Chapter 3: The Hidden Hand
11:00 AM
The Pink Bow Advocates office looked like a battlefield. Stacks of files teetered dangerously, half-filled chai mugs cluttered every surface, and Adhyani was sprawled across a desk doodling hearts in the margins of a legal brief.
“So,” Risha began, pacing in tight circles, “after all the running, the thugs, the near-death experiences… she’s just gone?”
“Vanished,” Atishi confirmed, not looking up from her laptop. “No bank transactions, no phone activity, no CCTV footage. Whoever took her knew how to cover their tracks.”
“Or maybe she did it herself,” Arsh suggested lazily, leaning back in his chair. “Professional scammers don’t stick around for the finale.”
“She didn’t vanish herself,” Risha snapped. “This is Faith Kar’s doing. She’s tying up loose ends.”
“Loose ends end up in rivers,” Adhyani chimed in cheerfully. “I saw it on Crime Patrol.”
“At least try to sound less excited about it,” Atishi said dryly.
“She’s not in a river,” Risha interrupted, her voice rising. “She’s a liability, but she’s still useful. Faith Kar wouldn’t kill her—yet.”
Atishi’s tone remained steady. “It’s likely she’s been moved out of Delhi. Somewhere remote. Somewhere we can’t reach.”
“And you’re just sitting there, calmly sipping chai, while she’s halfway to god-knows-where?” Risha shot back, glaring at Atishi.
“I work better with chai,” Atishi replied smoothly. “And anyway, we have a lead.”
That got Risha’s attention. “What lead?”
Atishi clicked on her screen, pulling up a series of financial records. “Before she vanished, the bride transferred money to a shell company. That company ties directly to Kar Enterprises.”
Risha leaned over her shoulder, scanning the files. “So it’s Faith Kar. Again.”
“It’s always Faith Kar,” Arsh muttered. “She’s like the Thanos of scam cases.”
Adhyani perked up. “Does that make Risha the Avengers?”
“More like the Hulk,” Arsh said with a smirk.
Risha ignored them, her mind racing. “If Kar Enterprises is involved, that means we’re getting closer. And that means…”
“She’ll hit back harder,” Atishi finished, her voice cutting through the room.
2:00 AM
The tension broke as the office door swung open, and Ruhika Oberoi stepped in, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.
“Ruhika!” Adhyani exclaimed, jumping up. “Our patron saint of legal chaos! Have you come to save us?”
“More like to rescue you from yourselves,” Ruhika replied smoothly, her eyes sweeping over the cluttered office. “Honestly, Risha, how do you work like this?”
“With great difficulty,” Risha muttered, crossing her arms. “What do you want, Ruhika?”
“To help,” Ruhika said, setting a sleek leather folder on the desk.
Risha raised an eyebrow. “Last time you told me to drop the case. What changed?”
“You didn’t listen,” Ruhika replied. “So I might as well make sure you don’t get yourselves killed.”
Adhyani beamed. “This is why you’re my favorite rich person.”
Ruhika smiled faintly. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Risha opened the folder and scanned the contents. Inside were financial records, offshore transactions, and confidential emails—all linking Kar Enterprises to a web of illegal activity.
“This is…” Risha trailed off, stunned.
“Solid,” Atishi finished, leaning over to examine the documents. “If we can tie these accounts directly to Faith Kar…”
“You’ll have leverage,” Ruhika said. “But you’ll also have a target on your back.”
“Faith Kar already hates us,” Adhyani pointed out. “So what’s one more reason?”
“Darling,” Ruhika said, glancing at her, “you have no idea what this woman is capable of.”
6:00 PM
By evening, the team was deep into Ruhika’s files, piecing together the threads of Faith Kar’s empire.
“Here’s the pattern,” Atishi said, projecting a diagram onto the wall. “Faith Kar funnels money through shell companies to fund political campaigns. In return, she gains influence—and immunity.”
“She’s bribing her way to untouchable status,” Risha muttered. “Classic.”
“But there’s something else,” Atishi added, clicking through the files. “She’s not just protecting herself. She’s protecting someone else.”
“Who?” Risha asked.
“I’m not sure yet,” Atishi replied. “But there’s a name that keeps coming up. Raj Mehra.”
Risha froze. “Raj? Why is it always Raj?”
“Wait, our Raj?” Adhyani asked, wide-eyed. “The guy who trips over his own shoelaces and still somehow lands on his feet?”
Atishi nodded. “He’s connected to several of these transactions. He’s funneling money through Kar Enterprises, disguised as political donations.”
“And if he’s working with Faith Kar?” Arsh asked.
“He’s not working with her,” Ruhika interjected, her voice calm but sharp. “He’s working for her. Or rather, she’s forcing him to.”
Part 4: The Mystery Deepens
Risha frowned, her mind racing. “Why would Faith Kar care about Raj Mehra? He’s clumsy, loud, and more annoying than useful.”
Ruhika gave her a pointed look. “Maybe he wasn’t always that way.”
“What do you mean?” Risha demanded.
“I mean,” Ruhika said carefully, “Raj has a history with Faith Kar. And it’s not just professional.”
The room went silent.
“You’re saying they…?” Adhyani trailed off, her eyes wide.
“They dated,” Ruhika confirmed.
Adhyani gasped. “Oh my God. Raj Mehra dated Faith Kar? How did that happen?”
Arsh snorted. “I’m more surprised she didn’t have him killed afterward.”
“There’s more to it,” Ruhika said, ignoring the comment. “Something happened between them—something big. And whatever it was, it gave Faith Kar the leverage she’s using against him now.”
“What kind of leverage?” Risha pressed.
“That,” Ruhika said, meeting her gaze, “is something only Raj can tell you.”
8:00 PM
Late that night, Risha sat alone in her office, staring at the photograph Ruhika had provided. It showed Raj and Faith Kar at an upscale event, their smiles genuine but guarded.
“What did you do, Raj?” she murmured, her mind spinning with possibilities.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Atishi:
“Tracked Raj. He’s at the South Delhi club. Ready when you are.”
Risha grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
The game had just changed—and Raj Mehra was about to become their next move.