"Happy vacation detective," their doorman greeted as Rakesh left the office.

Let's hope, he thought to himself. Rakesh and vacation didn't have a great history. Every time he left for a vacation, he left with a high spirit. And every time he returned, he came back remembering the first day of his training. The day they taught him the golden rule of his career, 'A detective is never off duty.' Let's hope.

**

The diesel engine left a trail of smoke as it came to a screeching halt. Rampur. Most of his childhood had passed there before his parents moved on to Mumbai. His grandparents still lived here. This was the first time Rakesh was visiting since relocation.

"The town had changed a lot since you left," he remembered his grandfather's words.

Nothing much had changed though. A number of bullock-carts still lined outside the station.

"Belapur chaloge?" he asked one.

An affirmative nod followed as Rakesh threw himself and his bag in the back of that cart. The man made a whimpering noise giving a yank to his ropes. Both the bullocks mooed in unison, and the cart started with the sound of dangling bells making up the background. Just like old times, Rakesh braced himself for a long bumpy ride.

**

Rakesh was woken up next morning by a ruckus outside his grandparent's house. Last evening had passed peacefully amidst a wonderful dinner with the old folks. He was himself surprised by that. Maybe the village had really changed. But no, its real colors have started to show.

Rakesh rushed outside. A fairly large crowd was huddled in a circle. What are these crazy people onto now? He battled his way a bit before staring over some shoulders at the center of attraction. Holy shit! A body of a young boy lay there.

His detective instincts took over. He hurried to the side of the dead body.

"Get back everyone, give some space," he ordered, "I'm a detective."

The crowd didn't budge much, but just enough for him to do his work. Their village didn't have a police station and it would take some time before the news reached the town police. This was his case now. Get to duty, detective.

The body lay face down. Rakesh turned it over to reveal the face. There were some murmurs around him. A boy had been stabbed to death. There were three stab marks near his stomach, but no sign of struggle. No scratch mark anywhere. The thought of suicide crossed his mind.

"Anyone knows him?" he asked.

There was no reply for several seconds before a young lady spoke up.

"He is a boy from next village. Kailash. He was...he was..." she collapsed on her knees with her face buried in her palm.

She was still speaking something in between the sobs, but the words weren't reaching Rakesh anymore. Her beauty had raced forward. Her bright red saree shone under the sun. It complimented her light figure. That straight black hair clung to her shoulders as she sat. The lady got her palms off her face to respond some villagers, giving a glimpse of her eyes to Rakesh. The brown diamonds were round like her face.

"Rakesh...beta..." he was shaken to present by his grandfather, "What shall we do now?"

It took him a moment to process the sudden info, but he replied quickly making it look normal.

"Call the town police dada. They will take custody of this body and investigate further. Till then, I'll have a talk with Miss..." he probed looking at the lady.

The young lady looked straight into his eyes before replying, "Rama."

**

Rakesh and Rama sat in the comfortable chairs of his room. Rama savored the tea, a gesture of hospitality from his grandmother, while Rakesh just stared her in awe.

"Is this stare a part of your investigation, detective?" she asked looking up from her cup.

"Wh..what? No." he fumbled.

A cute smile crossed her lips. There was no escape now, he was caught red-handed. But that didn't stop his from losing himself in her smile.

"Detective..." she demanded his attention, "outside, you called me a Miss..."

"Oh that," he interrupted, "I just assumed looking at you. I mean watching you, I thought. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings..."

His awkward effort of explaining himself was met with a light laughter from her. His cheeks were getting a bit red as he blushed in embarrassment.

"Calm down detective. You were right, I'm a Miss."

The volcano of emotions in Rakesh just bogged down a bit. He felt a bit relieved that he hurt a beautiful lady. Get a bearing of yourself, suddenly his mind scolded him, this is supposed to be an interrogation with you asking the questions. Not the other way around.

Oh shit! What am I doing? Rakesh checked his blushing face and donned the serious detective look again.

"We will talk about the case now Miss Rama. How do you know the dead boy?"

Rama's face showed a drastic change at this sudden question. The smile vanished quickly as drops of tears trickled down the side of her eyes.

"Kailash. He was my neighbor. We knew him from childhood. He was in the same class with my sister. They were the best of friends never to be separated. In fact, it was just last week that they had confessed their love to me. They were so happy. I was so happy."

Her eyes burst out into a pool of tears again. Rama buckled onto the floor burying her face in the soft cushion. Rakesh couldn't take this now. The steely detective was melting again at the emotions of this lady. Finally, that last strand of his resolve gave away.

He strode to the chair and hunched on his knees beside Rama. He lay a gentle hand on the back of her head.

"It'll be okay Rama. We will find out who did this. But we have to find your sister first. She may be in trouble."

Rama's eyes shot up at the mention of her sister. Her round beady eyes were as big as they can get when they looked up at him. There was a concern in them.

"That's the problem detective," she sobbed, "I know who the killer is."

What? What did she mean? His mind was battling with thoughts. Oh my god. Does it mean her sister did it? Why would she confess it though? Again the counter questions started spinning. But that explains why there were no signs of resistance from the boy. He wouldn't have expected it at all.

Rakesh jolted up with shock. He was ready to barge out and reveal the piece of information to the locals. But before he could take a step, a hand caught his. The smooth slender fingers locked in with his.

"It happened two days ago," Rama started without looking up, "I found out that Kailash was in a relationship with another girl as well. I heard them talk. He was faking the act of love just to dupe my sister. Our father had agreed to pay a large dowry without the knowledge of my sister."

Though such things were common in villages, it still shocked Rakesh a bit. The games people played for money. And that too in the name of love, a sacred thing as love.

"I told it all to Ragini," Rama continued, "I told it all. And maybe that was my mistake. Please save her Rakesh," she pleaded.

For the first time, Rakesh didn't know what to do. The girl was right on her part, what was happening to her was wrong. But murder was a serious crime. He was still contemplating the options when Rama spoke again.

"Look at me Rakesh."

He knew he wouldn't be able to hold back if he dived back in those eyes. Yet, he looked at her.

"Promise me you won't tell it to anyone. Promise me."

He had no other option but to agree. That was the only way to calm her. He left Rama in the room assuring her that nothing would happen to her sister.

**

Rakesh woke up early next morning. The sun was just peeking over the land as the village was starting to wake up. He prepared two cups of tea and knocked on the door where he had left Rama. No reply. He opened the door lightly, not wanting to wake her up.

Rama was nowhere to be seen in the room. He even checked the bathroom, nothing. It was then he noticed the open window. Did she jump out? He rushed to the window.

Out there on the road lay another body, this time of a woman. His heart went into turmoil. Did she commit suicide? But wait. The woman on the ground isn't wearing a saree. She was not Rama. God, what is happening in this village!

**

'In a shocking incident in Belapur, a husband and wife were found murdered in a space of two days. Local police have confirmed that the motive behind this was robbery, as all the ornaments and money from the house of couple are missing. Police are now searching for a woman who the locals claim initially identified the boy.'

Rakesh listened to this news hearing sitting in his office. He still cursed himself for letting a murderer sway him with her beauty and get away with it.

"There's a letter for you, Sir," his constable said handing over a letter.

It was a small note enclosed in a bright red cover.

"Don't let this case be a disappointment in your career. Instead, take it as a stepping stone. Goodbye detective.

And always remember a truth: 'The truth is, everyone, lies'