Chapter 6

Getting away from the twisted life of these two, everything else was going smoothly about the illegal arms dealing case, or it appeared smooth. The NIB was working on this case now, with the additional (and unofficial) help of Rathore. From Bangalore they got the sketch of the gang member whom a policeman had nearly caught during the raid but he managed to escape, and Rafik, the person who was under supervision of Rathore- Riya, confirmed that it was Sikandar's right hand man and the member who handle the business in Mumbai, Monu. Rafik was in police lockup and NIB trying to get a hold of this Monu. Barely 3 days had passed after Rafik's shifting in jail, when shocking the living daylights out of everyone, one fine morning the news channel started to flash a breaking news.

"Suicide of a petty thief in Thane police station under mysterious circumstances"

Riya saw the news in her house and quietly sat on the couch, the fingers intertwined with each other so tightly that it might hurt herself. then snapping out of it, she quickly dialed Rathore's number and informed him about it. She was pacing up and down while continuously listening to the news, when Rathore called back.

"ETF is going to handle this case." His voice was very, very angry.

"WHAT?" she really could not believe what she heard. He cursed on the other side.

"Raghu sir. He said NIB is too busy with Monu so ETF will handle this. I am feeling like he is punishing us for hiding everything in his own way." He said in a hurry, and Riya can hear the sounds of vehicle on the other line.

"I am heading toward the police station. Will see you there." and with that he cut the call. She hold the phone for a while, suddenly engrossed in deep thought, then snapped out of it, quickly getting ready and heading toward Thane PS. When she reached, there were already media personels and other high ranking officers, she recognized ETF SUVs and DIG's car. bracing herself for whatever that is coming, she went inside, the police constables covering her from media personels and the crowd. Inside someone escorted her to the cell, and she saw her whole team along with some other officers she dont recognize and DIG sir standing there, and Rathore looked too much pissed. Their eyes met and he did some signal through his eyes, which clearly meant 'we are doomed.'

"Time of death approx 3 am in morning." Liza informed while checking the victim, while her team was busy to check every inch of the cell, "the reason is, of course, lack of oxygen."

Riya now looked up and saw the rope which was hanging through the ceiling, and tried to picture the body of Rafik hanging from up there. She shook her head to clear her mind, concentrating on others.

"It doesn't look like suicide though." Rawte said and everyone looked at him, "The ceiling is too high for him to reach."

"There are couple of CCTV near the cell." Shree piped in, "Me and Chotu will look into it." he signaled to Chotu, and both of them left. Aisha and Rawte went entered the cell while wearing their gloves, and Riya walked toward the side where DIG sir and Rathore was standing.

"Sir, we are already working on the bomb blast case." Rathore was obviously continuing a conversation they were having before she arrived. He gave her a look and rolled his eyes, maybe praying in his mind that sir become convinced, then looked at DIG.

"I will tell ATS to handle it." Raghu sir brushed it aside and Rathore's face hardened, "That is a possible case of terrorist attack, ATS will be good." (Anti terrorist bureau)

"Why cant NIB handle it? They are already handling the other case." Rathore pressed. Riya constantly felt he was going to cross a line anytime now, and hoped he won't because he will regret it later.

"That is the exact reason you should handle this."

"Sir please." Riya spoke for the first time, trying to keep her voice as low and polite as she managed. Raghu sir sighed.

"Look, I know you two must be thinking I am being too harsh, but trust me, I don't have any other choice." He sighed, trying to explain and Rathore looked away trying to compose his anger, "High authority is demanding an answer that why is the premier intelligence agency of this country is NOT handeling the case of Sikandar. What am I supposed to tell them?" His voice turned angry in the end, and The duo realised they were also creating problem for their ex mentor.

"Investigate this. I don't want to hear anything." with that he walked away, leaving them behind. Rathore Riya gave each other a look, resigning to their fate and getting back on the work, unknown to the fact that Rawte was watching all these from a distance, though he could not hear anything but he did understood that his ex best friends were not too thrilled to investigate this case. Why, he didn't know, and just like that another mystery was added in his book, 'the unsolved problems of my life.' (Un)Fortunately, Shree Chotu returned at the exact time, sparing his thoughts, as the whole team gathered around them.

"The footage of the cameras, from 2 AM to 4 AM is wiped out." Shree informed, his eyes shifting from Rathore to Rawte. Everyone frowned at the statement.

"Wiped out as in any technical fault or. . ?" Aisha left her question unanswered as Shree gave her a look which meant 'Duh', means someone delibaretly did it.

"Where are the constables who were in charge to guide this cell?" Riya asked, and it was the first question she asked. Chotu shook his head.

"They didn't come today for work. They had night shift last night, so its their free time now."

"Call them. We have to talk to them." Rathore ordered and the teams divided into small parts, Aisha Rawte saying something in hushed tone, Shree chotu doing the same and Riya Rathore looked on as Liza and her team of forensic took away the body.

"Philosophers got it all wrong." Riya said to herself and Rathore looked at her, frowning, "Life is not unpredictable, Death is."

"Death is a part of life too." He counter argued. She looked at him in response.

"What part of death is part of life, or how it can be? These two are so different, so opposite." She shook her head and looked on as the dead body of Rafik was going away from them, "look at it. He is dead, how can he be part of life? He is. . dead. Simply gone."

He sighed hearing her, suddenly thinking how his best friend who never gave any hoots to philosophy of life suddenly become so interested in it.

"His death is our part of life. And before. . '' he said a bit too quickly as she opened her mouth to counter argue again, "you open your mouth and reply something about it, here is the thing- Philosophy is the very subject which I despise, and we are in middle of work."

She nodded, a small smile on her lips hearing his talk. They both went back to their officer mode as the whole team walked out of the cell, already on the case to investigate it.

 After 30 minutes, ETF office

"I got something!!!" Shree yelled in his area in excitement and everyone looked at him expectantly. The team gathered around him, except Chotu who was away to get hold of those security guards who were in charge during the time of 'suicide.'

"What you got?" Rathore kept his palm on his shoulder and leaned on the computer screen to see, and Shree opened his mouth to explain.

"there were 4 cameras near the cell. Me and Chotu checked the cameras which were directly shooting at Rafik's, didn't see the 4th one which was focusing on passage." He typed something in his lappy and a video appeared, "I checked the 4th video now, and this is what I got."

The team leaned on the lappy and saw 2 person entering the cell, the time on the video showed 2.35 am.

"Looks like who removed the footage didn't pay attention to the passage side camera." Aisha commented, and Shree nodded enthusiastically at it.

"It clearly means those 2 security guards murdered him." Riya said quietly, her brows knitted in confusion, "but it doesn't make sense, why two policemen will kill him?"

"It don't make sense either that why Rafik, who was apparently a petty thief, was kept in a cell which was on high security and filled with cameras." Rawte commented, his eyes sh*ting from Rathore to Riya, "looks like authority wanted to keep an eye on a petty thief."

His observation was at bulls eye as always, and the former two's face hardened momentarily, but they composed themselves.

"Of course someone ordered those police men to kill him." Aisha said, "but like Arjun sir said, he was a patty thief not some high profile criminal. Then why will someone take so much risk to kill him?"

 None had the answer of this question, except Rathore- Riya, and to make the matter worse Rawte's eyes were not moving away from their faces like he will get his answers only by staring at their faces. Suddenly Rathore's phone rang, it was Chotu who informed he got hold of those 2 policemen after 'little problems' and now heading toward ETF. Rathore along with Riya walked away from Shree's area and went inside the former's cabin, and Rawte followed them, leaving Aisha with Shree.

"What Rawte?" Rathore asked in little irritation and then shocked as Rawte entered in his cabin and locked the door behind him. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked directly at the duo.

"I came to know that You two handed over Rafik to police." He came straight to the point. Rathore at least looked surprised, but Riya just exhaled in defeat. It didn't occur to her that how he came to know about it, Does it even matter how? He always knows, he is omnipresent, nothing goes past him. She looked down in the floor, not wanting to meet his eyes and read his expression, because everyone knew it will only show anger and frustration.

"Why don't you for once speak about it and help in the case?" He carried on, his voice dripping with barely contained anger.

"As always, Rawte," Rathore shook his head, "why I am not surprised by your stalking power?"

"Don't change the topic." He snapped, his eyes now directly on Riya, "and I am talking with you too."

Riya's eyes snapped to him and she blinked for a while. His face momentarily softened, but then he was back.

"Its none of your business." Rathore said the line he always save for him.

"Is not it interesting? You two hand over a guy to police and then, he dies in cell." He counter argued.

"Are you trying to emphasis we are involved in this?" Rathore's voice turned cold.

"You just said it yourself." Rawte gave a challenging look, and Riya calculated the points in her mind, 1-0.

"Why you didn't mention it during team discussion? You are hiding everything from the team since the day SHE entered!" Rawte's voice turned accusing, and she gave him a blank look, devoid of any emotion.

"Don't you dare drag her into this!" Rathore whispered menacingly, "and you are talking about  team work, really? The person who don't know the T of team?"

"At least I don't do things behind everyone's back." He uncrossed his arms and clenched them into a fist.

"What you want us to do?" Riya asked quietly, looking straight into his black eyes as he stared back, "tell about this to team? Fine, I will let them know about it. Satisfied?"

Her expression was not at all challenging or angry, but for some reason it added more fuel into fire. He opened his mouth, obviously to reply something not so polite, when Chotu entered the office, nearly dragging two person with him. They stopped for the moment and headed for the interrogation room and the rest of team followed.

The two constables admitted they did kill Rafik because someone gave them money to do it. They just got a envelope full of money and instructions about the job, didn't know or see the person who gave the order. The police took them away and team gathered for the second team meeting, Liza joining this one with the rest of team.

"It still make no sense at all." Shree said, his eyes running on everyone, "I mean why kill a petty thief?"

"The person who ordered, is no doubt a powerful person." Aisha spoke, and then explained, "I mean see, the person, he exactly knew the guards who were guarding the cell, and approached them. How he knew about it? The person must have a good reach, very reliable source who gave him these kind of infos."

"Team," Rathore rose his voice a little bit, his eyes glaring at Rawte, "Me and Riya have to say something about this. We had not mentioned an important thing about this case."

Everyone looked curious and frowned. Riya got up, her eyes tried not to see into HIS eyes, "Me and Sam. . I meant Rathore Sir, handed over Rafik to police not too many days ago."

"How you got him?" Liza asked, and Riya shrugged in reply.

"He tried to rob my bag. Fortunately Sir was with me and we two caught him, later handed him over to police.'' She cooked up a story, her fingers crossed under the table because of the lie. Everyone looked convinced, but Aisha continued to stare at her, and for some reason Riya believed she was not convinced with the excuse.

"I thought this piece of information was not that much important for solving the case, but thanks to your Rawte sir, I came to know about Team work." Rathore spoke a bit too loudly and fast, his voice coated with hidden sarcasm and everyone's lips twitched in amusement. Rawte gave him a icy look and then looked above in the ceiling, the pen continued to twirl in between his fingers.

"So, is this a dead end for the case?" Chotu asked, and everyone gave him defeated looks, making up their mind that this was a closed case.

"No, it is not." Rawte stopped twirling his pen and shifted in his chair so that now he was seeing everyone, "If we can find the friends of Rafik, maybe we have a chance."

"Friends?" Riya didn't get. His jaw hardened momentarily, then he was explaining it.

"His friends can give a insight about his work life, maybe even explain why a petty thief had to die like this in jail." His eyes didn't leave Rathore at all. He obviously didn't buy that bag robbing story of Riya's and felt there was more than they were letting others know. Rathore also continued to stare back, in mind cursing Rawte's mind who see too much into stuffs. Everyone looked at each other thinking about this angel.

"Did anyone come to claim the body?" Aisha asked.

"None till now." Liza replied. Rathore got up from his seat, his eyes were now on everyone.

"Let someone come forward to claim his body. After that we will dig more into this case. Now dismiss."

The team left the room, and once again there were only Riya and Rathore was in the room. He exhaled sharply, and then the words came out hurriedly.

"Raghu sir's punishments are one of a kind, eh? The irony of the situation, we are investigating this case and I can't even tell my own team about everything. Great!"

"If his friends come forward, then there will be one hell of a twist." she murmured to herself, "He already suspects something is up, if he in real get something then. . ." she kept her sentence incomplete, and then inhaled sharply, "but if we think the risk is too much, you can hand over the case to somewhere else, right?"

he looked at her with a mixture of shock and confusion, "you don't want him to get involved in this case?"

She shrugged, "does it matter what I want or not? Its your call, you are the boss."

"Ri." he stressed her nickname, and she sighed, trying to explain.

"I came here to help in this case, thats it. Rest of decisions, its your call, I dont have much to say into it." and with that she walked away from the room.

Next day evening, ETF discussion room

Today was one interesting day. The family of Rafik came forward to claim his body, and from them ETF came to know about the sets of friends with whom Rafik used to hang out at a special place. ETF went their to talk to those 'friends'. but as soon as they saw it was ETF they started to run away. After some minutes of tom jerry chasing game, they managed to catch them all and inquired them quickly about Rafik.

To the team's surprise, Rafik was more than what he seemed to be. For the rest of world and police records, he is a petty thief, but he and his sets of friends were part of a gang, the gang which stay hidden in darkness and doing the business of selling and buying illegal arms from years, right under the nose of police and other crime fighting departments, right here in Mumbai and all over the India and south Asia. The gang members were sent to jail, and now the team were talking excitedly about this in ETF discussion room. There were several wild guesses, and even they were suspecting a link of these gang members to the raid and seizing of a big consignment in Bangalore not too many days ago.

Rathore and Riya were quiet the full time, listening to everyone and engrossed in their own world. Rathore was thinking it was high time that he should hand over this case to other department, even if he had to fought with Raghu sir. Riya was thinking there was a storm coming, she can sense it. She was ocassionally taking glance at HIM, who was too engrossed in his own world.

For Rawte, now everyone made sense. Rathore and HER's midday adventures, vanishing in between work time, HER and Aisha's conversation, that raid in Bangalore, hiding everything from ETF team, even HER silly lie about how they caught Rafik. So they were behind this illegal arms dealer gang, and somehow Rafik was the key to the all information. Maybe because of Rafik the Bangalore PD was able to get hold of such a big consignment. . . wait, was not that day when these two vanished for the day and SHE came back next day afternoon? So maybe the Gang leader murdered Rafik in jail. Now it made all sense.

"Team." His voice was too high and icy for this office, "I want everyone out, right now."

The team stopped talking and looked at him in confusion. He gave them such a look that it sent shivers down their spine, and Riya hoped her anti depression pills were in her bag right now.

"I said OUT!" He roared, and the juniors nearly sprinted for the door. Riya followed them, but she was not early enough.

"Not you, Riya." He got up from his seat and hold her captive only by his eyes. She could not move even an inch, now that was a completely different thing after her entry in ETF, it was the first time he called her by taking her name.

"Now that, Rawte?" Rathore barked, not getting now what happened to his eccentric second in command that he literally threw everyone out. Riya wished Rathore was more polite and didnt sound this much arrogance, something was telling her that HE knew everything, everything that was happening all these days. He had finally joined the points and understood it, but how much does he know? Thats a important question.

"I finally realised why Rafik was killed in jail." His voice was normal, as normal as it can be. Riya slowly turned around, her one hand still on the door, maybe to run away or support herself. She was not having a good feeling about it, well can anyone blame her? Whenever these two are in same room something bad is bound to happen, now she was the extra addition and a case was going on which was personal for three of them.

"And why you didn't tell them infront of the team? Why you had to throw them out?" Rathore finally shook off the arrogance and irritation from his voice and was now much more cautious while talking. He also sensed something, and braced himself for it.

"Really? Now finally I understood everything and you know it, still you will pretend about it?" Rawte's voice was dripping with venom. Riya took several step toward the discussion table, her mind said it was a bad idea but she felt it was her duty. She was also involved in this secrecy game, actively.

"Will you stop beating around the bush and explain it?" Rathore crossed his arms over chest and stared at him. Rawte cursed under his breath.

"Rafik, his bunch of friends, they were not petty thieves, they were part of some illegal arms dealing gang, are not they?"

"And you two are running behind this gang." His voice was slowly rising, and his eyes were now on her, "You came here because of this, didnt you?"

Her voice got stuck in her throat, but she could not remove her eyes off him.

"That raid in Bangalore, you two's occassional vanishing into somewhere, you and Aisha's conversation, all pointing at this." He carried on, and she even forgot to take offence that he eavesdropped on her conversation. She didnt know if she should wish that he dont know more about it, or should not wish at all.

"Now, please be a man and accept it." His eyes were back on Rathore and they were spitting fire. Rathore's jaw hardened, the shock was gone from his face. Of course, someday their secret had to come out infront of him, he was always too good to solve mysteries.

"Even if we were chasing this gang, so what does it prove?" He counter argued.

"Why you wont tell about this during team meeting? Why you are hiding about this?"

"I will do whatever damn I want to do!"

"Stop it you two." She said quietly but it had the desired effect. They both stopped glaring at each other and stared at her instead.

"Enough. Just enough." She said, her eyes shifting back and forth to both.

"I agree, enough." Rawte agreed, "enough of lying and secrecy. You will say everything or I will spill about this all to team."

"Since when you care about team spirit?" Rathore raised his voice, "it was always one man army for you, is not it?"

"Dont divert this topic."

"The topic is over. We are at a dead end in this case, and tomorrow I will hand over this case to some other department. No more argument."

"you are not doing right!" Rawte yelled, making the people who were standing outside and looking at the scene jump.

"I dont care!" Rathore yelled too, and then he walked out of the room, banging the door behind him. Everyone hurriedly went back to their work, no discussion or gossip yet about this fight.

After this incident, the office was too quiet, though everyone was present and doing their work, but there was a unspoken rule to do everything in absolute silence, or in minimal sound. The two bosses were in their cabins, fuming and cursing each other. Juniors gave each other nervous glance, Aisha ocassionally glanced at Riya in the hope to talk to her but for some reason Riya was too involved in paperwork, like if she wont do this with full attention the world will destroy. The office slowly deserted as the day ended, and now only three of ex friends were here.

It was nearly 12 when Rathore went near Riya and offered her lift. She started to gather her bag without any talk, and Rathor just stood near her, not even talking or anything. She could not take it anymore and just snapped at him, earning an interested onlooker to them.

"You know what? You two are worst than child. I pity this office and the people who work here, how can they tolerate you two?" She continued to rise her voice as Rathore stared at her in shock, even Rawte was looking at them from his cabin, "You are always hiding things from him and he always solve the mystries, then jump on our throat to demand answers. Why even hiding in the first place? Whats the point, explain !"

She took deep breath, trying to calm herself down by pulling her hair. She picked up her bag, and said the last thing to him.

"you two are biggest enemies of each other. none else."

And it really pained the ex BFFs.

Riya continued to walk towards some direction, about which she had no idea. She was totally fed up of her situation and was very tempted to break something, or throw things at them two. She even didnt stop a taxi, decided to walk toward her house to calm herself down. She exhaled and inhaled quickly to make the anger go away, but the next moment cursed as a familiar looking SUV nearly blocked her path.

Who else, but Arjun Rawte.

That ass didnt even come out from his SUV and said anything to her, but continued to sit inside the SUV and expected her to come. It added more fuel in fire, and she glared at him, then continued her walk, not even sparing him a glance.

Her every behavior make him angry, but this stubbron behavior really made his blood boil. For the starters, it was midnight and she was walking towards god knows where, which was not safe, and secondly he was offering her a lift and she being too stubborn not expecting this. Maybe some other time, he would not have tolerate her Bullshit and would have drove away but this was not the time to boast ego. She should not be on the road, thats it.

He again drove toward her and blocked her way like earlier, and she walked ahead of him, like earlier. This continued for some 4-5 times, and in the end, He completely lost his temper, opened his side of door with too much force and walked toward her, grabbing her arm thus effectively making her stop.

"Now what?" She glared at him with such intensity that it, for a fraction of second, really made him scared, "You want some more answers? You solved some more mysteries? For your kind information why dont you go and find answers with your ex best friend, I am not your answering machine dammit!!"

"Lower your voice." Her rising voice didnt really make him feel better. She glared more in the reply and jerk her arm from his grip.

"I wont. To hell with you and your orders." She tried to walk away once again, but he was too quick for it. He grabbed her arm, twisted it behind her and then pulled her frame to him, making her bang to him.

"How dare you!" She yelled more, "Leave me. Arjun Rawte, you leave me or I will kick you."

"Just shut up and sit inside SUV." His voice even surpassed hers in the matter of rising, "Dont make me pick you in arms and made you sit."

"I am not your slave, got it? leave!" She struggled more against him, but of no use. For some reason it made him amused, his lips twitched in amusement. She noticed it, and he cursed in mind. His timing to become amused was bad, and her anger is destructive.

"What? Very funny right? Having fun?" Her voice choked in the end, and she pushed him away with all her strength. He moved back, both in shock and puzzlement. Some moments ago she was glaring him to death, now her voice was choking. Really, understanding woman is a impossible task. She pulled her hair, a thing he often noticed her to do, and inhaled slowly in order to compose herself.

"Why we always have to pick a side? Why cant we have it all?" She asked to none in particular as he frowned, "Why I have to pick only a side? Why there are even sides? We all are in this together, I thought but. . . How to even pick one friend out of two?"

"Two friends?" His voice was accusatory, "Where is two friends, Riya? There was, and always will be one friend for you, right? Him. Where I even fit into this?"

"No matter what I had said in past, no matter what I had done to you in past, for me, you were and always will be my friend." She looked directly into his eyes, the sincerity in her eyes was unmistakable, "I always had two best friends, and always will be. Friends for life, remember?"

He didnt response to it. She rubbed her temple, maybe in frustration or compose himself, he didnt know, then without saying anything, she started to walk away.

"Please sit in the car." His voice sounded much softer and polite than he can ever remember it to be, "its too late and its not safe to walk toward home."

She nodded, then sat inside the SUV, tieing her seat belt in absolute silence. It was absolute silence too when they were heading for her house, but it was not the calm before storm- ish silence, it was comforting. For him, her words brought a sense of relief, and it shocked him that her words matter to him so much even after all these years. Maybe in deep down in his heart he knew she always meant him as a BFF, no matter what she had said to him during their last meeting and fight. He just needed it to hear from her, which she did, though it had been years, still its never late when relationship is concerned.

Her home was finally here, and before getting out, she only said one thing to him.

"please dont make me choose."

"what you expect me to do?" He asked.

"Trust me." She answered quietly, "please just one time."

and with that she got out of SUV. He continued to look at her, and murmured to himself, "How can I even trust you, when you are not truthful even to your friends?"

He didnt mean for it for her to hear, but she did. She stopped in her track and turned to him almost instantly, her face quizzical.

"I did what?"

He unbuckled his seat belt, got out of the SUV and stood exactly in front of her. His eyes were not leaving her face even for a second, he didnt want to miss anything when he will confront her about this, after all these years, about the last thing they discussed and the subject which broke  their friendship in the first place.

"You are not even true to yourself." He crossed his arms over chest, "and I thought no matter what, you will, at least won't lie or hide things from me, but I was wrong about it."

"Explain." Her voice should be quizzical, maybe nervous, but he least expected it to be commanding. He inhaled sharply.

"Roshni. You didnt like her. You tolerated her because of me only. Then why didnt you say about it earlier? Why you made it look like you were her such a good friend, when in reality there was no place for her in your heart? Why you say about it after I and she became together? You know how much pain it caused me? Why you didnt say that you didnt like her earlier? Maybe then I would have made it easier for you, you know I would have done that, wont you?" He finally said the things he wanted to say, all these years. he continued to look at her for any change of expression, but all he found was blank.

"Made it easier?"

"Of course." He rose his voice little, "I mean, how can I trust you when you are not being truthful to me? If tomorrow, there is her murder case we are investigating how can I even trust you about that?"

"You mean to say, " she stopped him in middle, "that I will be biased if its her murder case because I hated her, right?"

He didnt say anything, and the silence was all she needed. She slowly took some steps backward, and he offered his hand, maybe he had thought she was falling or something. She raised her arm, signaling that she was okay and there is no need for support.

"Thanks for letting me know what you think about me." Her voice was sad, and very very hurt. She knew he hated her, but never in the wildest dream she had imagined that he hold such a 'high' opninion about her. She didnt even spare him any glance and ran straight toward her house, banging the door behind her.

2 hours later, she was sitting on the easy chair, rocking back and forth on it, her one palm was on her lap while the other was hanging lifelessly over the floor. Her face was tear stricken, and after ages, it was a night when she could not sleep. The nightmares even without sleep was keeping her busy, and she didnt want to take any pills for it.

If someone ask her to go back in time and fix the one thing, she will have a hard time to choose between the last day in Police academy, or the time her mom and bro walked away from her. In both cases she had lost the people forever, and the guilt was too much in both cases. To her utter frustration, tonight her mind was stuck on the last day of academy, their last fight, the last ever conversation they had.

Their last day in academy was 13th March, almost one month after the valentines day. The academy was beautifully decorated for the farewell party, the freshers were excited that they will witness the second ever party in academy (after their fresher's party), the faculty were relieved that one of the most prankster- ish batch was finally leaving this academy. The pass outs were busy in packing and reliving the moments, but not for everyone it was a sad thing to leave.

For Rawte- Rathore, as the faculty call them, they were the happiest. They were going to be posted at the same place like they always wanted. Rawte proposed the girl on the valentines day who charmed the pants off him on the very sight of her, and now they were in relationship. everything was as happy as it could be, but the BFFs got a shock when they came to know that their fourth member in the gang, Riya Mukherjee was taking her posting in Bangalore, without even informing them.

More than Sam or Rosh, Arjun was hurt. For some unknown reason Riya was not talking to him after V day, even if he corner her or send text messages or call she wont pick it up. He had no idea whats up with her, but it was the last ever chance he got, so after farewell party, he cornered her in a deserted corridor, much to the irritation of her.

"What the hell are you doing?" She struggled against her, "Leave me right now!"

"Why are you behaving like a idiot from past a month?" He asked with anger, "And why you taking the posting in Bangalore? Answer me."

"I wont. Now leave. Me.'' she emphasised each word. He sighed.

"Ri, please, whats wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong. By the way, now how you feel when I do things without telling you or Sam? How does that feel, Haah?"

"I didnt get!" He was puzzled. She jerked away his hand from her wrist.

"You go and propose a girl, and we dont even know! I mean, I thought we are best friends and you share everything with us, but looks like I was mistaking."

"No no." He tried to make peace, "I didnt mean it to hide."

"Then what you meant?"

"I wanted to surprise you."

"What a rotten liar you are, Rawte." She rolled her eyes. He clenched his jaw momentarily, he hated her when she call him by his surname.

"So I am Rawte now?"

"Dont behave like you care." She looked away, "why are you even here? Go hide behind that girl friend of yours."

"Ri, talk properly about Roshni. She is your friend too."

"oh, now you got a girl friend you will be rude to me?"

"You are being rude, not I." He took a step toward her, making her effectively caged between him and the wall, "And whats with the anger, haah? I said I am sorry."

"I dont care. When you dont care about telling about your life, then I dont care about your freaking apology too. I dont even believe you chose her!" She rose her voice, looking here and there for divine intervention, and he knew the next couple of words, he wont like it.

"What do you mean by I chose her? Whats wrong with her, anyway?"

"Oh come on, I mean look at you!" She exclaimed, "You are so brilliant, best at everything, you are like a star, and she, she is nothing in front of you. How can you even like her? How can you even go and propose her?"

"How dare you to say like this about her?" He was stunned to hear her, "I dont believe you are telling this, Ri, I didnt know you care so much about status and all. I mean, even you are from a middle class family, much like her, still you saying this about her? It was least expected from you."

 "Oh, " Her face was suddenly filled with understanding, and he wondered what else new insults she will say about his girl friend, "now I get it. You doing charity to her, are not you? Boasting your male ego by picking someone who is not equal to you."

"Oh shut up!" he backed away from her like he is even disgusted to stay near her, "Are you really the girl whom I was friend with all these years, or that girl was fake and its the real Riya Mukherjee? Are you even hearing yourself? Oh god, I cant believe there is so much venom inside you for her. and she think so high of you, I just cant believe it."

"Dont even take her name in front of me. That attention seeker, fortune seeker. . ."

Wham!

intially none of them could believe it really happened, as in really, really happened. He didnt believe his one hand automatically rose all by itself and just printed the marks of five fingers on her cheek, and she could not believe the guy who was standing infront of her, who was her best friend from the very first day in academy, actually slapped her, just now. When they both actually realised it actually happened, the storm was finally over. He cursed himself, he could really cut his that guilty hand which did this to her, he should have known that whenever she is in anger she become very much rude and say horrible stuffs, but that doesnt mean she means them by heart. He should have handled her carefully, maybe admonish her for the things she said but he actually just slapped her. She finally snapped out of her bitchy mode and realised this time, even if he forgive her (which chance were only.000000001%) she cant forgive herself. She had crossed a line which she should not have, and this time though the anger was the culprit but she cant made it the only guilty, she and the heart of hers was equally at fault too. She also realised she had lost one of her best friend forever, and this was the sole reason which made the tears to come out, not the slap or the things she said, even if she didnt mean any of it.

He felt he is the ultimate villain of the world right then as he saw her tear stricken face, her head which was hanging down. Neither of these made his ego satisfied, he should be happy that he punished her for the horrible things she said and now she was realising her mistake, right? He not happy at all, but horrified at his own action. He knew she is the only one which make him hyper and bring out the extreme emotions in him, he didnt know she has the capability to bring out the animal inside him too, he even didnt know there is an animal inside him. To make him feel worse, she was bleeding too, because of the slap the corner of her lip was bleeding.

"Oh shit!" He exclaimed quietly in panic, his fingers running through his hair, "Shit shit shit! What I did.. . . shit !" He yelled in agony, his voice echoing in the deserted corridor.

She didnt even have any idea what torture he was going through. She slowly sunk into the floor, and he panicked more. He kneeled beside her, torn between to touch her face and apologize, and to not to touch her. Maybe he had lost the right of it?

"I am so sorry! Please, Ri, look at me." He, with great courage touched her face and made her look at him. She didnt looked at him at all, and it pained him, beyond anything.

"I didnt mean to. . . you know that right?" He inquired, but still no reaction. He cursed aloud for doing this to her, and then remembered something.

"You are bleeding. I am going to medic room for you, okay? you stay here, please, I will be right back, okay? Just stay. ." he quickly got up and ran toward medic room, maybe to run away from the situation or really for her wound, both reasons were strong in the current situation.

After he came back from medic room 10 minutes later, totally out of breath. he witnessed that the deserted corridor was, indeed, deserted, as in she was not there. She had gone, in literal sense, as next day though he searched so many times for her he could not find her. He tried to get the number of her home from office but the academy admin office didnt permit him, of course. He may have called her 10000 times but everytime the number said switched off or out of reach. Slowly slowly, the guilt inside him turned into bitter hatred for her, more after Roshni's death. The day when he cremated her, he started to think the people who hated her, and that those people should be happy that she was dead now, HER name came at the top of list, and he felt such an hatred for her, more powerful than his friendly feelings for her. the feeling of hate is indeed, more powerful than the power of Love.

For her, keeping her distance from him was an important task. Only because of him Riya never contacted Sam all these years, because she knew they were together. She hurted Sam too in this process to her bad. She still dont know why she spoke those things all these years ago to him. She never hated Roshni, those bullshits about status or choosing someone who is not equal, she never ever thought about all those. She didnt know what compelled her to say those things, like some bad evil spirit had possesed her and made her say those. Regardless of her guilt, she decided to stay away from him, not even apologize to him, there were two reasons for it, firstly till this day her ego is much bigger than her good heart, and secondly, she realised Arjun Rawte, her ex best friend, is not a good influence on her. That man brought out the worst of her and she wont ever want to confront her worst side in this life time.

She wiped her tears and straighten her back, finally sitting properly on the easy chair, still rocking on it. His words tonight was a reality check, she had come here even after leaving department because of her personal reasons not because Sam had asked her, because of him. She had seen this opportunity to seek forgiveness of the man in her own way, but she was wrong. That man dont even trust her, not that she can blame him, but it hurted after hearing it aloud. When he dont even trust her, how can she work on the case which is the biggest mystery of his life? What is the gurantee if tomorrow they do catch Sikandar and hand him over to him, he will believe her? She knew deep down that what she was doing is wrong, that Arjun should do all these investigation about Sikandar and not her and Rathore, because its his right. She knew every second of it, it pricked her every time he looked at her in accusatory way or she hide some thing from him. She dont deserve to work on this case.

So she wont work on this case.

She decided it in a fraqction of second, just like that. The days of struggle, the secrets, the pressures and anti depression pills, all lay forgotten behind. She decided she wont work on this anymore, and if she is not working here, there is no point of staying in this city too. It chokes her to stay in this city with every breath she takes in the air of this city.

She stood on the floor and looked at the wall clock. 7 AM. She skipped an entire night of sleep, only because of Him. A very first, indeed.

She took her jacket and the bag which always accompany her and walked toward the door for the last visit in the ETF office.

Richmond bar, Mumbai, earlier night

"I really needed a break from all these." Chotu said to his friends as he gulped down a glass full of drinks, too quickly, to the surprise of others, "I mean, you cant blame me, right? Nowadays there are so much pressure, and not to forget, our. . ."

His words didnt come out as Liza stole them in between, "our darling bosses. No, none can blame us." and she took a sip of her own liquor, much to the discomfort of Specky sen, who made a face at her action. She rose her eye brow at him in question, to which he shrugged.

"I wonder whats up suddenly with the duo." Aisha carried on the conversation, "Everything was going okay, I mean as okay as it can go with them, all of a sudden Rawte sir's outburst."

"He was about to explode anyday." Shree spoke for the first time, "When he shouted us like that, 'OUT!' I knew right then that today, was the day when Volcano eruption will happen for sure."

Everyone chuckled quietly at that. Chotu kept his glass back on table and wiped his mouth with the back of his palm, "But dont you think, Riya did a fine damage control of the situation? I mean imagine there was only our bosses in the room, none else. I dont even want to think what would have happen."

"Yes she did." Aisha frowned, "I am shocked that they both were much more composed after she said something."

Others looked at her in confusion and she looked upto them, now explaining, "other time, it seems like these three cant stand each other. Arjun sir dont like Rathore sir and Riya, Riya dont like him and Rathore sir dont like him as well. Though the mutual dislike is still there, Arjun sir quite didnt snap at her, did he?"

"Maybe he didnt want to make a scene?" Shree asked. Liza rolled her eyes at him.

"They had made enough scene today, what difference it would have made if there was more addition into it?"

That was a point, everyone agreed silently to her by nodding their heads. Chotu sighed loudly and others looked at him.

"Kuch bhi keh lo, nowadays, more than case our bosses's and their behaviors are much more interesting, is not it? I feel if we can get idea why they behave that way, maybe our IQ will increase to the level of Arjun sir."

Everyone laughed hearing his sentence, giving each other hi5. suiddenly the gloomy tensed atmosphere was gone. Aisha suddenly stopped laughing as a thought crossed her mind.

"Guys, you didnt dig more into the police academy angel, did you?"

"Aisha, do you really think we got much time after office?" Shree answered in tired voice, "I dont know why there are so much pressure in work suddenly, I mean first that Bomb blast case, we didnt quite investigate that and suddenly this Rafik case came into out hand. Double work and all cases falls into dead end catagory. Whats the point anyway?"

"Even I didnt get much sleep and had to skip breakfast because of office timings." Chotu said in sad voice.

"Aww, such a pity Chotu, so how much weight did you lose? 10 grams?" Liza piped in and Shree burst into laughter, giving Liza hi5. Chotu scowled in reply, and Aisha looked on amused at the trio.

some seats away from the ETF team, a man who's face was hidden under a hooded white jacket was gulping down his drink like its the last thing he will get on earth. His fingers were continually working in his touch screen phone, his face showing a curious mixture of emotion, of daring and fear. He finally decided something, and then in shaky fingers dialed a number and put the phone near his ear.

"I need your help sir, please save me." His voice was low and filled with fear. he gulped down, hearing whatever the other person was saying on the other side.

"I dont want to go to jail. Sir please. . ." he didnt quite finish his sentence as the person cut him in between. He nodded hearing the reply, and then he sighed, totally relieved.

"Thank you sir." He cut the call, suddenly a new window had opened for him. With a new energy he gulped down the last bit of drink down his throat and left the bar, while going banging to Aisha.

"Hey ! Hey you!" Liza and Shree jointly yelled as some guy intentionally banged to Aisha. Chotu stood up and was taking some steps, wanting to catch the guy and give him two tight slaps for this behavior, but Aisha didnt let him.

"Its ok, maybe he was drunk."

"he was an ass." Shree said, then his face softened, "You okay?"

"Yes I am fine." Aisha smiled seeing her team's concern for her, "I am lady dabbang, remember?"

Everyone laughed hearing her, and like that went back to their earlier discussion.

Next day, ETF office

Rathore entered early today and noticed Riya was already there, sitting in the discussion room like a statue. One part of him wanted to go and talk to her, but the other part which wanted to avoid any unwanted confrontation decided to leave her alone for a while. He entered in his cabin and buried himself behind some case file.

soon the office filled and the team found itself with a new case. To team's surprise (and not of Rawte's) the Rafik murder case was closed because of lack of evidence. The team was puzzled for a while, then shook it as the new case demanded their full attention. They went to crime scene, they talked to the suspects, they went to lab and examined the evidences, just the stuffs they do everyday.

During the afternoon time Riya took her leave from office, giving an excuse that she was having a headache. The whole time she was here she was distracted so the chief excused her, and everyone got back to their work. Rathore went to his cabin to get a important file, when he noticed the lowest drawers where he kept all the documents regarding Sikandar's case were open, and those files were missing. He was totally stunned, he pinched the bridge of nose and wondered where the hell the files went and who took them?

On the other hand Rawte was in for a shock when he noticed a big box on the table in his cabin. Over it, there was a letter.

Hope after this you will be able to trust me. . . maybe a little bit?

there was no name on it but he understood who sent it. He quickly opened the box and saw inside there were many files and papers. He started to read all of them, and got the biggest shock of his life, that Sikandar really exists, he didnt hallucinate or imagined his existance during Roshni's murder. He is for real.

His eyes filled with unshed tears.

Rathore finally realised who is the culprit and cursed aloud, his eyes murderously glaring at something. He punched a familiar number in his phone as soon as he took it out from his pocket and put it on his ear, his teeth clenching together to control his anger.

Riya was sitting on the long benches near the beech while looking at the ocean when her phone rang. even without looking she knew it was Rathore.

"Where the hell is the documents?" He came straight to point.

"where it should be." Her voice was calm, too calm in front of the ocean's madness or his anger. He understood what she did and cursed on the phone.

"Why you did that? I explained it all to you, still? I offered you to join in this case and now you backstabbed me like this?" He yelled at her. She closed her eyes momentarily, inhaling a sharp breath, then said each word with great pressure and emphasis.

"Sameer Rathore, listen to me very carefully. I didnt sleep last night and practically awake for 30 hours, I didnt take my anti depression pills, so you can understand my condition here. You better watch your language, or I can get back to you, and you know it wont be good, dont you?"

Rathore gaped at her through the phone, stunned by her comment. Outside Rawte, who was about to enter inside stood paralyzed for a while as he watched his expression while speaking on phone.

"About the documents, even you know we dont have any right to investigate Roshni's murder case because its HIS right. Dont give me any bullshit about HIS anger, really its not the right time for it. Those documents should have reached on his table ages ago, I waited for you to do it yourself, but you are such an ass and idiot, blinded by your anger." She sighed and opened her eyes, her face and eyes were identical mask of emptiness, "You didnt do it, so I did. Deal with it."

"You should not have do it. He will ruin it." He repeated his broken record once again, and she lost it. Her temper.

"He wont ruin it dammit! Just trust him, alright? He lost the girl he loved, what else he has to lose, Haah? Give him one chance, stop making decisions for him. It is his case, not yours, is this so difficult to understand? She was HIS wife, should I spell it for you? HIS WIFE !!"

Rawte could hear her voice though he was outside his cabin, and wondered what was with her and her sudden anger attacks.

Rathore didnt say anything, maybe he had finally realised what an ass he was being all these while, or maybe he just could not believe the girl who was supposed to be on his side was actually defending Rawte.

"I sent the documents to him. After he reads it, its all upto you two, do whatever you want to do, I am out of here."

"what do you mean by that?" Rathore found his voice back which was small, stunned and rather harsh because of the shock element maybe.

"There is my resignation letter on your desk. Good bye." and she cut the call. Rathore had barely the time to react on it when he found Rawte towering over him. Their eyes met and then Rawte was glaring at him.

"This time you have crossed all the limits. How dare you to investigate her case without telling me?" After this speech, he punched Rathore on his face, making him to fell on his desk. He was recovering from it as Rawte clenched his fist to control himself, continuing with his speech.

"I asked you over and over again what you and Riya was doing behind everyone's back, didnt I? I asked and asked, shouted at you, threatened you with Raghu sir, still you didnt spill anything. I knew something was related with the illegal arms dealing gang, I was this close to know everything and still, you didnt say me anything? WHY ?" He roared at him. Rathore expected to get another punch on his face but thankfully he didnt get any, he was not sure if he can survive another punch. It was a shitty day, first his only best friend switched sides and gave him lecture, much like the Riya from academy days who dont bear any bullshit would have give, and now this punch by his ex BFF. 

"Because I thought you are unstable. I wanted to solve this case because it was the only unsolved case of my life and I wanted to solve it. I didnt want you to be involved in this because I thought your anger and sense of revenge will ruin everything. I thought you will destroy the leads and soon we will be back in square one, and I didnt want it."

"You should not have decided for me." Rawte replied in his cold icy voice. He sighed.

"I know. And now, I am officially out of this case. You take the documents, do what you want to do. I give up."

Rawte turned to him in surprise, "Give up? Just like that? Suddenly this change of heart?"

"I am tired of fighting Rawte." Rathore stood up and wiped the blood with the tissue papers, "I am tired of fighting with you, with myself, with Riya, with Raghu sir. I am just tired. For what reasons I am even fighting? This case, this was supposed to be a group effort, not some secrecy thing. I was earlier blinded by my prejudice, but if now I see this clearly, You wont even want me into this. Whats the point, anyway?" He sighed and threw away the tissue paper, "Its the case of your life, there is no place of any of us into this. This is your revenge, go solve this. I know you can, you will."

"not much worried about my anger issues?" Rawte could not believe Rathore was giving up. Maybe the punch was too powerful, maybe he was having a change of brain?

"You will be just fine. What else you have to lose, anyway?"

Mumbai airport, 4 PM

"Great." Riya murmured to herself in defeated voice as she heard the announcement, The Mumbai Bangalore flight will be late for departure because of some security issues.

Its like the city dont want her to leave too soon, maybe some more of tragedies on its way? She thought about in in her mind with a bit of sarcasm, though the joke was not enough that she had to laugh about it. She closed her eyes in tiredness, it had nothing to do with her lack of sleep. She had supposedly left everything behind, still it felt like the weight of things were still on her shoulder.

To take her minds off things, she decided the only friend she have right now, Dev Patel, her friend cum counceller to give a call. Dev picked the call on the second call, and she sighed in relief, his charming enthusiastic voice was always a life saver.

"Did i disturb you? What are you doing?" She asked as her eyes ran around in airport terminus.

"No you didnt. I am finally out of hospital as my duty hours is over and was thinking to party tonight? any suggestions?"

"I am not a party person, But I am sure you know plenty of places." She smiled a little.

"Thats also correct." He agreed, "by the way, where are you?"

"public place." She didnt want him to inform about her resignation yet. He shrugged as he settled inside his car and put the bluetooth on.

"You know what? looks like even I have to go to Mumbai."

"not missing me that much I hope." She teased, and heard his chuckled on the other side.

"Ri, you are stealing the punch lines from me, bad manners. No, its not about you only, I have a conference and a case to take care off. The patient is a pain in the neck, such a baby that he cant take care of himself without my help."

"you are a bad influence on people." She agreed, "You make them weak and they are so used to you that its become impossible to function without you."

"Apparently I am." His voice turned annoyed, then he snapped out of it, "Enough about me, you tell, anything exiciting?"

"exciting as in for your councelling or in my life?"

"You know what I mean." He stopped in the traffic, "How is life going? still struggling between your boss and that AR?"

"You remembered." She was not surprised that he really remembered her words.

"Of course I did. its my job, and for it I am getting paid so. . ."

"I know. No, no more struggles." she sighed, "I am a free bird now."

"excellent!" He exclaimed, "You know what? Maybe when I will arrive in Mumbai we should go on a city tour and explore some fancy cuisines. I am really dying to taste the street foods. . ."

 He was going on and on about the places he had found on the internet from some food blog and smiled hearing his non stop chatter. Her eyes ran around the terminal, out of habit, and all of a sudden her whole body froze for a while.

"I will call you back." She cut the call without a further word and frowned slightly, as Arjun Rawte just graced the terminal by his presence. His eyes ran around the terminal much like hers, then he spotted her and walked toward her, finally sitting beside her on the long fixed chairs.

"You should not even think how I spotted you." He started a conversation. She sighed.

"was not intending to."

after some seconds, she wondered, "Shree and his moblie tracking?"

"Bang on." He nodded.

again silence. Only the flight announcement was audible, which was repeating its late by an hour flight's news.

"So again leaving?" He finally looked at her, but she didnt. Maybe because she didnt think herself worthy of meeting his eyes.

"Yes. My work is finished here."

"Really? Were not you here to solve the case?"

"Now the case belongs to its rightful solver, No place of me in here." she spoke in emotionless voice. He exhaled hearing her, "also," she continued, "lets face it, me and Sam could never solve it without your help, so thats a moot point."

"If I say I want you two in this?" He spoke sincerely, looking straight into her eyes, "What if I say I cant do this without you two's help?"

"Why you need it? You dont need strength, thats for weak people like us." She didnt mean to be harsh, for her it was the truth. She can never imagine him to be broken or vulnerable. he let out a weak chuckle.

"I am not that heman like you think me. I am weak too, I am bleeding inside." His voice choked in the end, and he literally begged to her through his eyes, "I want you to stay here and be with me till the end. Please."

"How can you even trust me?" She asked, her voice showing how much hurt she was by his comment. He didnt say anything.

"If you dont ever trust me, how can I help you? Will you let me help you?"

He didnt answer it either. She exhaled slowly, getting up from her seat and maybe going toward somewhere, when he caught her wrist, and said only two words.

"Just stay."

She didnt need any other words or explanations from him, so after 2 minutes, they both came out of airport, he carrying her luggage and both of them walking toward the ETF SUV