Chapter One

Hey Ariyans

So so so happy to see you all excited for this sequel So much that I couldn't wait any longer to post the first chap.

This one is kind of an intro as in the prequel I never really explored other characters! So in this one you will see the story in a third person view. I hope that is fine. Otherwise I can always change! 

As for now this is public and I will send PM to everyone who were in my PM list of ECBF before.

 But as soon as the IF revamps its fan Fictions section, it will be MEMBERSONLY and I don't think I have to worry much about sending PMs or the safety of my story from plagiarism. I am waiting for new fanfiction section!

To new readers, I know you really want to read the prequel but guys please give me some time, I will definitely send you the chapters. Really for delaying it. 

Okay so enough of this long note.

Here's the first chapter Anjaan Raahe. Thanks to AnjuRish for the suggestion Thanks Dii for your prompt reviews and always supporting my story.

And everyone, I need honest feedback on this one so that I can improve.

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Love with other variables is always replaced, because life will always ask for substitutes. Only pure love survives because love needs nothing to last longer. . .

Chapter 1

Anjaan Raahe 

It's the journey that matters not the destination.

~Suggestion by AnjuRish

“That sounds like a good news.” Sakshi Anand chirped in her phone as she listened carefully to the other side. “It is very unlikely, such news making rounds on the TV. That to in favour of the police...” she laughed earning a glare from her chief. ACP Sameer Rathore waits as a silent spectator as the TV screen zoomed over a girl at her mid twenties, staring at the camera. Suddenly the screen went void and dark.

“She just returned on her own. She might just have left her home willingly and decides to come back  again. You never know what’s going inside a family.” The technical head of the ETF presented his point oh so calmly as he finally switched off the TV.

“So you are saying the police got no roles in her rescue. Come on Shree it’s a rare case when you see the police in such a good light”. Sakshi Anand interjected.

“really Sakshi? Apart from telling her parents that someone just walked their daughter to the police station what else the police did?” Shree questioned sceptically that silenced the ex-crime journalist.

“Are we really having this discussion and what’s wrong with you Shree? You are all against the police force. Don’t forget you are one of them.” Sakshi said.

“All I am saying is, I hate bad publicity which you media person keep running.” Shree exclaimed visibly annoyed with the news.

Yet again, he made a statement that made Sakshi Anand question her position in the elite team of the police force, that is Emergency Task Force. She happened to be there by the request of the commissioner sir, who might have liked her reporting when he chose media over spicy prime time drama. And she came to rescue the dying image of the task force when the Mumbai media left no direction to bring down its reputation. Six years to be precise and she’s still unsure, if she’s the insider or the outsider.

While her job was to make the public aware about the breakthrough cases the team deals with, she herself wasn’t satisfied, to be a puppet to the commissioner. Reporting or not, the force has to do its job. With a camera or without,  the force will take its action. And it wasn’t too late she realized that, the team didn’t need her or her expertise with reporting.

What kept her in the ETF was her connections, her outreach to the people where even the ETF couldn’t reach. She was quietly risking her everything being involved with both the media and police. And in some unravelled reality, she always liked the thrill of this field, however she had secrets of her own. There was only one mission for which she stuck around, but even after that mission is over, she can’t find her way out. And the reason happens to be too personal but not readily oblivious to her colleagues. It is true that she has lost her heart to the most ruthless man in the team. They call him the cold tiger. And she, the rays the sunshine dreamt of melting his heart.

The problem was, she knew. She knew there shouldn’t be any hope with this man. Yet she stayed, even after all his ignorance, all his anger and all his hurtful words. Because she was hopelessly and helplessly in love with him. A surreal part of her mind believed that one day, may be one day her feelings will be reciprocated the way she wanted from him. Unluckily though the day never came. Not even now, as she realized she isn’t the only one who harbour’s such feelings for the cold tiger. And that broke her. Broke her more because the cold tiger has finally started melting, but not for her. 

It was only a week. And a certain ACP Riya Mukherjee from NIA wrecked havoc in her life, in her colleagues life, that brought her down to the point of breaking. She pondered. Just how much the team has changed since her arrival and since her departure. First she saw her as an old teammate who had old grudges with the men of the team. What surprised her more was the way the team behaved around her, hanging their head down and always too guilty yet always too concerned for her. 

And seeing the love of her life caring for the other woman who just entered the team broke her too. The cold tiger was always too restless whenever he was around the NIA second in command. There were always those heated arguments between them, too intimate that she didn’t wish to pry into them. Yet the journalism gene in her didn’t rest and she started digging up.

ACP Riya Mukherjee, second in command of National investigation Agency, branch Hyderabad was a research specialist in ETF. After much efforts she managed to find a black spot in the ACPs career. And it was indeed interesting. The media painted her as a culprit who tried to help a criminal betraying one of her own teammate. The internal pressures and the media outrage was so severe that she had to resign ETF. It was a story perfectly crafted and presented in front of her in a platter when she started sourcing information about Riya Mukherjee, using her own media connections.

But what they couldn’t tell her was how even after such a backlash she came out of the mud being an ACP. Nor did they could tell her the men of the ETF were in a guilt trip when it was her in the first place the culprit. Or why ACP Riya Mukherjee always went berserk at the mention of the old case. The woman had so many layers that even the men of the ETF couldn’t unmask.

The woman left as quickly as she came when the case was over. Yet, she left a permanent damage to her team which she’s unable to process in her mind. She haven’t seen anyone smiling in the team since she the woman left. The indifference wasn’t only limited to the men of the ETF but her own good friend Aisha was too mingled with the sorrow troop.

She thought about Arjun then and her mind went numb. He didn’t come to the office since the day the woman closed the case and withdrew all the temporary assignments she had with ETF. Arjun was too blank to react that day. Since then, none had seen him in the ETF. She decided to go to his apartment but Sameer didn’t agree. So she had to sit back and wait. 

She tried digging it up on a personal front, to see if there is anything related Arjun with the woman. She tried asking Shree too. Shree, as she thought is her good friend now has turned into someone unrecognizable. Shree was always the polite person, who’d pull her legs even on serious matters. But that had also changed upon the arrival of this woman. 

There was something too personal about Shree and the women’s relation that even Liza, their forensics expert couldn’t understand. If she couldn’t, then who else will? It scared her of a possible heartbreak for her best friend Liza. Because Shree wasn’t behaving anywhere rational.

“hey Sakshi, where are you lost?” she heard a familiar voice breaking her stance and she stared hard the source of the voice. 

“wow Chotu, I am glad at least you remember my name. And I am even very grateful that you asked...” she said her voice dripping with sarcasm. Shree wasn’t the only one who was indifferent these days. Chotu played his role too.

“Arre, why are you saying like this Sakshi?” Chotu asked, confused with her sudden unusual remarks.

“Looks like you are missing your best friend. Now that she isn’t here you finally remember you have some other friends too.” That was a clear jibe from her side and Chotu had to swallow the words because she wasn’t wrong. Unlike the ETFs ammunition specialist, Sakshi Anand was a puddle for emotions. While Aisha remained rational about the whole scenario, Sakshi couldn’t keep her calm.

ACP Sameer Rathore, observed the commotion and sighed heavily, he too was unsure about the arrangements the commissioner sir made six years ago. The ETF was really in a bad light. One of their own teammate has betrayed them until the truth came out. In reality, ETF was a victim of bad publicity.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number. It is still switched off. A fair part of him was telling him to give the person some time and the friend inside him wanted to run and find whatever the hell is wrong with ACP Arjun Rawte, his second in command. He has to agree, that the past week was indeed heavy for all of them. And especially for Arjun. But Arjun had to face it anyway. 

Somehow this was not gone unnoticed by the ammunition specialist, Sr. Inspector Aisha Kapoor. Nor did she fail to notice the underlying aloofness of her chief since their second in command in absent.

“When is he coming back?” Aisha finally asked. Her question garnered everyone’s attention in the team except Shree who was still in a sulking mode. Aisha gave him an exasperated look and ignored his least concerned attitude. “I don’t know Aisha. His phone is still switched off.” Saying so the chief stormed out of the room followed by a worried Aisha.

“you are being impossible Shree.” Said Chandrakant Patil, in short Chotu, the commando of the team. He nudged Shree in the elbow gaining his attention. “what chotu?” shree asked knowing exactly what his friend is talking about. “Why didn’t you talk to her?” Chotu questioned, in reply Shree was silent. Shree remembered the last time she came, knocking at his door to tell him the final time that she will try, she will try to be happy. He was happy too, to whatever she said. And he had almost opened the door when she said she couldn’t, she couldn’t change herself. That was his stopping. And he let her cry at his door step, asking his forgiveness. Asking one last chance to rebuild their friendship. To give her another chance. He felt no less than a culprit to shut her out like that. And now that he realise, she was gone. He had tried to talk to her since the day she left. Exactly a week ago. Why their friendship had to be this strained? He often questioned himself.

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A familiar heat sprawled over her face as she stared at the busy traffic through the drivers seat window. She could have just turned the AC on. Annoyed at her own stupidity she finally slides all the windows of her SUV and heaved in the temporary relief as cool air fanned her face. She’s late. And Roy won’t spare her. She's a punctual officer at her job, unless she realized she was visibly distracted for a long time. While her job demands her full attention over minute things, she can’t afford to be distracted at such a crucial time. They failed again. The infamous terrorist is still out there. After so much of her input with elite team, she reached a dead end. Yet again, Azim Hussain managed to hide himself. And they couldn’t do a single thing. While NIA is still clueless about his whereabouts, they can’t rest peacefully knowing exactly that Azim Hussain wouldn’t be resting idle. He might just be planning another attack or might charging instructions to his sleeper cell members or smuggling something across the border right under their nose and they bloody well have no idea about it. She started the engine, once she saw the lights turn green.

What frustrated her more was the intervention she had to face during the last week. The last week was just more than eventful and without any outcome. She considered it as a mistake.

She didn’t have to go back to ETF all over again for this case. What she planned for the week was to lay low and finish her targets at first sight. Normally she wouldn’t take such a drastic step. But when the charges against those filthy terrorists is too long to explain, she rather choose the easier way. Shoot when you still have a chance than regret when you lose. However, those statements hold any significance only at a certain circumstances. In reality she’s more of a person who would negotiate. And playing different shades at different situation had been her forte for years since she joined the force.

She finally pulled in front of the NIA head quarters, Hyderabad. Pressing her ID at the gate she entered a place she can call her home. She felt the familiar aura that envelopes her since the moment she stepped into its premises. A small smile appeared on her face when she entered the base. The guard near the biometric scanner smiled widely welcoming her. After all their second-in-command is back after a long tiring mission.

“Woah someone’s home!” she heard a squeak as soon as she reared the conference room of the NIA that was at the first floor. She noticed the boyish grin over his face and returned a smile when she was engulfed by a pleasant hug from the guy who welcomed her after the guard standing below.

“You should change your ways of welcoming people Amit”, she commented in that no nonsense tone. Amit faked a frightened expression and finally broke apart giving her and himself some space so he could answer. 

“tonight, nine o’clock at Paradise. My treat. And for heavens sake don’t ask for misti doi over there. They don’t serve that there!” He cheered. 

“let me get the assurance that I will have an empty plate for the day Amit. Where’s boss?” She tried to control her annoyance not wanting to disappoint their technical head who is just too happy to have her back in the office.

“He’s on a lockdown since yesterday”! Amit shrugged. It was no news that their Chief is an utterly shady person, but a tough nut when situation demands. And he has this habit of locking himself in his chamber for a good one day or two for unknown reasons. And the result is the team will have to do without him. No wonder why their team has ACP Anshuman Kashyap as their additional chief. Being the first chief of the force, DGP Viraj Roy wears his reputation on his sleeves without a crease. And so eliminating all possible ways one can question his ‘mood swings'.

“is it that bad?” she asked.

“He’s onto something since a few days. But he wont reveal much. Well he’s the chief. Who will question him?” Amit said casually. They knew, wherever he has locked himself, he’d bring out some big, something that will sprang their neck for a good two weeks. He will gauge each aspect of the case, measure each angle of the commotion and when he’ll notice a black spot, he’ll put the case on board for them to access. 

“Okay I will have to just wait then!” she said gritting her teeth which was not gone unnoticed by Amit.

“what happened to your mission?” Amit asked sharply.

“You better not ask Amit, that was just a waste of time.” Suddenly she fumed with anger as the events of the past week resurfaced in front of her eyes. She wasn’t only frustrated, the last week had managed to shake her sanity

“Okay!” he didn’t budge her anymore. If she’d have to speak, he knew he wouldn’t even have to ask her. He let his good friend aka senior to have own sweet time before revealing anything. 

“Did you go to the hospital?” He asked next. Another question that could frustrate her. Everyone in her team knows just how much she hates the idea of going to the hospital. Even the emergency room at the NIA base would make her cringe. Even though he never quite understood her reasons, he chose keep mum about it. He happened to be one of those guys who understand privacy in real world. Otherwise he could hack anything that’s on the virtual world. And sometimes he just laughed at the irony himself.

Going back to time, he realized just how much have changed since past five years. The tough woman standing in the conference room casting a bored expression on her face, still intrigued him for more than one reasons. 

She joined the NIA as senior research analyst for a desk job. She was highly skilled in her prompt research, accurate analysis and a curiosity that would dissect anything classified. But her true skills were revealed during a training session for the desk nerds. She performed exceptionally well in the shooting range, her target not shifting anywhere other than the point blank. However, she wasn’t doing a show off. What surprised him more was that she was so naive and unaware of the wonders she’s capable of. In the shooting range she looked like she vented all her pent up frustration on her targets, and left the range without even waiting for the appreciation that was waiting to be showered upon her.

Since that day, each of her moves were watched with caution, to see if there is an underlying interest or any eagerness to join team as a filed agent. Yet, she had none. There were numerous rigorous training sessions, afterwards to test her limits and yet she endured them all without losing a sweat. But she wasn’t the only one. Amit Verma replicated her excellence in a proud manner too, which had managed to off throw their trainer and the trainer made an appeal to the chief of NIA, that they finally have some people who are as good at the desk and could be more if inducted to the field. The NIA chief, however took a long time before giving into the appeal.

It took one written test, two personal interview and two endurance tests to prove their eligibility to be inducted in the off the desk team.  Their interviews weren’t any way easier than they thought it would  be. DGP Viraj Roy shredded their deepest insecurities, brought out their most frightening nightmares right in front of them. He broke them piece by piece and when they didn’t anymore have anything left to hide or lose, he was sure they are indeed capable to be a part of the field job.

However, Riya Mukherjee was still a surprise for them as she showed no interest in joining the filed. It appeared as if she was testing her own limits. And when she knew she qualified she was reckless enough to let go of the chance . Although, Roy didn’t want to lose such a qualified agent. He slowly dragged her into the field, giving her  orders she couldn’t deny. He kept her on the loop until one day she gave into one of their plan to uncover an arms dealers hideout.

Inspector Riya Mukherjee was immediately promoted to a senior inspector after that case. Her interest faded quickly as it appeared for the case and again she retired to the dark corners of her desk. There was something imminently wrong with her or in her past. She was beyond apprehension for most of the time. 

Roy happened to be the only one who showed some patience with her for first time surprising everyone more. Roy was sure one day she’d give in. And one day, during one of those lock downs of Roy, she gave into a mission that put her sanity and life at stake. Roy wanted someone determined for that mission. And Riya’s reluctance for not joining the previous cases was so strong that when she came around contradicting herself, people didn’t question her determination, they questioned her interests. Even though it appeared that she had no personal interest, an unflinching determination had swept over her when she was officially inducted into the counter terrorism unit of NIA. She started with gathering information on the most nefarious terrorist who had his links with JeM and LeT. He was Sikander Khan. She provided numerous clues regarding Sikander. However it was no easy job as it sounded. Records of her hard work is still gracing the classified files on NIA database.

Roy understood her interest when he learned that she was not the only one seeking Sikander. Sikander's case was transferred to ETF labeling it as a state of emergency. NIA had to transfer the case. And then he realized why it mattered to Riya. He knew her past well enough to understand that either she wanted to prove herself by helping ETF or the reasons are far more personal to her which was beyond revelation. 

But as always, she was way too unpredictable. She made no attempt to get the feather of appreciation when Sikander was killed during a counter terrorist operation which was her tip off. Rather she chose to remain in the shade, away from all the limelight ETF received. However, Roy felt she should receive another promotion and that’s how she became ACP Riya Mukherjee and eventually their second in command.

“Do you know where is Anshu?” A voice broke Amit’s chain of thoughts when he finally had some attention to the source of the voice.

“I think he’s at hospital. Finally someone is getting lucky!” Amit commented with a smirk while Riya's smiled widened. She only hoped that Anshuman has confessed his love to Tasha. What else will make a woman who’s just out of coma feel happy?

She dialed a number that belonged to their junior forensic assistant who was supposed to be there with Tasha. But when the call was received she was rather surprised with the tone she heard from the other side.

“I don’t understand what’s so hard about hospitals?” the voice over the phone was weak, yet she could feel the underlying sharpness. “I’ve told you numerous times.” ACP Mukherjee sighed as she kept staring at the fact board in front of her. 

“But you didn’t tell me the real reason behind it.” The voice asked from the other side.

“You have your man on your side babe, think you should enjoy that.” ACP Mukherjee smirked as she heard a giggle from the other side.

“Well I totally feel he’s in this guilt trip.” She was confused too. Could it be guilt? She hoped not. “hey, at least he’s close. Give him some time.”

“its so boring over here and I don’t have anyone to do ‘girl gossips’ with anyone. And why I am even telling you? You never gossip, huh.”

“listen Tasha, just get your ass over here as soon as you recover. We need you.”

“You’re not serious!!” Tasha exclaimed over the phone and ACP Mukherjee just smiled. “Come back soon!” she replied and hung up.

Hospitals always made her feel sick, mentally sick. She can’t take in the view of such vulnerability of human faces clearly fallen to point of helplessness. And that’s the exact reason why she wouldn’t go to see Tasha. Its been a week since she was back from Mumbai, leaving behind too many things that once mattered to her. 

Things didn’t go as smooth as she thought it would when she finally thought she could leave everything behind. That going back wont hurt as much as it did before. But she just had to know, it will always hurt. she just hoped, a little less. . .

A shrill of ring broke her trance as she glanced at her phone. The name ‘chief’ flashed across the screen. So the lockdown is over! 

“Yes chief.”

“how could you make such a mistake Riya?” ACP Mukherjee couldn’t clearly understand, why her chief is pissed at her?

“What did I do?”

“How could you leave behind the box of ammunition with ETF. I want you to retrieve it ASAP.” ACP Mukherjee sighed as her chief kept on going.

“Are you done? I’ve already told you I am not going back to ETF again. And about the ammunition, the retrieval is in process. NIA Mumbai will keep in check.” She said, tired of her chief constantly pestering her to communicate further with ETF.

“Mukherjee, you’re forcing me to do things you wouldn’t like.”

“do what’s necessary, I know how to comply with rules.” The phone call ended with a bitter note. ACP Mukherjee doesn’t argue with her boss. But when she doesn’t like anything, she keeps resisting until she gets the orders on the paper. And she damned well knows, one is on her way very soon and she’ll find it on her desk. Roy is still after that mole in ETF. Probably because Roy can’t leave loopholes in his cases. He’s obsessive that way. That mole is his unfinished business. And now he’s hell bent on making it her business as well.

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There was so much red.

So much red in his dreams, in his life. 

And then he saw red again, as he stared himself in the mirror, a stream of blood making it’s way down from his eyebrow, slowly taking a turn to his cheek and finally stopping at his cheek. Not able to withstanding so much red he bowed his head down, looking at the granite basin and splashed some water at his face closing his eyes. 

And then he stared himself back at the mirror again. All the red vanished with the blink of an eye. Unsettled, he made his way out of the washroom, grabbed a hold of the bandage that was successful for so many years to hide his scars. . .

A shrill of phone call broke his trance, but couldn’t bring him back from his vulnerability. He was still the same. 

Some  words laughed at the irony of his life.

He was perfectly fine.

Breathing. 

Living.

Surviving.

Looking at the caller ID he dropped the phone over the not so cosy sofa as he took a seat at his desk. The only place in the whole flat that sometimes gets him some sleep. But even then this seat hadn’t managed to make him sleep during these last five days. Maybe his new home will give him some peace. He was too restless to shift to his new place. After all life is giving him another chance. . .

Five days since he hadn’t been to the office, hadn’t taken any call from anyone and hadn’t stepped out of his flat. 

After one hour of staring into the wall he heard a beep in his phone. The first text message after five days. He swiped his screen to see the text uninterested. A 12 digit number flashed over his screen. He noticed the name of the sender. His best friend really does believe that he needs a psychiatrist. And he decided too, that he probably needs a psychiatrist.

With much reluctance from his side, he decided to make that call, not to the psychiatrist  but that idiot of his best friend. 

“We need you back here Rawte. Its urgent. And  before that, go see yourself to that doctor.” His best friend said in a frustrated voice from the other side.

“What’s the matter”? The second in command of Mumbai’s elite unit Emergency Task Force finally garnered some interest into the matter that has managed to make ACP Sameer Rathore believe that he needs a psychiatrist.

“You can’t resign”, Sameer said from the other side.

“I don’t think I should take any orders from my ex chief?” Arjun replied, smiling at himself for picking up her habits of taunting at every possible occasion. 

“I didn’t accept.”

“What did you do to that letter?”

“Come, see it yourself in trash” Before Arjun could argue further, the call was disconnected from the other end. He had to know, Sameer won’t let him go this way. You are losing your professionalism buddy! 

He made a call and he was sure the person will help him out of this. Riya Mukherjee was the only unfinished business in ETF he never got a chance to deal with after Sikander. But that’s also now over. He couldn’t find a possible reason to be in that team anymore. He tried enough time to get himself away from her thoughts, but he’s constantly  being pushed towards every moments he have shared with her. He didn’t know her one drunk confession would change his and her life this way.

BitterBerry2020-02-12 19:07:36

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