Chapter 2

Part 2

The morning sun had barely crept over the horizon, painting the city in shades of orange and pink, when Geet found herself already pacing in her office. A cup of coffee was still steaming in her hand, but her mind was elsewhere...specifically, on the tall, stoic police officer who had interrupted her quiet life with a storm of questions and uninvited intrigue.

Maan Singh Khurana had given her just enough of a challenge to make her curious about him - and it bothered her. Geet prided herself on her sharp instincts and quick wit, but there was something about this man that made her feel like she was the one being questioned. She had seen his intense eyes locked on her, analyzing her every move, and it both irked and intrigued her.

Her phone buzzed. A message popped up from her fellow friend, Sanya.

Is it true? Did u really meet HIM?

Geet rolled her eyes at the capital "him" and typed back a quick reply.

Yes I met him. And yes, he’s as irritating as d rumors say

Sanya's response was swift

So... will he be ur nxt case? Bcos we both knw u always find a way to make it personal :P

Geet smirked at the screen. Sanya wasn’t wrong...Geet had a way of getting involved in her cases in ways most lawyers wouldn’t dare. But this one? This felt different. And she wasn’t sure if she liked it.

She was about to respond when her office door swung open. Standing there, looking as if he had just marched out of a crime scene, was Maan Singh Khurana himself. His expression was unreadable as his eyes scanned the room, pausing briefly on her desk before they locked onto hers.

“You,” Geet said, her voice rising in disbelief. “You again?”

“I need your help,” Maan said, his tone flat, but there was an urgency in it that caught her attention. He stepped forward, ignoring the stack of legal papers on her desk. “I’m not here for the case. Not exactly. I need you to look over something.”

Geet frowned, leaning back in her chair. “What is it now? A police investigation that requires legal loopholes?”

Maan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he pulled out a thick folder from his bag and placed it on her desk with a thud. The papers inside looked official...official enough for her to feel the gravity of the situation.

She raised an eyebrow but didn’t move to open the folder. “What’s this?”

“A case. It’s complicated. And messy,” Maan said, his voice softer now. His eyes met hers again, more vulnerable than before. “You might be the only one who can make sense of it. You’re the best lawyer in town. And if I’m wrong, I’ll pay for it.”

Geet leaned forward, finally taking the folder into her hands. She felt a jolt of curiosity as she flipped through the documents. The case was related to corruption, shady deals, and police involvement...exactly the kind of thing she specialized in. But there was something else she didn’t understand. It wasn’t just the legality of it; there was a personal thread running through these papers that caught her eye.

Her gaze shot up to meet Maan’s again. “Who’s behind this?” she asked, her voice sharp.

“That’s what I need your help with,” he replied, his tone grim. “I can’t do this alone.”

Geet’s mind raced. There was something she couldn’t quite put her finger on...the connection between the officer standing in front of her and the case he was now entrusting to her. Something didn’t add up. But as much as her lawyer instincts screamed to stay away, her curiosity was piqued.

“So,” Geet said, folding her arms, “Why come to me?”

Maan’s lips curled into a faint, almost rueful smile. “Because, Miss Handa, you’re the only person who can untangle this. You’ve been known to get under people’s skins...legally, of course.”

Geet narrowed her eyes. “And you think you’re above me, huh? Is that why you’re here?”

His expression hardened for a second, but then he gave her a knowing look. “I’m not here to play games, Geet. I’m asking you for help. This case... it’s dangerous.”

At that, Geet paused, her eyes softening for the briefest moment. She had seen enough cases in her career to know when someone was truly in trouble. She hadn’t expected this officer to come to her with a personal request...but then again, nothing about Maan Singh Khurana seemed typical.

“Fine,” she said after a long pause, “But I don’t work for free, ACP.”

He nodded. “I expect nothing less.”

As Maan turned to leave, Geet’s mind was already spinning with possibilities. What was it about this case that made Maan look so... burdened? What did he know that she didn’t? And why did the idea of helping him stir something inside her?

But as Maan reached for the door, he paused and glanced back at her. “I’ll need an answer by tomorrow.”

Geet didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she watched him walk out the door, her heart pounding in her chest. This wasn’t just about a case anymore...it was about something far deeper.

She was intrigued. But whether that intrigue would lead her down a dangerous path, only time would tell.

She sat back in her chair and exhaled slowly. This was just the beginning.

And she had a feeling she wasn’t going to like where it led.

~~

The next day passed in a blur for Geet. She couldn’t focus on anything other than the strange sense of urgency that Maan had left in her office. Her phone rang, her assistant came in to brief her about a new case, but none of it could break through the fog in her mind.

By evening, the city’s lights flickered on like tiny stars, each one a reminder that life moved on, regardless of her inner turmoil. Geet, however, found herself at her desk again, staring at the folder Maan had left behind. The papers were still neatly arranged, untouched. But the thoughts, the questions, the concerns they stirred inside her, were anything but tidy.

She sighed and stood up, pacing the room as her mind spun with possibilities. What if this was just another dirty case? One that, like so many others, she would have to defend against? Or was Maan truly in over his head, like he claimed? And why was she even considering helping him? He wasn’t like other officers she had worked with; there was a layer to him that was raw, a vulnerability she hadn’t expected from a man in his position.

Her phone buzzed again. A message from Sanya

Any updates? R u going to take d case?

Geet looked at the screen for a long moment before typing a response.

Dunno yet. Something’s off abt this case. I don’t think Maan’s being totally honest with me

Sanya’s reply was almost immediate

Shocker! But come on, Geet. U always take d dangerous cases. You can’t resist

Geet rolled her eyes, even though Sanya couldn’t see her. It was true...Geet had a habit of diving headfirst into situations that seemed hopeless. But this one felt different. There was an intensity in the way Maan had looked at her yesterday. His eyes, dark and serious, had said more than words ever could. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t just about the law. There was a personal stake here. And, damn it, she was curious.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her office door.

“Come in,” she called, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling in her chest.

The door opened slowly, and there he was again...Maan Singh Khurana. His sharp uniform, the rigid posture, the silent intensity...all of it was the same. But there was something different in the air today. A sense of urgency that he hadn’t shown the day before.

“You’ve had time to think,” Maan said, walking in without waiting for an invitation. “I need your answer, Geet"

Geet’s pulse quickened at his words. “You don’t trust anyone else?” she asked, her voice betraying a hint of amusement, though she couldn’t deny the concern in his tone. “Is that why you’re here again, ACP?”

“I need someone who can see beyond the surface,” he replied, his voice low. “I’ve been part of this force for years, but this... And the people behind it? They have no conscience.”

Geet took a deep breath, glancing at the folder once more. She could feel the weight of his words pressing against her chest, and something told her that whatever Maan was involved in went far beyond police corruption. There were layers, shadows, and more questions than answers.

“What is it you want me to do?” she asked, her voice steady now.

Maan didn’t immediately answer. He stepped closer to her desk, his fingers brushing over the top of the folder, but his eyes were fixed on her face. It was as though he was searching for something...an understanding, maybe, or perhaps some kind of approval.

“I want you to help me find the truth,” he said finally, his words simple but heavy. “I can’t do this alone, Geet. If I’m wrong... I’ll pay for it. But if I’m right...” He trailed off, the unspoken implication hanging in the air between them.

Geet studied him closely. The seriousness of his request hit her harder than she expected. She had always known Maan as a man of few words, a man who relied on actions more than anything else. But this? This was different. She had never seen him this vulnerable.

“You’re asking me to put my career on the line,” Geet said, her voice firm. “If you’re wrong, you’ll destroy me along with you.”

He nodded, his expression unchanged. “I’m asking you to take the risk. I’ll be with you every step of the way. If you help me, we’ll get this sorted. You have my word.”

For a moment, Geet didn’t speak. She stared at Maan, the man who had barged into her life with a case that could ruin her if it went wrong. But at the same time, there was something compelling about him. Something honest.

“I’m not in the business of saving anyone,” she said slowly, “but I’m not one to back away from a challenge either.”

She stood up, looking him square in the eye. “Fine. I’ll help you. But remember, Maan Singh Khurana...if I’m doing this, it’s my way. You may be the police officer, but in my office, I’m the one who calls the shots.”

Maan smiled, the first real smile Geet had seen from him since their first meeting. It was fleeting, but it was enough to make her wonder if, maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something neither of them had expected.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said, his voice softening.

And with that, Geet opened the folder, ready to dive into the web of lies and deception that was now her problem to unravel.