The Wilted Rose: Chapter 7

Writer's Comments

My writings have a lot of suspense. Things will be revealed at the right time. I do not want to rush this story. I hope you all understand that. If I tell, you the killer is, there is no point for me to continue writing.

However, this SS will end soon! Because the killer will be soon found and punished. 

"Everyone has a motive, even if it looks like they don't!"

I know as my readers, you are all confused and are dying to know who was behind the murder. However the quote above should give you a big clue! I have reached near the climax of the story. I am sorry, if it looks like that I am focusing on Arjun and Riya a bit to much, but that is only to set the scene. I do not want to rush anything.

Love,

Mishty

Chapter 7

“Khushi, nothing will happen to you, while I am here! I mean it. You are safe!” he said carefully. The last thing he wanted to do was to scare her.

It was a battle of emotions. He wanted her to think that she was safe when he was there. Khushi nodded her head as an act of acknowledgement. She had understood what he meant. There was hope still.

“I know!” replied khushi, meekly.

“Thank you, for coming into my life. I know you do not want me to thank you but you don’t have to support me the way, you are doing right now,” said Khushi.

“No-one helps someone this much! I don’t know why, but when that man tried to kill me, somewhere I knew that you would come. You are like my guardian angel!” said Khushi.

“Guardian Angel?” snorted Arnav.

“I am hardly that!” he said, with a dark look in his eyes. Khushi could feel his grip tightening on her waist. She looked into his eyes once again. Their faces were close to each other, lips just mm apart. Arnav drew her even closer and kissed her cheek gently.

Arnav saw Khushi looking at him confused. He wanted to tell her so many things, but this was not the right time. She already had so much to think about. He didn't want to add to her pain.

“I will protect you! I can’t promise anything else, but I will protect you!” said Arnav, rubbing her back. Khushi nodded her head, with tears in her eyes. They loosen the hug, and sit apart.

Who was this man?

What was this man made of?

He constantly risks his life, in order to protect her?

Whatever he says, he is her guardian angel!

Suddenly the door bursts open and the ETF team entered the room. Arnav gets off the bed. He looked at the worry on their faces. Arnav pointed towards the man on the floor which was still masked. Mean-while Riya came to sit by Khushi.

“What happened?” asked Arjun.

“He tried killing her with an injection! I don’t actually know what it was, it could be some sort of poison! Don’t worry he is unconscious!” said Arnav.

“What have you found out so far?” asked Khushi.

“The sketches you told Aisha to make were brilliant. We will catch them in no time. We have alerted every police station, and we should get some results in a few hours. We tried to trace Rajan, but couldn’t find him. For some reason, his face is not on our database, which is slightly weird, but don’t worry I will find him soon!” said Shree.

“Where is the injection now?” asked Shree.

“I think in our fight, I threw it, but it must have landed somewhere in the room itself,” said Arnav.

“I don’t understand how she was attacked! Where was the police officer?” asked an exasperated Rathod.

“Why don’t you ask him yourself?” replied Arnav, with a hint of anger.

“Chotu, call the police officer in!” said Arjun.

Arjun then turned to Arnav.

“When did you come?” asked Arjun.

“I came around 2:15, when I came in saw that masked guy with an injection in his hand!” said Arnav.

“So this all happened around 2:10!” said Arjun.

“This must have all happened between 10-20 minutes,” said Chotu.

Soon the police officer was escorted inside, and he found himself facing the ETF members. Arjun and Rathod came and stood in front of him.

“Where were you when all this happened?” asked Rathod.

“Sir, I went to the washroom. I had no idea this was going to happen. I had come to check on her, but she was sleeping,” said the Police Officer in a terrified voice.

“Arjun Sir, he is telling the truth! I have checked the camera footage myself. At exactly 2:10, he was entering the washroom!” said Shree.

Arjun turned to look at Khushi, and saw red marks on her neck, they were faint, while there were bruises on her wrists. Everyone followed his look and saw marks. He wanted to murder the man for hurting Khushi. 

“Hmm, so they were keeping an eye on you! When the police officer had left, the man would have entered the room, when Khushi was sleeping. Then he tried to strangle khushi, there are some bruises on her neck and then tried to inject her! Team find that injection! It is an important piece of evidence!” said Rathod. Riya and Shree began to look for the injection.

They soon found it. It was lying in a corner.

“That is the most important, but more important is that man, who is still lying down on the floor,” said Arjun.

Arjun was about to move forward, when Riya stopped him.

“Sir, be careful!” she exclaimed.

Arjun turned towards her and gave her a glare.

“Riya, I think you are forgetting that you are an ETF officer! We are not supposed to be scared of anything. I suggest you go back to your research desk! I don’t think you can handle it!” said Arjun.

Riya had tears in her eyes. She had only meant to tell him to be careful. She looked down. Shree looked at Chotu and felt sorry for Riya. They both knew how much she loved Arjun, but they also knew that the love was never reciprocated. He nodded his head at Riya, ushering her to not cry anymore. Chotu also felt bad, seeing her cry. She was always being told off by Arjun Sir, but that didn’t hammer her spirit. He was proud of his friend. She was brave.

Arjun and Arnav slowly moved forward, towards the masked man. They slowly came on either side of him. He still looked unconscious. Chotu stood beside them just in case. Arnav slowly moved the mask. None of them knew who he was. However the next second, there was a huge gasp. They all turned around to see Khushi in tears.

Arnav sprang up from his position. He raced to Khushi.

“Khushi what is it? Do you know who this is?” asked Arnav.

“Arnav, that is Rajan; Rohan’s brother!” said Khushi.

“What?” asked Shree.

“Great! I see that this case is solved! The killer is right in front of us. First he tried to kill Rohan and Khushi by sending those 6 goons, and then when they couldn’t do the job right, he came himself, to do his own dirty work! This case is solved!” said Rathod.

“Not, so fast Rathod! There is no clear motive. This case is just beginning to open up! Par kuch toh choot raha hain!” said Arjun.

“What do you mean?” asked Rathod.

“Well, my first observation is that he is such an amateur. He tried to come and kill Khushi, but Arnav came. Arnav over-powered him. This suggests that he was not ready to attack, or he didn’t want to attack. He is just a pawn in the game Rathod, someone sent him here! Samjhe ya Samjau? Shree give him to a doctor! He needs to wake up. Only he can tell us, who sent him here!” said Arjun.

“Yes, Sir!” said Shree.

“You are right Sir, when he was trying to strangle me, his eyes showed that he was regretting his actions, like he had no choice in this matter,” said Khushi.

"Khushi, I can't believe you are defending him!" said Arnav. 

"No, Arnav the look in his eyes was genuine!" defended Khushi. 

"Whatever!" said Arnav, and turned away from her. Khushi sighed deeply.

“Hmm, he will tell us himself, but first arrange some security for him as well! The real killer would have found out by now that Rajan was unsuccessful, so he might try to harm Rajan so he can’t tell us any information!” said Arjun.

“We have to leave now, I will see you in the evening! We have things to discuss!” said Arjun.

“Okay!” said Arnav.