CHECKMATE : Game Of Shadows

2. unexpected turns

Yuvika's gaze shifted back to Varun, who was looking at her as well. She offered him a polite smile, which he returned, and her eyes softened at his striking appearance.

"Ms. Yuvika and Mr. Varun, there's a reason I called you both here," Kulbhushan began, looking at them with a serious expression. He sighed before continuing.

"As you both know, Bhavesh Sinha has been murdered, which is shocking given his importance. I want you both to work on this case," Kulbhushan announced, to which both Yuvika and Varun nodded in agreement.

"But sir, can she cooperate here?" Varun asked, a teasing smile playing on his lips as he glanced at Yuvika. She caught the implication and frowned.

"Do you doubt that, Mr. Varun? For your information, I was one of the most talented officers back in Mumbai," Yuvika replied sternly, clearly irritated by his comment.

"Kitna arrogant hai! Sirf shakal se sundar hai!" she thought, rolling her eyes.

"I doubt you'd be 'one of the most talented officers' here," Varun's teasing tone was now practically pushing Yuvika's patience, but she refrained from arguing in front of Kulbhushan.

Noticing the rising tension, Kulbhushan quickly dismissed them. Yuvika left the cabin, clearly frustrated, while Varun watched her with a bemused smile.

"Gussail hai par cute to hai," Varun mused, resting his weight on the desk with a grin, until he caught Kulbhushan's disapproving gaze. Realizing his slip, he straightened up.

"Sorry sir," he said shortly and prepared to leave the cabin.

"Tu bhi na Varun, kuch bhi bolta hai!" Varun muttered to himself leaving the cabin while Kulbhushan only shook his head with a smile.

"Never met a man that's so full of himself!"
Meanwhile, Yuvika muttered angrily to herself as she took the staircase to the senior officers' floor. Just then, she noticed Varun leaning against a wall at the top of the stairs, watching her with an amused smile.

"Wow, I didn't know talented officers like you had this talent too!" Varun said, his comment referring to her muttering about him. Yuvika understood him immediately.

"Zyada baniye mat," she retorted, continuing her ascent. But as she took another step, she slipped, causing her to fall backward. With quick reflexes, Varun caught her hand.

Yuvika, who had closed her eyes in fear, opened them to find herself safe. She looked back at the stairs and then at Varun, who had pulled her close, making her crash into his chest. Their faces were inches apart, and Yuvika's heart raced as she looked up at him. As he leaned closer, her eyes fluttered in surprise.

"Dhyaan se, Yuvika ji, kahin aap gir na jaayen," he whispered in a deep voice. Yuvika quickly stepped back and jerked her hand from his grip.

"Mind your business," she said firmly before walking away, leaving Varun smiling as he followed her after a moment.

When Varun arrived on the senior officers' floor, he found Yuvika surrounded by others who were showering her with attention.

"Hello, Miss Yuvika!" a girl greeted, handing her a bouquet of red roses. Overwhelmed, Yuvika accepted the flowers with a big smile.

"Thank you so much!" she said, her gratitude evident. Varun watched, astonished as his colleagues fawned over Yuvika, feeling both annoyed and confused.

"In logon ne meri itni izzat kabhi nahi ki, gaddar kahin ke," Varun muttered, while glaring at everyone.

"Hey guys, what's going on?" Varun asked, intenting to draw everyone's attention. The group stared at him for a while and continued to focus on Yuvika, leaving Varun feeling sidelined.

"Hey Yuvika! I'm Chhavi!" one officer introduced herself, pulling a tall man with glasses towards her.

"And this is Tarang!" Chhavi added as Tarang greeted Yuvika with a smile.

"Yes, I met him earlier," Yuvika said, recognizing him when she bumped into him earlier.

"I'm Samarth Chauhan," a tall man introduced himself, causing Yuvika's eyes to widen in surprise.

"Samarth?! Oh my god!" Yuvika exclaimed, making everyone look on in shock. Samarth's expression mirrored hers as he recognized her.

"Yuvika Mehra?!" he said, equally astonished. They shared a heartfelt hug as the others watched in surprise.

"Mujhpe aise konse kaante lage hain jo ise mujhse baat karne me takleef hoti hai? Aur is Samarth ke saath kitne pyaar se baat kar rahi hai!" Varun muttered, glaring Yuvika and Samarth who were engrossed in their conversation.

"I really missed you, Samar!" Yuvika said, her happiness evident.

"Samar, huh? Seedha naam nahi bola jaa raha?" Varun again said to himself not knowing that Tarang was noticing him acting like that all along.

"Missed you too, Yuvi! How's uncle and aunty?" Samarth asked, but Yuvika's smile faltered.

"They're no more," Yuvika said softly, drawing sympathetic looks from everyone and a shift in Varun's expression.

Trying to change the subject, Samarth asked, "How's Yuvan? It's been so long since I saw him. He was a toddler then!"

"Toddler? Now he's taller than me!" Yuvika replied with a small smile.

"I want to meet him," Samarth said. Before they could continue, another voice interrupted.

"Koi mujhe bhi to backstory batao!" a tall man in formals called out.

"Shut up, Bhuvan," a girl responded, rolling her eyes.

"But Ritika-" Bhuvan started, only to be cut off by another voice.

"What's going on?" a short girl with neatly tied long hair asked. Samarth smiled at her.

"Oh hey, you're the new officer, right?" she said to Yuvika, extending her hand for a handshake. Yuvika shook it warmly.

"I'm Yuvika Mehra," Yuvika introduced herself.

"Hello Yuvika, I'm Latika Chakraborty, forensic doctor," Latika introduced herself.

"And my girlfriend," Samarth added, making Yuvika's eyes widen in surprise.

"Oh, you've got a girlfriend?" Yuvika said, astonished, while Latika blushed shyly.

"I still didn't get the backstory," Bhuvan said again, prompting Yuvika to laugh.

"We're childhood friends. We used to play a lot, but Samarth moved to another city after four years," Yuvika explained.

"Let me show you your cubicle," Chhavi said excitedly, leading Yuvika away. The others dispersed, leaving Varun feeling abandoned. Varun glared at everyone who just ignored his presence there.

"Ek ek se badla lunga! Gaddar!" Varun vowed, frustrated, as he noticed Tarang still looking at him with amusement.

"Tarang mere bhai! Ek tu hi hai jo mujhe samajhta hai!" Varun exclaimed initiating a hug, but Tarang sidestepped, making Varun stumble as Tarang walked away.

"Kamaal hai, itni der se ye khud se baaten kar rahe the?" Tarang said loudly enough for Varun to hear, who glared at him. With amusement he continued to talk, "and I thought he was possessed,"

"I heard that!" Varun shouted after him. Adjusting his collar, he headed toward his cubicle until his phone rang.

"Hello?" Varun answered, his expression changing as he listened.

"We'll be there," he said, ending the call and approaching Yuvika's cubicle only to find her reading a file.

"Officer Yuvika, we need to go," Varun said, catching her attention.

"Where?" she asked.

"To investigate. There's a lead related to Bhavesh Sinha's case," Varun replied. Yuvika stood up, ready to follow.

TO BE CONTINUED