Chapter 49

Bloomie

@bloomie

Part 50 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

Arjun and Riya had finished eating. They settled on the couch. His arms wrapped around her.

Riya: ab bataiye

Arjun: Roshni ko main Sam ke through hi mila tha, woh uski dost thi. He met her in Goa, apne ek mission par……………………..

Riya: Goa? Let me guess, drugs ya fir illegal alcohol smuggling

Arjun smiled: ha drugs ka case tha. He was undercover. Woh ek do mahine waha rehkar ek gang ke peeche work karne waala tha. And the obvious leads were rave parties and obviously woh uska pura faayda uthata tha.

Flashback

Sameer was dancing on the floor to the loud music. The party was on someone's private property. There were drugs and alcohol all around. He could easily pass information to bust the party but he had bigger fish to catch. Besides, it would be best for him to blend in. It had barely been a week since his arrival. In the midst of the gala he spotted a girl at the bar. He could see her back courtesy of her transparent top. Her jet black hair curled down till her waist.

She was lost in her thoughts.

Sameer: itni khubsurat ladki yaha akeli kya kar rahi hai?

The sudden noise startled her. A moustached man sat on the seat beside her with a stupid grin on his face. She groaned internally. She was used to getting hit on by drunks at parties.

Girl: itne handsome insaan ko un ladkiyon ke paas hona chahiye jinhe usme interest ho

Sameer chuckled: chalo tumne handsome toh kaha (she rolled her eyes) isi baat pe drink ho jaaye?

Before she could refuse, he called the bartender.

Sameer: ek vodka shot and (he raised his eyebrow at her) scotch for the lady?

She squinted at him: two vodka shots!

Sameer smirked. Their drinks came. Before Sameer could bring the glass to his lips, she downed her shot.

His eyes widened in surprise: Woah!

Girl: now, if you’re done. please leave me alone

Sameer: so soon? After that? Nope! (extending his hand) Sameer!

She sighed and stared at him for a few seconds. Rolling her eyes, she gave her hand in his.

Girl: Roshni

Sameer: ah, the light. Suit hota hai tumhe

Roshni: And where’s that from? 16th Century?

Sameer: compliment tha

Roshni: oh please (she gestured to the bartender for a repeat) yaha ke toh nahi ho, pehli baar dekh rahi hun, tourist?

Sameer: aisa kuch hi, vacation pe hun

Roshni: kaha se aaye ho?

Sameer: Jaipur

Roshni: Jaipur se Goa?

Sameer: kyun? Jaipur ke log Goa mein nahi aa sakte? Board laga hai kahi?

Roshni: tumhare chehre par zaroor hai

Sameer: kya?

Roshni: out of order ka board

His jaw dropped to the ground. She swiftly drank her shot and winked at him before going to the dance floor.

Flashback Ends

Riya laughs: oh god! Rathore sir case ke liye baat kar rahe the ya fir Roshni par line maar rahe the?

Arjun chuckled: usne case ke liye kaha tha par mujhe doubt hai. uski history ke hissab se toh line hi hai

Riya (controlling herself): ok so, Roshni ka us gang se kuch connection? 

Arjun: nahi, aisa nahi tha. Dusri baar, woh log 3 baad ek party mein mile. Waha jo outhouse tha waha se drug supply ho rahi thi. And quantity bahot zyaada thi. Isliye Sameer called the police. Raid padi, afra-tafri hui. Kuch log pakde gaye, kuch bhaag gaye. The usual. Lekin, raid ke baad Roshni jab apni chup ne ki jagah se baahar aa rahi thi usne Sameer ko policewaale ke saath baat karte hue dekh liya.

Riya: unka cover khul gaya?

Arjun: ha but sirf Roshni ke saamne

Flashback

Sameer and the inspector were having a discrete conversation among the trees. Understanding that the sounds had ceased, Roshni tiptoed out. She hid again on seeing Sameer talking to the inspector. The inspector saluted and left.

Sameer fished out his phone. He removed the sim card and was about to break it when,

Roshni: so I guess you’re not very out of order

Shocked, he turned to see Roshni near a tree with her heels in her hand.

Sameer: tum?! Tum yaha kya kar rahi ho?

Roshni: arrest hone se bach rahi thi Sameer, duh! Not very smart for a policeman, are you?

Sameer gathers his thoughts: main policewaala nahi hu (she tries to say something) bas thode bahot paison ke liye unhe information de deta hun

Roshni smiled and walked up to him: Dear Sameer, policewaale, khabriyon ko salute nahi karte

Sameer cursed under his breath. He clenched his eyes shut and rubbed his forehead. Roshni giggled.

Roshni: relax! Main kisi se nahi kahungi. I promise

He looked at her in surprise: sach mein?

Roshni: ha

He raised his eyebrow: and what makes you think I can trust you?

Roshni: well, tumhare paas aur koi option nahi hai and agar tum policewaale ho tumhe pata chal jaana chahiye na ki main sach bol rahi ho ya jhoot?

Sameer sighed.

Roshni: chalo

Sameer: kaha?

Roshni: ab yaha toh tumne raid gira di, I’m in mood for shots

Sameer smiled: lead the way

Flashback Ends

Arjun: woh dost ban gaye. Sameer ka mission ek mahine mein pura ho gaya. Uske waapis aane ke do mahine baad, Roshni Mumbai aanewaali thi. Fortunately for me, jab woh city main pahunchi tab Sameer field par tha toh usne Roshni ko mere ghar bheja. (contentment appears on his face remembering the scene) aur mujhe pehli nazar mein hi usse pyaar ho gaya

Riya: really?!

Arjun smiled: ya

Riya: par aapko pata kaise chala?

Arjun chuckled: pehli nazar mein hua na isliye, dheere-dheere nahi

Though she couldn’t quite make sense of it, she prodded him on.

Riya: ok fir?

Arjun: woh job ke liye aayi thi so yahi par thi. Aur use bhi mujhse pyaar hua, fir shaadi hui. Sab kuch theek jaa raha tha. Main, Sam, Roshni… sab bilcul perfect tha! Aur fir ek din, Sameer par kisine attack kiya, it was a sniper. Hum uske baare mein pata karne lage. We had no idea ki woh kaun tha kaha se tha, kuch nahi. Ek hafte baad usne firse humla kiya, thankfully Sam firse bach gaya kyunki end moment par uske team mein se kisi ne laser dekh liya. Mujhe bahot gussa aa raha tha, man kar raha tha ki ek baar haath mein jaaye toh haddiyan tod dunga uski saari. Aur sabse achi baat yeh hui ki we had a witness, usne admi a chehra toh nahi dekha par uske haath par bana ek tattoo dekha tha. fir tattoo parlours mein leads follow karne lage. Kuch hi dino mein mujhe agli lead mili aur saath-saath Roshni ko pata chal gaya ki woh kaun hai

Flashback

He had pulled an all-nighter the previous night, courtesy of a late night raid. Which is why, he had been home earlier. Sitting comfortably on the sofa, he was switching channels to find something good. Roshni came to the living room with two bottles in her hand and passed one to him. He took it absentmindedly and was about to drink when he saw the label, ‘Breezer’.

Arjun: are yaar, Rosh! Tumhe pata haina main drink nahi karta

Roshni used a bottle opener to uncap hers: ye drink thodi hai? fruity hai, isme mushkil se 10% alcohol hai, waise bhi chai patti khatam ho gayi hai

Arjun: dhany ho meri maa, mujhe tum doodh de do

Roshni shook her head and took his bottle: lao main hi pee lungi, but honestly tum cocktails to pee hi sakte ho

Arjun: naam chahe kuch bhi ho, it’s still alcohol

Roshni(dramatically): Arjun! (she waved her hands animatedly) Alcohol is alcohol and cocktail is juice jisme alcohol ka prasad hota hai

Arjun continued to stare at her. She groaned.

Roshni: you know what? Is rate par main ek baar tumhari chai mein vodka mila kar tumhe pila dungi, just so you taste it

Arjun clutched his shirt: KYA?! Tum meri drink spike karogi? Tum Meri Izzat Par Haath Daalna Chahti Ho? (dramatically) Nahi!!!

She laughed as she pushed him back on the sofa: we’re married you dumb idiot (sitting in his lap) tumhari izzat par haath daalne ke liye mujhe tumhari drink spike karne ki zaroorat nahi, (winding her hands around his neck) samjhe ya samjhau?

Arjun smirked: uh, samjha do zara

She tilted her head to kiss him. His hands wrapped around her.

They were still busy when his phone rang with a shrill tone. Arjun groaned and picked it up. She giggled and settled beside him.

Arjun: ha?... ok

Disconnecting, he opened the message his informer had sent. Roshni froze seeing the picture above it. His mind raced on seeing the address.

Roshni: ye, ye design?

Arjun: huh? Woh, Sam ko jis hit man ne maarne ki koshish ki thi uske haath par ye tattoo tha (Her face turned pale) lekin khabri ne tattoo parlour ka address Goa ka diya hai. (thoughtfully) par Sam ka Goa assignment toh almost do saal pehle tha

Roshni: ho, ho sakta hai I mean, criminals hai, jab mauka mila tab peeche pad gaye

Arjun: ha, (he looked up to see her pale face) kya hua Rosh?

Roshni: kuch nahi

Arjun: kuch nahi kaise? Tumhare chehre ka rang kyun ud gaya?

Roshni gulped: woh darasal

Arjun: do you know him?

Roshni: nahi I, (lowering her eyes) I know the design

Arjun (alert): really?

Roshni: it’s, it’s a gang

Arjun mv “gang? Par jaha tak mujhe pata hai jis gang ke peeche Sam tha uska koi tattoo nahi tha.”

Roshni: maine dekha hai, parties mein bhi, kuch drug suppliers ke haath mein

Arjun: naam pata hai?

Roshni: na… nahi, sorry

Arjun: koi baat nahi, koi toh lead mili.

Roshni: hm, dhyaan rakhna Arjun, these people can be dangerous

He kissed her forehead: tum fikar mat karo, hum dono ko kuch nahi hoga. Main zara Sam se baat karke aata hun, hm?

She nodded softly and he left to the room. She rubbed her temple and grabbed her bottle taking a huge sip to calm her nerves.

Flashback Ends

Riya: aapne kaha ki Roshni ko pata chal gaya lekin unhe toh sirf design ke baare mein pata tha

Arjun sighed: usne jhoot bola tha. Eventually, we caught the hit man in the next two-three days. Waha maine Birju ko bhaagte hue dekha tha par mujhe toh sirf woh hit man hi dikhayi de raha tha. Kamine ki itni himmat ke mere best friend par goli chalaye?  But usne cyanide kha liya. Is wajah se case firse dead end par chala gaya. jab hum use pakadne ki koshish kar rahe the, Sam Goa bhi gaya in case koi aur lead mile par kuch khaas mila nahi. Parties mein bhi us gang ka koi member dikha nahi. But the weird thing is ki us adde par jaha maine use pakda Sameer ki photo par X laga diya tha.

Riya: woh cross out usually maarne ke baad lagate haina?

Arjun: ha mujhe bhi ajeeb laga. Jab maine Roshni se kaha ki humari saari leads khatam ho gayi toh woh bahot tensed ho gayi.

Flashback

Roshni: Kuch Pata Nahi Chal Raha Hai Ka Kya Matlab Hai? Tum Dono ACP Ban Gaye Ho, Kisine ACB Ke Officer Par Do Baar Humla Kiya, Tum Crime Branch Mein Ho. How Can You Guys Be So Clueless?!

Arjun is taken aback at her sudden outburst: Rosh shant ho jao, tum kyun itni fikar kar rahi ho, sab theek…

Roshni: Nahi Hoga! Jab Tak Woh Pakda Nahi Jaata Kuch Theek Nahi Hoga! (tears stream down her face) Woh Kabhi Mera Peecha Nahi Chodenge!!!

Arjun is visibly shocked: kya matlab hai tumhara? (holding her hands) tumhara peecha matlab? Kaun hai tumhare peeche? Tumne pehle kyun nahi bataya (she looks at him tearfully) Bolo Roshni!!!

Roshni: Arjun I... main, Sikandar. Wahi leader hai us gang ke. Woh sirf drugs hi nahi trafficking bhi karte hai

Arjun dreaded the next answer: tumhe kaise pata?

Roshni(sobbing): kyunki woh mere papa hai

His eyes widened in shock: WHAT?! Par, tum… tum toh anaath ashram…

Roshni: maine jhoot bola tha. Paise kamane ke liye unhone chote crimes karna shuru kiya aur dekhte hi dekhte unka empire khada ho gaya. Meri maa ko ye sab nahi pasand tha, woh humesha mujhe is sab se dur rakhti thi. Par kuch saal pehle unki death ho gayi. Mere paas Dad ke ilawa aur koi nahi tha. Woh mujhe kayi baar apni gang mein shaamil karne ki koshish karte the lekin main nahi karti thi. Fir ek din… meri mulakat Sam se hui. Aur mujhe pata chala ki woh police officer hai, woh bhi yaha Mumbai mein. Maine socha ki iska faayda utha kar main bhaag sakti hun. Woh zaroor mujhe protect kar paayega. And then I met you.

Arjun: Roshni…

She defended herself desperately: I swear Arjun! Main maanti hun maine apne swaarth ke liye use dosti ki thi par main sach mein use apna dost maanti hun, I swear I love you Arjun, please trust me. Main bas waha se nikalna chahti thi isliye jhoot bola… please trust me… I…

Arjun hugs her tight: hey relax! Shant ho jao, kuch nahi hoga. mujhe tum par bharosa hai (she cried against his chest) kuch nahi hoga Rosh

Roshni: woh log mere liye hi Sam ke peeche hai, I’m sure aur shayad woh tumhe bhi..

Arjun: Roshni relax, main hun na? kuch nahi hoga

Roshni: par

Arjun: nothing’s gonna happen (cupping her face) trust me ok?

She clenched her eyes letting her tears fall. He softly wiped them.

Roshni: kya… kya Sam mujhe maaf karega?

Arjun wanted badly to say yes but he didn’t know. They were best of friends and if there was something Arjun knew about him was that he treasured loyalty. He wasn’t sure that Sameer would forgive her for hiding such a big secret. He would have understood if he knew what was going on from the start but now?

He somehow managed to calm a crying Roshni while his mind raced for solutions. He wasn’t going to let anyone mess with her happiness. He would get that ba*tard if it was the last thing that he did.

For the time being, He decided to keep the whole story away from Rathore. He started cracking down on all the places Roshni was aware about. The police records did not have any Sikandar but they were getting enough proofs from the raids. Even Sameer asked him from where he was getting the information but he attributed it to informers.

What they didn’t know was that, growing up in the higher circles, Roshni knew places of higher importance. Losing each of them was giving Sikandar a heavy blow. His agent in Mumbai, Pathan Lala suffered a severe leg injury by Arjun and was caught.

Four days later-

Roshni opened the door of her house. School had been tiring. And with all the mental exhaustion she was feeling those days, it was worse. She threw her purse on the sofa and pulled her hair up to tie them in a bun. As she filled herself a glass of water, her phone rang.

Fear settles in her chest seeing a private number. Muttering a soft prayer, she answers it.

Roshni: hello?

Other side: hello beta

Her feet rooted to the ground: dad?

Sikandar: kaha ho tum? Kabse tumhe dhundh raha hun (she starts sweating) kitni mehnat karni padi mujhe. Us, galat policewaale ke chakkar mein mera ek acha khaasa admi mar gaya

Roshni muttered: galat policewaala? (her brain struck) Dad, what have you done?!

Sikandar: main toh bas tumse milna chahta hun

Roshni: nahi!

Sikandar sighs: theek hai, apne pati se milna chahti ho?

Roshni: KYA KIYA HAI AAPNE ARJUN KE SAATH?!!?

Sikandar: are apne damad se milna gunah thodi hai? tum aa jao, reunion karte hai, main G. U Mills par tumhara intezaar kar raha hun

Roshni: DAD AGAR AAPNE ARJUN KO…

The call disconnected before she could complete. She collapsed on the sofa………………………