The Questions That Cornered Him
The interrogation room was colder than the wedding hall had ever been.
Krish sat with his elbows on the metal table, fingers locked together so tightly that his knuckles had turned pale. His sherwani was still stained with ash and rose petals—symbols of a wedding that never finished.
The inspector entered without urgency.
No file.
No shouting.
Just a chair pulled back slowly.
"Mr. Krish verma," he said calmly, "let's talk."
Krish nodded, swallowing hard.
1. The First Question – The Motive
"Did you know Ved would be present at the wedding?"
Krish stiffened.
"Yes. Everyone knew."
The inspector leaned back.
"And how did you feel about that?"
Krish hesitated—just a second too long.
"I didn't care," he said finally. "Kashvi was marrying me."
The inspector tilted his head.
"Interesting. Because according to multiple witnesses, you were… uncomfortable. Restless."
He slid a photograph across the table.
It showed Krish gripping his phone tightly during the rituals—his jaw clenched.
"Does this look like someone who doesn't care?"
Krish looked away.
2. The Past That Refused to Stay Buried
"Let's go back," the inspector continued.
"You knew Ved and Kashvi were once married. Correct?"
"Yes."
"You also knew she never filed for divorce emotionally. Correct?"
Krish's voice sharpened.
"She chose me."
"But did she choose you," the inspector asked softly,
"or was she forced into circumstances?"
Krish slammed his palm on the table.
"I loved her!"
Silence followed.
Then the inspector spoke again.
"Love," he said, "and jealousy often look very similar at a crime scene."
"Where were you at exactly 7:42 PM?
Krish answered quickly.
"Near the mandap. With the guests."
The inspector nodded.
"And yet," he said, pulling out a report,
"no one remembers you standing still."
He paused.
"They remember you leaving. Twice."
Krish's breath faltered.
"Once to take a call," the inspector added.
"And once… without your phone."
Krish frowned.
"That's impossible."
"Is it?"
"Because security footage shows a man in a groom's outfit entering the west corridor."
The inspector looked straight at him.
"That corridor leads to the service exit."
"Do you own a firearm, Mr.. verma?"
Krish shook his head immediately.
"No."
"Does your family?"
Another pause.
"My father has a licensed weapon."
The inspector nodded slowly.
"And do you know," he said,
"that the bullet recovered matches that license type?"
Krish's face drained of color.
"I didn't take it," he whispered.
"But you had access," the inspector replied.
"And motive. And opportunity."
The inspector leaned forward now.
"Did Kashvi ever threaten you?"
Krish looked up sharply.
"No."
"Did she ever say," the inspector continued,
"that Ved's presence ruined everything?"
Krish swallowed.
"She said… he made her uncomfortable."
"And you," the inspector asked quietly,
"wanted him gone?"
Krish stood up suddenly.
"I didn't kill him!"
The guard immediately stepped forward.
The inspector didn't react.
He simply said,
"No one said you pulled the trigger."
That sentence shattered something inside the room.
Krish was escorted out, his protests echoing down the hallway.
The inspector remained seated, staring at the empty chair.
He wrote one line in his notebook:
Primary suspect established.
Motive: Emotional possession.
Victim: Obstacle.
Outside, the wedding hall stood silent.
And somewhere else, Kashvi sat just as still.
Waiting.