The lady cop was standing near the glass window, eying the people who got down from the car. Even from the 3rd floor of that building, she could recognize the man who's moving towards the stairs now.

An extremely arrogant, headstrong, and obdurate senior officer -in her words.

Senior Inspector Abhijeet.

White knuckles from clenching her fist too hard, and gritted teeth from an effort to remain silent, her hunched form was like acid - burning, slicing, potent. Her face turned red with suppressed rage as the past incidents began to roll up in her mind.

How dare he sent me to the headquarters. That too, only because I was a little late!

Heartless fellow. Otherwise, who gives such a turbulent punishment to a newly joined junior cop?

And the following incidents happened there.

Only I and God knows how much I've suffered because of him.

One thing is for sure. I'll take revenge for what he had done to me. This is Anura's word.

'Excuse me?'

Anura turned and found a pretty lady standing right in front of her. Average height, slim figure, wheat complexion, black, dark, and silky hair that ends up just above her shoulders, big and expressive eyes sparkling with confidence.

She must be a lady cop, I guess.

The lady was in formal attire, wearing a crisp light blue shirt along with jeans. Her long, perfectly shaped brows were slightly raised, while those coal-black eyes threw a questioning gaze.

'Ms.Anura Mukharjee?'

Inquires the lady.

'Yes.'

Anura replied.

'ACP Sir aapko bula rahe hai..'

The lady officer guided her to the cabin of the Assistant Commissioner of Police.

There stands the hardheaded, adamant, and strong-willed man, the chief of the Crime Investigation Department- ACP Pradyuman.

A man whose name only is enough for criminals to quiver in fright.

Anura poked her head inside the cabin to see her future boss and found him busy on his phone.

After giving some instructions to his junior officer over the phone, ACP Pradyuman glances in her direction and found the newbie cop waiting for his consent to get in.

'Sir, May I...'

She asks considerably.

'Come in.'

After hanging up the call, he stood up.

Creases on his forehead deepened as the man in command studied her from head to toe.

Putting hands inside the pants pocket and his face exhibiting a severe look, ACP Pradyuman remained silent for a couple of minutes before starting the conversation.

'Ms. Anura Mukharjee, Main pehle yeh batana chahta hu ki yeh jagah tumhari jaisi ladkiyon keliye nahi hai. Agar apni life enjoy karke, apni tarah jeene ka ichha hai toh kar sakta hai... bilkul kar sakta hai. lekin yaha nahi. Yaha sirf kaam hota hai kaam. Woh bhi pura man samarpit karke hi karna padtha hai. Ek achhe CID officer banna koi aasan baat nahi. Iskeliye bohot mehnat karna padtha hai. Patience, hardwork, commitment, punctuality... aise bohot saare qualities bhi hona chahiye. Lekin tumne pehla din hi disappoint kar diya. '

Taking a brief pause, he continued :

'Aaj subah mujhe Head quarters se call aaya tha. Waha se strict order hai ki agar, dobara aisa kuch behaviour tumhare side se hua, there will be no second chance.'

As soon as her impending boss finished the class as she had already expected, the newbie cop was well prepared to play her part.

'I am.. I am extremely sorry, sir. Main apni galti samajthi hu. And I swear, I'll never repeat this. Dobara mere taraf se koi galti nahi hoga. Please aap mujhpar vishwaas kijiye, sir. Please, please give me a chance...'

She kinda begged in front of her stubborn senior officer with pleading eyes, her expression imploring for absolution.

'Teek hai. Lekin yaad rakhna, yeh tumhari last and final chance hai. Aage se aisa kuch hua toh..'

The last sentence was more like a warning to her.

'I'm sure, aisa kuch nahi hoga sir. '

She spoke instantly, her voice loaded with confidence and determination.

'Then, WELCOME TO CID MUMBAI, INSPECTOR ANURA.'

Finally declared ACP Pradyuman, forwarding his right hand toward the newly appointed junior cop.

'Thank you, sir. Thank you so much!'

Replied Anura happily, shaking hands with her boss.

'Good Morning, sir.'

A bold male voice interrupted them.

'Abhijeet, aa gaye tum? Haan woh...purana case file mil gaya tumhe?'

Inquired the Assistant Commissioner to his most trusted and brave officer as he took a step forward.

Anura's gaze fell on the senior inspector who joined them at the moment; the person she hates like hell now, the one who is responsible for turning her first day into the worst day here.

'Yes, sir. Here's the file.'

After taking a brief glance at Anura, Abhijeet shifts his gaze upon his boss and hands over a file to him.

Eyes fixed on the file given by his officer, ACP. Pradyuman paced forward, stepping into the center space of the bureau, followed by Abhijeet.

Anura glanced at her senior officers, who are involved in an intense discussion about the case.

'what's my role here!'

She wondered as her boss completely ignored her presence there at the moment.

'Shreya..'

Calls ACP. Pradyuman, after taking a look at Anura.

'Ji, sir?'

There arrives the lady whom she had met some minutes ago.

Shreya eagerly waits for the order, glancing at her most respected senior officer.

Anura remained there, silently watching the man giving some instructions to the lady inspector. After listening to the orders given by her boss with utmost attention, Shreya nods, and replies:

'Okay, sir.'

'Hai, I'm Inspector. Shreya. '

With a bright smile on her face, Shreya introduced herself.

'Hello, Shreya. '

Anura too greeted her colleague with a friendly smirk.

'This way, please..'

Shreya guided her to the record room of the bureau, where all the files are stored. There were shelves on the three walls attached to them, and an extra file compartment near the small table lying in the corner. Shreya took some files from the upper shelf and handed them to Anura, who was busy reading the various categories and sections marked over the file compartments.

'um..yeh kuch puraane files hai. Aapko yeh saare details humare database mein entry karna hai. Ab main thoda busy hu, lekin hum baad mein milenge, okay? And, feel free to ask me if there are any doubts. So..., All the best and welcome to our team, Anura.'

The lady cop waited for Anura's reply, maintaining that cheerful smile she always has on her pretty face.

'Cool. So.., this is my first task! Okay, Shreya. Thanks.'

Anura shifted her gaze from the pile of files and followed Shreya who have already started walking towards the door of the record room.

Tarika's house

at 9 pm.

'Ouchhhh!!'

Abhijeet winced in pain.

'yeh tum kya kar rahe ho,Tarika? chott saaf kar rahe ho ya aur bhi chott bana rahe ho? uuufff...'

But his complaining voice and piercing look didn't affect the lady doctor, who was profoundly engrossed in her job. As she applied the antiseptic liquid, Abhijeet moved his head back as that sudden prick of pain hit his nerve.

'ahh...'

He closed both eyes tight.

Watching him, Tarika spoke up.

'ahhan.. toh senior inspector Abhijeet ko dard bhi hota hai!? Mujhe laga tumhe pain kabhi hota nahi. huh... it's the third time in this week that you're getting injured, Abhijeet!'

'..logon ko bachane ke chakkar mein tum hamesha apna life khatre mein dalte hai. I know, it's part of our job. But Abhi.. kabhi humare baare mein bhi socho na..'

Her voice shook, implying mixed feelings of pain, concern, anger, and helplessness. She knows well, saying all these will not affect him in anyways as he's so much obsessed with his deadly job. But conveying her feelings to him, will ease her fear.

The fear of losing him.

As usual, Abhijeet remained silent as he always does in such situations. Whenever She's upset with anything, he'll let her speak up. It always helped her to ease her worries to an extent and later he'll console her.

Meanwhile, his eyes were on her, whose face was hardly two or three inches away from his. Her left palm was delicately holding the back of his head while the right hand was busy cleaning the wound on his forehead.

Abhijeet's eyes keenly studied her face.

Those long eyebrows knitted, eyes thoroughly focussed on him, and lips slightly parted- he loves to watch her like this.

Whenever his lady love is busy doing something but entirely concentrated on that work, Abhijeet will become lost in her.

To him, she seems thousand times attractive in such instances.

Tarika took the cotton ball and dipped it in the water, and gently wiped around the wound on his forehead. She sensed his eyes on her.

'Abhijeet, Stop staring at me.'

She ordered, without looking at him.

Abhijeet was about to say something, but the sound of doorbell interrupted him.

Hey, dear readers..

Hope you all are doing well. Sorry for updating so late.

Review this chap if you want me to continue this story.

keep loving Abhirika