Chapter 6: The Narrow Escape

Sonali Rathore had been ecstatic when she found out that Riya Mukherjee was coming to Mumbai.

Her little girl, her pride and joy, had accomplished so much at such a young age. Sonali had always been incredibly proud of her. Growing up as neighbours and childhood friends, Riya and Sonali shared a bond that transcended time. Even after Sonali’s marriage, Riya remained the closest person to her heart.

Riya’s older brothers, Tirth and Trupt, had been Sonali’s classmates, but it was always Riya who had the special place in her heart. However, after Riya left for her master's degree, she hadn’t been able to attend her wedding to Sameer Rathore, and soon after, the distance between them had grown. The visits to Dehradun stopped after Sonali’s parents passed away, and before she knew it, years had passed without contact.

But today? Today, Sonali was overjoyed. Riya had posted on social media announcing her arrival in Mumbai, and Sonali couldn’t contain her excitement.

---

The glass door swung open, and in walked Shree and Chotu, both looking as stoic as ever.

Riya stood, her calm demeanour in stark contrast to the palpable tension in the room. With a warm, yet professional smile, she introduced herself.

"I’m Riya, Riya Mukherjee! The new joinee. I believe you have my joining paperwork. Sir said so!"

Shree, finally looking up from his papers, gave her an unreadable glance behind his glasses.

"Yeah. Sit."

He motioned for her to take the seat across from him.

Chotu, however, remained silent, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Riya, despite the unwelcoming silence, sat straight-backed, poised, and professional. The air was heavy, not hostile, but certainly far from warm.

Shree shoved a stack of paperwork toward her.

"Sign here, here... and here."

Chotu, his voice flat as always, added:

"Initial next to the emergency contact section. In case you disappear in the field or do not return home."

Shree chuckled at his own remark.

Riya raised an eyebrow but didn’t rise to the bait. She simply nodded and signed.

"Let’s hope you can keep up," Chotu added, his words dropping like stones.

The silence that followed felt like the calm before a storm. Shree handed her a badge — clipped, cold, and impersonal.

"Can I host a welcome lunch for you all? My treat?"

Riya tried to break the tension with a kind smile, but it faltered when she saw their lack of reaction.

"We don’t do welcome lunches." Shree said, his tone abrupt and dismissive.

Riya’s smile dropped for a brief moment, but she didn’t let it show. She wasn’t about to let their cold reception rattle her.

"Signatures?" she asked politely, maintaining her composure.

"Second room to the left! Rathore sir’s cabin."

"We don’t babysit either!" Chotu added, his voice biting.

Riya stood, collected the badge, and walked toward the door.

"Noted!" she said, forcing a smile.

As she stepped out, Shree glanced at Chotu.

"Your ID card will be here in a week, if you last that long."

Chotu didn’t smile, but his jaw tightened slightly.

"Three days, tops."

Outside, Riya paused, standing by the door, breathing deeply. She could feel her pulse quicken. She was here. She had made it.

But the cold treatment... it stung.

She collected herself, walked toward Rathore’s cabin to finalize the paperwork, and pushed through the lingering discomfort.

---

The moment she stepped out of the ETF office, Riya pulled out her phone and dialled a number.

"Itne bdtmeez log! Itne zyada bdtmeez log! Kya bataun tujhe!"

Her voice was full of frustration as she vented into the phone, her emotions spilling out.

On the other end, she heard a familiar chuckle.

“Argghhh! I don’t wanna talk to you!"

Riya stomped her feet angrily, disconnecting the call with a sharp swipe of her finger.

She sank into the back seat of the car she had hired, her eyes tired.

"Hotel le chalo, bhaiya!"

She spoke in a low voice, closing her eyes as she slumped into the seat, a little angry and stressed.

---

Later that evening, Riya walked into her hotel room, feeling both content and exhausted from the day's events.

She threw her bag on the bed and tried to smile at her accomplishment.

But it was half-hearted. The earlier moments of tension — being pushed aside by her new team — lingered in her thoughts.

Suddenly, the door to the washroom creaked open.

"Aahhhhh!"

Riya shrieked, startled, as a large hand covered her mouth.

But the moment she recognized the familiar face of the intruder, her surprise quickly shifted to irritation.

"Kabir! What the hell are you doing here?" she demanded, pulling herself free from his hold.

Kabir grinned mischievously, still holding a bunch of brightly coloured balloons in his hand. His eyes gleamed with excitement, a playful glint reflecting in them.

"Surprised, huh?" Kabir chuckled, his voice teasing.

"You said today was a big day, so I couldn’t let it go unnoticed."

He stepped closer to her, handing her the balloons.

Her initial shock faded slightly, replaced with a reluctant smile, though she was still in disbelief.

Kabir kissed her cheeks one by one, making Riya giggle.

"You’re impossible!" she laughed.

"You really had to show up here, secretly? In my hotel room?"

"Of course I did! You’re the love of my life. A little surprise won’t hurt, right?" Kabir replied, grinning.

"One minute!" Riya interrupted suddenly, placing her hand over his mouth.

"How did you know I was here?"

Kabir chuckled, pulling her hands away, and pulling her close.

"Mujhe sab pata hota hai!" He winked.

Riya’s frustration returned in a flash. She shoved him back a little.

"You don’t know anything!" she snapped.

"Do you have any idea how unwelcomed they made me feel today? Like I don’t belong, like I’m undeserving... Like I’m not worthy!"

Kabir’s eyes narrowed in rage.

"Oye! Itni himmat unki!" He grabbed her, pulling her towards the door.

"Let’s go, Iet's teach them a lesson!"

“Chal mere saath!”

Riya was taken aback.

“Ruk! Oye ruk!”

Riya struggled in his hold.

“Ruk jaa! Kabir!”

But Kabir didn’t listen.

"No! Wait!" she said urgently, trying to stop him.

"It was my first day, I can’t judge them just like that. I’m not really unworthy, I qualified the exam! I’m deserving! Please don’t be angry, Kabir!" she spoke in a breath trying to calm down her furious lover, who seemed to be in a destructive mood.

Kabir stopped in his tracks and smacked her head.

"Agar akal hai toh, istemal kyun nahi karti?"

Riya rubbed her head, confused.

"What? You’re not going to go and fight with them?"

Kabir flopped lazily onto the bed, looking at her with a half-smile.

"Paagal hai? Teri ladai hai, toh tu lad! M leave pr hoon, main kyun police se apni haddiyan tudwaun?"

Riya was slightly disappointed.

"So you won’t stand up for me? Matlab koi mujhe pareshan karega, to tu us se ladne bhi nhi jaaega?" she asked, frowning.

Kabir gave her a teasing grin and pulled her closer so she falls on the bed next to him.

"You’re Riya Mukherjee, the one and only! Yakeen maan tu kuch bhi kar sakti h!"

He shook her playfully.

"Look at you! You’ve been in a five-star hotel for a day, and you’ve already used half the sanitizer bottle and two tissue boxes! Only you could do that!"

Riya pushed him away, trying not to smile.

"Stop it, Kabir!"

Kabir jumped out of bed, excited.

"Wait! I’ve got something for you!"

Riya shot him a suspicious glance.

"What? Another bottle of sanitizer?"

Kabir grinned as he pulled something from his pocket.

"Nope! Sunflower!" he handed her the small packet of sunflower seeds, his grin widening.

Riya’s eyes lit up.

"Sunflower!"

Her smile softened, touched by his thoughtful gesture.

“Impressed? Besides, I’ve got a plan to celebrate."

Riya smiled. "You're unbelievable, annoying, irritating… but alright, let’s go. I’ve earned a celebration, haven’t I? Aur pots bhi khareedne chalenge, yeh sunflower bhi to ugaane hain.”

“Riya, ye hotel h, yahan apna ghar mat basa! Jb permanent accommodation ka arrangement ho jaaega, tb uga lena apne ped-paudhe!”, Kabir was annoyed of her habits.

“No!”, Riya retorted.

“Jaa k kapde badal!”, he pushed her.

“Tu bhi badal, yeh trackpants m mere saath nhi jana, Kabir you have such a bad dressing sense yrr!”, Riya was annoyed too.

Kabir chuckled at her complaint as he helped her chose a dress for the night.

---

They entered Zodiac, the posh club, the music loud, and the atmosphere buzzing with life.

Kabir led her to a VIP booth, ordering drinks.

They raised their glasses.

"To the future, Riya! To you, the police officer!"

Kabir grinned, his pride clear in his voice.

Riya smiled, her eyes sparkling.

"To the future… and to us. Let’s make tonight unforgettable."

They clinked their glasses and started enjoying their time, the worries of the day forgotten in the atmosphere, as they stepped on to the dance floor, dancing their hearts out, just happy and grateful for these moments. Riya was drunk, but Kabir ensured she didn’t lose her senses. She wrapped her hands around his neck and kept moving with the music.

“Do drinks down aur Riya Mukherjee thele wale Bhaiyya ke haath ki pani-puri bhi khaa legi”, Kabir made fun of her drinking capacity.

Riya pouted but kept mum.

Kabir looked at her keenly, swaying to the beats of the music, but no reply came.

“Tu meri mazzzzzaaaakkk udaane ki koshish kr rha h?”, Riya questioned his intentions, but her words fumbled out of her mouth, making Kabir laugh.

“Koshish kya kr rha hu? M Mazaak uda rha hu, Duffer!”

Riya clicked her tongue at the man in front of her and they both burst out into laughter. He pulled her closer and she rested her head on his shoulder. They felt contended in their little world.

---

The music cut off abruptly, the pounding beats dying mid-note.

The club’s lights flickered violently, plunging the room into momentary darkness.

Confused murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Before anyone could process what was happening, the main door burst open with a loud crash.

Several officers- some uniformed, others not, stormed inside, their serious faces and flashing IDs sending a wave of panic across the dance floor.

Riya, swaying slightly in Kabir’s arms, blinked hard — her hazy mind struggling to focus — and her heart dropped as familiar faces came into view.

"Kabir!" she gasped, tugging at his jacket sleeve, her droopy eyes opened wide as she recognised some familiar faces, some of her new teammates.

"Ye to wahi khadoos hain! Subha waale! Kabir, yahin ho jaaye, bata de kon zada powerful hai!",

Kabir reacted instantly, pulling her drunken form closer, wrapping his arms around her and lowering her raised hand pointed towards the duo, before she accidentally drew attention to them.

"What the hell is going on?" Riya whispered urgently, wriggling in his hold.

"Mujhe kuch dikh nahi raha! Saans bhi nahi aa rahi! Jaane de mujhe! Mujhe bhi dekhna h fight scene!"

She tried to turn her head to get a better look, but Kabir tightened his grip, keeping her face hidden against his chest.

"Idiot! Movie chal rahi hai kya idhar?"

Kabir hissed in her ear.

"Aaj hi job mili hai, aaj hi gayi samajh! Chup bilkul!"

He glanced around, heart thundering.

The police officers had spread out, moving quickly through the club, their trained eyes scanning every face.

"They’re here for a raid, Riya. We need to get out of here — NOW."

Kabir’s mind raced.

If any of them spotted her — drunk, disoriented, and clinging to a boy — it would be a disaster.

They already didn’t like her.

This would give them enough reason to question her credibility... and worse, tarnish her name before she even started.

And as for him?

He wasn’t supposed to be involved at all.

People were already scattering, rushing toward exits in a frenzy.

Kabir seized the moment — he scooped Riya into his arms, ignoring her half-hearted protests, and began pushing through the chaotic crowd toward the back.

His breath was ragged with panic.

---

They were close to the back door when Kabir slammed into someone.

"Sorry!" Kabir gasped, trying to sidestep, without looking at the man standing in his way

But the man caught a glimpse of Riya’s face, half-hidden against Kabir's shoulder —

And froze.

"Tum?!"

Recognition flashed in his sharp eyes.

Kabir’s stomach plummeted.

This was bad.

Very bad.

Instinctively, he pulled Riya even closer, shielding her as though by sheer force he could protect her from exposure.

"I need to get her out of here!"

Kabir said urgently, his voice low and desperate.

The man’s jaw clenched. His muscles tensed.

Kabir braced himself for a confrontation, for being stopped, questioned, ruined—

Instead, the man said, his voice rough but steady:

"This way. Quickly. I'll cover you."

Kabir blinked, stunned.

"You're... helping us?"

The man shot him a glare.

"Don't ask questions. MOVE."

Without waiting for a reply, he turned sharply, weaving through the panicking crowd like a shadow.

Kabir didn’t hesitate. He clutched Riya tighter and followed.

They slipped past the distracted staff and ducked into a narrow service corridor, the noise of the club dimming behind them.

The man led them through the back, past kitchens and storerooms, not once looking back until they emerged into a dark alley behind the club.

The man stopped, quickly scanning the surroundings.

"Out from here. Fast." he ordered.

"And tell her she owes me one!"

Kabir, panting, nodded in gratitude.

"We both owe you, man. Thanks! Really!"

The man shrugged off the thanks and, without another word, melted back into the shadows, disappearing into the chaos.

Kabir stood still for a moment, the cool night air hitting his sweat-slicked face.

In his arms, Riya mumbled something incoherent, still too drunk to process what had just happened.

---

Following the path shown by the stranger, Kabir raced down the narrow alleyway, his breath coming in sharp, nervous bursts.

He tightened his grip around Riya, vowing silently to keep her safe.

Soon, the flashing neon lights of the parking lot came into view.

They had escaped.

But Kabir knew this was only the beginning of the storm.

---

Who do you think it was? 👀

Riya and Kabir barely made it out of that club in one piece—but someone from the ETF saw them, and instead of sounding the alarm, chose to help. Try to guess who it was, in the comments, who you think spotted them.

And while you're at it, drop your thoughts about the story so far! Your feedback means the world.