Days turned into weeks. Aarya was assigned to question Kabir regularly. Each meeting was supposed to be professional. She would ask questions, and he would answer carefully, never revealing too much.
But their conversations slowly changed. Kabir spoke about his childhood, about losing his parents young, about surviving on the streets. He did not justify his crimes, but he explained his pain.
Aarya tried to remain strong. She reminded herself that he was a criminal. Yet, every time she sat across from him, she felt her walls weakening. She began to see not just a criminal, but a man shaped by harsh circumstances.
One evening, during a power cut at the station, the room was lit only by emergency lights. The silence felt heavy. Kabir looked at her and said softly, "You don't belong in the dark, Aarya."
It was the first time he had said her name. Her heart beat faster. She knew this was wrong. An officer should never feel this way about a prisoner.
But feelings do not follow rules.
One night, after a long interrogation, she stayed behind. They talked, not as officer and criminal, but as two lonely souls. He told her she deserved more than a life of constant battles. She told him he deserved a second chance.
In that quiet room, the line between duty and desire began to blur.