ArIya OS: Burden!

Here I am again with a new short OS. 😊

****

ArIya OS: Burden.

****

"Riya, darwaaza kholo Riya!"

Riya just finished her dinner and was browsing through the TV. Her father went back to his room, after taking his medicines he would sleep. She got startled by the knock as she was not expecting anyone. But being the ETF officer, she was not scared. Plus she recognized the voice. She ran towards door to open it.

"Arjun Sir!! Aap??"

She let arjun in and closed the door. He walked towards the Sofa and sat there. His forehead was sweaty and he was falling short on breath too. She knew he has been running for a while 'coz otherwise fit Arjun is used to jog a lot.

"Kya hua Arjun Sir aap theek toh hai?"

Its then she noticed, he had his right hand holding tightly his left arm just above the elbow.

"Sir, chaliye andar, I will dress that wound. You are lucky its just a bullet that grazed through" she said after examining.

They went to Riya's bedroom where the First Aid was. It was 1^st time he had come over to her house. He always knew the address but never visited her before. Her room was girly, like her. Pink bedsheets and pillow covers, large mirror with bangles, clips, kohls and stuff that he didn't even know names of, on the dressing table. He had always felt something different for her. It has been 3 yrs since roshni was murdered and he never thought he will look at a girl like this. Over the time he started feeling comfortable around her. That didnt changed the fact that he still gets annoyed at her statistical blabberings. And today, he felt as if he needed some pampering, someone to tend to his wound, someone to take care of him, so he came to riya's place. And, well riya's place was closest from the shoot out spot. The smuggler he was chasing shot at him and ran away.

He noticed she was staring at him. How long has he been lost in his own thoughts, he wondered.

"Kya??"

"Wo sir.." she bit her lip.

She knew his temper.

"Sir wo aapko elbow sleeve nikalni padegi. The wound is right there and I have to put a bandage.."

He looked at the sleeve he wears to hide the 'Roshni' tattoo. He never took it off. It used to pain him a lot seeing that tattoo and then realizing that her killer is somewhere around, walking freely. He kept staring at riya. She was waiting. And as if someone asked him to share his immense pain, he took it off.

Riya was scared. She had seen his temper if someone mentioned anything from his past. She knew he is hiding something under that elbow sleeve. But she had to dress his wound. She was almost taken aback when he took it off without a fuss. There, she saw it. The name 'roshni' and then an attempt to strike it off. She didn't believe at first but it was true. She actually did see the tattoo he was hiding for so long.

She didn't want to make the already awkward situation by asking or even reacting to it. She just rolled over the shirt sleeve and dabbed the wound with antiseptic. It was a deep one but did not need any stitches.

"Sir, baba kehte hain kisi bhi zakham ka agar sahi time par ilaaj karein toh wo future mein dard nahi deta."

"Janta hoon riya."

She dressed the bullet wound and was about to leave when she heard.

"Sikander! Sikander ne. Meri dushmani ka badla meri biwi, meri roshni se liya. Galti kya thi uski, sirf itni ki main us se pyaar karta tha. Aur mere saamne usne…"

He could not complete.

She noticed, he was emotional but still standing strong. No tears in his eyes, no worry lines on forehead only determination to hunt that guy. As if that strength and dedication to find the murderer of his wife gave her the strength. And she hugged him.

They didn't say a word. No words were necessary.

"Main janti hoon Sir, aap usko dhundh lenge. Aapke haathon se koi mujrim bachke nahi nikla. Toh yeh kaise?"

He nodded with a small smile and high hopes in his eyes. They truly say, share sorrows to lighten the burden. He did feel light.

"Wo tumhara ghar sabse paas tha, isliye.."

"Its ok Sir!"

"Thanks!" and he hurried out!

Riya knew her Arjun Sir has started getting comfortable with her. She was elated; he shared his past with her. And, also sad 'coz he has a sad past. She was contended. It seemed they are one tiny step closer. She smiled and looked forward to a new day tomorrow at ETF office. With Arjun Sir.

****

Let me know how was it 😊