Chapter 70

Bloomie

@bloomie

I just realised this is going to be so weird kyunki the next part is the last and uske liye you guys will have to wait a long time. Speaking of which, my practical exam is on 3rd and 4th so din aur delay ho sakta hai. I'll try updating on 4th but no promises. 

Part 69 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

Rathore stood outside the ETF office. It had been three months since he had been there. Three long months of therapy. His irrational fear was gone, his insecurities reduced. Much to his chagrin, his counsellor had also kept reiterating on him leaving his habit of alcohol. However, he had never been keen on that. The good news was that he no longer saw blood on his hands. He no longer felt the innate need to want to scold Roshni. And he no longer felt guilt for kidnapping and trying to kill Riya.

He had apologised to her and she had forgiven him, knowing that he wasn’t in his right mind then.  He had apologised to Arjun too for leaving him when he needed him the most. His, ‘jaane do ab’ reply was but a reassurance that they should move on. He did not explicitly say he had forgiven him but stayed in touch and asked him about his progress every now and then.

He felt at peace.

As much as he had been sceptical about her filing him under section 84, he realised she was right. She had given him a fresh start.

Most of them had kept in touch with him. They happened to meet a few times for official purposes. Although Chotu did not trust or respect Rathore the same way and avoided conversing, he was cordial.

He took a deep breath and entered as Sameer Rathore. No ACP, no Chief, just Sameer Rathore

It was still early morning. Hence, not many people were working in the premises. As he stepped out of the elevator, he saw Arjun talking to a junior at a distance.

Arjun’s gaze fell on him and he gestured him over.

Sameer: hi

Arjun smiled: hi, sab aa chuke hai. Chale?

Sameer(nervously): hmm

Arjun: Sameer I… hum yahi hai ok? We don’t hate you.

Sameer: that really means a lot.

Arjun smiled sadly: chale?

Sameer sighed. He followed Arjun to the conference room. Vikram and a magistrate were waiting for him. The team was at the other end of the table. Barring Chotu, they smiled on seeing him. There was also an inspector and a couple of constables to arrest him after the enquiry.

Sameer took a deep breath. It was time to face the consequences head on.

Vikram: Shree, you can start

Shree: yes sir

He noted the time and date, ready to document the minutes of the meeting.

The enquiry started with the magistrate with reading out from the charge sheet and the report of the psychologist. Rathore pleaded guilty. He gave his account of what all had happened. Following which, Riya was asked to present her statement. Arjun and Vikram also testified that they had realised something was wrong but had been unable to pinpoint what the problem was. That was followed by the study of the psychologist’s report.

The magistrate wrote down his judgement after a short discussion with Vikram.

Magistrate: Alright, Sameer Damsingh Rathore you will hereby face punishment in accordance to section 363, punishment for kidnapping and abduction and section 307, attempt to murder. Which is upto 7 years of punishment and fine and upto 10 years of punishment and fine respectively. As per testimonial evidence, the abductions was planned and premeditated with intention and knowledge to wrongfully confine then SI Riya Mukherjee. In addition to this, in accordance with the testimony, there was only knowledge and no intention to take the life of the victim. The crime was committed in the heat of the moment and not premeditated. Also, the charge of section 307 has been dropped in accordance to section 84 of the IPC because you were hallucinating at the time of committing the crime and is deemed justifiable on grounds of lunatic duress. Thereby, I sentence you to 5 years of simple imprisonment under section 363 and a fine of 3 lakhs payable by a personal bond.

Sameer sighed deeply and nodded. He was relieved that that 307 had been dropped. The fact that the law itself saw him innocent of the crime gave him the liberty to breath. The magistrate gestured to the policemen. The inspector stepped forward.

Sameer: ek second

He turned to Riya with moist eyes: thank you

She smiled softly. He took another step towards her, he wasn’t sure why? Maybe to hug her or hold her hand. However, Arjun tugged her behind. Sameer’s heart sank but he knew he probably deserved it.

Arjun noticed the emotions too but couldn’t help it. His heart pinched too. There was no way he could trust him with Riya.

Arjun: Khayal rakhna, we’ll be there when you return

Sameer nodded. Charging over the conflict inside him, Arjun stepped forward and hugged him lightly. Sameer sobbed. Arjun pursed his lips to control himself. Patting Sameer’s back in reassurance, he parted.

Ayesha, Shree and Liza came ahead in a group hug, asking him toh take care of himself. Sameer wiped his tears, thanking them before leaving with the inspector.

Shortly after, the magistrate left. The team gathered around Vikram.

Vikram: Shree ye enquiry ki minutes mujhe mail kar dena

Shree: sure sir

Riya: sir, thanks. Aapne humari claims aur charge sheet support ki isliye

Vikram smiled: are tumhara kya bharosa? firse department par tut padogi

Arjun chuckled while Riya rolled her eyes.

Ayesha: matlab?

Vikram: Riya tum batati nahi apne doston ko?

Riya(sternly): sir aapko late nahi ho raha hai?

Vikram stifled a giggle: anyway, main chalta hun. You guys carry on

They saluted him and Vikram left. The team took a break, most of them a little sad for Rathore but nonetheless with acceptance. They had helped him as much as they could. Now it was all up to him. Shortly after, Arjun’s phone rang announcing a case. Gearing up, they shifted into work mode.

There was a man’s dead body on the highway.

Arjun: ghasit ne ke nishaan toh nahi dikh rahe hai

Riya: ye khoon yaha nahi hua, iske baalon mein sea salt hai

Shree: koi bhi salt ho sakta hai

Arjun: Shree, Riya ke saath kabhi bhi salt ke baare mein argue nahi karna

Riya smirked at Arjun who winked back. The others exchanged glances in confusion.

Chotu: ye Santa Cruz hai, chowpatty se zyaada Juhu beach ke chances hai

Arjun: ha, tum aur Ayesha jaa kar waha check karo. Shayad kisine kuch dekha ho ya fir ise pehchanta ho

The duo nodded and left.

Liza: sir time of death lagbhag 4-5 ghante pehle ki lag rahi hai

Shree: kisine laash dekhi nahi raaste ke beech?

Arjun: not necessary ki laash tab se yaha padi ho, ghasit ne ke nishaan nahi hai toh ho sakta hai ki kisine gaadi mein se ise feka ho, samjhe ya samjhau?

Riya: right, Shree CCTV mangwa do zara dekho kuch pata chalta hai ya nahi

Shree: yup

They continued with their investigation and soon returned to office.

At lunch time, they were greeted by Sakshi in the canteen who had more or less gotten used to her training by now. She squealed in delight on seeing them.

Sakshi: HI GUYS!!!

Ayesha: kya baat hai itni khush?

Sakshi: are maine aaj date dekhi!

Shree: toh?

Sakshi: I realised ki meri teen mahine se zyaada ki training puri ho chuki hai!!!

Arjun muttered audibly: teen mahine kam ho gaye blunder-less field operations ke

Sakshi frowned: kya Arjun? Ab toh main seekh rahi huna? (excited) Tumhe pata hai, aaj maine 3 punch aur kick ka combo seekha

Riya stood up, wiping her fingers: acha dikhana

Sakshi: kis par

She pointed to herself. The others exchanged glances. Ayesha chuckled, covering her mouth.

Happy to display her skills, Sakshi pulled behind her fist to punch her. Riya blocked it, grabbing the other hand to twist it behind and slammed her against the table top. Not harshly of course.

Sakshi: ow!

Arjun(bored): Riya khaane do mujhe

Riya ignored his reprimand: you need speed (freeing her) aur things to do when you are countered.

Sakshi rubbed her temple: ha woh mere trainer se kehna

The group burst into laughter.

Sakshi frowned: kya yaar tum log, ekto roz-roz meri haddiyan tut jaati hai. Upar se usne bola ki main bahot slow hun, meri 6 mahine ke training woh 8 mahine kar raha hai. Uske baad probation woh bhi 6 mahine ka

Shree: fir tere sabbatical ka kya hoga?

Sakshi: nahi woh problem toh nahi hai, probation ke time mujhe cases mein involve hone ki permission toh haina sirf sensitive waale nahi dekh sakti toh main articles toh likh paungi.

Chotu chuckled: toh kar le puri training, ro kyun rahi hai?

Sakshi: Chotu main aam insaan hu tumhari tarah pahelwan nahi

Ayesha: madam, jo tu abhi kar rahi haina? Woh basics hai. Hum sabki toh 2 saal ki police training thi.

Riya: aur jo basics tum kar rahi ho woh humne 2 mahino mein pure kiye the

Sakshi gawked at them. She gulped fearfully.

Shree: aur woh bhi humne padhayi ke saath-saath kiya tha, teri tarah sirf ground par nahi

Sakshi: baap re, itni mehnat. Kaise karte ho tum log? Aur upar se itna saara kaam.

Shree scoffed under his breath: der aaye durust aaye

Sakshi: acha waise, agar meri training ka time badh gaya hai toh probation ka ek saal mein fit hone ke liye time kam nahi hona chahiye

Arjun: kis grounds par? tum articles fir bhi likh sakti ho

Sakshi cursed under her breath mv “Shit!” Another idea popped into her head.

Sakshi: acha toh main kya keh rahi thi ki probation check karne ke liye haina toh kabhi koi masala waala sensitive case ho toh mujhe permission milni chahiye (Ayesha raised her eyebrow) I mean main sensitive case handle karti hu ye dekhne ke liye. Toh hi tum log aage ache se decision le paoge na?

Arjun and Riya glared at her. She cowered much to the amusement of others. It wasn’t new for them but it was always hilarious. Arjun and Riya literally complemented each other and were one man armies at the same time. Quite often on the field, they had seen both of them fighting in perfect sync. If they didn’t have guns blazing around them, they would probably just keep staring at the couple in action.

She lowered her head: 6 months’ probation and no sensitive case, samajh gayi

They shook their heads in disbelief while the others laughed out loud.

Fortunately, once the identity of the man was confirmed, they did not take time to find out the culprit. It was mostly an open and shut case. He had gone to meet some friends at the beach. They rounded up the lot and played a simple game.

All five of them were split in two different interrogation rooms. Arjun and Chotu were with the three boys.

Arjun: jab uska murder hua toh tum sab wahi the toh aise ho hi nahi sakta ki tumhe iske baare mein kuch pata na ho. isliye seedhe-seedhe sab bata do warna samjhe ya samjhau?

Raunak: sir humne kuch nahi kiya

Anuj: ha sir, hum sab toh bas timepass kar rahe the. Woh Aman toh der tak ruka tha. Humne kaha bhi ki chalo ghar chalte hai

Jatin: ha lekin usne kaha ki ise rukna hai. Hum toh nikal gaye the

In another room, Ayesha and Riya sat across the girls. Riya’s gaze fell on a mark Jyoti was trying to hide with her bangles. Her gaze darted to see nail marks on her arm. From below the table, she sent a message to Arjun.

Riya: Ayesha, Kinjal ko lab lekar jao. Dekho DNA match hota hai ya nahi

Ayesha understood the plan. There were no DNA traces from the body but his friends didn’t know that.

Ayesha: aao Kinjal

Kinjal: DNA?! Kaisa DNA?

Ayesha: Aman (victim) ne apne khooni ke saath struggle kiya tha. So obviously uske skin ke traces hume uske nakhoon mein se mile

Jyoti sweated visibly. She rubbed the back of her neck.

Kinjal: lekin mera Aman ke saath koi jhagda nahi hua toh fir main…

Ayesha: procedure hai karna padega

Without listening to anything else, Ayesha grabbed Kinjal and started to lead her outside.

Riya: Liza se kehna jaldi kare, Jyoti ka bhi test karna hai.

Jyoti now shivered: mera? Aap toh iska karnewaale the na? Mera kyun

Riya: ab procedure hai toh follow toh karna padega

Jyoti: lekin… lekin hum toh ladkiyaan hai. Hum kaise itne bade admi ko maar sakti hai. Aap ladko ka test karwaiye na

Riya: kya haina? (leaning forward) Aurat ki kabiliyat par kabhi shak nahi karna chahiye

Just then, Chotu entered.

Chotu: are chodo inko, Raunak confess kar chuka hai

Jyoti’s eyes widened in confusion and shock.

Kinjal: Kya Bakwas Hai Ye?! Mere Raunak Ne Kuch Nahi Kiya! Use Toh Jatin Ne Maara Tha Woh Bhi Is Jyoti Ki Wajah Se!!!

The three officers smirked. Kinjal realised her folly but it was too late.

Kinjal: nahi… I mean ki

Ayesha dunked her back into the chair and cuffed both of them. Meanwhile, Chotu went back to inform Arjun. One slap from Arjun and Jatin confessed like a parrot.

A scuffle had broken out when the victim had tried to hit on one of their girlfriends in a drunken state leading to the murder. They had later dragged the body to the car and dumped him on the highway.

Riya was on her way to the record room when she saw Ayesha alone at the balcony with a mug of coffee.

She was staring out into the horizon, lost in thought when she heard Riya’s voice.

Riya: kya soch rahi ho?

Ayesha jerks back to reality: kuch khaas nahi ma’am bas yu hi hawa chal rahi thi toh kuch der khadi reh gayi

Riya: ek baat puchu? Thodi personal, if you don’t mind

Ayesha: ha puchiye na

Riya: tum Rathore sir ko bahot pasand karti thi na?

Ayesha sighed: ha I did

Riya(cautiously): did you love him?

Ayesha: nahi, nahi aisa kuch nahi tha matlab ha crush jaise… maybe shayad pyaar ki possibility thi as in future mein but well, ab toh kuch nahi ho sakta. But I don’t know, I’m not sure. Zyaada toh hero-worship type hi tha. I didn’t really consider that possibility

Riya hummed, leaning on the railing.

Ayesha: but it’s so weird na, hum sabne socha bhi nahi hoga ki itne shaant dikhne waale Rathore sir ke andar itna sab kuch chal raha tha. And I’m still surprised ki aapne immediately use expose kyun nahi kiya?

Riya: sach kahu toh main dari hui thi aur mujhe yakeen hi nahi ho raha tha, samaj mein nahi aa raha tha. Aur fir agle hi din un bombs ke baare mein pata chala. Toh maine socha ki ise shaanti se baad mein nipta lenge.

Ayesha: ha woh bhi hai. I guess main hoti toh bhi aise hi react karti. I’m just glad ki woh koi peshewar criminal nahi hai. At least jab unki saza puri hogi toh he’ll be a normal civilian. Criminal record ke saath jeena aasan nahi hai but I think he’s brave enough to manage

Riya: ha I hope so too. Waise bhi that’s a long time.

Ayesha: yea… Arjun sir hasn’t taken it well na?

Riya sighed: He is satisfied but un dono ki history ko lete hue woh bahot… kya kahu? disappointed hai I guess? I mean, obviously woh dukhi hai par unhe samjhota nahi karna. He feels better to be at a distance.

Shree: distance?

The girls jump at the sudden interruption. Shree slides in between the ladies.

Shree: kaisi distance? Kisko distance chahiye? Ri tumhe? Kisse? (shocked) Arjun sir se?

Riya: Shree…

Shree: NAHIII!!!! Riya tum aisa nahi kar sakti, bichare Arjun sir ko akela mat chod

Ayesha: Shree shut up! Kuch bhi bole jaa raha hai.

Riya: aur nahi toh kya? Hum kya baat kar rahe hai aur tu kya beech mein ghusa raha hai? aur main kyun houngi Arjun se dur?

Ayesha: exactly, faltu mein panoti mat laga

Shree: acha baba ok, bhadko mat tum dono. Batao kya baat kar rahe the?

Ayesha: kuch nahi yaar, bas Rathore sir ke baare mein

Shree: oh ha thank god unki saza kam hui, main toh dar raha tha. pata nahi woh 84 consider karte ya nahi? Agar magistrate nahi hote na toh main toh faisla sunkar wahi chillane lagta

Riya: Shree darling

Shree: ha Ri darling?

Riya: agar magistrate nahi hote toh faisla kaun sunata?

Shree squinted while the girls burst into laughter, high-fiving.

Shree: bahot hi pakau joke tha

Arjun: tum logon ke paas jokes maarne ke ilawa aur koi kaam nahi hai?

The trio turned to see Arjun coming towards them.

Riya: are sirf paperwork baakhi hai aur woh toh hota rahega

Ayesha frowned: kabhi khatam hone ka naam hi nahi leta

Shree: ha na, case khatam karo toh documentation shuru ho jaata hai, documentation khatam karo toh charge-sheet banani shuru ho jaati hai, charge-sheet khatam karo toh court ke liye papers ready karne padte hai, court ke papers khatam karo toh court proceedings ki progress par dhyaan dena padta hai, court proceedings ki progress khatam karo toh judgement sheet ko file karna padta hai, judgement sheet file karo toh repeat offenders ke karnaame update karne padte hai. Kabhi-kabhi toh lagta hai jaise is pure research and development ke department ko(Riya squinted) hi ban kar dena chahiye. Na rahega department na bajegi…

Ayesha cleared her throat meaningfully while Arjun crossed his arms in amusement.

Shree stopped abruptly. He slowly glances at Riya who was looking at him sternly. He gulped recalling the horror they all had to go through the last time the girls had ended up insulting Riya’s job. He grinned goofily.

Shree: Ri… woh main… main keh raha tha ki… ki uh... department… ye toh Ayesha keh rahi thi

He dashes away before her wrath comes down upon him. Riya shook her head.

Arjun chuckled: chale? Late ho raha hai

Ayesha looked at her watch in confusion: 5:30 hi baje hai abhi toh

Arjun: uh, ha woh mere aur Riya ke thode plans hai, ab case jaldi khatam ho hi gaya hai toh

Ayesha wiggled her eyebrows: ooh kaise type ke?

Riya: dinner aur kya?

Arjun pursed his lips to control his laughter while Ayesha face-palmed.…………………….