Author's POV:

The air in the police station was thick with indifference and the lingering scent of stale paper and disinfectant. The overhead fans spun lazily, barely moving the weight of tension that sat between Aditi and Ronit as they waited impatiently on the old, cracked bench beside the duty desk.

They had been trying to talk to the constable for nearly fifteen minutes now. But the man—clearly disinterested and mildly irritated—continued scribbling something in a register, purposefully ignoring them.

Aditi leaned forward again, her voice tight with urgency.

“Sir, please, just hear us out! Our friend’s been missing since last night.”

Without lifting his eyes, the constable waved a dismissive hand and muttered, “Why are you panicking? You can only report someone missing after 24 hours. She’ll probably be back by tonight.”