•घुंघरु•

"And you didn't bother to come to police because?"

The police officer sat in front of you, the wooden chair creaking from the age and weight of the stars of pride shining on his brown uniform. You gaped, unknowing how to answer that. His cabin held silence, his blunt nails tapping on the table filling your ears. "because i thought i could handle it" The situation was not as easy as you were trying to make it out to be. You were caught with a knife in your hands, blood trickling down the blade like stream of milk. A man, formerly your stalker, laid ahead, wounded. Probably dead- no, hopefully dead. Yet, you claimed that you were framed. That you don't have anything to do with it. A. Ramaraju, one of the cruelest police officer was assigned this case.

"And you did, didn't you?" You shook your head at his implication, staring in his eyes, god, his eyes. His eyelashes were probably longer than yours, and held deep brown pools, reflecting the setting sun outside. You've been here since early morning, surviving on 4 chais. And it didn't look like you were going home any early either. The officer's voice boomed again, as he leaned back, taking off his cap and ruffling his hair. Your heart might have fluttered, a feeling you can't say as anxiety booming in you. But you kept your face stoic, your right leg draped over your left knee, bouncing, and your arms crossed on your chest. Your eyes narrow.

"Let's take it from the top. 2nd August, you realized a man has started following you. 9th August, he made some suggestive actions. 12th August, you saw him wounded when he was following you again. 20th August, a huge sum of money is transferred from your bank account to-" "That was for a friend, she needed cash" "Don't interrupt" You swallowed hard at his sudden command. Maybe this interrogation would have been way easy if he wasn't making you feel so hot overall. Words died on your tongue and you resorted to speechlessly nodding, a silent apology- one that you don't even mean, present in the undertone. His velvety voice was audible again. "25th august. At 4 am, he's wounded by a knife stab in his organs, and the knife is in your hand. You have the motive, the instrument and the victim. You can't escape this, you know" he tuts, and sighs, both of you tired. "But, I didn't do it. I didn't kill him. I found him dead, and i recognized him, it was unbelievable- I was shocked! so i picked up the knife to see if it's true or not" Ram rubbed his face. He's been here with her since morning. This girl was being unnecessarily difficult. Despite being completely surrounded by the suspects and evidences pointing she is the killer, she has a calm demeanor, as if she is just waiting for a business meeting to end.

"If we both could solve this out, we both will get the rest for the day, y/n. Admit it. You killed him, didn't you?" That was the most straightforward thing he has said, as he leaned forward on table, now unbuttoning sleeves.

"Officer, I am just a normal woman, adhering to the laws of my country. Numerous girls gets stalked, catcalled- not everyone can run to police for that. Can you imagine the kind of pressure we get from not only the society but our famil-" "how is your friend, Diya, related to all this?" A sense of panic rushed down your stomach upon her name. "I just sent her money she needed for her college fees. She is financially struggling- can't you access our accounts?"

Ram cocked his eyebrow, now folding the sleeves up his arms to his elbows. He is definitely intrigued by the clear annoyance in your tone, as if to rush out the interrogation. "A killer doesn't have the place to show us what-" "I am not a killer" "I told you not to interrupt" The dimly lit interrogation room feels charged with unspoken tension now. The sun is set now outside, casting shadows that dance across the walls, amplifying the intimate atmosphere. The air is thick, almost electric, as you sit confidently at the table, something Ram is finding increasingly irritating yet attractive. He leans back in chair, his mind going a mile a second, wondering possibly how to break the truth from you. "You know" the deep baritone his voice now held curiosity more than obligation of this interrogation, "most people would be terrified right now". He saw the sheer confusion on your face, the tilt of your head as if turning head at 45 degree would fit his sentence in your head. Ram smirked at his own thought. "Yet you don't seem bothered at all. You seem..."

"What do I seem to you?"

"Confident, with the whole game rotted in your head. You're enjoying this, seeing the staff finding ways to prove you guilty" "Yes, because I am, in fact, Not guilty. Though it seems like you need a reminder that you don't have to complicate things. Are you always this serious or is it because of me?" "Seriousness comes with the territory. I find myself wondering what’s really going on behind that confident facade." Your eyes seamlessly followed his movements, the rolled sleeves and ruffled hair. Ram stood up and leaned against the window. The glowing lamps in the cabin makes him look ethereal against the darkness outside. By now, you could tell the conversation has strayed off the back and forth of same two sentences framing you as the killer, ever since morning. The wooden chair was digging in your hips, and you needed a change in your position too. You looked up at Ram, the police officer and his brown uniform. It was hard to deny that despite being persistent, he was sure a sight to drink up too.

"You're looking too hard, officer" Ram heard the swag dripping in your tone, and it looked like a well planned arcade to him. His eyes fell over your position, how you perched still on the chair, and the frustration was getting him. He sighed and stepped forward, his hands on the table as he looked at you intently. "You're not the type to break under pressure, are you?" A knowing smile breaks apart on your smile before you could think of another remark of a reply. You could see the proximity, and the exact scenario how this interrogation was going to end.

"Pressure just makes me sharper. What about you?" “I think I can. But it’s fascinating to see how you thrive in a situation like this." "It can be quite exhilarating, don’t you think?” Oh how Ram could feel the warmth radiating in his body, the sharp brown eyes boring in his. Without any control, for once, his voice turned lower, "exhilarating or dangerous? There’s a fine line between the two.”

Ram gulped when he saw you lean forward, your chin supported by your first, elbow stable on your knee- "and i thought you were the dangerous type". The glint of mischief and a dare shined like a star in her eyes and Ram was drawn like a moth. By now, he could feel their faces almost touching, "dangerous, yes. But you seem to have a knack for testing boundaries.” Boundaries, you thought to yourself. What would it be like to be caught in something.. scandalous with a popular police officer?

“Testing boundaries can lead to interesting outcomes, and I think you are interested", and you confirmed that when you saw his gaze flickers to your lips, then back to your eyes, tension building.

“Maybe I am. Just know that if I cross a line, it’s because I’m curious about what’s hidden beneath your cool exterior.” You smirked, feeling his grip on your chin. His hands were rough and calloused. "You'll be disappointed to find nothing behind it"

"Then I guess I’ll have to be prepared for whatever comes next."

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