Second Chance: A Dark Tale of Urban India-Chapter 106: Bailing Out Everyone

Neerav straightened, startled. "What? You mean he took your mobile?"

The girl instantly denied it. "No... I mean, I know him, but he’s not the one who took my phone."

Rohit raised an eyebrow. Now he remembered her — the reporter from the subway incident. Sharp mouth, questionable judgment and a body that definitely turned heads. Looking at her ID, he got the name and post: Priya Dasgupta, junior reporter.

Neerav’s patience thinned with embarrassment. He pressed his bell twice and yelled, "RATHEE.. take her out and file her complaint."

Priya stood her ground. "No, I am not leaving without getting my phone."

Neerav pointed his baton. "Madam, I just said that he will take your complaint. Please comply or I will be forced to take action. Your reporter license won’t save you."

She folded her hands and stormed off with a huff.

Neerav also added, "Also send two samosas and a tea."

Then he looked at Rohit and asked if he too needed some, but Rohit denied.

Neerav leaned back, waiting.

Rohit asked, "Why don’t we start with what I have been called for?"

Neerav gave a cheeky grin. "Relax, Young Master. This is a police station. Things take time."

Rohit gave the police officer a cold stare. "I am here to cooperate, Officer. Let’s not make things hard."

Neerav raised his brow. "Getting impatient, aren’t we? Let’s start then."

His samosas and tea arrived. He took a bite and said, "So, can we recall what happened last night?"

Rohit was about to repeat the same story when he recalled the biker gang locked up in the cell. There was still a chance they had been interrogated and things were already being revealed.

He nodded. "I admit I lied that night. Me and my friend Akhil were actually kidnapped by my fellow classmates and were pressured to pay up for our release. They were bullies with powerful backings. They demanded money for our release. I didn’t want my parents involved, so I promised to pay later and managed to free both of us."

Neerav narrowed his eyes as he took a sip of tea. "So the memory loss and hospital stay was a staged act."

Rohit shook his head as he showed his scar on his forehead. "No, Officer. I was actually beaten senseless. When I woke up, I had lost my memories. I was shackled. My friend Akhil helped me, and we agreed to their terms for release."

Neerav stroked his moustache, then started recording Rohit’s statement. After taking a bite, he shook his head. "Something doesn’t add up... If you guys were eventually released, then why sell the bike later? Either they got something critical to blackmail you or you are misdirecting us again."

Rohit felt conflicted. He didn’t want to reveal the teacher matter so soon. Not without losing leverage.

He denied, "I did as I was told. I believed in Akhil, sold my bike and gave him the money to handle."

Neerav didn’t look satisfied as he took another bite of samosa. "How strange. Our intel says the transaction was for thirteen lakhs. You gave him only ten and got three back. Why bother taking that money when he could have transferred the whole amount?"

He added, sipping his tea, "Then on the day he disappeared, the rest of the funds were withdrawn. Why exactly ten lakhs? It proves my suspicion — you were being blackmailed for a specific amount. You’re not telling me the full story, Young Master Singhania... If this continues, I am bound to get very disappointed."

Rohit felt frustrated. The police looked careless... but he’s not missing anything. However, he is using his brain in the wrong way. Despite asking so much, not a single thing about the bullies, as if he already knew the rest of the story. Was it deliberate?

Rohit rubbed his temples. "What are you implying, Officer? My friend is missing, and we’re discussing money instead of the real culprits?" Leaning forward, he added, "Or do you have any lead to prove me wrong?"

Neerav smirked as he took the last bite and brushed off his hands. "Yes... we have a lead. Your bully story is a hoax. You and Akhil were gamblers. You lost money, sold the bike to drug peddlers for quick cash, staged the memory loss, had a dispute over payment, and then made him disappear in retaliation. Plain and simple."

He rang his bell again. "Rathee, bring in the peddler."

The constable brought the same guy who had tried talking to Rohit. He was already bleeding from the lips and had minor cuts and bruises on his face.

Neerav smiled. "Here is my witness. Want to add something, Young Master Singhania?"

Rohit felt extremely annoyed. He had handled many types of police, but Indian police was something else. Why bother catching the real criminal when you can just beat the nearest man until he fits the story? How ridiculous.

A faint smile appeared on Rohit’s lips.

"Seriously, Officer," he said quietly. "I’m impressed. You already have the story, the witness... everything. Saves a lot of effort, doesn’t it?"

Neerav’s expression hardened. He didn’t like the tone.

"Careful," he warned, leaning forward slightly. "This isn’t a place where sarcasm helps you."

Rohit met his gaze without flinching.

Neerav stood up slowly.

"People start talking when they stay here long enough," he added, his voice lower now. "Some faster than others."

The room fell silent.

Just then, a new voice cut in. "Are you suggesting coercion, Officer?"

Everyone turned.

A man in a black suit stepped into the room, calm and composed. Late fifties, sharp eyes behind glasses, scanning the room in seconds. The constables behind him hesitated but didn’t dare stop him.

Rohit leaned back slightly. His savior has come. Right on time.

Neerav’s jaw tightened, but he managed a quick smile. "Sir... why are you here?"

The man looked amused. "Oh... you know me?"

Neerav folded his hands and gave a cheeky grin. "How could I not? Kunal Shetty. Senior lawyer, practising in the Supreme Court. Even politicians wait in line for an appointment with you. What is my level in comparison?"

He called for Rathee again and offered his classic samosas and tea, which Shetty politely declined.

Rohit noted Neerav’s sudden change in behavior. The man was rotten to the core and had no real spine. He acted tough with the weak and meek like a clerk in front of real authority. Rohit bet even his secretary Pathak would do a better job.

Kunal Shetty gave a smug smile, clearly satisfied with the introduction. "Good. That saves a lot of time. Release my client this instant." Checking his watch, he added, "I hope you are already done with your investigations..."

Neerav looked shocked. He wanted to say something, but Kunal gave Rohit a friendly pat and offered his hand. "Nice to meet you, Rohit. I wanted to meet you personally, but I didn’t expect it like this. Maybe at my place some other time."

Rohit stood up and shook his hand. He knew why Shetty wanted to meet him personally, but he had other agendas.

"Mr. Shetty, pleasure meeting you. Can you do me another favor?" He gestured toward the beaten guy standing with a shocked expression. "I have some history with him and his friends. They got unlawfully arrested. Please see if they can be bailed with me as guarantor."

Kunal looked amused. Still shaking Rohit’s hand, he replied, "It can be done, but I will treat this as transactional. I charge ten thousand per minute." He checked his watch and added with a smirk, "And your time starts now, young man."

Neerav didn’t sit. "But sir, this is an active case..."

"We both know how this works," Kunal cut in calmly.

Silence.

Rohit added, clearly pissed off, "Also those who were protesting outside... I don’t like what I saw. It would be a shame to let them rot for practising free speech."

Kunal smirked and looked at the officer. "You heard him, Officer."

Neerav’s smile returned, but thinner this time.

"Of course, sir. We’ll complete the formalities."