Part 31 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]
Riya shifted in her sleep. Arjun woke up immediately but she had just turned to snuggle closer to him. He smiled and kissed her forehead, pulling her closer in his warm embrace. Her nightmares were finally gone!.........................................
It was a fresh morning when Rathore announced the murder case of a young pregnant girl in her flat.
Her body lay in the living room of her flat in a pool of blood. She had been stabbed repeatedly. Liza and Arjun examined the body while Rathore and Ayesha searched the house.
Riya bent below the police tape to enter the flat with Chotu. She didn’t dare look at the body.
Riya: sir! (they gathered around) neighbours ka kehna hai ki Umang yaha akeli rehti thi. Woh bhi sirf 2 mahino se, rent par. Uske pati ko kabhi kisi ne nahi dekha, in fact woh uske baare mein baat karna bhi avoid karti thi. Ho sakta hai ki woh unmarried ho, pregnancy par boyfriend ne chod diya ho
Arjun: nahi, woh married thi
Rathore: ye tum kaise keh sakte ho?
Arjun: uske ring finger par wedding ring ka nishaan hai, jo recently hi nikali gayi hai
Rathore: hm, fir divorce ki possibility hai, Liza assault ke nishaan hai? purane zakhm? Jo domestic violence jaise ho?
Liza: nahi sir, jo thode bahot assault ke nishaan hai woh fresh hai
Riya: aur sir, ek aur baat ki woh paas mein ek beauty parlour mein job karti thi. Fixed timings, subah 9 baje jaati thi, shaam ko 7 baje laut aati. Kal Monday tha toh parlour band tha isliye woh ghar par hi thi. Aaj subah jab doodh waale ke bell bajane par darwaaza nahi khula toh neighbours ne out of concern duplicate chaabi se darwaaza khola
Chotu continued: sir watchman ne kisi ajeeb insaan ko aate jaate nahi dekha, haala ki woh compound ke rounds maarta rehta hai, ho sakta hai ki jab woh gate ke paas na ho tab koi aaya ho, Vivek CCTV ki footage lene gaya hai
Ayesha: sir, jis knife se iska khoon hua hai, woh yaha nahi hai, khooni use apne saath le gaya hai aur shayad laaya bhi khud hi ho
Rathore: nahi, kitchen ke knife set se ek gayab hai, ho na ho usne wahi knife use ki hai aur murder ke baad use lekar bhaag gaya. ok! Rawte, Riya! tum dono parlour jaakar puch taach karo! aur Riya uske family ke baare mein pata karo! Chotu, Vivek se kaho ki Umang ke call records nikale! Liza take the body away. Main aur Ayesha society ki chaan been karte hai, ho sakta hai ki usne chaku yahi kahi fek diya ho!
They all nodded and left to do their respective tasks.
They regrouped at the office with their findings. Her professional friends too had no idea of who could do such a thing with Umang since she was a kind person. The CCTV footage revealed a man in a hoodie and cap in the lobby of the floor. He rang her doorbell and Umang let him in after a minute or two.
Ayesha: iska matlab woh us, admi ko jaanti thi.
Sakshi frowned: lekin uske get up ki wajah se CCTV mein chehra nahi dikh raha hai
Vivek: sir uske call records mein kuch ajeeb nahi hai sivay is baat ke ki do mahino mein usne apne family ya husband mein se kisi ko bhi contact nahi kiya. Kuch din uske parents ke phones aaye the, but Umang ne receive nahi kiye
Liza walked in with a few papers in her hands: sir, mujhe uske nakhoon mein skin ke traces mile hai jo ho sakta hai ki uske attacker ke ho, main DNA sample collect kar liya hai
That was a big clue and they all looked at her in appreciation. Riya entered announcing the arrival of Umang’s family and in-laws who were all shocked at the news. The parents were crying hysterically. Arjun immediately notices scratch marks on her husband’s arms and gestures to Liza. She nods and signals Chotu to come with her.
Making an excuse, she takes him to her lab while the others question the family. They reveal that Umang had left home out of the blue, without telling anyone anything.
Arjun: jab woh bina bataye chali gayi toh aap logon ne pata karne ki koshish nahi ki? Ye bhi nahi socha ki woh pregnant hai, ho sakta hai ki uske saath kuch bura hua ho?
Rathore: aur Mr. and Mrs. Pandey (her parents) ke ilawa aap mein se kisine phone bhi nahi kiya? strange!
The in-laws remained mum, unsure of what to say.
Arjun glared at them: Umang Ne Ghar Choda Bhi Tha Ya Aap Logon Ne Use Ghar Se Nikaal Diya!?!?
They were taken aback by the roughness in his voice but continued to remain silent. Riya sided upto the Pandey’s.
Riya(softly): aapki beti toh ab nahi rahi, uske saath ek Masoom ne bhi apni jaan gavah di, kya aap un dono ko aise hi bhul jaayenge? Aap toh uske maa baap haina? Uski laash dekhkar aapki ruh nahi kaanpti?
Stifling a sob, the father spoke up: Umang ne jaane ka faisla khud kiya tha lekin (he looked at her in-laws accusatorily) uski wajah yahi log hai!! ye bhi aur woh Manoj (husband) bhi!
The mother in law spoke up in anger: are! Aap kya koi bhi ilzaam lagayenge hum par? ekto aapki beti ki wajah se humari naak kat gayi! Bhagwan jaane woh bacha Manoj ka tha bhi ya…
Ayesha came forward and slapped her: Shut Up!! Ye ETF Hai Tum Logon Ka Ghar Nahi, Samjhe?!
The four of them stared at Ayesha in shock. Riya placed a comforting hand on Mr. Pandey.
He continued: hum sab uski pregnancy se bahot khush the lekin ek din achanak, Manoj ne kaha ki…
Liza returned with Chotu holding the scruff of Manoj’s neck who was pale with fright.
Liza: sir! DNA matched! Umang ke nakhoon mein jo skin ke traces the, woh Manoj ke hi hai! he is the killer!
Arjun angrily marched to him and punched him hard. His parents were surprised as well.
Mother: KYA!?!
Tears streamed down Manoj’s face: ha maine maara use, par I swear main use maarne nahi gaya tha, main toh bas ye chahta tha ki woh meri baat maan le aur ghar waapis aaye. Woh meri patni thi, main usse pyaar karta tha. lekin jab woh nahi maani toh mujhe gussa aa gaya aur hum dono ka jhagda ho gaya. Usi mein maine, waha se chaku uthaya aur…
He broke down.
Rathore(sternly): kaunsi baat nahi maani?!
Mr. Pandey(cracked): woh bache ka sex determination test karwana chahta tha. isliye usne ghar chod diya. humne usse kaha bhi ki agar woh, woh keh raha hai toh jaane do, choti baat hai lekin woh humse bhi gussa ho gayi
The entire team looked at him in disgust. After all this, he had the audacity to say that he loved her? The hollow feelings grazed Riya’s wounds. On top of it, she was never one to bear honor killing. She bore holes into him.
Rathore: disgusting!! Sharam aani chahiye tum sabko!!
Arjun turned to Umang’s parents: Isse Zyaada Tum Log Umang Ki Maut Ke Zimmedar Ho! Uska Support Karna Ke Bajay Use Raaste Par Thokre Khaane Ke Liye Chod Diya, Chotu Lekar Jao Ise!! Ayesha, Riya In Chaaron Par Mujhe Feticide Aur Illegal Gender Determination Ke Charges Chahiye!!
Chotu grabbed Manoj again and handcuffed him.
Riya: ek minute Chotu
She walked upto him and slapped him across the face. Stamping her foot, she left with Ayesha and the four parents.
Later-
Rathore was going to get a coffee for himself when he passed by Riya as she returned from the record room. They smiled at each other.
Sameer: Riya?
Riya stopped and turned: ji sir?
Sameer grinned: You look better
Riya flashed her dimples: I feel better
Sameer: mujhe tumse baat karne ka mauka nahi mila Riya, I am really sorry ki hum tumhe bacha nahi paaye Shree se…
Riya: Sir aap kyun sorry bol rahe hai, woh toh mujhe…
Sameer: Nahi Riya, galti humari hai. Mumbai ki sabse behtareen team ke officers ye tak nahi dekh paaye ki unke beech ek gaddar chupa hai aur usne tumhe humari naak ke neeche se tumhe hum se cheen liya, I’m sorry
Riya: Sir please khud ko dosh mat dijiye, usne ek jhoot create kiya tha sir humesha ki tarah, waise hi jaise usne mere saamne kiya tha. aapko toh pata bhi nahi tha par main toh sab kuch jaante hue bhi uska asli chehra nahi dekh paayi, please khud ko blame mat kijiye
Sameer was about to say something when Arjun arrives at the spot.
Arjun: Kya baatein ho rahi hai?
Sameer: Tumse matlab? Hum dono ki beech ki baatein hai
Arjun: Interesting
Sameer: What’s interesting?
Arjun: Ayesha ko pata nahi na ki tumhare ab tak 27 ladkiyon ke saath affairs ho chuke hai, bichari khamakha tumse umeed laga kar baithi hai, uska dil nahi tutna chahiye, main bata hi deta hu
Sameer looked at him in horror: Abe Saale!
He pushed Riya in his direction. She collides with him. Surprised, Arjun immediately wrapped his arms around her to prevent her from falling.
Sameer: Ye Le Teri Riya, Itni Mushkil Se Use Pataya Hai Saare Kiye Karaye Par Paani Fer Dega!
She blushed furiously as Arjun smirked and Sameer stomped away, leaving the two love birds alone.
Riya steps away: bye sir!
She was really going? Nope! Not gonna happen. Not on his watch. He holds her arm and pulls her back, surprising her.
Arjun: kaha jaa rahi ho?
Riya: sir please chodiye, koi dekh lega
Arjun: toh dekhne do, main darta hun kya?
Riya blushed: sir please
Arjun: nahi, tum mere saath aao pehle
Before she could protest, he took her away to his cabin. Once inside, he winds an arm around her waist. Her hands automatically rest against his chest.
Arjun: ab batao kya hua?
Riya: kya?
Arjun: subah se thoda thaki hui kyun lag rahi ho?
She averted her gaze: kuch nahi, woh bas yu hi
Arjun: yu hi kaise? Subah-subah koi insaan kaise thak sakta hai? seedhe-seedhe batao warna (mischievously) mere paas aur bhi tareeke hai (leaning forward) samjhi ya samjhau?
She looked at him in surprise: nahi woh… sach mein woh…
Arjun: Riya!
Riya tore away from his gaze: woh bas, raat ko neend der se aayi, isliye
Arjun(concerned): kya? Kyun? firse sapne…
Riya: nahi, nahi, sapne nahi (a tint appeared on her cheeks) bas neend nahi aayi
Arjun was relieved as well as amused at her flushed form. It was weird that she was blushing just by mentioning that she wasn’t able to sleep.
Arjun: kyun? coffee pee li thi kya?
She shook her head still not meeting his gaze. He pulls her closer.
Arjun: toh fir?
The red darkened: kuch nahi sir, bas aise hi
However, Arjun was not going to let go of her. He was sure that something was up. But what? He didn’t know.
Arjun: are batao toh sahi
Riya: aisa kuch nahi sir
Arjun: Riya, tumhe kya mujhe har baar dhamki deni padegi?
Her eyes widened and then she clenched them shut. She was conveniently caught in between.
Arjun: bolo Riya
Riya fumbled: woh… woh sir, darasal baat ye hai ki… ki, aap, aap nahi the toh… woh darasal, itne din, (her cheeks turned crimson) aadat ki wajah se (lowering her gaze) aadat ki wajah se, aap, aapke bagair neend nahi aayi
Arjun was pleasantly surprised. Then, a wide smile came on his face. She didn’t dare look up. He bent forward and whispered in her ear.
Arjun: toh pehle bol deti na jaan, main aadhi raat ko bhi aa jaata
She blushed hard and tried to leave but he didn’t let her. He kissed her cheek. She clutched his shirt. He moved towards her lips. Just as he leaned forward, she took her head back in resistance. He looked at her questioningly.
Riya: mujhe, mujhe aapse kuch kehna hai
Arjun: kya?
Riya looked here and there. She had been wanting to say it ever since they patched up but either couldn’t find the opportunity or was nervous to take it. It was most probably the latter. She had made a terrible blunder. Unintentionally, but still terrible.
Shrugging the unnecessary thoughts aside, she tried to gather courage, meeting his eyes in the process. She didn’t know if those penetrating eyes were making it easier for her to finally say what she had been meaning to or more difficult.
Arjun on the other hand, was observing her expressions. He could see conflict, guilt and a tinge of fear. Nevertheless, he waited patiently for her to speak.
She finally took a deep breath. Her expression softened. She gazed into his eyes and let the words tumble out from her mouth.
Riya: Arjun, you are the best man I have ever met in my life!
Arjun froze.
“YOU ARE THE WORST MAN I’VE EVER MET IN MY LIFE!!!”
Those words had haunted him and shaken him to the core when he heard her utter them. It was what had made him cut off from her. He hadn’t been able to bear the fact that she told them to him.
He came out of his trance when he saw her lower her eyelids. His heart burst with love for her. He instantly took her for a kiss, taking her by surprise.
A burden lifted from Riya’s chest as she felt his lips move against hers. She felt him pull her closer, wrapping his arms around her tightly, as though he never wanted to let go. And in that moment, she gave in.
The last iota of doubt and guilt vanished. It was just two lovers basking in the warmth of their love, promising to be together, forever!
The End…………………….
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Saraf Wasima Islam Saba @SarafWasima
+ 7
2 years ago
WHY DO YOU END LIKE THIS?! 😭