Dilemma of the Heart
The ETF office buzzed with its usual energy. Laptops hummed, files shuffled, and muted conversations filled the air. Riya Mukherjee sat at her desk, absently flipping through a case file, though her mind was far from work. Her heart was heavy with a dilemma she couldn't shake off. Her parents had given her an ultimatum—start looking for a suitable groom or let them choose one for her. And the biggest problem? Her heart already belonged to someone who had no idea.
ACP Arjun Suryakant Rawte.
A sigh escaped her lips. It wasn’t that she hadn’t tried to fight it. Loving a man like Arjun was like holding fire in her palms—painful yet inevitable. He was distant, brooding, haunted by his past, but every time she saw the rare flicker of warmth in his eyes, she knew she was hopelessly trapped.
"Kya baat hai, Riya? Aaj kaafi lost lag rahi ho?" Sameer Rathore’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. He stood near her desk, arms crossed, eyebrows raised in concern.
She forced a small smile. "Nahi, sir. Bas... thodi si neend kam hui hai."
"Agar koi dikkat ho toh bata sakti ho," he said, his tone softer. "Hum sirf officers nahi, dost bhi hain."
Riya hesitated but shook her head. How could she explain? That the one she loved might never love her back? That she was about to be pushed into a marriage she didn’t want?
Before she could say anything, Arjun entered the office. Clad in his signature black shirt and jeans, his presence commanded immediate attention. His sharp eyes briefly scanned the room before settling on her. "Riya, case file complete ho gaya?"
His deep voice sent a shiver down her spine. She hurriedly nodded, handing over the file. "Haan, sir. Yeh rahi details."
Arjun took the file, his fingers briefly grazing hers. A spark shot through her, but he didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he nodded and turned away, completely oblivious to the storm raging inside her.
That evening, Riya sat alone in a café, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. Her mother’s voice echoed in her head.
"Riya, beta, tumhari shaadi ki umar ho chuki hai. Har baar mana karna achha nahi lagta."
She had tried to argue. "Maa, abhi kaam pe dhyaan dena zaroori hai."
But her mother had dismissed it with a sigh. "Kaam kaam hota rahega, par ek din tumhe apni zindagi ke baare mein sochna padega."
A tear slipped down her cheek. Could she really let her parents choose someone for her when she knew her heart belonged elsewhere? Could she live a lie just to fulfill their wishes?
"Agar tum kisi se pyaar karti ho, toh humein bata do," her father had said.
If only it were that simple.
The next morning, she walked into the ETF office with a heavy heart. She had made her decision. She would tell her parents she was ready to meet their choice. Maybe, with time, she would learn to move on.
But fate had other plans.
A sudden commotion pulled her attention to Arjun’s cabin. He stood there, tense, while Rathore and Shree exchanged glances.
"Kya hua?" Riya asked, stepping in.
Rathore sighed. "Ek case hai, jo Arjun se juda hai. Ek informant ne kaha hai ki kisi ne Roshni ka naam lekar dhamki di hai."
Riya’s heart clenched. Roshni. The love of Arjun’s life. The reason he had built walls around his heart.
Arjun’s jaw tightened. "Main khud jaaunga us informant se milne."
"Main bhi chalti hoon," Riya offered before she could stop herself.
Arjun shot her a sharp look but didn’t argue. "Chalo."
The drive was silent. The air between them was thick with unspoken words. Finally, Arjun broke the silence.
"Tum theek ho?" His voice was softer than usual.
Riya was taken aback. "Sir?"
His grip tightened on the steering wheel. "Kal Rathore ne kaha ki tum pareshaan lag rahi ho. Kya baat hai?"
She hesitated. Should she tell him? What was the point? He didn’t care. Did he?
"Kuch nahi, sir. Bas... ghar pe shaadi ko lekar pressure hai."
There. She said it.
Something flashed in his eyes, but it was gone too quickly for her to decipher. "Aur tum kya chahti ho?"
She swallowed hard. "Jo maa-baaba chahte hain."
He didn’t reply, but his grip on the steering wheel turned white-knuckled. The rest of the journey was silent.
That night, after wrapping up the case, Riya found herself alone on the ETF terrace, staring at the city lights. She didn’t hear Arjun approach until he spoke.
"Agar tumhe kisi se pyaar hota, toh kya karti?"
Her breath hitched. "Sir...?"
He stepped closer, his gaze intense. "Sach batao, Riya. Kya tumhe sach mein kisi aur se shaadi karni hai?"
Tears welled in her eyes. "Agar woh insaan kabhi mujhe pyaar nahi kar sake, toh aur kya option hai?"
For the first time, she saw conflict in his eyes. "Aur agar usse pyaar ho, par kehna na aaye?"
Her heart stopped. Was he saying what she thought?
She looked at him, searching for the truth. "Sir...?"
Arjun took a deep breath, then stepped even closer. "Riya, main jaanata hoon ki main kisi bhi tarah perfect nahi hoon. Lekin agar tum chaho, toh main koshish kar sakta hoon."
A sob escaped her lips. "Aap... aap kya keh rahe hain?"
His fingers brushed away her tear. "Yeh ki tumhe kisi aur se shaadi karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Kyunki agar tum mujhe accept karne ko tayaar ho, toh main apni zindagi ki har khushi tumse baantne ko tayaar hoon."
Tears streamed down her face, but this time, they were of joy. She had waited so long for this moment, and now it was real.
Smiling through her tears, she whispered, "Main tayaar hoon."
Arjun exhaled, a rare smile playing on his lips. "Toh phir chalo, pehle tumhare maa-baaba se permission le lete hain."
For the first time in days, her heart felt light. The dilemma was over. Her heart had won.
And so had love.
~The End~
Cricket
Hindi TV Shows
CID
Kumkum Bhagya
Ishaani
722