CHAPTER 3:
Sakshi stop dead on her track. She stared back at Arjun's eyes. There was such pain and fear in those beautiful eyes that Arjun's heart went to the girl sitting in front of him. Her face became pale like a dead person's face. He called her again but this time in a soft tone.
Arjun: Sakshi? Batao mujhe. Tumhe kaise pata ki uss rapist ke left shoulder pe ek scorpion ka tattoo hai?
Sakshi's trance broke and she shoots out from her chair. She went to the washroom and started vomiting. First Arjun didn't understand but eventually he got up from his chair. He went to the washroom beside her and holds her head in order to steady herself.
After finished Sakshi stood at his arms for a few minutes. She was feeling so weak that Arjun became afraid. He scoops her in his arms and went back to the room. He made her sit the chair and gave her a glass of water. Sakshi took the glass with shaking hand but didn't drink. She kept staring at the void. After taking deep breath she drank water. She emptied the whole glass. Blood was returning slowly in her face. Her heart was beating loudly. Memories of that night were threatening to break her. She spoke up an amazingly steady voice.
Sakshi: Ek victim hai jo uss rapist se bach nikli. I can't answer anymore.
Arjun look at her for sometime then he took the chair he was sitting. Sakshi was still breathing faster than normal when the rest of the team came to his cabin.
Sameer: Sakshi ji. Aapki yeh cabin thoda chota hai. Kya aap SP ka cabin use nehi karti?
Sakshi smiled.
Sakshi: No. That cabin is not for me. I am an IPS officer. And this is my cabin. But aaplogo ko problem ho raha hai to aye. Main aaplogo ko dusre room mein le chalti hoom.
She took them in another room. It was locked. She called Inspector Akash to open it. Inside it was really beautiful. With many sofas and chairs. There was plenty of place to sit.
Sameer: Yeh kounsa kamra hai?
Sakshi and Akash laughed out loud. Arjun kept staring at Sakshi.
Arjun (in mind): She looks so beautiful while laughing like this.
Sakshi stopped her laugh with great difficulty.
Sakshi: Yeh ghuss lene ka kamra tha? Maine ake yaha tala lagwa dya.
Arjun and the whole team became very impressed with her. They were about to enter when they heard some commotion. They look at that way and found Paban and Dhawan standing there.
Sakshi became rigid beside Arjun. Her whole body became a statue. She sighed tired sigh and approach them.
Sakshi: Tum dono yaha kya kar rahe ho?
Dhawan: Kya IPS saheba? Haame to laga ki aap hame jail mein dalne ke lye bade bechain hai. Aab hame yaha dekh kar aapko itna lag raha hai?
Arjun was about to go there but Akash put a hand on his shoulder. He gave Arjun a gentle but firm squeeze.
Akash (in a low voice): Yeh unki ladai hai. Isse unhe hi ladne dijye.
Arjun understood his point of view but didn't agree with it. He could see how tired Sakshi looked.
Sakshi: Bakwas chodo aur yeh batao ki yaha kiyu aye?
This time Paban spoke up.
Paban: Arman ko chod do.
Team members realized that Paban is the real danger. He is the brain while Dhawan is all about muscles. Paban wait. Watch and analyze everything then take steps.
Sakshi gave him a sweet smile.
Sakshi: Sorry. Likin Arman ko nehi chod sakti. Usske khelaf pakka saboot mila hai.
Dhawan was about to say something when Paban put a hand on his brothers shoulder to stop him. Paban watched Sakshi with calculative sight. Then he grinned.
Paban: Chalye congrats. Aapke din kuch to sudhre. Likin kaab taak?
He leaned to Sakshi while she stood in her place. Firm like stone.
Paban: Hamare din phirse ayenge. Aap kab taak aise dhoolo ko pakadti rahengi?
Sakshi: Paban tumhe meri promise yaad hai? Maine kaha tha ki ek mahine ke andar andar main IPS Sakshi tum dono ko jail ke salakho ke peeche milungi. Aise case banaungi ki lakh koushish karne par bhi choot nehi paoge. Abhi sirf teen din bache hai ek mahina pura hone mein. Jitna maje karna hai karlo. Kiyu ki jab main tum dono ko andar karungi tab kabhi bhi nikal nehi paoge.
Dhawan: Aaa IPS. Muh sambhal ke baat kaar. Do din ki ladki chali haamse panga lene. Agnihuti's se panga lene.
Paban: Bhai. Shant ho ja. No reason to get hyper. Ha toh aap kya keh rahi thi? Teen din. Thik hai. Likin teen din mein agar aapne haame nehi pakad pyi to...
He came forward and was about touch her while Sakshi caught his hand in the midway.
Disgust was evidence in her face. Whole team especially Arjun was boiling in anger.
Sakshi: Get out. Now. Agar tum dono abhi yaha se nehi nikle to bina koi reason ke jail mein daal dungi.
Dhawan walked out furiously while Paban smirked. As if this was the reaction he was expecting from her. He was about to go when he turned.
Paban: By sweetheart. Aab teen dinke baad hi mulakat hogi.
He blowed a flying kiss towards her and went out. The hidden meaning beside those lines were visible to everyone.
Sakshi composed herself with great difficulty and went inside the room. Whole team followed her. Arjun was too angry to say anything. This whole one and half year she tolerated this mental torture but not once she complained. He was feeling like he had seen a snake. Well that was not at all deniable. Paban and Dhawan was no less than a snake.
Sameer: Yeh dono asie hi jo mume aye bolte gye aur aap aise sunti rahi?
Sakshi: To main aur kya karti? Bina koi saboot ke kuch nehi kar sakti. Upar se Agnihuti's hai. Kuch bol bhi nehi sakti. Thoda kuch keh dya to lawyer leke hajir ho jate hai. Dhamki dete hai sheher chudwaneka. Agar aisa hua to main kaha javuungi? Kiske paas javuungi? Jawab hai aapke paas? Iss puri dunya mein main akeli hoom. Ekdam akeli.
She couldn't say more but started crying. Arjun felt like someone had slaped him in his face. He felt very low. He treated her like stranger that even after being a suhagan she considered herself all alone. But he stayed quite.
After sometime she composed herself. She excused herself saying that she is not feeling well and want to go home. She gave them permission to use the room and access of whatever they want.
Sakshi reached her home and went straight to washroom. She took a long baath. After coming out she brought her marriage album out. She started watching them. What she said in the station she didn't mean them. She have place to go. She have her in laws to go. But the words came out from her mouth in frustration.
Two hours passed like that. She kept watching the photos when the door bell rang. It was past 8 pm. She frowned.
Sakshi (in mind): Iss waqt koun aa sakta hai?
She went to the door and opened it. Standing there was Arjun with a duffel bag beside him.
Arjun: Sakshi. Kya main yaha reh sakta hoom? Tumhare saath? Apne patni ke saath?
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