Chapter 32

Bloomie

@bloomie

So I have two tests again next week so... I don't know how much or when I will be able to update. 

Part 32 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

She threw her arms around him stupefying him for a moment. He felt her hold tighten around his neck and wrapped his arms around her waist. A tear dropped on his skin……………………..

Arjun couldn’t hold himself back anymore: Riya kya hua?

Riya: aapne ye sab mere liya kiya?

Arjun gently separated from her: yaha koi aur hai jo Xora kha kar hospital mein pada hai?

But the joke didn’t bring her out of her emotional state

Riya: aap kitne ache hai!!

He didn’t know how to respond to that.

Arjun: are tum bhi kya senti ho rahi ho? ye toh batao ki kaisi bani thi?

Riya lowered her gaze and smiled: bahot hi achi

Arjun raised her chin: sach mein achi thi ya fir boss laaya isliye aisa keh rahi ho?

Riya giggled: achi thi aur aapne dil se bana kar laayi isliye uska swaad aur bhi zyaada perfect tha… (lovingly) thank you!

He smiled: you’re always welcome

She beams. He squeezes her hand in response.

Riya: waise mujhe nahi pata tha ki aap itna acha khaana banate hai

Arjun: maine tumhe bataya tha na, college ki canteen mein part-time karta tha (she nods) us time hi sikhaya tha waha ke cook ne, sab kuch nahi lekin menu ki zyaadatar cheezein maine seekh li

Riya: ohhh

Arjun: aur us gadhe Sam ko khaana banana nahi aata, aur roz-roz baahar ka mujhse khaaya nahi jaata isliye kuch cheezein main khud hi recipe book se seekh gaya

Riya giggled: aap aisa khaana banate hai toh Roshni toh bahot aasani se impress ho gayi hogi

Arjun: uh actually nahi, use toh shaadi ke baad pata chala ki mujhe aata hai

Riya: kyun? aapne bataya nahi?

Arjun: na batane ka koi kaaran nahi tha bas situation kabhi aisi aayi nahi ki use pata chale

Riya: fir toh woh shock ho gayi hongi

Arjun: bahot, 5 minute tak toh bas plate ko ghurti rahi, main toh dar gaya ye sochkar ki kahi woh paralyse nahi ho gayi

They laughed as he reminisced about the memory and she imagined it. They were interrupted by the ringing of his phone.

Arjun: hello?

Chotu: Arjun sir, ek raid hai, Rathore sir ne lunch time cut kar diya aur aapko office aane ke liye kaha hai

Arjun: aata hun

Riya: kya hua?

Arjun: mujhe jaana hoga Riya, ek raid hai

Her face fell a little but she nodded. He laid her down and tucked her in.

Arjun: sorry aaj tumhare sone tak wait nahi kar sakta

Riya smiled: it’s ok sir, duty humesha pehle aati hai aap dhyaan rakhna raid par, kahi aisa na ho ki ETF ka medical budget badhne se funding hi band ho jaaye

Arjun chuckled: dhyaan rakhunga

Stroking her hair for a last time, he left.

The ETF had been assigned to crack a particular drug gang, the main lead of which so far was a dancer name Nadiya. For two whole days, the team was on its toes. They weren’t even able to meet Riya. Unknown to the team, each of them kept sneaking calls to her to make sure she was ok and telling her not to tell the others, much to her amusement.

Arjun being Arjun busted the dancer and the gang only for them to know that the dancer was in fact, an undercover police officer, Ayesha Kapoor who had been working on the case since 6 months. Thanks to the second-command, her entire operation went down the drain within minutes. She cursed him till no end, throwing a tantrum in the ETF’s interrogation room.

Fortunately, they were able to bust the leader of the gang before he slipped underground of course, with the help Ayesha’s collected intelligence of 6 long months. Unfortunately for her, the commissioner decides to stuff her into the ETF after her commendable performance. Ayesha fussed and fumed at Arjun, never once letting him forget about his mistake.

Riya on the other hand, received three different versions of the same story. Rathore who was awestruck by the officer was nothing but all praises for her, considering her as an valuable asset for the team. Shree and Chotu were enjoying the bold attitude of the woman who never backed down, calling her a female ‘Dabang’ who reminded them of Riya when she was angry. Arjun’s version involved a little regret on busting her operation but mostly denial stating there was no way he was going to know she was an undercover officer and more than that anger because of her attitude.

Arjun burst into Riya’s room at lunchtime around a week after the appointment of the new officer. Riya remained quite sensing his anger. He sat on the chair beside her, barely looking at Riya. He didn’t even bother to eat when the nurse served them food. Riya quietly started eating, waiting for him to calm down. When he didn’t, she tread forward.

Riya: kisi ka gussa khaane par nikal kar kya faayda? Uska nuksaan nahi hoga

He looked up. She took a spoon and offered it to him. Arjun sighed and ate. Sensing that he was cooling down, Riya asked him.

Riya: Rathore sir ya Ayesha?

Arjun: Woh Ladki Apne Aapko Samajti Kya Hai?!

Her lips quirked into a smile: Ayesha it is

Arjun: Ugh!! I Just… Pata Nahi Kya Soch Kar Vikram Sir Ne Use Mere Sar Par Bitha Diya! (she listened patiently) maanta hun mujhse galti hui lekin mujhe kaise pata ki woh officer hai? Mujhe Kya Sapna Aayega? Maine use criminal maana aur criminal ki tarah hi treat kiya, agar department ache se communication karke, hume saari information nahi de sakta TOH MAIN KYA KARU?!?!?! Maine Jaan Buchkar Thodi Uska Mission Kharab Kiya? Aur Woh Admi Pakda Toh Gaya, Fir Kya Problem Hai Use?!

Riya: I know sir, aapki galti nahi hai jo bhi hua circumstances ki wajah se hua. I’m sure woh bhi utna hi frustrated hai jitne ki aap, use thoda waqt dijiye, woh apne aap shaant ho jaayegi aur uske peeche aap apna BP mat badhaiye

Arjun: Toh Kya Karu? Woh Bolti Rahe Aur Main Chup-Chap Sunta Raha Hun?

Riya: nahi, woh bolti rahe aur aap mat suniye

Arjun stared at her. She winked at him. He finally calmed down and concentrated on eating.

Arjun: Yea, I guess you’re right

Riya: I am always right

Arjun raised his eyebrow: oh really?

Riya: oh yes

They laugh heartily, the mood returning to normal.

A few days later, impressed with the team’s performance, they were shifted into a new office with a load of support staff. Shortly after, they were appointed a forensic expert.

Chotu: Shree tune suna?

The duo were drinking coffee at Shree’s station.

Shree: kis baare mein?

Chotu: main documents lekar aaya tha headquarters se, nayi forensic expert ladki hai

Shree giggled: ye commissioner sir kya hum logon ka ratio equal karna chahte hai kya? Ek aur ladki? Waise naam kya hai?

Chotu tried to recollect: uh.. leena, nahi sorry Liza, ha! Liza D’cruz

Shree made face: are yaar manhoos ka naam mat le

Chotu: kya?

Shree: mere batch mein bhi ek Liza D’cruz thi, chipkali kahinki, she was a walking tornado! Paagal thi puri ki puri, ek baar toh usne chemistry lab mein blast kar diya tha, badkismati se uske bagal waala table mera tha (he shuddered at the very thought of her) I just hope, ki woh Liza D’cruz kabhi meri zindgi mein waapis na aaye

And as if the Gods were playful at the moment, a girl walked into the office. Wearing an off-shoulder and white jeans, it was clear she did not care for the formal dress code. The smoky eye shadow and bright lipstick was presumptuously indicating to nightlife.

She walked to the two boys engrossed in a conversation.

Girl: excuse me?

They turned. Shree choked on his coffee as soon as he laid eyes on her.

Girl: Specky Sen!

Shree glared at her: Lizard!

She ignored him, turning to Chotu: Chief kaha milenge?

Shree: kyun? deewar par chadkar kyun nahi dhundh leti?

Liza: mera pedicure tumhare net worth se double hai

Shree fumes. Before he could say anything, Chotu pipes in.

He pointed to a direction: waha cabin hai unka

Liza: thank you

She flipped her hair at Shree and walked off haughtily.

Shree gripped the mug tightly: iski toh…!!!

Chotu: ye teri waali hai?

Shree was still glaring in the direction that she left in: meri kismat ka shraap hai!

Chotu’s gaze darted from one to another, not knowing what was going to happen if they ended up working together mv “Ye Rawte Rathore, Rawte Ayesha kam the kya? Jo ab Specky aur Lizard bhi aa gaye?”

It had been almost three months now when the home ministry decided to add more glory into the ETF or as the team called it, interference.

Rathore, Shree and Chotu were huddled up in the hospital next to Riya on a pleasant Sunday morning.

Shree: Sakshi Anand, crime journalist (shaking his head) pata nahi kya soch kar use team mein rakha hai

Rathore: and for once, main Rawte ki baat se agree karta hun, ek journalist ka hona team ki security aur confidentiality par khatra ho sakta hai

Chotu: aur toh aur woh bilcul bhi trained nahi hai, na haath-pair chala sakti hai aur na hi gun use kar sakti hai

Shree: nature se waise buri nahi hai, waise toh kaafi sweet aur friendly hai but… pata nahi woh ETF mein kaise rahegi? (chuckling) and guess what woh Arjun sir par line maarti rehti hai

Riya raised her eyebrow mv “line maarti hai? mujhe is baare mein toh unhone kabhi kuch nahi bola”

Chotu: pehli baar toh hun sab kitne shock ho gaye pata hai? hume toh laga ki jwalamukhi fatega par unhone kuch kaha hi nahi

A pang of jealousy crept into her heart mv “aane do Arjun sir ko kal, ache se khabar lungi!”

Shree: but the point remains ki kya woh tik paayegi?

Rathore: samaj mein nahi aa raha, ek taraf se shayad acha hai, maybe ETF ki publicity se logon ka department ki taraf positive attitude badhe lekin pata nahi, mujhe lagta hai itni jaldi decision lena theek nahi hoga, use aaye hue kuch hi din hue, dekhte hai woh asset banti hai ya liability

Chotu: I just hope ki agar liability ho toh hume pehchaan ne mein der na ho jaaye

Riya shrugs her thoughts aside. Seeing their sullen faces, she tries to tease them

Riya: liability ka toh pata nahi lekin Rathore sir scene kya hai? itni saari female entries? Kahi aapka meri replacement dhundhne ka toh iraada nahi?

Then what? The world trembled under their heated gazes.

Shree: Tu Aisa Soch Bhi Kaise Sakti Hai?

Chotu: Hum Tujhse Itna Pyaar Karte Hai Aur Tu Hai Ki….

Rathore: Had Hai Riya! Replacement?!?

Shree: Woh Teeno Mil Kar Bhi Tumhe Replace Nahi Kar Sakti, Samjhi?!!?

Chotu: Hum Tere Liye Kuch Mayine Nahi Rakhte Kya?

Rathore: Woh Teeno Toh Kya Koi Bhi Tumhe Replace Nahi Kar Sakta, Tumhara Koi Replacement Nahi Hai!!! Samjhi Ya Samjhau?!?!

Riya is taken aback at the sudden outburst: guys! Sir! main toh bas mazaak kar rahi thi

Chotu: Mazaak?! Aisa Mazaak Kaun Karta Hai?

Riya: main toh bas…

Rathore: Chup! Khabardaar Jo Ek Aur Lafz Nikala Hai Toh!

Riya used her sure shot weapon, dilating her eyes and looking back innocently.

Riya: sachi! Main toh bas aapka mood theek kar rahi thi, I love you!!!

They melted immediately, shaking their heads.

Shree glared at her: acha, acha theek hai, ab shakal theek kar apni

Chotu: paagal ladki, kuch bhi bolti rehti hai

Rathore wraps his arms around her shoulder: dobara aisa mat bolna, samjhi? tumhara replacement dhundhne se pehle toh ETF hi khatam ho jaayega

Her eyes moisten: aap sab mujhse itna pyaar karte hai?

Rathore kissed her forehead: bahot zyaada! Tum toh humari jaan ho

Chotu: aur Riya, jaan ke bagair zindgi nahi jee sakte

She hugged him emotionally: I love you

The other two joined in: we love you too!!!

Though Riya managed to save herself from their wrath, someone else was not able to escape from hers the next day.

Arjun was glancing at Riya again and again. She did not even look at him. It seemed she was relishing the food a bit too much. However, her expression showed anything but contentment. He was confused as to why she was behaving like that suddenly. Ever since he came in that day, she was ignoring him. Not replying to him, hell! Not even looking him in the eye. She did not even have the spark on her face that she had every time they were together.

Arjun: Riya kya hua? Ab bolo bhi, kabse aise baithi ho

She glared at him and continued to eat.

Arjun: are tum bataogi nahi toh mujhe samaj mein kaise aayega?…. Riya! batao toh sahi ki baat kya hai?

She glares at him again: kyun? kyun jaan na hai aapko? Main hoti kaun hun?

Arjun is taken aback at the sudden accusation. A stone settles in his chest.

Arjun: tum, aise kyun keh rahi ho?

Riya: wahi keh rahi hun jo sach hai!!

Arjun: aisa nahi hai Riya, tum toh…

Riya: main toh kya huh? Shayad aapko yaad nahi toh bata du ki aap akele nahi hai, mujhe sachayi batane waale aur bhi hai, Shree, Chotu Ne Mujhe Sab Bata Diya!

Arjun: kaunsi sachayi? Kya bata diya?

Riya: Sakshi Ke Baare Mein!

Arjun: Sakshi ke baare mein? Lekin maine tumhe bataya toh tha ki ETF mein aayi hai

Riya: bataya tha, lekin sirf ye ki woh aayi hai, Ye Nahi Ki Aap Dono Ek Dusre Ke Saath Flirt Karte Hai!!................................