The sound of the water clogged her hysterical gasping sobs. Ishaan was dead. It hit hard. He was dead the same night she chose to kiss him. That hit harder. To add to it all, she was engaged to the man who was the police officer in-charge of the case. She quickly washed her face and put up a normal face. But inside there was regret, guilt, pain and worst and most of all — fear.

"Kashi, what happened?" She heard his mother's voice as soon as she stepped out. She stared at he rmother. 

"Why had he come?"

"Oh, Virat. He, he just came to tell me that he may get promoted soon. He wanted to just make sure, I am okay with his profession."

"Even I am skeptical about his career, Kashi. He's brave and holds a very respectable post in the police. But, will you be able to deal with it?"

"He's very nice, Maa." She said, sitting on the bed beside her. Her thoughts stuck at Ishaan. His smiling face the only thing that flashed on the wide screen of her mind. 

"Yeah, that's true..."

Virat. 

She panicked. What if he came to know about her and Ishaan? She was more scared of losing him.

Virat was a wonderful person. Why else would he come to check on her personally and tell her about it. He said he was worried. Just because she was at a place which was a crime scene now. Sooner or later he'll know that she knew Ishaan. But ...last night in the library it was just the two of them. 

"Honestly, for a minute I thought he's changed his mind about the wedding. But I am glad it wasn't something of that sort. At the same time, it is scary to think he deals with criminals throughout the day. But I guess, he'll keep you happy. Your father seems to love him more with every passing day. Anyways, you'll drop us to the airport right? Or should we do a Uber?"

"Oh, yes. Your flight to Delhi. Packing done?" She asked. Who killed Ishaan? When did it happen? What if she didn't back of yesterday? What if she stayed in the library with Ishaan. Would he be alive? Or would there be two murders?

"Yeah, everything is in place. I was thinking of leaving early. Like last time I don't want them to make a big issue of the pickle jars I carry and make us miss the flight. I think we'll call the Uber... Kashi?"

"Yeah, yeah. Uber. I was thinking the same. You should call the Uber."

"You're okay?"

"Yeah, I was just... thinking about Virat."

"Don't overthink. It's natural to feel the anxiety and have doubts, but you both have time. You can probably work on finding a common ground." Her mother spoke getting up. "We'll leave in forty minutes or so."

"Yeah!"

* * *

Kashish's mind couldn't calm down. It was running like a racing car, high on illegal fluids. It was a silent afternoon, she could even hear the wall clock ticking. She was trying to make up her mind to call Virat and ask for more information. But she'd probably give him a hint that she had something to hide. 

She didn't have to be in the state of indecisiveness for too long. Her message beep was heard. It was from Virat.

Their was picture of Ishaan. A smiling picture, where is light brown eyes sparkled with life. He was dead, now.

He fingers trembled as her mobile phone 's ring tone blared. 

Virat Chauhan.

Gulping the lump of fear that had formed in her throat, she picked up the call, pressing the phone to her ear.

"Hey!"

"Hey!" She mumbled, her plan running against the side of her neck.

"The picture I sent you, is our victim. Ishaan Trivedi. Do you happen to know him?"

"Yeah, he was in my class."

"Oh," she sensed a little surprise in his voice.

"Did you talk to him yesterday?"

Kashish closed her eyes. There would be no point of lying to him. "Yes, I met him... with his usual group of friends."

"Can you give me the names,  of his friends?"

"Yeah, umm, Tanushree, Naman, Niharika and Simi.. I mean Smriti."

"Full names?"

"Uh," taking a deep breath she said, " Tanushree P, Naman Singh and Smriti Shah. I don't remember Niharika's full name."

"I think this should help."

"How did it happen?"She asked her voice reduced to an almost whisper.

"He was found dead in the library building. The forensic team is working to find clues and garnering possible evidence."

Kashish froze. It was as though time stopped. Library! This case seemed to be rigged against her. She was the one who had adventured into the library. Ishaan had followed her. She was the one who left him there. And  now, he was dead in the same building. 

"Kashish?"

"Yeah,"

"Everything okay?"

"Hmm, yes. Just a little hard to sink in that he's dead." She hoped her response was adequate enough.

"We may need your statement too. We are trying to make a list of all the people who met Ishaan yesterday to take their statements."

"My statement?" She stuttered, her palm gripping onto the table's edge. Fear knotted her gut.

"Yeah. Don't panic if you receive a call from the police station, okay? What about aunty and uncle... they were supposed to leave for Delhi right?"

"Yes, umm, they boarded the flight some time back."

"Okay, got to go. Call me if you need anything."

"Yeah, thanks.. "

Kashish slammed the phone on the table and took a deep breath. What had she got herself into? The situation had just gone from bad to worst. It probably couldn't go south from here.

She covered her face with her hands. Ishaan was dead. His smiling face wouldn't leave her. 

"Kashish Shukla, I have always had a crush on you. It's sort off very late, but I thought you should know."

The words wouldn't stop repeating over and over in her mind. Hot tears blurred her vision. A feeling she couldn't understand clawed at her heart. She unlocked her phone and stared at his picture. 

What if she had stayed longer last night? Would he be alive?

What if she never ventured into the library, the he wouldn't have followed her there, right? Would he be alive?

"I am sorry, Ishaan. I am so sorry." She mumbled, her eyes looking at the picture Virat had sent her while tears streamed down her cheeks. 

A few minutes passed by and she had started collecting her thoughts. 

She had to confide in Virat. What if the police came after her? Although, she was sure it was just Ishaan and her in the library but now she couldn't be that sure of it. What if someone had seen her go into the library? She had to do something, and do it quickly before the police came knocking at her door. 

She got up from the chair and walked up and down the living room. She had to talk to Virat and hope he believed her. One possibility was that he wouldn't and break the engagement. Worst case, she'd be on the top of the list of the suspects. The other possibility was, he'd believe her and probably she'd have a shield of sorts from being dragged into this case. 

Preparing her mind, she phoned him. 

"Hello?"

"Hi, Virat. Uh, I wanted to talk to you..."

"Is it about the case?"

Kashish squeezed her eyes shut. His policeman instincts probably kicked in. "Yeah, yeah."

"Uh, I am in the middle of something. Can you come down to my apartment at around four?"

"Uh, sure. I will do that." She replied, turning around to glance at the wall clock. It was a few minutes past two now. 

"Okay, see you then."

"Yeah, bye!"

She breathed deeply., running her hands over her hair. Hopefully, she was doing the right thing.

* * *

The sun was still high up in the sky. It was late March and the sunsets happened towards five thirty or so in the evening. She nervously walked around the open parking in his apartment building. She had found the place effortlessly given that it was right on the main road. 

She heard the metal gates make a sound and turned to see a SUV pull in. She recognized that car instantly. Effortlessly the car pulled into the parking spot and he got off the car walking towards her. 

"Hey!" He greeted, taking off his sunglasses.

"Hi," she mumbled, her heartbeats slow and loud. 

"This way," He gestured, leading her towards the elevator.

"Had lunch?" He asked as they boarded the lift.

"Yeah, you?"

"Yes, just before you had called. Working on too many things together just messes up the schedule."

The lift opened up on the second floor.

"My flat is messier than usual. Had to leave early today so the househelp didn't clean today." He said as he quickly opened the door letting her in.

"You'll have something to drink? Tea, coffee or juice?"

"Uh, water should be fine." She answered as he shut the door of the flat  and took a few steps towards what she presumed was the kitchen. It was a quaint two bedroom apartment. 

Kashish looked around. The room had simple furniture and looked like any other middle class household, definitely contrasting to his family home. As her gaze came back to him, her eyes widened as she watched him pull out the gun from the holster and place it on the side table. 

He looked up and gave a small smile. "Be seated, I will be back." Saying that he disappeared.

Kashish took a deep breath and sat down. Her eyes stared at the metallic weapon. She was finally coming in terms of being engaged to a police officer. Her gaze moved to the show case that stood against wall on the right. It was filled with trophies, medals and books.

He reappeared with a tray carrying two glasses of water and a plate full of biscuits. 

"There you go," He said placing the tray on the table. 

"So tell me..." He smiled sitting on the single seater sofa across from hers.

Kashish fidgeted with her bag's strap. Was she doing the right thing? 

"I wanted.. to talk about," she paused.

"The case..." He completed for her, leaning forward with his hands clasped, giving her undivided attention.

"Yeah, I actually spoke to Ishaan yesterday."

"I can understand. It must be terrifying. It's okay to be a little freaked out. Here," He handed her the glass of water.

She took it gratefully and took a sip. Placing the glass down into he glass table she looked up at him. He was looking back at her. His eyes dark and fixated on her. It was like his eyes were pinning her to the spot. 

"There's something more.."

"Hmm,"

"I... I spoke to him when we were in the library."

He straightened up, his gaze didn't flicker. "You were in the library last night?"

"Yeah, umm.." Her fingers gripped her bag tightly, suddenly the room began to get hotter.

"But the library was closed."

Her eyes blinked and she looked looked him with a mixture of emotions. "It was locked?"

"Yeah, Ishaan's body was found on the lower floor."

"Oh,.."

"Kashish, be clear. Tell me exactly what happened."

"I, I..actually... don't be mad at me, please." She mumbled before narrating how after meeting the group she had decided to leave and on her way out had ran into her teacher, Mrs. Ratna. She went on to tell him how when she stepped out she saw the library and for old time's sake, she had reached the library and ventured in. 

"I was just looking at the books in the novel section when Ishaan came there,"

"What time was this?" His face was as serious as Mrs.Charles face while checking assignments.

Kashish looked thoughtful. "I can't be sure... but when I left the multipurpose building it was around ten minutes to ten. I thought I'd just quickly have a look at the library and leave."

He took a deep breath looking thoughtful. "How did he look at that time? Was he tensed or something? Did he say anything?"

"No. He looked relaxed. He wore a white shirt. Earlier when I met him in the other building he had his blazer on his arm. But when he came into the library he didn't have that in hand."

Virat pressed back into the couch. "Any idea of how long you two were there in the library?"

"Uh, not long. We just spoke about old times and then... I walked out. I told him about the lock."

"Can you estimate how long you were with him or in the library."

"I, I can't be certain. By the time I reached the car.. it was around ten fifteen I guess... because I got home a little after ten thirty..  mom was watching the serial that airs at ten thirty. That's how I remember."

"Okay, try and remember, did you get any message or call anything that can prove your time of leaving school?"

Kashish pondered over his question. "No."

"Anyone who saw you?"

Kashish thought back to the night. 

"No. I don't think so."

"Okay." He got up from his seat and walked about the room immersed in his thoughts. 

"Is there a problem?" Kashish asked, the fear hopping her heart tightly.

He slowly turned around to look at her. "Ishaan's estimated time of death is around ten thirty. A couple of minutes plus or minus."

Kashish's breathing got uneven. This had just got more complicated than ever.

"Does that make me a suspect?"

Virat took a deep breath, "the only suspect, Kashish!"

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Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Would love to know your thoughts on it. What do you think?