ARJUN SS : Mehfuz..ch 8/page 33 updt 7/6(complete) - Page 21

Originally posted by: ...Maha-Srk...

Amazing update
sori 4 late actually
lot of pending pms
read all parts in 1 go
wonderful story love it
thanx laila n rimi 4 pms

Originally posted by: _Nikita_

Awwwsssmmm part
Loved it
Beautifully written...
Cont sooon
Thanks for PM

Originally posted by: skrafty

emotional update

loved it

continue soon

Originally posted by: princess_pari

ab to you are planning to bring tears in my eyes.

two broken souls in a place, one who cant express and one who cant hold herself together.

both lost their only family...

roshni's pain was visible, and arjun's shimmering at the surface.

beautifully written...

Originally posted by: greensakthi

well, well, it was awesome and emotional. let t them cry, i'm running away from the tears and sobs of them, see me running toward a hiding place( a secret one actually!) and do tell me when they stop..

find me!...

Originally posted by: Godly_Affection

ch 4

awesome update di😊

loved it🤗

fantastic

arjun's pain is very well described

sam-jun convo's in between r wonderful..so well written👍🏼👏

arjun in dehradun..

corrupt..kamina??wo bhi ACP arjun Rawte ko..🤣

thankx for pm

ch 5

awesome update again

loved it❤️

arni meet was fantastic!👏👍🏼

arjun missing sam's presence..me too😔

their convo..i'm speechless..no words

rosh missing sam😭😭😭

good..apna card rakha he..jaldi milan karwao di..we'r waiting

thankx for pm

continu soon

"Don't be dismayed by the goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again."

- Richard Bach

A few days flew by with long days and sleepless nights and still Arjun wasn't able to decide his next course in life. The days in dehradun was getting hotter with each passing day and Arjun was getting more restless and frustrated. He would spend long days roaming about aimlessly, sometimes just sitting at the corner pavement of a road, looking at the happy kids playing with their friends.

After the day he met Roshni at her house, neither had she called him again, nor could Arjun get the courage to meet her again. Her grief stricken, painful tears haunted him each day. He had even planned to leave the town once his job was done, but something kept him there. He didn't want to get back to the monstrous city which has always defeated him in some way or the other, nor to the job which has taken away the final stray of his existence.

It was getting dark with the street lamps illuminating the roads. He had taken a stroll around the town for the past 6 hours and had finally settled at a park bench, munching on a packet of biscuit with a glass of tea kept beside him on the bench.

He looked around. It was a children's park and the parents were taking their children back home, while the kids kept nagging for some more time to play. He looked amused while some parents gave angry glares to their kids, some tried to reason with them, while some just dragged their kids like garbage bin while the bins shouted and yelled and cried at the top of their voices.

It was all so strange for him. Was it how parents behaved with their children? They came to get them back home, so that means they love them but then they also didn't support their useless demands, then where is their love then? He didn't understand. He never had a parent beside him in his life. Kaka hardly rejected his demands, he never have the right to.

Arjun picked up his glass of tea in the dark and brought to his lips. But something made him stop there. He kept back the glass and looked at the empty park around. His life was in a similar emptiness. Suddenly he felt it was time he took a decision for his next step towards life. He took out his phone and switched it on. It instantly brought in some awaiting messages. Some from his team mates, some from the DIG and some unknown numbers, who had called him, but couldn't reach him. He ignored all the messages.

He decided to never get back to the work which had taken away his last ray of happiness and strength. He would resign. He dialed the DIG's number and waited for him to pick up the call. It was ringing for the third time now, but no one answered. Arjun disconnected and kept the phone away. He would call after some time, Sir might be busy.

He again picked up the glass and this time gave the warm tea a small sip. He was making up the sentences he would tell the DIG when he felt a soft tap at his shoulder. He turned back to face a silhouette of a woman standing behind him in the darkness. A silent breeze made her curly locks fly at her sides. She moved back a step and clutched on the flying drape firmly.

'ACP Rawte?' she asked him.

The voice held a strange calmness, which calmed the restless soul inside him. Arjun narrowed his eyes at her trying hard to recognize her face but it was covered with darkness. She might have guessed it by his unblinking eyes and stepped in front of him, towards the light. That's when he recognized her, Roshni.

Clad in a simple blue cotton salwar kameez, with the dupatta spread at one of her shoulder, she stood in front of him. She still held a smile though her face showed surprise. Arjun stood up to greet her, but not a word came out of his open mouth. Roshni started fiddling with her handbag again and looked around, trying to avoid his dumb struck eyes. That was their second meet.

Both would have stayed that way, had not the mobile rung, bringing them back. Arjun quickly excused himself and picked up the call in front of her. He kept a watch on her from the corner of her eyes, while he accepted the call.

The DIG had called back. He was furious at Arjun for switching off his only contact and started yelling at him for that. Things took a sudden turn and DIG asked him to meet him immediately at his office. He would have to join back duty on that very day, unsolved cases at ETF was getting piled up at his absence.

Arjun couldn't speak a word about his decision to resign and accepted his order to meet him soon in a couple of days. The DIG disconnected and so did Arjun. He placed the phone back in his pocket and looked at the lady beside. She was looking at him with a questioning gaze.

'Wo DIG sir ka call tha,' he explained, to which she nodded.

Arjun picked up the glass and nudged her to sit. She too didn't hesitate and sat down on the bench. Arjun kept some distance between them and sat down.

'Ap yaha? Abhi tak kaam khatam nehi hua?' she asked him with a frown,

'nehi, kaam khatam ho gaya, bas abhi jane ka maan nehi hua,' he replied a bit embarrassed,

'kyu?' she asked again, sorry mujhe aise puchna nehi..' she looked at her embarrassed,

'nehi aisi koi baat nehi, ap yaha?'

'haan wo waha ARTS College mein painting sikhati hu aur isi raste se har roz ati hu,' she clarified,

Arjun smiled and nodded at her, looking towards the roads.

'Ye park, hamesha khula reheta hai, jab bhi maan kare aa sakte hai, mein yaha aksar ati hu, bohot sukoon hai yaha,' she exclaimed looking around,

Arjun looked at her, she seemed in a trance. There was something that was troubling her. There was a gloominess spread over her face. He wanted to ask her, but could not find the right words.

He remained silent. Only the shedding leaves made their sound with the blowing gentle wind. The roads were busy with traffic but for some reason, it had reduced to a great extend. He looked at the nearby bus stop. There were few people waiting. A bus stopped in front of them and the place became vacant again, waiting for another group of strangers.

All of a sudden, her voice broke into the breeze.

Arjun looked at her surprised. She understood that and looked away.

'wo usdin ap file dene aye the, maine apke saath thik se baat thak nehi ki. Maine apka card dekha tha, per samaj nehi aya, kya baat karu, isliye call nehi kiya.' she stopped at looked at him,

'its okay, meine card usliye..'

'I understand Mr Rawte, ap ne mere bare mein socha, aur yaha aye, I am grateful for that. Sameer ke alawa mere pass aur koi nehi tha, aur ab uske yadein, she looked down hiding her tears,

'Ek baat puchu? If you don't mind,' Arjun asked her, earning a nod from her,

'Did you love him?' he asked to which roshni remained quiet, I am sorry, wo sam nei apke bare mein zyada kuch..' he stopped, afraid he had hurt her,

'maine kabhi is bare mein nehi socha. Sameer was my only closest friend from childhood but I never felt I would like to marry him. Not that I would have regretted but he isn't my love and I don't want to lose his friendship for any silly thoughts, not even now.'

Roshni stopped at a sad note and arjun felt his heart feel the sadness too. He looked on while she quickly wiped the tear that was stuck at the corner of her eyes.

'Ap kab wapas ja rahe hai?' she asked him again cheering up herself,

'pata nehi, haven't decided yet, department chahta hai mein jaldi wapas jau,' he informed,

'isi liye DIG apko bula rahe the?' she asked with a smile,

'haan, per mujhe wo duty pasand nehi, uske liye maine apna sab kuch kho diya, ab mein firse wahi kaam nehi karunga,'

'Duty pasand aur na pasand per depend nehi hota ACP Rawte,' she told him,

Arjun was shocked at her words. He had heard the same arrangement of words before, but it was from 'HIM'.

ETF had caught a drug mafia and the main lead LALA. Arjun had broken one of his legs and thus his flight was impossible and he was arrested. A few days later when Arjun and Sam reached the court for the case proceedings. LALA had been punished with imprisonment of 14 years with a huge compensation.

Lala was being taken away from the court and pushed into the police van when he came to face Arjun directly. Lala didn't seem to be offended or scared of the punishment. He had threat Arjun of his and his family's life before boarding the van.

Arjun had lost his temper and in the furious state has pulled him down and beaten him black and blue. Sam had tried to stop him, but it seemed useless. Sam along with few other officers finally was able to pull them apart but by then lala had fallen down with a bleeding mouth and black eyes.

Arjun was given a warning and would have been suspended if not for an important case, which piled up instantly. Sam was happy to be able to save Arjun from the punishment but Arjun was again furious. He was angry with the system, with the law who supported a brutal criminal and punished him. Arjun even had decided to not participate in the next case coz it required some disguise and that heated up Sam in no time.

'Dammit Arjun!! bewakoofi maat karo, lala mar jata agar hum tumhe nehi rokte,'

'I don't believe you sam, tum lala jaise criminal ke liye soch rahe ho, usne najane kitne ko mara hai?'

'uski sazaa mili hai usse arjun, now stop these irritating glares and get to work,'

'mujhe nehi pasand ye ram leela, mein iss case mein nehi hu,'

'duty pasand aur na pasand per depend nehi karti rawte, lets go..ab tum ye baat samjhe ya tumhari bhasa mein samjhau?'

Roshni found Arjun lost in his thoughts and called him again. But he didn't respond. Finally she slid towards him and touched his wrist. He jerked out of his thoughts and looked up at her.

'tum ye baat..' he asked her surprised,

'Sameer hamesha keheta tha, jab bhi mein depressed hoti thi aur sab chorna chahti thi, tab wo mujhe bhi yahi keheta tha,' she replied with a sad smile looking straight at the dark corners of the park,

'tum Sam ko bohot ache se janti ho na?' he asked her,

'pata nehi, per sameer mujhe, mujhse zyada janta tha, pata nehi kaise meri dil ki har baat samaj jata,' she replied with her eyes gradually getting moist again,

'Sam ko bohot miss karti ho na?'

'uske siwa meri zindagi mein aur koi nehi hai...baki sab ne to mujhe bohot pehele hi..' her voice trailed off with a tear drop rolling down her eye,

Arjun remained silent. He waited while she wiped the moist under her eyes and looked away. She seemed lost in herself. She spoke to him,

'wo photo humne tab nikali thi jab mein last time rajasthan mein thi aur wo leave pe aya tha.'

'Roshni nakhre band karo aur sidhe khare raho,' he shouted,

'Sameer, mein bachi nehi hu, jo attention pose mein khari rahu, I am giving you a nice pose dude,'

'ye kaisa pose hai? iss khatare car ke upar uchal ke paer se aam torna?'

'cameraman jaisa pose waisa,'

'ohh hello madam, mein hu issliye tumhari photo le raha hu, warna tum jaisi bhayanak shakal ke chuhe ka photo kon kheechta hai?'

'tumne mujhe chuha kaha? Wo bhi bhayanak shakal wali? Abhi batati hu,'

The chase started with Roshni throwing all the collected mangoes at Sameer and Sameer using every part of his kills to successfully dodge it. Finally a fight started with Roshni wriggling and yelling in Sameer's strong arms. It would have continued had not Sameer's mom intruded and saved roshni from his grip.

'nalayak, kamina, dekh lungi tujhe,' roshni shouted at him, straightening her hair and clothes,

'to dekh na waise bhi kafi handsome hu,'

'that was really funny Sameer, tu aur handsome? Mujhe to kisi ghatiya se horror film ka atma lagta hai,'

'obvious roshni, churail ki aakhein aisi hi dekhti hai,'

'mein churail?' roshni pounced on him and again the fight started.

Finally after a long scolding session from both the families, roshni and Sameer, composed themselves and thus was the picture taken, as the remembrance of their silly moment.

Arjun found Roshni smiling to herself, thinking about something. It was surely a time with Sameer, which could bring a smile to her otherwise sad face. Arjun touched her palm and she looked up surprised, quickly pulling the hand from him.

'Ap thik hai?' he asked,

She nodded and composed herself. After a moment of pause she spoke up again.

'Ap bhi to Sameer ke dost the na? Ap bhi ab usse bohot miss karte honge,' she asked him,

'meri zindagi mein uske alawa aur koi nehi hai,' he told her, shrugging his shoulders,

'ohh I am sorry mujhe aise..' she stammered,

'nehi, waisa nehi hai, mere parents abhi bhi zinda hai, per mere liye nehi hai,' he rectified,

Roshni smiled a sad smile and looked at him. He looked lost in his thoughts giving a faraway look. Roshni could feel his loneliness, though she didn't know much about him, but the emptiness in his eyes weren't missed by her even the other day. She hesitated a bit but held his palm softly, getting him out of his trace like state,

'tum thik ho?' she asked,

Arjun nodded his head, looking away from her. She waited for him to compose himself and started again,

'Ap wapas kab ja rahe ho?' she asked,

'pata nehi kiyu?' he asked her confused,

'wo meri room-mate, pritha, ap mile the usdin, yaad hai?'

'wo bhayanak pagal? Usne kya kiya?'

'itni bhi bhayanak nehi hai...dil ki achi hai,' roshni justified with a glare,

'pata nehi, per mein bhi kamina corrupt police wala nehi hu,' arjun replied with a tiny pout almost not visible,

'usdin ke liye I am sorry,'

'nehi tum sorry maat kaho, waise kya bata rahi thi?'

'pritha ek orphanage mein event organiser hai, aur mein waha kuch bacho ko painting sikhati hu. Kal waha ek charity exhibition hai, bacho ne bohot mehenat ki hai, tum aaoge?' she asked him,

'mein lekin...'

'tumhe acha lagega, I promise, jitney zyada log honge, bacho ko uthna hi motivation milegi, please come, I insist, please' roshni requested, with a beautiful smile, that filled his heart with unknown emotions.

The emptiness, the sorrow, the loss everything seemed to have taken a back seat to find the lady in front of him smile. The meet earlier was full of sadness and tears but today in this lonely dark hours, it seems to be the beam of light.

He looked at her hopeful fading smile and quickly nodded slightly voicing out,

'ill try...' he said.

She seemed elated at the response. She thanked him and gave him an invitation card from her bag. Arjun too accepted it readily. They sat quietly for sometime, occasionally giving smiles to each other. It was an awkward silence, but it was much soothing than the lonely dark corners of their home.

The long silence was broken by a sudden cold breeze that blew towards them, messing up things. It was the beginning of a storm. Gasp of winds started blowing and roshni closed her eyes, trying to tackle her messing hair.

Arjun looked at the irritated and messy roshni. She was blinking her eyes continuously, trying to remove the debris which had entered with the wind. She was holding her hair with one hand and clutching onto the drape with the other, trying to keep it in place.

The storm increased and Roshni stood up, clutching on the things tightly. It was getting impossible. Complimenting the weather it started to drizzle, gradually increasing in the speed it started pouring heavily.

Arjun was trying to help Roshni for sometime but every time he went to help her, he would end up with the end of her drape, her bag, her hair on his face, or touching her. He hesitated and stood away but when it started raining and Roshni looked dumb folded at the mess, he couldn't control longer.

Arjun went close to her and held her hand. He took her bag on his own shoulder and dragged her outside. They reached the road together, roshni still holding onto the drape with lowered eyes. Arjun waited at the road for a cab, still holding her wrist and kept glancing at her. Roshni was rubbing her eyes, which was red and itching.

Arjun left her hand and held her shoulder.

'Roshni kya hua?' he asked her showing the concern,

'aakho mein kuch..' she said sniffing and rubbing her eyes,

'idhar dekho meri taraf, roshni dekho idhar,' he called her but she was engrossed in herself, rubbing her eyes continuously,

'Roshni, dekho idhar,' arjun shouted in between the storm,

She looked up at him. Arjun held her face and looked into her eyes. They were red and moist. He slowly blowed into it while the rain drops kept falling on her face. She stopped blinking her eyes and looked at his deep tranquil orbs.

They held hesitation but an emotion. Roshni could see into him, the loneliness inside him, the defeated eyes, the sunken shoulders, but there was a rekindled flame which was still flickering inside him. They moved apart when a thunder bolt broke their trance. Arjun stopped a passing cab and dropped roshni home. She invited him inside but he left quickly.

Arjun headed back to his room. After some long abandoned and isolated days, today was a day he spent well. He brushed his fingers into his wet hair and looked outside at the empty roads. It was pouring heavy and everything was wet. He never liked rain, but the new developing friendship, the little acceptance of their similar losses, was making him smile. He pulled out the invitation card and looked at it.

His next destination.

Awesome update