Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15:

On the same day when Aisha visited the Ravi Lodge:

It's almost 9 am. A girl in her 20's arrives in front of the Ravi Lodge, which is her den for a while now. She pays the taxi driver and turns to walk towards the lodge. She opens the front door and saw someone else was at the reception. She was about to pass her but she couldn't help but listen to the talk when she heard Rathod sir's name. Even though she didn't see the lady's face, she could try to give in a wild guess.

Rec: Room ke ek chabi tho ACP sab ke paas hai. wo aksar yaha athe jathe hai. Mien apko dusra chabi detha hu.

Ais: nahi mere paas key hai. Rathod sir ne diya tha mujhe.

Rec: acha teekh hai. aap jayiye.

 

She moved aside so that the lady could pass by her. And then she saw her face…. Aisha?? She is back in Mumbai?? Par kab??

She knew where Aisha would be going now. There was no need of any guess now. She stayed back giving some space between herself and Aisha. And after a while she moved to the corridor. Room 121's door looked closed. But she knew Aisha was inside. She walked to her room in the same corridor, Room 128, opened it fast and then went inside. She came out quickly and went to a portrait of an unknown land that was hung on the walls and puts a mini portable camera on it, facing it towards the door of Room 121. And then she walks in and adjusts her lap and other apparatus. The screen showed the closed door of room 121. She smiled at the screen. "Take your time Aisha. I'm here…"

She took out her long black leather coat and hung on the chair. She was in a black denim pant and a dark blue casual top; she looked as if she had a big party plan on her mind. She quickly rushed to the washroom and got herself fresh up ad rush back to the screen with a packed juice and a glass. "I hope tum abhi bhi ander hi ho…"

She sat infront of the screen, waiting for Aisha.

It took almost 2 hours for Aisha to come out. The lady who was watching her gets alert. She looks keenly at Aisha's face on the screen. Aisha's eyes said that she had cried. It hurt her a lot… and then there was something else too in her eyes… a sheer determination.

The lady saw Aisha locking the door and again leaning onto the door before leaving. She took her coat and hurried behind Aisha still leaving a space.

Aisha unaware of all these, takes a cab to home. And she was following Aisha in a cab too. Aisha reached her home and walked towards her door. She felt someone behind her. She turned around. There was no one. She looks keenly all around and then walks in closing the door.

The lady comes out from her hiding. The moment Aisha had turned; she did duck behing a wall. And came out when he heard the door locked. "at last you are back Aisha… good to see you, though its our first meet… don't worry… do din aur… aur uske baad… I'll be with you… hosake tho ek saaya banke…do din aur… it's really good to see you back…really good…"

She hails another cab and reach back at the lodge. While walking back to the room she picks off the mini camera from the wall. "thanks buddy…" she smiles at the small device and walks to her room. She throws off her jacket and falls back to the bed. She was too tired … but the day she just had was rolling as a film in front of her… was it coincidence?? Or just the so called destiny??

What ever it is…she was now going to believe in both… after all she saw Aisha today… and that too after what happened yesterday night…

Last night:

She was in her dark blue top and denims. She looked at the mirror in the hall. She couldn't help a smile… "hm… I look good". She walked to the party…. The Ultima party…

Be it any other day she would have enjoyed the whole night dancing… dance till her heart was filled. But not today… today she was waiting for a person... some one else was relying on her tonight. And she didn't want to let him down too… after all she had gathered his trust with great difficulty. How could she break it? So she waited for him…

 And then he came… ACP Aman Ali… she looked at him through the corner of her eyes. He never noticed her. He was looking around. Obviously he was not in for a party… and she knew it…She smiled. "banda looks hot…"

She took her mobile and texted: he is here…

She was following him with her eyes. A reply came back: how's he?

She looked at Aman again who was now posing with a glass filled with a drink, which she knew was just a prop for him. Hot…

She smiles as she sends it. It took only seconds to get the reply: focus.

She rolls her eyes. God… ye nahi sudrega. Ab hot insaan ko hot hi bolega na??? She looks at Aman again. He was looking casually around. He wanted to see how he was going to take Raghav out of there. He saw many CCTV cameras around. She was thinking in his lines too. She knew what or who was going to help him now… SREE!!! Both Aman and she said the same name in mind. He looked confirm on his decision and she was sure that he had made the decision too. She turned back to her mobile and texted: he'll need Sree. And I'm sure he will need more help too…

Reply: can you help??

She: of course…

She looked at him again. "why can't I meet him right now??" She thought for herself.

Her mobile beeped in answer to her thought: don't even think about it now!!!

She looked at the screen in shock. How does this guy know what she was thinking when he was miles away?? Well she would never get her answer…

Aman wandered about posing to enjoy the party and left after some time. She messaged it to him: he's gone… now what?

Reply: take rest. He won't come tomorrow. He'll need Sree as you said. So both of them will be here on the day after tomorrow. Make sure Raghav is here on that day… and you too…

She smiled at the reply. "WOW aaj pehli baar ek lamba sa message diya hai… hm, improvement tho hai!!!"

She went out and took her cab to Mumbai. And that's how she reached the morning.

Now:

She closed her eyes. How could all these happen in a sequence? How could she meet him? Gain his confidence after a long effort?? Help him out in any way? And now Aisha??? How did she come in now?? Why is he helping this ACP Aman??

Loads of questions filled her head. Her mobile beeped loud.

"Reached back at lodge?"

She smiled again. Always concerned…

"yup…" she replied.

Beep again: "you ok??"

She thought for a while what to answer… : "someone else was here"

After a few sconds: "Rathod?"

She sighed heavily… "No… it was her…"

There was no answer now. She didn't expect an answer too. She sighed again and placed the phone back on the bed. But then it beeped again. She took it quickly. "take care… and thank you…"

She smiled again. That was the only thing he could say now. No questions about her…

***

Somewhere else, he looked out of the window. A knock brought him back. An old smiling man was there at the door with a bowl in his hands. He wrinkled his face, while the visitor smiled at him affectionately.

***

Aman's POV:

He walked in the Ultima party last night only to understand the situation there. It was a fortress as he had guessed well. And he knew he would get Raghav only from there. But how?? With that many cameras around any one could catch him. Unless he show them what he wished to show them. And for that he needed a mastermind…Sree!!!

He called back to Rathod that night. "Rathod, I need some help"

Sam: ha bolo Aman. Everything alright?

Aman: ha I'm fine. But mujhe Sree ke help ke zaroorath hai.can I have him for 1 or 2 days?

Sam: why not? Yaha uske kaam Neha sambhal denge. But everything alright? Raghav ko mila?

Aman: I know I can get him in at Ultima. But to get him out, I need Sree.

Sam: ok, I'll tell him to call you.

Aman: thanks Rathod. And bye.

Sam informed Sree about the work and he went to Aman after calling him, with his equipments.

Next day:

It's almost 10 am. She decided to take another step today. She took a cab to the ETF office. Outside the office, she felt so nostalgic. As if she could see her olden days in front of her. She took a deep breathe.

"its ok Aisha… come on you can do it…"

She could hear him again. As if he was standing right beside her. She nodded and walked in.

She walked to the reception. She was still the old person. Diya stood up at the reception. "mam aap?? Yaha? Good morning mam!!"

Ais: good morning Diya. How are you?

Di: great mam. Ek minute mien abhi sir ko bathathi hu.

Ais: ek min Diya. Koi case chal rahe hai abhi? (She nods no) ok then I'll go in by myself.

Diya nods yes and Aisha walks in. it was a walk to her memory lane…

She reached the main hall. All were busy over there. Hardly anyone noticed her. But then came out a scream. "AISHA???"

She looked at the voice. Liza was standing there hell shocked. All looked at Liza and also followed her eyes only to meet Aisha… a much different form of Aisha. She gave out a smile…

Liza ran to her and hugged her tight. Aisha could feel the warmth of an old friend.She had missed this for a long time. She hugged Liza back too.

Liza's scream had brought Sam, Chotu and Neha out of the hall. Sam was looking very happy to see her back in the office. Aisha looked at him over Liza's shoulder.

She left Liza and walked towards Sam and group. "Good morning Sir!! Hi Chotu... Neha…"

Sam: welcome back Aisha!!!

Ais: not yet sir. It's just a casual visit. Hope I didn't disturb you.

Sam: stop it Aisha… it's getting too formal now.

She smiles after a long time and then turns to Chotu. "hey Chotu. Aise kya dekh rahe ho? its me"

Ch: nahi Aisha, its not you. Agar hothe tho aise formalities ke saath nahi khade hothe"

She smiles at him and comes forward to hug her friend. He hugs her back. "ab lagtha hai ke tum hi ho…kaha the tum Aisha? Ham sab ko miss bhi nahi kiya??"

Ais: aise math bolo Chotu. (Breaking the hug) miss tho bohot kiya… par khair… kaha hai wo??Sree!!

Ch: wo aaj nahi aye…wo tho…

He stops in between and looks at Sam for help.

Sam: Sree hamare team ke naye member ko help karne gaye hai. Wahi jiske bare me meine bathaya tha…

Ais: oh...

She slowly turns to the cabin. All look at her too.

Sam: agar jana chaho tho ja sakthe ho. bilkul waise ke waise hi hai. Aman just used it 1 day.

She nods no first. But then Liza holds her hand and smiles assuringly. Aisha walks towards the cabin. She stood at the door for a while and took a deep breath.  And then opened the door.

***

Sree reaches the place where Aman was staying. They have some chit chat and then spread out the work materials.

Sr: sir video feeds tap karke usse hamare feeds ke saath replace karthe hai. They will just see what we show them.

Aman: that's good. I hope you have an entry pass.

Sr: (mockingly) if I can make an entry pass for you, then why not for me?

He waves his entry pass in front of Aman. He snatches and reads it. "Ricky Farnandaz!! Kafi trendy naam hai!!"

They have a small laugh at it.

Sr: but sir, apko kaise yakeen hai ke Raghav kal waha hoga?

Aman: kal waha ek bada party organized hai. one Mr. Gupta's ke business ke 37^th anniversary party. Aur waha kal ithna bheed hoge ke usse aur uski saathi jo kal ane wala hai, ko koi dikhath nahi hoge. So we can use this time well.

Sr: bheed hai. Problem hai.

Aman: koi problem nahi hai. Just get ready tomorrow.

And there she was ready too. For tomorrow's party. She had made sure the 'friend' of Raghav to lure him to the Ultima on time. She was wiaitng for the party now. Her mobile beeped : all set?

She replied: yup. Done.will be at the party on time.

She got back a reply: you may help. But don't get in their ways. And do take care too…

She took a deep breathe again. "I wish it was you here… Arjun…"

Again no reply came… just as she expected.