So sorry everyone! Was stuck up lately. But.. here's your update! By the wayyy did anyone hear about a Tulu movie, Yaan superstar? It's been produced and acted on by our Daya sir. And alsooo Ansha sayed is having a big role in it!

It's hitting theaters on 15 July.

Let's wish the whole crew a bigg success!

Happy reading.. and sorry for mistakes as I haven't checked it thoroughly.

Next chapter target- 185! ;P

Outside Bureau

Parking lot.

.

As Freddy made her acquainted with the person on their way to the parking, and whom she already knew by the way, was just about to pull his car off. Freddy called him out and they had a small conversation.

Daya pulled his neck out and took a glance about whom Freddy was actually talking. Shanaya was quite impressed by his acting skills. Anyone would agree that he had never seen her before.

Smart hun!

Soon they finished the discussion and Freddy left after showing her the way to his car. She walked to the passenger side and got inside of the Big white SUV.

"So a Cid officer hun?" She pulled on the seat belt and latched it safely.

He gave a shy smile to her teasing but added a little prefix, "Senior officer!"

"Ohh I see!" She chuckled lightly on his correction.

"And you a doctor, umm.. therapist I suppose?" He said glancing at the mirror above and their car was now on the main way.

"No!" She laughed a little, "Myself Shanaya! Associate head of the ER department." She spoke while he couldn't fail to notice the proud smile she put on while introducing her.

He nodded and introduced himself, "I'm Senior Inspector Daya from CID Banglore."

She got a little confused on this, "Banglore?! Toh phir aap yaha.. mtlb.. Mumbai?"

"Oh. Voh actually.. Mai kuch dino se off duty hu and mera Ghar yaha h! So.."

She didn't speak for an entire minute figuring out what he meant exactly. He noticed her silence so took a quick glance at her. She looked at him the same moment and reluctantly gave a smile as if wasn't much curious to know more about him. But He was sure, he read everything on her face.

"Actually, your ACP sir, he's my father.. so isiliye mai Mumbai se connected hu!" He tried his best to clear up his relation with his father, and also with the city he avoided to come back to.

She noticed well how he rather introduced his father by his name, instead of the opposite. Something still doesn't feel good to her and she couldn't stop wondering -

"ACP? You.. you mean ACP Pradyuman?"

"Hmm.. Kyu? Itna hard h believe krna?" He said with a different emotion. He wasn't satisfied with her reaction nor had he expected that from her.

"Arey nhi nhi. Itna hard nhi hota agar us din aap.. mtlb.. I- I mean.. !" She trailed back clutching hard on her cell phone feeling really guilty for reacting that way.

His face grew grave. He kept his eyes still on the road and replied somewhat rudely, "Hastee khelti family mai bhi log sad hote h doctor. Problems unki life mei bhi hoti h. Iss tarah judge krna theek toh nhi h."

After realising what he just blurt out, he kinda felt sorry. He didn't know what made him react that way all of a sudden, that he almost revealed his problems to someone he doesn't really know. It felt illicit to even think about it now. He shouldn't say anything further. God knows what extra might he reveal?

"I- I'm really sorry mera voh mtlb nhi tha. I didn't mean to hurt you-" She regretted saying those words, "I'm really sorry! I.. I shouldn't have-"

"No, it's okay! You don't have to!" he smiled lightly, "It wouldn't have changed anything. And.. don't mind me. I'm sorry too!"

She noticed the stiffness in his body language. He was suddenly weird and kinda rude. The gloomy shade on his face made her extremely guilty. She tried to say something but couldn't find any suitable word that would sooth his steamed heart at the time. So better not to hurt him further, she decided to keep quite for the rest of the journey.

He looked at her a little dejected. She didn't say anything further. He noticed her for a moment and saw her continuously staring out of the window. Was she ignoring him? What's going on with her? Is she.. intentionally quite? Or worse... did he perhaps.. hurt her?

He wanted to know about it. His heart was racing to know if she was hurt or if she was just like that. Just like him, who by the looks of it wasn't behaving himself in the moment.

"Toh tum esi hi ho?" He had to say something. Anything for the sake of knowing what she actually was thinking about him.

"Esi hi mtlb?" Did he just leave a bad impression on her?

"Mtlb.. outspoken.. joh kisi bhi raste chalte stranger se baat kr skti h?"

She laughed a little, "Arey nhi nhi. Mai esi bilkul nhi hu. Infact I'm almost an introvert."

He was relieved a little.

"Toh kal phir -?

"Oh! I see.. kahi isiliye toh apko mai ek therapist-?"

"Hn mtlb.." He smiled lightly scratching his neck in embarrassment, "but.. an introvert? I don't believe it."

"Voh din kuch khaas tha.. Aur phir aapko dekh kr mujhe-" And she grew silent suddenly. She smiled sadly and reluctantly turned away to face outside the window, "kisi bht apne ki yaad aa gyi thi."

She almost whispered the last words but he was sure he heard her right.

His forehead wrinkled up hearing this from her. But before he could actually react, her cell phone rang up. She jerked out of her reverie and answered the caller, "Hello?"

He avoided catching her glimpse from the rear mirror though his full focus was on her conversation. He could see her slightly in the side mirror, and that was when he actually noticed her. She was wearing just a normal whitish tshirt which was quite unusual to be wearing at her workplace. Her hairs looked as if had got a recent cut coz they were perfectly tied in an un-effortful ponytail with her cute flix flying, as she decided to keep her side window half shut.

"Nhi Dr. Pareek! Don't wait for me, aap log chale jaiye. Kal subh se ghar nhi gyi hu so.. I'll go home directly!"

She spoke after hearing alot of, what felt like, convincing from the other side that jerked him a little. What was he doing? Was he checking her out? No, he was sure, that was just his other cop instinct to observe every next thing present around him or happening in his vicinity.

"Nhi nhi don't worry! CID team ne kuch nhi kiya mere sath!" She spoke sarcastically sparing a glance at him. He smiled a little trying to reciprocate her look.

"Nahi yr.. thora kaam h. Hospital hi aa rhi hu but aur hours nhi de paungi!" She took a deep breath and sighed tiredly, "48 ho gye h week ke. Ab weekend esa underground ki CID bhi nhi dhund payegi mujhe!"

She did crack him this time. He laughed lightly and shut off the car on reaching the location she mentioned. It was a fairly famous, private, multi-speciality hospital but certainly not the best one. He guessed working here wouldn't make survival in Mumbai that difficult. Her pay must be decent and trying to figure out on her behaviour, her expenses shouldn't make her budget tight.

She cut the call and asked him to come with her. He clicked away the seat belt, exited the car, and started following her while checking his cellphone, which popped a few new notifications.

She led him through the parking lot and then a small stairway- that felt rather unused- to the end of the corridor he supposed. After walking cross the whole corridor, they reached the reception. She asked the receptionist about the required details that were to be given and the receptionist took a whole minute to get it from the whatever department.

She took it from the receptionist and checked the initial details, then forwarded towards him.

"Yeh rhi sari Medical reports and details!" She spoke forwarding two thick files.

"Thanks." He politely said and carefully took the file. He too checked the front page mentioning the hospital information and some general information about the cases. He hummed as thought was about to leave, "Hmm. I'll get going then!"

"Sure! Mai bhi nikal hi rhi thi bas! Ek min!" She walked around somewhere and entered inside a nearby cabin.

Daya got a little confused. He walked closer to take a look at the board, that was assigned to her entirely. The board above mentioned her Name with the three degrees she's got, who he wouldn't have fully formed if asked exactly. That's when he saw her reflection coming towards the door so instantly backed off to his previous place and started looking around the posh hospital corridors that divided themselves in a puzzling way. The centre of the whole square like floor had a beautiful fountain that was surrounded by some people walking around with their kids, a couple seeming sad about something and a man talking unusually loud on his cell phone.

"Chale?" He turned back to find her pushing a white apron and a dark red stethoscope into a supposedly heavy bag.

"Oh! Haan!" He smiled lightly and both started walking back from where they got in, which was mentioned as the fire exit. It bothered him a little, "Vese.. hum fire exit se kyu jaa rhe h?"

Shanaya smiled a little and answered just casually, "Actually hospital mei kuch changes kiye ja rhe h. This exit will be reserved for the staff and workers. Alloted staff parking bhi issi direction mei h so.. it's kinda convenient."

He just hummed in response, "Toh tum yaha kabse job kr rhi ho?" He regretted just after asking, "Er.. if you don't mind me asking.."

"It's been 3-4 years I guess," she then gave him a suspicious look, "Btw officer kahi apko meri jasoosi krne toh nhi bheja h?"

"What?" He laughed a little, "I'm off duty ma'am.. mai chah kr bhi kisi case mei apni naak nhi daal skta."

She laughed a little loud this time. The conversation was heard very clear and loud in the parking lot with all the parked cars and packed ways.

He unlocked his car from a distance and saw her just walking away. She got a car right? Yeah he was sure he saw that night. A black Hyundai.. he remembered.

"So.. you got your car right?"

"Nah! I'll book an uber! Meri car servicing ke liye gayi h." She smiled and stopped as she saw them reaching near his car. He opened the door of backseat and placed the files quite carefully, then stopped in front of her and asked genuinely.

"I'll give you a ride in case-"

"Nhi officer. It's okay! Apko aur takleef nhi dena chahti mai. And.. shyd ab hum phir ittefaq se kahi mil jaye." She spoke in a serious way but chuckled looking at his perplexed face.

"But.. how'd you know that?" He asked with a weird thought. Wait! Was he trying to strike up a conversation? Again? "Yeh sheher mein koi do anjaan dobara nhi milte doctor!" He was sounding meaningful, "Yaha toh dhundne pr apne bhi nhi milte."

"Lekin yaha ittefaq bht baar hote h sir. Aur ek ittefaq to maine aaj phir dekh liya!" She said looking at him with a tight smile.

He got the meaning. She was talking about them meeting again after about a week and that sure was a coincidence if we quote her.

"Ok fine fine! Next time tumse milna hua toh mai yeh ittefaq vali theory pr believe kr lunga!"

"Coincidences doesn't happen often and that's quite self explanatory but let's see."

He smiled and her cell phone rang again. (Gosh it rings alot of times) she hurried towards the exit after bidding him bye! He guessed her cab driver called her maybe.

He moved towards the steering side and watched her going silhouette wondering about something that sounded weird about her. She seemed weird but in some way, familiar. Now thinking of it, he felt really awkward as he remembered his conversation with her. He actually had a conversation with a stranger!

That day she saw him crying and today he was cracking jokes and talking about 'ittefaq'. He cringed thinking about it now. What on earth was he doing? Why was he so unlike him? Who is she? And why's he so weird in front of her?

He itched to get the answers soon.

.

CID Bureau.

"Sir! Iss akhiri member ke sath sabkuch khtm ho gya!" Abhijeet banged his fist on the table as he discussed the case with his senior.

"Nhi Abhijeet! Shyd humse koi galati ho gyi h yeh information check krne mei!" Unlike always, the boss tried to sooth his steamed right hand now who was soon to become a pressure cooker.

"Sir maine in 2 ghanto mei 10 baar check kiye h saare hospital records. Naam match kiye, naam nhi huye toh phir photos match kiye.. even.. even fingerprints bhi match kiye sir! Kuch nhi h inn records mei!" And he slammed the record book shut.

"Esa kese ho skta h? Yeh records kehna chah rhe h ki voh admi kabhi hospital aaya hi nhi! Lekin logo ne usse dekha h aate huye.. voh bhi ghayal halat mei!" Acp started thinking out another way to get it.

"Ab toh case secret rha nhi. Ab toh team ko bhi involve kr skte h. Haine sir?" Abhijeet spoke while sitting on the front chair of his boss' cabin.

"Hmm.. CCTV check kiye the na Abhijeet?"

"Hn.. Pankaj ko bola tha sir CCTV laane. Lekin current case ki vajah se thori deri ho gyi thi isliye..." He was kinda ashamed saying that, "Kal subh le ayega voh!"

"Hmm." Abhijeet got a little confused getting a humm in response from his mentor. It was rare.

"Kya.. kya soch rhe h sir aap?"

"Umm.. nhi kuch khaas nhi. Yeh soch rha tha ki agar CCTV mei kuch nhi aaya toh phir investigation ko kis direction mei le jana chahiye?"

Abhijeet did nod but he wasn't completely convinced with the reply, "Sir agar in records mei kuch nhi h.. mtlb yah toh information ke sath chhed chaad ki gayi h yah phir usey unofficially treat kiya gaya h." He stopped as ACP continued what he tried to point out.

"Hn aur isme pakka koi na koi staff ka hath jarur hoga. Vrna agar usey apni identity chhupani hi thi.. toh voh itne bade hospital mei aane ki galti nhi krta."

"Yah phir.. usey yehi galti ho gyi. Aur aaspaas ke logo ne isey dekh liya." They were quite clear about it. He was too lost tracking the criminal and happenings that he almost slipped, "Saare doctors ke piche khabri laga dete h sir. Aur especially us Shanaya ke piche."

"Matlab tumhe sach mei lgta h voh Shanaya hi h." Acp caught him instantly.

"Ah.. ho.. ho bhi skta h or nahi bhi! Bs koi sabut nhi h uske khilaf isliye shyd-!" He was caught as if a child playing a wrong move seeking outside the class room. He stammered as he tried to sound as normal as possible.

"Tum kabse presume krne lage culprits ko?" Acp kept both his elbow on the table for support and bent forward with his right eyebrow raised, only to make him more uncomfortable.

"N..nahi sir. Mai presume nhi kr rha hu. Sirf shak kr rha hu!" He tried to say strongly under his boss' suspicious gaze, "Usne is admi ko nhi dekha ho koi chance hi nhi bnta sir. Every treatment was going under her supervision that night. Maine kuch pata kiya h!"

"Hmm. Theek h phir.. CCTV check kr lena aur update kr dena mujhe!" Acp kinda ordered him, though that was already known, and stood up to leave.

"Good night sir!"

"Tum bhi jldi ghar chale jana Abhijeet. Jyada der rukne ki zarurat nhi h. Jo hoga dekha jayega!"

Abhijeet nodded lightly and when he found Acp totally out of range, he exhaled loudly as he was unknowingly holding his breath. Walking out of the cabin, he threw himself on the very first chair in his vicinity, lying dead on it with his strained eyes shut tightly.

Yes he was tired today. All day long he went running from place to place with his juniors trying to catch the criminal, who in the end was found dead. How useless were those efforts he put for a man who was weak enough to kill himself! And also they weren't successful in finding anything else about the Pragati Vishesh murder case. That was really frustrating him now.

"Huh!" He threw his neck back, resting his head at the headrest and sighed again. Being alone was all he needed to show himself, to show his emotions, to show that he also is a human! It's not like they never cared about him. Infact all the team members loved him and what to say about his mentor, who/ inspite of sharing a heartbreaking history with him/ cared alot about him. But still his life felt empty to him. A life probably he chose to occupy his mind instead trapping himself in the pains and tragedies of the past.

"Hello?" He didn't bother to open his eyes and read the caller name.

"Abhi?"

"Oh I'm so sorry maine dekha hi nhi-"

"Kese ho Abhijeet?" Hearing her gave sooth to his heart.

"I'm fine Tarika bus ek case ke silsile mei.."

"Thak gye ho na?" She knew how to read him. She's probably the best he's had by his side.

"Hmm." He sighed, "Thak gya hu bht lekin abhi Ghar hi ja rha hu!"

"Mtlb Tum abhi tk bureau mai hi ho? It's 11 Abhijeet!" Shit! What was the need to mention it again? He bit his tongue as he knew what exactly was coming on his way.

"I know Tarika but yehi toh kaam h yr mera!"

He found himself a little irritated though Tarika understood that he wanted some peace of mind. She could hear his tired sigh and so thought to break the silence, "It's okay! Tum Ghar jao aur rest kro hum baadmei baat kr lenge!"

"Nhi Tarika. I.. I am fine!" He took a pause to mean if the next words would come out nicely, "Yeh sab chhoro.. Tum kesi ho? Seminar kaisa rha tumhara? Tarika sabkuch theek h na vaha? Kuch bhi ajeeb lage toh mujhe foren-"

"Abhijeet," She stretched it slightly and a small smile came to both the faces, "Sab theek h yaha. And conference kal se start ho rhi h, aaj se nhi!"

"Hmm? Kal se? Iska yeh mtlb toh nhi h ki.."

"Haan ekdin aur late ho jayega!" And he heard her sigh in disappointment.

"Hmm." He dropped his head back on the headrest, disappointed and sad about it. His eyes unknowingly shut themselves again.

'Abhi toh aayi thi tum itne arse baad aur ab phir intezaar kru mai tumhara.' Some words just passed his memory. He'd read it somewhere today when he was investigating the current case. They fit really well, don't they?

"Abhijeet?"

He jerked and thought if he spoke that a little too loud. Did she hear him say that? Did he just-

"Abhii?"

"Hn! Hn! Voh mai kuch.." He trailed off not sure if he had actually said those words or was his brain playing tricks in him.

"Sare kaam chhor ke abhi ke abhi Ghar jao. Aur kal dopahar se phle uthna mt! Vrna mujhse bura koi nhi hoga!"

"Hmm. Jaa rha hu doh minute!" He mumbled tiredly and didn't even move an inch. Instead of sleeping, he hoped he could be in this moment and talk to her for sometime longer. But he figured out, he was too tired to stay awake.

"Abhijeet! Tum jaa rhe ho yah nhi?"

"Ja rha hu na Tarika.. yeh.. dhamkee dene ki zarurat nhi h!" He mumbled irritatedly like a sleeping child who is been forced to wake up early.

Cutely metaphored.

"Hn hn as if tum dar jaoge!"

He smiled lightly and put his entire weight on the desk in front to get on his feet. Collecting all his accessories he started leaving, "Bs yehi toh problem hai Tarika ji, sirf aap se hi darta hu mai!"

She chuckled shyly and after bidding bye and wishing night, they cut the call.

A/N:- Soo how was it? A cute Abhirika.. Oh my- I love them!

Tell me in the reviews fast! Silent readers.. pleasee come out of your veils and drop your reviews!

Have a good day ahead!

Signing off.

+S+