"Riya, who told you that they left you alone? They are here, always with you. Even if they are not here, you won't be alone. Your Arjun Sir will be there with you, as your mentor and as your friend. I won't leave you alone. Now be a good girl and go to sleep."
For the first time in years, Riya slept peacefully, not having any nightmare which haunted her.
****
That was how the team found them when they reached Riya's home. Everyone had their mouth wide open except Shree and Chotu. They both had tears in their eyes.
Sakshi, who was fuming watching the scene in front of her couldn't stop herself from calling his name.
"Arjun..."
As soon as he heard his name, he parted away a little and looked at his team who were witnessing everything with different expression in their faces. Everyone expected him to jerk away from Riya. Instead, he took his sweet time. He slowly parted himself away from her and looked at her who had fallen asleep in his arms. Scooping her up in his arms, he placed her gently on bed. Tucking her in properly, he dropped a kiss on forehead. Then he turned towards his team who had their mouth wide open seeing his gentleness. He motioned them to walk ahead.
They all sat in the living room of Riya's house. It was Arjun who broke the silence first.
"Why are you all here?"
"We were worried about Riya. So we came by.", answered Rathod on behalf of his entire team.
Arjun nodded in understanding. Again silence spread in the atmosphere.
Sakshi who was controlling her anger felt like she will explode any minute if she didn't speak up.
"Arjun, what were you doing in the room?"
He looked at her incredulously.
"I thought you could see, I never knew that you are blind.", he mocked her.
That provoked her. All the pent up anger came out of her.
"I have seen it. That's why I am asking. What the hell do you think you were doing? How could you hug her like that? And on top of that you kissed her even after seeing that. Do you have any idea how I felt seeing you two like that?"
Everyone was silent for a moment hearing her blasting Arjun. They feared for the moment when Arjun's famous anger will be directed towards Sakshi. But nothing of that sort happened. Instead, he studied her for a moment and then spoke up calmly.
"Not bad Miss Sakshi Anand. Today you proved that you have observation skills. By the way, I hugged Riya and of course I kissed her. So what? Why should you feel bad for that? And by the way, what I do with Riya is my personal business. You have no right, I repeat, absolutely no right to interfere in that. You got that?"
His words echoed throughout the house sending everyone to a moment of trance. Sakshi looked at him with hurt, anger and jealousy filled eyes. And Arjun reciprocated with determination.
"Arjun sir..."
A broken yet sweet voice from behind broke everyone's trance. Arjun looked back and found a pale Riya standing near the stairs. He walked towards her. Standing in front of her, he took her hands in his and caressed it.
"Riya, why did you come out? You need rest."
She nodded in denial. Sighing, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ears. Her face still bore those tear trails.
"Are you okay?"
She tried to blink back a tear seeing the care in his voice and eyes. She felt choking. Realizing this he hugged her gently and started patting her back.
That was the limit for Sakshi. She strode towards them. Grabbing Arjun's hands he parted them away. Everyone was shocked and was about to go towards the trio. Arjun was looking at her with disbelief.
Arjun was about to open his mouth to reprimand her when all of a sudden he felt her claiming his lips. He was numb for a moment. Everyone was getting shock upon shocks. Whereas Riya, she was controlling herself from breaking down seeing the man she loves being kissed by another person. She closed her eyes tightly and a soft sob escaped her lips.
Arjun who was damn shocked with Sakshi's move came out of his numbness as he heard a soft sob. Instantly he knew, to whom it belong to. Then his mind started working. He pushed Sakshi away causing her to fall flat on her back. Wiping his lips vigorously, he looked at her with fire spitting eyes. His eyes then landed on Riya who was sitting on the stairs with her eyes closed.
"WHAT THE HELL SAKSHI???"
He roared. Sakshi got up from the floor and gave a smile.
"What happened Arjun? Why do you act as if it's a big thing? Did you forget that we have done more than just kissing in the past? Did you forget the way we cuddled together?"
She finished with a sly smile.
"WHAT?"
They could hear everyone's shocked voice. It was hard to register the fact that Sakshi kissed Arjun in front of them and now on top of that her new revelations.
Arjun could easily see through the plan she was building. His gaze remained fixed on Riya whose knuckles turned white by gripping the railing tighter. He knew all this revelations are hurting her. And Sakshi was gaining sadistic pleasure from revealing this to hurt Riya.
He took a deep breath.
"Sakshi, that is past. Before 6 years. That Arjun was a carefree college going guy who was madly in love with you. And if I correctly remember you are the same person who broke our relation and went away from me. It was you who backed out from commitment. It was you who left me broken."
For a fleeting moment Sakshi lowered her eyes in shame and guilt. Then as if drawing energy from somewhere she looked up. Her face now showed love. She slowly walked towards him.
"Arjun. Please. I know it was my biggest mistake to run away from you. Please understand, I was scared that time. I didn't wanted commitment that time. You can say that I was really stupid. I know I done mistake by leaving the guy who loved me madly. I have wronged you. Please give me one more chance. We can still turn our dreams into reality"
Arjun couldn't help but to chuckle at her pleadings. There was something sadistic about the way he was smiling.
"Our dreams? My dreams shattered the day you left me. You left me Sakshi, you left me. I was broken. But still I overcame the pain with the help of Roshni. And one day she also left me leaving me broken again. Now you are coming back and asking me sorry? How could you even think that? No Miss Sakshi Anand, this time the Arjun you are facing is a different one. I am Arjun Rawte and in Arjun Rawte's life you don't have place."
Everyone looked a Sakshi who had tears in her eyes. Arjun ignored it and looked towards Shree.
"Shree"
"Ye... yes sir..."
"How did you guys get in? I remember locking the door"
"Woh sir... I have an extra pair. Ri, I mean Riya gave it to me..."
Arjun face tightened as he heard Shree correcting her name and then looking at Liza.
"Give me the key Shree."
Shree looked at him perplexed.
"I said Give-Me-The-Key"
Scared of his anger, Shree gave the key.
"Thanks! You don't need it anymore as you are no longer Riya's Shree."
Shree opened his mouth to protest but was stopped when he saw Arjun raising his hand to stop.
"Now, I want you all out of this house."
Everyone was in too shocked to say anything. Rathod walked outside first. Liza dragged a crying Sakshi who was adamant to stay there. Shree cast one glance at Riya. He went away soon as he saw Arjun glaring at him. Lastly Chotu was left. He looked at Arjun and then at Riya and then again to Arjun. As if understanding his unsaid words, Arjun spoke up.
"Don't worry, I will take care of her"
Chotu thanked him and walked out of the door leaving Arjun and Riya behind.
***
Liza tried to control an emotionally broken Sakshi but in vain. It was as if Sakshi had thrown her rational mind out of her body.
Sakshi slowly wiped her tears and stood up.
"Arjun, I won't back out so easily. I always got what I wanted; this time also it will happen. You will fall in love with me again Arjun. If you are Arjun Rawte, I am Sakshi Anand. I will go to any extend to get you back."
***
Locking the door, Arjun walked towards Riya. She had hid her face in her knees and was crying. He was not unknown to the feeling Riya had inside her towards him. He felt a little prick inside his heart seeing her condition.
He sat in the stairs near to her. Reaching out to her, he slowly loosened her grip on the railings. He pulled her towards him causing her to bury her head in his chest. She let him take control of the situation like a puppet. He sighed feeling contended having her in his arms. He held her closer while he told her everything about him and Sakshi, how he met Sakshi who was junior to him in college, how their love story progressed and at last how Sakshi left him. Riya didn't say anything, but Arjun was content saying everything to her. He felt lighter sharing a part of his bitter past to her.
Zindagi ka pehla pyaar kon bhulata hain,
Ye phli bar hota h jb koi kisi ko khud se badhkar chahta h...
Uski pasand, uski khwahish me khud ko bhul jata h,
Akele mein uska naam likh likh kar mitata h...
Baat karne se phle sochta h, kya kehna h.,
Baat hone ke baad fir kuch kehna reh jata h..
Hota h itna khoobsurat pehla pyar,
Toh jane kyun aksar adhoora reh jaata h...
Disclaimer: I havent written the Shayari. It is from internet
Current Affairs
CID
Web Series
889