Trust in Shadows

Chapter 2: The Weight of Suspicion

From the moment Vineet set foot in CID, the atmosphere shifted. He could feel the eyes on him, the way the team’s conversations would subtly change when he entered the room, how their camaraderie seemed to evaporate the moment he tried to join in. The accusation that he was Chitrole’s spy clung to him like an invisible brand, making every word and action suspect.

For Vineet, this wasn’t the dream start he had imagined. His ambition had always been to serve in CID, to prove his worth alongside officers like ACP Pradyuman, Abhijeet ,Daya, and Freddy —men who had earned their reputations through hard work and an unyielding commitment to justice. But Chitrole had thrown him into the middle of this respected team with a poisoned introduction, turning what should have been a proud moment into a nightmare.

Vineet’s resolve, however, remained strong. He had worked too hard to give up now. He was determined to prove that he wasn’t a spy or a puppet sent by Chitrole. He was here to make a difference, to be part of something bigger.

But the team wasn’t making it easy.

Every time Vineet suggested an idea, it was met with skepticism. He would offer insights during case briefings, only to have Daya Sir or Freddy Sir dismiss them, often without even looking in his direction. It was as if they had decided, before he even opened his mouth, that nothing he said could be trusted.

“Be careful with him,” Daya had whispered to Freddy one day when Vineet had walked out of the room. “He’s Chitrole’s man. We can’t let him get too close.”

Freddy, never one to question Daya’s instincts, had nodded. “Sir, I don’t like him either. There’s something off about the way he’s always watching us, like he’s trying to learn our every move.”

It was clear to Vineet that the road to acceptance was going to be a long and lonely one. The burden of suspicion weighed heavily on him, but what stung the most was that he was being judged not on his actions, but on Chitrole’s words—words that had nothing to do with who he truly was.

In the midst of all this, there was one person whose behavior confused him the most—Abhijeet Sir . Unlike Daya Sir and Freddy Sir, who wore their distrust openly, Abhijeet was different. He observed Vineet silently, his sharp eyes always lingering just a moment longer than necessary. There was no overt hostility in Abhijeet’s demeanor, but neither was there the camaraderie Vineet craved.

Abhijeet Sir’s quiet presence unnerved Vineet, not because he was hostile, but because he seemed unreadable. There were times when Vineet thought he caught a glimmer of something like understanding in Abhijeet’s eyes, but it was always fleeting. And yet, despite Abhijeet’s enigmatic nature, Vineet found himself drawn to him in ways that he couldn’t fully understand.

One evening, as the team worked late on a case, Vineet found himself alone in the office with Abhijeet Sir. Everyone else had gone home, but Vineet had stayed behind, determined to review the case files one more time in hopes of contributing something useful the next day.

Abhijeet, who had been sitting silently at his desk for the better part of an hour, suddenly spoke.

“You’re working late,” Abhijeet said, his voice breaking the quiet.

Vineet looked up, surprised that Abhijeet was acknowledging him. “Sir, I just wanted to go over the details again,” he said. “I thought maybe I missed something earlier.”

Abhijeet leaned back in his chair, regarding Vineet with that same unreadable expression. “You’re trying too hard.”

The statement caught Vineet off guard. “What do you mean Sir?”

“You’re pushing yourself to prove something,” Abhijeet said, his voice calm but firm. “I’ve seen it before. It doesn’t work.”

Vineet frowned, unsure how to respond. He felt a flash of frustration rise in him. “Sir, I’m not trying to prove anything. I just want to do my job.”

Abhijeet’s gaze didn’t waver. “You’re trying to prove that you’re not Chitrole’s spy. But you’re going about it the wrong way.”

Vineet’s frustration deepened. “Sir, so tell me what am I supposed to do? Everyone already thinks I’m some kind of traitor. I’m just trying to do my best.”

For a moment, Abhijeet didn’t respond, as if he were weighing his next words carefully. Finally, he stood up and walked over to Vineet’s desk, leaning against it with his arms crossed. His face softened, and for the first time, Vineet saw something like empathy in his eyes.

“Don’t try to convince everyone,” Abhijeet said quietly. “Just focus on the work. Eventually, the truth will come out. But you need to be patient. If you push too hard, you’ll make them even more suspicious.”

Vineet looked down at the open case files in front of him, his chest tightening with frustration. “It’s not that easy, Sir” he muttered. “I didn’t ask for any of this. I just want to be part of the team.”

“I know,” Abhijeet said, his voice softening even more. “But trust doesn’t happen overnight. Especially not in CID.”

The words hit Vineet harder than he expected. There was something in Abhijeet’s tone that made him feel, for the first time since joining the team, like maybe—just maybe—he wasn’t completely alone. Abhijeet understood what it was like to carry the weight of suspicion. He had been part of CID for a long time, and there was something in his eyes that told Vineet he had been through his own share of struggles.

Before Vineet could respond, Abhijeet straightened up and moved toward the door. “Get some rest,” he said. “We’ve got a long day tomorrow.”

Vineet watched as Abhijeet walked out of the office, leaving him alone once again. But this time, he didn’t feel as isolated. For the first time since joining CID, someone had spoken to him without suspicion or hostility. Abhijeet had offered him something small—perhaps too small to be called friendship—but it was a start.

And that, Vineet realized, was all he needed for now.