Chapter 21

Riya bhi warm smile deti hai: thank you!

Arjun: flight kitne baje ki hai?

Chotu: woh check nahi kiya sir

Arjun(angrily): toh kya pandit ko bulwau muhurat dekhne ke liye?

Chotu: nahi sir, sorry sir....

Shree (apne laptop mein ghuste hue): main check kar raha hun sir….sir aaj Dubai ki do flights hai ek 7 baje aur dusri…raat 10 baje

Ayesha: ek baar passenger list check kar lo…just to be sure

Shree: on it!

Shree passenger list ki printouts nikalta hai. aur unhe check karne lagta hai. Riya bhi uski help karti hai.

Riya: ye raha! 10 baje ki flight mein Ravi Deshmukh!

Sameer apni ghadi check karta hai: 6 baj chuke hai…international ke liye 3 ghante pehle pahunchna padta hai….iska matlab ye Ravi ek ghante mein airport pahunch jaayega

Ayesha: humare paas waqt bahot kam hai

Sameer: ha! Liza tum aur Sakshi yahi rahoge! Shree tum aur Chotu baahar van mein surveillance karoge…Riya uske bag mein packets…

Riya: nahi sir, usne mujhe Jasmine ki school mein dekh liya hai, I think Ayesha ko jaana chahiye

Ayesha: are nahi, main use pehchaanti nahi hun, record mein jo photograph hai woh bahot purani hai, aamne saamne ek admi ko itne saal baad dekhne mein bahot farak pad sakta hai

Riya: uski chinta mat karo, main van mein rahungi, Shree ke monitors mein sab kuch saaf dikhega main tumhe uska huliya bata dungi…Rathore sir mere khayal se aapko aur Arjun sir mein se ek ko customs ke saath rehna chahiye aur ek as a passenger

Arjun: main customs ke saath rahunga, asli shakal lekar jaa nahi sakta aur huliya badal kar dekh chuka hai woh mujhe, Rathore tum dhadi badha lo

Sameer: come on guys move it!

Sab chaaron disha mein chale jaate hai apna-apna kaam karne ke liye.

Airport-

Sab kuch plan ke mutabik hai. Shree, Chotu aur Riya surveillance van mein hai. Rathore nakli dhadi lagakar waiting area mein newspaper padhne ki acting kar raha hai. Ayesha bookshop mein browse kar rahi hai. Arjun custom office mein hai. sab Bluetooth se connected hai. Riya ki nazre monitors par tiki hui hai. woh airport mein maujud har admi ko scan kar rahi hai.

Riya: mil gaya sir!

Arjun: kaha hai?

Riya: sir security check clear karne ki line mein hai

Arjun: Shit! Fir Ayesha men’s section mein kaise jaayegi?

Riya: Rathore sir? aap?

Ayesha: par drugs mere paas hai aur woh line tod kar aage kaise jaayenge uske paas?

Riya: use security clear karne se pehle rokna hoga!

Arjun: screw it! Ayesha main ek admi ko bhej raha hun, use drugs de do woh bag ki scanning ke waqt unhe andar daal dega

Rathore(angrily): Rawte! Bevkufi mat karo! Use shak ho jaayega!

Arjun uski baat ko ignore karke waha custom-in-charge ko kehta hai: mujhe ek uniformed admi chahiye (monitors par point karke) is ladke se bag lo aur security check par Ravi ke bag mein daal do

Woh Chief shock ho jaata hai kyunki use sirf itna pata tha ki koi drugs baraamad honewaale hai na ki yeh woh log khud drugs plant karenge

Chief: main aisa nahi kar sakta

Arjun ka gussa aasmaan chuta hai woh seedhe apni gun us par taanta hai: CHUP CHAP JAISA KEHTA HUN WAISE KARO WARNA YAHI PAR THOK DUNGA!!!!

Rathore kisi tarah public mein awaaz control karta hai: Rawte!!! Paagal mat bano!!!

Chief dar-kar uske instructions follow karta hai. woh ek uniform waale bande ko jaldi se Ayesha ke paas bhejta hai drugs lene ke liye.

Rathore: Ayesha khabardaar jo tumne use bag di hai toh!

Arjun: Ayesha Tum Use Bag Dogi Warna…

Rathore: enough Rawte! Tum pure plan par paani fer doge!!!

Udhar van mein teeno stressed hai. Riya achanak uthkar chali jaati hai.

Shree: Riya ab tu kaha jaa rahi hai?

Riya apni ID dekhkar andar bhaagti hai. woh usi flight ki counter par jaakar ID aage rakhti hai.

Riya: mujhe ek boarding pass chahiye!  Abhi! used bhi chalega

The airhostess was startled but quickly printed out a pass and gave it to her. Riya quickly thanked her and ran towards security check.

udhar ek-ek karke log aage badh rahe hai. Ravi bhi aage jaata hai. Arjun aur Rathore ki behas abhi bhi chal rahi hai. Custom ka admi Ayesha ke paas pahunch toh gaya hai par Ayesha ko samaj mein nahi aata ki kya karna hai. un teeno mein se kisi ka bhi dhyaan Riya par nahi jaata hai.

Rathore: tum end moment par plan nahi change karoge and its final!!!

Arjun: Rathore Tum Galti Kar Rahe Ho! Woh Humare Haath Se Nikal Jaayega!!!

Rathore: Javed waha basne nahi jaa raha hai, waapis aa jaayega kuch hi dino mein, tab pakad lenge!!

Arjun frustration mein Bluetooth nikal kar fek deta hai: DAMN YOU RATHORE!!! Aur gusse mein office se chala jaata hai.

Rathore: Ayesha us admi se kaho ki use kuch karne ki zaroorat nahi hai….Abort Mission!

Arjun aur Riya ke ilawa sab reply dete hai: yes sir

Arjun van par sabse pehle pahunchta hai. Shree aur Chotu ki use dekhkar fatne lagti hai. woh pehle bhi gussa hota tha lekin aaj dusri baar aisa lag raha tha ki woh kisi ka khoon kar dega. Woh dono chup chap wahi baithe rehte hai, na hilne ki koshish karte hai aur na hi awaaz karne ki.

Dusri taraf-

Riya women’s line mein khadi hai. woh Javed ko locate karne ki koshish karti hai. woh line chodkar us taraf chalne lagti hai. security guard use rokta hai.

Guard: ma’am? Aap nahi jaa sakti, ye mardon ki line hai

Riya peeche ki deewar par point karti hai: woh bhaiya darasal

Guard washroom ki sign ko dekhkar sar hilata hai. woh Javed ke peeche waale admi ko brush karke uske gale par point press karti hai. woh admi behosh ho jaata hai. Sab use gher leta hai. guards bhi aate hai aur us par paani chidhakte hai. Javed bhi usi bheed mein hai woh bhi equally confused hai ki achanak kya hoga. Riya chance lekar jhukti hai aur uske hand luggage ki ek zip kholkar usme drugs daal deti hai. aur fir dheerese firse khadi hoti hai taaki guard agar dekh le toh use shak na ho ki itna sab hone ke bavjud woh chup-chap washroom chali gayi.

Riya: hey bhagwan, ab toh itne AC mein bhi logon ko heat stroke aane lage hai. global warming ne toh puri duniya barbaad kar di hai.

Javed ladki ki awaaz sunkar choukta ha. woh turn hota hai. Riya ko dekhkar use dusra jhatka lagta hai.

Javed: Miss Shivangi?

Riya mudti hai: are Mr Ravi aap? Aap yaha kaise?

Javed: main toh business ke silsile mein Dubai jaa raha hun

Riya: kya? Main bhi? Mera matlab…business nahi… (blush karne ki acting karte hue) woh chutti ke liye

Javed khush hota hai: ye toh bahot achi baat hai, agar ghumne se fursat mile toh humse bhi mil lijiyega

Riya nazre jhukati hai: ji zaroor lekin

Javed: lekin kya?

Riya: Jasmine?

Javed: are Jasmine toh hostel mein hi hai, kya haina Naved nahi aa paa raha tha aur mujhe bhi jaana tha toh humne use wahi rehne ke liye keh diya…badi samajdaar bachi hai

Riya (khushi se): oh matlab woh aapke saath nahi hai

Javed caressed her arm: nahi…bilcul nahi, main akela hi hun. Aap jab chahe aa sakti hai mujhse milne aur (kareeb jaate hue) aap kahe toh aapka kamra bhi apna bana le

Riya sharmaane ka naatak karti hai: jaisa aapko theek lage

Javed khush ho jaata hai, isse pehle ki woh kuch kahe us admi ko guard hosh mein le aate hai aur bheed disperse hone lagti hai.

Guard: chalo! Chalo! Sab apni jagah par jao…(admi se) aap humare saath ayiye, thodi der baith jaiye

Woh admi bhi confused hai ki uske saath hua kya isliye bas nod karta hai.

Javed apna card nikalta hai: ye lijiye, aap check-in karne ke baad hume phone kar dijiyega, hum pahunch jaayenge aapke paas

Riya card leti hai: hume aapka intezaar rahega

Guard Riya ko dekhta hai: are madam? Kaha?

Riya: ha woh…admi behosh ho gaya toh isliye, sorry!

Woh Javed ko aakhri baar smile karke dekhti hai aur washroom ki taraf chali jaati hai. udhar Javed aage badhta hai. Riya use washroom ke darwaaze se dekh rahi hai. jaise hi woh security check mein bag deta hai frisking ke liye jaata hai, woh bhi aage chali jaati hai. woh guard ko ID dikha kar aage jaati hai lekin pillar ke peeche se Javed par nazar rakhti hai.

Javed ki frisking ho rahi hai utne mein baggage scanning waala banda halla machata hai: ye bag kiski hai?!?!

Javed: meri! Kyun?

Guard: arrest karo ise! Isme drugs hai!!

Javed(shocked): kya bakwas hai?! tum jaante..

Guards use restrain karne ke liye aage badhte hai lekin utna mein Riya aage jaakar Peechese uske gardan par apni gun se waar karti hai. Javed immediately drops to the ground. Isse pehle ki guards us par chade woh ID dikhati hai.

Riya: ETF!

Udhar ka ek guard: ma’am hume isse Customs ko saumpna hoga

Riya: Customs se humari baat ho chuki hai, aap fikar mat kijiye

Guard: theek hai ma’am, aap le ja sakti hai

Riya: thank you!

Guard: boys! Back to…

Riya: bhaiya!!

Guard: ji?

Riya: woh, ise uthane mein thodi help kar denge please?

Guard ko ajeeb lagta hai ki woh akeli aayi hai: umm…ji..kyun nahi

Woh do guards ko ishara karta hai. dono nod karke Javed ko apne kaandho par utathe hai.

Riya: thank you so much!

Guard: your welcome.

Riya dono guards ko baahar lead karti hai.

Baahar-

Arjun ke aane ke kuch der mein Rathore aur Ayesha bhi pahunchte hai. Rathore aur Arjun dono ke dusre ko aise glare kar rahe hai jaise ek dusre ko kacha chaba jaayenge. Shree, Chotu aur Ayesha teeno ko dar lag raha hai. Arjun ko ye samaj mein nahi aa raha hai ki uska gussa zyaada hai ya dard. Ayesha ishaare se Shree aur Chotu ko Riya ke baare mein puchti hai lekin dono na mein sar hilate hai.

Ayesha choukti hai mv “hey bhagwan! Mujhe laga ki atleast woh Arjun sir ko shant kar paayegi lekin...ekto Sameer ka gussa mere control se baahar jaa rahi hai…aaj toh pakka dono mein se ek dusre ka khoon kar denge!”

Rathore paani ki bottle leta hai.

Arjun(gritting his teeth): Bahot Khush Ho Na Tum Rathore?!

Rathore bottle rakhkar use glare karta hai: ha khush hun!

Ayesha baat badhne se pehle rokne ki koshish karti hai: Sameer ye aap…

Lekin Rathore haath upar karke use rok deta hai: bahot khush hun, (Arjun ka collar pakad kar woh whisper karta hai) mujhe mera badla nahi mila, ab main tumhe apna badla nahi lene dunga

A new found fury rages through his veins and he punches him: RATHORE!!!!

Rathore was thrown away a little but he retaliates equally. Arjun was no less. He gave him another. The trio were shocked seeing it escalated to this level. Fortunately Ayesha saw Riya coming with two guards and an unconscious man from the other side of the car and shouted in relief.

Ayesha: Riya!!!!!

Riya was startled seeing her so excited. She couldn’t see the fight from the other side and waved to Ayesha gesturing that she was coming. Ayesha’s plan fell through and she breathed a sigh of relief. The two ACP’s stopped….for the time being. Riya walked upto them. Everyone was shocked to see Javed unconscious.

Riya: ise yaha rakh dijiye bhaiya, thank you!

Guard nodded and left the body on the ground.

Ayesha: ye…kaise?

Riya: van mein extra drugs the na? toh maine andar jaa kar nakli boarding pass lekar Javed ko apni baaton mein fasa liya. aur fir baakhi ka kaam security check ke guards ne kar diya.

Rathore apne kapde theek karta hai: good job Riya! Chotu ise utha kar andar daalo!

Riya nods and then looks at Arjun. She could feel he was very agitated. She recalled Ayesha calling her loudly. Something had happened in her absence but she didn’t get chance to voice her thoughts. Rathore’s ringtone caught everyone’s attention.

Rathore: jai hind sir!.....(he glared at Arjun) yes sir! (disconnecting) hume commissioner sir ke office jaana hai abhi!!!!

The juniors nodded and quickly wrapped up. The team reached commissioner’s office. No one except Rathore aware of why they had been called.

Vikram was angry as hell: Mujhe Customs Ka Call Aaya Tha, Tum Logon Ne Unhe Dhamkaane Ki Koshish Ki? Aur Arjun Tum? Tumne Us Chief Ke Sar Par Gun Rakh Di!!

Arjun: Main Sirf Javed Ko Pakadne Ki Koshish Kar Raha Tha!!

Vikram: kaun Javed?

Rathore: woh Pathan ka admi hai sir

Vikram: Pathan Ka Admi Kyun?!?! Maine Tumhe Seedhe Pathan Ko Pakadne Ke Liye Kaha Tha Toh Fir Tum Log Uske Peeche Kyun Gaye? Ab Pathan Bhi Alert Ho Jaayega!! Seedha Sa Mauka Tha, Sab Kuch Gavah Diya Tum Logon Ne!!!

Rathore: Sir, Rawte Use Execute Nahi Karna Chahta Tha Aur Humara Plan Fool-Proof Tha, Agar Rawte Ne Beech Mein Taang Nahi Adayi Hoti Toh Sab Kuch Achese Ho Jaata Hai!!!

Arjun: Plan Already Compromise Ho Chuka Tha!!!

Vikram: Enough!!! Arjun Bahot Hua! Tumhare Indiscipline Ko Main Aaj Tak Lightly Leta Raha Hun Lekin Ab Nahi!! Tumne Mujhse Information Maangi Woh Maine Tumhe Di! Lekin Fir Bhi Tumne Aisa Kadam Uthaya, Kya Faayda Us Information Ka???

Arjun’s anger rose and he balled his fists.: Toh Kya Karta? Ek Bachi Ko Torture Karta?

Vikram: Ha! Ye Police Department Hai Humara Kaam Criminals Ko Pakadna Chahiye Uske Liye Hume Kuch Bhi Kyun Na Karne Pade!!! Woh Ek Criminal Ki Beti Hai!! Aur Agar Criminal Tak Pahunchne Ke Liye Uska Istemaal Karna Pade Toh Woh Bhi Karte!! Tumhare Is Javed Ko Pakadne Ke Chakkar Mein Sab Kuch Barbaad Ho Jaayega!!! Ab Bas Bahot Hua! (trying to calm himself) ab main aur nahi jhel sakta. Mujhe lagta ab tumhe team se nikalna hi padega…Rathore tumhari koi rayi hai?

Rathore: no comments sir

Vikram team ki taraf dekhta hai: tum mein se kisi ko kuch kehna hai? khilaaf ya bachav mein?

Nobody could understand what was happening. Everything was happening so suddenly that their thinking capacity was in ruins. Riya somehow gathers herself.

Riya: sir main…

Arjun: kisi ko kuch kehne ki zaroorat nahi….(angrily glaring at Vikram) Aapko Jo Karna Hai Kijiye!!

And without any warning he stormed out of the office. Riya could feel his anger as he walked past her and only wished to go and hug him.

Vikram: iska kya karna hai ye main baad mein sochunga, filhaal hume ye bigdi hui baat sambhalni hogi, woh admi pakda gaya kya?

Rathore: ha sir pakda toh gaya

Vikram: uska interrogation karo! Aur Pathan alert ho usse pehle use pakdo!

Rathore: yes sir.

Vikram: tum logon ke saath hi hoga na?

Rathore nods.

Vikram: Shree! Chotu! Use lekar yaha ke interrogation room mein use interrogate karo!

Shree and Chotu nod before leaving. Vikram takes all of them to the interrogation room. Shree and Chotu arrive with Javed and it starts. Riya on the other hand was paying attention not to what was happening in front of her but  wondering where Arjun had gone. She had tried messaging him, but he didn’t reply. She tried calling but he didn’t answer. Thinking he might be home, she called on his landline and then hers but to no avail. She couldn’t leave with Vikram near them. The boys took a break after half an hour and returned outside.

Riya: Rathore sir…mujhe…mujhe leave chahiye

Rathore knew exactly why, but didn’t allow: case important hai, bina thos karan ke tumhe leave nahi mil sakti hai

Ayesha glared at him angrily and wondered why her husband was paying more attention to their personal rivalry than such an important case.

Ayesha(irritated): Sameer aap Riya se kyun…..

Riya’s anger flared up: rehne do Ayesha, (looking at Rathore) Theek Hai Aapko Thos Kaaran Chahiye Na, Main Deti Hun Aapko Thos Kaaran!!!!………………………………..