Dhruv sat on the kitchen countertop swinging his legs merrily, Avni admired him with a grin, waiting impaitently for her toast to finish. Shruthi stood infront of the counter, brushing Dhruv's hair affectionately. Neela and Aarav leaned against the table drinking their coffees.

"Mumma..." He tugged Shruthi's hand cutely, "mein phir se Neil uncle ko kabhi milenga?" Dhruv lisped excitedly, with a bright smile.

Avni PoV

Oh sh*t. Oh Dhruv... what have you done?

I bit my lip in anxiousness, squeezing my eyes shut in realisation and fear. I was refraining from facepalming myself.

Everyone's face warped in confusion and from then on I started counting down to my doom, the barricade of questions that would hurl my way.

"Neil uncle?" Shruthi di frowned in question and maa and jiju leaned forward in curiousity, "Wo kaun hai? Kabhi mila hai is uncle ko?"

Sh*t. Sh*t. Sh*t. I'm done for.

"Wo Mausi ki dost hai na?"

"Mausi ki dost?" Maa pointed her questioning gaze at me, her eyebrow raised.

"Yeh konsi dost hai aap ko Avu jo hum ko nahi bataya?" Jiju was grinning like a mad man, and I was terrified by the gleam of mischief in his eyes.

My lips parted but my words were lost somewhere, I don't know why the words were in a jumble in my head as if just the thought of him, the memory of his eyes had the power to leave me completely speechless.

I didn't know what to say, who was he? Nothing more than a stranger I bumped in to on the street, he didn't even know my name. But why couldn't i just say that? Why did my stomach have to flip like this? Oh god. I hate this.

"Hum usse park me mila tha papa!" Dhruv jumped off the countertop, messing up the hair di had just brushed and jumped in to jiju's arms, hyper with excitement. Now what new mess will this boy put me in to?

"Papa jhanti ho? Wo policeman hai! Wo bohot accha tha... par mujhe laktha hai ki wo mujhse zyaada mausi ko achha lagta hu..."

All their eyes were on me, staring me down and making my stomach churn in twisted circles more than it already was. I gulped under their intimidating gazes, god know what Dhruv would say next.

"Oh really mera baccha? Aise kyu laga?" Jiju asked Dhruv with a smile spread across his face.

Ugh... Oh no... I'm in trouble today...

"Wo poore saame ke liye... bus mausi ko dekh raha tha..." Nishaan giggled, and it felt like for a second, the whole word stopped still.

6 eyes piercing through me with endless questions and utterly shocked amused faces, I knew I would never hear the end of this. But then why wasn't that what I cared about?

Why did my cheeks starting flushing bright red at the thought that maybe he was staring at me? What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I acting like I was some sort of teenager?

I knew love was my weakness. That for me, love is a lie.

Then why did my lips want to quirk up in to a shy smile?

I sprinted to the toaster, grabbing the bread and trying to hide my bright pink face from my family.

"Hey Avu! Aise bhaag ne ki koshish mat karna!" Jiju said behind me with a chuckle, I closed my eyes in embarrassment.

"Avni!" Maa called. Oh damn it. I scrambled for my bag trying to divert my gaze from theirs.

"Avu don't you even think you are getting away without telling me who this new guy is!?" Di yelled in playfully irritation but I could hear them laughing teasingly behind me. "Avni stop right there!"

I opened the door, trying to sprint out of it, " I-uh- Di I can't be late! It's my first day na!?!-"

"Avni!-"

I shut the door before she could finish, locking it behind me. Leaning against it and panting to regain some control over my flustered self.

Oh Dhruv beta... why would you do this to your poor mausi?

End of PoV

...............

DD- Sir! Sir!

Neil snapped out of his trance, snapping round to look at DD in confusion, "Hmm?"

"Itni dher se kidhere kho gaya tha aap? Kuch hogaya bhaiyya?"

Neil PoV

Dd stared at me with concern shadowing his features, he must have found it unusual to find me so distracted and unattentive. And it was. This never happened to me.

What the hell is wrong with me!?

Why am I lost in this endless labrinth of overlappinng thoughts and foreign feelings and this heaviness in my heart, this fear that I wouldn't see that face again.

Why is it that those eyes seemed to be etched in to my brain? That everytime I closed my eyes those eyes would reappear, and I couldn't help but just be utterly enraptured by their beauty? The way they sparkled as she smiled or blazed as she argued, they were filled with frenetic energy, and wholly abundant with life. I hate how breathtaking they are, I hate how they make me feel, how she makes me feel.

How does a stranger on the street have enough power over me to reign my thoughts ever since I met her. I was Neil Khanna, my self-control was impeccable...

I couldn't even recognise myself anymore. That woman officially turned me insane.

Then why the hell is my damn heart begging to see her again!?

It's fine. It's just an illusion, a fantasy, an infatuation. Its just an infatuation. Neil Khanna, keep control on yourself now, infatuation is dangerous. You've seen where it leads, what it forces a person to do.

I have the blood of a monster running through my veins. I can't get to close to anybody. I can't- I can't hurt anybody.

End of Pov

Neil clears his throat and closes his eyes to steady himself before looking back up at DD, his eyes now bare of emotion.

"Sorry DD kuch nahi hua hai, mein bus case ki baare mein soch raha tha... Kya bolna chata tha tumhe?"

"Oh wo bus remind karna chata tha ki wo new ACP join kar rahi hai aaj, aap ko accompany karne ke liye..."

With a nod Neil replied, indifferently checking for dirt stuck under his nails after field work, "uska naam kya hai?"

"Uska nahi sir- uski..." DD replied with an joyous smile, Neil looked up at this and subdued shock lingered in his widened eyes.

Neil PoV

A girl? That's surprising. Although the sad thing is that it shouldn't be.

I find a profound respect in me for a woman officer, she battles with a lot to stand where she is. She is attacked on her capabilities just because of her gender, they are told that they aren't strong enough or that the job is not for them. But just by bearing those taboos and working by protecting the same people that say those things about them, they prove they are stronger than anybody can imagine.

I'd feel proud to work alongside a lady ACP.

There was a knock on my door and I stood up to go to the door but DD reached before me, to open the door for her and let her in to my office.

"Sir... Meet Miss Avni Mehta..." DD announced.

Her high heels tapped rhythmically across the floor powerfully as she walked in, immediately demanding attention. But I couldn't explain why it made my heart suddenly start thunder louder with each step.

And then she was in my line of sight.

Oh my lord. No way.

No way in the world.

Avni's PoV

No way.

No f*cking way. This was not happeninng.

Neil PoV

What the hell?! Have I started hallucinating now!? I blink.

But she's still there.

And so I blink again.

But she is still there.

And so I keep blinking, blinking so much I must look like I've gone blind.

But she was still f*cking there.

Avni PoV

Out of all the police branches, in all the states, in all the cities, in all the towns, in all the villages... I was placed in this one.

With him.

Look at my luck.

Neil PoV

This was a dream right? Wait. Wait. It's not. She's actually there. She is actually here.

And F*ck.

She still looked gorgeous.

She literally dazzled with beauty, I suddenly felt stuffy in this room, as if she was stealing my breath away from me.

She wore tight black trousers with a sleeveless white top tucked in to it. Its low v cut teased me badly and all her alluring curves called out to me turning my throat parched and hands clammy. Her hair was brushed out of the way in to a high ponytail but loose strands fell out to frame her kohl lined eyes and tickle her glowing, flushed pink cheeks.

She looked like the epitome of power, a fire danced in her eyes and it was exhilarating. It had the power to make anyone stop and listen to her, those piercing eyes were terrifyingly hypnotic.

Oh god, please give me the power to look away because only God knows what I will do if I carry on staring at her like a creep.

But. Wait. She's an ACP!?

How many more bloody surprises did she have under her sleeve?

This girl is going to kill me.

But what a way to die...

End of PoVs

"Tum!?" Both of them exclaimed at the same time, their eyes wide and lips parted in surprise.

"Aap ek dusre ko jhanta hai?" DD seemed equally as surprised, his eyes bewildered by the spite in their voices.

"Haan... hum mil chuka hai... jab inho ne mere bhanje ka saath takkra kar usse giradiya tha!" Avni yelled pointing at him, looking irked at his presence.

Neil gasped at her outright accusation, placing a hand on his chest mockingly with a sarcastic voice, "Oh so I was the wrong one? That was an accident! You calling me a monkey was also an accident haan?"

DD's mouth falls open seeing them bicker back and forth like a married couple, sulking like small children. It had been so long since he had seen Neil so free, unlike the rigid emotionless man he had become.

"No. It wasn't. That was just the truth. Aap bandar ki tarah hi dikh tha hu!" She retorted with a smug smirk, with her hands playfully crossed over her chest. And that smile made Neil's resolve melt again, his heart weakening at the glint in her eye. But that just made him more annoyed, the power she had over him.

"Actually miss... I know many people that would completely disagree with you!" It was his turn to smile proudly, popping his collar.

"Oh really!" Avni asked, drawling sarcastically with a raised eyebrow. "Who are they? Blind people?"

Neil gasped again, no one had ever spoken to him so boldly, so recklessly. It infuriated him, yet he couldn't help but be drawn to her like a moth to a flame, "Excu-"

"SIR! MAAM! JUST ONE MINUTE!"

The pair looked at the the screaming DD almost immediately in shock that such a loud noise could come from someone looking so innocent and dutiful. Neil had never heard him raise his voice, he again pinched the inside of his palm, convinced he must be dreaming up this entire scenario.

"If you argue like this how will you work together... I'll go now but please... just introduce yourself to each other calmly. Try and behave."

He left the room with a sigh but a thrilled smile on his face seeing his Neil bhaiyya's reaction to this girl, Neil had been cold for so long. Locking himself away in the recesses of his heart. This girl was something else if she was capable of breaking down the walls he had built up around him.

Neil and Avni looked at each other in shock, mouths parted and eyes round like saucers, disbelief at the fact that DD had just left after scolding them like children.

"So..." She held out her hand with a confident smirk, and a raised eyebrow. He lifted her hand and shook it slowly, his eyes still awestruck by her sudden appearance. "Nice to meet to ACP Neil Khanna..."

Neil PoV

My heart leaped again, skipping a beat and then twisting and turning irregularly, just with her fierce stare she had melted me in to a hopeless mess.

My name from her pink lips, in her soft sultry voice was enough to daze me in to a strange intoxication where I had nothing to say... and nothing to do but stare helplessly in to her eyes. It was like sweet poison, ridiculously tempting but so dangerous.

Idiot. Why?

Why do you keep doing this to yourself?!

I opened my mouth to say something snarky back but she had already walked past me, boldly holding her head up high.

Her shoulder brushed against my mine, and that was enough to make my brain stutter, the synapes fizzling again. As if somehow her touch was enough to make me feel everything all at once, yet somehow leave me completely numb.

Forget it... Neil.

I turned around and my mouth must have fell open, aghast. She had sat in the seat opposite the one at my desk. But her feet were swung up on to the desk on top of my files casually, as if this was her second home.

One of her long legs were lazed over the other one, and she looked around the room as if background checking it, in utter disinterest. She looked so cute with her nose scrunched up in distaste at my lacklustre untidy office, and with her homely actions as if she belonged here.

This girl was something else.

I must have had that cheesy smile on my face again.

Her eyes fell on my half eaten sandwich, and I was awed by the excitement that burst like a firework in her eyes, lighting them up.

"Oh wow! Sandwich!" She exclaimed adorably like a small child, grabbing the sandwich with no regard to the fact it was mine and took a huge bite out of it.

"Hey excuse me-" I say in disbelief, walking around the desk to face her, but she cuts me off before i could finish.

"Mmm... this is so good... Kisne banaya yeh?" The slight irritation in me dissipated seeing the happiness glowing on her face, that for some reason was like a lullabye to my heart and soothed it.

Besides I couldn't help but be endeared in total surprise at her bold, bubbly, dauntless confidence. It was overwhelmingly powerful, and unlike any girl I had ever met before. The girls I encountered knew to do nothing but stumble, stutter and blush. Though Avni would be adorable doing even that.

You fool Neil. Can't you just stop with this now? You've gone mad.

"Meri Bebe ne..." With a smile I fell on to the chair, watching her relish the sandwich. I didn't want it anymore, watching her smile when she ate it was a million times better.

"Unki haath me kisi tarah ki jaadu hai yaar!"

I chuckled at the innocence in her eyes as she smiles in delight, "Actually Miss Mehta... that was meant to be my lunch..."

"Well tough luck then... I'm hungry..."She snapped back with a smirk, and an irresistible bite of her lips.

Oh god... this girl.

I leaned back on the chair with a smile, closing my eyes and sighing in defeat.

This was no winning against this girl's stubbornness.

"Oh... ACP... wo din aap ne kya bataya tha? Look, I'm an ACP... you cant speak to me like that?" She glares at me playfully, smiling mockingly.

I'd spoken so haughtily that day, having no clue that the firecracker of a woman in front of me was also an ACP. Damn it. Damn it.

"Mujhe yaha dekh kar shock laga na?" I had nothing to say, my lips just parted and closed again and again like a drowning fish but nothing left my lips.

She just smiled with a soft giggle that made my blood sing, "don't worry Mr Khanna... mujhe aksar yeh effect hota hai logo par"

She got up of the chair as if she had said nothing, as if she didn't understand how attractive, how spell-binding her fearlessness was. It was inevitably sexy, even I had to admit that.

Even though I hate to.

I watched like a ditzy hopeless romantic as she cruised around the room and looked around on my shelves as if scanning her surroundings.

This is just natural, i told myself. Yes she looked irresistibly beautiful. Glowing. Like a tempting sin. But i was just distracting myself from the pain that bites away inside me. Its just a bloody infatuation that is refusing to fade.

Right. Right?

Her eyes narrowed cutely in concentration as, she ran her elegant finger across the shelves of files. Her eyes widened as she found what she wanted and took it out with eagerness visibly buzzing on her face.

"This weeks case... Vikas Agarwal... bohot interesting lagta hai yeh..." She opened the file and started scanning through it, childishly charming little crinkles appearing on her forehead as she concentrated.

But Vikas Agarwal?! She was not getting involved with that! He was a filthy scoundrel, that raped women and did the horridest things imaginable to them. I had intentionally kept women officers as far as possible from this case, I couldn't risk anyone's life. And now, especially not hers.

I sprint to her, and i realise that my expression might have come off as stern suddenly, "File wapas dhe do..."

She frowned at me in confusion, clutching the file adamantly, "Nahi! Kyu?"

"Kyunki wo mera hai!"

"Haan tho... hum partners hai ab! Tumhara case matlab mera case!"

"Well yeh case tumhara nahi hai!" I yelled grabbing the file and trying to yank it away from her.

She huffed in frustration and tying to pull it back, as i tried hard not to get distracted by the way her tongue was cutely stuck out in concentration.

"Kyu! Mujhe chaiyye! Chod do na!" She sulked like a baby and it was so hard not to let her have her way, nobody could deny that pout and those puppy dog eyes.

"I told right... no... give it back..."

Avni PoV

My throat was turning dry at the sight of Neil getting frustrated, I tried to swallow the reaction back but he looked ridiculously hot when he was angry, his jaw was tensed and his eyes were raw and numbing.

But its a front, a facade. I must not let those good looks fool me.

"Never!" I pulled it back out of his hands like a small child and then started running as fast as could carry me.

"Hey stop! Avni! Give it back!" I could hear his footsteps pacing behind me, and it was hard not to stop in my place, my name sounded so good in his husky voice. I wanted to stop and hear him say it again.

I looked back as I was running, he looked so cute as he frowned innocently in distress, but I wasn't one to back down. I'm not going to back down.

"Watch out!" He exclaims in worry, rushing toward me and placing his hand on the wall behind my head.

I gasp as my head hits his hand instead of the wall. My heartbeat races unbelievably fast, so fast that my chest must have been visibly heaving. His face is inches away from mine, our noses centimetres away from softly touching.

He pinned me to the wall with ease, his arms trapping me, and his body literally pressed up against mine. The air was thick with tension, at least for me, my breathing shallow as his hot breath swept across my skin.

My mind was begging for my eyes to close, ashamed by the embarrassing way my body was quivering in his touch and all my blood was flowing in to my cheeks. But how could my heart look away from those eyes, melted honey brown with golden specks as if he had hidden the sun away in them.

They were doing things to me that I didn't want to think about, I wanted to ignore the feelings at the pit of my stomach.

And then the darned idiot tucked the loose strand of hair behind my ear, and then continued to trace his nimble fingers down, grazing my temple, my neck and brushing against my collarbone, I couldn't control the monster of desire that growled within me as I gasped for air suddenly, my eyes closing.

I could feel his smirk on me, boring through my skin, the idiot was enjoying this.

The suddenly my hands were empty. My eyes opened to see him holding the file, with a victorious smile on his face.

"Thank you ACP Mehta for your co-operation... Shock laga kya? Mujhe aksar yeh effect hota hai logo par..." He raised his eyebrow at me with a wink, making my cheeks flame up all over again.

But frustration coursed through me, how could i let someone distract me like that? Not done.

I just stood there fuming from my ears, with my hands crossed over my chest as he smirked that million dollar smile at me making me feel overjoyed yet furious at the same time.

Revenge is sweetest when you wait for a while, he'll have it coming back to him, no doubt about that.

But for now, I snatched the file back with a frown, "No thank you ACP Khanna... Line ka chor! bolo... why don't you want me looking at this thing? Or I'll never give it back..."

Neil PoV

"Avni..." I pleaded calmly, trying to look sternly in to her eyes but failing miserably against that baby-like frown. God... this girl's stubbornness was iron strong.

"Look Avni... he's a rapist, a serial rapist..." It was sickening to say the words, as I warned her gently. Her eyes widened a bit before something changed inside them. A sharp pain shot through them and all the playfulness was gone in her eyes, they had become unreadable. This pain wasn't just anger at a criminal's actions, it felt deep-rooted, it made me worry. "Avni?"

She brushed off the moment of weakness like it was nothing, a passion flared in her eyes, "rapist ho ya drug dealer, criminal tho criminal hi hota hai na? Why wouldn't i help handle this case?"

I feel the worry that pounds in my heart suddenly spread on to my face, as I frown squeezing her shoulders slightly, feeling the softness of her skin under mine, "what if something happens to you?"

Discomfort and confusion pervaded her eyes and just realised how that must have sounded, what i just said, "I mean-I've- uh... I've kept all woman officers off this case..."

And that fire of bullheadedness was back in her eyes, the one that attracted me so desperately, "Oh ho... tho ACP Khanna meri kabiliyat par ungli uta rahi hu?"

"No-"

"You wait and see ACP, just give me two days, aur mein zarur wo rakshas ko hatkadi pehenake yaha leke aaounga... Wanna bet?"

Just by seeing the strength in her eyes, I know she'd wouldn't stop till she won this bet. But I didn't want her to do this, "No... I don't want to..."

"Aww kya hua ACP Khanna ko... dhar laga, ladki ki saamne aap ko haarna padega?" She pulled my cheeks with a heart-fluttering smile that made my heart go crazy. Her soft fingers against my cheeks made me want to close my eyes and melt in to her touch, and let out the huge smile lingering on my lips.

But she should know...I'm not one to back down either...

"Fine. Teek hai... bet karthe hai..." I sigh with a small smile at her hopelessness, she grins at me with those playful eyes again making me feel all those thing I wanted to lock away forever.

"Teek hai ACP Khanna... be prepared to lose..."

"Hmm... dekh tha hai...par mujhe nahi laktha ki tum jeet jayenge" I muttered, annoyance reflecting in my voice.

"Itna confidence hai tho ko aise tightly file pakad kar kyu raha hai huh? Dhedo!"

She snatched the file off me with grace and beauty and I admired like a blind fool, dazed by the way she giggled sweetly. Her sing song laughter echoing in the air as she turned away, her hair flying behind her as she ran back in to the office.

"Mein hi jeet jayenge!" She called out, adorable mischief glimmering in her voice.

"Hmmm... dekh the hai pretty lady..."

I winked, and my heart pounded in joy as i saw her blush furiously under my gaze.

"Don't call me that..." She frowned, her eyebrows ruffled and burrowed.

"Kyu? Sach nai hai kya?" I looked at her smugly, loving the way she was just burning more, that rage was so overwhelmingly hot that I didn't want to think of what it was doing to me.

"Sacch hi hai... par ek bandar ka muh se yeh suna accha nahi laktha..."

My mouth dropped open in surprise at her smart retort, this is girl was really something else. She was like magic, like a alcohol, she made all you other thoughts dissapear and she drew you back again and again, like an addiction.

She threw her head back in laughter, and all I could do was hopelessly gaze like a fool as the way her eyes glittered and the corners of her eyes creased.

She would be the death of me.

But like I said, what a way to die...

But no. I couldn't. I can't.

....

I dont know whether you guys will like it, but please please please comment and vote and tell me what you think, I've rushed this during exam times 😂😊💗