the 14 Days

CHAPTER 1

The sharp, insistent sound of the doorbell pierced through the silence of the house. Sanjana froze, her fingers still gripping the edge of the countertop. She had just finished wiping down the kitchen, and the house was eerily quiet, save for the muffled hum of the television playing in the adjacent living room. She turned slowly, her gaze flicking towards the TV screen where the breaking news was being broadcast. The anchor’s voice had a grim tone, the kind that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

"Breaking news: Famous singer Vishwa, known for his soulful voice and electrifying stage presence, has gone missing under mysterious circumstances. Authorities are currently investigating the situation, and his family has yet to make a statement. Vishwa's wife, Sanjana, has been approached for further details."

Her heart skipped a beat. It felt like the world was spinning out of control, the weight of the words pressing heavily against her chest. Vishwa, her husband, the man who had once filled their home with laughter and music, was now at the center of an unfathomable crisis. Missing? How could that even be possible? Just yesterday, he had been in the studio, working on his latest album. His voice had filled the house, rich and smooth as always, and they had shared a quiet dinner together, laughing over old memories. Now, the very same voice that had once been her solace was replaced with an image of a police officer standing on stage, his expression serious, discussing the investigation into Vishwa's disappearance.

Her stomach twisted as she reached for the remote control, the words on the screen blurring before her eyes. The footage was a montage of news reports and images of her husband—his concerts, his smiling face, his energetic performances, now all overshadowed by the unthinkable. The life they had built seemed to be crumbling before her eyes, and the future was uncertain, hanging by a thread of mystery.

Another sharp ring of the doorbell snapped her back to reality. She hadn’t even realized she had been holding her breath. Her mind raced, the weight of what she had just heard settling heavily in her chest. The police were coming. She knew this moment would come, but she wasn’t prepared. How could she ever be prepared for something like this?

Sanjana hesitated for a moment, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was just past six in the evening. She took a deep breath and walked toward the door, each step feeling heavier than the last. The air was thick with the scent of uncertainty, and her hands trembled as she reached for the doorknob. When she opened the door, she was met with two officers standing on her porch. One of them was tall and stern, with dark circles under his eyes, while the other had a softer expression, though the urgency in his voice was unmistakable.

"Mrs. Vishwa?" the taller officer asked. His voice was low and clipped, and the way he said her name made her feel as though something much darker was looming in the air.

Sanjana nodded, her heart racing. "Yes?"

"We’re investigating the disappearance of your husband. We need to ask you some questions, ma’am. It’s urgent."

Sanjana swallowed, trying to steady her voice. "Of course. Please, come in." She stepped aside, letting them into the foyer. The officers exchanged a brief glance before stepping past her, their eyes scanning the room as if searching for something—anything—that could explain the mystery surrounding Vishwa's sudden disappearance. Her thoughts were a chaotic blur as she closed the door behind them, the words from the television still echoing in her mind. Missing.

As the officers took their seats on the couch, she felt a chill creep over her. She wasn’t sure what she expected, but this wasn’t it. Her world had suddenly become a maze of questions and suspicion, and she couldn’t figure out which way to turn.

"Ma'am, do you know where your husband might have been last night? Any idea who he might have been with?" the officer with the softer voice asked.

Sanjana’s mind went blank. She tried to recall the details, but everything seemed to blur together. "I... I don’t know. He was at the studio. He came home late. he went to sleep early because he is tired.

The officers exchanged another look. The silence that followed felt suffocating. She could feel the weight of their gaze on her, as if they were trying to read her every move, every word. She had to fight the urge to explain more, to offer them any clue that might make sense of the sudden nightmare she was living. But she couldn’t—she didn’t have answers. She only had questions, too many of them.

"Do you have any idea why someone might want to harm your husband, Mrs. Vishwa?" the first officer asked, his voice heavy with suspicion.

Sanjana’s breath hitched in her throat. The question seemed almost impossible, but it lingered in the room like a heavy fog. She shook her head. "No," she whispered. "I don’t understand. He’s a singer, he’s loved by so many people. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to hurt him."

The officers nodded solemnly, their eyes never leaving her face. The questions continued, each one digging deeper into the pit of uncertainty that had taken root inside her. Her world had been shattered in a moment, and she couldn’t escape the feeling that things would never be the same again.

As the officers left, their faces still shrouded in mystery, Sanjana was left standing in the doorway, her thoughts a tangled mess of confusion and fear. She stared out into the darkening night, her heart aching with a growing sense of dread. Where was Vishwa? What had happened to him? And most importantly—who could she trust when everything felt like a lie?