Sense & Sensibilities

Chaar

ACP Arjun Rawte one day observed the Dr, who usually hide inside file room for hours until it was her time to shine, sitting near the conference room table, face almost buried inside a file. Her feet was up on the chair, of course, and he just stared incredulously at that for a while, before taking a chair. His stare was unabashed and curious, and when the Dr looked up, craning neck as she winced in pain, she was startled.

"Something urgent?" He asked as if he did not care about the answer. Riya pressed lips, glancing at the report quickly before answering.

"Did you read the autopsy report for the last case?" She meant the bone one. A good few weeks have passed and there was no need for mentioning it, unless she has found something amiss. Suddenly worried, he sat up straight.

"I did." Maybe not as thoroughly as her, "What is it?"

"This report on bones, on how victims died, is brilliant." He blinked at the line of answer, "I asked Rathore sir about the doctor who was working on it, and he promised me to give the Dr's details. But he has been busy."

He had to take a few minutes to answer, "And . . . you trying to find the doctor through the report? Like what, profile him?"

"It can be her too, Doctors and nurses are generally more a stream where women are encouraged to pursue, due to their inherent nature of nurturing and caring." Arjun's brow shot up at that, "The Dr has in depth knowledge of his or her subject, the report is impeccable. I think someone who has been in department for a long time. It says D'cruz, I went through the database and in Central lab there are five doctors with that surname. On one side, the knowledge on these pages says it has to someone aged, maybe age bracket of 30 to 45? But the writing says it's not true."

"What's wrong with the writing?" He did not really care, and yet here he was, asking questions. She will probably go on with this for the entire day- there has to be a reason Rathore has hold her off meeting this forensic doctor.

"The older officers have a distinct style of writing. I saw yours, Chotu's and Shree's reports. The word choice is different, the paragraphs are different, the younger generation report is more concise." He had half of mind of being indignant like she is calling me old? But she was not finished yet, "This forensic report is more like how Shree might write. Therefore maybe someone in their mid twenties or earlier thirties, but with very good knowledge. That will also mean the Dr was exposed to information like that for a long time- maybe a family member working for department? Or maybe he or she is a genius."

From a piece of paper she got all that. The next time, Arjun decided he will try to look harder in a piece of paper. Maybe he won't get that much information as her, but he was always up learning. Internally musing, he frowned when Riya looked at her ever present, black wrist watch, then turning pages back and forth, not really reading them as she moved quickly,

"Coffee." She declared out of nowhere, and maybe she was too busy in her head or the fact that ACP Rawte only have his cutting chai which is supplied from a stall down the street, she asked him nothing, turned on her heels and walked away. Arjun almost did not follow her- like why should he- but then Shree was heading towards same direction, hence decided to accompany the former. Shree don't really like her and she goes out of way to actively avoid him, especially after the former has returned. He has vehemently opposed work from home idea hence Rathore had threatened him with permanent desk job if he even moves a single wrong way or have any pain. He can't go to field, has to stay in office within strict hours and help the team.

He should not care, and yet. . .

Riya was staring the coffee kept under the machine which was full and cooling off now, lost in her head. When Shree cleared his throat to inform his presence, she almost jumped out of her skin. To soften the look of panic on his face, she hastily grabbed the mug and quickly put 3 cubes of sugar in that, ready to leave.