Chapter 20
After 1 month,
Arjun opens his eyes and stares at the rains pounding down on the window making a cluck-cluck sound. He stares at the rains and remembers how roshni loved to have garam garam adhrak chai and bajiya made from his hands. she used to always say "jab pati ka haath bajiya aur adhrak chai ho, bahar thandi thandi barish toh mauth bhi iss waqt aa jaye mujhe koi gham nahi hoga. (when husband makes hot bajiya and adhrak chai in this cold rainy weather, even if death comes at this moment, then I won't be sad.)". arjun used to always cover her mouth and act getting angry to make her stop saying like that. His thoughts broke hearing the knocks on the door. He opens to see karan holding a cup of chai. He asked "I thought you were seeing through the case."
Arj: I just got up. I think the maid is telling a lie. Find out whether she bought something expensive.
Kar: shera, are you okay?
Arj: why the question karan? Don't I look healthy to you?
Kar: I have seen for the past few days that you were lost in your thoughts. And day before yesterday the lawyer visit. What's going on shera between you and riya? You sure its not trouble?
Arj: its personal business between me and riya karan. I think we can handle it personally. When I want your help I will tell you.
And before karan could say anything, he shut the door within an inch of karan's face. karan rubs his nose and said "at least see whether the door is going to hit my face. it's a ladies face. if it is spoiled then what will the ladies think. Karan bachu start working. Shera has his weirdness but if you did'nt do the work then he won't think twice before breaking your legs."
Arjun reaches the court by 10'o clock. He stands on the stairs of the court remembering the times when the ETF team had to come to give evidence for a case. And the only other time he came for something not related to crime was when he got married. He feels a tap on his shoulder and turns to see riya dressed in a casual blue jeans and red shirt. She said "our name has been called." He nods and follows her as both of them enter the marriage registry.
Marriage registerer: "riya kashyap and arjun rawte?
Riya and arjun both nod their heads.
Marriage registerer " this marriage is according to your wish right. you are not being forced or coerced into this marriage?"
Ri: no
Arj:no
Marriage register "who is your witnesses?"
Shekhar said "that would be me and them."
Marriage registerer "okay, so mam please sign over here. and sir sign over here and the witnesses should sign over here."
Riya takes the pen and signs the register and then gives the pen to arjun. Arjun signs and then gives the pen to shekhar. Shekhar and his assistants sign in as witnesses.
Marriage registerer : congratulations. From now you will be mr and mrs rawte. Hope you have a happy married life.
They say their thanks and step out of the room. marriage registerer thinks "from no angle it seems as if it is a love marriage. They acted as if they were not signing a marriage register but a contract. Anyway why I am thinking so much."
Shekhar tells to riya " we will get the marriage certificate by tomorrow and submit it in the court. Then the hearing date will be announced."
Ri: shekhar I want the truth. What are the chances?
She: the chances have increased potentially in our favour riya but still it is difficult to say.
Ri: okay. One minute.
She went to where arjun is standing and peers down at the scene he is seeing. A handcuffed criminal is held by the arms by the policemen who are taking him to court.
Arj: you want something?
Ri: thank you.
Arjun turns to see riya staring at him her gratitude clear in her eyes.
Ri: I know that you could have easily said no to me. but you did'nt and I am grateful for that.
Arj: riya, just because you are married to me that does'nt mean that I can accept you as my wife. I have told you that.
Ri: I have also told you arjun that I am not looking to be your wife. I just want to give anjali a life which she deserves. And I could'nt have achieved that if it were'nt for you. so thank you.
Arj: it was'nt for you. it was for anjali.
Ri: I know. that shows that you have a heart arjun. Stop making yourself heartless. You can never live like that.
Arj: I will live for whom?
He said this in a low voice but riya got a pang of pain just hearing it.
Ri: so I think we are agreed on the point that we should not tell anyone?
Arjun nods. Before riya could say anything her phone rang. She excuses herself and answers it. A second later she shouts "what?"
Arjun and shekhar rushes to her but she is asking questions rapidly. And finally cuts the phone and turns to leave. Arjun catches her arm and said "what happened?"
She: why are you in such a hurry?
Ri: ETF team was ambushed outside Mumbai. I just got a call from the commissioner. He said that there might be no survivors.
Arjun could see in riya's eyes the desperation and hope that it is not true. Yet in his gut he knew that her hope might fail.
She: lets go. I will drive.
Riya nods her head, unable to think about anyone but misha. She felt arjun's presence beside her and for some unknown reason it gave her comfort that he was there with her.
The hospital,
The commissioner paces outside the operating room his head creasing in worry. Looking up at the sound of footsteps, he saw riya with arjun and the famous criminal lawyer shekhar shekhawat. Riya walked upto him and asked "sir, what happened?"
The commissioner guided her to a seat as he knew what he is going to give might scar her again. God knows he had hoped he would never be able to scar her but alas it seems god had other plans.
Com: their car broke down when they were on the expressway from pune to Mumbai. The details on the ambush were kind of sketchy but it seems they were lured from the car one by one and then killed.
Ri (in a small voice): all of them?
Commissioner placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and said "call it stubbornness or luck but misha was able to stagger to the road to call for help. That is how they were killed. Patil had gone to get a mechanic to fix the car so he also survived. But aggarwal and the rest?" he shook his head. He saw riya nod her head and cast an anxious glance to the operating theatre where her friend was on the operating bed.
Ri: what should I say to the media?
Com: riya, I think it is better if you don't handle the media right now.
Ri: sir, no offense but it is my job. Even in tragedy, an ETF member should perform her job first. Her personal life comes second. So what should I tell the media sir?
Com: right now. No comments.
Ri: I will check if any of the crime scene photos have been posted on the social networking sites. And see if I can get man... I mean someone from the tech team to take it down.
She went her head held high as all 3 of them watched on. Arjun walks to the window and sees a circle of media gather at the entrance of the hospital. He saw riya her face set with a grim expression walk out of the entrance and is immediately bombarded by questions from the media. He frowns as he sees that she is standing alone with no one protecting her from the horde of media. Hearing another sound of footsteps approaching he turns and his eyebrows raises in surprise as he sees his team approaching. Aisha, chotu, liza and shree are themselves surprised seeing him there. The commissioner gestures all of them to come inside a hospital room. shekhar remains back in case the doctor had anymore report on misha's condition.
Com: you already know what happened from the news channel?
Everyone remains silent.
Com: I know that what you faced after sakshi was injustice and I was helpless in the face preventing that. Now, this has happened. I don't know what media will spin out of this tragedy and whether the spin off will be good or not. The public will become worried and right now my main concern is to appease the public that they are safe.
Ais: what are you implying sir?
Com: I want all of you to become ETF members again.
Precap: let suspense begin.
hope you like the update. please comment or hit the like button.
Anupamaa
Health and Fitness
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Financial markets and global economy
