Nitin's life had become a whirlwind of constant activity and dedication to his work.
He was deeply engrossed in an ongoing investigation that demanded his attention day and night.
The sun was now beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the horizon. Despite the fading light, Nitin continued to tie up loose ends and finalize his tasks for the day.
However, as the sun dipped lower, he couldn't help but be reminded of the passage of time.
It struck him that he hadn't been home in this whole week. The weight of his commitment to his job had caused him to lose track of everything else in his life.
He had a family – a wife and a son – who must have been worried sick about him.
His phone, which had been lying on his desk, lit up with notifications.
Dozens of missed calls from his wife and son flashed on the screen, along with messages he hadn't seen.
He realized that his family had been trying desperately to reach out to him, to get any kind of response, just to know that he was alright.
Nitin felt a pang of guilt as he looked at the missed calls. He knew he couldn't ignore his family any longer.
He picked up his phone and dialed his wife's number. The call rang for a moment before she answered, her voice a mix of relief and concern.
"Where have you been, Nitin? We've been so worried about you," she said, her worry evident in her tone.
Nitin explained the intensity of the investigation, the pressure he was under, and how he had lost track of time. He apologized sincerely for not being in touch and for causing them distress.
"I understand that your work is important, Nitin, but so is your family," his wife replied, her voice tinged with a mixture of understanding and sadness. "Our son has been waiting to talk to you. He has something important to tell you."
Nitin's heart sank a little. He realized that he had also missed a conversation with his son, a conversation that held significance for him.
He asked to speak to his son and, after a moment, the young voice came on the line.
"Father, you forgot, didn't you?" his son asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Nitin's heart ached. "Forgot what, champ?"
"My birthday father!. The one we had planned to celebrated together on last Wednesday. The one I wanted you to take a day off for."
Realization dawned on Nitin. He had promised his son that he would take a day off for an event that was clearly important to him.
The weight of his absence and broken promise hung heavy on him.
"I'm so sorry, son," Nitin said, his voice filled with regret. "I should have been there for you. I promise, I'll make it up to you."
His son's disappointment was palpable, but Nitin knew he had to prioritize his family now.
He needed to find a balance between his demanding job and his responsibilities at home.
Determined to make up for the disappointment he had caused his son, Nitin had promised to celebrate his birthday once again, even though the actual day had already passed.
He understood the weight of his commitment and the importance of keeping his word, especially in the eyes of his son.
As he navigated the challenges of his job and the ongoing tension in the city, Nitin held onto his promise.
His son's happiness was paramount, and he was willing to go to great lengths to ensure that he didn't feel neglected due to his responsibilities.
Nitin initial promise to celebrate his son's birthday again might not be entirely realistic, given the demands of his job.
However, he believed that he could still make meaningful time for his family, even if it couldn't be an entire day. He decided to have an honest conversation with his son.
Yesterday when Nitin called his son personally, to make things better with his son, Nitin began, "I know how disappointed you were about not being able to celebrate your birthday together as we planned. And I want you to know that I'm truly sorry for that."
His son didn't said anything just sighed a little, even though Nitin understand that his son is trying to understand the situation here
"But I also want you to understand something important," Nitin continued. "The work I do is not just a job. It's about helping to make our city safer and better for everyone. Sometimes, my responsibilities towards the city can be really demanding and urgent. That's why there are times when I can't be there with you and Mom like I want to be."
His son nodded, his expression showing that he was trying to grasp the situation.
"I promise you this, though," Nitin said with sincerity. "I will find ways to make special moments with you and Mom. Even if it can't be a whole day, we can still have moments that we cherish together. It might be a few hours here and there, but those moments will be filled with love and togetherness."
His son seemed to consider Nitin's words. "I understand, Dad. I know you're doing important work."
Nitin smiled softly, relieved that his son seemed to be processing the situation maturely.
"As for my duty towards my family," Nitin continued, "that's a duty I take just as seriously. It's not easy finding the right balance, but I promise to always be here for you both as much as I can."
His son reached out and hugged him tightly. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, champ," Nitin said, his voice filled with emotion.
And to make things like before Nitin promised to his son that he is going to be there for him in the next few days as the things around the city went normal, even though the situation around the city is now normal for the few past days as they hadn't stumbled upon any new dead body which is a relief but for Nitin, relief is miles away.
Nitin's internal struggle with the lingering fear of the killer's presence was taking a toll on him, both mentally and physically.
The constant thought of the killer walking freely, potentially planning the next target, had created an atmosphere of dread that he couldn't escape from.
His body language and health were reflecting the weight of his anxiety. His once-upright posture now slouched, burdened by the weight of his worries.
The lack of proper nutrition was evident in his tired appearance.
Relying on fast food and excessive caffeine to keep himself going had disrupted his eating habits, leaving his body deprived of the essential nutrients it needed.
The excessive consumption of sugar, caffeine, and irregular meals was wreaking havoc on his body.
While the initial jolt from the multiple cups of tea and coffee might have helped him stay alert, the crashes afterward would only worsen his overall fatigue.
His energy levels were on a rollercoaster, affecting his ability to focus and think clearly.
The toll of sleepless nights and relentless stress was beginning to show on his face.
New wrinkles and lines had formed, a visible testament to the emotional and mental strain he had been under.
The combination of physical exhaustion and emotional distress had created a perfect storm that was wearing him down.
In the midst of this chaos around him, a knock on his door wakes him up abruptly, he had fallen sleep half an hour ago.
As he had ordered a cup of coffee because he had a plan to break his own record of consuming sugar in a day.
"Come in, It's open, it's not like somebody's bedroom or something!" Nitin called out, his tone laced with a hint of frustration at the interruption.
The door opened, and a staffer entered with a cup of coffee and some snacks.
Nitin's dark humor shone through as he addressed the situation. "Well, sir, you told me to bring this cup of coffee and some snacks. Would you like something else?"
Nitin chuckled. "If you'll pay, then I would like anything you bring me, ha ha ha..., I am kidding!"
"I thought you were serious," the staffer replied with a faint smile.
"Nah, just kidding," Nitin responded. "Are you heading home?"
The staffer nodded. "Yeah, my shift is over here, so I should go. My relatives arrived here yesterday."
Nitin's curiosity was piqued. "Your relatives came here? In this city, while those murders are going on? Wow, I guess everyone's leaving here, but I didn't know that someone was coming here too, in this place."
"They had planned it already, the ticket was booked like one months before, even though they had made their mind to not come here but not all of them came just husband and wife, their kids are over there"
"So what did they bring up here?" Nitin asked, curious about the snacks and coffee.
"It's our anniversary today, sir!" the staffer replied with a hint of excitement.
"Congratulations, man, wait a sec," Nitin said, genuinely pleased for the staffer. He took out his purse from his pocket and handed him some money as a gift.
It was his way of acknowledging the special occasion and allowing the staffer to enjoy the day to the fullest.
As Nitin and the first staffer shared a lighthearted moment about anniversaries, their laughter was interrupted by another knock on the door. Nitin's amusement was evident as he jokingly remarked, "What happened? You are also having an anniversary today! Ha ha ha..."
Both Nitin and the staffer shared a chuckle at the thought, finding humor in the coincidence. However, the atmosphere shifted as the second staffer who had entered seemed to be in a state of urgency. His tone was serious as he delivered his message.
"Sir! Someone is here to meet you, they're saying it's urgent."