The Hidden Diary Chapter 3 - The Hint

  The timeline swiftly shifts to the present, where Ravi, Ismael, Maya, and Daniel enter a street. As they enter, Daniel asks Maya, "Are you sure this is the place where that man lived?" Maya, with a determined nod, responds to Daniel, "Yes, this is the place." As they proceed, Ravi asks, "But how will we find his house?" Ismael responds, "Let's ask from the nearby houses." With a stern intention, they decide to locate this man. While inquiring about the man's location, their attention is caught by a funeral poster hanging on a nearby wall. 

  The atmosphere grew heavy as they read the details on the poster – it was the same man who had tried to harass Maya during that bus incident. Their eyes couldn’t believe what was in front of them. They approached one of the residents on the street, from whom they learned that the person had suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away. Shocked and perplexed, Ravi, Ismael, Maya, and Daniel stood in front of the funeral poster, processing the unexpected turn of events. The investigation had once again hit a dead end.

  With that failure, they were all returning home. On their way, they were all immersed in a heavy silence, each contemplating the twists and turns the investigation had taken. The weight of the unresolved mystery lingered in the air. As they were walking, Ismael broke the silence and asked, “Mr. Detective, we have already faced two failures. What's next?” Ravi, Maya, and Daniel clearly noticed that he is up to something. Daniel tried to stop him by saying, “Ismael, please, don’t try to create any problem here.” Ismael in response said, “Who, me? Please see through your eyes properly. It’s him, the one who proclaimed himself as a detective.”

  Maya also tried to stop him, “Ismael, please try to understand.” Ismael, in anger, replied, “Don’t try to understand me. Understand that lunatic who is standing here. I don’t know why he couldn’t comprehend that Shruthi did suicide?” In that moment, Ravi broke his silence and responded, “Yes, I am not able to comprehend her death because I know each one of you very well. Few months ago, you all remember how my life was. I was seriously on the verge of losing myself; at that time, I got saved by all of you. I got my life because of you all only, and suddenly one of us is not with us. How are you expecting me to comprehend?”

  Ravi further continued, “You know about Shruthi; she is not so cowardly that she does suicide. Not Shruthi as well, even if one of you happened like this, I would have reacted the same. You all are feeling disturbed, right? No problem, I will do it myself, and I have no problem that you are backing yourself.” Daniel tried to mediate the situation, “Ravi, nothing like that. Ismael is just talking in anger.” Ravi in response said, “You don’t need to make an act now, Daniel. I know what you all are feeling inside. I will find out the truth. You don’t need to worry me.” With this, Ravi left that place. While he was leaving, he started remembering what happened 8 months back. The timeline then shifted 8 months back.

 We see it was the month of January. Everybody in the class was waiting for the professor to arrive, like the refreshing sun flashing its rays across the world. At that moment, Ravi entered the class. He soon took his place beside Ismael and Daniel. As he took his place, he noticed Ismael and Daniel were discussing something related to cricket. Ravi, on the other hand, remained silent. During their conversation, Ismael asked Ravi, “Hey Ravi, what is your opinion regarding BCCI not choosing him in the recent test matches?” Ravi acted weird and gave his answer, “I don’t know.”

 Ismael continued and said, “Hey Ravi, you are a cricket enthusiast. How can you say you don’t know?” Ravi continued with the same answer and again acted strangely. This time Daniel noticed his actions with his sharp eyes. He asked, “Why are you acting strange?” Ravi tried to cover something and said, “I am not acting strange.” Ismael noticed some liquor smell while he was speaking. He asked, “Why is there a liquor smell coming from you? Did you consume liquor or what?” Ravi responded, “Nope.” Ismael continued to persist with the same question. After continued persistence, Ravi admitted that he consumed liquor.

  After learning about Ravi's alcohol consumption, both Ismael and Daniel were shocked. Daniel responded, “Hey Ravi, what is this? If someone finds out, you may get rusticated from the college.” Ravi responded in a loud voice, “Who dares to rusticate me?” His loud voice drew the attention of some of his classmates. Ismael realized that Ravi going into an intoxicated state could worsen the situation. So, he decided to get Ravi out of the college. He whispered to Daniel, “Daniel, we better get him outside the class before anything happens.” Ismael and Daniel exchanged worried glances, realizing the urgency of the situation. They both nodded in agreement and discreetly approached Ravi. Ismael softly said, “Ravi, let's step outside for a moment. Some fresh air might help.”

  Ravi, who was slightly intoxicated, tried to defend himself by saying, “Why should we go outside? The class is going to start.” Ismael tried to make him understand, “Ravi, you're slightly intoxicated. If any professor or non-teaching staff sees you, it will be risky.” Daniel also added, “Ravi, please understand and cooperate with us. We are speaking for your betterment only.” Both of their words slightly made him understand the situation, and he eventually agreed. As they made their way toward the exit, Shruthi and Maya, who had been observing from a distance, decided to follow them.

  After that, we see all of them in a park. Daniel, Shruthi, Ismael, and Maya were gathered around Ravi. There was clear-cut anger visible in all four of their eyes, and a tense silence enveloped the group as Ravi stood before his friends. Maya was the first one to break that silence by asking him, “Ravi, what were you thinking? You consumed alcohol so early in the morning and arrived at college in a drunken state. Are you mad or what?” In response, Ravi said, “I am going through a problem which I can’t say to anybody.” After hearing that response, Shruthi asked in sign language, “What kind of problem?”

  Ravi couldn’t interpret her sign language, so he asked her, “Are you asking what kind of problem?” Shruthi nodded her head, indicating yes. Ravi responded, “I told you, I can’t talk about that problem.” Ismael put forward his question, “So you will not share your problem with us. Then why are you calling us friends? If you can’t share your problems with us.” Struck by Ismael's question, Ravi couldn’t give a response. Daniel then spoke up, “Ravi, bottling up your problems isn’t going to solve your problem. Just tell us what your problem is.” Ravi replied, “I don’t want to make you all suffer because of me.”

 Ismael showed his anger by saying, “Oh! What a concern you have for us. We don’t care about that bloody bullshit. If you don’t share that problem, we don’t need your friendship anymore.” The rest of the three also agreed with Ismael's point. Ravi was totally cornered here; he didn’t want to break their friendship due to this. So he responded, “Ok, I will share it.” After that response, he started sharing his biggest heartbreak with them. He began saying, “It all started around 2 years back. I had my first love, Kaviya. It was I who fell for her first, but later I realized she also loved me. That's when our relationship started, and we both dreamed of many things for our future life. But fate had other plans. After our 12th examination, she met with an accident. That unexpected accident shattered my whole life. She died in front of me, and I couldn’t do anything. That day, I lost myself. My silence, my sadness, and this alcohol—all because of her. Her bloods are still on my hands.”

  As Ravi's words hung heavy in the air, the group fell into a somber silence. Maya's eyes glistened with empathy, while Daniel and Ismael looked at Ravi with newfound understanding. Shruthi, who had been watching silently, stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Ravi's shoulder, offering silent support. After a moment of solemn reflection, Daniel spoke up, his voice filled with compassion, “Ravi, we had no idea you were carrying such a heavy burden. We're here for you, buddy. You don't have to face this alone.” Ismael nodded in agreement, his anger now replaced by concern. “Yeah, man. We're your friends. We'll help you through this,” he said earnestly. Maya stepped forward, her eyes soft with sympathy. “Ravi, we understand now. You don't have to hide your pain from us. We're here to share it,” she said gently.

  But Ravi still clung to his sadness, unwilling to let go of the burden he had carried for so long. Despite his friends' genuine concern and support, he felt consumed by grief and guilt. "Thank you, guys, but leave me alone. I will live with this," Ravi responded, his voice heavy with resignation. His friends exchanged worried glances, realizing that Ravi was not yet ready to confront his pain. That moment, Shruthi started explaining him in sign language, “Ravi, will she like to see in such state?” Ravi understood her sign language and responded, “No Kaviya would be angry with me for this. She would have slapped me.”

  Shruthi then continued further, “Will her soul also accept this?” For this, Ravi couldn’t interpret what she was trying to say. Daniel then explained to him what she wanted to convey. Ravi then gave his answer, “Yes, but her memories are filled inside me. How can you expect me to overcome this?” Shruthi then responded in sign language, “You have to. We can’t assure that people will remain with us forever. Everyone is temporary here. Just think about your parents. There are many things in your life left for you. Now try to carry on your life towards that.” Ravi stood silent for a moment. Seeing his silence, Daniel thought he couldn’t understand what she was trying to say.

  As Daniel tried to lend his helping hand, Ravi responded, “I understood what she's trying to say.” As Shruthi's words resonated in Ravi's mind, he felt a wave of realization wash over him. He understood that clinging to his grief and guilt would not honor Kaviya, nor would it bring her back. With a heavy heart, Ravi took a deep breath and made a silent vow to start letting go of the pain that had consumed him for so long. Turning to his friends, Ravi spoke with newfound determination in his voice. “You're right,” he said, addressing Shruthi's silent message. "Kaviya wouldn't want to see me like this. She'd want me to live my life to the fullest, to cherish the memories we shared. I won't let Kaviya's death define me anymore. I'll honor her by living a life she'd be proud of.” This is how the flashback came to an end.

 The timeline shifts to the present, where we find Ravi lying in his bed, contemplating what to do next, feeling confused. In that moment, he receives a message from Maya stating that she informed her brother about their detective work, and her brother requested to meet them all tomorrow. Upon seeing the message, Ravi initially felt angry at Maya. However, realizing that there were no other leads to unravel Shruthi’s death mystery, he reluctantly accepted to meet Maya's brother.

  The next day, we see Ravi, Maya, Daniel, Ismael, and Aditya gathered at a hotel. Aditya's stern eyes scrutinize the four of them silently, adding an air of tension to the atmosphere. Ravi shifts uncomfortably under his gaze, feeling a mixture of apprehension and curiosity about what Aditya might have to say. After a moment of tense silence, Aditya finally speaks, “Thank you all for coming here. Maya informed me about your detective work, and I must say, I'm impressed that you all know how to investigate a case than me.” From his tone alone, the four of them understand that he is up to something. Ravi steps forward and try to make things clear, “Aditya bro, it's not that we didn’t trust you, but we were emotionally invested in her death. That’s why we did all this.”

  Aditya looked at Ravi with a stern look for a moment and then responded, “Oh, did you all find any evidence?” The four of them, with low voices, said in chorus, “No.” Aditya then further said, “Then, I'm not saying that you all did a wrong thing. But in the name of detective, if you did something like mobile trapping or forced interrogation, it might lead to serious charges against you all.” After hearing his words, Maya questioned, “Brother, is it true that we might be charged for this?” Aditya responded, “Obviously, there is a difference between the police and the public investigating a case. Okay, let's keep that aside. Now tell me what you did in your investigation.” As Aditya gave them a chance to explain what they did in their investigation, Ismael stepped forward to explain their actions.

  After hearing their investigation, Aditya chuckled slightly before saying, “You did what I expected.” They all felt slightly confused. Daniel questioned, “What are you trying to say, Aditya bro?” Aditya then started explaining, “You all missed a main clue here.” He paused for a moment, letting the tension in the room build before continuing. He then said, “The first clue that you noted was many things during her death. The accident, the blackout, and her suicide. It is strange that many things happened at the same time. And the next clue was whether someone could enter other than the main entrance. These two clues were a perfect pick, but the main clue was time here.”

  Aditya further continued, “If you took the first clue into account, all these things happened in just 15 minutes.” Aditya's words hung heavy in the air as Ravi, Ismael, Maya, and Daniel processed the implications of his revelation. The realization dawned on them that perhaps they had overlooked a crucial detail—the timeline of events surrounding Shruthi's death. Ravi's brow furrowed as he contemplated Aditya's words. “So, you're saying that all these incidents occurred within just 15 minutes?” he asked, seeking clarification. Aditya nodded solemnly, “Yes, exactly. In 15 minutes, anything can happen. But many questions arise: can a normal person utilize this for a murder?”

  Ismael, confused, asked, “Bro, what are you trying to say?” Aditya then responded, “Ismael, during our investigation, we didn't catch any fingerprints or footprints of any unknown person. Moreover, if someone committed murder in revenge, they would have left evidence behind. But in Shruthi’s case, the perpetrator hasn’t left us any clues. Also, in just 15 minutes, people like Bharghav and that aged man couldn’t accomplish such a perfect crime.” Aditya's words left them hanging. Daniel sought slight clarification, asking, “So, Shruthi’s death was suicide?” Aditya, with disbelief, said, “Based on the investigation I have conducted, her death appears to have been a suicide.”

  Aditya's words left the four of them disappointed. Their efforts seemed to have been in vain. With a disappointed expression, Maya asked, “Brother, are you sure?” Aditya responded, “We have collected various pieces of evidence: her mobile phone, the pictures she took over the past year, and mainly the letter.” The mention of the letter stirred a somber recognition among them. It served as a poignant reminder of Shruthi's inner turmoil, her silent cries for help concealed within the folds of her words. Each of them had grappled with its contents, attempting to decipher the cryptic messages left behind by their departed friend. Daniel's shoulders slumped with defeat, feeling like they could do nothing. Aditya’s words echoed in Daniel's ears. As he felt that everything was lost, a spark ignited in Daniel's brain. With sudden clarity, he asked, “Bro, didn’t you find any diary in Shruthi’s room?”

  Aditya got confused and replied, “Diary?” Daniel said, “Yes, Shruthi’s diary.” Maya also clicked on what Daniel was mentioning. She said, “Brother, yes, Shruthi used to write a diary. Didn’t you find that?” Aditya paused for a moment and started thinking. After a few minutes, his answer was, “No.” Ravi intervened, saying, “Aditya bro, please think again or call your fellow policeman to see if they found a diary.” Aditya responded, “Ravi, I know every detail of Shruthi’s case and the evidence we have collected. I keep track of everything. If something is at the station, then I would know about it.” Ismael then suggested, “Then it could be in her house only.”

  The next day, we see the five of them in Shruthi’s room along with Shruthi’s parents. Aditya, Ravi, Daniel, Maya, and Ismael were searching through her room for the diary. They were scrutinizing every corner of the room in their quest to find it. While they were searching, Shruthi’s dad questioned, “Aditya, are you sure that Shruthi’s diary could help us to find the reason behind Shruthi’s death?” Aditya responded, “It might, uncle, but we need to find it. It is necessary to know what she was going through.” Shruthi’s dad then replied, “Hmm, but we were never able to find that diary. We used to see her writing, but we were never able to find the diary.”

  After an hour and a half of searching, all of them lost hope. Despite thoroughly checking the room, they couldn't find Shruthi's diary. With their hopes dashed, they began to exit the room, and Daniel was the last one about to leave. As he was exiting, Daniel's eyes noticed something: a Death Note (anime) poster. He returned to Shruthi’s desk and started checking underneath it. Ravi, Ismael, Maya, and Aditya became confused by Daniel’s actions. Aditya questioned, “Daniel, what are you doing?” Daniel didn’t respond; instead, he pulled out the drawer and emptied its contents. Then he took a pen and poked it inside the hole underneath the drawer.

  As he poked, he saw a wooden compartment inside the drawer raising. Surprisingly, there was another wooden compartment underneath the raised one, and the diary was on the hidden wooden compartment. He took it out and showed it to them. At that moment, everyone's face glowed with hope. Just then, Shruthi’s father was also approaching the room. Aditya quickly noticed and hid the diary inside his shirt. Shruthi's father entered the room and asked what was happening.

  Aditya replied with a fake smile, “Nothing, uncle. Daniel went through Shruthi’s desk again to find the diary, but he didn’t find anything.”   Everyone looked at Aditya in shock. Shruthi’s dad responded, “It’s okay, what you all tried is enough. We need to accept that she committed suicide and move on. You all come to the hall; there are snacks waiting for you.” After Shruthi’s dad left, Aditya signaled for everyone to remain quiet from now on until they moved out of the house.