Chapter 13

Part 13[NOCOPY]

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…………………………..

A middle aged woman opened the door. She was wearing a cotton saree, a large bindi on her forehead and a few strands of white in her hair.

Woman: ji?

Arjun showed his ID: ACP Arjun Rawte

Her eyes widened a little while expressing confusion: ji…(giving him way) ayiye!

A man of around the lady’s age was seated on the sofa, watching T.V.

Arjun: Ketan Mukherjee?

Ketan: ji? Aap kaun?

Arjun(sitting opposite him): ACP Arjun, ye aapki wife hai?

Woman: ji main Sumitra

Arjun nodded: mujhe aap dono se ek case ke baare mein puch-tach karni hai

Ketan: case? Kaisa case?

Arjun: aapne hi file kiya tha, kuch saal pehle….apni beti Riya Mukherjee ki lapata hone ka

The couple visibly stiffened. Arjun tread carefully.

Arjun: case toh solve hua nahi tha fir aapne do mahine baad use waapis kyun le liya?

Ketan fidgeted with his hands: woh… do mahine kuch pata nahi chala toh hume laga ki kuch nahi hoga, bas….bas isliye

Sumitra: par aap itne saalon baad kyun puch rahe hai?

Arjun: routine enquiry hai (turning to Ketan) do mahine tak kuch pata nahi chala lekin usually aise cases mein toh maa- baap saalon tak station ke chakkar kaat te rehte hai. aapne do mahino mein hi haar maan li? Aur maan bhi li toh case waapis leni ki kya zaroorat thi? Clues na milne par file apne aap band ho jaati.

Ketan started sweating: woh…woh…

Arjun: ya fir kahi aisa toh nahi ki woh waapis aayi thi?

Sumitra gulped in fear: nahi toh...

Arjun: kahi kidnapper ne toh nahi kaha? Firauti ki rakam de di aapne?

A shift occurred in emotions mv “us bazaaru ladki ke liye ek futi kaudi bhi na du main!” his eyes reflected disgust and Arjun realises, it was no point in talking to them any further.

Ketan: aisa kuch bhi nahi hai, hume laga ki…

The doorbell rang interrupting their conversation. Sumitra went to open the door. A 15 year old boy wearing a school uniform skipped in.

Boy: hi maa! Bahot bhook lagi hai, kuch…

He trailed off seeing the guest in the house. Arjun was no less confused mv “Riya ne bataya nahi ki uska bhai bhi hai?”

Sumitra: woh Nilesh ye…

Arjun: ACP Arjun, tumhari behen ke baare mein baat karne aaya hun

Ketan glared at him as he glanced at Sumitra in worry.

Nilesh was confused: meri behen? Lekin un logon ne kabhi mujh bataya nahi ki meri behen bhi hai

Ketan: beta tum thak gaye honge, jao jaa kar haath muh dho lo

Arjun glared at him: baat kar raha hun main use!

Ketan cowered.

Arjun turned to Nilesh: kin logon ne nahi bataya?

Nilesh glanced at Ketan once: anaath ashram waalon ne

Arjun: tum…anaath ho?

Nilesh: ha (proudly) 7 saal 9 mahine pehle mummy papa ne mujhe god liya tha, mujhe woh din ache se yaad hai

Arjun got up and walked out: aapke waqt ke liye shukriya

Nilesh: par uncle… meri behen?

Arjun stopped but didn’t turn: nahi hai

He was about to ask something else when he felt Ketan’s glare on him and in the moment Arjun got into his car and sped off.

Jeevan Nirmal-

Riya was working on a project when a knock sounded at her door.

Riya: khula hai

Another worker opened the door: Riya, ACP Arjun aaye hai, tumhe garden mein bulaya hai

Riya(confused): baahar?

Worker: ha

Riya: acha main aati hu

She nodded and left.

Riya mv “ye mujh baahar kyun bula raha hai? humesha toh jaha bhi hoti hu waha khud aa jaata hai

She secured her notes and went out.

Front Garden-

His back was facing her. A smile crept up her lips seeing him. She stopped a few steps away from him.

Riya: Arjun?

He turned. She was shocked to see tears in his eyes but he spoke up before she could ask him anything.

Arjun: Riya mujhse ek vaada karogi?

Riya: kya?

Arjun: kabhi bhi, kisi bhi surat mein apne ghar kabhi waapis mat jaana

She gets taken aback with his statement. Just the day before he was trying to convince her to return one time and now?

Riya: tum…tum waha gaye the?

He hugged her tightly. She got her answer and sighed.

Riya: kyun?

Arjun: mujhe laga ki shayad…unka man badal gaya ho, maybe they missed you

Her eyes teared up. She wanted to ask him questions but the lump in her throat stopped her.

Riya: kaise….kaise hai woh?

Arjun separated and stared at her in disbelief: you still care Riya?

She lowered her eyes. A tear rolled down her cheek which she quickly wiped off.

Arjun took a deep breath: tumhara bhai hai ab

She looked up in confusion: bhai?

Arjun: they adopted a kid, tumhare waapis jaane ke kuch dino baad

She swallowed the lump: hmm….acha haina ladka hai, uske saath aise hone ke chances almost negligible hai

Arjun: Riya please aise bhaari joke mat maaro

Riya: joke nahi, fact hai

He held her hand: I’m sorry, main tumhe upset nahi karna chahta tha, mujhe laga ki agar unhe apni galti ka ehsaas hoga aur tum waapis ja paogi toh….tum khush hogi

Riya smiled: main khush hun Arjun, mujhe uske liye unki zaroorat nahi hai. ha kabhi-kabhi dukh zaroor hota hai lekin jo bhi mujhe mila hai, usme main bahot khush hu Arjun (tightening her grip) tumhari wajah se

A smile crept on his lips as their gazes locked with each other.

Arjun: aur mere saath?

Riya came out of her trance: kya…(retracting her hands) kya matlab?

Arjun shook his head but pressed further: matlab (placing his hands around her neck) main tumhe kitna pareshaan karta hun, har baar tumhe apni baat manwa hi leta hu fir bhi tum khush ho

Riya pushed his hands away and rolled her eyes: please Arjun, don’t make me rude

Arjun: oh is it? matlab tumhe mere saath rehna acha nahi lagta

Riya: maine aisa kab kaha?

A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes: matlab tum mere saath khush ho?

Riya fumbled for words: Arjun shut up! Pareshaan mat karo mujhe…aur tumhare paas koi kaam nahi hai? ETF free baithi hai? (he tried to speak) aur agar baithi bhi hai toh mujhe bahot kaam hai, mera pehla project hai, shanti se kaam karne do, bye!

And she left before he could say anything else. Arjun mv “kab tak khud ko rokogi Riya? ek na ek din tumhari zabaan par bhi mera naam aa hi jaayega!”

Riya fidgeted with her hands as she walked away. Her steps slowed. She slowly turned only to see Arjun staring at lovingly. Her eyes widened and she ran off.

Arjun chuckled to himself and left for ETF office.

A week later-

The ETF was discussing the murder of teenage girl when landline rang. Rathore picked it up.

Rathore: hello?

Other side: sir, reception

Rathore: ha?

Receptionist: woh sir Arjun sir se ek ladki milne aayi hai

He glanced at him: Arjun se ladki milne aayi hai?

Arjun: kaun?

Rathore: kaun?

Receptionist: sir woh apna naam Riya bata rahi hai

Rathore: oh woh

He was about to tell Arjun but stopped mv “agar ise pata chala ki Riya aayi hai toh saara kaam chod kar bhaag jaayega aashiq”

Arjun: kya hua Rathore kaun hai?

Rathore: woh uh…pata nahi

Arjun: tumne abhi-abhi kaha, oh woh…you know her so shut it and tell me!

Rathore: I can’t tell if I Shut it

Arjun glared at him. Rathore sighed.

Rathore: promise me ki tu bhaagega nahi, mil kar waapis aayega

Arjun: theek hai promise, ab bologe?

Rathore: Ri….

Arjun jumped: Riya yaha aayi hai!?!?

Rathore closed his eyes: ha!

Arjun: main aata hun!!

He ran off before Rathore could say anything else. The others burst into laughter.

Receptionist: sir?

Rathore: ha woh aa raha hai

Receptionist: ok sir

Call disconnect

Rathore: he’s not coming back, is he?

Sakshi: aayega Sameer, woh kal subah duty par report kar dega

He glared at her but she just laughed in response

Near the reception-

Arjun came in running. Riya had a huge grin plastered to her face. Her eyes were shining. Her face was lit up with happiness.

Arjun: hey tum….

She hugged him before he could complete surprising him. Only when he pulled her closer did she realise what she was doing. Embarrassed, she pulled away.

Riya(lowering her eyes): woh…main….actually main…mujhse wait nahi hua, tumse mil kar share karna chahti thi aur…thank you bhi kehna tha, tumne ehsaas nahi dilaya hota toh main nahi kar paati

Arjun: kya?

She smiled sheepishly and handed him an envelope.

Arjun: isme kya hai?

Riya: dekho na!

Arjun was amused at her excitement. He took the envelope and opened it. A rectangular piece of paper came out.

Arjun: tumhara cheque?!?! Payment mil gayi project ki?!

Riya nodded vigorously: ha!!

Arjun hugged her tightly: I’m so proud of you Riya!!

She blushed.

Arjun asked as they broke away: so kya karnewaali ho iska?

Riya: matlab?

Arjun: are tumhari pehli salary hai, I mean official job waali pehli salary hai, kuch toh socha hoga, kaise use karogi?

She scratched her head: actually nahi

Arjun: kyun?

Riya smirked: woh…

Arjun: Riya please bhaari joke mat maarna

Riya frowned: toh aur kya karu?

Arjun: come on, kuch toh socha hoga, bachpan mein socha hoga?

Riya thought: nahi, aise kabhi socha nahi….ek baar I guess

Arjun: kya? (she shook her head) Bolo na

Riya: are ab koi faayda nahi

Arjun: tum firse shuru mat jao, batao toh sahi

Riya: darasal ek din na hum shopping karne gaye the aur dad bore ho rahe the. Fir jab finally hum nikalne waale the toh Mom ki nazar ek jewellery shop par padi. Waha display par kuch earrings thi, and unhe unmein se ek bahot pasand aayi toh Dad ne mazaak mein kaha ki unki bank balance khatam ho gayi hai woh aur koi shopping nahi karenge agle 6 mahine tak toh maine mom se kaha ki jab main badi hokar kamane lagungi toh unhe woh earrings laa kar dungi…..(her eyes moistened) bas

Arjun slowly held her hand. She blinked her tears away and smiled.

Arjun: chalo mere saath.......................