Part 5:
Hospital:
"Aarav. Juice pee lo." Arjun tried to please him. Aarav didn't even look at Arjun. "Kya hua Aarav, itna naraaz kyun ho?"
"Mein tumse baat nahi karunga. Tum bhi bilkul mamma jaise ho. Woh bhi mujhe chod ke chali gayi. Tum jaa rahe te na. Mein tumse baat nahi karungi." He said with a fallen face turning red.
Arjun kneeled before him, "I am sorry Aarav. I promise mein tujhe chodkar kahi nahi jaunga. Abb juice pee lo." He moved glass to him.
"Pakka." No promise made sense to him. He still couldn't belive. Losing trust at small age is a harsh lesson.
"Pakka promise." With Arjun's gesture and under his pamper, Aarav drank a glass of juice. Arjun placing glass on table, " Aarav tumhara mamma kaha chali gayi?"
Aarav didn't reply. His face with smile succumbed to fear. He stare at Arjun who is trying to interpret him. Aarav hugged Arjun tight not answering to any of his enquires
***
Inside Open Jail:
Nidhi explained Jailer that she is here to meet and thank Sakshi. She requested a few minutes to chat with her. Being home ministers daughter added to her credit as Jailer agreed to her in first instance. She was guided to Sakshi by him.
Sakshis' Cell:
Sakshi leaned back resting her hand with a book on other hand. Nidhi entered while Sakshi flipped a page.
"Hai Sakshi." Nidhi wished with a cheeky smile. But her smile sank as she saw hard hand aid.
"Nidhi. Tum yaha?!" Sakshi enquired.
"Tumhari haath!!" Nidhi looked at her, "I am so sorry. Yeh sab meri wajah se hua hai. I am really sorry." Lines forming on her forehead expressed her agony.
"Chinta matt karo. Mein teekh hoon. Chotisi chot hai." She shrugged off.
"Yeh chotisi hai?!" She quired popping her eye balls. She jumped on her feet, "Agar mujhe laga hota, mein pure ghar ko, papa poore state ko hiladetey." She yelled. As Sakshi's face muscles stretched, Nidhi realised her being loud. She calmed herself down and sat beside her, "Tumne mere liya yeh sabb Kiya? Tum mujhe jaanti bhi nahi ho?!" She quired with slight tilt of her head to right.
"Kisi ko bachane ke liye, mein unhe jaane ki zaroora nahi samajhti." She replied with a pleasant face.
Hearing Sakshi, Nidhi sat straight. She looked at her, "Tum yaha kaisi ho sakti ho? Tum yaha kyun ho?"
Smile vanished on Sakshi's face, "Nidhi. Tum jao yaha se. Yaha phir kabhi matt ana. Please go." Her voice was firm and stern.
***
Hospital:
"Arjunji, apne mujhe bhulaya?!" Shanti enquired who is there to meet doctor and get him discharged.
"Ji. Mujhe Aarav ke bare mein poochna tha. Woh kaun hai? Orphanage kaise pahoncha?!" Arjun quizzed looking at Aarav who is sleeping.
He turned his eyes to Shanti hearing her speech, "Aarav ko kisi ne humare yaha chodke gaye. Koi aadmi tha. Uss ne kaha ki Aarav road ke side mila aur Aarav ko kud ke naam ke alawa kuch yaad nahi tha."
Arjun thought for a moment, "jisne join kiya, unka koi address hai?"
"Bahot saal hogaye. Dekhna padega. Shayad purane registers mein honge. Mein dekh ke batati hoon." She said.
***
Hospital Corridor:
Arjun signed discharge papers. After meeting doctor headed to Aaravs' room while his phone buzzed, "Ha Nidhi!!"
"Bhai, baat nahi karni mujhe. Milne nahi aaye aap. Pehle jail mein daalo phir kud gayab hojao. Yeh sahi hai aapka." Nidhi complained.
"Sorry Nidhi. Mein bahot busy tha. Bolo. How are you?" He enquired smiling at her childishness.
"Mein teekh hoon. Mujhe aapse bahot important baat karni hai." Her voice was stiff.
"Kya hua sab kuch teekh hai?!" He enquired.
"Ha woh. Mujhe Sakshi ke bare mein baat karni thi." She stated.
"Sakshi!! Who is she?!" Arjun enquired.
"Woh mere saath cell mein thi..." Before she could say, Arjun interrupted.
"Usne kuch kiya?! Isi liye uske saath cell mein rehne mana kiya. Criminals kitna bhi saza kaatle kabhi nahi badalte. Kitna gatiya aurat hai. Pati ko maar diya tha. Tum toh.." Arjun continued his rant.
"Bhai. Bhai calm down. Itni nafrat bhai. Woh bhi jise aap jante bhi nahi. Kya hogaya aapko? Aap kab se bina jane logon ko judge karne lage?!" Nidhi spoke in shock. Arjun was never like that.
"Sabke sab ek jaise hotey hai. Gunegar ka guna uske maut ke saath bhi nahi marta. Kisi na kisi ke dil mein aag jalati rehti hai. " Arjun said in lost voice.
"Bhai. Mein aapse baad mein milti hoon." Nidhi disconnected call. 'Bhai bina kuch jaane badak gaye. Mein kya karoon?!. Ha. Sameer bhai.' She thought.
Arjun sat on chair outside Aaravs' room. Dried tears burned his eyes. Pain, anger and flashes of past turned them red. 'Dayan hai woh. Pati ko khagayi. Paison mein tol rahi hai. Ussi ka khoon hai tu. Kisi ka nahi ho sakta.' He closed his eyes thoughts of train breezed his heart, 'Uske saath khelne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Ganda khoon hai uska. Dur reh usse.' His friends were snatched away from him.
He opened his eyes as he felt soft little hands on him. He saw Aarav standing before him. Aarav smiled at him trying to calm him down. Arjun ruffled his hair and hugged him hammering pain.
***
ETF Office:
"Uss ne pati ko maar diya?!" Nidhi exclaimed hearing. Sameer, Aisha and Shree looked at her shocked face. "Hoi nahi sakta. Bhai. Sakshi aisi nahi hai. She cannot kill her husband. Believe me." She said confidently.
"Nidhi..." Before Aisha could state anything.
"Aisha ek baar Sakshi ke bare mein pura information nikalo. Agar sab kuch jaane ke baad mujhe laga mein galat hoon. Then I will listen to you." They looked each other hearing to her. Sameer sighed Shree to follow Nidhi's instructions.
"Yeh lo Nidhi. Sakshi ki details." He turned laptop to her.
"Family details mein uske baete ke bare mein Kuch nahi hai?!" She enquired.
"She don't have a son Nidhi." Aisha said reading details.
"Believe me. Sakshi have a son." Nidhi stated.
"Yeh tum kya bol rahe ho Nidhi?!" Sameer closed his file, "baeta hota toh files mein mention hota. She dosent have any children."
"I can prove it. She have a child." Nidhi said and left from there.
"Nidhi, listen to us. Inn sab jamele mein matt pado." Aisha failed to stop her.
"Aisha Chotu se kaho Nidhi ka peeche kare. Kya kar rahi hai?! Kaha ja rahi hai? Sab Kuch. I don't want her to fall in trouble." Sameer ordered.
***
After 10 minutes:
"Arjun, tum yaha?!" Sameer sat straight.
"Aisha, Chotu kaha hai?!" Arjun enquired ignoring Sameers' quiry for a minute.
"Sir, woh.." she looked at Sameer as Shree followed her gaze.
"Woh kisi kaam se gaya hai. Mein ne beja. Tu pehle batayega ki kya hua?! I asked you take rest today and you are here." Sameer didn't want to disclose about Nidhi. He knew about Arjun's over protection and he may react unreasonably.
"Mujhe iss address ke bare mein aur iss mein rehte insaano ke bare mein detail's chahiye." Arjun passed his phone to Shree. "Aisha follow up karo."
"Arjun!!" Sameer glared. He got up and walked to his cabin. Arjun took a deep breath and followed. Aisha and Shree looked at them and got back to work.
***
Sameers' Cabin:
Sameer occupied his seat. Arjun spoke, "Sameer, I am fine. Aarav ko Shantiji ke saath orphanage bej diya mein ne." After a brief pause, "Mujhe Aarav ke past ke bare mein jaana hai. Usi se related yeh address hai." Arjun explained everything to Sameer and emotional strain that little kid is going through.
"I understand Arjun. Par tum zyada attached nahi ho rahe ho?! You didn't attend any case yesterday. Nidhi ke case ke baad kal 2 important cases aye te. Team ko tumhara zaroorat thi. You are not there. Personal reasons ke wajah se, tumne kabhi bhi apne profession ko strain nahi kiya?!" Sameer explained his changing behavior.
Arjun took a deep breath, "I am sorry Sameer. Shayad mein kuch zyada he attached hogaya." He paused. 'Kyun ki mein shayad, kud ko uss mein dekhta hoon.' He thought.
"Arjun."
He jerked out of thoughts hearing him, "Kyun ki uss chote bache ko madatt ki zaroorat hai. Khelne ki umar mein, darr uske saath khel rahi hai. He need help." Arjun described.
***
Home Minister's Residence:
Rajnath Gokhle signed few files in his living room handing over them to his PA, Mr. Sharma. He looked at person wearing white kurta and a subtle color waste coat, sitting before him. He is there waiting to have a 10 minute informal conversation from last 30 minutes.
Rajnath smiled, "Tumhara Orphanage clip dekha mein ne. Impressive. Desh seva-Praja Seva kudse bhi pehle aana chahiye."
"Ji. Aapka yahi usool meri rajneeti mein aane ka prerna hai." He said with a smile for his planned coveted future.
"Prerna se kya hota hai. Iss gand rajneeti mein itna saaf aur kudar hona bahot badi baat hai. Shinde industries ka malik hokar woh sab chodkar society ke liye kaam karna asaan nahi hai." Mr. Gokhle appreciated. He sensed Nidhi's steps inside.
"Nidhi." She stopped at her step turning to him. "Kaha gayi thi? Itna daer kaise?" His concern was evident in voice.
'Sakshi ke bare mein bataungi toh Arjun bhai se zyada chilayenge. Nahi abhi nahi.' Taking a deep breath, she came and sat beside him, "Friend se milne gayi thi."
He smiled, "Nidhi. Inse milo. Humare party ka ek honhar MLA. Shivaji Shinde."
"Namaste." After exchanging pleasantries Nidhi left from there.
***
Note: I know guys. You people are waiting for Arjun and Sakshi's meet. But before they meet, I wanted to define some relations and inter relations related to story, as few more will pop up soon. I also wanted to lay a foundation before they meet, so that implied meaning of their perspectives regarding their lives are understood. Don't worry. Next part will be of their confrontation.
P.s: My exams are in next month. I may take long break or some more late updates.
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Thanks for reading. Please do read and comment.
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