"Even a white rose,
Has a black shadow."

The surreal atmosphere, was filled with darkness. Utter darkness.

Sometime back the atmosphere was all joyous. Happy. Loud noises of people chattering, playing, singing, children shouting and the train whistle was being heard until the night knocked.

When the clock struck 10pm, all the passengers headed to sleep. They all were on their way to Bhopal, which took 12 hours to reach from Mumbai.

Lights off. Silence engulfed. Everyone was in a deep slumber. Some were asleep some were trying to sleep, some were busy reading or watching movies.

Only thing which was common was silence.

Silence that embedded within all.

Silence that made a way to terror.

A terror which was eagerly waiting for them.

Waiting.

><><><><>

"Mummmmmmyyyyy!!!"

A child shouted seeing a man with a dark red liquid smashed all over his chest. He didn't know what it was, but others for sure knew.

They knew what has happened. They knew who he was. They knew he was dead.

Only thing they didn't know was who killed him.

Commotion broke all over, everyone went hap-hazard. Everyone was scared- terrified. Sweat dripping from their forehead, their palms already sweaty.

Beads of perspiration clouding everywhere.

Deep breathes, prayers, and cries were only heard. Everyone had gone numb. No one shouted or screamed seeing the man covered completely with blood. His berth completely red.

And a silvery pointed knife inserted right in the middle of his chest, squashing his heart.

"Please move." They heard a voice.

A man pushing through the crowd, came in the front.

"Who are you?" Another man asked.

"Don't try to be a hero, its a case of a murder." A woman this time said.

"I am all where related to this." He replied to all those questioning him.

"And how?"

"I am police. Inspector Laksh Rathore." The man replied showing his Id.

Everyone was relieved. They had a police with them to take care of this situation. So relieved.

"Sir, thankgod we have a policeman with us. This case is utterly unexpected." A man said randomly.

Laksh examined the dead body.

First his pulses which were null, his pockets to check the whether the case was caused due to robbery. But the man's wallet and gold watch were still in place.

"His murder was not because of his wealth." Laksh announced while others started gossiping.

The matter of this murder was decided to be kept within the single compartment only, otherwise a great commotion would have broken down.

All were shocked. The great industralist, Mr. Ritik Zaveri, aged 59 years was killed not for his wealth?

Everyone was shocked of this discovery. First on the fact that why such a rich person decided to travel by a train and then by the thought of his murder on that very train. And according to the police, not for his wealth.

"Sir, then why? He was a good man." Someone commented.

"I don't know. But thats what we have to find out, right? Can someone call the T.C." Laksh announced and asked.

"I am here." The T.C came forward.

Before Laksh could ask any question.

"Everyone I request you all to return to your seats. We will inform you all whenever we get to know something valuable." Laksh requested the passengers who weren't happy with his request.

They needed gossip.

Yet they all went to their respective places, chatting among themselves.

Some discussed," How can someone kill such a great old man?

Some had other thinkings," He might have done something wrong, so god punished him."

Some believed," What if this was a suicide? Maybe he was bored with his life. He was rich after all?"

Some," Some one might have killed him for revenge."

But the main question which remained floating in the air was.

Why did the murder take place in such a public environment? A train? A public transport where the chances of getting caught was way too high and to escape was way too less. Who would be that dumb to take such risks? But then that murderer had taken that risk. The murderer was present amongst them. Whether a she or a he, they had to find him. Laksh had to find the murderer.

"Sir, what can I help you with?" The Ticket collector had asked Laksh while Laksh gazed at the dead body infront of his eyes.

How ruthlessly he was killed.

"Tell me the stations where the train had stopped throughout the night." Laksh commanded as his eyes shifted to the alive man infront of him.

"Sir, actually..." the collector started.

"I hate stuttering." Laksh rudely said, he was a strict inspector. He was trained so. When he needed answers he only needed answers and nothing else.

"Actually, the train didn't stop at any designated stations." The collector replied while Laksh looked at him in shock.

"What?" He asked perplexed.

"Actually, this train was detected with some techinical issues yesterday evening. So since then it stopped at no stations." The collector asnwered as he perspired guilty.

"How many compartments does this train has?" Laksh skipped onto the next question without replying to the first.

He was shocked but his doubt was getting cleared.

"Actually sir.."

"Speak. I don't have time to waste. Its a murder." Laksh spoke.

"There are 20 compartments but all compartment's connecting doors were locked by me. So no one escapes. It was mainly due to the no stopping at stations, only this compartment consists of people who are travelling the complete journey so no one figured out that the doors were locked. People from other compartments are aware of this." The collector informed.

"So you mean. That no one left the compartment since night. Do you know what you are pointing at right now?"

"N..no sir."

"Are the doors still closed?"

"Yes. Except the one which also leads to the washroom."

"Close that too."

"Why sir?"

"Because with everything you told. It clearly states that the murderer in still on board." Laksh angrily hissed.

He has to catch the guilty. No one had the right to kill an innocent soul. How could they?

His thoughts were processing every available information.

The murderer. The murdered. The people. The collector.

Everything seemed suspicious, nothing normal.

Admist all these he felt something staring the back of his head. He turned around to catch a pair of black eyes still looking at him.

Strangely.

Laksh didn't get good vibes from that lady.

Her aura was dangerous, way too dangerous to decipher. She was strange but more weird.

"Who are you?" Laksh asked authoratively.

"Ragini Thakhur." She answered even more dangerously.

She was a suspect, Laksh was clear.

But more she was smart, and he knew that.

The game was onn.

The timer was set.

And the murderer was still on loose.

><><><><

Okay okay okay?

I have no clue how this turned out?

So I need you all to tell me how was this?

Its something I am sooo excited to write.

I hope you all liked it?
Do you want the second shot?

Was it boring or mundane?
Or repeatative?

Do tell me how you felt about it?

If you liked it do vote and comment.

Trust me I am more than excited to write the next part but only if you all like and support me!!

Thankyou!!

Till then,
Love,
Meethi♠️