Chapter 11

Vikram: ek ladki hai, usse tum Pathan Lala tak pahunch jaoge aur tum jaante ho uske baad kya hoga

Arjun(agitated): us tak pahunch kar koi faayda nahi hai!! main kar chuka hun!! Uska gala kaat doge fir bhi apna muh nahi kholega woh kamina! Iske Liya Aapne Mujhe Itna Wait Karwaaya? Bullshit! Agar Us Tak Hi Pahunchna Toh Main Kab Ka Pahunch Chuka Hota

Vikram uski bhi abusive language dekhkar internally sigh karta hai mv “lagta hai aaj raashi bhavishy padh kar nikalna chahiye tha, jise dekho gaali de raha hai.” : Arjun dekho! Shaant ho jao!!

Arjun: Nahi Hone Waala Main Shaant!! Mujhe..

Vikram: Arjun meri puri baat toh suno, Pathan Lala bolega

Arjun: Kyun Aapka Chacha Hai?

Vikram sigh karta hai: nahi Arjun, woh mera chacha nahi hai lekin is baar humare paas hathiyaar hai. tum koshish karke toh dekho!

Arjun gehri saans leta hai: fine! Kaun hai woh ladki?

Vikram: mujhe details nahi pata Arjun, kal subah tak aa jaayegi. Aur fir main case ETF ko hand over kar dunga

Arjun bina jawaab diye phone kaat deta hai.

Rathore: ye kaunsa tareeka hai commissioner se baat karne ka?

Arjun(angrily): Apne Kaam Se Kaam Rakho!!!

Itna kehkar Arjun apne cabin mein chala jaata hai aur door lock kar deta hai. woh paani pee kar apni seat par collapse ho jaata hai. uske man mein hazaron sawaal aa rahe hai. lekin unke jawab nahi mil rahe hai. woh apne pocket mein se apna wallet nikal kar usmein rakhi Roshni ki tasveer ko dekhta hai.

Arjun mv “main Sikandar tak pahunch kar rahunga Roshni, I promise! Fir chahe mujhe uske liye kuch bhi kyun na karna pade.”

Woh aankhein band karke head rest par apna sar rakhta hai aur apne man ko shaant karne ki koshish karta hai.

Us raat-

Arjun sone jaa raha hai tab achanak Riya ka phone aata hai. uske chehre par automatically smile aati hai.

Arjun: hi!

Riya(low voice): hi!

Arjun uski awaaz sunkar tense hota hai: kya baat hai Riya? Tum itni pareshaan kyun lag rahi ho? Sab theek toh haina?

Riya: aap abhi mere ghar aa sakte hai?

Arjun koi sawaal nahi karta hai: ha main aata hun.

Call disconnect

Arjun mv “kya hua hoga? Riya ka upset hona aasan nahi hai zaroor koi badi baat hai.”

Woh bina change kiye bas gaadi ki chaabi lekar hi nikal jaata hai. aadhe ghante baad woh Riya ke ghar pahunchta hai. woh bell bajane hi waala hai ki.

Riya: are main idhar hun!!

Arjun idhar udhar dekhta hai par use Riya kahi nazar nahi aati

Riya: are baba! Upar dekhiye

Arjun upar dekhta hai. Riya use wave karti hai. woh terrace par hai waha ki boundary wall se baahar pair karke baithi hai aur cold drink ki bottle haath mein lekar pee rahi hai. Arjun use aise dekh kar confuse hota hai.

Riya ek side par point karti hai: waha par bhi seedhi hai, andar aane ki zaroorat nahi hai.

Arjun uski finger ko follow karte hue seedhi tak pahunchta hai. woh chadkar Riya ke paas jaata hai

Arjun: kya hai ye sab Riya, tum cold drink pee rahi ho ya sharaab?

Riya: sharaab nahi pee sakti na isliye cold drink pee rahi hun..woh sab chodiye, aap baithiye na mere paas.

Arjun bhi wall par chad jaata hai: ab batao kya hua?

Riya kuch nahi bolti bas uske kandhe par sar rakhti hai. Arjun use hug karta hai aur kuch der silent support deta hai.

Arjun: kya baat hai Riya?

Riya(bina hile): gadbad ho gayi hai

Arjun uski awaaz sunkar use khud se alag karta hai. Riya ki aankhein nam ho gayi hai.

Arjun(worried): Riya tum ro kyun rahi ho? Kya hua please batao mujhe

Riya: mera promotion ho gaya…Senior Inspector

Arjun(happily): are toh ro kya rahi ho? Ye toh achi baat hai!! mujhe treat dene ke bajay tum aise devdasi ki tarah baithi ho

Riya: Devdasi?

Arjun: ha devdas ka female version, itna bhi nahi pata tumhe?

Riya(amused): Arjun sir, ek minute ke liye dimag ko shant karke sochiye..devdasi ka kya matlab hota hai

Arjun confuse hota hai: kyun devdasi mein…(realize karke) Oh Shit!! (sheepishly) sorry

Riya: it’s okay

Arjun firse puchta hai: par tum itni upset kyun ho?

Riya: promotion toh hua hai lekin, uske saath ek aur cheez hui hai

Arjun: kya?

Riya: mera transfer

Arjun ke chehre ka rang bhi ud jaata hai ye sochkar ki Riya ka transfer kisi aur shehar mein ho gaya toh woh firse akela pad jaayega khaas kar ab jab use uski zaroorat hai. waise bhi aise promotional transfers humesha alag- shehron ya state mein ho jaate hai. usne khud bhi toh experience kiya hai. Shayad Narvekar use atleast Mumbai mein rokne ki koshish kare par seniors ka kya bharosa?

Arjun(darte hue): ka…ha, kaha hua ha…hai….transfer?

Riya: pata nahi….Amod sir ne kaha ki commissioner sir ne sirf ye bataya ki promotion aur transfer hua hai lekin transfer kaha hua hai ye abhi tak decide nahi hua

Arjun: par transfer kyun?

Riya: apparently ek hi team mein do Senior Inspectors ki zaroorat nahi hai

Arjun: par aise thodi hota hai? Taara aur tumhari expertise dono alag fields mein hai!

Riya: ye baat unhe kaun samjhaayega? Amod sir ne kaha ki woh koshish karenge ki transfer na ho aur agar woh use rok nahi paaye toh bhi he’ll make sure ki achi jagah par ho

Arjun kuch pal silent rehta hai: toh ab?

Riya: pata nahi kya hoga? Kal subah hi pata chalega.

She places her head on his chest and he embraces her. Both of them were lost in their own thoughts.

She asks him in muffles: aapne dinner kiya?

Her question breaks his reverie: huh?...ha tumne phone kiya tabhi sone hi jaa raha tha

Riya: itni jaldi kyun?

Arjun: woh…(mv “agar ise bataunga ki dimag kharaab tha toh sau sawaal karegi, abhi us baare mein batana theek nahi hai) darasal thak gaya tha thoda, we had 3 raids today

Riya: hmm

Arjun tries to cheer her up: hey! (he gently makes her look at him) tum..tum chinta mat karo okay? Aur Riya…main samajta hun is tarah achanak transfer ki wajah se tum upset ho lekin ye toh hota hi rehta haina? Aur…aur Riya, kuch paane ke liye kabhi-kabhi kuch khona bhi padta hai. ye tumhare career ke liye important hai aur kya pata? Nayi jagah tumhe aur bhi achi lage? (he tries to control his voice) kisi aur shehar mein, naye logon ke saath naye experience mile?

Riya(tearfully): par main aapko, Amod sir ko, aur sabko chod kar kisi aur anjaan shehar mein nahi jaana chahti.

Arjun: it’s not as tough as you think Riya, dekh lena, thode time baad na tum humse zyaada waha ke logon ke saath rehna pasand karogi

Riya: aur aap?

Arjun felt a loss of words. It was hard to hide his emotions from her. He felt his control breaking as he gazed into her watery eyes.

Arjun: mera kya Riya? Main tumse utna hi pyaar karunga jitna ab karta hun…(he tried to joke) tumhe kya lagta hai? kahi aur jaa kar tumhara mujhse peecha chut jaayega?

Riya wipes her tears: aur aapko kya lagta hai? ye faaltu ke jokes maar lenge toh main nahi samjhungi ki aapke dil par kya guzar rahi hai?

Arjun sighed letting a lone tear fall onto her hand: ye humare haath mein nahi hai

Riya tightened her hold on him: mere saath rahenge? Aaj ki raat?

Arjun: ha

Arjun ko samaj mein nahi aata ki uska mood kaise theek kare. Achanak use ek idea aata hai

Arjun: Riya?

Riya: hmm

Arjun smiled: 

Khamosh tha, hothon pe baatein nahi thi

Koi nahi tha, ye akeli meri thi zindgi

Tum mile toh mil gaya yeh jahaan

Tum mile toh har pal hai naya

Tum mile toh sab se hai faasla

Tum mile toh jadoo cha gaya

Tum mile toh jeena aa gaya

Tum mile toh maine paaya hai khuda…..

Riya’s lips automatically curved into a smile hearing his melodious voice. She snuggled closer as he sang for her.

On the other hand-

Amod is sitting on a desk at his study with papers strewn in front of him. His head in his hands, unsure of what to do. A lady appears from behind him. She smiles and gently massages his shoulders startling him initially.

Amod: Kinjal tum soyi kyun nahi?

Kinjal: tum itne pareshaan ho toh mujhe neend kaise aa sakti hai?

Amod: lagta nahi ki is baar ye jaldi khatam honewaali hai

Kinjal: kyun? Kya hua?

Amod: wahi Riya ki transfer waali baat. Pehle toh maan nahi rahe the par thoda pareshaan kiya toh ab Commissioner sir ne ye list di hai, unhone kaha ki main kisi ek ko chun lun….(frustrated)man toh kar raha hai jaa kar unhi ka gala kaat du!

Kinjal smiled: toh chun lo

Amod: kaise chunu? Koi bhi dhanki nahi hai, main nahi chahta ki woh kisi aise jagah jaaye jaha par uska talent waste ho. Hum chahe kuch bhi kahe lekin sach yahi hai ki department mein ek achi corrupt-free organisation ko dhundhna mushkil hai. pehle socha ki Crime branch ke hi kisi aur unit mein transfer kar du par woh sab Mumbai ya Maharashtra ke baahar hai. aur main use utni dur nahi bhejna chahta, woh akeli pad jaayegi.

Kinjal: toh kuch aisa karo ki woh akeli na pade, koi aisi team jaha par uska koi dost ho?

Amod: kaha se dost lau uska Kinjal? Mere ilawa uska koi aur…he stops abruptly as a name flashes in his head.

Kinjal(confused): kya hua Amod?

Amod quickly skims through the papers again without answering his wife. He found the paper he had overlooked.

Kinjal understands he had found a place: Amod? (Amod turned to her) kya baat hai? itna hichkicha kyun rahe ho?

Amod: mujhe nahi pata ye uske liye acha hai ya bura

Kinjal smiled: bharosa rakho Amod, sab acha hi hoga aur agar kuch bura hua toh hum haina?

Amod: I hope so too Kinjal, I hope so too!

Riya’s house-

Arjun and Riya had cuddled up on the bed. His arms wrapped around her, she was sleeping soundly with her head on his chest. However, his eyes were far from slumber and only gazing at the figure in his arms. His fingers softly traced I love you repeatedly on her palm whilst kissing it frequently.

Riya whispered back in her sleep: I love you too

His eyes widened in surprise: tum…soyi nahi?

Riya(without opening her eyes): hmm

He shook his head in disbelief and held her closer to his heart. Arjun kissed her forehead and closed his eyes drifting into slumber himself.

Next day, 9 am commissioner’s office-

Puri ETF Commissioner ke cabin ke baahar wait kar rahi hai.

Chotu: Rathore Sir, hum subah-subah yaha kyun aaye hai?

Ayesha: case hai Chotu

Chotu: haila! Headquarters mein case? Ye criminals toh kuch zyaada hi bold ho rahe hai. (Sab use weird look dene lagte hai) kya?

Shree uske kandhe par haath rakhta hai: Chotu! Tera kaam haath chalana hai, dimag kyun chala raha hai?

Chotu innocent look deta hai. Commissioner ka PA unhe bulata hai.

PA: sir ne aap sabko bulaya hai.

Uske muh se shabd nikalte hi, Arjun storms inside. Rathore shakes his head disbelief, not bothering to even try to figure out his tantrums. Vikram greets them.

Vikram: good morning, aao bai…

Arjun: timepass karna band kijiye! Aur kaam ki baat kijiye

Sab uski tone ko sunkar use shock se dekhne lagte hai.

Vikram (defensively): of course, uh Rathore! (ek file aage karke) ek case hai

Rathore file lene ke liye haath aage badhata hai but Arjun use pehle cheen leta aur padhne lagta hai. Vikram koi comment nahi karta. Use pata hai Arjun ke andar aag jal rahi hai. Rathore uski indecency dekhkar daantne waala hai par Vikram use chup rehne ka ishaara karta hai.

Arjun: DISGUSTING!! AAP AISA SOCH BHI KAISE SAKTE HAI?? YE HAI AAPKA HATHIYAAR??

Rathore ab chup nahi reh paata: Enough Rawte! Behave Yourself!

Arjun: Tumhe Meri Personal Life Mein Interfere Karne Ki Zaroorat Nahi Hai!!

Rathore grits his teeth and steps closer to him(in a whisper): Agar Ki Hoti Toh Tum Is Waqt Kisi Jail Mein Hote Arjun Suryakant Rawte!!

Sameer’s words bring back the all the bitter memories stored at the back of his mind. He felt his heart sinking but maintained his composure.

Arjun: Afsos Tumhari Badkismati Se Main Nahi Hun!!

Kisi ko unki conversation sunayi toh nahi deti par uski tension ko mehsoos kar paate hai.

Vikram: boys!! Boys! Enough! Rathore listen, pehle tum shaant ho jao, please. Aur Arjun, humare paas iske ilawa aur koi raasta nahi hai!

Arjun balls his fist: Main Itna Ghatiya Kaam Hargiz Nahi Karunga!!

Vikram: Arjun tumhi ne kaha tha na ki Sikandar tak pahunchne ke liye tum kisi bhi had tak jaa sakte ho toh fir ab kya hua? Apni responsibilities se muh kaise fer sakte ho tum?

Sikandar ka naam sunte hi team ke dimag ki ghanti bajti hai. Ab unhe samajh mein aata hai ki Arjun itna utavla kyun ho raha hai.

Arjun: Main Badla Lena Chahta Hun Iska Matlab Ye Nahi Ki Kisi Ki Bhi Zindgi Barbaad Kar Du!!

Rathore: really? Mujhe nahi lagta ki tumhara experience itna bhi bura tha.

Arjun aur Ayesha dono uska taunt samajte hai lekin baakhi sab confuse hote hai.

Vikram: kya bol rahe hai ho tum Rathore? (Rathore jawab nahi deta bas Arjun ko glare kiya jaa raha hai) aur Arjun tum…

Achanak intercom bajne lagta hai. Vikram sigh karta hai. woh unhe chup rehne ka ishara karke call receive karta hai.

Vikram: ha?....ha bhejo

Woh phone rakh deta hai. Kuch hi seconds mein ek nervous ladki andar aati hai. Sab use dekhkar choukte hai. woh ladki bhi, par she is too preoccupied with something else to think about what was happening. Use dekhkar Sakshi ka mood off ho jaata hai.

Vikram: aao Riya, good morning

Riya: good morning sir…uh..woh Narvekar sir kaha ki aap...

Vikram: ha…ha mujhe yaad hai (desk par se envelope lekar) ye lo, tumhara promotional letter

Riya uske haath se leti hai: thank you sir

Vikram: kholo Riya, padho

Riya ki nazre aaspaas jaati hai. use tension mehsoos ho raha hai lekin Vikram ko obey karti hai. woh envelope khol kar letter nikal kar use padhne lagti hai.

Vikram: spelling errors?

Riya negatively nod karti hai: nahi sir

Vikram: great! (dusra envelope lekar) aur ye tumhara transfer letter….(Riya envelope leti hai aur use kholne lagti hai, Vikram gehri saans leta hai) ETF mein

Chorus: WHAT?!?!?!

Riya(stammering): E…ETF? Lekin…promotion ke baad toh transfer humesha dusre city ya state mein hota hai

Vikram(sarcastically): tumhare pyaare se Narvekar sir ne kal 5 ghante mera dimag khaaya hai, ye sawaal agar tum usi se pucho toh acha rahega

Riya ke man mein shehnayi bajti hai lekin woh smile se control kar leti hai: ji sir

Vikram apna focus change karta hai: Rathore, ab se Senior Inspector Riya Mukherjee ETF ka hissa hai

Rathore: yes sir, (Riya se) welcome to the team Riya

Riya: thank you sir

Vikram: aur Arjun tum (Arjun use glare karta hai)…woh file apne paas rakho. Ye case ETF ka hi hai aur tum logon ko hi ab is par work karna hi hoga whether you like it or not. Dismissed!.......................