Chapter 11

Bloomie

@bloomie

Part 11 [NOCOPY][MEMBERSONLY]

9 am, Headquarters-

A room had been set up for the purpose of the inquiry. Vikram arrives with the DIG Kamlesh Pant and the magistrate, Girish Das.

The team is called in. Rathore and Arjun present themselves before the panel. Riya, Shree and Chotu sit behind. The inquiry starts.

Girish: ACP Arjun Suryakant Rawte, aap par ilzaam hai ki aapne bahot hi berehmi se Pathan Lala ko din-Dahade court ke baahar maara tha, do you deny it?

Arjun: nahi

Rathore mv “ye admi kisi din apni hi kabar khod dega! Kam se kam one word answers to mat de!!!”

Girish looks at the other two.

Vikram mv “ye Rathore ise bachane ki koshish karega ya nahi?” He hesitantly puts forward the question.

Vikram: ACP Sameer Damsingh Rathore, aap waha eyewitness the?

Rathore: ji sir, main wahi tha

Vikram: kab hua ye?

Rathore: sir, hum Pathan ki pehli peshi thi isliye hum use court le gaye the. Hearing ke liye time tha toh hum wahi baahar wait kar rahe the…

Kamlesh: toh ACP Rawte ne usi ka faayda uthaya

Rathore: with due respect sir, Pathan Rawte ko bhadka raha tha aur isi wajah se ye sab hua

The trio exchange glances relieved at the fact that Rathore spoke in favour.

Kamlesh(sternly): ACP Rawte ek police officer hai aur duty ke time discipline se zyaada aur kuch nahi, agar sab log criminal ke bhadkaane se unhe maarne lage toh department ka kya hoga? uski reputation ka kya hoga? log hum par vishwas kaise karenge?

Rathore: sir Pathan was getting personal aur Rawte…

Girish: baat chahe jo bhi ho! use safely court tak laane ki responsibility tum logon ki thi, ye hai tumhari safety? Human rights ke baare mein suna hai kabhi? (Rathore grits his teeth but stays mum) tum logon ko duty karne ke liye rakha hai, apni man maani karne ke liye nahi!! This Is Unacceptable!!

His face said it all. The decision had been made. Kamlesh was in complete agreement with him. The panel needed a majority. Currently, it was not at all in favour of the team. Vikram plays his card before they could conclude the inquiry.

He turns to them(softly): sir, protocol ke hissab se chain of command ke saare officers ka statement zaroori hai

Kamlesh: Chief se baat toh kar li, second in command is accused.

Vikram: ha sir but SI Mukherjee falls into the criteria

Girish: hmm, theek hai, bulaiye use

Vikram nods and turns to the audience: Senior Inspector Riya Mukherjee!

Riya is startled. She stands up in attention. The rest of the team is as taken aback as her. Rathore mv “SI ka statement! Shit! Mujhe Riya se baat karni chahiye thi… agar isne ulta bola toh Rawte ki saza aur badh jaayegi”

Vikram: present yourself before the panel.

She nods and comes forward.

Kamlesh: tum bhi waha maujud thi?

Riya: yes sir

Kamlesh: tum kya kehna chahogi?

Riya’s eyes darted towards her seniors but both of them were looking straight.

Kamlesh: SI Mukherjee

Riya: ji sir

Kamlesh: kya ACP Rawte ne…

Riya: Ha Arjun sir ne Pathan ko peeta, bahot buri tarah se woh bhi court ke baahar, sabke saamne…

Rathore mv “shit!!”

Vikram mv “hey bhagwan, kahi ye paasa ulta na pad jaaye”

Shree whispered to Chotu: ye kya kar rahi hai?

Chotu(worried): pata nahi

Girish: toh fir toh tay hai ki…

Riya: sorry to interrupt sir, but meri baat puri nahi hui

He raised his eyebrow. The panel exchanged looks. Kamlesh gestured to continue.

Riya: Arjun sir ne Pathan ko peeta, bahot buri tarah se woh bhi court ke baahar, sabke saamne woh bakwas kar raha tha aur sir ne badle mein use maara, bas dusri taang humesha ke liye tutna hi baakhi tha. par kitni ajeeb baat haina sir ki humare department mein na jaane kitne corrupt officers hai jinhe saza dena toh door unki taraf aankh utha kar bhi nahi dekha jaata ulta jo complaint karta hai use hi saza mil jaati hai, jo honest hai use choti-choti baaton par pareshaan kiya jaata hai fir hum ye sochte hai log force par bharosa kyun nahi karti? aur agar baat rights ki hai toh sabse zyaada afsos ki baat toh ye hai ki jo ek certified criminal hai jisne na jaane kitne logo ke rights cheene hai uske rights ek hardworking, morally sound aur honest officer ke rights ke aage bhaari pad jaate hai

Her words stump everyone in the room, especially the panel. Vikram dances in his head mv “yes!! Mera plan kaam kar gaya.”

Arjun stares at her in surprise.

Riya: hum log din raat ek karke duty nibhaate hai, families se dur, chutti ke bagair, zaroorat padne par 36 ya 72 ghante ki shift mein kaam karte hai aur fir ye saara khoon paseena bahane ke baad jab hum kisi ko pakadte hai toh saalon tak court mein uska case chalta rehta hai, kabhi- kabhi toh insaaf milne ke pehle hi woh budha hokar mar jaata hai, encounter kare toh hum par sawaal uthta hai ki goli chalana zaroori tha? khud ki jaan par bani thi isliye use ki ya fir sirf advantage lene ke liye? Agar aapne Pathan ki case file padhi hogi toh aapko ye yaad hoga ki use pakadne mein sabse bada haath Arjun sir ka hi tha, aur ha unhone apni jaan par bhi khela tha, goli bhi lagi thi aur khud ki parvah kiye bagair victim ko drown hone se bhi bachaya tha lekin afsos ki aaj unki mehnat ke bajay us, Pathan ke rights zyaada important hai jo humare desh mein kam se kam 15.7% women and child trafficking ka contributor hai

Vikram covers his mouth to contain his laughter while the other two squirm uncomfortably in their seats. An awkward silence rests in the atmosphere.

Riya: sir?

Girish comes out of his trance: huh?

Riya: I conclude my statement sir

Girish clears his throat: hmm uh… toh uh…Pathan ne bhadkaya tha

Kamlesh: hmm

Vikram smiles: jaise aap kahe sir

Girish gulps down his glass of water.

Vikram mv “poor guy doesn’t know what hit him. I love this girl!”

Girish: the inquiry finds that ACP Arjun Suryakant was provoked by criminal Pathan Lala on personal grounds leading to a scuffle between them. There was no malicious intent to harm or endanger the life by the accused. Therefore, he is found not guilty and is relieved of all charges!

A wave of happiness washes over the team.

Vikram: you may leave now

They salute the three of them and walk outside.

Rathore heaves a sigh of relief: Riya, that was (squeezing her into a side hug) amazing!!!

She laughs: thank you sir par sach kahu toh meri fat rahi tha waha

Arjun: tumne bhi kabhi complaint ki thi?

Riya: aapko kaise pata?

Arjun: itna gussa bina personally involve hue nahi aa sakta… thank you

The others stare at him in shock. Did he really say thank you?

Riya taps his shoulder: you’re a good guy Rawte, you deserve it!

Arjun raises his eyebrow in amusement. She winks at him.

Shree: par Ri… tujhe case ki details kaise pata?

Riya: hello! Research department! Main filen padti hu!

Shree: when?

Riya: jab bhi free hote the toh time pass karne ke liye

Shree(shocked): tu time pass ke liye…

Vikram comes out into the corridor, almost running to them.

Vikram: Riya!

Riya: ha sir?

Vikram: meri aur in dono ki chodo, kam se kam seniors ke saamne toh dhang se baat kiya karo

Riya: dhang se toh ki

Vikram: really? Aisa lag nahi raha tha mujhe

Riya: aapne rayi maangi, maine de di, simple!

Vikram: you and I both know what happened back there

Riya: then why are you asking?

Vikram: Riya! listen! I told you humse galti ho gayi, ab toh jaane do, kitne din tak gaali deti rahogi hume?

Riya: galti? Aapne mujhe 3 mahine tak research desk par sadaya!! Shukar maaniye ki aapki pol nahi kholi! Aur maine kab gaali di? Rathore sir! aap hi boliye, maine aisa kuch bhi kaha kya? Koi censored word use kiya kya maine??

Rathore: uh…

Riya scolds him: soch kya rahe hai aap?

Rathore: ha… mera matlab, na! nahi sir Riya ne kuch bhi nahi kaha. Usne facts hi toh rakhe panel ke saamne

Vikram squints at him: iski side lene ki zaroorat nahi hai

Rathore(firmly): sir! mujhe lagta hai ki Riya nahi balki aap grudge lekar baithe hai

Vikram is about to answer back when the magistrate and Kamlesh step out. The team goes into rapt attention.

Girish: Vikram is inquiry ke record par court ka seal lagne ke baad Pathan ke case ke magistrate tak pahuncha dena

Vikram: ji sir aur woh…

All phones start ringing simultaneously except Girish’s.

Chotu: ye toh khatre ki ghanti hai

The control room relays the same message to all of them.

Girish: kya baat hai?

Kamlesh: it’s a hostage situation

Girish(shocked): kaha?

Vikram(disconnecting the call): pata nahi, ek lady ne phone kiya tha, par location bolne se pehle pakdi gayi. Uske phone company ke address par gaye toh padosi ne bataya ki woh roz ek blue saree aur name badge pehen kar rickshaw mein Bandra jaati hai, kaha unhe nahi pata

Shree: sir call trace hua?

Vikram: nahi unfortunately sirf 30 second ka tha

Arjun: roz wahi saree pehen kar jaati hai matlab woh uska uniform hai, kisi desk par kaam karti hai, hotels, agencies ki kami nahi hai Bandra mein but we’re looking for atleast a 3 star one jo apne employees ko name badge aur uniform issue karti hai, usme se unhe cut down kijiye jinka uniform blue. Ek-ek ko call kijiye, jaha phone nahi uthaya, wahi humari jagah hai, let’s go!

Girish stares at him in shock: ye…ye kaise?

Rathore smirks: that’s ACP Arjun Suryakant Rawte for you…Sir!

40 minutes later the team along with Vikram end up in a commercial building opposite Rene Hotel.

Rathore: ab tak koi demand sir?

Vikram: nahi, I’m afraid not… home minister saab aa rahe hai

Arjun: kis khushi mein?

Vikram: woh home minister hai Arjun, apna kaam karne aaye hai

Arjun looks back at the screen Shree was showing him: apna kaam kare wahi acha hai, humare kaam mein tang na adaye

The duo roll their eyes at him. Footsteps resound in the corridor. They turn to find the home minister Mangesh Joshi coming in with his bodyguards.

Mangesh: Vikram ji, kya ho raha hai yaha? Aise din-Dahade koi humare shehar mein ghus kaise gaya?

Riya whispers to Shree and Arjun: ye mantri ji election ki rally mein ho waise kyun baat kar rahe hai?

Arjun: mantri hai, mantri hi rahega

Shree almost bursts out laughing but stops on earning a glare of both of them. They turn to the others.

Riya: sir thermal signatures ke hissab se andar kuch 8 hostiles hai aur kareeban 70 hostages.

Mangesh: inhone ab tak koi maang rakhi hai?

Vikram: nahi sir

Mangesh: fir inhe tackle kaise karenge?

Arjun: main andar jaa raha hun

Rathore: what? Ek minute! Tum waha tehelte hue andar nahi jaa sakte!

Arjun rolls his eyes: main jaanta hun Rathore, ek side par pehra kam hai waha rasi se ghus jaunga

Shree pipes in: sir (holding up a pair of spectacles) isme microphone or bluetooth dono hai, hum aapki aur aap humari baatein sun paayenge

Vikram: Arjun be careful, ye log khatarnaak hai

Rathore: Shree ID banao!

Shree looks up from his laptop: ji sir wahi kar raha hun

Mangesh holds Arjun’s shoulder: bahot khub! Hume garv hai ki tumhare jaise officers humari force mein hai

Arjun doesn’t respond.

The minister turns to Vikram: aapko sarkar ki taraf se jo bhi chahiye woh dilaane ki zimmedari meri, paisa, equipment, lekin aaj is shehar mein firse anhoni nahi honi chahiye, we need to catch them at all costs!! Aur I would prefer ki humari taraf se koi casualty na ho aur na hi civilian lives khatre men pade

Rathore: sir hum apni taraf se puri koshish karenge

Mangesh nodded. Shree quickly readies an ID card while Arjun changes into more business clothes.

Shree: sir, aap Ajit Dave hai, research assistant, economics

Arjun: aur waha kya kar raha hun?

Shree: uh… sponsor se milne gaye the?

Arjun groans mentally and grabs the ID card. He storms out of the room with the necessary equipment.

Everyone turns to the multiple screens Shree had set up. They see Arjun shooting the rope to the second floor of the building. He climbs up and enters inside.

Arjun: I’m in.

Rathore: Rawte sambhal kar… lekin zyaada nahi, yaad rakhna ki tumhe pakde jaana hai

Arjun: marna bhi hai?

Riya: you can jump off for that

Arjun rolls his eyes: shut up Riya!

Riya smiles.

They hear closely as Arjun hides in room, purposely dropping something. A man passing by catches hold of him and takes him to their leader. He starts cross-questioning Arjun.

Leader: itni der tak kaha tha?

Arjun: woh washroom mein, baahar awaazein suni, dekha toh ek admi ke gun ke saath tha, dar kar wahi kamre mein chup gaya

He studies him carefully: acha?

Rathore shook his head: use shak ho raha hai (speaking into the mike) Rawte thode dare hue toh lago! Itni casually kahani sunaoge?

Riya: Shree! Ek aur ID banao……………………