Ariya FF : Perfectly Neutral #2 Chapter 9, Pg 8

Hey guys,

This is the second thread of my FF Perfectly Neutral. I know this sounds odd as I haven't completed the previous one but it was a huge blunder. I wanted that thread to be closed back then but not anymore. Anyway I dont want to bother the mods anymore so, here's the second thread.

Disclaimer

This is work of fiction, and I have only taken the characters of the show 'Arjun Har Yug Mein Ayega Ek'. The plot and the entire build of the story is mine and it should not be published anywhere other than AF or IF without my consent.

All details, below.

Since I can't edit the previous thread, I am only linking you back to that thread.

I'd do anything to distract myself from what's happening around the world😵

Here you go guys . . .

Stay safe and let it out if anything is troubling you. Never stay alone with your thoughts.

Chapter seven

NIA, Madhapur,

Hyderabad

Riya reaches the NIA headquarters and was greeted by Amit. She saw him working with his team. ‘busy?’ she asked him.

‘just working on something’

‘source’?

‘Tasha!’

‘Is chief aware of it?’

‘I am just running some primary searches. Once she makes her official statement,we would work upon it soon.’

‘any connection to Bhadra?’

‘not yet, but she said it’s something big.’

‘let’s wait for her to give the complete report.’

At the same time in the technical chamber a screen next to Riya flagged up.’ She looked at the screen curiously.

‘Amit,what’s happening?’

‘it’s your target, been moving since last night.’

‘any location?’

‘Analysing your previous data and data from ETF I zeroed on two locations. One is Chandigarh and other is Gwalior. I set up an alert after mapping the path for a change in direction. And now the target is approaching the Madhya Pradesh borders. I bet its Gwalior.’ Riya who only wanted to be sure the target is moving or not,never expected Amit to go deeper and predict a possible target location.

‘You are a genius techie’ she commented, and he just smiled at her. What’s in Gwalior? She muttered to herself. Amit who was still looking her, heard this and said, ‘that would be DRDE (defence research & development establishment) specific for Chemical and biological warfare.’ She didn’t have to wait anymore. She has the location and she quickly devised a plan to execute before the target reaches its destination.

‘how much time do I have?’ she asked him.

‘by looking at the speed of the target, I don’t think you have much time. You have roughly nine hours. Just pack up.’ She muttered a hasty thanks to Amit and made a call to her junior assistant Shiv to book and confirm a ticket immediately for Gwalior. Riya goes to meet the chief, DGP Viraj Roy. As soon as she entered the chief’s room, she saw Anshuman accompanying the chief.

She saluted to the chief and he asked her to take a seat. She declined plainly saying, “I need to go to Gwalior, now” and shocking the seniors in the room.“and may I know why?’ Roy asked her with raised eyebrows.

‘its something related to the previous joint with ETF.’ She told him the truth. DGP Viraj Roy sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew if she’s onto something it’s impossible to stop her. ‘You are meddling with Navy.’ He said as if a father would stop his child from crossing the road alone and Kashyap who was unaware of the discussions between the two of them looked at them curiously. ‘its necessary, they won’t disclose anything to us. I can’t take risk.’ She said. Looking her determined face, he just couldn’t find a way to stop her. ‘make sure you don’t invite a troop upon you Mukharjee.’ Roy shrugged. Riya knew her path is clear now. She just nodded at Anshu and left immediately to pack for Gwalior.

Four days later

Riya hurried straight to the technical section looking for Amit. Then she was told that Amit is with the chief. She hurried to the chief’s chamber and without knocking entered inside.

‘since when is he missing’? that was the first question she asked when she noticed eyes upon her. Inside the chamber Anshuman, Amit and Viraj were present. They took a look at her. Dark circles all under her eyes, face tanned, and sleep deprived, she looked more like a person on withdrawal symptoms.

‘that was about four days ago, technically. His phone got switched off on the day you left.’ Amit filled in her. ‘yesterday we received a letter from ETF Chief ACP Sameer Rathore, requesting to investigate his whereabouts.’ Riya recalled the worry in the ETF chief’s voice. Something she has never witnessed in her entire life. It was still unbelievable for her that the investigation is on ACP Arjun Rawte.

‘I know, he called me an hour ago.’ She muttered.

‘do you really want to do this Riya?’ Anshuman asked her. He could barely miss the aloofness clouding her face and he was aware, what kind of a dilemma the situation is imposing upon her. He wasn’t sure what’s on her mind or how she’staking it, but he was sure they will get a reaction from her.

‘I want to.’ She said after thinking for some moment. Her mind travelled back to the day he asked her out for dinner. How he extended his hand for friendship and how she plainly rejected him. She won’t say she regrets that. But that’snot the concern. He had said he wants to take a chance at life. At some other time she would have died to hear that from him, but not that day, when she believed she wasn’t the person he wants. . .

‘you have all the technical support you want right now. An officer is missing, I want no pages to be left un-turned for this matter. And Riya, talk to ETF chief,they are more than ready to cooperate.’ Roy said. Riya nodded her face,trying her utmost best to be neutral and simultaneously failing terribly. Roy stepped further and stopped in front of her. Her impassive eyes and unflinching determination was enough for him to gauge that she will bring him back from hell, even if that is required. But he wasn’t worried for the second-in-command of ETF, he was rather worried about his own. He knows the risks that are involved in this case, and yet, he just knows she is the only person befitting the role.

‘and before you go stocking yourself up with files and data records, I’d advise you to take a nap, I know you are unrest but you need your brain intact for this case.’ He said looking at her and, in a tone, before she starts with any protest. And for the first time in life, she listened to her chief without any protest.

‘I’d be in the restroom for some time.’ She said and made her exit.

‘I don’t think it’s a right decision.’ ACP Anshuman said when she mad her exit. Amit, who was to make everything ready for the investigation presented him a look to the ACP before exiting the room. He sure wasn’t aware of the past of Riya or what she was before NIA, but he knows that ACP Anshuman has his sharing of affection for their second-in-command and if he’s doubtful of the chief’s decision, then it must be something related to her past, something that relates her to ACP Arjun Rawte.

‘you don’t know my reasons.’ DGP Roy dismissed any point of arguments with that single line and waved him off. ‘if it would have been a problem, she’d have protested. And she didn’t.’

‘you don’t know what you are waking inside her.’ Anshuman said with abomination.

‘I am looking forward to see it Kashyap.’ He said and went around to his chair and leaned back. Two days ago, when ACP Sameer Rathore from ETF Mumbai made a call to him in haste, he knew, the joint with ETF isn’t over yet.The creases on his forehead lessened and he leaned back in his chair.

He knows every aspect of her life and her profession. So he also knew he was taking a bigger risk than Anshuman is warning him about. But owing to her history with the ACP, he knew, if there is anyone who could bring back the guy that is undoubtedly, Riya Mukherjee.

He was aware of the multiple requests being done to the NIA archival systems for the case details. And Roy wouldn’t miss a dot about it.

Riya rested for a while in the restroom. More because she needs to have a clear mind and less because she needs to know how she feels about it. The ache in her heart is still there, she remembered how her body trembled when she heard for the first time that he’s missing. And for a moment she didn’t want to feel it all, didn’t want to go back. And yet, here she raking her mind in every way possible to find a clue, a single hint that would take her close to him. Even if she wanted to stay neutral about the case, something in the back of her head was unrest and she felt it too. Her time in the restroom was almost negligible when Amit came back to her with a stack of papers. She went thorough through papers. It was his call records. She noticed the last call he made was to Shreekant Sen.

Upon seeing the name, a frown appeared on her face as she remembered their last encounter. She went to meet him after meeting with Chotu. But he would be so disturbed about her going back again, he wouldn't open the door. She cried on his steps, apologised and but she cant be get back to where he wants to see her. She waited for sometime. He's the only family she has after all. She sat on his doorstep, admired the beautiful garden and stared at the open sky and remembered the way their friendship bloomed in such a mini garden in her neighborhood. Those were the happy days of her life. And he waited inside. . . For reasons he could never explain. He didn't open the door and she finally left. She didn't give up. She just had a flight to catch.

First time after coming back to Hyderabad, she made a call to her best friend. The note with which she left him was rather wretched. What hurt Shree the most was, she wasn’t ready to go back to the life he reshaped for her. He was hurt because he feels she is still hurting herself.

After six rings, Shree picked up the call. He was unsure? She wondered. Of course he’d be aware that the chief of ETF has collaborated with NIA, once again. She couldn’t quite guess his mood right now. The last time remembered, both Arjun and Shree were in a verbal spat that almost took him towards an act of misconduct and all because of her. As far as she remembers, Chotu said Shree hated Arjun and Sameer after she left. This is not right. She has to fix this too. Shree can’t spoil his personal and professional relations for her. But now isn’t the time.

‘Hi. .’ She said nervously. He on the other side Shree wasn’t any better either. The first thing that appeared in his mind was guilt, for letting her go this time when she wanted to stay for him and reconcile. And he took that chance away from her.

‘Hello, Riya.’ She heard the same voice on the other side. Nervous.

‘I. . Uh. .I called to know about your last conversation with ACP Arjun Rawte.’ She said getting back to her professionalism.

‘No doubt you are leading the case’. There was a slow mirth in his voice which taunted her. She doesn’t want any argument in between when they are in the middle of an investigation.

‘Yes, Shree. Will you please tell me'?

“can I ask you something?” Shree asked in a serious tone. She allowed him with a yes.

“Why are you after him Riya?”

She paused listening his question. Is she herself aware why she’s taking this headache? Why it is making her restless? She found no answer.

‘I have orders.”

Another slow humourless laugh from the other side. And Riya knew, what shree has in his mind. However she doesn’t want to listen to that. “ and Shree please make it quick.” The urgency in her voice was rather expected from her.

“It was always him. And it will always be him for you.” He said. She heard him unmistakably and she couldn’t say why it hurt her and why her efforts pinched Shree.

“Shree . . .”her voice now came with warning and he knew he had said enough. “we have a situation here. Please cooperate.” She said after a pause. Shree stiffened at her words. Once again she's retiring into obliviousness. So he thought to 'cooperate' with her.

“Four days ago, he called me to confirm about a person and a location.

I don’t know why he asked about her. But probably he was doubting something...

The previous night he was. . . With you.

I tracked his locations.”

“Oh! If you will tell me about whom he was asking?” she didn't react to what Shree said about her being with Arjun.

“remember Dr. Rao? It’s his junior, Dr. Purnima.”

“Why her?”

“I don’t know.”

“Any relation to the current case?”

“not yet.”

“Anyway did you confirm her location?”

“she is attending some conference at Conference on Infectious Diseases at Hyderabad.”

“and the venue?”

“some hotel at Madhapur.”

“So probably, he just saw her by chance.”she concluded.

“Yes, we have confirmed this with her.”

“What about the case? What exactly was he looking for?”

“He was looking for more information on Sheela. We have nothing on her as of now, as the case file Arjun Sir retrieved from Madhapur police station is with him only.”

“I see. . .”she said and assured him to find the case files.

Her restlessness didn’t allow her to stay more than a minute in the restroom as she joined Amit in the IT floor.

Both of them settled beside a desk to prepare a strategy.

“What do we have till now?” asked him.

“We have his last location, records of his last call.”

“his call record is clear. I talked with Shree from ETF. You remember him right?" Amit wasn’t too stunned when he found the name as it his teammate only. So he just informed Riya about the call. But that is also a dead end.

“Can you do one thing?” Amit nodded positively.

“Call Reddy, and ask her about the case ACP Rawte was dealing with. See if anything positive comes out of it. We have to go to the hotel he was staying in. Did our team checked the hotel?”

“Not yet.”

"What about his last location. Did search parties found anything?"

"Nothing."

“we'll go to the hotel first. Shree talked about the case files.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

An hour later

At hotel Highway Inn

ACP Mukherjee slammed her badge with a thud on the receptionist's desk making him cower in fear. "If you want a warrant. It's on the way. Now open the room, or I will make sure every room of this hotel is seized until we are done here." The receptionist didn't give that let me ask my manager answer as he pulled out a card and slowly pushed it towards her.

She started off nicely, asking about the missing ACP. But the receptionist cared more about his hotel reputation. He started arguing with her about it. And she lost it.

Amit who was used to her cold controlled image at the office was rather surprised to see her enraged over a silly argument with a receptionist. At any other time he'd have nudge her to keep calm. But today he didn't. Because he knew, if he would, he would probably wake a storm.

"Call the manager and tell him to reach the floor. We are heading up." She said as she eyed the room number on the card. And before going, she checked the register. She saw his exit time at 9.50 am. He made that call to Shree at 11.00 am. She wanted to follow a pattern of his timeline. So she asked Amit to check for the CCTV footage of the hotel. She along with her other subordinates marched towards the elevator. Amit went with the receptionist to the control room.

Inside the room she found nothing. "Did anyone came to meet him here?" She asked the manager. "No." He said. Later she busied herself searching the room. She saw the same biege shirt hanging in the wardrobe of that room. And everything that happened that night flashed in front of her. He looked somewhat calm. He was trying his utter best to be nice with her, with hope and with anticipation. His expectations from her now weighed upon her like a heavy weight. Maybe she should have taken his hand. What's wrong with being a friend? Is wasn't like he was asking you out? She's yet to acknowledge the regret seeping in her mind for rejecting him.

When she peeped into the wardrobe she found backpack. She asked a junior from her team to search it. Junior inspector Rajat, downed all the contents down in front of her as he searched through the bag with gloved hands. She was waiting for a file to drop maybe. Or some papers. There was nothing. Maybe the papers are also gone with him.The search at the hotel was rather disappointing. Once Amit was done with the footages, they returned to the base.

She couldn't think of a motive behind his abduction. It maybe related to the current case. It may be some old grudge. And you know nothing of his life after you left ETF. You know nothing of his enemies except Sikander.

ETF, Mumbai

Aisha hesitated to enter the room. It felt more like invading his personal space, and probably somewhere she thought she belonged. Not yet. Ever since their second in command is missing, he's become a firestorm. It reminded her of the times when ACP Sameer Rathore used to be enraged due to their second in commands recklessness. But this time it was out of anger. it was out of worry and may be a little regret too.

She just hoped for him not to blame himself for this situation. He wanted to send Arjun to Hyderabad so that he can have another that chance in life. But Sameer, in his wildest dreams have never expected, Arjun would go missing.

The last conversation Arjun had with was Shree. He wanted some information. And when he called back to inform him, his phone was unreachable off. Shree brushed it off thinking it's some network issue. But when the next day Rathore barged into the conference room asking if anyone had contacted Rawte, worry seeped into everyone's mind. Rathore immediately asked Shree to trace his call but it was switched off. Rathore then called the police station at Madhapur to confirm. The IIC of that police station confirmed that ACP took all the details of Sheela missing case the previous day only. Sameer called the hotel to ask about him. They couldn't explain much. His last conversation worried Sameer too much. A nagging feeling started worrying Sameer as he realized that Arjun is missing. First he tried calling Riya but she was unreachable. Getting no reply from her, Sameer then called up DGP Roy, and requested him the matter. DGP Roy agreed to help ETF.

Aisha was torn between her duty as an officer and her duty as a friend. She consoled Sakshi with promises that Arjun would be fine, knowing truly that Arjun isn't hers to keep and that eventually her heart will be broken. But over the time she had seen her growing feelings for Arjun. Aisha never felt any reciprocal from Arjun's side. But she never voiced out her thoughts to Sakshi. She knows a heartbreak is inevitable, but Aisha isn't someone who'd let her friend cry alone.

She finally knocked at the door. Rathore looked up from his desk, and found her at the door. She entered finally. "If you are blaming yourself for this then stop it." He stared at her for sometime. He knows she could read him inside out but she was never this upfront about it before.

"I had a conversation with Riya. She's leading the case." Aisha nodded in understanding. But she wasn't sure if Riya would help them. She is well aware of the past Riya share with the men of this team. And if she'd think it from Riya's perspective, Riya shouldn't either. But here she saw the love of her life too confident about the case and more too confident about the woman in question.

"Are you sure? She will help us?"

"If I think there anyone who could save Arjun, that's her Aisha. That's her. It was always her." He told her.

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