Naye Rishte
The ETF office buzzed with an unusual energy that morning. The scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air as Riya sat at her desk, her eyes darting toward the entrance every few seconds. She fiddled with the pen in her hand, her lips curved into a small smile, trying to contain her excitement. Today was special—no longer would she be the lone female member in the male-dominated team. Four new women were joining the ETF, and the prospect of female company filled her with an unfamiliar giddiness.
She glanced at Shree, who was busy typing away on his laptop, muttering to himself about a corrupted data file. She knew he was secretly more interested in the arrival of a certain forensic expert than his data analysis. Chotu sat nearby, already making plans in his head about the new lunchboxes he could sneak a bite from. Sameer Rathore, their ever-stoic Chief, stood in his cabin, glancing through the glass walls, his arms crossed over his chest. And Arjun… well, he was Arjun. The brooding, impenetrable ACP sat at his desk, polishing his gun with his usual indifference, as though the arrival of four new officers was just another event to him.
The door opened, and the room stilled momentarily.
In walked Dr. Liza D’Cruz, her dark brown hair falling in waves over her shoulders. Dressed in a maroon blouse and black jeans, she carried herself with a confident yet easygoing aura. Her sharp eyes scanned the room, immediately locking onto Shree, who, despite his best effort, couldn’t stop staring. A mischievous smirk tugged at her lips as she walked past him without a word, causing him to blink rapidly and pretend to look busy.
Behind her was Inspector Ayesha Kapoor—tall, lean, and oozing authority. She wore fitted cargo pants and a black tank top beneath her leather jacket. Her dark eyes swept the room with calculative precision, and her expression was nothing short of intimidating. Riya’s smile faltered slightly at the sight of her. She’d heard about Ayesha—the fearless undercover cop with a flawless record. Her colleagues often described her as the perfect officer—sharp, methodical, and incredibly skilled. A small pang of insecurity pricked Riya’s chest.
Next came Dr. Chhaya Sinha, the new forensic expert. She wore a white blouse with a knee-length beige skirt, her straightened hair neatly tucked behind her ears. She appeared reserved, her eyes calm and observant, but there was a playful glimmer in her gaze as she spotted Sameer Rathore. She gave him a subtle, appreciative once-over, her lips curving into an amused smile before she proceeded further.
And finally, Sakshi Anand, the crime journalist, entered. She was dressed casually in fitted jeans and a sleeveless blue kurti, her long hair flowing freely. Her eyes gleamed with curiosity, and she carried herself with a carefree confidence. The moment she spotted Arjun, her eyes sparkled mischievously, and her lips curled into a slow, challenging smile. Riya’s eyes narrowed slightly, already disliking the audacity in her gaze.
“Namaste, sabko,” Sakshi announced cheerily, her voice light and confident. “Main hoon Sakshi Anand. Crime journalist. Aur… umm… aap sab ETF wale itne serious kyun lag rahe ho? Crime solve karne mein smile karne se mana kiya hai kya?”
Shree snorted, earning a glare from Arjun.
Sameer walked forward, introducing the team and briefing the new members about their roles. As he spoke, Riya caught herself watching Arjun’s reaction. His eyes remained on Ayesha, who listened intently, her jaw firm, posture straight. Riya’s chest tightened slightly. She knew it was absurd, but the way Arjun seemed to acknowledge Ayesha’s disciplined demeanour pricked at her.
***
The next few days passed in a blur. The ETF office was now livelier with the presence of the new women. Liza and Shree’s long-standing rivalry flared up instantly. Their constant banter filled the lab with sarcastic remarks and not-so-subtle flirtations.
“Shree, tumne mere test results clear kiye ya apni coding ki galtiyaan likhi?” Liza taunted, leaning over his desk.
Shree’s eyes narrowed. “Tum forensic expert ho ya stand-up comedian? Tumhare jokes sunke muje lagta hai forensic science ko chhod ke comic writing try karo.”
“Tumhare programming skills dekh ke mujhe lagta hai tumhe coding chhod ke roadside pakode bechne chahiye.”
Chotu, sitting nearby, burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, Chhaya, though subtle, enjoyed casually flirting with Sameer. She often complimented his leadership skills or his sharp instincts during briefings. Her eyes lingered on him a little longer than necessary, and she would occasionally brush against him ‘accidentally’ during cases.
“Sameer sir,” she teased one day, tilting her head, “aapka focus kitna sharp hai. Ek second ke liye bhi concentration nahi todte… impressive.”
Sameer arched a brow, unaffected. “Zimmedaari samajhne waale log distractions pe dhyan nahi dete.”
But Riya didn’t miss the amused twitch of his lips.
Ayesha, on the other hand, seemed almost detached from the casual flirting and office humor. She remained stoic and focused, easily gaining Arjun’s respect. She matched his intensity and discipline during cases, making Riya feel a tinge of inadequacy.
However, it was Sakshi who truly tested Riya’s patience. The journalist was unapologetically bold with Arjun. She didn’t hesitate to call him ‘Arjun’ with a teasing lilt in her voice or lean in a little too close during briefings.
“Arjun,” Sakshi purred one day, resting her chin on her palm while sitting next to him. “Tum hamesha itne serious kyun rehte ho? Kabhi chill nahi karte?”
Arjun shot her a glare, clearly unimpressed. “Mujhe kaam karne do, Sakshi.”
“Kaam ke saath thoda fun bhi zaroori hota hai, Mr. Serious,” she added, batting her lashes.
Riya, watching from afar, clenched her jaw. The way Sakshi shamelessly flirted with Arjun under the pretense of light banter made her blood simmer. She bit her lower lip, forcing herself to focus on her paperwork instead of Sakshi’s audacity.
***
One afternoon, the entire team gathered in the break room for lunch. The table was overflowing with different dishes. With more women in the team, the lunch spread had expanded significantly, much to Chotu’s delight.
“Bhai, aaj toh swaarg mil gaya!” Chotu declared, stuffing his mouth with paratha. “Pehle sirf Riya ka tiffin milta tha, ab chaar-chaar delicacies!”
Riya chuckled, shaking her head. “Tum bas khane mein interest rakhte ho, Chotu.”
Liza’s Goan curry competed with Chhaya’s homemade Gujarati thepla, while Ayesha’s spicy chicken curry challenged Riya’s pasta. Sakshi, meanwhile, ordered pizza, stating that cooking wasn’t her forte.
“Pizza?” Arjun asked dryly, raising a brow. “Tum journalist ho ya college ki student?”
Sakshi grinned impishly. “College ki student hoon… dil se.”
Everyone chuckled, except Riya, who found Sakshi’s flirtatious grin directed at Arjun particularly grating.
***
Over the next few weeks, the ETF became more dynamic, filled with new bonds, subtle rivalries, and blossoming friendships. Riya, despite her initial insecurities, grew fond of the other women. She found a confidante in Liza, who shared her sense of humor and mischievous streak. Though she occasionally felt a spark of jealousy toward Ayesha and Sakshi, she slowly embraced the new family she had gained.
As the sun set over the ETF office, Riya sat with Liza, Ayesha, and Chhaya on the balcony, laughing at Shree and Chotu’s bickering. Arjun stood nearby, watching quietly, his lips curling into an almost imperceptible smile.
The ETF was no longer just a team—it was a family. A chaotic, messy, but deeply connected family.
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
Cricket
16