"Sir ,may I come in?" I heard a deep voice enquiring from the doorway.

I stood beside Mother Dahlia and saw a young man around in his mid twenties or early thirties ,not above that , neatly dressed in his casuals, entering the room, the moment uncle nodded his approval.

When I asked her about the role JayaShankar uncle has in all this mother Dahlia replied coolly that he is investigating the case that too in his own way. In a rather sketchy and shady manner.

I pressed my fingers against my temples thoughtfully.

Jayashankar uncle has asked me to stay here a little longer when my cousin's friend was about to ignite his car to start off from this place.

I had to beg my Periyamma ( Big Aunty) over the phone to spare me some more time only to earn her wrath for myself. She warned me to get ready to face her chagrin if I chose to stay there a little more.

I chose to be with Mother Dahlia as she needed me here more than anyone else.

At that time Periyamma's (Big Aunty) furious form didn't matter to me although it is hazardous to my happy health.

I had to do it for mother Dahlia. As interrogations can't be done alone, if the person questioning happens to be a gent cop and the person being questioned happened to be a lady. It is against Indian penal code rules.

As all this investigation thingy is more of a secretive affair

Jayashankar uncle chose me to remain with Mother while the interrogation goes on because he trusted me and was sure that I won't spill a word to anyone regarding this whole procedure.

I sat with mother Dahlia in the same file room. It is getting darker and that knowledge not at all helped my tensed up situation to alleviate or subside.

"What is all this about mother?"I asked her about this sudden decision of being interrogated by a cop.

"I just want to go deep in to this case and fish out the meddled up truth intermittently. Jayashankar can be trusted and he will do it neatly without messing up the peaceful ambience and also without rippling kid's happiness unlike other the officers do when such issue stir up" Mother Dahlia said looking ahead blankly.

Only her lips were moving rhythmically. Not even a tiny inch of her facial muscle moved with any expression rather than the coldness she held out.

The information she provided just turned in the mental wound up situation a tad more to my least liking. I never thought it to stir up every emotion that has gone for a deep slumber long ago. I felt like fainting.

"Mother, how come it is possible for a Kerala police to take up a case investigation in his hand that has happened in other state without seeking the direct consent of the govt or fulfilling other legal stuff. Seriously it may land him into great trouble you know, in case you don't" I said in a matter of fact tone just to see her clamping her mouth shut in a horrified manner.

".( Don't you worry child thinking about my safety. I am well equipped for this. I Know the legal side of this very well more than any one else. Also I have the experience of working in Tamil Nadu for a few years.)It is not long since I got transferred from this place so all that makes it easy for me deal with this." I snapped up my head when I heard Jayashankar uncle's deep tumultous voice.

He stood before us smiling majestically as ever. We are now seated inside a dainty room, which is rarely used. Limited assorts of furniture that was squeaky clean made it look more like an inhabited place rather than deserted despite the fact that the room was rarely used .

Two side walls were occupied with shelves that was filled with the files that held the history of this place and kids here.

I forced a feeble and shallow smile out of my dried out mind and lips.

I didn't feel the radiance of my smile spreading through my features creating its charisma unlike other times. This time I felt hollow and dead.

"Aman, is a sincere officer and we will put our complete effort to tackle this problem within our curb" He said confidently slightly flipping his head to his side like determined of what he had uttered moments before.

I nodded quietly yet weakly not knowing where all this is taking a lead on.

"Ma'am first off we need to collect the whole info regarding the history of this place and its functioning. If you let me I would like to have a word with the new ward to this place. What is her name... Hmm" JayaShankar uncle paused for a moment tapping his chin with his finger and closed his eyes like rummaging through his memory alley way to pick out the new occupant's name here.

"Kanjan?"I chipped in suddenly without a second thought .

And as always to prove a helpful hand I blurted out the name only to realize that it was the greatest foolery I would have ever committed in my life.

"Wow! smart girl! You have eased my work." Jayashankar uncle snapped open his eyes instantly and said this like a compliment with a vile glint in his eyes.

I blinked my eyes not knowing why he had that evil gleam sparkling within his eyes while his lips held a Machiavellian smirk in a rather majestically evil way.

"Sister, I need to question that girl. I hope you will have no objection with my proceedings. " He said to my utter shock.

I bit my tongue harder realizing my folly. Never blurt out anything before a cop even though that person appears to be your relative or any close confidant. Just shut every tiny voice within you.

I learnt it in a harder way that too today.

I flipped my head to see Mother Dahlia nodding her consent. I gasped when I saw her behaving stark contrast to her normal behaviour.

Normally She never throw her kids before such commotions or chaos of getting questioned.

Now what does all that mean?

"But uncle?.." He severed my words half done while showing his palm against my face and staring at me sternly.

"Enough kichu. We know what we are doing? No offence meant kichu and we expect the same from you. It is better you keep your head out of this rather than putting it over our issue" He snapped at me making me flinch.

I have never seen him this red with anger and agitation sending flames and thunder high in the air.

I quivered like a leaf before him. A soft hand enveloped my trembling form.

"Mother!" I nearly cried looking at her pleadingly.

"Let them do their work kannu. Don't interrupt them from doing what they are supposed to do." Mother said with a wooden expression.

She got up and walked to the nearest shelf and took out a file and went through it with a stoic expression.

I was surprised to see her like this.

"Officer! Continue with your interrogation." Jayashankar uncle called out for the officer who came with him.

He sat before me and placed the bag which contained his laptop before him on the table never lifting his eyes up or viewing his surroundings he simply got absorbed in his work of taking out the laptop and fixing the programmer on and stuff silently yet efficiently like he has an upper hand in doing so.

I fidgeted with my fingers nervously thinking about the outcome if the interrogation with Kanjan didn't go well.

She is a nervous wreck around men not to mention the menacing looking cops in mufti.

Suddenly he lifted his eyelids up and shot the most fierce and fiery gaze I have ever seen in my shot span of life.

His eyes looked like deep black abyss which resembled the never ending gulf of Tartarus, like I have ever happened to see that but I have a good imagination and as per that it looked exactly like his eyes.

His black eyes were like embers which were put off yet the smoke of the fireballs lingered around the corner like searching for a purpose to wreak vengeance upon the one his eyes get hooked up with and to my break neck luck I seem to be his prey for the day.

I swallowed hard staring back at the person who sat across me mere few inches apart due to the table which kept in front of us. I never felt this much love towards the table which served the purpose of keeping two people apart who can be getting ready to pounce upon each other.

"Nervous miss?" I heard a deep voice hitting my senses awake from the trance I was undergoing.

I shook my head from side to side expressing my disapproval and tried to showcase a better countenance by forcing a smile by tugging up my lips which resulted in a pathetic grimace.

"Just pretend as if you are having a friendly chat with us. It will be helpful to keep the secrecy of what we are up to." He explained to me in a tone which rather screamed threatening a person at his gun point.

Wow! Like this we chat with a cop. Just wow! I wonder how his girlfriend is enduring him.

Well,from the look of it he will never have one. Who in her right mind will go out with this person who always holds the look of a gangster with gun.

"Miss! I don't have a girl friend. If I ever manage to get one my beloved wife will do the honour of ripping away the soul out of that girl for even thinking of befriending me" He joked but it felt more like a hangman's last words.

I wondered how he got what I was thinking all the way.

"I am a cop for a reason. Also it doesn't need a sherlock or Robert Langdon to answer a girl who voices her thoughts this loud which is enough to deafen anyone" He retorted with a smirk

Mother Dahlia slightly smiled keeping her hand on my palm.

I felt like I was splashed by a bucket full of icy cold water at this revelation.

"..( Please concentrate on your work . This kid has to reach her home at earliest. If you manage to encrust up this work soon it would be great of you.) Jayashankar uncle said more like a warning reminding him of his forgotten duty which he very luxuriously overlooked for answering me.

"( kichu, come and stand with me. It is better to let him do his duty peacefully. For that he needs some space)" Jayashankar uncle made his point clear.

I jumped from my seat like I was awaiting for some sort of escapade to elude from this place where I have been grilled like a barbeque mercilessly .

I felt a hand around my wrist which I realized as mother Dahlia's. I saw her pleading with her eyes to give her company.

I patted her hand and slightly unclasped her hold on my hand and withdrew myself from the place. I stood near Jayashankar uncle.

While the officer continued with his interrogation my eyes travelled up to the milieu I was cast into.

Nothing felt right or real at this time.

I really wanted this to be a dream, a horrible one from which I will be shaken awake and pacified dearly by my parents and saffy akka with some assuring words that all these will never happen and everything will be okay.

But Alas! That is not the condition. Everything that is happening around me is for real like solid real. No going back or checking.

I rubbed my face harsh not getting where all this is kinda dragging me into.

Why am I here in the first place witnessing all these ridiculous procedures. I should be home receiving the chastity lectures dictated by my periyamma. But Instead I am rotting here like this.

I never felt this much passion to be home and be with my elders like I am getting to feel now.

Mother Dahlia was providing the officer with the information and history regarding this place and kids here, of course about Kanjan as well who can be considered as the recent ward to this place as per cops view.

The officer let his fingers glide down past the keys of his lappy in an inhuman speed. I stared at the way he worked.

It seems like it is not at all an afresh avenue for him to hesitate or stop by just to check if he has gone wrong somewhere in or something .

He seems confident and well cognizant of what he is up to while he fed his machine with the information regarding this place.

At times his ghastly black eyes found my soft brown eyes and stayed a bit longer hooked there like trying to decipher the real me.

It was really writhing and agonizing to be exposed before such a stringent and merciless looking officer who finds every fine possible way to turn a simpleton to world class villain or criminal.

I saw Ahaan , Kendall uncle and my dad standing outside the room and looking at me and then at Mother Dahlia with worried and wary glances. They were at times pulling up some convo as to alleviate their inner brooding tension.

I was about to leave the place.

"Miss, you are not allowed to leave this room unless I finish with my work." The young officer's words fell on my ears like a disaster weather forecast.

His voice intimidated me to the extend of a nightmare. I felt Lord Voldemort was a better person compared to the way this person chose to threaten me.

I scowled at him not knowing what to make out of his words.

"Miss, I am interrogating a lady and according to the rules it won't be nice to question her alone. That is why I prefer your presence. She too feels the same. You guys seem to have some understanding and share a pleasant bonding" He explained with immense patience.

Mother Dahlia nodded at me with a sad smile. I nodded and stood near her placing my hand on her shoulders.

Slowly the workers aunties of this place filed in and gave their mouth piece regarding the happenings of the day the crime scene take place.

He seemed a bit soft and polite with those aunties ,if that could ever be included in a polite category.

I stood with sister Dahlia scanning my surroundings and listening to the details she was giving me regarding the food poisoning disaster that happened two months before.

She was explaining every single detail to Jayashankar uncle whilst his assistant officer took down the details in his laptop and filed the stuff up in a pen drive.

Everything seemed gruesomely and hectically official as cops are involved.

But the only relief is that they were in their normal casuals rather than official khaki for cops in India.

Kids seemed oblivious of the pent up tenuous situation because of this.

That young officer occasionally threw wary glances towards my direction much to my annoyance and astonishment.

I held a stoic expression like nothing would shook me up. But in all reality my innards screamed of a crashing down and shaken up situation to its utmost best avail.

I folded my arms across my chest when I could no longer tolerate his creepy and appraising stares and stared back at him equally menacing.

I clenched my jaw and my fingers curled up to form a fist.

He excused himself from mother Dahlia and stood up facing me. My hands fell limply to my sides when I saw an officer turning down his duty and catching up with a puny girl, that is me.