Chapter Three

Chapter Three

We humans are never too broken that we can't further be broken . . .

Mumbai

Renulata was happy that her daughter is back home. So happy that it didn't matter where her daughter was for an entire year. Nor did her husband made any attempt to enquire about it after Sheela came back home. After so long their family looks complete now. What more she should be worried about was a hike in gold price, or eligible candidates for to suit her daughter. 

Sheela worked as an entry level software designer at LaWare Techno Solutions, Hyderabad. In the second year of her job, the family didn't hear much from her for a month. That worried them a lot and so they decided to go to Hyderabad to find about her, but all they could do is file an FIR of her missing. The company said she has resigned. She lived in a single room with no friends and kept herself to work only. 

The only thing Renulata prayed all this year is to bring her daughter back home and the god has finally listened to her pleas. Sheela is silent after ever since she has returned but Renulata was okay with it. It didn't matter to her as long as their daughter is close to her and in safety. She continued frying Sheela's favorite noodles and laid out plates for serving.

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Arjun stood in the middle of the hallway in a confusion whether to make more changes to this already furnished flat. He liked it the way it is, however he was sure he wouldn't need more than a study table and a recliner. For a long time there is a stillness in his life. Long time after that emotional horror that still sometimes doesn't let him sleep. Horrors of his past and regrets over his past mistakes. He have come to accept that half part of his misery was due to fate, and other half was inflicted by himself. In both ways he blamed himself only.

He heard his flats bell ring. He wasn't expecting any visitors. He went to open the door and the only other person who would care to knock at his door was standing right in front of him.

"What are you dealing with? Amnesia?" The other one shook his head in disbelief as he peeked inside his new flat.

"Should have known!" Arjun sighed and let him in.

"You know. . . This whatever it is you are doing on the name of starting a new life, could have been done in a more friendly way, um without secrets?

And a resignation letter? 

And what the hell bring you here in THIS flat?"

"Is this some kind of enquiry?" Arjun sighed as he saw Sameer clearly grumbling over the recliner.

"You know me better when I do an enquiry Rawte. Don't test my patience", Sameer glared at him.

"Why are you here? Who invited you?" Arjun moved the last cartoon of his belongings to a corner and took a seat beside his best friend and former chief.

" Aisha told me about the retrieval. And she's so much interested in those weapons. Might I know why she has such interests?" Sameer didn't miss to notice the way Arjun changed his expressions upon hearing that. Aisha do have some point after all.

"What else did she tell you?"

"I am here to listen it from you Rawte. What are you upto? You know you can't interfere in this matter." Arjun heard what he said but remained silent for a long time.

"I am asking you something damn it."

"She was after Sikander." Arjun said and Sameer was stunned. He knew at that time NIA helped them with the clues. And if Riya was in NIA at time she must have been involved. He just forgot to join the dots.

"And now she's after Hussain." Sameer didn't have to ask how everything is making sense now. Why Arjun is interested and why Arjun wanted to intervene no matter how irrational that sounded to him. His interest was not his concern. His concern was once again Arjun is emotionally investing himself in a case. And that didn't look like a good picture to Sameer.

"Why didn't you stop her if you cared so much Arjun?" Sameer asked the right questions. "You still had a chance."

"She doesn't need anyone protecting her Rathore."

"Well I agree to that. It's you who needs to be protected." Emotionally.  He never voiced that out.

"She doesn't trust me".

"And you think by going after her and helping her you would earn her trust?"

"I don't know. At this moment I just want to help her." Arjun remained silent for a long time.

"I hope you'd figure out soon Arjun. I hope whatever you are going to do wont break both of you further."

"You think I can be broekn further?" He asked with a humorless smile? 

"You never know. We humans are never too broken that we can't further be broken Arjun" Sameer said and left. Arjun wondered why he's doing it! He doesn't have answers to all these whys. But all he wants to do is, not let this woman be in this mission alone.

Hyderabad 

The biriyani treat at paradise went with Anjali and Amit making fun of each other. Anjali has a knack for technology as much as Amit has his obsession for computers and they've bonded very well over time. Lately this team has started to feel like a home for her. Riya just knows, once again she has invested herself emotionally into relations. She wasn't expecting to meet Anjali or form a bond with her. But it happened and she'd thank the almighty that she has Anjali. One look at the little girl and she knew she'd get a glimpse of herself. What she doesn't want is the same vulnerability she had all her life. She stroked Anjali's head lightly as Anjali slipped into deep slumber. A notification pinged on her phone as she pulled the blanket over her and Anjali. She checked her phone later after she plopped herself up on the bed and leaned over the headrest. 

A red dot appeared on the screen as she noticed it was moving. So they're finally shifting it. She remembered the time when she placed the tracker on the target. She knew it was purely spying and her actions would have consequences if exposed but she didn't care.

Flashback

Winds of the Arabian sea jostled her hair as she put them in a bun. She loosened her shirt and relaxed finally after a weeklong tiring encounter with the ETF team. "What made you say a yes"? He asked. 

"I am here to spy". She said in a grave tone looking directly into his eyes. He avert his gaze and chuckled. "You still have that easy sense of humor." Riya chucked too. She knew she has to play along. It wouldn't  work otherwise. The Navy has straightaway asked to keep away investigation in this regard. Mohit said, its because Navy doesn't wants its name in the dark after Mumbai attack. Every department wants its cape high. More than eight years in this field and ACP Riya Mukherjee just didn't realize when the chase became a competition.

Roy was pissed. Really pissed when ETF took in charge of the Sikander's case, taking away all the blood and sweat she had put into that mission. ETF took all the credits, while all she's left with is more scars on her body. . .and soul. But she always had this odd sense of satisfaction that she was a part of that mission.

A siren blared in a certain distance and she inched a little closer to the edge of the deck, standing just beside the MIG29K. One look down into the water and she saw the crane go down, that means the subs have found the box. Finally some evidence to her statements.

However, she was still in doubt if Navy would still allow her to investigate. She looked at Mohit who was too busy staring at her. The guy looked lost. Sadly, she doesn't fancy such reactions from guys anymore. There was a time. . . And everything about that time looks so foggy now.

"Something to add to your statement eh?" Mohit joked again. 

"What did you invite me for here? Where's lunch."

"You clearly didn't look like you were ready for a date."

"Well a human can be hungry." She said and he lead her towards a lonely area of the cruise. It had a canopy, a table, a wine bottle, and amid the salty smell of the ocean, she smelled a hint of herbs from delicious Italian food. The man remembers her taste. It was just a hopeless declaration. 

Like a gentleman he pulled out a chair for her and she sat opposite to his chair. He joined her later. Mohit tried initiate small talks that ended rather abruptly. He could clearly see her in a different trance. 

"What's wrong?"

"Bodies."

"Bodies?"

"We guessed there would be at least 5 bodies."

"How are you okay with talking about body while chewing on ravioli?"

"Just like that!" She said as she gulped from the wineglass.

"If you are expecting, but I can't guarantee any explanation on that."

"I am not counting anymore on you Mohit." That sounded like her last words to him. Mohit was taken aback by her sudden reaction.

"Then why are you here?"

"I told you already. You just never took me seriously." She said as she wiped her lips with the tissue and crossed her forks.

Mohit was still digging into his food when a commanding officer interrupted them and asked for Mohit.

"Shall we?" She asked him, and he reluctantly followed the commander with Riya towing behind.

They stopped near the deck where the crane was being pulled and they noticed a box. The box was about the same size Riya and ETF have found before at the warehouse. Riya could clearly make her connection. Even though Zakir was dead he left too many loose ends that never got any explanation.The men dragged the box across the deck and wiped it off water. 

"When this box will be opened?" Riya whispered to Mohit. "First it will be analysed for and then we'll open it". She got the clear indication that, whatever they are going go do with the box, she surely wouldn't be in the audience to notice it.

"The lunch is over Riya." Mohit said. Riya saw some sort of reluctance in his eyes and disapproval on his face. She knew she was somehow feeding into his expectations. However, she knew he'd realise it soon.

Riya knows now he's alert. She has to act fast as she realised the cruise is already on it's way back and even if they'd find anybody her department won't ever get to handle the case. The only thing she wanted to know was what's inside the box.

She tried to ease up her conversation with Mohit by talking about their injured mutual friend as she waited. Soon the cruise hit the dock. And she knew her time over the ship is over.

Mohit came closer to Riya as she was suddenly taken aback by his swift movement and stumbled. Her heels slipped as she made contact with the floor, her hands resting right over the seized box for support. Mohit apologized for making her fall as she winced in pain. Her injured hand hurts. She lingered a little longer resting over the box when Mohit held her other hand and helped her stand up. 

"I am sorry about that." He whispered, looking her in the eye. Riya tried to avoid his gaze. She didn't want him to see her eyes. 

"It's... it's okay." She stuttered. Mohit thrusts a card in her hand. "You will call me." Riya didn't answer. "I know you will Riya." Mohit said again as she remained silent. She just simply said a goodbye and finally made her way towards the stairs to get down towards the dock, praying to her lucky stars that Mohit won't the box. She just hoped the chip she planted at one side of the box go undetected from human eyes as she knew the chip isn't detectable by analysers. 

Flashback ends

She immediately dropped a text to Amit to keep it on track and notify her when the signal is stable. That's the only time she'd be able to make a move. She put the phone aside and slept holding Anjali closer.

The next morning 

Mumbai

Renulata knocked at her daughter's bedroom when she realized Sheela isn't up when it's almost nine in the morning. She pushed the door and realised it was open. Renulata went inside and saw her daughter sleeping on the bed. 

She chose not to disturb Sheela and stated cleaning her room. The plate of food on the table confused her. It was the same noodles she has made for her daughter the previous night. By looking at the plate, it looked untouched. This worried Renulata and she went ahead to check on her daughter again. 

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Shree woke up to a fresh smell of strong black coffee. And for the first time after a weeklong exhaustion he didn't wake up to his 'bestfriend' s thoughts. Liza came inside his bedroom with a coffee tray and sat opposite to him on the bed holding the tray on his lap. She was wearing an oversized Tshirt that's reaching just about her knees. She handed him the cup. "Slept better?" She asked him with a smile.

"Yeah"! Shree replied with a smile. Lately he realised just how much oblivious he was to her reaction about the whole thing. Even though he knew Liza wouldn't ever ask, he knew he owe her an explanation. After Riya left ETF, he locked himself emotionally. But when Liza came he didn't know when he let Liza step into his comfort zone. Even though they met in college, their story was no way closer to a college love story.

When Liza joined ETF as the senior forensic specialist she wasn't expecting to see Shree in her wildest dreams. She just prayed both their college rivalry wouldn't surge a war in ETF. But nothing of that sort happened. She was rather surprised to see a calm and composed person in Shree who just came to ETF to do his job and return home. She bonded well with the other two women of ETF who mentioned to her that apart from their Arjun sir, Shree is another cold case in the team and needs to be dealt properly.

Everything about this new Shree rattled Liza as Shree made no effort to mingle with her. And strangely Liza couldn't take that indifference. Liza made all her efforts to get to him, by taunting him and making fun of him like always. She'd tell their college life stories to Chotu and he'd laugh with her. But nothing helped. And one day she was frustrated with Shree that she straightway asked him what on earth is wrong with him? Shree got so angry that he just shouted on her to stop interfering in his life. Shree knew his reply would hurt Liza. He just wanted her away. But the next when Liza came around with red eyes and dark circles Shree somehow managed to apologize to her because the newfound indifference from Liza was hurting him too. That single sorry somehow fixed things between them. 

"What are you thinking? You don’t have to strain your brain. If you don't want to talk it fine. At least don't insult my coffee." Shree was taken back to reality by her words and started sipping his coffee.

"We will talk." He said and she nodded.

Liza was about to say something when her phone beeped. She finished her call and came to inform Shree. 

"There's a death"!

"A death? And not a murder?" 

"The case looks suspicious. "

"On what grounds?" Shree asked not getting her point.

"It is that missing girl who returned home yesterday." Shree processed whatever she said as he kept the coffee on the side table and got up to get ready for the crime scene.

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Hey guys,

I hope all of you are safe and fine. I pray for all of you. Please stay at home and stay safe. 

Coming to the update

Once again, another thanda update 

Please read and review. 

Updates from now on will be a delayed a little

Also, the story will be updated in this section only and not in the forum. If you haven't Followed/Added this story your library, please do it. Would be easier for me to communicate and for you to get update easily. 

Regards 

Anki

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