AN: Happy new year 🎉 ✨ Super delayed update cos I couldn't work on this as I wasn't feeling well dealing with injuries and stuff. I'm still under weather...

I will try to bring weekly updates as soon as I can. Wish me luck! Please vote and comment. Many thanks <3 Also this chapter is all about Soham Mira. Basically just a scene out of a whole chapter I planned darn... but it's good one I think ;)

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What kind of guy is Aran? His exterior is kind, flawless, and hardworking. Charming, even. Hours of observation of the guy by the SIT won't result in the tiniest crack appearing in him. He's always composed on the set. More so, when Seyon visits him in his college or hangs out with him.

Thiya can tell Seyon is frustrated, though he isn't banging his fists into car dashboards or his desk. In her view, processing the data on Aran's laptop might provide them with a lead. Seyon insists she do it soon. He even grumbles about why she's taking so long?

Her response is, "these things take time. I only get to do this when we're off patrol and when the ACP lets me." Seyon asks her to stay back and focus solely on that task, day or night.

Another week passes. Ulla Fredericks assumes charge when the SIT can't. Orion Studios is under constant vigil one way or the other; Thiya's drone Vyuh has also joined the crew. Though unaware of the new arrangements, the ACP is quite content, tasking the SIT with other duties, mainly symposium preparations. He might be anticipating a situation where the SIT takes the fall. The SIT still perseveres, working tirelessly.

Amidst all the chaos, a new gossip is making rounds at the CBCID complex. The ACP is eager to get rid of the SIT. They are incompetent anyway. To add fuel to the fire, the gossipers say the juicy details come from the ACP's allies.

Mira calls the ACP is a demon incarnation while agreeing Ulla can't always be their saviour. Soham is thankful that another day has gone by with no chaos. On this day, as the curmudgeon puts Seyon and Thiya to work as volunteers (the ACP's ire is on both of them now for a reason), Soham and Mira are spending their day at Kavya's film set.

From her chair, Mira shifts her gaze to the man sitting next to her. Soham is absorbed in the filming process. Another day, early in the morning — they arrived at Orion studios for regular patrol. And since then they've been just... observing, finding chairs to sit at the end of the long hall, far beyond the camera crew — where they are seated now. Afternoon is fast approaching. Investigation sometimes involves tedious stakeouts that test out an officer's tenacity. The slasher's case is one such.

The current indoor shot requires the entire crew inside a building in Orion Studios. Soham is so invested in the plot of Kavya's film. The spy theme of the film must have piqued his interest.

Mira thinks the plot is fascinating. Kavya's character Anjali, a spy for the Intelligence Bureau, has to evade assassins hired to kill her while saving super secret evidence of a case that's under her responsibility.

Mira is not sure of the entire plot of the movie. The SIT doesn't patrol in pairs. She and Soham have been taking turns; they rarely have the chance to watch the filming together. Not to mention Seyon, Thiya, Ulla are their substitutes on certain days.

Piecing the plot of the movie together is easy. They are all detectives and there's talk around the set. The crew and the directors are always discussing, always reviewing the script. So much goes into film making. Art in any form isn't easy and must be revered.

Mira recalls nothing else fascinated her than clay craft. Even from her childhood, she had the urge to craft and paint things. On second thought, all kinds of art are fascinating. But there is one man more fascinating than any art — Soham. She looks at her companion again aware of her thoughts taking this strange turn.

Soham is always going with the flow, never ceasing to inspire her. He is the live example of the live in the moment concept which most folks struggle to apply in their life. He may be unaware, but his presence is why Mira Thanvesh can put up with the SIT's hectic schedule, the CBCID's rumour mill and the ACP's never-ending demands. CBCID isn't a pleasant place to work at, not under the ACP. But it's nice to be working with Soham.

Once the slasher case is done, they will cease working as a team. The new thought disheartens Mira. She curls her fists into her tunic top, eyes still on Soham.

Soham feels her gaze and nudges her with his elbow, pointing to the scene before them.

Disregarding her emotions, Mira gives him an awkward smile and then turns her attention to Kavya. The current shot involves her and Aran. Mira's jaw stiffens. In her peripheral vision, she sees Soham straightening further in his seat. Aran and Kavya in the same frame. Here's when the SIT officers mustn't even bat an eyelid.

The director explains the scene to the crew once again, his voice echoing over the speakers. Kavya is supposed to jump off the first-floor corridor to the ground floor engulfed in flames while her assassin (whose body double is Aran) will be hot on her heels. He'll jump after her, knife drawn. She'll escape him in a split second and escape the mansion through the front door.

Such a high-intensity action is expected of a spy movie. Mira and Soham tense up, watching the crew put the harnesses on Kavya and Aran, prepping them for the scene.

The actors are on the first floor, separated by some distance — Aran at the end of the corridor. Kavya in the middle of it, glancing down at the ground floor. "Action!"

They dive, following the director's instructions. Aran draws a knife as described. Mid air, he swings dangerously close to Kavya, his entire body reaching towards her with purpose. For such a nail-biting sequence, everyone on the set encourages them with silent cheers which turn into horrified shrieks when his knife nicks her shoulder.

Kavya lands on the ground with a hiss just as the director yells "cut". Aran lands next to her and apologises to her profusely. Before he can complete his apology statement, Kavya is taken away to be tended immediately. Soham Mira burst out of their chairs, dashing after the group.

The actress' injury turns out to be a scratch, not a deep cut. A relief indeed, but a temporary one.

"What now?" Mira asks standing in the corridor as Kavya thanks everyone for rushing to her aid and returns to her green room for a break.

"Aran!" Soham's low voice jostles her towards the figure that's shadowing the actress.

They both follow him.

The door to the green room is ajar. Soham reads the words Kavya Krishnan on the plate of the door and then looks at the duo talking inside. The famous, flamboyant and overly jealous Kavya Krishnan is so forgiving and friendly with the nobody-stuntman "Aran" that it's astounding.

"She brushes off the incident as an accident?" Soham repeats the words he heard from her and clenches his fist. He's furious, blood pumping vigorously.

Mira's hand on his shoulder anchors him to the moment. "Soham."

Just his name in her voice is enough for him to exhale and let Aran pass by him without leaping for the guy demanding answers. He clutches his temples, now bathing in the relief that Kavya is at least unharmed and Aran just left her alone.

"At least she's alone..." Mira mumbles, having the same thought as Soham. "Is it an accident, though?"

Soham looks at her, his gaze still stern. "Let's hope it is."

They then reach out to the director and the stunt director, who have retreated to their caravan. Soham's voice reaches a fever pitch as he screams,

"Why? Why would you use an actual knife?"

The stunt director infuriates Soham by saying it's for aesthetics.

"How could you say that?" While Mira screams in frustration, "don't you know Kavya's life is in danger because of the slasher?"

The director looks mournful, mostly about having to cancel the shoot for the day because Kavya wouldn't have it the other way. Soham says he will inform Seyon of the recent developments.

"Honestly, Seyon is the only one who gets to do the questioning, but I think it's time we re-strategise."

With those words, he exits the caravan with swift steps. Mira has to jog after him to catch up. He picks up the microphone the crew still hadn't put away. His announcement, or rather, his stern warning to the set directors and actors following that is so intense. Mira is awestruck by the unseen side of him. So even Soham gets mad?

"W-we'll ensure nothing happens, sir..."

The producer, who is nearby, wilts under Soham's gaze but picks up courage and speaks. "I will tell the entire crew. We'll be on guard, so nothing happens again. We can't afford to lose Kavya."

"At the end of the day, that's what matters, huh," Soham mutters, stepping out of the building for some air. "Money. Her life has no value."

Mira, who has followed him, nods glumly. The unrest in her heart is like her companion's. She looks at the grounds stretching before her to distract herself. Despite her desire, she can't return the favour and uplift the guy who always uplifts her.

"Soham, look, Aran..."

When she points to a figure getting on a bicycle in the distance, Soham sighs heavily.

"He's going home, huh? I don't know what to think of him now."

Mira nods. "I will follow him. Watch over things here, alright? We'll be in touch."

Soham wants to deny but holds back the urge and asks her to be careful. She trails Aran. He follows Kavya to the seven star hotel. The actress' security team is on high alert as she rests in the room.

About an hour later, just promenading the luxurious hallway outside her suite, he flops down on the bench with the rest of the security guys.

"Is Mira okay? She's gone after Aran on her own..." he can't help but worry and chuckles dryly. "Haha, she's a cop. Of course she can go alone and yet I..."

His soft exhale coincides with Mira's text message popping up on his phone.

"Aran has come straight home. He's probably asleep now or something. No activity outside his home. I will watch him some more. Maybe until evening... or all night? I also checked the CC cam we arranged on the pole... it's intact."

Soham replies with an okay. Though he's deeply troubled by the thought of Mira alone on the streets all night. Well, he can join her later, no? His fingers cascade over his phone's keyboard—

"I'm at Kavya's hotel. No activity here either. I'm also just watching."

He puts his phone away and thinks being a cop is so tough. Especially dealing with cases like this, you're bored to the end of your wits, driven mad trying to find a clue.

Seyon and Thiya receive the updates on the current situation of Kavya only in the afternoon, at the end of an uneventful and smooth evening. Night feels like it has fallen quickly to them. One of them has to take over the watch to ensure Kavya is safe at her hotel. Seyon volunteers for the job. The only way forward is to keep going. He takes Soham's post while the latter rushes to Mira's side.

An exhausted Thiya makes her way into hall 57, alone, hoping getting herself caffeinated will keep her going for the night. She has to thank Ramya for watching over CB despite everything. As of now of all the units in the CBCID, only the SIT is dealing with incredible workloads and unnecessary pressure. It's all thanks to one curmudgeon who prioritises his grudge over solving cases. Regardless, the SIT will rise above the chaos. It has to.

***

TBC:

Up next: Thiya finishes processing Aran's laptop data and uncovers a truth. Seyon meanwhile gets to know the extent of bitterness she holds towards him... What awaits them? What of the case?

stay tuned!

I am not abandoning this story and will mostly end it in the coming months. ty for reading!