CHECKMATE

Chapter 17

The signatures have been taken sir," said Davis with a sigh as he sat under the banyan tree beside Pratap.

Pratap nodded looking at the orange hue against the sky which was turning dusk. He turned towards the enthusiastic lad with a smile and said, "Make sure you keep it..."
"I know sir," nodded Davis, "but it appalls me that Jadeja hasn't done anything till now. We have filed the case in the court, the residents are willing to testify yet the man is in his hole like a rat."

Pratap frowned twitching his thumbs as he watched the sun set. Inhaling deeply he looked at his intern saying, "You'd better leave for today, Jadeja can be taken care of later..."
"Alright sir," nodded Davis, "you take care..."

With the roar of the ignition, Pratap sped off in his Bentley towards his office. Keeping the stack of papers on his desk. He sighed, sat down with a mug of coffee. Immediately he picked up his phone snapping, "Davis. I need you here in twenty minutes."

"Twenty minutes! Sir...I've nearly reach home..." pleaded the young man.

"Then just come back the way the same way to marched home." Saying this he ended the call and began going through the papers.

"Sir...you might as well kill me..." Sobbed Davis. Pulling the door to his little apartment shut, he slouched and began making his way out of the building.

Refilling his mug for the third time, Pratap sat down once more and pressed his temples as he went through the case. Just then, his phone buzzed.

"Don't tell me you aren't going to come." Snapped Pratap without taking a glance at the caller ID.

"I apologize sir, it's me..." came a feeble voice from the other end.

"Mr. Singhi?" asked Pratap straightening himself over his leather recliner. For a moment all was silent until he stood up exclaiming, "WHAT!?"

"I beg you...please hurry up sir."

"Alright. First lodge a complain in a nearby police station." Saying this he cut the call and dashed out of his office only to find Davis entering.

Pratap stopped for a moment and shook his head saying, "Come along."

"Sure!" shrugged Davis following Pratap thinking, do I have a choice other than following you? Huh!

Reaching Ganga Nagar colony the two men stood at the side and watched as the police walked about with boot covers and hand gloves collecting every little evidence they could find.

Pratap looked at the frail, girl who had bruises across her face and neck. She sat down in one corner, lifeless like a dirty rag doll.

"Tell me...what did they do? What happened?" asked the policeman desperately trying to take the girls statement.

But she simply sat there, dead, without batting an eyelid nor shedding a tear. The officer exhaled in exhaustion. He had reached his wits end and could no longer persist the child for a statement.

Looking at the melancholic parents he said, "I need the child's statement. It would really be of help." Saying this he walked away.

Pratap sighed not knowing what to do or say. Feeling the buzz of his phone he received the call, "Sorry Shiv I won't be able to make it."

"Are you stuck somewhere?" he asked shouting over the din of music.

"Yes. A little busy." Saying this he ended the call.

~

Anjali continued dancing throughly enjoying herself at the club. Sipping on the cool margaretta Indrajeet watched her with a smile.