"I stealthily enter the lake house premises. The surroundings are completely quiet as I can hear the rattling sound of the dry leaves those are getting crushed by my footsteps. I don't know whether I did wrong or right by coming here. Frankly speaking, I was in a dilemma when I got the letter. It can be a trap as whatever is going on nowadays in our life. However, escaping from the problem is not the solution. I never did it in my life. And I believe to resolve a problem we have to dive down into it. Somehow, I have an intuition that the person who wrote this letter and dared to deliver it to me is involved in all these puzzles. And if I have to solve this puzzle, I have to know this person. That's why I decided to take this risk and I came out without letting Nandini know anything. Because she would have never permitted me to go outside. I know she is tensed about my safety as well as I am concerned about my family's security. I feel the revolver in my hip pocket and approach the lake house's main gate. I have no idea where should I wait for that mysterious person but the walls of this house at least will protect me from any unknown danger. I do not switch on the mobile torch and try to put the key in the keyhole by guessing. However, it's not easy and after a couple of failed tries, the key falls from my hand. I immediately bend to find it out and simultaneously something hits a planter hung from the balcony beam. Though there was no gunshot sound I understood that someone targeted me from a remote distance. I instantly lie down on the floor and roll on the ground to cover myself behind a pillar. My guess is right. It is a trap and I volunteered to fall into this. Suddenly Nandini's face flashes in front of me. I clench my jaws. For her, I will have to save myself. I pull out the revolver and aim in the direction from where the bullet came. Within a second a bullet gets shot from my revolver. However, it might miss its target as I don't hear any sound from the other side. I remain standstill for some moments. Meanwhile, a scuffling sound hits my ears as if two people are wrestling with each other. The sound is coming from the lakeside bushes. I crawl forward but can't move a significant distance as somebody yanks me backwards. I try to aim my gun at that person but he gives a karate chop on my wrist and my gun falls from my grip. Simultaneously he grapples me from my backside and whispers to my ear."

"Don't make a sound. You have already made the biggest mistake of your life by coming here. I told you that you are trusting the wrong people."

His raspy voice alerts Manik's every pore. SP Bhosle is here to protect him or is he also after this mystery?

..............................................

Half an hour has passed. Now Manik and SP Apoorva Bhosle are sitting face to face in Manik's lake house's living room. Lights are on and exasperation is palpable in Bhosle's face.

"Are you spying on me?"

Manik says annoyingly while rubbing his wrist where Bhosle hit him with a karate chop.

"When you are behaving like a blind despite having eyes then I have to..."

SP Bhosle mouths sternly. Manik grunts under his breath and retorts,

"Why so much concern? You are here to make my life difficult, right?"

"Wrong! I am here to find out the truth that is connected to an old case and fortunately or unfortunately it is linked to your past life."

Bhosle utters in a relaxed manner which seems tonight he is in a mood to reveal everything. Manik bends forward by placing his elbows on the knees and eyes SP curiously.

"Since you have come here, you are ranting these lines. Even you met Nandini yesterday and told the same thing. Can you please stop these word games and come to the point? It's really making me frustrated now because, for the first time, I am doubting my close ones."

Manik says with agitation. A sarcastic grin creeps on Bhosle's lips. He replies,

"Good! Good that you are doubting your close ones because it's better to be safe than sorry in future."

"Oh, please...not again. I can take care of myself and my family."

Manik replies scornfully. SP Bhosle's eyes blaze with rage. He mouths with gritted jaws,

"Yeah, that I saw a few moments ago. You were nearly dead. And I am quite sure that was a bullet from your so-called close one's revolver."

"WHAT! Impossible..."

Manik almost leaps up from the sofa. However, SP Bhosle gestures to him to sit.

"Relax, Mr Malhotra. I have not finished yet. There are more shocking news for you. Well, first of all, let me tell you that your childhood friend Abhimanyu Thakkar's accident case has been reopened. Simultaneously, Mukti Vardhan's suicide case is also exhumed from its grave as both are connected. For your kind information, we have information that Abhimanyu Thakkar was not dead in that accident and he is still alive. More of that, he is here only. Last month he boarded a flight from Mumbai to come to Boston."

Bhosle pauses for a while and Manik parts his lips to express his surprise. However, Bhosle stops him and continues,

"Second news is according to my investigation, one of the Notorious 5s is involved in Abhimanyu's accident...yes it was a plan to kill him but fortunately he survived. Thirdly, I guess Abhimanyu is here to meet you because he may have some secrets to share and unfortunately that guy (he air quotes the word) had reached Abhimanyu before he could reach you. Last and the most important, now he is after you. I don't know what animosity he has with you but I am sure he only shot that bullet."

This time Manik doesn't look any more shocked. Rather he asks composedly,

"You mean he asked me to come over here?"

"That I don't know. It might be Abhimanyu or him. But I am sure for one thing that both were present there."

Bhosle mouths determinedly. Manik again asks,

"Do you have any idea who is he?"

His question breaks Bhosle's trance and he wobbles in negative.

"I can't say confirmedly yet. It can be Aryamaan Khurana or Cabir Dhawan or it can be Dhruv Dhawan too. After all, Notorious 5 are really notorious in their lives. They were, they are and they will be. Look at yourself, Mr Manik. Whatever you have done to your wife, it can't be considered as a gentleman's deed. In fact, I am surprised how a husband can do this to his beloved wife. Initially, I was here and determined to save Nandini Malhotra from your web of lies but the more I delved into this case, the more I realised that saving you before Nandini is more important."

He halts and Manik hisses,

"Thank you so much! But you know, I never tried to portray myself as a gentleman. Whatever I did to her, I did to have her in my life and I will do anything to keep her with me. You can't stop me."

Both eye each other with challenge and then Bhosle replies,

"Right now, it's more important to stop that guy. Otherwise, you won't be able to keep Nandini safe either. So, let's be partners in crime for a while. Tell me everything about Mukti Vardhan and Abimanyu Thakkar. Along with that, I want to know everything about your other friends. Their dark past and their dark secrets. Maybe those secrets will help me to identify the guy in disguise."

..........................................

Dhruv opens the room door and pushes Abhimanyu violently inside. He stumbles on the floor. His nose is bleeding. Dhruv steps into and rushes forward. In the next moment, he kicks Abimanyu forcefully on his stomach. Abhimanyu groans in pain. Dhruv hisses like a venomous snake,

"I told you to not act smart with me. How dare you come out of here and go to Manik's place? More of that you asked him to meet you. But you forgot that I have eyes on my backside too."

Dhruv looks at the CCTV camera fixed on the corridor. In fact, this apartment is entirely bugged and under surveillance. A diabolic smile peeks on Dhruv's face. He takes a circle around Abhimanyu who is writhing in pain on the floor. Dhruv utters triumphantly,

"Tonight, I could have killed anyone between you and Manik. But that is not my idea. I don't want Manik to die like this...uhu...neither my need for you is over yet. So, let both of you breathe some more days unless my plans get succeed. Ha...ha..."

His guffaws get overlapped by a clinking sound coming from the main corridor. Dhruv's eyes blaze with apprehension. He mouths annoyedly,

"Shit!"

He forgot to lock the main door in a hurry. Dhruv eyes Abhimanyu once and storms towards the main gate. A brass flower vase is loitering on the ground. It seems like someone accidentally collided with this. Someone who might witness and eavesdrop on their conversation. Dhruv's jaws clench. He locks the door and is about to return to the previous door. He doesn't want to repeat his mistake. From now on, he will tie up Abhi along with giving him sleeping pills. Contemplating all these he strides to the room. Suddenly something comes under his shoe. He moves his foot and bends to pick that thing up. A bracelet. His eyes squint in anticipation. Gradually a devilish smile appears on his lips. He eyes the piece of jewellery for a while and then murmurs,

"Curiosity kills the cat, Baby! I think now you know too many things that you shouldn't have. So sorry!"

Author's note: Sorry for disappearing without any update. Actually, I am having some health issues nowadays. However, from now on, I will try to give regular updates on my books. Thank you for keeping patience. Love you all.

Suk ❤️