Samay: When Time Strikes

ACP Malvika Chauhan, a widowed detective with a young daughter, is saddled with investigating the murder of a reputed businessman. The case is puzzling because the killer leaves no evidence. The assignment sets the stage for a tense, methodical pursuit of answers.

Before Malvika can dive into the businessman’s case, a renowned heroine is killed, suggesting a serial killer may be at work. The high-profile murder broadens the scope of the investigation and increases public pressure. Malvika begins to suspect a chilling pattern between the cases.

As the investigation unfolds, Malvika discovers the three victims have no clear links and no common suspects near their crime scenes. The absence of motive and evidence perplexes her and hints at a method that defies conventional crime patterns. A sense of danger grows as she threads through disparate clues.

Malvika starts feeling stalked, a chilling pressure that suggests someone is watching her every move. When she corners a line of inquiry, the stalker reveals he’s acting on behalf of a criminal mastermind named Suleman Bhai. The encounter deepens the mystery and ties the case to a larger network.

Seeking answers about the mastermind behind the stalking, Malvika goes to Suleman Bhai’s house only to find Suleman dead. The apparent 'proof' of his complicity vanishes, and Malvika is left with more questions and a sense that time is running out. The death intensifies the game of cat and mouse.

Reviewing the case files, Malvika identifies four potential connections among the victims, hinting at a pattern or repeated method. The analysis sharpens her focus on a shared vulnerability rather than a direct motive. This discovery reorients the investigation toward a subtler, more elusive killer.

Malvika visits the optical shop where all victims reportedly bought glasses. The assistant claims he can see clearly but has weak vision, a clue that hints at the killer’s point of view. In the dark shop, Malvika suspects she spoke with someone she could not see, a possibility that unsettles her.

From the customer lists, Malvika discovers a man named Amod Parekh who shares the same eye power (-2) as the victims and visited the shop on the same days. This connection makes him a prime suspect in the minds of Malvika and her team. The search for Amod becomes central to the case.

Malvika’s associate Satya tracks the killer’s possible next target and learns a renowned musician with the same eye power (-2) is performing that evening. Security is tightened around the performer, and the clock ticks toward the planned 9 pm window. The tension mounts as they try to outpace the killer.

The team locates Amod’s address, and he reveals himself to Malvika in front of the musician. The confrontation exposes a personal history and raises the stakes as Amod challenges Malvika’s confidence. The room bristles with a dangerous mix of intellect and threat.

Amod explains that his police academy credentials outstripped Malvika’s, but a bad eyesight with power -2 derailed his career. He argues that his victims rose to fame, implying a twisted justification for his actions. He frames his killings as a calculated response to a flawed system.

Amod taunts Malvika, claiming she is blind to a crucial truth. He reveals that he did not intend to kill the musician and instead killed Malvika’s daughter at 9 pm, who also had eye power -2 and had visited the same optical shop that evening. The revelation shatters Malvika’s footing and reframes the killer’s modus operandi.

Malvika’s associate pleads for restraint, but she is consumed by grief and resolve. In a decisive moment, she shoots the killer dead at 12 am, bringing justice for her daughter and bringing the case to a close. The victory is pyrrhic and bittersweet.