Chapter 10 - Baate Kuch Ankahi Si

Present Day.

Jenny is in her office, sitting at her desk. It is almost closing time. Her colleagues are leaving one by one. The rows of cubicles are gradually emptying out, commotion dying down. But she doesn’t notice any of that. She is staring at the cupcakes Kabir sent her, on her desk. Shunty has delivered them hours ago but she hasn’t touched one yet.

Swara: Kab tak aise dekhti rahegi unhe?

Jenny turns to Swara who is sitting at the cubicle next to hers.

Jenny: Ye vanilla flavor ki hai. Aur mera favorite chocolate hai.
Swara: Oh, come on. Chocolate favorite hai to iska matlab ye to nahi na ke tu vanilla kha hi nahi sakti.
Jenny: Main us bareme nahi bol rahi hu.
Swara: To?
Jenny: Kabir humesha sabki pasand ka dhayan rakhta hai. He never makes a mistake. Ye paheli baat hai. Aur dusri baat ye hai ke ye Kabir ka favorite flavor hai.

Swara becomes intrigued.

Swara: To tujhe lagta hai ki usne tujhe koi message bheja hai iske through. Koi indication.
Jenny: Ha.
Swara: Kya message ho sakta hai?
Jenny: Wahi samajhne ki koshish kar rahi hu.
Swara: You know, in cupcakes ko aise dekhne ke bajay tu use call bhi kar sakti hai.
Jenny: Don’t be absurd, Swara.
Swara: You are being absurd. Pichle 5 saalo me Kabir ne ek baar bhi tujhe koi indication bheja? Ya tujhse baat karne ki koshish ki? Nahi na. To aaj jab usne aise koi message dene ki koshish ki to iska matlab to yehi hua na ke koi bari baat hai. May be woh kisi musibat me hai aur use teri madat chahiye.

Jenny glances at the cupcakes again and considers what Swara just said. Is it possible that Kabir is in some kind of danger? If that is the case, there is only scenario which is serious enough to make Kabir try to reach out to Jenny. And that is his identity as Anjaan being compromised.

#

Neha: Bhaia, rok do yehi pe.

The cab stops in front of Kabir and Chandni’s Sweet Corner. Riddhima didn’t take her bike to work today. So, the three of them took a cab. Riddhima looks out the window and then turns to Neha.

Riddhima: What is this?
Neha: Kya?

Riddhima glares at both of them.

Angad: Hey. Meri taraf aise matt dekho. Mujhe kuch nahi pata.
Neha: Ha to kya ho gaya? Acchi jaga hai ye. Ab chalo bahar niklo.

They get out of the cab one by one. The road is filled with noises of horns and engines coming from various types of vehicles. The cab drives away. Angad and Neha take a step towards the café but Riddhima stays where she is.

Neha: Kya hua?
Riddhima: You know what? Mera mann nahi hai. Main ek kaam karti hu, ghar chali jaati hu.
Neha: Bilkul nahi. Chalo tum.
Riddhima: Lakin….
Neha: No lakin.

Neha practically drags Riddhima with her. They enter the café. This is the busiest time here. Almost every table is occupied by customers. They see Kabir and Chandni at the counter talking and Lily and Shunty running around attending customers. Neha points at Kabir and asks….

Neha: Is that….
Angad: Yup.
Neha: Wow. He is so….
Angad: Good-looking? Yes.
Neha: Good looking kaafi nahi hai mere dost.
Riddhima: Oh my god.

They find an empty table and sit down. Neha starts looking through the menu. Lily comes over to attend them.

Lily: Hi Riddhima.
Riddhima: H..hi.
Lily: Us din humari mulakat nahi ho payi. I am Lily. The sous chef, the waiter jab jiski zarurat par jaye.

Riddhima laughs hesitantly.

Riddhima: You know Angad aur ye Neha hai.
Neha: Hi.
Lily: Hello.
Neha: So, tell me Lily. What should I order?
Lily: Aap kuch bhi order kar sakti hai. Everything is very good. Kabir ke haath me jaadu hai.
Neha: Kabir as in Kabir and Chandni’s….
Lily: Yeah. There he is.

She points at the counter where Kabir is talking to Chandni.

Neha: Wow. A man that cooks.

Riddhima mummers under her breath.

Riddhima: Oh god.

Lily smiles.

Lily: Ha. Use humesha se cooking ka shauk raha hai. So, what should I bring?
Neha: Mere liye ek chicken sandwich.
Lily: Aur aap dono?
Angad: Main bas ek coffee lunga. Black.
Lily: Riddhima?
Riddhima: Just coffee.
Lily: Same as last time?

Angad and Neha looks at Riddhima inquiringly as her face turns completely red.

Angad: Last time to main tumhare saath aya tha and I don’t remember you ordering anything.
Lily: Nahi. Woh baad me ayi thi raat ko.
Angad: Really?
Lily: Ha. Aur….
Riddhima: Yes. Same as last time.

Lily smiles mischievously.

Lily: Okay. Aur kuch?
Riddhima: No, no, no. That was enough.

Lily nods and leaves them.

Angad: Tum yaha phir se ayi thi? Akele.
Riddhima: Ha coffee lene. So what?
Angad: Nahi. Kuch nahi.

He share a look with Neha and both of them control their laugh.

As lily approaches the counter, Chandni asks her in a low voice….

Chandni: Kya lagta hai, kyu aye hai?
Lily: Investigation ke liye nahi aye hai. Bas aise hi aye hai. Or should I say….

She indicates towards Kabir who is standing next to Chandni and finishes her sentence with a subtle mischievous grin.

Lily: …. Kabir ko checkout karne aye hai.

Chandni chuckles which irritates Kabir.

Lily: What? To main kya karu? She was asking about you.
Chandni: Riddhima?
Lily: Nahi. Uski dost.
Chandni: Inquiry kar rahi hogi ke ye ladka uske dost ke layak hai ya nahi.
Kabir: Bas karo tum dono aur mujhe batao kya order kiya hai.
Lily: Ya right.

Lily shows them the order. Kabir steps away from the cash register and bring the food. Lily goes to attend other customers. Kabir looks at the table where Riddhima is sitting with her friends. He can tell that she is trying very hard not look his way. Staring at her he tries to figure out how he will handle everything, the situation, his growing feelings for her. He stands still until his phone rings, breaking the chain of his thoughts. The name in caller id catches him by surprise. It is Jenny. He had hoped for this call but never expected it. He takes deep breath before answering.

Kabir: Hello.

Jenny takes deep breath before answering.

Jenny: Hi Kabir.
Kabir: To finally meri yaad ahi gayi.
Jenny: Yaad to bohot ati hai. Lakin….
Kabir: Yeah. I know.

No one says anything for a while.

Jenny: Tum thik ho na Kabir?
Kabir: Well, jab se tum gayi ho…
Jenny: Apart from that.

Kabir once again looks at Riddhima, thinks about the situation.

Jenny: Kya hua? Kuch bol kyu nahi rahe ho?
Kabir: Soch raha hu ke kya jawab du. Meri life me kabhi bhi sab kuch thik nahi raheta hai. You know that.

She glances at the cupcakes on her desk.

Jenny: Tumne mujhe ye cupcakes bhejte. Mere bina maange. Tumhari pasand ke. Aisa lag raha hai tum koi madat maang rahe ho.
Kabir: Yaad arahi thi tumhari. Roz ati hai. Aaj zayada arahi thi.

Jenny holds her breath for a second before asking the next question, tries to swallow her feelings.

Jenny: Are you in love Kabir?

Jenny’s question freezes Kabir. He doesn’t know how to answer. He can’t lie to Jenny but he is not ready to accept the truth yet, nor does he want to hurt her feelings.

Jenny: Jawab nahi de rahe ho tum. Iska to ek hi matlab hai na.
Kabir: Nahi…

His voices shakes for a second but it finds its ground.

Kabir: …aisa kuch nahi hai.
Jenny: Tum jaante ho na tum mujhse jhoot nahi bol sakte. To koshish kyu kar rahe ho?
Kabir: Main jhoot nahi bol raha hu. Tumhara dimag kharab ho gaya hai. Pata nahi kaha se achanak se aisi baate tumhare dimag me arahi hai.
Jenny: Main tumhe bohot acche se jaanti hu Kabir. You don’t have to tell me what you are thinking.
Kabir: Don’t be over-confident.

She laughs mildly.

Jenny: Tumne aajtak mere saath sab kuch share kiya hai. Kabhi bhi hesitate nahi kiya hai. Lakin aaj tum mujhe apni pareshaani ki wajay bata nahi rahe ho. Mere puchhne pe bhi. To iska to ek hi matlab hai na.

She takes a deep breath.

Jenny: Ke tum mujhe hurt nahi karna chahte.
Kabir: Jenny…
Jenny: It is okay Kabir. I want you to be happy.
Kabir: Jo tumhare bina kabhi nahi ho sakta.

Kabir turns away from Riddhima and enter into the kitchen.

Kabir: Meri zindagi jaisi bhi ho. Agar tum usme nahi ho to… sab kuch adhura hai.
Jenny: You have to make the best of it. Zindagi ke yehi rule hai. You have to follow it.
Kabir: Ye tum kahe rahi ho?

He takes a deep breath.

Kabir: Woh tum hi thi jisne mujhse ek baar saare niyam tor dene ko kaha tha.

Jenny remembers the day she said that.

“Be what you are Kabir! Ab ise suppress karne ki koshish mat karo. Yehi ek tarika hai is situation se bahar nikalne ka.”

Kabir: Aur aaj tumhi zindagi ne rules follow karne ke liye kahe rahi ho.
Jenny: Kuch chizo par humara control nahi hota hai. Bahetar yehi hota hai ke hum use accept karle.
Kabir: Jenny…...
Jenny: Accept it Kabir. Jo bhi tum feel kar rahe ho use accept karlo.

She cuts the call without saying anything further. Kabir sighs, puts his phone away and begins to heat a chicken sandwich.

#

Jenny clutches her phone. Swara who is at her desk preparing to leave looks at her with her with concern.

Swara: Jenny. Are you okay?

Jenny holds back her tears and says.

Jenny: Yeah. Main thik hu. Late ho raha hai na. We should go.

She gets up quickly and starts getting ready to leave.

Jenny: Kamla didi.

A woman emerges from the kitchen.

Kamla: Ji didi.

Jenny hands her the box of the cupcake.

Jenny: Ye aap le jaiye. Baccho ko de dena.

She steps forward to leave but then stops.

Jenny: Aur peon se kahena ke agli baar agar mere liye yaha se kuch bhi aye to use wapas bhej de.
Kamla: Ji didi.

Swara follows Jenny as she exits the office.

Swara: What was that?
Jenny: Kya?
Swara: Ye jo tune abhi kiya. Cupcakes Kamla didi ko de diye aur baad me wapas bhi bhejne ko bol diya. Kyu?

Jenny doesn’t answer, just keeps walking.

Swara: What happened Jenny?

Jenny slows down, Swara does too.

Jenny: Kuch nahi hua hai. I just realized ke itne saalo tak dur raheke koi fayeda nahi hua hai. Abhi bhi sab kuch waisa hi hai. Abhi bhi utna hi dard hota hai. Mujhe puri tarike se use apni zindagi se nikaal na hoga.
Swara: Agar aisi baat hai to chhor de na Vikram sir ka case.
Jenny: Kaise baate kar rahi hai Swara. Vikram Bhaia mere liye sirf Kabir ke bare Bhai thodi the. Woh mere mentor the. Main aaj agar yaha is position me hu to sirf unki wajay se. I owe him this much.

Swara doesn’t argue further. She knows there is no way she can change Jenny’s mind. She is stubborn as hell.

#

The next morning.

Angad is standing outside the police station. It is a usual day. People are coming in and going out of the station. He checks the time anxiously. Kajal should be here by now - if she has decided to accept his offer. A taxi stops near the entrance and he looks at it eagerly, hoping to see Kajal getting out of it. But much to his disappointment it isn’t her. It is Riddhima and Neha.

Neha: Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?

Neha asks once she sees him there.

Riddhima: Kajal ka intezaar?

He nods.

Riddhima: Mujhe nahi lagta ke woh ayegi. Jo bhi uske saath hua uske baad... no.

He sighs.

Angad: Shayad tum thik kahe rahi ho.

Neha pats him on the shoulder.

Neha: Come on let’s go inside.

Angad glances at the street once, then unwillingly follows them. Neha changes the subject quickly.

Neha: Waise kal maza aya na café me.
Riddhima: Oh god. Not this again.
Angad: Ha. Khana bohot tasty tha.
Riddhima: Please stop it.
Neha: Dekho kaise sharma gayi.

They both start laughing while Riddhima gets irritated.

Neha: Lakin I noticed ke woh kisise phone pe baat kar raha tha. It looked intense.
Angad: Koi ex hogi shayad.
Neha: Main bhi wahi soch rahi thi.
Riddhima: Guys!
Neha: Kya? Aajkal aise chizo ka khayal rakhna parta hai. Pata nahi kaun kya chhupa raha hai.

Riddhima sighs in frustration. She knows Angad is just messing with her. But Neha, Neha is serious. She is so invested Riddhima’s dating life, which in real doesn’t exist because Riddhima has never been in a relationship. And according to Neha this shouldn’t be the case, because well “everyone needs someone”. Riddhima knows she means well but sometimes Neha’s behavior annoys her. Like it is right now.

Riddhima: Tum log continue karo. Main chali.

She increases her speed and leaves them there.

#

Swara drops a file on her desk

Swara: Itne saare documents me clue kaha se milega?

Jenny is going through Vikram’s files she took from Barkha the other day and Swara is helping her. The files are scattered on both of their desks.

Jenny: Hume pahele cases date ke hisab se sort karna hoga. Uske baad recent cases pe dhayan dena hoga.
Swara: Agar unka murder kisi case se related hai to recent case hi hoga. Right.
Jenny: I am almost sure ke aisa hi kuch hai. Woh koi random mugging nahi thi. It just feels fishy.

For the next two hours they sort the files by their date. Then they take Vikram’s diary and check his latest appointments and notes.

Jenny: Yaha aisa kuch nahi hai jo red flag lage.
Swara: Ek sec woh kya hai?
Jenny: Kaha?

Swara points at a page with only one word written.

In. A. Rai.

The rest of the page is empty. It looks a little bit suspicious because it is vague. Not clear like the rest of the things written in the diary.
Swara: In. A. Rai. Iska kya matlab ho sakta hai?
Jenny: Pata nahi. Lakin pata lagana parega. Kyuki shayad iska unke murder se koi connection hai.