Summary: Arjun seeks help for his PTSD and Sakshi comes to know about it.
~~~
It started with a serial killer. The thing was that Arjun knew it would happen. He wasn’t unknown to his fear. But he also couldn’t just trust his team with it. Such information couldn’t be left out there, especially if he wanted to keep this job.
A killer was running around the city, murdering sex workers in the middle of the night. He caused a great fear in the minds of the people living there and the ETF team was working hard to catch him. The investigation led to an abandoned factory where the killer buried his victims. Then it was found out that it was a man named Manav Singhania. The ETF team reached the factory late in the night to catch Manav. Arjun was hiding in one corner alone while the other members of his team were scattered in the whole factory. By his luck, Manav walked in his direction and Arjun was quick enough to tackle him on the ground. Manav was not less skilled though, as he quickly took out his knife and swung his arm, almost slashing at Arjun’s face.
Arjun fell back, taken aback by the knife being so close. This should not happen, he hadn’t experienced this in some time. But something about the knife gleaming under the light got him. It reminded him of that fateful night his wife was taken away from him. His breathing quickened and his eyes widened. The killer smirked and went for another swing, this time slashing Arjun’s right arm. The pain only worsened his panic and if it wasn’t for Rathor jumping in time and hitting the killer at the back of his head, Arjun would have sustained more dangerous wounds. The cut on his arm was deep enough that it would require stitches and when his other team members arrived they were shocked too. Sakshi, as usual, panicked a little and took off her chunni to tie around his arm. That would slow down the bleeding a bit. Normally, when Sakshi was like this, Arjun would scold her or refuse her help. But this time he let her help him because he was out of his mind too.
2 weeks later
Sakshi came to the office with her usual flare. She got Arjun his chai and got herself coffee. After his knife-killer fiasco, she had unconsciously started keeping a closer eye on him. She knew she wasn’t responsible for him but she couldn’t help himself and care for him. The thing was, since that Manav Singhania case, she had noticed something very different about Arjun. It seemed whatever happened with the knife killer shocked him to the core. He would sometimes stare at his now bandaged wound. After that incident, Sameer had called him to his office. No one knows what was said between them, but Arjun seemed resigned after that conversation.
She walked past his office’s window just to get a glimpse of him. She expected him to be brooding or checking a case file. But what she saw shocked her. Arjun was at his table, the door to his office was closed. But he was also bent a little as if to hide behind his desk. Sakshi narrowed her eyes, she knew she shouldn’t spy on him like this but her concern overpowered her ethics. Her gut feeling was proven right when Arjun took out a tablet strip from his bag and took one tablet from it.
Sakshi was confused. Looking at the strip the medicine could be for anything and her mind immediately went to drugs. But Arjun wasn’t that kind of a guy. So what medicines was he taking?
She quickly ran away before Arjun caught her. Soon in the conference room, the meeting started. Sakshi could pay attention during the whole meeting.
A week went by after that incident and Sakshi noted even more things. One time when Arjun was dropping her home she saw a reminder notification on his phone about some medicine. Also, Arjun looked a little sleepy too, even though he was always alert even after working on a case for three days straight.
But, he also looked less angry than before and his brooding was getting less. On Monday he disappeared from the ETF headquarters for two hours and though the entire team was worried Sameer seemed nonchalant about it.
Sakshi suspected Sameer knew what was going on with Arjun because if he didn’t he would have been very angry at his second-in-command for disappearing from the office without telling anyone.
She was with Ayesha at her desk when she told her about her concerns.
“Ayesha, don’t you think something is going on with Arjun? He looks so calm it’s almost frightening.”
Ayesha nodded, “I was thinking when you will ask.”
Sakshi sighed, “I am just worried, you know.”
Ayesha smiled, “I know, but I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Hmm.”
~~~
A month went by and Sakshi only got more curious. Arjun would sometimes take his medicines even in the car before his team joined him for their next destination. Then he would disappear for two hours from the office every week.
One day Sakshi’s curiosity got the better of her and she gave it a chance when she was alone with Sameer and Ayesha in the ETF SUV.
“What has happened to Arjun, I have never seen him leave his work behind and disappear every week.” She said sarcastically, knowing that Sameer wouldn’t answer if she showed concern.
“Nothing, he has got more important things than his job.” Sameer scoffed but Sakshi could sense he was pointedly not answering her question. Even if Sameer and Arjun disliked each other they would still look out for the other.
So Sakshi decided she would find out her way. Later that day she entered Arjun’s office exactly at the time he took his medicine.
“Arjun, here is the report you asked for.” she walked in with a file which didn’t have any useful information.
Arjun startled a bit as he kept the medicine strip on his table.
“What are you doing here Sakshi?” he asked, annoyed.
“I just told you, the report.”
Arjun shook his head, “now that you know I am taking medications, are you satisfied?”
Sakshi’s eyes widened, “Arjun, I…”
“That’s it, Sakshi, I know you won’t stop snooping around until you know and for the past month you have been trying so hard. So I will just tell you. I am taking antidepressants prescribed by my psychiatrists and I go for therapy sessions every week.”
Sakshi was dumbstruck, this was not something she was expecting, “really?”
Arjun raised an eyebrow at her and Sakshi got the message, “Okay, got it. I won’t ask anymore.
Arjun sighed, “Good.”
Sakshi went away with worry etched on her face.
Was Arjun doing so badly that he needed to take anti-depressants? He had been through a lot though. First, he lost his wife in such a traumatic manner and now he was taking up dangerous tasks in the ETF. It must be a lot for his mental health. There were times when he would stay in the ETF office till late. Other times, whenever Sameer would call him in the morning Arjun would tell how he didn’t sleep a wink the previous night. Maybe his trauma was getting the better of him and he did look a bit better ever since he started his therapy. She didn’t tell this to the rest of the team as she didn’t want to disrespect Arjun, but slowly all of them came to know it anyway. They were all good detectives after all. But they were also worried as usual and Shree even questioned if Arjun was fit to work as a second in command of ETF.
Then one day when Arjun was away at one of his sessions, Sameer addressed the rest of the team.
“Guys, I know by now all of you know what Rawte is up to, and I want you all to be respectful. I don’t want him to stop and start putting our team in danger again just because you all couldn’t stop questioning his ability to handle his work.”
The team looked a bit ashamed for talking about their boss’ mental health like that, but after Sameer’s lecture, they started seeing it in a new light. Arjun sir was extremely hurt and after so long he was getting the help he needed. So the team didn’t have any right to question him. That night when everyone had gone back home and Sakshi was left alone in the office she requested Arjun to drop her at her place. He did, rather reluctantly. There was an awkward silence between them as usual. Sakshi knew she should say something. It was unfair of her and the rest of the team to not take his condition seriously. So when Arjun stopped the SUV in front of her apartment building, Sakshi got down and addressed him.
“Arjun, I am sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. You were forced to tell me about your…condition because of me. I am sorry for crossing your boundaries.” she said, giving him the biggest puppy eyes.
Arjun gave her a look but eventually scoffed and shook his head, “It doesn’t matter, it would’ve been out one way or another. Everyone there is a brilliant detective after all.”
Sakshi nodded, “what you are doing is amazing. I have seen people from my field and even yours too who don’t acknowledge they need such help. The team supports you in this. Please understand that.”
Arjun looked at her again, expressionless but his eyes showed gratitude. Sakshi smiled at him before going back to her apartment.
aur yeh arjun se kaise chhutega
Bindi
Udne Ki Aasha
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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