Chapter 5: The Real Name
"Hey, inspector."
I wiped away my tears and tugged at his sleeve.
My voice was hoarse, but steady. The world seemed to tilt, just a little.
"Take me to see Deputy Commissioner Kabir. I’m ready to tell the truth."
The officer’s eyes widened, and he nodded silently, almost as if relieved.
Many officers, hearing that the tough nut was finally cracking, gathered outside the door to watch.
They crowded the corridor, eager to witness the moment. The air was thick with anticipation—every face tense, every ear straining for my words.
Even though only Kabir Singh and the constable sat before me, I knew countless eyes were watching through the surveillance monitors.
I could feel their stares, prickling my skin. The weight of their expectations pressed down, heavy as a monsoon sky.
The constable muttered, dissatisfied:
He scribbled something in his notebook, brow furrowed. “Lagta hai koi nayi nautanki shuru hone wali hai,” he grumbled.
"What hidden story could there be? He’s just a cold-blooded psychopath. I doubt he’ll say anything new."
He barely glanced at me, certain nothing I said could matter now. I looked at Kabir Singh, waiting for his cue.
Even so, he couldn’t help but glance at me, waiting.
His curiosity betrayed him. For a moment, I almost smiled.
I looked up and suddenly let out a few low chuckles.
The sound was raw, torn from somewhere deep inside. The laughter echoed around the room, startling everyone.
The laughter grew, turning wild, until tears rolled down my face.
I shook with mirth and grief, the two emotions blending until I couldn’t tell one from the other. The officers shifted, uneasy, unsure whether to intervene.
Just when everyone thought I’d finally snapped—
I raised my head, meeting Kabir Singh’s gaze. The laughter faded, replaced by something harder, more final.
I said something that left them all stunned.
"Rohan isn’t my younger brother. He’s my son."
The room fell silent. Even the fan seemed to pause, the blades frozen mid-spin. For the first time, every eye in the station was fixed on me, and I finally felt the weight of the truth lift from my shoulders, leaving behind only emptiness—and relief.
And as the truth echoed through the station, I wondered if anyone would ever call me by my real name again.