It was a crisp evening in Mumbai as Adi Shekhawat and Soham made their way toward the gleaming facade of the newly opened hotel, the lights from the building's sign casting a soft glow on the street below. The grand opening of this luxury hotel was being celebrated with a lavish party, attracting the city's wealthiest and most influential.
Soham, his partner and friend, walked beside him, a bit more on edge than usual. "This is some event, Adi. I thought we'd be chasing criminals, not mingling with celebrities."
Adi smirked, adjusting his coat as they approached the entrance. "It's all part of the job, Soham. Plus, you never know where a lead might come from."
They were greeted by an impeccably dressed hotel security guard who ushered them inside. The lobby was bustling with activity as guests in elegant gowns and tuxedos chatted and laughed over champagne, while waiters glided through the room, offering hors d'oeuvres.
As they stepped further into the lobby, the hotel owner, Mr. Arvind Kumar, a tall and distinguished man in his mid-50s, approached them with a warm smile. "Detective Shekhawat, Mr. Soham, welcome! It's an honor to have you both here tonight."
Arvind Kumar was a well-known businessman in Mumbai, his success spanning across real estate, hospitality, and several luxury ventures. His salt-and-pepper hair and sharply cut suit gave him the air of someone who commanded respect.
Beside him stood his son, Vikram Kumar, a 28-year-old who seemed to have inherited his father's sharp features and charismatic presence. Vikram had a reputation as a playboy, often seen in the tabloids with various celebrities and models, but tonight, he was focused on the event, greeting guests with a genuine smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you both," Vikram said, shaking their hands. His eyes lingered for a moment on Soham, then shifted to Adi, as if sizing them up.
"Allow me to introduce the other important guests for tonight," Arvind continued, motioning toward a small group that had gathered nearby.
The first person he introduced was Priya Mehra, a woman in her mid-20s, strikingly beautiful with long, dark hair and a confident, almost commanding presence. She was dressed in a glittering black cocktail dress, her high heels clicking on the marble floor as she approached. Priya exuded an air of sophistication, and Adi couldn't help but notice the way her eyes seemed to survey the room, her sharp gaze missing nothing. "This is Priya Mehra," Arvind said, "One of our high-profile guests. She's a well-known socialite and a close friend of the Kumar family."
Adi nodded politely. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Mehra."
Priya flashed a smile, her eyes lingering on Adi for a fraction longer than necessary. "The pleasure is mine, Detective," she replied smoothly, her voice soft but with an underlying strength.
Next, Arvind introduced Raghav Kapoor, a 30-year-old man who looked every bit the part of a successful businessman. With a tailored suit and a confident stride, he exuded an aura of power. He extended a firm handshake to Adi. "Raghav Kapoor," he introduced himself, his voice low but authoritative. "I specialize in luxury goods and private investments." He nodded toward Soham, who gave a polite smile in return.
Finally, the last person Arvind introduced was a tall, broad-shouldered man in his late 20s named Arjun Singh. Arjun's dark eyes were sharp and observant, his presence commanding. He wore a perfectly tailored tuxedo and stood with an air of someone used to being in control. "Arjun Singh," he said with a slight smile. "I'm an entrepreneur—more in the tech space, but I also dabble in real estate."
Adi could tell these were no ordinary guests. Each of them carried a sense of importance, whether from family wealth, social status, or business acumen. They weren't the kind of people one encountered every day, and they all had a certain air of privilege that seemed to emanate from them.
"We're honored to have you all here tonight," Arvind said, as the group gathered together. "After the party, please feel free to stay here. We've arranged a suite for each of you."
The party continued late into the evening, with music and laughter filling the air. Adi and Soham mingled with the guests, keeping a low profile while also keeping an eye on the people around them. As the clock neared 11:00 PM, Adi felt a strange sense of unease settling in, as if something was about to happen—something neither of them could foresee.
As the clock struck 11:00, the atmosphere in the hotel changed. The energy of the party began to slow, the music becoming quieter, the guests more relaxed. People began heading toward their rooms to rest after the evening's festivities. The quiet hum of the hotel's air conditioning was the only sound as Adi and Soham made their way to their respective rooms.
But unbeknownst to them, a dark figure had slipped into the hotel. A mysterious man, dressed in a long black coat, entered the lobby. His presence was barely noticed by the staff, who were busy clearing up after the event. He moved silently, his steps echoing faintly on the marble floor.
The receptionist, a young woman named Priya, sat behind the desk, her head resting on her hand, exhausted from a long day. She didn't notice the figure approach until it was too late.
In one swift motion, the man in the coat pulled out a knife and thrust it toward her, the blade sinking deep into her head. Priya gasped, her eyes wide with shock, but it was too late. She slumped forward, the blood pooling beneath her. The man stood over her for a moment, his face hidden in the shadows of his coat's collar, and then he disappeared into the dark corridors of the hotel.
The clock ticked on, and by 11:13, the hotel was eerily quiet. The events of the night seemed to have come to a standstill—until Vikram Kumar, the hotel owner's son, suddenly woke up from his slumber. He felt uneasy, as if something was amiss. He stood up and walked out of his suite, noticing that the hotel was unusually silent. He wandered down the hallway and into the lobby, where he froze.
Priya's body was slumped behind the reception desk, the knife still embedded in her skull. His heart raced as he took in the scene. He stumbled backward, gasping for breath, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.
Without wasting another second, Vikram ran to the nearest room and banged on the door. "Everyone, wake up! We have a situation! There's been a murder!"
The door swung open to reveal Adi and Soham, who had barely managed to fall asleep after the long evening. They were immediately alert at the sound of urgency in Vikram's voice.
"Vikram, what happened?" Adi asked, his expression turning serious as he quickly followed the young man to the lobby.
Vikram pointed to the lifeless body of the receptionist. "She's dead. Someone killed her. I don't know who did it, but we need to figure this out."
Soham's brow furrowed as he surveyed the scene. "This is bad, Adi. We're in the middle of a murder mystery."
Adi nodded, his mind already starting to work. "Stay calm. Let's gather everyone in the lobby and figure out what happened."
As they began to rouse the other guests, a sense of tension filled the air. The luxurious hotel, which had been the setting for an elegant party, had now become the scene of a grisly crime.
To be continued...