Chapter 57

Bloomie

@bloomie

Part 56 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

“Vaada karo!”

The voice in his head rang again. He saw blood on his hands. Frustrated, he took a huge swig of alcohol and sat on the floor. The day danced before his eyes as if it were happening right now.

Flashback…………………………..

Sameer was in the ACB office. He had just finished briefing his senior about the Goa expedition and that he had found no clues as to who was attacking him. As he walked to his desk, his phone rang.

Sameer smiled: hey Rosh!

Roshni(sobbing): Sam!

Sameer stopped dead in his tracks: kya hua? Tum ro kyun rahi ho?

Roshni narrated everything whilst crying and apologising. Sameer could barely believe his own ears.

Sameer(angrily): Roshni…

Roshni: Sam please! Woh Arjun ko nahi chodenge, I know him! please, please kuch karo

Sameer snapped out of his stupor. There were important things at hand right now. The story could be dealt with later.

Sameer: Rosh, shaant ho jao. Main dekhta hun ok? hum mills par...

Roshni: main nikal rahi hun Sameer, tum..

Sameer: Paagal Ho Gayi Ho?! Tum Akele Hargiz Nahi…

Roshni: I have to go Sam, Arjun waha pata nahi kis haalat mein hai, main tumhara intezaar karungi

Before he could reason any further, the call disconnected.

Sameer: Roshni?! ROSHNI?!!? DAMMIT!! Patel! Gaadi Nikal!

Sometime later-

Sikandar filled with anguish. He was livid on seeing her pining for him in what were her final moments. He found a new hate for Arjun. His anger only increased on seeing her name etched upon his skin. With rage flowing through his veins, he screamed and lunged forward.

Arjun bled as Sikandar slit his hand where his tattoo was. He dug the knife deep cruelly. He sliced it again and again. He wanted to remove Roshni from his life.

Arjun didn’t scream. He did not shout. He did not wince. The pain didn’t bother him. He was only looking at her. His hand, outstretched in a futile attempt to hold her one last time.

Roshni: I love you

Arjun: Ro…

His senses gave away. He never reached her.

Sikandar let out a blood curdling scream. He tried to slap him awake.

Sikandar: Aankhein Kholo ACP!! Itni Aasani Se Maut Nahi Milegi Tumhe!! Tum Apni Aankhon Se Use Dekhoge! Aankhein Kholo!!!

But Arjun did not respond. Screaming again, he punched Arjun in the face. Tears streamed down Roshni’s eyes as she took her last breaths. She prayed silently for Sameer to save him.

With raging veins, Sikandar raised his hands above his head to stab Arjun once and for all.

Suddenly, police sirens rang in the background. He looked up in shock. Firing started. Michael pulled him away. The gang members ran helter-skelter.

Within minutes, Sameer rushed inside while firing continued outside.

Sameer ran in like a mad man: Arjun!! Roshni!! (his gaze falls on her) ROSHNI!!!!

The ground beneath him gave away. He runs to pick her up in his lap. She had lost a lot of blood by then. She was only waiting for him.

Roshni (weakly): Sam…

Sameer: hey! Kuch nahi hoga, aankhein khuli rakho, ok? main…

Roshni: Sam…

He attempts to pick her up

Roshni: nahi, plea… se

She wanted to talk before she lost time.

Sameer: Rosh…

Roshni: Sam, tum… tum sach mein, mere, mere best fr… friend ho…. ple… please Arjun ko, Arjun ko Sik, Sikandar ke haa.. th mat, mat aane dena, woh… maar, maar de… denge (her breaths laboured) vaada… vaa… da, vaada karo! Vaada karo mujhse!

She held out her hand as Sameer sobbed. He placed his hand in hers.

Sameer: vaada

She smiled painfully. Her head turned towards Arjun and her soul left her body.

Sameer: Roshni? Roshni!! (shaking her) ROSHNI!! ROSHNI!!! ROSH….

His gaze fell on where she was looking. He saw a figure covered in blood on the ground. Sameer’s eyes widened in shock.

Sameer: ARJUUUUNNNN!!!!

He rushed to him and tried to shake him awake. Sameer panicked. He frantically checked for his pulse and breathing.

Sameer: Arjun!! Rawte!! NAHI!! (fresh tears rolled out) ARJUNNNN!!

Thankfully, he detected a faint pulse. He shouted for his team mates for medical help.

Sameer: Arjun! Arjun please, please aankhein khol, tu mujhe chod ke nahi jaa sakta!! ARJUN!! ROSHNIII!! ARJUUUNNN!!

Other officers arrived. They found Sameer trying to wake up Arjun and rushed ahead. They split towards the two people. One of them pulled Sameer away as he cried in pain. They quickly took Arjun outside to get to the hospital. Here the lady officer checked Roshni’s pulse and nodded negatively to the other officer. Sameer pushed away the man holding him back. Crying, he crawled to Roshni’s body and clutched it to himself. Sameer let out a blood curdling scream.

Sameer: ROOOSHHNIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flashback Ends

Sameer clutched his hair in frustration. He gulped the rest of his drink in a single go. He poured himself another glass.

He had sat outside the operation theatre and then in Arjun’s room for hours when the others had successfully separated Roshni’s body from him.

Without food, without water and without sleep.

He hadn’t even moved a muscle. His eyes were fixated on his hands, covered in blood.

The blood of his two best friends. The blood of the people who he cared for the most. The blood of the people who were closer to him than family.

When Arjun regained consciousness after three days, the first thing he asked was Roshni. The second? Sikandar.

It was then Sameer realised that Arjun had only him to count on. With Roshni’s words ringing in his head, he placed a stone in chest. Changing his demeanour, he accused Arjun for being responsible for Roshni’s death. He blamed him and cursed him, breaking him completely and left Arjun alone to deal with the shattered pieces of his heart.

He had tried multiple times to find Sikandar on his own but he failed. Every time!

He brought the glass to his lips and started drinking again. He hated those memories. There wasn’t anything in the world he wouldn’t give to get rid of them or reverse them. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

ETF office-

As the juniors chatted over lunch, Sakshi stumbled into the canteen.

Chotu: oho dekho toh kaun aaya hai?

She collapsed into the nearest chair, breathless.

Sakshi: shut up! Kaise dost ho tum log? Us din toh bada keh rahe the, main nahi aayi toh ek bhi din neeche mujhse milne nahi aaye?

Shree: abe chup kar yaar, yaha hum sab ki itni band baji hui hai andaaza bhi hai? kitne cases ka paperwork baakhi hai aur Riya bhi nahi hai

Sakshi: jo bhi kar rahe ho, mujhse toh kam hi torture seh rahe ho. woh trainer hai ke kya hai? meri toh haddiyan tut gayi hai already teen din mein

Ayesha giggled: isliye humne tujhe warn kiya tha aur ye toh sirf shuruwat hai

Sakshi: are yaar, tum log toh… acha chodo. Kya hua ye toh batao

They told her about the cases they solved and the curses they gave to Vikram when he assigned them three on the same day. However, Sakshi was upset for something else.

Sakshi: Damn man! Itna masala? Mere articles kitne ache se hote

Liza: ha in khayalon ko na khayal hi rehne dena warna tera ETF se patta cut aur ab toh Riya bhi nahi hai tujhe Hitler aur khadoos ke gusse se bachane ke liye

Shree: aur waise bhi use tujhe bachane ka koi khaas shauk hai nahi so…

Ayesha: oh hello, Rathore sir khadoos nahi hai ok, bas thode strict hai

Chotu: ha aur main bhooka nahi hu

Ayesha: what?

Chotu: kya what? Mujhe laga hum na hone waali cheezein bol rahe hai

Ayesha glared at him while the others laughed.

The chief re-joined the case and they wrapped it up by late evening. He called the lights out and went to his cabin. As he was about to leave, Arjun arrived.

Rathore: dimag khaana baakhi hai mera?

Arjun felt his heart sinking but maintained his stoic expression.

Arjun: Riya ne tumse exactly kya kaha tha?

Rathore raised his eyebrow: kyun?

Arjun: ye mere sawaal ka jawab nahi hai

Rathore: first off! I’m not obliged to answer you. Main tumhara Chief hun aur dusri baat, bachi nahi hai woh. Kaam khatam karke aa jaayegi, tumhe kya?

Arjun clenched his fists: Mr. Chief shayad aapko jaan ne mein khushi hogi ki aapki officer ko Vikram sir ne assign nahi kiya

Rathore(shocked): what? (coming out of his stupor) ek minute! Tumhe kaise pata?

Arjun: kyunki maine commissioner se baat ki thi, ab agar tumhara ho gaya ho toh mujhe batane ka kasht karoge?

Rathore mv “Isne Vikram sir se enquiry ki? Iska matlab, Iska matlab ki woh Arjun ki help kar rahe hai? Shit!!”

Arjun: Rathore bolo!!

Rathore: huh? Ha usne, usne kaha tha ki Vikram sir ne mujhe ek kaam diya hai toh main woh karne jaa rahi hu, thode dino mein laut aaungi

Arjun: matlab Vikram sir ne tumse is baare mein koi baat nahi ki?

Rathore: nahi, usne kaha toh maine maan liya… toh fir, woh gayi kaha?

Arjun glared at him: Wahi Toh Main Jaan Na Chahta Hu!

Rathore stiffens again: and tumhe lagta hai main tumhari madad karunga?

Arjun looked away to hide his pain: tumse umeed nahi hai, bas puchne aaya tha

Before Rathore could taunt him again, he left. Rathore heaved a sigh of relief. Then, he punched the glass of his table.

Rathore: Damn that commissioner! Ugh!! Ab ye Riya ke peeche pad jaayega!

Rathore’s house-

Riya was huddled up against the wall. Her twisted hands were paining terribly. They felt numb. There was no window in the room. She had no idea whether it was day or night. At Least Rathore had kept her in a clean place. She would have died of a heart attack if there were mice or cockroaches or lizards or even spiders for that matter. Sighing, she lay on the ground. She looked up into the distance. The ceiling was particularly lower than an average room. Add that to a single door, she gathered she must be in some sort of a basement.

She was still in her thoughts when the door opened and Rathore came in with water and food. Her throat was parched all day. He sat in front of her silently and held up the bottle of water for her to drink. Rathore proceeded to feed her.

Riya: mere haath dard kar rahe hai aur mujhe dusro ke haath se khaana mein comfortable feel nahi hota

Rathore: tumhare haath kholne ki galti toh main bilcul bhi nahi karunga Riya

He fed her and made her drink water.

Riya: mujhe washroom jaana hai

Rathore rolled his eyes: I’m not falling for that

Riya: are had hai! mujhe sach mein jaana hai, kal raat se yahi hu

Rathore sighed. He helped her up and took her out of the basement and upstairs. He knew she was a very risky victim. One second of lowered guard and she would run off. Not to mention that he would be in soup.

He placed her on the inner helm of the washroom and turned her. Rathore opened her ropes and immediately closed the door, locking it from the outside. Riya sighed. She gently massaged her wrists.  

Riya’s house-

Arjun was sitting on the porch. He paced up and down the garden returning to steps every now and then. The doorbell hadn’t been answered when he had arrived. Plus the house was dark. Wherever she had gone, she would atleast be returning home at night. His mind raced.

Rathore had talked to Riya himself but why did she lie? Why did she not tell him anything? Was she even alright? Had she fallen into some sort of trouble? A hundred questions came on after the other but he had no answers. He is brought back to reality by the sound of his cell phone.

Arjun: ha sir? kuch pata chala?

Vikram: nahi Arjun, tumhe?

Arjun sighed: nahi, (he sat back on the porch) maine Rathore se bhi baat ki lekin kuch pata nahi chala. Phone bhi trace kiya last location ghar ki hi hai

Vikram: hmm, Arjun tum dono koi aur clue mila tha kya case se related? Shayad woh uske kisi kaam se gayi ho

Arjun: nahi sir aisa k

Vikram: kya hua, ruk kyun gaye?

Arjun: kal hi usne mujhe bataya tha, Birju ki girlfriend shayad

Vikram: us aurat ke baare mein pata chal gaya?

Arjun: ha but she said ki woh koi aam prostitute hai aur aisa lag bhi nahi raha ki woh kuch chupa rahi thi

Vikram took a deep breath. He could sense the tension in Arjun’s voice. Who could blame him? Riya was the only person he had. He swore to himself if she was in trouble he would make that person pay. No one messed with his favourite officers and got away with it! No one!!

Vikram came out of his thoughts on hearing a beeping sound. There was another call coming in. Lightning struck him. The ATS, Crime Branch and Lata had already issued warnings that day. What was R&AW calling for now?

Vikram: Arjun main baad mein baat karta hun, phone aa raha hai

Arjun hummed as Vikram quickly disconnected the call…………………………

Edit: By the way, why is everyone bent on Arjun finding Riya? Yaha ek bhi jagah par Riya damsel in distress lagi hai kya?