Kabeer took a deep breath, steadying himself as he opened the notebook to its main contents. "However, it wasn't a love marriage, but it wasn't forced either," he read, his voice clear and deliberate. Garima's sharp gaze fixed on Nishi, tracking her every movement and expression. Vivek scribbled notes, capturing the meeting's minutes, while Karthik recorded the discussion on camera. Kabeer continued, "But my grandparents—hah—they never wanted my dad or his siblings. They were like dogs, always barking at him but never daring to bite in the early days. That 50-crore Singhania empire was built by my dad alone."
Kabeer glanced around briefly, his eyes lingering on Nishi's rigid posture, before diving back into the notebook. "The very first day of their marriage, she was thrown into hell. Every morning began with new drama, and at night, she was forced to… serve herself to my uncle. They abused her in every possible way." A frown creased Kabeer's face, his voice faltering slightly as the words sank in. "Years and months passed. They forced my mom to have abortions, and whenever Dad took her side, his family manipulated him to gain his consent—"
"It's inhumane," Karthik muttered, his voice thick with disgust. Vivek's curiosity flared, his pen pausing. "But we found no trace of this during the initial investigation—no rumors, no news." Garima's tone was measured but grim. "Maybe because it happened years ago."
Kabeer nodded, his expression heavy. "Still, no whispers? No reports?" Karthik pressed, his skepticism clear. "Who knows," Kabeer said, cutting through the debate. "Let's move forward."
"Yes, sir," they replied in unison, their voices tight. Kabeer read on, "They even tried to force my dad to marry another woman and sold my mom to someone."
"What the hell?" Garima spat, her voice laced with revulsion. "The Singhanias were into human trafficking?" Vivek's tone was sharp as he jotted down the point. All eyes turned to Nishi, whose face had hardened, her jaw clenched. They waited for a reaction, hoping to break through her impenetrable demeanor, but she remained silent, her gaze distant.
Kabeer sighed, ready to continue reading, when Nishi's voice cut through the room, rough and heavy with emotion. "But Dad never agreed to sell her or marry someone else. For him, my mom was his responsibility. What a cheap man—when his family abused her, it wasn't his responsibility, but when it came to letting her go, suddenly she was?" The officers froze, a glimmer of hope sparking among them. Nishi's words, raw and unfiltered, could be a breakthrough—stronger than the notebook, especially with the audio recording capturing every syllable.
"But it didn't end there," Nishi continued, her voice trembling as if the pain were physical. "One day, when Dad was away for a business meeting, his family brought men to bid on my mom. And they… they…" She choked, her words breaking as tears welled in her eyes. Garima started to rise, her instinct to comfort Nishi clear, but Kabeer gently held her arm, his expression firm. He didn't want to disrupt the flow of her confession. "They never treated my mom like a human," Nishi went on, her voice barely above a whisper. "She was always a toy to them. When Dad returned, she told him everything, but he didn't believe her—not until she showed him the marks of abuse: cigarette burns, belt marks…"
Kabeer, Vivek, Garima, and Karthik sat motionless, their bodies rigid with shock. The intensity of their anger toward the Singhania family was palpable, a burning weight in the room. Nishi was shuddering, her eyes bloodshot, tears streaming uncontrollably as her voice cracked. "That day, his blood finally boiled. Mom thought it would be a relief, that maybe the abuse would stop. Dad stormed into the living area where everyone was, grabbed Nishant's collar, and punched him harder than anyone thought possible. They tried to stop him, but he kept going until Nishant's face was dripping with blood." Nishi's gaze locked onto Kabeer's, her eyes fierce despite the tears.
"Dad argued with everyone that night and left—left the house for good. He moved to his bungalow in Manali. About two or three years passed, and their life got back on track. He cut all ties with the family, though to the outside world, they were still one unit. A year later, they were blessed with little fairies, and life seemed happy. The business was thriving. Then Dad decided to merge it with Vinay Oberoi, and boom—his family didn't want that. They tried everything to stop him, but he wouldn't budge—"
Suddenly, Nishi's voice faltered, and she collapsed. Vivek leapt forward, catching her before she hit the ground. Karthik shut off the camera, and the team rushed to her side. Kabeer grabbed his phone, calling for an ambulance, his voice urgent but controlled. Within minutes, paramedics arrived and whisked Nishi to the hospital.
In the hospital lobby, Kabeer scrolled through his phone, his jaw tight as Raajveer's threatening messages flooded his inbox, warning him about his job and even his life. Karthik broke the silence, his tone thoughtful. "Her story makes sense. It gives a clear motive for the murders, but I'm curious—why did she say 'fairies' instead of just talking about herself?"
The team exchanged glances. "Maybe she didn't want to point to herself directly," Vivek offered, his voice uncertain. Kabeer shook his head, his tone skeptical. "That doesn't feel like a strong enough reason."
"Why don't we verify it through hospital records?" Garima suggested, Karthik nodding in agreement. "Fair enough," Kabeer said, his voice practical. "But how do we find the hospital?" Karthik asked. "We should check their bungalow in Manali," Garima proposed. Kabeer frowned. "They shifted back to the Singhania mansion."
"But it's worth a try," Vivek pressed, his tone insistent. The three looked at Kabeer, their eyes hopeful. He sighed, relenting under their collective resolve. "Fine, we'll check it out."
Just then, the doctor emerged, his expression grave. "Can we see her?" Kabeer asked, but the doctor shook his head. "Not yet. Her blood pressure is dangerously low, and she needs to remain under observation. Any disturbance could be risky."
The team nodded, their concern evident. Kabeer turned to them, his voice firm. "Pack your things. I've booked our tickets to Manali for the day after tomorrow. Garima, apply for a search warrant—I don't want any interference from the local police." Garima nodded, her expression determined. With that, they left the hospital, ending their workday. Kabeer assigned a few constable to guard and monitor Nishi, ensuring her safety as the investigation took its next step.