Abhijeet picks up the call and is stunned to hear what the caller says. He assures the caller that a team will reach their office and take the matter into their hands and then cuts the call. He finds expectant glances his way and faces the team. He explains the case to the team: a person, who’s a journalist, is missing, and a death threat was found at his desk. The journalist belongs to a news and media agency, Excel Media Private Limited.

“Excel News and Media Agency? Iss agency ka toh kaafi naam hai na, Sir? Yahan se kaun gayab ho sakta hai?” Shreya is the first one to pose the question.

“Excel agency has many honest employees; they give the most genuine news out in the world. There’s an employee, Abhay; he’s been missing since yesterday,” Abhijeet informs.

“Oh, Abhay Singhania. He’s a very well-known news-reader. Unhone kuch sting operations bhi kiye hain, Sir, aur maine usey cover kiya tha,” Ruhana says this time, her tone filled with pride at sharing some information with her new team.

“Bilkul thik kaha tumne, Ruhana. Ab Abhay ka gayab hona uske kisi dushman ka kaam hai ya dost ka, yeh toh wahan jaa ke hi pata chalega,” Abhijeet says and directs one team to visit the news office while one team is directed to visit Abhay’s home.

The team, including Abhijeet, Ruhana, Vineet, Priyanka, and Freddy, heads to the office of Excel Media News Agency, while the others, led by Daya, head to Abhay’s home. However, nothing suspicious is found at the victim’s home, but many threat letters are discovered in the drawer of his desk at the office. When questioned about the letters, his fellow colleagues had no idea about them. They’re told that Abhay was a silent worker; he never got into any trifles except when he expressed his opinions on some trending matters, which people didn’t agree with. However, the team couldn’t find any clue from the colleagues.

Back at the bureau, as they think about Abhay, everyone is lost in thought. Most probably, it could be his enemies who have kidnapped him and might call someone for ransom. But, on the other hand, there could be enemies disguised as friends; who knows?

“Sir, aisa toh nahi ho sakta ki Abhay ko letter mile aur vo kisi ko bataye nahi! I mean, koi toh dost ya family member hoga na jisey wo ye sab bataye,” Priyanka’s voice cuts through the silence spread in the bureau.

“Lekin aisa toh koi hume mila hi nahi hai na, Priyanka. Aur na hi uske colleagues ko kuch pata hai,” Daya affirms dejectedly.

“Umm… Sir, kyun na hum Abhay ka laptop ya office desktop check karein? Ho sakta hai kuch clue mil jaye!” Ruhana suggests, and all the eyes settle upon her.

“What do you mean, Ruhana? Jab koi kuch jaanta hi nahi, toh laptop ya computer mein clue kaise milega?” Dushyant intervenes, gazing at his friend.

“Ho sakta hai wo yeh sab cheezein apne mann ki baatein kahin likh kar rakhta ho. Maybe, hume koi file mil jaye jinmein ye saari details ho. Aur waise bhi Dushyant, journalists have a habit of keeping notepads to write on, aur jahan tak main jaanti hoon, Mr. Abhay na sirf haath se likhte the, unki aadat hai apne notes ko digitally store karne ki. Toh wahan kuch mil sakta hai,” Ruhana suggests.

“Ruhana thik keh rahi hai! Uske computer mein kuch files toh thi. Ruhana, tum aur Vineet phir se news agency mein jaao aur computer check karo; agar hum kuch data retrieve kar sakte hain, toh achha hoga,” Abhijeet directs, and the two of them take their leave while the others get busy with checking his home once again.

At Abhay’s office, Ruhana takes permission from the management before checking his computer. As she delves deeper into the computer, something strikes her eyes, and she chuckles joyfully. Vineet fixes his eyes on her.

“What happened? Did you find something?” he asks, his tone formal and blunt.

“Yes, V… um.. Sir! Yes, maine jaisa socha tha, waisa hi hua. Isme Abhay ke naam se ek folder hai aur usme bahut saara data hai, mujhe umeed hai yeh information hamare kaam ki hogi,” she informs him and transfers the data onto her pen drive.

“Aur bhi kuch mila?” Vineet asks.

“Nahi, Sir. Everything else is about his work, his articles, and all things professional,” she informs him, and he nods.

Thanking the manager, Vineet and Ruhana leave the office. Back at the bureau, Ruhana begins to check the pen drive, and Priyanka starts helping her. As the girl skims through the data, Ruhana informs her seniors that Abhay has been receiving the letters for one week. According to his case files, it is also discovered that his disappearance could be linked to a person named Vikram, against whom he had presented some evidence and had gotten jailed.

As soon as they learn of this information, one team heads to find Vikram and Abhay’s whereabouts. Finally, after a day’s hard work, they find Abhay in a lonely warehouse alongside Juhu beach, where Vikram had kept him captive. The culprit Vikram didn’t realize his own actions and was adamant about killing Abhay, but the team caught him. Soon, he was taken into custody, and Abhay was freed. It turned out to be a simple yet deeply meaningful case.

By the evening, everyone is busy finishing the paperwork and formalities. As Ruhana finishes her work, she notices Priyanka standing near her desk but lost in thought. She nudges Dushyant, who’s working on his computer nearby.

“What happened, Roo?” he asks, his eyes still on the computer.

“What happened to Priyanka? She’s lost somewhere,” she says, her tone filled with concern.

“Ab har koi teri tarah nahi ho sakta na sweety!” Dushyant says affectionately, tweaking his nose.

“What do you mean, Mister?” Ruhana glares at her best friend.

“Usko dekh, kitni shant hai. Aur ek tu hai, jhalli kahin ki. Jab dekho bolti rehti hai… chillati rehti hai,” Dushyant teases her.

“Of course, I do, because you’re a jhalla! I’ve given you the perfect name ‘Bhaaluu’!” She chuckles, her laughter infectious and it breaks Priyanka’s thoughts.

“What happened, guys?” she asks them, her tone soft and her eyes concerned.

“Learn something from her. She’s so silent, and what are you? A wild cat, you know!” Dushyant comments, praising Priyanka.

“Meet me after the bureau, Mister! Then you’ll face the wrath of this wild cat!” she says, her tone teasing and challenging at the same time.

“Priyanka, save me! Ye jungli billi bahut zorr se maarti hai,” he says, pretending to be scared.

Priyanka is lost in the moment. She’s never been so close to Dushyant. Today, he’s being informal and has asked her to help him. Does the brave CID cop need help in saving himself, that too from his best friend?

“Pri, no! He will have to face my wrath. Ab wild cat bola hai, toh jhelna toh padega,” Ruhana exclaims.

“Hey, no! He was just joking!” Priyanka comes to defend her favorite senior.

“I know, and you know what? He will do the remaining work! Hai na Bhaaluu?” Ruhana says, teasing Dushyant with the nickname she gave him.

“Excuse me, I am your senior! Help out, it’s an order,” Dushyant pretends to issue an order to her.

“Aha! But you’re my friend too. And you have to do this. Dekho, Abhijeet Sir aur Daya Sir ko dekho, dono ek doosre ki help karte hain, aur tum ho ki… itna nahi kar sakte mere liye?” she asks.

“Okay, okay! You won’t spare me either way! What do you want?” Dushyant asks, understanding her game.

“You! And your time, Bhaaluu!” Ruhana responds with a smile.

“Let’s go for dinner after this, what say? Dushyant will pay!” Ruhana chuckles and giggles as she ends her statement, only to find him glaring at her.

“Fine! I can’t do anything. Tu jeeti, main haara!” he throws up his hands in exasperation and gives up in front of his friend.

Meanwhile, Ruhana asks the duo if all of them can go to dinner, and everyone tends to agree. Today’s case has been a small one, and they’re relaxed. However, it’s Sunday the next day, so everyone is looking forward to relaxing. They finish their work and head out of the bureau.

However, as Ruhana leaves the bureau, she finds that Vineet is still working at his desk

. She stops by him and invites him.

“Sir, kaam kal kar lijiyega, abhi chaliye na, dinner time hai,” Ruhana insists.

“Tum log jaao, Ruhana. Main nahi aa raha hoon,” he declines firmly.

“Vineet Sir, already late ho gaya hai, please chaliye na…” She insists, feeling that he’s isolating himself, and she wants him to be with the team.

“Mujhe nahi aana hai. Main Dushyant ko mana kar chuka hoon,” Vineet replies calmly.

Ruhana stares at him and tries to convince him one more time, but this time, Vineet shouts at her and leaves the bureau. Ruhana is stunned, and instant tears form in her eyes. She’s oblivious to his inner turmoil, but she surely didn’t expect this.

To Be Continued.