Chapter 7

Tara stumbled out of the club, the neon lights casting a colourful glow on her flushed face.

"I'll bring the car, wait here." Samrat instructed her, she bobbed her head up and down like a child.

It's been a week. I wish I could meet my Dhruv again. Tara glanced around, spotting Dhruv and Aditi walking out of the restaurant.

"Hello! Good evening!" She waved her hand at the duo who returned some polite smiles.

"Let's eat Panipuri!" Tara exclaimed, grabbing his hand with a playful grin. Aditi was shocked at her audacity.

"No, I just had my dinner." Dhruv sighed, pulling his hand away gently.

"Well consider it as dessert, it's just across the street, come on!" She grabbed his hand again and started walking towards the road, almost dragging Dhruv with her. He somehow felt good and wondered what was wrong with him as they reached across the street.

"Two plates of Pani puri!" Tara ordered the young boy who quickly began preparing it.

"Dhruv, will you go out on a date with me?" She asked.

"I've already said no, my answer won't change. I don't even know you!" Dhruv finally freed his hand but found her leaning on him, for support. The stench of alcohol was making him nauseous.

Tara pouted, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, my name is Tara, I'm 23 and single. I'm a Psych graduate from Cambridge, my favourite flowers are carnations-"

"Tara, please," Dhruv interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. The gentle breeze helped keep the alcohol away and her eyes were looking just as pretty. He had seen them before. But where?

Tara tilted her head, studying him with a curious gaze. "Right, you do seem like a long-term guy. Short-term won't do for you. How about we get married instead? Then we'll have the rest of our lives to know each other."

Dhruv's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you really asking a stranger to marry you while being so drunk?"

Tara shrugged, a carefree smile on her lips. "What has that to do with getting married?"

Dhruv shook his head, exasperated. "Firstly, I don't talk to drunkards. Second, you're a complete stranger and third, I'm not interested."

Tara's expression softened, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Right, because your parents were killed by a drunk driver. Fine, I quit drinking from this moment. Anyway, you're not interested in me or marriage?"

Dhruv's face hardened, his jaw clenching. "Both. Also, how do you know about my parents?"

Tara took a step closer, her voice gentle. "I know a lot about you. And I can tell you everything about myself. Where was I? Yeah, my favourite colour is-"

"You're so full of yourself!" Dhruv snapped, his frustration boiling over.

Tara chuckled . "Well yeah, what else do you want me to be full of? I mean, I could have a little bit of you in me but that stuff is reserved for until after marriage, okay!"

Dhruv's cheeks flushed as he realised what she meant. "Tara!" he stammered, flustered. I mean, you are pretty, I- He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Dhruv, stop. You can't think about her.

Tara's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Say it again, Dhruv. I love the way you say my name. But it's so much better when it's together. Dhruv Tara."

Tara picked a tissue, taking a pen from his pocket, she wrote "I ♡ U" and kissed it. She folded the tissue and put it in his pocket.

She gobbled the spicy food and Dhruv looked on, amused. She is a wild child, carefree and full of life.

"Tara!" An exasperated voice called out. Samrat reached there, panting. "I was looking for you everywhere. What are you doing with this stranger?"

"Stranger?" She laughed. "He's my soulmate Samrat, not a stranger." Dhruv wanted to roll his eyes at that but felt like those were the truest words ever spoken. What is wrong with you Dhruv? His brain chided.

"Ohh, Soulmate?" Samrat mocked her, "well then I am Superman. Now let's get home before your brother claims my life."

"Don't tell me what to do." Tara said authoritatively.

Samrat sighed. "Okay, princess! Your driver is here, your ride awaits, shall we leave, if you permit?" He dramatically moved his hands around.

Tara looked at Dhruv, who was silently watching the drama unfold, with a tinge of jealousy in his eyes as Samrat called her princess. "Princess is tired, doesn't feel like walking. Carry me to the car."

Samrat raised his brow, alternating glances between her and Dhruv. "Fine." He cradled her in his arms, while Tara continued looking at Dhruv, their eyes not leaving each other.

I know you're jealous, Dhruv. Why won't you admit?

Dhruv clenched his fists. How dare he touch my Tara? My Tara? When did that happen? His brain and heart were at war again.

"Tell me about this Soulmate guy." Samrat turned on the engine, the car revved on the road.

"Nothing special that you'd be interested in." She shrugged.

"How do you know him?"

"I don't, honestly. He seemed cute, so I tried to flirt with him."

"You haven't flirted with me. It's been three months since we kissed. Will you go on a date with me?"

"Will it offend you if I say no?"

"No. I just want an honest answer so I know whether or not to spend my time pursuing you."

"It's just that I'm not ready for a relationship yet. Just had a terrible breakup."

"Another one? When?"

"No, it's the same, with Pratap. I mean it's been almost four months now but it still feels like yesterday."

"I understand. It's okay." Samrat smiled at her, turning back to the road. You'll be mine, soon.

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"Team, we've got a new case. A missing report has come in about a girl who's been missing for a day. Let's go."

Sameer, Arjun, Aisha, Shree, Chotu and Tara head to the house of the missing girl.

They ring the doorbell, and a man in his 50s opens the door.

"ACP Sameer, ETF," Sameer introduces himself.

"Yes, please come in. I'm Abhishek Goel. I was the one who called you," the man replies.

They enter the house, a large and well-furnished home. Mr. Goel is a businessman. A woman, around 48 years old, is sitting on the sofa, crying. Aisha goes to console her.

Meanwhile, Arjun, Shree, Chotu, and Tara search the house while Sameer and Aisha talk to the parents.

"When did you last see your daughter?" Aisha asks.

"Last evening," Mrs. Goel replies.

"Did she say anything unusual?" Aisha inquires.

"No, she was completely normal," Mrs. Goel responds.

"Any arguments or anything out of the ordinary?" Aisha probes further.

"No, nothing like that," Mrs. Goel insists.

Arjun and Tara are searching the girl's bedroom. Tara opens the wardrobe; the lockers are empty, with no valuables found. Arjun continues to search the rest of the room.

"Do you have any business rivals?" Sameer asks Mr. Goel.

"No," Mr. Goel replies.

"Anyone you suspect?" Sameer continues.

"No," Mr. Goel says again.

"Alright, we'll find your daughter as soon as possible," Sameer assures him.

Tara joins them. "When was the last time you went to your daughter's room?" she asks Mrs. Goel.

"Last evening, when we returned home, I went to check on her, but she wasn't there," Mrs. Goel explains.

"Did you not see this?" Tara shows her a handwritten letter.

Mrs. Goel takes it, reads it, and starts crying again.

"Please stop crying. Your daughter has eloped with her lover," Tara says gently.

"But where is my daughter?" Mr. Goel asks, distressed.

"That's something only you and your daughter would know," Tara replies.

"Mr. Goel, your daughter is an adult and can make her own decisions. This report is meaningless. The case is closed," Sameer states.

They leave the house.

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In the SUV, Sam's phone rings. He answers it and then drives towards the beach.

"We've got a new case. A body has been found," he informs the team.

At the beach, a girl's body lay near a tree. She appeared to be in her 20s and from a wealthy family, judging by her clothes. A single, neat stroke of a knife runs from the right side of her neck to her abdomen.

"This is Abha, Mr. and Mrs. Goel's daughter." Tara recognises the girl.

Liza examines the body. "The cause of death is the severing of this artery. It seems very professional cut. The time of death will be determined after the autopsy. Send her to the lab," she instructs.

"I'll call Mr. Goel and inform him," Sameer says.

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ETF conference room.

"Girl's name: Abha Goel. Daughter of wealthy businessman Mr. and Mrs. Goel," Sameer begins.

"A girl ran away from home last evening, and the next day her body is found. The belongings are missing. The motive for the murder could be robbery," Aisha speculates.

"When she wrote about eloping with her lover in the letter, where is that lover?" Tara asks.

"Shree, her call details?" Sameer orders.

"Yes," Shree responds. "Sir, there are many calls from the same number, it belongs to Dr. Nikhil, who works in Sanjeevani Hospital." Shree reports. Tara's eyes lit up hearing the hospital name.

"Anything else?" Sameer asks.

"No," Shree replies. "Both the phones are switched off. The last location was around the beach."

"Aisha, Tara, Shree go to the hospital and find out about this doctor. Arjun, Chotu, visit his house. We might find something," Sameer orders.

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Sanjeevani Hospital

Shree and Tara meet the doctors in a conference room while Aisha questions the nursing staff.

Shree begins, "Have you seen Dr. Nikhil today?"

"He hasn't showed up yet, and he didn't mention anything about taking a day off." Dr. Rai, the senior-most, answers.

Aditi shrugs. "No, I haven't seen him. That's odd. Nikhil is usually very punctual. Did he call or message you, Dhruv?"

Dhruv shook his head. "No, nothing. I tried calling him, but it was switched off . I'm really worried. It's not like him to just disappear without a word.

"When was the last time you saw him?" Tara asked.

"Yesterday, during lunch." Dhruv responded calmly.

"Anyone else who saw him after that?" Tara eyed the other doctors who held some blank or confused expressions. "Okay, if anyone remembers anything particular or general, let us know."

Shree received a call from Aisha and he left to assist her while Tara asked some follow up questions to the doctors. Once finished with the questioning, everyone left except Dhruv and Tara.

"Did you get those blood tests done?" Dhruv asked. It's been almost a week.

"Nope, I don't like needles." She shrugged.

"What are you, a child?" Dhruv leaned on the table, maintaining sufficient distance from her. Last night she was so drunk and right now, so professional. The duality.

"Well you could call me baby." Tara winked, suppressing her nauseous feeling.

Dhruv rolled his eyes. There it is. The shameless flirt. She looked around reaching out to grab a glass of water but fainted before reaching it.

"Tara!" Dhruv called out her name, patting her cheeks. He sprinkled drops of water on her face but she didn't budge. Dhruv frowned. Why are you fainting this often?

Dhruv cradled her in his arms and took her to the ward, instructing the nurse to get a blood test done. He checked her pulse. It felt unusual.

He took a deep breath and put two fingers below her belly button, checking for the pulse and felt it.

He sighed. How can you be so irresponsible Tara?

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Tara opened her eyes, finding herself in an ultrasound room. The technician and gynaecologist were waiting for her to wake up.

"Hi, I'm Dr. Shital. Shall we begin your ultrasound?" The lady doctor asked.

Tara nodded, not understanding why. She turned her eyes towards the screen as the technician scanned her lower abdomen.

"Congratulations, you are pregnant." Dr. Shital smiled kindly. "Let's inform your husband."

The colour drained from Tara's face, she felt an invisible punch in her gut. "How long?" Her voice trembled.

"About five months." Shital said. "Kids these days. How did you not know sooner?"

"Are you sure?" Tears welled up her eyes.

"Yes. Blood tests might give false negatives or positives but the scans don't. It's very clear. See." Dr. Shital pointed at the blob on the screen. "Let's get you to the ward and continue with further check-up."

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As they finished questioning the staff, Aisha and Shree looked around. Aisha sighed. "I'm tired of this babysitting duty. I thought she improved but nope. Just call this brat and let's go."

"She's not answering." Shree put his phone away.

"Let's go back to the ETF, she will come when she wants to," Aisha looked at Shree, "What? We have the footage to review and find Dr. Nikhil."

"Yeah." Shree nodded, tagging along.

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Tara lay in the ward, her mind reeling, tears falling from her eyes, as her body trembled.

How is that possible? I've never had sex with Pratap? What if he- But there were no signs, nothing.
He wouldn't do this to me. No.
Why? How?

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. Pratap, you're going to pay for this.

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A/N: Dhruv sees the colours of Tara and wonders which one he likes best and why. Which moment was your favourite?

Samrat wants to make his moves but she's not letting him. What will he do?

Oof, how about the news of Tara being preggo? What happens now? Will Dhruv accept her? What about the child? It is really Pratap or someone else?

How did Tara not know?