Nisha and Aarav stepped into the police station, tension radiating off of her in waves. She held onto Aarav's arm tightly, trying to control the tremor in her hands as they walked up to the reception desk.
"We're here to see Nithin Rao," Aarav said, his voice cold, commanding.
A police officer led them to the lockup at the end of a narrow hallway. The stifling smell of damp concrete hit them, and with every step, Nisha's heart pounded harder. When they reached her father's cell, Nisha's world shattered. There, crouched in the corner, bruised and weakened, was her father. His clothes were dirt-stained, and his face bore the marks of recent beatings.
"Papa!" Nisha cried, tears spilling over as she clutched the iron bars, her voice breaking. Her father lifted his head slowly, his own eyes filling with tears as he recognized his daughter.
Aarav's gaze was like steel as he turned to the officer. "Take me to your inspector. Now." His tone was low, but there was an unmistakable edge of anger in it. The officer hesitated, sensing the authority behind Aarav's words. Reluctantly, he led him to the inspector's office.
Aarav's powerful presence filled the room as he faced the inspector, who shifted uncomfortably under his intense gaze. "Who dared touch him?" Aarav demanded, his voice barely restrained with fury. "Who authorized you to lay a hand on him before a shred of evidence has been presented? He's an innocent man until proven guilty."
"Mr. Kapoor , we—" the inspector stammered, but Aarav cut him off.
"Don't justify it. He's under my protection now. Do you understand me? You'll leave him untouched unless you have absolute proof. One more incident, and I'll make sure you're stripped of your badges. Clear?"
The inspector nodded, too intimidated to speak further.
Meanwhile, in the cell, Nisha crouched down by the bars, clutching her father's hand. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, "Papa, I'm so sorry. This shouldn't be happening to you." Her father, broken but still tender, looked at her with tear-filled eyes, his voice cracking as he spoke.
"Nisha… I'm sorry, beta. I… I made you worry. This isn't how I wanted you to see me."
"No, Papa, please don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. You're innocent; I know it. You're my hero… my superhero," she said, her voice trembling. "We'll take you back home from here, don't worry."
Just then, Aarav returned, his gaze softening as he saw Nisha beside her father. He crouched down next to her and spoke gently, "Uncle, tell us exactly what happened. If you're innocent, I'll get you out of here, I promise."
Nithin took a deep, shaky breath, his eyes looking distant as he recalled the events. "Meera came over afternoon. We spent time together, just like always, talking and making lunch together. It started raining heavily, so I asked her to wait until the rain calmed before she headed home. She was restless, though, kept glancing at the clock. And as soon as the rain stopped in the evening, she left in a hurry, accidentally leaving her phone behind on the table."
Nithin paused, a pained expression crossing his face. "Later, when I noticed her phone, I went straight to her place to return it. But when I got there… I found her…" His voice broke as he struggled to speak through the anguish. "I found her like that… She was… she was…" He choked back a sob, covering his face as tears fell.
Aarav placed a hand on his shoulder, his voice gentle yet firm. "Uncle, I need you to continue. Rohit mentioned he saw you covering her body. Can you explain that?"
Nithin nodded, swallowing hard as he continued. "When I saw her, she… she was unclothed, left there like that. I didn't want her to be seen that way, so I took a blanket from her bed and covered her. I would never… never do anything to hurt her, Aarav." His face crumpled, and he began to sob, his heart breaking with the weight of the accusations. He broke down, his voice barely a whisper as he choked back his sobs. "If I had gone sooner, maybe… maybe I could have saved her."
Nisha's heart ached seeing her father's torment. She gently wiped his tears, her own face soaked with grief. "Papa, this wasn't your fault. You didn't do anything wrong; please don't blame yourself."
Aarav's expression softened, though his eyes remained intense with determination. "Uncle, if this is the truth, you'll be home soon. Trust me. I'm not letting you stay in this place another day longer."
Nisha clutched her father's hand, unable to hold back her tears. Her father reached out, cupping her face in his hands. "You have to stay strong, Nisha. Don't let anyone… don't let anyone ruin you."
With a nod, Aarav gently placed a hand on Nisha's shoulder, urging her to stand. She glanced back at her father, nodding solemnly, before allowing Aarav to lead her from the cell. As they walked back through the station, she could barely hold herself together, tears streaming down her face.
When they reached the car outside, Aarav wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his lap as she broke down completely. "He's innocent, Aarav. I know he is. He's never hurt anyone… why is this happening?"
Aarav's hands ran soothingly up and down her back as he held her close. "We'll get to the truth, Nisha. I swear it. You don't have to face this alone." His voice was gentle, filled with a quiet intensity. He held her until her tears subsided, pressing a soft kiss to her hair.
When she finally looked up, he tucked a loose strand behind her ear. "I'll do everything in my power to make this right, Nisha," he murmured, his gaze unwavering. "I'll be with you, no matter what it takes."
Author's Note:
Thank you so much for reading this chapter. Every vote and comment means the world to me and truly encourages me to keep going. What do you think will happen next? Will Aarav and Nisha find the truth, and can justice be served? Let me know your thoughts, and stay tuned for more!