Ariya ETF AU An Imperial Affliction pg 31 27th Dec - Page 14

She is distancing herself again

Ayesha-riya moment in cabin was nice

I loved granny-riya phone convo I feel bad for them

I'm missing ariya closeness they r missing their charm the fire btw them

Awesome update

Cont soon

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.

- Henry Ellis

People says morning is the best part of a day. The pure air to breathe, soft sunlight before it goes up and start glaring, soft hum of city before it starts to get on your nerves with the traffic and pollution and general yelling of people, the whole package makes it more alluring. Those who manage to get up early in morning swores it made their lives far better than normal people.

But one morning, the city woke up not only to general goodness associated with it, but triple amount of breaking news.

Fed up with uselessness of Delhi Police, Home ministry had intervened in the serial killer case and handed it over CBI after a late night meeting in the house of the said Minister. That's an embarrassment the Department won't forget for years to come. Not to forget they will be subjected to bunch of fresh ridicules from media and public alike.

As if one embarrassment to a state run Police department was not enough, the news papers of Mumbai section printed a page 3-ish headlines regarding ETF Director Aisha Kapoor, who was photographed with a senior male of her department last night, which naturally suggested she might have used her 'Feminine charm' to get her position as she was secretly having an affair with the Man whose face was, suspiciously, hidden even though her face was stark clear in the night vision picture in the report. After all, there is a reason for scarcity of female employees, they are useless anyway. The few managed to get on top, they have to use some wicked charm.

If someone was fed up with the headlines where Police dominated, they had Royal scandal to look up to. The crown prince of Jodhpur was in town with his wife for a business meeting. They were staying in a bunglow, on the outskirts of city. She was murdered last night, making the husband the prime suspect in a cliched and obvious way.

Riya was sitting in the cabin of the Director as the latter reads through each line of the report submitted by the ACP, her brows furrowed in deep concentration. The ACP is always late in submission her share of reports, and even as she does there are bunch of mistakes which the Director corrects, always suspecting if it's not her way to rile her up. She side eyed the ACP, who is leaning back casually on her chair and playing on her phone, one feet crossed on others, the picture of utter relaxation. Total opposite of Aisha, who was restless the moment she noticed the stupid headlines this morning.

Annoyed at the reminder of the headlines, she shook her head, ready to head back to the file. She barely noticed one line, when the anchor in the TV started a discussion, the topic being 'Sexism and working woman'. Glaring at the offending TV which none ever switch off, she wondered maybe the topic should have been 'Media and there limitless stupidity'. It disgusted her that these were the same people who were praising her not a week ago due to that joint Drug case.

Rascals.

The sound of 'Game Over' playing on a loop snapped her neck to look at the ACP, who was also observing the news with casual interest, the ever present mirth lurking in her eyes. Some other time, she might have humored her, but now? She was not in the damn mood.

"Having fun?" She sneered. The ACP looked at her, blinked once, then smirked, taking in her irritated expression.

"I am now." She flipped the phone shut, suddenly interested in the woman in front of her. Aisha glared, not sure on whom she is more angry, at Riya or the stupid reporters.

"One party." Putting the pen calmly down, she pinched the bridge of her nose, "One party and these fuc*ing vultures." She hissed, "My Mother called and asked me why I went for older Man, that too in my own department. Can you believe her?"

Riya did what any good ex-friend with a knack for driving people crazy would, she started to laugh. Uncharacteristically, Aisha threw the heavy paper weight made of glass at her, not even thinking it might seriously hurt the former. In her defense, her sub-conscious mind knew the ACP had crazy reflex which was proven right when she caught it before it could hit her. Also, the Director really wanted to hit something by this point. A person who is laughing at her situation looked like a good target practice.

"How are the PR team handling it?" The ACP went suddenly serious as her grip tighten and loosen around the paper weight. Aisha exhaled.

"Like they always do. We are avoiding it."

"I think you need better people."

"That's the it works, RIya. You can't always shut them up no matter how much you try."

The ACP met her eyes with a steely glance, "You can. Just need to know the right person to do so."

The Director frowned, "What . . . " But before she could ask more, the landline rang, interrupting them. As she talked, Riya put the paper weight right where it belonged, lost somewhere in her mind as she brood. When the call ended and receiver hit the phone, her head snapped up.

"We are handling the Prince's wife's murder case."

She gave a mischievous smirk, "Are not we full today?"

Aisha rolled her eyes.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Chotu whistled, Shree gaped silently, Sakshi went crazay as she clicked pictures, Arjun just shook his head at his team's behavior as if they are in a museum, while Sameer sulked in a corner, bitten by the same frustration bug which bit the Director. Hard.

After 10 minutes of murmured awe at the amazing architecture, chandeliers and antique statues, Riya said to Arjun, "Let me know when the work starts."

She made a show of moving away, but he caught his wrist on a reflex, never looking at her and noticing her genuine look of surprise even though he barked at his team, "Are we here for picnic or work, people?!"

According to the schedule of the Crown prince, which was ranted by his PA because apparently royality people don't talk to outsiders directly, he was out for business dinner and the wife was alone. They found her near the piano, blood on the keys and pooling at the legs of the instrument. Someone had hit her first, that's what sent her stumbling backwards. The internal bleeding was due to hitting the piano with her head, Liza informed people. The murder weapon, a metal vase, was used to hit her head repeatedly. 23 times, a new assitant of Liza's piped in, earning a wince from Sakshi.

"Lots of anger." Sameer commented for the first time, his arms crossed over his chest. He was fully silent the moment he walked in.

"The businessman backs the prince's story." Shree said, "TOD is around 11 PM. He didn't get out of the hotel until 12.30. The PA was there as well."

"The PA was eating food his boss was paying for. Can't take his answer." Arjun glanced at the said PA who was giving statement to Chotu, "Go through Hotel CCTV." He turned to Sameer, "Meanwhile, let's grill the Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince, a man in early forty-s, with clean shaven face and perfectly combed hair didn't look mildly remorseful that his wife was brutally killed last night. His face was perfectly composed. Maybe it was grief, maybe it was traquility that his anger had subsided, who knows? Until the team could get any evidence, of couse.

Turned out, it was not as much grilling as it was a staring contest between the men. As if what they can't find out through questions, they are planning to find out by deep stare in soul. After it was over, the ETF men looked more trouble because they could not figure out if the prince was devil or just a person who had mastered the art of compartmentalizing. They focussed on the security personnel instead, trying to get justification from them about this glaring hole in the security system.

The Crown Prince, satisfied that he successfully got the interrogation off his back, walked over to the forensic team (Ladies), laying on his charm thick with subtle compliments and gentle bow of head. While Liza and Sakshi looked smitten, both due to his good looks and posied behavior right after he lost his wife, Shree wrinkled his nose in distrust, which is fully due to his male ego. Riya, however, found him oddly suspicious.

Turned out, she was not the only one who was trying to figure him out. He introduced himself politely as he stood in front of her, behind him both the female ogling and giggling quietly.

"I don't think I have gotten your introduction yet." He said, his posture indicating relaxation but she could see what it was exactly. Defense.

Because it was an art she had been practicing since the day she was born. A camouflage.

"No, we have not." She said, meeting his gaze directly. He might have seen something because the polite facade dropped for a moment. Maybe he realized she was of the same species like him.

"Are not you going to?" He asked, feigning curiosity. She tilted her head to a side.

"You are fairly welcoming to a bunch of people who is turning your life upside down."

He shrugged, "You people are not the reason my wife died."

"True." She agreed, "Still, doesn't take off the sting."

Unconsciously, he mimicked her head tilt, "You are an unusual creature, Miss." He said after a while, eyes narrowing, "Your eyes remind me of my Father's. He was a soldier."

She quirked her eyebrow at it.

"He never just looked at people. He gauzed them, assesed them. You doing the same to me." He abruptly stopped, like he had said too much.

"And apparently, you doing the same." She took a step toward him, getting directly into his private space. Something flashed in his eyes before he straighten his back, his walls erect and visible now.

"What do you see, then?"

"A sociopath." She said after a few beats had passed. He smirked.

"People have called me worst." Pausing, he asked, "Not a murderer, then?"

"Would not put it past you." She answered almost immediately, surprising him. He looked speechless, like the verdict of the case had already been out.

"But in this case? Let us investigate first." She walked past him, surprising him once again.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

3 days, repeat loops of CCTV footages, more grilling of crown prince, his staff, the hotel staff and his businessman partner and countless other tactics later the team was forced to admit- even though he is the obvious and most suspicious character in this whole drama, he could not have been present at the crime scene to kill his wife.

"If not him, who else?" Sameer grunted. His bad mood had only escalated in these 3 days.

"He didn't exactly have any reason either." Chotu pointed out, "He has assets of his own. If he wanted more . . . well, not sure about greed then."

"It might be marital disputes." Arjun said, "Maybe he had mistress. Maybe she was cheating on him. Maybe they were mutually unhappy. The killer had a lot of anger. It had to be someone she knew."

"How it's even possible the place, which's security is basically like a fort, missed a person slipping in and out? There is something fairly suspicious about that place." Shree said.

"He can't be the killer." Sakshi said, "He was not present, remember? We need to look for the alternatives." She eyed the team mates to see if anyone agreed with her or not.

Nobody did.

After the meeting was over, Shree-Chotu went to the bunglow to grill them security staff once again, while Sameer-Riya-Arjun stayed back.

"I know nothing feels right about this case, and the husband is obvious." Arjun said, "But we don't have any evidence."

"The Man is unsettling." Riya admitted, as the duo glanced at her, "There is something up with him."

"You think he is killer?" Arjun asked. She didn't say anything, just looked at him instead.

Sameer grunted, "Now what?"

Arjun leaned on his seat, playing with a pen, "Something Shree said stuck with me. There is something suspicious about the place." Looking at the ceiling, he continued, "We need a warrant to search that place. We have exhausted every other alternative anyway."

"We may have lost many evidences by now." Sameer pointed out. The Second-in-Command looked at him.

"Have to take the risk."

After he left, Sameer glared wordlessly at something, while Riya rolled her eyes at his 'sulky child' routine of past few days.

"If you want to do something, do it. Don't sulk." She said. His head snapped to look at her.

"I am not . . . " He started protesting, but gave up, "There is nothing we can do. These sort of things die with time."

"There is always something we can do." She replied, "Just have to look at the right direction." She looked through the glass wall of the discussion room to outside, which he followed, and noticed the crime journo chattering with the receptionist.

The next moment, he was out of his chair.

Sakshi was positively terrified when Sameer basically summoned her and when she walked with him towards the corner of staircase which leads to terrace, she found the ACP already standing there.

"What's going on?" She asked timidly.

"We are planning your murder." The ACP answered dryly. It took a moment for the crime journo to realize it was a joke, yet she took two step backwards, away from the stair. Just to be safe.

Sameer semi- glared at the ACP before turning toward her, "We need your help."

"Sure . . . ?" She posed it as question.

"I want to know who published the first story regarding Ais . . . Director." He corrected himself, more due to habit than anything else. Sakshi made a face at the unnecessary correction, but didn't say anything.

"The story was by a freelancer, this much I know. But the name . . . " She trailed off.

"The name, you are going to give us." Riya said next, giving the crime journo whiplash as she turned her neck to look at her.

"I don't know the reporter."

"No." She agreed, "But you know people, who know other people. It won't be difficult for you to get a name."

"The possibility of that is . . . " Sakshi was ready to laugh off the ridiculousness of the statement, but the ACP cut her off.

"The faster you start asking, the possibilities goes up."

Sakshi blinked several time, before asking sternly, "And what happens after I give you the name?"

"I will punch him in the face." Sameer's response was instant, "Just to teach him a lesson. He will be more careful next time, both for his career's sake and life's sake."

It was expected, she mused. Then she turned to the ACP.

"And you?"

"He will live." She smirked coldly, "That's the answer you are looking for. Take it."

Sakshi knew there is more to the statement, so she crossed her arms, stubborn to know how the rest of it goes. The ACP didn't disappoint her, looking suddenly smug.

"I think he is permanent employee in some news house by now, thanks to his sudden star news." Sameer grunted in background, "Once I get his name, he will receive a termination letter. Then, he will be blacklisted from the field of Media and won't get any job, freelance or otherwise, as long as he is in the city. After that, the news paper will run an apology article and trash him mercilessly. For days after that, editorials will run articles written by women empowerment mouthpieces and ladies who are at top job in various careers who will trash him further. Soon, people will talk how badly media screwed up instead of how a lady cop allegedly slept her way to become the first lady Director of ETF. The reporter will be subjected to ridicule and mockery. The news paper will lose its readership, may even shut down." She stopped.

Sakshi gaped in stunned silence and Sameer said in a disbelieve, "Riya . . . "

"He will live, but he won't have any career. At least not in a powerful place like media where he can turnish the image of others."

"That's . . . " Sakshi was at a loss for words.

"Inhuman? Cold? Impossible?" Riya inquired, "Give me the person's name and you will see."

Sakshi had no doubt she can do it. She didn't know how, but she was sure.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Standing in the guest room of the bunglow of the crown prince, Arjun had a feeling over the slight smell of room freshner and new towels, that someone lived here.

Nothing looked out of place. Which was exactly the problem. He was so used to people messing up, leaving clues. In this case, the person was too smart. And by person, he meant the Prince. He had this nagging feeling he is missing something. It had to be the Prince, he had to leave something behind. Him as the killer, it was obvious and logical. It had to be him.

Chotu shook his head from a corner, indicating he got nothing. He was already over this room and countless others with the CSI, nothing turned up. Arjun turned his head, staring disinterestedly at the floor, his mind going in overdrive mode.

What is he missing?

As if God, or someone or something heard him, he noticed a spark of something at the far end of bed. Walking toward it, he picked it up.

An earing.

That too, was made of gold.

Shree came to stand beside him, observing the earing, "Huh." He said, "That's odd."

He frowned at him, "What's odd?"

"The victim was allergic to Gold. Could not wear anything of Gold, Silver or Platinum." Wrinkling his nose, he said, "Probably it's his Mistress's. No wonder this room smells like it's been recently cleaned."

That's it.

Grinning down at Shree, he said, "You say the most clever things, Brother."

Surprised, the IT head asked, "I do?" just as the Second- in -Command rushed out of the room, calling out for someone.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The crown prince sat perfectly at ease in the private meeting room of ETF, adjacent to Director's cabin, outside his lawyer arguing with ETF Director and someone from legal department because they summoned his client even as they had no evidence against him. That's the reason he was not sitting in the Interrogation room usually the team use for faux questioning before they put handcuffs on guilty people. Nevertheless, as the Director handled the advocate, the trio, Sameer-Riya-Arjun went inside, giving a full on silent treatment.

The crown prince picked up the glass of water before saying, "If you have no evidence against me and it's just questioning, I say you make it fast. I have preparations to do for cremation." He took a sip of water.

"How many mistresses do you have?" Asked Arjun out of nowhere, making the prince spit water out. Sameer mock glared to him, while Riya looked amused from the corner of room where she was leaning against a wall, like she always does.

"Where are your manners?" Sameer hissed, "Let him have water in peace."

"He said to do it fast." Arjun shrugged, then sobered up, "So, Prince?"

"How dare you to accuse me of cheating on my wife?" The Prince said angrily, slamming down the glass of water, "I was totally faithful to her."

"Really?" Sameer tossed the evidence bag on the desk, and the former looked on, incredulous.

"What's this?"

"Something we got from your guest room. We were hoping you can tell something about it."

"I don't recognize it." He replied stubbornly.

"Maybe it belongs to your wife." Riya supplied. The prince looked at her, nodding slowly.

"It might be possible."

"It's made of gold." Sameer said quietly. The prince tensed up at it, and the duo smirked.

"So, who else can it belong to, any idea?" Arjun asked, cocking head to a side.

"You are accusing me of cheating, possibly of murder, because you got a earring in my guest room?" The Prince asked in disbelieve, "Do you have any idea the amount of guest I have? One of them may have left it. Maybe it belongs to any member of my family. Do you honestly expect me to remember the style of earring every female I interact?"

"No, we are interrogating you because we know someone stayed in that guest room. A female stayed in your house who was not allergic to gold, or any metal in general, The room was recently cleaned."

"So, cleaning a room is wrong?"

"Swiping a room 3 times?" Sameer looked at Arjun, "Your maid clean your bedroom thrice in a day?"

"Nope."

"Damn, I need extra-working maid like he got." He glared, "Why don't you come clean?"

"I have nothing to say." The prince crossed arms over chest.

"If you are willingly hiding something, you are also an accomplice of murder." Arjun reminded him.

"I said I didn't kill my wife." The Prince uttered each word seperately, gritting his teeth.

"Of course not." Riya spoke for the second time, as the Prince looked at her in suspicion. The duo physically backed away from the desk, letting her take over without saying a word.

"Is this a new tactic?" Prince asked sarcastically.

"Of course not." Riya straighten herself, the next moment twisted her leg and rested it against the wall, putting her body's weight on it as she spoke, "I tell you what, we have nothing on you."

"Oh God." Sameer muttered under breath, shaking head at her foolishness even though he looked thoughtful at her approach.

"It's true." Riya shrugged, looking over at her team mater before meeting the Prince's surprised gaze, "We have nothing on you. If you want to walk out, we can't hold you back."

"However . . . " The prince knew there has to be a catch. The ACP gave a ghost of a smile.

"However, we have our suspicion."

"There you go." He leaned back on his seat, huffing a breath in frustration.

"You know, you should really make your house keepers sign NDA. They don't really know when to shut up." She said out of nowhere, feigning a disappointed expression even though the Prince suddenly sat up. Silently, a thousand words passed between them.

"So, who was it?" Riya cocked her head, "Jealous mistress? Crazy relative?" The prince blinked and she gave a triumphant smile, "Crazy relative." Looking at her team mate, she said, "I am guessing ex wife. Or sister."

"Tell us who is it and where she is right now, and it will end soon." Arjun threatened. The Prince by now had taken a vow of uttering no word, just glared murderously at his own reflection. Giving a look at the ACP, the duo walked out of cabin, and on cue the advocate and ETF Director entered inside.

"No housekeeper of mine said a word, did they?" The Prince asked after a few moments, a sardonic smile on his lips. Riya remained silent.

"You are clearly in the wrong profession." Standing up, he adjusted his coat as four ETF officer entered inside to take him into custody, "Why are you a cop anyway?"

"I liked kicking people's ass in childhood." The ACP said flippantly, from across the room Aisha shook her head in mirth, "Realized it can end in two ways. Either someone will hunt me down for it, or I can use it to hunt others down. Second option seemed like a nice idea."

The Prince walked out silently, his advocated giving him futile advice to get out of this trap. Aisha stood next to her.

"Good one."

She shrugged, but suddenly her whole body went serious when she noticed Sakshi standing outside the cabin, her expression unhappy. The legal head of ETF started talking to Aisha and Riya silently walked out, moving past the crime journo who passed a small paper stealthily in her hand.

"His whole life will be ruined." Sakshi said just as she was about to move again. She opened the paper and saw the name inside.

"It will be the consequence of his choice." Saying this, she moved away.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

After another 3 days of search, the ETF finally got the real culprit. The lucid Sister of the Prince, who had come with them in city and was kept in the same guest room where they had recovered the gold earring. Somehow, she had managed to come out of the room and attacked the wife, thinking she was the one who kept her locked up. When the prince returned home that night, he made her vanish and both he and his PA manipulated the crime scene. Both are awaiting jail now and his sister was admitted in a mental assylum.

Imagine Riya's surprise when the search for the mad sister lead the trail toward the lodge in red light area where she used to live during her MIA days. Inside of a dingy alley, which smelt like piss and garbage, Ravi lodge looked exactly like it did all those years to her, a depressing place which perfectly mirrored her inner mood. Now? It's a one star lodge with world infamous client service, tinged with bad air purifier which can seriously up one's possibility of Lung cancer. Shree's words, not hers.

Standing outside the door which was marked Room no. 122 with a black worn off marker, the ACP exhaled slowly, remembering those dark days she spent inside that room. Apparently grief clouded not only her common sense, but also the part of brain which controls her hygiene freakery and make her reach for tissue paper everytime before she take a sip from McD. She rolled her eyes at her inner monologue, that's how she deals with past and her mistakes now. Sarcasm, the old friend and non-betrayer.

She pushed the door, and predictably, it opened with a horror film like screetch in slow motion. No empty room in Ravi Lodge has locks. One will be blessed if their room has any lock inside. She stepped in, eyes going everywhere in the room but not really registering anything in her mind.

And it hit her that she doesn't belong here.

The revelation was surprising. There were many places she felt like she didn't belong. Her own birth place, her family, those high society circles. The city was one place she felt she did belong. The Police academy, her posting later in service, chasing suspects, the adrenaline, she felt she was born for that. For the first time it felt like her life, and then she herself sabotaged it and landed herself in a hotel room like this, with worst safety possible and living a life beyond anyone's imagination. Her Granny nearly fainted when she learnt about that.

So where does she belong now?

Unexpectedly, the bullpen of ETF came in her mind. As if it was not answer enough, the next couple of images came in her mind in a flash - fingers typing away in rapid speed on keyboard, glasses slipping down the nose and pushed back in place, a pen working itself around fingers, a coffee machine with awfully brewed liquid, the banging of door inside Director's cabin, the disapproved expression of PA, bad case theories and eye rolls in response, guffawed laughter of a gargunteun man, life altering conversations over the bonnet of ETF SUV, and a man's unique sense of humour ever present, irrespective of a situation.

The message tone of her phone snapped her out, making her blink and cautious of the imagery her mind just conjured. Taking out her phone, she flipped it open and read the message, a smirk coming up.

When she closed the door behind her, it felt like a closure.

Farewell.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Vicky Arora, owner of Apocalypse and a recognised face in night club circle, was moving head in a rhythm to a song in his ear, around him music blasted off from speakers and sweaty, half clad bodies moved in a trance.

He yelled in appreciation and exaggeraized it with a thumbs to the DJ standing, hardly 2 feet away from him even though both are basically deaf due to loud music. The African DJ grinned in response as he bounced in his feet, giving his own thumbs up back.

That's when he noticed it.

The drinking competition was in it's 3rd round now. Two guys, red faced and looking like they had enough liquor in their system gulped down a 4 shot glasses of vodka back to back, their male ego and competitiveness not letting them stop. One of them backed away, blinked once, the next moment he was pushing people away to run for loo. By the time Vicky reached the bar counter, the crowd around it was screaming countdown and cheering for the two remaining participant.

Finally, the guy saw some sense and stopped, putting his glass slowly on counter as if any movement might sponteneously combust him. The crowd roared in celebration to the other participent's victory, a section of them booing at the loser.

Vicky hugged the winner, "Thank you for the extra money." He whispered in her ear. The other person patted his back.

"I had a gala time crushing their male ego." Came the feminine reply. When he pulled back with a wide grin, his business partner and co-owner of club Ri Mukherjee was giving him a smug look.

His staff went busy to throw off the earlier drunk out and swiping credit cards with glee, and he climbed on the counter, her in tow, holding her one hand and putting it on air like he is just introducing the winner of WWA.

"Ladies and gentleman, give it up for the winner!" He shouted over the continuous roar. She made a show by bowing her head, and the DJ announced a new song in her dedication.

Climbing down the counter, she said, "I need a real drink."

He was aready dragging her toward VIP section by then, "Scotch just arrived from Munich. Like I promised 2 weeks ago."

The crowd around them swayed and cheered like always.

Love never dies a natural death. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings.

-Anais Nin

"So, when you are coming to see me?" Mrs. Ranawat played with the chain around her neck, like she always does when she talks to her Granddaughter. "I did what you asked me to." She heard the barely suppressed sigh and the silent eyeroll.

"Don't roll your eyes, I can tell." She scolded.

"Geez, did you fit camera in my place or something?" Riya asked in mock surprise, moving around her her apartment in the City that never sleeps, looking for a hair band.

"That's not a place. Your bedroom in here is twice the size of that piece of land."

"Yeah, it just establish the fact that you have no idea about the real estate sector." Riya commented dryly, moving the phone from ear to see who is calling her in the second line. Making a face, she cut it, putting the phone on loud speaker as she tied her hair.

"I don't need to. I am fairly knowledgable about Hotel industry, which your father excels." Her Granny said with righteousness, "And your Brother."

"Matching DNA, I would say." She replied good humouredly, "Are you sure I am not adopted?"

"As sure I am that my blood flows through your veins." The Old lady didn't miss a beat to answer, "My earlier question still stands, when?"

Before she could sober up, the Second-in-Command's face flashed on the screen, saving her from answering, "Right now, I have to run for case. People dying, criminal getting away."

Mrs. Ranawat sighed, but didn't push, "Maybe you will get a celebrity in your crime scene. Some actor died today."

Riya cut the call without answering anything.

But now she was giving a incredulous look to the corpse as she stood beside Arjun and listened to Shree ranting off biography of the dead.

An actor.

Granny. She shook her head.

Arjun looked irritated as the sound of Sakshi's sniffing came from the umpteenth time, "What's up with her waterworks?" He asked to none particular.

Shree pushed his glass up his nose before answering quietly, "Her favorite actor."

"Really?" The former made a face, "Didn't his last 3 films bombed or something?"

Riya silently looked at him in response and he defended himself, "I read news paper."

"His latest's film's premiere was scheduled for today. Me, Chotu and she had tickets to go." Shree continued, sighing, "She has been like this from morning. Liza is worried she will get sick."

"Yeah, quite a loss." Arjun mocked.

"What loss?" Sameer came to stand beside them, "The useless idiot who thinks himself holier than thou. Actor my foot. If some psycho critic shot him, I want to congratulate him. Right after we catch the guilty, of course." He went on in one breath.

"Is film knowledge necessary to solve this case?" Riya asked rhetorically, in response the male around her sobered up.

Turned out, delusioned fans and vehement critics were not only people on the suspect list. The late actor's arrogance and infedility adds more people, to top of that he had gambling problems and he financially cheated a few producers. Seldom people were happy with him.

The producer of his latest film ruined a full box of tissues, more worried about his money than a dead man. But that's how it's supposed to be, Chotu explained to an angry, sniffling Sakshi. All of them are looking for money.

"This guy sounds as terrible as he was an actor." Looks like the only person who didn't know about the actor was Riya. She felt like she was living under a rock or something.

"What was this guy, the next Khan or Kapoor?" She asked, annoyed. Aisha paused from turning over pages from reports to look at her.

"Chocolate-y goodness. Boy next door. Hot mess. The review of his first film." She returned to the file, "It just escalated from there. Personally, I don't see the hype."

"Tell that to the vultures camping outside." The ACP murmured. Aisha frowned.

"Atleast it won't be me they will write about. I am not really sure if I should be flattered or confused. It's like they took complete 180 degree turn in one night, from trashing me to hailing me as a symbol for women empowerment. The spotlight is tricky." She shook her head, "Anyways, do some research on him. We are working on his case."

"Are you kidding me?" The ACP asked, incredulous, "What do you want me to do, get his movie DVDs?"

"A good idea." The Director now looked at her, "Why don't you ask your new best friend whom you keep defending till death?" Saying this, she walked away, leaving the former stunned.

When the Director reached near her cabin, her PA gave an annoyed look, which necessarily means some top level bureaucrat has dropped in to have a non-appointment meeting. Frowning, she walked ahead, and stopped just as she pushed the door open.

IB- RAW liaison officer Vir Rahane.

He stood up, bowing his head slightly in greeting, "Director Kapoor."

Walking toward her seat after shaking off her surprise, she replied, "Agent. Did you have an appointment?"

"No." He sat when she motioned him to take his seat, "But it will take a few minutes. I won't be wasting your much time."

"Is this about Haqqani?" She asked.

"Yes and no." He said amiguously, "The reason I am here, is to have your word that the Agency will have full support and co-operation from you."

"You always have."

"Then, I want you to fix a meeting with your team mates." He unbuttoned his suit, "I say we start with ACP Mukherjee."

Something clicked in Aisha's head.

Leaning forward and intertwining her fingers on desk, she lowered voice, "Why don't you cut the crap and tell me what exactly is going on, Agent?"

Rahane stayed silent.

Looking at her files, she carried on, "My next appointment will be here in 5 minutes. My PA will show you the door." She made a show of dragging a file and opening it. She had barely read 3 sentences when the Agent spoke up again.

"I need to talk to her, Director."

"And I want to know what is going on." She turned a page, "We might not be IB agent, but it will be a mistake to think us as idiots." Giving him a side glance, she added, "I think the reason you came to me to fix a meeting with her means she is actively avoiding you."

Rahane raised one eyebrow, looking uncomfortable, "Whatever she said . . . "

"That's the thing, Agent." She slammed the file shut, "She said many things. Of all the things she said, a big chunk of it she left unsaid, saying it was not her part to reveal. But it's not hard to guess you two know each other way before we officially collaborated for Virus case. You can deny it, I am not asking anything. Just stating my observation."

"I am walking a thin line here, Agent. And you are not someone from whom I will take orders without knowing the reason behind it. So, I am asking once again, what's going on?" She finished, looking at him expectantly. She swore in mind if he doesn't answer, she will call the security and won't let him enter this office premises, ever.

Rahane basically had two ways. One, waste another one week to catch the ACP who keeps slipping off his fingers like sand. Two, compromise national security and talk to ETF Director. Both of the woman are formidable in their own way. He has to choose one of two lesser evil.

National Security, it is.

"Is this room secure?" He asked quietly. Not a flicker of emotion crossed the Director's face.

"The whole building is, Agent."

"No word should get out of this room. I warn you, Director." He paused, softening his voice, "Understand?"

She nodded wordlessly.

"You should cancel your next appointment."

"I don't have any." She replied just as seriously, nearly making him smile.

Then, he dived into his story.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Whoa, is this the famous discussion or ETF where we tear apart criminals or a multiplex?" He sounded shocked, even though he took a handful of popcorns from Chotu's big can, while the Commando met his partner-in-crime's eyes.

"We planned to cheer up Sakshi." Shree mumbled.

"By turning this place into multiplex?" Sameer mocked.

"And organizing a binge watch of the actor's all movies." Chotu added. "She was so sad, maybe she will feel better."

As the clock chimed 8 in the night, the crime journo entered, wordlessly took a seat and shoot thankful glances at her friends, Sameer made a face at the movie playing while munching on popcorns, and the duo grinned at the success of their plan.

Arjun shook his head, "Sometimes I wonder why I am stuck with a bunch of silly people?" Turning to look at Riya, he added, "Can you believe it? They are currently watching a movie in the case discussion room. Ridiculous!"

"Go and bust them then." She replied dryly. He said nothing, looking back at the movie they both can see through the glass wall. They both stood silent, watching the movie and reigning in the silence. The actor in the movie by then had been bitten by a bug of Love at first sight and dancing in the valleys of Switzerland.

"What nonsense." He muttered, "He saw the girl for what, 2 minutes? And he fell in Love?"

"It's called Love at first sight for a reason." She supplied.

"Things like that doesn't happen." He shook his head, "For loving someone, one needs to know him or her. The guy is in love with a face, not a person."

"How you catagorize Sakshi's love for the actor then?" Riya asked amused. He looked at her once again.

"She thinks she is in love with the guy. I think its bullshit, and also that she was infauated with the characters he portrayed on screen. The image he portrayed in media, that was PR. The person we read on reports, with gambling and cheating? That's the person inside of it all." He scoffed, "She can't even look at the reports because it all portray him in bad light. That's not Love. She is not accepting the person he really was, just clinging onto a image she thought was real."

"Not everyone can care for a person with all his demons." Riya said darkly.

"If one can't, then it's not Love. Love is accepting someone with everything. If one's lover can't accept that, then the person is better off without him." He turned to look at the movie screen once again, "Love is not what she think it is. It's a different phenomenon. She will know when it happens to her."

She stared silently at him, with a look of admiration.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Somewhere in the world

"All of them have been eliminated?" Said the voice from other side.

"No, Janaab, some of them have managed to flee."

"Atleast they are not in that God damned country." Came the vehement reply, "Was not that the whole bloody point?"

The person remained silent.

After exhaling deeply, the Man over the phone asked, "Are you sure we won't have to look over our shoulder for those hitmans?"

"They are professional. They don't care if the money comes from Dubai or across the borders." He replied, then lowered his voice to ask a question nagging in his mind for some time, "What about the developments they managed to accomplish, Janaab? Do we have to destroy them as well?"

"No." The other Man answered, "Might as well have some benefits. This is the only saving grace for me in the Service." Pausing, he inqured, "Heard those fools are running the news as Serial killing?" The tone came as amused.

"They are."

"Are those high level b*stards involved?"

"Not yet." He licked his lips, thinking to say something but biting his tongue at the last minute.

"From the people who got away, do we have to worry about anyone?"

"No." The answer was a half- truth.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I NEED A FEW TEMP FOR SECURITY.

It took less than a minute to type an answer.

SO?

FOR THE NEW CLUB. I NEED SOME.

AND WHY THE F8CK SHOULD I CARE?

CO-OWNER. BEHAVE.

After a few second came a follow up message.

WHAT GOOD YOUR NETWORKING IS IF YOU CAN'T GET ME A BUNCH OF JOBLESS MUSCULAR GUYS?

Moving the toe in a rhythmic pattern, the fingers typed away.

THEY WILL BE THERE IN AFTERNOON.

Then there was a bunch of emojis in reply.

"Ah, I am discovering new things to do in here." Sameer drawled from the seat near Riya, "Movie, texting."

"Gushing over the movie of a late guy doesn't seem counter-productive." She threw back, flipping the phone shut and shooting an irritated look toward the trio sitting across the table, their heads nearly touching as they talked. Mostly the crime journo talked, the duo just bobbed their heads in agreement.

"Now we will have some production." The senior officer's comment sounded like bad innuendo. Her head snapped toward him in question, at the same time the door of the discussion room opened.

The conversation died instantly, but it's less due to the fact that Director was standing, and more because of the reaction to the stiff expression on her face. The only way her expression can be named is wrath. They wondered what happened, or what the ACP did now to get this. After all, they were done with secret personal cases.

"Come with me." The Director ordered. Sameer looked back and forth, and was taken aback when the expression on Riya's face mirrored the rest of them. She also have no clue.

This . . . can't be good.

"Why?" The ACP asked silently, with a touch of caution.

"Just come."

Arjun just walked in that moment, with the latest development on the case he got from forensic lab. He stayed rooted in the place, eyeing the situation in front of him.

Something might have been sounded off to Riya, or maybe it's their year old ex-friends communication stuff, but the next moment a mask of coldness came upon her and she replied in a short and rude, "No."

"Riya . . . "

"You can tell him to shove it. I am not seeing him."

None of them have any clue about whom the ACP is talking about, but clearly, the Director did, judging by her facial expression.

"You have to." Aisha's voice was totally in contrast, soothing and gentle like she is talking to a child. The reaction was instant. Riya sat up so fast that her chair spun due to the movement, startling Sameer.

"Like hell!" For the first time either of them had heard her so angry and yelling. Normally her anger means silence, not shouting match. The team didn't know it was good or bad.

"Director . . . "Arjun tried to intervene and all of them visibly winced, sans Riya who was too busy to ooze off tension.

"Stay out of it Arjun." She snapped, then looked at him with a meaningful gaze, "I know what I am doing, okay?"

It was not okay, but he didn't say anything anymore.

Maybe he had also picked on the fact that the Director called him by his first name and not surname. A first, if he comes to think about it.

She turned toward the ACP who looked like caged animal right now, "Trust me, alright?"

The latter shook her head vehemently.

"Please Ri."

Maybe the nick name did it. The look she gave her was one of betrayal and disbelieve. It took great effort for the Director to look past it, grab her wrist and nearly drag her out of discussion room.

Nobody talked for a full five minutes. Then . . .

"Maybe I should . . . " Arjun started.

"Don't." Sameer cut him.

"But . . . "

"Stay out of it. Trust her, like she said."

"Do you know what's happening?" Sakshi asked.

"No." Sameer shook his head once, "But it can't be good."

Outside of the private meeting room adjacent to Director's cabin, Riya shook off Aisha's grab.

"I thought you understand." Her voice shook even though it was deadly quiet, "I thought you understand when I said I was done."

"Right now I am bitch to you who is pushing you off to cliff from where you climbed up," Aisha said, "and nothing I say can change your mind. But you will go inside the room and hear the Man." She pinched the bridge of her nose, her tough facade crumbling down, "It's so bigger than you and me. Hear the Man and you will understand."

The door banged open and Rahane looked up with a small smirk on his lips.

"We meet again, ACP Mukherjee."

In response, Riya glared him to death, standing stubbornly near the door like she is contemplating to walk out any moment. But the Director has assured him that she will be here for the entire meeting.

"Why don't you take a seat?"

"Why are you here?" She responded with a question of hers, just like always.

"Because I tried to contact you and you avoided me." He replied angrily, "You left me with no choice but to go through the Director. I had to reveal some facts which can seriously jeopardize National Security to her so that she can arrange this meeting."

"Should I be flattered?" She sneered, "Our partnership benefitted you more than it did to me. What else do you need from me now?"

"Your co-operation." He leaned forward, mimicking a intimidation tactic he tried to use on her when they first met and failed spectacularly, both then, and now because she was standing now and not ready to listen to anything.

"Remember I once asked you what's with our paths crossing everytime, and you answered you have no idea?" He asked, "The answer was everything."

She looked confused, and he took the hint, "Sit down. What I have to say, it will take time."

Indulging him for the first time, she did what he said, her posture stiff and face a mask of indifference. Sighing, he started.

"After Haqqani's capture and Director's shooting, you stopped contacting me altogether. Frankly, I was relieved. I had nothing for you at that time, also the Government was stalling the interrogation of Haqqani."

"Missed me?" She mocked. He brushed it off, like he had learnt to do ages ago, talking like he had never stopped.

"We got green signal a few weeks ago. Long story short, the interrogation was very fruitful."

"Using the basic necessities of human, I take it?"

"Also some good old fashioned physical violence." He humoured her, "Anyways, he confessed to us his country with the help of government and Intelligence Services had recruited people around the globe for a mission in India. What exactly is the mission, he can't tell. His job was to find assets for this mission and establish communication between them, working as an agent between them and his country. He used his contacts who used their contacts to recruit them. We are currently looking for the list of names he gave us. We are pretty sure following his high profile presecution of case they had escaped the country."

Stopping for a few moment, he resumed, "He confessed to us that this mission of theirs, it's not the usual recruiting young people for terrorism and infiltrate our ground. It's very sophisticated, requires clever planning and engineering, something this trigger happy bunch lacks. The people who were into this plan, they wanted to be subtle about it, so that our Intelligence service don't pick up something. He was not too happy with the decision, he wanted to come at us guns blazing, show us who's the boss."

"Delhi." She narrowed her eyes.

"His idea of infiltrating our ground. In his narrow vision, he never realized his own capture can seriously ruin the mission. Not only he didn't stop at Delhi, but he came in the city and threatened us in our own house."

"Clearly he doesn't know when to stop." She muttered. He nodded at that.

"He started it all the moment Nasir established contact with him and wanted his help to get out of his country. He took this IB scare seriously, and Haqqani promised him to get him out safe. It's another thing that he wanted to put him on ground the moment he would meet Nasir. Haqqani thought we are after Nasir to get him, but we had no idea about his presence behind him. When he knew we caught Nasir, he sent that arsonist. To make us back off, he even sent that anthrax in ETF."

At this, ACP Mukherjee sat up, "He sent the anthrax?"

"Yes." He confirmed, "Initially, the plan was to send it in IB office. But the security was tighter in IB, so they decided on alternative place. He says the reason he picked ETF is because IB's HQ was only 20 KM away from ETF, and it's in the centre of city. The incident would have captured attention in everywhere." Pausing, he added, "That was the reason he was surprised when ETF was present in that charity ball, and then Director's shooting. He thinks both of us had collaborated way before he came to knew about it. Thinks his informer circle was not strong enough. We didn't correct him."

After a few moments of silence, when Rahane decided to stop and let her absorb all these info, the ACP asked, "So, you need me to conduct further interrogation on him?"

He sighed, clearly, she decided to process it later, still hung up on the earlier defensiveness.

"Our interrogators," He started again, "even though Haqqani didn't know much about this mission, asked him further. He informed us about the people he recruited, by himself and through others, like engineers, softwere experts, electricians, several ex-cops. He said the plan went through major changes a few years back when they took onboard an asset, who basically revolutionized it by proposing some changes. It was approved and this asset become something of a hero to them. Magic, they called his ideas. Ironically, his codename was Magician." Adding further, he said, "It seemed like people around this Magician was equally awed and afraid. He had access to a few dirty secrets of the people in Haqqani's country, making him dangerous."

"You are totally missing me here." Riya said in impatience, "It's obvious you are going after this Magician now, who looks like held the key now Haqqani is out of picture. Why I am here?"

"Because, we want your help."

"To capture Magician?" She asked in disbelieve, "How can I help?"

"You are the only one who can lure him out."

She froze at the statement.

Tilting head to a side, Rahane let out the final attack.

"How come you didn't ask why the Magician is a male and not, a female?"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Rahane ji ☺️

I always enjoyed Ri- Sha heated moments 😛

Loved your update

The person is neel right? Let's see how she will help IB in their mission

Are they referring to her ex-bf at the end???

He is the boss oh gosh

Riya was so naive b4, she loved such a man omg

It seems like ariya is not in near future a very long way to go

Awesome update

Cont soon

Superb

Can’t wait for next part

The magician is Neal right????

O my god....this story is turning out to be a hell of a suspense thriller....just love it....

Just a request do update soon....plz don't let the heat of the suspense subside....

Originally posted by: ishitadalal

The magician is Neal right????

O my god....this story is turning out to be a hell of a suspense thriller....just love it....

Just a request do update soon....plz don't let the heat of the suspense subside....

bold- 😆 Aur kya. He was the villain all along....or was he?

Will update soon. Thanks for liking and commenting as always❤️

Originally posted by: Mdmadona

Are they referring to her ex-bf at the end???

He is the boss oh gosh

Riya was so naive b4, she loved such a man omg

It seems like ariya is not in near future a very long way to go

Awesome update

Cont soon

Man I reread the story and think Ri was such a badass and she was probably since always WTH did she see in him. And honestly I never thought to make Neal an interesting character to justify. Looking back probably should have added some flashbacks to justify her 'love'This is insane as to how can she love and lose her years over this dude.

Ariya 😆 Ri is only half of the hurdle. Do you think Jun will go for a girl who is still into her ex and is broken? Maybe not. He also deserves a chance with someone who has no baggage. Someone who is normal.

Thank you for commenting.

Originally posted by: chco

Loved your update

The person is neel right? Let's see how she will help IB in their mission

Thank you!