NEVER FORGOT. chapter 22 on pg 42. - Page 9

Chapter 7

It's a miracle for riya that she is still able to stand after arjun told her. she blinked at him unable to believe what she heard. Her immediate reaction was to check if her ears were working properly but she restrained herself. She took a couple of deep breaths breathing in through the nose and breathing out through the mouth. She opened her mouth but closed it again unable to think what to say.

Riya's POV

He is anjali's father. FATHER. What the? how can it be? I mean if he is anjali's father then he is ...

No, no not possible. According to her, he is dead. So, how is it possible that? No, something is wrong. He is definitely hiding something.

POV ends

She looks at arjun now closely and notices that anjali has got his stubborn chin, his nose and the way he folds his arms. But the clearest part of whether she belongs to arjun is seen in their nose. Anyone looking at them would have thought at first that they were father and daughter. If riya had'nt known before then even she would have felt the same. But how is arjun, anjali's father?

She took a deep breath and asked "if you are anjali's father then where were all these years?". Arjun was standing his arms folded across her. his expression was unreadable yet riya could'nt help but feel that there is more to the story than it appears. Something is there which he is not telling her. arjun carefully answered "I did'nt know where she was." Half-truth, half-lie. He thought he knew where she was but now he has to find out what happened when he had last seen her. riya opened her mouth to ask when the door to the terrace opened and anjali came in. Both of them froze hoping against hope that she had'nt heard them but their fears when unfounded when anjali laughed and said "hehe, di you should have seen his face when I introduced as my mom. It was priceless." Anjali then looked at arjun's serious expression and riya's carefully concealed smiling expression and asks "okay, did I just miss something over here? Di, did you say something to mr arjun?" before arjun could say anything, riya said "of course not, why do you think I said something to your mr arjun?". Anjali folded her hands and took a position similar to arjun's stance. Riya and arjun both notice this and both of them kicked themselves mentally for not having made the connection. Anjali said "di, you and mr arjun are alone in a terrace? You playing again with the hair which you usually do only when you are nervous or agitated? So now answer me truthfully. Did I miss something?". Riya removes her hand from her hair and was nervous on what to say to anjali.

Arjun's eyes snapped back at riya to see her confusion belie in her eyes and he understood that now she is looking for answers, answers which now he also has to find. Riya smiles at anjali and came and bent down to her level and said "of course, I am worried. After all you, karan, simran and mr arjun are everyday engaged in fighting the crime. So I was just telling to your mr arjun to be more careful. That's all." Anjali smiles and said "aww, di that is really sweet of you." riya smiles and said "I know. I am really sweet." Anjali replies "yeah, but with that you are also cunning. That is why in order to get that guys off your back you made a bet with sheena's friends that guys will back off from flirting with you when they find out that you are a mother."

Ri: well, according to statistics 75% of the boys prefer fliriting with married woman or other people's girlfriend. But when they find out that she is a mother, they back off. Samjhe ya samjhau?"

Anjali laughed and they hugged each other. Riya looks at arjun and notices the longing in his eyes before they become stone. He slowly left without giving a glance to either of them. Riya hugs anjali tighter a silent tear coming down her cheek.

A few moments later riya and anjali came down holding hands. Sameer sees them laughing and smiling showing their easy camaderie. He becomes thoughtful seeing Riya look around. She became distracted when anjali tugs her hand and asks her but she shakes her head and they both headed off to have dinner. Sameer after talking for sometime went to the terrace where he found Arjun lost in his thoughts. He silently stared at him noticing how the last few months bought about changes in him. He became leaner and yet stronger but his face showed the sleepless nights which even now he was enduring. Arjun had long ago sensed Sameer but said nothing. Sameer stood beside him. The silence stretched between the two yet in this silence there was a companionship. A companionship which was lost and yet to be found. A companionship which needed no words before but now uses silence as its cover.

Riya left anjali with karan and Simran. She had wanted to leave anjali home first but anjali insisted that she will be fine staying with karan and simran. Riya called but this time the call went straight to voicemil. She slapped her hand on the wheel. God! Maya can be really clumsy. She must have surely forgot to charge her phone again. Yet Riya could'nt help but feel a trickle of worry. Her voice sounded worried and scared as if she had discovered something awful. Riya stopped in front of maya's house. She reached maya's flat and was surprised to find it open. She opens it slowly and enters the house. She calls out her name but did'nt get any response. This time the tingling in her neck became a full blown out worry. Suddenly she sees a pool of blood and before she could react, she felt someone put her plastic bag over her head.

Anjali is pacing the floor while Arjun,karan and Simran looked on.karan said "anjali, calm down. I am sure that Riya must be tied up in something urgent."

Anj: di will call even if she is tied up in something. But till now no phone call came. It is not like di to do this.

On top of that her phone also,died so I can't even trace where she is.

Arjun got up and caught anjali's shoulder. He said "okay, lets wait for 20 minutes. If till then she did'nt come then we will go and find her." A voice said "I don't think that is required." all of them became shocked seeing Riya at the door her clothes covered in blood and her dupatta missing.

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