Arjun arrived at the wedding card printer shop, following the address printed on the card he had photographed earlier. The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man with thick glasses, welcomed them with casual politeness.
"Yes sir, we printed this card nearly three months ago. Bulk order. Over 30,000 pieces," the man said, flipping through his records.
Arjun stepped outside with Rohit.
"Why are we here, Arjun?" Rohit asked.
Arjun stared at the sky for a second. "I thought this wedding might've been a setup. The timing matched too perfectly. She went missing, and he left for this wedding. If it was a fake or limited event, we'd have caught him. But now… 30k cards printed three months ago? Not likely. Someone just took advantage of that date."
"Makes sense," Rohit said. "So, what next?"
"What about Surya? Did we find him or talk to his parents?"
"Yeah," Rohit nodded. "Officers visited. Surya came home two days ago and left again without saying where. His parents gave us three places he might go when he's emotional. Officers checked two, nothing yet. Last GPS ping is being checked."
Arjun's brows narrowed. "He came home, then vanished again. Doesn't look like he kidnapped her. And Rajesh's face didn't look guilty either. Feels like there's a third person involved. But why's Surya hiding since she went missing? Did he hire someone?"
Just then, Rohit's phone buzzed. He shouted at the tracker for not updating sooner.
"We got a hit! Surya's phone last pinged near the third location."
"Let's go!" Arjun commanded.
"Already ahead of us. Officers are on-site. It's 200 km from here. We'll be there by morning. Let's drive through the night."
In the middle of a forestry quiet, the third location revealed a worn-out house. Inside, Surya was lying on a cot, scrolling through sad reels. The officers breached silently, weapons drawn. He was caught without resistance.
The next morning, Surya sat inside the cold, grey interrogation room. Arjun and Rohit, now freshened up, entered.
"Where is she?" Arjun asked coldly.
"Who… who are you talking about? I don't know anyone," Surya stammered.
"Rani. You don't know Rani? Then why hire someone to kidnap her?" Arjun asked sharply.
"No! I didn't do anything! I love her! Everyone in college knows it. I was scared of her rich boyfriend, okay? I panicked and ran home!"
"What do you know about Rakesh?"
"Only that he's rich. Never liked him. Might be he did something to her! Don't trust rich people. They get bored easily."
Arjun observed him carefully, noting his body language. "What if you did something out of jealousy and now trying to blame him?"
"No! I swear on my life, I don't know anything!" Surya pleaded.
Arjun turned to Rohit. "Set up a lie detector test. Ask everything about Rani."
Back at his desk, Arjun brooded. Something about Rakesh still bugged him. He dialed Rakesh—twice rejected. Third time, he answered.
"Why weren't you picking up?" Arjun demanded.
"You went to that card shop? They called us. You embarrassed me."
"I don't care. You're under my radar. We need to talk."
"Fine," Rakesh snapped. "But only for Rani."
They met at the café where Rakesh and Rani used to spend time. Tension thickened the air.
"You know Surya?" Arjun asked.
"Heard the name."
"Anything about Rani's enemies?"
"She told me about a guy named Varun. Lived in her colony. Orphan. Proposed to her 6 months ago. She said no, he left his house. Never saw him again."
"And how long have you known Rani?"
"Over a year. Met her during a college function. She was dancing on stage. I was the guest."
"Where might Varun have gone?"
"No clue. Never even saw his face."
Arjun warned him to stay reachable, then walked back to his car. He found a folded note on his window. Tossing it on the dashboard, he drove back to the office.
Same evening_
Arjun and Rohit visited Rani's colony, I sent Rohit to collect the cc tv records, and rohit went for it, then I asking about Varun in colony. One elder pointed to a ruined house. Inside, dust and decay. Old family photos, including Varun's childhood picture. Arjun took them.
Back in the car, while waiting for Rohit, he remembered the note. Unfolded it.
"Hello sir, your whole investigation is wrong 😈 I have a surprise for you. Tomorrow."
He frowned. Something didn't sit right.
Back at HQ, Arjun handed over CCTV requests and the photos. "Check everything around that house. I want answers by morning."
Tired, he finally went home.
The next morning, a call. Urgent.
Arjun rushed to a site under a flyover, city outskirts. Officers gathered. His boss was already there.
Under a blue tarp lay a half-burned female body.
A blood-stained note beside it:
"You were looking for her? Too late. You're not smart. Go home. You're useless. You'll never find me. Your chicken brain won't catch me."
Arjun's world spun. His boss placed a hand on his shoulder.
He stepped away and threw up.
Rohit stood by silently, offering water. But Arjun's mind was storming. This wasn't just a case anymore.
TO BE CONTINUED....