Chapter 3

Part 3

The following days went by in a whirlwind, but not the dramatic, dark whirlwind of crime thrillers. No, this was more like a comedy of errors, only with a dash of danger thrown in for good measure. Geet found herself both exasperated and entertained by Maan's constant presence in her office.

Every morning, Maan would show up at precisely 10 AM, as if it were some sort of unspoken rule that neither of them dared break. And every morning, Geet would be ready, pretending to focus on work as if she didn't expect him.

But she did.

The first day was the worst - awkward silences, him standing near her desk while she shuffled through files, neither of them knowing quite what to say.

“Okay, I’m just going to say it,” Maan said, breaking the silence that had settled like a thick fog. “You look nice today.”

Geet raised an eyebrow, glancing at him over the top of her glasses. “And what exactly does that mean? Are you trying to distract me with compliments now? Because, spoiler alert, it’s not working.”

Maan shrugged, a teasing glint in his eyes. “What can I say? I’m a sucker for a woman who can multitask. You know, like look at files and make a criminal run for his life with just a glare.”

Geet couldn’t help but snort. “I wish! If only my glares could solve every case. But sadly, not all criminals are that easily intimidated. Some need a more... strategic approach.”

“Are you implying that I’m not strategic?” Maan smirked, leaning against her desk. “Because I’m pretty sure I’ve seen some very strategic maneuvers in my time.”

Geet smirked back, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Yeah, like how you strategically showed up at my office every day to make me second-guess my life choices?”

Maan raised his hands in mock surrender. “Guilty as charged. But hey, you could just say ‘thank you.’ I’m sure I’ve made your life much more interesting.”

“Oh, I’ll say ‘thank you’ when you stop acting like a puppy who just learned how to sit,” she shot back, rolling her eyes.

Maan chuckled. “At least I know how to sit. You, on the other hand, can barely stay still for five minutes without running off to solve another problem.”

“I like to keep busy,” Geet said with a shrug, secretly enjoying the banter. “It’s how I stay sane.”

“Right,” Maan said with a smirk. “I’m sure that’s why your office looks like a crime scene. Files everywhere. It’s a good thing you don’t have to solve this case with your organizational skills, or we’d all be doomed.”

“Excuse me!” Geet gasped, pretending to be scandalized. “My office is organized chaos. It’s a method. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Is that what you call it? Because I just thought it was a mess,” Maan teased, giving her a pointed look.

Geet narrowed her eyes. “If you’re not careful, I’m going to get you arrested for harassment. And let me tell you, ACP, I am very good at that.”

Maan raised an eyebrow. “Is that a threat, or are you offering me a chance to get better acquainted with your... skills?”

Geet smirked. “Oh, definitely a threat.”

The banter between them continued like this every day, a constant back and forth, with each word wrapped in playful tension. But beneath the humor, something was building. Neither of them could deny the spark that was always there, flickering in the space between them. It was subtle at first, like the softest touch of a hand, the quietest glance. But it was there. And it was undeniable.

~~

One evening, after another long day of solving, well... nothing really, Maan found himself sitting in Geet’s office again, leaning back in the chair as Geet worked on a case file, her brow furrowed in concentration.

“You know,” Maan said, breaking the silence with an unexpected, offhand remark, “if I had a dollar for every time you looked at me like I’m the biggest problem in your life, I’d be rich by now.”

Geet didn’t even look up from her papers, but her lips quirked into a smile. “I wouldn’t need to look at you if you stopped being such a problem.”

“Ouch. That stings,” Maan said, acting wounded, but he couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up. “Guess I’m just a walking headache for you, huh?”

“I’ve got a whole collection of headaches,” Geet replied, still scribbling notes, the banter rolling off her tongue as easily as breathing. “But you’re definitely top-tier, I’ll give you that.”

“Top-tier?” Maan raised an eyebrow. “Now, that’s an achievement. I’ll wear that title proudly.”

“I bet you would,” Geet muttered, finally looking up at him, her eyes glinting with humor. “And don’t flatter yourself. It’s not an achievement. It’s just a fact.”

The air between them shifted for a moment. Geet stared at Maan, her usual sarcastic smile softening into something more genuine. And then, without warning, Maan reached over and nudged her papers out of the way, his fingers brushing lightly against hers as he held her gaze.

“What if I said that I’m willing to risk more than just my career for this case?” he asked, his voice quieter now, the humor replaced with something more serious.

Geet felt a flutter in her chest, the playful banter fading for the first time since they’d met. She blinked, trying to shake the unexpected warmth that surged through her. “I don’t need you to risk anything, Maan. You’re already doing too much by putting up with my sarcasm every day.”

“I think it’s worth it,” he said, the corner of his lips curling into a soft, teasing smile. “After all, how else am I going to get you to spend more time with me?”

Geet snorted. “Oh, please. You really think I’m going to fall for that?”

“I don’t know,” Maan said, his voice dropping lower, his gaze intense. “But I’m willing to bet that if you’re being honest, you’re already halfway there.”

And for the first time in a long time, Geet felt her heart skip a beat. She opened her mouth to retort, but the words caught in her throat. Maybe Maan Singh Khurana wasn’t just a headache. Maybe, just maybe, he was starting to become something a little more... complicated.

~~

The next few days passed in a strange, almost rhythmical dance. Geet and Maan seemed to be operating on two levels at once - their usual banter, laden with sarcasm and playful jabs, and something deeper, something that neither was ready to fully acknowledge yet. But even in the midst of their amusing back-and-forth, the shadow of the case loomed larger. Maan had been chasing down leads, trying to pin down the elusive criminal mastermind, Rajveer Malhotra, whose criminal empire seemed to stretch across the city in ways Maan couldn’t yet fully grasp.

Geet, meanwhile, had her own reasons for being involved with the case. She’d received an anonymous tip-off that Rajveer was targeting influential businessmen, and she needed to gather intel for her client, a business tycoon who’d recently become entangled in Malhotra's shady dealings. The two cases, though linked by the underworld, were separate...at least that’s what Geet thought. But as she started to work more closely with Maan, she realized the complexity of the situation was much greater than anyone had imagined.

One evening, as the office lights flickered out one by one, the only light that remained was the soft glow of Geet’s desk lamp. She was hunched over a pile of paperwork, furiously scribbling notes, when she heard a knock on her office door.

Maan.

“What’s the matter, ACP? You run out of files to steal?” Geet quipped, not bothering to look up.

“You’re still up? It’s late,” Maan said, pushing the door open without waiting for a reply. “You should rest.”

“Rest?” Geet snorted. “You’re the one who’s been stalking my office for a week. I’m pretty sure I’m the one who should be telling you to take a break.”

“Stalking?” Maan raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips. “I’m merely observing...there’s a difference.”

Geet finally looked up, her lips curling into a grin. “Observing? Like you’re some sort of creepy scientist studying an experiment?”

“Exactly,” Maan said, giving her a look of mock seriousness. “I’m closely studying the case. You and I...working together...are an... interesting combination.”

Before Geet could respond with a witty retort, Maan sat down in the chair opposite her, his face serious. “But listen, we need to talk. It’s about Rajveer.”

The change in his tone immediately wiped the smirk off Geet’s face. She leaned forward, putting her pen down. “What about Rajveer? What have you found?”

“Not much, yet,” Maan said, frustration evident in his voice. “But things don’t add up. The leads I’ve been following... they’re pointing toward a bigger network than I expected. Rajveer’s not just some petty criminal. He’s untouchable”

Geet felt a chill run down her spine. She had heard rumors about Rajveer Malhotra...the kind of rumors that made your skin crawl. Powerful, elusive, and ruthless, Rajveer had been operating under the radar for years. But this... this was different.

“You know I don’t do favors, Maan,” she said, leaning back in her chair, her mind racing. “You want me to help you? What’s in it for me? And do not forget, at this moment, Rajveer Malhotra is my client!"

Maan’s expression softened for a moment. “I’m not asking for a favor, Geet. I’m asking for your expertise. You know the law better than anyone, and I need someone who can navigate the legal side of this mess.”

“I’m not a detective,” Geet replied. “I’m a lawyer. And I don’t work without guarantees.”

“Guarantees?” Maan chuckled darkly, rubbing the back of his neck. “In this line of work, guarantees are hard to come by. But I promise you, Geet, we’ll get him. One way or another.”

She studied his face, the sincerity there making her hesitate. Part of her wanted to dismiss him, to keep her distance. But another part...the part that had already begun to feel an odd sense of responsibility for this case, for him...wanted to say yes.

“You know this isn’t going to be easy, right?” she said, crossing her arms. “Rajveer doesn’t make mistakes. If we’re not careful, we’ll end up buried six feet under.”

Maan’s eyes darkened. “I’m aware. But I’ve been chasing him for years. I’ve got enough dirt on him to take him down. But without the right legal backing, it’s all useless.”

Geet exhaled slowly, glancing at the case files spread out in front of her. Every fiber of her being told her to walk away, to keep her distance. But there was something in Maan’s gaze, something that pulled at her, a mixture of determination and vulnerability. He wasn’t just a police officer trying to do his job. He was a man on the edge, chasing something that could destroy him if he wasn’t careful.

“I’ll help you,” Geet said, surprising herself with the words. “But you owe me.”

Maan smiled, a little of the tension lifting from his shoulders. “Deal.”

The case had just taken a turn, and neither of them was ready for what would come next.

~~

As the investigation deepened, their connection only grew stronger. Geet found herself enjoying their banter more and more, even though it often ended with a sarcastic remark or a playful jab. But underneath all the jokes, the teasing, there was an unspoken understanding between them. They were a team...unlikely, unpredictable, and undeniably effective.

But there was something else, too. Something neither of them was quite ready to name. Their moments of quiet, when Maan’s hand brushed hers as they pored over documents together, when their eyes met over the top of a cup of coffee, their gazes lingering a little too long... it was all starting to feel like something more than just work.

Geet tried to brush it off, throwing herself back into her cases with all the intensity of someone who didn’t want to face her growing feelings. But every time Maan walked into her office, every time their eyes met, it became harder to deny.

~~

One evening, as the rain pattered against the windows, Geet found herself alone in her office long after hours, her head spinning with the complexities of the case. Her mind kept returning to the same thought - Is it worth it?

Maan’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Geet, you alright?”

She looked up, startled, to find him standing in the doorway. His usual casual demeanor was gone...there was a new intensity in his eyes, something that made her pause.

“Yeah,” she said, nodding. “Just... thinking. You?”

Maan stepped into the office, his face unreadable. “We’re getting closer to something. I can feel it. Rajveer’s got people inside the system...inside the police force itself. But I’ll find them. One way or another.”

Geet stood up, her pulse quickening. “You have a plan?”

“Not yet. But we’re not alone in this anymore.” Maan’s voice softened for a moment, and Geet noticed how close they were standing now, the air between them charged with something they both refused to acknowledge.

As Maan’s hand brushed hers again, this time lingering just a fraction longer, Geet felt a rush of warmth flood her chest. She couldn’t help herself. She looked up, meeting his gaze.

“Be careful, ACP” she whispered.

For a moment, there was silence...heavy, almost suffocating. But then Maan spoke, his voice barely a whisper.

“Trust me"

And somehow, despite all the odds, Geet found herself believing him.