Gb: Thanks a lot dear for your kind words! Let's hope you like the story ahead. Stay tuned for more. And thanks a lot again, take care and lots of love to you!

Abhishikha: Thanks a lot dear for your support and words. Han duo both are needed to be actively present in the case. But hanare Abhijeet sir hai ki bahar hi reh rahe hai..i hope ab daya sir ke samzane ke baad aane lag jaye bureau. Keep reading dear. And stay safe. And lots of love to you!

Summiya: wow! You read the whole story together! *Warm tight hug to you* couldn't have been more happier than this! Thanks a lot yaar for taking out so much of time and efforts for this story. I really hope that by the end of this story it's really worth your time. Thanks a lot again. And I hope you like this chapter too. Take care dear and lots of love and hugs to you!

Poojaabhidewani: thanks a lot dear for your words. Let's see how this story goes ahead. Han abhi sir indeed is hiding something. Or rather is hiding from them..but whatever it is. It will do them no good if they don't speak with each other. Anyways...thanks again dear. And take care.

Princesareej786: thanks a lot for your words! Hope that you like the further updates too. Thanks again.

Perfectabhi: Hmmm..suspense hi suspense hai..haha..don't worry ab jaldi hi pata chal jayega. Waise Abhijeet sir chupa rahe hai aisa nahi hai..shayad acp aur daya sir se khudhi wo chip rahe hai..so ab kya hi kahein.. anyways thanks a lot again for your words. Take care dear and lots of love to you!

Abhinidhi: Thanks a lot dear for your words! Stay tuned for more :) Thanks again dear and take care.

Something insignificant: Thanks a lot for your words dear. I am glad that you're finding this story intresting. Let's hope it stays this way till the end! Thanks a lot again and take care. :)

Abhijeets fan: thanks a lot for your words dear. I know it was a filler one so not much was in there. But I think this one is way better action packed than before! Let's see ...anyways thanks a lot again and take care. Lots of love to you.

Vaishnavi: Woi toh baat hai yaar. Sabke dil me kuch shikayatein hai. But koi bhi jatana nahi chahta. Sabko kuch kehna hai par everyone is pretending ki sab theek hai. Jabki kuch bhi nahi hai. And yahi baat unhe samazni hai. Iske pehle ki cheeze aur complicate ho jaye. Let us see where this whole thing leads us. Take care dear and lots of love to you from my side!

Jyotia: thanks a lot madam. Magcha tari chota and simple hota. I guess ha azun Chan asel. Pan baghuya Tula kasa wattoy. Ata jasta bolat nai vacha patkan..smart girl :)

Guest: I am so glad that you're liking this story. Hope that you stay tuned to read more! Thanks again.

Lekhika: Yes me hoping the same ke sab theek ho. But yes hobjayega. Life hai..complications honge par suljhenge bhi. Bass ab sabne kosjish karni zaroori hai. Thanks a lot for your words dear. And take care. Lots of love to you from my side!

Pj: thanks a lot for your review and kind comment. Hope you like the update too.

Have a happy reading guys!


Chapter 5:

"Aarey ke iss area me unhe active dekha gaya hai..(pointing at the location in map)yaha basically dense region hai so kisika aana jana nahi hai.." daya said as he gazed at everyone standing around the table.

"Sir par forest officials..matlab.."

"Nahi Pankaj ye disputed area hai..yahan kisika bhi jurisdiction clearly mentioned nahi hai.." rajat answered.

"Matlab sir shady activities ke liye ekdum khula maidan.." Pankaj said in a concerned voice as daya nodded.

"Exactly.(walking around the table)and isi cheez se waqif hai ye log..isiliye unhone ye spot chuna hai.." highlighting the spot on the map as everyone turned thier gaze to the highlighted spot.

"Sir ye..ye spot particularly kyu?" Vineet asked as he gazed at the seemingly random spot in the forest.

Daya turning his gaze towards him started speaking. "Tumhe kya lagta hai? Kyu choose kiya hoga yeh.." gazed at the junior officers. As shreya added.

"Sir already ye log forest me itne deep me hai ..(pausing)yaha se waise bhi wo log safe hai..toh ye location shayad unhone aur denser region choose kiya hoga." Shreya said as a sensible explanation. As Pankaj added ahead.

"Sir frankly dekhu toh yeh random spot lagraha hai.." he added as the spot seemed something offbeat but not yet logical. Hearing this, daya replied.

"Random lag zaroor raha hai but yeh random hai nahi..(pointing at the terrain drawing on the table)yahan dekho..ye spot sabse unchai me hai..(drawing the contours on the map)unchai se har kahin nazr rakh pa rahe hai.."

Seeing that everyone was shocked at the sheer intelligence the criminal was using.

"Bapre sir..(gazing at the map)sir fir toh hamara wahan jana khatre se khali nahi hai.." Vineet added as he passed on the terrain map to Freddy. Everyone at the table now looked tense. As most of them were absolutely unaware of raka and his capacity to cause chaos.

"Raka ke sath kuch bhi khatre se kam nahi hai.." Freddy added as his gaze lifted from the map in hand. He was one of the two three people who had actually faced raka and his people.

"Isiliye hame ab attack bohot strategically karna padega..(leaning a little ahead as daya started explaining his plan on the map)ye log unchai pe zaroor hai. Par unhe sabkuch wahan se nahi dikh sakta. Unless..hum gadiyan leke..ya ikatthe ek sath wahan jaye..abhi hame hoshiyari se ghusna hoga.."

"Sir toh fir hum groups me attack kar sakte hai..(pausing)ek ek section divide kar lenge aur fir portion by portion hum control le sakte hai.." sachin said as he came near the table.

Daya nodded in agreement as he spoke ahead. "Han sachin aisa hi plan hai..kyuke iske siwa hamare pass aur koi chara nahi hai..(gazing at all)ektoh ye koi building nahi hai ke hum entry exit cover karen..yahan pe wo log kahin se bhi kaise bhi karke bhag sakte hai.."

"Han aur ye log itne mahino se apna dera waha jama baithe hai matlab unhe aur raste pata bhi honge.." rajat added.

"Ofcourse unhe ye pata hoga..(pausing)aur isi wajah se hame spread hoke rehna padega. Kamsekam har ek side me haamra ek group lagega..(pointing down on the map)east west north south...har ek side se hame team lagegi...aur backup toh police denge hi..par agar hallah nahi machana hai toh hame limited logo me hi jana hoga.." daya added as purvi asked.

"Sir par wo log wahan exactly kar kya rahe hai..means hame bass itna pata chala hai ke wo wahan active hai. Aur ye..(pointing at the location)ye unka adda hai..par wahan wo kya karte hai nahi karte..kitne log hai..hame nahi pata.." purvi said all this as her voice sounded more concerned as she was talking right.

"I agree purvi..(folding hands and gazing at the map)yahan kya hai kya nahi frankly hum log nahi jante.."

"Par sir hum pata toh laga sakte hai na khanriyon se.." Vivek asked

"Nahi vivek..hum koi risk nahi le sakte. Ab tak itne sal aisa hi hota aaya hai...doh sal pehle wo dehradun me active tha..wahan ki police untak pohonchne ka sochne se pehle hi wo wahan se gayab tha..(gazing at them all)pure 5 sal pata nahi laga uska.." daya said in a tone that was laced in frustration as everyone sighed..

"Matlab sir hum..kya expect kar sakte hai?" Sachin asked in a serious voice. Daya stared at him for a moment and then spoke.

"Kuch bhi...aur sab kuch..(looking at the quizzed faces infront)I know yeh bohot vague lag raha hai..but the fact is..he is unpredictable. Wo kya kab karega..kaunsa dhanda kar raha hai..even abhi alms ka bechna kar bhi raha hai ya nahi ye taq hame pata nahi hai..(putting the file on the table)ye dekho..aaj tak ke Sau se bhi upar alliases rahe hai uske.."as everyone took turn to go through the file rajat added.

"Matlab sir..(gazing at all the papers and data on the table) hamare pass itna sab kuch hone ke bawazood we don't know what to expect?(daya nodsed in a sigh)sir yeh toh bohot complicated hai..I mean..maine bohot sare mujrim dekhe hai..par aisa itna unpredictable insaan me abhi dekh raha hun.." rajat said as he pressed his forhead in tension.

"It's okay rajat..I know ye sab overwhelming hai tum logo ke liye.. but ho jayega..hame bhi shurvat me aisa hi laga tha..ke kaise hoga..but with time things get easier. Hume experience hai iske sath so don't worry. We will certainly find a way out of this...and aaj even if we don't know the solutions we atleast know the challenges of this operation..major discuss toh hua..(pausing)isi complications ki wajah se I made this clear ki ye case hi priority hoga..and.." daya was about to complete the sentence when the bureau door opened and abhijeet entered inside.

As he entered all the gazes fell on him. The environment in the room shifted almost instantly. As daya turned to gaze at Abhijeet. His eyes looked sleep deprived and so did his clothes, as he entered inside. There was a tinge of tiredness that was evident from his slow stride as he gazed up at everyone, only to silently ignore thier gazes. Daya was the first one to gaze at him, understanding way more than anyone else was possibly able to comprehend in a minute of eye contact. As he instantly turned his gaze back to the board infront, in a way removing his attention on the new arrival purposefully. Abhijeet seeing that just walked towards them, ignoring all the questioning glances at him.

It wasn't really the first time when he had been behaving such a way. Actually it has been months since the incidence when he had been this way. But recently these occurances had become more frequent. Silently he came forward and stood besides daya. Who had already started to continue with the discussion.

"Han toh what I was saying was..ke iss case ko high priority hai..(adding)more than any other case..(Abhijeet just stared at him) of course kam hai and I know that. But I feel now you all understand the gravity of this case." As he said that everyone agreed as Abhijeet just silently staring at the board. A

"So any questions?" Daya asked

"Han sir mai…" before Vineet could ask the bureau door opened again as acp sir came inside talking with someone. He came directly towards them as he put the call on hold.

"Good morning sir.." everyone greeted him as he walked towards them.

"Good morning..(gazing at the board and maps)so how is it going?(gazing up at Abhijeet who was standing near him)location aur map points discuss hue?" He asked as his gaze was lost in the map infront. It was just a normal question that he had asked. But Abhijeet was completely unaware of what to answer. The discussion had begun early morning..and he was nearly two hours late into it. So he was nowhere near to know what exactly was up.

For a second as acp sir asked this question everyone else gazed at each other..knowing fully well that Abhijeet wasn't going to be able to answer. As he was unable to say anything and was about to begin.

"Sir woh.."

When daya interrupted with..

"Sir woh map and location ka abhi wohi samzarahe hai sir..(acp sir nodded as he was busy observing the map)abhi basic plan ban raha hai..aur aage ki strategy develope kar raha hai.." daya said all this gazing at acp sir while ignoring the stare of Abhijeet who was just feeling uncomfortable. When acp sir looked up at them both and said.

"Theeke..tum dono dhyan derahe ho na fir theeke..(gazing at the map and in serious tone)aasan nahi hai yeh iss bar..(gazing up at Abhijeet then at daya)theek se samza dena inn sab ko.." acp sir added as got call again..so just spoke in hurry.

"Kuch bhi lage toh puchlena.."

"Han sir..we will keep you updated.." daya said as acp sir nodded towards them and left answering his call.

As he left from there. Daya turned as he faced Abhijeet who was gazing at him. But as soon as he turned just averted his gaze. Everyone saw that silent happening that was between them. But no one said anything..finally seeing Abhijeet averted his gaze daya just sighed and turned to others with..

"Ghatkopar jana hai..scene pe..sablog lunch karlo.." daya said as everyone just immediately dispersed trying to make it out of there.

As they all started to disperse Abhijeet turned his gaze back to daya. Daya seeing him again, and that too fatigued from God knows what was triggering him again. Who turned towards him and started to speak.

"Abhijeet tum…" but before he even could go ahead from there purvi arrived there with a file in hand.

"Abhijeet sir wo report.." but paused sensing some tension in the air. So apologised with. "sorry sir maine aapko disturb ...mai badme aati hu sir.." saying she was going to leave when daya stopped her with.

"Nai purvi..tum ruko..(gazing at Abhijeet who wasn't saying anything)muze bhi kam hai..tumlog report ka dekhlo.." saying he just gazed at purvi and then at Abhijeet who just turned away from daya as he forwarded his hand for report. Purvi silently gave it, as daya left from there.

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At the scene in ghatkopar:

Majority of team members were present as murder was reported in a housing colony. Half of the members were on the ground floor asking and talking to neighbours while others talking to devastated relatives.

"Aap kahan the kal raat?" Abhijeet asked the brother of the deceased.

"Sir mai toh office me tha..overtime kar raha tha. Hamara annual budget finalise ho raha tha...aur mai..senior accountant hu toh.." he said as he started to burst into tears again.

"Aur rakesh ji gharpe akele hi the?(pausing)I mean hamesha akele hote hai ya issbar.." daya asked to the other relatives.

"Nai sir..kal hi akele the. Humlog shadi ki shopping ke liye gaye the.." they replied.

"Thike..thank you..aur aapko body kal subah tak mil jayegi ..abhi aap log ja sakte hai ." Abhijeet said as he and Daya both walked towards the place where he was killed.

"Ye akele tha toh..ye teen logo ka khana kahan se banaya hua hai .." Abhijeet asked as daya gazed at the table with food.

"Han..shayad koi wapas aane wala ho inn logo mese..ya koi guest ho..jo inhe nahi pata aane wala hai .." daya said as he was inspecting the plate.

"Han maybe..par khana hum aaye the tab garam tha..matlab..kisine.." *sneeze* *sneeze* daya looked at him in a suspicious gaze. As Abhijeet ignored it and continued.

"Kisine iske marne ke baad ektoh khaya hai..ya khana banaya hai..ye sab dish waigere ..shayad hame..*sneeze* gum rah karne ke liye kiya hoga.." Abhijeet spoke as he just held a handkerchief as he spoke. Daya was keenly gazing at him as he did that. And just nodded to what he said.

"Inn logo se hi puchna hoga..sabke sab bahar gaye the..kisiko puch pata nahi hai.." shook his head in dismay as Abhijeet turned towards the stove where the food was prepared. Daya going towards the sister who was still there.

"Aapke ghar pe koi aane wala tha..koi rukne wala tha..matlab yahan itne khana kaise banaya hai.." daya asked her as she spoke..

"Nahi sir..humlogo ne plan kiya tha ke hum sab bahar se pack karke leke aayenge aur fir khayenge..khana toh humne banaya hi nahi.." she said in shocked tone as Daya spoke agead

"Pankaj yahan neeche cupboard me dekho kuch saman use kiya hoga na khana banane ke liye…"

Pankaj while searching. "Sir khooni bhi kitna ajeeb hai..khoon toh khoon uparse khana bhi banake chala gaya.." Pankaj said smiling as Abhijeet just ignored his comment and kept searching for some knife or weapon.

"Ye stove ke neeche kuch …" *sneeze* *sneeze* *sneeze* after about three to four back to back sneezes Abhijeet stopped as he felt his whole head hurting from so many sneezes. Hearing which daya gazed at him. Frustration and irritation clearly visible on his face. He in anger turned to the relatives with.

"Yahan ek nahi teen teen teen logo ka..khana banaya hua hai..ye kahan se aaya khana?kaun aane wala tha?" Daya asked his tone getting irritated as his whole focus was on Abhijeet and his constant sneezing.

Here in the kitchen Pankaj came ahead with. "sir..aap yahan kuch mat dhundiye sir..aap rest lijiye.."

"Mujhe kuch nahi..hua hai.." trying to control his sneezes. Abhijeet spoke as shreya and purvi came there too.

"Sir aapki tabiyat theek nahi lag rahi hai .." they said as Freddy added.

"Sir aap rest lijiye sir.."

"Nahi mai theek..*sneeze*" as he sneezed again everyone just gazed at each other and his stubbornness. As it was evident that he had got colds and wasn't feeling well.

"Tum log..itna tension mat lo..mai.." but before Abhijeet could continue speaking from the newly formed headache, Daya entered inside and spoke in a tough voice.

"Pankaj.. Abhijeet ko ghar chod ke aao.." as daya said it Abhijeet gazed up to oppose. But seeing the firm gaze from Daya just looked down. As he was clearly not backing down. Saying this daya just turned and went outside to talk with others. As Abhijeet left with Pankaj soon.

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Late night at the bureau:

Daya had just arrived from the site as he was waiting at the scene talking and taking fingerprints. And had just come back to keep the reports.

"Han tumlog uske adde ke bare me na sahi..par Intel toh rakho.." walking into the parking as he was coming out.

"Hello..suno..hello ..abhi sunai de raha hai.." gazing at the phone. "Mch..yaahan kahan se range hogi.." saying he was just going to walk towards the car when he heard some people talking, and even before he could hear anything more. He analysed that it were some newly joined officers from the bureau. He stopped in his tracks as he heard something.

Voice 1: "Ab dekho na..ek dedh mahina hote aaya hai..Abhijeet sir toh to aadhe se jyada time hote hi nahi hai..rajat aur daya sir hi sambhalte hai sab .."

Other voice added: "han wohi toh..ab aaj ka hi dekhlo..aadhe time toh Abhijeet sir wo raka case me hote kahan hai..aaj bhi aaye toh itne late.."

Voice 1: "Daya sir ne toh kaha bhi tha ke sabko present rehna hai..even acp sir ne..fir bhi Abhijeet sir kabhi dikhte hi nahi hai bureau me.." .

Voice 2 added: "Han...mai toh aadhe se jyada Abhijeet sir ke case ka kam unke abscence ki wajah se rajat sir ko dikhata hun.."

"Tumlogo ne dekha na kitna khatarknak mission hai wo..raka ka..ab Abhijeet sir toh usse itne waqif hai .unki kitni help ho sakti hai ...fir bi najane kyu wo aate hi nahi hai.."

Voice 3 spoke ahead: "Wo senior officers hai..unke bare me hum kya kehenge.."

Voice 1 spoke again: "Hum kuch kahe na kahe..sabko sab dikh raha hai..kaun kya kar raha hai"

Daya felt his brow tensing as his fists clenched with every other sentence from these voices. He was feeling like he could burst out anytime. As the other voice spoke something that broke his patience.

The voice 2 spoke: "mujhe toh lag raha hai..iss mission me bhi daya sir akele hi hai..sabkuch sambhalne ke liye..bilkul waise hi jaise submarine ke time hua tha ..Abhijeet sir toh bacha lenge khudko...fasenge toh hamare daya sir.."

As he spoke that daya barged into the place where those officers were standing. Who were shocked to the core as daya entered their fuming.

"Yeh bakwas karne ke liye join ki hai tumlogo ne Cid?" As he asked, everyone standing there got silent. They were new and unknown to thier bond but that didn't mean they could just say anything they wanted.

"Tumlogo ko aaye hafte nahi hue tum log abhi se shuru hogaye..(trying to control his anger)itni raat ko bureau me kaam ke liye ruka jata hai...yeh bakwas bate karne ke liye nahi..(glaring at them)agar yahi batein karni hai na toh Cid me rehne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai..yahan ek dusre kee peeche bolne walon ki waise bhi jaroorat nahi hai ." Daya said as he literally felt like he could just burst out on them like anything. As all started apologizing to him.

"Yeh sorry Abhijeet se kehna...jab aage jake wo tumhare jaan bachayega..(all looked down)kisi insaan pe keechad uchalne ke wajay agar raka ke case par deemag dudaoge na toh mere ya Abhijeet kisiki zaroorat nahi padegi tumhe..(glaring hard at them all)ayenda agar muze tum log Abhijeet aur mere ya aur kisi bhi officer ke bare me ye baat karte dikhe..ya even sunai diye toh dekhlena..(adding)yahan hum ek family ki tarah rehte hai..aur family me misunderstanding ho sakti hai..fights ho sakti hai..par yeh..(pointing at them all)iss gossip aur ek dusre pe judgement ke liye koi jagah nahi hai..and you people better remember that." saying which he just left from there in anger. As he drove the car he could feel his whole body burning in rage. As he was tightly clutching the steering wheel.

It had been a very long time since he had ever felt this angry. As he drove past the city he could feel his breathing fast and his head literally aching with the anger that he was upholding inside him.

"Himmat kaise hoti hai in logo ke yeh kehne ki bhi .." he spoke to himself as he stared at the vacant road ahead.

"Aaj tak kisi me itni himmat nahi thi ke kuch keh sake..aur yeh... submarine ki baat toh.." as he spoke it he felt his throat constricting with the sudden rush of emotions he felt inside him.

"Bewakoofi hai ye..(feeling his eyes moist)Abhijeet mujhe chod ke kabhi gaya nahi tha ..meri zidd thi wo..aur yeh log use ..acp sir bhi..." pressing his forehead as a warm tear rolled down his eyes. As he just pressed harder on the steering wheel.

"Sir se baat karne jau toh woh zid chodhte nahi…(gazing ahead)kaise samzau unhe ke baat maafi ki nahi hai..ek maafi mangne na mangne se kuch nahi badalne wala ..(breathing fast again)aaj ye log keh rahe hai ..kal aur bahar ke log kahenge. Fir najane kaun kaun.. aur kya kya kahega. Kis kiska mu band karte firunga mai?" Wiping the tear as he in frustration drove in more speed.

"Yahi cheez isse samzane ki koshish kar raha hun...par nai..manta hun ke logo ki baton se matlab nahi hai hame..par unlogo ko wajah bhi kyu deni hai baatein banane ke liye...aur bhale wo galat keh rahe the..par ghussa toh mujhe iss baat ka hai ke unki uss baton me sach bhi tha..(feeling frustrated again)ek dedh mahine se bureau se bahar reh raha hai ye..kabhi khabri..kabhi case kabhi kya…andha nahi hai koi..unhe bhi dikh raha hai ke avoid kar rahe ho tum mujhe..aur acp sir ko..(pressing the horn in anger to the cars infront)par nai..in dono se kuch bhi pucho toh sab theek hai ka path padhana shuru karte hai..(pressing his forhead and shifting the gear harshly)par ab bohot ho gaya iska natak. ACP sir aur uske beechka jo karna hai wo..wo kare. Par bureau me case ke bech me..ye kya karta hai isse mujhe zaroor matlab hai..(turning the car to the direction of thier house)aaj mujhe bhi dekhna hai kaunse aisa bar ka kam hai jo din aur Raat bahar rehna pad raha hai ise.."

Saying he just pressed the accelerator in anger. As he drove the car in speed. Making a firm resolve to just get the answers from Abhijeet, who was one of the major reasons for his frustrations. And now he was about to make his peaceful night a lot hectic one for sure.


Authors note:

Yep, cliff hanger it is ;) Batao fatak se how was it toh - update bhi fatak se aayegi ;)