Chapter 11 - Kahin Na Kahi To Ek Din Mujhe Mil Hi Jayega

Angad and Neha stare at Riddhima’s way.

Angad: Zayada ho gaya shayad.
Neha: Kya zayada ho gaya? Mood kharab hoga kisi wajay se.
Angad: Jo bhi ho. May be hume use Kabir ko leke aur chherna nahi chahiye.
Neha: But…
Angad: Come on, Neha.
Neha: Okay. Fine. Nahi chherungi use aur.
Angad: Thank you.
Neha: By the way. Tum ye sab kaise handle kar rahe ho?
Angad: Kya kaise handle kar raha hu?
Neha: You know Riddhima ka kisi aur ko pasand karna and all.
Angad: Are, forget it. It is nothing.
Neha: To tumhe bilkul bhi bura nahi lagta hai is baat ka ke woh kisi aur ko pasand kar rahi hai.
Angad: Honestly right now mujhe is baat ka sabse zayada bura lag raha hai ki….

His sentence gets cut off by the sudden appearance of Kajal at the entrance. She seems nervous, her eyes scanning the place and the people around her. A smile spread across Angad’s lips.

Angad: Never mind.

He quickly approaches her, leaving Neha behind.

Angad: Kajal. Hi. Main tumhara hi intezaar kar raha tha. I am so glad you came.
Kajal: Mujhe ane me der to nahi ho gayi.
Angad: Nahi nahi. Tum bilkul time pe ayi ho. Chalo main tumhe sabse milata hu.

He leads her inside. She takes a deep breath and tries to calm herself down. The memories of the day she first joined Kalash’s company come rushing back. How happy she was to be working in a company like that. That happiness along with her self-confidence was crushed under his lust. She forcefully pushes back those thoughts. This is her shot and she has to take it. Kalash is dead now. And there is no way she is letting him control her life anymore.

#

Kabir: Uske baad usne phone kaat diya.

It is just like another day in the cafe. Kabir Chandni and Lily are in the kitchen. It is 1 pm, off-peak hour, so their hands are free. Kabir and Lily are preparing the food while Chandni is helping them and attending the few customers outside as Shunty is off running an errand. The air inside the kitchen is filled with the smell of oil and seasonings.

Chandni: To isiliye tumne aaj use uske pasand ke cupcakes bheje. Uske bina maange.
Kabir: Ha.

He rolls out the pizza dough.

Kabir: Maine to use bataya bhi nahi kuch. Phir bhi use samajh agaya.
Lily: Kya samajh agaya?
Kabir: Yehi ki main Riddhima ko….

He stops mid-sentence. This is the first time he has nearly said it out loud. Chandni and Lily raise their eyebrows.

Kabir: Mere kahene ka matlab tha ki…

He tries to find an excuse but fails. Lucky for him, Shunty steps inside the kitchen with a gloomy face right at that moment. Kabir notices immediately that the box he had sent Jenny is still in Shunty's hand.

Kabir: Kya hua? Tu ye bina deke wapas kyu aya?
Shunty: Didi ne lene se mana kar diya.
Kabir: Mana kar diya matlab?
Shunty: Unke office ke peon ne kaha ke Didi ne kaha hai ke ye sab unko nahi chahiye. Aur ye bhi kaha hai ke aajke baad se main ye sab na leke jayu.

Kabir sighs in frustration.

Kabir: Ye ladki bhi na.
Chandni: Kabir, ek baar uske point of view se socho na. Uska bhi dil hai. Woh bhi dukhta hai.

Kabir doesn't reply. He focuses on the pizza dough, almost thumping it angrily while the others watch him with concern. But his hands slow down as his eyes fall on the cupcake box on the counter. He thinks how much Jenny means to him, even though he is not in love with her. He can’t have her leave him like that. He takes off his chef’s apron and heads towards the exit but comes back to take the box of cupcakes. Chandni follows him.

Chandni: Kabir. Ruko.

He doesn’t stop.

Kabir: Nahi. Chandni. Main ye hone nahi de sakta. I have to stop it.
Chandni: But Kabir….
Kabir: Please Chandni. Mujhe matt roko.

She doesn’t try to stop him anymore as she knows there is no point. Kabir has made his mind, he won’t listen now.

#

Angad: Do you really think ke isse koi fayeda hoga?
Riddhima: Pata nahi. But we have to try.

They are waiting outside Anjali’s school which will be over soon. Riddhima doubts that Anjali saw something the night Kalash died, something she is not interested in sharing with the police. It is a bright sunny day. Both of them are leaning against the car, their eyes on the school gate.

Riddhima: Baaki parosio ki tarha Anjali bhi Kalash se nafrat karti thi. Main Sunita se uske baare me puchha tha. Usne kaha ki Anjali aur Priya bohot acche dost the. But baad me Anjali ghosted Priya.
Angad: Did she know why?
Riddhima: Guess karo.
Angad: Kalash?
Riddhima: Right. Sunita ne kaha ke usne dekha tha ek do baar Kalash ko Anjali ko gandi nazar se dekhte hue. Ek baar to Kalash Anjali ko attack karne hi wala tha lakin usne ake rok liya. Keemat bhi chukani pari thi use iski.
Angad: Disgusting.
Riddhima: I know.
Angad: To tum kahena chahti ho ke Anjali nahi chahti ke Kalash ka qatil pakra jaye aur isiliye usne us raat ko jo bhi dekha, agar kuch dekha ho to, woh humse chhupana chahti hai.
Riddhima: Exactly.

Angad thinks about the whole thing for a while.

Angad: You know. Us neighborhood me sab ameer log hi rahete hai. Itne ameer ke…

He lets the rest of the sentence hang in the air.

Riddhima: Right! Ye baat mere dimag me kyu nahi ayi? Hume unke accounts check karne honge. Ho sakta hai ke Anjali ko protect karne liye aur Kalash ko sabak sikhane ke liye uske parents ne Anjaan ko hire kiya ho.
Angad: Right.

Riddhima smiles.

Riddhima: I must say, I am impressed Angad. Tum din ba din smart hote ja rahe ja rahe ho.
Angad: Well thank you.
Riddhima: You should thank me. After all mere saath raheke hi to tum itne smart bane ho.

They both laugh at her joke. He observes her for a second, then says hesitantly….

Angad: Waise ek baat puchhni thi.
Riddhima: Kya?
Angad: Please gussa matt hona. Main tumhari taang nahi khich raha hu. Main seriously puchh raha hu.
Riddhima: Okay!
Angad: Kabir ke bareme…
Riddhima: Angad….
Angad: Riddhima! Maine kaha na main seriously puch raha hu.

She looks away.

Angad: Kya tumhe woh pasand hai? Like you know.
Riddhima: Kya kahe rahe tum? Jaanti hi kitna hu main use.
Angad: True. Lakin maine kabhi bhi kisiko tumhara attention aise grab karte nahi dekha hai, jaise Kabir ko dekha hai. He has a very strong effect on you.

She remains silent.

Angad: Isiliye puchh raha hu. Do you like him?

She takes a while before answering.

Riddhima: Pata nahi. I mean, mujhe to ye bhi samajh nahi ata ke kisko like karne ka matlab hota kya hai.
Angad: Jab koi kisiko dekh ke aisi shakal banata hai jaise Kabir aur tum ek dusre ko dekhke banate ho to use kahete kisiko like karna.

She rolls her eyes at him.

Angad: Okay! Ek baat ka honestly jawab do. Agar Kabir is chiz ko pursue karna chahe to tumhara decision kya hoga.

Angad’s question makes Riddhima very uncomfortable. In her mind she knows the answer but she isn’t even ready to accept it yet, let alone say it out loud. Luckily for her Anjali comes out of the school gate before Angad can ask again.

Riddhima: Agayi woh.

Anjali moves towards a series of parked cars near the entrance in her neatly pressed uniform. Everything about her screams rich parents. Riddhima and Angad quickly moves forward in order to catch her before she gets in the car and leaves.

Riddhima: Anjali.

Anjali turns to sound of the voice. Seeing the police officer who is investigating the death of Kalash, she gets irritated.

Anjali: Abhi mere paas waqt nahi.

She starts walking again. Riddhima and Angad follow her.

Riddhima: Mujhe bas ek baat puchhni hai tumse.
Anjali: Mujhe jo pata tha, main sabkuch bata chuki hu.
Riddhima: Are you sure? Kyuki mujhe lagta hai ki tumse ek do chize chhut gayi hai.

Anjali stops near her car. where her driver is waiting for her. She answers Riddhima while the driver takes her bag and opens the door for her.

Anjali: Accha. Kya nahi bataya maine?
Riddhima: Woh to tumhe pata hai na, ke tum kya chhupa rahi ho.
Anjali: Main kuch nahi chhupa rahi. Now if you will excuse me….
Riddhima: Anjali.

Riddhima softens her tone.

Riddhima: Main jaanti hu ke Kalash ne tumhe bohot pareshaan kiya hai. Uske liye tumhare andar jo negativity hai woh jayaz hai. Lakin is tarha se ek qatil ko protect karke…
Anjali: Main kisiko protect nahi kar rahi hu. Ye paheli baat hai. Dusri baat. Maine TV pe dekha hai Kalash ka confession. Unhone saaf kaha hai, woh khud khudki jaan le rahe hai. To phir qatil kaha se agaya. Aur teesri aur sabse important baat. Jab us bechari ladki ko police ki madat ki zarurat thi tab kisine uski help nahi ki. Lakin jab ab Kalash ki maut hui hai tab aap logo ko itni investigation karni hai. Suicide ko murder banana hai.

Her voice is filled with anger.

Anjali: Main aaplogo ki koi madat nahi karne wali, ek suicide ko murder banake kisi innocent ko jail me daalne me. I am done talking. Agli baar mere lawyer se baat karna.

She turns away from them in order to get in to the car. Riddhima tries for one last time.

Riddhima: Priya ki jaan khatre me hai.

Anjali stops and faces them again. She did not expect Riddhima to say that. Even Angad is watching Riddhima in confusion.

Anjali: What?
Riddhima: Ha. Ye sach hai. Jis admi ya aurat ko hum pakarne ki koshish kar rahe hai usse Priya ko kharta hai.
Anjali: I don’t believe you. Aap mujhe manipulate karne ki koshish kar rahi hai.
Riddhima: You just said ke tumne TV pe Kalash ka confession dekha hai. To yaad karo usne kya kaha tha, apni beti ke bareme.

Anjali thinks about Kalash’s confession she heard on the TV.

“…Meri beti par bhi kisi mard aaj apni gandi nazar daali….”

Riddhima: Humne Priya se baat ki. Usne confirm kiya hai ke us din sham ko ek admi ne use chhera tha. Woh koi random admi nahi tha. Woh jo bhi hai bohot dangerous hai. Agar zarurat pari to woh Priya ki jaan bhi le sakta hai.

Anjali tries to process all this.

Riddhima: Main nahi jaanti ke us raat tumne kya dekha. Lakin itna zarur jaanti hu, woh isi admi se related hai. Please mujhe batao ke tumne kya dekha? Aur kisike liye na sahi to Priya ke liye.

Anjali considers for a while. She hated Kalash, still does, for what he did to her and others, for what he was. But Priya was always kind to her, she was her friend and Anjali still cares about her. She has already hurt Priya by ghosting her and now she may be in danger. This woman could easily be lying right now, that is how cops are, but there is a possibility that she isn’t. And this is a chance she is not willing to take.

Anjali: Maine… kuch thik se nahi dekha. Aur main sure bhi nahi hu ke iska kisi chiz se lena dena hai ya nahi.
Riddhima: Just tell me what you saw.
Anjali: Aapko maine bataya tha na ki maine ek awaz suni thi jo maine socha tha ki tire puncture ki hai.
Riddhima: Ha.
Anjali: Uske kuch 20 minute baad maine ek aur awaz suni. Car ke engine ki. Main wapas khidki pe gayi to maine dekha ki humare ghar ke pichhe ki taraf jo sadak hai waha se ek gaari ja rahi hai.

Riddhima’s eyes brighten up.

Riddhima: Kis taraf se arahi thi?
Anjali: I think Priya ke ghar se meri ghar ke taraf.

Riddhima and Angad share a look. It is possible that Anjaan was in that car.

Angad: Us gari ki make ya model ke bareme kuch bata sakti ho?
Anjali: Nahi. I am sorry. Mujhe car me interest nahi hai. Main to color bhi nahi bata sakti. It could be easily black or navy blue or dark green. Us light me sab ek hi jaise dikhte hai. Bas itna bata sakti hu ke it was a passenger car. Mujhe ye baat odd isiliye lagi kyuki raat ke us time us sadak pe koi gari nahi chalti usually.
Riddhima: Koi baat nahi. Tumne jitni bhi information share ki hai wahi humare liye kaafi hai. Thank you. Thank you so much. Let’s go Angad.

They walk away from her in a hurry. Anjali watches them and wonders whether she did the right thing or not, whether she helped the police trap someone innocent while trying to keep Priya safe.

#

Kabir stops his bike near the gate of the police station, then takes off his helmet and fixes his hair, looking around. It is a busy day just like any other. The police officers are busy doing their work. He sees Kajal from afar, coming towards him, with a smile on her face. He waves at her.

Kajal: Zayada intezaar to nahi karna para na.
Kabir: Nahi. Main bas abhi aya hu.

Kabir hands her the box of the cupcakes.

Kabir: Ye le. Aaj tera pahela din hai na. Isiliye socha ke tere lunch leke ayu.
Kajal: Aap yaha sirf mujhe ye dene aye ho?
Kabir: Actually nahi. Mujhe kuch kaam tha, isiliye aya hu. Aur jab aa hi raha tha to socha ke tere liye lunch le kar ayu. Aur ye bhi dekh lu ke tera pahela din kaise ja raha hai. Bata. Kaisa lag raha hai?
Kajal: Abhi tak to accha ja raha hai. Lakin….
Kabir: I know. Lakin jitna maine samjha hai Angad aur Riddhima dono acche police officers hai. To tujhe koi problem nahi honi chahiye.
Kajal: Dekhte hai.

Kabir gives an assuring smile before changing the subject.

Kabir: Woh actually main yaha Riddhima se milne aya tha. Kuch baat karni thi usse.

Kajal’s expression changes. A mischievous grin spread across her face which Kabir ignores. His mind is too occupied to react to that.

Kajal: Woh to abhi yaha nahi hai. Kuch der pahele woh Angad ko leke kahi bahar gayi hai. Kuch kaam se.
Kabir: Accha. Koi baat nahi main baad me baat kar lunga.
Kajal: If you want main aapko uska number de sakti hu. Phone kar lena.
Kabir: Nahi. Uski zarurat nahi hai. Main baad me baat kar lunga.

He says that but inside he feels a sense of urgency. He needs to talk to her and tell her what he wants to say as soon as possible. But he remains calm in front of Kajal. He has always been skilled at hiding his emotions when he wants to.

Kajal: Jaisa aap thik samjho.
Kabir: To phir abhi main nikalta hu. Tujhe bhi kaam hoga na. Tu ja.
Kajal: Thik hai. Bye.
Kabir: Bye.
Kajal: Wait, wait wait. Woh dekho. Agaye dono.

Kabir turns around and sees Riddhima and Angad getting out of the car. They are talking about something that seems important but since they are quite far away, he can’t hear them. He bids Kajal goodbye then walk towards them. As he moves closer, bits of their conversation begin to reach him.

Angad: … lakin hum ye daave ke saath nahi kahe sakte hai ki woh gaari Anjaan ki thi.
Riddhima: Come on. Us road pe raat ke us time kabhi koi gaari nahi chalti, never. Lakin jis raat ko Kalash je khud ko goli maari usi raat goli chalne ke 20 min baad waha se ek gaari guzarti hai. Jo Kalash ke ghar ke taraf se hi arahi thi. This can't be a coincidence. I am sure us gaari me Anjaan hi tha.

Kabir doesn't stop, doesn't decrease his speed, doesn't change his face expression but a storm stirs inside him. Someone saw them leaving Kalash’s house that night and that someone has shared this information with the police.