"Rajat is a no-nonsense cop. He is all about work, work, but he is also caring and attentive towards those who work with him. I am sure now that he is working with us, CID ki shan aur badh jayegi."

Rajat bashfully smiles at his senior hearing the words of praise he has for him. "Such a high praise from Abhijeet sir... I really am lucky."

"We are the lucky ones, boss. I am so looking forward to working with you..." Daya says, wrapping a friendly arm around Rajat's shoulder.

Purvi who has been observing this scene with a slight smile on her face now frowns, noticing the stain of red on Rajat's shirt. The stain goes along the length of his arm, the wetness resting just short of Daya's hand.

Rajat is hurt and he's still bleeding!

Without thinking, Purvi screams. "Oh no, Rajat sir ko chot lagi hai! We need to tend to it!"

Abhijeet, Daya and everyone in the bureau also notice for the first time that Rajat is injured.

"Yeh kya? Tumhara pehla din, aur abhi se medal pa liya?" Abhijeet says jokingly, earning a glare from Daya. "I mean zyada chot to nahin lagi hai na tumhe, Rajat?"

Rajat chuckles and says no, but ACP Pradyuman who enters the scene, asks him to get it checked once.

"Dr Salunkhe aur Dr Tarika, humare forensic experts hai lekin kabhi-kabhi, jab duty ke dauran hume chot lagti jati hai, uska ilaaj bhi kar dete hain." He explains.

Rajat is on the verge of saying that is not needed, but Purvi sidles next to him with a concerned look in her eyes.

"Sir. Ek baar toh aap ko check karvana chahiye," she says and everyone agrees.

"Han, isi bahane aapko doctor Tarika se milane ka mauka mil jayega..." says Abhijeet, kash mujhe bhi ye mauka milta.

Everybody rolls their eyes and throws a disbelieving look at Abhijeet but he pays them no attention, dreamily showering praises on his lady love.

"Ab Dr Tarika ki company hai aisi hai... Koi bhi mariz ho, unke sath raho toh dil ko sukun mil jata hai, aur chot apne aap theek ho jaati hai. Sara dard gayab. Dawa ki bhi zarurat nahin padti."

Everybody except ACP sir smiles hearing this.

"Han Tarika hai kamaal ki, Abhijeet. But I'm sure you want her special treatment to be just yours, so tum Rajat ko kyun bata rahe ho? Waise hum bureau me hai, boss... Zara sambhalo." Daya reminds Abhijeet not to drift off too much, and the senior cop snaps back to present.

ACP sir glares at the duo, but then heaves a sigh and shakes his head.

Rajat grins observing the CID family. He has heard that everyone in the CID is a family, but he is witnessing it now. It is so sweet that a senior cop like Abhijeet can openly talk about his admiration for his sweetheart, forensic doctor Tarika.

Everything is sweet except that love is a fickle emotion. It may change at any point but something in the back of his mind tells Rajat that it might not be the case with Abhijeet and Tarika.

"Sir... Aapko sach me iski dressing karwani hai..." Purvi reminds him, glancing at the stain on his shirt sleeve.

Rajat smiles at the fair-skinned girl he just met. Yes, he met her during the fight in the godown but she somehow seems different here. Her concern boggles him but also warms his heart.

"Han, sir... Aap ko is tarah se laparwahi na karna chahiye. especially jab injured ho. I mean.. sorry for using the word laparwahi, sir, but main bhugat chuka hun... laparwahi ki saza..."

Vineet questions himself why he's been so candid and mouthed off before a senior officer. Internally he's dreading Rajat might rebuke him, but the senior cop only smiles, patting him on the arm.

Freddy also asks him to get it checked. Rajat smiles at him too.

"Thanks, Vineet... Thank you, Freddy sir..."

Rajat says, and Vineet smiles at his senior, saying thanks aren't needed.

"Chalein, Purvi?" Rajat looks at Purvi and she gives him a firm nod.

"Aaj bach gaye..." Daya whispers to Abhijeet as Rajat and Purvi leave the bureau and walk towards the forensic lab, observing ACP Pradyuman and everyone returning to their posts. "Varna ACP Sir tumhe chhodte nahi..."

Abhijeet gives Daya a sheepish smile. Daya laughs, and it's a normal day at the bureau.

***

Inside the forensic lab, Rajat stands facing Dr Salunkhe and Dr Tarika, nodding as Purvi quickly finishes introducing them to one another. He shakes hands with both the forensic experts, flinching a little as his arm throbs a little.

Purvi doesn't fail to notice this subtle change in him. Needless to say, she's now feeling guilty and concerned.

"Mujhe pata hai, Pradyuman ne tumhe yaha bheja. Waise toh hum forensic doctor hai, but yes, Tarika can help you with this," says Salunkhe.

Rajat thanks him and takes upon the kind offer. He unbuttons his shirt and frees his injured arm from its long sleeve, presenting his wound for Dr Tarika to see. Tarika grabs a first aid kit and gets to the job.

"Let's see... Okay, I can treat it," she says.

"Please, Dr Tarika... Tend to it carefully."

Purvi says, and her face scrunches in guilt as she takes in Rajat's form. She's the one who's supposed to get injured, but this man has taken all her pain for himself. Normally, she wouldn't speak her thoughts out loud like this in front of Dr Salunke and Tarika but she can't help it today. She bites her lip, glancing at Rajat.

"I'm sorry, sir... I'm so sorry. Meri waja se aapko chot lag gayi. Aapka pehle din CID me aur... Mujhe bachate hue aap ki halat aisi hogayi."

She purses her lips and thinks her concern might seem funny to Rajat, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

"Arey, nahi. Please, Purvi. We're a team. Think of it as nothing..."

Whatever Rajat wants to say after that, Tarika cuts him off with a scoff.

"Yeah, par chot ko nahi maalum ki tum log ek team ho. Dard toh hoga hi. Yeah, maine wrap kardiya hai. And I'm suggesting some antibiotics and painkillers. Ek din me agar pain kam nahi hua, ya badh gaya toh dusre doctor ko zarur dikhana. You may need a proper hospital visit."

Rajat shakes his head, smiling. "Nahin, uski zaroorat nahi padegi. I can tell you're a great doctor. Aur yeh to basic chot hai. I already feel better. Thank you, Dr Tarika."

Tarika smiles, acknowledging the compliments.

Rajat looks at his wrapped arm. He feels pain, of course, but he's been through worse. He buttons his shirt and stands straight again, like the cop he usually is. He and Purvi thank the forensic doctors and walk out of the lab.

Purvi still looks glum. Rajat notices this. He wants to say something but before he can, she does.

"I'm sorry again, Sir. Maybe I was clumsy. Main chaukanna rehti... Toh ye na hota."

Purvi is staring at the empty hallway now. Rajat places a hand over the girl's shoulder and makes her turn around to face him. He can't understand how some in the force can be this emotional, but clearly, Purvi is quite young and she lacks experience. Well, he's not much older than her, but he had his share of hardships and he'd fought tough battles. Maybe he can use the knowledge he gleaned from his experience to help his juniors.

"Seriously, Purvi. You're making too much of it. You're wrongly assessing two things now. One... You're doubting your skills. Two... You're upset that I got hurt in your stead. You feel guilty for giving me pain. But don't be too emotional about it. These things happen..."

Purvi looks at him and he goes on and sighs.

"I always feel glad if I can save my subordinate from pain and danger," Rajat admits. That's what a cop does. He saves everyone around them and doesn't care if he's hurt. Of course, what happened was an accident. He usually isn't reckless, but things happen.

"Hum ek team hai, Purvi. And that means we guard each other's backs. I'm sure agar kabhi main musibat mein phas gaya toh you guys will come to my rescue. And you did come to my rescue, Purvi. You got my arm treated. So there... You can shed your guilt and smile. Okay?"

Purvi looks at Rajat. When he treats her to such a gentle, bright smile, she can't help but smile back. He looked like a tough cop, all stiff and serious, but he might be a softie underneath that. He doesn't have any attitude. He's so down to earth, talking to his juniors as if they were his friends. His earlier conversation with his fellow seniors made her think he was humble too. And now, he's like this.

He says don't be too emotional, but he doesn't even realize caring about your subordinate's feelings and helping them overcome that is a kind of emotion, too. Not everyone can bother to do that.

"Come on, more... Surely you can smile wider than that, hain na?"

And now he's urging her to grin widely. Purvi chuckles and grins so widely that tears come to her eyes. She brushes them off and when she looks at him, he gives a satisfied nod.

Perhaps realizing he still has got his hand placed over her shoulder, he pulls it back, mumbling a sorry, and also thanks her for helping him to get his arm treated.

Purvi again smiles at the clumsy gesture.

"Let's go back to the bureau. I really am looking forward to working with you, Miss Purvi."

"So am I... Sir..." Purvi manages to reply when he grabs her hand and gives it a firm shake, but she knows she isn't being her confident self. She doesn't know why she's feeling like this around this man.

Rajat turns and walks ahead, she looks at his back and thinks he's a true gentleman. He's told her she doesn't need to feel guilty or indebted to him, but she knows she owes him one. He's saved her life. He's saved her from pain. She will help him as much as she can and repay him.

Rajat glances back over his shoulder to find Purvi walking towards him with a smile. He's met many young women in the force and worked with them in the past, but he has a feeling that this girl is somehow different. He pushes back the thought and focuses ahead, entering the bureau.

***

AN: hope everyone liked the chapter! Please vote, and comment too! <3

up next:

A case that involves estranged lovers. As Purvi works with Rajat, her admiration for the man only grows. She wants to help him so much, Vineet teases her about it.

Meanwhile working on the case reminds Rajat of something!

MORE FUN AND LOVEABLE MOMENTS BETWEEN OUR RAJVI IN STORE! STAY TUNED!

THANK YOU!