Whispers of the Lost Heart

Chapter 4: Unraveling the Threads

As Sai entered the gym of the society, she couldn't help but notice a group of girls huddled together, their eyes fixed on a figure working out with impressive determination. Their whispers and giggles filled the air, centered around none other than DCP Virat Chavan. Sai's irritation simmered beneath the surface as she pushed past them, uninterested in joining their admiration society.

As Virat paused his workout, a warm smile graced his features as he spotted Pakhi entering the gym. "Pakhi!" he called out, his voice filled with genuine delight.

Pakhi's face lit up at the sight of Virat, and she hurried over to him, apologizing profusely. "I'm so sorry, Virat. I was out of town on some office trips when you arrived. I rushed here straight from the airport to meet you," she explained, her tone laced with sincerity.

Virat's smile widened as he enveloped her in a warm hug. "No need to apologize, Pakhi. I'm just glad you're here now," he reassured her, his voice tinged with affection.

As they exchanged pleasantries, Sai observed their interaction from a distance, her irritation bubbling beneath the surface. Despite her best efforts to ignore them, the sight of Virat and Pakhi's camaraderie stirred a sense of jealousy she couldn't quite shake.

After their brief exchange, Sai overheard one of the girls, Nisha, inquire about Pakhi's relationship with Virat. Seizing the opportunity to dismiss the scene before her, Sai casually remarked, "Pakhi might be Virat's girlfriend," masking her own discomfort with sarcasm.

Virat, attuned to Sai's subtle cues, noted her irritation with a mixture of amusement and determination. He saw an opportunity to use her jealousy as a catalyst to bring her closer, a challenge he relished.

At precisely 10 am, Virat strode into his cabin, greeted by the sight of the victim profile file neatly placed on his desk. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he realized that Samrat had anticipated his need, a testament to their seamless teamwork.

With a sense of purpose, Virat gathered his team once again in the conference room. He believed that collectively analyzing the victim profiles and brainstorming data would yield better insights than poring over the files alone.

"Good morning, everyone," Virat greeted, his voice carrying a tone of determination. "I trust you've all had a chance to review the victim profiles. Today, we'll be diving deeper into the details to uncover any potential leads."

Turning to Samrat, he continued, "Samrat, if you could lead us through the victim profiles, please."

Samrat nodded, taking the cue from Virat. With a few keystrokes, he projected the victim profiles onto the screen, each face a stark reminder of the lives lost to the heinous crimes they were investigating.

1. Victim: Rahul Sharma

Age: 35

Occupation: Software Engineer

Family: Married to Neha Sharma, with two children (Aryan and Riya). His father, Ramesh Sharma, used to work in Bharti Cotton Mill as accountant. His mother, Sunita Sharma, is a housewife.

Address: 14, Rosewood Lane, Mumbai

Date of Death: March 5, 2024

2. Victim: Priya Shah

Age: 28

Occupation: Fashion Designer

Family: Single, no children. Her parents, Ravi Shah was an Engineer at Sunshine Construction Company, and mother Sarita Shah is a retired school teacher.