Case, Cake & Chaos
The ETF office was unusually cheerful that morning. Balloons and ribbons peeked out from behind desks — clearly the handiwork of Shree and Chotu, who had been sneaking around all morning.
Riya entered with a cake box in her hands, whispering urgently,
“Shree, careful karo! Arjun sir ko pata chala na… phir toh surprise khatam.”
Shree smirked, adjusting his specs.
“Relax, Riya. Main hacker hoon, decorator nahin… par itna bhi amateur nahi hoon.”
Before Riya could respond, Chotu ran in with a giant teddy bear.
Riya: “Chotu! Yeh kya hai?”
Chotu (grinning): “Gift hai yaar. Neha ko pasand aayega. Sirf khilona nahin… asli wala hug dene ke liye.”
Riya giggled. “Pagal!”
The camera cut to the ETF entrance.
Click.
Boots echoed.
In walked ACP Arjun Suryakant Rawte — sharp eyes, grim face, as always.
Arjun: “Yeh sab kya ho raha hai?”
Everyone froze. Riya hid the cake behind her. Shree quickly sat at his computer. Chotu tried to stuff the teddy under a table.
But before Arjun could interrogate further, a familiar voice chimed from the doorway—
“Bhai! Bas, bas… itna strict mat bano. Aaj toh mera birthday hai!”
Enter Neha — dressed in a simple yet stylish kurti, hair tied messily, eyes sparkling with mischief. She twirled dramatically, ignoring Arjun’s glare.
Neha: “Aur suno sab log… mujhse koi ‘madam ji’ ya ‘behen-type formality’ mat karna. Bas ek hi rule hai — entertain me!”
Shree whispered to Chotu, “Aur keh rahi thi intellectual hai… abhi dekho, Hitler ki chhoti behen niklegi.”
Neha shot him a savage look.
“Mujhe sab pata chal jaata hai, Shree. Hacker tum ho, par mind-reader main hoon.”
The room burst into laughter. Even Arjun’s lips twitched — though he quickly masked it.
***
Just then, Roshni entered, carrying a tray of food.
“Happy Birthday, Neha!” she said warmly, hugging her tight.
Neha beamed. “Roshni bhabhi… aap hi meri asli favourite ho. Yeh mere bhai toh bas… angry young man 24/7.”
Roshni chuckled. “Arjun, zara muskurado na… behen ka birthday hai.”
Arjun, cornered, gave the faintest of smiles.
Neha gasped dramatically,
“Breaking news! ACP Arjun Suryakant Rawte muskuraye. Record kar lo koi!”
Everyone laughed again, and Roshni ruffled Neha’s hair like a protective sister.
***
Neha perched on the conference table like a queen, eyeing everyone.
“Okay, birthday girl ka rule number two… har ek ko ek ek line kehni hogi mere liye.”
Chotu (earnestly): “Tu toh ETF ki sabse bindass dost hai. Cake ka sabse bada piece tere liye hoga.”
Riya (smiling warmly): “Happy birthday, Neha. Tumhari positivity sabko inspire karti hai.”
Shree (mock serious): “Happy birthday… par tu meri hacking jokes pe hamesha roast karti hai. Today, I surrender.”
Neha smirked, “Sahi kiya. Akhir samajh gaye tum.”
Finally, all eyes turned to Arjun.
Neha (teasing): “Bhai… ab tumhari baari hai. Mujhe compliment do. Aaj ke din tumhe permission hai.”
Arjun folded his arms, deadpan. “Tu waise hi bohot bolti hai. Mere compliment ke bina bhi confident rahegi.”
Neha gasped. “Wah, kya dialogue mara hai! Bhai, tumhari sense of humour bhi CSI ka case hai — missing.”
Even Arjun couldn’t resist a small chuckle.
***
But just as the celebrations were peaking, Sameer Rathore walked in, holding a file. His tone was grim.
“Party khatam. Humein ek urgent case mila hai. A kidnapping.”
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Cake was pushed aside, balloons forgotten. Neha blinked.
“Wait… kya? Mere birthday pe bhi case?”
Roshni gently touched her shoulder. “Beta, yeh hi toh unki duty hai.”
Arjun placed a hand on Neha’s head. “Tujhe promise karta hoon… case solve hote hi celebration pura karenge.”
***
The ETF team rushed to the site — a college campus where a student had gone missing.
Neha, refusing to be left behind, tagged along.
Arjun: “Neha, yeh dangerous hai.”
Neha: “Dangerous mere sarcasm se zyada kya hoga? Relax, bhai. Main sirf observe karungi.”
Her sharp intellect soon proved useful. While Shree hacked into CCTV, Neha pointed out a detail others missed — a suspicious bike parked repeatedly near the gate.
Riya gasped, “She’s right!”
Even Rathore had to admit, “Good observation.”
Arjun glanced at her, pride flickering in his eyes.
***
Within hours, the team traced the kidnappers and rescued the student. Bullets flew, fists clashed — but in the end, justice was served.
Neha clapped sarcastically, “Bhai, tum log toh asli Avengers nikle.”
Roshni smiled, slipping her hand into Arjun’s, grateful he was safe. Neha caught that and teased, “Bas, bas… PG-13 rakhna. Main yahin hoon.”
Everyone burst out laughing, even in the midst of exhaustion.
***
Back at the office, finally, the cake was cut. Roshni fed Neha lovingly, while Arjun awkwardly handed her a wrapped book.
Neha opened it — a leather-bound journal.
“For your thoughts,” Arjun muttered.
Neha’s eyes softened. “Bhai… tum dialogues kam maaro, par jab maaro na… dil pe seedha lagta hai.”
Roshni smiled proudly at the siblings.
“Tum dono ek dusre ke liye bane ho. Hamesha aise hi saath rahna.”
Neha winked, “Of course, bhabhi. Waise bhi… Arjun-Roshni hi meri OTP hai. Sorry Riya, but facts are facts.”
Riya laughed, “Main samajh gayi. Aapka dil bas bhai aur bhabhi ke liye reserved hai.”
The room echoed with laughter, warmth, and the smell of cake. For once, even Arjun allowed himself to be at peace — because his family, both blood and chosen, was right there with him.
***
Later that night, as everyone left, Arjun and Neha stood on the terrace. The city lights shimmered below.
Neha: “Bhai, aaj best birthday tha. Case, cake, chaos… sab kuch.”
Arjun (softly): “Tu khush hai na… bas wahi kaafi hai.”
Neha leaned on his shoulder.
“Tum dono mere liye duniya ho… aur jab tak tumhari muskaan dekhti rahoon, mujhe aur kuch nahi chahiye.”
Arjun glanced at Roshni, who was setting plates inside, and whispered, almost to himself,
“Haan… ab zindagi sahi lagti hai.”
The camera panned out — the ETF’s fearless cop, his radiant wife, and his sassy little sister — a rare moment of family, love, and laughter.
~The End~
✨ Happy Birthday, Neha (@Delusional_Minx)! 🎂
This one’s for you — with sass, savage, Arjun-Roshni feels, and that ETF chaos you love.
Love,
Saraf 🩷
It's perfect!
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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