Chapter 65

Bloomie

@bloomie

Part 64 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

Riya smiled and she left. She and Shree got back to watching the press conference while having their drinks………………………

It was a little over 11 when the conference finally ended. Vikram called in the teams at different times barring R&AW to headquarters after that.

Rathore and Arjun stayed there the whole time. The rest of them came in at 1:30 p.m. Though they still didn’t look great, they were definitely better rested and less sleep-deprived.

Rathore: Crime Branch andar hai bas khatam hi honewaala hai

The others nodded. Arjun grabbed Riya’s elbow and took her to the corner of the corridor, surprising her and earning giggles from the rest.

Riya: kya hua?

Arjun: ek baat karni thi tumse, actually puchna tha but I mean… kehna tha, dono karna hai

Riya: ha kahiye na

Arjun: tumhe pata haina main Ravi Lodge mein rehta hun

Riya: ha

Arjun(nervously): toh… darasal jab, mera matlab Roshni ke baad maine khud ko promise kiya tha ki, ki main dobara us ghar mein tabhi waapis jaunga jab main use insaaf dila du and I was hoping ki, if you don’t mind that is, ki… mujhe acha lagega agar, agar shaam ko tum mere saath ghar aao

A warmth enveloped her. She took his hand in hers.

Riya: mujhe bahot khushi hogi

Arjun beamed and gave her a quick kiss on her forehead: thank you

She blushed, increasing his happiness. He waved his hand, gesturing that they could go join the others. She nodded at first but then stopped him.

Riya: rukiye

Arjun: ha?

Riya: uh do cheezein

Arjun: ha bolo na

Riya: aapki mummy ne mujhse aapka number liya tha subah, maine unse kaha ki shaam ko phone kare kyunki abhi toh meeting hai

Arjun nodded. She squinted not expecting such a dull reaction.

Riya: kya hua? Aap khush nahi hai?

Arjun sighed: she always chose dad over me

Riya: and now she is choosing you over him

Arjun: maybe but thanks, dekhte hai. Meri unse koi dushmani nahi hai shayad agar woh kadam uthaye toh main apne aap hi unke paas chala jau. Khair, dusri?

She took a deep breath: ha woh mera abduction

Arjun straightened: ha bolo

Riya: nahi mera matlab tha ki uh… report ke baad?

He caressed her cheek: tum sure ho na gadbad nahi hogi?

Riya nodded: ha, pakka

Arjun smiled faintly: theek hai toh, I trust you. Jab tum ready ho, tab batana. Main humesha tumhare saath rahunga. Vaada!

She grinned. He wanted to hug her. Just then, Chotu called out to them. He frowned. They re-joined with the others and went to meet Vikram.

The commissioner was all smiles and excitement that they had managed to pull off such a feat. He went on to praise them individually and said that the department was proud to have them serving the people. And after all the explanation from ETF’s side, the topic came to what they were dreading the most…. The Report.

Vikram: Since, humne press conference kar li hai, report ki zyaada jaldi nahi hai. tum logon ke paas 3 din hai

Riya raised her eyebrow mv “ha teen din toh 4 hafte baad hai.”

The other juniors heaved a sigh of relief thinking at least they won’t have to sacrifice much of their sleep more.

Vikram: main zyaada time de deta lekin Home ministry ko Monday subah report chahiye. Tum saari teams submit agar Friday tak submit karoge toh uske baad hi main use compile karwa sakta hu

Arjun: unse kabhi humara kaam bhi 24 ghante mein karne ko keh liya kijiye

Vikram: uh ya, maybe next time. Anyway! So ek good news bhi hai. After the report is done and dusted… Minister sir ne tum sabko ek hafte ki chutti di hai

Shree could control no longer. He squealed in delight earning a glare from Rathore and Arjun.

Ayesha: sir, aap mazaak toh nahi kar rahe? Ek hafte ki chutti? Woh bhi minister sir ne?

Vikram: nahi Ayesha main bilcul mazaak nahi kar raha

Arjun(irritated): hold on! Unka dimag toh kharab nahi hai? woh saare major departments ko ek saath chutti par bhej rahe hai? agle 99 bombs unhe plant karne hai?

Vikram stared at him for a few seconds. To be truthful, even he had not thought of it when the proposal had come.

Arjun glared: seriously? Aap mein se kisine bhi is baare mein nahi socha?

Vikram: nahi actually, oops

Chotu frowned: chutti?

Vikram: uh… tum log report bana lo tab tak main kuch figure out karta hun. Saturday Sunday toh off le hi lena

Riya: matlab aap uske baad sirf teen din chutti denge hume?

Vikram: nahi baba, ek pura hafta dunga

Rathore: lekin humara bhi bahot saara paperwork baakhi hai, (turning to the team) agar tum log weekend par khatam kar lo toh…

The thought terrorized the others.

Riya: Rathore sir! at least 7 cases ki reports hai! What’s wrong with…

Arjun: kyun nahi? Chotu ne ek din mein 4 cases ki thi, akele, haina Chotu?

Chotu gulped in fear recalling the horror Arjun had put him through. The others exchanged terrified glances.

Riya and Vikram looked on in confusion.

Vikram: kya?

Arjun: ha aur woh bhi on field kaam karte hue

Riya: ok enough! Research department mera hai! Kaunsi report kab karni hai iska decision main lungi! (glaring at the two ACP’s) aap log nahi!!

Rathore: itne cases pending nahi rakh sakte Riya!!

Arjun: Vikram sir ko bhi toh files chahiye hongi

Vikram gulped as Riya glared hard at him now. He did not want round two of Riya Mukherjee going ballistic on the Department Administration.

Vikram: uh… boys! Relax! Koi jaldi nahi. I can understand tum log thoda overwork ho gaye ho. Aaram se kar lena, ek-do hafte…

Riya squinted.

Vikram: uh mahine ke end tak doge toh chalega

Her gaze remained stern but the anger went and Vikram heaved a sigh of relief.

Rathore: if you say so sir, fir baad mein ye mat kahiyega ki hum apna kaam nahi kar rahe

Vikram squinted. Rathore looked away.

Vikram: Anyway, so Friday report. Fir baakhi ki baat baad mein karte hai

They straightened in attention.

Vikram: And once again, congratulations! Good job guys… dismissed.

They saluted and left.

Ayesha: toh ab office?

Riya: nah! Kal subah dimag shaant karke aur neend puri karke report shuru karenge

Rathore: ho jaayega fir Friday tak?

Riya: aaram se, bas Vikram sir koi aur case na de

Rathore: I doubt that, ok then! Kal subah sab log time par report karna

Chorus: yes sir!

As they parted ways, Arjun took Riya with him. Paying attention to their growling stomachs, they ended up in a near-by restaurant to satiate themselves after which he took her to his home.

The front was a natural lawn with flowering plants that ran along the perimeter but it was overrun by weeds and the plants were all dead. Even though the house was unused and had a layer of dirt on it, it still give a homely feeling. Arjun inserted the key into the lock and pushed open the door. Riya walked in as he switched on the lights.

The architecture and furniture was all urban and minimalistic. She smiled seeing the elegance of the interiors. To think of it, it was perfect for Arjun’s style. Classy and suave, without any loud attractions. As she looked around, she was pulled by a huge portrait in front of the sofa.

Roshni was in a lehenga sitting on grass while Arjun was showering flowers on her from above.

Riya: wow! Kitni pyaari hai, aapki shaadi ki hai?

Arjun chuckled: are nahi, Roshni ke school ke kisi colleague ki thi. Woh apne doston ke saath baat kar rahi thi aur main use chedne ke liye phool fek raha tha. I guess waha ke photographer ko dikh gaya toh usne kheenchi thi fir uski friend ne hume di and hume itni pasand aa gayi humne humara no photo frames rule tod diya

Riya laughed. He gave her a side hug, looking fondly at the picture.

Arjun: ye mere favourite pictures mein se ek hai

Riya: I can imagine why

Arjun smiled and then turned to her: by the way thank you

Riya: kis liye

Arjun: ghar aane ke liye (lowering his gaze) it, it means a lot

Smiling, she tip-toes to kiss his cheek. He wraps his arms around her.

Riya: I love you

Arjun: I love you too!

Riya(stepping away): waise ghar se acha yaad aaya

Arjun: kya?

She turned him towards the house: haalat dekhiye yaha ki, ise saaf karna sakht zaroori hai

His eyes widened in shock. He spins on his heel to face her.

Arjun: no Riya please…

Riya: no kya? Aapka ghar hai, aap saaf bhi nahi karenge?

Arjun: lekin Riya…

Riya: lekin wekin kuch nahi!

She unties her hair only to pull them up in a bun.

Arjun: Riya please main maid se saaf karwa lunga. Pakka, mujhe firse shift bhi toh hona hai

Riya: ha toh usse itna sab nahi hone waala aur woh theek se karegi bhi nahi. Pehli safayi hum karenge aur abhi karenge

As Arjun protested, she pulled away the sheet from the sofa sending dust flying everywhere including her nose. She coughed and sneezed as she threw it in a corner.

Arjun: dekho tumhe allergy bhi ho gayi

Riya: mujhe medical allergy nahi hai, psychological allergy hai dust se. Ab ya toh aap meri help kijiye ya fir shanti se baithiye aur mujhe karne dijiye

Arjun: Riya dekho tum thak gayi ho, tumhe aaram ki zaroorat hai

Riya: mujhe shanti ki zaroorat hai aur ise dekhne ke baad mujhe neend nahi aanewaali

She pulled another cover off the dining table and thrust it into his hands. Arjun sighed. Having no other option, he had to agree……………………..