Chapter 12

Part 12[NOCOPY]

Riya was sleeping peacefully in her room. Suddenly, unholy knocks sounded from the door. disturbed, she rubbed her eyes and woke up. Riya switched on the table lamp and looked at the clock. It was 1 am.

The knocks continued. She got out from the bed and opened the door. Pallavi, another worker hurried her.

Pallavi: Riya, police aayi hai, ladkiyon ke saath.

Her sleep vanished in a second: chalo

They went towards the entrance. The place was blinded by the red and blue lights. Savita Tai and a few other workers were already present. ETF and local police both were there. Only the ETF boys were allowed on to the lawn, the rest were forced to remain outside as the lady constables escorted the girls.

Ayesha: oh hi Riya

Riya: hi, ye ladkiyaan?

Ayesha: consignment pakda gaya, brothel lekar jaane waale the

Rathore: Tai humare paas abhi ke liye koi information nahi hai, ab abhi ke liye sabko yaha rakhiye, humari investigation hone ke baad hi pata chalega ki karna kya hai, hum kal aakar ladkiyon se baat karenge

Savita: theek hai

Arjun came towards the group: Rathore Kulkarni keh raha hai ki (His gaze fell on Riya and he waved happily) hi Riya? tum soyi nahi abhi tak? (she was about to say something) had hoti hai laparwahi ki, kitni baar bola hai tumhe apni health ka dhyaan rakho

Riya felt flustered as the others tried to suppress their smiles

Savita: maine hi use uthaya hai Arjun, humari madad ke liye  aur tum chinta mat karo woh apni health ka pura dhyaan rakhti hai

Arjun: I hope so

Riya closed her eyes to control the blush creeping up on her cheeks mv “oh god Arjun shut up!” She looked up but averted from him.

Rathore rolled his eyes: tum kuch keh rahe the na Arjun?

Arjun: are ha! woh Kulkarni ne bataya ki us area mein woh do-teen bando ko jaanta hai jo inki madad kar sakte hai, maine use kaha ki round up kare, fir dekhte hai

Sameer nodded. Just then one of the girls passed by them wearing a bridal lehenga. Riya turned to them inquisitively.

Riya: yeh shaadi ke jode mein kyun hai?

Arjun: isi ki wajah se toh ye sab kuch hua hai

Riya: main kuch samjhi nahi

Arjun: ye do din pehle ghar se bhaag gayi thi, online friend ke saath

Riya: KYA?!?! Online? Yaha saamne khada insaan kitna haraami hota hai pata nahi chalta aur ye log aise anjaan par kaise bharosa karte hai?

Arjun: karte hai fir pachtate hai, hum toh bas missing case dhundh rahe the, Dhundhte-dhundhte ye baakhi ladkiyaan bhi mil gayi, ladka usse shaadi ke baad ghar ke bajay unke adde par le gaya, woh unhi ke gang ka member tha

Her heart sank as she looked towards the girl. She was talking mechanically to one of the workers.

Riya: dhoka humesha apno se hi milta haina?

Arjun’s head jerked towards her understanding the underlying meaning. She was still staring at her. He was about to comfort her when Riya started walking towards the girl. Arjun watched as she went upto her.

Riya gestured to the other lady to leave. Turning towards the girl, she smiled a little. Then, she removed the mangalsutra from around her neck, startling her and removing her from her trance.

Riya: ise utar do, halka mehsoos karogi

Saying so, she opened the pin of the dupatta and let it fall from her hair. Tears formed in her eyes. She pulled Riya into a hug and sobbed onto her shoulder. Riya embraced her, comforting her and letting her vent out.

Ayesha: isne ye kaise kiya? hum kabse usse baat karni ki koshish kar rahe hai lekin woh ha na bhi mushkil se bol rahi hai

Savita smiled sadly: jis par jo beeti hai, woh dard wahi samaj sakta hai

Arjun continued to observe Riya. He hoped all of this wouldn’t revive her bitter memories but then again, the NGO received these kind countless consignments and she had always braved through it. he never knew how though, maybe Savita Tai was right. They could all understand each other’s pain.

A few seconds later, a car screeched to a halt outside the gate. A middle aged couple jumped out in worry and rushed inside to Rathore.

Man: sir, humari beti?

Rathore looked around: ha woh…(pointing towards Riya and the girl) woh rahi

He turned towards the direction: Prity!!!

The girls separated. Relief washed over her seeing her parents. They ran towards each other and hugged tightly. Prity broke down completely in their embrace as they comforted her. Riya smiled at the reunion and went inside to help the others.

The officer continued with the formalities. Once a major part of it was covered, Savita Tai started shooing the boys out.

Savita: chalo bas bahot hua, ab niklo tum log, baakhi ka ye ladkiyan kar lengi

Sameer: are Tai, thoda hi hai, khatam karke chale jaayenge

Savita: bilcul nahi, raat ke 2 bajne waale. Shukar manao ki ab tak andar rehne diya, ab niklo

Arjun: par Tai…

Savita glared: baahar!!!

Arjun: acha theek hai, Riya ko toh bula do, mujhe usse baat karni hai

Savita: ab tumhe usse kya kaam hai?

Arjun: are had hai, aap mujhe baahar bhi bhej rahi hai, use aane nahi de rahi, ye toh Nainsaafi hai…..(before she could respond, he turned to the other side and screamed) RIYAAAAA!!!

Ayesha started laughing.

Sameer: Rawte! Kya kar rahe ho?

Savita: Arjun…

Arjun: use bula raha hu…RIYAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

She came out running in worry. Savita shook her head in disbelief.

Riya: kya hua tum chilla kyun rahe ho?

Arjun grabbed her hand and walked out: mujhe tumse baat karni hai

Savita groaned and turned towards the other three. Understanding her gesture, they scooted outside the gate.

Riya: are Arjun kya hua?

Arjun: are Tai bhaga rahi thi hume toh tumhe baahar bula liya

Riya: ye kya tareeka hai?

Sameer: are Riya, ye Arjun Rawte ka tareeka hai, iski puri life bas ek hi cheez se define hoti hai, ‘I don’t give a bloody damn!’ haina Arjun?

He rolled his eyes as Shree and Chotu suppressed their smiles. Every time they ended up at Jeevan Nirmal, there had to be some sort of antic that Arjun resorted to. It more than surprised them that the stoic and khadoos ACP could turn into a mischievous child.

Riya cursed under her breath: ek baat batao, tum log humesha yaha kyun aate ho? shehar mein aur bhi jagah hai, har baar humari neend udaane ka koi khaas kaaran?

Shree: ha haina (she raised her eyebrow) Arjun sir

Arjun: Shree!

He cowered but Sameer shamelessly continued: aur nahi toh kya, tumhe pata hai Riya, pichli baar jab hum case report lekar commissioner sir ke paas gaye toh unhone kya pucha? (she was confused) unhone humse pucha ki kya hume Jeevan Nirmal se commission milta hai, cases le jaane ke liye

Riya chuckled: kya?

Chotu: ha fir Rathore sir ne unhe samjhaaya ki hum toh waha Arjun sir ke kehne par jaate hai kyunki unki dost waha kaam karti hai

Her eyes widened.

Sameer: aur nahi toh kya? Suspend hote-hote bache hum sab pata hai woh bhi is idiot Arjun ki wajah se

Arjun jumped in knowing they wouldn’t stop: aisa kuch nahi hai ok? Sir toh file padhte bhi nahi hai, ye sab sirf mujhe ched rahe hai

Sameer: are hum kyun chedenge? Hum toh sach bol rahe hai, tumhe pata hai Riya ek baar…

Arjun: oh shut up! (turning to her) tum chalo mere saath!!

Saying so, he dragged her away to a distance away from their prying eyes as they laughed at his urgency.

Riya: are Arjun baat kya hai? kuch toh batao

Arjun pinned her to the wall: batane ka mauka mile toh batau na? tum sabse baat karne mein busy ho lekin mujhse milti hi nahi

Riya shook her head: acha baba batao

Arjun fumbled: woh…darasal… woh ek baat puchni thi, puchu?

Riya: na bolunga toh nahi puchoge?

Arjun: uh….shayad

She was taken aback. She had not expected that answer. His nervous face alerted her.

Riya: pucho

Arjun: sach-sach batana, Prity ke parents ko dekhkar tumhe apne parents ki yaad aa gayi thi na?

Riya stiffened hearing that. She did not reply.

Arjun: tum ek baar firse unse milti kyun nahi?

Riya: nahi Arjun!

Arjun: ek baar mein harz hi kya hai Riya? ho sakta hai ki us raat woh shock mein chale gaye ho, ya fir itne saalon mein unka man badal gaya ho

Riya: Arjun…

Arjun entwined his fingers with hers: tum chaho toh main tumhare saath chalta hun

Riya: uski koi zaroorat nahi hai kyunki main jaane hi nahi waali

Arjun: tumhe unki yaad aati haina? (she was about to say something) jhoot mat bolna

Riya sighed: Mujh mein firse unki aankhon mein khud ke liye nafrat dekhne ki himmat nahi hai. mujhe nahi jaana waapis….ha kabhi-kabhi unki yaad zaroor aati hai lekin (coldly) maine unke bagair jeena seekh liya hai

Arjun observed the emotions in her eyes: you loved them a lot, didn’t you?

Riya lowered her eyes. Arjun sighed and hugged her. She groaned mentally. Her mind screamed at her to push him away but the warmth in his touch didn’t let her. She melted in his arms. They were still in embrace when Sameer’s voice startled them.

Sameer: Arjun!

Riya jumped away from him and he furrowed his brow in disappointment while cursing Rathore.

Arjun gritted his teeth: kuch kaam tha?

He smiled smugly: nahi kaam khatam ho gaya, ghar nahi jaana? Riya ko bhi toh, sona hoga na?

Arjun glared at him while he feigned innocence.

Arjun: ha, thak gaye ho gaye na tum record room mein kaam karte- karte?

Sameer: ACP ARJUN SURYAKANT RAWTE!!!!!!

Arjun burst out laughing.

Riya(confused): kya hua?

He wrapped a hand around her shoulder: kuch nahi, chalo tumhe gate tak chod deta hun

Rathore fumed. Ignoring him, Arjun dropped Riya back to the NGO. As she entered the gate, he leaned on the boundary wall.

Arjun: Riyaaaa!

Riya: ha?

Arjun: good night!

Riya: good night

She tries to leave when..

Arjun: Riya?

Riya: ha?

Arjun: sweet dreams

Riya: sweet dreams

She turned to leave.

Arjun: Riyaa!

She turned again: ha?

Arjun: ache se sona

Riya: umm…ha

She was about to leave when he called her again

Arjun: Riya!

Riya: ha?

Arjun: bye!

Riya controlled her blush: bye Arjun!

Arjun called after her: byee!!!

Crimson crept on her cheeks. She didn’t dare turn lest he see her flushed face.

Arjun smiled to himself and walked away mv “tum bhale hi na jaana chaho Riya, lekin tumhe is dukh se nikalne ki ek koshish toh main kar hi sakta hun”

Next day-

Arjun pulled up outside a house at 1 pm. The name plate, ‘The Mukherjee’s’ confirmed his investigation. With hope in his heart, he got out of the car and walked down the path. Climbing up the porch steps, he rang the doorbell…………………………..