'Hello.' - Hello, Mrinali.
Yes.
Hi. I am Trilok Bansal.
I have very interesting information for you.
What kind of information?
I can tell you that when I meet you.
All I can say is
that this sensational news
needs a journalist like you.
It will be like an extra star
in your shining career.
'What do you mean?' - What you seek is seeking you.
And what am I seeking?
Something that every journalist seeks for.
The next big story.
You can consider
that this story needs you as much
as you need this story.
Look, Mr Bansal. Right?
I don't have time for these mind games.
So, sorry. I am not interested.
I know. Definitely.
You have less time. That's why it is said
life is short.
So, do one thing.
Note down my address. 72...
No. You write down my address. I'll tell you.
Well, at least you are ready to meet me.
Very good.
In this city,
my house is the safest place to talk.
So, you have to come here.
I can't take this risk.
I don't even know you.
How can I come to your house without any information?
I can't take this risk.
Mrinali, the point is
that my wife is not well.
She... I can't leave her
alone at home in this condition.
You can see how the weather is.
Otherwise, I wouldn't have troubled you. Trust me, please.
I am really sorry to hear about that, Mr Bansal.
But that's not how I work.
I know!
I know how you work.
Really! Your editor,
Mr Padmanabhan... Paddy. He is my very good friend.
Do one thing. You can verify with him.
Do one thing. Check on the internet.
Trilok K Bansal.
Well...
Okay. Send me the address.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
I'll text you the address.
Okay?
Who was it?
What? - On the phone?
I... - Who were you talking to secretly in the bathroom?
Secretly?
A junior reporter called up. There was a problem at field.
He asked for advice.
It seemed he was advising you.
I am not so bad that I will take advice from junior reporters.
What's today's plan?
I have a few submissions.
See you tomorrow.
Yes. Hello.
Yes. I forgot to tell you something.
Take Harris Street. It will be empty.
The other roads are dug up. So, there will be a lot of traffic.
Yes.
Alright. Mr Bansal? - Yes. Please come in.
Sorry. It took me time to get here. Harris Street was jammed.
I know. It's dug up...
Yes. - Yes.
This... - Hang it there.
Okay. Thank you.
Please come in. Welcome.
Have a seat here. - Sure.
Keep it there.
I'll go and inform my wife
that you're here. What will you have?
Information. That's it.
My wife will be delighted to meet you.
She is a big fan of you. - Thank you.
She follows all your articles. She insisted
that I must tell her when you arrive.
She will like to meet you. Give me two minutes.
Okay.
She is asleep.
She fell asleep. - Oh!
She is ill. So, she gets tired easily.
Or perhaps, it is the effect of these new medicines.
She has to take four tablets as per the prescription.
But I think she takes more.
I have to be careful.
You drink single malt, right?
Good research.
It could be intuition as well.
On the rocks, right? - Sure.
Last month,
I watched your interview on TV.
Really? - It was very impressive.
I mean you have an amazing journey!
You started with a local newspaper.
You struggled so much and faced many challenges.
Amazing! - Thank you.
Then, twelve years ago,
one newspaper article changed your destiny.
Right?
Thank you.
I got that article after a lot of struggle.
It definitely made a lot of difference.
It was an article I was doing on...
There was... - Murder investigation.
That's right.
Brilliant journalism! Brilliant!
I mean you had done a detailed research.
Who does that? These days, it's mundane reporting!
There was an inspector working on that case.
He helped a lot. It wasn't possible without him.
That's your greatness. You are giving him credit.
Well, did he give you credit for solving that case?
Forget about it. Credit is not important.
The important part is that it led you to your success.
It depends how you evaluate success.
What are you saying?
I mean... Who doesn't know you?
You are a celebrity journalist.
You are on every panel discussion on every news channel.
Oh! That's my achievement.
It's success.
It's about luck.
No. Luck and hard work.
Sure.
So, Mr Bansal.
If you do not mind,
can we come to the point? What information do you have?
I'll go and check. She woke up.
She has woken up. - Okay...
She will comb her hair and come out. - Okay.
She is too excited to meet you.
Refill. Here...
Sit.
Did you sell your flat? You were looking for a buyer.
How do you know that?
Don't worry. You and I have
the same broker. Rawat!
Are you selling this house?
No. It is under joint names.
My wife won't let me sell it.
I am looking for an office.
I read on the internet that you are a businessman.
But what's your business?
Why are you talking about these things?
You must ask me what you are here for.
Yes, please. Absolutely. So...
What's the news for which you had to meet me?
Murder... - What?
Murder!
Two people are about to get framed for a murder.
Who?
A government employee and his lover.
Who got murdered? And when?
It's about to happen. - What?
The news is confirmed.
I think I should leave.
I thought you are interested in murders.
Yes. I am interested. But you aren't giving me proper information.
Wait for some time.
Mr Bansal.
You are a brave journalist.
Are you scared of me?
Okay.
Yes.
Murder. Killer.
These words are beautiful.
But we, humans, disregard them for no reason.
Do you say such romantic things to your wife?
Perhaps, my wife is not inside.
What?
Suppose,
in this room...
My wife is not there. No one is there.
This room is empty.
And...
This is a conspiracy
to make you
come here at any cost.
But why will you do that?
I might want
to murder you.
Why do you want to murder me?
We are not enemies. We just met.
That makes no difference. - But there should be a motive.
Motive.
But for that, I need to know you.
Perhaps, someone sent you to kill me.
Like a contract killer. It's possible.
I'm a journalist. I expose many people.
Someone might have got upset.
No.
Trust me.
I have no motive to kill you.
Then, the story is incomplete. And it's not interesting.
Perhaps, I want to commit a crime
and prove how to come out not guilty.
Then, there can be only one reason for the crime.
Arrogance. Ego.
Ego? - Yes.
Craziness. Obsession.
You forgot one thing.
What?
Revenge.
But if someone is upset with me
and approaches you to kill me,
then it's kind of revenge.
True. But is this reason not enough?
It's enough.
But you must tell me the reason for revenge.
Tell me. Then, you can do your job.
I am here.
Fine. I...
Let's discuss the method. Okay?
So, ma'am, would you like to be shot by a gun?
I would actually like to have a tamarind candy.
You are very funny.
Well, the sound of gunshot is loud. It's noisy.
Knife?
It's common. - It's messy as well. You'll have to stab.
Sleeping pills in drinks?
Yes.
That means...
After the sleeping pills start showing their effect,
I must take a pillow
and asphyxiate you. Right?
Easy and affordable.
Good one.
It will take me time to dispose off the dead body.
But if the preparation is good, that won't be a problem.
Am I scaring you?
No. I am only scared of income tax officers.
Income tax. - Yes.
GST. Bills. Rent. Instalments.
Peace. Envy.
Violence.
Right. Wrong. Good. bad.
Life is easy and simple.
It's complicated by desires.
Sorry. I got carried away.
And I thought I would get carried away in that.
What? You got carried away...
Mrinali, you are very funny.
Oh my! Okay.
I'll go and check on my wife who actually exists.
Okay? - Fine?
There is a lot more.
Don't leave.
'Padmanabhan, do you know any Trilok Bansal?'
What? - Mrinali.
What are you doing here? - How come you're here?
Someone called me up and...
You had your submission today, right?
And here, you are drinking with someone.
This is Mr Bansal's house.
He called me up to give me some information.
Isn't he the man whom you were talking to in the bathroom?
Yes.
Why did you lie to me?
I don't know.
I thought you wouldn't let me come here. I don't know.
Did you get any information? Because this doesn't make any sense.
Listen. I said I made a mistake.
I should've told you the truth.
And honestly, I shouldn't have come here.
This guy is a bit off.
He is saying weird things.
Even that can be a lie.
No!
Are you having an affair?
Yes! With you!
This man is a stranger. He is old and married.
Even I'm married.
Are you crazy? You are doubting me!
Murders are done on the basis of suspicion. - Hey!
Who are you? - Sorry.
Oh!
She told you. Mr Bansal.
This is my house.
I called you up to come here.
What joke is this? What's going on?
I'll tell you everything.
Sir, please keep the knife down. Sir, please.
Thank you.
Knives are used to murder people.
Actually, my wife is ill.
Her medicines are finished.
So, I went to check in the car. I keep them for emergency.
I saw you. So, I came in to welcome you.
Listen, you... - It's important to get her medicines.
Her blood pressure will shoot up.
I'll be back in a jiffy.
Be comfortable.
There is no need to bother.
I am harmless.
Tell him. I...
Give me a minute.
Be comfortable. Take care of him.
Hey!
What's going on here?
I don't know.
When did he call you?
As soon as I reached home! He told me to take Harris Street.
Harris Street.
That's strange.
Roads are dug up there. And Bansal knows that.
So, he wanted me to reach late.
What did you talk about? Tell me the truth now.
You are off-duty, Inspector Om.
And I am your girlfriend, not suspect.
Oh, wait! The word is mistress, I guess.
You should've spoken the truth. - You...
I said I made a mistake.
How long will you stretch it? Focus on what's happening here.
Okay. I am sorry.
As I saw you here all of a sudden, I overreacted.
And you know I am trying to get out of my marriage.
But it does take time.
What's the matter with Bansal?
So, he called me up and said
that he had exclusive information. He wanted to give it to me.
And as his wife is ill, he can't leave his house.
And you believed him!
Well, yes... I mean
he said he knew Padmanabhan.
I should've verified before coming here.
Where's his wife?
There.
Mrinali.
My God!
He told me to imagine if he didn't have a wife
and has called me here to kill me.
What?
Listen. Let's get out of here.
This man is crazy. Perhaps, he is psychotic killer.
I don't want to stay here.
Bansal is playing games with us.
But why? - Padmanabhan has texted me.
He doesn't know him. Come on. Let's leave.
This seems very dangerous.
I don't... - Wait a minute, Mrinali. Don't be scared. I am here.
He called both of us here. I am sure it's personal reason.
Otherwise, it's not a coincidence of we being here together.
What is his plan... - I don't want to know it.
Listen. It's his house.
He called us here. He has the upper hand.
Wait a minute. - Om.
Yes. Send one mobile unit here.
I am sending you the address.
Until I say, be alert. Don't come out.
Okay? Be discreet. Yes.
Now, we have the upper hand.
But... - Just calm down. I got this.
Now, tell me everything that happened.
Come here. Sit.
Come here.
He is back.
Oh my! It is raining cats and dogs.
Sorry. I got late...
My regular chemist didn't have the medicines.
So, I had to go ahead.
Sorry. I...
Even you drink single malt.
Where is the medicine?
And the patient?
In that room. - The room is empty.
You are a police officer.
You go everywhere without permission.
Who are you? - What?
Who are you?
Even you didn't recognise me!
Look, Bansal.
Stop talking nonsense!
Why don't you tell us who you are? What do you want?
Why are you playing mind games?
Mrinali, relax.
Hear the news you are here for.
Bansal, come to the point.
Okay.
It's about 2003.
19 September.
It was 11:15 pm. You got a call.
You have to reach D Road of Church Gate. Do you remember?
I remember. - An accident had taken place in the house.
A woman in the neighbourhood heard a scream
and called you.
When that woman went to the neighbouring house,
the door was open...
You saw what you were called for.
A woman's corpse.
Covered with blood.
Someone had murdered her.
With knife.
Exactly.
And it was very easy for you
to solve this case. Right?
The next morning, before 7 am,
you had handcuffed the murderer.
Shrivastav?
Ajay Kumar Shrivastav?
In these twelve years,
my face has changed a lot. I realised that today.
Or perhaps,
my face is not worth remembering.
Right?
I mean, if you were asked
to describe me, how would you do it?
A man with a very ordinary face...
A man who could easily get lost in a crowd...
A face
that you see thousands of times in thousands of different places,
but you never turn around to look at it.
Correct?
I had thought a lot about today.
I mean, how you'd react when we meet and you recognise me...
Maybe you guys aren't so smart anymore.
Even to solve the mystery of my identity,
you need my help. Right?
You've changed quite a bit, Ajay.
You haven't changed at all.
The same smouldering attitude...
The same needless arrogance...
The stubborn resolve to arrive at a decision...
And his anger.
He's the epitome of egotism.
'Arrogance can turn a man into a murderer.'
Didn't you say that?
How do you tolerate him?
Shut up!
Tell me clearly what you want. What the hell do you want?
Do you want us to apologise and beg you for forgiveness?
An apology is made
only if a mistake has been made.
Are you admitting that you made a mistake?
We didn't make a mistake.
The right man was caught.
He had killed his wife,
and he was punished for it.
Exactly. Om is right.
All evidence was against you.
Not evidence.
Destiny was against me. The circumstances were against me.
'Circumstances!'
It's the favourite word of every criminal.
Not only criminals.
It's the favourite word of policemen too.
'The situation...'
'Circumstantial evidence...'
You used these words to prove
that I stabbed my wife to death.
Before solving any case, we ask ourselves three questions.
'When', 'where' and 'why'.
The 'when' and 'where' was obvious,
and the 'why' led us to you.
Motive!
There's a reason behind every murder.
I remember that investigation clearly.
Your wife's mental condition wasn't stable.
She'd get hysterical over minor issues.
Sometimes, she'd get violent too.
And during one such fight, you must have killed her.
'Must have?' That's what you thought!
I didn't just think so. I'm absolutely sure you killed her.
My job isn't to speculate but to ascertain.
And as far as I can remember,
you had approached a lawyer that day for a divorce.
We even have three eyewitnesses.
You had told them you were suffocating,
your life had become hell and so on.
I just said to my friend, 'I wish she were dead.'
Does that mean I murdered her?
Well, the case is quite old.
Do you remember your statement? - I do.
It was an open-and-shut case.
Ajay Kumar Shrivastav was fed up with his wife.
He wanted to break free of her.
He went to meet a lawyer to get a divorce.
When his wife found out about it, she became hysterical.
She became violent.
The fight got so bitter and intense
that in a fit of anger, he stabbed his wife to death.
I wasn't present there! You knew that!
You had come home at seven in the morning.
And you couldn't tell us where you were all night.
I was cooking that day.
Deepti's favourite 'aloo matar sabzi'.
She was a little unwell.
I was in the kitchen, and...
I heard the sound
of a commotion outside our house.
When I went into the room,
I saw her hurling things around.
I tried to stop her,
but I don't know how she could acquire so much strength suddenly.
I left her there and went out of the house.
I was out of patience.
I went directly to the lawyer,
and I told him to start the process.
I couldn't take it anymore.
I went home in the afternoon
and saw that she had calmed down by then.
When she was normal,
she was lovely.
She was very reasonable. She was a good friend of mine.
I made a mistake.
I confessed to her
that divorce was the only option,
and that I had approached a lawyer.
She was furious!
She pounced on me and grabbed me by the neck.
She started punching and hitting me.
I got out of the house.
When I got out...
I didn't know what to do.
I wandered the streets aimlessly for hours.
Then I went to a bar.
I drank a lot.
But
alcohol
is not the solution to any problem.
Well, then...
Deepti
was bipolar.
If an intense situation arose,
she'd get violent.
It didn't even have to be intense. Every small issue could trigger her.
She'd fly into a rage over anything.
I mean,
with a knife and fork at the dining table
or a blade or a pencil...
She'd use any instrument available and hurt herself!
And these tendencies were becoming dangerous.
I saved her from self-harm so many times
and got hurt in the process.
That day,
I shouldn't have left home.
I shouldn't have left Deepti alone in that condition.
She needed my help.
I'm absolutely sure
that she died by suicide.
But she was killed
by my neglect.
I am guilty.
But
I am not guilty of the crime
for which you prosecuted me.
I had told him everything,
but he refused to believe me.
Even your article didn't mention...
These details. - They were never conveyed to you.
That article changed your life.
This policeman helped you write that article.
Did you never feel the need to find out the truth?
Huh? Why?
Your new career was starting, right?
A new relationship was starting too,
with a talented and dishonest police officer.
We all know who's lying here.
The knife that was used to stab her bore your fingerprints.
Of course!
It did.
I told you I was cooking.
But it's also true
that the knife bore my wife's fingerprints too.
That day,
you ignored that bit of evidence just as you're ignoring me today.
What other evidence did you have?
This much evidence was enough for me.
Then why did you lock me in a room and beat me up
to make me confess?
The evidence should've been enough!
What?
Yes.
Mrinalini, he loves throwing his weight around!
My wife had died.
But he didn't let me grieve.
He tortured me terribly.
He beat me up black and blue.
Om, is this true?
But I didn't confess to the crime
because I hadn't committed it.
So, he decided
to do something
to make the world believe
that I was lying.
My article! - Yes.
The first step of the ladder to success.
I just wanted to do my job sincerely.
I wanted to report the truth. That's all.
Are you falling for it?
This man is a murderer!
And he's very cunning.
He's been playing mind games with us right from the start.
You were lying then, and you're lying now.
I made a mistake. And I'm going to fix this.
I shouldn't have let you get out of jail.
Now, prepare to go back there.
Mrinalini, let's go.
Wait for some time, Mrinalini.
I said let's go! - Don't yell at me!
And don't tell me what to do.
When I wanted to leave, you didn't let me.
Now, I want to stay back and hear the full story.
What story do you want to hear? The story was published years ago!
That's the truth as far as the world is concerned.
Now, don't stand there and make a fool of yourself!
How do you tolerate him?
He's dishonest, selfish and rude.
You could've easily found a better man.
I've heard enough of your nonsense! - Om, stop it.
I request you both to wait for another ten minutes.
You've already waited for so long.
I'd like you to hear the climax before you go. Please.
Go on. Complete the story.
You're digging your own grave.
I got out of jail early
two years ago
due to good behaviour.
But when I got out, I realised
that I couldn't mix with people.
My reputation was sullied.
You people had maligned me.
People would stare at me with a strange look in their eyes.
So,
I killed off Ajay Kumar Shrivastav,
and Trilok Kumar Bansal was born.
You'll go to jail for fraud.
Once, I saw you both entering a restaurant
for a romantic dinner.
I was befuddled.
I left that place.
But then
an idea struck me,
and I turned around a went back to the restaurant.
I hovered around and went near your table four times.
Mrinalini saw me and even smiled.
But you both didn't recognise me.
After ruining my life,
you had forgotten me so easily!
That day, for the first time,
I thought of getting revenge.
When you walked out of the restaurant after dinner,
I followed you.
After that, I kept a watch on you every day.
I watched your movements, activities
and lifestyle.
I found out all your secrets.
Mrinalini,
he isn't going to divorce his wife.
He's cheating you. - What is this?
Is this your revenge plan?
To start a fight between us?
You're blackmailing us!
You're going to tell Om's wife about us, right?
Your house is beautiful.
Why isn't it sold yet?
I mean, there's such pretty decoration.
Those beautiful curtains, that lovely little balcony...
And that childhood photo of you on the fridge... It's so cute!
You've made my job easier
by sneaking into her house like a thief.
I had a key.
A key?
My broker!
Yes. He's very forgetful.
He asked me to go and see the house but forgot to take the key back.
It was very easy to duplicate it.
Oh my God!
No, I used to go there only when you weren't around.
I spent a lot of time there.
And the anxiety medication you take
has many side effects.
Try this instead.
It has got good reviews.
And you...
You're a superstar.
You hatched such a brilliant scheme!
You kept duplicates of all your shirts
in her cupboard
so that your wife doesn't get suspicious
or find out... Hey! No!
Om, stop! - You've never gained anything from violence,
and nor will you today. - You're messing with us, right?
I won't spare you! - Om!
You can never get what you want through violence.
You better understand that.
Are you threatening me?
What will you do? Will you kill me like you killed the wife?
How did you find out? - What?
That I killed your wife.
What?
This man has gone crazy!
Oh, sorry.
You meant to say I killed my wife, which I never did.
I thought you had suddenly found out about my plan
and that I killed your wife.
I confess. - Stop lying to us!
No, it's true. I planned it thoroughly
and murdered her in cold blood. - Oh, my!
How can you believe anything he says?
He's talking nonsense!
When did you murder her?
Right before coming here. That's why I was late.
Oh, you murdered her so quickly! How? By telling your sob story?
No.
I used the method you accused me of when you framed me. I used a knife.
With a knife! Oh! To admonish my conscience! Right!
No. To frame you for this murder.
Tit for tat.
That knife bears your fingerprints.
History is repeating itself.
The future is a reincarnation of the past.
But I didn't touch a knife today!
You did
when we met at the door.
Oh my God!
Om...
Om, you need to go now.
You need to go now. Go. - Where?
To check up on your wife!
That's what he wants! He wants me to panic and worry.
No. Why don't you call her?
She had a plan with her friend
to go for a late-night movie.
Call her.
She's not picking up the phone.
You need to go home.
You should go to your house once in a while, man.
Anyway, killing her at your house wouldn't have given me closure.
So, where is she?
At your house.
This is bull****!
Why would she go to my house?
Please, have some respect for my talent.
I invited her there with a lot of love. I persuaded her.
And she listened to you, eh?
She never listens to anyone. He's lying.
But why would she go to my house?
I called her up about a month ago
pretending to be your husband.
And as it is, I'm very experienced in telling sob stories.
I told her
that my wife was having an affair with her husband.
If that were true, she would have talked to me about it. He's lying.
She suspected you for a long time.
Working overtime daily, late-night assignments, checkpoints...
These excuses couldn't work forever.
Today, I called her and told her
that you were pregnant with his baby,
and that your husband was preparing to divorce you.
She instantly agreed to meet me and arrived at your house.
If you harm even a hair on my wife's head... - What will you do?
Will you murder me? Go on. Kill me.
Oh my God! Om!
He wants us to suffer like he has suffered.
To punish us, he murdered your wife!
That's it. You're under arrest.
Wait and watch.
You're going to be arrested.
The story is simple.
Your wife found out about your affair.
She showed up there,
caught you red-handed and made a scene.
You got angry,
and you stabbed her to death.
The murder weapon is still at your house,
and it bears his fingerprints.
And the blood-stained shirt...
That can't prove anything. Why would I kill my wife?
He had said exactly that, Om.
He's lying!
I had an abundance of time to plan it.
It's an open-and-shut case just the way he likes it.
Look,
I'll tell the police the truth.
Will you tell them that you went to a stranger's house late at night
and drank alcohol,
then a policeman came over,
and you both let the crazy murderer go
and murder his wife?
And then you enjoyed a glass of single malt.
You're a writer.
Which of the two stories is more interesting?
Do you think
you'll get away with this unscathed?
Two innocent people can testify against you.
Innocent! - Yes.
No one in this room is innocent.
I was.
But you both didn't let me remain innocent.
I'm just settling the score.
Where is my wife? No, her phone is unreachable.
When did she leave?
If I'll be accused of one murder anyway,
then I might as well commit another.
I'm asking you for the last time. Tell me the truth.
You never cared about the truth, inspector.
'Hello. I'm returning your call.'
'Hello?'
'Sorry, I couldn't answer it earlier. Can you hear me?'
Why?
Why did you do this?
I told you
that today, two people
would be accused of murder.
A government employee
and his mistress!
Yes.
If possible,
tell the truth.
The real truth.