D-20

Don't trust the cops.

"Sir....Sir!"

"Yes! Miss pretty lady."

"How can you end the investigation just like that?" I ask the investigating officer.

"We solved the case. It is clear, you weren't the target. So Miss, just chill."

"The culprit is still free. We injured him. Don't you think we are not safe now?"

"Amm.. Safety girl! You think much. Don't worry. You are safe. Trust the police, we will soon catch the culprit. So chill."

"Sir, but."

"No.. no.. Young boy!"

Why is he calling Jayesh here?

"Your girl... female friend is scared that they are not safe now. Assure her that you are here for her protection. Right. So mam, just chill."

Ohhh chill, chill.... I wanna kill... him. He is a cop or what? 

"We don't want police protection," Jayesh says.

Yeah, you'll say so. You won't like it if the police get involved.

"Obviously, when a bodybuilder friend is there, why would you need us. Right?"

He laughs. And with him, his lackeys also laughs.

Not funny at all. I've never seen such kind of cops before. Are they real or not? I doubt.

"Take the final report and let's go." He ordered his men.

"Sir"

"Oh mam, don't worry. We are going from here, not from your life."

What the hell he is saying.

"We will call you, look for your safety. We are police and we are here for your protection only. Right, Ahuja Ji?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Mam, chill. To protect you all, only we are here. There will be one constable on duty in this hospital.... Okay, near your ward. Now okay?"

I gawp at him.

He is not that bad as I thought. He tries to give some comedy punch but fails to deliver it properly. But as a cop, he cooperated with us.

"Ahuja Ji!" He shouts.

His voice is damn loud. It literary hurts my ears.

"Yes Sir!"

Mr. Ahuja runs to him. Yeah, I call him Mr. Ahuja instead of the constable. After all, these men gain my respect.

"Put someone here for duty."

"Thank you, sir." I thank him.

He just smiled and walked away.

***

"Hey Piya!"

"Deepak!" 

I hugged him.

"You okay?"

I nodded.

"My courageous little kid. I heard you fight well?"

"Hmm.."

"Sorry, I am a bit late. Where are the cops? The interrogation ended so soon?"

"Not only interrogation, but the investigation also ended so soon."

"Ended?"

"Yes"

"It's been only one and a half hours till I heard police came here?"

Yeah, it shocks Deepak. Obviously, it is really shocking.

"Hm, they came, solved the case, and went."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"Wow, super cop?"

We chuckle.

"Actually, the person came to kill the girl next to Nikita. But the girl got discharge that very evening so he hit us. The news came so fast and the riddle got solved just like that."

"Thank god! You are safe. I was so worried. When I got the news, I got scared. I wanted to rush towards you but couldn't. I am half an hour late and look that everything just ended. I am not saying that I wanted to see or be there in your tough times but, I am saying that I wasn't there for you. Really sorry, yaar. I am really sorry."

"Oh no, it's okay."

"No, I am a terrible friend. I should be there for you. We are together since childhood but I could never ever help you with your problems. You were always there for me but.. I"

"Don't you think it's not the time to have such thoughts. Come on, you are here, right? Right next to me. With me, when I needed you the most."

"Hm.. Who is he?"

"Can't you see his uniform? He is a police constable."

"Why is he here?"

"To give us protection."

"From?"

"Did you forget we got attached last night?"

"Ya.... But you weren't the target na.. So this protection?"

"Actually, I insisted the cops to give us protection. As the assassin is not got caught yet. And we hurt him as well."

"Wow... Nice! You got police protection even when you weren't the target. No danger but protection just because you presume the danger. There is Miss Seema who didn't get police protection even if she is a celebrity. In danger, no protection."

"She didn't get the protection? Did she ask for it?"

"That all because of you. At first, she made fun of you, humiliated, and much more, but then she felt the fear as well. So she asked for police protection. But her application got rejected."

She considered my words. I can change the future... or the past. Whatever! The point is, there is still hope.

What if I take cop's help? They are for our protection only. As he says. I should talk to him. Maybe I can get some solution. 

***

"Mr. Singh!"

"Look who is here? Miss Pretty lady.. I don't think we call you. Did we?"

"No, sir. She said she has something important to discuss with you. So let her is. Have I done any mistake, sir?"

"No, no Ahuja Ji. You can never do any mistakes. Miss come, have a seat."

I sit in front of him. 

"Any tea or coffee.. Ahuja Ji, there's a lady ask for something."

"No sir, I am fine," I reply.

"Please bring two milk tea. Mam looks so milky, so make it with extra cream. Mam is so sweet, so make it..... "

"Extra sweet, sir"

"Correct, now go."

Mr. Ahuja left the cabin. Me and Mr. Singh ( The investigating officer) left alone in the cabin.

"So, Piya! Can I call you Piya?"

I nodded to yes.

"Thank you, so Piya tell me, what brings you here?"

"Sir!"

"Oh, don't call me sir. I am fed off of listening to this sir, sir everywhere. Call me Karan. I was browsing your files, and I got to know that we have less age difference. You are 24 years old and I am 29 years old. 5 years difference is nothing. Call me Karan."

"Karan sir, I am here to tell you something."

"Hmm.. Go on."

"About the assassin..... We got the protection but..."

"I can understand why you are so hesitating to say it."

"You do?"

"Yes"

"You still think that person was after you. Miss look if a person is not madly after you. If any guy is not stalking you and wanted you badly. Not posses with you in such a way to kill or die for you. That doesn't mean you are not pretty."

What the hell. He went where to where. What's wrong with this person. Oh, this is frustrating.

"I am not saying that."

"Okay. I am listening."

Listening, my foot.

"I am saying that I appreciate you gave us protection. But Miss Seema Gupta, she needs protection too. She is a celebrity. I don't have that kind of mad lover or stalkers, but she must have. You know na, crazy fans. They do pieces of stuff beyond imaginations."

"I agree. Okay. If you say so."

Really? It was that easy.

"We will give her protection. After all, you told her that she is in danger. That means you know much more. Tell me who is your leader?"

"Leader?"

"The mastermind of your plan?"

"I don't get it, sir."

"If you know she is in danger, you'll definitely know from whom. And why? So tell me the reason. What is your plan? Who is your leader? And why are you betraying them? Risking everything to save her, Why?"

"Sir, are you suspecting me?"

"I am not suspecting you, I am inspecting you. You are the culprit or I can say the partner in crime of the culprit. Become a witness and save her. Or else, we are sorry. We can't do anything."

"You said police are there for our protection. I felt something off, so I came to tell you. That doesn't make me a culprit... huh! It's a very heavy word."

"Sir, tea." Mr. Ahuja enters with a tray and two cups of tea.

"Ahuja Ji, it's getting hot in here. I think mam will need ice tea to cool down."

"It's not funny."

"But, what you are saying is funny, mam. If you say you are cooperating, then do it properly. Tell me exactly. How did you suspect, what makes you feel like that? And how are you related?"

"I can't tell you exactly."

"Look... It is funny."

"Sir, I am..."

"Mam, we are cooperating with you, so don't take it for granted. Or else we have different ways."

"You can't threaten a civilian like this."

"Just one day, one day in lock-up will make you say everything in detail. Wanna try?"

"You can not harass her like that." Jayesh came from nowhere.

"Oh, here comes your bodyguard, the bodybuilder bodyguard. Sir, I am not harassing her, she is harassing us. Please take her away."

"Come Piya!"

"Mam, your request granted. We will try to give that celebrity protection till the concert day, okay?"

Wait, what? What did he say? Till the concert day? How did he know about that day? I clearly remember I didn't mention about that day at all. I did, but it was the last time, but this time now. Not at all. This man is suspicious. The investigation on the attack on us didn't last an hour and the case close. Now he mentioned the day of the concert. 

What's going on?

"Piya?"

"Piya?"

"Huh" I reply to Jayesh when he gives a little nudge.

"Why were you here?"

"I.. Why are you here?"

"I went to the hospital, couldn't find you. Nicky said you are here, so I came."

"I...I"

"Piya, I know you are scared but believe me, these cops are not trustworthy. I don't trust cops."

You know what, from now on, me either.

"