Chapter 15

Part 15

[NOCOPY]

Water dripped from Arjun’s eyes. He takes a deep breath and stands up with whatever energy he has left.

Savita: Arjun

Arjun(cracked): jaa raha hun….nahi aaunga dobara

Savita wonders what to do as he shuffles towards the main gate. On one side she didn’t want to interfere in their life and on the other she couldn’t let them separate like this. There were very rare few women who got a second chance at life let alone love and family. She couldn’t let Riya squander away the opportunity. Deciding against her conflict, she went after him.

Savita: Arjun ruko!

He stopped in his tracks and turned. She couldn’t help but feel sad at his broken state. He looked like the world had just broken on his shoulders.

Savita: aao mere saath

She led him to her office and made him sit. She pulled the second chair near him.

Savita: Arjun?

His tear-stricken face greeted him when he looked up.

Savita: uski baaton ko dil par mat lo Arjun….

Arjun poured his heart to her: woh kyun aise karti hai? woh maanti kyun nahi hai ki main use pyaar karta hun aur woh mujhse? Woh aisa kaise soch sakti hai ki main use chod kar chala jaunga?

Savita: aur ye baat agar use koi samjha sakta hai toh woh sirf tum ho

Arjun: kitni baar Tai? Aur kab tak? 2 ½ saal ho gaye ab toh, woh abhi bhi usi parde ke peeche chupi hui hai (he dropped his head in his hands) thak gaya hun main…uski berukhi bardaasht nahi hoti Tai… ab toh lagta hai jaise wahi sach hai, agar uske dil mein mere liye jagah hoti toh woh ye kabhi nahi sochti ki main uske bagair khush reh sakta hun

Savita: main maanti hun Arjun ki bahot waqt beet, chuka hai par Arjun, jiske apne maa-baap ne uska saath chod diya ho woh kisi aur pe bharosa kaise kare? Usne us daldal mein 6 saal guzare hai, toh usse baahar nikalne ke liye kam se kam usse aadha waqt toh milna chahiye na? (He looked up in realisation) agar Riya tumse pyaar nahi karti toh kya woh ye sochti ki uski wajah se tumhari life mein problem ho sakti hai? ulta woh tumhari feelings ka faayda uthati in fact, ab tak utha chuki hoti…tumne itne waqt tak uska saath diya hai Arjun, ab is aakhri mod par haar mat maano

Arjun: par…main, main kya karu ki use yakeen ho? woh meri baat sunne ko taiyaar hi nahi, aapne dekha na, kaise mujhse muh fer kar chali gayi

Savita: kya karna hai ye toh tum mujhse behtar jaante ho Arjun, Riya ko apne deewaron se har baar tumne hi baahar nikala hai iska bhi raasta tum jaante ho…jao uske paas

Arjun fell into thought. Tai was right. Since when had she ever hoped for her life? He had to open the gates of her garden. Besides, the ACP Arjun Rawte who never spared any criminal no matter what the adversity, could never give up on his love so easily. He wiped off his tears and nodded.

Arjun: ha

Savita smiled in encouragement and Arjun went to Riya’s room. He took a deep breath. He knocked but the door opened on contact. Furrowing his brow, he peeped in.

There she was, lying on her bed, face down and crying bitterly into her pillow oblivious to the world around her. Arjun melted completely on seeing her. He goes in and closes the door softly. Arjun sits beside her. She is still unaware of his presence. He gently places a hand on her shoulder.

Arjun: Riya?

She gets up with a jerk, shocked on hearing his voice.

Riya: Tum Fir Aa Gaye?!

Arjun: ha

She stares at him in disbelief.

Arjun: dekho, mere andar tumse jhagda karne ki shakti nahi bachi, tum humesha kehti ho na ki main tumhe apni baaton mein fasa leta hun? Ab aage bolne ke liye mere paas aur kuch nahi hai toh ab tak jo bhi bola usi mein adjust karke fas jao

Riya(defeated): Arjun tum maan kyun nahi rahe ho?

Arjun cupped her face and softly wiped her tears: ye baat apne aansu se pucho

Riya closes her eyes and takes a deep breath: agar main tumhari baat maan bhi lu toh kya? Kya tumne kabhi sapne nahi dekhe? Ki tumhara bhi pariwar ho? ki kisi din apne bache ko pehli baar haath mein lo? Ghar aakar uske saath khelo? Jiske saath reh kar tum apni thakaan aur dard bhul jao?

Arjun: ha dekhe hai, lekin maine tumse pehle bhi kaha Riya ki tum meri family banne ke liye kaafi ho, aisa kaunsi kitaab mein likha hai ki bachon ke bina pati-patni khush nahi reh sakte?

Riya looks away: kehna aasan hai Arjun, karna nahi

Arjun: main tumse pyaar karta hun Riya aur mera pyaar itna kamzor nahi (she doesn’t respond, he sighs) chalo theek hai, ek baat batao, agar woh baat nahi bhi hoti toh kya gurantee hai ki humare bache hote?

Riya(confused): kya?

Arjun: ha toh meri job ka kya bharosa hai? shaadi ke do din baad hi shaheed ho gaya toh? (she was about to speak but he continued) chalo do din chodo, hum plan kare uske pehle hi main mar gaya toh? toh kya tum mujhe blame karti firogi ki dekho ye mujhe pregnant kiye bagair hi mar gaya

Riya almost laughed: Arjun kya bol rahe ho tum? Kuch bhi bakwas mat karo

Arjun: fact hai Riya come on, aisa ho sakta hai, kyun nahi ho sakta?... mujhe tumhare ilawa aur kisi ki zaroorat nahi hai Riya, aur agar baad mein tumhe chahiye ya mujhe chahiye toh utha lenge yahi se ekada bacha

Riya(scandalized): utha lenge?

Arjun: ha mera matlab ki, adopt kar lenge, itne saare toh yaha, variety kam pade toh shehar mein aur bhi NGO aur ashram hai, kami kaha hai bachon ki?

Riya stares at him: tum paagal ho

Arjun: ha woh mujhe pata hai, tum bolo, tumhara questionnaire khatam hua ya aur bhi kuch baakhi hai?

Riya sighed: Arjun main…

Arjun cut her off: point par aao, mera dimag khaali ho raha hai

Riya shook her head: Arjun tumhari family ka kya? Kya bologe tum unhe?

Arjun: Riya, hum dono ko ek dusre se shaadi karni hai, tumhe unse shaadi nahi karni hai, aur hum apni life mein kya karte hai aur kya nahi woh humara matter hai unka nahi aur waise bhi, tumhe pata hai mahine mein ek do baar mushkil se jaata hun main waha, woh bhi zyaada se zyaada ek ghanta. Udhar bhi mera khadoos baap mujhe bhaga deta hai isliye us sab ke baare mein tum socho hi mat…next?

Riya made a face: tum itne ziddi kyun ho?

Arjun: tum itni adiyal kyun ho?

She looks away in annoyance muttering something under her breath.

Arjun: dekho Riya, ab seedhe-seedhe ha bol do warna…

She raises her eyebrow: warna kya?

Arjun squints at her: warna kya ha? ruko tum…

He lunges towards her and she tries to escape.

Riya: Arjunnn!!

But he catches hold of her before she could get out of the bed and starts tickling her. Riya bursts out laughing amidst her tears.

Riya: Arjun nahi please….please….stop…Arjun!!

Arjun continues without mercy: say yes say yes come on come on…say yes

Her stomach ached: Arjun…please...nahi…

Arjun paid no heed to her pleas: say yes

Riya: yes!!

Arjun: kya kaha mujhe sunayi nahi de raha hai

Riya: Arjun YES please chodo!

He chuckles hearing her and finally lets her go. She drops on the mattress.

Riya: I hate you

Arjun(innocently): ekto tumse ha kahelwaane ke liye itni mehnat ki, aur ab tum I hate you bol rahi ho? ek baar toh keh do ki you love me

Riya giggled and sat up. Her cheeks turned pink as she gazed into his eyes.

Riya: I love you Arjun

He immediately hugs her. She smiles and loses herself completely. This time, without hesitation.

Arjun: I love you too Riya…so much!!! (he kisses her forehead) tum soch bhi nahi sakti ki in 2 ½ saalon mein ye sunne ke liye mere kaan taras gaye

Riya: 2 ½ saal?

Arjun: ha

She looked up at him: tum kab se mujhse pyaar karte ho?

Arjun: usse bhi pehle se…tumhe yaad hai ek din jab lighthouse par tum mujhe information de rahi thi toh baarish aa gayi and hum bheeg gaye the?

Riya squints at him: hum bheege? Tumne mujhe zabardasti bheegaya tha

Arjun: ha wahi, jab maine tumhe us, aasmaan ke neeche aankhein band kar muskurate hue dekha usi waqt mujhe tumse pyaar ho gaya tha

Riya: itni si baat par tumhe mujhse pyaar ho gaya? woh bhi itni jaldi? Waah! Tum sach mein sample piece ho

Arjun: ha woh toh main hun par tum batao, tumhe kab pyaar hua mujhse?

Riya: pata nahi, aise koi khaas lamha nahi tha… shayad dheere-dheere tumhare saath rehkar ho gaya…(thoughtfully) shayad us din ya uski wajah se

Arjun: kab?

Riya smiled: jab hum pehli baar mile the, jis raat tumne mujhe, us admi se bachaya tha….tab pehli baar itne saalon mein maine kisi mard ko izzat se dekha tha and fir jab tumne madam ji ko dhamki di, (dreamily) main toh flat ho gayi (Arjun made a face) ab aise kyun dekh rahe ho mujhe?

Arjun: tumhe toh mujhse bhi pehla hua tha aur taana fir bhi mujhe hi maar rahi ho

She giggled: tumhe suit hota hai

Arjun shook his head: kya ladki ho tum? Itne time tak control kar rahi thi? Bola kyun nahi? jab bhi main baatein karta hun toh ya toh koi bhaari joke maarti ho ya fir kisi 100 saal ke buzurg ki tarah gyaan deti rehti ho

Riya(offended): main tumhe budhi lagti hun?

Arjun smirked: gyaan toh waise hi deti ho

Riya: you!!!

She picked up her pillow and started to beat him. He put his hands in front to protect himself.

Arjun: are Riya….main toh mazaak kar raha tha….

Riya: kuch nahi sunna mujhe….bahot tang karte ho tum mujhe!

Arjun laughed and caught hold of her pillow: are main tang nahi karunga toh aur kaun karega?

She tugged at the pillow but he wouldn’t leave: chodo!

He threw it to a side and caught her hands twirling them around to engulf her in a hug from behind.

Arjun: tumhe toh main 7 janamo ke baad bhi nahi chodunga

Riya blushed as he buried his face into her neck. He kisses her cheek.

Arjun: I love you!

Riya rested her head against his: I love you too.....(closing her eyes)so much!

Just then Kinjal bursts into the room: are Riya…

The couple spring apart in embarrassment and she realises her mistake.

Kinjal: main uh…baad mein aati hu

Riya: Kinjal! (composing herself) bolo kya hua?

Kinjal: woh tai bula rahi hai, police aayi hai, kuch bachon ko lekar

Riya slipped into work mode: chalo

She glanced at Arjun who nodded in acknowledgement. They went outside where the NGO volunteers and employees were working with the police. Savita smiled seeing the duo walking in hand in hand.

Arjun: Tai ab jab sab set ho hi gaya hai toh thode changes hone chahiye na?

Savita looks at him questioningly: matlab?

Arjun: matlab ab mujhe atleast 12 baje tak andar aane ki permission milni chahiye na?

Savita: ha Arjun tum 12 baje tak reh sakte ho

Riya looks surprised while Arjun is elated.

Arjun: sach?!?

Savita: ha ulta acha hai tum dopaher ko 12 baje ke baad nahi aaoge toh mujhe raat ko tumhari chowkidaari nahi karni padegi

Riya burst out laughing. Arjun made a face.

Arjun: had hai, yaha main apna time badhane ki baat kar raha hun aur aapne toh ulta kaat diya woh bhi 10 ghante…rehne do 10 baje hi theek hai

Savita: haina? Ab Riya ka haath chodo aur hume kaam karne do

Arjun turns to Riya: ye duniya bahot zaalim hai (he dramatically leaves her hand) Alvida! main fir aaunga tumhe churane

Riya nods suppressing her giggles: bye!

Arjun: kya bye, aao na do minute baahar

Savita shakes her head in disbelief as he takes her out.

Riya: Arjun mujhe kaam hai

Arjun: ha shaukh se karo, bas mujhe tumse kuch kehna tha

Riya: kya?

Arjun(gently): tum apne dar se jitna darogi woh tumhe utna hi darayega Riya

Riya smiled: ab dar nahi hai

His smile widened as he hugged her. She closed her eyes feeling secure in his arms. He kissed her forehead. They separated after a while and bade good bye. Riya went back inside while Arjun moved towards his parked car.

A wide grin was plastered to his face as he sat mv “Sam ko batata hun!” he drives straight to his house.

Sameer’s house-

Two figures were busy in sheets when a doorbell rings. Ayesha pushes Sameer.

Ayesha: ghanti baji

Sameer: bajne do yaar!

He was about to kiss her again when the bell rings in quick succession. He jumps away from her.

Ayesha(surprised): kya hua?

Sameer quickly wears his clothes: sirf Arjun aise bell bajata hai, aur maine khola nahi toh chaabi se ghus jaayega

Her eyes widen in horror: Arjun sir?!?

Sameer: ha, tum yahi ruko, main use bhaga kar aata hun 2 minute mein

Ayesha: lekin…

But he runs out while putting on his T-shirt……………………