How did it all begin, then?" the policeman asked, his voice firm but curious as he leaned toward the girl seated across from him. Nishi met his gaze with a sly grin, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "It all started with the silence," she said softly, her tone almost taunting, as if she were holding back a secret. The officer's patience wore thin. "Stop dancing around the question," he snapped, his voice cutting through the room. Nishi tilted her head, unfazed. "I'm not dodging anything. It began with my mom's silence." She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. The female constable, her tone skeptical, interjected, "You were lying about being sick, weren't you?" Nishi's laugh was sharp, almost gleeful. "Oh, you finally caught on!"
The officer, Kabeer, gripped the table's edges, his knuckles whitening as he fought to keep his composure."I'm asking you one last time: why did you kill the Singhania family?" Kabeer's voice was low, dangerous, each word heavy with frustration. Nishi leaned back, her grin fading. "Calm down, Sir Kabeer. It's a long story, but it boils down to this—they were awful to my mom." Her voice trembled slightly, as if the memory drained her. "Killing them was… easy. Like squeezing a lemon. Nishant Singhania—he disrespected my mom, attacked her character. He didn't deserve to live." Tears welled in Nishi's eyes, spilling down her cheeks, but her words carried a chilling resolve. "And his wife? She was cheating on him, so I took care of her too. They destroyed my family."The officers exchanged weary glances. Kabeer shook his head, his voice tinged with disbelief. "You're unhinged. You could've just filed a complaint." But Nishi was no longer listening, her gaze distant, as if staring through him into another world. Kabeer softened, his frustration giving way to unease. He stood, motioning to the others. "Let's go. We need to prep the case file for court."
He left the cell and headed to his cabin, slumping into his chair. From his desk drawer, he pulled out a worn notebook and flipped it open: Nishi Singhania, daughter of David Singhania. His brow furrowed. Why would she write something so basic? "Sir, may I come in?" a voice interrupted. Kabeer cleared his throat. "Come in." Vivek, a junior officer, stepped inside, hesitating. "Sir, do you really think Nishi killed the Singhanias?" Kabeer's eyes narrowed. "What are you getting at, Vivek?" The younger officer shifted uncomfortably. "I mean, she was at all the crime scenes, but… what if someone else is behind this?"Kabeer's expression hardened, his tone clipped. "She may look innocent, but that doesn't make her less guilty. We're cops, Vivek, not activists. We stick to facts." Vivek sighed and left, his shoulders slumped. Days later, Nishi was moved to her assigned cell. Her trial unfolded over a grueling week of hearings, ending with a 50-lakh fine and a 20-year sentence.
Nishi remained silent throughout—no arguments, no remorse—while the Singhania family's surviving relatives grappled with their grief. Kabeer and his team moved on to a new case, life resuming its rhythm until a bombshell hit. Garima, another officer, rushed to Kabeer, her voice urgent. "Sir, it's all over the internet." She held up her phone, showing a headline: Raajveer Singhania Exclusive Clip: Found Harassing His Uncle's Daughter. Kabeer's jaw tightened. "What the hell is this?" Garima shook her head. "No idea. Nishi never mentioned anything like this."Kabeer frowned, his voice skeptical. "It's probably fake. Nishi said her medical report showed nothing like that." Garima's eyes darkened. "Sir, someone like Raajveer could easily tamper with a report. I think we got this case wrong."
"All this started with the silence," Kabeer muttered, sipping his coffee, his tone heavy with doubt. "What a mess." Frustrated, he strode to Nishi's cell, ignoring Garima trailing behind.Nishi sat quietly, her head bowed. "Nishi Singhania," Kabeer called, his voice sharp but controlled. She didn't look up. He called again, louder, but her silence grated on him. Irritated, he returned to his office, diving back into the case file, though his mind lingered on the Singhanias. Months had passed since their lives stabilized, only to be thrown into chaos again. "Who could it be?" Kabeer whispered to himself. "Nishi's already locked up."
That night, alone in his room, Kabeer sat on his bed, the weight of the case pressing on him. Then he remembered—the notebook exerpt. He hadn't touched it since he found it. He hurried to his study, rummaging until he found it on his desk. Opening it, he read: Nishi Singhania, born 19th September 2001, daughter of David Singhania. The words felt oddly clinical, like a file, not a diary. He continued: My mom, Prashika Singhania, the weakest, most pathetic, fragile woman I know. Always oppressed, never stood up for herself. Kabeer's stomach turned. How could someone write this about their mother? He read on: My dad, David Singhania, naive, always used by his family, never fought for his rights.Kabeer's face twisted in disgust. Nishi's detachment was chilling—she seemed like a textbook psychopath.
But why record such basic details? Did she think she'd forget her own parents' names? As a seasoned officer, Kabeer hated being stumped, especially by a case that seemed so straightforward. He grabbed his phone, scrolling through YouTube for the Raajveer video, but found only reposts. The original account was deactivated, unreachable.His phone rang, and he groaned. "Raajveer Singhania. Why can't he bother someone else?" he muttered before answering. "Hello, sir," he said, keeping his tone professional. "Did you see the news?" Raajveer's voice was sharp, demanding. "Yes, sir, but the account that posted it is already gone," Kabeer explained. "Do your job, Kabeer. Find out who's behind this. My reputation's at stake," Raajveer barked before hanging up.Kabeer exhaled, exasperated. "What does he think I am, a magician?" The Singhanias' sense of entitlement infuriated him. He picked up the notebook again but glanced at the clock—2 a.m.
He sighed, murmuring, "Nishi, daughter of Prashika and David Singhania. Parents died when she was 13. She killed her uncle and his family for mistreating her mom. But how does a 13-year-old hold onto memories that turn her into… this?"Kabeer's thoughts drifted to Vivek, who had urged him to reinvestigate. He'd brushed it off, but now doubt gnawed at him. Rubbing his face, he switched off the light and collapsed into bed, sleep overtaking him instantly.
The next morning at the station, Vivek was hunched over his laptop, scanning articles, when Garima approached, her voice buzzing with urgency. "Did you see the Raajveer video?" Vivek glanced up, weary. "I told Kabeer we're missing something, but he shut me down." His eyes returned to the screen. Garima smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "Superiority complex, huh?" Then, serious again, she said, "I think the video's edited." Vivek shrugged. "Edited or not, the real question is who posted it."Garima nodded. "It's not Nishi, that's for sure." She paused, then lowered her voice. "I think she might have dissociative identity disorder." Vivek's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?" Garima leaned in, her tone analytical. "Her reports claimed short-term memory loss, but reinvestigation proved that was false. And over the past few months, I've noticed—she's bold, loud, almost dangerous sometimes, like she could take on the world. Other times, she's so quiet, like a lost kid."
"You're still on the Singhania case?" Kabeer's voice cut in, tinged with exhaustion. He'd overslept but rushed to the station. Vivek turned. "Good morning, sir!" Before Kabeer could respond, Vivek pressed on, his tone earnest. "Sir, we need to reopen the Singhania file. This case isn't as simple as it seems." Garima nodded in agreement. Kabeer sighed, his voice measured. "I hear you, but we can't reopen a case without orders.""Sir, you could request the DIG," Garima suggested, her tone hopeful. Kabeer nodded, his expression neutral. Vivek pressed further. "You guys are really invested in this, aren't you?" Kabeer asked, a mix of curiosity and fatigue in his voice. "It's weird, sir," Garima said. "And her dual personality…"
Kabeer's interest piqued. "Dual personality? Explain."Garima took a breath, her tone serious. "In her cell, she's a psychopath one moment, cold and calculating. But when she talks about her mom, she's… vulnerable, timid. Then she flips again, like a zombie, completely detached." Vivek and Kabeer exchanged a glance, stunned they'd overlooked this. "Good work, Garima. You're sharp," Kabeer said, his tone appreciative but guarded, still not committing to reopening the case.Back in his cabin, Kabeer felt restless. Raajveer's assistant kept texting, demanding answers about the video, while his team pushed to revisit Nishi's case.
_
Garima and Vivek, meanwhile, huddled in the main area, frustrated. "Why's he avoiding this?" Vivek muttered, his voice low. "It's like he's ignoring the obvious," Garima replied, exasperated.Vivek called over two subordinates, Karthik and Ashwin, and pitched a plan. "If Kabeer doesn't budge by the end of the week, we'll find a solid clue to convince him." Karthik hesitated but agreed. Ashwin resisted. "Why? The case is closed." Garima shot him a look, and he relented. "Fine," he mumbled. "Perfect!" Garima said, her excitement cut short as the cell in-charge approached, looking shaken.Kabeer, in his cabin, couldn't shake his unease.
The texts from Raajveer's assistant, his team's persistence—it was all closing in. He stepped into the main area, clearing his throat loudly. "Ahem." Everyone turned, surprised to see Kabeer's usual calm fraying. "I've decided to reopen Nishi Singhania's case," he said, his voice resolute but heavy. "Vivek, Garima, your points about the scandal and her behavior… I think we misjudged this." His team nodded eagerly, relief washing over them."Yes, sir!" they said in unison. Kabeer continued, his tone firm. "Ashwin, draft an email to the DIG requesting permission to reinvestigate." Ashwin nodded as Kabeer headed to Nishi's cell, his steps purposeful.
He ordered the constable to unlock it.Inside, Nishi sat with her head bowed. "Nishi," Kabeer called, his voice steady but probing. She tilted her head, a smirk curling her lips. "Officer, back again?" Her tone was sharp, mocking—nothing like the timid girl from days ago. Kabeer studied her, noting the shift. "You know what's happening outside?" he asked, expecting sarcasm. Her reply stunned him. "Raajveer Singhania's scandal."Kabeer's eyes narrowed. "How do you know that?" Nishi's smirk widened. "Walls have ears, Kabeer Rana." Her confidence, despite being in lockup, unnerved him. "You know where you are, right?" he pressed, his tone firm. Nishi stood, locking eyes with him. "Oh, I know. I just swapped places." Her vague words sent a chill through him.
Kabeer forced a dry laugh. "You think you deserve a normal life?"Nishi sighed, rolling her eyes. "Why are you here, then? Go investigate." Her nonchalance, as if her fate didn't matter, grated on him. Kabeer turned to leave, his frustration mounting, when Nishi's voice rang out behind him."Not every fact is tangible, Kabeer. Some are on paper, some in certificates, some… in a person."He spun around, ready to question her, but she cut him off. "Go find out. I've already helped you enough." Kabeer clenched his jaw, holding back a retort, and walked away, her words echoing in his mind.