Priya's POV:

I walked into my office without peering at the curious stares of my coworkers. They were clearly aware of the new development in the case. I didn't want to be met with pitying looks or words. Rather, I was frustrated and angry because all of my hard work had been for nothing.

It irritated me, even more, when I looked at the board in my room where I had pinned all the evidence we had. I marched up to it and yanked everything off with a vengeance. Some of the pins snagged on my fingers, but I couldn't care less. All I wanted was to get them out of there. I didn't realize I was crying until my eyes became glossy. Helpless tears flowed like the first rain.

That bastard killed four innocent women and I couldn't do anything. I was not even sure whether the number was four or more.

What if he had killed more women? What if...?

My phone rang, jolting me back to reality. Even though I was not in the mood for a conversation at the time, I picked up the phone absentmindedly, only half-glancing at the number and noting that it was a local Mumbai number.

"Is this Priya Mehra?" were the first words to me. As the cold voice in an unidentifiable but clean accent spoke in my ear, something inside me gave it absolute attention.

"Who's speaking?" I asked, somewhat disinterestedly. I doubted it was one of those nosy reporters who wanted to get a reaction from me regarding the new change. But as he spoke the next few words I immediately realized that this was not one of those calls. The matter-of-fact manner in which he spoke his next words made the blood rush to my ears.

"Don't ever talk shit about god or you will see more sinful red," he spoke threateningly. My brain quickly put two and two together and realized that he was referring to a statement I had made at the press conference regarding the existence of his god.

I was angry and his threat just fueled it more. "You know what! I don't care about you or your fucking god cause I am removed from the case. Now fuck off psycho," I replied and was about to end the call when he said, "I knew you were gonna say this. You are a spitfire and I like that about you. But before you cut the call just make sure your daughter is fine. She is a cute girl."

And then the line went dead and my face became pale.

Nila!

With shaking hands, I dialed Kashi's number. I just hoped she was safe.

'Please god keep her safe.'

"Yes, dumb ass what do you want?" Kashi asked cheerfully.

"K-Kashi, where is N-Nila?" I managed to ask as my voice broke.

"She is here with me... Umm! wait I guess she is playing outside," Kashi replied.

"Call her. I want to talk to her," I said more like I pleaded.

"She is here Priya. Why are you sounding so scared?" Kashi asked.

"Nothing, just let me speak to Nila," I said. Kashi never watched the news channels, so I was sure that she was unaware of the latest update.

"Priya, I guess she is inside only. Let me check," Kashi said unsure.

"Kashi be on call I am coming and check everywhere please," I replied and dashed towards my car.

I drove as fast as I could through the traffic, taking care not to cause an accident or damage to others. I didn't want to lose my daughter because if I did, I'd never been able to cope with my life again. She was my only family.

"Priya! She is not here," Kashi said in a panicked voice.

"Did you search everywhere?" I asked shakily.

'No this can't happen.' I kept chanting inside.

"Yes, but I am sure she is somewhere here only. She won't go anywhere especially when it's 10 p.m.," That was when I realised the day was over and it was already late at night. I sped up as anxiety and fear began to take over my senses.

"Check the security cameras near the gate," I ordered. I didn't care how I sounded. At the time, all I could think about was finding my child, not realising that it would be one long forgettable, endless, sleepless night.

When I arrived at Kashi's house, I was met by a pale Kashi. She was huffing and had tiny sweat beads on her brow.

"I looked everywhere, but she is not here Priya," Kashi said in a breathless voice. My mind was not listening to her. I was concerned about my daughter. Where had she gone? Is she all right? All the possibilities of the past repeating itself flashed through my mind. I took out my phone and dialed Arjun. Officially, I needed his help right now.

"Mehra, are you okay? I know I will talk to the commissioner..."

"Nila is missing A-Arjun," I said, cutting him off. I was crying and shaking in fear. Kashi was consoling me while blaming herself for not paying enough attention.

"WHAT?" Arjun shouted. I could feel worry and fear in his voice. I narrated to him what happened in the office while he was on the way.

"Did you check his location?" Arjun asked.

"No, I forgot about that." How stupid I could be? I should have checked his location in the first place.

"It's okay, Mehra. I understand. I have asked Swati to check the location and the city checkpoints are being checked. So we will find Nila soon." Even though he was telling me to calm down, he sounded as if he was assuring himself as well.

"I'll go check in the neighborhood again," Kashi said. I simply nodded. I couldn't say anything. I had a sneaking suspicion that something bad was about to happen. I sat on my knees in front of Kashi's house, tears streaming down my cheeks.

I wish I hadn't chosen this profession otherwise I wouldn't have lost my family. I wish I had resigned after losing my parents then Nila would have been here with me today.

'Why am I like this? Why do I keep losing my loved ones?' I asked myself.

Once I get back to Nila, I will leave this job. We will go away from this place and settle down somewhere else where there will be no Priya Mehra IPS.

'I hope my baby is fine,' I prayed.

My phone rang making me alert. I looked at the caller hoping it to be Arjun or Kashi telling me that they got Nila. But no! It was Neil.

"Hey Priya, Where are you?" He asked in a hurry.

"N-Nil... Nila is m-missing," I said while trying to control my cries and stammering but failed miserably.

"For that only I called you. Nila is with me. I saw her in the mall roaming around." I stood up as soon as he said those words. It was the best news I'd ever received in my entire life. I noticed Arjun getting out of his SUV and walking towards me.

"Nila is with Neil, Arjun," I nearly yelled. I couldn't be more overjoyed. My baby was safe and on her way back to me. Arjun took the phone from me and asked, after putting it on speaker, "where was she?"

"I was showing my new partners the mall for a deal and that's when I saw her roaming here. Right now she is sleeping and if you want I can wake her up."

"No, let her rest. We need to ask her a few things after she wakes up. I am sending you the location to come here with her." After getting a positive response from Neil, Arjun ended the call.

We sat on the front steps, relieved that Nila was safe. Swati called Arjun and informed him that the phone number he was using was private and that tracing his location was impossible. Arjun thanked her and hung up the phone. He also informed the department that the girl had been found and that no further investigation was required.

Meanwhile, Neil arrived, and I noticed a sleeping Nila in the backseat. As tears streamed down my cheeks, I opened the door and hugged her. But this time it was tears of joy. I kissed her on the cheek and vowed never to let anything bad happen to her. I gently woke her up by calling her name. She blinked open her sleepy eyes and looked at me, perplexed.

"Are you okay Nila?" Arjun asked her as he came forward to take a look at her.

"Of course, but mom, where were you? I looked for you everywhere in the mall," Nila said as she looked at me puzzled.

"But I never told you that I am in the mall baby," I replied. Why was she saying that she was looking for me?

"She told me that an uncle in police uniform told her that you are waiting for her in the mall when she was playing outside," Neil stated as he looked at me. He, too, seemed intrigued, and it was then that I realised he was unaware Nila had gone missing. Arjun, I assumed, understood the situation because he explained everything to Nil and Nila.

"So it was a plan by the killer," Neil said after hearing everything. I nodded and hugged Nila close, kissing the top of her head.

"You should not talk to strangers. You know how worried we were?" Arjun scolded. I wasn't in the mood to scold because I was too happy that my daughter was safe and secure with me.

My happiness was short-lived when my phone rang and I noticed it was the same private number.

"Don't you think it's too early to celebrate Ms. Priya Mehra," his cold voice said. "Isn't someone still missing?"

And the line went dead.

"Where is Kashi?"

_________________________________________