The sky was bathed in a soft orange hue as the sun slowly prepared to set for the day, casting a warm glow over the horizon. The evening air was laced with the distinct salty scent of the beach, blending with the coolness of the approaching night. I stood at the shoreline, watching the waves roll in rhythmically, their gentle caress brushing against my feet. A slight shiver ran down my spine as the chilly breeze wrapped itself around me.

Just then, I felt the familiar warmth of a shawl being draped over my shoulders. Startled, I turned my head to see my father standing beside me, his face softened by a nostalgic smile.

"You’ll catch a cold out here," he said, his voice tender yet firm, the way it always was when he was looking out for me. "Come on, it’s getting late. Let’s head inside."

I looked at him for a moment, feeling the comfort of his presence wash over me, and nodded. "Alright, Dad."

We began walking together, side by side, our steps perfectly in sync. His arm around me felt like the safest place in the world. As we moved, our footprints left a trail behind us, temporary marks in the sand that would soon be washed away by the next wave.

"Dad," I said quietly, after a moment of silence, "Do you think the waves ever get tired? Always coming back, over and over."

He glanced down at me, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "The waves are like life, Divya. No matter how many times they get pulled back, they always return, sometimes stronger, sometimes gentler, but they keep going. Just like we do. Life may pull you back, but you'll always find a way to move forward again."

I smiled, absorbing his words. He always had a way of making everything seem clearer, even when I didn’t fully understand it at the time. The cool breeze, the sound of the waves, and the warmth of my dad’s presence made this moment one I knew I would carry with me forever.

Manasa and I were jolted awake, startled by the cold sensation of water splashing over us. Blinking in confusion, I squinted through the morning haze and saw Anusha standing over us, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

"Wake up, guys! We have a long day ahead!" she announced, her voice bright and cheerful, far too enthusiastic for this early hour.

Groaning, I muttered a curse under my breath, frustrated at being pulled from a beautiful dream. "Couldn’t you have used an alarm clock instead of water torture?" I grumbled, rubbing my eyes in an attempt to shake off the lingering remnants of sleep.

Anusha laughed, clearly enjoying her early morning antics. "Where’s the fun in that? Besides, I thought a little splash would do the trick. Well, it certainly did," Manasa chimed in, her voice still thick with sleep. "I’m awake now—just not in a good mood."

Come on, it’s a new day. You can’t start it off in a grumpy mood," Anusha said, playfully nudging us.I sighed and begrudgingly dragged myself out of bed, feeling the chill of the floor against my feet.

"Fine, fine. I’m getting up. Just let me wake up properly first."As I headed toward the bathroom, I shot Anusha a sideways glance.

"Next time, how about a nice cup of coffee instead of a splash of cold water?" Anusha grinned. I’ll consider it—if you’re lucky.

With a roll of my eyes, I closed the bathroom door behind me, As I stepped into the shower and let the warm water cascade over me, I closed my eyes, hoping the heat would wash away my lingering fatigue. But instead of feeling fully awake, my mind drifted into a vivid memory.

I saw a man with deep blue eyes and a distinct birthmark on his forehead. He stood at the shore, gazing intently at the fading light of the sunset, his figure outlined against the orange and pink hues of the sky. He seemed lost in thought, yet there was something familiar about him, something comforting.

In the memory, my dad appeared beside me, holding my hand. His grip was firm but reassuring as we walked together toward the man. As we approached, the man turned and smiled warmly at us, his gaze gentle and inviting. Without a word, he extended his hand towards me, and I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what was happening.

But my dad gave me an encouraging nod and placed my hand in the man's. The moment our hands touched, a gentle breeze swept through the air, and with a contented smile, the man slowly disappeared, fading into the wind like a whisper.

I stood there, my hand still outstretched, feeling a strange sense of peace wash over me as the memory ended.

I opened my eyes, blinking against the steam of the shower. What did that dream mean? Was it just my imagination, or was there something more to it? I couldn’t shake the feeling that it held some deeper significance, but before I could dwell on it further, Anusha’s voice pierced through my thoughts.

"Come on! If you take any longer, the food’s going to get cold!" she yelled from outside the bathroom.

"Give me ten minutes!" I called back, shaking off the memory as I hurried to finish my shower.

After getting ready, I headed downstairs, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. The dining table was neatly set with variety of dishes, all perfectly arranged. I took my usual seat, and soon Anusha and Manasa joined me. The comforting clatter of cutlery echoed as I served food to everyone.

As we began eating, Manasa spoke up. "Divya, you got a call from the police station this morning," she said casually, pausing to sip her coffee. "I answered it since you were still asleep. They want you to come to the station."

I stopped mid-bite, my fork hovering over my plate. "The police station?" I asked, glancing at her with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Manasa nodded. "Yeah, they didn’t say much, just asked for you to come in as soon as possible."

"Alright, I’ll go," I replied, setting my fork down, trying to suppress the unease that had started to build in my stomach.

"You should take Anusha with you," Manasa suggested, her tone more serious now. "While you're at the station, I’ll try to dig up more information about your well-wisher. There’s something odd about all of this, and I want to see if I can figure out who he really is."

I nodded thoughtfully, appreciating her determination. "Good idea. Let’s keep looking into it."

The conversation shifted as we all quietly focused on finishing breakfast. The warmth of the food should have been comforting, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. My mind was racing with questions, wondering what the police  want from me, and what we would uncover about this mysterious well-wisher.

But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside, knowing that soon enough, the answers would start to reveal themselves.

"I think we should tell Rehaan about this well-wisher. Maybe he can help us," Anusha suggested thoughtfully, setting her coffee cup down with a soft clink.

Manasa frowned slightly. "Why should we involve him?"

Anusha leaned forward, her expression serious. "Because this well-wisher knew about Srinivastav Uncle’s death before Rehaan did. That’s not something just anyone would know. It makes me think he might have more information. Plus, he hinted that Uncle’s death may not have been a suicide. If that’s true, we need to dig deeper. We’re strangers here, and you two don’t have any authority in this place, but Rehaan does. He’s the only one among us with real power and local connections. We should get all the help we can."

Manasa smirked, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "I may not have official power, but I can hack into any system here and get us all the information we need." She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms confidently.

I raised an eyebrow, chuckling as I replied, "And the next moment, you’ll be sitting behind bars."

Anusha laughed and reached out to high-five me, her smile wide. "Exactly! It’s a risky game, Manasa."

Manasa shot us both a mock glare, but the corners of her lips twitched in amusement. "You two are impossible," she muttered, though a smile finally broke through.

We all laughed together, the tension from the conversation easing. The lightheartedness filled the room as we finished our breakfast, bickering playfully over small things, as only close friends can. But beneath the laughter, we all knew that serious questions remained—ones that would need answering soon.

Anusha and I said our goodbyes to Manasa and headed toward the police station. As we entered the building, the atmosphere felt heavy, buzzing with quiet conversations and the sound of papers shuffling. I glanced around and immediately spotted Manohar in the distance, engaged in what seemed like a serious discussion with someone. His furrowed brow told me it wasn’t a casual conversation.

We made our way toward Rehaan’s desk, but to my disappointment, he wasn’t there. I scanned the room, hoping to spot him somewhere, but no luck. Just then, a woman in a police uniform passed by, her posture firm but approachable. Her name tag read Rekha, Constable.

I stepped forward and called out, "Excuse me."

She turned, offering a polite smile. "Yes, how can I help you?" she asked warmly.

"My name is Divya, and this is Anusha," I explained. "I received a call from the station earlier this morning. They asked me to come in."

Rekha nodded understandingly. "Please have a seat. I’ll inform CI Sir that you're here," she said, gesturing toward the nearby chairs.

"Thank you," I replied. Before she could walk away, a thought crossed my mind. "By the way, do you know where Rehaan is?" I asked, hoping to at least get a quick update from him.

Her eyes flickered with mild surprise. "Rehaan sir? He’s out on some official work at the moment," she answered, her voice calm but firm. With that, she excused herself and disappeared into one of the offices.

Anusha and I exchanged glances before sitting down in the waiting area. The minutes seemed to stretch on as we waited, the ticking of the clock becoming more pronounced with each passing moment. After about twenty minutes, Rekha returned.

"Divya, CI Sir would like to speak with you now. Please follow me," she said, standing at attention.

Both Anusha and I stood up, but the constable held up her hand gently, turning to Anusha. "I’m sorry, ma'am, but the CI has asked to speak only with Divya at this moment."

I looked at Anusha, who seemed slightly concerned but nodded in understanding. "You stay here. I’ll be back soon," I reassured her, trying to smile despite the nerves building inside me.

Anusha nodded and sat back down in the waiting area. "Alright, I’ll wait here. Let me know if you need anything," she said.

With that, I followed Constable Rekha down the hallway, my heart beating a little faster with each step, wondering what awaited me in the inspector’s office.

She knocked gently on the door.

"Come in," a subtle voice called from inside.

The constable opened the door for me, and I stepped inside, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. "Thank you," I murmured as she closed the door behind me, the click echoing in the quiet room.

"Please, take a seat," the Circle Inspector said, motioning to the chair across from him.

"Thank you," I replied, trying to maintain my composure as I settled into the chair, the coolness of the seat contrasting with the warmth of my anxious thoughts.

I glanced around the office, which was dimly lit and seemed to have an air of neglect. Dust clung to the shelves lined with files, some stacked haphazardly, while others appeared to have been untouched for years. A few stray papers fluttered on the desk, as if they, too, were longing for attention.

The nameplate on the desk caught my eye: Varun Nair, Circle Inspector. I focused on him as he cleared his throat, shifting his weight to the edge of the table, his posture both authoritative and approachable.

"Divya, right?" he asked, his voice steady but softened by an undercurrent of sympathy.

"Yes, sir," I responded, feeling a wave of unease wash over me.

He looked at me with earnest eyes. "I’m truly sorry for your loss," he said, his tone sincere as he reached for my hand, which rested on the table.

Instinctively, I pulled my hand back, not ready for such a gesture of comfort. "Why did you call me, sir?" I asked, my voice firmer than I felt.

He nodded, a flicker of understanding passing across his face. "We’ve officially closed your father’s case," he began, pausing briefly as if weighing his words carefully. "And we need your signature on this file."

He pushed a thick file toward me, the sound of the paper sliding across the table sharp in the silence. I hesitated before lifting the cover, scanning the contents quickly. My heart sank as I read the words confirming what I had dreaded: my father had committed suicide.

With a heavy heart, I signed the document, the pen feeling like a weight in my hand. After I finished, I looked up, my voice barely above a whisper. "Can I have a copy of this?"

He nodded and pushed a second copy toward me. "Of course. Take this with you."

As I accepted the document, a sense of finality washed over me, mingling with the unresolved questions still swirling in my mind.

"Thank you, sir," I said softly, feeling the weight of the moment.

After leaving the office, I found Anusha waiting for me in the hallway. I took a deep breath and said, "They’ve officially closed the case."

Anusha's expression turned serious. "Did you tell him about the well-wisher?"

I shook my head. "No, I didn't think we could trust him. I’m not sure where his loyalties lie."

She nodded in understanding, processing my words. "What do we do now?" she asked, her brow furrowed with concern. "If the case is closed, we won’t get any help from the police."

I felt the weight of her question. "We’ll need to talk to Rehaan. He might have some insights or contacts that can help us figure out our next steps."

Determined, I pulled out my phone and tried calling Rehaan, but after a few rings, it went to voicemail. Frustrated, I left him a message, my voice urgent. "Rehaan, it's Divya. I need to speak with you urgently. Please call me back as soon as you can."

After hanging up, I glanced at Anusha. "Let’s head back home. I hope Manasa has made some progress on that well-wisher lead. We need all the help we can get."

As we walked to the car, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that clung to me. The case might be officially closed, but in my heart, I knew the truth was still out there, hidden beneath layers of silence and uncertainty.

Anusha placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We’ll get through this, Divya. We just have to keep digging."

I nodded, grateful for her support, but deep down, I felt a storm brewing—one that we were just beginning to navigate.