Chapter 21

Bloomie

@bloomie

Part 21 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

Rathore stares at the papers as he slowly takes his seat in absolute disbelief mv “paperwork? Main?”

Riya turns to Arjun. He was still sipping his chai………………………

Riya: aapko alag se invitation du?

He doesn’t bother to spare her a glance: main nahi karnewaala ye sab

Riya: acha?

She reaches across and grabs his tea cup. The others look at her in shock. Rathore braces himself to jump in and save her. Nobody was allowed to mess with Arjun’s chai!

Arjun flares up: Riya!!

Riya: chillaiye mat! aapko yaad dila du ki aap bhi is team ka hissa hai aur jab tak aap yaha hai aapko iske rules follow karne honge!

Arjun: Meri Chai Waapis Karo!!

Riya: pehle kaam!

Arjun: Pehle Chai!!

Riya: kaam shuru kijiye warna aapki chai ki tapri par taala lagwa dungi, samjhe aap?

Arjun: Tum Apne Aapko Samajti Kya Ho…

Riya: Senior Inspector Riya Mukherjee!

Stunned, he stares at her dumbfounded. He glares and grumbles, muttering curses under his breath.

Arjun: fine! Chai do meri!

Riya keeps the glass back on the table. Arjun grabs his cup and finishes the rest in one go, all the while glaring straight at her. He bangs the cup on the table.

Riya (unfazed): Mohan ko aapne hi pakda tha na, report ka aakhri hissa aap hi likh lena

Arjun snatches the papers and starts moving out.

Riya: ab kaha jaa rahe hai aap?

Arjun shouts without looking back at her: Mujhe Tum Logon Ke Saath Kaam Nahi Karna!!

Riya shook her head in disbelief mv “inko jo chahe woh gaali do lekin chai se alag mat karo” She sits and picks up the pen.

Riya: kya hua? Aap sab mujhe aise kyun ghur rahe hai?

They shake their heads and start working. She feels weird but focuses on the report they had to make.

Arjun bangs the papers on his desk mv “jab dekho tab meri chai cheen ti rehti hai, Hitler!”

The team fervently begins working on the report whilst cursing the commissioner. They were going to have to sacrifice a good dinner and sleep to get finished with it.

Later in the night-

Riya was in the pantry making coffee for herself when Arjun arrived. He fills a glass of water to drink.

She smiles: aapko chai chahiye sir?

Arjun: main ise chai nahi kehta

She pours hot water into a mug: ha aapki cutting ka mukabla toh nahi kar sakti (dipping the tea bag) lekin is waqt aapki cutting toh nahi milegi (handing him the mug) toh aapko isi se kaam chalana padega, waise ek baat puchu?

Arjun: pucho

Riya: aap aise kadiyaan kaise jod lete hai? aapko woh sab kaise dikhayi deta jo dusro ko nahi? itni baarikiyon ko kaise dhundh lete hai?

Arjun: jab log baarikiyon mein ulajh te hai toh main mudde par dhyaan deta hun, har cheez ke sirf andar nahi dekha jaata, sab kuch naak ke neeche hota hai

Riya turns to her mug to add sugar: aap sahi keh rahe hai, kabhi-kabhi sab kuch saamne hota hai fir bhi hum dekh nahi paate, I hope kisi din main bhi cheezon ko aapki nazar se dekh pau

His lips curve into a smile. Her head jerks to him to confirm what the corner of her eyes saw. Time ceased for her. Unconsciously, a whisper escaped her lips.

Riya: wow

Arjun(confused): kya?

Riya grins: aap smile karte hue aur bhi ache lagte hai

Arjun raised his eyebrow: flirt kar rahi ho?

He scrutinized her as mischief spread across her face. She stepped closer to him and batted her eyelashes.

Riya: haaye! Kaha aisi kismat ki karele ke saath flirt karu?

He squints making her laugh. She turns to go back to stirring when he grabs her hand and pulls her to him. She gasps as his body pins hers to the counter.

Arjun: toh is karele se paperwork kis khushi mein karwa rahi hai aap?

Riya fumbles: woh… uh sir… ab, waqt aane par gadhe ko bhi baap bolna padta hai (he raises his eyebrow) toh karele se paperwork kya cheez hai?

Arjun twists her hand behind her back. She struggles to free her wrist from his hold but to no avail.

Arjun: kabhi gadha, kabhi karela? madam aapko yaad dila du, aapka boss abhi bhi main hi hu

Riya: ha toh… mujhe, mujhe yaad hai aur, waise bhi aap toh itne ache (he twists her arm further) aah, sir!

Arjun: don’t flatter me Riya, mujh par koi asar nahi hone waala

Riya: are aapko gaali du toh bhi problem hai, tareef karu

Her voice dies as he leans on her.

Arjun: kya hua Riya? chup kyun ho gayi? Bolo

Riya clenches her eyes trying to free her hand: sir dekhiye… aap, aap ye jo kar rahe haina..

Arjun tightens his grip: kya kar raha hun?

Riya: dekhiye, aise office ke andar ek female….

Arjun: oh please Riya, don’t give me that bullshit

She puts up a false bravado: jo hai woh hai, aurat ki kabiliyat par kabhi shak nahi karna chahiye

Arjun smirks, tightening his grip. His face comes closer to hers intermingling their breaths. She closes her eyes in fear. Using his other hand, he slowly removes her rose clip letting her locks fall on her face. She slowly opens her eyes.

Riya: sir

Arjun: hm?

Riya: dard ho raha hai

He smirks and loosens his grip slightly: ab theek hai?

Riya: ye toh aap bataiye (he squints in confusion) goli toh aapko lagi thi

He looks at her in surprise. She removes the coin from her pocket with her other hand.

Riya: maana ki silver soft metal hai lekin main bullet ka nishaan ache se pehchanti hun

Arjun mv “isne ye kab liya?” He was still in his thoughts when she spoke up.

Riya: aapne kisi ko bataya kyun nahi?

There was worry on her face. He immediately lets go of her and turns to leave. She sighs as he disappears down the corridor.

At 2:30 am, the pens fall on the desk.

Rathore: ho gaya!!!!

The trio giggle seeing his excitement.

Riya: Shree, ja na, Arjun sir ko bula kar la

Shree: main?

Riya: aur nahi toh kaun? Jao!

Shree whines: kyun?! (walking out) humesha main kyun bali ka bakra banta hun?

Riya chuckles and arranges the papers in order. Another pile is dropped in front of her. She looks upto find Arjun staring at her.

Riya: thanks!

Rathore: chalo ghar chale

Riya: are rukiye, proofread kaun karega?

Rathore: tum

Riya: aur galtiyaan kaun sudharega?

Rathore: tum… (she glares at him) mera matlab, jisne ki hai

She shook her head in disbelief and skims through the report.

Arjun takes his seat mv “ye Rathore isse itna kyun chipak raha hai? aur ye bhi kuch bol nahi rahi, had hai! ek sawaal ka jawab kya nahi diya, khud aane ke bajay Shree ko bhej diya? are Shree se yaad aaya, report baakhi hai.”

Arjun: Riya woh Kalki Devi ke case ki report ka kya hua?

Riya: sir woh Shree ka hissa baakhi hai

Rathore: abhi tak? Shree kya kar rahe ho tum?!?

Shree fumbles seeing their glares: are sir, main… maine toh chaar baar submit ki sir lekin Ri ne reject kar di

Rathore: chaar baar? Kyun Riya?

Riya rolls her eyes: research department kiska hai?

Rathore: tumhara

Riya: toh report ka kaam kaun dekhega?

Rathore: tum

Riya: toh fir mujhe apna kaam karne dijiye

Rathore lowers his gaze: ok

Shree mv “are yaar, kam se kam kyun ka jawab toh le lete, mere toh kuch samaj mein nahi aa raha, ye bas dammit bolte firte hai, Ri ke aage muh tak nahi khulta… fattu khadoos!”

Arjun mv “Riya ne chaar baar report kyun reject ki? Itni kitni galtiyaan kar raha hai Shree? kuch toh chut raha hai”

Riya puts the file down after 15 minutes: perfect! Aap log jaa sakte hai

Shree: thank you Ri, I love you bye!

He rushed out with Chotu at his tail as she laughed.

Arjun mv “I love you toh aise bol raha hai jaise laddoo baant raha ho, ugh!!! Tumhe toh main…”

Rathore picked up the file: chalo Riya, bahot late ho gaya hai, main tumhe ghar chod deta hun

Riya: it’s ok sir, main chali jaungi

Rathore: nahi Riya, abhi taxi bhi nahi milegi

Riya smiled: ok sir

Arjun mv “No way! Main use chod raha hun!”

Thinking something, he leaves in a rush, confusing the other two.

Riya: inhe kya hua?

Rathore rolled his eyes: are chodo use! uski toh aadat hai

Riya giggled: main apna purse lekar aati hun sir do minute

Rathore nods. She returns and they both walk out. Hearing their footsteps, Arjun quickly hides behind the staircase. They go into the parking lot.

Riya: are sir, aapka tyre puncture ho gaya hai

Rathore follows her gaze: Dammit!!

Riya: spare hoga na?

Rathore: ha, 5 minute ruko main badal deta hun

Riya: ji

Sameer goes ahead to open the dickey when he notices not one but two of tyres were punctured

Rathore: Dammit!!!

Riya(taken aback): kya hua sir?

Rathore: do tyre punctured hai, mere paas sirf ek hi spare hai… par do kaise?

Riya: oh… koi baat nahi sir, hum cab le lete hai, aap ise baad mein theek karwa lena, shayad raaste par kuch hoga jo tyre ko chub gaya

Rathore sighs and shut the dickey: ha ab wahi karna padega

Arjun smirks to himself hearing their conversation. Rathore and Riya walk out. They looked around but there weren’t any parked cabs. There were no running cabs either. They decide to walk ahead not having any other option. There was supposed to be a taxi stand on the adjacent road.

Rathore: acha hua coffee pi li warna ab tak main parking mein hi so gaya hota

She giggled: waise sir aap…

Just then they hear a car. They turned to see if it was a cab but it was Arjun. Rathore holds up his hand. Arjun brakes.

Arjun: kya hai?

Rathore: mere tyre puncture ho gaye hai

Arjun: toh main kya karu?

Rathore: taxi nahi hai, hum dono ko chod do

Arjun: kyun?

Rathore: taxi nahi hai Rawte!

Arjun: toh?

Rathore glares at him: Rawte!!!

Riya intervenes: Arjun sir… please?

Arjun glares at them: baitho!

Rathore sits in the front while Riya takes the back seat.

Arjun smirks mentally mv “car se toh chutkaara ho gaya ab is nalayak se chutkaare ki baari”

His foot presses the accelerator as he drove towards Rathore’s home. He gets down.

Riya: good night Rathore sir!

Rathore: good night Riya, kal milte hai

Riya: ji

He smiles and leaves.

Arjun: Riya main tumhara driver nahi hu

She lowers her gaze and comes to the front seat. He starts the ignition, driving as slow as he could without earning suspicion. Riya yawned. She rested her head comfortably on the seat.

Arjun: coffee li thi na tumne?

Riya: ha lekin… main zyaada strong nahi leti, already subah ek cup pee li thi na

Arjun: waise ye report kab tak milegi?

Riya: ho gayi na?

Arjun: Kalki Devi waali

Riya(sleepily): acha woh… Shree 5vi baar dega na, uske baad 6thi baar mein mil jaayegi

Arjun raised his eyebrow: matlab tumne decide kar liya hai ki woh agli bar bhi dhang se nahi banayega?

Riya fumbles: uh…woh galtiyaan kar raha haina, ab agar next time bhi nahi hua toh main khud report bana dungi

Arjun: meri shakal par bevkuf likha hai?

Riya smiles: kaha hai? dikhaiye

He glares at her. She giggles and puts a finger on her lips. He shook his head in disbelief.

Riya: ek baat bolu?