Part 29 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]
Riya shut up mv “ye achanak-achanak khadoos kyun ban jaate hai?”
Arjun turned his face back to Vivek. He nodded promptly………………………….
Conference room-
Ayesha, Sakshi, Chotu and Sameer were in their seats. The juniors were working on the case reports while Rathore had buried himself in a file. Liza arrived with a file in her hand and gave it to Rathore.
Liza: sir main post-mortems kar rahi hu, ye sabki preliminary report
Rathore nods and starts reading. Just then, Vivek enters the room.
Vivek: Rathore sir…
Rathore turns: are Vivek, kaha the tum?
Vivek: woh uh.. (fearfully) main canteen gaya tha, woh main actually sirf juice lene waala tha par waha Arjun sir aur Riya the toh thoda time lag gaya, sorry
Rathore: It's ok, (he gestured him to sit) tumhara pehla din kaisa tha?
Vivek: acha tha sir
Rathore: really? That’s a new. Usually pehli raids ke baad officers thode hile hue hote hai, anyway good
Vivek heaved a sigh of relief: thoda dara tha sir par, theek hu, thank you
Rathore smiled and nodded. He signals him to work on the report with the others. Vivek turns his chair and then turns back immediately.
Vivek: sir woh Arjun sir ne aapke liye message bheja hai
Rathore raised his eyebrow: kya?
Vivek: unhone aapse kehne ko kaha ki woh Riya ko ghar le jaa rahe hai
Rathore rolled his eyes: of course, mujhe samaj jaana chahiye tha
Liza: sir aapka plan toh kaam kar gaya
Chotu: sach mein sir! dhasu plan tha!
Rathore raises his shirt collar: of course! Mere plans humesha kaam karte hai. Office mein aakar hi sahi Riya behosh toh hui aur Rawte pahunch gaya uske paas
Ayesha: nahi sir, woh usse pehle hi better thi
Chotu: ha sir, usne joke maara tha mere saath
Sakshi sighed in relief: jaise bhi hua ho, kam se kam ye cold war toh khatam hua
Rathore: toh iska matlab field par hi madam ne koi kaand kiya aur Rawte ne use bachaya
Vivek: nahi sir, Riya ne Arjun sir ko bachaya
Sakshi: huh? Aise kaise?
Chotu: nahi baba, Ri toh thokti hai woh bhi solid waali
Rathore: oh shit! Tum toh wahi the na?! batao toh sahi waha kya hua?
Ayesha: ha jaldi bolo na Vivek
Vivek recounted how a man was going to stab Arjun and Riya saved him in the nick of time and then, she beat the hell out of him, before finally breaking his head…literally!
He looked around to see shocked faces.
Chotu: Ri itna thok sakti hai?
Rathore did not know what to say. He had never imagined the girl who was once scared of blood to kill someone so brutally. Then again, he had dared to lay a finger on her love. And history has witnessed that hell hath no fury than a scorned lover.
Ayesha: so Rathore sir! aapki calculations flop ho gayi
Rathore: excuse me?
Ayesha smirked: aapne kaha tha ki Riya fasegi lekin fase toh Arjun sir
Chotu chuckled: ha aurat ki kabiliyat par kabhi shak nahi karna chahiye
They laughed heartily and high-fived.
Rathore made a face: khair, ab lagta hai finally Shree ka saaya hat hi gaya un dono se
Liza sighed: ha finally
Vivek: ye Shree kaun hai?
All heads turned to him. He regretted his question immediately. He was about to apologise when,
Sakshi: OMG! Tumhe toh kuch pata hi nahi
The truth and their behavior all dawned on them like a fire truck.
Ayesha: are koi baat nahi, hum haina? Ab tum ETF ka hissa ho toh tumhe ETF ki history bhi pata honi chahiye
Chotu opened his drawer and removed a burger packet. The others looked at him in disbelief.
Liza: are lekin start kaha se kare?
Rathore: pehle character toh bata do! (turning to Vivek) Shree (sighing) humara technical expert tha, tumse pehle aur ETF ki shuruwat se Shree ETF ka hissa tha.
Chotu: aur ek din, ek admi ne apne personal dushmani nikaalne ke liye pure shehar ke paani mein virus mila diya! Xora 2!
Vivek listened with rapt attention as they excitedly told him the entire story of course, leaving out certain personal details, the report long forgotten.
In the car-
Arjun was driving towards Riya’s home. Owing to the peak hours, the road was jammed with traffic. But he was not complaining. The weight of her head on his shoulder was warm enough for him to stay peaceful.
Unknown to him, her peaceful nap was inching towards her daily dread. Her eyebrows furrowed. He felt her squirm and glanced at her only to see her scrunched face.
Arjun: Riya?
Her grip tightened on him as she started sweating in the AC. Arjun tensed seeing her state.
Arjun: Riya!
A number of fearful expressions displayed on her face. Worried, Arjun looked on the road and immediately turned the steering to pull over in a space. Just as the wheels of the car halted, she woke up with a scream.
Riya: Arjun Sir!!!
Arjun took her hand in his: Riya
She breathed heavily. Her gaze darted around. The surroundings slowly seeped into her brain. Realising what had happened, she rubbed her temple.
Arjun: firse bura sapna dekha?
She nodded: pata nahi kaise aankh lag gayi, nikalne se pehle coffee pi leni chahiye thi
Arjun: nahi Riya, tum kab tak neend se bhaagti rahogi? Aise toh tumhari health kharab ho jaayegi. Already tumhara chehra itna feeka pad chuka hai
Riya teared up: par sir, mujhe sone se dar lagta hai (lowering her gaze) bahot gande sapne aate hai
Arjun sighed. His mind raced for some sort of solution that could help her. He came out of his thoughts with her voice.
Riya: aur fir raat ko ghar par akeli hoti hu toh, aur bhi zyaada dar lagta hai
His brain clicked with an idea. But he was unsure. He wasn’t sure how she would react to it. Nevertheless, he gave it a try and tread forward. After all, getting rid of her nightmares was more important.
Arjun: agar aisa hai toh, and if you don’t mind, main kuch din tumhare saath reh sakta hun
Her gaze darted to him in shock: aap… aap aisa karenge?
Arjun: uh, agar tumhe koi problem nahi hai toh
Riya hugged him: thank you!!
Arjun smiled.
Her eyes shot open and she separated from him: OH GOD!!!!
Arjun(confused): ab kya hua?
Riya: aapki chot! Oh god! (checking his neck) aap theek toh hai? dard ho raha hai abhi bhi? (tearing up) main bhi kaisi hu? Jaan buchkar us din dard diya maine aapko. Shit!! Aapko zyaada toh nahi lagi na? firse khoon toh behna…
Arjun held her hands: Riya shaant ho jao
Riya: lekin…
Arjun: Riya main bilcul theek hu, aur woh chot bhi theek ho gayi
Tears streamed down her face: lekin maine use aur bigad diya, I am so sorry, pata nahi mujhe ….
Arjun wipes her tears: Riya kuch nahi hua mujhe…
Riya hung her head in guilt: aapko chot nahi lagne dena chahti thi lekin khud hi chot pahunchati rahi, main sach mein…
Arjun cups her face: chup ho jao Riya! main bilcul theek hu
Riya: lekin…
Arjun: Riya! bas, jaane do ab un baaton ko (he embraces her again) ab kuch maayine rakhta hai toh bas ye ki hum saath hai, jo beet gaya so beet gaya, it’s over
She closed her eyes as he dropped a kiss on her forehead. He squeezed her closer and felt her calm down.
Arjun: better?
She nodded and they broke away.
Riya: I am really sorry Arjun sir
Arjun holds her hand: it’s ok Riya, ab us baare mein sochna band karo, hm?
She nodded softly.
Arjun: chale?
Riya smiled: ha
Convinced that she felt better, he twisted the key in the ignition. He turned the steering and he changed the route for his home to take some luggage before going to hers.
ETF-
Vivek was still reeling under the shock and amazement of Riya’s kidnapping case. The others pushed back into their seats, breathless from all the talking.
Rathore smiled seeing the lot. It was days after the ETF had been back to its state of laughter and riot. After Shree’s first arrest, it was the shock of him being a criminal and Riya’s withdrawal. When Riya managed to come out of her shell and things were going back to normal, Shree had run away and the case had restarted. After his encounter, he and Chotu were both sick. Arjun and Riya had had a horrible fight which by God’s grace was over. Despite the arrival of Vivek, he hadn’t been accepted directly. Only now, he could see their bonds forming. The back of his mind was feebly upset about Shree but they couldn’t do anything about it. After all, the tech freak had his fair share of memorable moments with everyone. Yea! Except for the fact that he kidnapped Riya and tried to kill Arjun and then the entire team, another voice chided him.
They had to move on. And they would. ETF would always stand by the justice it sought to serve. No matter who or what the consequence. And they would have the bonds of friendship and love to hold them together. Until the end of time, or their retirement. Whichever came first.
Riya’s house-
Arjun dropped his bag on the sofa.
Riya pointed to her room: aap pehle fresh ho jayiye
Arjun: tum chali jao Riya, you need it more
Riya agreed obediently. She quickly freshened up and changed into casuals. They smiled at each other when she came out. Taking his bag, Arjun went inside. Riya blushed. She had never thought such a day would come. She opens the French door and walks to the terrace.
Arjun admired the room for a few seconds as he entered. The walls were shaded a baby pink. The bed was cozy, filled with pillows. A closet was against the opposite wall. Next to it, her dressing table where all her items were neatly arranged. He arranged his bag in a corner and removed his clothes to change before heading to the washroom.
He was surprised to find the hall empty when he came out. Then, his gaze fell on the open French window. He walked out on the terrace. She was by the ledge, staring out into the city. He smiled and went forward. Arjun softly placed his hand on her, bringing her out of trance. She automatically looked at him and a smile crept on her lips.
Arjun: kya soch rahi ho?
Riya sighed: bas yahi ki, kitna ajeeb haina? Shree mujhe sabse dur karna chahta tha, mere dimag mein kya kuch bharne ki koshish ki usne, hume alag karne ki koshish ki lekin uske jaane ke baad bhi, main wahi karti rahi jo woh chahta tha, pehle sabse dur ho gayi, fir dusri baar aapse shikva kar baithi
Arjun: Riya jo ho gaya so ho gaya, woh past hai, aur dobara kabhi bhi laut kar nahi aayega. Us sabko ek kadvi yaad samajh kar bhul jao
Riya: nahi, main nahi bhulna chahti (he looked at her in confusion) kyunki kahi na kahi usi ki wajah se maine kuch cheezein paayi hai, aapse, team se aur woh sab main bhulna nahi chahti
Arjun smiles. Latching on to her words, he teases her.
Arjun: acha? Aisa kya paaya hai tumne mujhse Riya?
Her eyes widened in surprise. Dammit! How did she manage to slip such a thing? She curses herself. Mumbling a negative answer, she tries to leave.
His fingers curl around her wrist, effectively stopping her. Her heartbeat quickens. He pulls her to him, winding an arm around her waist. She holds his shoulders to steady herself.
Arjun: uhu! Ab nahi Riya. main tumhe dobara kahi nahi jaane dunga, I lo
Her face lit up but he stopped. Gathering courage, she ventures forward.
Riya(hesitantly): aap kuch, keh rahe the
Arjun smiles. Her breath hitches in her throat as his face comes closer to her, leaving mere centimetres between them.
Arjun: kehna toh main bahot kuch chahta hun Riya
Riya: toh… kehte kyun nahi?
Arjun: tum kaho, us din hospital mein kya keh rahi thi? Jab tum aakhri baar humare saamne thi. Tum mera dard nahi samaj sakti, koi nahi samaj sakta, (leaning forward) kyunki maine?
She closes her eyes: … kyunki aapne, mere pyaar ke ehsaas ko adhura nahi rehne diya
He immediately closes the gap and captures her lips with his. Her eyes shot open and closed again as she melted into it. He pulls her closer, wrapping both his arms around her waist. She clutched his shirt tightly feeling nothing but pure bliss at his touch.
He touched his forehead to hers. They were breathing heavily with their eyes closed, reeling under the intensity of emotions poured into the kiss.
Arjun(softly): tum soch bhi nahi sakti Riya ki ye sunne ke liye mere kaan kitne taras gaye the. Tumhare bagair ye 6 mahine kaise guzare hai maine, ye sirf main jaanta hun. Har din, bas tumhari yaadein satati rehti thi, tumhari tasveer lekar aise baatein karta tha jaise woh nahi tum mere saamne ho, lekin fir bhi tumhari awaaz ka sukoon mujhe naseeb nahi hota tha. Tumhe dekhne ke liye aankhein roti thi meri lekin woh mumkin hi nahi tha. Jis din tumhe hospital mein dekha, main usi waqt tumhe baahar le jaata lekin, lekin jise paane ki umeed maine kho di thi woh mere saamne hai ye dekhkar main itna baukhla gaya ki main na kuch soch paaya aur na hi samaj paaya. In 6 mahino mein, har pal mujhe is baat se zyaada aur kisi ne itna andar se khokhla nahi kiya jitna ye ki maine apne jazbaaton ko pehchaante hue der kar di, ki main samaj hi nahi paaya ki kab maine apne dil mein tumhara naam likh liya. Bas yahi afsos mere dil aur dimag par haavi ho jaata ki main kabhi tumse ye keh hi nahi paaya (a tear escaped his eye) ki tum mere liye kitni maayine rakhti ho!
She felt her heart overflowing with emotions. Never in her wildest dreams, had she imagined Arjun saying anything close to what he had said. It was more than a dream come true for her. And like an absolute idiot, she had fought with him because of her fears. As she gazed into his eyes, she mentally smacked herself for not understanding the emotions in them that were there for her! Only her! Her Arjun sir loved her! Hopelessly and irrevocably, just as she did!……………………….
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Jai Shri Ram @SoniRita
+ 32
2 years ago
Loved ariya scenes, such beautifully written. Aww poor Riya still get nightmares, hope Arjun can help her.