Part 8 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]
Outside-
Shree was returning from Rathore’s cabin when his gaze fell across the glass wall. Needless to say, he was shocked yet his devious mind was at play. He fished out his phone and clicked a picture of them. Smirking to himself, he went back to his desk…………………….
Inside-
Sakshi: Arjun?
Realising what he did, he pulled away: woh…uh…
Sakshi teased him: haaye! Aaj ka din toh mujhe humesha yaad rahega
Arjun smiled lightly: Thank you Sakshi
Sakshi: you’re welcome! Waise ek baat aur hai
Arjun: kya?
Sakshi: meri colleague ne bataya ki us hospital mein patient ka koi aur record nahi hai, kuch armed guards bhi the uske saath jo doctors aur baakhi staff par nazar rakhte the and woh hospital bhi thoda woh type ka hai, Dean ko paison ki do gaddi di toh usne kuch kiya hi nahi
Arjun was not surprised at the information. He had anticipated such a scene. He was sure Shree wouldn’t take any chance.
Sakshi: ek baat aur woh jo ladki thi, use admit bhi suicide attempt ke liye kiya gaya tha
Arjun(shocked): WHAT?!!?
He zoned out pondering over her words.
Sakshi: ha, she cut her vein…I think Depression kuch zyaada hi hai use, warna dekho already ek baar suicide kiya fir hospital se bhi try kiya lekin mere samaj mein ye nahi aa raha ki use suicide karna hi tha toh fir woh 8th floor se 3rd floor kyun aayi? 8th se kud jaati toh marne ke zyaada chance hai aur kisi raah chalne waale ko raat ke time dikhti bhi nahi
Arjun sighed: kyunki woh suicide nahi karna chahti thi
Sakshi: kya matlab? Aur by the way ye Riya hai kaun? Aur tum itna interested kyun ho? woh bhi aise chup-chup kar?
Arjun: woh sab main tumhe abhi nahi bata sakta Sakshi par (holding her hand) thank you very much!
She knew he wouldn’t tell her unless he wanted to so she let the topic go.
Sakshi: woh sab toh theek hai lekin
Arjun raised his eyebrow: lekin kya?
Sakshi: lekin mujhe meri mehnat ke liye koi toh fees milni chahiye na?
Arjun: kya chahiye tumhe?
Sakshi: ek date
Arjun: Sakshi….
Sakshi: dekho mujhe tumhare jaise khadoos ke saath rehne mein koi interest nahi hai lekin main itne handsome bande ko aise hi nahi chodungi
Arjun rolled his eyes: fine! Lekin mera saara kaam khatam hone ke baad
Sakshi gave him a look: kab? Raat ke 3 baje?
Arjun face-palmed: mera matlab tha ki ye jo mera unofficial case hai uske khatam hone ke baad
Sakshi: acha waise….done! lekin tumne promise kiya hai, baad main mukar mat jaana
Arjun: Arjun Rawte kabhi nahi mukar ta
Sakshi giggled: ha woh mujhe pata hai lekin woh bahot shaitaan bhi hai
Arjun rolled his eyes: thank you Sakshi, now please get lost
Sakshi: uff! Tum toh khadoos ke khadoos hi rahoge, huh!
She exited dramatically while Arjun went back to his thoughts mv “Riya Sen, firse? Usne suicide karne ki koshish kyun ki? Riya….suicide? (the thought sent shivers down his spine) Mujhe kuch bhi karke use waha se nikalna hoga, isse pehle ki woh koi aur paaglo jaisa kadam uthaye lekin kaise dhundhu use? aur Shree ne use pakda kyun hai? aisa kya connection hai dono ke beech?”
As he pondered over it, he opened his laptop and started checking their backgrounds. That’s when he realised that they had been college mates mv “ho na ho mere sawalon ka jawab ateet mein chupa hua hai.” He looked at his watch. It was past 6. The admin office would have been closed by now. He went to Rathore’s cabin.
Arjun(barging in): Rathore!
Rathore(startled): ha kya hua?
Arjun: mujhe kal leave chahiye
Sameer choked on his coffee: kya chahiye?
Arjun: Leave Chahiye Dammit! Sunai nahi deta?
Sameer: are main bas chouk gaya, isliye dobara pucha, itna irritate kyun ho rahe ho? par tumhe leave kyun chahiye?
Arjun: personal hai
Sameer: baat ko taalo mat aur waise bhi, kal hume shayad raid maarne jaana hai toh tum…
Arjun: kyun ek din bhi mere bagair kaam nahi kar sakte tum log?
Sameer: tum aise kyun baat kar….
Arjun: tum de rahe ho ya main commissioner sir baat karu?
Sameer(taken aback): Rawte shaant ho jao, baat kya hai?
Arjun: Tum De Rahe Ho Ya Nahi?
Sameer sighed: fine, jao
Arjun left, banging the door behind him, confusing Sameer further mv “ho kya gaya hai ise achanak? Kahi ye us admi ke baare mein toh nahi jo ise maarna chahta hai?......nahi, agar aise hota toh he wouldn’t give a damn. Use sirf dusro ki jaan ki parvah rehti hai par, baakhi sab theek toh hai? fir ise kya ho gaya?”
That night-
Kushal was observing Shree’s house from a distance under a guise. Shree came at his usual time and went in.
Inside-
Shree put away his sling and changed his clothes. Pulling his hoodie over his head he snuck out of a window at the backside. Picking up the rope near the wall, he threw it towards the other side and pulled it to anchor. Holding firmly, he climbed up the wall and jumped to the back street where a car was waiting for him. He got in and drove to his destination.
The Mansion-
Riya was sitting on her bed staring at the wall. The sound of the door opening brought her out of her thoughts. Shree entered. She straightened.
Shree: hi Ri
She clenched her fists. He came and sat near her.
Shree: kaisi ho tum?
Riya glared at him: kaid
Shree smiled: oho, fir wahi baat? Chalo chodo…tum humesha kehti ho na? ki tumhe ETF jaana hai? waha kya ho raha hai jaanna hai? toh theek hai aaj main tumhe usike baare mein batata hu
Riya turned curious, not because of the information but because the sudden change of his mind.
Shree: tumhare (emphasizing) marne ke baad (she flinched) Rathore sir aur Arjun sir ne tumhari, replacements recruit ki. (her eyes shot up hearing replacement) ek hai Ayesha, encounter specialist, woh bilcul tumhari jaise ladti hai lekin bas ek farak hai, woh tumhari tarah shoot karne se darti nahi, aaram se shoot karti hai and honestly both of them love her. Uske aane ke baad, tumhari jo thodi si kami thi woh kami toh mehsoos hi nahi hoti thi. She’s so talented. ETF ke liye bilcul perfect hai. tumhe pata hai woh toh kuch saal undercover officer bhi thi. Gold medallist bhi hai, she’s just the best. Rathore sir toh usse itna impressed hai ki pucho mat.
He smirked internally seeing her squirm at his words. All this while he had managed to keep her by physically restraining her. Seeing her push out of it now, he knew he needed to do something more if he wanted to win the game.
Shree: dusri forensic expert hai, woh toh aise clues nikalti hai laashon se ki kabhi-kabhi Arjun sir bhi peeche reh jaate hai aur teesri hai, Sakshi, ek crime journalist. Woh trained toh nahi hai lekin fir bhi Home Ministry ne use appoint kiya hai, ETF ki publicity ke liye. Woh kayi baar humare saath field par bhi aati hai and kabhi-kabhi galti bhi karti hai lekin woh hai hi itni pyaari ki koi kabhi use nahi daant ta. Rathore sir bhi nahi aur, Arjun sir bhi nahi. In fact, woh aur Arjun sir toh kaafi close hai. itna ki woh unse khule mein flirt karti hai aur toh aur unki chai bhi khud bana kar laati hai. woh kisi aur ki chai peete hi nahi (excitedly) aur aaj na pata hai kya hua?…ek second dikhata hun tumhe
He removed his phone and opened the gallery. Swiping through the pictures, he reached the one he wanted and showed it to her.
Shree: ye dekh!
Riya felt her sinking heart crash onto the ocean bed. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Her Arjun sir was hugging someone? With such a huge grin plastered to his face? A lump formed in her throat. She averted her gaze.
Riya: ye sab tum mujhe kyun dikha rahe ho?
Shree: are tumhe hi toh jaan na tha na? isliye….waise photo achi haina? Main khud kheenchi thi ek mahine pehle. Dono ek dusre ke saath kitne khush lag rahe hai. unki jodi bahot khoobsurat lagti hai lekin maan na padega Sakshi ko, Arjun Rawte ko apne kadmon par la diya. (her eyes darted to him) ha sach mein, aise kya dekh rahi ho?.....acha kadmon par kaise laaya? (he chuckled) are Ri tu bhi na, mera matlab tha ki unhone use propose kiya na aaj office mein, (her eyes stung) sabke saamne, ghutno pe jaake toh aa gaye na uske kadmon mein? Woh toh itni khush ho gayi thi ki pucho mat, bas behosh hona baakhi tha, agar Rathore sir ne beech mein bola nahi hota toh wahi ka wahi kiss bhi kar dete.
Her nails dug into her palms to control herself.
Shree: chal anyway, tumne davai le li haina? (he looked at the side table, the silver foil was empty) good girl! (he held her shoulder) tum apna khayal rakho okay? Aaram karo, main baahar jaata hun (he leaned forward, she jerked her face away but he continued and kissed her forehead) good night!
Riya didn’t bother to look in his direction. The door shut and tears flew out of her eyes. His words rang in his ears.
“Rathore sir aur Arjun sir ne tumhari, replacements recruit ki”
“and honestly both of them love her”
“Gold medallist bhi hai, she’s just the best. Rathore sir toh usse itna impressed hai ki pucho mat.”
“kabhi-kabhi galti bhi karti hai lekin woh hai hi itni pyaari ki koi kabhi use nahi daant ta”
“Arjun sir bhi nahi”
“woh aur Arjun sir toh kaafi close hai”
She plunged her face into the pillow to stifle her sobs.
“woh kisi aur ki chai peete hi nahi”
“Dono ek dusre ke saath kitne khush lag rahe hai”
“unhone use propose kiya na office mein, sabke saamne, ghutno pe jaake”
“bola nahi hota toh wahi ka wahi kiss bhi kar dete.”
Riya mv “nahi Riya…tu ab kamzor nahi pad sakti, usne aaj tak koi baat sach nahi batayi toh fir kyun uski baaton par dhyaan de rahi ho?”
The photo flashed after her eyes.
“kabhi-kabhi galti bhi karti hai lekin woh hai hi itni pyaari ki koi kabhi use nahi daant ta”
“Arjun sir bhi nahi”
“woh aur Arjun sir toh kaafi close hai”
“woh kisi aur ki chai peete hi nahi”
“Dono ek dusre ke saath kitne khush lag rahe hai”
“unhone use propose kiya na office mein, sabke saamne, ghutno pe jaake”
“bola nahi hota toh wahi ka wahi kiss bhi kar dete.”
She closed her ears: ugh!! Shut Up! JUST SHUT UP!!!
Next morning-
Arjun’s car rolls up outside Riya’s college sharp at 8. He parks the car and goes straight to admin. The office had barely opened. The few employees that had arrived were trifling away.
Arjun walked up to a desk: mujhe information chahiye
Man: are sabko information hi chahiye yaha, baahar wait karo, abhi office khula nahi
Arjun slaps his ID on the desk and glares at him. The man gulps and stands up.
Man: ji sir?
Arjun: Riya Mukherjee aur Shreekant Sen! Dono ki details chahiye mujhe
Man: ji….ji saab (he logged on to the system and entered the names) sir Riya Mukherjee, Maths and Statistics Department ki thi aur Shreekant Sen IT. Dono ke batch ek hi hai.
Arjun: dono departments mein koi common class thi?
Man: ha sir IT mein bhi maths optional hota hai, Shreekant ke subjects mein hai
Arjun: teacher?
Man: ek minute sir…(he pressed a few keys) ha sir, uh prof. Manoj Tiwari
Arjun: bulao unhe
Man: ji sir!
He picked up the landline and dialled the intercom to call for him. A few minutes later, a 50 something old man entered the office.
Man: sir, ye rahe professor saab
Arjun: ACP Arjun, ETF
Tiwari(surprised): ji kahiye, kya madad kar sakta hun main aapki?
Arjun gestured him outside while removing his phone. He showed Riya’s photo.
Arjun: kya aap ise pehchaante hai?
Tiwari: are ha, ye toh Riya hai, meri student thi aur main toh kya college mein koi bhi pehchaan lega ise
Arjun: woh kyun?
Tiwari: isne aur uske dost, Shree ne milkar college mein kuch sleeper cells ka parda faash kiya tha
Arjun: ek second (showing Shree’s photo) ye Shree?
Tiwari: ha yahi Shree hai
Arjun nodded: sleeper cells?
Tiwari: ji, kuch chaar students the, woh mechanical lab mein project ke naam par bomb bana rahe the. ye dono us waqt final year mein the. Bahot bada issue ho gaya tha, dono ne us terrorist organization ke khilaaf gavahi di thi lekin aapko toh pata hai ye saare cases kitne time chalte hai. jaha tak maine suna hai inka ek head police ki giraft mein nahi aa raha tha uski wajah dono ko jaan ka khatra bhi tha, thodi der protection mein rahe lekin jab unhe laga ki shayad woh underground ho gaya hai toh protection withdraw kar liya gaya
Arjun: woh case abhi bhi chal raha hai?
Tiwari: jaha tak maine suna tha, woh case ek saal pehle hi band hua lekin ha woh jo head tha woh waapis baahar aaya tha, aur theek se toh yaad nahi mujhe lekin 6-7 mahine pehle hi woh encounter mein maara gaya
Arjun: acha? Aur in dono ka rishta kaisa tha?
Tiwari: dono bahot ache dost the, Shree kisi se ghulta-milta nahi tha, Riya ke ilawa koi aur dost nahi tha uska….atleast college ke andar nahi in fact
Arjun raised his eyebrow at his abrupt halt.
Tiwari: woh kabhi-kabhi lagta tha ki dono…you know?...............................
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Jai Shri Ram @SoniRita
+ 32
2 years ago
Riya plz dont believe in Shree, arjun only loves u and everyone remembers u. Chalo good kuch toh info/lead mila Arjun ko. Lets see what happens.