Chapter 4: The Missing Necklace Conundrum
The wedding madness had reached its peak, but Niki and Niha were still determined to solve the mystery of the missing necklace. After their unexpected run-in with Aunt Meena and the samosa drama, they knew they had to get back on track.
As they walked toward the main hall, Niki glanced at Niha. “I still don’t understand. Why would anyone swap the necklace? It’s a necklace. People wear those, not hide them in the back of a cupboard.”
Niha shook her head. “There’s something deeper going on here, Niki. Whoever did this wanted to make sure the real necklace never made it to the bride. But why?”
Niki scratched his head. “Maybe they’re trying to get a ‘thank you’ card out of Chacha, like he was.”
“Maybe. Or maybe it’s something more. We’ll never know until we confront the real culprit.” Niha crossed her arms. “And trust me, it’s not going to be easy.”
---
The Confrontation with Cousin Radhika
Cousin Radhika, who had a knack for getting into everyone’s business, was standing by the wedding cake, gazing at it as if it held the secrets of the universe. She turned when Niki and Niha approached.
“Oh, you two,” Radhika said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. “I suppose you’re here to accuse me of stealing the necklace, too?”
Niki looked confused. “Uh, what? No. We just came to—”
“Because I would never touch the necklace!” Radhika interrupted, her eyes wide. “I’m far too busy dealing with other important matters, like ensuring the perfect placement of these sparkly stones on the cake. Do you see the way they catch the light? It’s art.”
Niha blinked. “Right. So, no necklace-stealing, just cake-stoning.”
Radhika sighed dramatically. “You don’t understand. The cake must be perfect. It’s my legacy. No one will remember your wedding, but they’ll remember the cake!”
Niki looked at Niha. “Okay, I don’t know which part of that was more unsettling. The cake or the... legacy.”
Niha shot him a warning look. “We need to keep our eyes on the prize, Niki. Focus on the necklace.”
---
The Cake Incident: A Twist of Fate
Just as they were about to walk away, Radhika dramatically tripped—but instead of falling flat on her face, she managed to knock over a tower of decorative samosas instead.
“Noooo!” Radhika wailed. “My artistic vision!”
The samosas scattered everywhere, crashing to the floor, their crispy shells shattering in a tragic heap.
“Uh-oh,” Niki muttered. “That’s a big problem.”
Niha sighed. “Honestly, at this point, I think we might need a legacy for surviving all this.”
“Don’t worry, don’t worry!” Radhika said, clutching her pearls. “I’ll fix it, I’ll fix it. I’m sure the samosas will be good as new!”
Niha and Niki exchanged skeptical glances. “Uh, I don’t think samosas come with an undo button,” Niki said, chuckling.
Before Radhika could respond, the sound of someone else’s voice interrupted the chaos.
“Did someone say ‘necklace’?”
The three of them turned to see cousin Arun strolling into the scene, his casual demeanor hiding something more sinister.
Niha raised an eyebrow. “Arun, what are you doing here?”
“Oh, you know, just casually enjoying the spectacle,” Arun replied, eyeing the mess of samosas with a raised eyebrow. “Looks like I missed the real party.”
Niki narrowed his eyes. “You’re awfully calm for someone who’s standing in the middle of a wedding disaster.”
Arun’s lips curled into a small smirk. “I’m not the one who’s been running around like headless chickens, am I?”
Niha’s eyes gleamed with determination. “You know where the necklace is, don’t you?”
Arun chuckled. “Necklace? What necklace?”
Niki looked at him suspiciously. “Come on, don’t play coy. We know you’re involved.”
“Well, well,” Arun said, stepping closer. “You think I’m the mastermind behind this mess?” He chuckled darkly. “If I were, I’d be wearing the necklace myself. Wouldn’t you agree?”
---
The Plot Thickens
Just as Arun was about to make his dramatic exit, Radhika shouted, “Wait! I remember!”
Niha and Niki turned in unison, eyebrows raised. “Remember what?” Niha asked.
“The necklace!” Radhika exclaimed. “I was at the store when it was first bought! It’s… well, it’s got this distinctive tag!”
Niki looked at Radhika, unimpressed. “A tag? Really?”
Radhika waved her hands dismissively. “It’s not just a tag. It’s a really fancy tag. You can’t miss it.”
Niha groaned. “Of course. Of course, it’s a fancy tag.”
Suddenly, Arun burst out laughing. “I should’ve known! Radhika, you always miss the obvious stuff.”
“What are you talking about, Arun?” Radhika shot back.
“The necklace tag!” Arun said, grinning. “You don’t think it’s right here? It’s been sitting on the coffee table in the living room the entire time. I saw it earlier. I knew it was too easy.”
Niki and Niha exchanged a look. “This is it,” Niha said, grinning. “We’ve found it!”
---
To be continued
Stay tuned
