A/N: surpise! An update in advance. But I'm afraid this isn't as good as you expect. NAs usual huge thank you to all those reviewed. I hope you all will enjoy this chap as well. Happy Navratri :)

Revenge is Sweet

. . .

Chapter three: Step one, Jealousy

. . .

The next day is no different. Rajat hasn't mentioned about her drama or scold her for her nautanki but she couldn't help but remain in a bad mood.

10:30 AM:

They all have finished interrogating an accused in connection with the new case and she notices he was at it again.

Rajat's mobile beeped for the fifteenth time since he entered the bureau from morning. Purvi has counted it. She could say it was the same girl, Ridhzy. And for the fifteenth time she frowns again.

Rajat: Hello Riddhima.

Everyone give him a look and he drops his voice walking towards the window his mobile still stuck to his ear. Her frown deepens and she moves a bit closer to listen to his convo.

Rajat (on mobile): Haan bolo.. Kya ab? Sorry Ridhzy, ab main nahi aapaunga. Woh bureau mein kaam hai..

Oh dear. It's her again. Purvi groans. She dint know her prank will bring Ridhzy closer to Rajat. And the most difficult part… what's the strange feeling in her stomach she got whenever he answers that girl's call?

Purvi (internally): Ridhzy? Ab tho Riddhima Ridhzy hogai inke liye? Aise bulaarahe hai jaisi koi girlfriend hai! Ugh!

And why is she feeling this way? Rajat sir is her colleague. What he does, who he talks to is none of her business. God- she sighs loudly and Rajat turns around to find she was just inches away.

She gives an awkward smile and dashes off.

Rajat, giving a puzzled look to Purvi: OK Ridzy. Kaam khatm hote hi hum milte hai OK? Take care. Bye.

He disconnects the call but stands there comprehending what happened. Purvi has been eaves-dropping?

And there Purvi keeps thinking ways to get rid of this unnamed feeling in her stomach.

. . . .

Two days later:

Purvi is once again in foul mood. Two days, 48 hrs- and no change in Rajat. No change in her feeling as well. And she still couldn't figure out what she's feeling! It's lunch hour and she finishes her lunch and goes to stand outside the building to breathe in fresh air.

Just then a girl approaches her.

Girl: Excuse me!

Purvi turns around and finds its Ridhzy.

Ridhzy: Arey Purvi aap? Kya main Rajat sir se mil sakti hu? Kya aap unhe bulaayenge please?

Purvi takes a deep long breath and her eyes narrow dangerously.

Purvi, super angry tone: NAHI!

Ridhzy, Confused: Kya? Kyu.. Rajat sir nahi hai kya?

Purvi: Woh apne kaam mein busy hai! Aur-

Ridhzy: Lekin Rajat sir ne kaha ki woh lunch time mein-

Puvi, irritated tone: Ek minute ek minute! Yeh Rajat sir Rajat sir kya bulaarahi ho tum? Woh mere Rajat sir hai.. samjhi?

Ridhzy's confused look now turns into a smile. Purvi just continues her rant. Does she even know she is feeling Jealous?

Purvi: tum kya CID mein kaam karti ho jo unko sir keh k bulaa rahi ho? Ya unki koi assistant? Ya unki junior- dekho tum-

Ridhzy shakes her head answering no. Before she could speak a voice startles them both.

"Kya ho raha hai Yaha?"

Rajat arrives frowning a little.

Rajat: Purvi tum yaha? Ridhzy? Oh main bhul hi gaya ki tumhe yaha-

He pauses as he realizes Purvi is looking at him.

Rajat: Purvi tumhe tho andar hona chahiye. ACP sir tumhe bula rahe hai..

Purvi leaves glaring at the duo and Rajat stands there confused for a moment.

. . .

That evening:

Rajat corners Purvi who's still a little upset.

Rajat: Purvii..

She smiles feebly at him. For a moment he wonders what happened to her cheerful self.

Purvi: Ji kahiye sir..

Rajat: uh woh.. tum tik ho na?

Purvi nods. She smiles again, a bit wider.

Purvi: Ji sir.. kahiye.

Rajat: woh mujhe bahar kuch kaam hai. Dhenchu se milne jaana hai. Toh kya tum meri jagah usse milne jaaogi?

Purvi thinks for a while.

Purvi: Sure sir. Aap ne Dhenchu ko bola na kaha milna hai?

Rajat: Haan Gateway k thik saamne..

Purvi : OK sir..

Rajat: thanks Purvi. Agar kuch problem ho tho mujhe bataana ok? You look pale..

She smiles happy to know he cares for her. Her smile vanishes in a second as he answers someone's call while walking away from her.

Rajat: Haan haan Ridhzy milenge aur baat bhi karenge. Aur coffee bhi..

And that moment she knew what she had been feeling all the while. She was jealous and now she is hurt. But why? Does this mean she liked him? Sorta loved him? She shakes off those thoughts. She should just focus on her job now.

Vineet comes there smiling talking about something. Seeing her he notices she's upset again.

Vineet: Pari! Yeh kya muu lagaa k baithi ho? Chalo ghar chalna hai..

Purvi: tu chal na.. Rajat sir ne kuch kaam diya mujhe!

Vineet: Bas bas ab aur kaam nahi.. Dekh main tereliye kuch laaya hu..

He announces how he has put lot of effort to fetch her a piece of blueberry cake.

A smile appears on her face as her eyes fall on the plate of blueberry cheese cake in his hand.

Purvi: Wow! Vinuu.. ab tak mujhe pata bhi nahi ki main ithni bhuki hu..

She takes a bite and two more then she looks up and gives a watery smile.

Puri: Lekin tum ne yeh.. kab? Aur kyu..

Vineet: Woh.. Pari kuch dino se upset dekh raha hu tumhe. Toh socha agar mera kuch karne se tere chehre pe smile… hey yar-

She begins to cry unable to resist her feelings anymore. Her sobs letting out days of anguish supressed inside her.

Vineet: Pari tu ro rah hai? Dekh yar kuch.. kuch share karna hai tujhe? Huh bolo..

Purvi shakes her head as he brushes those tears.

Purvi: Nahi Vinu.. main kuch nahi.. Main khud hi confused hu ki main upset kyu ho rahi hu..

Vineet: It's OK Pari. Main hu na.. tum kabhi bhi kuch bhi share kar sakti ho mere saath. Jab mann kia tab hi bataana yar..

She nods and he pulls her into a hug. She smiles feeling relieved a bit. God gave her a wonderful gift called 'Vineet'. Together they walk out of the bureau.

. . . .

Meanwhile at a coffee shop

Rajat meets Ridhzy and she explains about possible threat to her life to which Rajat assures his full support to protect her. She thanks him. They discuss some routine stuff and are about to leave when a thunderous laugh attracts their attention. They spot Purvi with Vineet at two tables away from them.

Purvi(laughing): haha! Vineet Kya joke maarte ho yar… you are awesome!

Vineet fumbles and manages to smile awkwardly at people who are gawking.

Vineet, mumbling: Maine kaha joka maara?

Purvi smirks as she succeeded to gain Rajat's attention. Not just only Rajat's, everyone else's as well.

She keeps chattering in her unique way. Vineet gulps as he could feel Rajat's death glare set on him. Suddenly she follows his gaze and finds Rajat wearing a dishevelled expression. Now this is what called tit-for-tat! Kyu bacchu mazaa aya?

Purvi (acting) : Rajat sir aap? Yaha.. Ridhzy?

Rajat gives her a fake smile.

Rajat: tum yaha? Dhenchu se- tum dono yaha?

He turns his attention to vineet.

Vineet: Sir woh hum aise hi.. coffee peena chahte the!

Rajat glares at vineet for a moment but covers up. Purvi is his friend. And friends can have coffee right? Everyone in bureau knows they are best buddies. And why is he glaring? It's not as if he liked her- Rajat! Enough! You can't think of her this way.

Rajat, smiling a bit to cover up: Oh..

At that moment Purvi does something that catches him off guard.

Purvi, grabbing Vineet's hand: Woh sir.. hume thoda kaam hai. Ghar bhi toh jaana hai. See you later sir.. bye.

Vineet too waves to Rajat and walks off awkwardly. Wasn't Purvi being strange? Rajat too just stares at the duo feeling confused inside.

. . . . .

The next day, bureau:

Rajat once again corners Purvi who's ignoring him.

Rajat: Purvi.. tum Dhenchu se mili? Subah se dus baar usne mujhe call kar chukka hai. Tum uske calls bhi answer nahi kar rahi thi-

She walks off to check something in desktop and he follows her around.

Rajat: Main tumse kuch puch raha hu Purvi.. Kyu nahi mili tum usse?

She ignores him and goes to check the files on another desk. He follows her there too!

Rajat: Bolo Purvi. woh ek important list dene wala tha… aur tum-

Purvi sighs loudly and pulls out a piece of paper from her pocket and places it with real force in his palm.

Rajat: Oww! Yeh.. list le liya? Kya hai yeh Purvi.. tum ne list kab liya? Aur yeh kya mujhse baat nahi karogi..

Purvi ignores him once again.

Rajat: Purvi! Talk to me.. arey sach mein baat nahi karogi?

Purvi gives up and replies him.

Purvi, angry look: Patha hai toh puchte kyu ho?

Rajat: Purvi.. baat ko palto mat. Kal tum Dhenchu ko kyu nahi mili. Uska call attend nahi kia.. aur naa hi mera.

Purvi: Kal mujhe waqt nahi mila tha sir. Lekin aaj mili na main usse-

Rajat: Oh waqt nahi mila. Lekin fir bhi tumhe vineet k saat coffee peene ki fursat hai.. Hai na?

Purvi gets furious at his last comment.

Purvi: Kyu nahi agar aap apne duty ko bhi bhulaake- uss Ridhzy k saat coffee pee-sakte ho tho main kyu nahi. Aaj kal uss Ridhzy k chakkar mein aap apne aam ko bhi-

Rajat cuts her off angrily.

Rajat: Duty k bare mein mujhe tumse sekhne ki zarurat nahi..

He regrets his words soon after seeing her hurt face. She gives an angry look and walks away.

Rajat just didn't know why he shouted at her. He has been through her childish antics so many times. But he couldn't just shake that image in coffee shop- her holding vineet's hand. He tried to convince himself its just another childish act of hers but he couldn't. Why was he acting this way? And why has she turned cold towards him? Did he do something wrong? Just then Vineet passes by him and he greets him casually. May be Vineet could help him understand what's going on with her.

Rajat: Vineet kaise ho yar?

Vineet: Ji thi hu sir.. aap?

Rajat: I'm good. Bas kuch puchna tha tum se..

Vineet: Haan sir puchiye na..

Rajat: yeh Purvi k bare mein kuch puchna tha.. woh kal tum dono uss coffee shop mein..

There is a hint of jealousy in his voice.

Vineet: Sir kal k liye I'm sorry. Woh aap toh jaante hai na Purvi meri best friend hai. Uss k bare mein sab kuch jaanta hu main- lekin kuch dino se usse samjh nahi paa raha. Uske Baat baat pe gussa karna upset hona. Uska mood kal kharab tha tho main coffee shop lejaana chahta tha.. tab woh normal hogai par jaise hi aapko dekha woh gussa hogai aur-

Vineet leaves the sentence hanging in air as there's a phone call.

Vineet: Kya lash kaha? Ji hum pahunchte hai..

As everyone prepare for a new case Rajat keeps pondering over what happened over past two days.

Why was Purvi acting this way? Was she really pissed off just because he's devoting his time for Ridhhima? Is she jealous? Really? A part of conversation with Ridhzy in coffee shop flashes in his head.

Flash back:

Ridhzy: Sir.. ek aur baat bolni thi aap se. Keh sakti hu kya?

Rajat: Of course Ridhzy ab tho hum dost bangaye na. Bolo..

Ridzy: Sir woh Purvi k bare mein.. aaj dopehar ko bureau mein woh bhadak gayi!

Rajat: Kya Kyu..

Ridhzy: Sir main kya bolu. I think aap really lucky ho. Ussey aap kabhi miss mat karna..

Rajat, puzzled: Kya mutlub..

Ridhzy: Sir I think she likes you.. n she's jealous ki aap mere saat-

Rajat laughs brushing it off.

Ridhzy: Sir main Mazak nahi kar rahi. Sach kahu tho I think she loves you.. Do you like her too?

End of flash back.

As he prepares to leave for investigation, a wide smile forms on his lips. She notices him smile and glares at him. He would love to infuriate her a little more.

. . . .

A/N: Review please. I jus made use of few hours in my hectic schedule.. I'd lovee to read some sweet reviews from u all :)

Thanks for reading.