Vijay's POV
I decide to start the investigation with Vidya's friend, the one she was supposed to stay with the night she went missing. I ring the door bell and wait for someone to open the door. A young woman around 25 opens the door.
"Evaru kaavali sir meeku?" She asks.
"Who would you like sir?" She asks.
"Saumya ante meere na?" I ask.
"Are you Saumya?" I ask.
"Ha, nene, meeru evvaru?"
"Yeah, that's me. Who are you?"
"Nenu ACP Vijay. Lopaliki raavacha?"
"I'm ACP Vijay. Can I come in?"
"Ha, randi sir." She says, moving aside.
"Yeah, come sir." She says, moving aside.
I walk in and sit down on the sofa. She sits in front of me.
"Cheppandi sir."
"Tell me sir."
"Nee friend, Vidya, missing ani meeku thelusa?" I ask.
"Do you know that your friend Vidya is missing?" I ask.
She nods.
"Ha, telusu sir, aunty chepparu."
"Yeah I know sir, aunty told me."
"Aa roju vidya mee intlone undali kada?"
"Vidya was supposed to stay at your house that day right?"
"Avunu sir, kaani raaledu, intiki vellindemo ani anukunna. Phone ki try chesthe switch off ani vachindi. Malla next day morning aunty phone chesi Vidya bailuderinda ani adigithe raaledu ani cheppa."
"Yes sir, but she didn't come so I thought she went home. I tried her phone but it was switched off. Then the next day in the morning aunty called and asked if Vidya started and I told her she didn't come."
"Vidya ki evaranna boyfriends unnara?" I ask.
"Does Vidya have any boyfriends?" I ask.
"Ledu sir. Kaani, okadu eppudu thana venakala paduthu untadu."
"No sir. But, there's always a guy behind her."
"Vaadu evado thelusa?"
"Do you know who he is?"
"Vaadi peru Aadhi anukunta sir. Vidya office lo colleague."
"I think his name is Aadhi sir. He's Vidya's colleague."
"Sare," I get up and she does too. "Naatho touch lo undandi, emaina kaavalante mimmalni contact avthanu."
"Ok," I get up and she does too. Keep in touch. If I need anything, I'll contact you."
"Sare sir."
"Ok sir."
I walk out of the house and call the station and a constable picks up.
"Hello, Hyderabad Police station."
"Nenu, ACP Vijay ni."I say.
"It's me, ACP Vijay." I say.
"Sir, em kaavali sir?" The constable asks.
"Sir, what do you need sir?" The constable asks.
"Aa Vidya case file lo thanu work chese office ki phone chesi Aadhi ane vyakthi details naaku forward cheyyandi."
"In Vidya's case file, call the office she works at and forward me the Aadhi's details."
"Sare sir, ippude kanukkoni pampisthanu."
"Ok sir, I will check and send you right away."
I end the call and wait for the message. It takes about twenty minutes, but the moment I get the address, I tell Karan to drive there.
****
I ring the bell and the door is opened by an elderly woman.
"Evari kaavali babu?" The woman asks.
"Who do do you want son?" The woman asks.
"Amma, ikkada Aadhi ane vyakthi unnada?" I ask.
"Ma'am, is Aadhi here?" I ask.
"Ha, lopaliki ra babu." She moves aside to let me pass through.
"Yeah, come inside son." She moves aside to let me pass through.
I step into the house and look around as the woman leads me to the sofa and we sit down.
"Amma, Aadhi...?" I ask.
"Ma'am, Aadhi...?" I ask.
"Vaadu snanam chesthunnadu babu, velli theesukoni vastha."
"He's taking a shower son, I'll go bring him."
"Sare amma."
"Sure ma'am."
She walks into a room and five minutes later, comes out with a young man.
"Nuvvena Aadhi?" I ask.
"Are you Aadhi?" I ask
"Avunu sir."
"Yes sir."
"Neeku Vidya thelusa?"
"Do you know Vidya?"
"Vidya na? Ha thelusu sir. Enduku, emaindi sir Vidya ki?"
"Vidya? Yeah, I know her sir. Why, what happened to Vidya sir?"
I don't reply to him and take in his body language and the emotion in his eyes. He seems genuinely worried about Vidya.
"Neeku Vidya ela thelusu?" I ask.
"How do you know Vidya?" I ask.
"Sir, adi-"
"Sir that's-"
"Enti?" I ask.
"What?" I ask.
"Ante adi, thanu...thanu na girlfriend sir."
"Actually she's...she's my girlfriend sir."
"Vidya ki nuvvu ishtam ledu ani Saumya cheppindi?
"Saumya said Vidya didn't like you?"
"Starting lo Vidya ki ishtam ledu sir. Konna nelalu mundu iddaramu kalisamu. Kaani andariki cheppeki ready lenu ani cheppindi."
"Vidya didn't like me in the beginning sir. But we got together a few months back. She said she wasn't ready to tell everyone though."
"Sare, neeku Vidya gurinchi thelusthe naaku cheppu." I say, standing up.
"Ok, if you find out anything about Vidya, tell me." I say, standing up.
"Sir, Vidya ki emaindi sir asalu?" He asks.
"Sir, what even happened to Vidya sir?" He asks.
"Vidya konni rojula nunchi kanipinchatledu." I reply, and walk out.
"Vidya has been missing for a few days." I reply, and walk out.
"Sir." Karan says when he sees me.
"Vidya office ki pada." I tell him as we both get into the car.
"Let's go to Vidya's office." I tell him as we both get into the car.
I'm going to find her, no matter what it takes.
Hey guys!!! I know it's been a while(almost a yr😫), I'm so sorry, I have so much going on and I've been stuck on how to continue the story, and I finally got the idea for this case which I'm soooo happy abt. I hope you guys like the book so far! I will try to update often now but I can't promise anything.
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Thank you guys! Love you all!!