Women have primal needs. Clothes are one of those needs. The fact that Rachna had knocked out a very dangerous criminal who certainly intended on killing her did not matter. Ten whole minutes had passed since she had been very nearly murdered. And yet she stood in a towel, less than a 100 square feet away from Dev Mehra but thankfully not under his frosty gaze.
"What says 'I took down a contract killer?', she wondered.
A gentle knock on her bedroom door shifted Rachna's attention. She opened it, just a little. It was Amu. "Let me in", she said.
Rachna didn't protest even though she knew Amu would roll her eyes at the pile of clothes on the bedroom floor.
Amu entered the room and surveyed the pile of clothes on the floor, clearly understanding why Rachna was taking so long. She chose not to comment. In silences she tossed Rachna a pair of mismatched essentials and hunted for a comfortable tee and pajamas.
By time Rachna put on her clothes and ran a brush through her hair, Amu had cleared the messy pile of clothes and stacked them in the cupboard. Then she simply held Rachna's hand and gently nudged her toward the living room.
"You need to talk", she said.
Rachna's thoughts focussed on the ebony-eyed cop in the living room. She took a deep breath and stepped outside.
He had helped himself to a glass of water and put on her favourite blue kettle. Packets of Earl Grey sat in three cups at her coffee table. "How did he know this was my favourite tea?", she wondered.
"Are you feeling alright?", he asked in a voice much gentler than his 'work-voice'. Rachna nodded and moved towards the far end of the couch. It seemed like her body was subconsciously trying to distance itself from the kitchen island. It was hard to believe that a nightmare had unfolded right here at this island less than 20 minutes ago.
She jumped a little when the kettle whistled but Amu, who had perched herself on the sofa's arm held her hand and squeezed.
Not missing a beat, Dev had walked up to the kettle and brought back the boiling water. Rachna had watched as he poured water into cups. His arms had a bit of muscle in them, something she had not noticed before. The warm notes of citrus hit her nose and before she could stop herself, she asked, "How did you know this is my favourite tea?"
Dev raised his eyebrows. "Actually this is my favourite tea", he said. Amu picked up an oversized cup and handed it to her, giving her an encouraging smile. Not touching her own tea, Amu went back to her perch next to Rachna.
"She's very protecting of her friend", Dev observed.
They started on their tea in silence. Dev took advantage of this interlude to observe Rachna. Her heart shaped face was now under lamplight. She was pale, paler than this morning. She was cold too, he observed, as she clutched the cup of tea with both hands. His attention turned to her slender fingers where she sported a heart shaped diamond ring. "Was that from a boyfriend?" he wondered. For the second time in one day, Dev reminded himself to stay focused.
Breaking the silence he said, "Miss Gupta, if you could tell me what happened."
Her eyes that had been focussing on the tea slowly met his. She sounded a great deal calmer after her tea. "I was taking a bath and I," she hesitated, "I heard a noise. I came out and I found him here, holding a knife at me."
He frowned. They had not recovered a knife from the crime scene. But he continued with his questions.
"Did you notice anything odd when you came home? Anything out of place?"
"No", she sounded slightly confident. "I came home and went straight to the bathroom and I was in there for quite sometime."
His ears had not missed the sound of confidence in her voice. This part of the story was true.
"So," Dev continued, "when you stepped out of your bathroom, you saw him?"
"Yes"
"Where was he standing?"
"He was over there", she pointed at the front door.
His eyes narrowed. " He was over there, and you were here, at your bathroom's doorway?"
Rachna gulped. He was spotting the holes in her story. He knew she was lying.
"Yes", she said rather defiantly.
"So if you spotted an intruder with a knife at a distance of 15 feet, why did you not run back to the bathroom and lock yourself in?"
He could see the little colour draining from her cheeks and knew she was remembering what had really happened.
"I, er, I was too shocked to move", she said, although it sounded more like a question.
"I see." His gaze was stern once again. "When we came in here Miss Gupta, you were at your kitchen island and not at your bathroom threshold. Clearly, you moved. Not away, but toward your attacker. Could you tell me why?"
She was trying to focus on her story but couldn't take her eyes off his. "I, er, I, I don't remember", she squeaked.
"You don't remember?", he asked coolly.
"I don't!", she said a little agressively.
Dev was silent for a long moment. When he started to speak, Rachna knew he has switched to his 'work-voice'. Business-like, no-nonsense.
"Miss Gupta, you've been through a lot today and I will give you the benefit of doubt that your head isn't in the right place. But I will tell you this. I am not buying the bullshit you are selling tonight."
Rachna opened her mouth to protest but he held up a hand. "A boy has been killed in broad daylight," he continued, "your friend's house was ransacked and we found a well-known contract killer unconscious on your floor. You and I both know these are definitely not unrelated incidents."
He paused, waiting for his words to take effect. " I will be back here tomorrow at 9 am to personally escort you to the station. And this time, you will tell me the truth."
"But I am, I-" Rachna started to protest again but he cut her off.
"No Miss, you are not. I don't know how you got yourself into this mess but if you're trying to turn this story into some sort of exclusive expose, you can be rest assured it will not happen on my watch."
Too stunned to reapond, Rachna simply stared at him. She watched as he placed his undrunk cup of tea back on the coffee table. "9 am", he repeated, then gave a curt nod to Amu and let himself out of the apartment.
It was 30 whole seconds before Amrita spoke. "Are you going to lie to me as well?" she asked quietly. Rachna wheeled around staring at Amu, "What, no I-"
"Did he touch you? Is that what you are trying to hide?"
"No, no he didn't. He said he was going to, but I knocked him out before he could."
"He wasn't at the door, was he?" Amu asked.
Rachna closed her eyes, defeated. "No."
"No, he wasn't".
"So are you going to tell me what really happened?"
Rachna sighed. "Just before the boy died, he said something. He said 'Keep it safe!' and handed over that sking bag to me. I was surprised but before I could react, I heard the shot. Everything happened so fast that I forgot about what the boy had said. I only remembered when I was in the tub. So I came out and I was rummaging for the bag in the middle of the mess and that's when I heard him. He was standing behind me. He wanted something that was inside the bag."
Amrita's eyes were round with shock. "What was in the bag?", she asked.
"I don't know, he got very angry when he couldn't find it and that's when you two came in."
In one swift movement, Amrita moved across the room and picked up the bag. She looked inside, turned it upside doen, then inside out but couldn't find anything.
Rachna had joined her on the living room floor. "Maybe there's something in the lining?" She pulled at the fragile threads of the bag, hoping to find something. Nothing.
"Oh!", said Amu very suddenly. "When you fell, I tried to move you and this bag, it was stuck under you and I pulled and this little wooden bird key ring thing came off."
The girls stared at each other in silence.
"Where is it then?"
"I think I dropped it outside the stall."
Amu rose from the floor and grabbed my keys off the mantle.
"Come on", she said, "I'll drive, we'll go look for it."
"But it could be anywhere", Rachna said, running her fingers through her hair.
Amrita gave her a defiant stare. "A child was killed this morning. I almost lost you. My house is a wreck. This wooden bird might be holding a big secret and we need to find out what it is. Now are you in or not?"
Rachna rose and slipped into a pair of flip flops. "Leave the lights on", she said. "Let the neighbours think I am still home."
They were silent on the elevator ride to the lobby. They stepped into the foyer and Amrita pulled Rachna behind a pillar and out of sight. "Look, it's the ACP."
They could see he was furious and was yelling at the deputy from this morning.
"Back entrance", Rachna whispered.
Cautiously, the girls slipped into the parking lot and very soon were driving into the moonless night.
"What says 'I took down a contract killer?', she wondered.
A gentle knock on her bedroom door shifted Rachna's attention. She opened it, just a little. It was Amu. "Let me in", she said.
Rachna didn't protest even though she knew Amu would roll her eyes at the pile of clothes on the bedroom floor.
Amu entered the room and surveyed the pile of clothes on the floor, clearly understanding why Rachna was taking so long. She chose not to comment. In silences she tossed Rachna a pair of mismatched essentials and hunted for a comfortable tee and pajamas.
By time Rachna put on her clothes and ran a brush through her hair, Amu had cleared the messy pile of clothes and stacked them in the cupboard. Then she simply held Rachna's hand and gently nudged her toward the living room.
"You need to talk", she said.
Rachna's thoughts focussed on the ebony-eyed cop in the living room. She took a deep breath and stepped outside.
He had helped himself to a glass of water and put on her favourite blue kettle. Packets of Earl Grey sat in three cups at her coffee table. "How did he know this was my favourite tea?", she wondered.
"Are you feeling alright?", he asked in a voice much gentler than his 'work-voice'. Rachna nodded and moved towards the far end of the couch. It seemed like her body was subconsciously trying to distance itself from the kitchen island. It was hard to believe that a nightmare had unfolded right here at this island less than 20 minutes ago.
She jumped a little when the kettle whistled but Amu, who had perched herself on the sofa's arm held her hand and squeezed.
Not missing a beat, Dev had walked up to the kettle and brought back the boiling water. Rachna had watched as he poured water into cups. His arms had a bit of muscle in them, something she had not noticed before. The warm notes of citrus hit her nose and before she could stop herself, she asked, "How did you know this is my favourite tea?"
Dev raised his eyebrows. "Actually this is my favourite tea", he said. Amu picked up an oversized cup and handed it to her, giving her an encouraging smile. Not touching her own tea, Amu went back to her perch next to Rachna.
"She's very protecting of her friend", Dev observed.
They started on their tea in silence. Dev took advantage of this interlude to observe Rachna. Her heart shaped face was now under lamplight. She was pale, paler than this morning. She was cold too, he observed, as she clutched the cup of tea with both hands. His attention turned to her slender fingers where she sported a heart shaped diamond ring. "Was that from a boyfriend?" he wondered. For the second time in one day, Dev reminded himself to stay focused.
Breaking the silence he said, "Miss Gupta, if you could tell me what happened."
Her eyes that had been focussing on the tea slowly met his. She sounded a great deal calmer after her tea. "I was taking a bath and I," she hesitated, "I heard a noise. I came out and I found him here, holding a knife at me."
He frowned. They had not recovered a knife from the crime scene. But he continued with his questions.
"Did you notice anything odd when you came home? Anything out of place?"
"No", she sounded slightly confident. "I came home and went straight to the bathroom and I was in there for quite sometime."
His ears had not missed the sound of confidence in her voice. This part of the story was true.
"So," Dev continued, "when you stepped out of your bathroom, you saw him?"
"Yes"
"Where was he standing?"
"He was over there", she pointed at the front door.
His eyes narrowed. " He was over there, and you were here, at your bathroom's doorway?"
Rachna gulped. He was spotting the holes in her story. He knew she was lying.
"Yes", she said rather defiantly.
"So if you spotted an intruder with a knife at a distance of 15 feet, why did you not run back to the bathroom and lock yourself in?"
He could see the little colour draining from her cheeks and knew she was remembering what had really happened.
"I, er, I was too shocked to move", she said, although it sounded more like a question.
"I see." His gaze was stern once again. "When we came in here Miss Gupta, you were at your kitchen island and not at your bathroom threshold. Clearly, you moved. Not away, but toward your attacker. Could you tell me why?"
She was trying to focus on her story but couldn't take her eyes off his. "I, er, I, I don't remember", she squeaked.
"You don't remember?", he asked coolly.
"I don't!", she said a little agressively.
Dev was silent for a long moment. When he started to speak, Rachna knew he has switched to his 'work-voice'. Business-like, no-nonsense.
"Miss Gupta, you've been through a lot today and I will give you the benefit of doubt that your head isn't in the right place. But I will tell you this. I am not buying the bullshit you are selling tonight."
Rachna opened her mouth to protest but he held up a hand. "A boy has been killed in broad daylight," he continued, "your friend's house was ransacked and we found a well-known contract killer unconscious on your floor. You and I both know these are definitely not unrelated incidents."
He paused, waiting for his words to take effect. " I will be back here tomorrow at 9 am to personally escort you to the station. And this time, you will tell me the truth."
"But I am, I-" Rachna started to protest again but he cut her off.
"No Miss, you are not. I don't know how you got yourself into this mess but if you're trying to turn this story into some sort of exclusive expose, you can be rest assured it will not happen on my watch."
Too stunned to reapond, Rachna simply stared at him. She watched as he placed his undrunk cup of tea back on the coffee table. "9 am", he repeated, then gave a curt nod to Amu and let himself out of the apartment.
It was 30 whole seconds before Amrita spoke. "Are you going to lie to me as well?" she asked quietly. Rachna wheeled around staring at Amu, "What, no I-"
"Did he touch you? Is that what you are trying to hide?"
"No, no he didn't. He said he was going to, but I knocked him out before he could."
"He wasn't at the door, was he?" Amu asked.
Rachna closed her eyes, defeated. "No."
"No, he wasn't".
"So are you going to tell me what really happened?"
Rachna sighed. "Just before the boy died, he said something. He said 'Keep it safe!' and handed over that sking bag to me. I was surprised but before I could react, I heard the shot. Everything happened so fast that I forgot about what the boy had said. I only remembered when I was in the tub. So I came out and I was rummaging for the bag in the middle of the mess and that's when I heard him. He was standing behind me. He wanted something that was inside the bag."
Amrita's eyes were round with shock. "What was in the bag?", she asked.
"I don't know, he got very angry when he couldn't find it and that's when you two came in."
In one swift movement, Amrita moved across the room and picked up the bag. She looked inside, turned it upside doen, then inside out but couldn't find anything.
Rachna had joined her on the living room floor. "Maybe there's something in the lining?" She pulled at the fragile threads of the bag, hoping to find something. Nothing.
"Oh!", said Amu very suddenly. "When you fell, I tried to move you and this bag, it was stuck under you and I pulled and this little wooden bird key ring thing came off."
The girls stared at each other in silence.
"Where is it then?"
"I think I dropped it outside the stall."
Amu rose from the floor and grabbed my keys off the mantle.
"Come on", she said, "I'll drive, we'll go look for it."
"But it could be anywhere", Rachna said, running her fingers through her hair.
Amrita gave her a defiant stare. "A child was killed this morning. I almost lost you. My house is a wreck. This wooden bird might be holding a big secret and we need to find out what it is. Now are you in or not?"
Rachna rose and slipped into a pair of flip flops. "Leave the lights on", she said. "Let the neighbours think I am still home."
They were silent on the elevator ride to the lobby. They stepped into the foyer and Amrita pulled Rachna behind a pillar and out of sight. "Look, it's the ACP."
They could see he was furious and was yelling at the deputy from this morning.
"Back entrance", Rachna whispered.
Cautiously, the girls slipped into the parking lot and very soon were driving into the moonless night.
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