OS: Ek Raath...

10 pm: ETF office:

The team was doing the paper works of the day. The day had began with a tight case of a multiple murder mystery but solved very efficiently by the team. Another golden feather in their already rich hat.

Sree was typing frantically on his lap. Through the side he looks at Chotu. He face read that he was hungry. They exchanged a sad glance. Sree looked at Aisha who was immersed in her file. "As usual..." he thought. He saw Liza juggling with her locket while reading her finished work. He snorted a bit receiving a glare from her. Then his eyes went to the chief and usual he was going through the completed works of Aisha, rubbing his chin. Then the supercop himself… ACP Rawte was sitting side ways twisting his pen with one hand and looked as if he byhearting that file in his hand. "yaar ye class 10^th ke student lag rahe hai!! ithne concentration!!!" he smiled imagining Arjun in school uniform.

"specky!!! Tum pagal hogaye ho kya??" the silent room burst out in that chirpy voice. All look at Sree and then Liza. Sree was embarrassed now.

Sam: kya hua Liza?? Achanak koi brain wave aya kya??

Liz: nahi Sir, ye Specky tho Arjun sir ghur ghur kre dekhke smile kar rahe the.

Sree close his eyes. "god kaha bhas gaya mien?"

Arj: kya hua Sree?

Sre: nahi sir.. kuch nahi…

Sam: I think its time. lets call it a day.

Arj: ok. Sab teekh tharah se soke aana.( he said looking at Sree)

Others were hiding their smile. All went to their respective cabins. All were dead exhausted. On the way Sree and Liza started their usual fight which was silenced by Rathod's glare. They took their bags and were in the corridor. There was a single light from a cabin.

Sre: yaar ye Arjun sir akhir sothe kab hai?? firse night out ka plan hai shayad.

Liz: yahi rukh ke socho Specky. Shayad wo tumhe bhi unke thinking group me include karwa denge.

Sre: you…

Ais: chup, chup.. ab ek shabd nahi. already I am tired. Ab mere dimag math khao. You both go and sit in the SUV. Mien abhi ayi.

Sre: tu kaha jarahe ho?

Arj: ye files Arjun sirko dene. Ab jo fight karna hai karo. Par jab mien au, tho mujhe gadi me shanty chahiye. That's why I'm giving you a head start.

Liz: mien kaha fight karthi hu?

Sre: tho kya main…

Ais: I said stop… go to the SUV now!!!

They walk off. Aisha bangs her head with the file and walks to Arjun's sir's cabin and knocks.his voice comes from within.

She goes in. "sir wo file jo apne complete karne ko kaha tha…." She gives him the file.

"ok Aisha… good. Jao aur aaram karo"

"sir … aap nahi ja rahe hai…"

"nahi mujhe thode aur kaam hai…"

"par sir…"

"jao Aisha…" she knew that was the full stop to his talks.

"ok sir. Good night sir." He nods at her and she leaves. Once she left he places the file back at the table.

"good night" he says to himself and leans back to the chair with his eyes closed. A good night…. That was his dream now. How he wished to have a sound peaceful sleep, without anyone any disturbance. Without any haunting dreams.

Sleep, it was as if removed from his dictionary.

He sighed heavily and stayed in his chair with his eyes closed. And there she was with her smile, her naughty face…

He opened his eyes. No, not again.

He took the file again that Aisha had brought. She had indeed done a great job. He mentally congratulated her. The file took his half an hour. But not more. He wished it did take a bit more of his night time.

He signed it and placed it on the table. The next resort was the tv. He switched on. The news of the solved case was flashing up and down. At last media got something to celebrate. Good for them. there was nothing special. He juggled through the channels. Reached a slow song that stopped his fingers for a while. the song was in its half way.

In Saanso Ka Dekho Tum Paagalpan Ke
Aaye Nahi Inhe Chain
Mujhase Ye Boli Main Raahon Mein Teri
Apne Bichhaa Du Ye Nain
In Uunche Pahaadon Se Jaan De Dunga Main
Gar Tum Naa Aai Kahi
Tum Udhar Jaan Ummeed Meri Jo Todo
Idhar Ye Jahaan Chhodu Main
Maut Aur, Zindagi, Tere Haathon Mein De Diya Re

He listened to the words. It was having a soothing effect though the words were directly hitting his heart.

Aayi Re, Aayi Re, Le Main Aayi Hu Tere Liye
Toda Re, Toda Re, Har Bandhan Ko Pyar Ke Liye
Jaan Re, Jaan Re, Aajaa Tujhamein Sama Jaau Main
Dil Re Dil Re, Teri Saanson Mein Bas Jaau Main

He wished with his whole heart for it to be true…

He switched off the tv. And took out his keys and walked off to the SUV.

Time : 11 30 pm.

Still there was time to end the worst time for him. He gets into the SUV and drives not deciding his destination. Not to the room any way. What was the use of the room if it never gave him any peace.

He reached the main streets. Mumbai being Mumbai itself, never slept. He could relate to the city well. It never slept like him. He drove through the not so tight traffic zone. But had to stop at a red light. He was just looking out when a boy's smiling face flashed in his memory. Now he had a destination to go.

At the green light he went to meet Satish who carried on the night classes for the street kids. (the same one from the episode) he reached there. Satish was about to call it a day when Arjun walked in.

Satish was quick to recognize him. "are Sir aap yaha? Sab teekh tho hai?"

Arj: ha. Mien bas idhar se guzar raha tha, socha ake milu. So sab teekh hai na?

Sat: ha sir. Bas night class hogaye hai. sare bache chale gaye.

Arj: Raju kaise hai?

Sat: ache hai Sir. Padhayi bhi kaafi ache thareh se kar rahe hai. kuch din baad wo apne gaav bhi jarahe hai. unke ma-baap se milne. Tho bohot khush bhi hai.

Arj: acha news hai. mien bas Raju se milne aya tha. Raath kafi hogaye. Patha hi nahi chala. Kal sabere keh dena. Kuch madad ke zaroorath ho tho zaroor bula dena.

Sat: ji sir.

Arj: acha chaltha hu.

He travelled out again.

He reached the Juhu beach. Though it was late, still it was not empty. He parked his vehicle at a corner and walked off to the road side. The wind was fine with a saline touch in it. it flow through his waving hair. He chose a spot for himself and sat down in the sands. The sea was calm from outside like him. But from inside it grumbled its thoughts. He kept on looking at the waves.

A few feet away a couple was walking hands in hands. She had placed her head on his shoulder while walking close to him. The red bangles showed that they were newlywed. he tried to take eyes off them.

She used to love her chudi. and at any moment he could bring a smile on her lips with a small bunch of roses or a set of bangles. She never had big demands in her life. Those small moments were precious in her small life. He felt a burn in his eyes. May be due to the salty air. He told himself. Making himself believe it.

He sat there for a long time.

1 am:

He somehow reached near to the lodge. A late night chai wala would have been welcomed. But this late?? Who would sit up this late? He walked to his room.

A mere bed looked at him, teasing him. He placed his keys , revolver, phone and the glasses on the table. He then sat on the bed and just lied back on it closing his eyes. He was trying to provoke a sleep. But it was as adamant as him. He pulled down the bandage on his arms. The torn name that was hidden whole day got some air.

He gently stroked the name. "Roshni" it was torn on his flesh but not in his heart. As he touched it he could hear her.

"mere naam tho apke dil me hai Arjun.. aur roz padthi hu main apke ankhon me…"

There was a pearl drop in those eyes. She hugged him with all her love.

He closed his eyes feeling her in his arms. This was his only way to cherish her presence. The fate had pulled her apart from him. And the same fate never gave him the liberty to meet her in his dreams. As for a dream, a sleep was necessary. And that was again his forbidden zone.

He opened his eyes at her scream… it was banging loud on his eardrums. He was panting now. He sat up and wiped his sweet from his fore head. He looked his watch.

Its 2 45 am now. WOW … her thoughts took a good time from him. He got up and went to fresh up and came back in a gray t-shirt and a night pants. He sat on his seat at the table, looking out through the window. After all the Mumbai was not completely like him. It too gets tired at times. The rush was minimum now.

His hands went to the usual place… the usual file… Roshni Arjun Rawte Murder case.

He didn't know what he was searching in it. he knew every line in that file. Every word, every punctuation in it. still he read every night. May be he left any point. Maybe he had missed something. Maybe… it would give him some peace…

He reread it again. Her description was just superficial. No record showed the smile in her face, her gentle eyes. Her smooth curly hair. Her baby pink blush at his touch. Her soft skin. Her innocence…

The file was incomplete… it never described her. It just said how it saw her. Not his Roshni…

He could feel a hand over his hair. It was caressing his hair. His eyes fell heavy. He wished to hold her in his arms. And now she was just a file in front of him… he hugged it.

He closed his eyes…

But would he have the liberty of that so-called sleep??

His mobile beeped. Rathod's name flashed. "ha Rathod…(listen for a few seconds) ok mien araha hu…"

He cut the call and kept the file back in place. He looked his watch… its 3:30 am.