Chapter 10:
"What's going on with him?" David asked Geet looking at Maan's retreating back.
"I have no idea." Geet said with a sigh. "Is this..?" She asked David waving a file.
"Yes, you can take it," David said. "Make sure his team gets it, will you?" He said.
Geet nodded and walked out of the lab.
She was surprised to see that neither Maan nor his jeep was anywhere in sight. She frowned at the absence of both and wondered what raided Maan's mind to make him forget that he had a ride. She sighed and hailed a cab. She still had work to finish and she intended to do so before she picked up on the case again.
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"He stormed out of ME's office today morning leaving Geet stranded in middle of a discussion. She hasn't seen or heard from him since," Emily said switching off her phone. "She asked us if we can meet her at her apartment after an hour. She has the report David gave her this morning and she wants to brainstorm if we are available. What do you think?" Emily asked Satya.
"Let's go. We are finished here anyway. I don't think he will be back today," Satya said picking a handful of files.
"Does he get this moody often?" Emily asked once they were seated in jeep.
"The things we see get to us Emily, maybe not always but there are certain cases that rake up the most vulnerable part of us and strip us of our strength and sanity. There was this one time when we were investigating triple homicide and the way the little girls were laid out haunted me for a very long time. ACP realized what the case was doing to me so he allocated me to a different case giving some wooly reasons in his report. I guess seeing a parent and child die is his undoing," Satya said leaning on the window.
Sun had set and the evening breeze carried the salt of the ocean. He felt exhaustion of the week gnawing at his bones and he wondered how Emily had the energy to drive after a very long day.
"How are you not exhausted?" Satya asked her as she deftly navigated through the busy evening traffic.
"I was in anti-terror cell Satya and the work hours were much worse. But the grand prize for utmost emotional turmoil and disgust for humanity belongs to ACP Maan's department." She replied wryly. Satya chuckled at that.
"I am surprised how you are taking all of it," he said looking at the brightly lit lights next to ocean.
"I think I can compartmentalize better than most people," she shrugged. They were quiet for several moments. "How long have you known Geet?" She asked.
"I have known her for six years now. She was a doctoral student finishing on her thesis when she worked her first case with us. Since then it has been on-off relationship between her and the police department."
"When do you ask for her consult? Is there a specific protocol involved?" Emily asked.
"We generally call her when the violence of the crime is extreme. Sometimes she is brought in much later when the crimes start following a pattern or when the suspect pool is so large that she applies behavioral aspects to the pool to short list it. It's really case by case basis," Satya replied.
"So Maan takes the final call?"
"Mostly, he does."
"Why does everyone call her Geet and not Dr. Geet or Dr. Handa?" Emily asked one thing that was eating her mind for a while.
"She prefers it that way. ACP annoys her by calling her Dr. Geet and she prefers her title to be used in court or when she is being introduced to others. At least that's the pattern I have seen," Satya said. Satya closed his eyes and sunk himself in old Rafi songs playing in the radio amidst the continual static of police radio.
"We are here," Emily said and hopped out of the jeep.
"Emily. Satya."
The two turned around to see Maan walking towards them. Maan was dressed casually and didn't look least bit disturbed.
"I spoke to Geet and came to know that you two were coming," Maan said nodding at Emily. He didn't offer any further explanation. The authoritative edge in his voice stopped them from asking anything further. They simply walked together towards their common destination.
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"Thanks for the dinner Geet," Satya said helping her remove dishes and plates. Geet simply smiled at him and led him to the kitchen. Maan and Emily were setting up evidence and timeline board in Geet's study while Geet and Satya were cleaning up after early supper.
"It had been a while since we did this, yes?" Geet asked soaking soiled plates in sink. Satya gently pushed her away from sink and started on the dishes as she put on coffee, amused.
"Have you spoken to him?" Satya asked softly. Geet froze. "If the word gets out about his behavior during investigation, it will not be good Geet. There are too many people waiting to see him fail. One misstep from him and all of us will be pulled off from this case," Satya continued. Geet didn't respond.
"I really hope you talk to him Geet – as his shrink or a friend I don't care. I just don't any old wounds to be reopened. It won't be good for him." Satya said and placed the washed dishes neatly on counter. Geet sighed and agreed softly.
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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