Chapter 4 : unexpected hope

The CID Delhi Bureau was still buzzing with speculations as the lunch break dragged into longer-than-usual chatter. The tension of change, mixed with anticipation and teasing, had taken over the room like an invisible fog. Coffee mugs were being refilled, files lay forgotten, and even the ever-serious duty board on the wall had lost its audience.

Purvi, still pretending to be buried in her case file, was the primary target of everyone's amusement — as always, when anything remotely linked to Mumbai, transfers, or the name Abhijeet was involved.

Inspector Shiv Desai, comfortably sprawled on the corner of a desk, tossed a stress ball up in the air, grinning like a fox who knew all the henhouse secrets. "Arre Purvi," he began, dragging

her name with the usual teasing lilt, "tere papa toh DIG hain. Unhone tujhe bataya nahi ke naya ACP kaun hai?"

Inspector Purvi, who had been trying really hard to stay focused on her laptop screen, sighed and turned toward him with an unimpressed glare. "No, Shiv. Papa doesn't exactly sit me down and read CID transfer reports over breakfast."

amusement — as always, when anything remotely linked to Mumbai, transfers, or the name Abhijeet was involved.

Inspector Shiv , comfortably sprawled on the corner of a desk, tossed a stress ball up in the air, grinning like a fox who knew all the henhouse secrets. "yaar Purvi," he began, dragging

Before she could answer, Ravi, already half-done with his protein bar, jumped in with a wicked grin— as always, never one to miss a chance to pull her leg. "Shayad isliye nahi bataya, kyunki unhe pata hai ki unki beti ka dil ab tak Mumbai ke ek Senior Inspector par aataka hua hai."

Purvi instantly threw a paperweight at Ravi — not hard enough to hurt, but just enough to make her point. "Ravi! Tum log hadh karte ho!"

Simran leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Hmm… waise I don't blame you, Purvi. Abhijeet sir hot hai. Smart, intense, fearless. Upar se uniform mein to aur bhi… damn."

Shiv dramatically covered his ears. "Aah! I can't hear this! Simran ma'am, please, meri innocent ears!"

"Shiv," she shot back, "tera innocence toh tere gym ke protein shake ke saath chala gaya tha."

Everyone laughed.

Purvi tried to suppress her smile, cheeks flushing. "Bas Simran… tum bhi shuru ho gayi?"

Simran nudged her gently. "Waise Purvi… kya farak padta hai? Abhijeet sir sirf paanch saal hi to bade hain tujhse. aur Age ka kya lena dena jab connection ho?"

Purvi rolled her eyes but her cheeks betrayed her. They were flushed pink.

"Connection? Please. Ek baar Mumbai se Delhi aa gaye, toh sab kuch connection ban jaata hai kya?"

Ravi raised an eyebrow. "Kya pata… kal subah tujhe chai ke saath Abhijeet sir serve ho jayein."

Shiv gasped, clutching his heart. "Waise imagine kar — Abhijeet sir as our ACP! Purvi faint ho jayegi. Aur agar sabse pehle unhone bola, 'Inspector Purvi, follow me to the conference room'

— bas… khatam. Duniya gayi tel lene."

Simran smirked. "Pehla case solve hone se pehle love story shuru."

Purvi groaned. "Tum logon ke dimaag mein sirf filmy scenes chal rahe hain kya?"

Shiv grinned. "Dekha? Even Simran maanti hai. Aur honestly, Purvi, if Abhijeet sir were to walk into this bureau as our new ACP, tera toh heart attack fix hai."

Ravi added with a laugh, "Aur hamara bhi. Because we won't just have a strict ACP… we'll have a full-on Bollywood hero boss."

Dr. Kashish Mehta, the bureau's calm and intelligent forensic specialist, walked in just in time, holding her clipboard. Her white lab coat fluttered slightly as she settled next to Simran. "Kya ho raha hai yahan? Phir se Purvi ki love story par gossip?"

Simran smirked. "Of course. Naya ACP aa raha hai, and we're taking bets."

Kashish raised an eyebrow. "What if it's Abhijeet sir?"

Purvi's head snapped up. "Abhijeet sir Senior Inspector hain, ACP nahi."

There was a moment of silence.

Then Kashish smiled. "Hmm… tu toh kuch zyada hi sure lag rahi hai. Waise bhi maine DCP sir ko baat karte suna tha Abhijit sir ko bahut baar promotion offer hua hai, kya pta iss baar accept kar liya ho."

Purvi looked away, pretending to shuffle papers. " this is not going to happen Because I know. ACP ka promotion ek dum se nahi hota. Plus, unka focus field par hota hai, paperwork pe nahi aur sabse badi baat vo apni team se bahut pyar karte hai."

Simran leaned in, her tone playful but probing. "Tu full detail mein jaanti hai unka career path? Wah Purvi, i'm impressed."

Before Purvi could protest again, the atmosphere shifted.

Just then, the door to the main office creaked open.

All heads turned as DCP Shekhawat walked in — tall, salt-and-pepper hair, files in hand, and that unmistakable aura of authority that could silence a room in seconds. Conversations hushed, instantly as everyone stood.

But the DCP waved a hand, a rare smile on his usually serious face.

"Relax, officers. Carry on. Bas ek zaroori update dene aaya hoon. Waise Lagta hai kaafi important discussion chal rahi thi?"

"No sir," Shiv said with a grin, "sirf ACP guessing game."

The DCP gave a small smile. "Good. Guess all you want ."

A collective hush fell over the room.

Ravi leaned forward, whispering loudly, "Sir bas ek hint de do — height kitni hai?"

Everyone laughed."

The team waited.

He glanced around, eyes settling briefly on each officer — Veer, Simran, Ravi, Shiv… and

finally, Purvi, who instantly straightened her posture under his gaze.

"The new ACP," he began, "will be joining tomorrow morning."

There was a collective intake of breath — excitement, suspense, and a touch of anxiety.

Ravi whispered under his breath, "Kal subah chai ke saath shock milega."

DCP continued, "Sharp at 9:30 AM. I expect everyone present in the briefing room. I want a warm welcome. He's… a special addition to the team. That's all I'll say for now."

Eyes widened. Everyone looked at each other.

"So soon?" Veer asked, surprised.

"Yes," DCP Sinha replied. "He's already accepted the post and completed all the formalities. I expect full discipline and respect. He comes with years of experience and an impeccable track record.

"Shiv's eyes lit up. "with years of experience? Matlab... sir? Toh Simran ma'am ka lover-boy theory cancel ho gaya."

Simran swatted him with a file.

The DCP raised a curious brow. "Kya chal raha hai yahaan?"

Everyone suddenly stood straighter, lips zipped.

"Nothing, sir!" came the chorus reply.

DCP shook his head, amused. "Good. Be ready. The new ACP is not just another officer. He's earned his place."

He left the room with the kind of dramatic timing that could put any actor to shame.

As soon as the door shut behind him, all eyes turned back to Purvi.

Shiv leaned forward. "Purvi… he's not just another officer. He's earned his place. Tell me, are you sure you don't know something?"

Purvi raised both hands. "Mujhe sach mein kuch nahi pata. Papa ne kuch nahi bataya."

Ravi tapped his chin. "Ya… ya… but DCP sir said 'special addition'. Matlab… yeh koi regular transfer nahi hai."

Simran whispered, "What if… just what if…"

Everyone leaned closer.

She said it softly, but with a teasing spark in her eye: "What if it is Abhijeet sir?"

Purvi's heart skipped a beat. She looked away quickly, but it was too late — everyone had noticed the flicker in her eyes.

Shiv burst out laughing. "Bas! Confirmed. Ab kal breakfast ke saath butterflies bhi serve honge!"