Purvi reaches bureau holding the box of cheesecake in her hands. She reaches her desk and puts down the box, and then keeps away her bag properly. She scans the bureau and only finds her seniors in there. She greets them with a smile and that’s when Daya notices the box resting on her table.

“Ab aaj kya special hai Purvi? Jo tum itna bada dabba leke aai ho?” He asks, curiosity piqued.

“Han, lagta hai aaj cake laayi ho, kya baat hai, Purvi? Baking classes join kiye hai kya?” Abhijeet asks, his tone light.

“Sir, aap hi bataiye, humare paas waqt hi kahan hota hai ki hum kuch extra kar sakein. Maine aapko apni dost ke baare mein bataya tha naa! Usne hi bheja hai sabke liye. Shreya ko bhi bahut pasand aaya tha uske haath ka cake, toh usne aaj aur bhej diya,” Purvi replies, her smile never leaving her face.

“Arey wah, toh kab milva rahi ho apni iss chef dost se?” Daya questions, rolling his eyes at Purvi.

“Jab aap kaho, Sir! Vaise vo aajkal thodi busy hai. Uski bakery shop ka inaugration hone wala hai,” Purvi informs them excitedly.

“Arey wah, fir toh hum zaroor jayenge. Kuch chocolates hum bhi kha lein,” Abhijeet says, his tone playful.

“Haan, aur phir Tarika ji se dant bhi kha lena,” Daya murmurs, causing Purvi to giggle.

“Arey, Tari….I mean Tarika ji beech mein kahan se aai? Main Purvi se baat kar raha hoon,” He replies, feigning mock anger at his friend.

“Main beech mein nahi, tumhare sath hi hoon, Abhijeet. Aur han, Purvi, ye jo cake tum laayi ho na, Abhijeet ko bilkul nahi dena hai,” Dr Tarika’s voice cuts through the silence in the bureau, while Abhijeet bites his tongue.

“Tarika, ek hi piece se kya hoga?” Purvi asks, trying to cover up for her senior cum brother.

“Nahi, Purvi. Tumhe pata hai na abhi abhi janab ki tabiyat thik hui hai. Main koi risk nahi lena chahti,” Tarika declares, and then gazes at her husband.

“Abhijeet, please ek do din ruk jao, phir main khud tumhe cake bana kar khilaungi, promise,” She says, her tone laced with concern, that Abhijeet smiles.

“Aww, how sweet! Sir, aap toh Dr Tarika ke hath ke cakes hi khaiye, she’s no less than this,” Purvi teases him.

“Haan, Sir, Purvi thik keh rahi hai, agar aap ne ye cake khaya toh Dr Tarika bura maan jayengi, aur phir aapko pata hai na, ladies ko manana kitna mushkil kaam hai?” A masculine voice cuts through them, causing Purvi and Tarika to avert their gaze on the newcomer.

It’s Vineet Kumar, a good friend of the girls in the CID, and a man of his words, he comes in the good books of his senior. His eyes shining with mischief, he glances at the ladies.

“What do you mean, Vinu?” Purvi rolls her eyes at her.

“Yahi ki aap log kitna easily maan jaate ho naa, humse sorry bulva ke,” Vineet says, his tone laced with mischief.

“Vineet, tum baat ko badlo mat! Aur haan, agar tumne kuch gadbad ki hai na, toh tum sach mein pitoge, iss baar belan se, pehle se warn kar rahi hoon,” Tarika says, rolling her eyes between Vineet and her husband.

“Dr Tarika, maine kya kiya? Maine toh bas aise hi bol raha tha,” Vineet replies, feigning sadness.

“Par main sach keh rahi hoon, mujhe sab pata hai, tum hi Abhijeet aur Daya ko uksaate rehte ho, khud toh thehre bachelor, apni harkaton mein inko mat liya karo,” Tarika says, pointing at all the fun the boys have.

“Ye toh galat hai na,Dr Tarika. Ab mujhe koi ladki mili nahi toh main kya karun? Ab zindagi mein maza bhi nahi karun?” He asks, mocking sadness.

“Kisne kaha maza mat karo? Kaho toh ladki dhundh dun tumhare liye? Fir karna maze,” Tarika teases, causing others to laugh.

However, none of them noticed that the smile on Vineet’s face had faded, he let out a deep sigh, as if remembering someone very dear to him.

“Dr Tarika, aap bhi kya baat karti hain? Aur ab 4 saalon mein toh uski shaadi bhi ho gai hogi,” He says, his tone laced with sadness.

“Matlab koi ladki hai life mein?” a serious yet playful voice jolts out of his reverie.

Vineet looks up only to find Rajat standing by his side, his voice, a mere whisper, and his gaze fixed on him. Rajat’s gaze softened a bit while Vineet smiles lightly.

“Vo meri best friend thi, Sir. Lekin picchle 4 saal se koi contact nahi hai. Maa keh rahi thi ki uske parents uske liye ladka dekh rahe hain, toh ab tak toh usne shadi kar hi li hogi naa,” Vineet says, his voice heavy with emotions.

“Aur kya pata wo ab tak tumhara intezar kar rahi ho?” Rajat rolls his eyes, his words drape around him like a little hope, however, he doesn’t know if he should believe it.

“Pata nahi Sir, ghar chhode 4 saal ho gaye, mujhe nahi lagta vo mera intezar bhi karegi,” Vineet says, his eyes filled with unshed tears.

“Vineet, tum yahin galti kar rahe ho. Agar vo tumse pyar karti hai na, toh tumhara intezar bhi karegi. Dekhna, ek din aise tumhare saamne aayegi ki tum pehchan bhi nahi paoge,” Purvi responds, her tone soft, yet firm, quite sure that the girls aren’t weak on love.

“Tumhe itna yakeen hai?” He asks.

“Haan, aur tumhe pata hai, ye yakeen mujhe Ruu se milne ke baad hua hai. Jaante ho, ye sab usne sirf isliye shuru kia kyunki ye uske ek dost ka sapna tha. Vo kehti hai ki uska dost bhale hi ye sapna bhul gaya ho, par wo nahi bhul sakti. She made his dream hers. Aisa hota hai, pyaar. Ho sakta hai tumhari dost bhi aise hi mil jaye tumhe,” Purvi shrugs her shoulders.

However, she didn’t know she’s bringing two lost friends together, while Vineet is unaware that Purvi’s friend is his childhood sweetheart.

The crisp ring of the telephone cuts through the bureau and Vineet comes out of his trance. It’s not the time to daydream anymore, there’s a case, and they need to get to work.

To Be Continued.