Chapter 18

Bloomie

@bloomie

Part 18 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

He gently holds her injured arm to have a look. She tries to sit up straight taking support of the container on the side…………………………

Arjun: sirf chu kar gayi hai

A tear rolled down her eye: lag jaati toh… toh zyaada farak na… nahi padta, dard utna hi hai

Arjun: Riya bakwas mat karo!

Riya whimpers: sir, bahot dard ho raha hai

Arjun: Riya, main… ek second!

He removes his handkerchief and folds it in a triangle and then into a band. He wraps it around her arm and ties it securely.

Riya yelps: sir please, thoda… thoda loose kijiye

Arjun: nahi Riya, pressure nahi hoga toh khoon band nahi hoga

Riya cried: dard ho raha hai

Arjun: theek ho jaayega Riya

Tears streamed down her face. His heart pained to see them but unfortunately he could do nothing to ease her pain. He just sat beside her offering her a silent support. Her pain gradually became bearable as her body’s immune mechanism took over. Her blood starts to clot and her arm becomes numb.  

Riya(weakly): Arjun sir

Arjun: ha?

Riya: hume team ko… inform karna hoga

Arjun(shocked): tumne kiya nahi?

Riya: jammer

Arjun: ugh! Kaha hai baakhi sab?

Riya: Vile… Parle ke bran, branch mein

Arjun: what?!?!

Riya hummed in answer.

Arjun: tumhe akele aane ki kya zaroorat thi?!

Riya: one, hume van dhundhni thi jiske chances kam the… two, woh log waha andar ke admi ko dhundh rahe hai jo in logon ke saath (taking a deep breath) mila hua hai aur three, maine aane ke liye volunteer kiya kyunki, mujhe aapki chinta ho rahi thi

Arjun: really? Ek bullet proof aur sound proof van ke andar tumhe meri chinta ho rahi thi, waah Riya! aur agar tumhe ye goli haath ke bajay kahi aur lag jaati toh?

Riya: I figured that you’d help me, vishwas hai mujhe aap par

Arjun: Riya Tumhari Jaan Jaa Sakti Thi, Had Hoti Hai Laparwahi Ki! Tumhe Zara Sa Bhi Andaaza Hai Ya Nahi?!? Agar Tumhe Kuch Ho Jaata Toh?!?! Agar Ulti-Seedhi Jagah Goli Lag Jaati Toh Kaise Bachata Main Tumhe?!?! LEKIN NAHI TUM KYUN YE SAB SOCHOGI? TUMHE TOH SHAUK HAI JHANSI KI RANI BANNE KA! Mar Jaati Toh?!!?

Riya: aurat ki kabiliyat par shak nahi karna chahiye

Arjun: BAAT TUMHARE KABILIYAT KI NAHI LAPARWAHI KI HAI!! Ek Gun Ke Saath 4 Rifles Ka Saamna Karne Ko Kisne Kaha Tumse?!? Common Sense Naam Ki Koi Cheez Hoti Hai Ya Nahi!?!?

Riya: main unhe… engage nahi karne… waali thi, unhone dekh liya isliye…

Arjun: What Did You Expect??! Tumhe Van Mil Gayi Thi Toh Jammer Ka Baahar Jaakar Phone Kyun Nahi Kiya?!?!

Riya: woh mujhe us, us waqt… na.. nahi sujha…

Arjun: Kaha Se Sujhega? Akal Toh Ghaans Charne Gayi Hai Tumhari!! Mujhe Samajh Mein Nahi Aata TUM ITNI BEVKUFI BHARI HARKAT KAISE KAR SAKTI HO?!?! Aur Us Rathore Ne Tumhe Aane Kaise Diya??! Woh Toh Hai Hi Gadha Lekin Tumhe Kya Ho Gaya Tha?!?!

Riya: Arjun sir…

Arjun: KYA HAI?!?!

Riya: please signal… bhejne ke baare mein sochiye, mujhe baad mein… baad mein daant na

Arjun mutters under his breath : signal ke baare mein sochiye, ekto khud galti karti ho upar se mujhse solution expect karti ho!!

Riya sighs: agar…woh manager, unke… unke pehle… aa gaya toh?

Arjun calms himself down. It was a possibility. If that happened, they would both be dead. His gaze falls on the system on the wall opposite the door. He stands up and logs in using the current password. Arjun changes the password for opening the door so that even the manager won’t be able to open it.

He sits back beside her: password change kar diya, woh nahi khol paayega

Her eyes droop: hmm, ab signal?

Arjun sighs: teen baar galat password daalne se alarm bajne lagega jo 10 km ki range ka hai aur bank ke system mein location chali jaayegi

Riya: par fir, jab tak sab pahunchenge tab tak ye log toh bhaag jaayenge

Arjun: jammer device unke paas hi hai, ab aur koi option nahi hai

Riya: main aapko… ek batana bhuli

Arjun: kya?

Riya: Rathore sir ne kaha, maine, ek ghante mein, dhundh aayenge

He squints at her gibberish and turns to see her eyes closed. Her face was pale. Arjun worriedly glances at her injury. The blood flow had stopped but there was loss.

Arjun(gently): Riya?

Her head tilts to fall on his shoulder as she falls asleep due to the weakness. Arjun exhales deeply. Even though the color of her face had faded away, the weight of her head on his shoulder warmed him.

“mujhe aapki chinta ho rahi thi”

“I figured that you’d help me”

“vishwas hai mujhe aap par”

He closes his eyes and rests his head against the container mv “mujhe bhi tum par vishwas hai Riya lekin iska matlab ye nahi ki tum aisi ulti-seedhi harkate karo”

“mujhe aapki chinta ho rahi thi”

The tiniest of smiles appears on his face.

Vile Parle Branch-

Rathore stared at his wristwatch. It was 10 minutes beyond an hour and there was no contact from Riya. Nevertheless, he checks with Shree.

Rathore: Riya ka koi message?

Shree shook his head in disappointment.

Chotu: sir, ab kya karenge? Riya musibat mein hui toh? woh aur Arjun sir dono musibat mein hue toh?

Rathore had no answer for him. He looks at the staff. The higher ups from the head office who had access to the van were also brought with them. A few others from the branch were also of authority mv “Come on Rathore socho… kaise pata kare? In sab mein se koi toh hai jise ye pat hai ki van kaha hai lekin, hmm”

He sighed loudly and turned to the others: I’m sorry to say but van ke baare mein kuch pata nahi chal raha hai and aap logon mein se bhi kisi ko kuch pata nahi hai, ab tak toh chor ne, saare paise chura kar kahi chupa kar rakh diye honge (turning to the boys) come on team! Ab humare yaha koi kaam nahi hai, main commissioner se baat kar leta hun

The head office manager came running in shock: ye aap kya keh rahe hai? uske andar 130 crore…

Rathore: I know! Par nahi mil raha toh kya kar sakte hai? jammer ki wajah se use trace karna impossible hai, I’m sorry

Manager: Are Aap Log ETF Hai, Aise Kaise Impossible Hai? Bank Ka, Public Ka Kitna Nuksaan…

Rathore: dekho! Awaaz neeche rakho! Hum sirf additional security ke liye hai, tumhare woh guards hi chor nikle toh hum kya kare? Chalo Shree Chotu!

Though shocked out of their wits, Shree gathered his equipment and the duo followed their Chief.

Chotu mumbles: sir ye sab kya hai?

Rathore mutters softly: bina mude, bole, chalte raho

They get into the car and Rathore drives out away from the prying, confused and angry staff of the bank.

Rathore: Shree!!! Jis-jiske paas van ka access hai uska phone trace karo! mujhe Riya ki last location bhejo

Shree glanced at Chotu in confusion but received no answer: yes sir!

Rathore pushed the accelerator towards their destination.

Shree: sir, sab alag-alag disha mein jaa rahe hai, kis par nazar rakhe?

Rathore: us par jo humari disha mein aa raha hai aur ha koi zyaada paas na aaye, Chotu control room ko Riya ki last location bhejo, mujhe waha back up ready chahiye!!

Chorus: yes sir!

At the perimeter-

4 cars and a number of men were waiting for the ETF. Rathore pulls over and greets the person-in-charge.

Rathore: do gaadiyon ko raaste ke dusri taraf bhejo, yaha hume dekh kar reverse na le paaye

In-charge: yes sir!

He indicates a few of his men to follow.

Shree: sir, ab tak sirf ek hi phone humari taraf aa raha hai, 10 minute men aa jaayega

Rathore: fantastic! Ab main dekhta hun ye log kaha jaate hai

Within minutes a car rolled up along the road. The driver is shocked seeing the amount of policemen in front of him. He brakes and immediately changes the gear to reverse. Barely had his car moved when a police car dashed him from behind.

Rathore ran ahead and opened the door. It was the assistant manager of the Vile Parle branch. Rathore drags him out and throws him on the road. Chotu catches him by the scruff of his neck.

Chotu: van kaha hai?

Manager: van? Kaunsi van? Mujhe nahi pata…

Rathore punches his face. He screams in agony.

Rathore: Ab Kuch Yaad Aaya?

But the man was too busy writhing in pain. Chotu shakes him.

Chotu: jaldi bata warna

He balls his free fist. The manager’s heart skips a beat.

Manager: Nahi!!! Main… Main Batata Hun

Inside the van-

Riya was still sleeping. Arjun had not moved an inch, lest he disturbed her. He glanced at his watch, wondering why the manager had not yet arrived. Another possibility struck him. What if they were going to keep the van hidden for a few days so that the matter would die down? He glanced at Riya in horror. She needed treatment. A few hours was different but a few days? She could get infected. He curses Rathore for not being able to find them and then he curses him more because he let her come alone in search for him mv “idiot hai kamina! Kabhi goli chalata hai toh kabhi ise akele bhej deta hai! kam se kam Shree ko toh bhej deta saath mein, atleast woh signal hack karne ki koshish kar sakta tha, kisi tarah message bhej sakta… lekin nahi!! ugh!!! Woh manager ek baar mere haath aa jaaye main…”

His thoughts is broken by the sound of gunshots. The noise startles Riya awake.

Riya speaks groggily: Arjun.. sir?

Arjun: huh? Ha Riya?

Riya: ye… ye awaaz?

Arjun: goliyaan chal rahi hai, mujhe lagta hai un logon ne hume dhundh liya

A smile appeared on her face: mujhe pata tha Rathore sir bilcul time par aa jaayenge (Arjun raises his eyebrow) are maine kaha tha unse ki agar ek ghante mein contact na karu toh dhundhne aa jaaye

Arjun: oh toh tum behosh hone se pehle ye bol rahi thi?

Riya: behosh? Main behosh thi?! Kitne time tak?

Arjun: aadha ek ghanta (Her eyes widen) but acha hai (she raises her eyebrow) you look better now

Riya smiles: waise ab sab aa gaye hai, aur main bhi behtar hu toh aap chahe toh mujhe daantna continue kar sakte hai

Arjun: pet nahi bhara?

Riya: sach kahu toh mujhe bhook lag rahi hai

Arjun rolls his eyes and looks away.

Riya: acha ab aap sambhal kar rehna

Arjun: kyun?

Riya: kyunki, pehle main gussa hui thi, nakli waala fir aap naraaz hue the mujhse function mein, fir main aapse naraaz hui thi, aaj aapko gussa aaya ab next turn mera haina?

Arjun: Riya

Riya: ha sir?

Arjun: shut up!

Riya looks at him innocently. The gunshots cease outside. They could hear Rathore’s monstrous voice cursing the manager for the password not being accepted.

Manager: sir wahi password hai jo aapko pata hai

Rathore drags him to the keypad: Tum Daalo!! Ye Rawte Pata Nahi Kya Kar Raha Hai?!?! SO GAYE KYA?!?!

He attempts but it again shows negative. One try remaining.

Riya: sir chaliye, warna hum van mein lock ho jaayenge

Arjun nods. He holds Riya’s hand to help her stand up. He places her hand around his neck and supports by holding her waist.

Riya: sir

Arjun: ha?

Riya: mere pair mein nahi, haath mein chot hai……………………..