Page 10 of The Pursuit
Dad looked even more furious.
“I’m misinterpreting? Really, Krish? You were supposed to finish the paperwork here and return to Austria last week, but you didn’t. You gave me excuses about other unfinished work that I wasn’t aware of. Was this your real reason for extending your stay? To spend more time with Trisha?” Dad’s voice held a mix of disappointment and frustration.
I struggled to come up with a response, realising my father had seen through my ruse.
“Alright. Yes, I extended my stay here because I wanted to spend time with Trisha,” I admitted with a firm resolve. “I like her, Dad. And I kept it from you because I knew you would be reacting exactly the way you are reacting now.”
His expression hardened.
“If you cared about her that much, Krish, you shouldn’t have involved her with GLEN. You could’ve pursued something outside the organisation and spared her from these complications. But since she’s part of GLEN now, let her focus on the missions.”
I was rendered speechless, unable to counter his argument. There was a truth in his words that I couldn’t deny. Dad maintained a stern gaze, continuing his admonition, “I don’t want Trisha repeating the same mistake she made in RAW, where personal feelings compromised her professional commitment. I won’t tolerate any slip-ups from her.”
Confusion clouded my mind. “What mistake? She wasfired from RAW for killing the target instead of arresting him.”
His sigh was heavy. “Is that all you found in your background check, Krish? Trisha did kill the target, deviating from her orders, but it was to save her fiancé.”
Saving her fiancé? I knew about Trisha’s broken engagement after leaving RAW, but I didn’t know the details.
“She killed the target to save her fiancé’s life,” Dad continued. “She chose her personal relationship over her duty and compromised an important mission. That’s why she was dismissed from her previous role.”
I struggled to process this new information. I had recruited Trisha, believing her skills made her an invaluable asset to GLEN, despite knowing about her failure in RAW. And even now, Dad’s words didn’t change my belief in her. I was aware of her capabilities. As someone who admired her, I understood her decision to prioritise her fiancé’s life over her professional duties. However, as the Director of GLEN, I couldn’t condone my agents failing in their responsibilities due to personal reasons.
“She let her personal ties interfere with her duty, and that’s why she was fired from her role. If you and Trisha get involved personally, and she prioritises you over missions, I won’t stand for it. I won’t accept failures in GLEN, Krish. Do you want to be the reason behind her downfall this time?”
Just then, I heard a small gasp behind me. Dad shifted his gaze behind me, and his expression grew colder. I turnedto see Trisha standing hesitantly at the door. She had been summoned here as well and had likely overheard the entire conversation.
Her face mirrored the hurt and conflict I felt inside me. Dad directed a sharp question at her, “Do you have anything to say for yourself, Agent?”
Trisha’s attempt to respond was met with a heavy silence. She looked apologetic and hurt.
“I’m sorry, Sir. I wouldn’t let any failures reflect on GLEN on my account ever. I promise until I am a part of GLEN, I won’t give you any reason to doubt my dedication and commitment to this organisation again. I am truly sorry.”
She turned and hurriedly left before I could say anything. I felt awful seeing her so upset. Dad’s words replayed in my mind. Despite the validity of his points, I wasn’t pleased with the way everything unfolded in front of him. Trisha and I hadn’t even begun to openly acknowledge our feelings, and now, it seemed like she would distance herself from me. The thought stung. If we pursued a relationship, it could risk everything we had worked for, yet I wanted her.
I remained lost in my thoughts when Dad’s hand landed on my shoulder, bringing me back to the present.
“Krish, up until now, I was warning you as the President of GLEN. But now, as your father, I want to tell you this. I can see it in your eyes—you care for Trisha deeply. In all these years, I’ve never seen you so taken with any woman. I can sense a special connection between you two. If you truly want to pursue something with her in the future, here’s my advice.”
He paused, choosing his words with a paternal care that touched me deeply.
“Now you know the real reason why Trisha was fired from RAW. But she’s skilled and passionate about her work—I recognise that. Let her prove herself in this role. Give her the time to showcase her capabilities and professionalism. She’s just completed her training and is handling critical missions. Allow her to prove herself through her work. Then, you can decide how you both want to proceed. I won’t stand in your way. If Trisha becomes a part of our family in the future, I would be more than happy. I trust your judgement. Whoever you choose will be the best for you and our family. But for now, let her prove herself on the professional front.”
Despite the logic in his advice, the reality of drawing a line between personal and professional felt daunting. I fought back tears, overwhelmed by the gravity of this situation.
“Just as you’re passionate about GLEN and handling your role as Director, I believe Trisha is equally committed to her responsibilities in this organisation. I don’t want her to regret getting personally involved with you, neglecting her professional duties, and later blaming you for any repercussions.”
His words struck a chord within me. While I wanted to support Trisha’s professional growth, the challenge of maintaining a professional boundary seemed daunting. But at that moment, my immediate concern was checking on Trisha, ensuring that the events of the day hadn’t left her upset or angry with me.
TRISHA
I hurried out of the president’s office, blinking back furious tears. How could I have been so stupid to let my guard down with Krish? I should have known better than to jeopardise my career again over personal feelings.
Returning to the training centre, I grabbed a noise-cancelling headset and a gun, taking aim at the human-shaped target board ahead. With each shot that landed squarely on the target’s head, I was transported back to that fateful mission a year ago.
Working for RAW, I had been tasked with catching a dangerous arms smuggler alive. The mission took an unexpected turn when my fiancé, Sanjay, joined me in this operation. Sanjay, a decent man and a friend of my cousin brother, shared the same dreams and aspirations as I did—to contribute something significant to our country.
At that time, my grandmother, who was around 90 years old, was unwell, and her last wish was to see me settled in life. Despite my initial reluctance towards the idea of marriage, I agreed when my cousin brother Ravi brought the proposal of Sanjay. Knowing Sanjay from before and acknowledging the practicality of having a life partner with similar professional goals, I agreed to the engagement. It was a conventional arrangement, devoid of any overwhelming emotions on my part.
