Chapter 12

[MEMBERSONLY] [NOCOPY]

Before you move on to the update, I'd like to clarify something. I know most, if not all, of you are very angry with Sameer. But I want you to think from his POV. He's the chief of ETF and has pressure from his seniors to solve the case. He is the one who has to give answers to the higher authorities and his frustration of not getting any leads is valid. He is in charge and the fact that his team can't find clues is making him feel incompetent as a leader.

Now coming to his behaviour towards Arjun, Sameer has never seen or heard about Sikandar. He is bound to think that Sikandar is just Arjun's imagination and because of this, Arjun isn't able to focus on the real killer. He lost his best friend and that emptiness is eating away at him. He calls Arjun a murderer because of Arjun's infatuation with a shadow than his hunger to hunt down the real culprit and give Roshni justice. Sameer is a practical and disciplined man who believes things once he sees them with his own eyes.

Some of you might arguably say that Arjun was his friend and he should have believed him. But even Roshni was his friend, for far longer than Arjun was. Sameer has lost his best friend with no clues on the murder and according to him Arjun's house was the safest place in the world. In a way, his trust on Arjun was shattered because of the incident.

Please don't just see one side of the coin and hate Sameer for holding his own beliefs. He is right in his place. I hope I was able to clear Sameer's perspective. If you are unclear about something, please don't hesitate to ask.

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Chapter 10

The temperature in the room suddenly increased with the anger running in the team members’ veins. Just because they were annoyed at Arjun’s better-than-the-rest behaviour for majority of the time didn’t mean they respected him any less than they respected their boss. And witnessing the crestfallen expression on the otherwise stoic face of the hard cop had broken their hearts, along with the admiration they held for Sameer. 

“What?”, Sameer hissed at his team when they refused to avert their eyes from his furious figure.

Nobody said a word. Sure, they were angry with him but he was still the khadoos boss and they haven’t developed enough courage to freely yell at him for his faults. Well, all except Sakshi. Being the fearless woman she was, she burst out, “How could you say all those things to Arjun? Kuch bhi bolne se pehle tum do baar soch nahi sakte the Sameer? Mujhe samajh nahi aata ki tum kab samjhoge ki Sikandar koi saaya nahi hai aur ussi ne Roshni ka khoon bhi kiya hai. Stop blaming Arjun for someone else’s mistakes, warna tumhare paas pachtane ke ilava koi doosra option nahi rahega.”

Without giving him a chance to respond, Sakshi turned and walked off, hoping to find Arjun and comfort him. The remaining people huffed and left, not wanting to deal with a thick-headed person for any longer than necessary. They didn’t want to say something they will regret later, especially Aisha who was hesitant to leave the broken Sameer alone.

Sameer was left alone in the middle of the stranded conference room, his mind in a haze and his eyes misty at the bitter reminder of loss. I trusted you Arjun, I f*cking trusted you, he thought as two tears betrayed him and fell from his eyes. He knew he was being cruel to Arjun, the man who loved his wife more than anything, but the friend in him refused to forgive him. He punched the window of the room, shattering the glass into tiny fragments, much like his own heart.

“I wish you were here, Roshni,” he whispered before a heart-wrenching sob escaped his dry throat.

On the other hand, Arjun sat in his SUV, tears streaming down his face at the harsh accusation of being the murderer of his wife when he had put his life at stake for her. Why isn’t Sameer ready to understand that I was helpless?, he questioned his clueless mind. If only he had caught a glimpse of the assailant’s face that night, if only. Hardening his heart to prevent any wound to scar proved to be useless. He wailed loudly, anguish audible in his voice. 

I wish you were here, Roshni, he thought desperately hoping she will obey. But his pleas fell on deaf ears. Realizing that moping around at the words of a delusional Sameer wouldn’t be beneficial, he roughly wiped away his tears and revved up the engine. 

Suddenly, he heard the door to the passenger seat open and felt a presence beside him. Composing his straight face, he glanced at the person who dared to intrude on his privacy and sit in his car without permission. And he was shocked to see Riya sitting there, her face staring ahead. His emotions had drained him so he couldn’t even muster up the strength to rebuke her for her atrocious behaviour.

Before he could open his mouth to question her presence, she merely turned her head in his direction and said, “Aap drive kar sakte hain sir.”

Gawking openly at her soft command, his leg muscles unconsciously pressed the accelerator and the car zoomed out of the parking lot. Silence enveloped the car as Riya didn’t know how to begin a comforting conversation and Arjun was in no mood to entertain her. She wanted to tell him that he wasn’t alone, wanted to express her feelings for him to help him understand that it’s fine to sometimes loosen up and rely on someone else, wanted to tell him that he didn’t need to be strong. But alas, her words failed her like always.  

Minutes passed and the car suddenly stopped, bringing her out of her thoughts. Observing her surroundings, she realized that they were near an excluded part of the beach, away from the crowd and isolated amongst the trees. The quiet environment was occasionally broken by the harsh waves of the sea hitting the rock beds. 

He got out of the car, walking towards the shore in a trance. He might have been present at the location, but his mind was drowning in the memories of the past. Forgetting about the presence of another person with him, he simply sat at his regular spot and gazed at the water. He couldn’t help but relate to the unsteady waves as they created an accurate representation of his unsteady life. 

Understanding his dilemma, she followed him, grabbing a seat beside him and gently rested her hand on his shoulder. Suddenly, she found herself wrapped in a tight embrace and a warm yet cold body pressed against her. Slightly puzzled at the action, she snapped back to reality when she felt wet droplets on her shoulder. Arjun was sobbing badly on her shoulder, attempting to gather some warmth to compose his chaotic mind!

Without a moment of hesitation, she wound her arms around his back, her right hand holding him tightly in place while her left hand caressed his hair. Her eyes teared up as she witnessed the vulnerable expression on his face along with his shivering body. And she knew he wasn’t shivering because of the weather. 

“Maine Roshni ko nahi maara,” he mumbled loud enough for her to hear. The hope and the unsurity behind his voice shattered her heart. This was not the Arjun who criticized her capabilities or fought to prove his facts, and it frustrated her. She couldn’t see him in such a broken state. 

Tightening her hold on him, she responded, “I know, sir. I know.” 

Sensing the familiar feeling of belonging, he, further, buried his head in the crook of her neck and breathed deeply. Unaware of his unstable state of mind, he poured out his feelings to her, showing her to understand him a little more than just a colleague. 

“Main Roshni ka qaatil nahi hoon. Uska khoon Sikandar ne kiya hai. Lekin Rathore yeh baat kyun nahi samajhta? Wo kyun nahi dekh raha ki uske shabd mujhe bohot dard dete hain? It hurts a lot,” he complained in a defeated tone. 

The tiredness of heavy emotions, accusations, sleepless nights and exhausting cases was finally catching up with him. He knew he was rapidly losing his confidence, knew that he didn’t have the strength to be cold any longer. He didn’t have the strength to maintain the emotionless facade he wore on his face. And maybe that was what pushed him into her arms. And she realized that.

Wiping away his tears with soft hands, she sternly said, “Rathore sir abhi thode bhatke hue hain. Jab wo sahi raaste pe chalna shuru karenge tab unhe aapki baaton pe yakeen ho jaayega. Tab tak ke liye aapko Roshni ji ke liye strong hona hoga. You have a battle to fight sir.” It was hard for her to speak the false words as they pinched her throat.

He shook his head, adamant on permitting the tears to flow without any restraints or barriers. It was almost as if her words fell on deaf ears. “Tum...tum Sam se kahogi na ki maine koi gunaah nahi kiya hai? Please. Tum usse bologi na ki wo mujhse naraaz na hoye?”, he asked her with so much hope in his voice that she couldn’t even deny.

At the positive shake of her head, he broke down into loud sobs and further hid himself in her. Relief of not being alone in this cruel world passed through his tense limbs. Her body gave him something he hadn’t felt in years; she made him feel safe from the judgemental society. He couldn’t describe the warmth he felt as her arms wound around him in a desperate attempt to ward off his demons. Time passed at a slow pace and the two, one scarred and one guilty, souls remained wrapped in each other’s secure embrace. 

Neither had noticed the wild waters were now calm as the serene moon reflected off of it, illuminating the water like a thousand stars. 

Suddenly, Arjun gained his senses and became aware of his surroundings. He separated from Riya with a jerk, his eyes wide and flaming red in fury. She instantly read his thoughts and knew the infamous volcano was about to explode on her, and she tried to mentally prepare herself for his outburst. 

“How dare you Riya?”, his loud voice startled her. As his grip on her arms tightened, she couldn’t help but wince in pain at the pressure he applied on her sensitive skin. Eyes glaring into hers, he yelled, “Kaha tha na ki mujhse door raho. Toh fir meri kamzori ka fayda utha kar meri personal life mein interfere karne ki tumhari himmat kaise hui?”

She gulped down in fear, her eyes portrayed her terrified emotions. Stumbling over her own sentences, she attempted at defending herself from his baseless accusations, “B-but sir, m-maine kuch bhi nahi kiya. Jo kiya wo toh aapne hi kiya hai.” Realizing her mistake, she tightly closed her eyes and waited for the verbal spat he was about to throw at her. 

However, she wasn’t answered in words. He simply stared daggers at her before leaving her deserted on the beach, his back to her, never turning to glance at her. She could only watch as his SUV sped off. Heart pounding in her ears, she released the shaky breath she didn’t even realize she was holding. A treacherous tear swiftly rolled down her eye, followed by a stream, as she realized the sickest truth of her feelings; he will never reciprocate the love she felt for him and instead she will be left alone if she even bothered to wait for him. Just like she was today.

Noticing that there was no ride to return home and the scary hours of the dark had begun, she decided to trek her way back on foot. It hadn’t been long when she felt her energy draining from her body and her eyes drooping with fatigue. Her limbs refused to cooperate with her and the cold breeze certainly didn’t help her thin clothed body. It got to the point that she wondered if she will even reach home safely before her legs give out from under her. 

It seemed as if even the odds were not in her favour. As her feet carried her past the dense forest, she heard a couple of cat-calls. Oh God, wasn’t dealing with that akdu enough that now you sent these idiots? I just want to go home and sleep, she groaned and fastened her pace. And her heart-rate kept increasing with the quickening sounds of footsteps. 

Hearing them gaining speed and reducing the distance between them and her, she ceased in her tracks and spun on her heels to face them. There was no way she’d allow them to frighten her or intimidate her. However, she realized that she underestimated her opponents when her eyes fell on around eight drunk men. She knew she could easily handle three men at a time, but risking her safety by experimenting her skills on eight giant men wouldn’t be a wise idea. Left with no alternative, she decided to run away. 

Their footsteps and her loud heartbeat were the only sounds that filled the quiet night. She mentally berated herself for blindly following Arjun to this isolated place and cursed him more for leaving her here alone. Her tired legs were gradually slowing down and the drunkards were catching up to her. The thought of being at their mercy petrified her and she willed her limbs to move faster, but to no avail. 

Suddenly, a hand clasped around her wrist and pulled her in the dark forest. Before she could react, her back was pressed against the tree and a warm pair of lips captured her own. Stunned would be an understatement of how she felt in that moment. Eyes wide and arms slumped to the side, she gazed at the man who dared to steal her first kiss. 

Her eyes met his and she almost pinched herself to wake up. Realization slowly sank in that the man was none other than the hot-headed cop Arjun. It couldn't exactly be classified as a kiss; it was more of a lip-to-lip touch. She froze in her place, her breath stuck in her throat at the sudden turn of events. They remained in their similar posture, unmoving and uncaring. 

Arjun, after driving away from the beach, had realized that the dark night was too heavy and he had left behind an unprotected female alone on the deserted sand, despite her being a qualified officer. Instantly, he turned the vehicle around and sped towards his newfound destination. When he got close enough, he noticed that Riya was being chased by a group of men, who clearly were not in their senses and supported a lust-filled expression on their faces. He knew he could easily deal with them if he wanted, but his strength was not up to par because of his emotional exhaustion so he chose a more subtle but effective approach to save her. 

Minutes rolled by and the two were still entangled with each other, their lips attached and eyes open. Although it wasn’t a proper kiss, it reeked of passion and few hidden emotions that the cops couldn’t afford to feel or showcase. Footsteps resounded on the concrete path as the drunkards ran past them, the bushes hiding their intimate position from the onlookers. 

A flashlight shone on them, but he refused to separate from her. He couldn’t take the chance of the drunkards being there and recognizing her. “Oye laila majnu, yeh chumma-chaati apne ghar jaake karo. Pata nahi aaj kal yeh aashiq kahin bhi shuru ho jaate hain,” said the constable who was out on a lookout, his bag too heavy for his lanky body. Without glancing at the couple again, he left. 

Arjun slowly parted from her, his eyes gazing intently into her. Time stilled and they stared at each other, hoping to read the myriad of emotions reflecting in them. The slight touch of intimacy awoke the feelings that he had thought died with his wife. He was a man after all, and he had been craving the physical touch of a woman for years now. He wanted to feel her soft lips once again, this time with no fear or barrier.

Her mind was in a haze, puzzled with his sudden onslaught. Did he just...just kiss me?, she wondered, still unbelieving. His warm breath on her cold lips caused a shiver down her spine and she felt her heart pounding against her ribs when she noticed his eyes drop to stare at her red lips. She lightly bit her lower lip, which proved to be his undoing. 

He tilted his head, brown eyes refusing to break contact with the hazel ones, and whispered against her lips, “I’m going to kiss you again.” 

He warned her, allowing her with a fair chance to push him away, to deny his wishes or do anything to stop his advances. In the back of his head, he wanted her to take any action to cease his desires, but the man in him prayed that she wouldn’t stop him now. He noticed her eyes lower to his lips and he got his answer.

Without wasting another second, he dipped and captured her lips in a gentle yet heart-soaring kiss. Their eyes, unable to handle the intensity, closed involuntarily. His right hand moved to cup her cheek while the left arm wound around her petite waist. She dragged her hands up his chest and locked them behind his neck. 

Lips moving in sync, they revelled in the feelings it invoked within them. His heart almost burst in happiness and he pulled her closer, leaving no room for air to pass them. The butterflies fluttered in her stomach as his warm breath fanned her upper-lip, contrasting highly with the cold breeze brushing their skins. Despite the windy weather, their skin burned where their bodies met. 

His tongue caressed her lip, attempting to deepen the gentle and innocent kiss. And that brought her back to the real world. Her brain registered that she was kissing her boss, and her eyes immediately opened in shock. She jerked from his grasp as if his touch charred her and she desperately tried to catch her breath. He opened his eyes, confused at the guilty look in her eyes. He could’ve sworn that she was enjoying the kiss as much as he was. Then why is she feeling guilty for simply surrendering to her feelings?, he questioned himself in frustration. Her eyes met his and a tear escaped from her eye.

“I can’t do this,” Riya mumbled in a barely audible tone before turning and sprinting from the place, leaving behind a disheveled Arjun.

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Do you like it? Please do comment to let me know your thoughts.

I know Arjun's character might seem a bit out of character towards the end, but it was necessary to spark the romance factor in the story. After this chapter, he will return to his original self with minimal changes of him moving on in his life and finally feeling some emotions, other than hate and anger.

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