Chapter 33

[MEMBERSONLY]

CHAPTER 33:

Aisha copied all that she wanted in her pendrive and took her bag and left. She had a night at home, to peacefully go through it.

Once reaching home she knew what to do. But the fear and anxiety was taking its toll.

After fresh up she was in her rocking chair with the pendrive in her hand.  Again the little thing felt so heavy…

Her eyes went to his pic… he was smiling as usual…

He had winked at her just before leaving her and the team. He had to rush with Sree to look at the bomb.

[My note: continuing from flashback in Chapter 30  ]

Aisha, Sam, Chotu and few men where tailing Siva, who went into the crowd. For him, they were just following him, but in real they were making him go away from the car, so that Arjun gets his time. it was little later when Siva got a wind of it. There were 2 officers missing with the team, Arjun and Sree. He knew he was bluffed. He was angry now. He turned another way and was trying to reach the car.

Sam: Ratwe he is coming towards you.

Arj: I'm leaving. Sree tumhare paas arahe hai.

She heard everything too. Why is he leaving alone?

Siva noticed Arjun going away with the car. There are just few minutes left. He felt so angry… why did I leave the car? Ithne mahine ke mehnath aise nahi jaane denge…

He grabbed a bike from the nearby man pushing him away, and followed Arjun.

The team saw this. But the rush made them delay. Sameer was cursing each second they were missing. And she was just praying. Somewhere inside she was feeling off.

It took some time to follow Arjun using the GPS locator he had with him. Sree was keeping constant tab. They knew he was going to the cliff to dispose the bomb.

At last they reached the point. Arjun was standing closer to the cliff with the car beside him. Siva was standing cool opposite to him. Arjun had his gun pointed at Siva, but Siva didn't show any fear.

It seems that they were arguing. But the voice didn't reach out more.

Sr: sir, Arjun sir ko wapas bulayiye. There is no much time left.

The words did hit Sam and Aisha.

She could hear Sam voicing out to Arjun to come back. But both Siva and Arjun didn't move.

She was crying out in her mind, with the voice stuck somewhere deep. "come back please…. Come back Arjun…"

He took a second to look at her past Siva.

What did his eyes say? Was it showing guilty? Whats his plan?? No… this can't be true…

She saw the eyes… she knew his heart….

It said… "bye…"

A loud noise… a heat… she blinked for a second… and then he was gone….

"ARJUN…."

 She screamed aloud. She was still in the rocking chair, in her home…

***

In Sneh Bhavan he opened his eyes…

"kya hua beta?" Baba was close to him.

"aapne mujhe bulaya?"

"nahi tho… mien tho bas ye pani ke bottle rakhne aya tha. Kya hua?"

"I felt someone calling me…"

Baba smiled. "and you know who called you…"

He sighed. Baba was seeing again him helpless. "so jao Arjun… sab teekh hoga"

He smiled and reached the door, when he heard his voice. "aap aaj kal mujhe Aryan bulana chod diya hai. Kyu?"

Baba turned to him. "samay ke saath badalna hai Arjun. ye mujhe pehle hi jaanna tha. Meine galthi ki hai. ab sudharne ka waqt agaya."

Arj: kya samay ke saath rishta bhi bhool jathe hai?

The question hurt him a lot.

Va: aise nahi hai Arjun… mien bas…

Arj: abhi thak kuch nahi badla baba. Mien abhi bhi Aryan hi hu.

Va (smiling): good night Aryan… so jao…

He left the room. Arjun lay there awake for some more time.

"good night Aisha… patha nahi kyu ek ajeeb si baichaini horaha hai… patha nahi jo galthi meine kiya hai, uskeliye tum mujhe maaf karoge ke nahi… ab samay hi sab kuch bathayega…"

***

She drank a glass of water.she was still feeling the shiver that went through her body. She was holding onto the table to support her. It took a while to compose herself.

She was back in her chair. "no Aisha… ab waqt nahi hai… you need to be strong…"

Her innerself… which was his voice… told her…

She said a silent prayer and took her lap. The pendrive went to its port…

The case file was infront of her. It was 2 years old… a line took her hearbeat away again…

ACP Arjun Suryakanth Rawte: Missing in Action.

"Not any more" she said it to herself… she knew that he is there somewhere… where? That's the only question left.

She went through the files again and again…

And she knew where to begin…

***

Next day:

Aisha walked straight to Sameer's cabin. "Good morning sir"

Sam: good morning Aisha. How do you do?

Ai: very good sir. thank you.

Sa: that's good. Baito. Why do I feel that you want to ask something.

Ai: because I do.

Sa: bolo.

Ai: sir… can I have a few days off? Kuch kaam thi.

Sa:any problem?

Ai: nahi aisa kuch nahi. Bas thode personal matters hai.

Sa: hm… kithne din?

Ai: 3-4 days maximum. Don't worry sir, iss bar mien gayab nahi hoga. I'll come back. I have to.

Sa: (smiling) ye tum apne senior officer se keh rahe ho ya dost se?

Ai: dono se…

Sa: ok you may take leave. Par kya mien jaan saktha hu ke tum kaha ja rahe ho? wapas Allahabad?

Ai: sorry. I can't say that now.

Sa: ok, your wish. Tell me if you need something.

Ai: sure. I'll be here today till noon. Fir chale jaungi.

Sa: ok.

She was about to reach back at the door. "sir…"

He turned to her. "please aap Sakshi ko maaf kar dijiye. She didn't mean it"

Sa: kya tumhe patha hai ke usne kya kaha tha?

Ai: patha hai Sam.

She deliberately took his name. Now it was not an officer, but a friend in front of him.

Sa: patha hai. isliye keh rahi hu. She doesn't know anything. So please…

Sam nods.

Ai: aur please Sree aur sabse bhi keh dijiye.

Sa: I'll try.

Ai: thanks.

She smiled and walked out. This lady was shocking him. She was getting a glimpse of the old Aisha who was getting ready for a mission.

She walked into the hall. "good morning guys…"

Sr: morning….

Ai: Sree ye files apne paas rakhna. Aman sir ko dena. He may need it soon.

Sak: aur tu kaha bhag rahi hai?

Ai:mien kuch din keliye off hu.

Sak:kyu? kaha jarahi ho?

Aisha briefly looked at Sakshi and turned away. "kuch kaam hai…"

Sakshi was getting elated now. that means… she was afraid too…

***

Sneh bhavan:

Varma had noticed the reponse that he saw from Arjun. He could say it aloud that Ayurvedic treatment can show wonders. It's just that the correct treatment, and the willingness is needed. Nothing can work alone.A strong will power is needed. And for Arjun it was Aisha…

He massaged and went for the heat treatment. Soon the next stages are to begin.

Now making him stand in his legs were the only way to make Arjun confident. And Varma was sure he will do it.

***

Flight to Kerala was smooth… every second she was feeling closer to the mission. She came out of the Cochin Airport. With some help, she found a hotel to fresh up. Now… her work needs to start…

Its almost 4 pm. She had hired a car for a few days. She reached the cliff… where everything was over… or rather where she felt that everything was over…

The air was cool… it brushed through her hair… she felt her legs reaching towards the cliff. That was the place where he stood… where he looked at her for the last time…

She felt a tear rolling down her cheeks. She fell on her knees and took her moment.

All the suffocation that she had felt… all the loneliness…. All the pain… it vented out today….

"kaha ho aap? Kyu mujhse dur ho? kyu ye mann maanne ko thaiyar nahi hai ke aap nahi hai… why do I feel you near to me?? Please tell me…. Please…."

She sat there for a while and cried out… there was no one to watch… so she didn't stop her tears today…

It took some time to wipe her tears… and she was trying hard to compose herself…

She stood up…

"I'm sorry Arjun… mujhe yaha pehle hi aana chahiye tha… I'm late. Par koi bath nahi hai.ab hum zyada dur nahi hai… mere dil keh rahe hai…"

She kept her vulnerable state aside. The officer has to wake up now. And it did too…

She had done her homework too…

And now there was another place to visit. But it's late now. She decided to visit there tomorrow.

So she stayed back at the point for a longer time. She sat by the cliff. Unknown to the reason she felt comfortable there.

***

Next day:

She walked into the A.K Hospital. The only hospital closer to the cliff. If anyone had taken him away… before they could see… then they must have come here for sure…

She walked into the corridor. The reception was not crowded. "good morning mam. How can I help you?"

Ai:  hai… I needed a small help. Mujhe yaha ke ek purane patient ke bare me patha lagana tha?

She was not sure if her words will find result. But she needed to try.it was her only chance.

Girl: kaunsi patient? Abhi yaha admit hai?

Ai: ji nahi. Wo kuch do saal pehle…

Gi: are mam, aise kaise information desakthi hu? First of all, hum hamare patients ke records share nahi karthe. Aur ye do saal purane case history tho bilkul bhi nahi.

Ai: par ye mere liye bohot zaroori hai.

Gi: I'm sorry mam. agar aap chaho tho hamare GM se bath kar sakthi hai.

Ai: where can I see him?

Gi: go straight through this corridor. Room at the right end. Dr. Ajay Jacob.

Ai: thank you.

She walked to the door and with permission she went in. Dr.Ajay Jacob was a young doctor, may be in his early 30s.

Dr: yes, how can I help you?

Ai: mien Aisha. mien yaha ek patient ke bare me patha lagane ayi hu. I know aap purane case files kisike ke sath share nahi kar sakthe hai. But trust me doctor, ye mere liye bohot zaroori hai. I even don't know ke jisse mien dhund raha hu, usse yaha admit kiya tha ke nahi. But still I need to look for him.

Dr: aap kisse dhund rahe hai?

Ai: Arjun… my husband.

Doctor knew that it was a sincere request. But he didn't know if he could help.

Dr: I know you need my help. Lekin mujhe patha nahi hai ke mien apke madad kar paunga ke nahi. Even mien yaha ke post lekar bas kuch mahine hua hu. So I don't know about the previous case history. Aur purane records apko dikhane se pehle kaafi formalities bhi puri karni hogi.

Ai: I know doctor. Mujhe bas 2-3 din ke reports check karna hai, ke unhe yaha admit kiya tha ke nahi. I don't know what happened to him. please help me…

Ajay was in distress now. He wished he could help her.

Dr: I cannot decide as such. If you can give me sometime, I may speak to my father. Wo yaha ke GM tha. Aur do saal purana cases shayad unhe yaad bhi hoga. Just give me your name, husband's name and date. I'll ask and confirm with him.

Ai: thanks a lot.

She takes a paper and writes down everything to him.

Ai: doctor, apke father ka naam…?

Dr: he is Dr. Jacob.

Ai: ok.

She waited for him, while he walked to a corner to speak to his father. When Jacob came to know about the matter, he was first confused. But then it did strike…

Aisha… looking for Arjun… ab??

Ja: Ajay, tell her to come tomorrow. Kaho ke hume decide karne ko thode time chahiye.

After cutting the call, he dialed Varma's number.