least we'll know that we have found all that we can get for now.

Before I can explain this to Neel, Karthik disconnects his call, frowning deeply. "Well the autopsy team is annoyed that we didn't show up yet."

"They aren't that important right now," I say dismissively.

He looks like he wants to argue but keeps it in, thankfully. For both his sake and mine, I really hope that I am not wrong.

"What are you hoping we'll find anyway?" Karthik asks. "It isn't like evidence will pop up randomly just because we recheck the crime scene."

I sigh. "That's the whole point. We can't recheck the crime scene because we didn't check it in the first place!"

Neel puts his hands up in a timeout sign. "Hold it. Yes, we didn't check properly, but somewhere I'm skeptical too, Dhavi. Karthik may not be wrong."

Great. "Of course you'd agree with him," I mutter, shooting Neel a glare to which he blushes and rolls his eyes at me. "Bacchi hai tu," he replies.

Silence.

Then Karthik groans. "Fine, Aadhyavi, we'll do what you say. But if you're wrong, take the blame without a word, understand?" He says.

I have to suppress the urge to grin smugly. "Crystal. Now listen. We have to search the entire place, top to bottom. Do not miss anything. If something is out of place, say it."

We exchange nods as Karthik pulls up into the familiar apartment.

Without Ram Bhaiya to greet us, it feels unwelcome and empty. The rest of the people in the society barely spare me a glance as they rush by.

Even my neighbor, Meena aunty, doesn't give me her usual smile and a wave before hurriedly getting on to her scooter and driving off.

I brush it off, heading to the lobby where I found Mrs Sharma. Karthik clicks his tongue reproachfully.

"You do realize that since yesterday, at least fifteen to twenty people must have walked all over this lobby floor, right? Any evidence will be at the bottom of their sandals now."

Trying to ignore the point, I crouch to inspect the floor. Neel bends down next to me. "Dhavi, I appreciate your enthusiasm but I don't think-"

"Neel. Stop it. I know I might be wrong but at least I can try. And if you don't want to help me, I have no choice but to ask you to leave."

He stares at me, looking hurt. I never lose my temper at Neel. He's too sweet and kind for that. I hate when I do.

"Alright," he says quietly, walking over to Karthik, who is talking to someone on the phone, as usual. I get back to my work, angrier than usual.

After half an hour of searching, I haven't been able to find anything.

I feel like crying. Normally, I don't show weakness. It makes me uncomfortable to know that there are people who might exploit it.

I am about to give up when I hear someone speaking to me. "Aadhyavi beta, kya hua?" I glance up to see Meena aunty. I smile at her weakly.

"Kuch nahi, aunty."

She looks tired, for some reason, and fear shines in her eyes. I assume that it's fear of the murder. "Aap theek ho kya, aunty?" I ask in concern.

Meena aunty nods. "Haan." She looks at me and hesitates. "Aacha beta, tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?"

I pause, not sure how to explain this to her. "Aapne yahan kuch dekha kya kal?" I blurt out. "Anything that I could use..." Why am I asking her this?!

To my surprise, she rummages in her purse and pulls out a small plastic Ziploc bag, which has a white powdery substance in it. My mouth falls open. "Ye kya hai?!"

Meena aunty shifts. "Kal jab mein ghar laut rahi thi, tab mujhe ye dikha, beta. Ab ye kya hai, mujhe nahi pata par isse tum rakh lo."

She gives the bag to me and walks away quickly, leaving me staring at her with the bag in my palm.

"Neel!" I call out, not breaking my careful stare. "Could you come here, please?" He walks over, smiling slightly. "So did you finally decide to-"

I hold up the bag. "Meena aunty found this, apparently. Over here. At the crime scene. Analyze it for me and maybe we'll get some answers."

Ignoring his stunned expression, I push the bag into his hands and rush upstairs to Meena aunty's place, an odd feeling in my gut.

Her face pales as she opens the door, and I peer in to see what she's hiding.

Clothes are scattered all over the floor and a suitcase sits between them. I take a step forward. "Vacation thodi se jaldi nahi aagayi, aunty?"

She whimpers and shakes her head frantically. "Mein ne Neela nahi mara, Aadhyavi! Unko bol ki mujhe aakela chod de!" She cries, clutching my arm.

"Kisko bol na hai?!" I say, tugging my arm away from her vice like grip.

She lets out a wail and pushes me backward, slamming the door shut in my face. The tell tale click of the lock sounds, and there's silence once more.

"Meena aunty!" I yell, slamming my fists on the door. "Meena aunty, abhi isko kholye! Kya hua?"

My own phone decides to disturb me at this very moment, ringing persistently. I growl, grabbing it but my anger melts away on seeing the caller ID. "What is it?"

"Where are you?!"

The urgency in Neel's voice makes me glance at the door and then back at my phone, conflicted. "Upstairs," I respond. "Now what happened?"

"Come here. I've run the test as best as I could. And I've found out what this is. Hurry." I slip the phone back in my pocket, shooting Meena aunty's place a last look. "I'll be back!" I promise.

Then I sprint down the staircase to where Neel and Karthik stand.

They don't need me to ask for an explanation. Neel begins by showing me the results. "It could have been anything, from Glucon D or Tang to cocaine. It isn't kid friendly though."

"It's a drug," I interpret, feeling relieved despite the situation. But which drug is it, and is it similar to the ones found with Ram Bhaiya?

Neel answers those queries for me. "I did some research and found that this is a common rape drug. The ones that are slipped into drinks in bars."

Rape drugs. I know a bit about them, but not much. However they all similar effects of paralysis on the victim, as told by the newspapers.

"Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid," Neel says, and for a moment I'm not sure whether I've heard him right. "Bless you," I say, and he rolls his eyes.

"No, the name of the drug is gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, otherwise known as GHB."

It's my turn to roll my eyes. "Not all of us are chemistry experts, Neel," I say sarcastically, and he nods. "Fair point so let me explain now."

"This drug is also known as liquid X and is a very common rape drug as I mentioned earlier. It can make you sleepy, forgetful, weak, and can also cause seizures and slow heartbeat, as well as slow breathing and coma."

He pauses to let us digest this information and then goes on.

"The effects start in 15 to 30 minutes and last 3 to 6 hours. Doctors prescribe it sometimes to treat a disease called narcolepsy."

Karthik snaps his fingers. "I think I know what happened. Ram Bhaiya administered this drug to Mrs Sharma which made her weak and-"

I cut him off. "How do you say with such conviction that Ram Bhaiya did it?! He was found dead too."

"It's the same."

I turn to Neel. "What's the same?" He repeats, "The drugs that were found with Ram Bhaiya are GHB, Dhavi. So what other explanation do you have?"

I sputter. "Whatever it is, Ram Bhaiya is innocent and I stand by that."

"Anyway," Neel finally says. "This is proof that Mrs Sharma was adminstered drugs before she died and why it was done so skilfully."

"Whoever murdered her was pretty clever," Karthik murmurs. "They knew just how to strike. No fingerprints or hair, too. Interesting."

I nod in agreement. "That's right. We have a smart one on our hands." We're about to leave when a sudden thought hits me like a bullet train.

"Meena aunty!" I cry out, running back upstairs to her apartment. To my horror, the door is wide open. I grab the handle of my gun, stepping in. I'm too late. The suitcase is gone.

And so is Meena aunty.

"Neel! Karthik!" I yell, and they're beside me in a matter of minutes. "I think this person outwitted us much before this. We've got a problem."

I explain how Meena aunty looked terrified, how she hysterically grabbed my arm and pleaded me to help her. "She was scared of something."

Karthik frowns. "Something... Or someone." The cold realization dawns on me then. She had been threatened to give the bag to me.

"This was staged," Neel says. "This person wants us to find them. Right now, they have the upper hand and it means bad news for us."

I meet their gaze. "Upper hand or not we're getting to the bottom of this. They better watch out. I'm not giving this case up that easy."