At the Pune Police Station :
Inside one of the chambers, dense infuriating silence clouded the chamber and tugged the patience of the police officers present in the room. A middle-aged police sub-inspector has 2-3 files in his grasp while his face depicts a worrisome fearful expression, which draws the attention of the other officers standing in the room.
One of them asks," Mr. Dhansi, are you alright? Why do you look dreadfully tensed ?" Mr. Dhansi responds with a concerned tone, " Recently, these days, we have been getting many cases back to back. Isn't it a bit strange?"
Then one of them answered," Now, it is quite shocking but it is nothing strange as it is usual in this era. We have dealt with cases that were way more complicated and gore. So, there is no need to worry except for the criminals because no one can escape from the police's eyes and either now or later, he/she eventually gets caught."
Mr. Dhansi explains with a serious tone, " Kritak! That's what I am trying to convey. It is not like those usual cases even the most complicated cases that we have dealt with are just mere cases in comparison to these recent cases. Here, have a look at the case profiles that have been registered within this week. "
Kritak takes a look at the case profiles and the details and notes mentioned in each case. After a few minutes, his eyes darted around those pages and he was constantly turning pages back and forth. He remarks," You were right, Mr. Dhansi, these cases are frightfully weird, and the most interesting fact is that the suspected criminals had good civilian profiles till last year but surprisingly they were found to be slightly rebellious and aggressive in the eyes of the people surrounding or living nearby them.
Hmm, it is radically unpleasant to discover the criminal minds spreading over people's minds regardless of their age in the living era. I mean…Vidyut sir, can you believe that a minor had the dare to commit a murder? It is a really shameful situation to face. it is just beyond our imagination…. how could a child even think of this? Aren't children considered to be innocent and pure? Now I am convinced that we are actually in the 'KALIYUGA'. "
The familiar young police officer whom Hrida defensively attacked came out of the interrogation chamber and called out for Mr. Dhansi, Kritak, and Mr. Vidyut to appear at the investigation chamber.
Mr. Vidyut asks with a respectful tone," Lakshman sir, did they spit out the information about their daughter and their downgrade businesses? If they did not, then I can help you open their dirty mouths wide open to speak out the truth."
Inspector Lakshman reassures," Actually they are ready to expose themselves before I even tried to make them spill all over and they appeared ridiculously relaxed and prideful, which I have sighted in few criminal's behaviors but still they had an ounce of fear but they are excessively unbothered as if they have come to visit a park. I have never witnessed a scene like this until now.
Now, come along with me and note down every little detail that have to say because that might give us a hint or something. Okay? And another reason, I called all of you is cause they requested in a demanding tone that they would narrate everything in front of a greater audience, which is dramatic, I know."
Mr. Dhansi alerts the suspected criminals," Do not be under the illusion that just because our Lakshman sir accepted your request then you have power over us. It is our duty to make your truth crawl out from your mouth either way, do you understand? "
Lakshman gently asks him to calm down and ensures," Do not worry, Dhansi ji (Honorific), You made them perfectly understood. Thank you. And I have made sure that this fact is fixed into their brain to not mess with police officers because the consequence is never good for criminals."
Lakshman turns towards the suspects and suggests to them in a sarcastic tone," Now, is this audience enough for you, or should I invite the whole police department to your talk show? Now, don't waste any more seconds and start blabbering out, Right now !"
The female suspect utters out in a pretentious sugary tone," Inspector, we are a perfect family, I, my husband, and our pretty little doll that you lost carelessly, and for that, I am quite furious at you. How could you do such a lousy act? "
Kritak whispers such that it is only audible to the police officers," She does care for her daughter, after all, thank God! I thought the opposite but she proved me wrong gladly." But he regretted saying his statement when he heard her reply to Lakshman sir's question.
Lakshman assumes that there is still hope left and he questions her," Then why were you trying to sell off your daughter? All of you are literate people then you would be aware that human trafficking is an unacceptable crime, then why?"
His hope disappeared into thin air when he heard her saying," What nonsense! She is my pretty little doll and dolls are sold out in the market with a high price tag. That's what we did. Because of your uninvited terrific visit, my pretty doll ran away from us. It is such a shame on Hrida for abandoning us to you.
These pretty dolls are crafted and maintained so that they can obey and behave as their owner says. Hrida used to be a sweet and well-mannered girl who never even questioned my decision or opinion, but then, her ridiculous best friend named Shashi came into her life and tried to influence her in a bad way.
Still after influence, she still was in our control although I am sure that foolish Shashi might have been the reason we all are here. All my year's effort and patience in crafting her into the mold of a pretty little doll is almost ruined because of that boy. Ughhh...such a nuisance."
Lakshman reminds her with a threatening voice," Mind your language, Mrs. Chand. You are talking about a child and you are not allowed to use such language in front of us. And I feel extremely bad for your daughter to be conditioned like this and also for you two being her parents. I am glad that she contacted us and informed us that something bad has occurred in your house and asked us to protect both of you. And here, you are insanely heartless. Calling your own daughter some kind of plastic doll is so.......shiiii ( Disgusted)! "
Mr. Vidyut then asks," Sir said right, you both have given her the worst trauma for a lifetime, she wouldn't be able to forget that she was never a daughter but rather a pretty doll to invest in for an offensive business deal. Now, if you don't want to get imprint on your faces, then start the story from the beginning of her birth but with highlighted key events."
Mr. Dhansi is baffled by exposing his ear to such a poisonous mentality," No doubt, why that girl was in Yodha (Warrior) mode when she gave a painful remark on Lakshman sir. I can't even comprehend how she would have felt if she knew the reality of the situation going below her room. I am worried for her as these days to wander freely anywhere is the most dangerous thing. I hope she is found soon with safely."
Hrida's father rebukes," Rashanda has said nothing wrong! Why are you disrespecting her? Because she exists, our daughter exists and she is crafted with our love and well-mannered behaviors, which every parent should do. Then what makes you so unique from them though Rasha is unique in her ways of actions."
Manan intervenes in between and expresses in a creepy tone," Absolutely agreed. Hrida is really the most well-behaved prettiest doll I could ever buy for my house. She would have been my prettiest touch to my collection. But due to your interruption, I missed the chance to know her deep personal-"
Lakshman slapped him tight making his handprint evident on his cheek and spoke in a dangerously low deep tone," If ever you speak her name or even think about her then you will undergo third-degree treatment. YOU ARE A 30-YEAR-OLD MAN AND..... She is the age of a daughter. How could you ?... LISTEN, MANAN, I WANT THE NAMES OF EACH AND EVERY PERSON WHO SOLD THE YOUNG GIRLS TO YOU AND THAT TOO, TODAY. Did you get it, Manan? "
The police officers were satisfied with Lakshman sir's tight action as that Manan guy totally deserved it. Manan kept his mouth shut and they noticed a sense of fright in his eyes whenever Lakshman sir circled near him and that made them feel proud of their young senior officer.
Manan started blabbering out all those names involved with him after noticing his threatening stare when he remained ignorant of his order. Kritak snickers out loud whereas Vidyut sir and Dhansi ji are trying to control their laugh when they hear Manan stuttering and clumsily hitting his hand against the table's edge while blurting out the names.
Lakshman shushed them down with a playful glare directed towards them. Lakshman commands with emphasis on each word," Mr. and Mrs. Chand, we are not here to play hide and seek and you can't keep us engaged in your unimportant opinion discussions. I demand you to start narrating the main highlight events that happened after her birth. Start, I said ! "
Mr. Chand spoke with a hint of nostalgia hidden in a negligible amount," It was the day she called me Dad, I felt like I was the happiest person in the world, she learned to crawl and stand quite faster than normal babies. I was busy with my work at home and my mood was like the thunderstruck lightning, which also made Rasha upset because she complained that it is important to spend time with his own kid as well and not be fully engrossed in one part of life, which I didn't agree at that time.
Later, in the evening time, while I was gardening the plants, my mind was swirling in a whirlpool because of the upsetting arguments that happened. Rasha went outside with her friends leaving Hrida alone in the hall room with her dolls and toys. I was aware of the fact that Hrida shouldn't be left alone because she could hurt herself yet my selfishness glued my feet to the outside.
After a while, On the one hand, I was fully concentrated on plucking out the dried parts of the plants, and on the other hand, Hrida was crawling closer to the wide open window linked to the garden and I was completly unaware of this.
She kept crawling closer and closer until she was at the edge and exactly at that moment, I turned back and saw her by the window, she had a gleeful smile on her face with an attempt to land on the grass, which would have been fine until there were no cut portions of thorny stems waiting for her. I tried to reach her but then I fell in the process as a result of slippery grass.
She stepped down on the grass and those thorns cut her skin and her small little hands and toes were filled with tiny bleeding cuts here and there. She immediately started crying out loud but still she kept crawling towards me while uttering ' Da-d, Da, Da-d, Dad'. She leaned her head on top of my head as I had fallen flat on my face and she was mumbling in her small voice ' Dad '. For me, this will always be treasured as one of the most highlighting memories of her presence."
Kritak's eyebrows knitted close together and disbelief written all over his face and he voices out loud," Are you making up some story? I mean.. maybe you are adding your own twists and scenes to the contrasting reality of the scene that you shared.
I mean, maybe using the ' emotional sentiment' to divert us in a different direction and there is a high likely chance of that which is well justified with acting skills that you performed for years until Hrida peeked under your face masks."
Mr. Vidyut nods and he too shares the same thought as him, which Lakshman sir and Mr. Dhansi partially believe his theory as well. Mr. Chand defends his statement in a desperate tone," Please believe me, I used to love my daughter like a father should but the day she started behaving like those wild humans, she proved us wrong about her shamefully.
But you know, how parents are, we have to be the bigger person for our kids and we would follow the rule, and we ought to do when we are released from jail someday." Then he faces his wife and starts sharing plans with a sickly enthusiastic tone," This time, we will not repeat the past mistakes.
Once she returns home, we will make some grounding rules and will also be permitted freedom but on our consent, and she will be our lovely doll-like daughter. But Rashaa... I won't-....we won't sell her off to anyone and will always keep her with us. No marriage, no boys, no love, etc. should be in her life, otherwise, we will be alone forever."
Lakshman is utterly bewildered by an "encouraging" father speech and his ears almost bleed with his nauseous-sweet speech. Lakshman cuts him short from his unimportant speech," Mr. Chand! We are not here to discuss about your plans but rather all of you are here to just state the noticeable events of Hrida in detail. Police officers are not free like you to waste time on unnecessary comments. So, just stick to blurting out only the events and not a single word more than that. Please continue !"