Chapter 4

Part 4

The days were a blur. Geet and Maan had become experts in working together despite their obvious differences. She, the sharp-tongued lawyer with a knack for turning every situation into a negotiation. He, the no-nonsense police officer who preferred action over words. And yet, there they were, as tangled in each other’s lives as the case they were both desperately trying to crack.

One evening, after an especially frustrating meeting with a shady witness in the case, Maan stormed into Geet’s office. Geet had barely raised her head from her pile of files before he started speaking.

“Rajveer’s men are everywhere. I’m running out of time, Geet.” He leaned against her desk, his face as hard as stone.

“Always so dramatic, ACP.” Geet’s eyes didn’t leave the document in front of her. “If you want a round of applause for your ‘I’m-the-hero’ speech, you can go to the nearest theatre.”

Maan shot her a sideways glance. “You’re seriously going to mock me right now?”

“Of course I am. You’ve been doing this for years, ACP. If anyone’s the dramatic one, it’s you.” Geet pushed a file toward him. “Look, while you’re busy saving the city, I’ve been doing actual work. I found something.”

His brows shot up. “You did? What?”

“I found a lead,” she said, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. “A phone number linked to Rajveer’s transactions. It's the only solid connection we have to him right now.”

Maan’s expression softened, his eyes reflecting a mix of admiration and something else...something that made Geet’s heart stutter, but she quickly shoved the thought aside.

“That’s... impressive,” he muttered, barely hiding his surprise. “I think we can use this. But we’re going to need more than just a phone number.”

Geet stood up, pushing the chair back in one swift motion. “Fine, we’ll work together. But you’re not going to like my method.”

Maan’s gaze darkened. “Geet, I’ve learned to not ask questions when it comes to your... methods.”

“Good idea,” she said, walking toward the door. “Follow me.”

~~

Later that night, Geet and Maan stood outside a rundown warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Maan was glaring at her with the kind of expression that said, I can’t believe I’m doing this. Geet, on the other hand, was oddly calm as she checked her phone.

“You’re really sure this is the place?” Maan asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

“Positive.” Geet looked up from her phone. “This is where the phone number leads. Either you trust me or we go back to your stale police work.”

Maan grumbled something under his breath but didn’t argue. Instead, he straightened up and motioned for her to follow him. “You stick with me. And no trying to negotiate with anyone.”

Geet smirked. “Where’s the fun in that?”

They cautiously made their way toward the entrance of the warehouse, the darkness swallowing them whole. The air was thick with tension, each of them aware that things could go south in an instant.

As they reached the door, Maan signaled Geet to stay behind him. His instincts were sharp, honed from years of training, but tonight, something about the situation felt different...more dangerous.

“Geet,” Maan whispered, his voice low. “Stay close. Don’t do anything rash.”

“I’m not the one rushing in headfirst, Maan,” she replied, her tone teasing. “That’s your specialty.”

Before Maan could respond, they both heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoing through the quiet night. Maan’s hand instinctively reached for his gun, but Geet placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.

“Relax,” she said, her tone cool. “You’re not the only one who knows how to handle herself.”

Maan narrowed his eyes, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Fine. But if you get yourself killed, I’m never speaking to you again.”

Geet smirked. “I think you’re lying.”

As they stepped closer to the entrance, the door creaked open slightly, and Geet couldn’t help but glance at Maan. His jaw was clenched, his body tense. It wasn’t the first time she had seen him like this, but tonight, there was something in the way he was looking at her that made her stomach do a little flip. And maybe it was the adrenaline, maybe it was just the chaos of the moment, but she swore she saw a flash of something deeper in his eyes...a protectiveness.

Before she could dwell on it further, the door flung open, and they were greeted by a man wearing a mask, his voice gruff as he spoke. “What do you want?”

“I’m here to see Rajveer Malhotra,” Geet said smoothly, her voice steady and confident. “I’ve got business with him.”

The man’s eyes shifted to Maan, then back to her. “You’ll have to go through me.”

“Are you sure you want to do that?” Maan’s voice was icy, a warning in his tone.

Geet glanced at Maan, then back at the man. She wasn’t sure what happened next...whether it was the tension, or the undeniable chemistry between her and Maan, or the fact that she was sick of playing by the rules...but she moved before Maan could react.

In one swift motion, Geet elbowed the man in the ribs and twisted his arm behind his back. “You were saying?” she asked, her grin wide and mischievous.

Maan stared at her, blinking in disbelief. “Did you just...”

“Relax, ACP” she said, pushing the man toward Maan.

Maan, still speechless, exchanged a look with her. There it was again...the tension, the connection that neither of them wanted to acknowledge, but that was so glaringly obvious now that it was impossible to ignore.

“You know,” Maan muttered, shaking his head in disbelief as the man was cuffed, “I don’t know whether to be impressed or terrified.”

Geet shrugged nonchalantly. “What can I say? I’m full of surprises.”

They continued through the warehouse, deeper into the belly of Rajveer’s operation. Every step closer to the truth felt heavier, and yet Geet couldn’t shake the feeling that, despite the danger, despite the mystery, they were exactly where they were supposed to be. Together.

~~

As the hours passed and their investigation reached new heights, Maan found himself distracted by a thought that refused to leave him. He had always prided himself on his control, on his ability to shut out distractions. But with Geet? That was a different story. There was something about her that made him forget the world around him.

It wasn’t just her intelligence, or her sharp wit, or the way she could disarm even the most dangerous criminals with a single sentence. It was something else. Something deeper.

And as the case grew more complicated, Maan couldn’t help but wonder if it was too late to stop the one thing he wasn’t sure he ever wanted to control - his growing feelings for Geet.

But that was a thought for another time. Right now, they had a job to do...and Maan Singh Khurana wasn’t one to back down from a fight.