Mysterious Death

24-👻Back to square one👻

My widened smile because of our plan being a success, disappeared in an instant when I saw Drishti's face.

"What is it? Did the number match?" I asked in an urgent voice.

Drishti's expressions were terrifying me.

"No, it was a different number," she answered in a resigned tone.

"Thought so. I heard them talking. Alisha didn't even know that Veena Aunty worked in my house so there's no way she would have found about my morning fights. So only Mrunal's coach is left," I spoke, sitting down on her bed.

"Nope. Before coming home, I checked upon her. She is clear too," Drishti muttered, covering her face with her palms in frustration.

An annoyed chuckle left from my mouth.

"We don't have any suspects left," Drishti spoke, her face still covered under her palms.

"We are back to sqaure one. ARGH!" I yelled, punching the wall.

As usual it went past the wall, increasing my annoyance.

"Maybe the murderer was cautious even after you had died and destroyed the number. All our efforts have gone to waste," Drishti cried.

No, this couldn't happen. We had to do something. There's no way I was going to lose hope. There had to be something. But what?

We both sat quietly, not knowing what to do. I didn't want to lose hope but as minutes ticked by, it started shredding slowly.

"What are we going to do now?" Drishti asked in a small voice, looking lost.

"I don't know. You should get back to your life while I will just wander around, doing nothing," I answered, remembering the horror I went through before knowing that Drishti could see me.

"I...I am s..so..."

Drishti started to speak but her voice broke and bursted out crying instead.

"It's okay. Don't cry. Maybe we weren't supposed to find my murderer. Sorry, I wasted your time. I shouldn't have meddled with things when I had already died. Let's just end this," I gave up.

She shook her head, denying my idea but seeing my resolute face, she agreed.

"I wish we could hug each other," Drishti spoke, her voice still hoarse from crying.

"Me too. It would have been great if I could hug you before leaving," I said with a sad smile.

"Why do you have to leave? You can stay with me," Drishti pleaded.

Shaking my head with a smile, I refused.

"You have your whole life ahead. I will only hold you back by being around you. I need to go."

I stood up to leave but stopped at her room's door.

"Before I leave, Can you tell me how did you find that Mrunal's coach was innocent? Everything has ended but this curiosity doesn't leave," I asked with a small laugh.

"My cousin lives in the same society. I went to her house and left after 10 minutes.

"Where is it? Where is it?" I mumbled while acting to search something near the entrance.

"What's wrong?" The security guard asked after seeing me squatting down and looking everywhere.

"I lost my ring and I can't find it anywhere," I answered with teary eyes.

The guard looked at me with pity and he too started searching.

"My mom would kill me. What do I do? Uncle can you please check the CCTV footage for me. I clashed into someone while entering. What if that person stole it?" I requested with joined hands.

"You can't just blame anybody like this. I am sure that your ring must have fallen," The guard disregarded my request with a stern face.

"Okay you are right. I shouldn't blame anybody just like that. So let's check and see if my suspicion is correct or not," I said raising one eyebrow.

Thankfully the guard agreed and took me to the security room.

Upon reaching, I by mistakenly (knowingly) spilled water on his clothes and he had to leave the room.

Taking the perfect opportunity, I checked the footage of that night when you died. Mrunal's coach entered the society at 8pm and didn't leave the building after that."

"CCTV," I mumbled.

"Yes. Drishti CCTV," I spoke excitedly.

"What about it?" She asked looking confused.

"We can check the CCTV footage of Ice cream parlour and also of the shops on that alley where I was dragged in. Shops were closed but CCTV would have been working. We can get some information," I relayed my plan, as hope started building inside me.

Everything wasn't lost. We still had the chance.