There is no right or wrong in this World. It's all Grey.
--
From childhood, the seeds of right and wrong are saw in our little minds. The world becomes our teacher, parents, their friends, our teachers, even neighbor aunty tells us what we should do and not do. We have some specific schedules, what we have to do, and everyone tells us the rules.
But as we grow up, the lines of right and wrong just doesn't add up with our conscience. It's not like during childhood the conscience was not there, but there were too much voices in our heads which directed our course. In childhood, not doing homework was wrong, but in adulthood, not doing homework because our best friend didn't finish his was good enough reason not to be wrong. It was not right, but it was not wrong either. We come out of the listed rules and situations, and the Universe lets it's children out to find their destiny. We come across situations we have to handle ourselves, about whom there are no voices or guidelines. So the pre-existed right and wrong lines didn't exist anymore. Each individual had their own right and wrong.
Like to Crime journo Sakshi Anand, solving crime is right. To solve crime, manipulating suspects and hacking their cells and bank records was right as well. But she drew the line when it comes to torturing during interrogation. Granted, the person enduring torture was most likely the guilty at that time, but no police or law enforcement had the right to torture someone. It violated human rights on so many level.
She was in her field from years. Mention of torture was not new to her. But after her collab with ETF she saw first hand the tortures. Sure, they stood by law most of time but Chotu was always eager to use his strength to fullest only to hurry up the case's speed. He was not life threatening, but it was unacceptable to her. Soon she was used to it and no longer flinched when he stepped to provide muscle when some suspect was being too tough. Discomfort of Shree, another fellow ETFian to his friend cum colleague's attitude helped as well.
She was horrified when ACP Mukherjee came to picture. From the moment they both crossed each other's path, she was rude and indifferent to her and the crime journo had to bear the burnt when she did some background searches to quench her thirst of curiosity about the mysterious ACP and the latter found out about that. Never in her life did she come across a person like her who had no regard for other's feeling and no self consciousness about other's opinion on her. To add more to the horror and discomfort, the ACP's attitude to physical violence was something she could not grasp even after all these months. Sure, she helped during cases and had sharp observations, but when it comes to using strength, none could beat her. It was astonishing to see a woman weight only some 60 KG was so efficient and brutal in her actions, it's like she was taught to hurt people. Maybe she was exeggerating, but she felt like that.
Today, they just closed another case and the guilty came out of interrogation room grunting in pain. The ACP had a special liking for thumbs when it come to torture, from the very first day in ETF, and today was no different. After the torture she also made sure the guilty doesn't mention the torture and say the pain was due to the elevator, his finger coming between the doors, and Sakshi had to admit, she was even more menacing when she is threatening in her low quiet voice, experiencing it herself first hand. Sameer made a remark about the infamous Elevator of ETF which causing pain to Criminals only when the police took the guilty out, and she felt sick.
"Don't you think it's getting too much?" She asked one day to the Second in command, who looked at her sharply at the question.
"What?"
"The torture. Earlier it was ocassionally, but now in almost every case you guys are doing it."
"It's not our fault the people are being so difficult." he remarked dryly, not liking the topic of conversation. He never liked her presence in this team, but since that background search, he was more distant and cold to her, which most of the time she tried to overlook and failed.
"I am just saying we should try different approach." She stated calmly, "What if one of them just file a complain? All of you will come under investigation."
"We never hurt innocent people." He said in defense, "It's mostly the guilty, and only when we are 100% sure and they are not giving any confession."
"I didn't say you guys are doing it." She replied, both hands on air in surrender, "It's just one person. And you can avoid it just by controlling the person."
He didn't answer her right away, just watched her for several moments. She felt more uncomfortable with each passing seconds.
"We are in this together." He said calmly, but it was more like dismissing her and that too in a unpleasing way, "One person doing something, but none of us are stopping the person. By not saying anything, we are also an accomplisher. We are in this together." He reopened the file in front of him once again, now looking into it, "So when someone file complain, it will be for all of us."
Despite his words, she felt as if he was suspecting her to file a complain herself, "I never said I will complain or something."
He didn't answer, and the air grew thick with tension.
She dropped the subject for another one month, but could not stop herself when one shocking incident happened inside ETF Interrogation room. This serial killer was one nasty piece of work, and played with his victims and police alike. Evidences were pointing at him but they just needed a confession, anything out of his mouth which says he did these, but he was not giving away, despite being trapped from all direction. Inside the interrogation room the Man sat calmly as if he was there watching TV, while everyone tried their best to crack the Man.
Instead, the man cracked one of them.
Usually, ACP Mukherjee is the least patient and most angry person of this team, which is a dangerous combination. She is almost always thinking about something, snapping at others when things are going south, always ready to take risks and coming with ways to solve case which are most of the time outside rules. Sakshi always thought the ACP is always hanging by a loose thread, like she is snapping at others but she is holding back, she is being menacing to criminals but she is holding back. It's like she was restraining herself, saving herself for something, which is good. She don't want to imagine what it will be like if the ACP didn't handle herself, if the inner self control snaps one day.
Until it did.
The Man was not cracking and like always, the ACP took the chair opposite to him from her usual leaning on wall and observing the scene in front of her. It was like an alarm went on in everyone of their mind, someone who controls mind and manipulate people, and someone like hers who is hanging by a thread, together in the same room, facing each other. She didn't outright went for violence like she always did, because all of them knew the Man was too smart and tight lipped to open his mouth due to bodily pain. She tried to reason with him, saying how there is no way he can get out of this but if he give early confession he might get less years in jail. He instead started to figure her out, picking on her body language and facial expression, saying under her calm facade she is itching to hurt him, that she must have endured mental trauma in her life, that somone close to her must have gotten hurt.
The last bit didn't settle well for the ACP, and in a blink of eye she was on her feet, held the man by collar and pushed him against the opposite wall.
Everyone ran like bat out of hell to separate the two, and the Man amidst all the chaos was smiling smugly at his accomplishment that at least one of them gave him some reaction. Rawte dragged the enraged ACP out of interrogation room and Sakshi decided it was enough. If she can't do something, she will have someone else to do something. Okay, the killer instigated her, but it's the nature of criminals. What kind of officer the ACP is if she give in? What if the next time she goes beyond the usual thumb twisting and hurt someone seriously and the whole team is under scrutiny due to that? She can't have that, she cares too much for the team and a certain Second in command, even if he doesn't get it.
That night she sweet talked and bribed one of CCTV room's guard and got the footage, and sent it to a rival news channel, Anonymously. Yes, her Boss will eat her alive because of this missing breaking news, but she gave enough breaking news due to her association with ETF, also, she can't betray her team by being that much obvious.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"What the fuck you were doing?"
"I lost control."
"That's not any excuse."
"I am not giving any."
During all these months of working together, Arjun often thought one of these days, the smart mouth, broody and ACP nasty temper Mukherjee will surely snap one day. The time he didn't like her, he used to think when she does lost control he will watch from sidelines and enjoy the catastrophe. Now when they had reached a position where they can behave civilly with each other without killing the other, ocassionally even talk without any major accident, he liked to think he knew her better. Even at her lowest end, she could hold herself together.
Until she could not.
He blamed himself fully for this. The moment she sat opposite the freak killer he knew they were in trouble. Soon enough the guy did some of his mind trick and she lost her temper. He knew the killer had touched some raw nerve but right now, he was too angry to go there. He dragged her himself from there and took far away from the damned interrogation room, from the psycho, not even noticing where they are. Suddenly the anger burst inside and he pushed her against a wall, pinning her between himself and the concrete, and saw for the first time her reaction. She still looked red with anger, but it was because of her losing it or the freak killer, he could not tell. Or maybe both.
His one hand was still around her wrist, and the other on the wall near her frame. He stepped away, letting her loose, and she slowly sunk on the floor. It was not break down, or not for the reason one would like to think. She was exhausted, and stunned that she lost control. She was not thinking about the consequences, what mattered was that she lost it. Her self control was not that perfect like she thought.
He found himself beside her on floor, staring into somewhere blankly. For a moment he disconnected himself from everything, what happened back there, what will happen now, everything. All he could hear his own breathing which was returning to normal, her deep breathes to calm herself down, and the dull hum of the office in the background.
"I lost control." Riya said quietly after a while. He looked at her and found her looking blankly to somewhere much like him.
"You did."
"It should not have happen."
"He touched some nerve." He said softly. He didn't want to spook her or start a fight. He was not demanding any explanation either. He had long accepted her silence or changing subjects on his questions.
"For more informations, you can do some backgroundsearch like your team mate did." There was barest hint of bitterness, but she was trying to be casual. She was struggling herself to become normal. The incident shook everyone but not like it did to her.
"I will never do that to you." He leaned his head so that it was resting on the wall. When she turned her neck to look at him, he replied, "I will just ask you if I want to."
"Even if I don't answer or dodge questions?" Her lips curled up barely.
"I think I kinda like that tactic." If she was going for casual and normal, he will give that to her.
She is a complicated person. The moment they met, her subsequent joining in ETF, her working with him and the team, he was becoming sure of that. People around her and the relationships he witnessed were complicated too. Half the time he don't understand how her mind works, or why she thinks something in that particular way. But they had come a long way from their first meeting where she seriously hurt his neck by pinning him on SUV's bonnet. He saw beyond her way of talking and inputs in cases, saw the big picture behind those reckless ideas, saw how under the indifference she was actually becoming the part of team, caring for the team, even if she won't accept it. Somewhere amidst the crazy roller coster ride of irritation, itching to kill her or show her who the Boss attitude, he accepted her for who she was, with the secrecies, sarcasms, biting replies, even those too low cut short dresses and her inability to feel pain. Somewhere in this journey he trusted her, even if she was not ever fully truthful or trusted anyone else. Somewhere in this journey he was able to sit beside her on SUV bonnet and have one or two light conversations, or bring coffee for her, or accept when she manipulated him for something, without demanding anything in return. He had a faith that his trust won't be proved wrong if placed on her. He didn't know why, but he might just trust her with his own life.
Time will tell if he is wrong.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To be honest, the aftermath of the scene in interrogation was a disaster. They didn't get any confession, but the evidences were enough for the killer so he was shifted to a high security jail till the hearing date. Everyone was in tension, looking at each other, dying to talk about it but at the same time feeling uncomfortable. There was a reason why none of the team or half the office didn't head for home until 10 in night, everyone knew what happened today was a major thing and they didn't know what to expect or will happen now.
ACP Mukherjee was summoned around 9 PM in the Director's office. If people found her intimidating earlier, now they were frightened of her. The ACP went to the Director's cabin like she always does, banging door and without a care in world, looking directly into her eyes without any explanation of her part.
The Director beat around bush for some seconds, cursing her temper and blasting her for her immature behavior, then informing there will be an investigation on her, when the ACP dropped the bomb. She took out her Gun and I-card, and placed it on the Director's desk.
"What's this?" The Director asked, pissed and somewhat confused.
"I quit." The ACP stated simply. That it is shocking is that understatement of the century.
"Quit? Just like that?" The Director felt suspicious and rather dumb. It's like she was missing a big picture. With ACP Mukherjee, there is always something going on, some secret, so when she said about quitting naturally the Director thought something was going on behind her back. ACP Mukherjee never gave up, well if she excuse the resignation years ago. There is no reason she will be apologetic because of her losing temper in front of a killer or hurting him.
"You want me to announce it in Papers?" The ACP (or, ex- ACP?) gathered some good humour, but it vanished soon, "I screwed up. You were always dreading this, right? So I quit, your team will be unharmed and I am just saving the time of investigation. Everyone know they will suspend me or something like that."
"You can't give up." The Director narrowed her eyes in suspicion, then said rather strongly, "You can't give up! You never did."
"I am just saving some time." The ACP said casually.
"What about your reason to come here? What will happen to it?"
A determination passed in her eyes, "I will find a way. There is no other option."
With that the Ex- ACP left the room, leaving the Director stunned and in the state of disbelieve.
She was still in the same state when she announced it to team next day, and everyone jumped at the announcement. It was like they were in some kind of haze after what happened yesterday, stunned and dreading for something, but the resignation of the ACP was the last thing they expected, snapping them out of their dazed state.
"Resign?" Shree's big eyes widen more behind the glasses.
"She don't do resign." Sameer said more to himself.
"Really?" Sakshi shared her scepticism behind this.
"When?" Only Rawte asked the logical and important question.
"Last night."
"You could have told us then." Sameer's voice was surprisingly accusing.
"Resign?" Shree repeated.
Despite the resignation, the order of investigation came that evening, also the flashing shiny breaking news on every news channel with the fine quality CCTV footage of ETF cameras. Aisha fired the CCTV guards that day, and struggled between pulling her own hair out and cursing the ACP (ex ACP?) who left them to deal with this whirlwind. If she was in her senses, she would never accuse the ACP for her cowardness, but she was pissed and reasons be damned. Reporters swimmed in the front and back exits of ETF, following and shouting questions at the employees and team, investigators asked questions to the team who tried their best, surprisingly, to defend the ACP, even if the chances of her coming back and getting out of this investigation looked very slim. To add more to the woes, her phone was switched off the moment she stepped out of ETF. Aisha is all for blocking Media, but it was also blocking her connection with the ACP.
Amidst all this chaos, the only person calm was Raghu sir. He saw it all and chances were he was the only one who will know the result of this investigations first hand. He is not kind of person who will save someone because the person is close to him, so that way was close. Aisha didn't know if she should urge him to tamper with the investigation, or even try despite knowing he won't. It came from all corners and at once, she didn't know how to react or what to want.
One afternoon, 3 days before the official hearing of the investigation, Aisha overheard a conversation between the Crime journo and Second in command of her team. After realising what was going on, she cursed the ACP once again, why she had to listen to her and bring back the nosy, good for nothing Crime journo back?
Both of them jumped when the Director entered inside the cabin, closing the door behind her.
"So you leaked the tape to media?" She asked calmly. The silence of the journo was all answer she needed.
"i just found out this morning." The second in command said in his defence.
"Why you did that?" She asked.
"Because it was getting too much!" The Crime journo exclaimed, pointing at Rawte, "I told you what if someone complain about you? See now this investigation is on your head, without any of your fault but hers!"
"None filed any complain here." He glared, taking a step toward the journo menacingly who cowered under his gaze, "You took the next step and leaked the tape. How could you?"
"I know one day she will lose control and you will have to bear the burnt. I could not let that happen. I care too much for you." She replied tear stricken.
"You should not have done it." The Director said after a while, and the crime journo snapped her neck to meet her eyes.
"I didn't do anything. I didn't have to, she lost her temper and handed over the mess on a silver platter." Her voice was bitter.
"That asshole instigated her." Rawte dropped his voice, similar to what ACP Mukherjee always does.
"The criminals are always doing that. You know it's partially your fault that this investigation is on your head." The crime journo snapped, "You are always defending her." Her eyes snapped at Director, "Always. If you tried to control her earlier this would not have happened!"
"Let me decide whom to control and whom not, okay?" The Director replied.
"You didn't do this here. I just don't understand why you are supporting her. You, " She paused, "I get it Aisha, you and her. But Arjun?" She met the Second in command's eyes, "Why you? You hated her when she first came here, but now you are defending her? Why is that?"
"She is part of team." Rawte said immediately, "We all stick by each other."
"She never looked this team as her own." She protested back.
"Hey!" The Director shouted, like breaking up fight of two kindergarten kids, "Whether she thinks this team as her own or not, is not the matter. You leaked this tape and that is uacceptable."
"The investigation would have happen anyway." She said.
"Yes, it would have." The Director agreed, "But you do realise because of the tape, the verdict won't be fair to her. Everyone already had an image of her as a villain who doesn't deserve mercy. You just increased the chances of punishing her." The Director left the room, feeling no inner urge to say anything else or look at her.
Maybe she was wrong. She was in her head when it came to potential team breaker and hailed the ACP main culprit, but maybe she should have hailed someone else too.
She went to the ACP's apartment the night before official hearing, knocked the door and thrashed the I card and Gun on the latter's hand.
"Show up tomorrow." She ordered.
"For what, the act?" The ACP answered good humouredly, for which the Director felt no mood.
"Just do as you are told for once in your life." She snapped and left, stomping foot and creating more sound while walking than necessary.
The ACP must be feeling kind that day, so she showed up to lessen the misery of the Director, because an Officer with an ongoing investigation being MIA is the last thing she needs right now. The team beamed at the ACP, something that barely did in these 20 days.
But she scowled when she noticed the way she was dressed. If there was a book written on How to dress and style hair during Police investigation, she should have read it. It's not like she ever did much when it come to dressing, she almost always looked presentable with her ever present black jeans and white shirts, but today was not any other normal day. The ACP showed up haphazardly dressed in a long sleeve T shirt with jeans and boots with heels, no make up and hair tied in a bun. The Director groaned, rubbing temple as a headache just came.
"Oh you look just the same, limbs and all." Sameer remarked.
"And you look 1 month older." The ACP replied.
"20 days." Rawte corrected, and their eyes met.
"Give or take." she threw back.
"What you are wearing?" The Director snapped, and the ACP turned to her, amused.
"Clothes?" To which everyone chuckled. The Director nearly threw over her own suit-jacket at her.
"Put it on and shut up." She said forcefully. The former rolled her eyes but did as told, rolling sleeves. Now she looked just like hers, but much more sophisticated, minus the hair. The Director stared at her hair and the ACP tied it in a ponytail, scowling.
"Happy Mother?" She asked sweetly.
"Not now Riya." The Director looked away, totally on edge.
The hearing was not unlike anything Aisha had seen over the years, but watching her (former?) friend and team mate there made her sick with worry. The Officers presented their own findings on case, ETFians were called to testify. Then they interrogated the ACP, who answered with as much seriousness and without sarcasm or ill temper as she could manage.
But the hearing never ended as suddenly their phones beeped with a notification. The danger level in the city was increased. The worry in her stomach only tighten when Senior officers only called ETF in connection to that.
It was a hostage situation in a Hotel, the group demanding one of terrorist whom ETF arrested before ACP Mukherjee joined the team. When the officers discussed the possibilities, Aisha spoke up.
"I need my whole team on this case." She pressed on whole, eyes flickering on ACP mukherjee who frowned a little, "Everyone."
Nobody was oblivious of her words, "I am afraid you can't have them all, Director," One of the senior officer said, "Especially the one under investigation."
"This case involves around the lives of many people. I need everyone." She was adamant.
"She is under investigation."
"But she is still part of team." ETFians looked surprise at it, so the Director didn't accept the resignation then.
"It's a risk to keep her out there." The officer reasoned, and The ACP rolled her eyes, Everyone can guess what she was thinking, and pressed their own lips to stop their smirks threatening to come out.
"With due respect, Sir, she has been valuable to my team from these months. Before all these chaos, she helped my team and gave her most in cases and helped them to solve. I need my whole team out there. Now you decide, this debate is more important or the case." She dismissed from her side.
"If I may cut in, Sir." Rawte spoke from her side, "ETF worked with ACP Mukherjee before she officially joined us. Everyone of us saw how she works even when she was just doing a favor to the case. She is dedicated, hardworking and gave very valuable inputs. The video doesn't tell how she works or her actions, it is only a footage of a moment's weakness. Charlie, the serial killer, was playing mind game with every one of us, but he got her." He paused, "It could have been any one of us. She never seriously hurt anyone during interrogation, she knows how to keep herself in control."
"I agree." Sameer cut in, taking over, "Yes, she has a temper, but so does all of us. This job does things to people, and that Charlie was a nasty person with his sick mind games. She never lost it earlier."
"We can't take your statement, officer." The Senior officer said, "After all, you are her colleague. Who knows you are not saving her?"
"If we have tried, Sir," Rawte said calmly, but there was a threat too, "there would not have been any clue or evidence against ACP Mukherjee, not even that CCTV footage which is on repeats on various news channel." He gave a glance at Shree who smirked openly now, "We have resources."
"You can't seriously go around and say things like that, Officer . . . " The former said, but they were cut by Raghu sir who was quiet and observing them all these while.
"As much as I like you guys to continue, there is a situaion and ETF needs to rush in there. I am ordering the whole ETF team to leave, because the result of Investigation is pending and we never suspended the ACP." He paused, eyeing the ACP, then the Director, "Go now."
"Yes Sir!" All of them yelled too eagerly and ran toward the door.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Mad man after ETF, never heard that one before." ACP Mukherjee remarked as the team reached the Hotel premise, coming out of their SUVs.
"Group of terrorist with Guns." Shree corrected, "At least 10 of them and 89% chances they have bombs."
"What they want beside their leader's release? Our death?" Sameer mocked.
"How original." Chotu remarked.
"Focus." Rawte and the Director said at once. The former spread a map on the SUV's bonnet which he got from one of local police officer. The team busied themselves with the blue print, talking about plans and how to take them down. There are at least 45 guests inside and that includes many heavyweight people.
They came out with a brilliant(or not) plan to send Rawte inside under disguise, who will have small camera in his shirt through which police and ETF will be able to see the situation inside. He can also keep people safe when firing starts, as there is no way they are releasing the gang leader. He gave his team one last look and left for the old fire exit, through which he entered the south side of building. The terrorists soon caught him and he slipped into his role, saying someone locked him in bathroom. They found no arms in him and could not recognize the second in command of the law enforcement agency they are against under glasses, nerd like hairstyle and trembling face. They dragged him and put him with other hostages. He watched them communicating with the Director, demanding their leader's release. They didn't kill anyone, yet, for which he was thankful.
After some 45 minutes they heard some voice outside the big hall room, which only increased and now the sound of heels also added with the voice. It was angry, ranting and full of curses, and his heart sank and eyes threw daggers through the glasses when the owner of the voice entered the room, never noticing the terrorists with gun or horrified expressions of people who were sitting on floor.
Of course, the recently termed Evil Police Officer ACP Riya Mukherjee had to play the savior here. She stopped when she was some feet away from him, glasses on nose and hands on hips, scolding him like she is his mother.
"I always knew you were reckless, but this was all time low."
Reckless and him?
"How dare you to leave me behind?"
Huh?
"You jerk, good for nothing human! I will fire you once we are out of this shit hotel, do you understand?" She pushed the glasses over nose and crossed arms over chest, mischief flashing in eyes but voice betraying nothing, "Or do I have to make you understand?"
He would have laughed internally later about the irony of her threat to fire him when she is very much is in danger of that herself, as soon the terrorists snapped her attention and she tried to look scared (and failed miserably). She made a story that she is some psychologist, he is her assistant (what?!) and they were working on some case when she fell asleep and he went out to bring her Coffee, but he never showed up. Soon the terrorists made her sit beside him, glaring at them both.
"What are you doing here?" He gritted teeth.
"Undercover, just like old times." She replied lightly, then sobered, "Your camera is not working."
He blinked once, then cursed in mind. It might have fallen somewhere or stopped working when these jerks shoved him.
She looked everywhere, and that too often, and it suddenly clicked. The camera was in her glasses. The Terrorists were then calling guests one by one, trying to gauze their importance. If things turned south, at least they can escape using them.
"Something doesn't add up." He said at the same time she did, and they both blinked.
"They are too dumb." She said.
"They should have known who is supposed to be here during their planning." He said.
"They didn't secure the Hotel like they should have. We both easily snuck in." She supplied.
"Something is not right." He said to himself, "Why they are here?"
Soon it was their turn and the Terrorists made them sit together, bombarding with all kinds of questions. To Rawte's irritation, even in this hostage situation she managed to charm one of the Gun man, who was literally salivating at her, looking at her like she is the Sun and hanging at her words. When the Head of this group heard they are psychologist, he demanded them to tell what was going in his side to convince him or they are dead, pointing at Gun. They looked at each other, and launched into the story.
"We are not Psychologist." He exclaimed in a panic-y voice.
"We just Con people." She said in similar voice.
"We never studied Psychology."
"I never even read one book on it."
"He didn't even go to College." She took it to another level, and he glared.
The Head laughed, "So you guys are like Us? Fooling others?"
He tried to blush, "Not like you Sir. You guys are, "He bit tongue and touched ear lobes to exeggerate, "We can never get to your level."
"Yeah, never." Her voice had the hidden sarcasm none but only he could understand.
"You guys are together? Brother Sister? Boyfriend girfriend? Husband wife?" He asked again.
"Partners." It came out of nowhere, and somehow it fitted. She gave a side glance toward him.
"Share Money and ocassionally, room." She waved her hand, "Too much high rates for people like us."
"I know." The earlier creep hummed and Rawte wanted to punch him just to satisfy himself.
The Head of Gang was satisfied with the grilling and sent them back.
"I never went to College." He glared, to which she shrugged.
"You do kinda look like Conman."
"And you like my partner." He looked away, hiding annoyance.
After another 30 minutes she excused herself for washroom and returned with a smug look on face. He was itching to ask what is it, but then he noticed a kind of restlessness among the Gun men. In the next 30 minutes they gave ultimatum to Police, but this time they demanded helicopter and cash of 1 crore instead of their leader.
"They ditched their leader." He said to himself, looking at her curiously, "What happened?"
"I tipped others." She said softly, voice so low that he had to lean close to listen, their heads touching, "I think Aisha figured out."
"What?"
"I think they had another plan." She paused and looked around, "Another team was trying to help their leader escape while ETF is busy in here."
"From the looks of it they failed." He said, "That explain the ditching."
"We need to move." and they went over their plan in hushed tone.
Soon everyone of them could hear the commotion outside, ETF and other law enforcement were at their doors with guns and muscle power to take them down. Amidst the confusion, they both also tackled some of guards and got some Guns, and they helped the hostages to escape using the old fire exit. Once the hostages were out of picture, a cross firing started between the two groups which lasted for hours, injuring people on both sides. The firing reached it's climax when one of them got a hold of Shree who was slightly distracted due to his bullets ending quickly. The gun man and 3 of him remaining on their feets quickly, helding the Tech expert of ETF like a shield.
"Let us go." He threatened, and all 5 of them moved backward to escape. Due to their rising fear and immobile movements the law enforcement was able to take down 3 of them. The rest of the two dragged Shree near the fire exit where the hostages escaped earlier.
"One scratch on him and your bodies will be in pieces, trust me." ACP Mukherjee was so dead serious in her threat that none could mistake her, however absurd that sound. One of the fool shot at her and he was dead by some bullets of Chotu.
"Let him go." Rawte said. The Gun man saw no way to escape so he pushed Shree toward them, and hurried to run down the stairs. Behind him ran ACP Mukherjee, Rawte and Chotu, and they got the man in the backyard, not before he shot directly at the ACP. All of them heard the sickening thud behind them and how she fell almost at the same time the bullet hit her. While Chotu ran to beat the Man into pulp, Rawte hurried to check on her and medics and other police officers ran toward them.
"No no no no," Arjun said to himself, heart thumping loudly in chest as he kneeled down beside her. His eyes and hands ran quickly over her and saw no blood. She exhaled at the same time he did, relief instantly filling. She moved herself up and sat, touching directly over her heart.
"It's stuck here." She said unnecessarily, because he could see it too, but the words only added to emphasise the point. The bullet stucked and didn't go through her heart. She was alive, no scratch on body.
He helped her to remove the bullet proof jacket which was under the suit-jacket Director gave her earlier that day, both of their hands shaking. He needed to do something, and going over to the scumbag who shot at her was the last thing on his mind. She touched the place over heart once again, even if she doesn't feel any pain he knew there would be bruises instantly.
"We are okay." He said mostly to himself, eyes never leaving her. His one hand gripped the bullet proof jacket tightly while the other found it's place on her upper arm, just to assure himself.
"Yeah." She agreed.
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Later that evening, ETF's Second in command ACP Arjun Rawte watched the world around him with a detached feeling, dispassionately, like he had no interest for it anymore. The adrenaline which drained him completely left hollowness behind, all he wanted to do was to have a long shower, wash the horrors of today and go to bed. He saw Liza rushing to Shree and engulfing him in a big hug, and the IT expert of the team excitedly telling how the ACP threatened the guy who had a Gun in his head. Liza cursed the piece of shit and Chotu assured he took care of it. Sameer along with Director was off to give statements to Media, while a medic team was checking the said ACP who was reluctant. She didn't have any bleeding, but like he had thought, she had bruises.
It's not like he had to witness a situation like this for the first time. He was part of many hostage negotiations and most of them ended up in body counts. It's not the first time someone of his team was held by Gun man or shot at. But something was different today. He was never scared earlier. In fact, he prided himself to be most level headed and calm when everyone else was panicking around him. But today, it was different. The fear he felt when the ACP had fallen on ground was different. He only feels like that when Shree or Sameer is hurt like that.
Amidst of the chaos, his mind was suddenly filled with clarity and his eyes found it's way to the ACP again.
She has become important to him. As important as his family member and Best Friend.
To be honest, she was always different, and important. It should not have surprised him. But the thing took his breath away was the intensity of his reaction. Sure, if it was Shree or Sameer he would have been worried sick, but when she fell on ground he literally felt his breath stuck in throat and heart bursting in his chest. That never happened to him. Never.
He went home with the same stunned knowledge
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Because of the bloody interruption in official hearing of investigation, it was postponed 5 days later. Everything changed in these 5 days. People and activists and Media who held up the ACP as reckless, dangerous person to be part of Mumbai Police, are now supporting her, praising her for her bravery in the hostage case where she assisted the Second In Command. The CCTV footage and her questionable actions with a killer in an interrogation room was long forgotten.
Procedures were the same like last time, and soon the Officials requested everyone to leave the room as they made the decision. The Commissioner of Police watched smugly while the Senior officers argued among themselves, not able to come to a joint decison. The turned to the Commissioner at the end.
"Well I may come across as a hypocrite when I say this," He started, looking at everyone, "after all, I served with the ACP years ago. But I see no reason of her termination in the light of recent situations."
"What about the Media uproar? And the Footage?" Asked someone.
"Well, the curses turned into cheers in these 5 days." He said, "As much as I sugercoat my words, the truth is Media is a TRP hungry group who run after news which suit them best. They change directions according to People's expectations, give them what they want. Now people and Media is jointly supporting the ACP." He shrugged, "You do the Maths."
To the ETFians relief and none's surprise, ACP Mukherjee only had to endure a suspension of 10 days and warning for her actions. The team came out in high spirits, all going well for them. The Director excused herself and made a special call to Sakshi.
"I just wanted to give this news before the official statement. She is coming back, after a suspension of 10 days and official warning."
"Why you are . . . " she asked back, but was cut by the Director.
"What you did this time, I will overlook it." She stated calmly, "But you do something like this again and I will be after you. You go after one of us, you go after all of us. You should know that."
Outside the Police Department's Building and ETF it was a circus. They all demanded photos of the team and they had to give it, after all, they were public servant and this was public demand.
"Boss." The ACP said quietly over the voices to the team's Second In Command.
"Partner." He replied back. In response she looked right at him and smiled, not her usual arrogant smirk or to piss him off smirk, a genuine smile.
Suddenly all tightness in his chest vanished and together they all posed for the Media.
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They found a gift wrap 2 days later in the discussion room, with a note.
Thanks for having my back.
There was no name but all of them knew who sent it. They all ripped apart the wrapper and found a group photo of the team framed inside.
They hung it on the Discussion room's wall, on a perfect place so that they can see when they walk through the door.