Shourya PoV:
I went for an inquiry the next day. I enquired about all the general stores near the children’s houses and schools. We collected samples of chocolates, biscuits, and other eateries and sent them to the forensic lab.
Ranveer, as a Home Minister, took this case seriously and ordered forensic experts to give the test reports soon. Forensic doctors declared none of those eateries have drugs. The issue got more complicated.
Ranveer ordered food and supply officers to check every general store in the city within two days. But, everything went in vain. Children’s health started deteriorating day by day. The central government sent specialists to the hospital, and they are trying to save the children.
Ranveer called me.
“Good morning, sir.”
“Shourya, what is the status of the case?”
“Still no clue, sir. We are in search,” I answered.
“No clue? How long do you need to find out the truth? They targeted innocent kids and the way you were dealing with this case is worst. I want you to catch the culprit within the two days or I will handover the case to the CBI,” Ranveer said, disconnecting the call.
I didn’t understand where to begin and the link to the case. Kids are at risk, and I have to do something as soon as possible. I thought to meet the close friends of those kids who were admitted to the hospital. But, even their friends were in the hospital with the same symptoms.
These kids live far from each other, and schools are in different places. Then where is the connection? Parents were also of different professions. But the intake of the drug is spreading. Yes, it’s SPREADING. How does something grow? Anything can be spread through a virus or sharing. But, here it’s not a virus; it’s a drug. Hence, it’s sharing. Usually, most of the kids share their food and eateries with their friends.
I went to the hospital and took the doctor’s permission to speak to the kids if they are in conscious. The doctor took me to a room where the children who are out of danger accommodated.
“Hello friends, here is your new friend Shourya. How are you?” I asked in their way of talking.
“Hi, uncle,” some of them responded.
I gave dolls and biscuits to them. They took them, and I gave chocolates to them.
“No, uncle. These chocolates are not good for health. It spoils our teeth,” one of the kids said, making me smile.
“You are too good, what is your name?”
“I am Anand, uncle.”
“Anand, don’t you eat chocolates?” I asked.
Usually, kids eat chocolates. But here, I found not only Anand but every kid refusing chocolates. I felt something suspicious. If one kid refuses to have chocolate, that’s not an issue. But, everyone refused, so there’s something to worry.
“No, uncle. I eat chocolates. But only those chocolates sold in the “Vishaka Dental Pharmacy.” Those chocolates won’t spoil the teeth,” Anand said
“Yes, uncle. Those chocolates are delicious,” another child said.
“Great! You guys are very smart. Do you all eat only those chocolates?”
“Yes, if you taste once, you won’t forget the taste. You will eat it again and again.”
“Ok, do any of you have that chocolate at present?” I asked.
One of those kids gave that chocolate to me. I took it and immediately went to the forensic lab to get it tested.
“Mr. Shourya, this chocolate consists of drugs. This is the same drug that we detected in the bodies of children,” the forensic doctor said.
I called Ranveer.
“Yes, Shourya, any progress in the case?”
“Yes, sir. These children fell sick due to the intake of chocolates manufactured and sold by Vishaka pharmaceuticals.”
“Good going, Mr. Shourya. Arrest them immediately,” Ranveer gave orders.
I took the police force under my control and went on a raid on that pharmaceuticals. We ceased all the chocolate boxes. I arrested the MD and the doctor who prescribed those chocolates to the children when they came for treatment. Parents thinking that it won’t affect their children; they bought it for them as they trusted the doctor.
We were about to take them to the station, but I got a call from Ranveer.
“Hello, sir. We took them into our custody.” I said to Ranveer.
“Leave them,” Ranveer said, shocking me.
“What the hell you mean by asking me to leave them? They almost killed the children,” I said.
“Enough, Shourya, I am ordering you as the Home Minister. Leave him immediately, that’s it. Don’t leak this information to the public or media. Say that you were still searching for the criminal,” Ranveer said, triggering my temper.
“Why? Do you have any shares in the company or hospital, Mr Ranveer, or did they gave you any gift to leave them? You may be effected with gifts or shares, but I didn’t belong to your category. Mind it. I am going to produce them before the court.”
“Shourya, this is my order as a Home Minister,” Ranveer shouted at me.
“Order by Home Minister? Do you really think you are a minister? Ministers are the representatives of the common man who help him to voice his problems before the government. The moment you ignored their problems, you no more deserve to be called as a Minister and I care the least about your orders when it’s not in the interest of the public.”
“You will face consequences for this Shourya.”
“I am even to sacrifice my life for the public because I am a public servant and my duty is to protect the public at any cost. If you are going to take action against me for being sincere in my duty, I am ready for it,” I said and disconnected the call.
I produced them before the media and then before the magistrate. They were sent to remand as the drugs case is a non-bailable offense.
I reached home and found Ala in the living room and Diya talking to her.
“Diya, bring me a coffee,” I said to her and went to my room.
Diya came with a coffee. I took the coffee cup rashly and kept it on the table. I held her wrist tight.
“Shourya, what are you doing? It’s paining,” Diya said, trying to free her wrist from my hold.
“Shut up,” I shouted at her.
Diya looked at me, shockingly.
“Look, from today I don’t want to see Ranveer or anyone related to him coming to our home. If I see them once again here, you won’t see me here again. I will leave the house,” I said.
Her eyes had a few water drops by this time. I left my hold over her hand, seeing that. I became the reason for her tears for the first time after proposing to her. I didn’t mean to hurt her, but I don’t want them to come to our home. I didn’t ask her to break her friendship; it’s her wish. But whenever I see them here, my anger has no bounds. My anger is at Ranveer, but not at my wife. It’s my mistake to hurt her without her fault.
Diya went immediately from the room though I tried to stop her. Is she going to leave me for my anger? I followed her hurriedly, but to my surprise, she is biding bye to Ala. Ala left in her car, and Diya came inside again.
“Diya, I.. ” I tried to speak.
Diya glared at me and then looked at her wrist, where the mark of my fingers could be seen clearly. I understood it’s painful for her.
“Diya, I am really sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you,” I said, walking behind her as she is going to our room.
We went to the room, and she looked at me.
“Don’t talk to me. I don’t want to talk to you,” Diya said, sitting on the bed, hugging her knees.
I sat beside her.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry, please, Diya,” I said, holding my ears.
Diya nodded her head in no. How to convince my angel now? She is so angry with me. I tried to pull her close to me to kiss as it cools her, but she jerked off my hand.
“Don’t touch me. Don’t talk to me,” Diya said.
“Diya, please……”
“If you try touching me or talking to me, I will leave the house.”
“What?” I shouted out of shock.
“Yes, if you try touching me or talking to me without my permission, I will leave to hostel.”
“No no, don’t go anywhere. I won’t do anything like that,” I said, pouting and regretting making Diya cry.
This is my punishment to stay away from my wife and not even talk to my love. It’s a very tough punishment. How can she be that hard to her loving husband? My day never started or ended without kissing her from the day she accepted my love.
I can’t sleep peacefully without taking her into my arms as it makes me feel she is all mine, and my love is with me for a lifetime now. She changed a strict emotionless IPS Shourya to a loving husband who loves his wife to the core.