"Should you discover this bullet, have you failed to locate the complaint that I filed at the station?"
Jignesh cast a bewildered glance at her subordinate.
Jack, one of his fellow workers, acknowledged him right away. "When they got back to Dharmagiri, Rajeev complained that he had just misplaced his rifle in the bush."
Ram had been quietly devising a strategy ever since he and Rajeev realized the potential trouble ahead. They both knew that if the police found the dead wolves in the forest, the investigation would undoubtedly deepen. Worse still, they couldn't afford to reveal the existence of their father's hidden community. Rajeev's father had made it clear that no one should know about the settlement. And then, of course, there was Vyaaghra—the tiger who had been instrumental in saving their lives. They had to keep his identity a secret at all costs.
Their plan had been simple but effective. Stick to the truth where possible, but withhold certain details. They needed to ensure that Vyaaghra's presence remained undiscovered, and that the community in the jungle stayed hidden.
Jignesh, the officer leading the investigation, seemed frustrated. He couldn't quite put his finger on what was off, but he felt there was something more to the story. He lacked the hard evidence to push further, though, and that's what held him back.
Other investigators entered the room, handing Jignesh a file containing the statements and data they had gathered from Ram's questioning. Jignesh flipped through it, his brow furrowing. He paused, comparing Ram's statement to Rajeev's. To his frustration, both were identical—almost too identical. It was clear the two had coordinated their stories, leaving no discrepancies for him to exploit.
"You guys might think you can hide what really happened in that forest," Jignesh said, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at Rajeev. "But I'll find out the truth eventually."
Rajeev met his gaze calmly. "I admit, we're responsible for the deaths of those wolves, sir. But you're wrong if you think we were up to anything illegal. We did what we had to do—to protect ourselves."
Jignesh stared at Rajeev for a long moment, trying to read the young man's face. He could sense there was more to the story, but there was no hint of malice or deceit. He sighed, dropping his eyes to the file in his hand. Despite his suspicions, he couldn't deny the truth in Rajeev's words. They were in a fight for their lives, not involved in anything criminal.
"I believe you," Jignesh said finally, his tone resigned. He knew he wouldn't get anything more from Rajeev today. "But remember, Rajeev—I'm still watching. I'll find out whatever you're keeping hidden."
Jignesh didn't ask any more questions as he already knew Rajeev wasn't a horrible guy.
With that, Jignesh left the room, leaving Rajeev and Ram to exhale in relief. For now, their secret was safe, but they both knew this wasn't over.
Following the police's departure, Abhi became interested in learning more about what had happened in the bush and asked Rajeev to explain everything.
According to Rajeev, they encountered wolves in the bush after becoming disoriented, but they managed to get away from them and locate some wild horses, who helped them make it to the Dharmagiri River.
Ram and Rajeev made up a tale because they didn't want to disclose anybody about what transpired in the bush, as Rudra had warned them not to.
Rudra specifically said that people should not even disclose it to their relatives, so Ram and Rajeev respected Rudra's advice and kept under wraps.
Abhi remembered something stated right away: "Hey Rajeev, mom and dad are coming over this evening."
Gurdeep had only begun to visit Dharmagiri when he unexpectedly received a job offer from a hospital, so he left. Sashi followed by taking back to Dharmagiri.
"We are headed back since we've gotten a job in the metropolis" , stated Abhi
Sashi turned to face Rajeev and replied, "Yeah, Rajeev, we just got to Dharmagiri and it turns out you're missing. Now that everything's okay, we have to go back there to finish a few unfinished tasks."
"We had to return right now because we need to make time for the wedding", abhi stated, giving Rajeev a firm handshake and a warm hug.
Sashi nodded, a hint of regret in her eyes. "There's some urgent work we need to finish, but don't worry, we'll be here for the big day."
Rajeev remained silent as he is aware of how horny these folks can be. "Alright, good luck and have a safe trip."
Ram responded, "I'll be joining you guys right away."
Sashi interrupted him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Ram, you need plenty of rest," she insisted, her tone soft but firm. "You've got an injured hand, and besides, it's Rajeev's wedding. You need to be ready. Don't worry about us; we'll take care of ourselves."
Rajeev stood by, contemplating whether to wake Gowthami, who was sleeping soundly in her room, to say goodbye to Abhi and Sashi. But Sashi, ever perceptive, noticed his hesitation.
"Rajeev, let her rest," Sashi said gently. "She's been through a lot and needs her sleep. We'll see her soon enough."
Rajeev nodded, appreciating Sashi's understanding. He hugged Abhi once more, whispering his thanks, and then turned to Sashi, embracing her as well. "Take care, both of you," he said, his voice filled with gratitude and affection.
"We will," Abhi assured him, giving a final wave as they stepped out the door.
Ram watched them go, still looking a bit anxious, but Sashi's words had soothed him somewhat. He sighed, turning back to Rajeev. "She's right, you know. You need to focus on the wedding and let us handle the rest."
Rajeev smiled, grateful for his brother's concern. "I know, Ram. Thank you."
As Abhi and Sashi disappeared from view, the house seemed to settle into a calm, anticipatory silence. Rajeev returned to Gowthami's room, watching her sleep peacefully. He felt a surge of love and protectiveness, knowing that despite the challenges and surprises they had faced, they were moving towards a future filled with hope and happiness.
He gently closed the door to her room, careful not to disturb her. Walking back to the hall, he found Ram already settling into a chair, wincing slightly from his injured hand. "You should get some rest too, Ram," Rajeev said, his tone light but concerned.
Ram chuckled. "Only if you promise to do the same."
Rajeev nodded, both of them sharing a moment of understanding. They were family, bound by love and duty, ready to face whatever came their way. And with the promise of a wedding on the horizon, there was much to look forward to.