That Sunday, Rajat finally has a day off. The twin murder case is not solved but some of the officers got permission to relax their nerves. Rajat has not got any time to rest. This is his chance he will use this opportunity to tackle his blackmailer.

He has not received any new letters but it's always better to be one step ahead, isn't it? He smiles, remembering how worried Purvi had looked, discussing it with Abhijeet sir.

"Purvi is so..." He trails off, changing into a fresh shirt and pulling on tapered cotton jeans. Comfy outfit. "Purvi is so kind and pure-hearted. Unlike..."

He doesn't say the name that sits on his tongue, warms up some bread and milk for breakfast in the kitchen.

***

Twenty minutes later he is out on the street adjoining his house. Immediately locates the CCTV camera installed next to a grocery shop less than twenty feet away. The angle is so it focuses a little on his house.

A quick chat with the shop owner has the owner handing the footage of the past few days all loaded into a pen drive.

Rajat wastes no time connecting it to the laptop he has brought along. Seated on the stairs leading to the same shop, on the left corner, he spends the next two hours checking the footage. The street has a dead end so whoever has slipped the letter has to pass by the shop.

A hooded guy, who appears to be in his late twenties, riding a bicycle, catches his eye. Newspaper delivery guy? The bundles behind must be those. Rajat watches the guy step past the front gate to his house.

Returning the laptop to his room, he quickly rides his motorcycle to the local newspaper vendor. Within the next hour has the hooded guy in his clutches.

Catching him by the collar, he drags him out of the small building that's the newspaper vendor's. The street is deserted but a group of onlookers soon gather, including the guy's boss.

"Saab. Mujhe kuch nahi pata! Is kaam keliye maine koi paise bhi nahi liye. Par haan, jisne mujhe wo khat di aapke yaha chodne, maine uska chehra toh na dekha subah ki andheri mei... lekin uske saath ek kutta tha. Shayad uska paltu kutta. Wo busurg dikha aur maine khas socha nahi tha. Bas socha khat hi toh hai..."

Rajat senses no lie in the explanation and lets the guy go. "Busurg aadmi. Apne saath apne paaltu kutte ko le aata... Uska kya dushmani ho sakta mujhse? Dal mei kuch kaala hai. Hoskta wo bhes badla hua ho. Kon hai akhir ye shaks..."

His eyes narrow as he walks back on the streets alone, heaving a sigh. Just then he feels he's being followed. Itni jaldi? Kaun mujh par nazar rakh raha? Kahin ye wo shaks toh nahi?

On alert, he looks around but there's none. He aimlessly walks around hoping he could observe and perhaps lure his mysterious follower to reveal themselves. That's how he ends up in the amusement park around noon.

***

Coincidentally, Purvi and Ajay are at the same amusement park. As per her promise. They had a fun day, it's only 3 pm. They arrive at the eatery in the middle of the park as they are both hungry. Ajay is in the mood to eat only ice cream. She can't say no as the weather is warm.

Ajay bumps into a strange man whos got his back turned towards the eatery. For a moment, she thinks he's some kidnapper who might be lurking around to kidnap kids. Out of pure instinct, she pulls Ajay back to her, and asks him to be careful. "Ajay, you must stay away from strange men. There might be kidnappers here."

Ajay shrugs and brushes off her concerns with a breezy smile. "Kya, Dida? Don't worry or overthink. Let's enjoy ice cream."

Purvi sighs, with the knowledge that she sounded silly. Maybe all those cases we solve are taking a toll on me, she thinks, but what can I do? I'm overprotective of my only little brother.

Arriving at the eatery, she notices Rajat seated at one of the tables. He seems to have stuck to a simple vada paav for lunch.

"Rajat sir?" She blurts out his name just as his observant eyes take notice of her presence.

Ajay crinkles his nose. As Rajat pays the bill for his food and approaches them, the young boy speaks with a smirk on his face, "Ye wahi Rajat sir hai na jiske bare mei tum baat karti rehti ho? Rajat sir, aapki na meri dida bahut badi fan hai!"

"Kya?" Rajat has a bewildered look on his face. There's a pause. He looks at Purvi. "Purvi? Tumne Ajay se kya kaha? Aur what's this about bachon ko kidnap kidnap karne wala? Kis angle se tumko main kidnapper lagta hun? Back angle se?"

"Sir, main..." Realization dawns on Purvi. Earlier, did Ajay bump into Rajat? Oh no!

Ajay is bemused. Rajat sir too doesn't seem offended. A playful smirk on his lips, he looks on. Flustered, Purvi trails off with no answer. "Sir wo bas..."

I was cautioning my little brother, she wants to say, I'm sorry, but the words don't come out of her mouth.

Just then, Rajat bursts out laughing. "Haha. It's okay, I won't ask."

Purvi smiles out of relief. Ajay having pulled one on his sister runs to purchase his favourite butterscotch ice cream cone.

"Sir, main bas woh, Ajay ko bas savdhaan kar rahi thi. Aur, Ajay ne jo kaha... Yun samajh lijiye, sir, woh junior Vineet hai." Purvi says, her eyes on her brother.

Rajat didn't ask for an explanation but what she voices what wanted to say earlier, finally."Usse mujhe chhedne mein bahut maja aata hai. Aap please uski baaton ko." She looks away briefly as she pleads. "Please uski baaton ko seriously mat lijiye."

Rajat laughs harder at this. Purvi finally looks at him, surprised by the sound of his laughter. Rajat sir has a pleasant laugh. And he looks so handsome while he laughs. Maine unko itna hanste hue na dekha, she thinks.

"Haha! Sorry, but I feel for you, Purvi. Vineet and Ajay, buri fansi ho dono ke beech. But hey I'm also sad to know tum meri fan nahi ho.."

Purvi blinks, marvelled at the casual way he speaks. At the kindness in his eyes.

"You have it hard with them." Rajat continues. "They are a handful."

Purvi agrees. "Han. Lekin un dono ke bina kuch sujhta bhi nahi hai. I love them both. Sometimes it's too much but other times I enjoy their teasing."

Rajat faces her with a smile. "Really?"

Purvi smiles back. Rajat relaxes. Of course. He fully hasn't let his guard down but encountering Purvi is the relaxing therapy he needs. His focus was getting too intense. He was having a hard time not making the man trailing believe him he was not being lured. A few minutes ago he figured out who the mysterious figure trailing him is, a rough-looking young man in his twenties dressed totally in black - a surgical mask hides his face but that's him.

Ajay just then runs towards Purvi. "Aap dono bhi khalo ice cream!" he says, with an innocence of a kid.

Rajat ruffles the boy's hair and smiles. They relish some ice cream together after which the boy insists for Rajat to join them. Purvi too urges Rajat to join them for the rest of the amusement park tour. Rajat thinks this is the perfect opportunity. But he only hopes he's not endangering this boy and his sister by spending time with them.

***

As Purvi and Ajay have ice cream and Pani puri for lunch, Rajat sips his chai. Then soon they are riding a teacup ride together -the three of them in a teacup.

"Tum aur Ajay?" Rajat says keeping an eye out for his suspect. He still hasn't made a move and looks like he's not in the vicinity yet. It's good. He turns to Purvi. "Tumhare parents kaha hai?"

The ride is slow but soon picks up pace. Although it's not too fast, Ajay whoops and screams lost in his dream world. Purvi scoots a little closer to Rajat so she can reply.

"Ajay aur main akele rehte hai. Apne Wada Wale ghar mein. Main hi uski dekhbal karti hun."

"Oh..." Rajat doesn't know how to respond.

"Humare maa-papa pichle kuch saal se Thane mei hai. Unko meri aur Ajay ki parva nahi hai."

Purvi doesn't know why she's opening up about herself to senior inspector Rajat Kumar inside a spinning teacup nonetheless. No one knows these facts she's spilling. No one but Vineet. "Mere parents abhi Thane mei mere grandparents ki dekhbal karrahe hai. Lekin mujhe pata ki yeh sab unke property ko hasil karne keliye kar rahe hain."

That's sad. Rajat thinks and remains frozen. The teacup spins slowly. Purvi detects empathy in his eyes but doesn't want him to pity her. She changes the topic. "Aapke parents, sir?"

Rajat hesitates but states solemnly, "I'm an orphan."

It's Purvi's turn to turn flabbergasted. "Oh, I-I'm sorry, sir."

She murmurs and then nearly screams amending her statement. "I'm not pitying you. It's just. I was insensitive."

"No, Purvi. It's fine." Rajat says as the teacup stops spinning ever so slowly. As Ajay is about to fall forward on the momentum he and Purvi catch the young boy their hands intertwining. However, neither of them pulls back owing to the conversation they are in the middle of.

"Mujhe waise nahin pata parents ke sath rehna kaise hota hai." Rajat shrugs and smiles with no hint of bitterness ever. "So it's okay. You've also overcome your pain and are fine living with your brother now. Right?"

Purvi smiles, aware of how warm his hand is on top of hers. She feels a little bashful as she continues to meet his eyes.

"Yes, sir."

She twitches her hand a bit and Rajat, finally realizing his grip is firm both on Ajay's stomach and Purvis's hand, pulls his hand back. He clears his throat. "Uh, present moment is everything. And uh, you can call me Rajat. Ab hum bureau mein nahi hain. Naa hi duty par hain."

Purvi looks at him as if he's grown a second head. Rajat himself is quite surprised he said that. He never told it to any of his juniors. This time too, he said to break the awkward air but he also means it. He hates too much stiffness and formality, and his subordinates don't need to respect him off the field. He shows her a jaunty, reassuring smile, putting an end to his inner turmoil.

Purvi smiles back. A little too uncomfortable to address her senior by his given name, she turns away, ruffles Ajay's hair and pulls him into her lap. "I will try to remember that, sir. Mere liye mera job hi sab kuch hai aur Ajay! I believe aapke liye bhi aisa hi hai nahi? Sirf job?"

Rajat chuckles at the change of topic. "Yeah. But mere kuch kareebi dost hai. I'm not a lone wolf as you think."

They get off the ride and walk the common walking grounds. Purvi holding onto Ajay's hand, Rajat next to her strolling along slowly.

"Mere sare dost sab busy hai, Purvi. Sabhi well settled. Businessmen and rich bande. Bus ek main police force mein bharti hone chahta tha. Anyway, I'm happy my dream came true. Kabhi socha nahin tha CID mein aaunga. Lekin yahan kya achcha lag raha hai. It is very rare to see all the officers having the same drive to stop crimes as me. Where I used to work I was told I was too passionate... and my sense of justice was too high. I was the odd one out. But yahan per I feel like I belong home."

He glances at Purvi who smiles.

"Interesting. Aur yes CID mei sab bahut amazing hai. Aur mera chhota bhai to abhi se CID officer banna chahta hai."

"Wow..." Rajat ruffles Ajay's hair again, noticing he's quiet for some time. Is the boy tired? He pats his head. "Mujhe pura vishwas hai woh ek din ek achcha CID officer banega. Abhi hum kyon na break lei? Let's have some lemonade or a cold drink!"

Ajay perks up at the mention of that. When Purvi asks if he's tired, the young boy replies he is tired. And the reason he was quiet was because he didn't want to interrupt the interesting conversation between his sister and her favourite Rajat sir.

Rajat and Purvi laugh at this revelation. Purvi tells his brother that he will become a good CID officer only if he stops being so shararti. then the three of them proceed to a stall that sells cold drinks.

After the quick break, they ride a few more rides and then finally call it a day. Rajat parts ways with Purvi and Ajay who kept him company for long hours. Thanks to their presence the suspect (the mysterious stalker) has come close enough. After bidding goodbye to Purvi and Ajay, he lunges after the suspect and has a hold of his collar.

The young man he catches is also dressed in black. But he wears no mask. In his hands is yet another letter.

"Somebody was dressed like me and he said to give this letter to you."

Rajat feels like punching a hole into the nearby wall. When did this happen? Is this guy... not his stalker from the beginning or did the change happen somewhere in the middle?

He was having a good time with Purvi and Ajay. Did he let his guard down too much? Well, it is too late for regrets and he has still had a fun day with someone after too long. Last time it had been some of his best buddies from the orphanage when he graduated from the arts college. Yes, he won't consider today as a waste even that suspicious guy got away.

Rajat reads the letter and smiles though the words are ominous. "Ha. He knows I'm trailing him agali bar usko nahin chhodunga."

***

AN: I really wanted to update soon but was struggling with my writing and personal issues. And finally, I updated again. I will try to update soon. Hope everyone who read liked the chapter.

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