A tall, well-built man stood at the center of the thana in crisp DSP uniform, radiating quiet authority. His presence made heads turn — he was new, commanding, and clearly someone not to be taken lightly.

Just then, SHO Ayesha Khanna walked in briskly, saluting smartly.

“Ayenge nahi sir agaye. SHO Ayesha Khanna reporting. Jai Hind, sir.”

As she came to stand with the rest, her eyes met his—and suddenly, time stilled for her. She was struck, lost, unable to look away from him.

DSP Anubhav Singh raised an eyebrow, noticing the delay.

“Jai Hind toh Miss Khanna. Ap jis lead ke liye gayi thi, wo mil gayi apko?”

But she didn’t answer—she was still staring, caught in some invisible pull. The others exchanged glances, smirking at her obvious reaction.

“Miss Khanna… Miss Khanna?” Anubhav called out again, more firmly this time.

“Aa… ji ji, sir. Ap kuch keh rahe the?” she snapped back to reality.

“Ji. Hum pooch rahe the, ap jis lead ke liye gayi thi, uska kya hua?”

“Ji sir, bohot achhi lead mili hai.”

“Yeh toh bohot achhi baat hai.” He nodded, then turned to the team. “Acha toh ab aap log hume weekly reports dikha dijiye.”

“Ji sir.” Ayesha gestured to SS. “SS, weekly reports laayiye.”

As SS went to fetch the files, Ayesha’s gaze drifted again—back to Anubhav. Her eyes couldn’t stay away. But Anubhav… didn’t even glance at her once. Completely unaffected.

SS returned with the reports, and Anubhav checked and signed them with practiced ease.

“Toh ab aap log apne apne cases par kaam kijiye, aur hume regular updates dijiye. Hume ab dusre thano mein bhi introduction ke liye jana hai, aur fir headquarters mein IG sir ke saath meeting bhi hai. Toh hum chalte hai.”

He was about to leave when SS called out:

“Arre sir, rukiye! Ek kaam toh reh gaya.”

Anubhav turned. “Kya SS? Introduction le liya, reports check kar li, sign bhi kar diya. Ab kya reh gaya?”

“Apne am ko behen banana reh gaya sir. Apko toh pasand hai sabko behen banana, par lagta hai jaldi mein bhool gaye.”

A teasing chuckle passed among the officers.

“Haan humein acha toh lagta hai par hum jaldi mai the toh isliye bhul gaye—par koi nahi 2 min ka kaam toh hai.. toh miss khanna aj se ap bhi humari behen..”

Ayesha’s eyes widened in shock—of all the things she had hoped for, this was definitely not one.

“Arre sir! Ye ap kya keh rahe hai? Hum dono senior-junior hai… bhai-behen kaise hosakte hai?”

SS innocently.,

“Ho sakta hai AM sir! Abhi do thano mein mahila officers ko behen banake aaye hai. Sabko apni behen banana pasand hai sir ko. Aur hume bhi banaya abhi.”

“Ji SS, bilkul sahi kaha apne.” Anubhav agreed.

Ayesha stiffened, forcing a polite tone.

“Par sir… hum chahte hai ki hum dono sirf senior aur junior hi rahe. Agar apko koi problem na ho toh.” she thought it's better to be professional then his sister.

Anubhav’s answer was as calm as it was distant.

“ ji miss khanna hume sirf proffesional rehne mai koi problem nahi hogi...” he too calmly said while indirectly saying her that he only wants to be professional with her which was understood by everyone.., ak too understood but she felt bad that he only wants to stay professional with her but she thought it's better than being his sister.

“Toh theek hai, hum prasthan karte hai.” Anubhav said.

“Jai Hind, sir.” everyone echoed.

“Jai Hind.” he replied, and walked away.

Time passed. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. SHO Ayesha Khanna fell deeper and deeper for DSP Anubhav Singh.

But on the other side, Anubhav… didn’t feel a thing. Not even after working with her daily. Not even after seeing her strength, beauty, efficiency, or her unmatched dedication to the nation.

She was everything a man could admire, but he simply… didn’t. He respected her, yes. But that was it.

Even the rest of the MPT team—though they liked her and respected her—never shared the bond with her that they shared among themselves. She remained their in-charge. Respected, but not truly one of them.

A full year passed.

One day, an official letter came—Ayesha Khanna was being transferred.

No one was truly happy. But no one was truly sad either. She had been good, but never close.

But before leaving, Ayesha decided to take a final step. To tell him. To confess.

And she did. A heartfelt, respectful confession—genuine, sweet, and full of love. But Anubhav…

He stayed true to himself.

“Hum shama chahte hai, Miss Khanna. Hum apka prem prastaav nahi sweekar kar sakte… aur sach kahen toh hum nahi karna chahte. Hume kabhi apke prati koi feeling mehsoos hi nahi hui… aur na hi hume karni hai. Hume kabhi kisi ladki se pyaar nahi hua… aur na hoga.

Aap bohot hi kabil aur karmath officer hai. Apka desh ke prati prem hum kabhi nazarandaz nahi kar sakte. Hum apse dil se maafi chahte hai,kyuke ap jese kabil officer se kisi ko bhi pyaar hojayega par phir bhi itne zyada dino mai hume apse pyaar nahi howa par as a senior & junior hum apki boht respect krte the, hai aur humesha krte rahenge—par hum apse pyaar nahi kar payenge aur naa hi krna chahte hai aur naa hi hume pyaar hoga..” “hum phirse apse dil se shama chahte hai....”

There was silence. Ayesha smiled faintly, broken but composed.

“Apko mujhse pyaar nahi hua, isme apki koi galti nahi hai sir. Apko maafi mangne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Humari flight ka waqt ho raha hai… chalte hai.”

The team saluted her one last time.

“Jai Hind, AM.”

“Jai Hind… Jai Hind sir.”

“Jai Hind, Miss Khanna.”

And then… she was gone.

Days passed, ordinary and uneventful—until one day, DSP Anubhav Singh suddenly walked into the thana.

Everyone was busy in their usual timepass. To grab attention, Anubhav raised his voice:

“Jai Hind.”

Everyone jumped.

“Aa… Jai Hind, sir!”

“Sir aaj toh apka routine visit nahi tha… phir aap yahan kaise?” SS asked curiously.

“Ji… department ne apke MPT mein ek naye SHO, aur naye thane incharge ki nyukti ki hai.”

“Acha! Kya naam hai unka?” asked Pushpa ji.

“Kab aane wali hai?” Karishma added.

“Zyada strict hai kya?” SS asked.

“Bas bas!” Anubhav raised his hand, amused.

“Hume kuch nahi pata unke baare mein, aur naa hi hume zaroori laga puchhna. Bas jitni information mili thi, utni hi aap sabko dene aaye hai.”

“Haan, ye kyun puchhenge? Mahila sunte hi sir ke toh dimaag mein raksha bandhan bajta hai,” Karishma quipped.

“Haan madam, sahi kaha. Ab nayi SHO ko bhi behen bana lenge, hai na sir?”

“Bilkul sahi kaha,” Anubhav replied with a grin. “Aur waise… kal wo yahan join karengi. Kal hum unka introduction lene aayenge— Reports bhi kal dekhenge. Toh chalte hai.”

“Jai Hind, sir.”

“Jai Hind.” Anubhav nodded and walked away—leaving behind another wave of curiosity… and the promise of a new beginning.