Ravi stood at the edge of the crowd, still trying to understand what was happening.
The morning that had begun with an ordinary police siren had suddenly turned into something he could not explain.
People were whispering around him.
Some were looking toward the police jeep. Others were trying to understand why the officers had arrived so early.
Then one of the police officers turned away from the crowd.
He looked directly at Ravi.
For a moment, Ravi thought the officer was simply looking in his direction.
But then the officer started walking toward him.
One step.
Then another.
Ravi's heart began to beat faster.
Why is he coming toward me?
He looked around.
There were dozens of people standing nearby.
Yet the officer was coming straight toward him.
Ravi swallowed nervously.
“Mr. Ravi?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Where is your house?”
Ravi pointed toward the small house at the end of the lane.
“That one, sir.”
The officer looked at the house and then back at Ravi.
“We need to talk to you.”
Ravi's face changed.
“About what, sir?”
The officer didn't answer.
Instead, he looked toward the police jeep.
“Can you come with us for a few minutes?”
Ravi hesitated.
“Me?”
“Yes. You.”
Ravi looked around at the people standing nearby.
There were so many of them.
Why me?
His voice became quieter.
“Why, sir?”
The officer remained silent for a moment.
Then he said,
“Just come with us. We'll talk there.”
Ravi didn't move.
Something about the officer's tone frightened him.