Chapter 21

Arjun notice karta hai mv "sorry, ek baar ye khatam ho jaaye uske baad main Riya ko saamne aane ke liye convince kar lunga...promise...

Pune-

Riya apne aapko compose karke uthti hai. woh jaldi se jaa kar apne haath aur Khanjar dono saaf karti hai. woh gloves pehankar Chetan ka pura ghar chaan maarti hai aur fir sab kuch waise ka waise rakhkar apna scarf pehankar nikal jaati hai. Gokul colony se thoda dur jaa kar rickshaw pakadti hai aur seedhe Kushal aur car ke paas jaati hai.

Kushal use aate hue dekhta hai. woh engine on kar leta hai. Riya cab mein baithkar apna scarf nikalti hai.

Riya: ghar bhaago Kushal!

Kushal: ji madam.

Woh immediately turn karke firse expressway ki taraf jaata hai.

Riya: hume Mumbai pahunchne mein kitna time lagega?

Kushal: madam, expressway mein toh utna hi waqt lagega, par shehar mein jaakar toh traffic hi decide karega ki ghar kab tak pahunchenge

Riya: hmm, ye gaadi ka number kaise badal gaya?

Kushal: woh madam Arjun saab ne kaha tha

Riya: oh...acha bhaiya, apna phone denge please

Kushal: ji madam.

Woh ek baar raasta check karke apna phone Riya ko pass karta hai. Riya apne informer ko phone karti hai.

Rakesh: hello?

Riya: main hun

Rakesh: madam aapne phone kab liya?

Riya: mera nahi hai, woh sab chodo ye batao ki kaam ho gaya?

Rakesh: ha madam bas laut hi raha hun

Riya: theek hai, lock kiya na firse?

Rakesh: ha madam

Riya: hmm...main baad mein contact karti hun

Rakesh: ji

Call disconnect

Riya Kushal ko phone waapis karti hai aur back rest par apna sar rakhti hai. woh apni aankhein band karti hai. uski aankhon ke saamne firse Chetan aur uske admiyon ka khoon saamne aata hai. woh shiver karti hai. Riya tightly apni aankhein band karti hai aur sone ki koshish karti hai taaki woh apna mind divert kar sake.

ETF Office-

Arjun full form mein hai. woh saare sabut aur saare confession videos back-to-back check kar raha hai aur saare juniors khushi-khushi uske orders follow kar rahe hai. Sameer bored look dekar apni seat par baitha hai. achanak uska phone bajta hai. woh Kushal ka naam dekhkar immediately receive karta hai.

Arjun: ha bolo

Kushal: nikal gaye sir

Arjun: okay (woh Riya ke baare mein puchna chahta hai lekin sabke saamne puch nahi sakta, side par gaya toh Sameer aur Ayesha dono ko shak hoga) acha, tumhari behan ki tabiyat ab kaisi hai? operation theek se ho gaya na?

Kushal samaj jaata hai: lagta toh aisa hi hai sir, (rear view check karke) madam ki toh aankh lag gayi hai aur sir (softly) unhone ne phone kiya tha

Arjun: kaunsa doctor?

Kushal: pata nahi, unhone number delete kar diya

Arjun: okay khayal rakhna uska

Kushal: ji sir

Call disconnect

Arjun firse kaam mein ghusta hai

Sameer: khabri?

Arjun: hmm

Sameer: purana hai?

Arjun: hmm

Sameer ko shak nahi hota kyunki purane wafadaron se aisi baatein hoti rehti hai lekin use abhi bhi Saxena ki baat khatak rahi hai mv "Agar humne kuch nahi kiya, aur Arjun ne bhi kuch nahi kiya toh fir kisne Saxena ko sach bolne par majbur kiya aur kyun? Nahi! Ye Arjun aaj kal kuch zyaada hi baatein chupa raha hai. either way woh ho na ho lekin pata toh karna hi padega. Shayad yeh wahi ladki ho jisne pehle bhi Arjun ki help ki thi. Woh apna phone nikal apne khabri ko message karta hai.

Arjun Raghu ke confession par pahunchta hai. uski Rathore ke saath hui baat dekh kar uske hosh ud jaate hai bas paseene chutne hi waale hai lekin control kar leta hai par sirf apni nervousness ko...gusse ko nahi.

Arjun: What The Hell!! Ye Kis Ladke Aur Ladki Ki Baat Kar Raha Hai? Kaunsi Ladki Wanted List Mein Hai? Tum Logon Ne Pehle Kyun Nahi Bataya! Aur Altaf? Kaun Hai Ye? Pata Kiya Ya Nahi Uske Baare Mein?

Sabka focus uske chillane se screen par se hat jaata hai.

Chotu: ha...ha sir, ladki aur Altaf ke baare mein pata karna shuru kar diya hai

Arjun: Aadhi-Adhuri Baatein Mat Karo!! Mere Sawalon Ka Jawab Do!!

Shree: humare hissab se Raghu sirf andaza laga raha hai ki woh ladki jo us ladke ke saath thi woh unki wanted mein hai aur woh humare saath hai

Arjun: Jab Main Puch Raha Tha Ki Kuch Pata Chala Ya Nahi Tab Kyun Nahi Bataya?!?!?

Shree: woh...bhul gaye sir

Arjun: Itni Yaad Aa Rahi Hai?

Shree tongue bita karta hai: sorry sir

Ladkiyan confuse hoti hai.

Ayesha: kiski yaad aa rahi hai?

Sameer(sharply): RAWTE!!

Arjun immediately apne statement ko regret karta hai: I'm sorry.

Woh laptop band karta hai. kuch pal silence rehti hai. Sameer Arjun ko ghur raha hai. Arjun sar jhuka kar baitha hai. Shree aur Chotu dono glances exchange karte hai.

Chotu: sir...

Shree: it's ok

Arjun: I'm sorry guys, mera woh matlab nahi tha

Chotu: hum jaante hai sir

Ayesha aur Liza ko curiosity khaye jaa rahi hai lekin seriousness dekh kar himmat nahi karte.

Sameer sar hilata hai: dhyaan rakho Arjun please!

Arjun: tum sahi keh rahe ho, it was irresponsible.

Shree sabko cheer up karta hai: sach hi kehte hai log, aurat ki kabiliyat par shak nahi karna chahiye. Ek hi ladki ne is gang ki itni band baja rakhi hai ki unhe use hit list mein daalna pada aur pehle bhi ladki ne hi unki band bajayi thi

Chotu aur Sameer smile karte hai lekin Arjun alert hota hai.

Arjun: pehle bhi matlab?

Ayesha: sir, woh koi khaas lead nahi thi na toh hum manually records check kar rahe the taaki kuch dhundh sake aur apparently pehle bhi aisa case aaya hai, ek trainee ki mock ke chakkar mein bahot bada ring expose hua tha but unfortunately (woh use file paas karti hai) uska in-charge ACP uh...Harshit!  Aur ek officer aur woh trainee teeno ki maut ho chuki hai.

Arjun file check karta hai. use Riya ki details bhi milti hai mv "kya ye sab ne dekha? woh tareeke se puchta hai.

Arjun: good job! Kisne dhundha ye?

Ayesha: maine

Arjun: firse ladki?

Ayesha smile karti hai.

Arjun: tum logon ne ise follow kiya?

Sameer(bored): kya faayda teeno mar chuke hai, woh ACP, officer aur trainee, woh bhi accidents mein. Aur ab kaunsa sabut humare liye wait kar raha hoga? Laashein bhi jal gayi

Arjun side se Shree aur Chotu ko dekhta hai. woh bhi normally baithe hai mv "agar teeno ne file dekhi hoti toh Riya ka naam zaroor lete. Acha hua inhe nahi pata.

Sameer: ab chup kyun ho gaye? Kuch bolo bhi

Liza: ha sir aapki zameen hila dene wali theory ka kabse intezaar hai

Arjun file band karke apne paas hi rakh deta taaki kisi ke haath na aaye: theory mein toh filhaal sirf yahi hai ki jo nishaan un doctors ke haath par mila, wahi nishaan un doctors ke haath par bhi mila jo pehle pakde gaye the

Sameer(sharply): in short woh sab ek hi gang ke liye kaam karte hai, we figured that out for ourselves, thank you!

Arjun: your welcome Rathore lekin did you figure ki agar unke saare doctors pakde gaye hai toh unhe naye doctors ki zaroorat padegi?

Sameer chup ho jaata hai. sabki nazar Liza par chali jaati hai.

Liza groan karti hai: main tattoo nahi lagwa sakti, main blood donor hun

Shree: tere andar khoon hai bhi ki tu donate karti hai? aur waise bhi Lizard ka khoon insaano mein thodi de sakte hai? animal hospital mein donate karti hai tu?

Lizard: SPECKY KE BACHE!!! Woh paperweight lekar Shree ke peeche jaati hai. Shree room ke baahar bhaag jaata hai aur Liza uske peeche. Sab unhe ignore karte hai.

Arjun: Ayesha, uske liye background prepare karo aur ha be extra careful, woh log abhi bahot alert ho gaye honge.

Ayesha: don't worry sir, main fool-proof background banaungi

Arjun apne cabin mein chala jaata hai. woh chair par baith kar apni soch mein kho jaata hai mv "ab inhe Raana tak kaise lead karu? Liza se shayad hum Altaf tak pahunch jaaye par uske peeche time kyun waste karna? Waqt bhi toh zyaada nahi hai, Riya Chetan ke peeche gayi hai shayad waha se koi clue mil jaaye lekin Raana?

Aise hi din khatam hota hai. Arjun waise bhi ghar jaane ke liye utavla ho raha tha. pata nahi Riya pahunchi ya nahi? Woh Kushal ko phone karne ke baare mein soch hi raha hai ki darwaaze par knock hota hai.

Arjun: come in

Shree andar aata hai: sir, woh aapne papers par sign kar li? Soch raha tha ghar jaane se pehle Police station fax kar du?

Arjun: umm..ha ho gaye hai.

Woh papers ki taraf point karta hai. Shree unhe le leta hai.

Arjun: Shree?

Shree turn hota hai: ha sir?

Arjun: woh proofs check karte waqt maine jo kaha...

Shree smile karta hai: sir, it's ok sach mein, mujhe bura nahi laga. Aap toh sab kuch jante hai, (haskar) paagal thi woh. Bas us doctor ke baare mein sochta hun toh. Woh ruk jaata hai

Arjun uske kandhe par haath rakhta hai: I understand, I'm really sorry

Shree: shayad us sawaal ka jawab hume kabhi nahi milega, aur it's okay. Main jaanta hun aap bhi frustrated hai is sab ko lekar isliye anjaane mein keh diya.

Arjun: itna hataash mat ho Shree, ant mein saare jawab mil hi jaate hai. shayad kisi din uska bhi mil jaaye

Shree smile karta hai: maybe...aapko ghar nahi jaana sir?

Arjun: ha bas...nikal hi raha tha.

Woh Shree ke saath chala jaata hai.

Arjun mv "ghar hi chala jaata hun, abhi agar Kushal ko phone kiya toh Riya se baat ho jaayegi aur mera BP badh jaayega.

Office khaali hoti hai. sab apne-apne ghar jaate hai. Arjun toh sabse pehle cab pakadkar bhaag jaata hai. taxi ka driver bhi uske baar-baar jaldi jaane ke instruction se irritate hota hai.

Driver: are bhai taxi hai aeroplane nahi!

Arjun(sharply): Aeroplane Hota Toh Bolna Nahi Padta! Jaldi Chalo!

Driver aur chidta hai. kisi tarah driver ka khoon kiye bagair Arjun ghar pahunchta hai. woh doorbell bajata hai lekin as expected koi nahi tha. woh chaabi se darwaaza khol kar andar jaata hai aur desperately Riya ka wait karta hai. aadhe ghante baad doorbell bajti hai.

woh immediately darwaaza kholta hai aur isse pehle ki woh kuch samaj paaye Riya uski baahon mein pahunch jaati hai. Arjun smile karta hai. woh use tightly hug karta hai. uski nazar peeche padti hai. Kushal undono ko dekhkar muskura raha hai.

Arjun wordlessly mouth karta hai "thank you!

Kushal nod karta hai aur salute dekar cab le jaata hai.

Arjun apna focus firse Riya par shift karta hai. woh abhi bhi use chodne ke bilcul mood mein nahi hai.

Arjun: andar chale shona? Ya fir raat bhar yahi darwaaze par khade rehna hai?

Riya slightly alag hoti hai: hmm

Tabhi Arjun ko uska chehra dikhta hai: Riya? Kya hua? Tum...

Riya: andar chaliye na

Arjun use le jaata hai aur darwaaza band karke lock karta hai. woh Riya ko sofa par bitatha hai aur use paani deta hai. Riya ek hi ghunt mein saara paani pi jaati hai. woh glass table par rakhti hai. Arjun uske aage kneel hokar uske haath pakadta hai.

Arjun: Riya? Sab theek haina?

Riya negatively nod karti hai

Arjun(darkar) : kya hua?

Riya(nervously): main...main Chetan se mili lekin...lekin woh, woh koi one-time paison ke liye kaam karke Harshit sir ko maarne waala nahi tha. in fact woh toh us Raana ke gang ka active member tha. do gunde bhi pahunch gaye the, mushkil se bhaagi hun aur...aur usne toh mujhe pehchaan bhi liya aur usne kaha ki...kaha ki mere sar par 25 laakh ka inaam hai

Arjun(shocked): 25 LAAKH?

Riya nod karti hai: ha

Arjun us information ko register karne ki koshish karte hue sofa par baithta hai. kuch pal baad

Arjun: Riya, mujhe toh is sab ka ek hi solution lag raha hai

Riya: kya?

Arjun: tum na firse marne ka naatak kar lo

Riya sharply uske kandhe par maarti hai: KAISE BOYFRIEND HAI AAP? AAPKO SHARAM NAHI AATI??

woh side table se ek kaanch ka showpiece uthakar use maarne waali hai

Arjun uska haath pakadta hai: Are Riya Kya Kar Rahi Ho? Sar Phut Jaayega Mera!!!

Riya(apna haath chudaane ki koshish karte hue): PHUTNE DO!!!

Arjun: are Riya shaadi se pehle hi vidhwa ho jaogi!!

Riya: SHUT UP!!

Woh show piece firse side table par patakti hai. Arjun flinch karti hai

Arjun use side hug karne ki koshish karta hai: Riyu...

Riya uske haath hata deti hai: bilcul chup! Agar aapke paas koi acha idea hai toh boliye warna ye (firse show piece haath mein lete hue) ye main aapke sar par maarti hun toh shayad aapka dimag firse kaam karne lagega

Arjun cautiously uske haath se show piece lekar uske pahunch se dur rakhta hai: Riyu is ka ek hi solution hai, iske pehle ki woh Raana tumhe dhundhe hume use dhundhna hoga

Riya calm hokar nod karti hai: aap sahi keh rahe hai (sigh karke): acha ye bataiye ki hearing kaisi gayi

Arjun use khush karne ki koshish karta hai: bahot achi! Sakshi ki toh bolti band ho gayi...aur Judge ne toh mujhe us par case karne ki permission bhi di hai

Riya: aapne kiya?

Arjun(nervously): nahi...woh...(Riya ki shakal par firse gussa aane lagta hai) main karunga! Par is Raana ka kissa khatam hone ke baad...promise! (Riya disbelief mein sar hilati hai) aur for some reason na, uska jo vakil tha usne khud mere favor mein sabut pesh kiya

Riya(bored): for some reason nahi, because of me!...