“Ek kaam ho skta hai. Thoda tiring hai and time consuming hai pr its better than not doing anything. I have a system which can recognise the face of a person and jin jin photos ya videos mai wo insaan hai, usse alag kr skta hai from the rest. So if we get the access of the cameras installed at traffic signals and feed in that man's face in the system, we can sort out the videos jaha jaha wo spot hua hai.”

Aastha suggested and Khushal looked at her.

“Idea achha hai Aastha but unn videos mai sir bhi toh aayenge na. He has the same face.”

“I know. And that's why I said it's time consuming. Atleast we can start somewhere.”

She looked at Prakhar and Avantika who nodded. She then looked at Khushal who too gave her a nod.

“I'll get you the access to the traffic cameras of the city.”

Khushal said and got to work. By the next day, they had the camera access and Aastha ran her system. 

The day after that they had all the videos where a face similar to Prakhar was spotted. 

“We need to divide. These are a lot of videos. Mai inhe teen alag alag pendrives mai kr deti hu. All three of us can search.”

Aastha said when Prakhar was not present. Avantika and Khushal nodded and Aastha got to work.

Since the data was too much, it took some time for it to transfer and until then, Avantika went to her lab.

She was going through the lab reports to compile all the evidence at one side. It would be needed when they arrested Prashant.

She felt a presence behind her but this time instead of fear, she felt happy. She turned and looked at him with a smile.

“Hey!”

He greeted and she replied with an enthusiastic greeting.

“We sorted those videos. But data bhut saara hai toh we divided it among the three of us. Aap uss waqt the nhi na. We thought aap aaj aaoge nhi. Mai abhi Aastha mam ko bolke char jagah data krwa deti hu.”

She fished out her phone only for him to stop her.

“Its ok. Rehne do. We can do it together. I mean I'll do it with you. Matlab, I'll help you.”

He said awkwardly when he realised how wrong his words sounded and she flushed red.

“O-ok.”

His mischievous expression dropped and he looked into her eyes seriously. She saw him gulp before he took her name.

“Avantika, I wanted to say something. Actually, I wanted to confess something.”

He said and she felt her heartbeat run wild. Could it be that he too felt something for her? 

“I-”

“Avantika, here's your pendrive that-”

Khushal who had come to deliver Avantika her part of the surveillance videos stopped seeing the two standing so close. They looked so cozy. Avantika looked at him wide eyed and immediately moved away from Prakhar who too felt a little awkward but didn't show anything.

“Thankyou sir.”

She said taking the pendrive with her.

“You'll go through them here? Neeche aa jaao.”

He said but she smiled and said.

“Nhi sir it's fine. Yaha aaram se dekh paaungi.”

“Yeah! Plus I'll help her go through them.”

Prakhar said and Khushal nodded. Aastha had followed Khushal and saw their exchange. She was happy for Avantika but when she saw Khushal's expression, her smile dimmed.

He looked serious. He looked back at the two before coming out of the floor. Aastha had failed to see the smile on Khushal's face after seeing Avantika and Prakhar and assumed that Khushal felt jealous of their closeness because he felt something for Avantika. 

When Khushal reached the main floor, he saw Aastha sitting in the lobby area itself. Her phone clutched between her hands. She looked at Khushal and then looked away. He frowned at her behaviour and sat beside her.

“What's wrong?”

He asked and she smiled sarcastically.

“Mere hisaab se toh nothing is wrong. Pr tumhe toh sab wrong hi lag raha hoga na.”

He got more confused and held her arm to make her face him.

“Kya hua hai?”

“Do you have feelings for Avantika?”

He looked at her shocked not expecting this at all.

“What?”

“Shock hone ki zarurat nhi hai. It's very evident that you have feelings for her but you feel jealous because she likes Prakhar sir.”

She turned her face again and he continued looking at her. A mischievous smile formed on his face as he realised what was happening.

“And my feelings for her bother you?”

She looked at him angrily and asked.

“No they don't. Should they?”

He chuckled and that made her more angry.

“I have a lot of work. Bye!”

With that she got up but before she could flee the area, he held her wrist and stopped her. He got up and pulled her into his chest as she turned to look at him irritated.

He heard her gasp and threaded his fingers in her hair, he leaned and whispered close to her face.

“She's like my sister. Silly woman!”

He smiled and saw her confused expression before he closed the distance between their lips and kissed her deeply and passionately.

Aastha was too shocked at first. She slowly comprehended what was happening and her body started melting into his. He snaked an arm around her waist and held her securely.

She moaned into his mouth which encouraged him and he tilted her head for more access as he plunged his tongue into her mouth.

The elevator dinged and two people stepped out stopping short at seeing the scene in front of them.

Khushal pulled back and looked at the intruders to see Prakhar and Avantika looking at them wide eyed. Well, Avantika looked at them wide eyed while Prakhar looked disgusted.

Aastha too looked at them, gasping, making distance between herself and Khushal and correcting her appearance as much as she could without looking at herself in the mirror.