AN- Hmm mixed reactions for the last chapter. Kinda expected it. All I will say right now is that this story still has a long long way to go so don't jump to any conclusions right now and this story definitely has a happy ending. I promise. :)


The team welcomed the new year with a bang. All of them were feeling very relaxed and enjoyed a lot together after a long time. Well all of them except abhijeet and tarika. They both had their own moment welcoming the new year in a rather special way. Of course everyone in the team had noticed their absence after sometime. Needless to say, everyone including daya was shocked to see abhijeet having a romantic dance with tarika. But, seeing that their assumption that "Something is cooking" between both of them was proved correct.

Today, on the first day of the new year, here the team was in the bureau working hard as usual. ACP pradyuman was in his cabin attending a very important phone call from the head office. While duo were discussing an interesting case from last year. Their discussion however, got interrupted as abhijeet was distracted as the door of the bureau opened. He had a valid reason for getting distracted though. Even more so now, because his girlfriend had just walked inside the bureau.

Her eyes too, were quick to fall on him just as quick as her lips to curve themselves into a smile. As he saw her walking, he remembered last night when he saw her in the party, how lost he was in her, how fast did his heart beat on seeing her, how he couldn't take his eyes off of her. He realized it's the same even now when she is in a complete formal look. He realized that it was always the same because of a simple reason that, ITS HER! and she is gorgeous on every single day in every single look.

"Hi! " Said Abhijeet as she stood near duo.

"Hi! " She said looking at him.

Daya cleared his throat to bring AbhiRika back from their dream land.

"Arre hum sab bhi hai yaha pe. Ye tum dono ka dance floor nahi hai kal wala. " Teased daya.

All others, although sitting on their respective desks, smiled on hearing daya's comment. While tarika as usual blushed. Abhijeet glared at daya trying not to smile.

"Waise... baadmein kaha gayab ho gaye tum dono? " daya continued.

'Uh... woh... tarika ji bore ho rahi thi party mein toh isliye aise hi drive pe gaye the... "

Tarika widened her eyes giving abhijeet 'oh really? ' look.

"Achha? fir... uske baad? " Asked daya.

"Uske baad... ku- kuch nahi. Ghar gaye aur kya? " Abhijeet said stammering.

"Oho kiske? " smirked daya as he asked.

"Kya matlab kiske? Tarika ji apne mein apne. Kaise sawal kar rahe ho yaar. " said abhijeet sounding annoyed.

Tarika was kind of surprised that abhijeet still hadn't told daya about last night's events. She knew for a fact that abhijeet always tells daya everything. Even the smallest of the details of his life. So, she thought that this was quite a big thing for him not to tell daya about.

"Ab tum dono aise achanak chale jaoge beech party se toh shak toh hoga hi. Ye toh batayega nahi... aap hi bata dijiye Dr. Tarika... "

"Uh... woh... actually... " She was trying to find words to say to daya.

But instead, she sneezed.

"Sorry. " she mumbled.

"Arre! Sardi lag gayi? " Asked abhijeet in an ever concerned tone.

"Toh? what do you expect? Tum ne hi ice cream khilayi mujhe. " She said in a low but a complaining tone.

Before abhijeet could even say something, daya began-

"Oh! Achha! Party chhodke tum Dr. Tarika ko ice cream khilane lekar gaye the... "

Again, Abhijeet tried to say something, but this time interrupted by his boss.

"Daya, Abhijeet cabin mein aao. " He said, now eyeing tarika, " Haan tarika, wo report laayi ho? "

"Yes sir. Ye lijiye. " She said, handing over file to the ACP.

And the events of last night and the teasing accompanied with it was forgotten quickly as all of them got into work mode.

.

.

.

Soon, by evening, the team was in a jungle. It was not very uncommon in their job to just be there at the most unusual places at an unusual time. A case can take any twist and turn and just land them anywhere. Today, was just one such incident. They had to go into a thick jungle in the outskirts of the city to find some clues. The forensics doctors also accompanied the team.

Abhijeet though, as concentrated as he was on the case, a small part of his brain was thinking about tarika and mainly that she might have caught cold. He didn't get a chance to enquire about her health during the day and now with the team being there, it was even more difficult for him.

As the team walked deeper into the jungle, they found themselves at a small elevation. They had to jump down in order to move forward. One by one, everyone jumped. As abhijeet landed on ground, his eyes immediately moved to tarika as he knew it would be difficult for her to jump with the forensic kit she was holding in her hands. So, like a true gentleman that he was, he offered her a hand. She smiled at his thoughtfulness and gave him the kit first which he held in his one hand, while she held his another hand and came down.

"Thank you. " She said in a shy tone.

"You're welcome. " he said still refusing to let go of her hand. "Waise tumhara zukaam kaisa hai? "

It was as if she waited to sneeze right when he asked this question to her. Before she could answer, she sneezed yet again.

"Arre! Tumne medicines nahi liye? " He asked now, really concerned.

"Liye the. Lekin thoda time lagega na asar hone mein. " She said rubbing her nose.

"Uske medicines ka mein dekh lunga abhijeet, tum mujhe haath do pehle. " Interrupted salunkhe from behind.

"Aao na khud hi. Itne budhe nahi hue ab tak aap. " Said abhijeet in an ever annoyed tone that he often has while talking to the old doctor.

"Kamaal aadmi ho yaar. Itni madat nahi kar sakte kisi ki? " Said salunkhe in the same tone.

Tarika eyed abhijeet with a 'Please stop these childish banters with my boss' look.

Seeing her, abhijeet reluctantly offered hand to salunkhe.

"Thank you. Badi meherbaani hui aapki. " Said salunkhe sarcastically.

"Haan haan thik hai. " Said abhijeet as he walked forward.

As they proceeded it was pretty dark and got pretty chilly. As the team still hadn't got anything significant, they decided to split themselves into smaller groups for further investigation.

"Daya, tum tarika aur purvi us taraf jaakar dekho. Main, abhijeet aur salunkhe yaha dekhte hai. " ordered ACP and they proceeded further.

As abhijeet, was to proceed with his boss' orders he in a moment rightfully noticed, that tarika was shivering a little because of the cold. Moreover, her sleeveless top was adding to her discomfort with the cold. Nonetheless, she still decided to move forward but she stopped as she heard abhijeet calling her.

"Tarika, " He said as he moved towards her. Next, he quickly removed his coat and handed it to her. She just stared at him with a surprised expression.

"Dekh kya rahi ho? Your cold might get worse in this weather. Pehen lo. " He said and proceeded to go with his boss without waiting for her response.

She wasted no time in wearing the coat, while her eyes were still on him, staring at him in an awe. Whenever, he did these little things for her, to show that he cares, whenever she saw his eyes full of concern for her, she just felt like the luckiest woman on the planet. This feeling along with his coat, instantly brought so much warmth to her body and to her cheeks. As she turned to face daya and purvi, she could see daya smiling at her while purvi was going all aww over her seniors act. Tarika somehow controlling her blush, proceeded to continue her work.

Soon, their search ended, and all of them left for their respective houses. Except for abhijeet's coat. It didn't go with it's owner. Tarika was is no mood to return his coat to him. Abhijeet too, didn't ask for it knowing that she might need it on the way home.


The next day, Abhijeet was as usual in a hurry to leave for work. Breakfasts was generally not a thing for him, as he always felt too lazy to cook something for himself right in the morning or anytime of the day really. He just made himself some coffee and was enjoying it while reading the newspaper when his door bell rang.

When he saw the person standing outside, a wide smile appeared on his face.

"Hi! Good morning! " Said tarika as he opened the door for her.

"It indeed is a good morning now! How's your cold by the way? "

"Much better. Your coat was missing you so I came to give it back. " She said handing him over his coat.

"Ohh. " He said looking at the coat, "You lucky bastard. "

"What? "

"Yes. This thing got the chance to be wrapped all around you for so long... " He said in a flirty tone.

"Oh God! I am sure you can come up with better lines than this. " She said rolling her eyes.

He was about to protest when the door bell rang again.

This time, it was an elderly lady who was abhijeet's neighbour.

"Arre aunty! Aiye na. "

"Aaj jaakar tu subah dikha hai ghar par isliye socha thoda naashta le aau tere liye. "

Abhijeet took the plate from her hand to find freshly cooked aloo parathas. He relished their smell.

"Waah. Thank you. " He said.

"Aur yeh... tumhari behen hai kya? " asked the lady eyeing tarika.

"Nahi! " Said abhijeet almost in a reflex. " Behen nahi hai meri. Itne saalo mein kabhi meri koi behen dekhi hai kya aapne? "

"Arre waah! Chalo ye jaan kar khushi hui ki yeh tumhari behen nahi hai. Toh? Kaun hai? "

"Dr. Tarika. Mere saath kaam karti hai. "

"Namaste aunty. " Greeted tarika.

"Arre waah! Badi sundar hai. Shaadi ho gayi beta tumhari? "

Abhijeets eyes widened on hearing this.

"Kya aunty aap bhi? Aapko sab ki shaadi karwane ka itna shauk kyu hai? Ise toh akela chhod do. "

"Toh kya karu? Kab tak mere haath ke parathe khata rahega? Shaadi kar le ab bohot hua. "

"Meri shaadi ke alawa bhi bohot chize hai duniya mein. Aap humesha ek hi baat kaise kar leti hai? "

"Haan toh... "

Suddenly, abhijeets phone rang stopping the lady from what she was saying.

"Lo aa gaya phone. Ye kaam hi tumhari biwi hai. Parathe khaye bina mat jaana. Mein chalti hu. "

"Ji. Thank you. " Said abhijeet picking up the call.

It was daya calling to ask when is he coming to the bureau.

"Aa raha hu na yaar. Aadhe ghante mein aa raha hu. " He said as he disconnected the call.

"Breakfast kar liya tumne? Kar liya bhi hoga toh ye parathe try karo. They are amazing. And... sorry about aunty. Kahi bhi kuch bhi bol deti hai woh... " He said sounding embarrassed.

"Its okay. " Said tarika but her tone was not usual. It had a hint of disappointment in it.

"Kya hua? "

Tarika let out a sigh.

"Abhijeet? Mein tumhare saath kaam karti hu... humara rishta bas itna hi hai? Usse jyada kuch nahi? "

"Arre... nahi yaar. Kaisi baate kar rahi ho? Ye main ab aunty ko batadu ki tum meri girlfriend ho toh sidha shaadi ki date hi fix karwa de woh. Unke generation ko dating samajh hi nahi aata... isliye nahi bataya maine. Bass. " Said abhijeet sounding defensive.

"Baat sirf ab ki nahi hai abhijeet. Humne ab tak team mein bhi kisiko nahi bataya hai. Team toh dur ki baat tumne ab tak daya sir ko bhi nahi bataya? Tum toh unhe har chhoti se chhoti baat bhi batate ho. Is this not a big enough deal for you? "

"No. It is. Absolutely it is. Aur jaha tak sabko batane ki baat hai... mujhe nahi laga sab kuch batana hi padta hai you know... jab humare beech kuch nahi tha tab bhi tumhe pata hai sab kitni taang khichte the. I mean... unhone waise hi assume hi kar liya hai ki we are together toh alag se kya batana. Isliye nahi bataya bass. Don't overthink it please. " abhijeet explained.

"Oh, okay. " Said tarika still sounding a little low.

"Hey! I am so proud to have you as my girlfriend. So lucky in fact. Really, I mean it. " He said taking her hands into his.

"I know. " She smiled.

.

Later on the same day, the team was having lunch together in the cafeteria. The ACP and salunkhe were busy in some work so they couldn't join. Abhijeet and tarika sitting next to each other as usual.

Some normal chit chat was going on when abhijeet said-

"Waise aaj hum sab yaha hai toh mujhe ek baat kehni hai. "

Everyone's attention instantly shifted to abhijeet. As it was rare for him to talk a lot.

He looked at tarika once before he continued-

"Tum logo ne toh waise hi assume kar li hai yeh baat. Lekin, mujhe realize hua ki agar officially sabko pata chal jaye toh achha hai. So... me and Dr. Tarika are... dating. Toh, tum sab ne ab tak jo chidhaya ya taang khichi hai hum dono ki... wo... waste nahi gaya. "

Tarika's jaw dropped on hearing that. Everyone else, including daya was shocked to see abhijeet directly addressing this out and openly. But nonetheless, everyone was happy to hear that.

He then looked at tarika and raised his eyesbrows.

"Tumhe... kuch kehna hai? "

"N- Nahi... " She looked down smiling. She did not know whether she was more shocked or happy at his confession in front of everyone.

He smiled at her reaction. He then looked at daya, who gave him a 'Kya baat hai' look. He shook his head.

"Chalo is baat pe toh muh meetha karna banta hai. Meri wife ne gajar ka halwa banaya hai. " Said freddy sounding excited as he opened his tiffin.

"Arre waah! Lao lao. Aaj toh banta hi hai bhai. " Said daya.

With this, the moment became even more sweet.


AN- I have always enjoyed and couldn't get enough of the small team moments. So, my story is going to involve a lot of them. Also, however shy as a person abhijeet is, he will always keep that shyness aside for tarika. :)

Please leave a review on how did you like this chapter. I hope to see you soon with an update :)