PART ONE : Tekrar hoşgeldiniz. (Welcome Back)
"BACK TO WORKK" He roared.
Sighing his juniors did as they were told. They were actually bored of the monotonous life they lead but nevertheless they could only hope their work life would one day be interesting.
ACP Arjun Rawte, chief of the Emergency Task Force, looked at his juniors with disappointment. As usual. He couldn't actually understand what new could they have to talk when they were together everyday for more than 15 hours. Giving them the trademark glare he was known wide and across for, Arjun made his way to his cabin and slumped down on the sofa with a file in his hand.
A knock on the door pulled him out of his reverie.
"Come in " he says, exasperated. The day had just begun, what now? He didn't bother to look up from the file, pretty sure that it was someone who worked under him.
"Err, Sir?" a voice called out.
Arjun's head snapped up only to find Riya Mukherjee meekly staring at him.
"Hi... Good Morning, Sir" she says, visibly afraid of his reaction.
" 'Morning. Care to explain why you're here?" Arjun asked feigning indifference, .
"uhm", says Riya not sure where to begin.
Her senior raised an eyebrow, observing her. She was damn sure he could read the nervousness evident in her form yet the handsome devil had to play.
" I am back for completing my term as a Research Specialist. Raghav Sir called me a month ago because he wants me to complete the term I was originally appointed for"
Arjun couldn't label the emotions he was feeling. He could feel hope bubble in his chest but yet something told him she's not the same person anymore.
"Okayyy. But why am I hearing this now?"
"I have no idea. I was told you'd know beforehand. There must be some mistake. I'll ask sir and......." Riya started panicking trying to fish out the phone from her bag.
Arjun stood up, worried for the girl in front of him. "Are you okay?" he asks her bluntly
"Yeah... Why do you ask? Is something wrong? What did I do?" Riya looked down, embarrassed for some reason.
"Riya" Arjun calls out, calmly. That's the softest he's been with her and Riya could immediately feel the nervousness slipping away. She clenched her fists in a bid to pull herself together.
"Welcome back" he whispers kindly. Riya could only smile. Or atleast pretend to. She needed all the strength in the world to look at him. She's heard of it. Heard of how Arjun killed the man who had killed his wife. So called wife, apparently Roshni knew Sikander and all the love drama was a facade to bring the tough cop on his knees. The pain he had gone through was evident in his face. A beautiful face carrying some unshed tears and invisible scars..
"I'm okay" he tells her knowing what she must be thinking.
Riya let go of the breath she didn't know she was holding,"I hope you are" she says sincerely.
Arjun just shrugs and asks for her joining letter. Riya hands him and he signs it and updates something on the laptop on his desk..
"Did you meet the others?" he asks casually, waiting for the server to update Riya's details. He looked up and saw her cringing.
"I uhm.. Actually saw them outside.... Said hi" she looked away.
Arjun could only guess what had transpired. Its been four years. Four long years. They had moved on. They had found friends in the tough lady cop Ayesha, the naive journalist Sakshi and the nerd Liza.
However Arjun knew Riya would never blame them. Not even in her death. She's always been the one to cherish what she had and not cry about what she didn't.
Realising he had tread in the wrong waters, he picked up the land line, dialled an extension while motioning the nervous officer to sit. "Yash, in my room now. .
There's someone I'd like you to meet"
Riya closed her eyes as she heard him call for more people. She was already feeling out of place, the feeling was alien to her. Arjun couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She didn't deserve it.
As the door opened, Riya stood up and turned about.
"Riya, this is Yash. ACP Yash Malhotra. Second in command." Arjun does the introduction.
"Actually I am the chief here because in nawab se toh kuch hona nahi hai" Yash says. "Kya kaha tumne, 'This team is too incompetent for me to lead'"
"Hogaya?" Arjun asks exasperated.
"Haan. By the way Madam Aap kon?"
"Riya Mukherjee, Research Specialist" Arjun fills him in. "Rejoining today. Hopefully she'll stay longer than before" He adds. Riya raised an eyebrow at that. He wants her to stay??!!!!
"Welcome Back!" Yash says warmly forwarding his hand. Riya shook hands, giving three firm shakes. Arjun rolls his eyes at that. Always the mannered one.
"So? When and where do I begin?" Riya asks to no one in particular.
Yash was about to answer when Arjun piped in "I'm not going to let you start just like that. I'd like to speak to your doctor before assigning you work. Fieldwork, however, is out of question, so don't even ask about it. For now, you'll have to share my cabin."
"NO"
"Kyu?" he asks her. He knew he'd react this way considering how gooooood he was with her in the past :/
She started fidgeting, leaving a stunned Yash. There was something between these two and he knew it.
"Uhm guys I'll meet you later. Bye" he says and goes away, not before giving Arjun a meaningful look.
Riya stood there, contemplating her decision to come back. She could feel her anxiety rising. The AC in the room did her no good, she was sweating profusely, just wanting the floor to eat her up.
Arjun was taken aback. He slowly moved towards her and took her hands in his. Feeling his touch, she jerked her eyes open.
"Are you okay?" he asks, worry dripping from every word.
"Yeah. Just nervous" she replies.
He leaves her hands and motions her to sit on the couch. Doing as she was told, Riya could see the softness and worry on his face. "I am fine, sir, really"
"That's for me to decide " he says rather mechanically. Riya hung her head down
"It's better if you share the cabin with me. . I mean I don't know, but Riya they've..... They've....."
"Moved on like a sane person should" Riya completes him. Arjun could only marvel at the woman in front of him. He was right, she'd never blame them. But true friendship never dies. Even if a person does. He had learnt that the hard way.
Sighing, he gets up and helps Riya do the same. "Go home now. Rest for a while. You need it."
Riya nods, knowing perfectly she needs a good sleep more than anything. She hadn't slept well ever since Raghav Sir called her. The bags under her eyes were a testimonial for that.
"If I were you I'd sleep in" He adds, handing her a paper he'd just printed and signed. "Give this to Nandini at the Reception. She'll have your iCARD ready tomorrow. And this" handing her a key "is a spare key to this room. This cabin is locked when I'm not around.I'll have a word with your Doctor and then we'll see where we can begin." She was about to go when Arjun called her.
"Riya"
"Sir? " she asks turning around.
"Take care" he whispers softly.
She gave him a smile and went out, her heart beating erratically.
Arjun watched her go, his mind all over the place.
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