Chapter 28

Sakshi's finger was on the trigger. Staring right into Arjun's eyes she squeezed it! ...

Riya immediately pushed Arjun away and swerved from the path of the bullet herself. Before Sakshi could realize what had happened Riya kicked away the gun and slapped her hard.

Sakshi: HOW DARE YOU!

Arjun looked on, surprised at the turn of events but Riya didn't answer. After all, she could get angry too and at the moment she was on fire. She recalled how Sakshi had tried to demean Arjun and spoil his name.

Sakshi tried to give her back but Riya caught hold of her hand and nodded in negative. Then what? hell hath no fury like a scorned lover. Riya started her 3^rd degree with Sakshi. Arjun was too shocked to say or stop her and Sakshi? She was out in five minutes, fainted on the floor with a number of injuries she had received by the grace of Riya.

Arjun(whisper): Riya?

Riya turned to him and smiled: hi

Arjun: hi? (he hugged her tightly) thank god tum theek ho

Riya: aap haina mujhe bachane ke liye

Her statement brought the angry Arjun back. He broke apart and scolded her!

Arjun: Main Hun Toh Kya? Tum Kahi Par Bhi Chali Jaogi? Inform Nahi Kar Sakti Thi? Ye Kaunsa Tareeka Hota Hai? Agar Main Ek Second Bhi Late Hota Toh? Tum Itni Laparwah Kaise Ho Sakti Ho? Aur...

Riya(innocently): Arjun mere pakde jaane ka koi iraada nahi tha, main toh bas check karne aayi thi kyunki mujhe Shirke par doubt tha

Arjun picked up his gun(exasperated): you know kabhi-kabhi mujhe samaj mein nahi aata ki should I kiss you or should I kill you?

Riya: can I choose?

Arjun: NOOO!!!

Riya lowered her eyes like a child: okay...you choose

Arjun(agitated): Riya...

Things were getting out of hand for the witness at the door: Arjun sir?

The two of them turned sharply and were shocked to see Ayesha there however not as shocked as Ayesha was. She walked inside.

Arjun: tum...tum kab aayi?

Ayesha: jab ye (pointing at Riya) ise maar rahi thi (pointing at Sakshi) ho kya raha hai yaha par? Sakshi kaha se aayi? Aur ye...ye toh wahi trainee haina? [photo dekhi haina Ayesha ne] Jo mar gayi thi? Ye zinda kaise? Aur aap? Aap ise kiss karne ke baare mein kyun puch rahe hai?

Arjun sighed: main...main tumhe sab kuch baad mein batata hun...ek minute (turning towards Riya) tum jao yaha se..

Riya: lekin aap akele..

Arjun: are ye sab haina? Tum ghar jao...main aata hun

Riya glanced at Ayesha: theek hai...par aap apna khayal rakhna

Arjun nods: ha tum jao ab!

Riya sprints away from the escape route Sakshi was about to take her through.

Ayesha: Sir?

Arjun: woh...woh meri girlfriend hai

Ayesha: WHAT?!?!?

Arjun: ha dekho...Ayesha please abhi ye baat kisi ko mat batana, mere khaatir. Aur Rathore ko bilcul bhi nahi. Please, main sab kuch baad mein samjha dunga, bas abhi ke liye ise chupa rakho

Ayesha was still shocked at the prospect of him having a girlfriend but: theek hai sir, jaisa aap kahe. Par baad mein pakka batayenge na?

Arjun: ha bataunga.

Ayesha agreed: okay! Par Sakshi?

Arjun: Sakshi isi MLA ki beti hai, dono mile hue hai

Ayesha nodded and handcuffed Sakshi so she wouldn't run away even if she regained consciousness. She gestured him and they left to help the others. By the time they reached, most of the work had been done. They had overpowered the guards and cornered Shirke. He had no option but to surrender.

Rathore: lekar chalo ise! Saare evidences collect karo.

Chotu caught hold of him and started to lead him outside. Everyone turned their backs and started to move out when suddenly Arjun saw Riya's knife lying on the floor. He caught Ayesha's gaze and gestured towards it. Realizing it was pertaining to the girl, she put her foot on it to hide it. In the process her gaze fell on the balcony. Before she could say anything...

A gunshot alerted everyone. Their guns raised up again but it was too late. Shirke's skull had a hole in it. Chotu loosened his hold on him and his body fell.

Rathore(appalled): kisne kiya ye?

Ayesha (in a trance): Arjun sir ki girlfriend ne

Chorus (including Arjun): WHAT?!?!?

Arjun(exasperated): Maine Use Jaane Ko Kaha Tha!!!

Ayesha: maine khud dekha sir

Rathore: SHUT UP!!! Arjun Ki Girlfriend?!?! WOH KAHA SE PAIDA HO GAYI?!?!

Ayesha bit her tongue: woh...

Arjun: Rathore tujhe Bhabhi ki kasam hai tu unse kuch nahi puchega!!

Rathore: BLOODY HELL RAWTE!!!! KAUN THI WOH?!?!

Arjun: main abhi nahi bata sakta

Rathore: Arjun!!!

Arjun: report mein mera naam likh lena

Rathore(irritated): Arjun Tum Ye Jo Kar Rahe Hona...( he took a deep breath) Fine! Lekin tumhara naam likhne ke baad commissioner sir ke sawalon ka jawaab tum hi dena!!

Arjun: theek hai

Rathore left the room. One by one the others followed, stunned at the revelation that Arjun had a girlfriend. Grasping the opportunity Ayesha took the knife and handed it to Arjun. He took Riya's weapon and hid it.

Rathore was talking to the commissioner when Arjun and Ayesha reached outside. Shree, Chotu and Liza were supporting themselves with the car, half dead. The conversation ended. Ayesha explained Sakshi being involved in the matter and wrecked their brains even further. The juniors were too tired to care about anything now. Even Rathore had had enough.

Rathore: hume commissioner sir se milne jaana hai

Ayesha: abhi?

Rathore: ha Ayesha abhi

Ayesha: woh abhi tak office mein hai? it's 1:30!

Rathore: ha lekin jab unhe pata chala ki Raana pakda gaya hai toh office mein hi ruk gaye, expecting ki hum summary report unhe denge

Chotu: sir ye toh torture hai!!

Rathore: jaanta hun, par jaana toh padega na

The team groaned and sat in the car. Arjun too was pissed, he wanted to go back to Riya and here he was going to the commissioner. Sameer drove them to the headquarters. He and Arjun had to practically wake up the lot before going in.

Commissioner's cabin-

Vishwas was in full form having finished two cups of coffee. The caffeine had freshened him up. He heard a knock on the door.

Vishwas: come in

The ETF entered.

Vishwas greeted them warmly: aao, tumhara hi intezaar tha.

He allowed all of them to take a seat. Sameer sat across him while the juniors occupied a small sofa. Arjun stood near the door, leaning on it and grumbling, mentally cursing Vishwas and Rathore. The meeting started. Vishwas needed to know every detail and Sameer was providing it to him...right from the start.

10 minutes into the meeting and Arjun quietly slipped away from the back without anyone knowing. He rushed outside and hailed a cab to take him home.

Arjun's house-

Riya was waiting for him. She had tended to her wound and freshened up a little. She sat on the bed comfortably as she waited.

Arjun quickly climbed up the front steps and used his keys so he wouldn't awaken Riya if she had already slept. However, he had highly doubted it and it was true! The moment he opened the bedroom door, a smiling face greeted him. Riya ran and hugged him.

Riya: thank you!

Arjun smiled: maine tumhe ghar aane ko kaha tha na? fir bhi tum Shirke ko maarne aayi? Aur madam, zara ye batao ki 3^rd degree tak toh theek hai lekin Shirke par goli...

Riya(complaining): aapne hi toh kaha tha ki thokti raho? Aur waise bhi us Raana ko aapne maara na? toh Shirke ko maine maar diya...bahot tang kiya usne mujhe

Arjun chuckled: woh toh hai, par sach kahu? (he leaned closer) mujhe bahot maza aaya uski laash dekhkar

Riya smiled: aur Sakshi ko behosh dekhkar?

Arjun: She can go to hell dear.

And before she could realize, he kissed her. She wound her hands around his neck to pull him closer...

Arjun: you're the best thing that ever happened to me Riya, ab main tumhe ek pal bhi apne se dur nahi rakhunga

Riya blushed red: dur jaa bhi kaun raha hai?

Arjun smiled and picked her up in his arms. He gently placed her on the bed and leaned on her.

Arjun: may I?

Riya kissed him in reply. Smiling, Arjun extended his hand to switch of the lights as the two drowned in each other's love...

Commissioner's office-

Sameer had been explaining every single detail leaving out the complications of Arjun and his informer and new girlfriend. His throat was running dry but literally no one else tried to speak so he could have a respite. He cursed them mentally and the commissioner and for special mention, Arjun! The meeting carried on for 3 hours.

Vishwas finally decided to ask: Ye Arjun waapis aane waala hai ya nahi?

Everyone exchanged confused glances between them and turned.

Rathore: ARJUN KAHA HAI?!?!!

His scream snapped everyone's eyes completely open.

Vishwas(bewildered): Arjun toh meeting shuru hone ke kuch der baad hi chala gaya tha, mujhe laga shayad use koi kaam yaad aa gaya hoga lekin ye ab tak nahi aaya

Rathore mv "kaam nahi girlfriend yaad aa gayi hogi! kamina! Hum sab ko yaha sada kar khud bhaag gaya, iski toh main!!!

Liza muttered under her breath: aur kitna kaam karenge sir? Hume ghar jaana hai

Rathore: main phone karta hun use sir.

Sameer dials Arjun's number but it was switched off.

Rathore(confused): switched off?

Vishwas: never mind, main usse baad mein baat kar lunga, tum log bhi ghar jao. Thak gaye honge

Rathore uthta hai: sorry sir, mere dhyaan mein hi nahi aaya ki kab Arjun chala gaya

Vishwas: koi baat nahi, waise bhi woh kaha kisi ki sunta hai? agar woh puchta aur main mana karta toh bhi woh chala hi jaata...let it be!

Rathore mentally curses Arjun and takes leave. The ETF leave the office and moved towards the parking.

Shree: are Arjun sir gaye kaha honge?

Ayesha: I think...ghar hi gaye honge

Rathore: aur ab hum bhi wahi jaayenge

Ayesha: Sameer! Raat ke...nahi sorry subah ke saade chaar baj rahe hai. ye kaunsa time hota hai kisi ke ghar jaane ka? Aur mujhe sona hai for God's sake...

Sameer: main abhi jaa raha hun, tumhe aana hai toh aao (turning to the rest) Arjun sir ki girlfriend dekhna jaana hai?

The trio looked at each other and then nodded happily like children who had been offered their favourite chocolate.

Sameer: see? Inhe bhi jaana hai. ab tum aa rahi ho ya nahi?

Ayesha: are yaar! Tum sab...FINE! Lekin aap Arjun sir ko tang nahi karenge!

Sameer: uski fikar tumhe karne ki zaroorat nahi hai aur main tumhe option de bhi nahi raha hun, tumhe agar uski madad karni hai toh chup-chap chalo warna hum tumhare bagair chale jaayenge

Ayesha groaned and stamped her foot: I hate you!

Rathore smiled: I love you too darling! And left to get the car.

Ayesha scolded the trio: tum logon ne ha kyun kaha?

Chotu: kyunki hume Arjun sir ki girlfriend ko dekhna hai

Shree: exactly! aur aisa mauka fir kaha se milega? Zara soch Ayesha unki girlfriend ne Shirke ko hum sabke hote hue goli maar di aur bhaag gayi, soch kitni talented cheez hogi

Liza: ha aur waise bhi Rathore sir toh jaa hi rahe the toh hum bhi thodi company de denge, kyun?

Chotu: ha, aur nahi toh kya. Ayesha tu na shaant reh!

Ayesha rolled her eyes as Sameer got the car. All of them made their way to Arjun's house. The trio was chattering excitedly and Sameer was busy adding fuel to the fire. The prospect of Arjun having a girlfriend and them meeting her was enough to keep drowsiness at bay for the time being.

Arjun's house-

The lovebirds had fallen asleep a short while ago. The room was dark and cold, lit only by a small night light, yet had serenity in the atmosphere. A thin quilt covered them. Their clothes were strewn on the bed and the floor but they didn't care as long as they were in each other's embrace. Arjun had caged Riya in his arms. Her head rested on his chest, his chin near her forehead.

The doorbell rang. Arjun squinted in his sleep being a light-sleeper but didn't bother to wake up thinking it was just a distracting noise. It rang again, twice in succession after a few seconds. Arjun slowly opened his eyes, confused at what had occurred. His eyes fell on his lady love. Unknowingly, he smiled. He had almost closed his eyes again when the bell rang for the third time.

His eyes darted towards the clock mv "is waqt kaun hoga? the fourth bell caused Riya to shift in her sleep. Arjun cursed the visitor. He softly detangled himself from Riya and picked up his jeans.

Outside-

Ayesha: Sameer kitni bell bajayenge aap?

Sameer: main kya karu? Uska phone bhi band aa raha hai

Shree: sir lagta hai Arjun sir so rahe honge, unko pata hoga ki waha se nikal kar aap gusse mein phone karenge isliye phone hi band karke so gaye

Liza: ya fir shayad woh ghar par ho hi nahi

Sameer: ghar ke ilawa aur kaha jaayega? (looking at Ayesha) tumhe toh puch bhi nahi sakta

Ayesha smiled in reply: ji nahi, not if you want me to die

Her joke refreshed the traumatic memory which had occurred a few hours ago.

Sameer(sharply): AYESHA!

Ayesha lowered her eyes: sorry!

Sameer shook his head in disbelief. Ayesha decided to remain quiet for some time lest she press the wrong nerve of her husband again.

Chotu whined: sir, aur kitni der khade rahenge? Chodiye kal subah aate hai

Sameer: subah hi hai Chotu, agli subah mein date change ho jaayegi, aur main itni der tak wait nahi kar sakta

Tired, Chotu sat on the floor of the porch and looked at the door in anticipation. Sameer was about to ring again when he heard the sound of the lock opening. It alerted everyone. Chotu stood up straight. As the door opened, the ground beneath them swept away.

Arjun rubbed his eyes as he opened the door. His sleep vanished as soon as he saw Sameer right in front of him.

Arjun: tum...(his gaze fell on the ladies as he opened the door completely) WHAT THE BLOODY HELL!!!

Arjun closed the door immediately: Kamina Kahin Ka! Is Rathore Ko Toh Main Chodunga Nahi!! Saala Samajta Kya Hai Khud Ko?...