“Hello”, Atharv Awasthy greeted me curtly, getting up from the chair. Speculating the reason of his sudden arrival, I nodded and greeted back.

“Where is my brother?” the young man demanded impatiently. I wondered if I knew this answer, I would have been perhaps, vacationing with my wife.

I had been suspecting Atharv since long after all, he was the sole owner of Awasthy Enterprises in absence of Ansh Awasthy who was nowhere to be found. Finally I had got an ultimate chance to probe Mr. Atharv Awasthy. With utmost seriousness on my face, I remarked, “You know where he is”.

I was constantly observing the confused expressions on his face but I wanted to see fear in his eyes which was not found at all. “My mother is worried and my father is helpless. Please find him.” Atharv pleaded.

Either he was actually concerned of his brother or he was too sly to accept his crime, I deduced as I got back to work while Atharv Awasthy left my office.
“Rahul, keep tabs on this man. I am sure he is behind all this fiasco.” I ordered to my subordinate strengthening my doubt.

I was pondering at various possibilities being totally engrossed in my thoughts when Radhika entered in my cabin with a smile on her face. The glow in her eyes was telling me that she had found something really interesting.

“What?” I mouthed. Radhika had been working with me since last two years and I knew she was a brilliant assistant who had helped me at several occasions with her profound knowledge and exceptional presence of mind.

“Sir, Priya Vashisht had lost her phone on her birthday, precisely, 3rd October. She had complained to the police on the next day. Here is the copy of report.” Radhika told me grinning like a Chesire cat annoying me.

“We are searching for missing Ansh not a missing phone", I barked angrily.

“Sir, interestingly, she has mentioned in the FIR that she lost her phone in the evening around seven, to be precise”, Radhika revealed cheerfully.

“She mentioned the time in the missing report. Isn’t it strange?” I asked curiously. Usually the missing complaints of phone had a peculiar format that was pasted in front of every police station of India that no where mentioned the time of loss. Moreover, those complaints were a mere formality as no action was taken to track those missing phones.

“The strangest part is, her call records show that her phone was engaged for thirty minutes around ten at night on the same day", Radhika told me leaving me surprised.

“And the complaint for missing phone was made on the morning of 4th October”, Radhika mentioned and I was confused. Connecting the dots, I realized something was completely amiss and it was really necessary to meet Priya.

“Sir, since October Ansh and Priya had stopped talking with each other”, Radhika confirmed my doubts.

“And since then, Ansh had been calling Priya incessantly without fail", Radhika added the last part with disgust. Having done a major in Psychology, Radhika had found Ansh’s incredulous behavior in regard to Priya as obsessive and she despised the brat for that reason.

I was listening to my assistant keenly. No doubts, Radhika was an asset to me. Her words had made me realize that it was really beneficial to enquire about Priya too. “Radhika, this is appreciable”, I commented boosting up her morale.

After a pause, I commanded, “Find out the reason of their break-up and arrange my meeting with her”.

Nodding in affirmation, Radhika turned to leave while I glanced at the copy of FIR.

Respected authorities

This is to bring to your notice that I am Priya Vashisht R/O 16, R.K Puram, New Delhi. I have lost my Oppo F1S mobile phone yesterday at seven in the evening that had an Airtel Sim Card with number +919123456780.

The billing details of the phone containing the IEMI number is enclosed along with. Kindly help me find my phone.

Thank you
Regards
Priya Vashisht
R/O 16, R.K Puram,
New Delhi

Having read the Xerox copy of the FIR, I was perplexed. The girl who had mentioned the time in the missing report had not written the date. Though the application had a date but it was under the signature of the police officer on duty who had perhaps, acknowledged the report and signed the receiving copy.

There was indeed, something more with respect to Priya, her phone, Ansh’s obsession and perhaps, his disappearance too. I was puzzled at the new angle of this case. No doubts, I had found my second suspect in Priya but I was not able to find her motive as it was surely, not greed.

The disappearance of Ansh Awasthy was brutally tangled and this was indeed, killing me from inside. Leaning on my office chair, I closed my eyes in despair.

Perhaps, Ansh had gone missing to persuade Priya to talk with him, I thought only to realize that was it was surely a slim possibility that my hunch was right because it had been almost a week and Ansh had taken no action to contact Priya.

My head began pounding as I let out an exasperated sigh. It was six in the evening when my stomach grumbled. I realized I had skipped lunch again. Irritated at my failure in untangling the tangled case of disappearance of Ansh Awasthy, I drove back to my house.

The honking of horns on a busy evening was frustrating me more. The traffic of Delhi at the peak hours was really depressing. I closed my eyes in despair when the signal turned red when the image of that beheaded silhouette flashed in front of my eyes. I began to sweat in my air-conditioned car as fear crept in my mind. I realized it was indeed, dreadful to stay all alone in my own house without Anvita.

Unfortunately, I had no choice except to go back to my abode. I could take a chance to stay with one of my friends for a night at least but I did not want to be mocked at. I was deeply depressed with the fact that my friends, my colleagues and even my wife, were calling me mentally unstable.

Everyone had asked me to consult a doctor while the truth was, I had a strong instinct that black silhouette of the beheaded man was anything but my illusion. I wished if I could make them look at the horrific sight and tell them that I was not a delusional psychopath somewhere in my heart while in reality, I just wanted to run away from that horrifying silhouette.

Having reached my house, I unlocked my house and walked inside after switching on the lights. It was dusk and clock had struck seven thirty. All I wanted was to eat my dinner and sleep soundly but what I did not know was, it was destined that I would get a terrible shock of my life that night.

😎😎😎

Word count - 1173

Hi everyone

I am terrified about Ved staying all alone!

Who is behind disappearance of Ansh?

Priya OR Atharv

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With immense love
♥️