Fractured

Investigation

"Mahi, DCP Viswak Saini is here," Ravi Shastri called from the entrance, pulling MS out of his thoughts. 

A middle-aged man, bearing a national emblem on his shoulder, and a relatively younger woman, wearing three stars on her shoulder, followed Shastri inside the dressing room.

MS walked towards the men in uniform. 

"I'm DCP Viswak Saini, South Zone, Mumbai, and this is Detective Inspector Vaishali from my office." They introduced themselves after a handshake.

"You mentioned on the call that Rohit Sharma is missing? Are you the last person who saw him?" Vaishali asked as they all sat on the couch. She took out her notebook and began noting down details. MS nodded, trying to steady his nerves.

"Can you tell us in detail since when he has been missing? We need all the details. We'll be recording your statement," Vishwak said, leaning back slightly on the couch.

MS took a deep breath and began to explain everything.

"So, you last saw Rohit between 1:00 and 1:30 AM this morning, and according to you, he went out to eat fast food?" Vaishali asked, referring to her notes.

"He said he wanted to eat. He asked me to go with him. I refused and told him to just go to sleep, but when we woke up, he wasn't there. He left his phone behind. When we unlocked it, it was still showing food videos, so we assumed he..." MS trailed off, his voice heavy with worry.

"Do you have any idea where exactly he went?" Vaishali pressed gently.

"I... don't know. He just mentioned he knew places that serve food late. I didn't ask for details since we weren't planning to go," MS replied, trying to stay calm.

Rohit isn't fine. He could feel it, and that made him agitated.

"You said you thought he was pranking all day. Maybe he knew you wouldn't let him play, even if he came back, and decided to pull the prank a little longer? If he went on his own, can you tell us the places he might have gone?" Vaishali inquired.

MS frowned, feeling a surge of anger. now when asked like that It seemed foolish to think Rohit would pull such a prank. Rohit could do many things, but he wouldn't risk his chances of playing.

"It's NOT a prank. We all know him well enough to understand his limits. This is NOT a prank," Shastriji interjected firmly, his tone conveying his frustration.

"Okay. Vaishali, file an FIR. One of you needs to come and sign the complaint. Inspector Vaishali will be the investigating officer; I will be monitoring the case," ACP Saini instructed as he stood up. Vaishali and the others followed suit. 

"I will come," Shastriji confirmed, and MS felt a wave of gratitude, he can't handle those official documentation now.

"Sir," Vaishali acknowledged, nodding. "I will alert all checkposts and toll naka's and also will review the CCTV footage from the hotel and all possible routes. I'll also check with the hotel staff and nearby taxi services to see if he used them, and proceed with the investigation from there." She reported to her senior, keeping MS and Shastriji in loop.

"And," Vaishali turned to MS and Shastri, "I will need to search his room for any possible clues. I'll be at the hotel in 2-3 hours. Please leave the room untouched until then." MS nodded in agreement.

"In the meantime, I need you to compile a list of all the places Rohit might go," she continued. "Even if he isn't pranking, maybe he went somewhere willingly and something went wrong."

"It's his city. He has many such places," MS said, trying to think of all the possibilities.

"List them all. Involve his family if needed. Every place he could go in the middle of the night should be listed. Try to complete it by the time I meet you in 2-3 hours," Vaishali demanded.