The police station was buzzing with tension as the team returned from their latest debacle. Ritwik, Purvi, Ranveer, Sachin, Raj, and Arya trudged in, each carrying the weight of their failure. Inside the station, the DCP stood at the center of a circle of officers, delivering yet another one of his long, self-indulgent lectures.
The team exchanged tired glances.
Ranveer whispered, "What kind of person is this? Giving speeches here too. Didn't even spare these poor souls."
The DCP hadn't noticed the team's arrival yet, but the other officers had, and they all turned to Ritwik with pleading expressions.
Purvi muttered, "Look at them. It's like they've been standing here for hours, hoping we'll save them."
Arya chimed in, "Sir, please rescue them."
Ritwik sighed, stepping forward. "Sir... you're here?"
The DCP spun around. "Why? Can't I be?"
Ritwik stammered, "N-no, sir! Of course, you can! Who would stop you?"
Ranveer whispered to Purvi, "Seriously, no one can stop him. He's so heavy, anyone trying would break their back."
Purvi, Sachin, and Raj stifled their laughter.
The DCP, oblivious to their snickering, continued, "I have no interest in coming here."
Ranveer leaned toward Raj. "What's he here for? Counting files?"
More muffled laughter.
"But I had to because of your failure!"
Ritwik stepped forward to defend his team. "Sir, we tried our best - "
"Trying isn't enough!" the DCP snapped. "You had one job: capture that gang. And you failed!"
Purvi interjected, "Sir, we did catch Dhawal, but - "
The DCP interrupted, "But what? If you caught him, how did he escape?"
Ranveer replied, "One of their men used some kind of strange gas. We all passed out."
The DCP scoffed. "And after the gas? How did they manage to disappear?"
The team fell silent.
"Your negligence has cost us a golden opportunity!" the DCP fumed.
Ritwik tried again. "Sir, give us one more chance. We'll - "
"No need!" the DCP interrupted. "The system has already assigned two new officers to this case. They've likely started working by now."
Ranveer's face twisted in disbelief. "How can they just bring in new officers like that?"
Purvi agreed. "Sir, we deserve another shot!"
The DCP waved them off. "Orders from above. No interference in their work. That's final."
Ritwik protested, "But sir, this case was ours to handle!"
"Was. Past tense," the DCP said coldly. "From now on, the new officers will lead this case."
Purvi began to speak again, but the DCP raised a hand. "No ifs. No buts. And one more thing: those officers will work here as ACPs."
With that, he stormed out of the station, leaving the team stunned.
Ranveer broke the silence. "How can they just send new officers like this?"
Purvi fumed, "We deserved another chance!"
Arya tried to calm them down. "What's the point of arguing now? What's done is done."
Sachin shook his head. "Arya ma'am, if you hadn't told the DCP everything, maybe we would've had that chance."
Arya defended herself. "It's not my fault! The DCP threatened to suspend me if I didn't keep him updated!"
Sachin muttered, "You could've lied."
Ritwik slammed his hand on the table. "Enough! We won't interfere with those new officers, but we're not sitting idle either."
Purvi looked intrigued. "What do you mean?"
"I mean we'll work in our way, quietly. And Arya…" Ritwik gave her a pointed look.
Arya raised her hand. "This time, I won't tell anyone. You have my word."
"Good." Ritwik nodded. "First, we need to figure out who's helping Dhawal."
Ranveer smirked. "And for that, we might need Aakash and Maaya's help."
Ritwik turned to the team. "Purvi, Arya, talk to Maaya. Sachin, Raj, you two handle Aakash. Ranveer and I will review the area's CCTV footage. Let's move!"
Everyone nodded and got to work.
---
The Bungalow
At the same time, a car pulled up in front of the same bungalow where the chaos had begun. Two individuals stepped out, their faces shadowed, and entered the building.
---
The Control Room
In the police station, Ritwik and Ranveer were glued to a monitor, reviewing the CCTV footage.
"Freeze it!" Ranveer exclaimed. "Sir, there's someone outside the window."
Ritwik leaned closer. "Zoom in!"
The officer at the computer zoomed in, revealing a man in a hood.
Ranveer frowned. "He's covered his face. He must've known about the cameras."
Ritwik crossed his arms. "Whoever this is, Maaya and Aakash might know."
The two left the control room just as Purvi and Raj returned from their interrogations.
Purvi reported, "Maaya mentioned that Dhawal has a brother who sometimes helps him with illegal activities. But she doesn't know where he's taken him."
Ranveer turned to Raj. "What about Aakash?"
Raj nodded. "He said Dhawal and his brother meet at an abandoned factory in XYZ area."
Ritwik's eyes narrowed. "Then that's where we'll meet them too."
The team geared up, ready to take their next step in unraveling the mystery of Dhawal's escape.