Chapter 61

Bloomie

@bloomie

Part 60 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

She giggled as he focused the camera and took multiple shots. Still not satisfied, he walked out of his seat and went to their row. The lady saw him and scowled. Shree did not even see her. He clicked a few more pictures and went back to his seat to show Liza so they could collectively gush over them…………………….

The team stepped out of the airport at 1 a.m. They had taken a side exit so they could get on a backstreet.

Shree stretched in the ocean breeze: Wow! Ye jagah kitni khubsurat hai

Arjun: kaam karne aaye hai chutti manane nahi

He deflated, muttering a sorry.

Rathore: ladkiyaan kaha hai?

Chotu: woh sab washroom gayi hai sir, aati hi hongi

Shree: yaar, ye ladkiyaan humesha jhund mein washroom kyun jaati hai?

Chotu: aaye toh puch lena

Shree: ha marna haina mujhe

Chotu: kal mare ya aaj, kya farak padta hai?

Shree was about to hit back when Rathore scolded them.

Rathore: ho gaya tum dono ka?

They stepped back in fear. A few minutes later, the girls arrived. The view did not go unnoticed by them.

Ayesha: bas yahi chahiye itne dino ki mehnat ke baad

Riya: I know! Kitna khubsurat hai

Arjun: tumse zyaada nahi

Her eyes widened in shock as blush adorned her cheeks. Ayesha and Liza covered the mouth to hide their giggles while Shree and Chotu glared at Riya.

Shree(whispered): dekho toh, Ri ne bola toh compliment, maine bola toh daant. Sach mein saare mard ek jaise hote hai

Chotu gestured to shut up lest Arjun heard.

Rathore gritted his teeth: ho gaya?

Arjun: ho toh gaya lekin lagta hai tumhari gaadi aane tak subah ho hi jaayegi, yahi tent laga dete hai

Rathore glares at him: peeche ki gali mein hai, timepass ho gaya ho toh chalna shuru karo!

Scowling at each other, they proceeded to the backstreet. The others followed as silently as they could whilst they teased Riya.

A man was waiting for them. Leaning against one car, he was playing on his phone.

Rathore: Lakhan

Lakhan: are salaam saab! kaise hai? is baar Goa ki yaad aate-aate der lag gayi

Arjun squinted mv “is baar?”

Rathore glares at him: gaadi ki chaabi do aur niklo!

Lakhan cowered: ji saab.

He handed over two keys to them and pointed at the cars he had brought for them. Rathore threw one of them to Arjun.

Rathore: meri gaadi ka peecha karna

Arjun: of course sir, aapko address toh yaad nahi hoga

Rathore gritted his teeth but ignored him. He popped the trunk and threw his bag in there before moving to the driver’s seat.

Shooting another dagger, Arjun moved to the other car. The team split themselves and they drove towards the safe house.

Rathore gripped the steering wheel. Every other lane and by-lane was giving him memories of Roshni. Perfect! Just what his already firing neurons needed.

Safe house-

Within 20 minutes everyone freshened up. Shree quickly set up his system. He rolled out a map of the place on the table. Riya made pointers and pinned them up on the mirror. Ayesha and Chotu double checked their weapon supply and segregated them based on who would take what. Arjun marked their targets and teams on the map.

It was 3 p.m. They were going to attack at 7 a.m. Their main target was Sikandar’s bungalow at Carter Road. On the way there, Rathore’s men would tip off local police about the other two hideouts R&AW had given them.

Rathore briefed for the 5th time on the plan, making sure everybody had gotten the strategy into their head. Anything wrong and they could risk a full scale terrorist attack blowing up before time. They had the element of surprise and they could not afford to lose it. They were going to do it swiftly and more importantly silently. According to the intelligence they had gathered, there weren’t many men guarding Sikandar’s place. As it is, his gang had dropped. In addition to that, he had sent many of his people, Lata and Raana included, to Mumbai for the terror attack.

To keep it simple, they had more advantages than disadvantages. However, the disadvantage was more dangerous than all of it combined.

Rathore gave them a half hour break at 5 to nap, eat, douse in caffeine, anything. They would leave sharp at 5:30 a.m.

Ayesha and Riya were in a room, curiously checking updates from Mumbai.

Ayesha: ma’am, ek baat samaj mein nahi aa rahi hai lekin. Itna bada plan aur woh terrorist organization ise khud execute karne ke bajay kisi dusre se karwa rahi hai?

Riya(thoughtfully): ha thoda weird toh hai but again, in sab par R&AW aur unki sister agencies ka nazar hoti hai. Agar woh itna bada plan ground level tak plan karke execute karne ki koshish karenge toh aasani se pakde jaayenge. Unki activity jitni choti rahe utna they are more likely to succeed.

Ayesha: yea ye baat bhi hai aur aise mein woh ye bhi keh sakte hai ki humare desh ke log hi unke saath hai aur

She stops abruptly seeing Arjun stop at the doorway. Riya turned to see why. An awkward silence rested for a few seconds as Riya looked here and there.

Ayesha: uh, main.. main zara ghar par phone karke aati hu

Arjun thanked her mentally. Avoiding eye contact, Ayesha slipped out of the room. Arjun walked across to her. He was feeling afraid and apprehensive and he knew only one person could comfort him. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he gazed into her eyes.

Arjun: kuch bolo na

Riya fidgeted nervously: kuch…?

Arjun: chalega

He cupped her face to kiss her. She clutched his shirt reflexively.

He rested his forehead on hers as they breathed heavily, their eyes still closed.

Arjun: vaada karo tum safe rahogi

Riya groaned: mujhe is shabd se nafrat hone waali hai

He stepped back: kya?

She sighed: kuch nahi

He raised his eyebrow: part of the story?

Riya pursed her lips: ha

Arjun shook his head.

A murder flashed in front of his eyes.

He gasped audibly, clutching his head.

Riya: Arjun! Kya hua?

Arjun: nahi kuch

His voice trailed off. His breaths turned heavy and shallow. She made him sit on the bed and fetched water. He took it without arguing.

Riya: purani yaadein aa rahi hai?

Sighing, he nodded: usually hota nahi hai, bas stressed hota hun tab

Riya tears up: aur main aapka tension bada rahi huna? (he looked up) I’m so sorry, trust me main…

Arjun: hey (caressing her cheek) Riya, tum toh meri taaqat ho (squeezing her hand) jab tak hum saath hai, kis baat ka dar?

Overwhelmed, she threw her arms around him. Placing a soft kiss in her hair, he buried his face in her shoulder.

Shree: RIIIIII!!!!

He hopped into the room, making them jump in startle. He froze seeing them hugging.

Shree: woh uh… main uh, main… sorry

Arjun shook his head in disbelief.

Riya: kya hua Shree?

Liza came in: Specky tum yaha kyun khade ho? jaldi karo

Shree held out the kit in his hand: woh make-up

Riya grinned: oh ha!! aaja!!

She and Liza pushed Shree on a chair and started with their job. Arjun stayed. Not because he was interested but because he wanted to be around her. He needed that comfort and strength. He pushed behind to sit against the headboard.

Shree sat with an exhausted face as they turned him into a charsi again. Riya uncapped the lipstick.

Shree(horrified): NAAHHIIII!!!!

Riya glared at him: Shut up!

Shree: Ri nahi! (holding her hand) Arjun sir! please bolo na ise, abhi thodi woh log dhyaan denge itna saara? Please sir…

Lizard laughed: Specky tumhe lipstick se dar lagta hai?

Shree: Shut up Lizard!

Riya: you shut up! Zyaada nakhre mat karo!

Shree: Ri nahi na, pleasseeee!!! Arjun sirrr!!

Arjun smiled: Riya, rehne do abhi ganja use karne ki specification nahi hai

Shree sprang up and ran to hug him: Arjun sirrr!! Aap kitne ache hai sir!! you’re the best sir!!

Arjun shook him off: dur raho warna lipstick ke upar gloss bhi lagane ko kahunga!

Shree jumped away: NAAAHHIIII!!!!

The girls giggled.

Liza: ohh Specky Sen make up laga sakta hai lekin lipstick se dar lagta hai (fishing out her phone) ye toh post karna hi padega

Shree: NOOOO!!!

Liza: Yesss!!!

She attempts to take his picture. Shree starts running and she runs after him around the whole room. His shouts attracted Ayesha and Chotu who joined in the light moment. Ayesha took Shree’s side, blocking Liza while Chotu tried to catch hold of him so Liza could click his picture.

Arjun watched them fondly. He tugs at Riya who was busy laughing. She readily settles next to him making him wrap his arms around her as they see the theatre in front of them. Chotu finally grabs hold of Shree and holds him up straight who screams while Liza happily takes pictures with Ayesha laughing.

Ayesha: mujhe bhi send karna

Shree: aee! Tu meri team mein thi na? Chotu ke bache! Main tera khaana kha jaunga!!

Chotu let go of him and opened his ponytail: kya bola?!

Shree(horrified): Arjun sir!!

He staggered across the bed to reach the couple.

Arjun ruffled his hair, frowning at the other: Chotu!

He deflated while Shree grinned a 420 watt fake smile and stuck his tongue out at them.

Liza: jaha jaana hai waha chala ja Specky, mission pura hote hi mera instagram aur whatsapp tere photos se bharne waala hai

Shree: main tera phone hack karke delete kar dunga

She pretended to be shocked: tum ek ETF officer ka phone bina permission ke hack karoge? Arjun sir?

Shree turned to Arjun expectantly. He raised his eyebrow.

Arjun: no chance!

Shree whined: sirrr!!!

Liza whistled and gave him a flying kiss: Love you sir!!

Shree pouted and crossed his arms like a 5-year-old child only adding to their laughter.

Riya: are mera pyaara Shree!

She inched towards him and kissed his cheek: koi tang nahi karega tumhe (He smiles) Liza! Tum uski sirf do photos daalna jaha par iski shakal sabse zyaada weird ho

Shree: Riyaaa!!!

Liza: done!!

Another round of laughter ensued as Shree hit Riya with a cushion. Squealing, she retreated to Arjun who glared at Shree whilst holding Riya protectively. He whimpered and dug his face into the bed.

Rathore barked: Kya Ho Raha Hai Yaha Par?!

Laughter ceased and smiles faded. Riya immediately stood up while Shree clambered out of the bed.

Ayesha: woh… kuch nahi sir, woh… hum bas Shree ko taiyaar kar rahe the

Rathore: ho gaye?

Shree: ji sir

Rathore: 5 minute mein baahar aao sab!

Chorus(except Arjun): yes sir!

Chotu: yaar, ye Rathore sir kyun achanak khadoos ho gaye hai?

Ayesha: shut up Chotu! Woh koi khadoos nahi hai, bas stressed hai

Liza smirked: Ooohh

Ayesha: oh shut up!

Hiding her blush, she left the room.

Liza and Chotu chuckled behind her. Getting back into work mode, they moved in for the final showdown.

Sikandar’s bungalow-

The watchman was drinking tea as he sat guard. A man staggers towards the bungalow with a bottle of beer in his hand. Stopping at the gate, he takes a huge sip from the bottle. He slips his hand through the grill and unbolts the door.

The watchman stands up immediately: aaee!!! Kaha ghus raha hai?

He scowled at the man. His gaze scanned him from top to bottom. He was in his mid-twenties with curly hair that was pushed back with a headband. His eyes were droopy and had terrible dark circles.

Shree: aee! Darwaaza khol!!

The watchman rolled his eyes. He was used to weird drunk tourists showing up at the doorstep. It was Goa after all.

Watchman: chal, chal nikal yaha se

Shree pushed open the door: hat re! apne maalik se koi aise baat karta hai? tujhe naukri se nikal dunga main

Watchman: acha tu yaha ka maalik hai?

Shree attempts to push him aside but the watchman grabs him and pushes him back to the gate.

Shree: KAMINE!! TERI ITNI HIMMAT! MAIN TUJHE NAUKRI SE NIKAAL DUNGA!! MAIN TERI PAGAR KAAT DUNGA!!!

Watchman: tu mera maalik hai? toh main kaun hun? Shashi Kapoor?

As they banter, Liza scans the bungalow for heat signatures. Next to her, Ayesha was lying with a targeting scope rifle. They had climbed up the terrace of the building diagonal to the bungalow. Still peering into the scope of her gun, Liza informed the others through her earpiece……………………...