Part- 121 (B)

Ayesha was driving the car after returning from Chetna's home , when she angled her head to Rathore who sat unusually quiet beside her.

He kept looking ahead his elbow resting against the door, his fist lightly pressed against his mouth.

The windshield wipers swept back and forth rhythmically, cutting through the steady drizzle, yet his eyes weren't really on the road, they were somewhere far beyond it.

"Kya hua.?"

She asked shifting her gaze back to the traffic.

"Kuch nahi."

He answered slightly angling his head to her.

"Ye kuch nahi aap paanch baar bol chuke hain subah se."

She reminded him subtly.

"Kuch hua hi nahi hai, toh wohi bolunga."

Came his quick reply.

"Kuch hua nahi hai ya aap batana nahi chahte?"

Ayesha raised her brows, stealing a quick glance at him, then continued.

"Wese aapne bataya nahi kal raat aap Arjun sir ke sath the."

"Haan vo bas...*Pause* uske car ka accident hua tha toh mai gaya tha wahan."

Rathore replied earnestly.

"Aur.?"

She pressed further, and Rathore turned his head to her.

"Aur kya ?

Tum agar sunna chahti ho ki kya maine uske sath koi ladhai ki... toh nahi, maine aesa kuch nahi kiya."

Ayesha suppressed a chuckle at his frown, then spoke.

"Maine kab kaha aap ladh rahe the?

Aapne ladhai ki hoti aapka mood kuch aur hota ab."

She said as a matter of fact, hence Rathore exhaled slowly looking back ahead.

Silence settled between them for a moment, then he spoke quietly.

"Ayesha.?"

"Hmm.?"

"Kya...tumhe kabhi meri baaton se laga ki mai …"

He paused, choosing his words carefully.

"Chahta tha Rawte bhi Roshni ke sath chala jaata toh achha hota, jaise Kalyan chala gaya apni biwi ko insaaf dilate dilate.?"

The playfulness on Ayesha's face halted as she looked at him properly, then shifted her attention to the road.

"Arjun sir ko aesa lagta hai.?"

She asked quietly , for a moment wondering what they really had spoken about last night. But then Rathore just kept mum , yet he looked troubled somehow.

She let out a slow breath, then answered.

"Nahi. Mujhe aesa kabhi nahi laga."

Rathore turned to look at her properly, while she continued calmly.

"Aap naraz the.

Uss narazgi me aapne galat decisions liye, per iska matlab ye nahi ki aap kabhi aesa chahte the. "

She paused for a moment before asking quietly.

"Aapne unhe samjhaya na ki vo galat soch rahe hain aapke baare me.?"

Rathore let out a light scoff turning away to the window.

"koshish ki thi...

Per uske dimag me kuch aya hoga ya nahi, ye nahi pata."

Ayesha glanced at his way briefly, then nodded head to self.

"Unhe thoda waqt lagega.

Aap jo nahi chahte the unhe aesa lagta hai ki aap wohi chahte the ,aur ye sun ke aap ek hi raat me itne bechain ho gaye.

Vo toh aapke ilzam ko saalo se sach maan ke chal rahe hain, toh unhe thoda waqt lagega samajhne me."

Rathore stared through the rain-covered windshield. His fingers unconsciously tightened around the edge of the seat, meanwhile Ayesha patted his shoulder lightly.

"Aapne achha kiya kal.."

He looked at her and she smiled.

"Kam se kam aap dono ne itne saal baad baat toh ki.."

She added quickly.

"Usse baat karna nahi kehte. "

He murmured.

"Jo bhi kehte hain...per ye aapki responsibility hai ki aap isse pehle jaisa na hone dein."

She said matter-of-factly.

"Kyunki mai seriously bol rahin hun... hamari shadi me aapki taraf se koi toh hona chahiye.

Nahi toh mere ghar walon ko lagega aap bureau ke bahar bhi ACP Sameer Rathore banke ghumte hain, issliye aapse kisiki banti hi nahi."

She finished in one breath, earning an incredulous look from Rathore as he folded his arms across his chest, the corner of his lips twitched.

"Tumhe apni shadi ki guest list ki padi hai.?"

"Meri akeli ki shadi nahi..hamari."

She grinned, and he shook his head lightly looking ahead.

A faint smile appeared on his lips, as he thought over her words then asked.

"Wese ye kab tay hua.?"

"Kya.?"

"Ye 'Hamari shadi' wala part."

He replied dryly.

"Vo tay karna aapka kaam hai, vo aapki responsibility hai.

Planning toh pehle se karke rakhni padegi na, toh mai wohi kar rahi hun."

She answered without missing a beat, Rathore stared at her for a couple of seconds, before letting out a small laugh.

__________________

By the time Rathore and Ayesha reached the bureau, others had already returned.

"Mil gaya Bishal.?"

Rathore asked the moment they stepped inside the conference hall.

"Nahi sir. Bishal wahan tha hi nahi."

Chhotu shook his head.

"Toh.?"

Rathore narrowed his gaze, taking his seat.

"Kisine uska phone chura liya tha.

Mandir ke bahar ek pickpocket se phone mila."

Sakshi added, when Shree showed him the phone Arjun had given him.

"Isme se sara data delete kiya gaya hai."

Shree commented.

"Aur sir jis railway station se ye phone churaya gaya tha, humne wahan ka CCTV check kiya..

Jiska pocket Rony ne maara tha, vo Bishal toh nahi tha."

Riya informed.

"Iska matlab Bishal ka phone pehle se hi kisi aur ke paas tha.?"

Ayesha questioned , to which Riya nodded and forwarded the tab to Rathore.

"Humne uss admi ka face apne criminal database me check kiya. Uska koi cirminal record nahi hai."

She added as Rathore took a look at the photo properly whose one side profile was visible.

"Ye toh....."

He trailed off , his brows knitted together thus everyone including Arjun looked up to him curiously.

"Kya hua sir? Aap isse jaante hain.?"

Chhotu asked, sounding curious.

"jaanta nahi.

per Isse kahin toh dekha hai.."

Rathore murmured trying to recall the face, when Ayesha stood up and leaned over his shoulder, taking a look at the image herself.

For a moment she too didn't recognize the face, until her gaze fell on the man's right hand.

"Sir..vo nishan.

Aisa hi nishan maine Chetna ke mama ke haath pe dekha tha.

Chetna ke ghar pe jo family photograph thi... usme."

Rathore looked up to her then back to the photograph and it hit him.

"Right.

Chetna ka mama."

Rathore confirmed putting the tab on the table and looked upto Arjun.

"Chetna ke mama ke paas Bishal ka phone tha?

Kya Chetna ya Chetna ka mama Bishal ko jaante the.?"

Sakshi questioned to no one particularly.

"Jaante the."

Shree spoke finally looking up from his laptop.

"Chetna aur Bishal ek dusre ko jaante the. Unn dono ka connection mil gaya.

6 mahine pehle Chetna Bishal ke sath Dhiren ke office job karti thi. Dono ek hi office branch me posted the."

Shree added.

"uh sir per kuch samajh nahi aaya.

Bishal apne hi company ke boss ki beti se pyar karta tha, aur dono ne milke bhaagke shadi karne ka plan banaya. Per isse pehle ki vo bhaage Bishal aur Purvi dono hi gayab ho jaate hain.

Phir Purvi ki gaadi milti hai, aur uske agle din Purvi ki kapdon me Chetna ki laash milti hai, jo 6 mahine pehle Bishal ke sath kaam karti thi.

Ye Purvi aur Bishal ki plan me Chetna kahan se agayi.?"

Chhotu questioned, sounding confused.

"Shree? Purvi, Bishal aur Chetna ...inn teeno ka aapas me koi direct connection mila?

Koi contact ya message kuch bhi.?"

Rathore asked turning to Shree, who shook his head.

"Nahi sir, unke phone records se leke social media tak inn teeno ke bich koi interaction nahi hai.

Per haan sir.. Chetna ke phone ka last location Dhiren ke office ke aas paas tha."

"Inn teeno ke case me ek hi common point hai..Dhiren aur uska office."

Riya pointed out.

"Ho sakta hai Chetna abhi bhi Bishal se milti ho?

Kyunki Chetna ke parents ne bataya Chetna recently kuch kaam nahi kar rahi thi, phir bhi vo apna lifestyle achhe se maintain karti thi, jaise ki shopping karna, ghumna phirna.

Uske parents ne usse iss baare me puchha bhi tha, per usne kuch bataya nahi unhe."

Ayesha explained in a breath.

"Per Chetna ke bank transaction me aesa kuch mila nahi. Aur na hi Bishal aur Chetna ke call records me kuch mila."

Shree objected.

"Kisi dusre ke phone se call karna muskil nahi hai Shree.

Aur Chetna ko cash milta tha, uski maa ne uske paas bahut sare cash dekhe the last time."

Rathore clarified.

"Mujhe kya lagta hai...."

Sakshi suddenly jumped in , eyeing them expectantly to guess her point but then Rathore shook his head.

"Nahi Sakshi.

Mujhe nahi lagta unn dono ka koi affair tha. "

Sakshi frowned , while her friends suppressed their laughs ,and Arjun exhaled slowly spinning the pen in between his fingers.

"Bishal ke paas itne paise nahi the ki vo kisi aur ko de. Uska bank account almost khali hai."

Rathore added.

"Haan usne bahut baar Purvi se hi paise liye hain."

Shree shook his head.

"Pyar ko byaapar bana diya hai sabne.."

Sakshi groaned , earning a pointed look from Rathore, just when Arjun spun his chair ,facing them.

"Bishal ke paas bhale hi paise na ho, per kisi aur ke paas bahut paise hain."

All eyes turned to him that instant ,when Rathore spoke.

"Tum jiske baare me bol rahe ho Rawte, uspe hame sirf shaq hai.

uske khilaf koi saboot nahi mila hai abhi tak.

Agar tumhare paas saboot hai toh hi baat karo, theory sunne ka time nahi hai hamare paas.

Kyunki tum hi ne commissioner sir ko bol diya hai hum aaj case close kar rahe hain."

Arjun didn't answer him immediately but slid some papers toward him ,then asked.

"Ye kaafi hai saboot ke taur pe.?"

Rathore read the papers carefully, then shook his head looking back at Arjun.

"Nahi. Ye motive ho sakta hai, per ye kaafi nahi hai."

"Ye hai kya sir.?"

Shree asked Rathore before looking toward Arjun.

"6 mahine pehle Dhiren ki company pe enquiry hui thi, tax invasion ko leke.

Baad me pata chala tha vo information Chetna ne leak kiya tha, uske baad hi usse terminate kiya gaya tha.

Dhiren ne kisi bhi tarah ye enquiry rok di thi, per isse ye sabit nahi hota ki vo 6 mahine ke baad bhi Chetna pe apna gussa nikalega."

Rathore answered shortly.

"Toh kya ho sakta hai Chetna ko kisise paise milne ki wajah Dhiren ki company se judi hui hai.?"

Ayesha questioned.

"Agar aesa hua aur hum maan le ki Mr Dhiren hi paise de rahe the Chetna ko, toh ho sakta hai Chetna Mr Dhiren ko kisi wajah se blackmail karti ho.?"

Riya guessed.

"Haan aur Mr Dhiren ne isse chhutkara paane ke liye Chetna ko hi raaste se hata diya."

Chhotu added thoughtfully.

"Aur police ka dhyan hatane ke liye apni beti ke kidnapping ka plan banaya."

Sakshi spoke next nodding to herself.

"Iska matlab hai Purvi aur Bishal dono hi safe hain, aur khooni ne unhe kahin chhupa rakha hai.

Aur inn sab me Chetna ke mama ne Khooni ka sath diya."

Shree murmured.

"Per kab tak?

I mean..ab toh Chetna ki body bhi identify ho chuki hai, toh agar Purvi aur Bishal Mr Dhiren ke paas hain bhi, toh vo dono ko kab tak chhupa ke rakhenge? Aaj nahi toh kal bahar laana hi padega unhe."

Riya asked curiously, just when Arjun straightened on his chair resting an elbow on the table.

"Nahi.. Vo dono ko bahar nahi laayenge."

He replied her , grabbing her attention.

She looked at him quietly for a moment, then asked.

"Matlab.?"

"Matlab tum hi soch ke batao.. Agar Dhiren ne ye sab kuch kiya hai, toh vo aesa kya karega ki shaq uspe na jaaye, aur uski beti kuch dino me aa bhi jaaye tab bhi Dhiren pe koi sawal bhi na uthaye.?"

Arjun asked looking at her intently, hence she started thinking along with other teammates.

Rathore looked down at the papers in his hand once again, then lifted his gaze up to Arjun parting his lips to answer , but paused finding Arjun's gaze on Riya who was still thinking.

Rathore looked between them for a moment then shut his mouth , leaning back on his chair.

"Uh…vo Bishal ko maar denge , taaki sara ilzam uspe jaaye."

Riya muttered after a second of silence, meeting Arjun's gaze who nodded positively.

"Exactly."

"Phir bhi…"

Rathore spoke interrupting their eye-contact thus Riya looked away first.

"Hamare paas theory toh hai, ab tak proof nahi hai."

Rathore completed his sentence.

"Thik hai phir, chalo...."

Arjun said tearing his gaze from Riya ,got up from his seat, and Rathore and others eyed him confused.

"Kahan.?"

Rathore questioned.

"Case close karne, SIR."

Arjun replied before walking out.

"Jaana kahan hai ye toh sir ne bataya hi nahi.."

Chhotu whispered to Riya slowly getting up from his chair.

"Dhiren ke office."

She answered grabbing her diary , and followed the team out.

"Shree, Dhiren ke sare savings, current accounts check karo.

Chetna ke mama ke bhi bank transactions, aur call records nikalo.."

Rathore said on the way toward the parking lot, to which Shree nodded positively.

"Ok sir.."

Just then Arjun averted his gaze from ahead, to Riya who was making her way toward Rathore's car.

"Riya."

He called making her , as well as others stop on their track.

"Ji sir.?"

She looked at him questioningly, when he motioned her to come to the other car and held out the car key for her.

She eyed the key in his hand , hesitating slightly but eventually nodded.

Walking toward him she took the key, looking up to him briefly meeting his gaze then turned toward the SUV.

Rathore narrowed his gaze ,watching Riya getting into the other car then rolled his eyes before walking away to his own car, meanwhile Sakshi took few long steps until she was walking beside Arjun.

"Arjun , aaj mandir me na hame ek baba mile the. "

"Toh mai kya karun.?"

Arjun gave her a look. walking around the car toward the passenger seat.

"Tum kuch mat karo.. per pata hai vo mere baare me kitna achha bol rahe the?"

She asked excitedly, following him closely behind.

"Aankhein kharab hogi unki phir."

He replied flatly, pulling the passenger door open.

"Achha? Toh tum kyun maan gaye phir.?"

She asked quickly and Arjun for a moment paused, then turned to her as she flashed a knowing smile at him.

Riya buckled her seatbelt glancing at Arjun's way whose back was facing her , when Shree nudged her from the backseat, making her shift her attention to him.

"Kya hua? Itna chup chap kyun ho aaj kal.?"

Shree asked.

"Nahi toh.."

She answered looking away from him.

"Sir ne kuch kaha.?"

Shree whispered leaning forward slightly, and Riya kept mum just shook her head as a no.

Sakshi folded her arms across her chest, and leaned toward Arjun slightly as she spoke , keeping her voice low , only audible to him.

"Don't worry. Mai kisiko nahi bataungi ki ACP Arjun Rawte ab inn chizon me maanta hai.

per ... jiske liye laaye ho, usse dena bhi zaroori hota hai. Pata hai na.?"

She smiled mischievously.

Arjun held her gaze for a long second, his expression remained calm , unreadable, then he spoke in a dry tone.

"Investigation complete ho gayi ho toh chalein.?"

Sakshi let out a small chuckle, and shook her head.

"Tum nahi sudhroge."

she straightened , then went ahead with pulling the backseat door open before getting inside the car, while Arjun turned , stealing a quick glance at Riya and got into the passenger seat.

Shree raised a brow at Sakshi questioningly who shook her head dismissing his unasked question, whereas Riya accelerated the car, pulling the SUV out of the parking lot.

The rain tapped softly against the windshield while the wipers moved back and forth in a steady rhythm, and silence settled inside the vehicle.

Arjun sat quietly with his gaze fixed ahead, then after few minutes he glanced his sideway, where Riya's attention remained on the road.

He looked ahead again, then seconds later spoke up.

"Right se le lo."

Riya immediately turned the steering wheel toward the right lane.

"Nahi... left se jaana faster hota."

Arjun said casually five seconds later.

"Sir , GPS right hi dikha raha hai."

She said quietly taking a glance at him.

"GPS hamesha follow karne ke liye nahi hota."

He replied flatly, thus both Sakshi and Shree looked up to him from behind and Riya kept mum.

"Speed thoda zyada hai."

He spoke again, thus she glanced at the speedometer.

"55 pe hai sir.."

She answered evenly.

"Toh aur badha lo.."

She stole another glance at him from the corner of her eyes , but however kept mum increasing the speed.

"Ab thoda zyada ho gaya."

Arjun spoke again, while her forehead creased slightly and she looked up, to confirm the duo at back were as confused as her.

"sir ko chahiye kya."

Shree muttered under his breath.

"Ek hath tod chuka hai, dusra hath tudwana chahta hai."

Sakshi whispered in a low voice leaning back on the seat.

Arjun looked out through the windshield, as the car approached a signal and he spoke up.

"Indicator pehle diya karo."

Riya drew in a slow breath ,pressing the brake slightly harder than necessary, then turned toward him.

"Aapko car chalani hai Sir.?"

Arjun tore his gaze from ahead to her.

"Mujhe chalana hota toh mai tumhe kyun bolta.?"

He questioned back, unbothered by the annoyance in her tone.

"Toh mujhe chalane dijiye.

Dhiren ke office ka raasta pata hai mujhe."

she answered straight then looked ahead.

Arjun looked at her calmly for a moment , then looked back ahead.

"Thik hai."

Riya let out a quiet breath, keeping her eyes on the road as the signal turned green. She released the clutch and drove ahead without another word.

From the backseat, Shree looked between the two in utter confusion, then looked back down at his tab resuming his work.

By the time they reached Dhiren's office building, Rathore and others were already present there, waiting for them.

Riya applied a break to the car , Sakshi, Shree hurried out toward Chhotu and Ayesha, since Rathore was talking over a call, meanwhile Arjun unbuckled his seatbelt and was about to get off , but stopped and turned to Riya.

"Park karke aana.

Raasta toh tumhe pata hi hoga na.?"

she angled her head to him with a blank look, while he stepped out without giving her another glance ,and walked straight toward Rathore.

"Commissioner sir ka call tha, case ke baare me puch rahe the."

Rathore informed him right after disconnecting the call, to which Arjun nodded once.

He glanced at his back for once toward the parking lot ,before moving ahead following Rathore in, meanwhile Riya joined the rest shortly after parking the car.

____________

"Sir , kuch pata chala.?"

Dhiren asked sitting in his cabin, where the ETF chiefs sat across the table with the team around them.

"Kuch nahi Mr Dhiren, bahut kuch pata chala hai."

Rathore replied looking straight at him.

"Aur shuru karte hain uss jhooth se jo aapne hame pehle din se kaha hai."

Arjun added in a serious tone ,and Dhiren's brows drew together.

"Mai..kuch samjha nahi sir."

Chhotu came sliding some papers toward the man.

"Ye aapke Credit card transactions ke details jo aapki beti use karti hai."

The man looked at Chhotu, then looked down at the papers.

"Issi credit card ko track karke last time aap apni beti ko ghar leke aaye the, jab usne khud ki kidnapping ka plan banaya tha."

Rathore chirped and watched the man's gaze snapping up to him that instant.

"Aapko dekh ke lag raha hai jaise aap nahi chahte the hame ye baat pata chale."

Sakshi commented eyeing his expression.

"iss card card ke transactions ke hisab se Purvi ne last ek hotel booking ki thi, jahan vo Bishal se shadi karne wali thi.

Ye baat aapko pata nahi tha.?"

Riya questioned.

"Uh mujhe iss baare me …."

Before Dhiren could complete ,Rathore interrupted him.

" Ye mat kehna ki aapko pata nahi tha.

Kyunki agar pata nahi hota, toh ye baat aap humse chhupate nahi."

"Sir vo...."

"Wese lagta hai aapko aur bhi bahut kuch pata tha, jaise ki….jis ladki ki laash mili thi vo aapki beti ki nahi..darasal aapki issi company ki ek staff ki thi."

As soon as Chhotu finished his words, Dhiren stood up from his chair that instant.

"What.?"

"Sirf lagta hi nahi hai Chhotu, inhe toh pata hi hoga.

Issiliye toh itne chain se office me baithe hain."

Ayesha commented, and Dhiren's fumed.

"Aap log mujhpe galat ilzam laga rahe hain.

Meri beti gayab hui hai, aur aap log usse dhundne ke wajaye yahan mujhse sawal kar rahe hain."

"Sawal issliye kar rahe hain kyunki ho sakta hai aapki beti gayab hi na hui ho."

Arjun replied calmly , and watched the man's brows furrowing together.

"Kya? Kya matlab hai aapka?

Maine apni beti ko kahin chhupa diya, aur ek dusri ladki ko maarke wahan daal diya.?"

"Agar aap adhi kahani bata hi chuke hain, toh puri kahani bhi bata dijiye."

Rathore chirped in quickly, then continued.

"Kyun maara Chetna ko.?"

"What nonsense? Kaun hai ye Chetna?

Mai kyun maarunga usse?

Aur kisi aur ke liye mai apni beti ki jaan ko khatre me kyun daalunga?"

Dhiren shouted.

"Sir…."

Shree interrupted them ,walking inside the cabin and showed his tab to Arjun who glanced at the details ,meanwhile Rathore continued the interrogation.

"Aapki memory itni kamjor bhi nai lagti ki aap uss ladki ka naam bhul jaye jisne 6 mahine pehle aapki company ki data leak ki thi."

"Oh. Toh aap log meri hi sara data nikalne me lage hain.

Toh meri beti tak kab pahunchenge aap.?

Lagta hai mujhe aapke commissioner sir se baat karni padegi, meri beti ko dhundne ke liye mujhe ek strong investigating team chahiye na ki koi aesa jo mere gaye murde ukhadne me lage hain."

Dhiren scoffed picking up his phone rummaging through his contacts ,while Rathore sat unbothered.

"Aapke gaye murde jisne ukhade the, ussi ki hi maut hui hai wese."

Arjun spoke then slid the tab on his table.

"Ye aapki car ki GPS details hai. Jis raat aapki beti ki car highway ke paas ruki thi, aapki car wahan kya kar rahi thi.?"

He asked straight, and watched Dhiren lowering his phone slowly peeking at the details on the tab.

"Yahi nahi…aapki wife ke bank account se Chetna ke mama ko 5 lakh transfer kiye gaye hain.

Ek unknown number se Chetna ke mama ko calls gaye hain, aur uss number ka location aapka ye office dikha raha hai.

Hum chahe toh aapke car ka GPS follow karke wahan jaa sakte hain,jahan aap pichhle 3/4 din me 25 baar se zyada jaa chuke hain. Per hum pehle aapse sunna chahte hain.

Ab aap batana shuru karenge ya hum aapki wife ko yahan leke aaye .?"

Arjun looked at him blankly, and the man fell silent for a moment.

"Jawab thoda jaldi dijiye Mr Dhiren.

Kyunki jo log hamara waqt barbaad karte hain, hum unse thode aur hi tarike se pesh aate hain.

Samjhe… ya samjhaoon.?"

Arjun said firmly , making the man lower his gaze that instant.

__________________

"Mai Chetna ko maarna nahi chahta tha.

Maine usse baar baar kaha vo ek rakam bole aur mere company ke khilaf jo bhi proofs rakhe hain sab mujhe de de.

Per usse josh chadha tha…har hafte mujhse paise lene ki."

Dhiren gritted his teeth ,without lifting his gaze.

Rathore looked away from him toward the old house from where the police officers took Purvi and Bishal safely out , when Arjun spoke up.

"Aapko yakeen tha uske paas kuch saboot tha bhi.?"

"Usne mujhe photo bheja tha. Meri company ke confidential financial records the uske paas... tax filings me jo gadbad thi, unaccounted transactions, sab.

Agar vo sab authorities tak pahunch jaata, toh sirf crodon ka nuksaan nahi hota. Income Tax aur GST ki investigation shuru ho jaati, meri companies ke licenses cancel ho sakte the, accounts seize ho jaate... poora business doob jaata."

Rathore looked back at the man.

"Usse kabhi puchha uske paas itna data aaya kahan se.?"

"Puchha tha. Per vo ladki..bahut chalak thi.

Aur aesa nahi tha ki mai usse paise dene ke liye taiyar nahi tha. Maine usse bahut paise diye hain, per din ba din uske demands badhte jaa rahe the.

Meri company me share chahti thi vo.

Tabhi maine socha iska kuch permanent solution nikalna padega."

Dhiren murmured.

"Aur ye permanent solution nikala aapne? Apni hi beti ka kidnapping karwaya, aur Chetna ka khoon kar diya."

Ayesha questioned.

"Aur Bishal? Usse kyun yahan rakha? Uska kya kasoor tha.?"

Chhotu questioned next.

"Vo Bishal koi doodh ka dhula nahi tha.

Meri beti ko apne pyar ke chakkar me fasake shadi karne chala tha.

Usse laga mujhe pata nahi chalega.?"

Dhiren fumed, then continued speaking.

"Ek mamuli staff hoke vo mera damad banne ki sapne dekh raha tha.huh.

Meri beti ke sar se bhi uska bhoot nikalna tha, issliye maine socha kyun na ek hi teer se do nishaan lagaya jaaye."

"Achha hua vo Bishal bach gaya iska damad banne se.."

Sakshi whispered to Riya , who looked at Dhiren in distaste.

"Sir…."

Shree called out from near the SUV, making everyone turn to him that instant.

"Sir thoda aayiye…"

Both Arjun and Rathore walked toward the SUV, where Shree showed them some documents, before the two chiefs walked back to Dhiren.

"Mr Dhiren.. Pata chala aapka nishana toh nahi chuka, per itne time tak Chetna aapko bewakoof bana rahi thi."

Rathore said , thus everyone including Dhiren eyed him confused.

"Matlab.?"

"Uske paas koi saboot tha hi nahi.

Usne bas technology ke help se kuch nakli document banaye , aur uske sahare tumse paise le rahi thi itne mahino se."

Arjun replied , earning surprised looks from the team members and Dhiren.

"What.? Per aesa kaise ho sakta hai.?"

Dhiren asked shocked looking in between Arjun and Rathore.

"Aesa hi hua hai Mr Dhiren.

Bhale hi Chetna aapko blackmail kar rahi thi, aap uske liye kanoon ki madad le sakte the.

Chand paise aur apna rutwa bachane ke liye aapne ek ladki ka khoon, 2 logon ki kidnapping kar li.

Ab sirf aap pe hi nahi, aapke company pe bhi case chalega tax invasion ke jurm me."

Rathore announced firmly.

"Per sir mere sath dhokha hua hai, uss ladki ne mujhe cheat kiya.

Agar usne mujhse jhuth na bola hota toh mai ye karta hi nahi."

Dhiren defended himself , and the ETF team except the two chiefs exchanged looks among each other.

"Usne jo kiya uski saja usse milti agar tumne kanoon ko apne hath me na liya hota toh."

Arjun replied simply , before shifting his gaze toward Purvi who was crying near the police jeep looking toward her father's direction then he turned back to Dhiren.

"Problem Chetna nahi thi, aur na Bishal hai aur na hi tumhari beti.

Jo khud jhuth aur fareb ke raah pe chal rahe hote hain, unhe sach aur jhuth me zyada fark najar nahi aata.

Jaise tumhe pata nahi chala, Chetna jhuth bol rahi thi ya sach.

Tumne usse uski saza de di, per tumhari beti ko kis baat ki saza mili? Aankhein band karke tumpe bharosa karne ki saza.?"

Dhiren lowered his gaze for a moment, then turned his head to his daughter who was still looking at his way , pleading the police officers to let her meet her father and Dhiren looked away.

As the statements were being recorded, Riya stood a little far from the scene watching them quietly.

She watched Purvi was still pleading the officers , asking them to reinvestigate as she believed her father couldn't be behind all this, even if her father stood silent beside her , meanwhile his other accomplices were already taken in to police custody.

She kept gazing at the girl's direction who was all in tears, didn't even look at the guy she loved, as she desperately pleaded for her father.

one moment her eyes were on the scene, and the next moment her gaze lifted up noticing the faint drizzle in front of her.

Her brows drew together slightly on realizing she could only see the drizzle, not feel them even though she was still standing out.

Confused, she looked over her head only to find an umbrella hovering just above her, making her turn instantly and her shoulder brushed with someone's finger.

The faint crease line on her forehead ceased as soon as her gaze fell on Arjun standing beside her , holding the umbrella with his left hand , his eyes fixated on the scene she was watching moments ago, his expression as unreadable as ever.

She instinctively lifted her hand to take the umbrella from him ,but paused midway , instead took a step to move out from beneath it.

"Yahin ruko."

His calm voice stopped her before she could, without him taking his eyes off from Purvi and her father.

Riya glanced down at her shoes contemplating over whether she should just obey him or move out, but then she heard his voice again.

"Mujhe ab tak lag raha tha Purvi ki koi galati nahi hai, per ab ek galati dikh rahi hai."

Riya looked up that instant to Purvi, then angled her head to Arjun for a moment before returning her gaze to Purvi.

"Bhaag ke shadi karna chahna galat nahi hai..*Pause* Sir."

She muttered quietly.

"Mai uski baat nahi kar raha hun.

Vo abhi jo galati kar rahi hai uski baat kar raha hun."

He replied calmly ,thus she grew confused but however kept mum ,trying to figure out what wrong the girl was doing there.

"Jis insaan ke liye vo abhi ladh rahi hai, usse khud bhi pata hai vo insaan galat hai.

Phir bhi.. Uss insan ne jo uske sath galat kiya vo manne ki wajaye usne chup chap seh liya.

Jis insaan se usse sawal karne chahiye, jis se ladna chahiye vo abhi ussi ka sath de rahi hai.

Kabhi kabhi... pyaar ya apnapan ka matlab kisi ki har baat maan lena nahi hota. Aur yahi uski galati hai."

Arjun finished in a calm tone, whereas Riya's gaze dropped for a second before she slowly looked back up to Purvi , exhaling a quiet breathe.

___________________

After wrapping the leftover procedures the team returned to the bureau. The two chiefs headed for their respective cabins, whereas others gathered in the canteen to get refreshed with some coffee before they start their paperwork.

"Yaar mujhe toh bura lag raha hai Purvi aur Bishal ke liye.

Bichare dono shadi karne wale the , shadi toh kar nahi paaye ulta unhe sadma lag gaya."

Chhotu shook his head heaving a sigh, before putting a whole cookie in his mouth.

"Haan vo toh dikh hi raha hai kitna bura lag raha hai tumhe."

Sakshi commented narrowing her gaze at him.

"Vo kya hai na mai jab dukhi hota hun mujhe zyada bhukh lagti hai."

Chhotu flashed a smile at her , picking up another cookie.

"Per ye Purvi ke liye bhi ek sabaq tha.

At least vo apne zidd puri karne ke liye phir kabhi ulthe sidhe harkat nahi karegi."

Shree murmured leaning against the coffee counter where Ayesha and Riya were making coffee for everyone.

"Vo jab bhi kisi chiz ke liye zidd karegi usse yaad aata rahega uske papa ne uske sath kya kiya."

Ayesha joined them in the conversation.

"Per phir bhi vo apne papa ko hi defend kar rahi thi."

Chhotu shook his head yet again, meanwhile Riya's hand paused stirring the coffee as her mind went back to Arjun's words.

Blinking she resumed stirring the coffee as her friends continued the conversation, unaware of Ayesha had noticed the pause.

"Riya.?"

She called quietly.

"Hmm.?"

Riya hummed beside her.

"Sab..thik hai na.?"

Ayesha asked , to which Riya nodded her head positively.

Ayesha kept staring at her for a moment , the way she looked nonchalant yet disturbed , but however didn't persist her for an answer ,meanwhile Riya looked up to others once after the coffee was done.

"Guys coffee ready hai.

Tum sab apna apna le lo, aur mai...."

Before she could complete Sakshi interrupted her quickly.

"Tum Arjun ko dene jaogi. Yahi na.?"

Riya gave her a small smile , then shook her head lightly.

"Rathore sir ko deke aati hun, kyunki unse mujhe ek file sign karwani hai."

She replied, took one mug with her and walked out of the canteen while others stood mum watching her retreating figure.

"Ye aaj kal Riya aur Arjun sir thode chup chap nahi ho gaye hain.?"

Chhotu murmured , and Sakshi slowly nodded agreeing with her.

"Jabse Officer Kalyan ka case hua hai tabse."

Shree muttered, earning a confused look from Chhotu.

"Huh? Unka inn dono se kya lena dena.?"

Both Sakshi and Shree turned to him with a blank look, as Chhotu looked completely clueless.

"Chhotu, officer Kalyan aur unki wife ke sath jo hua, Arjun ke sath bhi vo ho chuka hai na? Tumne dekha nahi vo kitna chup chap tha iss case ke bahar aane ke baad?"

Sakshi raised her brows, hence Chhotu thought over her words for a moment then his eyes widened slowly at the realisation.

"Arey haan.. Ye toh maine socha hi nahi."

"Haan toh bas..hame lagta hai ussi wajah se Riya aur Arjun ke bich bhi kuch disturbance chal rahi hai."

Sakshi replied him quickly picking up her coffee mug, meanwhile Chhotu's mouth fell open slightly.

"Oh.

Toh.. Hame kuch karna chahiye.?"

He asked looking in between his friends expectantly, when Ayesha intervened.

"Guys ye unn dono ki relationship ki problem hai, mere khayal se hame usme interfere nahi karna chahiye.

Dekha jaaye toh ye Arjun Sir ki problem hai, toh unhe hi solve karne do."

"Hmm... mujhe bhi yahi lagta hai."

Shree nodded agreeing with her, followed by the other two.

"Sir.. Coffee.."

Riya said putting the coffee mug on Rathore's table , where he was signing few documents.

"Haan.."

He nodded glancing upto her , then resumed his work when she forwarded a file to him.

"Aur Sir isme aapki signature chahiye thi."

Rathore looked up from the documents , taking the file from her hand , checked it before signing on it.

"Ho gaya."

He replied handing over the file back to her.

"Thank you sir."

She muttered taking the file , and turned to leave , when Rathore looked back up on recalling something.

"Riya.?"

She stopped on her track, turning around to face him again.

"Ji sir.?"

"Tum do din ki chhutti ki baat kar rahi thi... maine kaha tha case khatam hone ke baad dekhenge."

He reminded her.

"Ji sir."

She nodded slowly.

"Actually kuch din pehle mujhe tumhare research center se call aaya tha."

Rathore leaned back on his chair.

"Center ke pachees saal pure ho rahe hain jiske liye unhone 4 din ka event organize kiya hai.

Wahan ki top student hone ke naate vo chahte the tum bhi uss event ka hissa bano.

Maine tab unhe kuch jawab nahi diya tha kyunki mujhe laga tumhari jarurat yahan zyada hai, per ab jab tum wese bhi ghar jaane wali ho toh socha dono kaam ek sath ho jayenge."

Riya looked at him slightly surprised.

"Uh sir.. Event.?"

She asked sounding unsure.

"Haan..

Darasal vo sirf apne ek top student ko hi nahi, ek bahadur police officer se milna chahte hain, jisne logon ki jaan bachane ke liye apni jaan daanv pe laga di."

He looked at her steadily, and Riya lowered her gaze, uncomfortable with the praise.

"Issliye...maine tumse bina puchhe unhe haan bol diya."

She looked back up at him.

"Tumhe 2 din ki leave chahiye thi, event 4 din ka hai. Toh mai tumhari ek hafte ki leave approve kar deta hun, thik hai na.?"

Rathore asked , meanwhile Riya stared at him for a moment then nodded softly.

"Ji sir. Thank you.

Err...event kab hai sir.?"

"Next Week. Toh tum tabhi chali jaana."

Came Rathore's quick reply.

"Ji sir."

She murmured before quietly walking out of the cabin, gently closing the door behind her.

________________

The moment Riya stepped into the conference hall, the hustles of her friends had died down.

She slowed down her steps for a fraction second , looking toward the table as suddenly everyone looked super busy ,and toward the end of the table she found the reason.

Arjun was sitting on his regular chair ,with a file on his hand ,reading it ,while her friends had gone completely silent with their respective coffee mugs and files.

walking toward the table she took her seat and opened the file, picking up the coffee mug placed in front of her quietly taking a sip, until she heard Arjun's voice.

"Vo mera tha."

Riya almost choked on the coffee , lowering the cup slowly coughing lightly as every pair of eyes slowly lifted toward her including Arjun who was already looking at her.

Chhotu nudged her with another coffee mug he had pulled to himself ,thus she glanced down at the two mugs in front of Chhotu, then craned her neck to Arjun putting the mug back in its previous place.

"Sorry Sir."

She muttered taking her mug from Chhotu instead, while from her peripheral vision Arjun stretched his hand , reaching for his mug.

She focused on the papers in front of her , but then her eyes widened , realisation hitting her a second too late.

She snapped her head toward him, to stop him, but by then he had already taken a sip from the mug, his eyes had returned to the file in his hand.

She pursed her lips together , looking in between him and the mug before looking away, only to meet with Sakshi's blinking eyes, Shree's narrowed gaze and without daring to look at the other two she glanced back down at her file.

"Sabka paperwork ho gaya.?"

Arjun asked after a minute of silence.

"Uh sir pichhle case ka toh kar diya tha.."

Shree replied slightly confused.

"Mai aaj ki case ki baat kar raha hun."

Came Arjun's quick answer, grabbing an incredulous look from everyone.

"Uh sir abhi kar rahe hain."

Ayesha replied slowly.

"Aaj raat khatam kar lo. Mai yahin sign kar dunga."

As soon as Arjun finished his words, everyone else blinked then exchanged a look among themselves.

"Sir aaj raat.?"

Chhotu asked just to be sure.

"Raat bahut lambi hai Chhotu, aur kaam utna hi kam. Ek raat me ho hi jayega."

Chhotu blinked clearing his throat slightly.

"Ji sir."

Riya angled her head to Chhotu with a pointed look , but he only shrugged in response when Sakshi beat back a chuckle leaning toward Shree.

"Aaj ek Arjun 3 Sameer ke barabar tum logon pe bhari padega. All the best aur good night."

"Huh? Good night kya ? Tum nahi ruk rahi ho.?"

Shree frowned.

"Mujhe kya kaam hai yahan?

Mai ghar pe mast so jaaungi abhi."

Sakshi grinned getting up from her chair just when Arjun spoke again.

"Sakshi.."

He stretched a hand toward her without looking back, and Sakshi's forehead creased.

"Kya.?"

"Tumhare aaj ki case ki report."

He answered without looking up from the file.

"Vo maine ab tak likha thodi hai? Kal likhungi."

"Per kal mai koi bhi paper sign nahi karunga.

Issliye jo karna hai aaj karo."

Sakshi frowned at his reply, Shree coughed slightly beside her, Ayesha and Chhotu passed her pitiful looks , meanwhile Riya's forehead creased slightly.

"Kal ko kya hath me mehendi lagne wala hai."

Sakshi muttered under her breath sitting back down on her chair.

"Kuch kaha.?"

Arjun looked over his shoulder , and she forced a smile on her face.

"Nahi mai puchh rahi thi, iss toote huye hath se aaj sign karne me tumhe koi takleef toh nahi hogi.?"

"Meri takleef ki chinta tum mat karo…Apni report ki chinta karo."

He replied flatly focusing back on the file, and Sakshi let out another frown.

"Aaj toh puri raat yahin niklegi lag raha hai."

Chhotu murmured with a sigh.

"Sshh.."

Ayesha hushed him down in the silent conference room, and everyone started their work.

For a while, only the sound of turning pages and keyboards filled the conference hall, and then Arjun spoke.

"Riya.."

He called without lifting his eyes from the file.

She paused her work looking up to him.

"Ji sir.?"

"Witness statement ki file.."

She immediately picked up the required file and slid it toward him.

"Ye nahi.."

He returned it after taking a glance.

She picked up another one and placed infront of him.

"Ye bhi nahi.. Third witness statement."

He said dismissing the file again, and she looked at him confused.

"Sir yahi file hai.."

She muttered pointing at the second file she had given him.

Arjun looked up from the file to her.

"Yahi file hota toh mai mana kyun karta ? Ye nahi hai."

"Per sir, third witness statement issi me hai."

She insisted.

"Ye Dhiren ki case statements hai, mujhe Haweli case ki chahiye.."

He replied then turned the file to her simply.

"Ye Haweli case ki file hai."

Riya's face turned blank as she stared at him , while others looked in between them amused, confused at the same time.

Riya, without a word pushed her chair back standing up, then went toward the file room and came back with the required file sliding it toward Arjun before sitting back down.

"Haan.. Ye wali.."

He murmured checking the file , while she picked up her pen resuming her work.

Not a second later he stretched his hand toward her motioning with his fingers as if asking for something ,without looking up from the file on the table and she exhaled slowly looking up.

"Ab kitne purane case ki file chahiye sir.?"

Arjun lifted his gaze up, narrowing his gaze slightly.

"Pen.

Mera pen…"

He blinked looking down at the pen in her hand, making her realise she had been using it throughout the day and she slid it toward him without uttering another word, then grabbed Chhotu's pen instead.

Hours rolled by…The clock on the conference hall wall silently crossed midnight.

Sakshi had slumped back in her chair long ago, one arm hanging over the armrest while her untouched report rested on her lap, Shree and Ayesha had escaped for a coffee break, Chhotu sat staring blankly at the same paragraph for the last ten minutes, occasionally yawning before forcing his eyes back to the page, Rathore was still occupied in his cabin, Riya had unknowingly rested her forehead over the open file , her arm remained folded beneath her head while the other still loosely held the pen between her fingers, only Arjun continued reading the files in the silent room.

He signed few documents with his left hand oddly, and in between turning pages his eyes swiftly moved across the room ,pausing just near Riya.

He stared at her quietly for a moment, then stretched his hand gently loosening her grip on the pen in her hand just enough to slide it without waking her up.

He clipped the pen's cap on and set it beside her file then looked up to Chhotu, who was facing the other direction putting a palm under his cheek to prevent himself from falling right on the table.

Arjun's gaze dropped back to Riya, who still hasn't moved.

A few loose strands of hair had fallen across her face, hiding part of her closed eyes. The exhaustion that she never allowed herself to show during the day had finally caught up with her.

He stared at her for another few minutes quietly.

It had been days.. Days she had looked at him properly, days they had a normal conversation after work, days he had slept in without thinking of her.

His eyes lingered on her sleeping face longer, knowing he wouldn't be able to do it if she was awake. Not after telling her they should just focus on work, not after making her feel like he regretted everything with her.. He didn't even know where to start correcting things, or maybe he knew, but feared she would push him away this time just like he had done.

His fingers unconsciously tightened over the pen at the thought, then on recalling something he glanced toward the shirt pocket beneath the immobilizer , pulling out the red thread from inside.

The thread lay across his palm, simple, meaningless or .. Perhaps not.

His eyes rested on it, as he almost couldn't believe himself.

He had spent years dismissing things like blessings, superstitions , rituals , miracles , but then…..

His eyes drifted back to Riya's face.

She had come back from death like a miracle itself , when he least expected anything from life again , when everything had turned into a storm inside him ,she came like a gust of cold air after the storm passes and somehow he wanted to protect that air even if the storm builds up again.

His gaze returned to the thread.

He still didn't know whether any of this held meaning, whether a blessing tied around someone's wrist could really change fate, whether God really listened to prayers tied into a piece of cotton, but...

if there was even the smallest possibility.....that this meaningless little thread could keep her safe, he didn't mind being wrong.

He quietly reached for her hand where her fingers were still loosely curled around the edge of the file and he gently turned her wrist upward careful not to wake her up.

The red thread brushed against her skin as he wrapped it around once, then again but the knot kept slipping loose as his injured hand wasn't cooperating.

He frowned faintly then tried once more, slower this time and secured the knot.

His eyes remained fixed on the thread, as his thumb unconsciously rested on the knot still holding her wrist , not realizing when did she stir in her sleep.

His eyes snapped up the moment she fluttered her sleepy eyes open ,slowly lifted her head up and their eyes met.

TBC