Chapter 5

Dass dungi

@Phir_Mohabbat

Some days later, Bangalore PD head quarters

The DIG of BPD ordered everyone in head quarters to keep an eye on city. its 27th of month and according to a info from ETF something is going to happen. every police officer was on duty from last night, no passenger is entering or leaving city without proper checking. the vehicles are also being checked, whether its a car, bike or big 16 wheels truck. the red light area of the city where crime rate is higher than other places are under constant watch. in short, the city people are seeing so many police men in roads, cafeterias, near officers and railway station that for one moment they thought it must be independence day next morning.

the day had passed without any major incident, and for one moment the DIG thought the information ETF had sent them might not be right. but he was wrong, as in the evening an annonymous call came and told a big dealing of illegal arms is happening right under their nose. the police was quick to reach there, and though they could not catch anyone alive, what they saw made their eyes popped out of socket. such big amount of illegal arms, filled in 3 trucks. most of the officers didnt even see guns like these in their entire life. The DIG was thinking what to do, when he realised he didnt inform ETF about it yet. he quickly called the chief, Rathore, and informed him about it.

"Does Media got any news about this raid?" he asked, and DIG answered no. fortunately the annynomous person didnt call media yet.

"Take everything in your custody and clear the crime spot. dont leave any evidence in there, not even a niddle." Rathore ordered and the DIG nodded. cutting the call he gave orders to his fellow officers what rathore had said, and after some hours they had cleared the crime spot and took everything in their custody. the crime spot looked like it had not seen blood in its life time.

on the other hand, as soon as rathore cut the call, his eyes ran in the office to find Riya. he spot her, talking with the juniors, and called her from across the office. at first she was shocked, then the look of urgency made her realise he must have got something about their 'behind everyone's back' case. she walked hurriedly toward him, taking her bag with her, and he hold her wrist tight, nearly dragging her with him as he sprinted toward the door as if his house was on fire. on the way he told her everything, and they went straight to airport. there are certain plus points when you are staying with the Chief of ETF, so it was not a big deal that they had got tickets for Bangalore in the next flight though it was pick up session. after some hours, when they reached Bangalore, it was evening and the roads of city were wet due to drizzle. They entered the HQ after lots of checking, talked with the DIG, and then went to see the evidences they got from the crime spot.

"As you said, sir, we didnt leave anything in the crime spot, and till now media doesnt know anything." The DIG was proud of his team's work, but Rathore hardly noticed anything. his eyes were running  on the big cartoon boxes filled with illegal arms.

"This was a big catch. we had never seen this unique type of guns that too in this large extent." The DIG was astonished to see them, in secret he even wanted to try one of them. he tear his gaze from the boxes and turned to DIG, asking about the raid and if anyone was alive. he was dissappointed to know none survived, but there was a ray of hope. one of the police officers had seen properly the face of one of gangsters before he ran away, and right now he is making sketch of it with the help of a artist. 

In between Riya walked toward the cartoon boxes, picking up one gun and examining it carefully. she had never seen any guns like this, and it looked costly too. she kept it back, and then she saw it.

the same dragon spitting fire sign on the cartoon boxes.

"Sameer." she called, trying to keep her voice even but excitement gave her away. he came near her, and then he saw it too.

"inform the media." Rathore's strange voice hold everyone's attention, and they were even more confused to see a smirk on his lips.

"Inform the media about this raid. show each cartoon boxes, guns and dead gangsters. bangalore police Department deserves applause for it, and even you, DIG Shastri."

DIG was at first confused, but then nodded his head happily and ordered one of the police officer to inform media about it. in no time the entrance of BPD was filled with reporters and camera men, ignoring the continuing drizzle. Rathore felt a strange anticipation inside him as the DIG explained happily about the raid, showed each dead victim's face and guns to the camera. the DIG didnt know this raid was not the end, it was just the beginning.

"He wont keep quiet now, will he?" asked Riya quietly. it was a rhetorical question whose answer they both know.

"He wont even realise what hit him and how." Rathore replied, his eyes tightening, "This is the start of his downfall, and i will make sure he wont ever stand straight on his feet."

In between the ongoing press conference, a officer came and handed over a sketch to rathore. he kept him, thinking in mind to ask Rafik about it. he surely will know who is this person. He and Riya silently came out of HQ, leaving DIG in the spotlight.

"You want to go home?" Rathore asked to her as they were standing infront of the car which will drive them to airport. Riya thought for a while, then nodded in positive.

"I will be back tomorrow." She informed. they bid good bye, Rathore opened the door of the SUV to get inside, when he remembered something.

"How did you know it was HER i was planning to propose?" he wondered and she smiled in response.

"Its a secret i will take with me in my grave." she joked, and he rolled his eyes in reply.

"you see too much, more than anyone else."

"Its not true," she sighed, looking down, "I failed to see the most important thing."

"what is it?"

"My life." and with that she walked away, leaving him to wonder what she just said.

11 PM, Electronic city, Arora apartment building, Flat no 345, Bangalore

The time of night is usually meant for people to sleep peacefully in their house, but the owner of this flat doesnt believe in that. for him, night start after dawn, around 4 o'clock. then he go to sleep, now its a completely different matter that he wake up around 10, then sprint for bathroom to fresh n up, then like everyday he ran for his car with a apple in his hand, which is his only break fast. he reach hospital everyday at sharp 12, a record maker in coming late. apart from this, everything about his is oh-so-good. a born charmer, a good talker, with handsome feature and doctor by profession, Dev patel is THE ultimate marriage material. but surprisingly, till now he is bachelor. maybe one reason was that he had run away from his house when he was in his teens, so none was there to pester him for marriage, or maybe his profession, the major culprit. In the first meeting, anyone will be impressed when they will hear he is a doctor, but when they will know he is pagalon ka doctor, dont think the impression will be good then.

He is psychiatrist, aka pagalon ka doctor. a good, reputed one in his circle, his client list contains from aam admi to biggies from all sorts of profession. he is going good, and today it was a important day in his life. today, 7 years ago he had run away from his house so that he can study psychology. he was in mood for celebrating today, so he had just poured a glass of wine for himself, a gift from one of his biggy client, and was searching for a good hollywood action film in his DVD collection, the door bell of his flat ring, and it was his client cum good friend Riya Mukherjee was standing there.

she was a different case, a special for him. she was the first person with whose case he was emotionally involved. she had come to him nearly 2 years ago, she had left her job and she had lost her mom and bro, in a car bomb blast. at first she refused to communicate with him, only used to stare at floor with a blank expression on her face, but with time she opened up. Dev was sure if it was any other girl in her place, she would not have co-operated with him, but Riya had something in her, maybe the will power to live her life. she had shared so many things about her life, those therapy sessions had become like a meeting with friend. he didnt realise when she had become a good friend from a mere patient, and he felt successful when she informed that she is rejoining department. and now, she was infront of his door, at - he checked his watch, it was 11.23 pm- at 11.23 in night, looking embarrassed. maybe the inside psychiatrist had seen something in her, so he decided tonight there will be another therapy session of her in his flat, right now.

in no time Riya found the lights were dimmed, some aromatic candle liting up in the corners of room. she relaxed on his couch, her eyes closed, feeling totally stress free for the first time in days, and Dev settled opposite her, looking at her intently. he asked her questions and she answered them, still closing her eyes.

"How is life in Mumbai going?"

"its stress ful." she sighed, remembering her time in ETF and the behind everyone's back case. she didnt feel the memories too strongly now, maybe the physical distance helped.

"The work?"

"No. The office."

"hows everyone treating you?" Dev felt his hands were missing something, then he remembered, a notepad and a pen.

"Everyone is good. nice people."

"So, whats the problem?" Dev asked, not getting why she is worried if all is good there. Riya thought for a while before answering.

"There is a colleague in office." She started, remembering Arjun. Dev interrupted.

"His name?"

"Lets call him AR." This was the first time Riya was hiding something in her sessions. oh well, it was not exactly a session, so cheating was allowed. Dev frowned but didnt say anything.

"Ok. continue."

"AR, and my boss, lets call him SR, they are not on good terms." She continued, thinking each word carefully before speaking, "AR's wife was killed some years ago, and my boss thinks he was responsible for it."

"How?" Dev asked, still frowning.

"The wife was killed by some criminal, with whom AR had a enemity." Riya took deep breath, finally keeping her worry in front of him, "So if AR was responsible for his wife's death, then i am also responsible for my family's death, are'nt I?"

Dev sighed. sometimes he feel his every try to make her guilt go away from her chest in these years were a epic failure. the main reason of her depression was this, her guilt, and she come back to this after every failure or hardship she face, or maybe the guilt doesnt go away, it always stays inside her.

"What do you think?" he asked quietly, knowing fully well what will be her answer.

"I think I am responsible."

"open your eyes."

Riya heard the command and opened her eyes, letting it adjusted with the dim light of the room. she wore her specks back, and saw Dev clearly as he spoke.

"This world, it dont only work because the earth is moving and those horse craps science teaches us." He got up on his feet, pacing up and down slowly, "It works because of reasons, or blamings to be precise."

"Why are our present is like this? because of our past, so past is the reason or past is to be blamed for our present, you understood what i meant?" he asked and she nodded, but not getting how this is related to her worry.

"You are here because of your past. your past consist both good and bad things, and how much you want to, but you cant change it. Riya, the reason your family died, you were not the reason of it. maybe i am sounding crazy, but it was meant to happen. they were meant to die like that, how much you try you could not have save them, because their time was over here on earth. they had to die. their time was over, they had to go. the way they left you, it was horrible, and i am truly sorry for that, but you cant blame yourself for it for your entire life." Dev paused and looked at her intently, feeling a urge to shake her to put some sense into her. she looked at him with a blank expression.

"Your boss, next time he say something like that and you go straight punch his face." He joked and she smiled silently hearing him, "your colleague, AR, he was not reason of his wife's death either. if you blame yourself, then he is to be blamed too, cause from where i am seeing, you both are standing on same point."

Riya knew all these in her heart too, she just needed to hear it from Dev. he did the exact same thing and she felt a burden leaving her chest. for the first time in many, many days, she smiled truly, the killer dimple smile that leave many wounded.

"Ouch," Dev clutched his heart, faking an heart attack, "I am having a heart attack. a beautiful lady is killing me by her smile."

She laughed out aloud and he smiled too. finally, he thought, she was letting it go. he was feeling like he had won a battle.

they talked for a while, about how is life going and things like that. it was nearly 1, and he came to know she was leaving tomorrow.

"You are not going home?" he asked and her smile vanished momentarily. she started to play with her ring, wearing it, then removing it, and he narrowed his eyes.

"Come on! Uncle will be so happy to meet you!"

She sighed, making up her mind. she took her leave when it was nearly 1.20, and Dev closed the door behind her, smiling to himself. Though the guilt is gone, she still need time to get used to it. but she will be successful, he knew it.

Airport road, Home no 21/44, 'Eden', Bangalore, 2.0 am in morning.

Rajiv Mukherjee woke up when he heard the door bell ringing. it was 2 in morning, he rubbed his eyes and looked in the alarm clock. making a face which was a curious mixture of sourness and question, he walked toward the door and opened it, and felt christmas had arrived early for him. there stood his Daughter, Riya.

"Hi Dad." She greeted nervously, trying to give a small smile. he smiled widely in reply, stepping outside and embraced her in a warm hug.

"When did you arrive?" He asked as they both entered inside. he switched on the lights as she stood near the door.

"in the evening. i had a work in head quarters." she answered, looking worried, "sorry to woke you up, but i was thinking to go in morning so. . ."

Her dad smiled warmly, shaking his head disbelievingly at his daughter's word. its like she was not in her own home, but in some stranger's house.

"Did you eat anything?"

She shook her head in no. he told her to go freshen up, and she did so. in between he went to kitchen, heated up food and thinking about his lovely daughter who became a stranger for him in some years. she still didnt look in his eyes, he thought sadly and sighed. he will bet anything that she would not have come to house, maybe she would have spent the night in airport till her flight time, but Dev had told her to do so. That guy is like an angel for him, he smiled thinking about him, little crazy, but a good guy. a good influence on her.

Riya came out of her room, after having a quick shower and changed into fresh clothes. her dad served her and she started to eat, now feeling how much hungry she was. though she had burgers in Dominos before going to Dev's, but they were not enough. she ate like she had not eaten anything in ages and her dad looked at her from across the table, with a satisfactory smile on his face. she caught him staring, and she gulped down her food, now eating silently.

"The work in head quarter," he started a conversation, "was it successful?"

"yes." she answered, remembering all those cartoon boxes and dragon sign, "It was successful."

"Please, at least look at me when i am asking you anything." Her Dad said in a patient voice and she did so, blinking a little too fast. it was uncomfortable, but she didnt want him to make sad. he smiled again.

"cant you stay tomorrow?" 

"No, sorry." She answered, looking in her food, then to him, "Too much work pressure."

"of course, i understand." He nodded, "so, hows work going?"

"the people are nice. the office is fast paced, i have to work harder to match it." she answered truthfully, "Its out of habit, but i will do."

"of course you can." he answered encouragingly and she smiled little. he remembered something.

"Were you in head quarters because of the raid?" she looked shocked at his question but composed herself, "its all over in the news. such a big raid, and all those arms, oh my!"

"Yes." she didnt see any harm to say the truth and he looked surprise, but proud, "The DIG had called my boss to come here, so me and he came."

"Why he was not in the conference, your boss?"

"We left before conference." She lied, crossing her fingers under table, "The media entered and we exited."

he nodded, thinking about it and she went back to her food, thinking hopefully Sameer wont mind that she shared all these with her father.

"Your Boss, Sameer Rathore, right?" He asked, and she looked at him questioningly, "He was with you in academy, was not he?"

she nodded slowly, in mind thinking how come her dad remembered this. they had only met once, that too on the last day of academy on the farewell ceremony.

"At least you got someone." he shrugged and she nodded again. only if he knew she had gotten someone else too in that office . . .

"i am finished." She announced suddenly, getting on her feet, "good night."

"good night." he nodded and watched as she left for her room. he was happy that she was in home, but a part of him felt she was not fully here, like she had left a part of her mind somewhere else too. he shook his head to clear these weird thoughts, then got up on his feet to clear the table. the smile was back on his lips, and he even whistled to himself as he washed the dish.

next day, 11 am, ETF office

Arjun Rawte hardly sleep from some years, and now it seems like he and sleep had some kind of enemity as the latter absolutely refused to come near him. not that he wanted it to be, as there were some important things ongoing in his head. the time was passing too quickly as he was not getting enough time to think through.

like what happened yesterday. around afternoon, it looked like everything was going like it always do, but how wrong he was! out of nowhere Rathore started to shout rather than to call for HER, and then both of them literally sprinted for the door, holding hands. the later holding hands thing didnt bother him as he now know there is nothing between them, but the urgency of their run made him curious. what happened and where are they going?

they didnt come back at all that day later. The office was deserted and he was watching news. there was a news going on in every channel about a big raid of illegal arms in Bangalore which interested him for some reason. maybe because the name Banglore triggered a memory and he remembered it is HER town, or maybe nowadays he was linking anything with the words 'illegal' and 'arms'. he spent the whole night with his cutting tea while watching the news, the channels were repeating the press conference of BPD's DIG, as his mind drift away occassionally to the night when he had visited Rathore's house.

He can not see any reason behind Rathore's weird behavior. First of all he did not know why ETF was not involved in whatever thing Rathore and SHE is chasing, then his refusal to open his mouth about it. Arjun really wanted to go and spill about this to Raghu sir, but his self pride didnt let him. it had become a important self mission of his life to find about what they are upto, for some reason unknown to himself. he was not being mere curious or poking his nose, he felt something, or someone is important behind it. and if this someone is related to him in any way, he want in. 

and then, it was HERs. she is the ever mystery of his life, a mystery he is never gonna solve. sometime she looks like as if fighting something inside her and losing it. sometime she speak like a big philospher, showing him some bitter truths. sometimes she challenge him back, reminding him of those academy days. of course, she was changed, but some things dont change ever. like her anger, the way she had shouted back at him, he was sure if the phone call had not arrived things would have gone bad. or the fearlessness in her voice when Aisha had asked her if she was chasing this gang, though she had explained how absolutely dangerous this gang was, still her face didnt show any emotion of fear. He didnt know if she was being careless, or trying to be brave. both were not right, and also it didnt feel right that she came out of her ex officer mode just to chase a illegal arms dealing gang. something was miss.

he felt this 'something miss' nagging feeling stronger than ever as the night passed and a new day arrived. Rathore entered in time for the first time in many days, for some secret reason looking too pleased. he didnt look least bit bother when SHE didnt arrive, and when Aisha ask him about her, he said not to worry about her. what the hell is supposed to meant by that? yesterday they exit office together as if their houses were on fire, and today she didnt come office. actually, she did, around afternoon, looking better since she had arrive in this office. part of him was curious to know where was she, part of him tried to show it didnt care but failed miserably. he really wanted to know, but of course he could not ask HER straight away, and he didnt get anything from junior's whispers too

She had barely spent one hour in the office, when Rathore called her and they both again walked out of the office. It was not like earlier, sprinting toward door, but there was an urgency in their walk. It had become like an habit for the office to see their boss going out in between work, so they didnt bother and carry on with their works. He momentarily glared toward the door behind them as they vanished, but then realised he was glaring at nothing and they cant see him, so he went back to reading a special file in his cabin, that poker face too much hard on his face.

The same time, Mumbai police head quarters, Madala

The Defence minister looked at his watch impatiently as Rathore and Riya settled down, making a speech about how to explain all these to DIG Raghu sir and Minister. The minister had no idea what these two are going to say and why he was called so urgently here, but it must be important. He kept his phone on silent and along with DIG, listened intently to these two officers as they started their tale.

After some 30 minutes, the minster and DIG's faces were identical mask of shock and seriousness. Riya gave a look to Rathore, and he looked back, both waiting for Raghu sir's fury. They were hell sure Raghu sir wont spare them for risking their lives and bringing out all these informations without telling him anything.

"I have no reason not to believe you, officers." The minister spoke, at last, what seemed like an hour. Rathore straightned his back as he opened his mouth again, "I just cant believe the country's intelligence bureau and other investigative departments failed to see all these things."

"I myself had overlooked this from two years sir." Rathore's face hardened, "may the security guard's soul in Rawte's house rest in peace. He is the reason me and Riya got to know so many things."

Silence again prevailed in the room. Raghu sir finally shook off the dizzyness that had engulfed him and gave a chilled look to his ex students.

"You two were doing THIS behind my back?" He emphasised on This, and suddenly they both felt they were back in academy and Raghu sir is glaring at them because they did some mischief.

"Yes." They answered together. Minister looked at the trio in confusion, and Raghu sir composed himself, mentally making a note to talk to his formar students later and give them a piece of mind, he dont care one of his studens is the current chief of ETF.

"What you suggest, DIG  Dixit?" Minister asked and all eyes were on him, "we should order shoot at sight order for this gang?"

"There is a problem about this plan sir." Riya spoke, "we dont have any idea who are in these gang."

"You got one of their men." Minister argued.

"He is just a man, I am sure he cant know each and everyone of the gang." Rathore dismissed this plan.

"I suggest," Raghu sir spoke, "we inform every police stations and intelligence bureau of the country, specially Bangalore and Mumbai, to keep an eye on the criminals who had history of selling illegal arms. I am sure we can get much more information like this."

"I agree." Rathore nodded to him, "we will circle them from all sides, so that they cant get away." his voice turned venomous in the end.

"Honestly I am still under shock, "Minister sighed, "So much information to process. Fine, I will order all the departments to keep in touch with you, officer Rathore. I am handing over this case to you and your ETF team."

"NO!" This came jointly from Riya and Rathore. They nearly yelled, earning a frown and confused expression from Raghu sir and Minister.

"I think it will be better if you hand over this case to NIB (National Intelligence Bureau), sir." Rathore composed himself and explained, "and I think it will be better if media dont get any hint about this case."

"You dont want your own department to investigate this?" Raghu sir glared to Rathore, having little idea why he is doing so. Rathore looked apologetic.

"Sir, please," Riya jumped in, "ETF is already under so much pressure. I dont think it will be fair to our team."

"Fine, as you wish, Officer." Minister resigned, "I will tell NIB head to contact you. Though you are not handeling this anymore, still I want you to be in touch with this case."

"I assure you sir, WE will stay with this case till the end." Rathore emphasised on WE, earning a small smile from Riya. The minister left the room and they braced themselves for Raghu sir's fury.

"Honestly, Rathore, Mukherjee," Raghu sir only called them with their surnames when he is either angry or disappointed, and in this case he was both, "I have no idea what to say to you. I am proud, of course, that you two managed to find so much about this case, but your attitude toward your own department is disappointing."

"Sir. . ." rathore opened his mouth, but he didnt have any answer to this.

 "Is this about him? are you two trying to keep him away from this case?" Raghu sir asked and again, his ex students had no answer to it.

"You are not being fair to him, you know." He answered, "you trying to find everything on your own, in the end when you will find Sikandar, you will just hand him over the gun to shoot him. you are thinking in this way his thirst for revenge will get satisfied, but so wrong you are." He pinched his bridge of nose, closing his eyes, "He didnt enter in this department for the second time just to avenge. He wanted to find sikandar himself and kill him, and you two are taking it away from him."

"This is not about only him, sir." Riya answered, "Sikandar had killed many people too."

"Then why you are not adding him into it? why you are not taking this case to ETF?" Raghu sir glared fully, "Dont make me to give a lecture on team work now. If I am making this sound like its only about Rawte, you guys are too, by not adding him into this."

"I think as a chief I have some say about who to inform about what." Rathore said quietly. Riya looked at him like he had lost it, and Raghu sir gave him a icy look.

"Of course, you have. But are you forgetting I am the DIG and your ex mentor?"

"Sir, please," Riya tried to handle it, "We are not handeling this case anymore. We just did some finding of our own, and we always wanted to inform you after we get some solid proofs. We did so, now if you want to add him into it, do it. Its your choice."

after some ten minutes both walked out of the head quarters, looking sour, obviously getting some more lectures. Rathore drove toward ETF and vented out his frustration.

"He is still make me feel like we are still in academy. For god's sake I had passed out and now head of a department!"

"I cant believe you tried to boast about your chief-power to sir." She said in disappointed tone.

"I didnt!"

"What was that then, 'I think as a chief I have some say about who to inform'?"

"I didnt mean, you know it." He answered grumpily, not liking which way this conversation heading. the whole journey passed in absolute silence, and Riya went inside the office as soon as he stopped the SUV, irritated with him and to some extent, herself too. She had just pushed open the glass door, when she banged into Aisha.

"I am sorry!" Both said in unison and smiled at each other. Rathore walked past them, giving a soft look to Aisha and she noticed Riya looked somewhat pissed with him.

"For a intelligent man like him, he is sometime so idi. . ." Riya composed herself in the right moment and realised Aisha must have heard her. Aisha smiled to herself, making it look like she is rubbing her nose.

"Dont worry, I wont tell anyone that you nearly called Rathore sir Idiot." She whispered and Riya relaxed, chuckling.

"All ok?" Aisha asked, and she nodded, then realised they were still standing in the entrance.

"You were going somewhere?"

"Forensic lab." Aisha answered and left. Riya kept looking back to her till she vanished in the lift, thinking in mind maybe Aisha Kapoor is the first person who she liked almost instantly. she must have special charm.

Soon it was evening and the team had called it off a day. Chotu along with Shree and Liza was leaving, and Riya was gathering her bag, when Rathore got a call.

"Team!" He announced, and Liza had to stiffle a chuckle as Chotu looked horrified that his luck can be so bad that when he was about to leave, there was a new case.

The team rushed to the crime scene and cursed openly. It was a bomb blast sight, the local police informed the pieces of the crime scene belonged to a small maruti omni van. The blast was so powerful that the van was into pieces now, two man age approx 35, and one lady age approx 50 was killed in this. The forensic team took the bodies and Liza along with some other officers stayed back to gather some more evidences.

Rawte found a timer which was barely recognisable and the team reached a conclusion that it might be a time bomb. The faces of the people were damaged beyond repair, so Rathore ordered Shree to go with Local police and get missing person files.

In between The forensic team reached a conclusion that the petrol tank of the van was totally filled, one of the reason why the bodies and van were so damaged. Rathore sent Chotu to check into the petrol pumps nearby and he left. as it was a bomb blast case they could not overlook the terrorism aspect too, so ETF informed the local police to be on high alert and keep an eye for anyone or anything suspicious.

The team reached ETF office where they came to know about a shocking thing, the people in the van, they were already dead before blast. their time of death were 5 hours ago before the blast's time. They had not get anything till dawn, as Chotu kept looking for petrol pumps and Shree busy in local police station. Rathore told everyone to leave for their houses and come back several hours later so that they can get proper rest, and took off with Aisha, giving her lift to her house.

Rawte, as usual, went inside his cabin, his both feet on the table and fingers busy to twirl the pen. His mind thinking about the blast sight and if he was missing any evidences. For some reason his mind got distracted and he was suddenly thinking why SHE didnt say a word about this case in crime scene, or in office. His neck snapped toward the glass wall and saw SHE was sitting in a chair, her back facing to him. she had said she needed to do some paper work, doesnt look like she is doing any of it.

He continued to look at her, and realised she was not moving an inch in her seat. there was no movement at all, like it was not a person who was sitting on a chair but a statue. He wondered if she had dozed off, and decided to check. He walked out of his cabin and pulled open the door of discussion room, still she didnt show any movement. He glared to her, thinking she must be showing off that he is invisible to her.

He stood behind her, crossing his arms over chest, expecting for her to turn her seat to him and look at him. the time passed and she didnt do any, and now he felt something must be wrong. He walked toward her and stood infront of her so that now he was standing infront of her. Her head was resting between her palms which she kept on her legs, he had no idea if she was dozing off like that or thinking something intently. His eyes soften for a moment, but the mask of indifference was back in no time.

"And I thought you were doing paper work." He mocked her. She even didnt look at him or answer something. her indifference to him irked him.

"I am talking to you."

Still no reply. he clenched his fist, he really, really wanted to shout at her, but he didnt. He opened his mouth to retort something, when she finally shifted her elbows and kept them on her lap, her head still lowering, and he felt though it seemed like she was staring at the floor, her mind was far away.

"You okay?" He asked rather softly, and finally, he thought with relief, she looked at him. it still looked out of focus, like she was not really looking at him. and then, without any warning, she stood on her feet, took one step toward him and leaned on his chest, clutching the fabric of his shirt tightly like she was trying to hide herself from something.

That he was shocked would be understatement of the century. A part of his mind was saying why she is doing this, another part which hates everything about this damn world told him to push her away, but his heart, which mostly stay quiet, told him to hug her back. He didn't do any of these, just stood there like a statue, trying to figure out what was wrong all of a sudden.

Heart is a really funny thing. Most of the time it contradict our mind and do things which we try so hard not to, same thing happened with him. Since the time She entered his life, his heart and mind was on constant war, what his mind suggest his heart negates. Right now, when his mind was working overtime, shouting him to push her away and trying to figure out what was wrong with her, his heart whispered near his ear to hold her, because she needed it. And he did just the same, for one second totally forgetting that they are not friends anymore, that she fought with him and ended their relation, that he was supposed to be still angry with her. He switched off the part of his mind which was shouting  PUSH HER AWAY a bit too much, for some moment wanting and trying to comfort her. He wrapped his arms around her, keeping his chin on her head.

Till this, Riya was in some kind of trance. She didn't have any idea when He entered discussion room, or what the hell he was telling her. She saw him, and for her own sanity leaned on to him, trying to hide herself in him. She was tired of constant fighting, with herself, with him, with this world. The timing was so bad, just when she was getting out of her guilt and becoming free, this case happened. It was like a reality check, that this guilt is a part of her life, and that she was wrong to even think she will be able to get over it. The bomb blast sight, those bodies, all took her back to the time when her own family was a victim of a similar case, the only difference was the bomb was for her and they died accidentally. It was a big blow to her, she totally lost her focus from the case, from this present and was living in the nightmare of past.

She felt something on her back, and with a shock realised it was his arms, He was hugging her! With this realisation came more shocks, like what the hell she is doing? Letting him see her vulnerable side! How can she do it? Another part of her mind just didn't care about it, it didn't had the energy to put on the mask of indifference like HE does. But like always, the logical mind won over heart (in her case mind always wins); she freed his shirt from her clutches, removed her face from his chest and took a step back, trying to gather her last bits of sanity and mask of indifference.

He felt she was moving away from him and let her go, lowering his arms, and suddenly felt a strange kind of emptiness. It was some of the things which he often feel whenever he is with her, he used to feel during the time they were friends, but the feelings were always unexplained, maybe he didn't analyze them, maybe he didn't want to. For the first time he was happy to see her mask of indifference was back, he clearly didn't like her broken vulnerable side; his selfish side even cooked up a nice reason about this, he wanted to fight with her and for fighting, she needed to be strong and sarcastic. He stared at her face intently but she didn't even look up to him, and decided its better if they both treat this incident like it never happened.

"Let me drop you to home." He offered, his voice somewhat softer than earlier. She snapped her eyes at him, both shocked but relieved that he didn't ask her anything about this incident, and nodded meekly. She took her bag and they both walked out of the discussion room, the case and paperwork lay forgotten.

The journey towards her home was too silent, neither of them wanted to break it. She was feeling guilty that she let him see her broken side, he was feeling curious that what happened to her all of a sudden, but decided against to ask her about it. Her home arrived and she went out of SUV, still behaving like she was in some kind of trance. He wanted to ask her if she was okay but the words dies inside him. She vanished behind the closed door of her house as he stared at her, then snapped out of it, heading for Ravi lodge. When he reached near lodge, he realised she had left her phone in SUV. He instantly wanted to go back and give it back to her, then decided to give it her in office. The 4 hour he spent in his room, he was thoroughly irritated as her phone was constantly buzzing, some Dev was calling repeatedly. He really wanted to answer it and explain the situation but decided against it. The curiosity bug was working again, who was this person and why he is calling so much.

Some hours later, the whole team was back in ETF and was working on the current case. Rawte and his poker face was listening to the new informations gathered by team, one part of his mind analysing them, another part thinking SHE had not arrived yet, is she not going to come today? To his inner relief she did come to office, though after the dicussion was over. she looked much more relaxed and apologized for the lateness. The team walked out of the discussion room,  and like always it was them who was alone in the room.

"You forgot your mobile in SUV." he started, taking out her phone from his pocket and giving it to her. She looked surprised, then relieved, obviously she could not find her phone and thought she had lost it. She took the phone and even without checking kept in her jeans pocket.

"Some Dev was repeatedly calling." He continued, and this time she looked stunned, then the expression changed, to realisation and at last apologetic. She took out the phone and saw the number of missed calls, tapping the phone in her forehead like she was hitting herself for some stupidity. He was both curious and amused at her behavior.

"So?" he asked, and she looked at him, this time confused.

"So?" she repeated, not getting him. He rolled his eyes.

"Won't you even try to tell me who is Dev?" He was little angry at her, was she really dim witted or too much indifference?

"You won't want to know." she answered, and it literally added fuel to his fire. Just like that, she decided he won't be interested to know. Like always, she decided what he is thinking, not even trying to know what he is actually, thinking.

"For a change I really want to know." His voice was sarcastic and she looked stunned, "You see, your phone was with me for 4 hours and this Dev guy called nearly 100 times, disturbing my sleep."

She flushed at his comment, again keeping the phone in her jeans. He waited with very little patient for her to speak up, and she didn't disappointed him.

"He is my . . ." she paused for a while, thinking in mind if she should mention doctor or friend, then went with the second one cause it will end this conversation right away, "Friend. Very good friend."

He really have no idea why he just went total inquiry department on her, trying to know about the caller. And he thought anything about her or her life doesn't interest him, oh how wrong he was! He looked on as she went toward a corner to call someone and started to talk excitedly to the caller, of course to that Dev person. Her face had a kind of glow while talking, and suddenly he felt time had passed and everything has changed. Earlier it was only him and Rathore as her friend, now she have a life in her home town, she has now new friends. Of course she always had her own life back in town before meeting them, but he always used to think Her life started and stopped with them. Maybe it was another thing he mistook about her, or maybe His life started and stopped with Rathore and Her. Maybe it was the reason it hurts so much to be around them. 

He shook off his thoughts and focused of the present, but that nagging feeling of emptiness didn't leave him.