Chapter 20

CHAPTER19:

Now Ridhi was relaxed a lot.. one evening Raj told Ridhi about Arjun's encounter with Sikander' his reason for moving away from love' his friends and herself. She couldn't believe it'

"jo bhi reason ho bhai' mien ye nahi chahthe ke wo Sikander fir se jeeth jaye' Bhaiya ke zindagi mien fir se pyaar bharega' unke bhi ek pariwaar hoga' aur hum sab unke saath hi hoge' aur hum aise uss Sikandeer ko haraa denge'" she was so confident. Raj was so proud of his sis. He had expected her to be worried. But she was now ready to challenge Sikander, just for her Arjun bhaiya...he kept his hands on her head "ha' Ridhi'hum usse haraadenge' iss baar Arjun ko koi nahi haraayenge' aur iss kaam me, mien tumhare saath hu'" they hugged, supporting each other.

"thanks bhaiya' patha nahi kabse meine Arjun bhaiya ko aise chaaha hai' jab bhi unhe dekhu, wo khush hone ke naatak tho karthe hai' par hamesha unke ankhon mien ek dard hote hai' I don't want to see it bhaiya' I want him to be happy' bilkul pehle ke tharah' wahi hassi-mazaak, wahi purane bhaiya'" he could feel moist on his shirt. "I promise Ridhi, tumhe tumhare wo purane bhaiya bohot  jald milega' I promise'."

 2 weaks have been passed since everything had happened. Shree became her best friend, though she was still trying to understand if it was something more.. he never pushed her.. she was his Ridzi.. she had all the time she wanted. Ridhi joined ETF as a part of her final year project, by telling Sameer that she needed Shree's help in some software.  Raj kept a constant monitor on both of them and was really proud of them.

Riya and Chotu were shocked when they came to know that Raj knows about Shree's feelings. He didn't elaborate much, as he had promised Raj. Riya didn't know that Raj knew about her too.. Raj had stopped them from telling her. Meanwhile Raj was looking onto Riya's feelings towards Arjun. He now understood how much he had missed these days. Well thanks to the new cupids at ETF.

Raj felt that her love to Arjun was a genuine one. He promised himself to take the first step.

One day after work, the 3 friends planned to spend some time together as long back. The initiative was from Raj, of course. But both agreed instantly. They went to the fort were they used to go in their free days during college and training periods. It was a silent evening with a mild wind in the air.

"yaar.. this place is just filled with memories.. bohot nostalgic hai right?" Rathod was their old Sam now.

"ha.. bohot memories hai yaha pe.. remember kaise training ke beech ke leaves me yaha aake relax karthe the.. aur college bunk karke sab film pe jatha tha.. aur hum yaha.." Raj was so relaxed.

"aur yaha pe hi meine wo pehla kadam li  thi..zindagi ke tharaf.." Arjun had a lot memories in this place.. the days when he 'actually' lived. Raj and Sam looked at each other. They knew the occasion.

"yaar you know her for 8 months now.. ache friends bhi hai.. and you both know its more than  friendship now' tho propose kyu nahi karthe? Aise sharmathe kyu ho?" Raj was pulling Arjun's legs.

"tum dono ko patha nahi ke isme kithne tension hothe hai.. ek baar kisiko propose karne ka time ayege na? thab mein deklunga tum dono ko?" Arjun was  irritated. First of all he was worried of how Roshni would react.. and now them.. its too much..

"yaar.. propose hi tho karna hai.. isme ithne tension kyu lethe ho.? Ek ring lo.. usse kisi romantic jagah lejao.. background music wala place.. fir apne knees pe jao.. and say "Roshni..will you marry me?".. bas case solved.." Sam still didn't get why Arjun was tensed. The Arjun who could break all the rules to catch a criminal is now standing like a criminal who was facing death penality.

"hey.. mein koi criminal ko pakadne keliye nahi ja rahe.. aur kaha ke case solved? Its not solved." Arjun was fuming. Raj was chuckling himself. He went to his best friend. "ok..mere bhai.. gussa math karo..iss Sam ko tho akal pehle se nahi hai.. don't mind his words.." Sam rolled his eyes. Raj continued. "Arjun.. it's a very important step of your life.. isme hume nahi, balke tumhe decide karna hoga ke kya karna chahiye.. if you need any help, just tell us.. hum yahi hai.." Arjun hugged Raj. He knew Raj and Sam would be with him always' they were not his friends' but his brothers.

"patha nahi yaar' kabhi mere khud ke bhai bhi mujhe itne samajh pathe'" Arjun said it with his whole heart. Raj broke the hug. "kameene' tho kya hum dono there bhai nahi hai kya?" he hit his stomach, in full filmy style. Arjun too responded equally. "aah'."acting to fall back'

They laughed together. But Raj saw moist in his friend's eyes. "hey Rawte' whats this? Hum sab yahi hai' always and forever'" he hugged Arjun, who held him tight.  Sam came and hugged them on top chocking their windpipes.

Next day:

 "Roshni.. meet me outside coffee shop at 4 30pm." He texted her. She was waiting for him there. He came in his SUV. He wore her favourite white shirt with blue jeans. She looked gorgeous in a baby pink salwar. "hi..Arjun.. coffee keliye chale?" she asked as he came near to her. "nahi Roshni.. aaj nahi.. aaj kahi aur chalthe hai.."

"kaha?" she was anxious. "come with me.." he took her hand and took her to the vehicle. "aaj hum ek special jagah jaa rahe hai.."  All the way through the ride, they talked a lot. But she noticed that he was just answering her questions, not asking her anything. That was not the typical Arjun. But she knew that his silence talked a lot. they reached the fort by 5 40 pm. She liked the place. It was serene. The sun was about to set. A mild orange colour filled the surrounding. He took her hand and took her to the top of the fort' were they could watch the sunset.

"its beautifull Arjun.."  she was so happy. "Roshni.." he called her. She found his voice filled with love. "tum mere baare mein sab kuch jante ho.. mere atheeth ke bare mein , mere aaj ke bare mein.. aur kal.. wo tho na mere haath hai, na thumhare.. mein thoda khadoos hu.. actually kaafi zyaada khadoos hu.. mere duniya mere friends pe shuru hote hai.. aur mere behen pe khatam.. is choti se zindagi mein kaafi ache din the.. aur kaafi bure.. kya tum mere is choti si duniya mein shaamil hona chahoge?" he was looking into her eyes. Her eyes slowly welled. He felt a pain.. he cupped her face "did I hurt you.. sorry.. I'm sorry.."

"ACP Arjun Rawte ' did you just propose me now?" she was still in shock. So was he.

"yeah.. I suppose.." he felt a bit awkward.

"oh God.. ye kabhi nahi sudhrega' are.. ACP.. ithne bade essay ke essay ke kya zaroorath the? Ek simple se sawal hi kaafi the na?" she smiled and he smiled back.

"Qubool hai!!.. mujhe aapke duniya Qubool hai!!" she smiled through her tears. He cupped her face and kissed tenderly on her lips and she kissed him back..she felt a ring moving up her finger and  saw a solitaire diamond ring' "I Love You Roshni..."  he whispered in her ears' they hugged for a time long after the sunset'

"Arjun.."  Raj called him back. "jo din beeth gaye hai.. ab wo kabhi nahi ayega.. ye  baath tumse acha aur koi nahi jaanthe.. tho wo baath accept kyu nahi karthe.. ?ye zindagi kisiko pakadke saza dena hi nahi.. aur bohot kuch hai' ye baath jithne jaldi tum samche' uthne ache hoge.. its time to move on.."

 "shayad jo tum keh rahe ho wo sach ho' par iss dil ko kaun samjhayenge? Wo tho kabka toot chuke hai.. usse tho aisa zakm mila hai ke kabhi teekh hi nahi hoga.."

Sam was not ready to accept it. "nahi Arjun.. kisi ko is dil ke pass tho lejao.. shayad wo zakm teekh hojaye.. ek baar try tho karo.."

"Arjun we are not asking you to forget her. Usse tho bhoolna namumkin hai.. par apne aankhen khule rakho.. shayad tumhe aise kisi ko mile jo tumse pyaar karthe ho?" both Arjun and Sam didn't know whom Raj was referring to.

"tum kehna kya chahthe ho Raj? Koi mujhse bhi pyaar karne lage hai kya?" Raj was silent. "Raj' mien kuch puuch raha hu'"

"Arjun' aise pyaar se door math bhago' hume patha hai ke tumhare duniya mien hum sab ke kya jagah hai' waha hum, Ridhi aur hamare team bhi hai' lekin ek aisa jagah hai, jaha hum nahi aasakthe. Ek aisa jagah jaha pehle Roshni the' tum mano ya na mano' wo jagah ab bilkul khaali hai' uss khali jagah ko bhar do yaar'"

"par Raj, you still didn't answer my question' kya koi mujhse pyaar karthe hai? Oh come on yaar' iss khadoos kahinke se kaun pyaar kar sakthe hai?" he asked with a gloomy smile. Raj thought for a while. he wished to speak about Riya. "nahi, Arjun ko apne feelings ko khud pehchanna hoga'" he thought.

"Roshni ko tumne hi dundh nikala tha.. ab aise special someone ko bhi tumhe hi dundhna hoga.. but I promise as usual hum tumhare saath hoge.."   still he was confused.

 "ab chalo.. warna Ridhi naraaz hogi"  he hurried leaving confused Sam and Arjun behind. 

PRECAP:

new 'interesting' case...

undercover mission...

Arjun with 'wife' Rya...

Shree with 'fiance' Ridhi...

CHAPTER 20 A: PAGE 62