The next morning Radhika got up late and was hurrying to go to work but was stopped by her aunt. She mentioned that Rishav applied for a day off for her. Radhika was angry at first but then decided to stay back as she was not completely out of the trauma.
Radhika saw that her brother didn't mention the details of her dreams to her aunt and that was a relief. Neither did she want to make her aunt worry nor to get locked at home for a week or so like she was when she tried to look for the killer during her college days. Her uncle was also not at home to save her.
She was seated across from her aunt on the kitchen table, her fingers wrapped around a cup of coffee, tapping on the rim rhythmically. Nothing her aunt was saying was getting in her head. She was thinking about the members of the arc. Was the killer among them or not?
The sound of the calling bell interrupted both her and her aunt. It was 10:30 am. Thinking who could come at that time, Radhika went to open the door. She was surprised to see Ishaan standing there with a solemn face.
"What are you doing here?" Radhika asked as she moved aside to let her brother in. "Shouldn't you be at home studying for your exams?"
"Who is it-oh! Our Ishaan......" Radhika's aunt said seeing him in their house. "So, what's the occasion for our baby boy to visit us?"
"Aunty...I am not a baby anymore. Stop calling me that." Ishaan huffed.
"You will always be a baby to me...." Mrs. Sengupta said with a beautiful smile on her face. "So do you want to eat something?"
"No, it's fine aunty. I came to talk with didi." Ishaan replied taking a look at his elder sister. A look that Radhika was not acquainted to see on Ishaan's face. He was more of a careless, fun-loving guy. Like a person of his age should be.
But that day the look she saw on her brother's face made her feel devasted. It was like something is happening and he wants help from her which is she not being able to offer.
"That will not do. You came after so many days." Mrs. Sengupta objected. "Go and talk with your sister, I will make your favorite salad in the meantime."
Mrs. Sengupta went to the kitchen and Radhika took Ishaan to her room, "So, what did you want to say?"
Radhika stood there waiting to hear his brother but instead of saying anything Ishaan wrapped his arms around her, hiding his face in the crook of her neck.
She was surprised at the sudden move but she understood that her speculations were right, Ishaan was facing some problem. "What happened?"
He didn't reply anything but the grip around her tightened.
"Will you not tell me?" Radhika asked again, her tone much softer this time.
"I fought with mom." Ishaan finally replied still not moving from his position. "Mom said that I should concentrate on my upcoming exams but I can't. I can't do it in such a situation."
Radhika felt like the floor under her was crumbling down. Of course, he is acting like that. All these things started on his birthday. Bristi and Mr. Oliver both died. It is not something to stay calm.
"I can't understand anything, didi!" Ishaan huffed breaking the hug. "I know Bristi is dead but still.... did she need to play with my feelings? Uncle Langston used to be rude to everyone many times but did he deserve to die? Who is causing all this, didi?? Why??"
Same questions had been lingering in Radhika's mind. Not only for her but also for her team members. Everyone was trying to figure out all possibilities that could help them in the case, they had to try every path, even if it ends without any major clue.
"And in all of that, I am forgetting things," Ishaan said running his hand through his hair frustratedly.
"What?" Radhika asked him. "What did you say?"
"I don't know didi, but I am not being able to remember certain things. I told mom but she said that maybe it is due to the recent stress but this is confusing me."
"What things?" Radhika asked but before Ishaan could reply the calling bell of her house ringed. The person outside kept on pressing the bell as if it was urgent.
Both Ishaan and Radhika shared the same look, Confusion...
Radhika hurried out of her room to see who could be this restless person. Her aunt was already at the door, opening it. When it was wide open, Radhika saw a furious-looking Yash standing there breathing heavily.... his hands curled into fists. His expressions proved that he was boiling in anger.
Was it just her or everyone was acting weird? She had never seen Yash like that. He opened his mouth to say something but then stopped seeing Ishaan standing behind her.
The incidents after that happened so fast that Radhika couldn't even react. Yash walked straight to Ishaan and the next thing she knew, her brother was on the floor with the corner of his mouth bleeding.
Yash had just punched him. What the hell?
A screeching sound erupted from her aunt and that was when Radhika realized that she had to stop Yash who was again going to punch Ishaan. She was too shocked to react immediately.
"Hold him!!!" Rishav's demanding voice came from behind. Radhika turned around to see Rishav with two other policemen. They came and pulled Yash from the confused-looking Ishaan with much difficulty. Yash kept on trying to get out of their grip to just get a hold of Ishaan.
"What the f**k is happening here?" Radhika was so much confused and angered at Yash's behavior that she forgot she was standing in front of her aunt. She didn't even realize she said that aloud.
"W-Why did you do it?" Ishaan asked Yash while slowly getting up. He was more confused than anyone in the room.
"I should ask that, you bastard!!!" Yash yelled throwing daggers at him with his eyes.
"Will anyone tell me what the hell is happening here?" Radhika interjected.
"I will tell that." Someone said from the door making everyone turn at him. It was Dhruv.
Radhika was shocked as hell to see Dhruv there at her house. A strange type of feeling was creeping through her mind. As if something really bad is going to happen. Was her dream a bad omen???
"But before that, I have to do something," Dhruv said in a very cold tone before walking up to Ishaan. He took the handcuffs out of his pocket and put them around Ishaan's hands.
"Ishaan Sen, you are under arrest for the murder of Bristi Agarwal and Oliver Langston!!!!"
YOU ARE READING
The Lines of Fate
Tajemnica / Thriller"But that smile on your face, that's the real magic." Radhika Sengupta had spent most of her life studying and training to be in the Criminal Investigation Department of Alipore, Kolkata so that she can solve her father's murder case. When she is fa...
