Unlawfully yours - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly as Ishani adjusted the microscope lens, her breath steady. The blood sample from Rohan’s shirt had already proven that he wasn’t the killer. But now, she had a bigger question—whose blood was it?
Dr. Malhotra leaned against the counter, watching as she loaded the sample into the DNA analyzer. “We’ll compare it to the university’s faculty and staff records. If the person is in our system, we’ll have a match in a few hours.”
Ishani nodded, but a thought nagged at her. What if the person wasn’t in the system? What if they weren’t supposed to be here at all?
The machine beeped. Processing…
She exhaled. Now, it was just a waiting game.
Her phone buzzed.
Aarav: “Meet me at the law faculty. We need to talk.”
She smirked slightly, shaking her head. Did he even know how to say ‘please’?
Aarav was pacing outside the law department when Ishani arrived. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated.
“Tumne bulaya, main aa gayi. Ab kya?” (“You called, I came. Now what?”) Ishani said, arms crossed.
Aarav turned to her. “I talked to Rohan.” His voice was lower than usual, more controlled. “Usko kuch yaad nahi hai jo use police ne poocha. Woh confuse hai.” (“He doesn’t remember anything the police asked him. He’s confused.”)
Ishani frowned. “Kya tum kehna chah rahe ho ki usko drug diya gaya ho sakta hai?” (“Are you saying he might have been drugged?”)
Aarav’s jaw tightened. “Yahi toh samajhna hai. Agar usne khud khoon nahi kiya aur usko phasaya gaya, toh kisi aur ka khoon uski shirt pe kaise aaya?” (“That’s what we need to figure out. If he didn’t commit the murder and was framed, then how did someone else’s blood get on his shirt?”)
Ishani exhaled, running through the possibilities. “Koi struggle hui ho sakti hai. Ya phir usko jaan bujh kar us jagah le jaya gaya jahan qatil ka apna khoon gira ho.” (“Maybe there was a struggle. Or maybe he was deliberately taken somewhere the killer bled.”)
Aarav leaned in slightly, his intense eyes meeting hers. “Toh iska matlab hume wapas crime scene pe kuch aur dhoondhna hoga.” (“That means we need to search the crime scene again.”)
Ishani sighed. “Tumhe illegal ka matlab samajh aata hai ya nahi?” (“Do you even understand what ‘illegal’ means?”)
Aarav smirked. “Loophole dhoondhna mera kaam hai, forensic girl.” (“Finding loopholes is my job, forensic girl.”)
She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. Because deep down, she knew he was right.
Back at the Crime Scene – The Hidden Clue
By midnight, the university was silent. Most students had gone back to their hostels, and the law faculty building was locked—except for one window Aarav had conveniently figured out how to open.
Ishani sighed as they slipped inside. “Tum mujhe criminal bana kar hi maanoge, Mehta.” (“You’re determined to turn me into a criminal, Mehta.”)
Aarav chuckled. “Bas ek baar courtroom tak pohonch jaane do, main khud tumhara case lad lunga.” (“Just let me get to the courtroom once. I’ll fight your case myself.”)
Ignoring him, Ishani turned on her UV flashlight and began scanning the room again. Aarav, meanwhile, examined the bookshelves and furniture for anything out of place.
After a few minutes, Ishani’s light caught something—a faint handprint on the floor, just beside the desk.
“Aarav, idhar aao,” (“Aarav, come here,”) she whispered.
He crouched beside her as she carefully dusted the partial blood-stained handprint with fingerprint powder.
Aarav frowned. “Yeh toh Professor Bhatia ka nahi lag raha.” (“This doesn’t look like Professor Bhatia’s.”)
Ishani nodded. “Size dekho—yeh kisi jawan aadmi ka lagta hai.” (“Look at the size—this seems like a young man’s.”)
Aarav’s expression darkened. “Toh qatil bhi chot kha chuka hai.” (“So the killer was injured too.”)
Ishani carefully lifted the fingerprint sample onto tape and sealed it in an evidence bag. “Iska forensic match karna padega.” (“We need to match this in forensics.”)
Aarav exhaled. “Aur agar match nahi mila?” (“And what if we don’t get a match?”)
Ishani looked up at him. “Toh iska matlab hai ki yeh aadmi yahan ka student ya professor nahi hai.” (“Then that means this person isn’t a student or professor here.”)
Aarav stood up, processing the implications. A killer who wasn’t from the university? Then why was Bhatia the target?
The case had just gotten more complicated.
By the time they sneaked out of the building, the weight of the night pressed on them. Neither spoke as they walked, lost in thought.
Somehow, their footsteps led them toward the observatory again.
Ishani climbed up to her usual spot on the railing. Aarav, instead of leaning, actually sat beside her this time.
For a long moment, they just gazed up at the sky. The moonlight bathed the campus in silver, the stars sharp against the inky black sky.
Aarav exhaled. “Tumhe sach mein yeh sab interesting lagta hai?” (“You really find all this interesting?”)
Ishani smirked. “Science ya stars?” (“Science or stars?”)
He glanced at her. “Dono.” (“Both.”)
She tilted her head, thoughtful. “Science toh logic hai, but stars…” She paused, then smiled softly. “Woh hamesha wahi rehte hain. Chahe duniya kitni bhi badal jaye.” (“Science is logic. But stars… they always stay in the same place, no matter how much the world changes.”)
Aarav studied her quietly. She was different in moments like these. Not the sharp, stubborn forensic student he argued with—just a girl who saw beauty in things he had never even noticed before.
He looked back at the sky. “Pehle kabhi socha nahi tha yeh sab.” (“I never thought about any of this before.”)
Ishani raised an eyebrow. “Aur ab?” (“And now?”)
A slow smirk formed on his lips. “Shayad ab samajhne laga hoon.” (“Maybe now I’m starting to understand.”)
She chuckled, shaking her head. “Tum impossible ho, Mehta.” (“You’re impossible, Mehta.”)
Aarav just smiled. For once, he didn’t feel like arguing.