A/N : Before I start, let me clarify something to the reviewers, specially Aditi. In the review to my previous story, you mentioned "I know you don't like me reviewing on your story". Dear, there's nothing, I repeat, NOTHING of that sort. Yes, I agree we do have certain differences in opinions, but that's with everyone. I can't expect the entire fandom to have the same perspective as mine, and I'm completely fine with that. That has nothing to do with you reviewing on my other stories.

Dear all, if you find my writing worth reading and mention it in the reviews, I'd be naturally overwhelmed. Why would I have a problem if someone appreciates my work, just because my opinion clashes with that someone. So, Aditi and the others, if you like my stories, thank you for the same, but please don't think I don't like people appreciating my work.

Disclaimer : I don't own CID or the characters. *yawn*

Coming to the chapter, those who have a problem with the shipping can happily skip. Slightly AU.

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One particular thing which ACP Ajatshatru could never come to terms with was – Why do people fall in love? What was it exactly which was capable enough of making the strongest and toughest of hearts melt instantly like ice kept on a burning stove?

Shrewd as he was, an inspiration for many, the Assistant Commissioner of the CID Special Bureau was known to have a solution to almost any problem that a normal layman couldn't crack.

Except for one question which seemed to be the simplest and the trickiest of all centuries brought together.

He had laughed off in amusement whenever he had heard or seen any incidences of people falling head over heels in love, some giving in whatever they could to make it work while others just letting it fail. However, never ever, in the wildest of his dreams, had he thought he would find himself in the same situation as the people on whom he had sneered in the past.

And he was stuck. Stuck in the middle of nowhere. While his mind was tugging him towards the future, his heart was rebelliously refusing him to let go of the past. Past which was empty, the void never to be filled again. Yet, it seemed full. Brimmed with countless elements of pain, angst, grief and desolation. A dark cavern which he himself was afraid to enter into.

Sitting in the confines of his cabin, one hand supporting his forehead, he bore a deep unfathomable frown over his weary face as he fiddled with the photograph in the other hand.

He had expected himself to lose himself all over again as he saw her naïve smiling face the umpteenth time that day. But, his eyes felt empty. The tears were tired of falling down. Hence, as he looked at the picture again, his lips gave a slight rueful smile.

He had never imagined every small thing related to her could possibly have such a huge impact over him. It wasn't the same way initially, because it never really mattered to him. But, as his association with her started increasing, he found a part of him being unknowingly tugged towards her. And he when he realized he had reached a point where he could no longer stop his heart from pulling him, it was late.

Too late.

He never knew whether it was actually 'love' – as the world around him had given the particular feeling a name – or respect which he grew for her with time. Even though the rest of the world had a name to every emotion that existed, he was never really able to give it any specific name. Maybe he himself never knew what it really was.

Or maybe, naming it had never been important. All he knew was, a part of him always went through a sudden transition whenever he used to see her. A transition which suddenly made everything around him non-existing, and only she was real.

He had valiantly tried to fight down the feeling when he had got it initially, literally having a war of words with his heart. But, his heart was too adamant to let go, much to his displeasure.

Being in love was the most beautiful emotion ever known to a soul, they had said. But, somehow, the theory seemed to be contradicted for him. He never liked falling in love. Never. He hated the feeling of giving away his emotions, his soul to a mere word of 'love'.

Not that he didn't love the people around him, certainly not. He loved them and cared for them. But, he knew to strike a perfect balance between his love for his people and his own self. And he had always been proud of it.

However, it was an altogether different scenario when it came to her. First, he never knew the answer to why he actually fell for her. He knew, right since the start, that she was engaged to someone else, from his colleagues and friends from the CID team. And he had been happy for her. Very happy. Rather, when the news of her engagement to Varun had filled the air of the CID and the Special Bureau, he had never thought the feeling would leave him so agonized later.

Second, he never realized why he felt the need to be friends with her of all the people, why he chose her to utter all his pains of loneliness, when all the others were equally friendly and helpful. Maybe it was the way she never showed how much she cared for others. Maybe she had just understood his pain without him having to tell her about it.

The reason was never really that important, anyways. The satiation of being with her, to talk to her, to pour his heart out to her somewhere began overcoming the finding the reason of why all of that was happening.

He never did remember the exact time or a particular day when they became friends, and gradually started sharing everything. Nothing was planned, neither their friendship nor their conversation. It had just clicked. By an invisible source.

She had told him about her controversies surrounding her and her estranged sister, the difficulty she faced while dealing with it, her struggle to keep up with ACP Pradyuman's expectations of her and her hope of not disappointing her colleagues. And in spite of him being several positions senior to her, he had instantly sympathized.

It was him she had come to when her engagement had been called off. She had narrated the entire incident, and every ounce of pain on her face had axed his heart into tiny bits. However, along with it came a relief. Not that of her broken engagement, definitely not. He had been happy in her happiness and equally disheartened in her loss. The relief was of the fact that she had chosen him to be the first one to reveal the news to.

She had cried. Cried out of anger and pain. And he had let her cry. He was aware the more she kept the pain to herself, the more it would hurt her. And he never wanted that.

Their respective teams had been aware of their increasing interactions. But no one really bothered, except ACP Pradyuman getting slightly suspicious because he had been really worried for her. However, even the veteran Assistant Commissioner stopped paying heed after a while, when he was assured she was slowly getting back to her normal self.

Or they had never made it that obvious for people around to start raising their suspicion nerves at them. Maybe there wasn't anything to be doubted, in the first place. It was just pure plain friendship for them.

Or was it? He pondered over. He never knew. And he never bothered to know.

More than their friendship or the trust she showed in him, it was the respect they had for each other that really made them connect, he thought. All the days when they had been friends, she never missed out on addressing him as 'Sir' on or off duty. He never pestered her after a certain point, because their relationship had grown far more than taking care of each other's ranks.

She had been a quick learner, eager to do whatever she was being told to. Brave enough to disclose any hidden truth, whether it was related to her fellow colleague or her own family, she never failed to prove her righteous stand. That had made the entire team, including ACP Pradyuman proud of her.

And he had started respecting her more and more.

She was very choosy when it came to people around her. Though she had mutually reconciled with Abhijeet after the misunderstanding over a case, she never exactly looked up to him. No, she never garnered any hostility for him, but she never tried to be friends with him too.

Rather, she had always been reticent around her colleagues, the exception being ACP Pradyuman, from whom she had always been looking forward to learn.

Hence, when she had expressed to talk about her agony to him, he was slightly taken aback. And he had made sure he would live up to her trust. Forever.

He wished he had ever gotten a chance to tell her how much he respected her. Her resilience in spite of enduring so much, her introverted nature, the uniqueness she showed in investigating – everything had fascinated him, unbeknownst to him.

He was horrified with his own self when he found himself thinking about her much more than he had anticipated. There were times when he just used to drift in her thoughts absently, only to be brought back to reality by an external source. It was only then he realized he had been thinking about her.

And he hated it. He dreaded to think about his feelings shifting from a platonic friendship to something much beyond that. He never wanted it to happen. Never ever. He was aware it would be painful.

She had trusted him with his friendship. Besides, he had only ever seen respect in her eyes for him. Nothing else.

But, his heart refused to listen, his mind refused to budge. No matter how hard he tried, it was no use.

When he had paid a visit to the CID bureau to co-ordinate about the proceedings of the terrorist-bombing case, he never knew that was the last time he would be seeing her.

Remembering it was enough to send a wave of excruciating pain throughout his soul.

But, he had promised himself not to break. He had promised her he wouldn't let himself shatter.

She had died a dignified death – something she had always wanted. After saving at least a thousand lives by destroying the bomb, there wasn't a slightest amount of remorse on her face when she had breathed her last. She had gained the eternal satisfaction of fulfilling her duty, to which she had dedicated her soul, her life.

In the morgue, when the entire team stared at her corpse with teary eyes, his eyes were blank. He knew she never liked anyone shedding tears for her. No matter how painfully he had broken from within, he had somehow found control over his tears and ordered them not to fall.

And they had agreed. For her.

Looking at her lifeless body for the last time before it was escorted to the crematorium, he again tried to find the answers to all those unasked questions yet again.

Maybe it was love, after all. Or maybe not. Or maybe something slightly more than friendship.

The exact relationship they had ever shared hardly mattered. Some relationships don't ever need a name. What mattered was, she had found peace. Eternal soothing peace.

And that was all he ever needed. Her happiness. Always. Until the very end.

As everyone had paid their last respects, amidst the gun-shots firing in the air in her last remembrance, he had stood still, silently promising her he would always live up to her trust, her friendship, her expectations from him.

Placing the photograph aside, ACP Ajatshatru smiled satisfactorily, getting back to his work in spite of failing to find the answers. And this time, he didn't bother to know. For he knew what was essential. And that was enough for him.

He was living up to her trust.

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A/N : I'm not sure whether it's up to the mark, as I had not planned on this initially. Also, I have never watched CID Special Bureau, so if anything doesn't fit, sincere apologies for the same. Just hoping it isn't lame or disappointing. :-/

Those who genuinely liked can review.