Chapter 58

Bloomie

@bloomie

Part 57 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

Riya knocked on the door a few minutes later. Rathore gathered himself. He opened the door. Immediately, he saw his razor lunging at him. He dodged to save himself. A punch landed on his side. The ropes fell from his hand as he fell to the floor.

Riya ran towards the door. Rathore quickly caught up and grabbed her hand. She jerked it away and attempted to punch him again. He blocked and spun her, twisting her hand behind. Riya winced in pain. She kicked behind and freed herself.

Rathore was rapidly getting angry. He blocked her punches. Every time he managed to catch hold of her, she would counter him and push him off.

Riya grabbed a wooden show piece and lifted her hand to hit his head. He swerved and pulled her to him. She stamped his foot. He retaliated by punching her in the gut. She elbowed his face, knocking him away. She took the opportunity to run but he grabbed her shoulder and pushed to the wall, choking her.

Her eyes widened as she struggled to breath. Her arms flailed in a futile attempt to push him off. His blood red eyes stared into hers. Tears flew out of her eyes.

Riya grappled for oxygen: Ra.. thor… sir.. Ra…

Rathore gripped her neck tighter: Maine Tumse Kaha Tha Main Tumhe Uski Jaan Khatre Mein Nahi Dal Ne Dunga!!

Riya: si… ra.. th… ra….

Her vision blurred. Fear paralysed her. Would she not even see Arjun for the last time? Fresh tears rolled out. The water trickled down to Rathore’s hand.

Momentarily, his gaze went to the wet sensation. His mind flashed to the time he had first met her, the time they had bonded over jalebis, the times that her gut instincts had saved them, the time she had saved Arjun from inquiry, the time when she swallowed the Xora 2. The time when she regained unconsciousness, the times they had spent with her in the hospital, the time she had re-joined…

A whisper escaped her mouth as her own life flashed before her eyes.

Riya: Ar…jun…

Rathore is snapped out of the movie in his head. His gaze darts back to her. Her eyelids were fluttering close. Rathore gasped and jerked behind.

Riya fell over, coughing and spluttering. She breathed heavily trying to make up for all the oxygen. Slowly, her vision cleared and she started to come back to her senses. She looked up to see Rathore staring at her with horror on his face.

Adrenaline rushed through her body. She stumbled to her feet and pushed him to run towards the door.

Rathore collapsed on the floor mechanically. The blood returned to his hands. His gaze fixated on his shivering hands. Her voice rang in his head.

“Vaada karo… vaada karo!”

“woh maar denge”

“Vaada karo… vaada karo!”

Riya stopped only at the door. She fumbled with the lock and opened the door. A fleeting thought occurred in her mind. She turned behind to see Rathore on the floor. Rubbing his hands on his shirt to wipe the blood, he was muttering, ‘maar diya’ to himself.

A voice in her mind chided her. She quickly turned but her feet stopped.

“Sanjana!”

Her father’s voice rang in her head when her mother had committed suicide.

“do you know how it feels? Kaisa mehsoos hota hai jab tumhara koi apna tumhare haathon mein mare? Meri aankhon ke saamne Roshni ne dum toda! Aur Arjun adhmara pada tha! Teen din tak woh hosh mein nahi tha!”

Riya cursed under her breath. She better not regret this!

Closing the door, she went to Rathore. Kneeling beside him, she placed a hand on his shoulder.

Riya: Rathore sir (he doesn’t respond) Rathore sir!

His head twitched to see her. Tears gathered in his eyes.

Rathore: Riya? (horror returned as he realised what just occurred) What have I done?!

He clenched his hair, smearing the blood on his face. He flinched further feeling it on his face. He yelped and squirmed, whimpering and crouching against the floor.

Riya: we can do this, bharosa rakhiye… please. You can’t stop this fight.

Rathore admitted finally: mujhe dar lag raha hai! nahi kho sakta main use… agar main nahi pahunchta toh

He hung his head as he sobbed, muttering the same thing over and over again. Riya felt a sting in her eyes. He pulled his hair in frustration, wiping his hands against each other trying to get rid of the blood.

Riya: you won’t, kuch nahi hoga. aapka unse dur rehna sirf aap dono ko takleef dega.

Rathore(crying): par Riya… maine, maine Rosh ko vaada kiya tha… aaj tak un dono ka khoon dikhta hai mujhe apne haathon mein… uski awaaz mera peecha nahi chodti, vaada kiya tha maine usse… main kabhi bhi Arjun ko Sikandar ke haath nahi aane dunga

Riya: aapne ye kaha tha na ki aap unhe Sikandar ke haath nahi aane denge, ye toh nahi ki aap Sikandar ko khatam karne ke liye Arjun ka saath nahi denge

Rathore: agar use kuch hua… toh main, main khud ko kabhi maaf nahi kar paunga

Riya: unhe kuch nahi hoga, aap hai, main hun, puri ETF hai. lekin agar aap unhe rokne ki saazish karenge toh woh akele chal padenge. The only way you can keep him safe is to be with him

Rathore: Riya!!

Hugging her, he broke down. Riya embraced him. She let him cry his heart out. He needed it badly. At the back of her head, she felt relieved. Her stiff body relaxed. Now sure, that he won’t try to harm her again.

Riya’s house-

Arjun was still at her porch. He checked his watch. It was 10:45. He had been trying to call her continuously but to no avail. It was still switched off. He had even called up Shree and ordered him to keep an eye on her location. The second her phone switched on, he should be the first one to know.

He stood up for the umpteenth time and kicked the ground. Running his hand through his hair in frustration, he walked back and forth in her garden. Somehow, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was absurd and wrong about the whole situation. His neurons were firing rapidly but in a haphazard manner. His brain gave him no clue as to what might have happened.

Just when he was about to lose it, he heard a car arriving. With a new found hope, he ran to the main gate.

There she was, walking in. The taxi reversed and left.

Arjun: Riya!!

She looked up: Arjun sir?

He felt his heart beat again. He wanted to go and engulf her in a hug but she ran to him before he could. She jumped, throwing her arms around him and burying her face in his neck. He lifted her off the ground. Tears formed in her eyes but she controlled herself. She thanked God profusely for making Arjun wait at her home. She held onto him like it was the end of the world. Finally, she felt safe.

Arjun scolded while cradling her in his arms: where the hell were you?!!? tumne Rathore se jhoot kyun bola? Tumhe pata bhi hai main kitna pareshaan ho gaya tha? phone bhi band tha, koi call nahi, message nahi, laparwahi ki bhi had hoti hai Riya!!

Even his scoldings felt like music to her ears then. She smiled and stepped away.

Riya: batati hun

Arjun chided her: has kyun rahi ho?

She cupped his face and placed a kiss on his cheek: I missed you

Now, Arjun felt weird. Something was up.

Arjun: Riya hua kya? Tum…

Riya: batati hun, par pehle mujhe nahana hai, I smell

Arjun : uh no, you don’t

Riya: yes!

Before he could reason with her any further, she dragged him along inside the house. She got in using the spare key she kept hidden underneath a flower pot.

Arjun: tum chaabi lena bhi bhul gayi?

Riya doesn’t answer. She gestured to the kitchen and asked him to help himself while she took a bath. Arjun shook his head in disbelief.

He settled on the couch in the living room. He messaged Shree to stop tracing Riya’s phone because she had returned safely and threw his head back in peace. As long as she was safe, he didn’t care about anything!

Sometime later, he heard the sound of her bedroom door unlocking. Smiling to himself, he walked in.

She was drying her hair by the window.

Arjun: ab bataogi?

Riya took a deep breath. She did not want to lie to him. At the same time, telling the truth was probably not the best option now, either.

She came out of her thoughts when he took her hand in his.

Arjun: kya hua? Kaha kho gayi?

She sighed and placed her towel in a corner.

Riya: main… actually, mera… (closing her eyes) I was abducted

Arjun couldn’t believe his ears: WHAT?!

Riya: ha lekin..

Arjun: Kisne? Kab ? kaise? Aur tum (hugging her) What!?! Tum theek toh ho? chot toh nahi lagi? (separating) NAAM BATAO MUJHE USKA!!

Riya: Arjun sir…

Arjun: CHODUNGA NAHI MAIN USE!!!

Riya: sir, please shant ho jayiye

Arjun: Shant Ho Jau? Kisi Ne Tumhara Abduct Kiya Aur Tum Expect Karti Ho Ki Main Shaant Ho Jau?! Paagal Ho Gayi Ho?! (removing his phone) mujhe Vikram sir se…

Riya quickly grabbed his phone and threw it on the mattress: nahi! aap kisi se kuch nahi kahenge!

Arjun: Riya Tum…

Riya: meri baat toh sun lijiye

Arjun: Tell Me The Damn Name!

Riya(exhausted): Arjun sir please, listen to me

Arjun scowled: bolo jaldi

Riya took a deep breath: sir dekhiye misunderstanding thi, sort ho gayi…

Arjun: Misunderstanding? Tumhe Abduct Kiya Gaya Tha Riya!!

Riya: Main Jaanti Hun! (tearing up) meri baat kyun nahi sun rahe hai aap?

Arjun mellowed down on seeing her tears. Riya was tired. She had been afraid and almost faced death. She had thought she would never be able to see him again and somehow fortune had favoured her to bring Rathore back to his senses. Atleast for the time being if not more. She wiped them off and took a deep breath.

Riya: woh kaun tha, kyun kiya? ye sab main aapko abhi nahi bata sakti. sahi waqt aane par bata dungi

Arjun: lekin Riya…

Riya: please

Arjun: Riya agar usne firse kuch kiya toh? (holding her hands) tumhari jaan ko khatra ho sakta hai dammit!

Riya: nahi hai, aisa kuch nahi hoga

Arjun: tumhe kaise pata? Tumse puch kar toh attack nahi karega na?

Riya: Arjun sir please trust me. Main jaanti hun main kya kar rahi hun

Arjun: Riya tum…

Riya: please

Arjun paused for a moment: Riya… kya, kya Sikandar…

Riya held his hands: nahi! no! aisa kuch nahi hai

Arjun(fearfully): sach mein?

Riya: ha sach mein, uska koi connection nahi hai

Arjun: toh fir…

Riya: main aapko abhi nahi bata sakti

Arjun: ok hold on! Agar tum abduct hui thi toh fir tumne Rathore se aisa kyun kaha ki Vikram sir ne tumhe bheja hai?

Riya gulped. Rathore had already told her the story he had cooked up and also that Arjun had asked Vikram regarding the same.

Riya: woh us kidnapper ke kehne par, taaki aap log mujhe dhundhe nahi

Arjun: Riya…

Riya: please Arjun sir, just trust me. Main aapse jhoot nahi bolna chahti. Main aapse vaada karti hun ki aapko sach bata dungi lekin bas abhi nahi

Arjun runs a hand through his hair: Riya, tum aise baaton par trust mat maango! Tumhari akal kya…

She steps forward and kisses him softly, shutting him up.

She whispers in his ear: Trust me (tears gathered in her eyes) please, mujhse nahi hoga abhi… please

His eyes moistened: Riya agar tumhe kuch ho jaata toh…

Riya: main theek hun Arjun sir, dekhiye

He stares at her for a second and captures her lips. His hands roam around her back squeezing her into him, assuring himself of her safety. She felt dizzy under the intensity. Her knees buckled and they fell on the bed.

A tear escaped his eye: I love you Riya, main tumhe bhi nahi kho sakta

She softly wiped the water away, whispering an I love you as she kissed him again. His hands wrapped around her and her hand went to pull the rope. The curtain fell on the bed, lighting the room with the fairy-lights.

Next morning-

Riya shifted. It was only 7 a.m. but way past her usual schedule. She tries to snuggle closer to Arjun but is greeted with a pillow instead. Confused, she cracks open her eyes. She was alone. Her eyes shoot open and she sits up straight. The blanket falls and Riya realizes she was in his black shirt. Her cheeks tinted. She wondered how deep of a sleep she needed to be in for him to make her wear it and she didn’t even realise.

But where was he? The washroom was silent as well. Controlling her blush, she steps down the bed to search for him.

A sizzling noise and aroma had filled the living room air. Inhaling the delicious smell, her legs take her to the kitchen. Arjun looks up on feeling her presence. He had used his extra pair of clothes to freshen up and was cooking with zeal. She shyly lowers her gaze.

Arjun: good morning!

Riya: good morning

Her eyes roam around the counter. Riya immediately figures what all he was making.

Riya: subah-subah pav bhaji aur Manchurian?

He complains: tumhare ghar mein soy sauce aur vinegar nahi tha (picking up a Manchurian ball, he walks to her) subah- subah super market jaana pada

She smiles as he holds it out to her.

Riya: kya haina main itni fancy cheezein ghar par banane ki mehnat nahi karti

She takes a bite and feels it melt in her mouth.

Riya: Amazing!!!

He pops the rest of it in his mouth making her blush. She hides herself in his chest making him embrace her. Arjun kisses her forehead. They stay in the same position for a while, cherishing the feeling of being in each other’s arms.

She slowly steps away: main, ready hokar aati hun

Arjun: jaldi karna, khaana almost ready hai

She hums and he kisses her forehead again before returning to the stove. Remembering something, she turns from the doorway.

Riya turned red: uh…. Arjun sir?

Arju: ha?

Riya: uh can I (she rubbed the back of her neck) can I keep your shirt?

Arjun raised his eyebrow: mera handkerchief toh tumne bina puche hi rakh liya tha, ab kyun puch rahi ho?

Riya closed her eyes in embarrassment at being caught. She blushed further and opened her eyes. He was looking back at her in amusement.

Riya: woh, this is more noticeable na. gayab hua toh pata chalne ke chances zyaada hai

Arjun: oh ok (thoughtfully) lekin usse bhi badi cheez toh tum already chura chuki ho

Riya(confused): kya?

Arjun: mera dil

Riya: Arjun sir!!

He laughs and she runs away to the bedroom.

They relish their breakfast with their usual chatter. They continue to joke as they clear up.

Riya: aapke paas mujhe chedne ke ilawa aur koi kaam nahi hai?

Arjun: see, main tumhara boss, boyfriend aur chef teeno hun. Mujhse behtar deal hai hi nahi tumhare paas toh ye complaints karna band karo

He was expecting a snarky comment in response. Instead, she tears up. Worried, he immediately cups her face.

Arjun: kya hua Riya?

She nods negatively: bas, woh bas

Her voice cracked as she spoke. He shifted closer to her and asked again.

Arjun(gently): kya hua jaan?

Sniffing, she snuggled against his chest. He stroked her hair to comfort her. She composed herself after a few minutes and looked at him.

Riya: kal… jab main, kuch pal ke liye aisa laga ki main kabhi aapko dobara dekh nahi paungi

Arjun: Riya!

He hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead. They stay like that in a comfortable silence till Arjun’s phone rang.

Arjun: ha Rathore?

Rathore: commissioner sir ne bulaya hai, seedhe headquarters pahunch jaana aadhe ghante mein

Arjun hummed in answer and disconnected.

Riya: kya hua?

Arjun: woh keh raha tha ki…

Her phone rang.

Riya: ji sir?

Rathore: commissioner sir ne bulaya hai, seedhe wahi aa jaana

Riya: oh ok

Rathore: aur woh… tum, tum theek hona? I…

Riya: ha sir main time se pahuch jaungi (her cold statement pinched his heart) main aur Arjun sir saath mein hi aa jaayenge

He heaved a sigh of relief, realising why she was talking like that.

Rathore: theek hai, take care

Riya: Bye sir

Rathore: bye

Call disconnect

Arjun: tumne use kyun kaha ki hum saath mein hai

Riya: are woh puch rahe the ki tum aa paogi ya nahi, kal ke baad zyaada thaki toh nahi

Arjun nodded: chale toh fir?

Riya: ha………………………