the 14 Days

CHAPTER 4

Kerala Police Headquarters, Trivandrum

The early morning sun cast a golden hue over Trivandrum, but inside the Kerala Police Headquarters, there was no sense of calm. The tension in the air was thick, heavy with the weight of an unsolved mystery.

Director General of Police (DGP) Georgekutty sat behind his grand wooden desk, his fingers pressed together as he studied the man standing before him—Vishnu, one of Kerala’s most brilliant and relentless police officers.

The case file lay open on the desk, its pages filled with details that had already started making headlines across the country. Vishwa—Kerala’s most beloved singer—was missing.

Georgekutty exhaled sharply. “Vishwa has vanished.”

Vishnu’s sharp eyes didn’t waver. He had already heard murmurs of the case, the frenzy building in the media. But hearing the words from Georgekutty himself made it real.

“When was he last seen?” Vishnu asked, his voice calm, controlled.

Georgekutty slid the file toward him. “According to his wife, Sanjana, Vishwa came home late that night. He was exhausted, so he went straight to bed. She says that was the last time she saw him.”

Vishnu frowned slightly as he flipped through the report. “And when she woke up?”

“He was gone,” Georgekutty confirmed. “No note. No sign of struggle. Just... disappeared.”

Vishnu’s fingers tapped against the file as his mind started working through the possibilities. “No ransom call?”

“None.”

“Any sign of forced entry?”

“No. The doors were locked from the inside, no security footage showing anyone entering or leaving suspiciously.”

Vishnu glanced up. “Then how does a man simply vanish from his own house?”

Georgekutty’s expression darkened. “That’s what I need you to find out.”

The DGP stood up and walked toward the large window behind his desk, looking down at the city. His voice was lower now, tense. “The media is already spinning out of control. The Chief Minister has called me twice. The Home Secretary wants hourly updates. Vishwa isn’t just another missing person—he’s a national icon. His fans are flooding social media with theories, and if we don’t get ahead of this…” He turned back to face Vishnu, his eyes hard. “…this will turn into a nightmare.”

Vishnu nodded. “His phone?”

“Switched off. No activity on his credit cards. Nothing.”

“Who reported him missing?”

“His manager.” Georgekutty leaned against the desk. “Vishwa was supposed to attend a recording session, but he never showed up. His manager tried calling him, but his phone was unreachable. He called Sanjana—she said she thought he had gone out early. That’s when people started to panic.”

Vishnu processed this. “And Sanjana? What’s her reaction?”

Georgekutty’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Calm. A little too calm, if you ask me.”

Vishnu caught the hint in his superior’s tone. “You think she’s hiding something?”

Georgekutty didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he walked back to his chair and sat down, folding his hands. “I think there’s more to this than she’s saying. And I think you’re the only one who can find out what.”

Vishnu took a deep breath, flipping the file closed. “I’ll start with her.”

Georgekutty’s gaze locked onto his. “Solve this case, Vishnu. Fast. Find Vishwa. Dead or alive.”

Vishnu nodded once, tucking the file under his arm. “I’ll bring you answers, sir. No matter what they are.”

As he stepped out of the office, a strange unease settled in his gut.

Something about this case wasn’t right.

And Vishnu knew—when he started pulling at the loose threads, something dark was going to unravel.