~Chapter 7~

3 days later:

Outside an abandoned warehouse:

Abhijeet rolled up his sleeve and looked at Purvi and Zoya.

"Alright, listen... here is the plan, according to my informer, there are 2 men along with the accused Prakash inside the building right now. They are at the 1st floor. There are two entries. Over there is the main entrance and towards your left is the back door. I want you both to come in from that, there is an unused steel ladder which you can use to come up. I am going in through the front door through the stairs. Come in discreetly, while I surprise them. My informer said all 3 of them are drunk and are playing cards... it should be easy enough. If anyone of them tries to run, then shoot on the leg. We want them alive. Got it?"

They both nodded curtly and moved towards the back door and Abhijeet was about to follow them when he saw Zoya take out her gun from her holster held at the side of her belt and out fell a small photograph. He was about to call her when he recognized the person in the photograph. Quickly pocketing it, he marched towards the warehouse. Just as he had explained, he quickly walked into the warehouse and within minutes they were able to round up the criminals. They brought them down to the car in handcuffs and were about to put them in when one of them, whom Purvi was holding suddenly managed to grab her gun and started running away. Zoya and Purvi went behind him in pursuit as Abhijeet put the other two into his car and securely locked it. Abhijeet pulled out his gun and with the precision he was always known for, shot the running criminal at his heel. He stumbled and Zoya nabbed him. Purvi removed the gun from his hand. Abhijeet looked at them and said

"Good work, team... let's get back"

As he was about to turn, he saw the criminal's mouth curve up just a little and suspecting something odd, he looked up and spotted a man with a gun on top of the warehouse. The next few seconds was complete chaos as a shot fired, he jumped in front of Zoya while Purvi ducked, the bullet grazed his left hand. Using his right hand he fired shots at the shooter. The man fell down and at a silent nod from him Purvi rushed to catch him while Zoya roughly pulled the criminal to the car. As she locked him in, she turned to see Abhijeet tying up the bleeding spot using a handkerchief, she felt her heart shake

"Sir..."

"Yes"

"Why did you shield me?"

"He was pointing at you"

"He might have shot at Purvi too"

"I have been training her for quite a long time, she understands very well what she must do in times like these. Had you noticed, you would've seen her duck the same time I jumped in front of you."

"Yes... but don't you like her better than me"

Abhijeet looked at her and snorted

"What does it have to do with anything?"

"Why did you choose to save me?"

"Like I said... she knows what to do... she is well trained... and I don't save only the people I care about... If you really need to investigate, I would ask you to visit central jail and talk to the criminals I saved from getting shot before putting them behind bars. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do. Here comes Purvi... let's go"

****

Bureau:

Abhijeet's cabin:

Abhijeet was typing furiously on his system when Daya came in. Without looking up at him, he said

"He talked?"

"Yea he will now... Pankaj is with him... getting his confession"

"Prakash is a good one... He has some good information, glad we caught him alive"

"Hmm yea... who was it who gave you the tip?"

"Sonu... You know him right, Daya? The pickpocket"

"Haan haan, but you said he said there were only 3 people?"

"True... but it seems Roni was Prakash's brother, seems like he had come to meet him just then... he is too young isn't he?"

"Yes, he is."

"You know, I absolutely detest to arrest these school kids... How old is he?"

"He says he is 18... he looks around 14 or 15..."

Abhijeet sighed

"Shreya is 14.... Daya... you know how horrid I feel for shooting the guy. From where I was standing, I really couldn't discern his age, all I saw was his gun."

"You did what is right, Abhijeet. He'll live, he just has a bullet in his thigh, you don't worry. Anyways, good this happened, atleast he would learn something and become a better person instead of a criminal like his brother."

"If only children are children... nowadays everything has changed"

Abhijeet clicked his tongue and continued working

"Boss, you know you ought to go home... A little bit of rest is good... you were just shot."

Abhijeet looked from his system

"Yea yea, I just wanted to get the details in before I forget something..."

He got back to his work

"Why did you have to jump in front of her?"

"What sort of question is that Daya?"

"You could have left her to fend for herself. You didn't have to put yourself in danger for every human being"

"Daya..."

"What? Don't you dare to defend her... You know she is here to break us apart and she has made it clear that she detests everyone of us..."

"She is part of the team as per the headquarters... and you know that we defend our own... always... whatever happens..."

"You have this annoying habit of following orders. For once, can you think about yourself? Or your daughter? Or the girl you love? Or... me?"

"Daya... that's not..."

"What? Can't I be selfish for once?"

A tear threatened to escape his eye as Abhijeet looked at him. He looked away and grit his teeth.

"Daya listen to me... you know you wouldn't have done anything different..."

Daya glared at him

"Shut up. That girl is here to get you..."

"Yea... about that... I think she isn't here to get me..."

He searched his pocket and took out the photograph that had fallen from Zoya’s pocket earlier. Daya looked at it surprised and said

"Raghav?"

Abhijeet was about to answer when he heard a knock. He looked up and saw Tarika outside the door with the first aid kid in her hand, he gestured her to come in. She entered and locked the door. She glared at Abhijeet, he grinned a little and put on a helpless look and looked at Daya. Daya shrugged

"She would've killed me had I not told her the truth"

Tarika looked at Daya and said

"Dare you lie to me..."

"Well, I didn't. Always at your service, your Majesty"

She turned to her lover

"And you... I am mad at you..."

Abhijeet opened his mouth but she shot him down

"Shut up... Let me do the dressing first..."

"Tarikaji..."

She huffed angrily

"Don't... don't you dare to flirt with me after hiding from me..."

Abhijeet shut up knowing it was never good to argue with her in this mood. She cleaned up the wound and swiftly dressed it.

"Done... now here take these..."

She handed some pills. He tried to refuse but seeing her glare at him again, he silently popped them into his mouth and swallowed them.

"Ok now that's done... I'll take my leave..."

"Tarika... wait... I am sorry."

"Don't say something you don't really mean."

"But I really am..."

"Really? The next time you get hurt promise me that you'll go straight to the hospital"

Abhijeet nodded in negative. He really hated the hospitals.

"Then?"

He moved a little closer to her, looked into her eyes, gave a small smirk and said softly

"I can promise that I'll come to you"

As she looked into those beautiful eyes of his, she felt her heart soften. She knew he would definitely try hiding his wounds again but as usual would captivate her with his eyes. Before those dark chocolate pools, she often felt powerless. It was as if he could hypnotize her with one look. Those years without him, these very eyes had often kept her awake. She reached out and was about to caress his cheek when Daya coughed loudly bringing both his friends back to the real world. They both shook out of there reverie and a highly embarrassed Tarika turned to leave hurriedly when she stopped abruptly seeing the photograph in Daya's hand

"Raghav?... this..."

Abhijeet's face clouded as he recalled

"This fell off Zoya’s holster as she removed her gun... as I was saying, Daya she is after Purvi... remember I told you that they have reopened the case..."

"Haan.. you asked me to check with Shreya regarding the status..."

"Yes... and?"

"She said she'll check... we weren't able to track much..."

"Daya ask her to check what her relationship was with Raghav... and Tarika..."

"I'll not tell her... and yes... I'll keep an eye on her... This... uh... don't let her see this..."

She gestured to the photograph. Abhijeet nodded. Daya stood up to leave

"Alright... I'll talk to Shreya... and... somehow I think a tea party is due... I believe you were right about wonderland, Abhijeet.."

"Hmmm...."

Daya left the cabin leaving the two behind. Abhijeet looked at Tarika fiddling with her fingers.

"What is it, Tarika? What are you hiding?"

She raised her eyebrow and he shrugged

"Of course, I know you have been hiding something since the beginning of this case... It's over now, tell me."

"Uh..."

"Yes..."

She opened her mouth to say something but her sharp eyes caught Zoya entering the bureau and marching towards Abhijeet's cabin. As she pushed the door open, Tarika felt a sudden wave of possessiveness grip her soul and the next moment, she wrapped her arm around his neck, pulled his face closer to her and kissed him. He froze at the feeling of her warm lips on his cheek. She pulles apart, removed her hand softly from his neck, looked up at his dazed face and said

"Take care of yourself, Abhijeet... You know you belong to me now... Don't you dare get hurt again..."

With that, she marched past an open mouthed Zoya to the forensic lab. Abhijeet looked at the retreating figure of the girl he loved, his heart beating fast. He was so dazed that it took more than 5 minutes for his brain to register Zoya’s voice. He shook his head clearing his mind

"Yes, Inspector Zoya"

"The confessions are done and Roni is ok now, he says he is 18, we can put him in prison"

"No... don't. He is still a kid. I'll talk to the authorities, a friend of mine runs a home for wayward children. We'll send him there"

"But..."

"But, what Inspector Zoya?"

"Well, sir with due respect he deserves prison"

"We don't always need to get what we deserve, Inspector. Roni has always been in the company of his brother and he deserves a chance elsewhere. You know it could change his life. Everyone deserves a chance, Inspector... I am sure someone gave you a chance at some point in your life"

Zoya felt her face grow warm under his gaze. He nodded at her

"I thought so... Alright, I have to meet Sonu, he is waiting outside. Please get the rest of the formalities done."

***

Cafe:

Daya saw ACP Pradyuman walking inside the cafe and decided enough was enough. He had been away for some meeting since morning and hadn't even come to meet Abhijeet

"Sir"

"Yes, Daya..."

"Are you angry with Abhijeet?"

ACP sir looked surprised.

"Angry? No... why do you ask?"

"You do know he was shot right?"

Pradyuman shut his eyes and took in a deep breath.

"I was busy, Daya... Headquarters called for an urgent meeting"

"I don't remember that stopping you before"

"You are questioning my love for him? How dare you, Daya? After all these years?"

"Of course not... I am just questioning your behavior right now. You say all these years.. I want to say exactly the same thing... The ACP sir I know for all these years would never let anything stop him from taking care of his juniors... Are you afraid of someone?"

Pradyuman gritted his teeth.

"I don’t want to answer you, right now"

He was about to leave when Daya said

"He is hurt sir... Truly hurt. I don’t know why you are running away from him... but he needs you"

Pradyuman felt his heart tremble as he knew that Daya was right. Yet he just couldn't face Abhijeet now. He knew his son-like officer was an extremely effective detective. Effective enough to coerce the truth from him... the truth that he had buried in his heart for 25 years just because he couldn't let Abhijeet face it... not again. He was so close to uncovering the truth, few more days and everything would be back to normal. With these thoughts running in his mind, he mumbled softly

"Just a few more days... just a few more..."

With that he left.

***

Somewhere in Mumbai:

It was almost dusk and the dusty room

"So... you are back? I don't believe the work is done yet."

"I wanted to talk"

"Talk? We never do that, remember? I give orders, you do them"

"Oh shut up"

He pulled her towards him so that she fell directly on his lap

"What is it? What has made my queen flustered?"

"Well you just pulled me onto your lap. You know the effect you have on me"

"What else?"

She straightened herself and stood up. Facing away she said

"The latin phrase... the one you love to repeat... the one you live by..."

"Fiat Justitia"

"Yes... that one...."

"What about it?"

"Why did you forgive me?"

"What?"

"Why was justice not done in my case... why did you forgive me?"

He snorted

"Darling, you were punished enough. The life you are now living, hating yourself more and more every day.. that, in itself is a punishment the courts cannot give. Justice prevailed in your case, sweetheart."

She said nothing, knowing he wasn't entirely wrong but she knew he wasn't right eother. She wanted to believe that he had been just not merciful as he claimed but she couldn't convince herself. Seeing her undecided face, he pulled her towards him again and softly traced her face with his finger. She shut her eyes enjoying his touched. He touched her so rarely and when he did just as he was doing now, she felt her body on fire. Knowing very well of his power on her, he whispered

"Did he seduce my beautiful queen too?"

"He didn't... he can't..."

"Good... Never forget, Zoya Malik is an act you put... Remember Raghav...and... remember you are mine.."

He kissed her and she felt herself melt as she whispered the words he wanted

"Truly... wholly... yours... tell me what you want me to do next..."

***