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THE ECHOES OF DECEPTION
Just a casual thing

Just a casual thing

It was a quiet morning when Bhuvi’s parents sat down to discuss the final details of her school transfer. For weeks, they had been concerned about her studies, not because she wasn’t performing well, but because they wanted to see her reach new heights. They believed a change of environment would push her toward better opportunities. Bhuvi, though sad to leave her friends behind, understood that her parents wanted the best for her. The decision was made, and tomorrow she would begin her journey at a prestigious new school.

That very morning, another significant event was unfolding in a very different part of the city. Lieutenant John Thomas was headed to the police station, but his mind wasn’t entirely on work. His thoughts kept drifting to Trisha, the young, bright teacher he had met only a few days earlier. Trisha was Bhuvi’s teacher, and John had met her when he visited the school for a small community outreach program. Since then, he had found himself thinking about her more often than he would have liked. Her kind eyes and thoughtful demeanor had made a deep impression on him, though he hadn’t yet found a way to express it.

John’s day, however, wasn’t going to be all about love-struck musings. As he entered the station, he was greeted by Captain Rajesh Kumar, who also happened to be Bhuvi’s father—and John’s uncle. Captain Rajesh was a seasoned officer, tough but fair, with a sharp eye for detail. Though he rarely showed it, John could feel the pride his uncle had in him. Today, though, Captain Rajesh was all business.

"John, I need you to head over to the detective's office. There's a report waiting for you on the Stella Kaur missing case. It’s crucial for the ongoing investigation. Grab the detailed report, photographs, and evidence summary. Bring it back here ASAP," Rajesh said, his voice firm.

John nodded, his mind shifting gears. The Stella Kaur case had been a perplexing one. A local woman in her mid-thirties, Stella had vanished without a trace a week ago. The last anyone had seen of her, she was walking home from work. Her disappearance had shaken the community, and there was growing pressure on the police to find answers.

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After collecting the necessary files from the detective office, John tucked the folder securely under his arm and headed out to complete another mundane task—picking up some shaving cream at the nearby supermarket. He would need it for a formal event later that week, a small gathering at the police department. As he wandered the aisles of the brightly lit supermarket, mentally juggling the details of the missing persons report, something unusual caught his eye.

At the far end of the aisle, a little girl, no older than five, was glancing around nervously. She had a set of colorful markers in her tiny hands, but instead of placing them in a shopping cart, she slyly slipped them under her shirt. John paused, watching her with a mix of curiosity and amusement. The girl’s antics were hardly those of a hardened criminal, but it was clear she didn’t understand the concept of security cameras.

John couldn't help but smile as he approached the child, whose wide eyes darted up at him, startled. “Hey there,” he said softly, crouching down to her eye level. “Do you know that the store has cameras that can see everything?” He pointed discreetly to one of the round, black security cameras in the corner of the ceiling. “They’re always watching, just like superheroes, with a big smile on their face.”

The girl blinked, clearly unsure of what to say, her small hands clenching the markers under her shirt. John could see the confusion on her face, mixed with a little fear. He didn’t want to scare her, but she needed to learn.

“I’m not mad,” John said gently, offering her a warm smile. “But if you want something, you should ask your parents to help you buy it, okay? Stealing isn’t the right way to go about it.” He gave her a wink. “I bet you’re a good girl who doesn’t need to hide things, right?”

The little girl slowly pulled the markers out from under her shirt and nodded shyly. And then only he knows she not able to speak .shes only speak with the side languages