A chill ran down Aryan's spine as they followed the officers to the city mortuary. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air, and the hum of refrigeration units was the only sound apart from their footsteps.
They stopped in front of a metallic drawer. The officer gave a sympathetic look before slowly pulling it open.
A half-burnt body lay before them. The skin was charred in places, making it difficult to identify, but there was a horrifying familiarity about the frame, the structure.
Meera's mother gasped, collapsing into her husband's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Aryan felt the room spin. This couldn't be real.
"This body was found floating in a shallow water body," the officer explained quietly. "We'll need a DNA test to confirm, but…"
No one needed to say it. The truth was right in front of them.
Meera was gone.
Karan clenched his fists, his entire body trembling. "Who… who could've done this?"
The officer sighed. "We don't know yet. But this wasn't an accident. Someone did this to her."
Aryan felt his stomach turn. Just a few days ago, they were joking and laughing together. And now, she was lying lifeless in front of them.
A suffocating silence fell over the room.
Then, Aryan whispered, "We need to find out who did this."
The ride back home was silent. Mr. Sharma and his wife were still in shock, barely able to speak. Karan hadn't said a word since they left the mortuary.
Back in their apartment, Aryan sat on the couch, staring at nothing. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions—grief, anger, confusion.
Karan finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "She didn't deserve this."
Aryan nodded numbly.
"Someone did this to her," Karan continued, his hands clenched into fists. "And we're going to find out who."
Aryan turned to him. "The police are already on it."
Karan shook his head. "The police have dozens of cases. Meera was our best friend. No one will fight for her like we will."
Aryan sighed. "Where do we even start?"
"We start with the police," Karan said. "We need to find out if there are other cases like this. Other missing people."
Aryan hesitated before nodding. He didn't know where this journey would lead them, but one thing was certain—
This wasn't just a random crime.
Someone out there had killed Meera.
And they weren't going to stop.