THE DESPERATE MOTHER

17th JAN,2017; 4.15 P.M.

The point of focus was no more serial killings case but Vikram's murder case. Shiv made all his staff work on Vikram's case, while Dhruv was placed behind bars until they vacated the interrogation room for interviews. Dhruv did not create a lot of hustle when he was taken to jail. He was calm and charming with his sense of humor as usual. Everyone in the station was busy; someone was looking up Vikram's phone record, while someone else was checking Vikram's phone. Subhash was calling Shiv's neighbors and asking them to come to the police station for interrogation. Vijay was conducting interviews with the people who had come by that time. Bhosle was looking up all the camera footage. And two lady constables were asked to look after Pooja.

While the whole police station was in a hustle, Shiv was trying to stay calm and focused. Shiv sat in his cabin with a blackboard trying to figure out the clue Dhruv gave him. He wasn't alone, Keshav was trying to help Shiv with this clue. He writes on the blackboard 'THE SEVENTEEN' and Shiv sat on his chair while Keshav stood near the board with chalk.

Rathod: What do you think, Keshav? What can this be?

Keshav: I am not sure sir, but I am thinking this doesn't mean anything, I mean maybe he is just trying to mess with us. And this just a waste of time because he probably wants us to run behind a ray of hope that just doesn't exist. I mean, I might sound very negative but after knowing what he has done, I really can't believe him.

Rathod: I thought the same at first but after listening to him for so long, I am pretty sure he won't give us a clue with no meaning! And he wants us to know the truth more than anything, he is desperate to tell us what all of this is about. The only problem being he won't give it to us so easily, he wants us to either find it or earn it.

Keshav: Very unnecessary if you ask me! We can get it out of him very easily sir, all it will take is two tight slaps.

Rathod: That kid claims to kill three people Keshav d you think few slaps can make him talk?

Keshav: Maybe you are right.

Rathod: Exactly! Now, shall we focus on this?

Keshav: Yeah sure!.. So, what could 'THE SEVENTEEN' mean?...uhh… SIR! Maybe it's today's date; it's 17 January, right?

Rathod: It could also be the year! It is 2017, and it hasn't been long since this year started. But I don't think it's today's date, according to him it wasn't him who killed Vikram, and Pooja was the reason we went after him, it was pretty random. If she had come a day after he could have been caught on the 18th, he couldn't have planned this... I think it's the age of kids that were killed, all of them were 17 when they died…..This isn't easy as I thought it was!

Keshav: The kid's clever! He gave us a clue with multiple conclusions. Can this be the number of people he has killed or maybe going to kill?

Rathod: That's not possible! Our guy is kind of a narcissist; he wouldn't stop bragging about them if he gets a chance. And he has already told us Yash was the first victim, and he killed people between the gap of three days, he can't kill that many people in this time. And if he is thinking of killing more, then he knows that even if he walks out free tomorrow, we will keep an eye on him making sure he doesn't hurt anyone anymore.

Keshav: Maybe we should start breaking and rearranging words then?

Rathod: That's a great idea! I'll break them, you write on the board!.... let the first word be.. 'the',… now 'he', 'seven', 'even', 'teen' that's all I can make out of it, can you find more words?

Keshav: Yeah, I'll give it a try!.... 'Evenest',… 'vents', 'nest', 'vets',…

Rathod: Stop! Uhh...I guess that's enough. Let us try finding something from this and then we can go for other words….. Let's see! The even teen? He even,… he vents? The seven teens?.... wait! I guess I have something, but I am not sure. Because things aren't making any sense. Maybe 'THE SEVENTEEN' means...

Before Shiv could complete his sentence Rakesh was on the door calling him.

Rakesh: Shivkumar Sir!

Rathod (Looking at the board): Rakesh I am in the middle of something, give me a minute!

Rakesh: Sir I might give you a minute but the lady who's waiting for you outside won't!

Rathod: Rakesh if it's from one of my neighbors we have to interview then ask her to wait for 5 minutes.

Rakesh: Sir, it's not one of your neighbors, it's that boy's mother!

Rathod: What boy's mother?

Rakesh: Ashwini Shastri, Dhruv Shastri's mother!

Rathod: You can't be serious! FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!! Not this time! I can't have her interrupt my investigation at this point... Why is she here? I thought you told her it's a normal interrogation, according to her Dhruv will be home after the interrogation.

Rakesh: Sir, the boy was taken in at 11.30 something, it's been hours and his phone's also switched off. There's no way she wouldn't have shown up!

Rathod: That's true, she is a mother after all! We have to handle her.

Keshav: Don't worry sir! I'll take care of her.

Rathod: NO! If it's any constable talking to her then most probably she won't listen to you and just keep demanding to talk to senior.

Keshav: How can you say that?

Rathod: It's not the first time I am dealing with moms! I'll talk to her.

Shiv goes to talk to Ashwini. She was sitting on one of the benches inside the station near the entrance, her anxiety and nervousness were reflected from her fidget. As Shiv approached Ashwini, she stood up, she recognized him. It was the same officer who came up her doorsteps twice after her husband's death.

Ashwini: OH! It's you!

Rathod: Do we know each other?

Ashwini: Weren't you the officer who came to my place after my husband's accident? You had that other officer with you, what was his name?.. YEAH! Vijay Patil!

Rathod: Oh, now I remember! Aman Shastri, that was your husband's name, right? Wait, Dhruv is your son?

Ashwini: No shit Sherlock! Of course, he is my son! And tell me one thing, why do you bring bad news every time you come across my family?!

Rathod: Sorry for your inconvenience but try to understand we are just trying to do our job...

Ashwini(cutting his sentence): Cut the crap! Just answer my question, why have you brought my son here?

Rathod: Straight to point, that's good! Well there's nothing to worry about, we brought him in for interrogation regarding a case, he is cooperating and I would love it if you do that too!

Ashwini: What case? And even if it's interrogation what's taking so long then? It's been hours since you guys brought him here. And why him?

Rathod: Well you have too many questions I believe. Let's make it brief and informative, shall we? So…. I found my son's dead body in my house this morning; actually, it was my neighbor who found it as he saw my front door open and a foul smell coming from in. He called me and as you know being a police officer I have to investigate my son's murder! And as I was investigating, I got a lead and according to that, your son might have some information regarding the murder. So we are talking to him, and as you can see the whole station is quite busy with this case, and people are pouring in every passing 10 minutes. We have too many people to talk to and your son being the most important, it's taking a little longer than expected.

Ashwini: I am sorry to hear about your son. May God bless his soul! .. But there's some misunderstanding! My son's under suspension from school and he hasn't gone out very often lately, he surely doesn't know anything about it.

Rathod: Seems like you have been an ignorant and absent parent!..... He had been going out for very long and about him knowing anything, he says otherwise! He knows a lot more than you can probably know or understand. But don't you worry ma'am! He is safe here; he will be home as soon as things here get settled.

Ashwini: And when will that be?

Rathod: He will be home by night! Don't worry too much; we won't even lay a finger on him. And I guess you should go home!