the 14 Days

Chapter 7

Vishnu took one last look at Sanjana as he and his team stepped toward the door. She stood motionless in the dimly lit hall, her eyes shadowed with exhaustion—or was it fear? The chandelier above cast flickering patterns across her face, making her unreadable. He paused, gripping the cold metal handle of the door, and turned to face her one final time.

"You can't hide the truth for long," he said, his voice low and steady. "See you again, Mrs. Sanjana."

For a moment, she didn't react. Then, as the door creaked open, a shudder passed through her shoulders. But Vishnu didn't wait for a response. He stepped out into the crisp night air, his team following behind. The wind howled through the trees, rustling the branches like whispering voices. The mansion loomed behind them, its towering presence holding secrets that refused to be spoken aloud.

Vishnu exhaled, the cold air stinging his lungs. "We're missing something," he muttered, mostly to himself.

Swapna crossed her arms. "She’s hiding something. I could see it in her eyes."

Roman nodded. "And what about that creepy maid? She knew something too. The way she spoke—it felt like she wanted to say more but held back."

"We’ll come back to them later," Vishnu said, his mind already working ahead. "For now, let’s head to Vishwa’s studio. His manager, Kuttan, might have some insight."

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Midnight Melodies Studio

Midnight Melodies Studio stood on the outskirts of the city, nestled between towering palm trees and a narrow, winding road. Unlike the grandeur of Vishwa’s mansion, the studio had a rustic charm—a place where music thrived, untouched by the outside world.

The studio’s security guard, a thin man with tired eyes, let them in without question. "Kuttan sir is inside," he said, gesturing toward the recording booth. "He hasn't left since morning."

Vishnu led the way, pushing open the heavy door. Inside, the room smelled of coffee, old records, and the faint scent of burnt-out cigarette butts. A dim yellow light flickered above, casting long shadows across the floor littered with sheet music and empty water bottles.

At the center of it all sat Kuttan.

The manager looked up from his desk, his face weary, his eyes rimmed with sleeplessness. A half-empty coffee cup sat beside him, and stacks of unfinished contracts lay scattered around. He was a man drowning in responsibilities, and tonight, the weight of Vishwa’s disappearance had pushed him even deeper.

"Officer Vishnu," Kuttan greeted, forcing a tired smile. "I was expecting you."

Vishnu wasted no time. "You were one of the closest people to Vishwa. We need to know everything about his recent behavior. Anything unusual?"

Kuttan exhaled heavily and ran a hand through his thinning hair. "Vishwa was… different these past few days," he admitted. "More stressed than usual."

Swapna leaned in. "What do you mean by 'different'?"

Kuttan hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Vishwa was always a private person. He didn't share much—not even with me. But lately, something was bothering him. He was restless, distracted. Even in the studio, he couldn't focus. He’d pick up his guitar, strum a few notes, then just… stop. Like his mind was elsewhere."

Vishnu studied him closely. "Did you ask him what was wrong?"

"I did," Kuttan said, rubbing his temples. "But he never answered. He just shrugged it off, said he was fine. But he wasn’t fine."

Vishnu’s jaw tightened. He had expected Vishwa to have personal struggles, but this confirmed it. "Was it work pressure? Or something personal?"

Kuttan hesitated again. Then, lowering his voice, he said, "I often heard him arguing with his wife on the phone."

Roman exchanged glances with Swapna. This was the first real lead they had.

"How often?" Vishnu asked.

Kuttan sighed. "Almost every night, for the past week at least. He would step outside the studio, pacing near the balcony, his voice rising. I couldn’t hear the full conversation, but I could tell he was upset. Angry, even."

"Did he ever mention what the fights were about?" Swapna pressed.

Kuttan shook his head. "No. But… I did hear one thing clearly."

The room fell silent. Vishnu leaned forward. "What did you hear?"

Kuttan swallowed hard, his fingers tapping against the desk. "One night, I was locking up the studio. I passed by Vishwa's office and heard him say something—something that stuck with me."

"And?"

Kuttan hesitated, then finally spoke.

"He said… ‘If you’re hiding something from me, I swear, I’ll find out the truth.’"

A cold silence followed. The weight of the words hung in the air like an unspoken threat.

Vishnu’s mind raced. Could it be that Vishwa knew something about Sanjana? That he suspected her of something?

"Did he sound afraid?" Swapna asked carefully.

Kuttan frowned. "No. He sounded… determined. Almost desperate."

Roman rubbed his chin. "And then, two nights later, he vanishes."

Kuttan nodded grimly. "Exactly."

Vishnu exhaled. "Did he have any other enemies? Anyone who might have had a reason to harm him?"

Kuttan shook his head. "Not that I know of. But Vishwa had secrets. He always did."

Vishnu nodded slowly. He had a feeling that Vishwa’s disappearance wasn’t random—it was connected to something deeper. Something personal.

As they left the studio, Vishnu’s thoughts were a whirlwind. If Vishwa was uncovering something about his wife—was that why he was taken?

And if so…

Who was behind it?