Acceptation brings a lot of emotion- anger, surprise, sadness, happens in a flash of a moment, catching one off guard. If it feels forgiving, it will go easy on you.
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There are seven kinds of sins, or faults in people which lead them to their doom. But really, they should make another place for Impatience. It is the most contradicting fault in human, makes them do impulsive things which most of the time leads to wrong sides, because people often takes matter on their hands without thinking it through. Impatience is a dangerous fault, or even characteristic to begin with.
For people like ACP Mukherjee who are notorious for their impatience, the danger level is higher than normal people. She was the never the kind of person to wait for someone to arrive or stand in a long list of line, partly because she never had to as world literally moved around her, partly because she never wanted to. If the line for shopping mall's receipt was taking long, she would make someone else stand while she was off to do something else. If Car needed servicing for one hour, she will take another. There was lots of option and it added incredibly to her already present impatience.
After her job, her most impatience-ness transformed into stepping the boundary lines kind of actions, like forcing the suspect to confess using violence, or flirt with the security camera guy for video footage. it was not like she was the only one doing this, but she was the only one who was willing to do it again and again, as long as it helped the case on hand, never fearing the consequences or departmental hearing. She knew fully none will back her up if she was ever suspended or shown the door because of her actions, not even her family relations because she was the one to cut herself from them. There was an Arrogance inside her that the Department will never sack her because she was valuable, which she was, and even if they did, she will just find something else and start again.This was one of the major reason why she was transferred from Bomb Squad to normal boring police job, even after being a valuable member. Bomb Squad was only supposed to disable a bomb and give report on it, not to dig out where the material came from.
So, really, it was not her fault when she had some words about Nasir Jamal and she wanted to check it by herself, by breaking into Director Kapoor's cabin secretly. From both her and her colleague's informer network, she came to know that Nasir Jamal, the rat who has a main business of running a brothel and supply girls from all over the Asia and a side business of providing fake passports, is under the watch of RAW from past 9 years. When she first heard that, the prospect seemed to her impossible and OTT, and it still is, and it made no sense why that Man is under the watch of India's most discreet agency or why the man was in the phone record of both Raja, that man her Director sent her to months ago for some private spy stuff, and her demised lover. But then, when it came to this case, nothing ever made sense. It seemed a little bit impossible and a hell lot more lie, but when the word is out there, there had to be some truth behind it. None utter the name RAW if there was no fact behind it, even if the chances are .001%.
She knew she was not the only one after Nasir Jamal. Director Kapoor saw her going through Raja's call contact lists and the ACP was willing to bet she made some phone calls about the name the moment she noticed it. Even Raghu sir knew, whether the Director informed him or he found out some other twisted way, she didn't know, though chances are Director and he had some kind of ally to keep an eye on her, though the Director is not getting anything out of this deal. If they know something, who knows they are after him this very moment while she is wasting her time thinking if the words from the other side was right or not.
Also, she, in fact everyone, was sitting pretty idly from few days.
Tonight, when she waited around with files and scowled at reports and observed the office slowly deserting, she headed for Director's office, of course freezing the CCTV first. It took only 7 minutes for her to find the most important thing which can help her dig more into Jamal without using any physical presense of labour.
But once outside, she was caught by a shocked and suspicious looking Secong in command Rawte.
"Why you were inside?"
"I thought you headed for the night." She could swear he had left. He fixed his jaw.
"I asked you something."
"I just placed my report on her desk." She rolled eyes and took a step to move, "She is always strangling my neck about that."
He didn't seem to buy it, "You could have given tomorrow."
"Surprise!" She answered sarcastically. He continued to look at her, obviously not buying, but also trying to understand the motive.
"You can check inside if you want." She motioned her hand to the Director's cabin. She could have gone for defensive and angry, but that would have added to his suspicion. He exhaled breath slowly, shaking off the scepticism, and she sighed internally in relief.
"Unlike you, I have the sense of privacy." He answered sternly, "Heading out?"
She thought about the chip in CCTV room, "Ladies room first."
He bid good night and headed out, and she ran for CCTV, thankfully the guard was still asleep. She tiptoed in the room, took the chip and CCTV started again. As she walked toward parking lot she chuckled to herself, why no CCTV in CCTV room? But then, it would have made her job harder.
Even if the existence is RAW is questionable, due to the scarcity of evidence and no mention in Constitution, every National Law enforcement agency and high level IPS officers has access to it's database. RAW's database contains details of thousands of criminals, people who are suspected of dangerous crimes but never got punished for lack of evidence, people who are potentially capable of doing more damage than they already did, people who has ties to bigger fishes both inside and outside of Country. There are seperate IDs and passwords for every person who have access to it, and one can only access to the database with an one-of-a-kind Network driver. The existence of the driver is strictly confidential, and even if someone tried to use it illegally, the smart security features of RAW database will lock down the driver and track the IP address if they find no match of the location registered in their records, making way for Central jail and at least 20 years of Jail time.
Moral of the story, even if one got hold of the driver, they have to be very careful while using it.
Of course, ACP Mukherjee didn't know all these. But she had the idea that she should not use it herself and without a secure location where none can track her. It was a miracle she even got it, because none will be stupid enough to leave it lying around, and she only got it because Director left the office in a hurry due to a family emergency. So, she didn't immediately jump on it the moment she was inside her apartment, but called someone who knew what to use it properly without the IP address traced back to her.
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"What you have gotten for me tonight? Interpol? Mossad? Ooh I know," the man waved his fingers in excitement, "FBI?"
"Your fingers are always itching to hack are not they?" ACP Mukherjee handed over the driver as soon as she stood in front of the man, who snatched it and turned his chair toward his laptop, already on work.
"What can I say, Internet is addictive." He answered excitedly.
"You mean Hacking." She replied, eyeing around. Being a Hygiene freak, it pained her everytime to come to this Man's dungeon and see the dirty messy room, but she had no choice. This guy never come out, even if someone pay him double.
"Any specific IP you want me to use?" He asked, fingers dancing over key board.
"Try ETF."
"Huh." He sulked, "So you are for them. What happened to the resident IT head?"
"None of your business." She gave a sugery smile, which shut him up. Only for 3 minutes.
"It's asking for ID and PW and . . . Yeah! Take that!" He exclaimed, stabbing a finger, "BTW what site is this? Never came across it."
She stood beside him, leaning casually over him eyeing the laptop, "Search a name Nasir Jamal."
"Okay." He drawled, and soon came a bunch of informations which would be impossible for her to read before tomorrow morning. She rubbed fingers over forehead.
"Who's he? Terrorist?" He asked, already halfway through the first para.
"Print it all." She ignored his question. After several more minutes she had at least 400 pages of informations on him, no doubt to details of surveillance on him. She ordered him to log out which he did, and handed over the driver.
"The IP will show ETF, right?" She had to ask, even if she knew the answer.
"Are you having doubts on my ability?" The man frowned, crossing arms and pouting lips, "Because let me tell you something. If I was not so much into bad kind of hacking, I would have been out there, working with RAW or IB may be, or even working with you in ETF. I am wounded you had to ask me."
"Are all IT guys this blabbery?" She asked tiredly, "Look, just answer."
"None will know the site was accessed from a shadowy dungeon. It will show ETF IP. Satisfied?" He answered mockingly.
"Very." She took out the bundle of money, "Here. Stop sulking."
"You know if you are having doubt . . . " He trailed off, counting the money. She gave a stern gaze.
"If I have doubt, I will find someone else." She replied, then smirked, "By the way, congrats."
"For what?" He asked, lost in money. She starting heading out.
"For breaking into RAW."
The answering squeal and victorious dialogues could be heard from miles away.
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With all honesty, Stealing something is not difficult. One just have to plan once, and execute it once. But it's the putting the stolen item back in place takes a different level of planning. There is a constant danger of getting caught, and if the person doesn't know someone stole something from him or her, putting stolen item back in place has the maximum chance to let them know someone was stolen, often catching the thief with the said item.
ACP Mukherjee knew the Director was due to return in afternoon, and she had another several hours of her absense to put the driver back in place. But that damn hawkeye like secretary never moved from her place, and there was a new case for the Team. She should have been brooding or pissed at the circumstances, but rather she was amused and observant of this new case. Actually, everyone in the team was, especially the Crime Journo Sakshi, adding more to her amusement, the minutes the words were out of Sameer's mouth this morning.
"Why is your ex-girlfriend heading toward us?"
They all were in discussion room, sipping coffee and sulking for the lack of productive work. As soon as the words were out, everyone looked at each other, then to their second in command, at last resting their eyes outside through the one way glass on the pretty lady dressed in light orange Salwar. Riya noticed with great interest the way Arjun's eyes narrowed and a concerned expression came on his face.
He was the first one to move.
Turned out, she was not here to reconcile their past relation like some people thought as soon as the word "ex-girlfriend" was out, but she was a murder suspect. It was laughable, one look at the face and anyone could say she was not the killer, but they work with evidences and they had to prove it.
"Ex girlfriend?" Sakshi whispered as soon as Roshni, the said ex-GF, was out of ear shot.
"Really, that's all you heard?" Shree replied in annoyance.
"Of course that's all she heard Shree." Chotu teased, "Really, sometimes you are so thick."
"Guys." Sameer warned, "I think we should tone down the fun times. Boss," He mimicked the way Riya calls him that, taking a glance at the woman beside him, "won't appreciate it."
"Why they broke up?" Asked the Crime journo. Sameer rolled his eyes and exhaled a sharp breath.
"Because some people just do." Answered ACP Mukherjee in irritation, "Can we focus on case here now?"
Roshni is a professor in a reputed College. The VP was killed recently by poisoning. The last three people who saw him alive in his cabin were her, and some other two people. Police found traces of poison in the Tea the VP was drinking, so none poisoned him before he came into College. One of the three people is blind, so most likely he didn't do it, another one is the 70 year old secretary of his. None of them had any motive to kill the VP.
"So what, they accuse her because she is young and healthy to add poison to his tea?" ACP Mukherjee asked, "Doesn't sound like a nice reason for imprison someone."
"None of the three has any reason to kill him. The Police just trying to close the case." Sameer shut the file and leaned back to his seat, "What about his family?"
"One daughter, married and living in UK." Rawte replied, "She also could not name one person who can harm her father like that."
"Why are we stuck with no suspect cases?" Chotu asked in irritation, reading the file.
"What about that secretary?" Sakshi's question drew all of their's attention, "Maybe she did it, old or not."
"And why is that?" Shree asked.
"Oh she might have been pissed. He must have long affair with her. You know how Boss secretary things work." She said, pleased with herself.
"Assumption like this won't help this case." Rawte glared at her, "Anyone got better ideas?"
"Police already dug up all they could on VP's life and interrogated the Professors. I can still look up on his personal life."
"We will go to College then." Rawte said, "Chotu, grill the working officer on this case. See if he cracks."
"On it." He stood up, already on work.
"Let's go, team."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Saint Rogers was as sophisticated and English as it sounds like. The campus was clean, students and teachers talked in hushed voice as if the whole place was a big library, everyone looked from influential and rich family, big brands of bags and dresses and shoes and Cars were as normal as the unbearable heat of Mumbai.
Just a regular, rich kids College.
"I heard some film crew did a shooting here some days ago." Sameer said, "Damn we are late."
"Late for the late VP?" ACP Mukherjee said sarcastically, to which everyone scoffed and Rawte's lips curled up. They divided into teams, Sameer to talk with Principal while Shree and Sakshi went to talk with first 30 professors on the list. Rawte and Mukherjee took the next 30 and they spread out.
After 4 hours of interrogating everyone one thing was clear, VP was not the most popular guy on campus and none bought that Roshni did the killing. Everyone only had high praises for her, even some of the students they talked. There was not even any evidence pointing at her besides she was the last person to see the VP alive.
Rawte and Mukherjee ran into Roshni while the latter just finished a teary eyed conversation with the Librarian who emptied the whole tissue box and emerged from the door. The Boss walked ahead, steps hesitant and halting. They two had some convo the ACP never heard because she could not, and because she had no interest in, and busied herself with her phone with the ETF receptionist Neha asking if the Director is in yet. The latter replied in negative, and she thanked her lucky stars. Some more time and she can place the driver back in place, they are nearly finished in here.
She nearly jumped when the Boss sneaked up to her and spoke, "Can you interrogate her?"
"Sure." She eyed the woman and followed her as she pointed toward an empty class room to talk, while he remained outside, calling the rest of trio for an update. The interrogation ended quickly, if she knew the VP before the College, any extreme emotion for him, any reason to doubt others, his behavior towards her. She dismissed the professor as she made some notes, but found her staring at her instead. She did that the whole time, not the eye-contact kind of gaze, but penetrating gaze like she is sizing her up, trying to gauze her.
"Any questions?" She asked, not meeting her eyes.
"So it was because of you." The professor's casual voice took a turn for anger and hostility. The ACP looked up.
"Excuse me?"
"He said he don't see me in his future. Was it because of you?" The former asked, hurt and anger in eyes, "How long you two are together?"
The ACP had no doubt about whom she was talking, "That obvious, huh?" She asked sarcastically, which the former obviously thought was the affirmation of her accusation.
"Did you know about me? How could . . . " Her words were cut by the ice cold voice of the ACP's.
"If I were you, I would watch the next words." she paused, "Though in real, I would never be like someone who accuse another woman of cheating with her ex boyfriend."
The Professor's mouth opened and shut for a couple of times before answering, "I needed to know."
"Then gather courage and ask the Man himself." She got up, pushing the chair roughly behind with a little bit than necessary force which made a ugly sound on the floor, "Hopefully next time you will be more civil. Can expect this feature from a professor from a reputed college, right?" She banged the door behind her as she left, making the professor jump inside the room.
"What happened inside?" Rawte asked as they both waited in parking lot for the rest of team to meet, leaning against the SUV's bonnet.
"Nothing." Her reply was crisp and short.
"You were not looking this murderous when we left ETF, even if this is your default expression."
For the first time he genuinely made her smile, which she tried to hide by looking sideways, "What is it?" he asked.
She didn't answer and he sighed, "If it was for Roshni, I apologize."
"Why do you think it's her?"
"Maybe because I saw some assumption in her eyes." He said mostly to himself, but of course she heard. She always heard.
"You care about her." She didn't mean to say that aloud, but somehow it was out there and he was looking at her the next moment.
"That's why I am here." He replied, no trace of sadness, which was surprising even to himself. She locked her eyes with him for some moment until decided to make the situation lighter for both of their sakes. She didn't want to make another comment or know any details about his past love life.
"Honestly, your girlfriend's observation sucks." She deadpanned even if there was humour in her voice.
"Ex girlfriend." He corrected, tilting head, "And why is that?"
"You and me? Really?" She mimicked his action, eyes shining with amusement, "You and me."
"You and me." He said back.
"So different."
"Like chalk and cheese."
"Like Two poles of Earth."
"But knowledgable."
"Angry people. Just need a reason."
"Stubborn. Reckless." He added, "Even if you are a totally game altogether."
"Can totally rock undercover job." She supplied narrowing gaze at him.
"Not too different then." He observed with a small smile.
She hummed in reply, "Still, you and me?" she shook head.
"Not even a little bit??" he went with the flow.
"Don't give a girl wrong impression." She answered in quasi- stern voice.
"Do you want the impression?" He countered. She didn't instantly reply to it, but then both their heads turned to see the trio finally arrived. She eyed the crime journo busy with the other two in hushed whisper, while the Men looked at each other in helplessness, chuckling.
"Are you hoping for a little bit?" She continued to earlier teasing and his eyes snapped toward her in surprise, being caught off guard. She was obviously enjoying how he was unable to answer anything, but decided to end this before he does, "The question of the hour is, how you will deal with your . . . " she eyed the crime journo suggestively, trailing off. He inhaled a sharp breath as she turned her head to meet the trio, irritated at her implication.
"Let's leave." He said to others, giving a stern gaze to her who shurgged in response when Sameer eyed her at their Boss's foul expression.
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"Ah, what a moment." Sameer said to himself as he hopped on a desk facing the discussion room, "I need popcorn."
"Sometime you don't sound like Senior Officer Rathore." ACP Mukherjee said to him, who looked at her.
"Hey, a guy sometime needs entertainment."
"I thought you watch film."
"There is a limit one can watch repeats of Die Hard series without throwing away the DVDs."
"Try Dhoom then." Chotu said beside them, joining the conversation.
"The copy of Hollywood blended and ruined together? No thanks, I will pass." Sameer answered sarcastically, to which Chotu shrugged.
"What moment you were talking about?" he asked. The former stabbed a finger to discussion room.
"That. My best friend cum Boss being grilled by our in house crime journo."
"Someone should ready fire extinguisher." Liza said to herself, and hurried to discuss as everyone wriggled their eyes suggestively, "I meant they might kill each other, or shout."
"And here I thought you were finally talking innuendos." Shree teased and earned a smack in arm which he rubbed, obviously in pain.
"BTW how she is back anyway? She just brushed off everytime I asked." Chotu asked, frowning as he looked at others.
"I also wonder how." Sameer drawled and looked at the ACP, so not under the impression of this mystery. She looked away, sighing. The Director really needs to shut her mouth in front of her Boyfriend.
Speaking of Director . . .
She went off, the team not even giving looks as she left, long past used to her inability to say the words 'Excuse me'. She took a file she was working on, headed straight in the Director's office. She just entered some minutes ago, not even settling down, when she heard the door burst open and the ACP entering like a hurricane.
"You need to stop doing that!" She started shouting.
"Do what?"
"Giving me stupid works. I know you are the Boss but you should not abuse power."
"What are you talking about?" The Director was clueless. The ACP slammed the file on table.
"That!" She stabbed a finger, "I don't want to work on that."
"What is even that?" The Director took a step to look into the file but jumped when the ACP shouted again.
"I never thought you will do that! You know how much I loathe it, still?" She ran fingers in hair, now pacing in room, around her table in circles like a caged animal, "How could you? If you don't want me here, just say it. I will quit."
"I have no idea what you talking about." The Director was frustrated.
"Really, I did that before. I can do now. I will quit. Yes!" She slammed both of her hands on table, accidentally hitting the already opened drawer when she suddenly stopped. The drawer collided with her knee and fell on floor, things scattering everywhere. If it was anybody else, they would have been on floor now hissing with pain, but she didn't even flinch, only muttered angrily and kneeled on floor to gather the things.
When she also slipped the Driver into things.
The Director was beside her seconds later, enough for her to finish her job. She helped to get all things and fix the drawer back, when the Secretary knocked and entered inside, "I heard noises." She said in a way of explaining, eyeing suspiciously the ACP.
"It's okay." The Director dismissed and the former went back, closing the door. Both the ladies finished the job and stood up, the Director eyeing the ACP.
"Want to tell me what this is all about?"
"I don't want to do paper works." She again shouted, and the Director raised both hands in air in surrender.
"Okay, okay. Fine don't do it."
"Never ever."
"That's not possible." The Director shook head.
"I hate that. I will do mistakes and repeat mistakes when you give them back to me for correction." The simple stated fact sounded like threat. The Director narrowed eyes.
"1 month." She dismissed, "After that restart."
The ACP nodded stiffly.
"Is that all?"
The former pondered over that from inside and outside, finally decided to tell, "You once asked me what will I do if I ever had to chose something personal and this team."
The Director nodded, and she continued, "That escaped prisoner? He was one of my informer." The former sounded surprised, expecting least this information.
"I hope now you won't doubt my commitment."
"I never doubted your commitment." The Director said gently, "I was just afraid, that one day when we, this team will need you, you won't be here. That is the worst thing can happen to a team." she paused, "Not anymore."
"Not anymore?" The ACP asked, sceptic.
"Not anymore." She confirmed.
Even after achieving what she intended, she questioned herself whether she can be here for the team, to commit and be loyal to it when she is manipulating it for her own purpose. Sure, her actions might lead her and everyone of them to something big, but the ways she is taking was not right.
She never questioned her intentions earlier. Ever.
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The killer of the VP turned out to be the blind guy, who bolted for the door as soon as they reached his door steps with warrant. Turned out, he was the illegitimate kid of the VP, a result of an affair years ago. What's better than a little bit poison for that abandonment years ago, right?
Apparently, he was faking the eyesight as well.
"So much for being a blind." Sameer muttered as he and ACP Mukherjee hopped on another SUV, chasing the guy. The guilty broke all red lights and drove on footpaths, injuring several in the process, making a chaos for others. The SUVs and Police cars stopped in front of a four way when the guilty made his way to a one way.
"Ever watched Die hard?" Sameer asked as suddenly he started driving to a different direction than the guilty. When the ACP didn't answer, he said, "We are about to find out."
He drove through a park, which was the shortest way to catch the guilty's car on his way. The SUV and it's red light and it's siren created pandemonium, people screamed and jumped off the way, horrified and shocked. The beautiful grass of the park was ruined by the muddy tires of the SUV, and then they nearly T-boned the guilty's car.
"How did you enjoy the driving?" He asked afterwards, earning chuckles from rest and a stern gaze from the ACP, who switched fast to a pleasing expression, sending alarms in his head.
"I will drive back." To which the senior agent gulped.
When they reached ETF back, he mumbled to himself, "Never with her again."
The team watched a semi awkward conversation between the Boss and his ex-Girlfriend near the door, without the popcorn. For some reason she gave one last look at the intriguing ACP sitting beside them, and when the team turned to her in question she asked, "What?" in a little loud voice.
Though, the day was far from being over.
She was heading for a early leave when Boss cornered her, "You lied to me."
She simply frowned in response.
"The reason you went to the Director's office."
"And what was the reason I went you think?" She asked in irritation, somehow she was always caught by him and she was frustrated with this repeatation again and again.
"I don't know." He took a step toward her, "But I do know the security footage was tempered with that night. Shree was expressing concern about it."
"Did he also express concern over my involvement?" Her voice turned bitter.
"Don't lie." He was not angry, he merely accepted it and somehow, it was not as comforting to her that he didn't know or asking her about it, even if she won't answer, as it should have been, "You don't want to admit despite the evidence, fine, but don't lie. Just don't."
She didn't answer, but she could not look away either. He exhaled softly.
"You knew I would not suspect you, right?" He asked in a quiet voice, "You knew I won't ask you anything else if you came out convincing. You knew I trusted you." He looked away, exhaling once again, "And still, I can't bring myself to be angry at you or yell at you. It's so very you, the lies and secrecies. You were always like that the moment you walked into."
She didn't know what to say that moment. The situation was uncomfortable, she would rather run than stay and witness this, but she could not bring herself to leave, rooted to spot.
"What do you expect me to say?" She asked after a while. He sharply looked at her, stuck in his mind. He looked surprised with something he was thinking and oddly calm.
"Nothing. Just don't lie to me."
Which is something she hardly does now a days.
"Roshni told me to say Sorry to you on her behalf." He said at last, turned and left the room.
But she can try. Something about this Man makes her want to try, how difficult that might be. At least he was not looking for answers.
She can live with that.