Huge amounts of snow were falling continuously and surrounded the beautiful hill station of Manali. At times, silence was disturbed by the sound of snow under the sock’s sole which belonged to the person walking through the labyrinth of the night. It was icy and when breathing, big puffs of white mist were discerned in the air. The man was in his late forties and was well-built The man was bundled up in a large overcoat and Russian styled hat that obscured most of his face. He walked with determination on his face and narrow gaze that inspected every corner of the room.

This was ACP Rajesh Sharma, a man who is as sharp as a blade and extremely determined in getting the job done. While the outer environment was nature’s unequaled art on the canvas of Manali, his mind was a paradise of restive inflammations. He had been summoned to this town in rather queer circumstances, but this deftness weighed on him massively. He had been invited to this town under some phenomenally strange circumstances and the uncertain umbrella loomed large on him.

The invitation had reached him in an enigmatic form sent to his office in Shimla by electronic mail. It had only said, ‘Manali, now, meet now, lives are in danger’. There was no signatory at the end of the note as to who could be the sender. But there was something interesting in the message, which he could not leave unread, and, in this case, he read it. One night approaching the Vodka Diaries club, a club which was quite famous in the center of the town, there came a sense of danger.

The club was a remarkable phenomenon in this calm and quiet a holiday resort area which was known to be the favorite place for the elite and rulers where they could have fun and fight their sins late. Tonight it was very quiet, and its otherwise bright exterior had been turned off for the night.

Rajesh turned the brass handle cautiously, helped the door open and stepped in. This above description of the interior shows that the room was very dark, the only light that was coming was from the fireplace which only illuminated parts of the room.

The copper hue of the mahogany furniture and leather seats were complemented by worn down polishing giving the room a mystery old wealthy smell that could barely make out a hint of a liquor like smell. The club was still, with only one man drinking all alone at the bar. The man swiveled as Rajesh walked in/He had a weather-beaten face which mirrored a man of experience. I expected it to be some stranger, but it was Inspector Manish, who is also an old friend and the local policeman of Manali.

He had a serious look on his face and looked tired as though he had been working for long hours and rarely slept. “Rajesh,” Manish greeted him, his voice carrying a sort of relief. "It prompted me for you to be here too. “What is it, Manish?” Rajesh inquired as he joined him on the table. “That’s why I felt the message was quite mysterious.” Manish groaned pressing his hands against his temples. “It is terrible, Rajesh-we now have three murders connected to this club in the past week and the more we investigate, the feeling of a much larger picture persists.”

The first victim, which was identified as a young woman, was found in her apartment half dead with her throat cut. The second, a middle-aged businessman, was found lifeless in his hotel room, with a single bullet wound on the head. The third, a local artist, was found hanged on the tree at the outskirts of the town some days before the day of realization. Every death was painful, and calculated, and there was nothing left that could lead to the killer, save for an ornament: a small wooden doll left by the bodies.

–Sambit7294

“These figurines,” Manish said, moving a figurine to the bar’s other side, to Rajesh.

“There is the only connection between the victims Maybe they have meaning, but we don’t know it. I have a bad feeling about them.”

Rajesh touched the figurine, it was perfectly crafted and had a somewhat sinister feel to it. It represented a silhouette without the face and all the other distinguishing features. It was an odd feeling that scraped against their very souls, one that left them instantly convinced that the wood was, in fact, not a good place to be. "Have you looked at the records of that club?”

Rajesh questioned flying as his mind raced with possibilities. Manish nodded. “Yes, but there is nothing strange in that; the club belongs to a prominent businessman Aditya Khanna and though he was courteous, he seemed to be a man of many secrets.” “We must look further,". "We are missing something,, and if these murders are linked to this club, then this is the beginning".

Two detectives sat in silence for several minutes, thinking of what they had to do. Outside, the snow was still falling; the town of Manali went on, no one suspected that all is not well with the hearts of their town. Looking at one another, and then at the clock, they got to their feet just as the door to the club opened, and a woman entered.

She simply was beautiful, tall and stylish, one could read firmness in her eyes. Rajesh did not take any time identifying the lady – Shakshi Sharma, wife of Rajesh and a highly qualified psychologist. She knew all about minds and her perception had helped him in many of his inquiries in the past. “I expected to find you here,” she remarked, and her words were formal; however, she sounded worried. "Indeed, the party was informed by a popular series of murders – With that, I believe I can assist them".

Seeing her, Rajesh felt a kind of relief through him. A perfect blend of heads that perfectly compliments each other to form a powerful team you will ever come across. He quite remembered that with Sakshi with him, they would have increased odds of solving this mystery.

The cold night was a rude shock when they stepped out of Vodka Diaries club with the strong realization that they still have to go through tougher conditions back home. The roads of Manali were calm and empty, but Rajesh was quite aware that evil was planned in the background. One day, they would discover things that would thoroughly shock this apparently serene town.

The Vodka Diaries had many secrets and Rajesh was bent on solving them come what may. Thus, they set off into the darkness, eager yet fearful for what they were about to get into, not knowing what lay ahead of them. This was only the first chapter of their fairy-tale, and the subsequent chapters were to present elements of a thriller –, mystery and determination

The dawn light crept over the snow-covered peaks, casting a soft pink hue across the town of Manali. The morning calm was a stark contrast to the turmoil that gripped ACP Rajesh Sharma. His mind was already racing, piecing together the fragments of the mystery that had begun to unravel the night before.

Rajesh stood on the balcony of his hotel room, gazing at the tranquil landscape. The peacefulness of the scene seemed almost mocking in light of the gruesome murders. He turned away from the view, his thoughts returning to the conversation with Inspector Manish and the eerie figurine that still lay on the bar counter.

A soft knock on the door broke his reverie. Sakshi entered, her presence a comforting reminder of their shared determination. She handed him a steaming cup of tea, her eyes reflecting the same resolve he felt.“Any new thoughts?” she asked, taking a seat by the window. Rajesh took a sip of his tea, savoring its warmth. “I’ve been thinking about those figurines. There’s something significant about them, but I can’t put my finger on it. We need to find out where they came from.”Sakshi nodded. “I agree. And we should start by talking to Aditya Khanna again. He might know more than he’s letting on.”Rajesh placed his cup down and reached for his coat. “Let’s go.The sooner we start, the better.”

They made their way to the Vodka Diaries club, the morning sun casting long shadows across the empty streets. The club, now bustling with activity, was a stark contrast to the eerie quiet of the previous night. Staff moved about, preparing for the day’s business, their faces tense with a mixture of curiosity and fear. Aditya Khanna was waiting for them in his office, a spacious room filled with expensive furniture and tasteful art. He rose to greet them, his expression guarded.“Good morning, Mr. Khanna,” Rajesh said, taking a seat. “We need to ask you a few more questions.” Aditya nodded, his eyes flickering nervously. “Of course, ACP Sharma. Anything to help.” Rajesh pulled out the figurine and placed it on the desk between them. “Do you recognize this?”

Aditya’s face paled slightly, but he maintained his composure. “Yes, I’ve seen it before. It’s a traditional carving from a local artisan. We’ve used similar pieces as decorations in the club.”“Can you tell us more about this artisan?” Sakshi asked, her gaze steady on Adityaa. Aditya hesitated for a moment before answering. “His name is Rajan Verma. He’s a bit of a recluse, and lives on the outskirts of town. He’s been supplying us with these carvings for years. They’re quite popular with our guests.”

Rajesh exchanged a glance with Sakshi. “We’d like to talk to him. Can you give us his address?” Aditya scribbled the address on a piece of paper and handed it to Rajesh. “Here you go. But I must warn you, he’s not very... social.” “Thank you, Mr. Khanna,” Rajesh said, rising from his seat. “We’ll let you know if we need anything else.” As they left the club, Sakshi turned to Rajesh. “Do you think Rajan Verma is involved in the murders?” “I don’t know,” Rajesh replied, “but we need to follow every lead. If he’s connected to these figurines, he might have some answers.”

The drive to Rajan Verma’s workshop took them through narrow, winding roads that cut through dense forests. The workshop itself was a small, unassuming building nestled among the trees, almost invisible in the winter landscape. They approached the door and knocked. After a moment, it creaked open, revealing a thin, wiry man with sharp features and piercing eyes.“Mr. Verma?” Rajesh asked. The man nodded, his gaze wary. “Yes. Can I help you?”Rajesh introduced himself and Sakshi, explaining their purpose. Rajan’s expression remained inscrutable, but he stepped aside to let them in.

The interior of the workshop was cluttered with tools, wood shavings, and half-finished carvings. The air was thick with the scent of pine and varnish. Rajan motioned for them to sit on a pair of old wooden chairs.“We need to know about these figurines,” Rajesh began, placing the carving on a nearby table. “We found this at a crime scene. Do you recognize it?”Rajan studied the figurine for a long moment before nodding. “Yes, I made this. It’s part of a series I’ve been working on.”“Can you tell us why it was found at a murder scene?” Sakshi asked, her tone gentle but probing.Rajan’s eyes darkened.

“I sell these to various clients, including the Vodka Diaries club. I don’t know how it ended up at a crime scene. My work is... symbolic. It represents the shadows within us, the darkness we all carry.” Rajesh leaned forward, his interest piqued. “What do you mean by that?”Rajan sighed, his gaze distant. “We all have secrets, fears, and regrets. These figurines are meant to reflect that inner darkness. They’re not just decorations; they’re reminders of what we hide from the world.” Rajesh and Sakshi exchanged a glance.

There was something about Rajan’s words that resonated with the eerie feeling the figurines gave off.“Have you noticed anything unusual with your clients recently?” Rajesh asked. “Any strange requests or behaviors?”Rajan shook his head. “No, but I’ve heard whispers. People talking about a... presence. Something malevolent. I thought it was just superstition, but now... I’m not so sure.” Rajesh stood, his mind racing with possibilities. “Thank you, Mr. Verma. You’ve been very helpful. We’ll be in touch if we need anything else.” As they left the workshop, Sakshi turned to Rajesh. “Do you think he’s telling the truth?”“I think he believes what he’s saying,” Rajesh replied. “And if there’s any truth to his words, we’re dealing with something far more complex than we initially thought.”

The drive back to town was silent, both of them lost in their thoughts. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, but the picture was still unclear. One thing was certain: the darkness hinted at by Rajan Verma was real, and it was growing. As they approached the town, Rajesh’s phone buzzed. It was Inspector Manish. “Rajesh, we’ve found another body. Same pattern, same figurine. Rajesh’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. “Where?” “Near the old church on the hill,” Manish replied. “You need to get here. It’s... disturbing.”Rajesh glanced at Sakshi, her face mirroring his own determination. “We’re on our way,” he said, ending the call.

The hunt for the killer was intensifying, and the shadows in Manali were growing darker. As they sped towards the crime scene, Rajesh knew that this was just the beginning. The Vodka Diaries held many secrets, and he was determined to uncover them all, no matter where they led.

–sambit7294