[Suraj76626]

Continued from the last post...

“Yeah, brilliant plan, Alokk. Pure genius.” Chetan clapped his hands slowly, his grin twisted with bitter sarcasm. “I just have to march into the security officer station, point my holy finger at Patode, and voilà—the cops throw him in jail, justice served, and I walk out a free man. Case closed!” He leaned forward in his chair, that mocking smile stretching wider, though his eyes betrayed only despair. “Do you even hear yourself? That’s not a plan, it’s a fucking joke.”

 

Alokk’s smirk hardened into a scowl. “Oh, and you’ve got a better idea, Mr. IAS?” His voice dripped with venom. “At least I’m trying to help your sorry ass. You should be thanking me instead of sitting there whining like a bitch.”

 

Chetan’s face darkened, his tone cutting and cold. “Thank you? For what? For serving me a half-baked fantasy? Even if I take your advice and pin this on Patode, where’s the proof, genius? Why the hell would the cops believe you or me over a man like him? He’s got a spotless image, deep pockets, and political blessings. While we? We’re the convenient scapegoats. Easy arrests. Easy convictions. Why would the security officer do the hard work when they can crush us and close the file? Do you think it’s child’s play to manipulate the cops?”

 

Alokk took a step closer, his eyes burning with hatred. His voice dropped into a near growl. “Don’t underestimate me, Chetan. I know exactly how Patode works. He used Bhiva’s hot temper, fed his thirst for revenge, and made him Saad Hasan’s executioner. And now? He controls Ambruj’s dirty business without lifting a finger. Bhiva’s just a pawn. For him, Patode is godfather, savior, family. Bhiva won’t turn on him—no chance. But if we want out of this mess, we need proof. Hard evidence tying Patode to the murder.”

 

Chetan tilted his head, suspicion etched across his face. “And where exactly do we dig up this miracle evidence?"

 

That’s when Alokk’s lips curled into a sly, wicked grin. His eyes gleamed with malice, as though he’d been waiting for this moment. “Oh, I think I know someone who can get us what we need.” He leaned in close, his breath hot with menace. “But for that you'll have to get down and dirty, Chetan. Cross moral lines you’ve never dared to cross. Otherwise…” He places his hand on Chetan's shoulder. “We’ll both be rotting in jail before soon.”

 

Chetan’s curiosity flickered, despite his distrust. He straightened in his chair, his voice steady but edged with unease. “Who? Who the hell are you talking about?”

 

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"So, Sanju… the people of Kasegaon must be breathing easy now that Saad is gone?" Shipra asked softly, her voice laced with warmth and curiosity. She brought the small steel glass to her lips, sipping the steaming tea, its earthy aroma mixing with the scent of cow dung and wet mud that clung to the village air. She sat cross-legged on a creaky wooden cot in the shaded verandah of Sanju’s modest mud-walled house.

 

The atmosphere was calm but tense, with a few village women gathered around, some shelling peas, others listening intently as the conversation turned darker.

 

Sanju, seated on a low stool beside her, scoffed at the mention of Saad. Her eyes flashed with a mix of bitterness and grim satisfaction. “Not just Kasegaon, ma’am… all of Ambruj is relieved. That bastard was a disease, and now he’s gone for good,” she said, her voice rising slightly, her lips curling in disdain. “Especially me… I can sleep without fear again. After what he did—after what I went through…”

 

Her voice faltered for a second, recalling the trauma of her abduction—Saad’s rough hands, the dark, cold room, the helplessness. She clenched her jaw and looked away.

 

Shipra placed her hand gently over Sanju’s, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I know, Sanju. What he did to you was unforgivable. But I hope now, with him out of the picture, the other women will feel brave enough to speak up… especially those SHG members who were cheated. With Saad gone, they don’t need to live in fear anymore.”

 

Sanju exhaled, her expression softening slightly. “Maybe… But honestly, ma’am, with you in charge at the branch now, they don’t need to worry. I keep telling them—you’ll make sure they get what’s rightfully theirs. The investigation doesn’t even matter anymore. Justice has been served.”

 

Shipra’s brow furrowed. She shook her head slowly, not ready to let it slide. “No, Sanju. It’s not that simple. Saad couldn’t have pulled this off alone. These things are never done solo. There’s a whole chain of people who helped him, who enabled him. And those people—whoever they are—need to be brought to justice too.”

 

Sanju nodded reluctantly, though her eyes were still distant. “I just… I’m glad he’s dead. But yes, you’re right. We can’t let the others go scot-free. I’ll talk to the women again, convince them to give their statements. Now that he’s gone, they may finally open up.”

 

Shipra gave her a warm, appreciative smile. “That’s the spirit I was hoping for, Sanju,” she said sincerely, nodding. But just as quickly as her smile appeared, it began to fade—her eyes narrowing slightly, voice softening as she tread into more sensitive territory.

 

She set her glass gently on the side table and leaned in, her tone measured but probing. “Sanju… there’s something I need to ask you—and I hope you won’t take it the wrong way. I’ve been hearing whispers around the village. Rumours… about your brother. That he may have had something to do with Saad’s murder. Is there any truth to it?”

 

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

 

Sanju froze for a brief moment, caught off guard. Her hand, still resting on her thigh, clenched into a fist. She slowly placed her own glass down on the wooden cot beside her and shifted her body forward, her back now rigid with tension. Her expression hardened—eyes narrowing, lips pressing into a tight line.

 

“No, ma’am. Absolutely not,” she said, her voice sharp with conviction, though a faint tremor betrayed her inner turmoil. “All these rumours… they’re nonsense. Just the idle gossip of bored, illiterate villagers who have nothing better to do than weave stories.”

 

She paused, taking a slow breath as she tried to steady herself. Her next words came more forcefully, edged with frustration.

 

“They’re linking my abduction to Saad’s murder like it’s some sort of revenge saga. But it’s not. Saad Hasan was a criminal—a ruthless man who had made enemies in every corner of this district. What happened to him… it was inevitable. But dragging my brother’s name into this? That’s unfair.”

 

Shipra watched her closely, saying nothing yet. Her expression remained neutral, but alert—processing every flicker of emotion across Sanju’s face.

 

Sanju continued, now visibly agitated. “Yes, my brother has a temper. He’s hot-blooded, reckless sometimes. But that doesn’t make him a murderer. He’s rough, sure. But he’s not a criminal.”

 

Her voice cracked a little, but she straightened her shoulders, refusing to show vulnerability. “If people want someone to blame, they should look at Saad’s own sins. Not at my family.”

 

The thick and tense silence that followed was broken in the very next moment. “So where is he now?” A bold, authoritative voice came from the door making everyone turn their heads towards the source.

 

Shrutika along with a lady constable entered the verandah where Shipra, Sanju and other womens were sitting. Everyone stood up in surprise, confusion and fear seeing some security officer personnel entering the house.

 

"Where is Bhiva? If he is not involved in the murder of Saad Hasan, where is he hiding?" Shrutika continued as she closed in on the spot Shipra and Sanju were at. 

End of Chapter 35