The Valley || ONC2023

Chapter 12

Unlike when Bhairavi had strolled inside the hospital barely half an hour ago, the coast- as they had tried to get around to investigate- was swarming with people. Luckily, the white cab still seemed to be parked a little away from the parking lot, just where Dheera had left it. 

The duo watched the halls and wards empty out as the staff, except security, hurried to finish what they were doing before making their way toward the entrance.

"Sonia left a few hours ago. I think she must have gone to escort her husband to the hospital. For a busy man, senior Raina never fails to visit this hospital." Anjani reckoned; keeping her wits about, she passed the now empty corridors, with Bhairavi in tow, till they stood in front of a door marked: Authorized personnel only. She side-eyed Bhairavi, "The answers to all our questions are here. The only problem is," her eyes dropped to the access panel, "this. Only the head of the facility, Sonia Raina, has the access card. I have been stalking her for the past few days hoping she will slip up and leave the thing unattended. Unfortunately, the Bit*h wears it like a second skin!"

"Ummm, child," Bhairavi tapped on the young girl's shoulder, pulling Anjani out of her reprieve. 

With a playful smirk tugging at the edge of her lips, the detective dangled the key to their problems in front of her companion's face, "Do you mean this, by any chance?"

Anjani's face lit up like the night sky on Diwali; a celebratory squeak left her throat as she snatched the access card and slid it into the slot. 

The door to the treasure trove of information fell open effortlessly, and the women ducked into the empty chamber, or so they thought. 

Bhairavi noticed that Anjani had done her homework and some. Without wasting a single moment, she walked purposefully to the rack titled: April 2022; pulling out a file, she instructed the older woman to keep watch. 

Bhairavi found it odd that they found the precious card lying on the floor carelessly. Hadn't Anjani mentioned that Sonia-that-Bit*h was very careful with it? 

Faint sobbing sounds from somewhere behind her distracted her. Turning, she found her companion, who had seemed like a 'no-nonsense, only business' kind of gal, in tears. 

A heartbeat later, Bhairavi's arms were wrapped around the girl in a comforting embrace. "Shush… It's alright." she whispered, running her arms over the latter's back, "I got you. I may not be a good or physically fit detective, but Ashutosh says I give world-class hugs!"

Despite tears running down her face freely, the girl couldn't hold back a small smile. Stepping out of the warmth between the motherly woman's arms, she wiped her eyes dry, "Thank you, Aunty-ji."

"No problem, my dear." Bhairavi tilted her head at the half-open files on the only table in the room, "Did you find anything?"

"Aunty-ji, these-"

Anjani's words died at the tip of her lips at loud footfalls echoing through the corridors. "Quick, help me." She turned to Bhairavi. Tugging at her backpack, she started dumping all the files she had lying haphazardly around on the table into it. "Long story short, this is a case of organ trafficking, Aunty-ji."

"What... "

"No, just listen. You need to get this to someone...someone not controlled by the Rainas, do you understand?"

"Why can't you do it?" Bhairavi felt faint. 

"Because I am faster than you and have a slightly better chance at outrunning them if they spot me. More importantly," The girl bit her lip, "Aunty-ji, what I am about to tell you… please, brace yourself."