Chapter fifteen
Rathod stopped the car in a deserted place at the highway. He sat on the car trunk, quietly. Shree stood beside him, he was still confused about the topic Rathod wanted to talk about.
Rathod : Shree, how long you've been joined CB?
Shree : 8 months, sir.
Rathod : So you are in this city for 8 months?
Shree : Jee sir.
Rathod : Have you met..I mean..
Shree : Haan sir...I met their families but Arjun sir.
Rathod : I'm not asking about him!(calmed down instantly)...Shree, are you sure that blast...no one survived in that...
Shree : Haan sir...all but Arjun sir survived that blast...& they were completely burnt down into ashes...
Rathod : hmm.. shree, do you know any other relatives of Saakshi?
Shree : Sir, Saakshi toh..she never told us about her family..& after that blast...maybe her nani came for the formalities. Her parents were already passed by, and Nani also moved to London, to live with her son. Iski alawa mujhe aur kuch nahi pata...but sir, suddenly...why are you asking about her?
Rathod : (inhaled sharply) Shree, first promise me you'll never reveal it to anyone.
Shree : I promise sir.
Rathod : I think she...saakshi is alive!
Shree: (shocked) Sir! But...how?..it's...impossible...
Rathod : she is calling me from the day I've joined CB, she provides information...may be she's also in touch with khan or any other of this team..I'm not sure about it.
Shree : But sir, are you sure that it's Saakshi?
Rathod : I can't be wrong to recognize her voice, Shree, in fact to recognize any of my team...I'm sure it's her...just need a confirmation.
Rathod took out his phone and played a recording, it's of the last conversation between him and that mystery caller.
Shree listened to the recording, he was transfixed for a moment.
Shree : It's her indeed!! but if she's alive then why didn't she contacted anyone? Sir, give me her number, I'll try to..
Rathod : She calls from a privet number...
Shree : in that case...I've to tap your phone, may be I can trace her during the call.
Rathod nodded in confirmation.
Rathod : Anyway's didn't you found something odd with this team? Who was leading the team till this date?
Shree : Sir, yahan koi 2nd in command nahi hain...bas situation ke hisaab se lead change ho jaata hain...before you, it was a random cue between Rathod, Rao, shukla...ek baar toh Aiyar ne vi lead kit hi..
Rathod : Aiyar!
Shree : Haan sir! She has skills...she loves shooting...free time toh office ki shooting range main spend karti hain..
Rathod : interesting..
Shree : Haan sir..yahan situation thora alag hain...mujhe vi pehlee azeb laagta tha..but I've adopted with... these people are nice...bas ek dusre se ek ajeeb si distance maintain karte hain...jaise harr koi ek dusre se kuch chupa rahe ho.
Rathod didn't answer, he already felt so, something is off with this team.
Rathod : Shree, what do you know about the chief?
Shree : Actually nothing...system main vi kuch nahi hain...but one thing...network main hamesha ek anonymous user logged in rehta hain...but uska har information highly classified hain.
Rathod : Accha?
Shree : Haan sir..someone is watching us continuously, I've asked Banarjee, she told she doesn't know either, but it may be some secure connection to supreme authority... I tried to find out..but no luck.
Rathod : Ek aur try karoge?
Shree : Sir last time director ne warning di thi..
Rathod : It's about an Ex-member. She was called Devil.
Shree : sure, sir.
Rathos : Shree, don't sir me anymore...you are my counterpart now.(smiled)
Shree : Ok, sir..sorry,um...Rathod sir...I mean...Rathod..sir.
Rathod : (smirked) Keep practicing.
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Next evening, Karan went to meet a dealer, Amar in a nearby coffee shop. He had to clear some bills and gave him the cheque.He also placed a new order for spare parts. Being old acquaintances, they were chatting about some random topics when suddenly Amar frowned.
Amar : Look Karan, who's here?
Karan : Kaun? (turning his head towards the door) koi filmstar hain kya? (and he saw the face) O teri!! Yeh toh...
Amar : Anik Mukharjee, can't you recognize...avi do din pehle hi toh accident hua... tumne news nahi dekha?
Karan : Haan...isko toh amnesia hain...but uski saath yeh kaun hain?
Amar :I saw him somewhere..avi yaad nahi aaraha..
Karan was studying the man came with Anik, looks like a bodyguard, well built physique, hard face, a deep scar at the right forehead, snub-nosed, a ring in left ear and 2-3 bracelets in both hands; he felt he also saw him but couldn't recall where. Then he concentrated on Anik, that boy was wearing a blue denim jacket on a white t-shirt, chatting happily with that man.
Karan : Haan yaar...mujhe vi laagta hain main iss clown ki kahin dekha hain...
Amar : Clown! Mujhe toh gunda lag raha hain..Yeh aadmi ...Anik ka dost hain kya?
Karan : Pata nahi..but the way they are talking...dost lag raha hain...but I'm wondering...itna happily baat kar raha hain...matlab Anik knows him... & he could recognize him...( he rcalled suddenly) Arre! Anik ko toh amnesia hain na!! agar memory loss hain toh log toh apno ko hi nahi pehchante...
Amar : but mujhe to thik hi lag raha hain..bimar nahi.
Karan again looked at them, they are talking & giggling. Like old friends.
Karan : Amar, yaara, do minute bait aur nazar rakh..main ek call karke avi aaya. (he got up)
Amar : where are you going?
Karan : bas avi aaya...tu baith na..bas do minute.
Karan sneaked away from the caf and called Arjun.
Arjun : haan karan,bolo..
Karan : Shera, yeh Di garage main hain na?
Arjun : Haan, Anjali & Simi ke saath ludo khel rahi hain...
Karan : Ek kaam kar...usko uthake yeh passwali coffee shop leke aao...main wait kar raha hoon...
Arjun : Kya hua?
Karan : Bas do minute ki andar aa jao...der matt karna. It's urgent.
Karan cut the line and returned to his table.
Amar : Ho gaya?
Karan : Haan.
Amar : I'm getting late...
Karan : Ok, tu jaa...thanks yaara.
Amar : Anytime.
Amar left, and karan was waiting for Arjun & Di. Each minute as like hours for him. why they were getting so late! He looked at his watch, only 2 minutes passed.
Anik gestured the waiter to bring the bill. And his friend moved to washroom. No Karan was getting impatient, as Anik has paid the bill and he could move out anytime.
Anik's friend returned and thy moved to the door. Karan sighed in frustration. They've just missed a good opportunity.
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As Anik reached the door, Di entered hurriedly and almost bumped onto him. Arjun was just behind her. Anik moved aside, and Di was about to thank him but she was startled as she looked at his face. She stood numb at the doorstep just like a pillar, facing Anik Mukharjee.
Time stopped for a moment. Surprise was crept up on dishari's face. That's him... The very Anik Mukharjee of blood & flesh! Just 2 ft away from her. Back combed hair, thin-skinny physique; cold, calculative eyes. For the first time she saw his eyes.
Anik's friend came between them, he looked at Di with red eyes and exited from the caf & stood near a car.
Anik was hesitating, as if he was uncertain of his next move. Eyes narrowed, lips curved a bit...he was trying to figure something out. Then with a great effort, he moved his gaze from Di, nodded slightly and rushed to his car.
Karan came running towards Di. All three of them were so excited that nobody could utter a word for some time. Di was astonished. she couldn't imagine she would have a faceoff with Anik like this. She couldn't figure out this boy properly by a glimpse in the passing car or from the newspaper photo. But today, she is confirmed that boy is much more cold-blooded, hardcore and cruel.
Arjun leaned over Di's shoulder a bit and whispered.
Arjun : He recognized you. No doubt, I saw his face.
Di nodded, absent-minded..she was already busy with her thoughts.
A waiter came to ask them if they were interested to sit or not. Karan refused and cleared the bill. Then trio came out of the caf.
Di sat silently in the passenger seat, thinking. The road is deserted, there was no sign of anik or his friend.
Karan : Uss Anik ne tujhe phechan lia. Iska matlab samajh rahi hain?
Di : Haan..he recognized me..that means he's fine..koi amnesia nahi hain. Doctors had mistaken..so did the police. He cheated everyone.
Karan : Toh chal aab police station..sab kuch batate hain.
Arjun : Itna aasan nahi.
Karan : Kyun?
Arjun : We know his secret, and he recognized us. Aur yeh baat usko vi pata hain. Aab agar police ne usko pucha..toh woh alert ho jayga, &He'll refuse to recognize us. Yeh ek galati woh dobara nahi karga.
And with Arjun's statement Di understood, she is in danger now. A boy, who can make such cold-blooded plan to cheat the insurance company, who can make a car crush, who have such ruffian friends; no matter what his age is- he is dangerous. If he plans a murder to get rid of a thorn of his way, it wouldn't be surprising at all.
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They returned to Karan's garage and was discussing about their next step, Di's phone buzzed. She listened to the other side and gave an approving answer before ending the call.
Then she called someone and fixed an appointment.
Karan : Di..tujhe rest lena hain..avi ke avi appointment cancel kar.
Di : Nahi.
Karan : Kal main tujhe jaane nahi dunga...agar zaroorat padhe toh aaj tujhe main extra sedatives khila dunga..par..
Di : Tum log vi mere saath chaloge.
Karan : Kya? Kahan?
Di : Mukharjee mansion, I've an appointment with Mr. Ratan Mukharjee regarding a property deal...his lawyer had fixed the meeting..but tomorrow..he has an emergency at his home..so I'm going to meet Mukharjee alone.
Arjun : Toh, hum kaise saath chal sakte hain?
Di : Main medical leave pe hoon..toh Arjun tum yeh deal handle karoge...
Karan : Oh Didi!! Shera na ex-cop hain..ex-lawyer nahi...
Di : But he knows all the laws, don't you, Arjun?
Arjun didn't answered, but Di got her answer.
Di : Aur tu..meri intern cum driver banke jayga...jaane se pehle shave karr lena..aur kal dhang ke kuch pahen na... thik hain?
Simi : aur main?
Di : Tu kal free hain?
Simi : haan...
Di : Kal mera ek courir aayega..usko receive karna, thik hain? Aab chal, mujhe neend aa raha hain.
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now..you know what to do...
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Tum Se Tum Tak
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Vasudha
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