MOORTI MADE 22.3
US & Israel vs Iran ongoing war discussion thread
PYAR ka ZEHAR 23.3
Ranveer and Deepika spotted at a restaurant today
🏏 Chase Your Dreams… Predict IPL Winner & Win Big! 🏆
Wikipedia Describes Dhurandhar The Revenge As A Propaganda Film
5 days later
The morning at the CBI office today was not something one would call pleasant.
Though in the past one week, the department had managed to close a plethora of cases, petty to big, frivolous to scandalous, when it came to the Zodiac Killer case, err, Impersonator Zodiac Killer case, as the two prominent agents of the bureau would demarcate their theories of state, the case was taking a little too long to be closed.
As Agent Avni looked at Sam, asking him to go on with whatever was planned for the day she saw from hindsight a rather grumpy face of her colleague, who was also her husband.
Yes, Neil Khanna amidst all his arrogance and ego, was not really in a happy mood today either, and a big chunk from the reason-pie for it could be cited to his ever-stubborn colleague slash wife, Avni Khanna.
''So this is what we have on the case so far.''
Agent Reyhna went on to state the facts that they had so far managed to gather and Avni looked on with a straight face, while Neil's eyes were intently fixated only on her.
''It's the November set of kills.''
''Tuesdays.''
''The victims both had a venue in common on the night of the murder.''
''Ciphers on the body, cryptograms when deciphered giving phrases from the Book of Revelations.''
''Victims were both 27, brunette.''
''The victims were also molested before being killed.''
''All of these hint that it's the Zodiac Killer on the loose.''
Avni turned her face to look at Neil once and shifted her gaze in no time again as she saw his extra-deathly glare that was enough to churn her right away.
''However, as we know, the forensics report show that these victims were killed by a merchant's knife, and the cuts too are different on minute observation compared to our previous records from two years ago.''
''Which suggests that it might not be the Zodiac Killer and someone rather following his footsteps.''
Avni sighed as she heard Reyhna give the second case analysis and nodded slightly.
They had been over this discussion before, the previous day to be precise, and the amount of mockery her husband, nope, colleague at work had given her was humongous. Though the night was something where she made him pay for all the teasing and attitude he had shown her, now that they were back to work the next day and she had told him, as an agent what her next move on this would be, he had vilified her suggestion instantaneously saying there was no way he was going to allow her to do that.
But Avni being Avni paid no heed and went on to discuss the same with the other members of the bureau and the result was simple.
Her under cover plan was ON.
The only difference?
She had a really, really angry husband right now, and for the first time ever, she was not able to see him in the eye at work.
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''Since Club Aqua Blue is the venue of interest we have on this case in context of both the victims, so ideally, today being Tuesday, the next kill is on the charts.''
Reyhna finally concluded, looking at Avni, while the latter saw her and gave her a nod.
''My bet is on the guy with a limp who we saw in the club's CCTV footage from the night Oshin disappeared.''
''Yes, the club management said he's not a regular member but a frequent guest there, and his name is Philip Anderson. We tried hunting him down but as per the guest list details cited by the club, there doesn't exist anyone with that name in the area mentioned. So I am guessing it's an alias he used.''
Sam said, looking at his notes on the case so far, while Avni nodded.
During all this time, there was only one silent spectator in the room and first time in ages, he was quiet without any counter-arguments.
Yes, Neil Khanna was pissed off at the way everything was going, and his rage was only escalating by the seconds, exponentially.
''I have the local PD running an ID on the man's real name, so by tonight if we can get it-''
Agent Ayaaz had barely begun but Avni stopped him mid way by showing her hand, and averred in a stern tone,
''There's no chance we are waiting till tonight Agent Ayaaz. As planned, this case closes today.''
Ayaaz looked at her followed by looking at Neil and five seconds later, Neil lashed out of the room rather too harshly, leaving a nervous but determined Avni behind along with others.
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''Avni, are you sure about this?''
Sam asked her with a concerned look, while she sighed and nodded.
''I am 100% sure Sam. Trust me. This is the only way. We can catch the Zodiac Killer. It's a Tuesday today. And from all angles, I fit the bill. I have already pretended to be a futile former CBI last week at Club Aqua Blue and I am putting all my bet on that man with the limp, who would have certainly been there that day too and since the zodiac killer, that is, the unknown ID man with the limp will come today to hunt down his next victim, I will be the bait. I am 27, a brunette. Fits the bill!''
She said with confidence, while Ayaaz asked her at the end,
''But Neil? I think it's natural for him to be how he is right now! Woman, he is your husband!''
''Don't I know that, Ayaaz? But this is my job! And just like I don't interfere in his way of working, he can't interfere with mine either. Period!''
Saying that she went out of the room and the other members of the bureau just helplessly darted their eyes at each other.
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.
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She would be lying if she said she didn't feel nervous about the whole thing. Although it wasn't the first time she was playing a bait or doing something under cover for the onlookers other than the department, going against the will of the love of her life was still something that quite naturally so, didn't come naturally to her.
But hadn't it always been like this?
She smiled to herself as she poured herself a cup of latte from the coffee machine and in retrospect, thought of how far they had come in their relationship as a couple.
But beyond doubt, in their relationship as colleagues, they were still stuck on day one.
Where they had only argued, undermined each other and also refuted whatever the other came up with.
But deep inside, they both knew that they were tremendously good at their way of working and solving cases, and so, when they unwarrantedly, unceremoniously, fell in love, which by the way they mutually took one long year to confess to each other, thanks to a near-death situation where they were both stuck while solving one of the deadliest bombing cases, they knew even at that sphere of life too, they would be the best.
And now, since one year of their marriage, she had grown to become fond of every minute detail of their relationship, where at work they remained the most stringent creatures ever, who were always at loggerheads, and the moment work hours were over, well..
Let's just say, she wouldn't have known Neil Khanna could actually be so romantic, had she not been married to him.
She slightly giggled to herself, stirring her coffee, simultaneously looking at her wedding ring, which she secretly admired every time she believed she was alone and there was no one else around.
But for a change, that wasn't the case this time and the loud sound of the coffee machine broke her little reverie as she saw the tall figure pour a cup of double espresso for himself.
Well, she was indeed scared at the sight of her romantic yet crude husband today.
''All the best for closing the case!''
He said sarcastically making her roll her eyes and then look at him while he stirred his coffee, as if he was not at all bothered by her presence near him.
''So, that means, you are not coming?''
She quirked her brows and asked him in a low voice, while he looked at her and said nonchalantly.
''Nope. Would rather invest my time in closing other cases. There's too much commotion here anyway in this one.''
Avni had her eyes on him while her face showcased a blank expression as if she didn't know what to say anymore.
Neil watched her for a good five seconds before retreating towards the exit of the pantry, but not before turning one last time, fixating his gaze on her, as he said in a tone blended with arrogance and anger both,
''But when push comes to shove, I am sure you will miss listening to Me, Agent Avni.''
And he left the spot, leaving a fuming Avni behind.
She cursed under her breath at the rudeness he threw at her and only muttered to herself, ''I can manage on my own, anyway Neil Khanna! You can date your ego as long as you want!''
CONTINUED BELOW
7.30 P.M.
Club Aqua Blue Gardens
''Did the SWAT team do the check already?''
Reyhna asked Ayaaz as they both sat inside the SUV, keeping an eye on the entrance of the club, for the guy with the limp, who was their prime suspect in this case.
In all regards till now, he fit the bill for being the ZK, especially because the tentative age of the ZK based on whatever details they had till now was something over 40, and their leads on this suspect, he too aged almost the same.
''Yes! He's not there inside. We have had the SWAT team look into it from early evening itself. Which means any time now, our suspect can be here! Sam is already in sync with the PD for the real ID of that guy. So we are sorted for now.''
Ayaaz replied as he looked keenly at the grand entrance of the club and so did Reyhna.
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''Chips?''
''No thanks!''
Reyhna shook her head and cursed under her breath for being stuck in the operation with Ayaaz in this car, while the latter kept his vigil on, munching on potato chips at the same time!
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Avni adjusted the straps of her red dress as she sat on one of the chairs at the table, looking as bored as ever, but ravishing nonetheless.
The crowd at the club today was lesser compared to the last time she had made a visit here. Besides, arguing with her husband and being a woman on mission, sitting alone at such a lovely place, was not really doing her any good.
Agreed, she loved closing cases at the pace of a jet and for that she could do anything, but this today was not really what she would call amazing.
Taking a sip from her wine glass, she unlocked her phone's screen and it instantly revealed the wallpaper that had her and Neil laughing together as they posed on one of the streets of Paris, during their Europe tour six months back.
Fond memories clouded her mind as she went into deep thought, waiting anxiously for this operation to be over, so that this case could finally be closed for good and she could sleep on it, running back to her husband's arms, who although was a cold CBI agent, but was also a very, very passionate and caring lover.
And with that she sighed as she patiently waited for the suspect to show up, rest assured her colleagues, Agent Ayaaz and Reyhna were already outside to inform her of the same beforehand.
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''You can eat without making that much noise, you know.''
Reyhna said for the umpteenth time to a least bothered Ayaaz as he finished yet another packet of chips and when Reyhna gave him a really annoyed look, he finally kept his intolerable hunger, or rather, urge to binge at bay, and looked at the entrance of the club as usual.
''Still no show!''
Reyhna said, agitated with the prolonged waiting, but when Ayaaz too sighed out of boredom, she stated rhetorically,
''Neil didn't come right?''
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Ayaaz shook his head in negative and averred,
''Nope. He didn't. That man is all about attitude. And he never refutes his words. He didn't allow Avni to do this, but she did it anyway, and now he's being the one showing all the attitude. These two are just so alike, sometimes it's creepy!''
Reyhna chuckled at that and replied,
''But to be honest, it must be so hard right? I don't even know how they manage it. I mean, they are two of the best agents, yet always at loggerheads when it comes to work. And now, Avni pissed him off, and see, he doesn't even show up!''
''Well, just to let you know, we men at times find it difficult to be expressive. He isn't here doesn't mean he doesn't care. We both know Neil loves Avni insanely! Remember his constant vigilance around her whenever she talks to some male suspects or person(s) of interest in the cases?''
Reyhna laughed as she remembered many instances like that from their past cases as soon as Ayaaz mentioned it to her.
It was true, indeed.
All the teammates by now knew the mechanism and dynamics of Agents Avni and Neil and though it would often leave them dumbfound in the initial days, now they had become quite habituated of it.
''But this time Neil wouldn't be easy on her. He literally backed out of the case for whole day today. So unlikely of him!''
She said, while Ayaaz nodded in affirmation and added,
''Oh yeah! That's for sure! Avni really has to work her way through to convince him this time! And I hope she does! We don't want another week of cold-war between them like two months back, remember?''
''Oh hahaahaa! Of course I remember! How can I forget? God it was hilarious! And I had to be the mediator between them that time, LOL!''
Reyhna laughed her heart out, after what seemed like ages and for a change, she enjoyed the whole moment thoroughly, although she had resented it initially, when the boss had paired her with Ayaaz for this operation today.
As her laugh subsided after a while, she watched Ayaaz look at her intently, and that's when she fixed herself by straightening her seat and regained her composure, deviating her whole attention on the other side, rather than looking at Ayaaz.
Ayaaz on the other hand felt really, really warm seeing Reyhna laugh so care-free, a sight that was really rare for anyone to see and he considered himself lucky enough to have witnessed that.
However, when he observed her get conscious and go back to her serious mode and draw the lines between them yet again, he felt awkward for all that conspired between them a little while ago.
''Concentrate on the operation.''
He reminded himself as he too straightened himself and waited patiently.
His wait however, didn't last long this time, as soon after a minute passed, his phone rang, and he saw Sam's name flash as the caller ID.
''Yeah, Sam, what's up?''
.
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Avni was inexplicably bored now.
Bored of waiting.
Bored of drinking.
Although she was sipping from a wine glass, she was actually drinking some fruit juice.
And for some odd reason, she really, really felt stupid about her own plan for the first time in her life.
She darted her eyes at all the directions and everything looked as calm as the middle of the ocean to her and even if there was something else to follow, something wicked, she knew she was already prepared for it.
But the bottom line was, she wanted that to happen soon, so that she could be done and dusted with this case.
Her this attitude of being perennially fearless sometimes scared the hell out of their colleagues, but this was something she had highly in common with her husband, who too was an on-your-face fearless CBI agent.
She sighed in exhaustion and tried to retain her calm as she once again started looking randomly at the ceiling and other decor at the place, while some people dined and others grooved to the music on the dance floor on her right.
''This is going to be a long night!''
She said nonchalantly, sipping from her glass yet again.
.
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''What dude? I can't hear you clearly. Can you be a little louder?''
Ayaaz asked, trying hard to make out what Sam was saying from the other side.
''Ayaaz, the local PD got the ID of the guy with the limp. His real name is Joseph Kent. He's a con artist,a fraudster, on a run from the police. He's back in town today morning.''
''All righty! That means he can show up any time now, here in the club!''
Ayaaz said as he magnified his observance towards the club entrance.
''No, no, man! You don't get it! This guy, he had a limp. Three months ago, due to an accident, which was operated two weeks later and he has no limp, what so ever now! Do you get me?''
Rehyna looked perplexed as she watched the terrified expression show up on Ayaaz's face and before she could even ask him what's wrong, she heard him say out loud, more to himself to conclude the fact out of what was told to him just now by Sam,
''That means, the footage of Tuesday that we gathered, was tampered. Someone deliberately mixed old and new footage to evade suspicion and..''
''Exactly! Which means nobody is going to come from outside dude! Go and get inside right now! Whoever is the killer is inside! It isn't Joseph Kent!''
Sam concluded, and in no time, both Reyhna and Ayaaz rushed out of the car, running towards the entrance of the club.
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''Damn it! I am not able to connect to her!''
Reyhna cursed as she ran and failed to connect with Avni via the transmitter, and the duo was in for yet another shock as they finally made it to the inside of the club and called out loud,
''AVNI?!''
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''Damn it! Where is she?!!''
Reyhna ran her fingers through her hair in frustration as the table where Avni was sitting sometime ago was all empty.
.
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.
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Can someone crave daybreak a little too much?
She did.
Can someone have a cauldron of regret bubbling from within?
She did.
Can someone miss another person to infinity and beyond?
She did.
Can someone have only one phrase resonating in the back of their mind repeatedly?
She did.
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As the darkness subsided a little and she opened her eyes with a lot of difficulty, she tried hard to breathe as her head felt extremely heavy.
Her vision remained vague as everything around her appeared to be blurred and it didn't take long for her to realize that her drink had been spiked and she had lost consciousness moments ago.
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''But when push comes to shove, I am sure you will miss listening to Me, Avni Khanna!''
Her lips curved into a small smile as she recalled his words and let the gravity of everything sink in slowly.
''You were right, Neil. I miss listening to you. But more than that, I am missing you.''
She mumbled to herself as her vision got a tad bit better than earlier, and when she tried mustering her physical strength right after that, she realized her hands were tied.
.
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''Damn it!''
She cursed under her breath as she struggled to break the clutches the ropes had on her wrists, but one look at her surrounding and a chill ran down her spine.
It was a beautiful and insanely huge room, painted in ivory, with royal blue curtains adorning the French windows. There was a golden halo from a list of lava lamps placed sporadically in the space on the corners, keeping the whole ambience of the room soothing yet unusually spooky.
She tried deviating her attention back to getting rid of the ropes, but the next sight that greeted her made her halt whatever she was doing and look ahead with wide open eyes.
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''Well, well. Don't struggle too much, you beauty. You may hurt yourself. And how can I let that happen, when the honor to do so is mine?''
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Avni watched in shock as the familiar figure coldheartedly stood in front of her with a lopsided smile tugging at his lips, and she only managed to utter,
''YOU?''
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''DAMN IT!''
''WHERE THE HELL IS SHE?''
Ayaaz and Reyhna ran like maniacs along with other men from the CBI trying to locate Agent Avni, but only disappointment greeted them.
This was getting way tricky than they thought, and the first thing they commanded was to set a perimeter encompassing a huge radius from the club till the exteriors, so that nobody could go outside nor come inside.
The panic among the crowd was too much to handle, but they went ahead with the process nonetheless.
''Should I call Neil?''
Sam asked a little discreetly to avoid another thrash from his colleague, but Reyhna said, ''No! He will kill us first and then kill himself! Let's find Avni by hook or crook!''
And they went ahead, wasting not another second.
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''Steve!''
Avni enunciated his name, as she watched in shock the man, the bartender with whom she had playfully flirted to dig out details and of course get back at Neil for his arrogant ploys last week, standing in front of her with a vicious smile, all of which conveyed what kind of a cold blooded murderer he was.
''Yes, beautiful. It's lovely to see you surprised.''
He said in a low tone, but his smile remained intact as he walked closer to her and she only flinched as she repeatedly failed to get rid of the ropes holding her wrists captive.
''Didn't you have an alibi? That footage was REAL, it didn't seem edited at all! How the hell-''
Avni turned her face away, not willing to see the approaching face of the young man, a monster and asked him nonetheless, while he only replied with enthusiasm,
''I am a pro video editor, beautiful. Switching footages come in very handy to me. Easy-Peezy!''
Avni cursed her overconfidence for the first time at overlooking this man in the whole picture just because he had an alibi in the form of a video clip, which he of course tampered with and switched.
''Relax. I won't hurt you.''
''At least. Not so soon.''
He said, getting dangerously close to her, making Avni look anywhere but him, but when he asked her to look at him and she had to comply having no choice, against her will, she gasped as she saw the merchant's knife in his hand.
The murder weapon.
CONTINUED BELOW
''IT IS THE BARTENDER! HE'S THE ONLY ONE MISSING FROM THE SCENE! WE HAVE TO FIND HIM! SEARCH ALL THE FUC*ING ROOMS! GO!''
Ayaaz commanded on top of his voice as the SWAT team dispersed and went looking for the bartender, since now all the missing pieces of the jigsaw puzzle finally began coinciding and they knew exactly what they were looking for.
Ayaaz panted as he stood silent for a minute, trying to recollect his energy to solve this damn case right away, while the insides of his were only prompting,
''God save us from the wrath of Neil Khanna if something goes wrong today!''
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''Don't you dare touch me!''
She warned as he let the pointed edge of the knife, the murder weapon to be precise, wander around her temple, making her heart skip a beat and she closed her eyes.
He got close to her further, his face only inches apart from her, while Avni clenched her jaw, hoping against hope some miracle happens so that she could rip this guy to shreds in no time.
''How can I not, hmm? Do you even realize how magnificent, insanely beautiful you are?''
He said with lust embedded in his tone, while she turned her face away, trying her best to avoid anything remotely close to this asshole, but his next words only made bile rise in her throat, and she wished she could just murder this person herself.
''The previous two women weren't fun you know. Too cranky as I did them. But you.. I just want to worship your body before letting you go from this big bad world.''
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Her nerves ached with boiling anger while her jaws clenched and she cursed her fate because of her tied hands, else he would have seen the wrath of who she was.
But no constellation of stars seemed to answer her prayers today as a chill ran down her spine when she felt his fingers tugging the strap of her red dress.
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She was thoroughly horrified and tried her best to struggle by pushing him with her knees with whatever little strength she could muster, but he was too strong at the moment and too wicked to care a little about her side, as he held her neck tight showing no mercy and went on to undo the strap of her dress, making Avni scream out loud, and the next thing she knew was just a loud wrecking noise, and the words that resonated in the whole room with a deadly warning,
''CBI! DON'T MOVE!''
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Everything that followed next was a blur for her, as she watched him enter, the gun in his hands pointed at the perpetrator and she knew that instant, that she had fallen in love, all over again.
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''Upstairs! Upstairs! Search every damn room! No cheating!''
Ayaaz commanded the rest as they split and went separate ways to continue hunting down the murderer, oblivious to the fact that a lot has already started unfolding upstairs.
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''Whoa! CBI, huh? Great! But you could have come a little later, man! At least I could have ravished this beauty!''
An insane and barely affected Steve said with a lopsided grin, but he didn't know he was hitting the wrong nerve of the man, who had been in a very, very bad mood since this morning.
Yes, Neil Khanna was ANGRY.
DAMN ANGRY.
Pair that up with his frustration over his ever-inobedient wife: it was not really a very good combination.
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''Room 715! COME ON!''
Ayaaz alerted the others as he finally got a lead on where the bartender: their suspect turned convict would have taken Avni and as soon as he said that, Sam, Reyhna and the others followed him.
''STAY ALIVE, Avni. STAY ALIVE. Else your husband will himself turn into a serial killer, murdering us all at one go!''
Ayaaz muttered to himself as he ran up the stairs, but little did he know that what he was stressing so much about was already history up in Room 715.
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Neil cautiously held his gun tight as the peak of the knife rested against Avni's neck, the cold blooded psychotic murderer trying all cards of his to have things his way, as he said,
''You shoot and here this girl goes! I am very crafty with knifes, as you must be knowing by now!''
He winked, the grin not leaving his face even for a split second.
Avni watched in shock, the stringent expression on Neil's face who didn't even spare a glance at her and had his deadly glare fixated only on Steve.
She knew he wouldn't look at her, because that would weaken him and Neil Khanna was anything but weak.
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''That's better. Haha!''
Steve enjoyed his little victory as Neil lowered his gun and he smiled viciously, keeping the knife still pointed on Avni.
He looked at Neil once again and after a period of brief pause, he averred with the same amusing tone,
''Look at you! Does this girl mean something to you, buddy? More than a CBI on duty, you look like some boyfriend on duty!''
Avni looked away from him while Neil still had his unblinking gaze settled on the perpetrator.
''But never mind. How does it even matter? At least let me have a little time with her, okay mate? You can arrest me later.''
And with that he once again let his other free hand tug at the strap of Avni's dress, and the next thing that the huge walls of the room heard was only the sound of a loud gunshot, as the wicked man collapsed, and in three long strides Neil was next to Avni, who for the first time in her life, was a true damsel in distress.
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''NOBODY touches my wife!''
He gritted through his teeth as the collapsed man winced in pain, holding his leg that was bleeding due to the impact of the bullet that penetrated through it five seconds ago.
''HOLD HIM!''
Ayaaz and his team entered the spot right then and caught hold of the killer, while Reyhna looked shell shocked seeing Neil present in the room, opening the ropes that were tied around Avni's wrists.
As the SWAT Team finally disappeared with the culprit, leaving only four people behind in the room, namely, Avni, Neil, Reyhna, and Ayaaz, everyone felt the webs of deafening silence haunt them, except Neil of course, because he only had a blank expression on his face, while Avni looked at him intently, waiting for him to say something.
The other duo could already anticipate the impending burst of a time-bomb as the silent Neil Khanna, in all aspects screamed only ONE word, and that was DISASTER!
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Avni gulped in horror as she saw Neil all deadly silent and still, and as soon as her hands were finally untied, she mustered all the courage in the world to utter a few words to her apparently callous husband, but she stuttered, as she tried,
''I..I- So.. I was wrong after all, huh? You were right! It wasn't.. Wasn't the Zodiac Killer!''
She tried so hard to plaster a smile to pretend like everything was all right but failed miserably as Neil shot daggers from his eyes at her, making her feel far too vulnerable and both Reyhna and Ayaaz helplessly watched her plight.
As a matter of fact, even they couldn't utter a word seeing the spooky, silent, Khanna.
''Neil..''
Avni uttered his name with a shot of sincerity and that's when he looked at her again, this time a little softly, and keeping that as an anchor, Avni tried to be brave and uttered,
''Please say something?''
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Reyhna felt like giving the poor girl a hug seeing her beg her husband like that, and she would have done that as well, but seeing Neil's rigid face, she stopped herself.
Neil got up and gave Avni his hand to help her stand, yet he didn't speak anything, and that for Avni, was the end of her patience.
She couldn't control the lone tear that escape her eye as she averred again,
''Neil?''
And finally, the man who everybody had their eyes on spoke, in a voice barely audible, but the magnitude of it was enough to scare the wits out of everyone.
''If I was late even by a SECOND, do you realize what could have happened?''
Avni lowered her head, shuddering even at the thought of the possibility which would have very well become a living reality had her husband not reached the spot on time.
She knew he had every damn right to be angry with her, but how could she tell him that all she was craving for at this moment was the warmth of his arms, the peace of his embrace.
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Neil Khanna on the other hand could take anything and everything in the world, except seeing her sad face, and the moment he saw her tears, it was his undoing.
He needed to really, really chastise her for her so-called bravery and taking everything in this case so trivially, wherein she crossed all extents of sheer stupidity and would have gotten herself raped as well as killed.
Even the thought of that scenario pulled him back to the dark zones in his head, where he didn't want to wander, because come what may, he would always rip anyone limb to limb, whoever dared to even lay their eyes on his wife.
And so, he straightened himself and with a stern expression, pulled Avni closer to him by her waist, his fingers digging into her skin possessively yet protectively, while she held on to him for support, and when she thought it would get better now, she heard him warn,
''Wait till we go home, Mrs. Khanna. You have some serious explaining to do and need to be taught some lessons.''
She gulped.
Ayaaz and Reyhna looked at each other awkwardly, not entirely sure how to cool down the situation between the much in love yet at loggerheads couple.
Avni knew that tonight she wasn't going to be spared and so the next best thing she thought of was pulling another stunt and hence, she faked an enthusiastic tone, looking at Ayaaz and Reyhna as she said,
''You guys! Why don't you come to our place tonight? We can have the ritualistic case-closing pizza party tonight itself instead of having it at office tomorrow, right?''
She was not in her senses, else she would have been herself shocked to see how insanely childish she sounded when she said that, and before she could even wait to hear a response from the other duo, Neil swiped her off her feet, picking her in his arms at one go, while she struggled to get down, but his clutch was way too tight for her to escape, and Ayaaz and Reyhna couldn't help but laugh at that sight despite the palpable situation.
''Neil, get me down! NEIL! I swear I am going to scream!''
''As if that's going to stop me!''
''WTH? Are you crazy?!''
''YES! YOU have made me CRAZY! So just SHUT UP!''
And saying that he disappeared carrying the damsel in distress, aka his wife, while all Reyhna and Ayaaz could do was laugh like crazy.
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It was only after two minutes passed that Reyhna was the first one to speak,
''Poor Avni!''
''LOL. Yeah!''
Ayaaz replied quickly.
''It must be some day today! After all she admitted that she was wrong!''
''Like she had a choice!''
Ayaaz reverted, making Reyhna smile childishly.
''No wonder Neil was here way before us, and we thought he was showing attitude and deliberately didn't show up after his tiff with Avni in the morning.''
''Well, like I said, sometimes men aren't that expressive. Doesn't mean they don't care.''
Ayaaz reasoned and Reyhna could only nod.
.
''So case closed!''
She said with a deep sigh.
''Yeah! Looks like it! But we're yet to catch the Zodiac Killer!''
Ayaaz averred, fixing his spikes.
''God knows when that would happen! Here we thought we almost had a lead on the 40 year old Zodiac Killer but it turned out to be a 25 year old amateur, fangirling over the ZK's moves.''
Reyhna said at one go making Ayaaz look at her as he answered,
''Yeah! We gotta wait till we interrogate this douchebag to learn where he's coming from. Don't know if he is just a fangirl of the ZK or indeed has some connection with that psycho!''
''Hmm''
She replied, all distracted.
When he saw Reyhna still looking at the direction where the one-of-a kind couple had just disappeared, he couldn't help asking her,
''What are you thinking?''
.
As if pulled out from a trance, she looked at Ayaaz as she smiled to herself and said, ''It would be so weird and difficult right? To live such a dual life like they do? Avni and Neil I mean. Fighting all the time and then living with that same person, who you are also in love with. It is so, so unusual.''
Ayaaz chuckled as he nodded in affirmation at her theory, and averred,
''Well, yes. You are right. But then, there's a silver lining too.''
Reyhna quirked her brows as he said that and turned to look at him, asking him, ''What?'' while he shook his head and added with a grin on his face,
''Make up sex!''
.
.
Reyhna's mouth flung open as a reflex as she heard that, which lasted only for a second as she rolled her eyes, and Ayaaz added, ''What? It's true you know! Do you imagine how freaking amazing sex life they would have? Fighting all the time during work, and making up all for it, in the bedroom! Way to go the IT couple of California!''
Ayaaz was full of enthusiasm as he said that, and for a change, even Reyhna chuckled at this theory of his, which even she knew was very true, courtesy, the innumerous love bites she had often spotted on Avni at work place.
The reminder of that made her chuckle all the more, and that was a sight, which as usual become a favorite frame for Ayaaz.
And so, he said,
''Even we could have followed suit you know.''
As soon as she heard him say that, she rolled her eyes, getting back into her original demeanour and shooting one look at him, she left the room, but not before uttering, ''Stop dreaming!''
.
The drive to home was quiet, where Neil had his eyes only on the road while Avni had her eyes only on him.
She knew it quite well that her husband was completely right today to be angry on her, and with another fact that he wasn't aware of yet, she felt all the more guilty and chided herself for pulling off a stunt like that to solve the case.
It was pitch dark, except for the street lights that were on, a little away from their house, when she heard the car screech to a halt as Neil hit the brakes.
Avni wanted to step inside the house with him with a good mood. It was not in her nature to let anything negative go on for so long, and when it came to Neil, she needed things to be back to normal right away.
It had been a minute that he had stopped the car yet none of them opened the door to step out. It was as if both were waiting for the other to say something, but no one spoke.
The silence was so palpable that for a second Avni felt like she was dreaming, but then she knew all of this was real. And so, mustering some courage she tried to search for some words to say what she wanted to, but her struggle remained incomplete as a surprise greeted her, when she heard Neil's voice.
'I could have lost you today.''
His voice was bereft of all the anger, arrogance, that would often be blended with his tone whenever he spoke of something related to work.
At present, it only conveyed how terribly hurt he was, and that's exactly how he sounded, making Avni feel all the more guilty.
Normally she always had something to revert with whenever Neil said something, be it in their professional life or personal, but now she felt like she was a little too tongue-tied as no words came from her mouth, though she wanted to say something.
'Do you even know Avni how was I feeling when I realized the footage was edited and that the killer was actually inside?''
A lone tear trickled down his cheek as he said that, and it panged Avni's heart to see him like this, and so without wasting another second she held his hand tightly, caressing it with her fingers.
She should have known that he was constantly keeping a tab on her and the progress with this case, no matter what he acted like in the morning. She should have known.
But alas, in her constant trail of just getting done with the mission, even she didn't realize how much she had ended up risking today, including her own life.
'This was the LAST time Avni. Next time, I am NOT letting you go undercover or pull stunts like these in ANY case, whatsoever.''
He stated with authority.
They had never interfered with each other's work, and that had been their ethic since day one that they professed their love to each other over a year ago.
But today, when he saw her be so close to death and futility, he couldn't help the husband instincts in him overpower his rationale.
When he realized what he had said to her, he lifted his gaze to look at her face, waiting for her to retort, for whenever they had had a discussion remotely close to him refusing her to take cases like these, she had always gone against him and fought back saying she would do what she wanted to, because she was an agent first and a wife later.
But today, even he was in for a surprise when he saw her look at him silently, not rebelling against him verbally for what he proposed, and when he thought maybe it was just the momentary guilt stopping her from saying it, he was in for another surprise as he heard her say in a voice barely audible,
'Hmm. I won't. I promise.''
Was it really his wife beside him he was speaking to or was he dreaming?
Neil thought to pinch himself to believe she was saying what she said for real, and before he could actually do that, he heard her say,
'Neil.. I am taking a break from work from next month.''
His brows furrowed as he registered her words, and it instantly evoked two reactions from within him.
The first was a pleasant surprise and the second was.. guilt?
He knew she deserved to be grounded for whatever she did today, but a part of him also felt guilty of saying so much to her after the fiasco happened. He felt like he went a little overboard with his words scolding her, which made an insane workaholic like her make up her mind to quit her job all of a sudden.
But what he didn't realize was, there was as usual something more to this story, just like most of their cases. And so, Neil Khanna had hardly anticipated this already adventurous day to get a tad bit more adventurous, but it happened nonetheless as he heard his wife say the next second,
'I am six weeks pregnant, Neil. I found out today. We are having a baby.''
.
Avni's heart skipped a beat as she finally let that weight off her chest and told him what she had been willing to tell him from the morning since she found out and had a quick check-up with her gynecologist.
But never had she expected she would have to tell him the biggest news of their lives in this situation.
All she had wished for since the morning was to get done with the case asap, so that she could get back to her husband, be in his arms, and tell him that a little wonder was on its way into their lives, but man proposes and god disposes!
She was extremely apprehensive inside the car, for she knew he would blast her if he came to know she took all these risks knowing how dangerous it was for their baby who was so tiny and growing inside of her, but truth be told, she didn't even think it would come down to the point it did.
.
And now as she waited with bated breath to hear a huge lash out come from him, Mrs. Avni Neil Khanna was in for yet another shock for the night as what she got instead was something that overwhelmed her right away.
She was pulled into a bone-crushing hug by her husband, as he held her tightly against his chest, whispering sweet nothings into her ears, and at that very moment, she couldn't hold her tears anymore.
She had expected him to shout at her, scold her again, but her husband knew better than that, as he caressed her intently, and whispered softly into her ear, 'As much as I hated the whole of today, you gave me a reason to love it, cherish it forever. Thank you. Thank you for giving me the best gift after yourself.''
Avni smiled through her tears as he said that.
It was after a minute when he pulled back from the hug, cupping her face between his hands, as he added,
'Though you still deserve another round of reality check for putting not just yourself but my little baby in danger too, that can wait till tomorrow.''
Avni chuckled at his honest confession but her laugh didn't last longer as he claimed her lips, his own eyes mist by the happiest news that they both rejoiced in, and Avni couldn't stop herself from running her fingers through his hair, pulling him all the more close.
There was no place like home.
And being in his embrace was her home.
.
As Ayaaz stood there silently, still smiling to himself at the new development, where for a change Reyhna had finally started warming up to him by smiling at his jokes after a long time, he prayed fervently that their ''at loggerheads'' status at work could someday change into something more than that besides work too.
Just like it had, for Avni and Neil, over one year ago.
And as if on cue, his phone vibrated instantly, indicating an incoming message, and as soon as he opened it, a jolt of shock hit him like a thunderstorm, as the message read,
''Dinner at my place, tomorrow. 8 PM Sharp.
-Reyhna.''
**
THE END.
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