Cid Vs The Eye

Chapter 6: Evidence of Betrayal

The corridors of Mumbai General Hospital hummed with fluorescent light and the low murmur of a building that never really slept. Twenty-five minutes had passed since Abhijeet and Daya stepped out to handle calls from headquarters, leaving Poorvi alone at Shreya's bedside. The previous night still hung over everything like a smell that wouldn't leave the room.

When the two senior officers returned, they found a sight that made both of them stop in the doorway. Shreya sat rigid on the bed, eyes rimmed red, tears sliding down without pause. The officer who used to walk into crime scenes without flinching now looked like she might shatter if someone spoke too loudly.

Daya: (approaching carefully, his usual command replaced by something softer) "Sambhaalo apne aap ko, Shreya..."

Shreya turned her face away, unable to meet his eyes. When she spoke, it was barely above a breath.

Shreya: "Sir please, mujhe akela chhod dijiye... abhi kisi se baat nahi karni mujhe... please..."

Daya: (stepping forward, concern written across his face) "Par Shreya—"

Abhijeet: (a hand on Daya's arm, quiet but firm) "Daya..."

One word, but it carried everything. Abhijeet had seen enough trauma to know when someone needed silence more than comfort.

Daya: (after a long pause, nodding reluctantly) "Theek hai..."

The silence that followed was its own kind of heavy. Shreya turned to the window, shoulders shaking with sobs she was trying hard to keep quiet, the night replaying itself over and over behind her eyes.

The Burden of Care

Thirty-five minutes later, the automatic doors slid open to let Poorvi through, a bag slung over her shoulder. She'd made the trip to Shreya's flat and back — the clothes from last night were beyond saving, and Shreya would need something else to wear out of this building.

Daya and Abhijeet sat outside the room on the hard plastic chairs, their usual energy nowhere to be found.

Daya: (looking up) "Kapde le aayi tum?"

Poorvi: (adjusting the bag) "Haan sir. Shreya ke hain. Uske purane wale... theek nahi hain pehenne ke liye, isliye."

Nobody asked her to explain further. The unsaid part sat between them, clear enough.

Daya: (clearing his throat, trying for normalcy) "Achha, theek hai. Use bol do taiyaar ho jaaye. Hum discharge ki formalities poori karke aate hain."

Poorvi: "Okay sir."

Poorvi pushed the door open expecting to find Shreya asleep — eyes closed, breathing steady. But something about the stillness felt wrong. She'd seen Shreya sleep during long stakeouts before. This wasn't that.

Poorvi: (softly) "Shreya, main tumhare clo—"

She stopped mid-sentence. The breathing was too controlled. The body too rigid. This wasn't rest — this was someone holding very still, trying to disappear.

Poorvi hesitated for a second, thinking it through — DCP had already called twice, they needed to move, but Shreya hadn't slept all night and was clearly at her limit.

Poorvi: (deciding) "Chalo, utha deti hun. Jab tak sir log formalities khatam karke aayenge, ye ready ho jaayegi."

She sat beside the bed, running a hand gently through Shreya's hair.