Chapter 50

Bloomie

@bloomie

Part 49 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

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!!!..............................

She turned in a startle. Memories came flashing back and so did her anger.

Riya : what the hell are you doing here?

Arjun: yahi sawaal main tumse puch raha hun, aur tum aise kyun aa gayi? Kabse tumhe bula raha tha aur mera phone kyun nahi utha rahi thi?

Riya: oh please get lost!

Arjun: tum itni gusse mein kyun ho?

Riya: Really?! Bol Toh Aise Rahe Hai Jaise Ki Aapko Kuch Nahi Pata!

Arjun sighed: tum bataogi nahi toh mujhe pata kaise chalega?

She clenched her fists: KAISE PATA CHALEGA? AAPKO SAKSHI KE ILAWA KUCH DIKHTA KAHA HAI?!

Arjun(taken aback): what? Tum kya bol rahi ho? Sakshi beech mein kaha se aa gayi?

She glared at him. He recalls what had happened in office when Riya had come into the cabin

Arjun: hold on! Tum abhi ki baat kar rahi ho? (she continues to stare at him murderously) Riya what’s wrong with you? tum aisa soch bhi kaise sakti ho? aisa kuch nahi hai!

His words reiterate her doubts increasing her fury. She gritted her teeth, looking away. Why was she reacting like this? She had never been like this. All of this weird stuff happened only when he was around her.

Arjun continues seeing her silence: woh toh bas kal ki training ke baare mein batane aayi aur jaate hue tumhare table se takra gayi aur maine use pakad liya, that’s it, koi badi baat…

That was the last straw.

She burst out: EXACTLY! ITNI BADI BAAT NAHI THI. Par Mujhe Nahi Pasand, Nahi Pasand Jab Woh Din Raat Aapke Aage-Peeche Ghumti Hai. Har Pal Aapka Name Leti Rehti Hai

Arjun: Riya aisa kuch…

Riya: Jaanti Hu! I Trust You Fir Bhi, Mujhe Gussa Aata Hai, Insecure Feel Karti Hun, Dar Lagta Hai Mujhe Ki Aapke Liye Woh Mujhse Zyaada Important Ho Jaayegi. Aisa kyun hota hai? AISA KYA HAI HUMARE BEECH? Woh toh kya Shree tak ko nahi choda maine, aapko yaad hai woh Kalki Devi waala case? Uski report maine isliye reject nahi ki thi kyunki woh galtiyaan kar raha tha isliye ki thi kyunki usne humara jhagda karwaaya, usne aapko chudail se compare kiya. But aisa toh har jagah hota haina? Juniors mazaak mein senior ko gaali dete hai, aapne bhi di hogi, maine bhi di hai fir bhi aisa kyun kiya maine? Aapko yaad hai? pehle din us din aap Rathore sir ki wajah se gusse tha aur maine kaha tha ki aap aur woh alag hai? KYUN ALAG HAI? Jo dosti main Shree aur Chotu ke liye feel karti hu woh aapke liye feel nahi karti, jis tarah ki respect main Rathore sir ki karti hu us tarah aapki nahi karti. Kyun Mujhe Aapki Chinta Sata Ti Rehti Hai? Kyun Main Aapke Kandhe Par Sar Rakhkar Saare Dukh Bhul Jaati Hun? Kyun Aapse Baat Karke Meri Khushiyaan Dugni Ho Jaati Hai? Kyun Mein Aapki Taraf Kheenchi Chali Jaati Hu? Aur aaj kal, aaj kal toh…

He was reeling under the shock of her words. Even though he had never acknowledged it, they had never acknowledged it, he had never even thought for a second that she was confused about the feelings brewing between them.

He steps forward to comfort her: Riya..

She pushed his hand away: NO! Don’t touch me! Jab bhi aap mujhe chute hai toh mera dil zor se dhadkane lagta hai, man karta hai ki kabhi aapka haath na chodu. Aisa feel hota hai jaise… I feel, I feel at home aur dad ke baad

Stopping abruptly, she turns to the other side. A tear rolled down her cheek.

He felt warmth in his chest as his mind repeated her last words. He smiled lightly. Arjun turned Riya towards himself.

Arjun: shant ho jao Riya

Riya: kaise shant ho jau? Mujhe kuch samaj mein nahi aa raha hai! Main kyun itna gussa hokar aap pe bevajah ilzaam laga rahi hu?

He grinned wider: tumhari feelings hai, ye toh tumhe hi jaan ni hogi. Main apne shabd tum par nahi thopna chahta par Riya (he hooked his index finger under her chin) trust me! Tumhe guilty feel karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. dimag ko chodke dil se socho, jawab apne aap hi mil jaayega

Riya(irritated): aapko pata hai toh aap bol kyun nahi sakte?

He left her and sat down: maine kaha na, main apne shabd tum par nahi thopna chahta, apne andar jhaank kar dekho, jawab zaroor milega

She hid her face in her hands in exhaustion. Taking a deep breath, she sat beside him. She pleaded with him silently. He chuckled and shook his head. She cursed under her breath and looked out into the sea.

He had to complicate things for her? Of course, he had to! He was Arjun Rawte after all.

She sighed and started thinking. She came up with all the possible relations a boy and girl could share. Her first strike out was a brother. Nope! There was nothing sisterly in what she felt. She was sure of that even though she had no brother. Then came their professional relationship. Strike two! It was much more than professional. Strike three! Just a boss/mentor. She could easily differentiate between what she felt for her previous good seniors from training till now, including Rathore and him. Friendship? Strike four! She never shared her past with anyone except him. Nor did she show her vulnerabilities to anyone except him. She could even beat up Shree and Chotu for him. So what else?

Riya gasped audibly and turned to him. He smiled and raised his eyebrow.

Riya: main… woh, (shaking her head) nahi! (muttering) aise thodi hota hai? aise kaise ho sakta hai?

Arjun pursed his lips to not laugh out loud.

She continued to mutter to herself: lekin agar hai toh...? ugh!

She took a deep breath and fished out her water bottle from her purse. Gulping the last of the water. She twisted the cap back and turned to him.

Riya: Arjun sir?

Arjun: ha Riya?

Riya: agar, agar main kahu, agar main kahu ki main (gulping) main, main aap…se p, pyaar karti hu toh aap gussa karenge?

Arjun(casually): tum kahogi fir hi main respond kar paunga na?

Riya: huh?!

He shrugged. Her face twisted in confusion. She hugged herself, looking away again mv “ajeeb admi hai yaar, kuch bhi bolne ko taiyaar nahi. yaha main itni confused hun aur ye hai ki mere solution par bhi doubt laga rahe hai.”

She turned to him again: agar main bolu aur aap gussa ho gaye toh kya aap mujhse baat karna band kar denge?

Arjun: mujhe kaise pata? Na tum bol rahi ho, na mujhe gussa aa raha hai toh fir uske baad ka jawab kaise du?

She looked at him blankly.

He was clearly having fun at her expense. He was using every ounce of his self-control to not start laughing.

Riya sighed deeply. She might as well get over it.

Riya: Arjun sir

Arjun: ha Riya?

Riya(nervously): woh, mujhe pata chal gaya, I mean mujhe aise lagta hai ki, ki main aapse pyaar karti hun, romantic waala

His eyes sparkled. Before she could comprehend his expression or say anything else, he engulfed her in a tight hug.

Arjun: I love you too Riya! (chuckling, he added) romantic waala

Riya moved away(shocked): really?

Arjun: itna shock hone waali kaunsi baat hai?

Riya: par… par mujhe samaj nahi aa raha

Arjun: ab kya samaj nahi aa raha hai?

Riya: ki main, main kaise? I mean mujhe toh kabhi nahi hua. Mujhe nahi pata kaise feel hota hai. sach mein wahi hai? maine toh socha bhi nahi tha ki mujhe kisi se pyaar karna hai fir kaise?

Arjun giggled: for all the calm headed and collected person you are, mujhe yakeen nahi ho raha tum ye sab keh rahi ho

She whined: sir, ab toh boliye

Arjun: kya bolu Riya? pyaar koi sochne ki cheez thodi hai? woh toh bas ho jaata hai. maine bhi nahi socha tha ki mujhe dobara kabhi pyaar hoga but you knocked me off my feet! Tumhe yaad hai? jab tumne mujhe bachane ke liye ek admi ke sar par goli maari thi? Aur fir tumne mujhe record room mein bulaya tha aur tumne mujhe kaha tha ki tum mujhe marte hue nahi dekh sakti? (she nods) mujhe toh usi waqt tum par shak ho gaya tha

Riya: WHAT?!

Arjun: ha

Riya: tabse? Main… oh god! Really?

Arjun: ha aur mujhe ye baat hazam nahi ho rahi thi. Hum dost jaise the and jab tumne woh kaha toh, toh main nahi chahta tha ki tumhara dil dukhe kyunki mujhe lagta tha ki aisa kuch nahi hai. Maine ye bhi decide kar liya tha ki main tumse dur rehna shuru karunga lekin fir agle din jab tum maut ke muh mein thi toh mujhe ehsaas hua ki main apni zid ke peeche kya kuch khone jaa raha tha. I couldn’t lose you. Not then, not now, not ever!

Riya: toh aapne apna plan drop kar diya?

Arjun: ha, hum har pal kareeb aane lage. Main jaanta tha ki kya ho raha hai lekin main akele ladte-ladte thak gaya tha. I realised I needed someone when you came along. Jaise you feel at home, waise hi mujhe bhi tumhare paas apna sa lagta tha. Aur apni feelings ka ehsaas hone ke baad main kaise tumse dur rehta?

Riya: matlab aap bhi tabse mujhe pyaar karte the?

Arjun nods: karne laga tha. ha kabhi kaha nahi lekin kabhi zaroorat bhi nahi padi hume. Agar mujhe pata hota ki tum itni confused ho toh pehle hi bata deta. I thought tum bhi jaanti ho.

She complained naively: mujhe kaise pata chalega? Maine toh kabhi kisi se romantic waala pyaar nahi kiya

Arjun laughs and hugs her again.

Riya: aap has kyun rahe hai?

Arjun: apni shakal dekho, kitni cute lag rahi ho

Riya: I’m confused!

Arjun: ab kya?

Riya: aap sure hai?

Arjun: of course I’m sure

Riya(thoughtfully): hmm

Arjun shook his head: kya hua?

Riya: bas soch rahi hun, main sure hu ya nahi. maine kabhi kiya nahi na. Bas logically wahi jawab hai, isliye

Arjun: tum kyun chinta kar rahi ho? main hun na? (teasing) dheere-dheere used to ho jaogi

Riya: lekin agar main already itne time se aapse pyaar rahi hun toh fir ab kya badlega? Used to hone waali kaunsi cheez hai?

He was dumbstruck: uh… um

Riya: kya?

Arjun: uh kuch nahi, ha, itne time se toh hai, kya badlega?

She squinted. There was something weird about his smile. Nevertheless, she nodded.

Arjun mv “Ajeeb ladki hai, abhi specify kar rahi thi ki romantic love aur ab kuch farak nahi lag raha? Dusro ki har cheez ke baare mein sab kuch pata hota hai lekin apni hi feelings ko lekar itni confused hai. Lagta hai ise figure out karte-karte puri zindgi nikal jaayegi meri.”

He sighed contentedly. She bobbed her head questioningly. He shook his head.

Arjun squeezed her hand: thank you

Riya: kis liye?

Arjun: meri life mein aane ke liye

Riya: par main thodi jaan buchkar aayi? Mil gaye toh aa gayi

Arjun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. They definitely needed more time before he started flirting with her.

Arjun: ha lekin, uh. Fir bhi mujhe accept karne ke liye

Riya: usme kaunsi badi baat hai? maine toh aapko pehle hi kaha tha ki aap koi rakshas nahi hai and honestly speaking aap bahot sensitive hai

Arjun chuckled: what?! Main aur sensitive? Riya paagal ho gayi ho?

She rolled her eyes: again! I told you, main aapke mukhote pehchanti hu. Aur insaan jitne masks lekar ghumta haina woh uski saari kamzoriyaan aur emotions chupane ke liye pehanta hai aur… oh shit!

Arjun: kya hua?

Riya: are aap mujhe Sikandar ke baare mein kuch batane waale the na?

His face faded: ha

Riya: agar aap comfortable nahi hai toh…

Arjun: nahi Riya, woh baat nahi hai it’s just, ajeeb lag raha hai thoda. Pehle kabhi kisi se kaha nahi (he sighed) dinner kar le pehle?

Riya: ghar chale? Fir aaram se baat karte hai, order kar lenge

Arjun smiled and nodded. He loved her home.

Goa-

A figure stood by the window with a phone in his hand. He had been waiting for the call since the blast happened. It had barely been three days but it felt like an eternity for him. Finally, it rang. A private number flashed on the screen. A wicked grin came on his face. His insides were squealing but he controlled himself.

Sikandar knew then, that it was time to get back into the game. And this time, he was here to stay. Once he procured this deal, all of the underworld would fear him. He would become a bigger kingpin than he ever was.

Sikandar: hello?

Other side: bahot khub, tumse umeed nahi thi lekin kaam ache se ho gaya

Sikandar scowled silently at the insult but remained mum.

Other side: lekin tumhara ek admi news pe hai

Sikandar: woh third party hai aur maine apne admiyon ko uske peeche laga diya hai, police ke haath nahi lagega

Other side: aur jaha se tumne bomb liya tha woh…

Sikandar: unhe nahi pata ki Jatin kiske liye kaam kar raha tha, police nahi pahunch paayegi, 4 din ki baat hai, bina saboot ke case apne-aap band ho jaayega

Other side: aisa ho toh acha hai

Sikandar: aisa hi hoga

Other side: hm, toh bada kaam karne ke liye taiyaar ho?

Sikandar: main humesha taiyaar hota hu

The man on the other side sniggered: ha isliye tumhara business bahot ache se chal raha hai

Sikandar fumes silently.

Other side: kal subah 6 baje maal Goa pahunch jaayega

Sikandar: kitna?

Other side: dekh lena

Before he could say or ask anything else, the man disconnected.

Sikandar turned to another man waiting for him.

Sikandar: hume aur log chahiye Raana, jis par bhi bharosa kar sako use shaamil kar lo. Kal 6 baje maal aa raha hai