Barrister Babu

Chapter 89: Bad Detective Skills?

Pramita lowered her head and wept quietly beside Chandni's bed while Bondita stood near the foot of the bed, unable to look away from the young woman lying there.

Anirudh's gaze remained fixed on Chandni for several moments longer.

Then something shifted.

His eyes moved to the bruising visible near her wrist.

A small detail. Almost insignificant.

But suddenly all he could see was fear. The fear Chandni must have felt.

The helplessness. The terror.

His jaw tightened.

Whoever had done this was still outside. Still breathing. Still free.

The thought alone made anger surge through him again. His hands curled into fists.

"Dada." Som's voice cut through his thoughts.

Anirudh turned.

Som glanced briefly toward the corridor before lowering his voice. "There is something we should do immediately."

"What?"

"Tara."

Anirudh frowned slightly. "What about her?"

Som folded his arms. "She was with Chandni before anyone else." His eyes flickered briefly toward the unconscious girl. "She heard things Chandni said before she lost consciousness."

The realization landed instantly.

Bondita looked up. "But she's just a child."

Som remained quiet.

Anirudh answered instead. "For now, we don't treat her as a child."

Bondita frowned. "Patibabu—"

"We treat her as a witness."

The firmness in his voice stopped further argument.

Anirudh's eyes hardened. "The sooner we know what Chandni said, the sooner we know where to begin."

###

Outside, Tara sat exactly where everyone had left her. She had not moved. One leg swung absentmindedly beneath the bench while she stared toward the ward doors.

Keth approached carrying a glass of water. "I am assuming, you haven't had anything since yesterday."

Tara accepted it. "Thank you, Dada."

"Drink."

She obeyed without argument.

That alone surprised him. Most children either complained or asked for something else. This one simply nodded and drank.

Keth settled beside her.

For a few moments they sat quietly. Then he asked, "Tumne sab akele kaise kar diya?"

Tara lowered the glass. Her forehead wrinkled immediately. "Akele?"

"Ji."

"You found the girl Chandni." Keth counted on his fingers. "You brought her to the hospital. And you stayed all night." He shook his head. "Most grown people would've panicked."

Tara looked genuinely confused. Then she pointed upward. "Where am I alone? My Krishna ji is with me."

The answer came so naturally that it almost sounded like she was explaining something obvious.

Tara took another sip of water. "He has always been with me." Then she added matter-of-factly, "So I'm never alone."

Keth stared at her for a second. Then unexpectedly smiled. "Hmm."