If I am what I have, and if I lose what I have, who, then, am I?
-German psychologist Erich Fromm.
The quiet footsteps echoed in the hallway of the apartment in the dead of night. The figure's feet halted near the door of apartment 221 B, a key appearing and glinting in air as it inserted into the lock. A feminine hand turned the handle once, and about to push the door ahead, when it froze.
A second later, a male voice spoke up to give away his presence, "Are you avoiding me, Ri?"
The female turned around slowly with her fingers still on the handle, a deer caught in headlights look in her eyes as she faced him.
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Chotu's face smacked down on the mat as he let out a groan, "Time's up. Time's up."
Riya laughed at his face with a smug look, offering her hand which the man took, after rolling on his back. He got on his feet, cracking his neck as he prepared himself for another round.
"Again?" Shree asked skeptically, making him shoot a look at the latter.
"You were saying time's up." Riya said, even as she circled around him. He shrugged.
"Last try."
Less than five minutes later he was on his face and groaning.
"I am done. I swear." He mumbled. Shree snorted and even a glare from him could not stop him. Slowly, he rolled and sat on the mat, hugging his knees near his frame as he put both arms around them. Meanwhile, Riya took a water bottle from the nearby bench and gulped down half water at once, feeling Arjun's eyes on her all the time yet giving away nothing.
Sameer took a step forward, a smirk on his mouth yet his eyes were calculating. She raised an eyebrow.
"Wanna step ahead?"
"Oh, I love my bones." He replied, making her chuckle.
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Sakshi spoke for the first time, somewhat horrified and more weary of the ACP than usual. The former shrugged, gulping down a mouthful of water, wiping a streak of water from her jaw, setting down the bottle.
"I had a teacher." She answered, then added, "And Youtube."
"Do you even know what YT is?" Sameer mocked. She gave him a look.
"Hey, I may not be a Hacker, but can surf Internet just fine."
"This teacher must be assassin of something." Chotu spoke up, exhaling a breath. Her lips twisted upward.
"You have no idea." She drawled.
Director Kapoor joined the group after a while, eyeing them all and giving a nod to each of them. Chotu stood up on his feet with lightning fast speed, making Sakshi blink.
"Good to find you all here." She eyed Chotu and Riya, "Freshen up. We have work to do."
Chotu started to move immediately, Riya following, murmuring under her breath, "Yes Mom."
"I heard that." Aisha replied back, rolling her eyes.
In the Private meeting room adjacent to Director's cabin the team met some reputed Scientist of the country who were researching in the field of Germ-ology, under the wing of a Multimillion dollar company who sent their pack of lawyers to ensure not even the name of company doesn't get out. They raised an eyebrow at Sakshi after listening to her job details, politely yet sternly telling Aisha to show the former woman out. One look from Aisha and Sakshi was out of room, amusing the team mates.
3 hour long meeting yet the summery of the case was quite simple - this company's R&D had an ambitious project which was going on for 4 years. They hired reputed scientists from India and outside of country and recently, 1 month ago, had a breakthrough. They were fully prepared to go ahead for the next level when they had a security breach at the R&D facility, which, from the blueprint and security details of it, sounded like a fort. The subject, a genetically modified germ, was gone.
The company doesn't fear, as much, their rival getting their hands on the subject, as the germ getting out in atmosphere. Apparently this level they recently finished, is the most dangerous phase. They had some long term planning for it and this level is the antithesis of those plans. One of the bad stuff the germ can do, as one of the scientist after 20 minutes long lecture filled with diagrams and etymology the team had never heard of explained, is poisoning the water of the dam near the city so bad that half the population can die instantly after consuming that. And the water will be impossible to purify, or use, even after a decade.
"What exactly were you planning to do with the germ?" Sameer asked, flabbergasted after the scientist was done, "If this is the antithesis of your plan, what was your ultimate plan? Mass destruction?" He could not stop himself.
The scientist fixed his glasses awkwardly, the action making Chotu shoot a look toward Shree which he returned with a glare. A lawyer from the company answered them.
"No offense, Officer, but you have no business in knowing so." The female lawyer looked at the Director, "The only thing our company hope to achieve after the failure on it's part is to get our hands on the subject. If it falls in the hand of dangerous people, they may very well use it for mass destruction." She glanced at Sameer.
"You said the subject is in a solid form." Arjun addressed to one of senior scientist, who nodded at him. "Can you elaborate further?"
"I can, but the short form will be this." The old man replied, his gruffness reminding him of Raghu sir when he recently graced them with his presence, "It looks like blue color pills. Like contraceptive pills."
Shree awkwardly cleared his throat and looked away.
"You saying the weapon of mass destruction looks like blue contraceptive pills?" Riya asked, incredulous, as Aisha sighed and Arjun looked away, mirth lurking in his eyes.
The man shrugged, "It was supposed to be a temporary camouflage until we had the final product at hand."
The team was in the hallway near discussion room after the meeting was over when they started simultaneously.
"A pill?!" Sameer exclaimed, "Oh God, I am never having another pill in my life."
"How they know it's the germ which is stolen and, you know, not actual pills?" Chotu asked awkwardly.
"I am sure any female knows better than to keep contraceptive pills in their work desk." Riya replied dryly, then paused, "I mean, they should." Then she glanced at Aisha, "Is not it?"
Aisha didn't bother to reply.
"If every scientist was thoroughly checked and cleared, and no cleaning staff was allowed near testing area, how on Earth it was stolen?" Arjun asked after a while.
"Thank you Rawte for the sensible question." Aisha glared at Sameer- Riya, "You proved once again why you are the Second-in-Command."
He flushed and looked away.
Sakshi jumped on their throat as soon as they got inside the discussion room. Shree-Chotu hurriedly supplied her info, and when they finished, she grinned cheekily at Aisha.
"Don't even think about it." The Director said, making her pout.
"It's a breaking news Aisha!"
"No."
"A blind?"
"Negative. No. Nahi." The Director dismissed her, and eyed her team. A few second later they started having serious conversation about the case.
"They are not bothered about rivals getting their hands on it, but we should check the possibility of being them involved." Arjun started.
"If the facility is as secure as they were claiming it to be, someone with enough resources had to be involved in the stealing." Riya caught on his line of thinking. He glanced at her once, instantly moving his eyes away.
"But does those rivals have the knowledge of this subject?" Shree asked skeptically.
"They had to know something, even theoretically." Aisha leaned on her seat, answering him, "They work in the same field. The stealing may even have accelerated their research, who knows?"
"We have to find two things here." Sameer started, "Who is smart enough to steal from that fort like R&D place, and why. If it's a terrorist related thing, we may need help." He eyed the Director who gave a nod.
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The next day, the team paid the research facility a visit. Shree holed himself in the CCTV room, copying all footage from last 2 months and talking to the staff there who have rotational shifts. Chotu talked to the security in-charge, who looked like he was already fired, yet put on brave mask and answered all his questions. Arjun talked to the present scientists once again about the potential suspect, while Sameer along with Riya and Liza with her team of CSI did a clean sweep of the area from where the subject was stolen.
"A germ which looks like pill." Liza said, releasing a breath, "My God, scientific advancements are as scary as they are fascinating."
"Just imagine, a tiny innocent pill. You take it and you will never open your eyes." Sameer grumbled, "They put me off colorful tablets forever. I will prefer injections after this case, thank you very much."
Liza shook her head, smiling, "Why Sakshi is not here?"
"Didn't get permission from Mommy." Riya deadpanned. The forensic head frowned and Sameer explained.
"The lawyer of this place didn't want a journalist in their facility."
She nodded, understanding, "Figures. If this news gets out . . . "
"Chaos." The trio turned at a new voice, the new intern of Liza who had a habit to jump in unexpectedly, "Anarchy." He spoke in a dark voice. Sensing their gazes, he blinked and hurried with his work, carefully looking for finger prints under the Blue ray.
Riya spoke after a while, more like asking herself, "How any outsider can steal it?"
"They can't." Arjun joined them, giving a nod to Liza, "No outsider was here. Shree and Chotu double checked. I also talked to the scientist."
Sameer frowned, "You think someone among them is mole?"
"I have a feeling, if we can find out how, we can get to the Who part." He replied, glancing at the room as he took a step toward the middle of room.
They had finished their first visit of facility, the team already heading toward their rides. Arjun took out his phone to give a call to the Director when something ran into his legs.
"Whoa!" He exclaimed in surprise, looking down to see a 6 year old girl in bright blue dress and ponytail hiding behind him.
"What . . . " Before he could make head or tail of why a kid is inside of a germ-ology research center, a male voice boomed.
"There you are! Now come out of hiding, Dad is waiting." The guy panted, trying to catch his breath. Arjun felt the kid breaking to a run once again and caught her by her hand. She struggled against his grip.
"Thank you for catching her." The guy gave him a relieved smile.
"She more like ran into me." Arjun replied, turning to see the tiny girl giving him Mother of glare. Her antics reminded him of one very angry ACP. Instantly he sobered up at the thought, trying to block those images.
"Who's she?" He inquired to the guy.
"The daughter of our head scientist, Mr. Bakshi." Lowering his voice, he spoke with sympathy, "His wife recently passed away in a car accident."
Arjun glanced at the girl once again, face filling with regret. Losing a parent at such a tender age, he thought.
Kneeling down in front of her, he loosened his grip but not enough to let her run again, "Why you were running?"
The girl narrowed her eyes as she replied, "Mom said not to speak with strangers. So I am not speaking with you, because you are a stranger."
He bit his tongue to grin openly, frowning in mock seriousness, "But you just talked to me. And I am a stranger."
Her eyes widen, contemplating his words.
"So I guess we are no stranger then." He went on, now offering his hand, "Hello, my name is Arjun."
She eyed the hand for a moment before putting her small one in it, "Riya."
He was momentarily thrown back by the name. She noticed his reaction and frowned.
"My name is not pretty?"
He snapped out of it, shaking his head, "I know someone who has the same name."
She shrugged, "Daddy says it's a common name."
He nodded once, his eyes softening, "You were going to see him?"
She bobbed her head upside down, "He is always busy. I could not find him." Eyeing the guy who was standing beside them with an amused expression, she lowered her voice so that it's barely a whisper, "He doesn't let me go out. I am bored of painting Pandas and Rainbows."
The guy beside them cleared his throat, "Come Riya, let's go back."
She eyed Arjun sadly and he gave a small smile, "Go. Daddy will meet you when he is free."
"He is never free." She said in a small voice, "Bye Arjun. Do you work here? We can meet again."
He didn't say anything, just gave a small smile as he released her hands. The guy beside them took her hand and lead her away. She waved at him until she vanished from his sight.
He exhaled a breath and turned to meet his team mates.
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For the rest of week the team issued warrant for every rival that the company had and checked them thoroughly, grilling each and every member to get closer to the suspect list. Somehow, a blind about a deadly virus out in city reached newspaper, but High level (aka IB) intervened and halted the print, and the exact same time Sakshi got a call and earful of Aisha. The team also put their informers into active mode so that they can hear any and every whisper about anything strange.
Besides the new faces and same questions, the week was fruitless.
Sameer along with Riya were coming back from a rival company, wasting 6 precious hours sitting with the CEO and his band of hard-ass lawyers who interrupted even before they asked anything. Safe to say, it frustrated the duo, so much that they contemplated walking out of the 'Questioning', but sat through it because they disliked the disapproving glances of Aisha too much.
He drove past a show room of a foreign Car and noticed his team mate's glance lingering outside.
"Car?" He inquired, intrigued. Riya turned her head to look at him, then shrugged.
"A Girl needs a Car."
"You don't even use ETF provided SUV." He pointed out.
"All the more reason for a car."
"I thought you will be more like Bike friendly." He confessed. She frowned, like she is thinking that comment through.
"I never learnt to ride one. So Car it is."
"Why not?" Sameer slowed down near a Red signal. She snorted.
"With my cool genetic disease? I would be bleeding to death somewhere and I won't even know." She replied dryly. His lips twitched at the reply. Killing the engine, he gave her a look over.
"What?"
"Something happened, is not it?"
Her eyes widen slightly in surprise but her posture stiffened in defense. Keeping her voice light, she inquired, "Why you will say so?"
"We spent a year and few months with you. Because of the bunch of geniuses we are, we are very attuned to the fifty shades of Riya Mukherjee and her defense mechanism." He fixed her with a stern gaze, "So, spill."
She chose to stay silent, but her gaze never lifted from his face. He stared back, hoping her to break but knowing very well she won't.
He huffed in frustration, "You are not alone, you know?"
She snapped, "You guys keep mentioning that, Sameer." Her voice rose slightly as words flowed, "The problem is that I was always alone, so I am really not good at these sharing stuff. Excuse my short comings, among other things."
He nodded once, "I get it."
"No, you don't." She disagreed, "None would. Unless you get me another woman who is damaged like me and wasted years for nothing."
The signal turned green and he started the SUV, but slowed it down after putting it in the corner of road. He switched on the Red light over them so that none disturb them, but killed the sound.
He turned toward her fully, "So this epiphany is the reason of you blowing hot and cold? You didn't realize it before?"
She fixed her jaw once, twice, indicating she is not willing to talk but knowing she had no way to escape.
"No. I always knew I was not normal. I don't fit, that I have a darkness inside me which will never go." Her head hit the back rest with a thud, "The problem is, I always knew how to handle myself. Running away, throwing stuff, partying hard, drowning myself in alcohol even though I can't get drunk, meaningless sex, I did it all. I always knew how to come back, but now, I can't." She pinched her eyes shut, "It can't be the end of me. That bastard who ruined my life can't destroy me."
If it was another colleague who was lamenting about her life, Sameer may have reached out and gave a hug. But this was her. She doesn't do touch-y stuff, so even if he desperately wanted to reach out, he could not.
Which gave him a taste of how his best friend might feel around this woman.
"You are strong." He started, and was immediately paused due to her snort, "I am not joking. You are the strongest person I have ever known. If you are feeling down, that because it's the expected reaction amidst this crazy situation."
"I hate feeling weak." She grit her teeth.
"I know." He said simply, "But allow yourself this weakness, because it will make you stronger. Do whatever you have to do. At the end of the madness, find yourself."
She met his gaze, "Ye big faith." She gave a crooked smile. He turned to drive away once again.
"Giant faith. You have much to live up to." He replied.
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"There are exactly 3 person among the group of scientist who consume pills during work hours." Chotu dropped a file in the middle of desk, "None of them complained any missing pills."
"It's because one of them might be guilty." Sakshi chimed in.
"Any suspicion?" Arjun asked, leaning behind on his chair. Chotu shook his head but it was Shree who replied.
"Nada. They all seem okay, no suspicious activity, before the stealing and afterwards."
"The medicals reports are fun to read." Sameer spoke as if he heard nothing what was going on earlier, earning a look from Arjun, "Some prescribed medicines which are not even allowed in India, and all of them are for . . . " Pausing, he gave a suggestive wriggle of eyebrow.
"What?" Shree asked, confused.
"Ignore." Arjun replied, doing his usual pen trick to think what he was missing. They were missing.
Later, he would blame his lack of concentration of this interesting case with a giant mass destruction sign hanging over it, when someone spun him around by holding his chair's back rest and dragged him along with the said chair away from the table.
"What the . . . " Before he could get out another word, a head full with dark black hair messily tied in ponytail filled his vision. A moment later he felt a touch over his legs and nearly jumped.
"How did you get it?" He blinked once, not getting the question. Riya made a face at his confusion and tapped on his leg once again.
"This."
Now he noticed, her finger on his knees and bright green color on the fabric of his jeans which looked like small finger prints. How he never noticed it before, he didn't know.
Why he was wearing 3 day old pants anyway?
Right, because that babbling Forensic intern accidentally dropped a chemical and damaged the jeans he worn earlier.
Coming back to present, he cleared his throat, determined not to glance at Sameer who was, surely, giving him some look, "There was a kid in facility. I think it must have come from her."
"A kid?" Sakshi inquired, but he paid no attention to it, eyes too busy to take in the ACP's mind working in curious ways.
"New theory?" He asked softly. A few beats passed and she looked up, smirking her usual arrogant smirk. He grinned back as she stood up on her feet.
"Someone had to lose medication in the facility. The only reason one won't report it . . . " Riya trailed off.
"If he or she is criminal." Sameer repeated what Sakshi said earlier.
"Or he or she is not supposed to carry that." Arjun caught up.
"Or he or she was embarrassed." Chotu added his two cent.
"Why anyone will be embarrassed?" Shree asked, genuinely confused. Riya shoot Arjun a look as if to say 'Explain', while Sakshi snorted.
"So innocent." Sameer lamented.
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After 2 days of further grilling which frustrated the scientists, who complained they are just wasting their time, and ETFians alike, the 'culprit' herself came across, nervously rubbing her palms on her white lab coat.
"I am not supposed to bring it here." The only female scientist in the group confessed in whisper, "But . . . uh, the website said I need to take it three times a day, and here schedule is crazy. So I keep it here, and it went missing, I could not report it."
"You are having medication according to a website?" Arjun asked, raising eyebrows. She flushed.
"It's not exactly available in Asia." Her eyes widen, "I am going to jail, are not I?"
"What is this super secret medicine?" Riya asked. The scientist looked down, her fingers roaming in her coat pocket. She handed over the bottle to the ACP in such a way that none could read the label on the bottle.
Riya looked momentarily thrown away before asking, "How did you even get it?"
The scientist flushed again, "My friend lives in US."
"And she sends it through DTDC?" She mocked, handing over the bottle which the former hurriedly put inside her pocket, "What's the color of pills?"
"Pink."
"This is one hell of a theory." Sameer said as he along with Arjun-Riya stood outside the facility, "So this culprit stole her medicine, color coated it with Bakshi's daughter's colors, and walked out of facility."
"You mean crazy." Arjun said, crossing arms over chest, "It is, but not impossible."
"The people close to both Bakshi's daughter and the scientist should be minimal. The suspect list should be down to a few." Riya narrowed her eyes, looking at the facility, "Or in a way, it's one person only. The female scientist's Boyfriend."
"She's dating her colleague?" Sameer asked, surprised.
"It was implied. Why else she would bring . . . " She made a face.
"What is this medication?" He wondered. She looked at him straight, and Arjun knew it can't be good.
"Increasing female sexual appetite. Three tablets a day."
He coughed, suddenly unable to breath. But of course Sameer will look amused.
"Why I am never there for fun?"
The light mood was gone when Shree nearly ran to them, catching up breath, "Bakshi's daughter is missing white color in her paint box. She threw a fit when I noticed that."
The trio shared a look.
Not merely 3 second later Chotu joined them, his expression dark, "There has been a case of water contamination in a slum of West Mumbai. 13 dead, including 4 children."
Shree hissed in sympathy but the trio looked on expectantly, like they had not listened to the full story yet.
"The initial reports saying it was a deadly germ."
And hell broke loose.
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The water contamination story came out as the incompetence of the water board of Metropolitan board, but some people knew better. Like those scientists, who could only twist their hands and think if the research of 4 years of worth it. That CEO, who was feeling pressure from the board to give green signal to a dangerous project like this. The ETF, who could only work fast and pray this madman doesn't let out the rest of germ and kill others.
The hunch of trio turned out right. The colleague of the female scientist was the one who was missing after ETF paid the facility their last visit. He was not in his home, but in his apartment the CSI did find a mini lab with accurate temperature adjustment and other things which ensured, if, he stole it, the atmosphere was safe for the pill-germ to sustain. They quickly spread his pictures throughout the state and country, interrogate his family and friends if they have any idea where he can run.
They had finished interrogating the wife of the scientist (yes, he was married), the group circling outside the interrogation room and deciding if they want to go for another round, when Aisha entered. The expression of her face was no good, so they braced themselves for another shit hitting fan when it comes to this case.
"It's not about the case." She started and everybody relaxed. Riya moved away from the group, her eyes glued to the glass wall separating them from the clueless wife, blocking out the Director's words.
"Rahane called." She picked the words and felt her insides freezing. She forced herself not to turn, but could sense others eyes on her. The one belonging to Second-in-Command burnt through her skin.
"They found a hideout of him." Aisha lowered her voice, to respect her detachment or because of the seriousness of the case, she didn't know, "It was the same place from where he hacked Raghu sir's phone."
"That was a month ago." Sameer's voice could be heard. Then there was a sigh.
"He is many steps ahead of us."
Are you avoiding me, Ri?
Riya closed her eyes and purposely blocked any and everything around her.
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An early morning tip and some skepticism later, the team was heading out of city in the search for on-the-run Scientist. According to his parents, they had a property which he loved to frequent. If these words were not enough, they also mentioned how this was their favorite place because the largest dam of the State was only half a KM away from their property.
It was like a sixth sense, an intuition for the team to go and check it out.
For Sakshi, it was like a tour. She had no idea about the real story behind that slum water contamination, and only thinks paranoid CEO wants ETF to bring back his lab rat. A fair assessment, but not quite. She felt like she was missing something but no amount of poking and prodding could earn her any answers. Even Shree- Chotu were tight lipped.
Once they reached the house, it was rather anti-climactic. The entered, guns blazing, and found it empty.
But the thick smoke of cigarette in air told them he was here just now. They missed him.
They eyed each other, silently reaching at the same conclusion when they found the replica of mini lab in the house and found it empty - if the contamination earlier is anything to go by, this mad guy is likely to head for Water dam so he can do it on bigger scale and kill thousands. They wondered why these companies don't do mental profiling of their researchers, it would be so easy to pin point the crazy without the mass killing sign hanging over them.
Reaching near the dam, they spread out. Sakshi tagged along with Chotu who was not happy, but chose to be silent as he moved. Shree also moved as Arjun made a frustrated noise at the crime journo's antics. Sameer gave him a look, like telling him 'How long did you expect her to stay behind?'. Riya rolled her eyes and got on her feet.
"If she got herself caught I will be very pissed." She muttered to herself. Carefully walking over the water which wet her shoes, then moving through the bushes, her eyes went everywhere, trying to think which will be the best possible place for that nutjob to add those germs in water. Shree showed them the blue print of dam real quick, but standing in this place, she could not place anything like the map said.
A cool hard thing was pressed behind her head, "Don't move."
She tightened her grip over the gun, ready to attack, but the voice cut through her preparation, "Na, na, any defensive tactic and I will put these," He jingled something near her ear which is sure those germ camouflaged as pills, "in the water. Give me the Gun. Turn around, slowly." She did as he told, "Now move."
He threw his gun somewhere and took hers, all the time pointing to her head. The lock was already off, so she hoped this guy at least had good hand movement and not shoot her head. She was not planning to die anytime soon. They both climbed to the top of dam, and Riya was so angry. She felt like damsel in distress, and the anger only rose when this nutjob called out for her team.
"I know you are out there, no need for this Cat and Mouse game."
If only he was not holding the germ!
She didn't know how longer they stood there, like a statue, a good for nothing statue who can't get herself out of a guy holding a gun and kick him in shins, but soon enough her team was there, some ten feet away, pointing gun at them. They seemed genuinely confused, because Duh, they call her Ninja and she is standing there like a helpless doll, before putting their focus on the man standing behind him. He gave some speech about running but not able to put ETF off his back.
"Why are you doing it?" Arjun started, though from his face he would rather punch his face then do the rule no.1 in hostage situation, Keep talking and stalling to distract the gun man.
"To show those money hungry assholes how bad this thing is!" He jerked the bottle for emphasize and now the team noticed it, "The water contamination was a wake up call. They better not fund another dangerous research like this."
Riya could see Sakshi put two and two together but really, this was not a time for observations. She could not fight, but she could say some smartass comments to keep herself calm.
"And putting a gun on my head helps your cause how?" She snarled. The gun's pressure increased on her head, like he was drilling a hole in there. She gritted her teeth and clamped her mouth shut to stop the growl of frustration.
"They got the picture." Sameer said calmly, taking a step further but immediately stopping when the gun man put a hand around her neck and taking a few step back rapidly, choking her in the process, "The board will likely to tell the CEO to step down for giving a dangerous project like this go ahead. They won't do any research like this. They learnt from their mistakes."
"They did, but what about others?" Now due to the closer proximity, Riya's ears were ringing from the loud tone of the mad scientist guy. Holding his wrist, she struggled, and only didn't put all her efforts because of the damn bottle. Out of her corner, Arjun stood erect, silently telling her not to struggle. She huffed, but toned down the struggle.
"All these money hungry MNCs need to see how their so called researches damage our life! They all need to learn. I will teach them a lesson, even if I have to ruin my life."
Pretty sure it's already ruined, Riya kept in check a snort, but stiffened when the mad guy opened the bottle and dragged them both near the edge of dam, hanging it dangerously.
"They need to see the monster they created in their cutting edge R&D facilities. When thousands will die, millions will blame them, then they will learn. Everyone will learn."
"Are you insane?" She struggled against him once again, her eyes glued to the bottle. He hissed.
"Shut up or I will drop it in the water."
Sameer was saying something, Arjun was eyeing Shree and Chotu for the next course of action, Sakshi was staring ahead wide eyed, but none of them could see, or feel, what Riya was feeling. The determination of the mad man which ooze off his body, the shaking of his hand which stilled when he made the decision, the movement of gun as he planned to drop the germ and shoot himself simultaneously, his slow breathing as he made his peace with his own twisted logic. Whatever they did, it won't be fast enough, good enough. He is going to drop the germ and the team was too far, the bullets will be too slow, they are too much on the edge, her struggle will go in vain.
In that moment, there were no other option.
His fingers loosened around the bottle and immediately her fingers reached for it. He was taken aback in surprise, but she was quick. One movement, and the pills were in her mouth. The next second she was down, shielding herself as her team mates bullets sliced through his heart.
Her ears distantly heard the yell of her own name.
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Even before she was about to do it, Arjun knew what she was going to do.
Because she was the same person who once ran toward a man who had bombs strapped on him to get a remote to stop the said bombs. If he had not pulled her away, she would have done exactly then.
This time, he was not near enough.
She snatched the bottle from that fucker and an inhuman roar came out of his throat which was her name.
"Riya!"
He heard the shots firing but ran ahead anyway, his eyes only for the woman now hunched over on the ground, his heart giving away in tension. He could not even take satisfaction that the mad scientist had 4 bullets in chest and one in head, not when his mind was whirling with the words of that first meeting with the group of scientists.
Germ can contaminate water for 10 years. Who consume it will be dead instantly.
He was panting by the time he reached and kneeled beside her, and it could not have been more than ten feet. He felt like he could not breathe, his hands instantly going for her face. At one point, he had thrown away his gun.
His palms forced her face to meet his eyes, and he immediately noticed her red face and struggle to breathe. Nononononono!
"Shit." Sameer cursed from his side, already on phone. Chotu went to check to make sure the dead guy was dead, his face a mask of panic. Shree looked out of place, like he didn't know how he can help.
Her fingers held onto his wrist, clutching and loosening their holds. Alarms went off in his mind because who the heck knows what are the symptom of something wrong is happening, or how long she even had. He was about to carry her bridal style and ran toward the SUV when her fingers were near his jeans, clutching at it desperately.
"What . . . " His words came out dry. She clenched her jaw, exhaled quickly and pulled at his pocket once, then twice. He realized she was looking for something.
"A tissue?" He asked in disbelieve. She is hygiene freak, but what's the use of it right now? She gave him a glare, scooting closer so that check his pocket and pull at it. He met her fingers halfway there and took out a handkerchief. She looked relieved, and put it over her mouth.
And spit something in it.
A small spark of hope filled inside him, maybe she didn't swallow it. She is too smart to endanger herself like that. Maybe it was her plan. Maybe . . .
She twisted her face after rubbing her lips thoroughly with it, folding the handkerchief in several folds and spoke for the first time, putting them out of misery.
"Disgusting taste."
They shared looks with each other, and Arjun laughed. Of course, after nearly giving him heart attack, making them think she gulped down the pills and dying, she will comment on the taste of pills. Her power of flippancy make him angry and yet, so relieved.
She sucked a deep breath and turned to glance at the dead body of mad scientist, "Motherfucker."
"You didn't swallow it." Sakshi spoke for the first time, the horror of last few minutes still fresh on her face.
"Of course I didn't. I don't have a death wish." She closed and opened her mouth several time while speaking, making faces, "I think my mouth is burnt." She was about to put her fingers inside her mouth, but Arjun stopped her.
"It may be reaction, don't touch anything."
"My mouth tastes like shit." She whined for the first time since he met her. He laughed a little and helped her to stand on her feet.
"I called some scientists from facility. They will meet you in City hospital." Giving looks to both of them Sameer ordered, "Go. Thoroughly check yourself. If they suggest to stay overnight, don't make a scene."
She narrowed her eyes but didn't say anything. The stiff lines of tension faded from Sameer's shoulder and he sighed in relief, "You made me age 5 years."
Arjun paced in the hallway of hospital. It's been 3 hours since they are here and Riya was whisked away instantly by nurses and 2 senior doctors. He was seeing people getting in and out of room, but nobody informed him if anything was serious or everything was okay.
This woman is going to be the death of him, he knew it by now. Every time she puts herself in danger it doesn't get better to handle, but only serve to point out how scared he become in those moments, how relieved and thankful that he has her in his life, and the only person who bring out this protective streak from him doesn't really want or need it. And every time any life and death situation occurs, it always strips away his frustration on her and leave him bare. How can he be angry, or agitated with someone who saved others by nearly sacrificing herself?
He was just thankful that whenever it happened, she walked away with minimal or no causalities at all. He didn't know how he would react if something does happen to her.
The door was open and Riya walked out, looking exhausted, with a scowl on her face. He stood up instantly, ready to bombard her with questions but then noticed the senior male doctor coming out.
"Everything okay?" He asked tentively. The doctor nodded, smiling.
"Her blood reports are clear. No damage to her mouth or any internal organs. The pills, or germs in this matter, exterior was very hard. She is lucky it didn't crack or the result would be grave."
He glanced at her, noticing her taking offense at the word 'Lucky'. He bit back a smile and turned to the doctor.
"She was complaining about awful taste in mouth?"
"Ah, that's a side effect of the powerful exterior of the germ. Her taste buds are reacting negatively to a strong substance. It will go away with time, nothing to worry."
"Can we go?" She interrupted rather rudely, earning the looks of both male. The doctor's smile widen before turning to Arjun.
"Not a fan of hospitals, is she? Take her home. If any problem arise do give me a call." He handed over his card. He barely gave a nod when Riya was walking away.
Typical, he shook his head, following her.
Near the entrance of hospital, she bought a chocolate bar, tore it away with a vengeance and put nearly all of it in her mouth. Arjun raised an eyebrow at her antics, biting back a smile.
"My mouth tastes like shit." She answered like it's obvious, then looked at her fingers and groaned. In her hurry to get the bitter taste off her mouth she picked the silky chocolate which tends to melt away in normal temperature. It was now all over her fingers. They were near the ETF SUV, he quickly opened his side of door and reached for new box of tissue papers. Handing her a few, he watched as she put the rest of chocolate in mouth and scrubbed her fingers. Arching an eyebrow at him as if daring him to judge, she threw away the used tissues and licked her corner of lips, feeling chocolate slipping down there.
Leaning against the SUV door, he just took her in. Her messy hair do, irritated eyes, her still chocolate smudged fingers, her tongue peeking out occasionally to lick remaining chocolate on her lips. She was here, alive and whole, still shooting him half glares and huffing in irritation when other showered her attention. And he was never so thankful in his life, for this life, never wanted to see if there was any God or King of Universe so that he can thank him. For this moment. For Her.
He tugged her towards him by holding her wrist and hugged her tight, breathing her in. He could feel her surprise, but in that moment he made himself selfish. It was all about his satisfaction. In their field of work, he may never get this moment back. Another time he might not be this lucky. So he made the best of this moment, savouring the feel of her living body against him, and tried not to think what would happen if another time she doesn't come back.
"What is this for?" She asked slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. He buried his face in her neck, telling himself it's for comforting him, but it was to hide from those scenarios where she never makes it back. At the reminder of that, her hands tighten on her body, one on her lower back, other around her shoulder and squeezing her upper arm.
"For being a Ninja. For not swallowing the pills. For not . . . " Dying. He could not utter it.
He felt her smile, "Hope you didn't think of me as damsel in distress, Boss."
It was infectious, her levity. There was a time when it angered him, how little she valued her life, the risks she take. It still does, but he was not going to waste time berating her. Whatever she did, he would have done that too. Also, how could he be angry at her for something which was so her, and stand here afterwards? Is not her qualities the same reason why he . . .
He released her, but his hands were still loosely around her waist and there were barely a few inches between them.
"Damsel who?" He quirked an eyebrow. She grinned, a bit of chocolate sticking on her front teeth. He matched her grin.
"My only regret," Her face momentarily darken, "is not kicking him where he deserves."
He laughed, distancing himself from her. Getting inside the SUV, he drove away.
But his eyes kept glancing at her.
Reaching ETF, Riya was being tackled by Aisha in the form of hug, "Happy Hug Day." She muttered against her. As soon as it started, it ended. Then she got a slap on her head.
"What was that for?" She grumbled. Aisha levelled her a look and both the ladies glared at the amused team mates around them.
"For pulling a stunt like that. You are not allowed to do that again."
"But I will do anyways." The ACP smirked. Aisha kept on staring, but gave up.
"Yes, you will." She sighed, shaking head, "And you will come back each time."
"To get myself head slapped?" She teased, and when Aisha raised her hand threateningly, she let out an indignant, "Hey!"
When she was heading for the locker room, she noticed the Second-in-Command leaning sideways on a wall. Walking past him, she heard him ask.
"Will you be here for the next time?"
She watched him walk away, and that moment, she was sure of two things.
This team, these people, this place feels like home. It will be physically painful for her to walk away.
And the Second thing?
Her 'Boss', Arjun, was in love with her.
She had already hurt him so much, he didn't even know how and for no fault of his. And once again, she felt self- loathing rising inside, choking her. Why did it have to be her? What does he even see in her?
And why she had to be toxic for the one person whom she never wanted to hurt?