A Crime-Filled Valentine Begins
The ETF office bustled with its usual air of urgency. Files flipped, computers hummed, and agents scurried around, focused on their latest case. Amid the serious atmosphere, a subtle yet unusual sight caught the attention of the team. A delicate red rose lay atop Riya Mukherjee’s desk, its petals fresh and dewy, as if just plucked from a garden. A small, folded note accompanied it, the handwriting unfamiliar.
Riya, who had just walked in with a stack of case files, halted in her tracks as her eyes landed on the flower. Her brows furrowed slightly, a mix of confusion and curiosity flashing in her warm brown eyes. She picked up the note and read it aloud in a hushed voice:
"Kisi ne kaha tha, gulab sirf mohabbat ka paighaam nahi hota… kabhi kabhi chhupaye hue jazbaat bhi bayan kar deta hai."
A soft pink hue crept onto her cheeks, but she quickly schooled her expression.
Shree, seated nearby, leaned forward with a teasing smirk. “Aha! Riya, yeh kya hai? Koi secret admirer?”
Chotu whistled lightly, grinning. “Batao, batao! Kaun hai jo ETF ki Riya Madam ko roses bhej raha hai?”
Riya rolled her eyes, pretending to be unaffected. “Come on, guys! Yeh kisi ka prank bhi toh ho sakta hai.” But despite her denial, she couldn’t help but glance around, as if searching for a clue.
Just then, Arjun Rawte walked into the office, his sharp gaze immediately locking onto the scene. Dressed in his signature black attire, his aura commanded attention. His eyes flickered from the rose to Riya’s slightly flustered expression before narrowing.
“Yeh kya ho raha hai?” His deep, no-nonsense voice cut through the air.
Shree grinned, unable to resist. “Sir, kisi ne Riya ko Rose Day par ek pyaara sa gulab bheja hai. Kya romantic hai na?”
Arjun’s jaw tensed. His hands, which were casually resting in his pockets, clenched ever so slightly. He turned to Riya, his gaze unreadable. “Kisne bheja?” His voice was calm, but there was an underlying edge.
Riya, caught off guard by his directness, fumbled for words. “W-whoever it is, unhone naam nahi likha.” She held up the note as proof.
Arjun took the paper from her, scanning the words. His brows drew together. Something about this didn’t sit right with him. He wasn’t the kind of man who cared for trivial things like Valentine’s week, but the idea of someone sending Riya a rose—without revealing themselves—stirred something within him. Was it admiration, or was it something else entirely?
He exhaled, handing the note back to her. “Yeh zaroori nahi hai ki yeh sirf ek admiration ho. ETF ke kisi officer ko bina naam ke cheezein bhejna ek concern bhi ho sakta hai.” His voice was laced with subtle protectiveness, though he masked it well.
Riya huffed, crossing her arms. “Sir, ek gulab hai. Isme itni badi investigation ki kya zaroorat?”
His eyes darkened slightly as he took a step closer. “Agar tumhe kuch hota toh? Tumhe nahi pata duniya kitni dangerous hai, Riya.” His voice had dropped to a softer timbre, but the intensity remained.
For a second, Riya was taken aback by the sheer sincerity in his words. Her heart gave an unfamiliar thud, but she quickly dismissed the fluttering feeling. “Sir, main ETF ki officer hoon. Mujhe khud ki suraksha ka pata hai,” she countered, though her voice wasn’t as firm as she wanted it to be.
Shree and Chotu exchanged knowing glances. The tension between their chief and Riya was undeniable.
Just then, Rathore strode in, breaking the moment. “Arjun, ek naye case ki report aayi hai. Team, conference room mein chalo.”
Riya exhaled in relief, eager to move on from the conversation. As the team dispersed, she hesitated before picking up the rose and tucking it inside her drawer.
But what she didn’t notice was Arjun’s fleeting glance toward it. A look that held more than just curiosity.
As the day progressed, the case took precedence, but somewhere in the back of their minds, both Arjun and Riya couldn’t shake off the mystery of the rose.
Who had sent it?
And why did it bother Arjun more than it should have?
---
This was just the beginning of a Valentine’s week that neither of them was prepared for.
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