The Naroda Massacre

The Beautiful Hell

Raj's thoughts in a fraction of a second: Every passing second ramps up the pressure on the investigation. Yet, Arjun has taken the time to collect information about us. That only makes sense if he found a connection between us and the case. Otherwise, why waste precious time?

Does he suspect us? But why?

Probably because of the coincidence that not a single person from our families died. Could that alone be enough to suspect us? No, there's more.

The news reports suggest there are only two or three individuals behind this. One must have a great knowledge of science, specifically chemistry, to develop a poison that forensic experts can't detect—a genius.

We fit both conditions: me and Divyesh. I'm well-versed in chemistry. I'm even considered a genius. And the last incident happened at our school.

This is bad. Really bad. He might be here to secretly imprison us, to question us in private. If no more incidents occur, we could be declared the culprits. Life imprisonment or even the death penalty could await us.

I haven't been in a hellish situation like this since the '333 Kinder Orphanage' incident.

Dialogue:

Raj: (voice trembling slightly) "He's going to arrest us, or maybe worse."

A loud silence echoes through the room.

Divyesh: (stammering) "A-arrest us? Why?"

Raj: (taking a deep breath) "He suspects us as the culprits of this crime."

Arjun's eyes widen with a mix of surprise and fascination.

Arjun: (thinking aloud) "Well, well, he figured it out just like that? This boy... he's not ordinary. He's truly a genius. But to what extent could he have orchestrated a perfect crime like this?"

Divyesh's panic is palpable. His hands are shaking.

Divyesh: (panicking) "Whaatt? Us?"

Raj: (trying to stay calm but clearly anxious) "Yes, us."

Divyesh is almost shaking with fear, while Raj sits calmly, though the fear is evident on his face.

Arjun raises a hand, signaling them to calm down.

Arjun: "Calm down. Hear me out. I have my reasons to believe in three possibilities."

Raj and Divyesh listen intently, their hearts pounding.

Arjun: (counting on his fingers) "First, you might have an indirect connection with the case, which is really complicated. Second, the real perpetrator might be framing you two. He's smart enough to convict someone else on his behalf, and you two are perfect for getting framed, especially since the second incident happened at your school. And third, there's the possibility that you both are indeed the culprits."

Both of them gulp audibly, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

Raj: (smirking anxiously) "Well, I would like to hear which theory you're pursuing."

Arjun: (calmly) "Well, it's pretty soon for me to decide anything, so..."

Raj: (impatiently) "So what comes next? What's going to happen to us? Are we gonna end up in a cage now?"

Arjun: (reassuringly) "Come on, that would be really harsh. Besides, that wouldn't prove anything. I don't have a conclusion or proof yet. So, I'm here to propose something to you."

Both Raj and Divyesh: (impatiently and anxiously) "What? What is it?"

Arjun: "I would like to have you both work with the PANM until we solve this case or reach a conclusion."

Both of them are completely surprised.

Divyesh's thoughts: Raj said he suspects us, so I don't think it's that simple. He definitely has something else in mind.

Divyesh glances towards Raj.

Raj's thoughts: That's it? Is it that simple? No, he definitely has something else in mind. Is he planning to lock us in the PANM since he doesn't have any proof to convict us? Yes, that's probably it. It's beneficial for him; he's keeping us on a 24/7 monitor while pursuing all his theories.

Raj: (with a smirk) "I see, you're going to lock us up anyway, aren't you?"

Arjun: (smiling slightly) "Not exactly. I need your help. You'll have freedom within the PANM, but you'll be under observation. This is as much for your protection as it is for the investigation."

Raj and Divyesh exchange uneasy glances, the weight of the situation sinking in.

Raj's thoughts: This is our chance. We need to play along, gather information, and find a way to clear our names.

Divyesh's thoughts: We're in deep, but this might be our only way out. We have to stay sharp and work together.

Raj: (nodding slowly) "Alright, we'll cooperate. But we expect full transparency from you as well."

Arjun: (nodding in agreement) "Agreed. We're in this together now."

Raj and Divyesh: (speaking in unison) "Deal."

The room falls silent, the tension lingering in the air.

Narration: As the three of them stood in the dimly lit room, a sense of uneasy alliance formed. The stakes were high, and trust was thin. Arjun had set the stage for a delicate dance of strategy and suspicion.

Raj and Divyesh exchanged one final glance, a silent vow to uncover the truth and protect each other.

Narration: Little did they know, the path ahead was fraught with peril, and the shadows of doubt and danger loomed ever larger. This was just the beginning of a complex game, where every move could lead them closer to the truth—or their own demise.

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Author's Note: Hie! so with this chapter we finish the first arc or portion of the story, this was the introductory arc.

The Arcs which are now to come are going to be the "Main Arcs" which are obviously going to be more interesting and thrilling, I might take a little time to complete the second arc, "Introduction to Neverland" Arc or the "Scientist's Arc" trust me its going to be worth the wait.

With this Tatakae!!