𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓴𝓮𝓷.

Chapter - 5

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Shivanya ~

I felt my phone buzz in my pocket, the screen flashing Taran's name. For a few seconds, I was tempted not to answer, but when you know your brain is right, you often choose to ignore it.

"Hey, Taran," I sighed, leaning against my car for support. My heart was already heavy with a burden I couldn't share.

"Shivanya, Mom called our Panditji and he has fixed the date for next month on the 7th. The next date is six months away but since I lost my grandfather in January, we don't conduct any family functions or religious processes then. So it's up to Radhika and you. Next month or post seven months," he said, his voice as steady and unflinching as ever. Taran always had a way of reducing everything to practicalities, even matters of the heart.

"Did you talk to Radhika? What does she want?" I asked, my voice strained as I fought to keep the bitterness at bay. This was supposed to be a joyous time for her, but all I could feel was a growing emptiness.

"No. I wanted to talk to you first. You should be the one asking her, not me," he admitted, and I let out a heavy sigh.

He agreed, and we hung up. The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur. I sat at the police station, my mind miles away. When I finally met the IO, his answers barely registered. I was too consumed.

"Thank you, officer, for your time," I said, turning my phone back on and seeing two missed calls from Radhika. I called her back immediately, my heart pounding.

"Are you okay, Radhika?" I asked as she picked up.

"Of course, Di! Just wanted to ask if we could go out for dinner tonight?" Her voice was a beacon of light in my darkening world. I could almost see her smile, the one that had the power to make everything seem better, if only for a moment.

"Done! I'll try to be home by seven, okay?" I said, forcing a smile myself.

The entire drive back to work, my mind was a tempest of thoughts and emotions. My little sister might be getting married to my best friend in a month, and then there was Vihaan Raichand. Why did my stomach flutter every time he called my name or looked at me that way? Vihaan was known to be a player, a man who loved breaking hearts. Was I just another name on his list, or was my brain playing cruel tricks on me?

"Shivanya, stop giving yourself so much importance. The man is a walking-talking woman magnet. There's no chance in this lifetime that he even thinks about you the way you think he does. Stop being so desperate for someone's attention and don't let your brain trick you into saying something you might regret later," I muttered to myself, parking the car and heading to the lift.

The whole floor was Vihaan's, a constant reminder of the power and influence he wielded. His PA told me to walk in, and I threw a polite smile before stepping inside, hearing his faint "come in."

"Sir, the murder weapon is under the court's custody and..." I started to speak, but he gestured for me to take a seat.

"Did you get the rest of the witness statements recorded by the police?" he asked, taking the file from me.

"Yes, sir," I nodded, feeling the weight of his gaze on me, as if he could see right through the professional façade I was struggling to maintain.

"Go through them and find any inconsistencies with the statements recorded by the court during the cross-examination," he instructed, his tone brisk and businesslike.