Hey lovely readers, firstly a biiig thank you hug to everyone who's read, liked and commented on the SS..
Was really nervous, since its slightly different from the other Ariya SS's, I've written so far.. Really appreciate the response.. 😃
Chapter 2
"Riya! What's the matter?"
Riya blinked through her tears and looked up at him. She saw him gazing tenderly at her, his forehead furrowed, and her pain mirrored in his eyes. She rested her head back against the tree and burst out crying. Arjun left her chin and stepped back. He saw hot tears escape her eyes and her biting her lip to prevent the sob from leaving her lips. He couldn't bear it anymore.
The Riya Mukherjee, he had known all these months was a young, ambitious and feisty woman. She loved challenges and was brave at heart.
He still remembered her lashing out at Rathore and himself, when they had suggested that she be shifted back to the Research desk because of her inexperience at field-work.
He had seen her struggle and work day and night to repeatedly prove herself to the ETF and especially, to him!
He shook his head and looked at the figure in front of him. She sat there clutching her knees to herself with her head buried between her knees and sobbing uncontrollably.
He wanted to run up to her and hold her, offer her a shoulder to cry upon, help her share her pain..
Yet, something held him back! Ruko Arjun. Why do her tears affect you so much? Let her cry. She's scared. She was almost shot. You've saved her life. You've fulfilled your duties as her senior officer. Let her be. She'll be fine. Give it some time. Step back. Now!
Riya sobbed for a while and then looked up, to find him standing opposite her, with his fists balled, and his forehead knitted with concern.
Arjun spoke through gritted teeth, "Riya, I think humein chalna chahiye.. Ab tak Rathore ne unhe arrest kar liya hoga.. Humare walkies bhi wahan par gir gayein hain.. We should make a move. Yeh forest khatron se bhara hoga.."
Riya stared at him with moist eyes, What was with him? He was so concerned for her, a while ago; and why is he acting aloof all of a sudden? Am I a fool, to imagine that he actually felt my pain? Nahi Riya, Kya soch rahi hai tu? He saved your life. He would've done it had it been any of the others in your place as well.. Don't read too much into it.
She wiped her tears and attempted to stand up. She felt numbness in her feet, since she had been sitting down in the same position for about an hour. She stumbled and her hand reached out to hold a branch of the tree.. Her eyes shot up, when she felt herself being supported by a strong, warm palm around her shoulder and another clutching her palm. She looked into his eyes and saw the same tender gaze, she had witnessed a moment ago, "Dhyaan se, Riya.."
He felt her gaze on himself and slowly let go of her. He turned around and sighed, 'Why did it feel so perfect when she was in his arms. He had this urge to protect her from every malice in the world. Something he hadn't felt for anyone except Roshni..
Arjun saw her take a step forward, "Sir, chalein?" He nodded and dared not look at her. They had walked a few steps, when he heard her wince in pain. He spun on his heel and saw her clutching her left arm. He reached her in two steps and held her arm, "Riya..Kya?"
She looked at him and something within her snapped, 'What was with this on and off switch! Kabhi toh meri itni chinta karte hain, jaise.. Aur agle hi pal, mooh mod lete hain.. Aakhir sachhai hai kya? I know he considers himself just as my senior officer and is concerned for me.. Lekin phir yeh jhijak kyun?'
She wriggled out of his hold, "Sir, I'm fine.. Main apna khayal rakh sakti hoon.."
His ears shot up at that tone of hers, he dropped her first aid kit, held her by her shoulders, and swiftly backed her against a tree, "Riya!"
She saw him glare at her, and the slowly increasing pressure of his grip hurt her, "Sir, aap mujhe hurt kar rahein hain.."
Arjun pulled her closer and shook her, "Main.. Main tumhe hurt kar raha hoon? Tumhe andaaza bhi hai, ki tumhe uss halat mein dekhkar mujhpar kyaa beeti thi?"
He let go off her shoulders and cupped her face, "Agar tumhe kuch ho jata toh? Aur tum ho ki, mujhe attitude dikha rahi ho?"
Riya's heart skipped a beat, Agar tumhe kuch ho jaata toh' She stared at him with her eyes popping out.
Arjun looked at her white face and realized that he had almost spilled the beans. He roughly let go of her and turned away. Kyun main apne aap par kaabu nahi rakh paa raha hoon? Haan yeh sach hai, ki jab Riya par goli chali, tab mere pairon tale zameen hil gayi thi.. uski cheekh mein, mujhe Roshni ki cheekh sunai di thi.. Kyun mujhe ek ajeeb sa dard mehsoos hua tha?
He realized he had said a lot and the curious Riya Mukherjee that she was, it wouldn't take her much time to connect the dots. It was damage control time! He put on his the Arjun 'i-care-a-damn' mask of indifference and turned back to face her,
"Achha, toh tum apna khayal khud rakh sakti ho? Toh tab tumhare haath kyun kaamp rahe the? Tum goli kyun nahi chala payi, Riya? Sirf isliye, ki tum kamzor ho.. Meri salah maano, aur waqt rehte, Research desk wapas laut jao.. Yeh bandook, gola-barood, tumhare bass ki baat nahi hai.."
The very next minute, he saw her lunge at him and grab his collar. Her eyes held enormous rage and her lips quivered, "Main kamzor nahi hoon.. Samjhe aap? Aur naahi main goli chalane se darti hoon.. Woh toh bas, Baba'"
He was taken aback by the sudden outburst, when he felt her hands slide down his chest and her body slump down on the floor.
He quickly crouched next to her, "Riya?"
She looked up at him and sniffed, "Mere Baba ek Army Captain the.. Kaafi ladhaiyan ladhi thi unhone.. kayin dushmanon ko defeat kiya tha unhone.. Hum kaafi khush the.. We were a happy family.. Lekin ek haadse ne humari zindagi badal di.. Mujhe aaj bhi yaad hai.. Mera 18th birthday tha.. Mere Mom aur Baba mere liye ek surprise birthday party arrange kar rahe the.. aur main iss baat se anjaan, kitchen mein Baba ka favourite aloo poshto bana rahi thi..
Tabhi achanak kuch log zabardasti humare ghar mein ghus aaye.. Isse pehle ki main bahar jaakar unhe rok paati, unmein se ek ne goli chala di thi..
Aur.. aur.. agle hi pal, maine Baba ki cheekh suni.."
She glanced up at Arjun, who was shocked by her sudden revealation, "Sir! Unhone Baba ko shoot kiya tha.. Yahan..", she pointed at her forehead. "Maine apni aankhon ke saamne Baba ko khoon mein lathpath, dum todte hue dekha hai..
Jab bhi, main trigger par apni ungliyan rakhti hoon, mujhe apne Baba ke katilon ke chehre dikhayi dete hain.. Yahi wajah hai, Sir, ki main aaj tak goli nahi chala payi.."
She saw him sit down next to her on the floor and a flicker of regret flash on his face, "Riya.. Main.."
She stood up and straightened her clothes, "Toh main kamzor nahi hoon, Sir aur naahi main goli chalane se darti hoon.. Bass, apne Baba ki maut ko main aaj tak bhula nahi paayi hoon.."
Arjun slowly rose from the ground, not taking his eyes off her and glanced at her. Gone was the fiesty Riya Mukherjee, who made his blood boil; gone was the lively and cheerful Riya, who made him feel human again! What sat in front of him, was a traumatized girl, in need of protection and warmth!
How had he not understood her pain, having been at the receiving end of it himself! Her father was shot right in front of her eyes! Who would understand her pain better than him? He had been shattered and lost his senses, when Roshni had been stabbed repeatedly in front of him!
He shuddered at the thought and looked back at her. She had managed to compose herself and was now standing with her back facing him. Arjun stood up and placed a palm gently on her shoulder.
That was her undoing! Riya spun around and rested her forehead on his shoulder. Arjun was slightly taken aback by her sudden move; however, he composed himself and held both her arms, reassuring her.
He felt her hot tears against the fabric of his shirt, and shut his eyes. She slowly opened her eyes to look up at him. She saw a lone tear make its way down his cheek. She quickly released her hands from his hold, stepped back and held his right arm. She fluttered her eyelashes and didn't quite understand her action. Was she gaining strength from him or was she being his support system?
Arjun felt her move away and the very next instant felt her palm gently squeezing his arm. He opened his eyes and saw her gazing at him with tears travelling down her face.
That was the moment; they both realized the cure to their heartaches!
Riya had been having nightmares for the last 7 years, having witnessed her father's brutal death. It had taken her many years to overcome the grief of losing a parent at a tender age.
She had finally attempted to move on and had joined the ETF. She had been considering herself the most unfortunate person on Earth to have witnessed a loved one being killed in front of her eyes. But that had changed, once she had met Arjun!
He was a tough, no-nonsense super-cop on the exterior, but he was just as broken on the inside, having been a witness to his wife's brutal murder. Riya had often seen her pain mirrored in his eyes. She had realized eventually that he was fighting a new battle every rising day, making an attempt at surviving.
Yet, there was nothing that she or anyone, else could do to ease his torment. She was vulnerable herself, yet she felt the urge to take away all his sorrows. She had often prayed to the Almighty to rid him of all his 'larger-than-the-mountains' burdens.
Her being shot, him tending to her, his sudden outburst and then the oscillating cold attitude had snapped something within her today. Having vented out her frustration and helplessness, she felt at peace.
Arjun saw her gazing at him, without blinking her eyes. He looked at the woman in his arms. She had been through the same trauma that he had suffered all these years. Arjun had often vented out his anger and helplessness by lashing out at people, often his loved ones, including Riya.
But Riya, she had always managed to mask her pain and hurt behind her dimpled smile. The ETF team was proud to have her among them. Though he hadn't mentioned it to anyone yet, he knew that she was the best at what she did.. Her dedication towards her work and her sheer persistence at trying to prove herself, was what he had secretly appreciated and respected!
But today, he had found a new facet to the girl, she was strong.. Stronger than he had ever imagined! He knew it personally, how difficult it was to put up a brave front and live on.. And unknowingly, Arjun Rawte had admired Riya Mukherjee, for the first time in 12 months.
He took a step forward, closing the distance between them and had just raised his hand, when they were both jolted to reality! A gun shot had been fired few feet away from them!
Phew.. Done!! Hope you guys liked it.. 😊
I know its not mushy but a little sentimental.. That's how I intended to portray this one.. Hope I've succeeded.. 😊
There will be another part to this one.. Will update it by mid-week.. 😊
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NOTE: I do not own the characters.. My stories are my fantasies and are based on ideas derived from the show.. My works are only meant for members of IndiaForums and are not to be copied to other sites..
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Edited by mohabbatgirl - 12 years ago
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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