Fairytales And Foulplays

Chapter three

"Bhai, check this out!" I exclaimed, holding up a small, shiny object. It was tucked away in a corner of mom's desk drawer, forgotten for ages.

"What is it?" he asked, peering over my shoulder.

"I don't know, but it's kinda cool," I replied, turning it over in my hands.

He squinted at it. "Looks like a magnifying glass, I have only seen detectives use it" he said, grinning.

I laughed. "Really? It does look like that."

He nodded seriously. "You know, you'd actually make a pretty good detective. You're always finding stuff."

I grinned back. "Thanks! Maybe I'll become an ACP then."

"ACP? Really?"

"Yes ACP Dev Shastri reporting sir" I said mock saluting him as we both laughed at our actions

Present day - Outside Nila's house

Dev's POV

I pull up to the house, a fortress of suburban excess. Looks like someone's been busy with the home improvement shows. I step out into the sunshine, a welcome change from the dim confines of my car.

An elderly man, greets me at the door.

"Lokesh Ji?"

He nodded.

"ACP Dev Shastri, we spoke on the phone earlier" I reminded

A warm handshake, a forced smile. I return the gesture, all professional charm.

"This is Nalini my wife, Nila's mother"

His wife, Nalini, is a softer touch, eyes filled with a quiet concern. I offer a sympathetic nod.

"Chaachu I'll leave then, I can't be late" A voice said.

He's got a certain energy about him, a kind of athletic grace. I extend my hand, eager to see if he's as good at handshakes as he looks.

"Akash, this is ACP Dev Shastri aa," Lokesh introduces us. "He's here to help us with Nila's case. And this is Akash, Nila's close friend"

I give Akash a genuine smile. "Pleasure to meet you, Akash. You look like a man who's seen some action. What do you do? Something sporty, I'm guessing?"

Akash grinned, revealing a flash of perfectly white teeth against his tanned skin. "Yeah, I play a bit of football. Trying to make it to the pros, you know."

I leaned forward, feigning intense interest, hoping to draw him out. This guy, with his athletic build and that unmistakable aura of confidence, could be the key to unlocking this case.

There was something about him, a depth beneath the surface that intrigued me. An underlying intensity, perhaps, tempered by a casual exterior. I needed to delve deeper, to find the cracks in his facade. This was more than just a case; it was a game, and Akash was a potential game-changer.

"Football, huh? That's serious. I can imagine the physicality, the strategy. It must take a certain kind of grit."

Akash grinned. "It's tough, but I love it. The rush, the team spirit, it's addictive."

I leaned in, intrigued.

"So, you're all about the team player thing, huh? I've met guys like that. All about teamwork and unity. But there's another side to sports, isn't there? The individual drive, the competitive edge. You know, the part where it's just you against the world."

Akash nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Yeah, you're right. It's a balance. You need both." He paused, then added with a grin, "But let's be honest, scoring that winning touchdown is pretty damn sweet."

I chuckled. "I can imagine. So, tell me about Nila. She worked with your team right? What's she like? From what I've heard, she's quite the enigma."

Akash leaned forward, his eyes taking on a nostalgic glow. "Nila's... different. We were like a quartet, the four of us. Nikhil, her cousin, more like a brother really, Kashti, her best friend, and then Nila and me. We were inseparable."

He paused, a contemplative look in his eyes. "It's weird, though. Nila used to be so closed off, never spoke to anyone outside of our little group. It's like she built a wall around herself."

"So, let's break this down. You, Nila, Nikhil, and Kashti. A tight-knit group, huh? Tell me about Nila's dynamic with each of them."

I leaned forward, my gaze fixed on Akash. I needed details, specifics. The more I knew about their relationships, the closer I'd be to understanding Nila.

Akash took a moment to gather his thoughts. "Well, Nila and Nikhil are practically siblings. They've been through everything together. They have this unspoken understanding, a kind of shorthand that only twins share. But there's also a deep-rooted protectiveness there, especially from Nikhil's side."

I raised an eyebrow. "Siblings, huh? Sounds like a recipe for disaster. Or, at the very least, some seriously awkward family dinners."

He paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "With Kashti, it's a different kind of bond. They're opposites in many ways, but they complement each other perfectly. Kashti's the extrovert, the life of the party, while Nila is more reserved. But they balance each other out, you know?"

"Opposites attract, huh? Classic. Almost as classic as the detective and the clueless sidekick dynamic."

"And how about you and Nila?" I pressed.

Akash shrugged. "We're good friends. We've been through a lot together. We've had our ups and downs, but we've always had each other's backs."

"Ah, the noble friend. The one who's always there to pick up the pieces when the main character messes up. Sounds like a tough job."

I nodded, feigning seriousness. "Alright, let's switch gears. I want to see the media office. It might give me a better understanding of Nila's world."

Akash led me through a maze of corridors, finally stopping in front of a door marked 'Club Office'.

As we entered, Nikhil was just about to leave. His tall, athletic frame was accentuated by the sports attire he wore.

Akash introduced us, oblivious to the silent tension that crackled in the air. "Nikhil, this is ACP Dev. He's helping us with Nila's case."

Nikhil turned, his eyes locking with mine. There was a brief moment of anger in his eyes before he schooled his features into a neutral expression.

"Nice to meet you, Dev," he said, extending a hand.

I shook it, my grip firm. "Likewise, Nikhil. You look ready to conquer the world. Or at least, the football field."

Nikhil's lips curved into a smirk. "Something like that. I've got to go. We have a practice session."

As he turned to leave, I couldn't resist a parting shot.

"Practice? Really? Even now? Maybe it's time to take a break, mourn your cousin a little, and then get back to the game."

I watched as Nikhil's expression hardened. His jaw clenched, and his eyes flashed with anger.

"I'm trying to distract myself"

"Or maybe you don't love your cousin enough" I said

Just as I was about to enjoy the full impact of my words, a constable burst into the room. "Sir, the girl you asked for is here."

I turned to face the door as it opened, revealing Kashti, Nila's best friend.

"Kashti," Akash said, his voice filled with concern.

I stepped forward, extending a hand. "I'm Dev. We need to talk to you at the station."

Before Kashti could respond, Nikhil stepped in, his voice laced with protectiveness. "Why does she have to go to the station? Can't you talk to her here?"

"Because I have reasons to believe that Kashti is the prime suspect in Nila's murder"