Operation Baraati
The ETF was known for its high-profile criminal cases, high-stakes encounters, and razor-sharp investigative skills. But today… today was different.
Because today, the ETF found itself not at a crime scene, not in a high-speed chase, but at a shaadi ka mandap.
And none of them knew how the hell this had happened.
The grand wedding venue was a dazzling spectacle of golden lights, elaborate floral arrangements, and a DJ blasting Bollywood wedding songs at full volume. Guests laughed, danced, and showered flower petals over the soon-to-be-wedded couple’s families.
Amidst this vibrant chaos, standing stiffly in a far corner, were five very out-of-place ETF officers.
ACP Arjun Rawte, clad in his usual all-black attire, stood with his arms crossed, his jaw clenched so tight it could crack a walnut. ACP Sameer Rathore, ever the disciplined leader, had his arms folded and an expression that could make even hardened criminals rethink their life choices. Riya Mukherjee, struggling to suppress her laughter, was the only one remotely amused by their predicament. Chotu, on the other hand, was visibly distracted by the mithai ka counter, while Shree looked as though he was about to faint.
And Shree was, in fact, the unfortunate reason they were here.
Arjun’s voice was dangerously low as he spoke. “Main phir se repeat kar raha hoon, Shree… humaari ek high-stakes criminal investigation thi. Toh phir hum yahaan shaadi mein kya kar rahe hain?”
Shree swallowed hard. “Sir, woh… system glitch ho gaya tha.”
Rathore’s eyebrow twitched. “System glitch?”
Shree hesitated, shifting uncomfortably under their piercing stares. “Sir, ETF ka database hack ho gaya tha. Jab maine guest list modify karne ki koshish ki, toh… toh pura ETF team dulhe ki baraat mein register ho gaya.”
Silence.
Riya blinked. “Matlab officially hum baraati hain?”
Shree let out a nervous chuckle. “Sirf baraati nahi… dulhe ke saathi bhi.”
Arjun turned his head slowly, his dark eyes burning a hole through Shree’s forehead. “Aur dulha kaun hai?”
Shree paled instantly.
Chotu, who had just stuffed a gulab jamun into his mouth, burst out laughing. “Bhai, tu toh gaya!”
There was no way out. Their primary target, Rakesh Malhotra—an arms dealer—was attending this wedding. Thanks to Shree’s blunder, the ETF was forced to stay undercover as wedding guests.
Which meant… full shaadi mode.
Rathore, still fuming, took a deep breath before speaking. “Agar humne ab mission abort kiya, toh Malhotra bhaag sakta hai. Iss galti ko sudharne ka sirf ek tareeka hai… hum investigation ko yahan, iss shaadi ke andar complete karenge.”
Riya smirked. “Sir, iska matlab Arjun sir ko bhi baraati dance karna padega?”
Arjun shot her a glare. “Agar tum zyada boli, toh tumhe hi dulhan bana ke mandap pe bitha doonga.”
Shree let out a nervous laugh. “Sir, mera toh bas kehna hai ki agar aap baraati mode mein aa jayein, toh case aur bhi smoothly solve ho sakta hai…”
Arjun’s glare intensified. “Shree, tum zinda rehna chahte ho na?”
Shree immediately straightened. “Sir, main jaake Malhotra ka location track karta hoon!”
“Wahi karo,” Rathore ordered, adjusting the pagdi someone had forcibly placed on his head. “Aur mujhe kisi aur system glitch ke baare mein sunai diya toh tumhara pura system format kar doonga.”
The team scattered, blending into the wedding crowd.
Chotu, using his innocent charm and a plate full of jalebi, chatted up the catering staff, fishing for intel. Riya, dressed in a subtle lehenga, slipped into the women’s circle, gathering gossip that might hint at Malhotra’s whereabouts. Shree, despite being the cause of their current predicament, worked furiously on his laptop, trying to track Malhotra’s phone.
Meanwhile, Arjun and Rathore were stuck in the worst possible place—sitting with the dulhan ke rishtedaar.
“Beta, aap dulhe ke dost ho?” A nosy bua ji questioned, shoving a plate full of sweets in front of Arjun.
Arjun forced a tight-lipped smile. “Ji.”
“Aur kya karte ho?”
Rathore smirked, thoroughly enjoying Arjun’s discomfort. “Yeh ACP hai, bua ji.”
Bua ji’s eyes widened in delight. “Arre wah! Matlab police? Bahut accha, bahut accha! Aapko toh har din adventure hota hoga!”
Arjun deadpanned. “Ji. Adventure hi adventure hai.”
Riya, observing the scene from a distance, bit her lip to keep from laughing. But when Arjun’s glare met hers, she quickly busied herself with adjusting her bangles.
Just then, Shree’s voice crackled in their earpieces. “Sir, Malhotra ka location confirm ho gaya hai. Woh VIP lounge mein hai.”
Arjun immediately straightened. “Chalo, operation shuru karte hain.”
Just as the team moved towards the VIP section, an announcement blared over the speakers.
“Attention, please! Dulha gayab ho gaya hai!”
Chaos erupted. The groom’s family panicked. The bride’s family screamed.
And ETF?
ETF froze.
Chotu blinked. “Bhai, dulha bhaag gaya?”
Riya chuckled. “Shaadiyon mein aisa hota hai, lekin iss baar toh…”
Shree, still staring at his laptop, suddenly turned ghost-white. “Sir…”
Arjun clenched his jaw. “Ab kya?”
Shree looked up, terrified. “Mujhe lagta hai system glitch se… mera naam dulha ki jagah register ho gaya hai.”
Complete silence.
Rathore shut his eyes. “Mujhe laga yeh case normal hoga. Mera hi galti thi.”
Chotu wheezed. “Bhai… iska matlab ab tu dulha hai!”
Before Shree could process this horror, two massive mama ji type men grabbed him by the shoulders.
“Beta, tension mat lo! Shaadi ke din nervousness normal hai!”
Shree’s soul left his body. “Sir… sir… please mujhe bacha lo!!”
Arjun smirked. “Ab bhaag ke dikhao.”
Just before Shree could be dragged to the mandap, Malhotra made a break for the exit.
“Yahi toh chahiye tha!” Arjun barked, pulling out his gun. “ETF! Malhotra, ruk ja!”
Gunshots rang through the venue. Guests screamed and ran in all directions. The DJ stopped mid-Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna.
After a dramatic chase, Malhotra was caught. Case solved.
And Shree?
Shree sat on the mandap steps, looking like he had aged ten years.
“Sir… main zindagi bhar shaadi ka naam bhi nahi loonga.”
Arjun patted his shoulder. “Accha hai. Warna agla operation tumhara vivaah hoga.”
The team burst into laughter as Shree groaned in defeat.
And thus, another successful case ended—with gunfire, chaos, and an ETF officer almost getting married.
The End
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