3 WELCOME BACK

17 Jan, 2017; 10.28 A.M.

After hearing the knock at the door Dhruv goes to check, it is the same Police officer at his doorstep, Sub-inspector Vijay Patil is back. Dhruv doesn't really seem surprised by the visit. Looking at him Dhruv smiles all of a sudden. He opens the door wide, looks at Patil and goes on with his talks,

Dhruv : Whom do we have here! It has been a long time since I saw you, last time you came here, the experience was not really great, is this one going to be any different?

Patil : I don't know, we will find it out soon.

Dhruv : It's nice meeting you Patil Sir!

Patil : I feel the same meeting you.

Dhruv : So is it good news or bad?

Patil: Excuse me?

Dhruv : I mean.. you won't come here, until something has happened, so what's the matter?

Patil : Well, I guess you are right. So.. I am here regarding the investigation of the serial killing of school boys.

Dhruv : Serial killings? Never heard of that on any news lately.

Patil : Maybe you heard about the death of 3 of your friends?

Dhruv : Oh yeah yeah! I have heard of it. I heard they committed suicide. Wait a minute!... It wasn't suicide... IT WAS MURDER! And that too serial killings! Man! That's some really fucked up shit.

Patil (regretting what he said) : FUCK! I was supposed to keep it under my sleeves!

Dhruv : It's all right! It's not a big deal. (in low voice) Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret.

Patil : Yeah right!

Dhruv : By the way, what about it?

Patil : We think you might have some information regarding it, so I am here to take you to the police station, we want to interrogate you.

Dhruv : ME?! What information will I be possibly having? And also, if you wanted to interrogate me why not here? In this house? I mean why police station?

Patil : We have a tip that you will be holding some information, and a police station for interrogation because S.H.O. himself wants to talk to you, and he can't be here at the moment. He has some work at the station. So please cooperate.

Dhruv : Okay that explains a lot. Fine I'll come with you. Just give me 5 minutes. I have some cleaning to do here.

Patil : Alright.

Saying that Dhruv goes inside and while doing so he pushes the door mistakenly keeping the door barely open, due to which Vijay was not able to see anything that was going inside but he doesn't do anything. He thinks that he knows the kid, so he waits outside with his four constables. He knew Dhruv from the time of that awful night, he was the only one that night who helped Dhruv in any way. He stood with Dhruv all the time; till all the formalities of post-mortem were finished. He gave him courage and motivated him to stand by his mother during that hard time.

26 July 2016; 10.43 P.M.

Dhruv is sitting in the waiting room with his head down. Police have taken Ashwini with them for all the formalities. The night was too long that day; the darkness seemed never-ending. The noise of the busy hospital goes silent. Dhruv can hear his slow heartbeats and his fastening breathing, both of which seem really unusual. For a moment it feels like he is going to die the very next second. But he isn't completely alone; there is someone who can see his misery. This man that he has met just a few hours ago sat near him, he kept his hand on his shoulder and said,

Patil : I know what you are going through. I have been in your place once; I too lost my father in a similar way. It's a hard time for you I understand. But you can't give up so easily. What's your name kid?

Dhruv : Dha...(coughs) Dhruv. My name's (coughs again) Dhruv.

Patil : Dhruv, how was your father?

Dhruv : Wh… what do mean?

Patil : I mean his personality.

Dhruv : He… he was a great father, he.. he loved me and mom a lot. He was a perfect man. He loved music, he used to do (coughs)..uhrr that awkward dance step, he called it his creation, whereas it was the step Mithun did in the sound "Disco Dancer" but just weirder. I used to still… I liked it.

Patil : Seems like a good man.

Dhruv (crying) : Yeah… HE WAS.

Seeing him cry, Vijay holds the boy in his arms, trying to comfort him with his warmth. It is Vijay's first case after his appointment; he never saw something like this coming. He is helpless, for the first time his uniform felt like a burden for him. His authority, power, pride, honesty were useless as they did no good for the boy. For the first time he wonders "Does this uniform even mean anything?!" But it's no time for his internal conflicts, he has to comfort the boy and honestly, that is his only job today.

Patil : You can cry as much as you want,… it might help you cope with your pain, but the truth is that for others your tears are the mere expression of your hurt, they might sympathize with you, even pity you, but no one really helps. This pain can either be constructive or destructive. Don't let it destroy you kid. Anyway… you can still cry.

17 Jan, 2017; 10.49 A.M.

Vijay has been waiting for quite some time now, it has been more than expected. Dhruv said that he would be back in 5 minutes and well, it is about 12 minutes already. He is getting anxious. One of his constables said,

Subhash : We have been waiting here for a long time, why isn't he out yet? Wait a minute! SIR, DID HE RAN AWAY FROM ANY BACKDOOR?!!

Patil : FUCK!