Chapter 2 Matured

Chapter 2

Monday morning.

ETF office,

The ETF team was sitting in the conference room, completing some pending works.

Shree called everyone's attention, "Sir, there's a mail from Commissioner Sir."

Sameer looked at the screen, "Read."

Shree read out the mail, "There's a new member joining as a criminal psychologist and research specialist. But sir, there are no more details like who is joining and when, nothing."

Sameer took his cell phone, "I'll talk to Commissioner Sir."

"I don't think there's a need to do that." All eyes turned towards the soft yet confident voice, of the ever magnificent Tara Priya Rawte. Sameer coughed and Arjun choked on his cutting chai, while the rest of the team just looked on astounded.

Tara looked at everyone's expressions confusedly and then pulled out her cell from her pocket and used it like a mirror, "I don't look like an alien or ghost, do I?" She asked everyone, "Hello?! Bloody..."

"Language!" Came combined voices of Arjun and Sameer.

"Oh, thank God! I thought you guys were in some dreamland or see a ghost in me. I was so scared you know!"

Sameer gave an impossible' look to her, "Cut off the drama, say why you are here again?"

"Now, you'll see me here every day, till I'm alive, of course!"

Arjun looked annoyed, "What do you mean?"

Tara sighed, "I've joined ETF." She forwarded appointment letter to Sameer, from Commissioner. He read the letter and then looked at her, "Please tell me you are playing April fool's prank well in advance!"

She gave unbelievable' look, "No. This is damn serious. And I am sick of being disbelieved. This letter has been duly stamped and signed by the Commissioner of Mumbai, himself. And if you still don't believe, do whatever you feel like." She said in a dangerously low voice.

Sameer called Commissioner, and Arjun read the letter and re-read it, still not believing. Tara looked at their expressions with irritation, "Look, I understand that I'm too pretty to be a cop but hey, I'm trained in Scotland Yard. I can take anyone of you out without a fight."

"Is that a challenge, sweetheart?" Aisha asked.

"Coffee?" Tara eyed her from head to toe, giving a mischievous smile.

Aisha felt blood rushing to her cheeks. What an irresistible aura. Her heart pounded. "Unfortunately I'm straight."

"So is spaghetti until it gets wet." She winked, biting her lower lip.

Sameer cleared his throat rather loudly. "There's a new case, let's go."

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Tara's cell buzzed with a number. Her friend had managed to track the "Dhruv" she had talked to on helpIine the other day. As she reached home, sprawling on her bed, she dialled the number.

"Hello, Dhruv." She voiced anxiously. "It's Piya." Revealing a part of my identity would be fine. She thought.

Dhruv sat on the edge of his bed, phone in hand, staring at the screen. The call had come from an unknown number, and the voice on the other end had been shaky, desperate. He'd never heard of anyone by that name before.

"Hello?" Dhruv hesitated, unsure of what to say. "Piya, right?"

"Yes," came the reply, and he could hear the tremor in her voice. "I'm sorry to bother you, but you said you would talk to me whenever I needed."

Dhruv frowned. "Who are you? How did you get my number?" He asked calmly, careful not to scare her.

"I called on the helpIine two days ago. Remember the journal and photography girl?" She hoped he remembered her.

"Ma'am, please call on the helpIine. I don't do personal interactions. Please." Dhruv hesitated to talk to this stranger, yet his heart wanted otherwise.

"Please Dhruv, I don't know who else to call." Her voice was desperate.

Dhruv leaned back against the headboard, curiosity piqued. "What's wrong? Why are you feeling this way?" Years of talking to people on helpIine, some words came naturally.

Tara took a deep breath. "I've been struggling for a while now. Life feels like an endless maze, and I can't find my way out. The darkness is suffocating."

He listened, torn between concern and suspicion. Why had she chosen him? They were strangers. Yet, there was something in her tone-a raw vulnerability-that tugged at his heart.

"Piya," Dhruv said gently, "you don't have to face this alone. There are people who can help-friends, family, professionals."

"But I don't have anyone," she whispered. "No one who would understand." She didn't want to talk to the people around her. She was a strong princess in their minds, she couldn't let that image shatter. All her pains and sufferings were hers, nobody needs to know them, not her family, at least.

He glanced at the framed photo on his bedside table-the one with Maya, their smiles frozen in happier times. His best friend, who'd jumped off the building instead of talking to him. Since that day he had been a volunteer at the helpIine, talking to anyone that needed to. Saving a life with every phone call.

"Piya," Dhruv said, surprising himself, "I've been there too. Feeling lost, like the world's closing in. But you know what? Sometimes, just talking to someone helps."

She hesitated. "You won't judge me?" You're a stranger anyway, doesn't matter what I tell you.

"No judgments," he promised. "Tell me what's hurting."

And so, in the dimly lit room, Dhruv listened. Tara poured out her fears, her regrets, her loneliness, her not feeling 'enough'. He didn't have all the answers, but he listened, occasionally comforting her.

As the minutes stretched into an hour, he realised something: Piya wasn't just a stranger. She was a mirror reflecting his own pain-the fractures in his heart, the shards of memories he'd buried.

When the call finally ended, Dhruv sat there, phone still in hand. He wondered if he'd made a difference. If Piya would find her way back from the abyss.

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Tara's fingers brushed against the delicate fabric of the dress, its softness evoking memories she tried to bury.

"You look better without it," Pratap's voice was low and intimate. His eyes had held a mixture of desire and vulnerability.

Tara blushed, her heart fluttering like a trapped bird. "Can't wait for you to take it off."

"Wait until we get back home." He leaned, quickly kissing her lips.

But now, standing here alone, the dress felt like a cruel reminder. The ache in her chest intensified, she took a deep breath before throwing the dress in the trash.

"Tara!" Roshni knocked the door. "Ready for the party?"

"Yes, bhabhi!" She fastened the studs of her diamond earrings. It complemented her forest green knee length dress. Tara picked her clutch and walked over to Roshni. "You look stunning! Can't take my eyes off you, don't know what bhaiya will do."

Roshni smiled, adjusting her hair. Her chiffon blue one piece was classy and gorgeous. The duo settled in the car, reaching the Annual Business Award function.

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And the Young Achiever's Award goes to Mr. Samrat Singh. The announcer said as a dapper young man walked towards the stage, accepting the award with a charming smile.

The Consistent Achiever of the Year goes to Mrs. Roshni Rawte, once again. As Roshni walked to the stage, Tara cheered for her loudly.

As the awards distribution ended, the exquisite ballroom pulsed with music, and Tara's heart raced as she stepped into the crowd, alone. Roshni was busy meeting her colleagues and other business people. The air smelled of champagne and anticipation, she quickly gulped a flute.

Samrat's dark brown eyes caught hers, and a whirlwind of emotions swept through him. Her presence was like a sudden storm-a mix of curiosity, desire, and vulnerability. He saw the way her eyes held secrets, and he wanted to unravel them all. He moved toward her, graceful and confident, like a panther stalking its prey.

"May I have this dance?" His voice was low, a velvet whisper against her skin. His hand extended toward her, and she hesitated. Tara's breath caught, her mind was up for some fun tonight or maybe it was the champagne that made her say yes to this stranger.

As they swayed to the music, Samrat's touch sent shivers down her spine. His hand rested on the small of her back, possessive yet gentle. As he lifted his hand, twirling her to the music, she caught a glimpse of his tattoo.

Tara leaned in, her lips close to his ear. "People with tattoos on their hands are sexy," she confessed.

His laughter was a warm breeze. "Wanna see mine?" She nodded. He pulled up his sleeve, revealing inked patterns-the curve of a dragon.

As they danced, her laughter echoed in his chest, and he wondered if fate had conspired to bring them together. Tara's honesty-the admission that she liked men with tattoos-stirred something deep within him. His inked skin became a canvas for her to explore, and he reveled in the intimacy of it all.

"Tell me," she said, her fingers tracing the edges of the tattoos. "Why this tattoo?"

Samrat's gaze held hers. "They're reminders," he murmured. "Of the person I used to be and what I am now." His vulnerability surprised her, and she wondered what had shaped this enigmatic man.

Tara leaned closer, her lips brushing his jaw. "And who are you now?"

He pulled her even closer, their bodies pressed together. "Someone who wants to dance with you forever," he whispered. "Someone who wants to explore every hidden corner of your heart."

The music swirled around them, and Tara forgot about her heartbreak. Her mind raved with the dopamine release, he promised an adventure she needed, to forget about Pratap. He was the wild escape.

Samrat sensed a longing in Tara-a hunger for connection. And he felt it too. In her arms, he forgot about his struggles, the scars he carried.

Samrat knew he was falling-for her, for this fragile moment they shared. And as he held her close, he wondered if love was possible-a rose blooming despite the thorns. But life had taught him to be cautious, to guard his heart.

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Arjun snaked his arms around Roshni, pulling her into his embrace. "Congratulations on another award, wifey jaan!"

"Thank you!" She pouted. "You were supposed to be there."

"Work calls. Sorry." Arjun rested his forehead on hers. "But we'll have our personal celebration." He winked, smiling mischievously.

Roshni felt her heart beat in sync with his. Three years of their marriage but the love was just as strong and fresh as it was when they confessed. "Let's take a shower first."

"Sure." Arjun took off his shirt. He cradled her in his arms and walked into the bathroom. Turning on the hot shower. "The shower is nothing compared to your hotness."

"I wish I could say this about you." Roshni bit her lip.

"Really? You found someone hotter than me?" Arjun raised his brows, he knew her tease all too well.

"Not one, two." She smiled. "Our Taru and Samrat. They looked quite hot as they danced together."

"Who is Samrat?" Arjun's brotherly senses tickled.

"He's a businessman. Won the Young Achiever's this time."

"And Piyu was happy with him?"

"Yes. They seemed to have a good rapport on the dance floor."

"As long as he doesn't hurt her, it's fine."

"It was just a dance, Arjun. She's our warrior princess, ain't no man hurting her."

"You don't know how fragile her heart is, Rosh. I've seen it shattered twice. Not again."

"It was just the dance, the music and the ambience, nothing serious." She shook her head at his overprotective ideas. "Anyway, I am still waiting for my celebration and gift." Roshni removed her wet maxi.

He eyed his beautiful wife. "Madam, you're under arrest for seducing a married man." Arjun pinned her wrists above her head.

"Then punish me, ACP sir."

"Alright, punishment coming right up." He nibbled her lips, squeezing her breast with another hand as she moaned softly. He turned off the shower without breaking eye contact. "Are you ready?"

"Yes sir." She wrapped her legs around his waist. "Go on."

He smiled, carrying her towards their bed. "You're the best, jaan!"

"I know!" She winked in response. "And you're better than the best."

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It had been three days since Dhruv talked to Piya. He wondered if she was alright. "Hey! Are you okay?" He had drafted the message in the afternoon but didn't send it until later that night as he plopped on the bed.

Few minutes later the phone chimed. "Yes. Busy with work, TTYL." Dhruv smiled at the response, sighing in relief. "Thanks, I'll maybe call you tomorrow." Came another text from her.

He closed his eyes. The face of the woman in café floated in his mind. Who are you? He wondered. Why can't I forget your face? Why do I feel like we have known each other before?

Dhruv fell asleep thinking about his mystery woman.

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~ • ~

Did the ArNi scene become too hot?

Dhruv Tara talked to each other again. Will they meet too?

What will happen when Dhruv figures out she lied to him?

Samrat is here and he feels a connect to Tara.

What do you think their dance will turn into?