Chapter 5

Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.

- Sir Walter Scott.

He was waiting in the Airport for the announcement of his flight, when the headlines in the newspaper caught his attention.

He paid in cash for one of the leading English national newspaper and started reading, the corner of lips twitching as he went. Not that the headline was anything amusing, but of course, he is not a normal person.

He is Azeem Haqqani. Most wanted in 4 countries, suspected in dozens of assassinations and countless massacres. He takes pleasure from the news where media belittle Government and Law enforcement agencies and ask where the culprits are.

Well, he is here, is not he? Dubai International Airport. Come and get me, he wanted to shout, but settled for folding the paper and tucking it under his arms as he leant back, the small smirk in the same place.

Not that his name was on the paper. But the stunt he pulled with Indian Intelligence Agencies, RAW mainly, letting out the GPS of a burner phone which was traced right back to him, he was pretty sure for the 'Shoot out' in South Delhi 3 weeks back, he is in the list of suspects. Why RAW didn't let his name out, or covered the reality about the shootout, he guessed, and the satisfaction increased. He felt pretty powerful that time, bringing down an entire nation on his knees.

He plans to do more, if possible. Only if Islamabad lets him loose . . .

But now, it was time to pull another stunt. 3 weeks and Indian administration was getting bashed left right and center for their inability to capture or get a suspect for that shoot out, both from media and public. From his ears in various part of World, the RAW was as clueless about him as they can get. He was enjoying this cat and mouse game greatly, now it's time to raise the stakes. Show them just how much damage he can do.

Show himself.

The flight announcement occurred and he got up, dragging the wheels of his suitcase behind him as he moved ahead.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Why I am here come again?" ACP Mukherjee mostly spoke to herself in irritation and exasperation, looking around her.

"Because the Director could not make it." Shree pointed out.

"She promised her whole team will represent her." Sameer carried on.

"Whole Team." Rawte emphasized. She gave a half glare to him.

"Yeah. Got that." She replied sarcastically, ducking her face as she c*rsed Aisha and her promises.

The invitation for the Charity ball came in this morning, personally delivered by the manager of the event organizer, Ashok Dixit. He was accused of murdering his wife 2 years ago, way before Riya barged through the ETFians life and turned it upside down. ETF cleared his name that time, and he is returning the favor now, also showing off to his benefactors and social circle how far he can reach inside Government administrations. The party was every bit of 'Hi fi" as Chotu had termed. The vast amount of invitees swam inside the giant party hall, like half the city had turned up for the occasion, and it was not only Indians. They could hear chatter in American English, mumbo jumbo which sounded suspiciously like Japanese, and some other South Asian languages. The grand hall was decorated with chandeliers, rare orchids and white roses, the air smelt like champagne and high fashion and sounded like Jazz. It totally had to do with those musicians on the podium in the corner of the hall who looked as drowned in their music as these people in their bubble.

The whole charade only served as a Deja vu for her. No wonder she hated every minute in here.

Ashok Dixit came into their vision, talking to an older couple, the smile plastered on his face like it's permanent, giving a feeling he is listening if someone doesn't notice the impatient finger tapping on his leg. He excused himself, clearly relieved, and was instantly stonewalled by an American male duo. This time, he looked quite interested.

"So Dixit got away with murder?" Riya was so bored and uncomfortable that she could not find anything else to talk about. Even the silence was uncomfortable, not to say the Jazz, though beautiful, only managed to bring headache. She was way more impatience today, which must have something to do with the gap of three week where she had nothing to do in her 'Personal work'.

"No." Rawte shook head, sipping champagne from his glass, "As surprising as it was, he was not the killer."

"Then who was?" She asked.

"God, you are talking about murder in a party?" Sakshi chimed in disapprovingly, throwing a side glance to the ACP who just looked away, eyes throwing upward, "Enjoy the party, will you?"

Rawte gave a stern gaze to the crime journo, who didn't even notice it, half squealing when she recognized one person from her work circle in there, walking fast in her too-high heels, letting the edge of her light pink gown brushing the floor. His eyes eventually followed the ACP, who looked right back.

"We never found the killer." He answered her earlier question.

"No case talk." She smirked a little, and when he frowned she replied, "You heard the Date."

He rolled his eyes, "The invitation card didn't say Date." Even though it fell into deaf ears, the ACP taking a glass of orange juice off the tray of a passing-by waiter at a lightning speed, then sipping it a little. He narrowed his eyes a little bit in curiosity, which she noticed.

"What?"

"Orange Juice?" He remembered that Apocalypse case and her own confirmation of being a party girl who started a brawl in the bar which she co-financed, probably under the influence of alcohol, though it was not mentioned, and had a feeling he will see her enjoying the liquor. But the sobriety surprised him.

"I am a good girl." She gave a smirk which was half sarcastic, half her trademark 'Wouldn't you wanna know?' comment. He shook head, adding this to the already present list of mystery that is ACP Riya Mukherjee.

Sameer appeared 5 minutes later beside them, looking troubled for some reason, "Where is team?" He inquired.

"Trio went to check out the architecture of this giant party hall." Rawte informed, simultaneously suppressing a sigh, giving a look of 'Don't ask' to the former who raised his eyebrow at the info, "Sakshi met some friend from her circle."

"Both of our dates ditched us then." He took Rawte's drink and gulped the remaining, to which Riya gave a disgusted look, like it was unfathomable to her, "I don't mind of course."

"Probably didn't cross your mind that if Director is not going, you are going to end up with her old secretary as date." Rawte remarked, smiling.

"Oh the guy jokes!" Sameer said dryly, then sobered, "As long as she don't throw up, I am A-okay."

The senior trio made small talk, mostly the males talking and the ACP silently enjoying. It's not like their comfort level with each other and years of deep friendship is anything new, very much visible in workplace too, but here, they were free. No cases, no protocols, no Second-in-Command/ Senior Agent barrier of posts. They were just two lifelong friends, talking and teasing and enjoying the evening.

"Why so serious?" Sameer asked Riya when the duo paused in their banter, grinning at his own joke. She realized it must have been some movie dialogue he was mouthing. Instead of answering, she commented on his look when he arrived.

"You look troubled."

The grin vanished, "Yeah, my ex is here."

The next moment, Arjun and Riya were looking at each other.

"I can't believe . . . " He trailed off.

"Yeah. Mutual feeling." She waved fingers in solidarity.

Sameer stared at the duo's odd communication, like they were not talking language known to world, "Let me in the joke, please?"

She looked away as the Second-in-Command answered, "How amazing it would have been if the Director was here."

He looked horrified, "You are kidding, right?"

A grey suit appeared in the corner of Riya's eyes and she was looking at that, the conversation of the two best friends mixing with the sound of party and becoming a buzz at the back of her head. The suit vanished in the midst of crown, and just when she thought she imagined it all, the suit appeared again, the person adjusting it and tucking both hands in the pants pocket, the action so familiar that she straighten her back, her idle mind suddenly alert.

She stalked forward, keeping the empty glass on a tray of a moving waiter without missing a beat, sauntering through the crowd. When she reached near him, she grabbed his wrist and dragged him to a corner of party, both of them shielded behind a rounded pillar.

"How come you are here?" Agent Rahane looked stunned, then took in her appearance, a black sleeveless gown which had a slip up to her mid-thigh, her hair pinned to a side and falling on one shoulder loosely, letting the other bare, and flushed slightly, "You look different."

She didn't notice any of this, of course, but did notice the supermarket tag on the suit which indicated he bought it not much time ago. Like some 20 minutes ago.

"Look like you came here in a bit of hurry." Her fingers found the hanging price tag and tore away the thread which kept it joined with the suit. He blinked looking at her fingers, then met her eyes.

"Office sent me. Not sure why, they are yet to send me info."

She stared in his eyes, judging his answer, but then let it go, figuring he has no reason to lie.

"How come I see you here?" He asked again.

"It's not only me you are going to see." She caught his upper arm and gently turned him, so that he was seeing the ETF team standing under the chandelier, all of the members sans her had gathered together now.

"They are going to inquire." He muttered, disturbed at the obstacle.

"Good thing you are good at cover up." She replied dryly, earning a look from him.

"Uh oh." Chotu was the first to notice the IB-RAW liaison officer coming towards them, "That can't be good."

The rest of the team followed his glance and was instantly on edge. The liaison officer, on his part, tried to appear as comfortable as he could muster, managing to look surprised at the team's presence as he gave nods to them all and shook hand of Rawte's.

"Fancy seeing you here." He started.

"Mutual feeling." The Second-in-Command replied in the exact same phrase the ACP used not too long ago, earning a look from Sameer beside him, "How come you are here?"

"Oh nothing work related. Just a guy enjoying a charity ball." He replied, a smooth smile on his lips.

"Didn't know Intelligence Officers enjoy balls.'' Sakshi spoke acerbically. The liaison officer turned to her.

"Let me assure you, even if I am taking time off, other highly capable officers are doing their job right now." He answered as smoothly as earlier, with a trace of arrogance underlying, "Protecting National Interest and stopping journalists who don't know when to stop poking their noses."

The crime journo opened her mouth to retort, but the ACP chose to appear that exact time, "Oh, Agent." She feigned surprise looking at him, which fooled almost everyone but the duo looked slightly suspicious, partly due to how she suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"ACP Mukherjee." He nodded, though it was rather difficult not to pretend he was meeting her for the third time and not for the countless time.

"Quite a surprise." She added.

"Is not it?" Rawte commented before the Agent could, earning glances from team mates even though his eyes were fixed on the ACP, like he could not believe it was a co-incidence, like something else was not going on, as it was always with the ACP. In response, she silently stared back, leaving him to solve the puzzle.

The Agent coughed, suddenly the air was awkward, "Likewise, ACP."

It's not that the team didn't have any question for the Agent, but then, they were not friends, or even remotely interested in him. His appearance was part suspicious, part normal for them, so better than to make awkward small talk with him, they chattered among themselves, the Agent keeping a respectable distance between the two as he busied himself in his phone.

Most of the invitees had now taken the dance floor, moving in similar steps in tune of the jazz, laughing and chatting at once. Dixit had shown his face once, thanking them for coming and proudly telling about his initiative, even though he is yet to make the official speech. He even encouraged them to join others in the dance floor, winking at the ladies as he said. Liza was dragging Shree the next minute and Sakshi was making pleading eyes at Arjun for the same.

"Come on." To everyone's surprise, Sameer was the brave heart who asked Riya for dance, offering his hand like a gentleman he is. Her eyebrows shoot up into hairline, then she sobered, the trademark smirk back.

"Not bothered I might step on your toes?"

"I wear metallic bodysuit underneath." He answered without missing a beat. She shrugged, giving in.

"Had to get away from the awkward space." He said as they moved, relief evident in his voice, "Could barely stand the tension."

She was amused, "You are just frustrated your date ditched you."

"Maybe I should have skipped." He replied, not too happy with his date, the elderly PA of the Director, the next moment his eyes were alight, "But then, I would have missed that." He was looking somewhere behind her. She turned, and noticed the Second-in-Command finally giving in to the crime journo, who was dragging him to dance floor and was now snaking arm around his neck. They both stared at the two, one with amusement, other with a blankness in her eyes.

Sameer turned them both so that they were moving again, his face now serious, which the ACP didn't notice until she heard his question.

"So, how long have you known Agent Rahane?"

It's not that she is a bad liar. Hell, she managed to skip past Raghu sir, who is a human lie detector himself, and associated himself with the liaison officer, didn't she? Then what's with the members of ETF who managed to see through her lies every da*n time, sooner or later? It didn't make any sense!

And boy, did it anger her. But she kept a composed face, devoid of any expression of surprise or irritation.

"Three meetings, I think?" She replied. He looked right back.

"I am calling out on your Bull. If you don't want to answer, just say it. Won't be the first time you did."

She skipped a beat before saying, "If it's about those pictures . . . "

"It's not about those." He cut her, "It's about how his face changes every time you come across. How he manages to look at you first when he enters and look at you before he leaves a room."

"I am not bad to look at." She answered dryly. He rolled his eyes.

"Queen of dodging, really." He said, "But know this, I am not the only one who have their suspicions."

Before she could think to say anything to that, the booming voice of Dixit rang through the party hall and he announced something, the next moment the people were changing their dancing partners. Of all people, Riya found herself standing in front of Rahane.

"It's getting weirder." She mumbled to herself, which he obviously heard, making face as he took her hand and pulled her close.

"What's with me and you crossing paths every single time?" He wondered, head tilting to a side. She was surprisingly serious.

"I have no idea." She replied too quietly, looking away from him. He sighed, but his eyes didn't leave her face. They swayed to the music in uncomfortable silence for a couple of moment, when she broke it.

"Supermarket's Suit?" The smirk was back.

"Government don't pay enough to save for Georgio Armaanis, Miss Millionaire." He mocked, but then cur*ed in mind. Maybe the millionaire comment should have been avoided. It's not that she was oblivious to the face that IB-RAW snooped in her private life before offering their partnership, but maybe she could have done without waving it in her face.

"It's Billionaire, actually." She replied, even though the tension didn't leave her body. Before he could react to that, the music came to an abrupt halt and everyone stopped moving. Dixit clinked a spoon to his champagne glass repeatedly, signaling everyone to stop talking and pay attention to him. He was already on the thanking benefactors’ part when Rahane was finally paying attention.

Both of them froze in their place the moment the major benefactor of this R & D Charitable trust showed himself, walking on the podium to stand beside Dixit, smiling and refusing to say anything by a gentle shake of head. The Man in his costly designer suit and shoes, hair set with gel, gold and diamond rings adorning the fingers and a polite smile on his face looked nothing like that sinister middleman of South Asia who trade with Mass murderers and plan destruction of mankind.

Azeem Haqqani was standing in front of them in flesh.

Rahane hissed, unable to look away, "Motherfuc . . . ", pulling phone from his pocket which was vibrating, and put it in his ear, "Yeah, I saw him." He snapped into it, before putting it back.

"What the hell is going on?" The ACP demanded, whirling on her heel, her voice low and angry, "Why is he here?"

"I have no idea." He ran fingers through hair.

"Not that of a good agent, are you?" Her eyes flashed.

Dixit had finally finished his speech and everyone applauded, cheering for him. Riya's eyes went to her team mates, meeting the Second-in-Command's for a moment before going back to the agent.

"I need to get people out of here." By people, she meant her team, rest of invitees can go to hell for all she care. She was already moving when the agent caught his wrist.

"I don't think he will do anything."

"I don't give a da*n what you think." She answered in the same low, angry tone, to which the agent blinked, "You didn't even know he was going to appear here."

"That's because HQ sent me blind in here."

"Then I can't take risk with your blindness or the HQ right now, can I?" She retorted, jerking her wrist away from him. Before he could say anything, Rawte was standing between them, noticing the tension feet away.

"Anything wrong?" He inquired, his body language slightly defensive toward the agent and the question mostly for his team mate.

"No." The ACP didn't take away her eyes from the agent as she replied, but he knew by now that it meant something was up and she didn't want to talk about it. He stared at the agent, who looked frustrated at the situation, lips pursed into a thin line as he looked away. The next moment, his whole body was on alert, eyes widening. Arjun noticed his eyes and saw Dixit along with the major benefactor, Haqqani, was coming towards them.

"There you are." Dixit exclaimed, introducing the Second-in-Command who filled in for ETF Director quickly before he rushed away.

"A pleasure." Haqqani and Rawte shook head, to which the latter nodded, gauzing the Man who didn't look a hair out of place. He turned to Rahane, who was clearly on edge, yet trying to appear calm to attract less attention to himself.

"Agent Rahane, we meet again." The men shook head slowly. With heightened alertness Rawte sensed the agent's body going stiff with tension, beside him Riya having a similar reaction. It worried him, without knowing the reason.

The Man turned to ACP Mukherjee, the smile taking a different glint now, "Azeem Haqqani." He offered his hand.

In the matter of these 10 seconds of less, Arjun was sure this Man with his polite smile and interest in donating was no good news. And he didn't want him anything to do with Riya.

On her part, ACP Mukherjee put on an ironical smirk and put her hand in his, "Have heard a lot."

"Oh?" He looked faux surprised and amused.

"You have no idea." The words came out through slightly gritted teeth. Haqqani seemed to size her up for a moment, before pulling back his hand.

"On the contrary, you came out of nowhere."

She stared back unflinching, the smirk twisting. Arjun kept a warning hold on her upper arm. If she noticed it, she didn't give any indication to it. Haqqani looked clearly surprised, and now kind of intrigued.

"I didn't get a name."

"ACP Riya Mukherjee." She informed, then added with a small smirk, "ETF."

To Arjun, it looked like something went off in Haqqani's mind, his polite smile of earlier didn't look so polite now. It looked predatory, and partly arrogant, like he knew something was up. He blinked in surprise when suddenly Haqqani was looking at him, seemingly interested in current affairs.

"I read about the recent attack on ETF. Very unfortunate, but thankfully you all were unharmed." He said smoothly, and the trio wondered if he is just stalling before he makes an exit. He eyed the agent slightly as he paused, before carrying on, "Incidents like this, you can't take them lightly. Seems like a warning, to back off."

Arjun didn't understand the cryptic words, but clearly Rahane and Riya did, the former's face hardening. He had to tighten his grip on latter's arm when he sensed she was going to move ahead.

"Who knows, right?" Haqqani laughed, eyes going over the trio.

"Trust me, nobody is taking it lightly." Rahane put on a hard smile as he spoke. Both the men were doing a Mexican standoff of sorts, engaging themselves in a staring contest.

"Good to know." Haqqani replied, eyes never leaving the others, "After all, country's security rests on your shoulders."

With that he walked away, leaving the trio stunned, clearly worried and on edge. Riya was the first one to shake it off, turning to glare at the liaison officer.

"Scr*w your HQ."

He opened his mouth to speak, "Riya . . " but by then she was talking to Arjun.

"Where is everyone?"

"Scattered around." He answered, frowning, "What's going on?" He looked at them both.

"Gather them and get out of here."

"I don't think that's necessary." The liaison officer chimed in, and she pinched her eyes close to stop herself from taking a swing at him and make a scene.

"I don't give a fu*k about your thoughts right now."

"Hey!" Arjun raised his voice, irritated that he had to act elder in the fight of two kindergarten kids, to which the agent blinked in surprise and the ACP's eyes snapped open, "Share with the class, alright?"

"First, gather them all and get the hell out of here." Riya countered.

"I will gather them and send them the hell away from here." He asserted, and before she could protest he added, "I am not going anywhere. I want to know what's up with you two."

"You should not be here." She was doing that Getting-in-private-space-and-intimidate-the-opposition thing, but then, he was working with her long enough to overcome its effect.

"Then come with me." His voice was surprisingly gentle, given the curiosity and frustration he was feeling inside. When she didn't answer, he said, "I am going to find others. Don't leave anywhere without me." He gave a squeeze to her wrist before leaving.

Her eyes followed him until he vanished in midst of crowd.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

When Arjun met the duo outside party hall, in the Smoking zone, the liaison agent was talking in his phone, while the ACP stood stoic, tension oozing off her. He stood next to her, but she gave no indication that she noticed his return.

They stood in silence, the only sound was the low hum of jazz from inside the party and Rahane's phone conversation, "You should have left." She said too quietly.

He sighed, tilting his head at her, "Were you going to leave?", when she didn't reply, he continued, "Then how can I?"

She frowned for a moment, then it vanished and straightened her back, "Why not?" she demanded, looking right in his eyes like she is noticing him for the first time. He stared back quietly for a couple of moments before answering.

"Leaving alone my team mate, what kind of Second-in-Command I would be then?"

He was not sure why he said that. It's not him to dodge serious questions, but then, the situation was serious enough without him adding anything else. She ducked her head away, he was not sure if she was upset with his answer or irritated that he was using her own methods on her.

Rahane finished his convo and stood near them, mostly talking to the ACP as the words tumbled out of his mouth, "The HQ wants to observe them. No action."

Which was, clearly, the wrong thing to say as the ACP looked murderous, "Really?"

He sighed, "Not my call."

"Nowadays nothing is your call anymore." She said acidly. The Agent looked torn between helplessness and anger.

"They said to keep an eye on UnSub, they are keeping him under surveillance."

"He is dangerous." She pressed. Beside them both Rawte had enough.

"I am going to ask one more time, what's going on here?"

Both of them looked at him, the ACP keeping quiet as the liaison agent spoke, heavily editing in his mind before opening his mouth, "Azeem Haqqani is most wanted man in 4 countries. He is bad news."

"Why he came out tonight then?" He frowned.

"We don't know." The agent sighed.

"What a surprise." Riya mocked. The agent gave her a semi glare to which she looked away, annoyed.

"We are trying to figure out. That's the reason HQ doesn't want anyone to intervene."

"But leaving him out in open . . . " It didn't seem right to the Second-in-Command.

"We will monitor him 24/7, even NSA." It was too much information to let out in front of an officer who didn't belong to his department, but he had already revealed too much. Maybe the argument inside the party could have been avoided, but then, he had his suspicion that nobody from her team would have noticed her absence. They seem pretty protective over her.

Thankfully, Arjun was done with the Agent in the meantime, and now looked at the ACP, "How do you know about Haqqani anyway?"

Before Riya could come up with a cover story, Rahane intervene, "It was me. I could not cover up my emotion when Haqqani appeared on the podium, and she noticed."

That sounded okay, and made quite sense, but somehow it didn't. For the moment, Arjun let it go, his mind thinking back to the cryptic words of the man of the topic.

"Why you two reacted the way you did when he was talking about the attack in ETF?" He inquired, the next moment his eyes widen, "Do you think he had something to do with it?"

"We don't have anything on him." Rahane said, "So if you are asking for proof, I can't give that to you. But who knows, maybe it was his little stunt before he made a show of himself appearing in our country, sneaking right under the nose of our administration."

"That little stunt nearly cost the lives of our own." Rawte was angry at the agent for belittling the incident which shook the entire team. Before the agent could take back the words or apologize for his choice of words, the ACP beside them had taken off, clearly having enough of him and his HQ. Instead of apologizing, the Agent turned to give a look to the Second-in-Command, but was taken aback when he too took off, not following the former, but more like hurrying to keep up with her.

Soon the two vanished out of his sight.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Azeem Haqqani is in India.

ACP Mukherjee had a hard time believing it, even though she along with hundreds of people witnessed him less than an hour ago in a party. The grainy picture which appeared in the monitor of a basement computer gave the impression of a wild trigger happy antisocial, who loved to create mayhem and thrived on chaos. The Man who appeared, he was nothing like that.

She was more surprised, or maybe she was slightly anxious, at the nerve of a man. Only him and IB-RAW knows about the truth of South Delhi shoot out, he is the prime suspect, and still he shows himself in the same country which is after him. The man didn't look like someone who just do something without any plan, so she wondered why he is taking so much risk. Does that man has no worry that Government might capture him? Or maybe that's what he wants.

It doesn't make any sense.

Not a new thing. The moment she got Nasir, things stopped making sense and spiraled more out of control.

She was buried so deep in her thoughts that she didn't notice when the Second-in-Command stopped in front of her apartment building. She didn't tell him her address, but then, her address is not exactly a secret. The fact that he remembered, well . . .

He switched off the engine and turned slightly toward her so that his body was facing her, scrutinizing her face before speaking softly, "You didn't ask me how I sent the team away from party."

It was a question which should be asked, like, in the end, or maybe never, but here was no middle ground on which they could walk lightly before approaching the big issue. The ACP snorted humorlessly.

"I don't give a da*n. As long as they and Haqqani are not in the same room."

It was the first time she was letting her fierce protectiveness over the team show so openly. For some moments, he just stared in quiet awe.

"You really think he is behind that virus attack?" She asked all of a sudden, alarming him. He pondered for a few moments before answering.

"Honestly, I can't tell anything anymore. The Professor looks more like a scapegoat who just refused to defend himself. Clearly someone powerful was behind him. Just imagine to what length that powerful had gone to ensure the professor keep his mouth shut, and to what extent his money, and power reaches that he was managed to create a virus and send it anywhere he wants." He paused, "We didn't have a suspect, and I would like to think IB didn't have too. If Haqqani, even though cryptically, mentioned the attack with a subtle warning, I don't see why we should not involve him in suspect list."

With each of his words, the color from the ACP's face drained and her entire body went rigid with tension. When he finished, she was slowly shaking her head.

"He can't . . . he should not . . . " She was mostly saying to herself.

"Why not?"

"Because it doesn't make any sense."

He was silent for a moment, "He can't, or he should not?"

"He can't . . . I hope." She replied, then suddenly looked ahead through the glass, to outside, "I hope he is not. I just hope."

Because if Haqqani is behind this whole mess, if Nasir and Johny and countless informers, 3 years of staying anonymous, of betrayals and lies lead her to this, she can't handle that. It pits her not only against the department she works, but possibly against the entire administration, and she is not ashamed to admit that it's entirely out of her league. If it's outside her league, if there is nothing she can do except letting others play their pawns, then what she put herself through, what she put others through, would be worthless. And after 4 years of hard work, she can't handle that.  

Earlier it looked like getting out of control, but now as she looked into it sitting in the SUV of the department she works for, she wondered if this is not a trap. A tangled web, a black hole, which is su*king everything in. The unforgiving darkness, which refuses to let anything out, the hungry monster.

Maybe none of us would live to see the other side, if it does exist.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

-Edmund Burke

5 days after Haqqani showed up in the heart of country, Agent Rahane was summoned to join a meeting between Additional Secretary of RAW South Asia section, A specialist on Afghanistan and Pakistan, IB Joint head, IB Deputy Chief to whom he reports, and some others. Seemed like a lot of development had occurred in the political sectors in this case, because when Rahane got out of it 4 hours later, his mind was reeling.

The summary of the meeting was - Haqqani is Pakistani nationality. He is a headache for his own country. RAW had green signal from Islamabad and Delhi to kill him off at any time they want to.

From approaching caution, they were now set on the mission to finish the Man off and take revenge on the behalf of those 7 dead agents who were tagged as normal citizens in the emergence of the situation. Rahane could not come up with any reason as to why they should not kill him, but if they do, there will be lots of unanswered questions.

He along with IB additional head raised this basic question, which the others took it, deciding to think about it and meet at a later time to take a final decision on it. He hoped they are not going all guns blazing on Haqqani, because he, for one, would like to ask what the man was thinking, walking into a charity ball like its' a walk in a park. He sure has some ulterior motive, and he would hate to be stonewalled by something else after they had killed him off.

He doesn't like obstacles.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Inside an inconspicuous black Mercedes Benz car, Azeem Haqqani was moving through the nearly empty national highway at a lightning speed to the outskirts of Mumbai, his face hard. A few hours ago, he was enjoying his breakfast at a five star lavish hotel. It went to hell from that.

RAW is after him now.

Last he had heard, Indian government was not approaching him, too spooked after the South Delhi incident. What made them change their stance, he is yet to figure out, before he goes dark and saves his skin from them. He was also worried about what he had heard, that they are after him to kill him. Nobody in his circle had ever heard of RAW going all red after anyone, they always, always, procrastinate, find any other way. Also, to be quite honest, those agents in Delhi were not RAW, and even they were, RAW is not known for vengeance.

He wondered what changed all of a sudden. To be more accurate, in one night.

But before that, he needed to remind the government why they were not coming after him earlier. They needed to remember, and change their stance once again.

He searched for a number in his contact list as the car zoomed past the verdant forest, a cottage in the peripheral vision.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Whoa, is not that the benefactor?"

Rathore asked to none particular, his eyes fixed on the news of the LCD screen hanging on the wall in the waiting room of Raghu sir's office. Beside him Aisha looked up from a magazine she was reading, reading the headlines emerging at the bottom.

"From the charity ball?"

"Yep." The Senior Officer confirmed, "He is most wanted Man?" Then shook his head, "Dixit should have done his research. He will be in trouble now."

By the time Aisha finished listening to the full story, Sameer was too quiet, "Anything on your mind?"

"It makes sense now." He looked at her, "Remember I told you Agent Rahane was there?"

She nodded, "His department must have sent him."

"The nerve of this man . . . can't even call it stupidity. He showed himself, why? Must have a bigger picture."

Before Aisha could answer to that, Raghu sir along with IB Deputy Chief were coming toward them, the former signaling them toward meeting room. The four of them entered, and the next 2 hours passed on the discussion of Virus case. At the end of it, they were right where they had started, with no added development.

They made small talk as they walked towards the entrance through where they entered, their car drove by the valets. Raghu sir and the deputy IB chief mostly spoke, Aisha and Sameer standing beside respectfully and thinking when they could get out, that's when something zoomed past the deputy chief's ear.

He looked confused for a moment, but beside him it was already hell breaking loose. The hole on the wooden door frame looked suspiciously like bullet. Before he knew, Sameer was pushing him on the floor, Aisha doing the same to Raghu sir. Then another shot was fired, this time near their feet. By then, every police officer realized what was going on, and they divided into three parts, those who shot back (rather fruitlessly) at the direction of the bullets coming, those who ran in that direction, and those who made a makeshift human wall over the four of them, letting them move inside the office and away from cross firing.

It was only when they were inside they noticed the ETF Director had taken a bullet.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The ETF team ran like bat out of hell the moment the tires of the SUVs screeched into a halt in front of the hospital, parking rules be da*ned. They stalked past relatives of patients, doctors and nurses through the stairs, and reached the floor where the Director was kept. After being updated on her health, they all breathed a sigh of relief, now focusing their remaining energy on the b*stard who did this. Even Sameer, who looked clearly haunted, wanted to do something as a payback, anything but replaying in his mind over and over the horrific moment when they realized she was shot.

The Police was on a Man hunt throughout the city, looking everywhere for the Man who attacked the central Police HQ and shot at their Commissioner. The said commissioner along with deputy chief and rest of ETF were brainstorming at the hospital right then over who attacked them, going over names of various mafias and underworld Dons.

Meanwhile, ACP Mukherjee, who was the champion of rule of vengeance, could not bring herself to mix with others and plan the destruction of gangsters who attacked them. She felt sick, at this hospital, at others for not feeling this burning fire inside which she is feeling but choosing to focus on revenge which was the easy way, sick at the gangster who shot at the woman who is closest to her to a family, even though most of the time she doesn't act civil, at all, towards her, and sick at the God whom she has so much faith, to let it happen. What's the point of believing on an idol made by earth and human hands then, if it could not save the one person who doesn't deserve any crap the universe throw at her?    

She gave a disgusted look at the Ganapati idol at the end of passageway, which was illuminated with oil lamps and smelt of marigold.

You are not worth of her faith. She said to him. The calm, serene look on the idol made her feel like the God was mocking her. It made her turn on her wheels and move the hell away from it, leaving the revenge planning team and sh*tty smelling phenyl.

She was not planning to peep inside the room where Aisha was kept, but her feet betrayed her. Standing outside a room and separated only by a door, she regretted so many things at once that her head was spinning.

She regretted to see the strong, protocol abiding woman lying in a hospital room, surrounded by machines and looking intimidate by them. She regretted how each time the former tried to mend their once-upon-a-time friendship, which was damaged, even though she had no reason to. She regretted every time the former called out on her bull, giving her a way to come clean, but she chose not to take them. She regretted seeing the disappointment in her eyes and yet choosing not to do anything with that. She regretted coming back to her life. She regretted befriending the small town girl who had a heart of pure and strong backbone on the first day of Academy. She regretted meeting her, because she had not, it would not have hurt so da*n much seeing her inside that room.

The last part was too selfish, but then, she was always selfish when it comes to people close to her.

She regretted it most when Aisha opened her eyes inside, sensing someone's stare, and looked around, before meeting hers, and when she moved away from the door and stalked past it, unable to meet her eyes.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"It was Haqqani." The Deputy chief of IB informed the ETF team, sans the juniors (Because . . . ) in his cabin, 5 days later, "The shot was directed at me, the Director was collateral damage."

"Which will leave a lifelong scar." Sameer said bitterly, "But then, when will plastic surgeries come to rescue, eh?"

The Deputy chief and Rahane gave a bemused look at the tasteless joke, while Arjun picked up, "There is a manhunt on him. Why he will not run but send people after you?"

Well, it was a question which goes deep into some well buried secrets, so the Deputy took the easy way out, cover story, "Haqqani is a madman. He believes in payback, when we sent men for his arrest, he sent his own. It's all game for him."

"He should not have been allowed in the country at the first place." Sameer scowled.

"We are still looking through the obvious security loopholes." Rahane spoke this time, eyeing the duo even though his gaze linger on the ACP standing in a corner of room, not speaking at once, looking at them with a blank expression which he didn't understand. To his reply, she opened her mouth, putting him on edge, at the same time relief filling in.

"That will accomplish what?"

Nobody had the answer for this, and an uncomfortable silence followed. Arjun was the one who asked the real question again, not some tasteless humor or dark comment.

"Any news of Haqqani?"

"No, but we are close to him." The Deputy replied. Instantly, a nagging question which was driving him crazy in the back of mind, came out of his lips.

"Haqqani is an international criminal who is on most wanted list of many countries. How come our administration is going after him all out, without any red tape or bureaucracy, and no other countries seeking justice putting their foot down? And since when IB hunt down Man by flashing his face on news channels? It's not like you had exhausted all resources, right? Why going with so much aggression behind him? What's the main story?"

It's not like the IB deputy chief didn't anticipate this question, but wanted this question to appear at the end, or maybe never. He thought for a moment to skirt around the topic, or to give another cover story, but he had witnessed firsthand what stubborn species can be these ETFians, and decided against it in exchange of a rare moment of truth.

"Haqqani is despised in his own country. The government doesn't want a liability hanging over their head, so when our foreign affairs ministry approached them, they gave us green signal to eliminate him, so that their hands were not dirty." He paused, "But of course, we can't just kill him, he can prove himself to be valuable. In fact, it was me and Rahane who were most vocal about and let them rethink about their approach."

To this, something flashed in the eyes of the ACP along with the Senior officer, and it only intensified when the deputy chief mentioned how they came close to arresting Haqqani in the hotel he was staying, but he slipped off at the last moment.

"Excuse me." Sameer nearly ran out of the room, not being able to stand inside and listen to IB deputy and the big picture of his department anymore. For his 'More info' and 'Asset' policy their Director was shot, who is going to be responsible for that, Haqqani or them?

"But situation has changed now, yes?" ACP Mukherjee said in her usual low, growly voice, which seemed like a default setting in these past couple of days, "He sent shooter after you, is this not sufficient for your approach to be changed?"

The Deputy gave a sardonic smile, "If we have to change our approach every time some unsub decides to come after us, we won't have any work done in this place." Sobering up, he explained, "Haqqani is much bigger than me, or any other person. Capturing him alive not only will give us advantage over his country, but we can discover many hidden operations on our soil and other countries. He is a big fish, an asset. Vengeance have to take a backseat in here." He paused, then added sympathetically, "I understand your point . . . "

"You don't. You can't." The ACP dismissed before storming away from the room, turning on her wheels. Rawte sighed, rubbing his temple. In a way these two are embarrassing his department, but he can't bring himself to bash them for their behavior. To them, Haqqani is a threat who tried to harm one of them, so he should pay for that. For IB, he is an asset, threat be da*ned.

Outside there was a loud commotion which made the remaining trio, Rahane, Deputy Chief and Rawte come out to witness what happened. What they saw made their eyes pop out of socket, the shooter, whom they captured not too long hours ago, was missing a tooth and blood was coming out of his mouth, whom the IB agents were dragging away, semi glaring the two ETF officers who remained standing with a cool expression on their face, giving away nothing. Suspiciously, it was Sameer's knuckle which was bruised.

For some reason, IB didn't make the ETFians pay for it immediately. Arjun didn't know what to make of it, maybe they are saving it for some time else, or that they are allowing this one vengeance for ETF, as 'Big Fish' is out of their reach.

The incident remained in the corridors of IB, so when the trio returned, one of them less than good shape, the office was curious. Sameer shrugged, giving a lie about how his hand got stuck in elevator, giving a look to Riya, who didn't give away anything. If anyone had a doubt about how the knuckles look like he punched someone, they didn't mention.

The Best friend duo found themselves in the medic room after Liza had finished patching up Sameer, telling him conspiratorially that, if he had punched the shooter, then he should take her hearty wishes, and Rawte walking in at the same time the Doctor left. He sat beside the senior officer, silence following them.

"Is this lecture time?" Sameer asked casually, wrapping and unwrapping his bandage. His best friend sighed.

"Do you want me to?"

"No." He stopped playing with the bandage, "Your words will go waste." He stared at a particular space in floor, a twisted smile coming on his lips, "I wanted to kill him, you know? It's pretty dark though, to think about killing someone, but I can't bring myself to feel any remorse about it." He now looked at him sharply, "What that makes me?"

"Human." Arjun said simply. The former inhaled a deep breath, nodding slowly as he processed.

"What we won't do for them, eh?" He gave a small smile. Arjun smiled too, shaking head.

"What we won't, indeed.''

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So, it was official. It was all her fault.

Staring back at her own reflection in mirror in the washroom adjoining locker room, ACP Mukherjee fumed inside silently, like challenging her reflection to counter argue. Surprisingly, it didn't. Every fiber of her being agreed to her that it was her own fault. Everything was her own fault.

That burner phone was a trap. If she was not so desperate to jump the line of protocol and took the help of her personal IT guy, the IB would not have walked right into it and the series of shi*s would not have followed. If by any chance IB itself could have walked right into the trap, at least Haqqani openly would not have targeted them, declared a war on their country soil. It didn't make sense, but the bottom line was, her team would have been safe. She would have been safe.

Her sole reason to work on her 'Personal' case alone was pretty selfish, she wanted to take the credit, satisfy her inner demon. With time people associated themselves, which was inevitable, still she had the ultimate consolation prize, when she will get the person responsible for her lover's death, she will be the one to kill him. Pretty straight forward plan. Until she got Nasir and all spiraled away. Never in wildest dream had she thought her own action will harm people near him, life threatening harm. Never.

Her reflection blinked in a repeated motion in the mirror, looking like it was fighting back the irritation in the eyes.

Her phone rang and she picked up without even looking, "Yeah." Her voice was tight, in control.

"Hey." She nearly jumped out of her skin when Aisha's voice came from the other side, "Did I disturb you?"

She is certainly cutting off her guilt trip time, but she was not going to say that, "No. Anything urgent?"

It was pretty harsh, but Aisha didn't seem to mind, missing a couple of beat before asking, "You doing good?"

Riya had to laugh, "I am not the one lying in hospital."

There was a sharp intake of breath, "You didn't look good." The smile vanished, "I saw you the other day, through glass door. Why didn't you come in?"

She had to swallow hard before answering in a rough voice, "I hate hospitals."

Aisha huffed, not really taking her words at face value but playing along, "Fine, I will be home tomorrow. Come there."

"Maybe I should stay away." Riya said quietly, sadness quoting the words which would have sounded cold normally. She cleared her throat once before Aisha can say something to it, determined to let them both think she just didn't say that, smiling ruefully, "Get well soon, Director. People are breaking rules in your absence."

With that she cut the call, hurling the phone across the washroom wall, shattering it into pieces.

It was 3 AM in morning, and in the absence of Director, Rawte was the one who had to finish Director-ly duties which occasionally ate up his sleeping time. Yawning slowly, he was pouring himself a mug of coffee, when the sound of breaking something came from Locker room. Looking around, he put the mug on the nearby counter, curious as to who was there, because he thought he was the only one who was left.

His feet carried him to locker room, then the bright light of washroom, the door of which was open pulled him towards it and before his brain and limbs can communicate, he was walking right into it.

Which proved to be the right time, as Riya's fist was about to hit the mirror. His hand came between the two in the last moment, instantly curling around her fist and pulling it down. She took measured, controlled breath, like any movement might spontaneously combust her. He took in her every expression carefully.

Even though half the time he has no idea what the wild and unpredictable ACP is doing, he is not an idiot. The injury of Director hit her hard, barring Sameer of course, even though she chose not to attract attention to herself like every other time, and from the look of it, she blames herself, even though he has no idea why, or how. But then, he does not know everything about her. Still seeing the self- loathing in her eyes was not easy for him.

It aches.

It felt like eternity had passed yet no words were exchanged between the two. She neither gave any indication that she noticed his presence, nor she pulled her fist from his curling fingers, just stood still. As he watched her, waiting for any movement, he realized he was holding breath, like the minimal action will set her off.

"I don't think I can take anymore." Her lips barely moved, words spoken in careful control as evident from her voice modulation. Just when he thought they will continue this silent treatment . . .

He realized it's not the guilt she is talking about, but all the things which tormented her the moment she walked into their lives, with the addition of past baggage. How on Earth he started to know her this much well, he had no idea.

"So what you want to do?" He whispered, like rising his voice will ruin her rare moment of talking, taking a small step toward her without even noticing it, "Run?"

"Maybe that will be better." She still didn't meet his eyes.

"Don't run." All hesitancies and soothing voices were gone instantly. Da*n it. He moved ahead, stopping only when he could feel her irregular breath on himself, "You can't run, not now." Not ever.

"Why not?" She asked carefully.

He had to bite his inner cheek to compose himself, "You have come so far. Running away will ruin everything you have worked for." The work about which he has no idea. But his lack of knowledge can be dealt later. She didn't answer to his reply, neither asked anything. The silence made him pretty antsy, it's not like she is one of those people whose faces are mirror of their soul, but seeing her like this made his stomach drop. He didn't want her to punish herself for something on which she had no control.

When too much time passed and he thought she is done talking to him for the night, he tugged her forward, "Let's get out of here." He muttered, pulling her behind him. She didn't refuse, letting him drag her wherever he wants to.

They ended up on the stairs, sitting side by side, soft light covering them like a fluffy blanket on winter night. He stared at her, getting impatient, doing that foot tap which he picked from her, beside him she was perfect picture of stillness. If someone didn't know her, he or she can say she is sitting pretty calm, if unusually erect.

He jumped slightly when she opened her mouth, voice low and cracking, "I don't want anyone else to get hurt."

His heart ached for her, "Hey." He lowered his head slightly, hoping to catch her eyes, in which he succeeded, her jaw fixed in careful control yet the eyes giving away the vulnerability, "Nobody's going to get hurt."

"I don't think I can take anymore." She whispered this time, looking away, lost, confused, at the same time pain filled in her eyes. Against his better judgment, he put his arms around her and pulled her closer, their heads touching. The last time he had seen her emotionally exhausted, in that gym months ago, she was not this much effected. Even in the worst of time she kept herself in check, didn't she? That bomb case, when she was dying due to a virus, when her secret was threatening to come out, every single time she handled it. Seeing her like this, in a way it made him terrified about what may come, because the strongest person among them is falling apart, what chances the rest of them have?

It was a short term peace in the midst of war.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Everyone cheered as Director Kapoor made her way into the bullpen, smiling and nodding at everyone. Some handed her bouquets, some shook her hand, and some were content with the wolf whistling from far, like a soldier had returned from battleground. In a way, she had, and the ETFians joy were boundless.

Her eyes caught the ACP in a corner, but before she could blink the former was gone.

Sitting in the silence of her cabin, she sighed, leaning back on the headrest. What a crazy couple of days. It was supposed to be a regular meeting, like the countless others ETF had with Raghu sir and IB deputy. She was shocked when the bullets start firing, and before anyone could make sense of anything she went down, adding more to the chaos. She already berated herself for the lack of defense.

In the hospital and later at home, while she was recuperating, she came to know that Haqqani was the mastermind behind it. It made sense, but again, she was shocked that a wanted Man in this country will wage a war against the law enforcement itself. It must have taken an amount of power and audacity on his behalf to plan and execute this. She wondered what's his endgame, because the way she is perceiving this, he is going down. Its’ the Union versus one Man.

Keeping aside the whole 'Got shot' thing, she still had her own departmental mysteries to solve. It may have been months, but the Nasir case was still on her mind. The only reason she didn't confront the ACP was . . . well, will it solve anything? She would out rightly deny any allegation, or just give a bull story, neither of which the Director is interested in. From her talk with Raghu sir, she knows that the ACP had reached Nasir before his death. She wondered if she was any closer to that unsolved case, even though recent circumstances had halted the improvement.

Calling her was not a tactical move to loosen the knot of already tangled thread, rather a spontaneous action on the Director's part. A part of her, when she woke up at hospital and was surrounded by family and friends, wanted to see her there, and when she didn't, was very disappointed, maybe even hurt. But with time, as she got better, she remembered even before she met her loved ones and doctors, her eyes had fallen on the ACP who was standing so far away from her, the two separated only by a glass door. The anguish in her face had startled her when she later remembered, arising questions in mind why she was not with her, why she kept her distance?

In rare moments when she had vented her frustration about the ACP to Raghu sir, who neither accepted nor denied that the former was up to something, he had said maybe the reason she was keeping her distance is because she doesn't want her around, which sounded suspiciously like what the ACP had said to her months ago in a late night in Gym. Keeping aside her frustration that two grown up people is not treating her like fellow grown-up, she often wondered what Raghu sir meant, as she knows when Riya had said that, she meant she was too far into her 'personal' work and she didn't want the Director to witness how far she had fallen. But now, the worst had happened, now the Director found herself thinking what if the ACP feared exactly this. And if, she did, the Director wondered how far she is gone, she much she knows, and especially, what will be the consequences.

These are some questions which she cannot get answers of. But she knows one thing, if some big thing is about to happen which will hit them next, and if the ACP knows about it, she won't let them to tackle it blind. Contrary to what the world thinks, ACP Mukherjee is eccentric, but not crazy. Even if her chaotic manners and actions lies deep thinking and planning. The shooting was probably an accident, it's possible the Director is just adding some random point to another.

She can't, for the life of her, answer from where does this faith comes from, even though the person of her faith has never shown an amount of faithfulness.    

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Lost in her thought-world, the Director failed to notice the breaking news behind her, on the mute LCD kept on the table.

Haqqani has been captured.

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