Aditya....

The name itself made Suman to worry.. She looked Neeraj thoughtfully...

" Pappa...?!"

She was hesitating...

Aditya was her batch mate in IPS training... From the beginning, he was attracted to Suman and her daring attitude... Her problem solving approach created a huge infatuation in him and then it started... He directly proposed her one day...

     An ordinary woman would have accepted him as he was good-looking and so as his character too...

But, Suman was one of a kind...she refused him gently and remainded him that she was engaged to her profession... Even then, he never missed a chance to impress her, but it was never gone beyond the limit...

Then, they had passed out the training sessions and he got postings at different branch...

  Once in a while,they had met in department party evenings ,  where  obviously he tried to be around her...and strived his best to grab her attention too...but, nothing happened...

He worked with Neeraj in one of the cases and Neeraj found Aditya to be an intelligent and talked about him with Suman....  Again, she refused such talks and Neeraj left the idea as he knew well about his daughter and her decisions...

  Later.... Aditya helped Neeraj in many cases... On the other hand , he didn't let his mind down to win  suman's heart... He used to be around her and was ready to do anything for her single nod... But, not at least once she looked at him...

   The best part of Aditya was his humour sense and monkey type mischief... Though  she was irritated with his mischief, it would end up with laugh many times...

But, now, the situation was more than worst... She needed a person who could help her in the case. Obviously, Aditya would be a good choice... Still, she  was worried ...

  She was in a dilemma...

   Buzzzzz....

" Suman..." Neeraj showed his phone and laughed...

Aditya was on the line...

Think of the devil...!!

Suman clucked.....

" Shall I tell him to join you?"

She looked indecisive...

Neeraj smiled...

" Suman...we need Aditya...we have a little time to go with the investigation ... shravan is important now...I know you can handle him..I need my lioness back.."

He pressed her shoulder...

" Beta.....for Shravan..."

Suman nodded with determination...

" Yes Pappa...for Shravan!!!"

" That's my daughter"

Neeraj took the call....

______________________________________

At the next tenth minute.....

" May I get in?"

An enthusiastic voice broke out at suman's cabin...

   " Yes".

    She looked up and arched her brows to see a bouquet of flowers that stood large enough that literally hid  his face completely...

Aditya!!!! He didn't change at all...

She sighed and got up from the chair...

He walked in ,  grinning wide...

" Suman...I am so...so ...glad to work with you...and  God has this plan perhaps to change your mind....I..."

  Suman raised her hand and gestured him to stop... Her face became bland and her voice came out stern...

" Aditya...I am glad that you are here to work with us and if you're ready, go  through with the case file...I will call you..."

She cut shorted the conversation and showed the exit to him...

He shook his head and placed the bouquet on her table...

  " All through these days you haven't changed even a bit.....let  this flowers be here to bring out the best in you..."

He took  the case file with him....

  Suman walked across the room... She  thought herself that she shouldn't confront Shravan's identity with Aditya until they resolve the case...

  She took the phone and dialled Aditya's number...

" Aditya...hope you would have gone through the case file...I wanted to know your views ... I will share the location..call me after reaching there.."

  Receiving suman's call  was like heaven for Aditya..

His mind leapt in joy...

I am going to work with Suman..that means we can spend time together...I will  have enough chances to know her as well...

He thought happily... He opened her text and wondered to see the location...

It was a coffee shop...

If we're going to discuss the case,it would be in her cabin..so, it's not about the case....

Aditya...it seems like your trials have ended at romantic date?!?!

His imaginations went wild...

______________________________________

When Aditya reached the coffee shop, Suman was already there...

He placed a bouquet on the table...

" Hello Suman... sorry..I was late"

Suman who was lost in her world with Shravan, came out of her dream in a jerk...

  Aditya was sitting opposite to her...

He was dressed up perfect for a romantic date, a t- shirt with faded jeans...

Suman guessed his mind viewing the bouquet...

" Hello Aditya..."

She smiled half and called the waiter...

  " For me,  one cinnamon flavoured coffee...for you?"

" For me , it's espresso..."

He ordered and looked Suman quizzically...

" What?" She asked...

" It's actually weird...you don't like coffee...that too , cinnamon flavour? Impossible... What made you too drink coffee?"

He keenly looked at her...

She sighed...

Shravan... it's Shravan's favourite flavour...

She closed her eyes for a second... The days they had spent together in coffee shops came to her mind... His talks...smile..his hug...his care...his warmth...

Tears sprung and they threatened to flow down...

I miss you Shravan...

His thought made her to shiver...she rubbed her hands together....

" Aditya...what are your views on the case?"

He huffed...

" Suman...the case is nothing to take care of I think... it's simply an accident...the victim #1 is a terrorist and he was dead... the suspected to be a terrorist victim#2  is under secluded medical aid...he is going to be there until we get to know his identity..and who knows, he may die even without giving any clue to us..."

Suman clenched her fists to control her...

" Fine Aditya...keep everything in your mind..the case is not that much easier as you think...soon , you will get to know one after the other...be ready to work at anytime...bye"

She stood up and cancelled her coffee...

He stopped her...

" Suman... what's this..? You have called me and just like that how could you leave? Let's...you know...why don't we just talk with the coffee?!" He stammered...

  She tried to smile...

" Aditya...the answer for your question is same like earlier... I am not interested...do you get that? I am not interested"

Aditya's face blanched...

" Then, why did you call me here?"

" To ask about the case"

" You would've asked me in the office itself"

He hung his head disappointed...

Suman neared him took the bouquet in her hand...

" Aditya... it's purely because I don't want to discuss anything about the case in office as  this investigation would be unofficial most of the time...and , who knows, it may be too complicated than we think..."

Aditya diverted his eyes away from Suman...

At the moment, Suman felt bad for him...

She sat down and told him to sit...

" Aditya..try to understand...we are here only for investigation...if you promise that you would be a good friend of me, we will continue the case or else ,I can call someone...what do you say?"

He raised his head and apparently there was a glint... At least, she had accepted his friendship...

He nodded without second thought...

"And...this time I take this bouquet with me ... don't repeat this again..."

He again nodded.....