•••

"What!?" Everybody in the room shrieked hearing my statement, but thank God for Hold option. "Don't you fucking kid with me. I swear, I did nothing!" Aditi freaked out. Oh no, this is not the moment she should have an panic attack.

"Or maybe you did! Asking out the rival guy on a date and following him halfway to his house." Oh, Anirudh this is not the time you add fuel to the fire. Aditi was on the verge of crying. "What if they're fucking criminals and kill me when I go there!" What nonsense, is she talking about? "Aditi, they may also want to meet you to settle the account-" "What?!" Aditi's shriek interrupted my calm talk. "In the sense, pay you money for the service you did to them - Catering!" I placed the receiver on the side of the telephone to go near Aditi.

"Go talk." Arjun patted her back, and pointed to the phone. "Yeah, go." I assured her. She went near the receiver and looked at us confusedly. "Now blabber more details. Okay, grasshopper?" Anirudh freaked her out more.

"Dammit, man. Shut up! Arjun, observe." I ordered Arjun and dragged Anirudh to the porch. He'll be the reason for her next panic attack.

"What in the earth, woman!" He exclaimed when I let go off his shirt collar. "You don't know the importance of a phone call. You were almost ruining the moment! That was a freaking call from freaking Anamika's office! The woman we are placing our bets on for being Mr.A!" I was irritated with Aditi and Anirudh's cat and mouse fights.

They affected each other's outcomes! And Anirudh doesn't believe in a freaking telephone call, but that's what our clue towards the quest of Mr.A.

"Thank you, Mr.Dhruv. The interest you showed in the case told me you'll take action, but I never thought it would be this immediate." Dhruv had taken her to the hospital's canteen to have their lunch. Since the hospital was also a medical college, the canteen was placed at the entrance of the medical college. The canteen looked more like a small restaurant as it was situated on the highway. Dhruv smiled at her as they continued eating.

The tension between them caused crackles in the air between them. "So, mrkrmm..." Nethra started again to gain his attention and to reduce the tension. "You said you'll talk to my boss. Did you - ummm - speak to him, Mr.Dhruv?" She asked him.

He took a while to answer since he was munching his food. "Yes... I mean, no. His phone was busy. I'll talk to him after we are done with food." He replied earnestly. There was something teenager-ish about how he behaved which caused Nethra to chuckle inwardly. "Oh, okay." With pursed lips she nodded.

"Also, mrkrmm.." Nethra smiled to herself as he repeated her move. "Yes, Mr.Dhruv?" She replied immediately. "That's what. Please don't add Mr.Dhruv to every sentence please. I'm feeling a teacher-student kind of relationship. It's a little - umm.. uneasy." It was hard for Nethra not to laugh and snort at his statement. But she had to.

"Yes... Yes, Mr... I mean. Just yes." She couldn't help but chuckle. "Excuse me." She got up immediately as she had finished her food. She laughed to herself heartily as she washed her hands. With tissues, she wiped her mouth and kept it on her lips a little while to slow down her laughter.

She came out of the washroom and noticed Dhruv was on a call. As she approached him, a waiter came and placed the bill folder on their table. Dhruv multi tasked by being on a call and yet fishing into his pocket for his wallet.

As he was about to place money in the folder, Nethra slapped his hand to stop him. She placed half the amount and mouthed, "We're splitting. I'll wait in the parking" Not giving Dhruv time to argue, she went outside immediately.

He smiled at her gesture and tipped the waiter more than his usual and thought to himself. "Two firsts. A woman offered to split the bill and tipped more than 20% of the bill"

Ending the call with one of his colleague he went to the parking lot. Nethra wasn't there as she said. "Ne-Ne-Nethra!" Dhruv felt his gut tightening. "Nethra?" He called out to her once more. "I'm here..." he heard a sad voice. Going towards the direction the voice came from, he found Nethra going to and fro in a children's swing with a lollipop in her mouth lost in thoughts.

He wondered what suddenly happened with her. "A penny for your thoughts?" He slowly nudged her. She stopped swinging and tapped the swing next to her, motioning him to sit. It was a small usual park in a restaurant like this. A couple of swings, a slide, a small merry-go-round and the play-horse.

He knew Nethra wasn't a easy woman and she will win an argument just to make him sit on a swing. So cutting the chase, he sat on it. "Wow, he's easy! No toxic masculinity." Nethra thought. Dhruv sank his head in his palm, laughing low key. "Can you please take off that lollipop? It's hard to take you serious with that in your mouth." He told her. Nethra pouted side wardly and took the lollipop off her mouth.

"That's better. Now say." He said. "Have you ever taken lead on an artefact hunt?" She asked him. "No, this is a first." He said immediately. "Oh, have you ever been a part of such case?" She asked him again. "Yeah." He told her. "So, do you have any guess which kind of people might be behind our people?" There was a sudden worry in her voice which intrigued Dhruv.

"To be honest, this is damn scary. I've seen in news that your department has recovered so many artefacts. Here, it's not just the artefact, so many lives are threatened everyday. Not just the archaeologists but also the local staff we recruit face danger. I want you to answer one question..." Nethra paused looking at Dhruv, who was intently listening to her.

"Yeah?" He was hesitant of what she's going to ask. He was afraid of not being able to answer. It was another first for Dhruv, being spellbound. "Will you and your imminent team, be able to bring justice to all of us? The living, the dead and the injured, who are trying to protect the pride of our country?"

He smiled at her question. "I'm more than what you think. This is not just archaeological theft. This is a crime involving violence and life-threat. And I'm the reaper of all these filthy souls." His answer made Nethra smile at him warmly. She saw assurance and confidence.

"Now, I think it's time to call it a day. Shall we go?" He asked her. "Where?" She asked crooking her brows. "Umm ... to the government quarters. I've requested my close ally to have you in her dorm for the day." He replied. "I appreciate the effort. But I'm going to stay with Mithra and others. As a visitor, you know. Thank you, officer. You really gave me the confidence that our department will be soon back in all it's glory." Nethra's arms ached to hug him and thank him. Her conscience strictly forbid her from doing so.

"It's safer there, Nethra. Understand." He was afraid. Nethra is the only unharmed archaeologist available in the town who can help with him with the case. He can't afford to lose her assistance. Nethra felt sparkles when she heard his utterance. It made her smile warmly as she got up from the swing before replying to him.

The sun was almost setting."I belong with my people. Good Night." She popped the lollipop back into her mouth and started her walk to the hospital block where her colleagues rested.

"Good Night, then..." Dhruv muttered to himself, inserting his fingers in his pant pockets. The impromptu trip had caught him off guard. He didn't take any measures before hand. He called his friend to inform that he's close to the police headquarters. He stopped by a shop to get some writing materials, to put down his thoughts, and that's when an idea struck him.

It was almost 12 am when he wanted to executed the plan. Just as he started to prepare, he received a call from an unknown number. He was clueless of who could call at this time. What if it's his superior officer? If it's Nethra's boss? Or worse, Nethra herself? But he was confused seeing the landline number. He picked the call, not risking the loss of a lead, supposedly. "Oh My God, sir! Is this how long you take to pick up call? I was worried sick about you! I know, I am dumb, why couldn't you give your number to me! Can't believe I had to take your number from the visitor's book."

"Nethra!?" He asked cluelessly, in the 14 hours he knew her, she never talked this way. "Is this what you picked up with the rant?" Another voice said. "Who's that?" He questioned. "Sir, we need you to come here. We received a threat call. Don't worry this is Mithra and Nethra calling from the hospital phone." The phone was immediately hung up, making Dhruv rush up.

"What are you guys doing here?" Arjun confusedly asked us. "Oh, I was just keeping Anirudh away from Aditi." I said. "Oh! Good job, Nates!" Aditi gave me a thumbs up, and she was smiling. Smiling huh? "What happened with the call?" I asked them.

"Well, they really liked the food" Aditi was excited. There was lowly chuckle from my back, "Fuh!" "Anirudh, stop that. I'm tired." These two are beyond my help.

Aditi rolled her eyes and continued. "Anyways, they asked me to come and collect the cheque by 11 a.m. today and they wanted to talk about another event." She seemed genuinely happy.

"Oh! Oh my gosh! This is great! Both for your career and for our mission." I told her and hugged her. My lost hope for getting Dhruv out, was slowly reviving. "I never knew I could help you out. Glad this is happening." She said, as she hugged me back. "So... should we wire her up or something? You know, to know more about Anaamika?" Anirudh barged in.

"I don't know if this is going to be moment, Anirudh. This is going to be some kind of briefing, I guess. I'll take notes anyways. When I reach second base, you can wire me up then." She replied with a simple smile. "Okay." He replied. Huh, these two can actually be civil.

"Also, what the receptionist said is kind of bothering me." Arjun told. "Of what?" I asked. "She told Aditi that generally Anaamika never really repeats the caterers or event planners. This restaurant is the first of kind. I think we are missing a piece here." Arjun put forth his point. There was a small rejection in Aditi's face. "I guess they might be tracking us too." She said.

"No no, sweetie. Your food was great. That should be the reason. We'll be careful anyways. We make sure we don't do anything shady in the spotlight." I comforted her immediately.

"Fine, Arjun was with me in the party. So I guess, I'll take him. Pick me up at 10.30 a.m., officer? I'll be at the restaurant. I have an extra shift today." Saying this, Aditi left bidding bye to us.

"Arjun, be very very careful. Be observant of your surroundings. I don't know if Aditi will be serious or not, but you're going to be the incharge. If you find anything suspicious, keep a tab on it. This is almost a suicide mission." The last part what Anirudh uttered, made Arjun squeeze his brows. Arjun has been in legit battles, guess this will be easy for him. All we could do is just hope.

...

And we both owe a huge apology to all of you for not updating for so long. We sincerely apologise and love you all from the bottom of our hearts for holding on to this book so tightly.

Signing off~