Arjun open the door of his house as everyone just came back from registrar office and let everyone in as he know right now it's not the time to talk about recent events as atmosphere is very tensed and said "you guys sit here I will bring something for all of you. waise Shree chotu kahan hai?" Shree replied happily to lighten the atmosphere "sir use darr tha ke apke ghr pe Kuch khane milega yaa nhi so he went to get food parcel from restaurant. Maine kaha Mai le aata Hun then he said no kyuki use khud ke liye extra bhi lena hai." And Shree got success too and everyone smile while Arjun chuckled and said "theek hai Tum sb baitho Mai aata Hun." And he went in the kitchen to bring coffee for everyone. While making coffee his mind goes back when he woke up.
FLASHBACK
He felt little weight on his good hand he thought may be he is still in some trouble during a case but when he felt something wet on his good hand he open his eyes immediately to understand what's going on.. but when he opened it and saw the reason of weight on his hand he got shock as he saw tear-strained sleeping face of Riya. He tried to wake her up by the little shake of his hands but when he failed he started calling her softly but that too went in vain as she was in deep sleep. He slowly tried to get up which broke Riya's sleep as if she was just waiting for his awakening. Riya rub her eyes to woke up her sleepy mind to understand what going on n the next second she stood up straight, as she remembered everything, which make her foot stumbled and Arjun immediately hold her hand to prevent her from falling.. as Riya felt Arjun's hand on her hand her half sleepy mind fully get wokeup in alert. when Arjun saw extreme pain in her eyes he got worried as he didn't knew what happened after he lose his consciousness so to prevent himself from thinking anything bad he tried to evoke Riya to tell him why she was crying. What happened after he lose his consciousness.?
Hearing so much concern n seeing worriness in his eyes, Riya thought to keep mum as she didn't want to make him tense in this condition. But when Arjun ordered her to speak up. Riya look at him at thought to tell something lie or silly but Arjun understand by her eyes that she is trying to hide the real reason so he said "Riya it's ok don't tell me. Where is Rathod I want to talk to him?"
Riya's eyes welled up thinking Arjun don't want to talk to her or he didn't like her presence, so she nod and left the room to send Rathod in. Arjun knew he talked her rudely as he thought ' I'm sorry Riya, but I know Tum mujhe Kuch nhi btaaogi aur tumhri aankhon se mujhe smjh Mei aarha hai that something bad happened, maybe I wasn't able to save y.. no no no !! Arjun what are you thinking? Aisa nhi ho skta Riya ke sath. Get a grip Rawte, get a grip.' he chided himself.
When Rathod enter the room he found Arjun in deep thinking so he put his hand on his shoulder which broke Arjun's chain of thought as he turn towards Rathod. Sam smiled and said "kaise hai Arjun? "
Arjun nod his head weakly and said "theek hun. But Sam wo.."
"Dekh tu abhi tension mat le Sikander k khilaf saare saboot submit krdiye hain humne aur ab uski asliyat duniya k Saamne aagyi hai. Ab koi Meri trha tujhe galat nhi samjhega. Samjha?" Rathod said cutting Arjun in mid. He also added "tou ab tension mat le. Humne.. " this time Arjun cut him and yell irritatedly " STOP IT SAM!! Tu bandh kr apni bakwas. Mujhe koi farak nhi padhta duniya mere baare mei Kya sochti Kya nhi? Samjha yaa samjhaaoun." Arjun added in low voice wincingly rubbing his forehead "mujhe tu ye btaa ke..Ahh.."
Sam worriedly said "Arjun baatein baad Mei krte. Dekh tere tabiyat khraab horhi hai. Ruk Mai doctor ko bulaata Hun." Saying so Sam turned to go out n called for doctor but Arjun hold Rathod's hand and asked him directly in stern vioce "Sam mere behosh.hone ke baad wahan Kya hua tha?" Rathod was shocked to hear his stern yet crack vioce which says Arjun is pretending to be unbroken about the thought of something happened to Riya. Then Rathod smiled and said "Riya Kuch nhi hua Arjun. Tere hote hue kabhi use Kuch hua hai Jo.."
"Shut up Sam. Mai tou.." Arjun said embarrassedly. Rathod said cutting him "Arjun mera tera dost hun samjha aur mujhe ptaa hai tu Riya ke liye wahi feel krta hai Jo wo Tere liye krti bas Tum dono ek doosre se kabhi kahte nhi ho. Aur Haan Tere behosh ke baad hum bhi ander aagye the isilye tension mat le aisa Kuch nhi hua jo tu soch rha hai. "
Arjun said putting a stern face to hide relaxed n contended feeling "aisa Kuch nhi hai Sam. Tu galat soch rha hai. Mai tou bas isilye pooch rha tha kyu ki abi Riya kaafi tensed lag rhi thi and she was upset. Hua Kya hai use? She should be happy ke usne itna bada UC mission Complete krlia hai. So what was the problem?" In the end he asked worriedly. Sam put his hand on Arjun's shoulder n said "relaxed ! Woh Riya was sad because of her parents who.." Rathod paused for a minute to which Arjun asked impatiently "Kya hua uske parents ko Sam?" Rathod replied dejectedly "they disowned her Arjun. They says they are happy to believe their daughter died in comparison to accept Riya who was half rap.."
"WHAT THE HELL? Kaise MAA baap hain. Chi. How can they.? Arghh. Aise maa baap hone se tou behtar hai na ho. Sam tune unhe btaana that uske Saath aisa Kuch nhi hua?" Arjun yelled feeling disgusted. Rathod replied simply "yes but then too they aren't listening us. It looks like as if they were waiting for such thing so that they disowned her. "
"Isliye Riya itna ro rhi thi because wo jinse sbse zyaada pyaar krti hai wahi usko believe nhi krte hai." Arjun said sadly. Rathod said "abi Tum kro phir ham iska solution bhi nikal lenge Arjun. Because mujhe Mr and Mrs Mukherjee ki baaton Mei Kuch ajeeb laga. Anyways tu aaram kr kal Shaam tk tujhe discharged mil jayega tb hum milke baat kreinge. Okay?" Arjun nod lightly and lay down as his headache started and medicine effect kicked him in dreamless slumber while Rathod called doctor and left outside.
FLASHBACK end..
Rathod put his hand on Arjun's shoulder which bring Arjun back to present. Rathod said concerned "Arjun are you OK?" "Huh!! Oh yeah Sam I m fine. Tum yahan kya hua? Kuch chahiye?" Arjun asked coming out of his trance. "Nhi Mai bas Teri help krne aaya Hun..Waise tu kya soch rha tha?" Arjun replied "Kuch nhi Sam chal coffee bn Gyi" Rathod said "Arjun please Jo hua hai usse tu khush haina.. I mean.." he stop as he could say more. Arjun pat Rathod's shoulder and said "Sam chill I know ye Sab.. Anyways don't worry I know Mai Kya kr rha Hun after all Arjun Rawte kabhi Kuch galat nhi krta you know na? So just chill..I will handle it.okay?"
Rathod nod with smile and said after holding one tray "chal.. Bahar Sab wait kr rhe hain." Both came out of kitchen and saw chotu also came back. So Rathod said "chotu aao Khana laga Dete hain. Jab tak sb coffee pee rhe hai" "Rathod sir hum bhi apki help krenge. Haina Liza Sakshi??" Ayesha said looking towards Liza and Sakshi with questioning look. Sakshi n Liza stood up from their chairs with nodding in yes. Shree saw everyone going so he also sprank up from his place yelling "SIR!" To which Arjun n Rathod together look at him with 'what? Why are you shouting' look. Shree gulped looking at his bosses then said "I mean wo Chotu..Mera Matlab Rathod sir I will also help you warna Chotu Khana serve krne ke bajaaye saara akele khaa jayega. Haina Ayesha?"
Ayesha understood what he is trying to say so she said controlling her laughter "yeah yeah.. Haan Shree aao wrna sb bhookhe reh jaayenge." Shree sigh. Rathod left to kitchen while LiSak n Ayesha follow him quietly while chotu punching Shree n Shree says sorry with pouting and holding his ear. Leaving tensed Ariya behind. Arjun turn towards Riya, clearing his throat he said calmly standing up from his place "uh.. Riya you can go and freshen up in that room. Shree chotu ne tumhra samaan wahan rakh Diya hai.okay?"
Riya look at him with her big doe eyes at shock then just nod in yes after standing up. Arjun said "come." Riya just follow him quietly Arjun open one door indicating it's a room for her. Riya after nodding went inside the room closing the door behind her. While Arjun kept standing there as he went back to his n Riya's convo of next morning after he woke up.
FLASHBACK.
Next morning Riya came in as she went with Aisha to Aisha's home last night after knowing Arjun is out of danger and Rathod wants to stay with him.
So here she is standing on the door of his room watching him trying to get up which was difficult for him with one hand half fractured and other connected to saline tube. Irritated with his failed attempt he was about to put pressure on his arm when he felt something soft or someone's soft small hands one on his back and other on his shoulder for support. Arjun didn't need to see who it is as he knows this particular touch by eternity and whisper escape his lips involuntary "Riya!" To which Riya was first shocked then thought correcting herself 'how he cannot understand who it is after all he is the great Arjun Suryakant Rawte, who can read even cleverest criminal mind easily and here she is only his junior so what's a big deal.'
Making him sit properly on his bed after putting pillow on his back comfortably, she step back determined to maintain distance so he didn't get angry on her which isn't good for his health and also she can be able to live without him in near future. But seeing her taking back step Arjun feel bad before he put on his straight face back so she can't read him and asked Riya directly without any formality "Riya I know what happened yesterday, don't worry Sam will take care of it. But do you also think that there is something fishy in your parents attitude.?" First Riya was taken back that he is talking about yesterday means he didn't left the topic to hurt her or because he didn't want to know about her anything but later hearing about her parents she get upset and said "I don't know sir that there is something fishy or not but I know I led all of them down who always wants me to become a better officer." Hearing this shocked Arjun turn towards her, when she added looking down at floor "you were always right I m not capable for ETF. I m sorry sir meri wajha se.."
"SHUT UP RIYA" Arjun yell not letting her speak more. "Tumhe ho kya gya hai you are a officer iss trha emotions mei beh kr Tum apne apka especially unlogon ka apmaan kr rhi ho jinko tumse umeedein Jo log tumhe higher position per dekhna chahte. Sirf tumhre parents nhi the aise jinko Tumse umeed hai there are many other like Rathod and m... I mean tumhe unlogon liye khudki respect krni hogi or unki umeed pr khade utarne ki koshish.Is trha apne apko ETF ke liye not capable kehkr Tum unhe galat prove kar rhi ho aur rahi baat meri tou maine tumhe wo tab kaha tha when you were not capable of shooting but now you are. So stop belittling yourself. Okay?" Riya just nod without saying anything.
FLASHBACK end..
From then Riya didn't even speak properly to anyone let alone to him.
TBC..
Anupamaa
Kumkum Bhagya
704