''A New Journey''
''Sub inspector Tasha reporting sir,'' Tasha reported to her senior in command with a salute at practicing ground of CID.
Her senior looked at her watch and then glared her. His nature was strict, gaze commanding and he spoke he frowned.
''You are late by 5 minutes Sub inspector Tasha Kumar.''
''Sorry sir. I got into the traffic.''
''5 rounds of the ground,'' he spoke as if he didn't hear her.
''What?'' The 'what' came out rather rudely from her mouth.
He looked at her, titling his head to one side, his eyes warning. And as he raised his one eyebrow Tasha gulped.
''I said 5 rounds of the ground. And don't make me repeat it again. I don't like repeating myself.''
''Sorry sir. It's my first day and I am new to the city…'' Tasha was about to explain herself more but seeing Abhijeet's increasing annoyance she changed her tone, ''I will do it sir.''
''Start. After exact 10 minutes report me here at this table.''
He sat down on his nearby chair and relaxed himself.
''Son of a bitch.'' Tasha chewed her words under her breath.
''Your time has started Sub inspector Tasha,'' said her senior.
Tasha took off her jacket and tied her shoes tight. She encouraged herself taking a deep breath and started running. All the while running she kept cursing that arrogant bastard.
''Training! Seriously! What have I done in academy then? Played gullidanda? This son of a bitch, I will make his life hell. Stupid. Asshole. Oh I hate every minutes of my training.''
She completed her rounds 1 minute before.
''I'm done sir,'' said Tasha bending forward. She was panting heavily.
''You are one minute early,'' her senior commented looking at his stop watch and forwarded a water bottle towards her.
''Gosh! Being early is also a problem now!'' Tasha spoke in her mind.
''Drink.'' He commanded.
Tasha drank half of the bottle in one go.
''In my introduction I want to say two lines, '' he paused and stood up. Then bending on the table a little he continued, ''I am a very punctual person and also very insisting when it comes on perfection.''
''That's literally two lines.'' Tasha again spoke on her mind.
''And the second thing is, I don't mind questions as long as it's related to the case, no matter how stupid the question seems.''
Tasha nodded.
''Do I make myself clear?''
''Yes sir.''
''Now it's your turn. Tell me about yourself in short. And I don't mean your bio data.''
Tasha's mind ran fast organizing the haphazard words and when she spoke she's confident enough to impress her senior.
''I am very hard working and a very good learner. I am sure I will prove myself worth of your time and attention.''
The newly joined CID sub inspector couldn't help but felt ecstatic seeing the impressed look on her senior's face. She somehow knew she had hit the right button.
''I'm looking forward to it.''
''And I have a question.''
''Go on-''
But before Tasha could ask her question his phone rang. He picked up the phone.
''Yeah Daya. Just 5 minutes.'' He talked over phone. '' Yeah yeah I know. All right.''
He cut the call and looked at her.
''What was the question?''
''According to me being early is not a problem. I surely felt there's some hidden message under your words. What was that?''
He chuckled before answering.
''Being early is really not a problem. It's certainly not. However, while working here you will notice my way of working is little different from others. I usually use full of the given time. What's there to finish my work before given time and then panting? Like, if I am given 30 minutes to finish an encounter I will use the given 30 minutes. It's my strategy. Why leaving 5 minutes? There's a chance that the mission will backfire on me in those 5 minutes. Or if not that it will at least leave you exhausted. For example, if you had taken extra 10 seconds for each round you would have been at least able to stand still before me.''
Tasha felt less embarrassed on his comment of standing still and more impressed listening to his explanation. This man was really intelligent like she had heard, different and heart taking.
''Clear?'' He asked.
''Yes sir.''
''I will leave you with these files for today. Read them carefully. I may ask some questions tomorrow.''
''Can't I join the investigating team?''
''If you want you can. But you can't take the files to home with you.''
''I know sir. I will finish reading these and then will join the team.''
''Good then. I will not be a part of the team today. Hope you will have a good time. See you during lunch break.''
Tasha nodded, smiling. She once thought to ask where he was going but it surely didn't seem a question related to case. She chuckled finding her following his every command. He had that distinct personality to rule others.
Tasha took the files inside the Bureau and placed them on her desk. Strangely no one's were there to welcome her.
''Tasha?'' she jumped hearing her name being called and looked at her side.
''Sub inspector Tasha you are right?''
Tasha nodded.
''I'm Senior inspector Daya.'said Daya forwarding his hand for a hand shake.
Tasha took his hand in her happily and smiled at him.
''Nice to meet you sir.''
''Same here. Sorry, we have got a very high profile case so no one's available right now to welcome you. Surely Abhijeet did I guess.'' Daya said with a sarcasm in his tone, especially at last part.
''Indeed sir.'' Tasha chose not to drag the morning topic more. In academy she had learnt a very important lesson- never complain about your seniors to others.
Daya let out a loud laugh.
''File reading?''
''Yeah.''
''Wana come with me to the field?''
''I would love to. But these case files seems interesting as well.''
''Sure they do. Abhijeet took three days to select them,'said daya, ''ah, I am gonna have a trainee from next week.''
''Best of luck.''
''I hate to train. I hate to command.''
''Your friend seems to like commanding.'' Tasha spoke and at the exact time the words were out of her mouth she realized she shouldn't have said those.
''We are quiet opposite.'' Daya shrugged, not even bothered to react on his junior's comment. '' Anyways, see you later.''
''Have a good day sir.''
Tasha smiled and as Daya left the Bureau she sighed.
''I wish I had joined a week late.'' Tasha spoke aloud to express her desire of being Daya's trainee.
Leaving her thoughts aside she started to read the files and soon found herself engorged in them.
Later at the evening she was introduced to the team members officially and ACP sir was very sorry for not being able welcome her properly. Tasha found the team mate very friendly. Sub consciously, her mind was searching for that exact person, her senior-Senior Inspector Abhijeet. He came late and talked to her about the file cases. Tasha found his nature extremely irritating. He never made eye contact while discussing but when he wanted to intimate he looked directly into the eyes making his opponents startled. She found it annoying because somewhere she wanted to be a little free with him and he showed no such intentions.
The day finally came to the end. Tasha was lying on Tarika's bed browsing facebook when the door opened and Tarika entered.
''Where were you?'' Tasha asked sitting up and keeping her phone aside, '' You were supposed to leave your damn lab earlier than me.''
''I did,'' Tarika said taking out her coat and shoes, ''I went to the grocery shop.''
''Oh yeah. I forgot.''
''You always do.''
As per Tarika's prediction Tasha didn't throw back any counter comment.
''What happned?'' Tarik asked, ''You didn't like the team?''
''Oh the team is great.''
''Then?''
''That son of a bitch…''
''Which son of a bitch?''
''Senior inspector Abhijeet.''
''What! You dared to call him with this name.''
''It's not a name!'' Tasha gave an offended look, ''I am bad mouthing him.''
''Tell me from the beginning.''
Tasha narrated her the whole day starting from her reporting time to the evening.
''Now tell me. Isn't he arrogant? An asshole?''
''How should he behave with you then?''
''I know where you are going? I am not asking him to be friendly with me but at least he can be little soft. I mean he behaves like I don't know anything. I mean, I topped the police training yaar.''
''Tasha, you have got to stop complaining you know.''
''What is it with you huh? Why are you not defending me? Why are you supporting that bastard? Do you have a crush on him? Oh, yeah you have. The way you were speaking about him.''
''Tasha I know you are in a very bad mood but please listen to me-''
''We used to bad mouthing people together Taru! You have become a traitor. Mumbai has changed you.''
''I'm not changed Tasha.''
''Yes you are.''
''Oh for God's sake Tasha don't over react and listen to me.''
Tasha kept silent.
''Go on.'' Tasha said like a kid.
''Exclude the complaining parts of yours and imagine the whole scenario with him again.'''
''With whom?''
''With Abhijeet sir.''
''Oh so you still call him sir? Not Abhi, Abhu, sonu, monu…''
''Tasha!''
''Fine,'' Tasha gave in and closed her eyes, '' now I'm imagining.''
After some seconds she opened her eyes.
''Done.''
''Now tell me about him.''
''Adjectives?'' Tasha asked teasingly.
''Yeah,'' Tarika calmed herself.
''Hmm.. I will cut that 'son of a bitch' part than,'' Tasha shrugged and then added, '' but arrogant. And also very intelligent. Gosh! Only if he were a little friendly, like Daya sir.''
''Daya sir is cool.'' Tarika added.
''Listen Tarika Musale,'' Tasha said pointing her index finger at Tarika, '' if ever you have to fall in love with anyone in the office make sure it's not that arrogant.''
''Haha… I am weak towards arrogant you know this''
''That's why I'm warning you.''
''Will think about it,'' said Tarika in way as if she was bored.
''I don't know what is it with the girls? I mean why they always fall for the arrogant. I like sweet, cute boys! Boys who make you smile,'' she paused and think about Abhijeet, '' not the one who makes the smile disappear only by their mere presence.''
Tarika took out her clothes from the cupboard and turned to Tasha.
''Sweet? You know I'm allergic to sweets darling. And what to do with cute ones? I don't need babies to pamper,'' Tarika made fun of her best friend's choice, ''I like tough and hard guys, manly.''
''They are better for crushes only.'' Tasha snapped.
''Crush days are gone. Now I am seriously gonna consider dating. Need to be settled soon,'' Tarika let out a sigh of longing, dramatically.
''You are seriously falling for that arrogant?'' Tasha asked, horrified.
''Who?''
''That senior Inspector Abhijeet.''
''Are you out of your mind?''
''I think you are out of your mind.''
''You are crazy. Yeah, I can date him only if you help. But-''
''I will not do that in my life.''
''See… now leave these and let's go grab a drink together to celebrate our jobs.''
''There's nothing to celebrate in my job.'' Tasha lied down.
''Then let's celebrate mine.''
Tasha looked at Tarika and she gave a puppy face.
''I can't drink.''
''We will have soft drink yaar. Now come on get ready and google some good places I will be back in 10 minutes.'' Tarika left for the bathroom.
..AN: Hush… almost 2k! Keep tuned. In next chapter Tasha and Tarika going to get into trouble in new city {not that big trouble}Please review.
p.s- Calling Abhijeet 'son of a bitch' was totally Tasha's pov and she didn't say it aloud. plz dont get offended. I know i should have put a language warnig at starting. Sorry about that.