Delhi
India

She made her way to the entrance as a watchman opened the security gate. A sudden ray of sunlight hit her as she involuntarily looked up, which blinded her for some milli-seconds. She blinked and looked around. There are inspectors who are guarding the place while some are having their snacks and tea.

Everyone stopped to have a look at her. She felt uncomfortable and slowed down her pace.

"Why did you slow down, Madam?" Inspector who was accompanying her asked.

"Nothing," she shrugged. For her friend, she's here and nothing can stop her. So, she paced along the Inspector and as they did, soon they stood in front of a small cellular in the police station.

Inspector took out the security keys and opened the lock letting her enter.

"Remember, Madam. Not more than 10 minutes." He gestured his hand. She nodded her head silently.

"I'll stand here at the threshold. Exact ten minutes and I'll be in," he told her standing at the entrance.

"Okay." She nodded her head.

She turned to look at her friend who hadn't even flinched. But she had to flinch at the horrible smell the room contained.

How can this thing even sit in such a place?

Lifeless.

When you're lifeless, you can sense nothing. How can you? When you're called as a Murderer!

She slowly went near the silhouette. She lent a supporting hand. She wanted to know the truth. She can't believe her friend did that. She can never. Still, she has some questions that need answers.

Only then she can save a life. Not one, but two! Two lives are dependent on the answers.

"What did you do?" A whisper travelled through the silence and it perfectly did its work as it reached the silhouette.

"I don't know anything."

There was a long pause for 5 whole minutes. Nothing more was questioned and nothing more was answered. Sense of tranquility passed between both of them. A haze it was. Peaceful yet not. Silence spoke the words that went unheard.

"Don't you trust me?" she asked with nothing glistening her eyes. Tranquility be damned as her eyes said nothing, did nothing. They were peaceful yet weren't. They were calm yet weren't.

"I do, but circumstances aren't letting me to," she reasoned.

"I have nothing to say except that I don't know anything," she repeated her words again.

"How is that possible? Tell me what happened and only this can help us bail you out," she pleaded.

"Let me be. No need of any bail," she answered. Her eyes hollow screaming nothing but emptiness.

"But-"

"Time's up, Ms. Kashyap," Inspector's loud voice shook them.

"Sir, please! A minute more, I'm talking to her," Lavanya pleaded the Inspector.

"No, Madam. We've given you enough time, it's time for you to get out. She's a criminal and a visitor cannot meet her for more than the limited minutes, you have to get out," Inspector Abhishek replied to her politely.

Tears rolled down her cheeks. She, ignoring the inspector, turned towards her friend who sat lifeless.

"Khushi, please, tell me the truth, what did you exactly do? Why-" she was cut off by Khushi.

"Leave, Lavanya!" her hazels didn't allow a single tear to roll down while her voice sounded dry.

Nothing is the most powerful feeling, after all.

Lavanya reluctantly left her friend, in tears. And Khushi was long lost into a whole that she wasn't able to notice when Lavanya left and when the cellular was locked.

"Ms. Gupta, you're under arrest for the attempt of Murder," Inspector Abhishek's voice boomed over the members present there.

"Khushi? Murder?" Anjali who was just beside Khushi whispered.

"This isn't true," Ratna Raizada whispered.

While everyone was busy defending Khushi, the girl herself is busy in her own world to acknowledge anything happening around her.

"Our Khushi, she can't, it's impossible," Arvind Singh Raizada shook his head, denying the accusations the inspector threw at their Khushi.

"We've circumstantial proof, Mr. Raizada," Inspector Abhishek said with all his patience. In his career, he has seen many people who tried to defend the criminal just because they are their family. He happened to see vice-versa too. He's here to do his job, that is it.

"They're not enough to inflict such a crime upon her," Arvindh Singh Raizada said.

"Yet they are enough to warrant an arrest, Mr. Raizada," his voice was stern.

"Inspector Maithili, please arrest Ms. Khushi Gupta," Abhishek ordered one of the team members to arrest the accused.

While he snatched the arrest warrant papers that were now passed to Arvind Singh Raizada.

"I hope you've seen the papers, already," with that being said, Abhishek went away following Maithili who now has handcuffed Khushi Gupta.

Anjali and Ratna were behind her pleading.

"Look, Inspector. Our Khushi, sh..she can't ever do that. Someone must be framing her," Anjali cried.

"Whatever it is, Ms. Raizada. We've proof. We've got an arrest warrant. We're just doing our duty. If you have any problem, get a lawyer, bail her out or just wait for the court hearing session," Inspector Maithili answered, glaring at them dragging Khushi like a rag.

Arvind Singh Raizada stood in a corner looking at a lifeless Khushi who was being dragged on the evidence of being a murder.

"Nothing is more chilling than an unsolved murder case, and the world has plenty of them. Looks like we've an another unsolved murder case happened in Delhi.

Ms. Khushi Gupta, the best-selling author was allegedly reported of a murder of-" Anjali Singh Raizada switched off the television and threw the remote away. Shantivan isn't in its peaceful environment ever since.

She ain't know what to do. She's getting dragged from both the ends. She just hoped she would be strong enough to balance. Because often a string can be broken if dragged from both the ends. She just hopes she can survive this. She face-palmed thinking everything that can turn more serious. It already is, if nothing more.

She was out of her thoughts as her phone rang.

"Yes, Mom?" Anjali answered her phone.

"I'll come back in half-an-hour. Are you okay, Anjali?" Ratna asked, worried albeit aware of the answer.

"I so want to answer yes, Mom," Anjali cried.

Ratna sighed, "Take care. I'll be back."

Anjali leaned on the cushion to relax. It's really a tough day for her, for everyone. And that's when she heard the voice that does nothing but soothes her nerves.

"Rani Sahiba!" Shyam Manohar, fiance of Anjali Singh Raizada cocooned her in his arms.

Anjali took the comfort he offered gladly.

"Worried?" he asked.

"Like hell!" She snuggled into his arms seeking for more comfort.

"Everything will be alright. Don't worry," he patted her head.

"I hope so too," she reacted.

"I think you should rest, Rani Sahiba," he suggested.

"Hmm," she agreed.

"Shall I get you to the door?" he asked.

"Hmm," she permitted, her body tired.

Shyam helped Anjali walk the steps to reach her room.

"Rest," he commanded and adjusted the pillows under her head after she hit the bed.

Anjali closed her eyes to sleep for sometime albeit aware it would be hard to sleep.

Shyam smiled and went out after setting the temperature of the room.

"Is the work done?" he texted.

"Yes." He read the reply after a few seconds.

"Adjust without me for a few days." He texted.

"Sure, Boss!" Shyam was relieved at the reply.

Police station looked colorful and at the same looked nothing less than lifeless. Thiefs, Rogues, and accused are in jail. While some feel thrilling, some are crying, among them is the girl who sat lifeless.

"Hey, she's the one. The Murderer, isn't it?" A rogue who was arrested in the other cell whispered to his mates.

"Yeah, I heard that," another one said.

"She looks so innocent. Can't imagine her to be a Murderer," the first one mumbled.

"Innocent face but ain't really innocent it seems." The other guy laughed.

"But she's damn beautiful!" Another voice slurred.

The three of them laughed that caught the conestabler's attention.

"What's wrong with you three? Should we give you another round?" The constable walked down to their cell.

"If you want to, you can," one of the rogues laughed. He shook his head at their bluntness and guiltiless faces and turned his back to them.

The three got curious looking at the fragile woman. Who wouldn't?

"Sh. Sh." Inspector looked at the one who made a sound and gestured a what.

"Who's that girl?"

"Why do you ask?" The constable questioned back.

"Just curious to know whom did she murder?" he snubbed.

"Arnav Singh Raizada!" 

"What?" he screamed.

"It's not What. It's Arnav Singh Riazada."

A new short story! Crime-thriller! I'll be completing this story  before I forget the plot. Only after that, I'll consider updating other books of mine.

Also, as earlier said, I won't be updating on weekends anymore. I'm not getting enough time on weekends. I'll update on weekdays only whenever it's possible for me. 

Let me know what you think about the update.

Don't forget to vote and comment! 

-polymath_land