“How do we confirm this?”

Aastha asked and Avantika continued looking at Prakhar.

“If we can somehow get his fingerprints to match with the ones found on the crime scene.”

All of them looked at Prakhar who was gazing into Avantika's eyes.

“I've not seen him for 14 years now. I don't know where he is.”

“Koi purane fingerpints ho sir. Maybe we can try.”

Avantika said and he went into thought.

“We made a hand painting when we were kids. But it's too old. More than 25 years.”

“Try kr skte hai. Is it at your place?”

He nodded and got up.

“I'll go fetch it.”

With that he left. He needed to be alone and process the information just discarded on him. His brother!? The one he spent 18 years 9 months of his life with? Committing murders with such brutality?

But it wasn't confirmed yet. It was just a theory. Maybe the fingerprints won't match. He didn't have to search much for the painting. It was on his bedroom side table.

“Here!”

He handed it to Avantika and looked at it like it was a precious possession. Avantika was initially happy to finally discover the loophole but now she too wanted herself to be wrong. Seeing the pain on Prakhar's face didn't settle well with her.

She ran a test with the fingerprints on the painting and ran a test with those that Prakhar indicated are his brother's. Their names were written on their handprints in very wobbly manner.

Prakhar ♥️ Prashant 

All of them waited for the result. Prakhar's eyes glued to the bar that loaded the result. 25% remaining. And when the result came, his face went blank.

“Good job Avantika! You did it! We can issue an arrest warrant now!”

Match found! 100%

Avantika looked at Prakhar and slowly walked towards him. 

“Sir? Are you okay?”

He looked at her and smiled. It seemed constrained but he did.

“I am. I have some work. See you tomorrow.”

He started leaving but she rushed behind him.

“Sir!”

He stopped and turned.

“Wo…I…um…I need your help sir.”

He frowned and nodded, turning towards her completely and giving her his sole attention.

“Umm…yaha nhi. Bahar kaam hai.”

She mumbled and got into the elevator with him following her. 

“Listen! If you're doing this because you don't want to leave me alone thinking I'm fragile or something then don't! I've handled a lot of criminals and I can handle this one too.”

He said in a harsh tone when she saw in the passenger seat of his car.

“Nhi sir, wo actually aaj papa ka birthday hai. Toh mai soch rhi thi ki koi gift select krlu lekin aadmiyon ke liye kya lu ye samajh nhi aata. Isliye help chahiye. And thoda sa wo reason bhi hai jo aapne kaha.”

She mumbled at the end and he chuckled. He drove on her directions and stopped in front of a mall. Avantika smiled seeing Prakhar distracted from his brother's thoughts. He got a gift from his side too.

“For Colonel sir. Meri taraf se.”

He said handing it over to her.

“Toh aap khud dena na.”

“Arre nhi please. It's your family time mai-”

“Shh! Papa would be very happy. Bhut special ho jaayega ye din unke liye. Please sir! Please please please!”

She made doey eyes at him and he laughed.

“Ok! Fine! But stop calling me sir when we're not in office.”

“Arre par aap senior ho mujhse.”

She countered and he took a step closer to her. She nervously looked at him and tucked her hair behind her ear.

He continued moving towards her and she started taking steps backward until her back hit the car.

“Toh friend ban jaata hu.”

He whispered naughtily when he had her cornered. With that teasing smile still on his face, he moved towards the driving seat. She blushed as he moved away and quickly got inside the car patting her cheeks to lessen the redness before he sat on the seat.

He chuckled when she didn't meet his eyes and looked outside as if there was something very interesting going on.

“Aap kyu tease kr rhe ho mujhe?”

She whined feeling embarrassed and he laughed.

“Mai shuru se tease kr rha hu. Tumhe ab realise hua hai because now you're not scared of me being the killer.”

He said with and smiled sadly as he thought of his brother again.

“Please don't think about it.”

She said sensing his sadness.

“Kab tak? Ultimately sach toh yahi hai na ki usne ye rapes and murders kre hai.”

“Sir-”

“Relax Avantika! Bacha nhi hu mai. I can handle myself. It's just…maine kabhi bhi ye imagine nhi kia tha someone who I consider my other half would do something like this.”

Without thinking much, she kept her hand over his on the gearstick. He looked at her for a fleeting moment before focusing back on the road and caught her fingers between his over the gearstick.

They celebrated her father's birthday at her place. Avantika's father was too happy to see his favourite and best cadet giving him such a pleasant surprise. The teacher student talked the whole evening.

Avantika had a big smile on his face seeing Prakhar laughing and eating with her father. Her mother had noticed her looking at him and nudged her side. She wiggled her eyebrows in question and Avantika shook her head embarrassed.

The next day at the office was tense. There was no clue of Prakhar's brother. They had the warrant but the search was going on. 

“Sir koi information hai uske baare mai jo hume help kr skti hai? Any identification mark? Any description?”

Aastha asked and Avantika gave her an incredulous look.

“Mam, they are identical twins. Same shakal hai.”

“I know that. And that's why I am asking for other identification marks. Kahi galti se wo mil gaya aur humne usse Prakhar sir samajh lia toh?”

“Since I've not seen him for 14 years I don't about any changes he has made with his appearance. But last time tak uske haath pr ek tattoo tha. On the forearm near the elbow. A tattoo band.

“Pr usse dhunde kaise?”

Avantika asked.