Chapter 48

Bloomie

@bloomie

Part 48 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

Vikram: hm, acha kiya. (thoughtfully) maybe you should get Riya involved…

Arjun bangs his hands on the desk and stands up: Maine Aapko Pehle Bhi Warn Kiya Tha Ki MAIN AAPKO USKA USE KARNE NAHI DUNGA!!.........................................

Vikram mv “itni possessiveness? Just marry her already! Main naachunga tumhari baarat mein, Raghu ke saath” Brushing his thoughts away, he face-palmed.

Vikram: uska department Arjun! Woh research ki hai! she knows how to get information!

Arjun relaxed and sat back: maine kar liya already, lekin uski zyaada information nahi hai except for some girl. Pata nahi kaun hai, aage baat nahi hui humari. Aur ye bhi pata chala ki Birju Mumbai Goa aa jaa raha tha

Vikram mv “khud involve kiya lekin mujh par bhadak raha hai, had hai!”

Vikram: hmm, aur fir Mumbai ki local gang ke saath deal. Maybe Birju uska yaha ka agent tha, business opportunities ke liye

Arjun: mujhe bhi aisa hi lagta hai

Vikram: ladki ke baare mein pata karne ki koshish karo, tab tak main ye Lata ka maamla fit karne ki try karta hun. Dekhte hai

Arjun sighs and gets up to leave.

Vikram: aur Arjun, be careful. He could also be desperate kahi woh firse kuch…. You know what I mean

Arjun stiffens. He salutes and leaves.

ETF Office-

Shree and Chotu were at Shree’s station, eating a second breakfast while talking casually. Shree chokes on seeing Arjun coming towards them. Before he could tell Chotu to hide, Arjun reached up.

Arjun: Riya kaha hai?

Shree: kya sir?

Arjun: kaan band pad gaye hai tumhare?

Shree: nahi, nahi sir, woh uh aapne achanak pucha toh

He glares at him, making him silent.

Chotu: Ri aapke cabin mein hi hai sir. Humne bulaya tha use lekin uska mood nahi tha khaane ka

Arjun looked down at the table to see a burger, fries and pulav. Trust these two to eat anything at any time of the day.

Arjun: jaldi kha kar report likhne baitho!

Shree(surprised): ji sir

Chotu turned to Shree as Arjun left: ye kya? Sir ne gussa nahi kiya?

Shree smirked: aur Ri ke baare mein puch rahe the

Chotu: kuch toh chut raha hai

Shree cracks up and Chotu joins in the laughter.

Arjun and Riya’s cabin-

He frowns seeing her by the window lost in her own thought, playing with the loose ends of her hair. She realizes his presence only when he walks up to her.

Riya: aap aa gaye?

Arjun: abhi bhi kal ki baat se upset ho?

Riya: aapko kaise pata?

Arjun smiles: tum jab upset hoti ho toh isi tarah apne baalon ke saath khelti ho (she is amused) aur jab apne parents ko miss karti ho toh apni mom ki chain pehanti ho aur uske saath khelti ho

Riya: interesting

Arjun steps closer: jab tum gusse mein hoti ho toh tumhara pehla punch humesha admi ki naak todne ke liye jaata hai warna tum trained moves use karti ho. Aur jab tum khush hoti ho (cupping her face) toh tumhari aankhon mein ek chamak aati hai (stepping nearer) aur tumhari muskaan mein dimples aate hai

Surprised, she keeps gazing at him, lost in the moment. His face comes closer to her. Realising it, she pushes him a little and turns, stepping away abruptly.

Riya blushed: mujhe system mein data entry karni hai, aati hu

She runs out of the cabin leaving a smiling Arjun behind. He scratches the back of his head and takes his seat, burying his face in a file and thoughts in her.

It was only after a good 20 minutes that he realised he actually had work with her. He groaned internally mv “Dammit! Jo kaam karna tha wahi reh gaya!”

He banged the file on the table and headed outside.

Record room-

She was typing into the computer when she heard the door open. She asked without looking up.

Riya: kaun hai?

Arjun: Riya ek kaam hai

She turned her swivel chair. Seeing him brought back the memories of what happened a few minutes ago. Controlling herself, she opened her ears.

Arjun: Remember Birju?

Riya: ha maine aapko saari information de di na?

Arjun: ha us ladki ke baare mein kuch pata chala?

Riya: nahi, ab tak nahi

Arjun went back to his thoughts.

Riya: waise aapne mujhe bataya nahi ki uska chakkar kya hai?

Arjun sighed: Riya…

Riya: main bas aise hi puch rahi hun, kya pata mujhe kuch aur pata ho?

He shook his head very well understanding her false innocence. He pulled himself up and sat on the table. Dangling his legs in the air, he thought. She waited patiently and curiously.

Arjun finally spoke: Birju Sikandar ka admi hai

Riya: woh waala Sikandar?

Arjun: ha, isliye

Riya: toh fir aapko use interrogate karna chahiye tha na, uske paas koi toh information hoti

Arjun: ETF ke cameras mein?

Riya frowned: ha woh bhi hai par agar aap sure hai toh Rathore sir se kehna chahiye tha na. I’m sure woh aapki help karte aur legally interrogate kar paate

Arjun chuckled bitterly: woh hai wahi toh problem hai

Riya: matlab?

Arjun: Sam yaad hai?

Riya: aapka friend?

Arjun: uska pura naam, Sameer Damsingh Rathore

Riya: toh? (realising) ek second! Sameer Damsingh Rathore? Matlab, matlab Rathore sir?

Arjun: ha

She stared at him with her mouth agape.

Riya: woh aapke friend the? par… par woh aapko blame karte hai? lekin, kyun? aur aisa hai toh inquiry ke time unhone aapki help kyun ki? Aur….

Arjun: hum chahe jitne bhi dur kyun na ho dost hai toh ek dusre ko bachane ki aadatein aage aa hi jaati hai

Riya: main confused hun, aise kaise ho sakta hai? parvah bhi hai aur nahi bhi

Arjun mv “puri story sunogi tab kya kahogi?”

Arjun: chodo woh sab, tumhe agar us ladki ke baare mein kuch aur pata chale toh batana

Riya: hmm

Arjun: acha suno

Riya: ha?

Arjun: ab kaisa feel kar rahi ho?

She gave him a small smile: I’m fine. Ek baat puchu?

Arjun: ha?

Riya: Rathore sir aapko isliye blame karte haina ki aap Roshni ko bacha nahi paaye? (he nods unsure of where the conversation was heading) still, woh bhi toh Roshni ko maarne waale ko saza dilana chahte honge na?

Arjun stared at her. He had never thought of it that way. That meant, Rathore would help even if unwilling to work with him, and help to find Sikandar. But no wait! Involving Rathore meant telling him everything.

Riya: kya hua? Kya soch rahe hai?

Arjun: main fir bhi use nahi bata sakta Riya

Riya: kyun?

Arjun: kyunki…. Kyunki kuch nahi

Riya: are kuch nahi kaise?

Arjun: Riya…

She rolls her eyes: fine! Mat bataiye lekin Rathore sir se aap baat kare toh behtar hoga

Arjun: aisa nahi hai yaar, mujhe tumhe batane mein problem nahi hai

Riya: dikh raha hai mujhe

Arjun: tum chid kyun rahi ho?

Riya: main chid nahi rahi, sach mein bol rahi hu. Main bas ye nahi chahti ki aap koi clue miss kare. Aapko itne waqt baad lead mili hai, I don’t want you to squander it

He sighed and pulled up his legs to cross them. He hung his head.

Arjun: main humari dooriyaan toh seh lunga Riya but main nahi chahta ki woh Roshni par ungli uthaye

She waited for him to continue. He looked up again and was about to say something when Ayesha barged in. Riya jumped in startle. Arjun raised his eyebrow. Ayesha is rooted to the spot seeing Arjun sitting on the table that too like a 5-year-old.

Arjun: darwaaze ki oiling check karne aayi ho?

She came out of her trance: huh? Nahi, woh… woh Rathore sir bula rahe hai, case

Riya: thanks Ayesha, hum aate hai

Ayesha: ok ma’am

Suspiciously glancing at Arjun, she left.

Arjun: hum baad mein baat karte hai

Riya nods. The duo go to the conference room where Rathore explains the details of the case. They had found a body in the woods near the tower of silence at Ridge road. There was no identity on it and figuring it out was the first priority of the team.

The body went on to the forensic lab for a post-mortem. Meanwhile, the team had barely any other leads. The tower officials had not seen anything suspicious. Scanning the forest floor did not help either.

Post-mortem revealed that the cause of death was due to the head injury, presumably a stone. However, hey had not found any stone with blood on it. The killer probably took it away with him. Having nothing else to go on till the identity of the man was known, Rathore calls it an early day.

As the others were packing up, Sakshi arrives with all the paperwork for her training and probation. She happily submits everything to Rathore. He, on the other hand, was amused at her enthusiasm. She had absolutely no idea how much the training made pulp out of people. Taking everything, he asked her to start from the next day and wished her luck.

She proceeded to go and meet Arjun while she was at it.

Arjun’s cabin-

He scowled instantly on seeing her.

Sakshi: hi

He only picks up his bag in response.

She sighs: Arjun, I am really sorry. Mujhe tumhari baat maan kar wahi rehna chahiye tha but honestly..

Arjun: mujhe tumhari explanation sunne mein koi interest nahi hai

Sakshi: main bas ye kehne aayi thi ki kal se training shuru kar rahi hu. I will prove myself to you!

Arjun(amused): prove to me? Sakshi prove to yourself that you’re more than a trouble maker. Fir shayad kisi aur ko kuch prove karne ke baare mein sochna

She smiled: chalo at least tumne ye toh kaha ki main mehnat karke pass hou

Arjun: twisting words to suit yourself, very journalist like, don’t you think?

Sakshi: kabhi-kabhi ulte tareeke hi kaam aate hai, tumse behtar ye kaun samaj sakta hai?

Arjun muttered: disgusting! (aloud) Tumhe Ratti Bhar Bhi Ehsaas Hai Ki Tumhari Bevkufi Ki Wajah Se Kitne Logon Par Kya-Kya Beeti?

Sakshi lowered her gaze: I didn’t mean to Arjun, main bas…

Arjun: Agar Woh Terrorist Hote Toh Hi Acha Hi Hota. Kam Se Kam Waging War Against The Country Ka Charge Toh Laga Sakte The Hum Tum Par!!

Sakshi(tearing up): Arjun…

Arjun: Just Shut Up And Leave! Mujhe Aur Gussa Mat Dilao

She sighed sadly and turned to leave. Sakshi accidentally bumped into Riya’s table and squealed. Arjun reflexively caught her hands to keep her steady, bringing her closer in the process.

Just then the door opened, Riya stared at the scene in shock. Since when did Arjun started getting touchy feely with everyone? That too her?!?!?! What was she even doing there? Masking her anger, she stiffened.

Riya: main jaa rahi hun sir! I hope aapko kuch aur kaam nahi hai!

Before Arjun could respond, she grabbed her purse and left. Sakshi clenched her eyes shut mv “oops!”

Arjun mv “ise kya hua? Gussa kyun ho gayi?”

Arjun continued to stare in the direction that she left while freeing Sakshi.

Sakshi: uh, tum jaa kar usse baat kyun nahi karte?

He raised his eyebrow. She shrugged. Rolling his eyes, he followed Riya.

She was in the lift. She saw him coming.

Arjun: Riya!

She glared at him and pressed the button to close the doors.

Arjun: what the hell? Ab ise kya hua? Hum toh baat karne waale the, ab ye akele kyun jaa rahi hai?

He rushed down the stairs. He called out to her in the compound but she ignored his calls and walked out. He rushed after her. Unfortunately for him, she got into a standing cab. Cursing, he made a mental note of the number and ran to his car.

Arjun called her as he drove behind her taxi but she ignored his phone calls as well. He was getting increasingly frustrated.

In the taxi, Riya was getting confused. Her head started aching. She clenched her fists to control her rage. She could feel her neurons firing in anger. At the same time, she couldn’t understand why? True she saw Sakshi almost in Arjun's arms. True that he didn’t talk to anyone except her. Also true that Sakshi always tried to get his attention but so what? Why was she getting so riled up over such a tiny thing?

And this was not the first time. She had reacted in a similar manner when Chotu told her that she used to flirt with Arjun and he never told her off. But today, it was like there was a volcano ready to burst inside her.

She had heard Arjun calling out to her but she was ignoring him. She even closed the lift door on his face. She felt like screaming at him. Currently, she put her phone on silent after Arjun’s continuous calls. The question remained unanswered, why?

She came out of her thoughts feeling the breeze on Nariman drive hitting her face. She needed to think straight. As she looked out, she wondered if a kulfi could cool her down. She asked the driver to stop at the beach.

Arjun is bewildered seeing her get down at chowpatty. He looks around for parking space. Not caring to crash, he speeds up and gets into a slot another driver was pulling up into. The driver rolls down his window to give him a piece of his mind when he sees the ETF logo on the car and decides to stay silent. Arjun got down and rushed to the spot where Riya alighted to make sure not to lose her.

On the other hand, Riya was eating a kulfi near the stalls. Unfortunately for her, it did not do much to soothe her anger. Throwing the stick into a dustbin, she turned to go behind the stalls for some peace and quiet, near the rocks.

Arjun searched around and finally saw her walking away behind the stalls.

She opened her pony and let the breeze fill her hair. The fragrance of the sea salt was calming her nerves to an extent. She had just closed her eyes when she heard his voice.

Arjun: Riya!!!..............................