The Stranger at Midnight

It was a cold, quiet night in the small village of Himatpur. The moonlight bathed the dusty lanes, and most homes were dark, their residents fast asleep. But in a modest house on the edge of the fields, Meera was wide awake, her heart racing.

She had been alone in the house since her husband, Arjun, left two days ago for work in a neighboring town. Tonight, the wind howled louder than usual, rattling the wooden windows as if something—or someone—wanted to come inside. Meera tried to focus on her stitching, but the creaking roof above made her freeze.

"Probably just the old house," she whispered to herself, trying to shake off the unease.

Then it happened. Three sharp knocks at the door.

Meera’s heart leaped into her throat. Who would come so late at night? She tiptoed to the door, her hand trembling as she picked up a heavy iron rod for protection. Peeking through a crack, she saw a shadowy figure standing outside, a shawl hiding their face.

"Who’s there?" Meera called out, her voice unsteady.

"Please," the man said. "I need help."

His voice was raspy, almost desperate. Meera hesitated, torn between fear and compassion. Finally, she unlatched the door slightly.

The man stumbled in, clutching his side. His kurta was torn, and blood stained his hands. He collapsed onto the floor.

"What happened?" Meera asked, fear giving way to concern.

"I… I was attacked in the fields," he gasped. "They’re still after me."

"They?" Meera’s eyes widened.

Before the man could say more, another knock echoed through the house. This time, it came from the back door. Meera’s pulse quickened.

"Don’t open it!" the man hissed.

Meera froze. She looked at him, then at the back door. Her instincts screamed to lock it, but she was rooted to the spot.

The knock turned into a loud bang. "Meera, it’s me!" a familiar voice called out.

"Arjun?" Meera ran to the door and unbolted it. Her husband stepped inside, his face pale and filled with worry.

"Are you alright?" Arjun asked, holding her tightly. Then his gaze landed on the injured man.

"Who’s this?"

"He says he was attacked in the fields," Meera explained.

Arjun’s expression hardened. "I saw no one on my way back. What if he’s lying?"

The man shook his head weakly. "I’m telling the truth. They’re coming… you must believe me."

Before anyone could respond, the front window shattered. A masked figure jumped inside, holding a knife. Meera screamed as Arjun grabbed a wooden stool to defend them.

The fight was chaotic and brief. Arjun managed to overpower the attacker, but when they turned to check on the injured man, he was gone.

When the police arrived, there was no sign of the man who had sought shelter—or his supposed attackers.

To this day, Meera and Arjun wonder if the stranger was a victim—or someone far more dangerous.

Comment down to let me know according to you who is that Stranger?

Detective Priya Sharma : Case -01

Detective Priya Sharma was known for her sharp mind and quick instincts. She had solved countless cases, but this one was her first official case. It wasn’t a murder or a robbery—it was a mystery involving a missing necklace worth a small fortune.

The Mehra family, one of the wealthiest families in town, had reported their family heirloom—a diamond necklace—stolen during a dinner party. The necklace had been in a glass case in the living room, but after the party, it was gone. The case was locked, no sign of forced entry, and the only people at the party were close family and friends. It was a puzzle that no one could explain.

Priya arrived at the Mehra mansion, greeted by Mrs. Mehra, a tall, elegant woman with a worried look on her face. "I just don’t understand," she said, wringing her hands. "We were all in the house, and no one left the room for long. The necklace was there, and then... it wasn’t."

Priya nodded, taking in the scene. She looked around the living room—plush carpets, expensive paintings, and, in the center of the room, the empty glass case where the necklace had been. "I’ll need to speak to everyone who was here," Priya said calmly. "And I’ll take a look around."

The guest list was small: Mrs. Mehra, her husband Mr. Mehra, their daughter Kavya, two close friends, and the house staff. Priya spoke to each of them, and everyone had the same story—they had been in the room together most of the night, and no one had noticed anything unusual.

As Priya interviewed the guests, she kept an eye on their body language. Mr. Mehra seemed annoyed, tapping his fingers on the table. The daughter, Kavya, looked nervous, constantly glancing at her phone. The two friends, Mr. and Mrs. Kapoor, seemed calm, though Mrs. Kapoor was fidgeting with her bracelet.

Priya knew something wasn’t adding up. After talking to everyone, she went back to the glass case. She crouched down, examining the lock. It was a high-end, tamper-proof design, but Priya noticed something strange—small scratches near the latch. Someone had tried to open it, but not by force. It looked like they had used a tool, carefully, to avoid leaving obvious damage.

Her mind started racing. The necklace wasn’t taken by an outsider; it had to be someone at the party, someone who knew how to pick the lock without raising suspicion. But why hadn’t anyone seen it happen?

Priya asked Mrs. Mehra to gather everyone in the living room once more. As they stood together, Priya pointed to the glass case. "The necklace was taken by someone in this room," she said, watching their reactions. Mrs. Mehra gasped, while Mr. Mehra rolled his eyes. "That’s impossible," he muttered. But Priya wasn’t done.

"The thief used a tool to unlock the case quietly, which means they planned this carefully. But the real trick wasn’t in how they took the necklace—it was how they hid it."

She turned to Mrs. Kapoor, who looked confused. "Your bracelet," Priya said, pointing to the thick gold band around Mrs. Kapoor’s wrist. "May I see it?"

Mrs. Kapoor hesitated, but then slid the bracelet off her wrist. Priya took it and twisted the clasp, revealing a hidden compartment inside. There, neatly folded, was a small piece of fabric—a cloth used to wrap the stolen necklace.

The room went silent.

"I believe the necklace was hidden in this bracelet during the party," Priya said. "No one would suspect it, and Mrs. Kapoor could easily slip away later to retrieve it."

Mrs. Kapoor’s face turned pale. "I... I didn’t mean for it to get this far," she stammered. "I just... I needed the money."

Mrs. Mehra looked shocked, but Priya remained calm. "You’re under arrest for theft," she said, placing the bracelet on the table.

As Mrs. Kapoor was led away, Priya turned to Mrs. Mehra. "The case is closed, but be careful who you trust," she said, before heading out of the mansion.