A
Sam's POV
I looked at the glass wall in front of him and tried to link the murder and the apparent suspects...
So funny that the new girl's name was Sakshi... just like my bhabi's...
Yeah - you guys heard it right... bhabi :)
Well what are you shocked about... oh let me tell you a bit about myself...
Sameer Damsingh Rathore... Rajput ki putra.. my father was more of an NRI businessman... however I was the complete opposite... my country seemed to pull me... and moreover one name... Arjun...
The minute I landed in India two things happened...
I wished to see Amritsar, I was only 15 at that time... my parents were surprised as I never even heard or saw that place (I was brought up in England) ... I literally ran around the city... tracing my path to the Jallianwala Bagh... the minute I landed there... I fainted on the spot... I developed fits... I used to wake up screaming every night...
I was rushed back to England... but the memories hit me time and again... the only way I could vent it out was by recounting episodes of what I saw in the form of stories to my friends... and family friends as well...
One of my father's friend... Dr. Arobindo Dasgupta... he called me to his home one day... he was surprised with the intricate details that I used to provide in my stories... he asked me to open up and tell me as much as possible... I closed my eyes and recounted everything... he asked me to look at the person in the mirror - I gasped in shock as I realized that it was me...
After telling everything I found my eyes wet and crying at the realization of my life... I had just recalled my entire life... my uncle told me that I was a jatiswar... i.e., rebirth... I had died early in that life... out of grief I never married... and my health deteriorated when I was around 35...
I tried hard to find my Arjun and Sakshi but it was a futile search... it all happened when I was in the Academy... one of the seniors wanted to rag me as usual... I had high fever... I could barely skip away from the situation... and like a messiah he came...
I was shocked by looking at his face... he dragged me out of there... not before giving a menacing look to each and every senior out there... but I just kept staring at his face... it was exactly the same of my best friend... Arjun...
He gave me a surprised look as to how did I ever know his name... I gave a lame excuse... but from that day we became best buddies and could we rarely be separated... what was funny was that Arjun had the seriousness and ethics like my sister Sakshi... once my senior asked that were we brothers from the past life... I winked and said yes...
I was relieved to see that he wasn't attracted to any girl... cause none of them were Sakshi..
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I am back to reality when Chotu says "Haila!"
I look at the reflection and stops short... I see a kurta pajama clad Arjun walk hand in hand with a beautiful Sakshi... wearing her red bridal patyala...
She has come...
My eyes tear up on seeing my darling sister...
I flick away the tears forming and try to control myself and turn around to see a normal Arjun and a different Sakshi... she wore a red top with jeans and a red scarf... her eyes were lined with kaajal.. her hands full of bangles... seeing her mischevious grin... which reminded me of Arjun... Iknew she had come...
"Sam?" Arjun asked and walked towards me... Sakshi walking with him as well...
"Huh.. ya... hey Sakshi.. welcome to the team!" I smiled and gave her a side hug... she smiles brightly at the warm welcome and hugs me too... she tries to lift her other hand to hug me when I noticed their locked hands... I can't help but smile again...
I raise my eyebrows at Arjun and signal him at where his hand is..
"Kya?" Arjun whispers to me, confused...
"Haath" I whisper back...
"Kya haath?" Arjun looks at me puzzled...
"Arjun sir.. Rathore sir ye pooch rahe hai... um kuch nahi" Ayesha smirks at Arjun but then looks at me and squints her eyes to mine for a second... I look away...
feeling shy...
ok I know that I am Rajput and all that... but I do feel a bit shy when I see Ayesha looking at me...
"Fattu Sam... tu laal kyun ho raha hai!" Arjun whispers to me winking and Sakshi starts to giggle!
She raises her left hand when she sees her hand tightly clasped with Arjun's hand... immediately she quietens and blushes... she tries to leave her hand but Arjun is busy gripping her hand...
"Abbey main fattu toh tu despo! Hath chod meri beh.. Sakshi ka!" I said while Arjun looked down - immediately embarrassed at the situation...
Arjun and Sakshi simply avoided each other out of embarrassment for the whole day as the team went to no end to tease the poor little girl!
I tried to be her savior many times... but then even I enjoyed pulling her leg!
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Six week had passed by...
Sakshi and Arjun would often go out for cases together while Shreetu went by a bike and Sameer and Ayesha went together as well.. Liza preferred to stay in the lab until it was an absolute necessity...
And most probably the heavens above were a bit angry on their delay of falling in love - so came in a plan to their rescue, though it turned out to be a little bit funny ;)
The entire team was at the village to solve the case of a pisaach.
Sakshi smiled as she saw a busy Arjun looking at the villagers around... somehow being with Arjun always gave her immense relief... but he was broody man of hers!
And village... this area always gave her a soothing relief... don't know why but being here with Sameer and her Arjun made her feel at bliss...
"Yeh maine apna Arjun kab se sochne lagi!" Sakshi thought and smiled... looking up at Arjun again...
Suddenly a woman came into view... she was the Sarpanch's wife... "Arrey wah... aapka biwi kitni khubsoorat hai ACP sahab..." she admired Sakshi...
Sakshi's eyes popped out on that and she just looked at Arjun who looked equally surprised...
"Arrey hairan hone ki kya baat hai beti... ab hum ki batayein... mat bolo ki aapka pati aapki khubsoorti ki baare main kuch nahi kehta... haan saare mard bas aisi hi hote hain... par humra pati ka toh alag hi baat hai... har mangalvaar puja ke samay humri taraf dekhta bhi nahi... aur humko oo naam se pukaarte hai joh humra swarge sasurji pukaarte hai...har shaam ko bahar jaate hai... humra saath jyada waqat bhi nahi batate... uffo... par betiya aapke chehre se toh lagta hai ki bada khyaal rakhte hai - kitna khila hua hai!" The woman blabbered and did her nazar utaaro thing...
"Beta khush rakho iss pari ko..." The woman smiled at Arjun and disappeared somewhere...
Sakshi was blushing deeply... she barely heard anything as the only thing in her mind was when Arjun gave her a detailed look from top to bottom when that lady admired her...
"Aunty ji..baat aap bohot zyaada kar te hai.. par iss ke liye thank you!" she silently said.
The word patni for Arjun felt really familiar... he didn't feel embarrassed.. rather a tad bit shy...
Snapping out of his thoughts he stared at Sakshi for two full minutes...
"Ar... Arjun.. tum aise kya dekh rahe ho?" she mumbled...
" Sakshi hum dono ab yaha se bahar jaa rahe hai..." Arjun answered while scratching his head..
"Arrey.. pehle bataate.. kuch tayaari kar leti!" Sakshi jumped with joy "Hey God ji! Hum date pe jaa rahe hai! Outskirts... aur shaam ko waapis... wah mujhe pata hi nahi tha ki aap ne meri kismat main yeh silent romance likha hai!" she giggled...
"Nahi... tayaari ki kya zaroorat.. waise hi kal subah waapas aa jayenge... aise hi theek ho." Arjun said and started walking...
"Kal subah! Itni der tak karenge kya!" Sakshi thought alarmed... "God ji... kahi dil main aag leke toh nahi ghoom raha hai! Biwi toh kaha... kahi sach main...raat bhar hum dono ek saath! Shut up Sakshi - kya soch rahi hai... tu na Hollywood flicks dekh ke na aisi soch rahi hai!" she grumbled to herself...
"Acha Sakshi suno..." Arjun took a deep breathe and looked at her "I need you to cooperate with me... mujhe jald hi cheezein karne ki aadat hai... I may not tell you anything... just silently listen and do as I say... aur tum bhi zyaada mat kehna... you fine with that na." Arjun informed and Sakshi just looked at him - gaping...
"Co-operate... jald... silently listen and do! Deva!!!" Sakshi closed her eyes and panicked about what was going to happen to her!
"Ab isse kya hua!" Arjun thought - puzzled until they reached a field...
"Khet main leke aaya hai! Hey Deva... not that I don't like him par yeh toh... network bhi nahi kaam karta!" Sakshi panicked and got shocked at the turn of events which were so giving her a different feeling...
And that was the precise time where she recalled about lovers being in the field and...
"Hmm... agar Sam sahi keh raha tha... then Khet is the perfect place... Sakshi you agree na - Khet hi chupne ke liye sabse behtar jaga hoga?" Arjun asked looking at her face and her doe shaped eyes which were boring into his!
"DEVA!!! Khet... yeh toh chupne ke liye famous hai! Aasman ke neeche... khet ki beech main!!!" Sakshi gulped and weekly nodded...
Suddenly Arjun gripped her wrist and Sakshi's breath hitched... "Jald hi chalo... shaam se pehle waha waapas bhi pohochna hai - aur yeh cheez is just between us.. ok? Really don't know ki subah tak yaha reh sakte hai ki nahi... koi dekh bhi sakta hai..." Arjun tugged her along towards the field while she hobbled along thinking what would happen...
As he dragged near a tree he stood there and looked at a blushing Sakshi... "Laal kyun ho rahi hai?" Arjun thought...
"Sakshi tume kya aise kaam pehle kiya hai?" Arjun asked her
"KYA!! NO WAY!!!" Sakshi told him, her eyes wide in shock...
"Oh... ok chill... listen I am there toh relax.." he said reassuringly...
Sakshi could now barely look at Arjun - but why in the world wasn't she stopping this either!
"Ok Sakshi... now... waqt bohot hi kam hai!" Arjun said softly...
He and Sakshi were about to sit when Arjun swiftly pulled her dupatta away...
Sakshi shivered and felt herself heat up when Arjun took away her dupaata and put it on the ground below as a sheet...
Suddenly Arjun swore "Sh*t!"
"Huh?" Sakshi looked at Arjun confused then he caught her wrist and pulled her down... crashing onto him...
Within a few seconds Sakshi found herself below Arjun who caught her hand steadily and was looking aside in silence...
His heat and weight were affecting her senses... his muscles crushed with her soft form evoking strange yet familiar feelings... as he felt him nearing she managed to speak up "Arjun... ab.. thoda baad nahi kar... yeh ghalat..."
"Paagal ho Sakshi... I have thought carefully about this... jo karna padega ab hi... and nothing is wrong in this...!" his voice - laden with urgency...
"Arjun ji.." she said and froze for a second... even Arjun stared at her.. Arjun ji... she had said this somewhere and he had heard her say this... where... when???
Their heads bursted in pain and couldn't think further... she started breathing heavily... now that affected his senses badly... her delicate form was tight against his hard body... her big eyes were frantically looking here and there... but what was she scared of?
He felt he knew her... so much that it would be as if she was his closest confidante ever... but at this moment... her fragrance hit him hard...
She couldn't take the heat of his body which burned through her bedclothes... she was amazed at her own body which was surprisingly ready to be in the most intimate form with a man that she knows for only a few weeks!
"Arjun... not now... yeh sahi nahi hoga... pls... ab nahi..." she softly whispered to him... her eyes closed...
His eyes widened and he looked at her flushed face again... then he looked at her figure... it had started trembling... her forehead was stressed up in a frown... he slightly brushed his fingers on her forehead and said... "Sakshi... I know it might just be my thinking... par yeh sahi hai - trust me..." he said gently.
Sakshi held his shoulder and and her pretty eyes were filled with tears... "haan... pata nahi kyun mujhe bhi yeh sahi lagta hai but Arjun... not now... please... main abhi tayaar nahi hoon for this intimacy... we didn't even kiss... aur main tume theek tarha se jaanti bhi nai... even though I think I know you... iss waqt I really can't make..." she fumbled and flustered... taking deep breath...
She closed her eyes again when she felt his hands on either side of her shoulder and he push himself up... "Arjun..." she said softly...
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B
Arjun looked at her state and heaving chest... he looked below at his own state and kept his hands on her either side of the shoulder and got up immediately... then he looked at her puzzled... "Sakshi.. yeh tum kya bak rahi ho! Intimacy... kiss... make... what?" he asked her puzzled!
"Hum toh yaha Sarpanch pe jasoosi karne aaye hai! Yaha iss khet main woh shaam ke 4 baje se pehle kisi se milne waale hai... toh that's why I called you along as you being an Investigative Reporter yeh saare cheez asaan hogi... and neeche bohot dirt hai toh I kept ur dupatta here... and then you slipped on me... an..." his voice trailed off as he got a hint of what she was thinking...
Then he looked at her flushed state and looked around... her dupatta below... he taking her to the field... he recalled his conversation and her freaked out face... oh no!
"Sakshi!!!! Did you think ki maine tumhe yaha ley aaya.. to like..." he closed his eyes and blurted out "to make love!?!?!?" he looked at her shocked!
Sakshi looked at him with wide eyes! Oh God how could she be such a fool! She immediately got up and ran away in embarrassment and crashed with the Sarpanch as well as the khabri...
Before Arjun could arrive to save her the man had twisted Sakshi's hand and placed a knife on her throat - but that barely deterred Sakshi from giving a punch and kick to both of them - the ETF came right on time and so did Arjun.. he had bundled up her dupatta in his hand and punched the Sarpanch till he was barely alive...
An anger surged through Arjun... he never wanted her to get hurt or be in danger... knife... he hated daggers since his childhood... it used to give him fits...
Arjun walked up to a slightly nervous Sakshi "You fine?" he asked...
"Hmm" she meekly nodded...
Sameer noticed the two and so did the rest of the team...
He pulled Arjun aside and whispered "Oye... tere haath main Sakshi ki dupatta... tum dono ki kapde ke haalat... karkya rahe the tum dono?" he winked at a highly embarrassed Arjun...
"Shut up Sam! Khud toh Ayesha se Hello bhi nahi bol paata!" Arjun walked off to see a slight red trail on Sakshi's neck...
She was already sitting in the SUV and he went inside as well...
"Sakshi... tumhare gala pe to..." Arjun said alarmed... it was a trail of blood...
Sakshi slowly dabbed the place with her dupatta... "No it's fine Arjun... aise hote rehte hai... in fact ek baar toh maine apne aap ko hi kaat diya tha..." she joked...
"WHAT!! Paagal ho tum... aisi kaise kar sakti ho... u know these daggers can even take life of people... itni irresponsible kaisi ho sakti ho!" Arjun yelled at her and banged his hand on the steering wheel...
"Arjun main toh bas mazaak..." she said softly... scared at his outburst...
"Mazaak my foot... if that dagger pierced you... pata hai how much it can hurt... zindagi main sab kuch mazaak nahi hota! I just should have known ki ek reporter saara kaam nahi kar sakti... you are just a mere publicist... tumhara liye sab kuch bada mazaak hota hai... tum na kabhi bhi apni desh ke liye kuch nahi kar sakoge! Mazaak! Dard dekha hai tumne... nahi na... I have seen death!" Arjun screamed at her... and then stopped short... death... his parents had died when he was young... but then the death that he referred now... that was a different one... what was it?
Sakshi's eyes started tearing, then she received a sms on her phone... and tears started rolling out...
She got out of the SUV and walked out alone in the rain...
Arjun followed up behind her... "Ab kya hua... bas yehi baaki reh gaya rona dhona.. tum iss field pe aayi kyun ho!" out of anger over what he didn't know himself... he blabbered non-sense himself...
"SHUT UP!" She raised her hand to slap him"Tumhare wajeh se ro nahi rahi hoon.. you are no one for me.. abhi abhi my dad ki status ke baare main sms aaya... he's in coma for the past 6 years... they have shifted him to the ventilator... I really don't know ki just face wise how did I even start liking you! Mujhpe pe apna bhashan dene se pehle just think... ki mere aasoon kyun gir rahe hai" she sobbed but then a memory hit her hard in her head...
She had slapped him... he had hurt her before...
Flashback...
He clutched her arm tighter... "Dard ho raha hai.. iss baat pe hi gussa aa raha hai aapko.. aansoon aa rahe hai... mujhe thappar maarne ka jee kar raha hai na... humain ko haq nahi hota aapko aise pakadne ke liye... unhe kaunsi haq tha mere bhai ki jaan lene ke liye!" he shouted at her...
Sameer ran upto him "Bhai.. chod isse... meri behen jaisi hai!" he shouted
"Bas aur do minute baat karne de... Sam uske baad chod dunga... tumhe pata bhi hai dard hota kya hai... ya phir tum bhi inn safed logo ki chamcha..." his words stopped as Sakshi slapped him right across the cheek...
"Badtameezi ki bhi ek had hoti hai..." she said quietly... grabbing his hand she pulled him towards a pile of dead bodies...
"Yeh... in murdon ko dekh rahe ho aap... yeh humare ammi, abbu, khala aur chota bhai hai... logon pe apna bhashan dene se pehle sochiye... ke unke aasoon kyun gir rahe hai..." she snapped at him and left...
Flashback ends...
Arjun stood rooted to his spot and Sameer came running towards him... "Arjun! Sakshi se itni rudely baat kaise kar saktha hai tu!" Sameer barked at Arjun...
Arjun was puzzled... on one side he could see a flashback... on the other side Sakshi... why was he so rude... why did he get so angry...
Sakshi just stared at Sameer... but then looked at Arjun with disappointment on her face... but memories were flooding through her head... none made any sense... all were nothing but flashes... she felt nauseated and dizzy...
Then her knees buckled and she fell on the floor...
"SAKSHI!"Arjun screamed and ran to pick an unconscious Sakshi...
Sameer just looked at the happenings... "Yeh to bilkul pehle jaise ho raha hai..."
Arjun cradled an unconscious Sakshi and placed her gently in his car... for some reason his hand caressed the parting of her hair...
Precap : Arjun trying to ask forgiveness... ;)
Anupamaa
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