BEYOND THE PATH

"Have you ever questioned the authenticity of your own existence? Sometimes, I find myself pondering a question that echoes constantly in my mind like the persistent tolling of a bell: 'What truly distinguishes good from bad?' Is it merely a matter of perspective or the judgment of actions taken by individuals? After serving in the police force for over two decades, I remain on a relentless quest to unravel this enigmatic quandary."

The officer, Arun Joshi, a seasoned 42-year-old member of the Devnagar City Police Force, stands at a crossroads in his life.

He grapples with the perplexing uncertainty of whether the reality he perceives is genuine or merely a carefully constructed facade.

Today is the day of his confronting the upcoming moment that is going to change the course of his life.

As he'd been driving in the city in his newly appointed police car with his partner who had been appointed to assist him on this newly events

Arun carries himself with a measured and deliberate demeanour, his movements carefully calculated to avoid unnecessary risks.

He often wears a slightly dishevelled uniform, a subtle sign of the internal turmoil that manifests in his everyday life.

His once-pristine uniform now carries more creases than most officers', as he frequently hesitates before stepping into the line of fire.

The deep scar on his forearm, earned in the past during a life-or-death situation, serves as a constant reminder of the consequences of making the wrong call.

It's a symbol of the fear that grips him, causing him to second-guess his actions.

Arun's yesterday had been an arduous ordeal.

He had chased the thieves with a frantic determination as they wreaked havoc in the jewellery shop.

The situation had escalated to a point of resplendent chaos, yet somehow, those criminals had managed to elude his grasp.

Physical injuries had been endured in the pursuit, but the true toll was taken on his mental well-being.

As he navigated the department today, the echoes of ridicule and jokes from his fellow officers reverberated in his mind. "Isn't it about time he should be retired?" one officer whispered to another, their words carrying a tone of exasperation. "He's the one making things tough for us."

He couldn't escape the sense that they were all quietly poking fun at his failed attempt to catch the thieves.

He bore the weight of their unspoken criticisms, convinced that he deserved every word and that there was nothing he could do to change their perceptions.

Yet, beneath his stoic facade, a gnawing emptiness festered within him.

On his way approaching the jewelry shop once again, Arun found it difficult to meet the shop owner's gaze.

Residents had assembled to offer their support, attempting to console the shop owner and reassure him that things would eventually improve

As Arun and his partner arrived and ready to step out of the car , the serene atmosphere was suddenly shattered by the violent vibration of his car.

A sharp, jarring ring from his radio cut through the tranquility, and a wave of frustration crashed over him.

"Officer!" the voice on the other end urgently relayed orders. "We've received a report of a suspicious situation at house number 3 in 32 Block-B, Rohini District. There's a foul odor emanating from inside the house, and there's been no response from the occupants. The door appears to be locked from the inside."

The news couldn't have come at a worse time.

Arun had been hoping for a peaceful day, a rare moment to spend some time with himself.

He knew all too well that life rarely unfolded according to his wishes, and the newly message only deepened his frustration.

Duty called, and Arun recognized that he had a responsibility to respond swiftly and investigate the matter.

With a resigned sigh, he activated the sirens and accelerated towards the scene, bracing himself for the unknown challenges that awaited him.

"Goddamit, just for one fuck*ing day!"

As Arun continued on his way, his mind remained in relentless turmoil, desperately trying to unravel something that had been bothering him.

Seeking solace, he decided to turn on some music. A classic melody from the legendary singer Kishore Kumar filled the car.

He had a deep affinity for Kumar's songs, and since he lived alone, these tunes became his daily companions.

To fully savor the music, he opted to turn off the sirens temporarily.

As they arrived, a throng of curious onlookers had already gathered at the scene, their eyes fixed on the locked house.

The residents of the locality had been abuzz with speculation for the past six days, as no one had been seen entering or leaving the premises.

Arun found himself in an unfamiliar situation, one he hadn't encountered in recent years.

As he gazed upon the premises, he stumbled upon a large gathering of people huddled together, whispering and speculating about what might be unfolding behind that locked door.

The stench that hung in the air was severe, overpowering, and ominous, serving as an urgent reminder of the gravity of the situation.

In that moment, Arun and his partner knew they were the only authority figures present, and they had to act swiftly.

Arun raised his hand and signaled for the crowd to disperse, his authoritative gesture compelling them to maintain a safe distance from the house.

His partner joined in, forcefully urging people to step back, creating a clear perimeter.

The sight of Arun's firearm in his pocket served as an unspoken deterrent, as the onlookers were keen to avoid any interaction with the police.

It was a general rule in this city that people went out of their way to avoid crossing paths with law enforcement, perhaps a contributing factor to the city's relatively low crime rate, but who knows.

Arun ignoring the crowd walked toward the door and gradually knocked on the door.

"Open the door, its police! Open the door, sir right now."

"There is nothing to worry about, we are just here to make sure that everything is all right." His voice resonates respect.

Few seconds passed and eventually no one answered as he was expecting it, his partner also kneeled in front of the door but his voice doesn't seem respectful.

"Open the door right now otherwise we will break into"

His partner's patience was about to burst as he scoured the perimeter of the property he found nothing out of the ordinary - the lights were all off, and an eerie darkness had enveloped the premises.

Arun gazed his ears on the door only to hear something and he did so, he struck by a faint, low-pitched sound emanating from within.

It sounded like the soft murmur of a television or radio playing in the distance.

Time passed and now it's about an hour. Even Arun's patience was wearing thin, and frustration was beginning to boil over.

With a sense of urgency, they made the decision to breach the door and enter the house, determined to get to the bottom of the situation once and for all.

"Well, sir! We are coming in!" Arun announced to anyone who might be within earshot.

With caution etched in their every move, they ventured inside.

Arun had a word of caution for his partner, advising him not to hastily jump to conclusions.

Both of them proceeded with measured steps, their senses attuned to every detail of their surroundings.

The hall they entered was pitch dark, with all the windows tightly sealed.

Yet, there was an eerie, continuous sound emanating from a room just ahead, bathed in inky blackness.

The layout of the house seemed odd, reminiscent of a maze-like street with this room at its mysterious end.

Arun maintained his focus on this unusual source of sound.

With practiced precision, he retrieved his firearm from his pocket.

Slowly and steadily, he advanced toward the room, the peak of the mysterious noise growing in intensity.

Arun's instincts sharpened, and he knew deep down that something was decidedly amiss here, and the situation could escalate at any moment, veering into the unknown.

As he walked closer his heartbeat raised up too. His hands were shaking a little bit but he trying his best to hold the grip on it.

Currently Arun had been in the front of the door, as he was ready to take action.

To be clear, the door was unlocked as he can sense that someone could be inside the room present and waiting for a direct moment to shot, to avoid this, he leaned himself beside the door.

Without hesitation, he swiftly swung the door open, the sudden motion cutting through the ominous stillness like a knife

As Arun's gaze fell upon the grotesque scene, his body seemed to freeze in place.

His it appears to be like his senses had stopped working for that moment.

The body of his refused to react and his eyes were gazing the scene with wide open eyes.

As he slowly turned his head toward the left. Behind the couch where a kid sitting, a lifeless form of a woman was lying on the bed, likely in her late thirties, sprawled out on a bed.

Upon further inspection, it was discovered that she had been brutally stabbed for dozen times, the sheer amount of blood staining the surroundings a gruesome testament to the horrific act that had taken place.

"Holy f*ck!"

Arun was standing there, just looking at the kid, he was just quiet not himself for a while, he even didn't hear the voice of his associate calling him.

The kid didn't react, but instead, he just continuously watched TV, but even after they stopped it, he was still persistent to stare at the TV, they shout at him, and forced him to turn over but apart from all the effort he was just staring the TV.

Arun came in front of him to clearly look into his eyes, but as soon he saw those cold, dead eyes, he was a little bit afraid when he saw in them.