Reshimbandh~Silken Threads

10. Neha & Drugs?

Neha's phone buzzed, she looked at the picture on screen, snapping her out of the memory lane, "Vik! I was waiting for your call. What were you high on?"

"Nothing, I was just worried that you might be in some sort of danger or worse, others might be in danger because of you." Vikram replied.

"30 calls are a lot. Did you not consider the probability of time, like I could be sleeping?"

"You can't miss that many calls, and I know how you sleep."

"Damn, you know me too well."

"Next week, I'll be coming to Mumbai. I've wrapped up most cases and paperwork. Bull was asking how you've been doing with your case, any new information?"

"Found some, will mail you, also, you had to be here two months ago." She said, dabbing her face with towel.

"I've got other cases as well."

"Fine. See you then!"

"Meanwhile, don't do anything stupid."

"Can't promise but I'll try. Toodles!"

"Take care."

~

Aisha and Liza took Neha to a secret room they had made in the ETF office behind the evidence room.

"Whoa! This is amazing!" Neha exclaimed looking at the room. "Girls, I need your help."

"Yes. We will help you." Both said in unison.

"Since yesterday, I am feeling really odd. Like someone is messing with my system." Neha said. "Can you do a blood-test on me?"

"Yes." Liza said.

"It has to be a secret between three of us." Neha said.

"Do we have a codename for this?" Aisha asked.

"The Powerpuff Girls?! You Aish, Blossom our commander-leader, you're Bubbles Liz and I'm Buttercup!" Neha said with childlike excitement.

"Never gonna grow up, are you?" Aisha smiled while Neha shook her head.

"The Powerpuff Girls!!" Liza said, "Just asking, why we are excluding Sakshi?"

"No hard feelings, but she's not a cop and that's our criteria. Also this place is lit! Thank you guys! You the best!" Neha hugged them both.

~

Next day,

ETF conference room,

Neha is frantically searching something.

"Neha, what do you want?" Arjun asked, seeing her act hyper.

"My pen" She said, still searching. Arjun looked at her, then pulled out a pen from beneath her file, "This one?"

"No, my blue raspber- yes, this." She snatched it from his hand.

He shook his head and immersed himself in the file again.

Arjun looked her, "Neha, what is this? How did you mix evidences of two very different cases? How irresponsible of you!"

She looked at him with irritation and asked curtly, "They're all dead anyways, who cares?"

"What do you mean who cares?" Arjun was taken aback with her behaviour. "This is highly unprofessional and not acceptable. Take these files, put everything properly and write the entire report again."

"Not happening." She said and left.

Neha went to the restroom to wash her face, "What is wrong with me? Why am I behaving like this?" She splashed water on her face repeatedly, "Why am I unable to concentrate on anything and these hallucinations. I think I'm being given drugs.. Shit, I am being drugged. But how? Why? And who?" She sat down on the floor, "What do I do now?" She was shaking.