Life is nothing but a maze – a maze of joy, sorrow, pain, trust, achievements, and love. All of it goes into the making of life. Experiencing each emotion with the same passion is living life to the fullest. Life will test you, send obstacles your way, but you need to overcome them with your willpower and carve your path towards your goals.

An ardent CID officer, Ruhana Oberoi believes this. She believes that every person goes through their personal journey, and she has been through the same. After many struggles and hardships, she has unraveled her path to becoming a CID officer. She has been working as a CID officer for six years and is posted in the Mumbai branch of the Crime Investigation Department (CID).

Ruhana has earned immense respect in the office through her witty responses, calm demeanor, and sharp mind. Her out-of-the-box thoughts often help in solving cases effectively. She’s like a nightmare to criminals, just like the senior officials – Daya and Abhijeet.

However, there’s a timid girl inside her who craves to be loved and cherished. Someone who complements her is Vineet Kumar, her colleague and a fierce CID officer. He’s in line for a promotion and often teases her, saying he’d be promoted before her. It’s a healthy banter that frequently happens between them. However, their friends suspect there’s more to the bond between Vineet and Ruhana, but they don’t pay it much heed. The two insist they’re best friends and nothing more.

Life is good for them, or at least that’s how they take it. Of course, chasing criminals, finding clues, and procrastinating are part of the usual routine, but amidst it all, they find time for each other and their team, which feels like family. Everything seems smooth and joyful.

*****

It’s a fine, sunny day. Ruhana wakes up from her slumber as sunrays fall on her eyes. She gets up and walks toward the window, inhaling the morning freshness. The weather is cool and breezy, much to her liking. She takes a deep breath and walks into the washroom. After freshening up and brushing her teeth, she heads to the kitchen to brew some tea. She loves her morning tea and doesn’t compromise on it.
As she puts some water to warm, she picks up the newspaper and begins brewing her favorite ginger tea.

The morning tea rejuvenates her, helping her focus better on her tasks. Along with tea, she loves to read. While sipping her morning tea, she skims through the newspaper for daily news and then prefers reading books. Despite her busy schedule, she tries her best to stick to her habits of reading and writing. This morning routine helps her function better and sets the tone for her day.

Straining her tea into her favorite mug, she sits on the couch with a poetry book, her favorite genre. This is her cherished time of the day, where she reads and spends some quiet moments with herself. It keeps her refreshed all day. She is engrossed in reading when the doorbell rings, breaking her trance. She checks the wall clock. It’s just 8 a.m. Who could be at her place this early? Must be the milkman. She picks up the basket in which she usually keeps her milk packets.

Opening the door, she stretches out the basket, prompting the milkman to put the packet in. However, her thoughts are interrupted by a familiar masculine voice.

“I’m not the milkman, Ruu!” the voice says, snapping her out of her trance.

“Huh?” Ruhana looks up from her book, only to find Vineet beaming at her.

“Yeah, it’s me. Tumne toh mujhe doodhwala hi samajh liya,” he complains softly.

“I’m sorry, mujhe laga doodhwala hoga, isliye maine basket aage ki. Tum—tum andar aao,” Ruhana steps aside to let him in.

“Thank you! Vaise agar aise book padhogi toh aisa hi hoga. Kahin aisa na ho ki tum doodh wale ko apni chai de do, absentmindedly,” he giggles.

“Heyy!! Main aisa kuch nahi karungi, samjhe! Vaise tum subah subah yahan kya kar rahe ho?” Ruhana asks, gazing at him.

Vineet is six feet tall, fair-skinned, and his beard complements his manly demeanor. Ruhana notices he’s dressed in black shirt and rust coloured pants, ready for the day. But there’s still time before they need to reach the bureau. Why is he here so early?

“I’m sorry, Ruhana, main bina phone kiye aa gaya. Actually, thodi der pehle Abhijeet Sir ka call aaya tha. Ek zaroori file HQ leke jaani hai, aur uss case pe hum dono ne kaam kiya tha, toh humein jaana hoga. Sir keh rahe the ki headquarters mein aajkal basic inquiries hoti hain, toh jisne kaam kiya hai uska jaana behtar hai. Tum ready ho jaao; hum abhi chalenge,” Vineet explains gently, trying not to surprise her.

“Oh, tumhe call karna chahiye tha naa. Main ready ho jaati,” Ruhana says.

“It’s okay, Ruu. You take your time; main wait karta hoon. File mere paas hi hai, toh hume directly HQ jaana hai,” Vineet replies lightly.

“Okay, I’ll be back. Please make yourself at home,” she says and rushes to her room to get ready.
Twenty minutes later, she walks out holding her handbag. She’s dressed in a grey skirt paired with a yellow blazer. Vineet is momentarily mesmerized by her professional appearance but quickly snaps out of it when she calls him.

“Chalo, Vineet. Humein der ho jaayegi nahi toh. Phir bureau bhi toh jaana hai,” she chides softly.

“Yeah, let’s go. By the way, you look beautiful,” he compliments, and she feels a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

“Thanks. Ab chalein? Baaki baatein shaam ko, your coffee is due,” she says, glancing at him. He nods in agreement.

Ruhana locks her home and follows Vineet. A long day lies ahead, and work is worship. Everything else can wait for now.