Chapter 11

Arjun: ha woh main zara, washroom mein tha. Kholta hun.

Ayesha: ok

Call disconnect...

Riya: main room mein jaati hun.

Arjun nod karta hai. Riya bedroom mein chali jaati hai. kisi ko shak na ho isliye Arjun baahar se room lock kar deta hai aur fir darwaaza kholne jaata hai. darwaaza kholkar use dono dikhaye dete hai.

Arjun muh banata hai: ye bhi hai?

Ayesha smile karti hai: ha, andar aau?

Arjun: of course.

Woh use raasta deta hai aur unwillingly Sameer ko bhi andar aane deta hai. teeno sofa par baithte hai.

Rathore use uski gun waapis karta hai: yeh dene aaye the

Arjun mv "ek gun ke liye do log? : nahi Rathore, apne paas hi rakho. Maine Sakshi ke saamne gun di thi. Main nahi chahta ki woh koyi naya bakheda khada kare.

Ayesha ki nazre continuously idhar udhar dekh rahi hai. uski nazre kamre ke band darwaaze par atakti hai. use samaj mein nahi aata ki darwaaza baahar se kyun band hai. Arjun ye baat notice kar leta hai aur samaj jaata hai ki woh kyun aayi hai.

Arjun: bhabhi?

Ayesha: huh? Ha?

Arjun: kuch chahiye?

Ayesha: umm...na...nahi. Aap gun rakh lijiye na. agar zaroorat pad gayi toh?

Arjun: nahi, I have enough things to look after. Mujhe ek aur musibat nahi chahiye.

Sameer: par..

Arjun: us footage ke baare mein kuch pata chala?

Sameer: nahi, Shree ke check karne ke bavjud kuch nahi mila.

Arjun: aur woh Jayant?

Ayesha: uska interrogation chal raha hai...jaise hi kuch pata chalta hai, aapko bata denge.

Arjun nod karta hai.

Ayesha: waise sir, aapko us sabke baare mein pata kaise chala?

Arjun: informer ne bataya tha, kyun?

Ayesha: nahi woh achanak, itna bada case. Koi lead nahi, aise hi seedha bina koi warning, isliye.

Arjun: kabhi-kabhi badi cheezein achanak hi hoti hai, aur waise bhi usne mujhe pehle hi bataya tha ki drugs smuggling ka bada racket chal raha hai. use koyi crack nahi kar paaya hai kyunki kisi ko pata hi nahi ki smuggling hoti kaise hai. bas wahi pata karne ki der thi, isliye itna time lag gaya.

Rathore: toh aur kya pata hai tumhe unke baare mein?

Arjun: bas yahi ki bahot faile hue hai. unhe ukhadna itna aasan nahi hoga

Ayesha: aasan ho toh ETF kis kaam ki sir?

Arjun smile karta hai: waise ye gun ki home delivery ke liye thanks par I'll prefer the return policy

Sameer: ek baar fir soch le Arjun, rakh le apne paas

Arjun: soch liya

Sameer aur Ayesha ek dusre ki taraf glance karte hai aur fir jaane ke liye uthte hai. Arjun bhi unhe see-off karne ke liye uthta hai

Ayesha: waise Arjun sir, woh darwaaza kyun band rakha hai aapne?

Arjun: baahar jaa raha tha, darwaaze band karne ki aadat hai

Sameer: kaha jaa rahe ho?

Arjun: bas main road tak, ghar ka saaman lena hai.

Ayesha: aayiye na sir, hum chod dete hai.

Arjun: main chal lunga bhabhi, dur nahi hai aur hota bhi toh gaadi hai mere paas.

Woh bhi unke saath baahar jaata hai. Arjun darwaaza theek se lock karta hai baahar ki taraf chalne lagta hai.

Ayesha: bye sir!

Arjun bina mude haath hilata hai. Ayesha aur Sameer gaadi mein baithte hai. Sameer gaadi start karta hai.

Ayesha: dur se Arjun sir ka peecha kijiye.

Sameer(shocked): are you nuts?

Ayesha: koshish toh kijiye, aap racer the na?

Sameer: racing is the complete opposite of what you want me to do!

Ayesha: oho! chaliye na...main madad karti hun. Sir ne kaha ki woh main road par jaa rahe haina, toh hum bhi wahi chup jaate hai jaha se woh hume dikhaye de.

Sameer disbeilief mein sar hilata hai aur jaise Ayesha ne kaha waise karta hai. raaste mein unhe Arjun footpath se chalte hue dikhta hai. woh normally drive karte hue lane ke baahar chala jaata hai. Arjun main road tak jaata hai aur fir ek local grocery store mein chala jaata hai. Sameer aur Ayesha dur se, us par nazar rakh rahe hai.

Sameer: lo...ye toh kharidi karne hi aaya hai, dekh lo

Par Ayesha nahi sunti. Use lagta hai ki use koi na clue toh mil hi jaayega. Sameer rolls his eyes and patiently waits whilst tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. Ayesha was keenly observing Arjun. Arjun leaves the shop after a few minutes with a small bag and starts walking back home. As Arjun crossed the road, Ayesha left the car and went to the store.

Ayesha: bhaiya woh jo admi abhi aaye the, unhone kya khareeda?

The store owner looks at her suspiciously: aapse matlab?

Ayesha slams her ETF ID on the counter: kya khareeda unhone?

The store owner gulps his saliva: woh...madam...ek chai ki patti ka packet, 4 packet maggi, ek sabun, aur washing machine detergent, aur ek uh...(he looks into the bill book) ek ha, ek shoe polish.

Ayesha disappoint hokar chali jaati hai. woh gaadi mein baithkar darwaaza slam karti hai.

Sameer flinch karta hai: toh kuch pata chala, (teasingly) ma'am?

Ayesha whine karti hai: mujhe kya pata woh itne tez niklenge?

Sameer: maine pehle hi tumse kaha tha ki kuch faayda nahi hone waala hai, maana ki humara rishta abhi theek nahi hai, lekin main Arjun ko achi tarah se jaanta hun, uske dimag mein kaunsi ghanti kab baj jaaye yeh toh woh khud bhi nahi jaanta

Ayesha(sochte hue): okay fine! Lekin kya sach mein unhe darwaaze band karne ki aadat hai?

Sameer: ha

Ayesha muh phula kar baith jaati hai

Sameer apni hasi control karta hai: tumhe kya lagta hai Ayesha? Jo main pata nahi kar paaya woh tum kar logi?

Ayesha: ho gaya aapka taana maarna?

Sameer(haste hue): chalo theek hai, thodi daya kar hi deta hun tum par.

Ayesha(shocked): matlab aapko pata hai?

Sameer: ha

Ayesha: kya? Kaise? Mujhe toh pata bhi nahi chala ki aapne abhi unse kuch ugalwaaya ho

Sameer: abhi nahi Ayesha, yaad hai tumhe? Arjun ki bail ke baad, humara shak ek ladki par tha aur fir main usse milne gaya tha, use warn karne ke liye

Ayesha (yaad karte hue): ha

Sameer: usi waqt, jab maine us ladki ka zikar kiya tab pal bhar ke liye hi sahi lekin woh hichkichaya tha zaroor. Kuch toh hai jo woh jaanta hai aur hume bata nahi raha. And for some reason ab mujhe lagne laga hai ki yeh case bhi usi sab ka hissa hai...woh ladki aur ye case dono jude hue hai.

Ayesha: kahi aisa toh nahi ki woh ladki hi unki informer ho?

Sameer: ek informer kya ETF office mein ghus kar saboot dhundhne ki himmat karegi?

Ayesha: aap sahi keh rahe hai, yeh chakkar toh jitna hum soch rahe hai usse kayi zyaada bad lag raha hai, par woh ladki kaun ho sakti hai? Roshni ke ilawa toh woh kisi ladki ki taraf aankh uthakar bhi nahi dekhte

Sameer(sadly): thi ek

Ayesha(surprised): thi? (fir shocked) firse thi? Matlab woh bhi?

Sameer nazre jhuka kar lightly nod karta hai: ha...woh bhi...ab is duniya mein nahi rahi

Ayesha: kaun?

Sameer smiled sadly: thi ek, gungunati hui, pyaari si titli jise pura bageeche ghumne ke baad bhi wahi ekmurjhaaya hua phul mila baithne ke liye. Thodi paagal thi, lekin samajdaar bhi thi. Use milne ke baad pehli baar aisa laga ki dar aur bahaduri dono ek hi sikke ke do pehlu hai. galtiyaan karti thi lekin unhe sudharne ki himmat bhi rakhti thi.

Ayesha: fir?

Sameer sigh karta hai: fir kya?

Ayesha: woh aur Arjun sir?

Sameer ki aankhe bhar jaati hai: pyaar ka pehla akshar adhura hota hai Ayesha. Unki kismat bhi kuch waisi hi thi. Roshni ke saath toh fir bhi Arjun ne shaadi ki, waqt bitaya lekin woh...Arjun ka dil bas pighalne hi waala tha aur woh shaheed ho gayi. Us din Roshni ke baad maine pehli baar uske aankhon mein aansu dekhe. Tabhi mujhe ehsaas hua...ki uska pyaar ek tarfa nahi tha. Arjun bhi apna dil hatheli par lekar khada tha. Bas...dene ka waqt nahi mila. Us din mujhe pata chala ki uska tuta hua dil ab bikhar chuka hai.

Ayesha use comfort karti hai. Sameer apne aapko compose karta hai.

Sameer: khair, hume office jaana chahiye, shayad Shree, Chotu ko kuch pata chala ho

Ayesha nod karti hai. Sameer engine karke, drive karna shuru karti hai.

Dusri taraf-

Arjun aaram se apne ghar jaa raha hai mv "Sorry bhabhi lekin kya haina, tum jis school mein padh rahi ho uska main principle hun. Woh lock khol kar, andar jaata hai. saaman ek taraf rakh kar woh Riya ke kamre ko kholta hai. darwaaza khulne ki awaaz se, Riya mudti hai. woh bed par baithi hui thi.

Riya: gaye?

Arjun bhi uske paas baithta hai: nahi, tumhara introduction karwaana hai

Riya squint karti hai: aap seedha jawab dena nahi sikhenge na?

Arjun: tum sawaal tedhe puchogi toh jawaab bhi tedhe hi milenge. Rathore ki tarah comments mat maaro

Riya: kya bigaada hai bichare Rathore sir ne aapka?

Arjun: zaroori nahi ki bigada ho Riya, bigadta hue ko ignore karna bhi utna bura hota hai

Riya: aap kya keh rahe hai mere kuch samaj mein nahi aa raha hai

Arjun: tumhe puri story nahi pata, chodo na

Riya: toh bataiye na

Arjun: lambi hai

Riya: na aapke paas kaam dhandha hai na mere paas

Arjun: Riyu, kyun dimag kharaab karna chahti ho apna

Riya: are Arjun aise thodi chalta hai. aapko burai bhi karni hai aur mujhe wajah bhi nahi batani hai

Arjun uske kandhe par sar rakhta hai: chodo na Riya, tum khamakha use jhagda karne baith jaogi

Riya: agar aisi baat hai toh aapko mujhe batana hi padega

Arjun: lekin...

Riya: acha main unse is baare mein baat nahi karungi, promise! Ab toh bataiye

Arjun: pakka? Indirectly bhi nahi?

Riya: nahi karungi

Arjun: humari unban ho gayi thi

Riya use flatly dekhti hai: really? Mujhe toh pata hi nahi tha

Arjun smile karta hai: hum college se ek dusre ko jaante the

Riya aankhein faadkar use dekhti hai: kya???

Arjun: ha

Riya: wow! Itni puraani dushmani hai aap dono ki?

Arjun eyes roll karta hai: main continue karu?

Riya: kariye na, kisne roka hai

Arjun: shuru ke din, sab ek dusre ko abhi tak theek se jaante nahi the. Sab naye dost bana rahe the. Toh ittefaq se hum bench share kar rahe the. Do-teen lectures back-to back the. Chouthe tak hum bore ho rahe the toh humari khusur-phusur chalu ho gayi. Aise hi baaton mein hume pata chala ki hum dono IPS ki taiyaari kar rahe the toh hum us topic par baat karne lage. And woh humara bonding point ho gaya. Pata hi nahi chala kab hum dono gehre dost ban gaye.

Riya: bas aise hi? Just because aap dono ka career option ek tha?

Arjun(haste hue): ha...par fir dheere- dheere hum ek dusre ko jaane lage. Ek dusre ke saath waqt bitaane lage. Humari dosti bahot unexpected thi lekin bilcul perfect thi. Agar kisi ko bhi dusre ka pata chahiye hota toh woh humse hi puchte the.

Riya: fir?

Arjun: fir ek din uske through mein Roshni ko mila

Riya: seriously?

Arjun: yup,

Riya: love triangle?

Arjun: kya? Nahi! Aisa kuch nahi tha

Riya: thank god! Mujhe love triangles bilcul nahi pasand. Kitni tragedy hoti hai unmein, anyway Fir?

Arjun: fir, hum dono ko pyaar hua aur shaadi.

Riya(excitedly): are itna kya short cut maar rahe hai aap, kam se kam ye toh bataiye ki aapne unhe propose kaise kiya.

Arjun smile karta hai: tumhe apne sauten ke saath meri love story sunni hai?

Riya: time line ke hissab se toh main unki sauten hui, naa ki woh meri...atleast proposal toh bataiye (whining) boliye na

Arjun smile karta hai: us din Roshni ka birthday tha and...main actually teen mahine se ring lekar ghum raha tha...

Riya: teen mahine?!?! Aapki sach mein itni fat rahi thi?

Arjun(defensively): fat wat kuch nahi rahi thi ok...bas sahi mauke ka intezaar kar raha tha

Riya(amused): ha! Ha samaj gayi mein...aage bataiye

Arjun: fir woh...hum mile.. as in main, Roshni aur Rathore. Hum almost pura din saath mein the. Fir raat ko dinner ke baad hum dono nikalne waale the. Tabhi achanak Rathore ko kisi case related ek call aaya toh woh baat karne ke liye side par chala gaya (Arjun use batate-batate khud us yaad mein kho gaya)

Flashback

Arjun and Roshni dono car ke paas khade hai aur Sameer ka wait kar rahe hai.

Roshni: Arjun...thanks

Arjun: kis liye?

Roshni: mere birthday ko itna yaadgaar banane

Arjun(chuckling): Rosh...jaha tak mera khayal hum dono ne tumhe aaj se zyaada kabhi itna tang nahi kiya hoga

Roshni use choukate hue hug karti hai. aisa nahi tha ki dono ne kabhi hug nahi kiya par jis tareeke se Roshni ne use hug kiya, Arjun ko kuch alag hi mehsoos hua.

Roshni: mujhe koi problem nahi hai tumhare mujhe tang karne se

Arjun(jokingly): soch lo...zindgi bhar jhelna mushkil hi nahi namumkin hai

Roshni: na mumkin mein bhi mumkin chupa hota hai ACP saahab, aazma kar toh dekhiye

Arjun smile karke use dur hat ta hai aur apne ghutne par jaakar finally ring nikalta hai: aazma liya

Roshni smile karti hai. Arjun use ring pehna deta hai.

Dusri taraf Sameer apna call khatam karke waapis aata hai aur aate hi dekhta hai ki Arjun aur Roshni khud mein hi khoye hue hai. uski aankhein fat jaati hai. woh immediately turn karke chillata hai.

Sameer: WHAT THE BLOODY HELL, GUYS!!!!

Udhar dono jhatke se alag hote hai aur Sameer almost trauma mein chala jaata hai.

Flashback Ends

Riya zor-zor se hasne lagti hai.

Arjun: tum has kyun rahi ho?

Riya pet pakad kar bed par let ti hai. Arjun ka support chala jaata hai aur woh muh banata hai

Arjun: tumhe itni hasi kyun aa rahi hai madam?

Riya(abhi bhi haste hue): toh...toh aur kya karu? Oh god! Bichare Rathore sir...main toh imagine bhi nahi kar sakti...aur upar se...technically Roshni ji ne aapko propose kiya

Arjun: usne mujhe propose nahi kiya...maine bhi use propose kiya...woh mutual proposal tha...

Riya bas thumbs up dekar hasti rehti hai

Arjun: aur imagine karne mein kya problem ho rahi hai tumhe? Woh raat bhul gayi kya?

Riya ke muh par taala lag jaata hai: raat? Kau...kaunsi raat?

Arjun: abhi yaad dilata hun kaunsi raat.

Riya bhaagne waali hai lekin Arjun use pakadkar bed par pin kar deta hai.

Riya: Arjun...woh...woh...

Arjun(uske aur kareeb jaate hue): ha jaan bolo

Riya ki aankhein automatically band ho jaati hai. Arjun smile karke, use kiss karta hai...

Arjun: ab kuch yaad aaya?

Riya blush karti hai aur use push karke bhaagne ki koshish karti hai: bhuli nahi thi

Lekin Arjun use pakadkar firse apne upar kheench leta hai: are jaan pehle bata deti, itna drama karne ki kya zaroorat thi? Seedhe-seedhe kiss maang leti toh mana nahi karta

Riya (blushing): Arjun shut up!

Woh khud ko chudwaakar room se bhaag jaati hai. uske peeche Arjun bed par lete hue uski haalat par has raha hai. udhar Riya bhaag kar kitchen mein chali jaati hai. uske aankhon ke saamne wahi pal baar-baar aa raha hai. woh apni badhti dhadkano ko shaant karne ke liye glass mein paani bharti hai, bas peene waali hai lekin fir aankhein band karke us pal ko firse mehsoos karti hai...