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Part 9:
ETF Car:
lArjun pushed back front passenger seat pulling flap and placed Aarav. He sprinkled water, softly slapping his cheeks. Aarav slowly opened his eyes terrified. He hugged Arjun tight.
"Aarav, tumhe kuch nahi hoga. Tum abb mere pass ho, mein tumhe kuch nahi hone doonga." Aarav rubbed his back calming him down.
"Abb yaha se nikalte hai. Hospital jaana hai. Shantiji ko hosh aagaya." Sameer said ending his call.
"Tum jao Sameer. Abhi Aarav ko waha leke jana sahi nahi hoga. Yeh abhi abhi hosh mein aaya hai. Hospital environment teekh nahi hoga. Mein ETF jaake Shree ke pass isse chod ke aata hoon." Arjun spoke.
"Teekhe."
ETF:
Arjun made Aarav sit on table, "Aarav, he is Shree." Arjun introduced.
"Hai Aarav." Shree waved with a cheeky smile. Aarav smiled.
"Tum inke saath rehna. Mujhe kaam hai, mein katam kar ke aata hoon." Arjun tried to convince, but failed with Aarav's reflection of clutching his sleeve. "Mein jaldi aajaunga Aarav." He said cupping his innocent face.
"And tab tak mein aur Aarav cricket khelenge." Shree said playfully. He managed to snatch a pad and crumple paper to ball shape. "Uske baad bahot sare chocolates bhi khayenge."
Arjun smiled and turn to go when Shree called him, "Sir, Nidhi aayi thi. Kuch sketches dene. Sakshi Shinde case se related."
"Kaha pe hai?" Arjun enquired.
"Yahi pe hai sir." Shree looked on table they are not their. "Yahi pe te sir." Shree passed nervous smile. Arjun looked crumpled in irritation. Shree searched turning everything on table upside down. He cribbed his untidy nature. Shree bent down to check under table.
Arjun phone rang, "Hello Nidhi." He paused, "Kya?! Mein abhi aaraha hoon. Tum ambulance ko Sanjeevni hospital leke jane kaho. Sameer aur Aisha wahi pe hai. Mein pahunchta hoon." Arjun hurried.
"Sir milgaye." Shree got up excited but couldn't find him. "Mein dekh leta hoon."
Before he unroll Aarav pulled his shirt, "Sussu jana hai." Shree rolled paper and took Aarav to washroom. Later Shree placed sketches on Arjun's table neglecting to check them.
Hospital:
"How is she?!" Arjun quired.
"Doctor ne stomach clean kiya hai. Blood ko testing ke liye beja hai. Uske baad he kuch anti-dote de saktey hai." Sameer said.
"Anti-dote?!" Arjun quizzed.
"Usne zehar pee liya hai sir." Aisha stated.
"Par Jail mein zehar kaisa mila?!" Arjun raised point.
Nidhi walked in after a brief conversation with her father, trying to convince him for her late arrival. He was angry on her for leaving without bodyguards.
Arjun spoke, "Nidhi tum jao. Tumhe yaha rehne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai.
She knew that her argument will not heed anything. "Teekhe bhai. Sakshi danger se bahar aajayegi. Mein chali jaungi."
"Woh hospital mein kaise ho sakti hai?" He thundered.
"Nidhi leke gayi." Others replied with head bowed down.
"Nidhi.!!" He growled.
"Hum Nidhi ko kuch nahi kar sakte." Person in whte Kurta stated.
"Sakshi ko Aarav ki safety ke bare mein pata chalne se pehle humein usse maar dena chahiye. Woh kis hospital mein, kaha pe hai, yeh pata karo. I want her dead tonight." He stated.
Hospital:
"She is out of danger but unconscious. You can talk to her only tomorrow." Doctor said and got ahead with his work.
"Aisha yaha already 2 lady constables hai, par ETF se 2 officers ko disguise mein appoint karo. " Sameer ordered. Aisha nodded.
"Chotu Open jail jaake enquire karo. Waha ka CCTV footage retrieve kar ke Shree ke pass jao. Ask him to make a report on it." Arjun commanded, Chotu dispersed.
Arjun and Sameer turned to Nidhi. Nidhi looked at them, "Ok. I will leave now. Ek baar Sakshi ko milke chali jaungi."
"Teekhe. Aisha tumhe drop karegi." Arjun said. Nidhi walked to meet Sakshi and Aisha followed.
"Shantiji kaise hai?" Arjun inquired.
"She is fine. Doctor se baat kiya mein ne." Sameer replied.
"Teekhe. Toh mein nikalta hoon. Aarav waha akela hai." Arjun said.
"Usse waapass orphanage leke jaaoge?" He quizzed.
"Nahi Sameer. Mein usse ghar leke jaunga. I cannot leave him alone." Arjun drove from there.
ETF Office:
Shree was drooling in his chair when Arjun swiftly entered his open cubicle surrounded by all his computer equipment. Arjun rolled his eyes and barked, "Shree... Shree.." Shree jerked from his dreams rubbing his blur eyes. "Ss..Sir" He stammered.
"Aarav kaha hai?" He questioned.
"Aapke cabin ke couch mein sula diya sir." He answered.
"You go home now. Chotu se kaho ki woh CCTV footage tujhe handover kar ke woh bhi ghar chala jaye. And tomorrow by 9 AM everyone should be in conference room." Arjun instructed.
"Yes sir." He nodded, "Already 3 baj gaya hai. Phir se 9 baje aana hai. Ghar jaane ki kya zaroorat hai" He murmured.
"What?!"
"Nothing sir. Good night sir. I mean good morning sir. I mean bye sir." Shree rushed from there.
Arjun's Cabin:
He saw innocent and calm face of Aarav with closed eyes in deep sleep. His muscles are are relaxed after stressful events. He occupied his seat leaning back, spreading his legs. Children are mystical beings. They have freedom to express every emotion and their face displays everything. Anger, fear, happiness and grief leave there mark for lifetime. Aarav transport him to his childhood in fractions. Every wriggle reminded him of his own childhood. Circumstances, situations and experiences of Aarav re-narrated his boyhood. Arjun's ears caught rustle sound on his table. He remembered Shree mentioning about sketches. His pupils dilated as he unrolled paper.
"Arjun." He heard Aarav and saw him standing before him. He saw sketch alive, talking to him. "Arjun"
Arjun yanked, "Aarav"
Sakshi's Hospital Room:
Sakshi sat on her bed leaning back on pillow placed on cane handle. Her broken nuckles are safely settled on her lap. Nidhi was helping her to drink water while Arjun and Sameer entered her room.
Sakshi fidget looking at them. Her eyes displayed shattered pieces of heart. She looked weak, sinking to her bones. It is more evident after flushing her inside out to remove poison.
"Humein aapse kuch sawaal poochna hai." Arjun stated. Sakshi nodded.
"Aapne suicide karne ki koshish kyun kiya?" He shot his first question.
"Mein apne guilt ko aur seh nahi paayi. Issi liye mein ne suicide karne ki koshish ki." She replied in her low, weak voice.
Arjun with half tilted head, "3 saal baad." Sakshi gulped. "Aapko poison kaha se mila?" She does not reply. "Aapka koi baeta hai?" He quizzed.
Sakshi strikes a pleading look to stop his questions, but Arjun continued, "Mein phir se pooch raha hoon, "Aapka koi baeta hai?"
"Nahi." she brittled.
"Aisha." Arjun shrieked.
Aisha entered with Aarav, walking beside her. Aarav ran to Sakshi jumping to reach her clutching bed. Aarav cried, "Mamma.. Mamma.. Mamma."
Sakshi grew stiff straining her muscles. Her brain went numb as she felt her skull. Her eyes are blur and breathing went uneven. She does not respond to little jumping feet, cold wet, soft hands on her. She bite inner part of lower lip. She formed fist paining her knuckles. She sat like a breathing statue.
"Sakshi, yeh wahi hai na. uss sketch mein yahi tha na?!" Nidhi inquired. Sakshi stayed numb.
"Mamma." Aarav sobbed.
Arjun picked Aarav and patted him. He gave him to Aisha and asked her to take him out. Aarav longed for Sakshi till he vanished into corridor.
"Yeh humein raste pe mila tha. Kapde bhi nahi te aur bahot din se khana bhi nahi khaya tha. Tabiyat bhi bahot zyada kharab tha. Uss sketch ke hisaab se humein laga woh aapka baeta hai." Arjun tricked her into thinking.
Sakshi's heart skipped a beat hearing about Aarav's condition. She couldn't believe her own ears. Aarav should be with her mother. How did he land on streets? Where is her mother?
Corridor:
"Bhai yeh wahi hai. Woh sketch iss bache ka he hai." Nidhi confirmed.
"I know." Arjun walked to sobbing Aarav seated on hospital chair.
"Arjun.. Mamma.. Mamma.." He spelled in between sobs.
"Shh.. Kuch nahi hoga. Tum apne mamma ke saath rahoge. I promise you." Arjun hugged him. Arjun asked Aisha to Aarav and feed him something.
Arjun walked near Sakshi's room and peeped in. He saw pouring her heart out holding her stomach conciously not letting sound out.
Hospital Canteen:
"Aarav please yeh ek spoon kha lo." Aisha pleaded. Aarav pressed his lips hard denying to take food.
Arjun came there, "Kya hua Aisha?" Aisha explained the situation and Arjun asked her to leave from there saying that he will take care.
"Kya hua Aarav?"
"Mamma ke pass jana hai." Aarav spoke in low grumbling voice.
"I promise you Aarav. Mein tumhe apne mamma ke saath zaroor milaungi. Tumh mujhpe yakeen hai na?!" He nodded yes hearing Arjun. "Abb khana khaye?!" He asked with a cheeky smile.
"Tum khilao."
Sakshi's Hospital Room:
"Nidhi please tum jao. Tumhe yeh sab kar ne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. Please jao." Sakshi requested.
"Relax Sakshi. Waise tumne accha mauka diya mujhe, college bunk maarne ka. Nahi toh class mein pakk jaati." Nidhi smiled giving her juice.
"Kyun kar rahe ho ye sabb?" Sakshi inquired.
"Pata nahi Sakshi. I follow my hear. Meri dil kehta hai tum galat nahi kar sakti aur tum kisi ko nahi maar sakti." Nidhi looked at her hand, "Tum mujhe jaante bhi nahi ho, haath thod liya mere liye."
"Galti hogayi. Please chale jao yaha se. Please." Nidhi walked out from there. Sakshi held pill in her fist and watched door.
Thanks for reading. Please do like and comment.
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