Always You

Prologue

"I return to the city after 8 years. Posted back where I started all so I can work with him again? HIM??"

CID officer Thiya Arun has a string of complaints to unleash as she and Ramya sip their coffees. The CID Chennai's cafeteria has mostly stayed the same in eight years, apart from the modern artwork on the walls.

"Seyu? He's cool. I've worked with him on a few cases," says Ramya. "He's straight-laced and steadfast. No wonder they gave him this case. You're lucky to be put on such a prestigious team, Thi."

Thiya glares at the other senior inspector though the lady is her friend. Lucky? I worked hard to earn this spot. Seyu? Who calls him that these days? He used to hate when people chopped his name. That was a privilege he provided me and the closest of his friends though. And I'd been fond of that... No, no, how many years passed!? That's not the point!

She can't work with the cheater and heartbreaker again after eight long years. He may be a cool cop but he's a disaster of a man. Or maybe the term applies to just the two of them together.

***

Slasher sightings continue. Model slayed to death in Navi Colony. Why does the killer hate the rich?

Seyon folds the newspaper he's reading and returns it to his desk. He just returned from a short break. The respite he's gotten feels far away now that he's assigned to a new team.

"Are you sure you gonna be okay working with her? This case is pretty serious business. We gotta work as a tight-knit team and... she..." Soham trails off Seyon casts a look at him.

Seyon has read the names on the official document he received a while ago. The SIT consists of three others excluding him: Thiya Arun, Mira Thanvesh, Sahm Koshik. Work should be a breeze if he's working with Soham.

And Thiya... The name is overly familiar to Seyon. "It's been eight years, Soham. Time changes everything. I'm sure we'll be able to work together. Like a bunch of old friends."

Seyon resumes going through the stack of newspapers, paperwork and reports put in by the prevous SIT team that worked on the slasher case. Here's hoping the new team will be able to solve it.

Soham looks fondly at his friend. They are both 35 now and know each other from when they joined the force at 23. He knew Seyon even before that, and understands how ardently he loved Thiya. Loved... Past tense. Those two were a snug fit only to fall apart. What happened? He never pried.

"I hope what you say is true, Seyu. All you've been doing these eight years is work and work. You've never had a girlfriend or got married. Are you sure you're over her?"

Soham murmurs to himself. Then returns his focus to helping his friend. They are cops and can only spare a few moments to muse on their personal lives. That's why he and Seyu couldn't find someone right to marry. Yeah, that must be it.

***

Working with Seyon cant be the reason to throw water on the case or pass her role to someone else. That evening, Thiya finds her way into hall 57 on the fifth and last floor of the CID building. She's a little breathless as she took the stairs. A habit she developed so she stays in shape. Now may not be the right time to use it.

She freezes, pushing open the door. Three pairs of eyes are on her, Seyon's included — Sey hasn't changed in 8 years. Not a single grey. Oh, well, he's just 35 now, the same as hers so he's still not old and grey. His ink-black eyes are sharp and his short, side-swept bangs, neat. She snaps out of her reverie and greets the group.

"Hello, sorry I'm late."

"You're not," says Seyon. "We've only begun the introductions."

Thiya plasters a smile on her face. Introductions! Here begins the nightmare. She mustn't let her guard down or let Seyon catch on to her true feelings. She must keep that professional air about her. Mira... Soham... Seyon shakes hands with them both. Now is her turn.

"Hey," Seyon kept his greetings rather simple while interacting with the other two. The smile he shows her is a slightly over-friendly one. "We meet again, Thiya. Let's do our best on this case."

It's a damn handshake. Thiya plasters a smile on her face as they shake hands. Though she feels conscious she fakes a smile with practised ease. This man is her ex... And here he's treating her as an old friend. Of all people she has to work with, why does it have to be Seyon?

The casual air about him is discerning. He's entirely calm while she's riled up. This is unfair.

***

AN: New story!! Though Dhanush is my choice for Seyon, I wasn't sure about the fem lead. Too many to choose from. I chose Trisha coz well, they didn't do many films together and coz I cast them in another story as well lol. I LOVE THIS CAST but :) Any other names? 

I don't know if there will be a Mira-Soham love story. There may be but in the background. At this point I cant say anything lol Also let me know if you'd like to see the cast pictures while reading or not... I'm thinking to remove the cast pictures in case you find it hindrance to reading. but a few of my previous readers approved it and said if feels like watching a movie is why I keep it

Please vote, comment and let me know your thoughts!

Thanks for reading <3 Hopefully, I can update this regularly and this will make a good short story.