Chapter 2

Bloomie

@bloomie

Part 2 [NOCOPY][MEMBERSONLY]

Arjun was leaning on the platform of Marine Lines. The sunrise gave hope for people to live but for him? it gave hope for revenge.

A voice called from behind: Arjun

He turned to find Vikram behind. He rolled his eyes and continued to stare at the sea.

Vikram: Arjun main chahta hun ki tum ETF join karo

Arjun: mujhe koi interest nahi hai

He started walking away.

Vikram: Sikandar ke liye bhi nahi?

He stopped in his tracks. His fists clenched as the brutal murder of his wife flashed in front of his eyes.

Vikram: jaise hi Sikandar ke khilaaf koi bhi lead milegi, ye case ETF ko hi jaayega (He turned to him) ab tum decide karo ki tumhare liye kya zyaada zaroori hai

Arjun: kab?

Vikram smiles as he removes an envelope from his coat: ab

Police headquarters-

Shree and Chotu were waiting in the parking lot. Arjun was at a distance leaning against a pillar when Rathore arrived, clearly irritated. The juniors go into attention.

Rathore: ek drug deal hone waali hai Kamal Mills mein, taiyaari karo aur ek baat! Ab se Rawte ETF ka second in command hai

He walked away to the car mv “itni mushkil se isse door gaya tha, ye Raghu sir ne meri saari mehnat par paani fer diya, pata nahi kitne din aur kaise sambhal paunga khud ko?”

Shree and Chotu’s jaws dropped to the ground. They glance at Arjun. He stared back at them causing them to avert their gaze and went in another direction.

Chotu: hey deva! Ye dono humare upar? Hum kaise khadoos ke saath kaam karenge?

Shree: hey maa Durga! Hum kaise in dono ke saath kaam karenge? Kis janam ke paap hai ye?

Chotu: bhagwan humari raksha karna please!

Two hours later, they ambushed the deal at Kamal Mills. The chief perpetrator managed to give the others a slip and ran out. Arjun ran behind him. He gets out of the industrial area and onto the main road. He turns to find Arjun still following him.

At a distance, bells were ringing continuously. Smirking, he changes direction and runs towards it. Arjun removes his gun and loads it. The man scrambled up the stairs of the temple. The aarti was going on. Arjun quickened his pace but stopped seeing the crowd inside. The man was nowhere to be seen. He stepped inside trying to search for him.

A glimpse catches his eye. Gritting his teeth, he follows. The man had not seen him. He was conveniently standing among the devotees on the opposite side. Gripping his gun, Arjun attempts to raise it but a soft hand holds his. A female voice falls on his ear.

Girl: nishaana chuk gaya toh bhag-dad ka faayda utha kar bhaag jaayega

He turns to her. She gave him a warm smile. Normally, he would have blasted anyone coming in his way but something about her stopped him. His eyes searched hers in case she was an accomplice but trust emanated from them. Besides, she was right. 

Girl: mujh par nazar rakho

He nodded. She shuffled into the front as the aarti came to an end. Taking the thaal from the pujari, she started distributing it to the devotees. She was giving the aarti to every person one at a time and reached the man. She took a pinch of sindoor to apply tika but instead flicked it into his eyes.

His eyes clenched shut: argh!

Girl: oh god! I’m so sorry (giving the thaal to a nearby lady) aap chaliye, peeche kua hai, jaldi ayiye

His eyes stinging, she leads him outside the prayer hall to the back of the temple. Arjun who is watching all of this is surprised… and impressed! How easily she managed to isolate him without creating panic in the crowd. He moves out of the crowd and goes after them.

The girl helped the man clean his eyes. The man heaved a sigh of relief as the burning sensation reduced.

Girl: I’m so sorry, aap theek toh haina?

Man: ha, main theek hun, shukriya

Arjun grabs hold of his neck from behind: acha hai (the man stares at him in shock) warna tere ilaaj par sarkar ko paisa kharch karna padta

The man tries to struggle but Arjun puts a gun to his head effectively scaring him. He glances at the girl in appreciation. She smiles in acknowledgment.

Arjun(leading him): chal!

Next day-

The ETF office is in pin drop silence. Shree and Chotu were sitting stiff and scared of their two bosses. Rathore has occupied himself with a file. Arjun is silently sipping his tea.

Chotu nudged Shree. He looked at him. Chotu gestures that he is bored. Shree glares at him to shut up, indicating towards the two ACP’s. He frowns. Despite his best efforts to distract himself, he could not do it. There was nothing to think on, he couldn’t move an inch without reason and Rathore would definitely eat him if he made noise. He looked at Shree enviously, at least he had a laptop. He strained his neck to peer and saw that he was playing solitaire.

Rathore’s phone beeped with a message. Chotu looked at him eagerly thinking it was a new case. Rathore read through and raised his eyebrow.

Rathore: team…

Chotu: kaha sir?

Rathore: kya?

Chotu(confused): case sir?

Rathore scowled: koi case nahi hai

Chotu cowered. Rathore threw his phone on the table. Arjun turned his head slightly to listen.

Rathore: aaj se hume ek nayi member join karne waali hai, Riya Mukherjee

Shree(excitedly): Ladki hai sir? woh bhi Bengali?

Rathore: nahi Shree, chudail hai

Shree shut up.

Rathore sighed and continued: Senior Inspector, Research Department se hai

Chotu and Shree looked at each other in tension, “ek aur senior?”

Chotu: but sir Research Department kyun sir?

Shree: ha sir, woh bhi Senior Inspector kaise? Koi aunty hai?

Rathore: tum dono ki faaltu ke sawaal khatam ho gaye?

They stepped back in fear. Amused, Arjun went back to his tea. After a few minutes, he stands up to throw the paper cup in the dustbin. A knock sounds on the door of the room. All eyes turn towards it.

Rathore: come in

The door opens and a 25-year-old lady in a white shirt, black jeans and ankle boots enters. Her wavy hair was tied in a high pony. Her gun was strapped to a waist holster. Rathore stands up. Recognizing his authority, she salutes him.

Lady: Riya Mukherjee reporting on duty sir!

Shree and Chotu stare at her. It wasn’t an aunty after all, in fact, she looked their age and definitely looked nowhere related to the research department.

Rathore shook her hand: ACP Sameer Damsingh Rathore! Welcome to ETF Riya

Riya: thank you sir

Rathore pointed to the boys: ye Shree, tech expert aur ye Chotu (Riya raised her eyebrows at that) commando (his expression changes to disdain, he points behind her) aur ye second-in command, ACP Arjun Rawte

She naturally turned to see behind(surprised): hello

Arjun gazed at her. Feeling weird, she waved her hand in front of him. His trance broke and he walked out. Riya turned to Sameer in confusion.

Riya: ye….

Rathore: ignore him

Riya: oh, ok

Rathore: come, I’ll show you around

Riya: sure sir

As soon as they stepped out. Shree and Chotu heaved a sigh of relief and collapsed in their chairs.

Shree: baap re! yaha ye do nahi sambhal re aur ye teesra bhej diya commissioner ne

Chotu: ha yaar, par woh kitni khubsurat hai

Shree: ha re, woh toh hai. Lagti hi nahi ki policewaali hai par na pakka khadoos hogi

Chotu: tujhe kaise pata? Woh bhi Arjun sir ki tarah famous hai kya?

Shree chuckled: are nahi re lekin ye saare senior aise hi hote hai, ab soch woh teeno chain of command mein hai, Rathore sir aur Arjun sir jung ladte rahenge aur ye dono ke beech fasegi, dono ke tug of ki rope banegi aur fir woh uska gussa kis par nikalegi?

Chotu’s eyes widened in horror: hum par?

Shree: exactly!!

Chotu: shit!!!

Outside-

Rathore: conference room toh tumne dekh hi liya, ye common room jaisa kuch hai (pointing in a direction) waha pantry hai, chai-coffee ke ilawa kuch hai nahi par fir bhi pantry hai, (another direction) us taraf interrogation rooms hai, we have 2 of them and (third direction) waha store room jaisa kuch hai, files rakh sakti ho, uske aage desks hai. Wahi par ek aur room hai, supposed to be my cabin but table chair hai

Riya suppressed her giggles: okay sir. But um, ek baat puchu?

Rathore: ha?

Riya: ye ETF hai fir bhi (looking around) thoda…(trying to find the right word) dull nahi hai?

Rathore: tumhe pata hoga, hum abhi kuch din pehle hi initiate hue hai (she nodded) us wajah se thode budget constraints hai. hum bhi abhi aaye hai toh sab kuch theek se set nahi hua

Riya nodded: aur sir ek aur baat, forensic ke liye hum kaha jaate hai? aur general working procedure kya hai?

Rathore was both surprised and impressed by her question. She was literally the only person who had come into the team so far that had asked about work. He didn’t even want to need to see her on the field. He already started liking her.

Rathore smiled: baitho, batata hun

He explained everything to her right from ETF’s purpose to what their work was to what the department expectations were to what his expectations were to briefing her about the 3-4 cases they had solved so far. He didn’t let out a single detail while Riya diligently made notes in her diary.

Riya: samaj gayi sir! main apni taraf se team ko humesha 100% dene ki koshish karungi

Rathore: I’m sure you will Riya, mujhe lagta hai you will be able to fit in very well and meri taraf se tumhe humesha maximum support rahega. I know tumhe thoda ajeeb bhi lag raha hoga kyunki tum akeli ladki ho but I promise tumhe koi problem nahi hogi aur agar ho toh you can always come to me

Riya gave him a heart-warming smile: thank you sir!

On the other hand, Arjun was at the window near the pantry, doing what best gave him a little peace, watching the horizon. A voice called from behind.

Riya: I hope woh admi firse bhaag na gaya ho

Arjun turned in amusement: well no, (crossing his arms) kya haina, use pakda bahot ache se gaya tha

She smiled and extended her hand: Riya Mukherjee

Arjun: I heard

Riya: I’m not very sure you processed it then

His expression softened and he gave his hand: Arjun Rawte (shaking her hand) welcome to ETF

Riya: thank you sir!

He blinked in response. She was about to go but stopped mid-way.

Riya: waise sir, uh kuch hai kya karne ke liye abhi?

Arjun: dhundh sako toh kar lo

She sighed: fair enough!................................