Reshimbandh~Silken Threads

6. New Recruits

Next evening

Sameer, Aisha and Neha were returning from the victim's place. The culprit had been caught and they were returning after completing the formalities.

Sameer's cell buzzed, he answered it. After a thought he asked, "Aisha, do you mind a 15-20 minutes delay in reaching home?"

Aisha shook her head, "No sir. It's alright."

"And you?" Sameer looked at Neha through the rearview mirror.

"As if my denial would matter!" Neha replied rolling her eyes.

"Exactly." Sameer retorted.

After 5 minutes drive they reached airport. Neha opened her mouth but Sameer already answered, "No questions asked. Park the SUV and come to the arrivals."

He got down along with Aisha and Neha took the driver's seat and drove towards parking lot.

As they reached the arrivals, a young man in his mid 20s, wearing black jacket and denim black jeans ran towards Sameer and hugged him tight.

"Oh bhai, I've missed you so so much!" His accent slightly American. "You've no idea how eager I was to meet you!"

"Who are you fooling, my dear?" Sameer asked patting his back.

"Bhai, she's my bhabhi, right?" He whispered.

"Shut up Karan!" Sameer hit hard on his back.

"Oh my my bhai, I love you so much!" Karan kissed Sameer's cheek as he saw Neha coming towards them.

"Karan!" Sameer glared as he rubbed his cheek, "Do that to your girlfriend, not me."

Karan blew a flying kiss to him, "Love you bhai!" and winked while Sameer rolled his eyes.

"What a pleasant surprise!" Neha and Karan exclaimed together and then looked at each other grinning.

Neha said,"No wonder bhaisa drove so swiftly, so eager to meet your brother that you almost jumped a signal."

Sameer, "The signal was already green when we left."

"Neha? From when did you start worrying about signals? I remember correctly that you've said 'rules are meant to be broken." Karan took his brother's side.

"But that doesn't apply to ACP Sameer Rathore, who is always by the book. Right or correct?!" Neha retorted.

"Wait, let's reach home before the world war 3 starts." Sameer intervened. "Aisha, meet my brother, Karan."

Karan smiled and joined his hands together, "Namaskar. Nice to meet you beautiful lady."

Aisha reciprocated his gesture, "Namaste. Nice yo meet you too."

Neha asked, "Done with an episode of Ramayana? I've to get home ASAP."

Karan looked at her,"What's wrong with you today?"

Neha sighed, "Nothing. Just a bit tired. Now shall we leave?"

Karan took his two bags and all turned to leave when someone called out Neha's name from behind. Neha turned to look and then walked past.

"Neha is not just my name, is it?" Neha asked rhetorically.

In the SUV, after a few minutes of silence, Neha spoke, "Karan, why didn't you inform about your trip?"

"Trip? I'm not going back. And also it was a surprise."

"Not going back to the USA?"

"No, never. I went there for my studies, it's over now."