The Wait (Ariya FF) Part-75 Updated (Page-212) - Page 6

PART-21

Dinner was a silent affair since none of the house members were present except the house helps who served the dishes on the table.

Everyone retired to their room aftermath except Rathore who went to the garden for a night stroll.

Everything was the same.

The garden, the swing , the palace and even the people inside ; he could see hardly any changes in them except his feelings.

He didn't expect to be feeling like a guest in his own house. It was rather suffocating than peaceful to be back home after so many years.

Even though it was assuring to have his team members with him , yet he feared his team would get to know what kind of people he lived with.

The people who doesn't mind erasing their blood relations in the name of Honor , the people he called family once and ran away from.

He wondered what Arjun must be thinking about coming back there even though he came only to complete the case.

The only good memories in the house left with him were the time he spent with his beloved sister and the youth he had spent with Arjun dreaming preparing to be a police officer.

"Coffee.?"

His chain of thoughts were brought to an halt by a voice and he looked up only to find Ayesha standing there with two mugs of coffee smiling down at him.

"Kitchen ka raasta mil gaya tumhe.?"

Rathore asked taking one mug from her ,and motioned her to sit beside him on the swing.

"Thoda muskil tha per 2-3 logon se puchha toh mil gaya raasta."

Ayesha answered ,at first hesitating at his offer but then took the seat beside him after ensuring no one was watching them.

Rathore chuckled at her reply and took a sip.

"Apka ghar bahut achha hai."

Ayesha said after a moment of silence.

"Kaash andar se bhi utna achha hota."

Rathore muttered under his breathe ,which she heard and kept mum sipping her coffee.

" Pata hai Ayesha , ek police officer ke liye sabse muskil kaam kaunsa hai .?"

He asked thoughtfully.

She angled her head to him without uttering a word waiting for him to continue.

"Apni duty aur farz ke bich me kisi ek ko choose karna."

Rathore replied then continued.

"Jab maine apna duty choose kiya tha tab mujhe koi guilt nahi tha per aaj tak ek guilt hai ki maine apne bete hone ka farz nahi nibhaya."

"Per mujhe aesa nahi lagta Sir.

Baat yahan sahi aur galat ki hai aur sahi ka sath dene ke liye kabhi kabhi farz pichhe chhodne padte hain."

Ayesha mumbled assuring him , thus he fell silent afterwards.

___________

As the night passed morning arised,

Riya, Ayesha ,Sakshi got ready and scooted downstairs only to meet with an elderly woman standing in the hallway, along with a man who by looks was oozing royalty.

"Whoa ! Iss mahal me itna handsome banda bhi tha ,kal se dikha nahi."

Sakshi whispered in Ayesha's ear as they slowly stepped down off the stairs.

"ye sayad Rathore sir ke bhai hain."

Ayesha whispered back, not averting her gaze from Rathore who was talking to the elderly woman.

"Toh vo kya Rathore sir ki..."

Before Riya could complete , they heard the royally looked man speaking loudly.

"Kaun hai jo yahan aapko pareshani de raha hai? Uska naam bolo aur sham tak aapka case solve ho jayega."

Rathore gave the man a pointed look then spoke up.

"Ye ETF ka case hai aur ETF hi handle karega .

Mai iss condition se yahan aya hun ki koi hamare kaam me interfere nahi karega."

"Pratham inhe apna kaam karne dein.

Hamare liye toh Sameer yahan aye hain yahi badi baat hai."

The elderly woman said, moving her gaze to the girls standing at a far.

"Ye log.?"

Rathore turned around to see who she was referring to and found the three girls watching them.

"Ye mere baaki ke team members hain.

Ye Riya, Ayesha aur Sakshi hain ..baaki sabse toh aap mil hi chuke hain."

"Namastey."

The girls simultaneously joined their hands in front of her while Sakshi grinned walking towards Rathore's brother.

"Aapko bhi namastey . Aapko humne kal nahi dekha tha."

"Hum aaj hi aayein hain."

Pratham replied in a straight voice.

"Aap sabne breakfast ni kiya hoga, hamare sath kijiye."

Rathore's mom said and all nodded their heads.

"Tum sab niche kabse ho.?"

Riya whispered to Shree who sat beside her.

"Bahut pehle se jab Arjun sir, Rathore Sir aur unki maa ka bharat milan hua. "

Shree whispered back in his lowest voice possible.

"Kya.?"

Riya looked at him confused.

" Arey Rathore sir toh chhodo Arjun sir bhi aese mile jaise unki maa ko barso baad dekha ho."

"Aur maze ki baat pata hai ? Rathore sir ki maa ko lagta hai ki ye dono aaj bhi bestfriends hain .ab unko kaun bataye dono Office me Kutte Billi ki tarah ladhte hain."

Chhotu on her other side chuckled.

Riya angled her head to Arjun who was silent sipping his chai then shifted her gaze to Rathore, recalling the last night conversation regarding his sister.

Probably Arjun knew Rathore's sister and the story behind her death and he didn't want her to ask anyone about it fearing Rathore would get hurt.

"Iss ghar me sab itna shaant kyun hai.?"

Sakshi murmured.

"SShhh.."

Shree motioned her to keep mum ,just when they heard Rathore's mom's voice.

"Aap yahan kitne dino ke liye hain.?'"

Her quetsion was directed to Rathore ,who didn't look up from his plate.

"Case khatam hote hi hum yahan se chale jaayenge."

"Kya ? Hame laga aap yahan hamare sath kuch din rukenge."

HIs mom sounded disappointed ,then sighed getting no reply from him.

"Sameer hame aapse akele me kuch baat karni hai."

His mom said after a few seconds and all tensed up by her authoritative tone except Rathore & Arjun.

"Aapko Jo bolna hai yahin bol sakte hain."

Rathore replied,to which his team eyed him for a moment.

"Hame lagta hai aap apne team ke sath jayada comfortable hain,toh phir thik hai hum yahin baat karte hain."

His mother said and continued.

"Mahal ke sath sath hamara apne bachon ke liye bhi kuch farz hai.

Aap chahe hame kitna bhi galat samjhein hame aapki fikr hoti rehti hai ,ek toh aap ghar se itna dur rehte hain ,aur ghar bhi kabhi nahi aate aur hamesha kaam me rehte hain.

Apni duty ke liye aap apna dhyan bhi ni rakhte honge.

Isaliye humne aapke liye ek....."

Before she could complete Shree interrupted her showing a message to Rathore on his mobile.

"Umm Sir vo orange container mil gaya hai."

It was a message from the inspector.

Rathore eyed the message and then at Arjun who at the same time looked back at him.

"Great .Team let's go."

"Per Sameer.."

"Hame chalna hoga."

Rathore replied his mother real quick and left the hall first while others followed him.

They sped up to to the address the offier had messaged and the journey was in complete silence.

On reaching the location Rathore and Arjun walked towards the police officers who were already present there,while others got off the SUV taking a glance at the surroundings.

"Thank God ab jaake thoda saans me saans aya hai.

Pehle vo dining table pe phir gaadi me itna suffocation ho raha tha mujhe."

Shree exclaimed stretching out a little.

"Pata hai itna achha khana tha table me aur mere gale se ek nibala bhi nahi utar raha tha."

Chhotu added sighing.

"Wese hum bhi thik se kuch kha ni paaye.

Sab itne shaant hoke baat kar rahe the phir bhi kitna tension tha wahan pe."

Riya murmured,to which Ayesha agreed nodding her head.

"Sakshi, tu itni chup kyun hai tune bhi kuch ni khaya kya.?"

Chhotu asked noticing her silence.

"Chhotu mai khane ke baare me ni soch rahi thi."

Sakshi shook her head.

"Toh.?"

Chhotu asked again.

"Mai soch rahi thi ki Sameer ki maa Sameer ki shadi ki baat karne hi jaa rahin thi ki baat bich me ruk gayi."

As soon as she replied all heads turned to her in confusion.

"Kya ? Shadi? Rathore sir ki.?"

Riya looked at her in disbelief and that's when Sakshi noticed everyone's face.

"Kya? Tum logon ko aesa nahi laga.?"

She asked back eyeing each of them.

Ayesha slowly shook her head as a no while Shree chuckled.

"Kya Sakshi kuch bhi sochti ho."

"Arey Seriously tum logon ko aesa bilkul bhi nahi laga?

Yaad karo Sameer ki mom kya bol rahin thi "Isaliye humne aapke liye ek...."

Ek kya? Dulhan leke ayenge?

Vo jis tarike se bol rahin thi na mera reporter dimag kehta hai ki Sameer ki shadi ki hi baat karne wali thi."

Sakshi tried to explain them carefully.

"Nahi nahi Rathore sir ki shadi ki baat aese achanak se? Mujhe lagta hai sayad vo Rathore sir ko yahan rukne ke liye bolne wali thi."

Riya suggested.

"Toh kya Rathore sir ETF chhod denge?"

Chhotu gasped.

"Nah! Rathore sir aur ETF ko alag karna namunkin hai."

Shree commented, while Riya noticed Ayesha's silence.

"Ayesha tum kis soch me pad gayi.?"

"Um nahi kuch.."

Before Ayesha could complete,Rathore's voice interrupted her from a distance.

"Shree, Sakshi yahan aao."

"Yes sir."

Shree answered hurrying towards him , followed by others.

"Shree inka statement record Karo."

Rathore ordered before adding quickly.

"Chhotu ,Ayesha container check Karo kuch milta hai kya.

Riya ,Sakshi yahan aas pass check Karo dekho kuch milta hai kya."

"Yes sir."

Everyone nodded starting their respective jobs.

Riya roamed her eyes around and noticed Arjun was also inspecting the nearby spot and approached him.

"Iss jagah ko dekh ke lagta hai yahan se bachon ko container se utar ke kahin aur le jaana muskil hai."

"Aesa kyun laga.?"

Arjun asked without turning around to her.

"Matlab yahan rait hi rait hai,upar chadhav bhi hai.

Aur unke pass 30 se bhi zyada bache hain , sabko ek sath yahan se le jaana kaafi muskil hua hoga."

She explained.

"statistics ke hisab se 85% criminal aese situation me common sense use karte hain."

She added.

"Tumne vo witness ka statement suna.?"

Arjun asked again ignoring her statistics calculation.

Riya looked back to where Shree was recording the statement,then turned back to Arjun shaking her head as a no.

"Uss admi ka bhi yahi kehna hai ki usne subah ye container aate hue dekha tha,per gaadi se sirf driver nikla.

Na koi gang member na koi bache."

Riya looked at him confused.

"Toh sir aap yahan aas pass kya dhund rahe hain.?"

"Batata hun.

Rathore?"

Arjun called out,hence Rathore came following by Shree,Sakshi and the witness.

"Haan Rawte,kuch mila.?"

"Mujhe lagta hai ye admi sach keh raha hai.

Container yahan laane se pehle khali kar diya gaya tha."

Arjun answered.

"Toh container yahan pe kyun chhoda.?"

Shree asked ,confused.

"Kyunki Shree unko pata hai hum sabse pehle container ko hi track karenge.

Vo yahi chahte hain ki hame pehle ye container mile aur hum iss field ke aas pass jungle me unhe dhundke apna time waste karein."

Came Arjun's quick reply.

"Per Arjun, aesa bhi toh ho sakta hai ki vo log sach me jungle ke andar chale gaye ho aur kahin chhup gaye ho."

Sakshi narrowed her gaze at him.

"Sakshi jungle me 30-40 bachon ko chhupana mamuli baat ni hai .

Ek raat me itna sab kuch ni kar sakte."

Arjun dismissed her thought,to which she nodded agreeing with him.

"Unhe pata hai hum unke pichhe hain aur vo bachon ko jald se jald bahar bhejne ki planning kar rahe honge."

Rathore spoke thoughtfully.

"Sir container me koi bhi papers nahi hai.

Aur abhi abhi phone aya tha police ne sare checkpost,bus stand , railway station pe najar rakhe huye hain.

Kahin se bhi vo nikalne ki koshish karenge toh hame pata chal jaayega."

Chhotu said walking to them.

"Ek baat batao yahan tak aane ke liye kitne raaste hain.?"

Arjun asked the witness ,standing beside them.

"Sahab 3 raastein hain."

The man replied.

"Shree, Chhotu ye 3 raaston ki details nikalo,kisi ek raaste ke ek jagah pe bachon ko uatara gaya hai."

Arjun ordered.

"Ek raaste se toh hum aye the aur raastein me bahut sare ghar dekhi thi maine."

Ayesha commented.

"Unn sare gharon ko check karna hoga.

Let's spread out. Rawte,shakshi ,Shree tum log ek raasta check Karo ,Chhotu Ayesha tum log dusra raasta check Karo , mai aur Riya tisra raasta check karte hain.

Let's go."

"Yes sir."

All replied in union except Arjun who quietly walked towards his Suv.

Throughout the whole day they kept roaming around the streets enquiring, inspecting and in the evening gathered in Rathore's room with all the statements,information they had gathered.

"Raasta no -1 ,jahan sabji mandi hai ,chhote bade dukan hai aur wahan hame kuch suspecting ni mila."

Sakshi started putting out some photos she had taken of the street.

"Wahan ke logon ne kuch suspicious ni dekha."

Shree added.

"Raasta no-2 pe schools aur kuch factory hai. 2/3 factory band ho chuki hai,per wahan humne check Kiya kuch hai nahi."

Ayesha spoke as Chhotu put the photos they had taken.

"Haan per jo factories band padi hai vo kaafi badi hai toh uss jagah ke vo use kar sakte hain uske chances hai."

Chhotu added.

"Aur raasta no-3 ,uska kya status hai.?"

Arjun broke his silence eyeing both Rathore and Riya.

Riya put some photos on the table as well while Rathore spoke.

"Ye residential area hai .kuch 15-20 ghar hai iss raste mein.

Unme se 2 ghar band hai."

Riya pointed at one of the photos and started explaining.

"Pehla ghar hai ye.

Ye ghar kaafi time se band hai matlab neighbors ko bhi ni pata Ghar ka malik kaun hai aur kab ayega.

Dusra ghar hai ye..."

She pointed at another photo then continued.

"iss ghar ke log kuch dino se out of town gaye hain.

Maine ghar ke owner ka no try Kiya tha per switch off tha ,aur...."

Riya trailed angling her head to Rathore.

"Aur mujhe shaq hai bachon ko iss ghar me rakha gaya hai."

Rathore completed her sentence and then continued.

"Mai jab aas pass puch tach kar raha tha tab maine ek bache ki rone ki awaz suni .

Neighbor me kisi ke ghar me koi bacha nahi hai.

Per problem ye hai ki hame sirf shaq hai aur ghar bhi band hai toh ghar ke owner ke permission ke bina hum ghar check bhi ni kar sakte."

"Agar bache wahan hai toh kisi ne toh wahan kuch dekha ya suna hoga."

Ayesha asked curiously.

"Wahan ke residents bhi thode ajib lage mujhe, like koi thik se baat karne ke liye taiyar hi nahi tha aur kuch toh apne ghar ka darwaza pura kholne ke liye bhi ready nahi the."

Riya replied.

"Koi baat karne ke liye darwaza na khole toh vo suspicious hua na.?"

Sakshi asked to no one particular.

" Arey Sakshi ek na khole toh suspicious,ek se zyada na khole toh wajah kuch aur hogi na.?"

Chhotu reasoned.

"Darr."

Came Arjun's voice ,as he stared at the second house photo everyone was discussing about.

"Unn logon ne jarur aesa kuch dekha ya suna hai jiski wajah se vo dare huye hain.

Lagta hai yahi hamara target hai Rathore."

He looked up to Rathore.

"sir agar hamara shaq sahi hai toh vo log jaldbazi me bachon ko apne target jagah pe bhejne wale honge.matlab vo kal tak intezar nahi karenge."

Shree pointed out.

"Toh hame abhi wahan chalna chahiye."

Chhotu suggested.

"Nahi chhotu.

Statistics ke hisab se 92% criminals apne kaam ko adhi raat ko anjaam dete hain jab zyada chahal pahal na ho.

Abhi toh sham hui hai abhi vo kuch nahi karenge."

Riya shook her head.

"Haan aur yaad hai jab hame bache pehli baar mile the tab bhi adhi raat ka time tha."

Ayesha agreed to her.

"Right.

Matlab raat hone tak hame intezar karna hai."

Sakshi looked at everyone,her friends nodded at her.

"Shree micro cameras ready rakho,Rawte hame local forces ki jarurat pad sakti hai mai officer se baat karta hun.

Aur baaki sab ready raho hame aaj raat hi ye mission khatam karna hai."

Rathore ordered.

--------

Rathore was getting ready in his room when a maid informed him his mother was calling for him ,thus he walked into her room.

"Aapne bulaya mom.?"

"Sameer ,maana ki aap yahan case ke liye aye hain per iska matlab ye nahi ki hum apne bete se 2 min baat bhi ni kar sakte.

Subah bhi hum aapse baat kar rahe the aur aap aese hi uthke chale gaye the."

Her mother sounded disappointed yet firm.

"Hamara kaam hi kuch aesa hai ki mujhe kabhi bhi kahin se bhi jaana pad sakta hai.

Infact thodi dair me hum case ke liye nikalne wale hain."

Rathore chirped straight, sounding unguilty.

The only thing he had never regretted in his life, prioritising his duty over anything.

"Sameer."

His mother looked at him in disbelief then exhaled a deep breathe speaking up.

"Aur aese me aap kehte hain ki hum aapki fikr na karein?

Aap mahino tak hamara phone nahi uthate, barso baad apne ghar aate hain toh case ke alawa koi aur baat ni karte ,hame ni pata tha hamare bete humse itna dur ho chuke hain.

Khair...aap hame paraya samjhe per hamare liye aap aaj bhi hamare chhote bete hain ,aur humne aapke liye ek eham faisla liya hai.

Wese toh humne aapko bahut baar phone PE batane ki koshish ki per jabki aap yahan hain hame lagta hai aur dair nahi karni chahiye."

As soon as she finished her words Rathore looked upto her , confused.

His mother brought a photo from a drawer and put it on the table infront of him.

"Ye Maithli hain ,hamare jaat ki.

Inke pita pass ke gaanv ke jamindar hain aur bhai national defence me kaam karte hain.Ghar ki badi beti hain aur bahut...."

"Ek min mom ek min..aap ye sab mujhe kyun bata rahin hain?

Inke ghar me koi murder hua hai.?"

Rathore asked curiously.

"Sameer ladki ka photo dikhake hum aapse murder ki baat kyun karenge?

Aur aap shadi ki baat ke bich murder jaise sabd laake apshagun na karein."

"Shadi.?

Kiski.?"

"Aapki. Aur kaun shadi ke layak hai yahan pe.?"

Pratham replied this time entering the room ,earning an incredulous look from Rathore.

"Aapki shadi ki umar ho chuki hain Sameer aur hame darr hai desh ke liye apne farz ko nibhate nibhate aap kahin sari zindagi akele na rahe.

Aap humse dur rehte hain thik hai ,per aapke pass koi na koi hona chahiye aapna khayal rakhne ke liye.

Issliye humne Maithili se aapki shadi ki prastav bheja hai unke ghar."

His mother said in a straight tone.

"Mai apna khayal khud rakh sakta hun ,uske liye mujhe shadi karne ki koi jarurat nahi hai.

Aur aap bina mujhse puchhe prastav kaise bhej sakti hain.?"

Rathore eyed her in disbelief.

"Sameer vo hamari maa hain aur hamari zindagi ka faisla lene ka unhe pura haq hai."

Pratham shouted.

"ya phir aapko aesa lagta hai ki ab hame aapke zindagi ka koi faisla lene ka haq nahi hai."

His mother added,thus Rathore closed his eyes in frustration.

The one thing he wanted to avoid was any kind of fight with his mother or brother during their stay ,but that exactly was happening right now much to his dismay.

"Mera vo matlab nahi tha.

Mujhe abhi shadi nahi karni hai.

Aur ye sahi waqt ni hai ye sab baat karne ke liye."

He murmured slowly.

"Toh kab baat karein?

Aap rukenge yahan case khatam hone ke baad jo hum baat karenge.?"

His mother asked and he was tongue tied.

Even he knew the case will be solved they would be gone from there.

"Nahi na?

Hum jaante hain.

Aur aapke jaankari ke liye bata dein Maithli hamare khayalat ke nahi hain, vo aapki tarah modern khayalat ki hain .

Aur vo bhi Mumbai me job karti...."

"Mom mujhe nahi jaanna kisi ke baare...."

Before Rathore could complete his mother interrupted him.

"Case khatam hone tak ka waqt hai aapke pass .

Tab tak aapko apna mann banana hoga ,aur ek baar apko Maithli se milne ke liye maanna padega."

Rathore stared both at his mother and brother blankly before walking out of the room ,only to find Riya standing in the middle of the hallway.

He masked his frustration quickly , groaning internally for the mess happening with his team members around.

"Tumhe kuch chahiye Riya.?"

He asked after a minute of silence.

"Err vo sir Shree ko mera tablet chahiye tha toh mai wohi leke Jaa rahi thi."

Riya answered in a low voice,looking down at the tablet in her hand then upto him.

"Hmm sabko boldena hum niklane wale hain."

"ok sir."

Rathore walked away without any further word,hence Riya started walking past Shree's room towards the garden and sat on the swing recalling the conversation she heard earlier.

"Rathore sir ki shadi?

Aese kaise unke ghar wale tay kar sakte hain bina sir se puchhe.?

Kitne pareshan honge Rathore sir.

Ye baat Ayesha ko bataun?"

She asked herself then shook her head quickly remembering Ayesha's face in the morning at the mention of marriage from Sakshi's mouth.

"Nahi nahi vo bahut dukhi ho jayegi.

Toh kisko bolun Rathore sir se baat karne ke liye.

Sakshi? Chhotu? Shree..nahi sir inme se kisiki baat nahi sunenge.

Mai? Nahi nahi mai kya bolungi sir ko ? Ki jaake ghar walon ko Ayesha ki baare me bata dein?

Nahi nahi..ab tak unn dono ne ek dusre ko bhi kuch nahi bataya hai toh ghar walon ko kya batayenge.

Toh phir...."

She kept mumbling to herself in vain until a name popped in her head.

Arjun heard a knock and opened the door of his room only to find Riya standing there fidgeting with the tablet in her hand.

Tbc.

So what do you think Riya will say to Arjun ? And will Arjun obey her??

So who wants to see Rathore married? 😂

Stay tuned

Part-31

"Sir ye rahi vo 10 saal pehle ki case file, iske in-charged officer toh abhi retired ho chuke hain per file me uss accident ke baad ke sare photographs hai.

Jis secretary ko arrest kiya gaya tha vo Sourav tha, police ne usse arrest jarur kiya tha per Beer pratap ke family ko ussi ne mara hai ye manne se pehle hi vo heart attack me chala gaya."

Shree explained once after returning from Mumbai with all the required files, and information along with Liza to inspect the room ,as per Rathore's order.

"veer Pratap ka record clear hai. Uska ek bada cloth store hua karta tha,jo kaafi pehle band ho chuki hai. Aur ab bas ye haweli hi hai jo hotel ban chuka hai.

Aur maine pata kiya iss hotel ki sari profit charity me jaati hai."

Like Rathore said they decided to stay for one more day there, thus they sent Shree and Sakshi out to bring all the necessities of the case ,while others stayed back to properly search the haweli one more time.

Rathore took the case file to study it , when others rummaged through the photos taken from the crime site.

"Ye saurav jis din accident hua uss din yahan aya tha, bas issi liye usse arrest kiya gaya tha."

Rathore murmured after a moment.

"Haan sir. Agar usne Beer pratap ki family ko mara bhi tha toh uska motive kisiko pata nahi chala.

Aur kisiko ye bhi nahi pata tha ki usse heart problems tha,aur usne police interrogation pe hi dum tod diya."

Shree added.

"Humne Sourav ki wife se baat ki ,unka kehna hai sourav uss din bas ek gift dene aya tha aur gift dene ke baad vo wapas ghar chala gaya tha.

Iske alawa unhe aur kuch nahi pata."

Sakshi shrugged.

"Uss room me sayad birthday celebration chal raha tha , ye iss photo me ek adha jala hua banner dikh raha hai , isme sirf birth.. hi reh gaya hai aur baaki sab jal gaya hai."

Ayesha put the photo on the table for everyone to see.

"Per room me aag kaise lagi hogi ? Aur unn 4 me se kisine bhaagne ki ya phir kisiko bulane ki koshish kyun nahi ki.?"

Chhotu questioned.

"Bulayenge kaise ? Sare staff chhuti me the aur yahan toh phone bhi nahi chalta."

Sakshi shook her head.

"Nahi sakshi , yahan phone nahi hai per kisiko bulane ka ek aur tarika hai."

Riya answered , thus all heads turned to her.

"Chaliye mai dikhati hun."

Riya walked out of the room and went to the end of the corridor that had an open space for a window ,then raised her hand a little to ring the big brass bell hanging on the outer wall.

Two staff came running to the garden looking up to the corridor ,whom chhotu dismissed swiftly before turning to Riya.

"Toh ye ghanta logon ko bulane ke liye rakha hai.?"

"Hm specially staffs ko.

"Gopal ji ( the old receptionist man) ka kehna hai ye ghanta wahan tak sunayi deta hai jahan vo dusra ghar hai ,toh jab bhi yahan se kisiko jarurat hoti thi toh ye ghanta bajate the aur wahan se log aajate the."

Riya explained.

"toh uss din kisine ghanta nahi bajaya.?"

Sakshi asked thoughtfully.

"Niche jitne purane staff hai unme se kisine ye awaz nahi suni."

Ayesha clarified.

"Iska matlab ya toh ye ghata uss din baja nahi ya phir kisiko bhi bajane ka mauka nahi mila."

Shree sighed.

"Uss raat kya hua tha ye toh sayad abhi unn 4 me se koi ek aake hi bol sakta hai."

Chhotu shook his head.

"Beer pratap ke bhai ka kya hua.?"

Arjun asked breaking his long term silence.

"Maine usse phone kiya tha, vo kal tak yahan aajayega.

Waise wapas case ki baat sunke bahut emotional lag raha tha."

Sakshi said in a pitiful voice.

Rathore released a sharp breathe walking towards the room where Liza was doing her inspection.

"Liza? Kuch pata chala ? Wese umeed toh kam hai , phir bhi."

Liza turned around on hearing Rathore's voice , then replied.

"sir yahan koi bhi clue milna lagbhag namunkin hai.

Ek toh bahut time jaa chuka hai crime scene ko ,aur dusri baat lagta hai jaise room upar upar se saaf kiya gaya ho."

"Haan niche ke staff mahine me ek baar iss room ki ceiling aur floor saaf kardete hain , taaki koi makdi ka jaala ya dhul na lage."

Ayesha justified her words.

"Per ek baat jarur hai iss room me aesi koi chiz mujhe ni dikhi jisse ki itni badi aag lag sake."

Liza said thoughtfully.

"Yahan pe na koi electronics ki chiz thi na koi wire se short circuit hua hai, bas sab aag ki wajah se jal gaya hai."

She added quickly.

"Toh ho sakta hai birthday manane ke liye jitne bhi chizein yahan thi unme se kisise aag lagi ho.?"

Riya asked.

"Per Riya birthday ki chizon me se aag kaise lag sakti hai ? Birthday me kya kya hi lagta hai? Khana , pina , birthday cake."

Chhotu murmured.

"Cake pe candles."

Shree added.

"Party poppers.?"

Sakshi narrowed her gaze.

"Ya phir kisne smoke kiya ho room me? Kabhi kabhi chhoti chizon se bhi badi aag lag jaati hai."

Ayesha guessed her part.

"Per Beer pratap smoke nahi karte the."

Riya objected quickly.

"Per unke room ke drawer me jo cigar hame mila tha vo.?"

Sakshi asked ,confused.

"vo unke bhai ke liye rakhte the, Gopal ji ne bataya tha."

Chhotu answered her.

"Aur ek chiz hoti hai birthday me,Balloons."

Rathore spoke this time clearly remembering the double side tapes attached to the walls in the photos.

"Per sir hamara claim sahi hai ya galat ye prove karne ke liye koi clue nahi hai hamare pass."

Liza said as a matter of fact ,making Rathore sigh since he knew she was right there.

Both Rathore and Arjun walked back to their room with Arjun's mind still stuck somewhere that he was finding difficulties to clear, just when Shree knocked on the door.

"Sir vo err... hum sab kal se ek hi kapdon me the toh jab mai aur Sakshi gaye the sabke liye fresh kapde le aaye aur maine socha aap dono ke liye bhi le aaun."

Shree murmured forwarding two paper bags to them.

"Thank you Shree."

Rathore muttered taking one paper bag from his hand , while Arjun took another.

They took the clothes out only to find track pant and t-shirt in them , then looked up to Shree with blank looks.

"Vo jaldi jaldi mai mall se yahi mila sir."

Shree passed them an awkward smile before quickly excusing himself out of the room.

__________________

An hour later.....

Riya came upstairs with a mug of coffee and walked towards Rathore's room since everyone was downstairs having a tea break and only Arjun was missing.

Assuming he must be studying the case file in the room she decided to came up with his coffee, but stopped on her track noticing the other room was open even though she could clearly remember Liza had locked it after her inspection.

She diverted her footsteps towards the room curious to know who was inside, instead found Arjun standing near the window looking outside with both of his hands leaning over the window sill.

"Sir aap yahan.?"

She asked approaching him with slow steps.

He didn't answer her and kept staring at the garden ,when she recalled how angry he looked before leaving the ETF bureau the other day.

Presuming he might be still angry on her ,she gently put the coffee mug on the side table behind him before speaking up.

"yahan aapki chai nahi mili , issliye coffee."

And she turned to leave ,only to be stopped by his voice.

"Riya, yahan aao."

She turned around to face his back , then took few steps ahead meanwhile Arjun straightened up and moved to the other side of the window folding his arms across his chest.

"Wahan khadi ho jao."

She obeyed his words taking the spot he previously stood at , then looked at him a little anxiously.

"Ab bahar dekho aur kaho kya dikh raha hai.?"

"JI.?"

Her anxiousness was replaced by confusion too fast ,as she stared at the deserted garden in front of her eyes, then at him then back at the garden.

"Batao samne kya dikh raha hai."

'sir aese experiments me mujhe hi kyun fasate hain.'

Riya thought in her mind and bit her bottom lip looking up to the garden.

"Umm ujala.?"

She guessed looking at him hopefully ,earning a blank look from him.

"Din me ujala hi hoga Riya."

He said curtly before grabbing the coffee mug from the table and took a sip from it.

"jungle ? Ped? Ghaas ?

Aur haan vo jagah bhi hai wahan vo bhi dikh raha hai."

She pointed a finger at where they were standing in the morning.

"Vo jagah itna bhi clearly nahi dikh raha hai ki tumhari najar jaaye."

He said continuing sipping the coffee.

"Haan sir per subah ussi jagah pe hame vo doll aur note mila tha na issliye najar apne aap chala gaya wahan."

She answered ,thus he paused drinking for a brief moment then resumed.

"wese dekha jaye toh 10 saal pehle ke yahan ka najara aur abhi ke najare me bahut fark hai."

Riya said after a moment of silence and since he continued being silent she spoke again.

"yahan bahut sare ped lage huye the , pura garden phoolon se bhara hua bahut achha lag raha tha.

Aur itne sare phool ke bich me jhula aur bhi sundar lag raha tha.waqt ke sath sath inn logon ne garden ki achhi care....."

"Jhula.?"

Arjun interrupted her in middle ,eyeing her curiously.

"haan yahan ek bada jhula hua karta tha. Hum rooms check kar rahhe the toh hame ek room me Beer Pratap ji ki family album mili thi,usme ek photo me unki dono betiyan ek jhule me baithi thi.

Staff ne kaha ki vo jhula jab tut futt gaya toh kisine usse thik nahi kiya aur store room me rakh diya."

"Vo jhula kahan tha garden me exactly.?"

Arjun asked her again.

"yahin garden ki pichhe ki taraf hi tha vo.

Vo jo aam ka ped dikh raha hai na sir uske thik aage ,wahin jahan hame doll mili...."

Riya suddenly paused herself on realizing her own words then turned to Arjun, looking puzzled.

"jahan pe jhula tha wahin se hame vo doll aur note mila.?"

"Vo photo leke aao."

He commanded her, which she followed quickly by running out of the room.

As soon as she came back with the photo Arjun held it up to match with the present outline of the garden and a sudden realization came upon him.

"Chalo."

"sir kahan.?"

Riya asked but got no reply since he had already rushed out of the room after putting the mug back on the table.

Rathore was climbing upstairs when he saw Arjun hurriedly walking past him ,followed by a confused Riya.

"ye Rawte kahan jaa raha hai.?"

He asked Riya who had stopped on noticing him.

"Sir pata nahi."

She shook her head continuing following Arjun , thus others present downstairs stood up watching them heading to the garden.

"Rawte, kya hua.?"

Rathore asked on reaching the garden ,with others.

Arjun kept mum standing on the grass and stared at the ground.

"Ye Arjun sir itna dhyan se yahan kya dekh rahe hain.?"

Liza whispered near Shree's ear , who shrugged his shoulder having no idea.

"Kya yahan se ek aur doll mila hai.?"

Sakshi asked him.

"Chhotu,shree khodne ke liye kuch leke aao."

Arjun ordered breaking his silence.

"ji sir."

The duo were confused, but however followed his command and went back inside the hotel.

All the hotel staffs came to the back of the garden , while some helped the ETF officers digging the ground ,some stood completely silent.

Rathore stood with his gaze pinned to the ground to see what treasure Arjun had found ,while other team members looked curious.

Just when the tensed atmosphere started to turn gloomy for having no discovery under the ground even after an half hour of digging, Rathore suddenly held up his hand motioning Chhotu something.

"Stop."

"Kya hua sir.?"

Chhotu asked turning to him.

"Wahan pe kuch hai."

Rathore pointed at a corner and jumped into the pit himself taking the spade from Chhotu and dug the part he had his doubt on.

Soon enough 4 skeletons were discovered from under the pit much to everyone's shock, when Riya swirled her head too Arjun finally getting why he kept staring out of the window.

"Kya ..kya ye hamare malik hai.?"

The old man got on his knees staring at the skeletons from a far.

"lag toh yahi raha hai."

Liza answered noticing the skeletons had one man , one woman and two girls.

"To kya sach me hamare malik aur unke parivaar ko maar diya gaya.?"

The other old man asked in a shaky voice ,earning a pitiful look from the ETF officers except the two chiefs.

"Iska matlab ye sach hai ki maalik ki atma yahan bhatakti rehti hai? Aaj tak unki aatma ko shanti ni mili hai.?"

The first old man whimpered.

"Chup raho.

Insaan hi sab kuch karte hain aur phir bhhoton ka naam de dete hain.

Ye kisi insaan ne kiya hai..."

Rathore pointed at the skeletons then continued speaking.

"Aur haweli me jo ho raha hai vo bhi koi insaan hi kar raha hai."

"Sir mai ambulance bula leti hun , inn sabko lab le jaana hai."

Liza said.

"Thik hai."

Rathore nodded his head ,thus Liza motioned Shree to go with her to make the call.

"Aap sab yahan se chaliye.."

Chhotu , Ayesha started dispersing the crowd, meanwhile Rathore came standing beside Arjun.

"Agar Beer pratap ki family marr chuki hai toh haweli me bhoot banke sabko kaun darana chahta hai.

Aesa lag raha hai jaise koi Beer pratap ke liye badla le raha hai yahan ke logon se, aur iska matlab ye hai ki yahan kisiko pata tha Beer Pratap aur uski family ko yahin gadh diya gaya hai."

"Abhi bhi kuch chhut raha hai humse Rathore."

Arjun murmured staring up to the haweli ,trying to join the dots in his head.

________________________

"Jis kisine bhi ye note likha hai na, kitna galat likha hai.

'jab sham ayega tab kaale saaye se parda hatega' ..Sham hote hi andhera aa jata hai , parda kahan se hatega."

Shree shook his head trying to decode the note for the umpteenth time.

"shree, likhne wale ne kuchh toh soch ke likha hoga."

Ayesha chuckled.

"Wohi toh mai soch nahi paa raha hun ,koi logic hi nahi hai isme."

Shree groaned.

"Aur sakshi tum tabse kya bana rahi ho.?"

Chhotu asked noticing her drawing something on the paper.

"Maine jo subah dekha tha usse mai ab tak bhul nahi paa rahi hun issliye uska sketch bana rahi hun, taaki tum log bhi dekho ki mai koi kahani nahi keh rahi thi."

Sakshi murmured finishing up her sketch and showed it to Chhotu first.

"ye kya hai."

Chhotu looked taken a back at her drawing.

"Tum toh itne me darr rahe ho jab mai uska pura chehra accurately bana nahi paayi ,toh socho mera kya haal hua hoga."

"sakshi koi bhoot nahi tha vo."

Rathore said in a calm tone studying a file in his hand.

"Sameer tum bhi dekho. Tumhe ab bhi lag raha hai mai jhooth bol rahi hun.?"

Sakshi showed him the paper too.

"Mai ye nahi keh raha hun tum jhooth bol rahi ho, per tumne jo dekha vo definitely koi bhoot nahi tha. "

Rathore said glancing at the sketch.

"toh kya tha.?"

"Jaldi pata chal jayega."

Came Rathore's short answer.

"Wese Arjun sir kahan hain.?"

Ayesha questioned noticing his absence.

"Arjun sir bahar gaye hain phone call karne."

Chhotu replied her.

"Ri tere dimag me kuch araha hai iska matlab.?"

Shree asked curiously, since she kept reading the note very attentively.

Just then the door opened and Arjun came walking in making every head turn.

"Kya kaha liza ne.?"

Rathore asked straight , knowing he had went to call her only.

"Liza ne confirm kiya hai ki vo skeletons 10 saal purane hain. "

Arjun answered taking a seat on the chair.

"Iska matlab Beer pratap aur unki family ki maut `10 saal se ho chuki hai ye confirm hai."

Ayesha sighed.

"Arjun ye dekho maine jo dekha tha subah uska sketch banaya hai.

Hai na darawana.?"

Sakshi handed him the paper , waiting for an answer.

"pakka tumne yahi dekha tha Sakshi.?"

Arjun asked without diverting his gaze from the sketch.

"Haan . Tum meri baat pe yakeen karte ho.?"

She smiled at him, to which he didn't answer instead kept staring at the paper.

"Puri paheli ka toh pata nahi shree, per ye jo 1st line hai na 'jab shaam ayega kaale saaye se parda hatega' ,mujhe pata nahi kyun per ye kaale saaye ka matlab vo room lag raha hai."

Riya said thoughtfully from the couch ,thus shree from the other end of the couch turned to face her clearly.

"Room.?"

"Haan vo room bhi toh pura kaala hai. "

She reasoned.

"Agar kaala saaya vo room hai toh parda hatega ka matlab kya uss room se jude raaz ka pata lagna hai.?"

Chhotu asked her from the bed.

"Ho sakta hai."

Riya mumbled slowly.

"wese sir ek ajib baat hai kal raat hotel me bahut sari awazein aarahi thi, kutton ki rone ki aur bhediyon ke bhi. Per ab toh raat ho gayi hai aur ek bhi kutte ki awaz bahar se nahi arahi hai."

Chhotu said thoughtfully.

"Arey haan inhi awazon ki wajah se toh hum kal so nahi paaye the."

Sakshi complained.

"Hotel ke baaki guests ne kuch suna ya dekha tha kal.?"

Rathore asked to no one particularly.

"sir kal ek mini bus iss raaste me kharab hogaya tha toh uske sare passengers issi hotel me ruke the.

4 couples aese the jo apni kisi na kisi health problem ki wajah se medicines leke so gaye the, ek couple ne awaz ki wajah se raat ko bahut complain ki thi aur subah hote hi unhone sabse pehle hotel chhod diya,aur unme ek newly married couple the vo....."

Riya abruptly paused herself trying to find an appropriate word to complete her sentence, when everyone looked at her waiting for her to continue speaking.

"Vo ...vo.. .umm ek dusre me bahut busy the issliye unhe kuch pata nahi chala."

Riya finished her line and looked down at the note in her hand avoiding eye contact with anyone, whereas her friends suppressed their chuckles.

"Gopal ji keh rahe the aese garden me doll aur note milna yahan pehli baar hua hai."

Shree spoke after a while.

"Vo toh ye bhi keh rahe the ki kal hi sabse zyada awaz sunayi diya tha haweli me."

Chhotu added.

"Per kal aesa kya tha.?"

Ayesha narrowed her gaze.

"Kal toh bahut baarish ho rahi thi."

Riya answered.

"baarish ka naam bhi mat le Riya. Na kal barish hoti na gaadi kharab hoti na hum yahan aate."

Chhotu frowned and something clicked Shree's mind.

"Right chhotu. Kal baarish hone ke sath sath hum yahan aaye the."

"Matlab ye jo kal se ho raha hai hamare yahan aane ki wajah se ho raha hai.?"

Ayesha looked puzzled , when Arjun looked up to Rathore with a look that clearly conveyed the message 'he has cracked it'.

"Kahin ye Beer Pratap ki aatma ab police walon se nafrat toh nahi karti? Issliye hame pareshan kiya ho."

Sakshi wondered ,earning a blank stare from Rathore and her friends mentally facepalmed themselves.

"Ho sakta hai Sakshi . Yaad hai vo kaise subah tumhe hi dikhayi diya aur kisiko nahi."

Chhotu mumbled slowly.

"chhotu darao mat."

"Hum kal subah Mumbai wapas jaa rahe hain."

Arjun suddenly announced interrupting their chit-chat session.

"Kya.?"

Everyone except Rathore looked at him in surprise, while Rathore kept mum.

"Aese achanak.?"

Sakshi was the first to question.

"Picnic khatam hogaya sakshi, ab bureau chalke kuch kaam kar lein.?"

Arjun said in a mocking tone.

"Per sir case .?"

Chhotu asked next.

"Per sir case toh solve nahi hua hai."

Ayesha objected looking in between Arjun and Rathore.

"ye 10 saal purana case hai , hum ispe itna time nahi de sakte.

Wese bhi hum meeting ke liye aaye the per 2 din already yahan ruk chuke hain ,upar se pressure hai hame kal ke kal duty wapas join karna padega."

Rathore reasoned.

"Per sir qatil ab tak pakda nahi gaya hai."

Riya spoke up.

"Tum sayad bhul rahi ho ki qatil 10 saal pehle pakda jaa chuka hai aur vo marr bhi chuka hai. Tab bas laashein ni mili thi jo ab mil gayi hai,ye case yahin pe close hota hai."

Arjun said in a straight tone.

"Per sir aap hi ne toh kaha tha vo secretary akela itna sab nahi kar sakta. Aur abhi abhi toh hum discuss kar rahe the ki kal yahan hamare aane ke baad pehli baar vo note garden me rakha gaya tha, toh hum aese hi adha case chhod ke kaise jaa sakte hain.?"

Riya insisted further, earning a tough stare from him.

"Jaruri nahi hai Riya hamare sare assumptions sahi ho , kuch galat bhi ho sakte hain.

Subah Gopal ji ne kaha tha na yahan jitne bhi ajib chizein ho rahin hai usse aaj tak kisiko koi nuksaan nahi pahuncha hai, aur yahan sabko inn sab ki adat ho chuki hai toh achha hoga agar hum yahan aur interfere na kare."

"sabko adat lag chuki hai iska matlab ye nahi hai sir ki yahan kuch galat nahi ho raha hai."

Riya said looking straight into his eyes.

"Ae Ri chup ho jaa."

Shree muttered under his breathe sensing the ambience was now getting tensed, and so was Arjun's cold demeanor.

Ayesha diverted her gaze to Rathore hoping he would interfere before Riya would get scolded, but he strangely maintained his silence among the chaos.

"Hum kal subah wapas jaa rahe hain ye final hai.

Tum chaho toh yahan ruk sakti ho, jo galat ho raha hai usse thik karke jaana."

Arjun said curtly narrowing his gaze at her.

Riya stared at him without battling her lashes for a moment until he looked away, and she kept mum afterwards, when all her friends got up to leave the room only to be stopped by Arjun's voice.

"Aur ek baat, hum sab aaj raat issi room me ruk rahe hain."

"Kya.?"

All except Rathore chorused in unison, as they eyed Arjun in utter shock.

Arjun turned his head to Sakshi raising brow at her.

"Thodi dair pehle tum hi keh rahi thi na tumhe darr lag raha hai."

Sakshi's shock was replaced by an instant contentment and she smiled.

"Aww tum mere liye hum sabko ek sath rakh rahe ho.?"

"Subah tak koi gayab nahi chahiye mujhe.

Aur jisse neend lagi hai vo so sakta hai yahan."

Arjun said bluntly thus the ones who had got up ,sat back on their seats meanwhile Rathore rolled his eyes leaving the bed to let others sleep there.

Shree quickly got up from the couch and climbed the bed ,where Chhotu was already yawning ready to take a nap.

Arjun lifted his gaze up to the duo with a deadpan look, making them straighten up quickly.

"Mujhe abhi neend nahi arahi hai."

Chhotu shook his head.

"Mujhe bhi."

Shree murmured sitting up on the bed.

"Great ab jab tak sabko neend nahi aajati chalo antakshari khelte hain."

Sakshi suggested excitedly, but no answer came in return.

"Jab tak sab iss room me hai koi kuch nahi bolega....."

Arjun announced making Sakshi's smile drop.

"Per Arjun hum sab pehli baar aese ek sath...."

"Ek word bhi nahi."

Arjun finished his line with a death stare ,daring her to go against his order thus Sakshi's shoulders slumped in defeat and she went back to Ayesha to accompany her on the couch.

"Abhi samajh me aaya Arjun sir ne mujhe hamare room se extra sofa aur chair yahan laane ke liye kyun kaha tha. Humse Jaagran karwane ke liye."

Chhotu muttered in a low voice , only audible to Shree beside him.

"Per ye jaagran karwa kyun rahe hain humse? Vo bhi maun jaagran."

Shree said lazily.

"Arjun sir ki baatein Arjun sir hi jaane."

Chhotu shook his head eyeing Rathore occupying one couch looking unbothered, Ayesha ,Sakshi on another couch looking sleepy, Riya alone on another couch lost in thoughts and Arjun sat on a chair calmly.

The time started rolling and none slept in the room , while others tried to figure out what their two chiefs were up to , Arjun and Rathore focused on reading the case files.

Riya looked up to Arjun who was marching around the room occasionally, and finally sat on the other end of her couch picking up a file Shree had left there on the table, to read it.

She wanted to speak to him about something but hesitated since everyone was silent following his command.

One moment she wished to break the silence as her curiosity wasn't letting her think of anything else, but the other moment she didn't want to disobey him.

Sighing she leaned back on the couch ,until an idea struck her mind.

Grabbing the sticky notepad she quickly wrote something before attaching it on the file Arjun was reading and waited for his answer patiently.

*Sir aapne jo kaha kal hum wapas jaa rahe hain uske pichhe koi plan hai na?

(P.T.O)

He turned the paper to the other side and found another message written on it.

Hum sabka ek sath yahan rukna ussi plan ka hissa hai ,right?*

He read the note in his mind ,then whirled his head to her with a questioning look , when she attached another note on the file as if she already knew what he wanted to ask.

*Aapne baat karne se mana kiya hai sir, aur yahan phone bhi nahi hai issliye.*

Arjun read the chits detaching them from the file ,then turned back to her to say something just when the loud noise of glass breaking outside made her and others startled and she quickly turned around to stare at the closed door of the room.

Shree jolted his lashes up and chhotu who was lightly dozing off sat up straight on the bed, Rathore put the file aside standing up and Sakshi ,Ayesha too gazed at the door.

Riya turned to her other teammates noticing them getting up from their respective seats ready to go find the reason behind the commotion outside , but then everyone stopped eyeing at the other end of her couch.

Riya swirled her head to Arjun who motioned them to sit back silently ,not looking bothered at all and all obeyed including Rathore.

15 mins passed and they heard another loud noise outside followed by something was swept under the door of the room.

Rathore went to see and found a paper on the floor folded.

"sham dhalna baaki hai, parda hatna abhi baaki hai,

Mera zakhmon se azad hona abhi baaki hai."

Ayesha read the note aloud in Rathore's hand, sounding confused.

"Ek shayari ab tak suljha nahi hai aur ab ye dusri shayari."

Shree sighed.

"Sir lagta hai koi bahar hi hai. Mai dekhta hun. "

Chhotu pulled out his gun, unlocked the door and walked out.

The corridor looked empty and dark thus Chhotu switched on the lights and roamed his eyes around.

Others followed him by coming out of the room and everyone except Arjun (His gun is in bureau)had their guns out as they walked in the corridor to find anyone suspecting.

"Chhotu, wahan nahi."

Arjun said as Chhotu had his gun pointed towards the stairs, and moved his hand holding the gun towards the end of the corridor.

"hum jisse dhund rahe hain vo yahan hai."

Arjun finished his sentence calmly ,thus Chhotu eyed where his gun was pointed at and was puzzled.

He turned his head to Arjun in surprise.

"Sir.?"

Arjun didn't answer instead went ahead towards the burnt room ,and Chhotu quickly followed him along with others.

"Sir mai dekhta hun."

Chhotu murmured, slightly shielding Arjun since he was the only one without a gun there and tried to open the door.

"Andar jo bhi hai bahar aajao."

Chhotu called out realizing the door was locked from inside.

Riya on sensing the possible danger situation slid herself to Arjun's side holding her gun tight ,when Chhotu tried to unlock the door again.

"Chhotu darwaza tod do."

Rathore ordered getting no response from inside.

"Yes sir."

Just when he was about to kick the door ,it opened slowly and someone came out of the dark room covered in a shawl.

"Kaun ho tum.?

Shawl hatao."

Rathore pointed his gun at him.

The man stood silent without doing anything, thus Chhotu walked forward lifting the shawl up to unveil his face instead took two steps back as soon as his gaze fell on it.

"ye toh wohi hai. Maine kaha tha na tum logon ko subah."

Sakshi screeched.

Others except Arjun blinked while staring at the face that looked frightening ,dark with only the eyes visible clearly and every other part of the face was damaged.

"Per ye toh insaan hai."

Riya murmured slowly observing the man from head to toe even though he was fully covered in shawl.

"kaun ho tum aur iss room ke andar kaise aaye.?"

Rathore questioned the man , still pointing a gun at him.

"Haweli me bhoot banke sabko kya tum dara rahe the.?"

Shree asked next.

"Tum jaante the Beer Pratap ki family ko maar diya gaya hai aur garden me unn sab ki lasshein thi.?"

Riya sounded curious.

"Kal se hame jo notes mile hain vo tumne chhoda tha.?"

Ayesha's question followed.

"Jitni jaldi tum bolna start karoge utna hi tumhare liye achha hoga."

Rathore threatened him putting a finger on the trigger of his gun.

"Sir mujhe toh lagta hai sare khoon isine kiye hain ,iss haweli ki lalach me.

Pehle sabko maar diya aur ab yahan sabko darake bhagana chahta hai taaki ye haweli isse mil jaaye."

Chhotu glared the man.

"Nahi chhotu, na hi isne kisiko maara hai aur na isse haweli ki lalach hai."

Arjun said breaking his silence.

"Tum itna yakeen ke saath kaise keh sakte ho Rawte? Agar iska koi motive nahi hai toh sabko yahan dara kyun raha tha? Aur abhi iss room me kya raha tha ye? Beer pratap ke case se kya lena dena hai iska.?"

Rathore gritted his teeth at the man.

"Lena dena hai Rathore.

Kyunki ye khud....Thakur Beer Pratap hai."

Rathore along with others looked at him in shock at his sudden announcement ,then Rathore turned to the man and his hand holding the gun lowered down immediately.

"What.?"

Tbc.

Part-34

"ACP Sameer Rathore, aur ye ACP Arjun Rawte , hum aapke ghar me hui maut ki investigation kar rahe hain."

Rathore spoke sitting in front of the man ,who smiled at them nodding his head.

"Mai jaanta hun aap logon ko.

Bahut dukh hai mere ghar me aesa koi haadsa hua, jo aap logon ko takleef leni pad rahi hai."

"Ye duty hai hamari.

Aapse kuch sawal puchhne hai."

Rathore chirped straight.

"JI jarur.

Aapki investigation ke liye jo bhi process hai mai uske liye taiyaar hun."

The man agreed quickly.

"Jab ye haadsa hua aap kahan the.?"

Arjun started questioning first , beside Rathore.

"JI mai darasal kal sham se hi bahar tha, aaj khabar milne ke baad yahan lauta hun.

Kuch kissano ki khet ko leke samasya thi , jiske liye mujhe ek din unke gaanv me rukna pada."

The man answered.

"Aur aapki wife aur beta.?"

Arjun asked again.

"Wife bhi kahin bahar thi kal se , mujhe abhi unke aane ke baad pata chala.

Aur beta toh wesa bhi yahan ni rehta.

Aaj kal ke bache maa baap ke sath rehna pasand kahan karte hain, unhe apni private life chahiye.

Issliye vo mere dusre ghar me rehta hai."

"aapke ghar me har jagah cameras hain sirf upar ke floors ko chhod ke, aesa kyun.?"

Rathore enquired.

"Privacy ke liye.

Wese bhi upar zyada koi aata jaata nahi hai ,ghar wale aur workers ko chhod ke. Issliye patni nahi chahti thi ki hamari nijee zindagi camera me record ho. Bas issliye humne upar cameras nahi lagwaye."

"Roma..iss pure ghar me akele Roma ko hi study room ka access tha .

Humne suna hai aap apne family members ko bhi study room me allow nahi karte ,toh phir ek maid ko na sirf aapne study room me allow kar rahe the yahan tak ke uske pass dusri chabi bhi thi."

Rathore said eyeing the man intently, who let out a small laugh.

"Ye jarur aapko yahan ke logon ne bataya hoga.

Dekhiye officer mai purane khayalat ka insan hun ,kisi pe biswas karne me mujhe waqt lagta hai per ek baar kar leta hun toh usse todna utna hi muskil hota hai.

Study room me hamare party se kuch log aate rehte hain unke sath mai ghanton wahan baitha rehta hun,aese me kuch workers hain jo kaam ke bahane wahan jaate hain aur hamari baatein sunte hain phir bahar aake ussi baat ko 4 baat banake gossip karte hain.

Baat ki gehrai , sachai jaanna unke liye koi mayne nahi rakhta.2 ya 3 baar aesa ho chuka hai, issliye maine wahan kisika jaana band kar diya tha.

Jahan tak ghar walon ka sawal hai vo log wese bhi mere kaam ko thoda napasand karte hain, mai unhe zyada waqt jo nahi de paata issliye vo khud study room me nahi jaate.

Aur rahi Roma ki baat toh ..vo bahut achhi ladki thi, biswas ke layak thi vo.

Aaj tak usne meri kisi bhi baat ko study room se bahar nahi jaane diya ,issliye maine usse ek chabi de rakhi thi saaf safai ke liye taaki vo room har roz saaf hota rahe."

The man explained briefly.

"Aesa haadsa pehli baar hua hai ya isse pehle bhi kabhi hua tha.?"

Rathore asked.

"Bilkul nahi officer isse pehle aesa haadsa study room me toh kya iss ghar me bhi nahi hua tha.

Mujhe behad afsos hai ki pehli baar aesa kuch hua hai aur Roma ki jaan chali gayi. Mai uski parivaar ko bharpayi dena chahta hun, kya aap log isme meri madad kar sakte hain.?"

"Thik hai hum Roma ki family se baat karke aapko bata denge."

Rathore nodded his head.

"Ek aakhri sawal, aapki source of income kya hai.?"

Arjun questioned after roaming his eyes around the house.

"Ye ghar maine bahut saalon pehle banaya tha, wese mera khudka business hai.

Milk factory hai meri ek , ab mai politics ki wajah se usme zyada waqt nahi de paata per Brijesh usse sambhalta hai."

Came his clear answer.

"Brijesh.?"

Arjun narrowed his gaze.

"Vo ek mera khas admi hai, beta hi samajh sakte hain. Itne saalon se vo mere sath hai aur meri har kaam me madad karta hai."

"Thik hai. Agar jarurat padi toh hum aapse dubara baat karenge."

Rathore said getting up from the couch followed by Arjun and walked towards the top floor where the other officers were present,

"kuch dino se aapke pati aur iss ghar me ek maid ki affair ki bahut charche ho rahe the . Hame pata chala vo maid koi aur nahi Roma hi thi. Iske baare me aapko kya kehna hai.?"

Sakshi questioned standing in the master bedroom where the woman sipped her coffee ,after giving her a cold stare.

"Mujhe laga tha aap police se hain, per aap toh reporter ki tarah pucch rahi hain."

"JI haan sahi pehchana. Mai pehle reporter hi reh chuki hun, kya hai na adat nahi jayegi.

Per jis ladki ke sath aapke pati ke affair ki news aarahi thi ussi ladki ka achanak se maut ho jaana , aapko thoda ajib nahi lagta.?"

Sakshi looked at her curiously.

"Isme ajib kya hai? Haadse hote rehte hain.

Aur uski maut se kisi bhi news ke sath koi bhi lena dena nahi hai.

Mere pati ek bahut jaane maane insan hai, log bahut izzat karte hain unki ,aur kuch log hote hain jo ye sab kuch hazam nahi kar paate aur bina sar pair ki baaton ko leke dhuaan udate rehte hain."

The woman said calmly.

"Per bina aag ke toh dhuaan bhi ni nikalti madam."

Sakshi chirped straight earning another cold stare from her.

"Kya tum hi chirag ho.?"

Shree asked the man who opened the door and let them inside the apartment.

"Haan aur aap log I guess ETF officers ? Jinhone mujhe phone kiya tha."

The guy asked looking at each of them.

Riya scrunched her nose at how dirty the surroundings were with empty pizza boxes, food packages , empty cold drink bottles, beer bottles , clothes scattered all over the living room, when Ayesha spoke up.

"Hum tumhare ghar me jo haadsa hua hai uski investigation kar rahe hain."

"Usme aapka mujhse kya kaam ? Mai toh wahan rehta bhi nahi hun."

The guy shrugged.

"uss ghar ke member ho tum, issliye sabse sawal kiya jayega.

Aaj subah kahan the tum.?"

Shree asked straight.

"Yahin issi ghar pe.

Dair raat tak mai aur mere friends party kar rahe the yahan, issliye mai college skip karke aaj aaram karne wala tha, per aap log aagaye."

"Tumhare ghar me itna kuch ho raha hai, aur tum ek baar bhi wahan gaye nahi dekhne ki kya hua hai.?"

Riya raised her brow at him.

"Subah se dekh hi raha hun mai, wahan jaake kya hi alag dekh lunga.?"

The guy chuckled pointing at the tv ,thus they turned around only to find the news channel was on and the same news was getting telecasted from outside of the house.

"Wese bhi isse mera kya lena dena ? Maine kitni baar kaha mom ko uss ladki ko kaam se nikal dein per nahi..meri baat kisine ni suni. Aur ab dekho khud toh marr gayi per meri family ko badnaam kar gayi."

Shree , Riya ,Ayesha turned back to him at the sharpness in his tone , and Shree asked.

"Nikalne ke liye kaha tha? Kyun.?"

"Aap log social media ni dekhte sayad, kuch din pehle uss ladki aur mere dad ke affair ki news har kisike liye hot news ban gayi thi.

Maine kaha tha mom ko nikal ke phenk de usse ghar se bahar.Bahut achhe se jaanta hun usse, aesi ladkiyan maine bahut dekhi hai."

"kaisi ladkiyan.?"

Riya looked at him intently.

"wohi jo kaam karne ke bahane admiyon pe dore daalti hain aur phir aese pretend karti hain jaise sachai ki murat ho aur unse masum duniya me koi nahi.

Huh. Bas paise ethne ke tarike hain inke.

Achha hi hua ki vo marr gayi, aesi ladkiyon ka marr jaana hi behtar hai.

Ghar walon ko lagta hoga beti jaake bahar kaam kar rahi hai, per unki beti kitni characterless hai ye unko kaun batayega?

Unka bas ek hi motive hota hai, ameer admi ko fasalo aur unke sath apna life set karlo.issliye ladkiyon ko ghar se bahar chhodna nahi chahiye."

Ayesha tightened her fist ,whereas Riya glared the young guy who looked up to them aware of their reactions and flashed a smile.

"Mera matlab aap logon se nahi tha, mai toh generally bol raha tha.

Hamare khandan me ladkiyon ka bhaar kaam karna mana hai , pehle mai saamajh nahi paata tha per aaj kal ki ladkiyon ko dekh ke lagta hai jaise unke sath yahi hona chahiye.

Ghar me baithke roti pakaye aur ghar sambhale itne me hi rok lena chahiye ladkiyon ko."

Shree glanced at the infuriated state of his two friends ,and interrupted the guy quickly.

"Tum subah se ghar pe hi the iska koi proof hai tumhare pass.?"

"Ji haan hai na, bahar camera laga hua hai mai aapko footage bhej dunga aap check kar skate hain."

The guy replied coolly.

"Thik hai. Agar jarurat padi toh hum dubara aayenge."

"Um btw officer aap log mere ghar toh gaye honge na.?"

Shree gave him a puzzled look but nevertheless nodded his head.

"Haan kyun.?"

"Nahi ab tak ye case chal raha hai issliye pucha. I mean ab tak toh dad ne uss ladki ke ghar walon ko paise bhi de diye honge ,dad ko social work karne ka shauk jo hai.

Ladki ke ghar walon ko dad ka ehsan maan ke ab tak case close kar dena chahiye tha , bekar me police ka drama kyun chala rakha hai."

The guy shook his head arrogantly, thus Riya took a step forward angrily but was stopped by Ayesha.

"ye toh achha hoga agar tumhare dad ladki ke ghar walon ko paise denge aur vo log case close karne ki baat karenge."

The guy looked up to Ayesha quizzically to which she smiled at him.

"Public ko lagega ki jo affair ki news chal rahi hai wohi sach hai , aur hamare investigation ke liye aasan ho jayega ki kahin ladki ko jaan bujh ke toh nahi hata diya gaya raaste se."

The guy glared her and she walked away followed by Shree, while Riya stopped on her track walking back to him.

"Mera ek sawal hai, ye apartment tumhare dad ke naam pe hai na.?"

"Haan."

The guy mumbled slowly ,when she continued flashing a big smile at him.

"Ek fact ki baat pata hai?

Ameer ladke ko fasane ke liye bhi ladke ka ameer hona jaruri hai."

The guy didn't say anything and kept staring at her, making her flash another smile.

"Please don't mind ,mai toh genrally keh rahi hun."

And she walked away without waiting for his reaction.

"Kitna batameez ladka hai."

Ayesha fumed once after they were out of the house.

"Mann kar raha tha uska muh tod dun."

Riya accompanied her.

"Ameer baap ka bigda hua aulad. Isko dekh ke lagta bhi hai kya ye padhta hoga.?"

Ayesha groaned.

"Roma ke bare me jaise baat kar raha tha agar tum mujhe rokti nahi Ayesha ,mai usse ek punch maar deti."

Riya fumed.

"Ladies...shaant ho jao.

I know ki uske comments offensive the per hum react ni kar sakte ,ni toh iska jawab Rathore sir ko dena padega.

Toh abhi ke liye gussa control karo ,aur sabse pehle hum proofs dhundte hain taaki pata chale Roma ka murder kisne kiya.phir dekhenge iska kya karna hai."

Shree said in a calm voice, thus they both kept mum.

_____________________

The Next Day.......

"Sir mai aur Liza study room check kar rahe the, aur wahan se hame ye mila."

Chhotu motioned Shree to show them, thus Shree clicked a button on his laptop and a photo appeared on the projector screen.

"Ye table jisse Roma ka sar takraya tha, uss table ke niche ye nishan mila hame.

Jo furniture bahut time se ek hi jagah pe rakhne se hota hai ye wesa hi kuch nishan hai, per ye bahut halka sa dikh raha hai jaise kisine jagah ko saaf kiya ho.

Table ko apne purane jagah se thoda aage kiya gaya tha, ab ye pehle se kiya gaya tha ya haadse ke pehle kisine kiya ye batana muskil hai."

Chhotu explained briefly.

"Per humne unhe bataya kyun nahi ki hame doubt hai ye ek murder case ho sakta hai? Agar bata dete toh ghar ko aur pure study room ko search kar sakte the."

Sakshi asked.

"Sakshi , bas ek theory ke basis pe hum unhe ye nahi bata sakte ki ye koi murder hai.

Warrnat ke liye bhi hame proof chahiye."

Rathore answered her.

"Aur uske liye hame sabse pehle murder ka motive pata karna hoga."

Arjun added thoughtfully, just when Rathore noticed Shree, Riya and Ayesha were unusually silent ever since they returned after visiting Dayal's son.

"Ayesha, Dayal ji ke bete se kya pata chala.?"

Rathore questioned.

"Dayal ji ka beta Chirag ,apni padhai ke liye kam aur zyada apni aiyashi ke liye alag reh raha hai.

Uska kehna hai uska koi lena dena nahi hai iss accident se."

Ayesha answered ,and Rathore narrowed his gaze at the bitterness of her tone.

"Umm sir parso raat se leke humare wahan jaane tak,vo apne ghar pe hi tha.

Uske ghar ke cctv footage check karne ke baad mai aapko confirm karunga."

Shree murmured.

Rathore, Arjun moved their eyes from Ayesha, Shree and lastly settled on Riya who too looked in a foul mood for some unknown reason as she spoke.

"Wese bhi uski baaton se lag nahi raha tha ki usse Roma ki maut se ya ghar me chal rahi investigation se kuch zyada fark pad raha hai."

Chhotu raised his brow at Shree silently asking him what happened, to which Shree motioned him to explain later and kept mum afterwards.

"Kya hua......"

Before Rathore could complete an office boy interrupted him from behind ,grabbing everyone's attention.

"Sir koi aapse milna chahta hai. Maine mana kiya per bahut request kar raha tha aur usne kaha vo ek case ke baare me baat karna chahta hai."

The office boy said and waited for his answer.

"Thik hai andar aane do."

Rathore replied swiftly.

"JI sir."

The guy left and few seconds later another guy came walking in nervously.

"Kaun ho tum.?"

Shree asked.

"Hello sir, mera naam Himanshu hai. Mai Daily News Channel se aya hun."

The guy answered looking at each of them.

"Yahan reporters ka aana mana hai."

Rathore chirped straight ,and watched him shaking his head quickly.

"Nahi sir mai reporting ke liye nahi aya hun, aap abhi jo case ki investigation kar rahe hain mai ussi case ko leke kuch batane aaya hun."

"Case ko leke kya baat karni hai tumhe.?"

Arjun asked this time.

"Vo sir....Vo jo ladki thi Roma..."

The guy gulped a little fidgeting with his hands , then looked up to them.

"Vo Roma nahi thi sir vo Vaishali thi, hamare...*PAuse* channel ki reporter."

As soon as the guy finished his words everyone stood up from their chairs , in shock.

"Kya.?"

Rathore asked then turned to Arjun in shock before turning back to the guy.

__________

"Mai Vaishali se ek saal pehle mila tha, jab vo news channel me interview ke liye aayi thi.

Mai channel ka C.E.O hun aur mujhe uska pehle din se hi daring nature bahut pasand tha.

usse tv me aake reporting karne ka koi shauk nahi tha, vo underground rehke unn logon ka parda fash karti thi jo duniya ke liye toh idol hain per unki sachai kuch aur hoti hai.

Usne ye kaam bahut baar kiya hai."

The guy started ,while stood listening to him.

"Phir vo ek din mere pass aayi aur kaha ki vo Vishan Dayal pe sting operation karna chahti hai.

Iss me vo 2 baar fail bhi hui thi, per teesaree baar usse mauka mila aur vo unke ghar kaam karne chali gayi."

"Toh vo wahan Roma banke sting operation kar rahi thi.?"

Riya asked curiously.

"Haan.

Maine usse bahut baar mana kiya ki ye risky kaam hai na kare per usne meri baat nahi suni."

"Per vishan Dayal hi kyun.?"

Ayesha enquired.

"Roma ka kehna tha ki Vishan Dayal jaise upar se dikhate hain wese hai nahi, vo duniya ke samne unka asli chehra laana chahti thi."

The guy lowered his head in grief.

"Toh kya Vaishali ko kuch proof mila tha.?"

Asked chhotu.

"Uske baare me mujhe nahi pata sir, vo mujhse bahut kam milti thi taaki kisiko shaq na ho.

Per haan jab vo mujhe last time mili thi vo bata rahi thi ki jo vo dhund rahi hai usse vo mil nahi raha ,aur isse leke pareshan thi vo."

"Tum last kab mile the usse.?"

Sakshi raised her query.

"Ek mahine pehle.

Mai kabhi kabhi usse raaste me dur se dekh liya karta tha, per aese usse last dekhe huye bhi ek hafta ho gaya tha. Aur kal sidha uski maut ki khabar suna maine."

The guy's lips tightened in a thin line, controlling her tears.

"Roma ke ghar k address pe hame kal ek lady mili thi, vo kaun thi.?"

Arjun asked.

"Vo uski mausi thi. Unhe pata nahi hai Vaishali reporter hai, unhe bas humne bataya tha ki Vaishali ko bahut sare jagahon se kaam se nikal diya gaya hai issliye ye nayi jagah pe kahin enquiry na kare issliye vo naam badal ke jaa rahi hai.

Aur kisiko Roma pe shaq na ho issliye usne basti ka address de diya tha."

"Ye baat aur kis kis ko pata hai tumhare channel me.?"

Shree asked him in a soft voice sensing his emotional state.

"Sir kisiko bhi nahi. Maine staff ko keh diya tha ki vo chhuti pe gayi hai aur kyunki vo naam badal ke kaam kar rahi thi aur uski koi photo bhi ni dikha rahe issliye ab tak kisiko bhi nahi pata jo ladki ki kal se news arahi hai vo Vaishali hai."

"Ek reporter bina kisike proper ground check kiye direct sting operation kaise kar sakti hai, aur tumne ye allow kaise kiya.?"

Rathore shouted at him.

"Ek reporter sirf apni gut feeling ke sahare kisipe sting operation karne ke liye itna bada risk nahi uthayegi.

Vaishali ko jarur kuch aesa pata hoga jiski wajah se vo Dayal ke ghar chali gayi uske khilaf saboot laane, aur tumhe dekh ke lag raha hai tumhe bhi pata hai vo kyun gayi thi."

Arjun stated folding his arms across his chest, while the guy lowered his gaze.

"Sir mai bina proof ke VIshan Dayal ke khilaf kuch bolna nahi chahta tha per....

Vo ek achha admi nahi hai.

Vaishali ki ek behen hua karti thi jo uske maa ke sath rehti thi aur Vaishali apne nana ke ghar rehke padhai karti thi.

Ek din achanak uski behen gayab hogayi."

"Gayab hogayi matlab.?"

Riya asked.

"Matlab vo ek din sham ko bazar gayi thi aur wahan se lauti hi nahi, vo aaj tak kisiko nahi mili.

Vaishali ki maa beti ke ghum me pagal hogayin thi aur kuch dino me vo chal basi.

Logon ne kaha ki uski behen kisi ladke ke sath bhaag gayi hogi per Vaishali ne kabhi unn baaton pe dhyan nahi diya.

Usse lagta tha uski behen ke sath jarur kuch galat hua hai.

Reporter banne ke baad bhi Vaishali apni behen ko dhundne ki har mumkin koshis kar rahi thi , aur tabhi usse pata chala uski behen akeli nahi thi jo achanak gayab hogayi.

Mumbai ke bastiyon me bahut sari ladkiyan hain jo bina bataye gayab hogayin hain aur ho rahin hai.

Vaishali ne bahut sare data collect kiye the aese cases ke, aur unn sab me ek common point tha Vishan Dayal.

Vo jin jin bastiyon me jaate the social work me uske kuch hi din baad ladkiyan unn bastiyon me se gayab ho rahi thi.

Vaishali ki behen ke gayab hone ke kuch din pehle bhi Vishan Dayal uske basti me gaye the.

Issliye Vashali ko lagta tha ladkiyon ka gayab hona aur Vishan Dayal ka kuch connection hai."

The guy sighed.

"Toh vo Dayal ji ke sath affair ki news.?"

Asked shree.

"Vo duniya ke liye sach hai, per asal me jhuth hai. Dayal ki kamjori hai ladkiyan ,aur usse information nikalne ke liye Vaishali uske kareeb aane ka natak kar rahi thi."

"Ye sari baatein Vaishali ne tumhe khud bataya tha.?"

Arjun asked.

"haan sir."

The guy nodded his head.

"Itni personal information usne channel me sirf tumhe hi kyun bataya? Ho sakta hai tumne ye sare information jaake Dayal ko diya ho aur usne maar diya Vaishali ko."

Rathore looked at him doubtfully.

"Nahi nahi sir mai aesa kabhi nahi kar sakta.

Mai toh....pyar karta tha Vaishali se.

Aapko nahi pata mai kitna darr darr ke jee raha tha uski iss mission ki wajah se, mujhe darr tha usse kahin kuch ho na jaaye aur mera wohi darr sach hogaya.

Per kya sach me ye koi accident nahi tha.?"

The guy looked at them in surprise, when Riya gritted her teeth looking up to him angrily.

"Tum ab ye puchh rahe ho? Kal se kahan the?

Usko mare huye 24 ghante ho gaye aur tumhe abhi yaad araha hai yahan aake sachai batane ka?

Kal se uske baare me kya kya baatein ho rahi hai , sare news channels me ,public me har jagah uska character assassination ho raha hai aur tum baithke dekh rahe the.? Isme kehte ho ki tum pyar karte the usse.?"

"Exactly."

Ayesha muttered under her breathe, while Arjun along with others whipped their heads to Riya in amusement and the guy stood silent hanging his head low.

"Agar Vaishali ko Dayal ke khilaf kuch bhi mila hoga toh ho sakta hai vo abhi bhi vaishali ke mausi ke ghar me ho jahan vo reh rahi thi."

Arjun spoke up interrupting the silence in the room.

"Right. Rawte tum chhotu aur Riya Vaishali ka ghar search karo, Ayesha , Shree tum dono Vaishali ke office pe puch tach karo aur mai aur Sakshi Dayal se milke aate hain."

Rathore ordered.

"yes sir."

All except Arjun chorused and Shree quickly muttered "all the best" to Chhotu before they went ahead with their respective tasks, leaving Chhotu a little confused.

"Chhotu, Riya ko chabi de do."

Arjun commanded as they approached the car.

"Mai chalata hun na sir."

Chhotu offered noticing Riya still looked a bit angry by her face, and Arjun gave him a deadpan look in return.

"ji sir."

Chhotu murmured reluctantly, then handed over the key to Riya who took it quietly.

On reaching the destined house Chhotu stood watching the drama of the woman and he suddenly realized why Shree had told him all the best earlier.

"Aap log phir se yahan kyun aaye hain, maine kaha tha na mujhe uss ladki se koi bhi lena dena nahi hai. Aap log kyun baar baar aajate hain mujhe pareshan......"

"Chhotu, agar ye ek aur baar hame ghar ke andar jaane se roke toh inhe arrest karke gaadi me bitha dena."

Arjun ordered interrupting the woman , who stared at him in shock.

"Yes sir."

Chhotu answered fast.

"Maine kaha tha na yahan nahi toh ETF bureau me aapse sawal jarur puchha jayega."

Arjun glared the woman and walked past him inside the house along with Riya.

"Sir unhe abhi tak pata nahi hai ki Vaishali kyun apna naam badal ke kaam kar rahi thi aur vo ek reporter thi.

Toh kya hum unhe bata nahi sakte ye baat? Kya pata sacha jaanne ke baad........"

"Sach jaanne ke baad kya? Tumhe lagta hai unki soch badal jaayegi? Vo vaishali ke liye achha bolne lag jaayengi?

Mai tumse puchhta hun Riya, tum pehle se Vaishali pe ho rahe comments se naaraj thi ,ya ye jaane ke baad ki Vaishali ek reporter thi aur vo ye sab ek sting operation ke liye kar rahi thi phir bhi sab anjaane me uske character pe sawal kar rahe hain issliye tumhe gussa aarha hai.?"

Arjun asked looking at her keenly and she lowered her gaze.

"Mera vo matlab nahi tha sir.

Mujhe bas iss baat ki naarajgi hai ki ek ladki jo already marr chuki hai ,uske baare me koi kuch jaanna nahi chahta,aur na hi koi respect de raha hai.

Kisiki najar me vo sirf ek maid thi jo sif paise ethna chahti thi, aur kisiki najar me vo sirf ghar ki izzat uchhal rahi thi aur koi sab kuch jaan ke bhi chup chap baitha tha.

Uske reporter hone se ya na hone se koi fark nahi padta."

"Exactly Riya.

Toh ye tumpe hai ki tum jald se jald saboot dhund ke uski sachai duniya ko dikhana chahti ho ya uske mausi jaise logon ko khud se sachai batake uske liye respect maangna chahti ho. Faisla tumhe karna hai."

Arjun said and went inside a room to start the search operation.

Riya nodded understanding his words ,then went ahead to search the other room without wasting another second.

Throughout the search Arjun discovered few spying equipment hidden among a pile of clothes, whereas Riya found an old rusted iron trunk.

She grabbed it from under the bed and tried to lift it open but flinched as soon as her left palm came in contact with something sharp underneath the trunk and she flinched withdrawing her hand that instant.

"Kya hua.?"

Chhotu asked coming inside the room.

"Niche kuch laga."

She answered eyeing her left palm that got a cut and blood oozed out of it.

Chhotu bent down to her level to check the trunk before turning to look at her plam.

"ye niche se kat gaya hai issliye laga. Chalo isse bandage karke aate hain pehle."

"Nahi chhotu rehne do mai baad mai kar lungi, pehle dekhte hain trunk me kya hai."

"Ek min..."

Chhotu quickly took a handkerchief out from his pocket and tied it on her palm carefully and said.

"Baad me kar lena bandage achhe se."

"Thik hai mai karlungi.

Thanks chhotu ."

She smiled at him.

"ab dekhte hain isme kya hai."

Chhotu murmured opening the trunk and they looked in to the papers inside.

___________________________________

For the rest of the day they interrogated the family , took the statements ,visited the party office, and checked through the documents they had gathered throughout the search operation and was called early morning to the bureau by Rathore since they needed to solve the puzzle as soon as possible.

By the time everyone gathered in the conference hall Rathore and Arjun were already present reading files on their respective chairs and others took their seats.

"Good morning sir."

Rathore looked up from his file to his team ,who looked tired and exhausted.

"Sare cctv footage karte karte meri neend hi poori nahi hui."

Shree muttered under his breathe beating back a yawn.

"ye Dayal ka history nikalte nikalte raat ke 3 baj gaye the,aur mujhe uske baad neend hi nahi aayi."

Chhotu said lazily.

Riya ,sakshi being too tired passed pitiful looks to their friends and Riya stood up arranging the files she had brought for everyone to see.

"Umm mai sabke liye coffee leke aati hun."

Ayesha offered seeing everyone's state.

"Haan please."

Sakshi replied fast,then turned to Arjun.

"Arjun sorry mai tumhari chai aaj nahi laayi, Dayal ke ghar ke sare members ke criminal records check karte karte thak gayi thi."

Arjun didn't answer her being engrossed in the file he was reading,when Rathore spoke.

"Ayesha ,Coffee ke sath sath first-aid box bhi leke aana."

"huh? Sir aapko chot lagi hai.?"

Ayesha asked in concern.

"Mujhe nahi..."

Rathore pointed a finger at Riya ,then continued speaking.

"Riya tumhe last time bhi ussi hath pe wahin chot lagi thi na."

Riya paused her work glancing at him then at the bandage on her her palm, noticing blood stains on it that she had forgotten to replace in the morning.

"um sir..."

"Thik se bandage karo hath ko ,tumne last time bhi aese hi chhod diya tha usse.

Pichhli baar Rawte ne sirf bandage lagaya tha,per iss baar antiseptic lagao nahi toh infection ho jayega."

As soon as Rathore finished his words everyone's head except Arjun snapped up to him in astonishment.

Arjun's eyes lifted up from the file for a moment at the mention of his name ,before he looked back down to the file , meanwhile Rathore narrowed his gaze at Ayesha who kept staring at him with an unreadable expression.

Confused,Rathore moved his gaze to others eventually settling his eyes on Arjun and realisation dawned upon him that instant.

Clearing his throat a bit he looked back to Ayesha passing her an awkward look , meanwhile Riya swirled her head to Arjun who had his all attention on the file in his hand.

Sensing everyone's attention was now shifted to Arjun ,Riya spoke up turning back to Rathore.

"sir aap sahi keh rahe the ,ye maine thik se bandage ni kiya tha sayad isliye hath me thoda pain ho raha hai.mai bandage karke aati hun."

She quickly excused herself to clear the air,and Ayesha too stood up from her seat.

"Mai Riya ki help kar deti hun ."

"Mujhe aaj tak itni chot lagi hai Arjun sir ne kabhi mujhe toh bandage ni lagaya."

Chhotu muttered under his breath.

"Tum Ri nahi ho na."

Shree chuckled beside him ,which was heard by Sakshi and she turned to Arjun with a sad look.

"Toh ab pata chala ki tumhri thank you ki asli haqdar toh Arjun sir hai."

Ayesha chirped applying antiseptic on Riya's palm ,who bit her bottom lip with an awkward smile.

"kamal hai pata hi nahi chala Sir ne kab badage lagaya,aur main soch rahi thi ki tum logon me se kisine kiya.

Arjun sir sabki care karte hain ,nahi? Bas dikhate nahi hai."

Riya said trying to sound nonchalant,thus Ayesha smiled at her completing bandaging her palm.

"Hm ye toh thik kaha tumne Arjun sir care bhi karte hain aur dikhate bhi nahi hain,per...tumhare liye care toh unhone sabko dikhaya na."

Riya sat tongue tied not knowing what to answer her when Ayesha left to make coffee for everyone ,and Riya glanced down at her hand with her lips curving into a faint smile.

Tbc.

Part-35

"Team ab tak hamari invetigation jahan tak pahunchi hai , shuru se discussion karte hain. Case ke jo missing parts hai vo yahin se pata chalega."

Rathore said once after Riya, Ayesha were back to the conference hall.

Everyone except Arjun nodded their heads, and Riya started speaking first.

"So Roma yani Vaishali jo ek reporter thi vo apna naam badal ke Vishan Dayal ke ghar maid ka kaam karti thi unpe sting operation karne ke liye.

Per mission pura hone se pehle uski maut hogayi , aur uski maut ko haadsa dikhane ki puri koshis ki gayi hai.

Isme pehla supect hai khud Vishan Dayal, jin pe Vaishali ko shaq tha ki Mumbai ke bastiyon se gayab hone wali ladkiyon se unka kuch lena dena hai.

Ho sakta hai Vishan Dayal ko pata chal gaya ho Vaishali ke sachai ke baare me ,aur unhone usse marwa diya ho."

"Dusre supsect me Vishan Dayal ke bete aur wife aati hain. unka beta Chirag apni family matters se bahut hi dur hai per uske baare me kuch pata chala hai jo case se related toh nahi hai......"

Ayesha trailed contemplating whether she should tell them or not ,when Rathore asked.

"Kya pata chala.?"

"Uske naam pe ek complaint register hai, college fest me ek ladki ke sath jabardasti kiya tha usne aur jab ladki ne case register kiya vo uss ladki aur uski family ko mentally torture kar raha hai.

Yahan tak ki usse apne dad ke power ki dhamki deke case withdraw karne ke liye force kar raha hai.

Mai uss ladki se bhi mili thi, bahut dari hui thi vo.

Soft drink me drugs deke uske sath sabse pehle jabardasti ki gayi aur ab vo aur uski family ko torture kiya jaa raha hai.

Aur issliye vo ladki case withdraw karne ka bhi soch rahi hai."

Ayesha breathed in a go, making others go silent.

"jaisa baap wesa beta."

Shree muttered under his breathe, meanwhile Riya released a sharp breathe controlling her anger.

"Aur Vishan Dayal ke wife se kuch khas pata nahi chala."

Ayesha shook her head, resuming the original discussion.

"Unki wife toh thodi ajib thi , zyada baat nahi kar rahin thi aur hamesha gusse me hi lagti thi ..Arjun ki tarah."

Sakshi chuckled,earning a glare from Arjun.

"sorry sorry.

Per unkiwife se lag raha tha jaise unki apne pati se zyada banti nahi hai."

Sakshi quickly added.

"Ye tumhe kaise pata Sakshi.?"

Chhotu asked her.

"Chhotu pata chal jaata hai , vo apne pati ko batake nahi gayi thi ki vo apne maayke jaa rahin hain, aur toh aur wapas aane ke baad apne pati se mili bhi nahi, aur jab maine puchha tab bahut ukhad ke baat kar rahi thi.

lagta hai Roma ..I mean Vaishali ka unke pati ke sath se affair vo zyada khush nahi thi."

Sakshi explained, to which Rathore gave her a blank look.

" Vaishali ke ghar se hame ye mila tha."

Riya chirped putting up the file, and few things on the table packed as evidence.

"inn sari chizon me ek chabi hai jo hame ek ball me se mila jo bahut sambhal ke makeup blush ke andar chhupa ke rakha gaya tha."

"Kis chiz ki chabi hai kuch pata chala.?"

Rathore enquired inspecting the key.

"Nahi sir Vaishali ke ghar me kisi bhi lock se ye chabi match nahi karta.

Aur Jo ladkiyan gayab ho rahin thi unka data collect kiya tha vaishali ne, unke saath apni behen ko dhunde ke liye jitne bhi applications authorities ko likhe the sabke copy usne sambhal ke rakha tha.

ye kuch paper cuttings jo Vishan dayal jahan jahan social work karne jaate the unn sabke hain.

List ke accoriding jin jin bastiyon se ladkiyan jis date pe gayab hui thi, uske 5 ya 6 din pehle Vihan Dayal uss basti me kisi na kisi wajah se jaate the."

Riya explained.

"Per mai jab Vishan Dayal ki history check kar raha tha mujhe aesa kuch mila nahi. Na unke khilaf aaj tak aesi koi complaint register hui hai aur na hi koi badi khabar bani hai , bas unke affair ki news ko chhod ke.

toh ho sakta hai ladkiyon ka gayab hona aur Vishan Dayal ka unhi jagahon pe jaana bas ek coincidence ho.?"

Chhotu narrowed his gaze.

"jiski history puri saaf hoti hai ussi ka sabse zyada history hota hai Chhotu."

Arjun spoke up from his chair, thus Chhotu stared at him, confused.

"Uh sir matlab.?"

"vishan Dayal ne apni shuruwat Mumbai ke railway platforms pe kiya tha, tiffin service tha uska.

Jab tiffin service thik se chala nahi usne dusra business shuru kiya doodh ka.

Tiffin service aur doodh ke business me bas 1 saal ka fark hai aur utni time me Vishan Dayal ne ek factory apne naam pe register karwayi aur Mumbai me apne liye ghar banwa diya."

"Arjun ho sakta hai unka doodh ka business achha chala ho.?"

Sakshi interrupted hiim.

"Ho sakta hai Sakshi. Per vo doodh bechta tha ,doodh me sona daalke nahi bechta tha ki 1 saal me itne paise aajayenge uske pass."

Arjun answered her, when Shree asked.

"Iska matlab unka koi aur bhi business hai jo unke official documents pe mention ni kiya gaya hai.?"

"official documents pe aur bhi bahut se chizein hain jo mention nahi ki gayi hai."

Arjun replied forwarding a file to him , which shree checked immediately.

"ye Vishan Dayal ki puri property list hai jinka uske documents me koi naam aur nishan ni hai."

"Goa me farmhouse, Bar, Andheri me plot , Goregaon me shopping mall complex.?"

Shree read out in amusement and then passed the file to Rathore.

"Tumhe ye details kahan se mili Rawte.?"

"Vaishali ke notebook se.

Mujhe uske spying equipement ke sath sath ek notebook mila tha , jisme Vaishali ne apne aur Dayal ke bich hone wale baaton ka record note karke rakhti thi.

Usme ye bhi likha hai bahut sari property Dayal ne apne naam pe ni rakha hai, apne workers ke naam rakha hai."

Arjun explained.

"Itni sari property government ke naak ke niche chhupa ke rakha hai toh iska matlab uska secret business legal nahi hoga."

Ayesha murmured.

"iska matlab ye bhi hai ki Dayal ke pass strong reason hai Vaishali ko maarne ke liye.

Unko darr laga hoga kahin Vaishali unhe expose na kar dein."

Riya added quickly.

"Per sawal abhi bhi wohi hai, kaise? Jab haadsa hua Dayal ghar pe tha hi nahi.

Aur sir cctv footage me jab Vaishali study room me gayi thi tab koi bhi worker upar ke floor pe nahi tha."

Shree declared.

"Koi bhi nahi.?"

Chhotu looked at him curiously.

"Nahi.

Staffs ka kehna hai ki Vaishali hafte me 2 din vo bookshelf saaf karti thi, sunday aur thursday ko.

Aur kyunki vo bookshelf bahut bada hai issliye vo subah sabse pehle aajati thi apna kaam karne. Jab haadsa hua tab Vaishali bhi apne routine ke hisab se jaldi aagayi thi ,aur upar akeli hi thi.

Baad me jab dusre staff upar floor pe gaye aur vaishhali ko dhundne lage tabhi unhe pata chala."

"Iska matlab wahan se pehle se hi sab kuch set kiya hua tha jaise kisiki jaane ki jarurat hi na pade aur kaam bhi ho jaaye."

Rathore said thoughtfully.

"Thik kaha tumne Rathore."

Arjun said, making everyone's head turn.

"study room ko dhyan se dekho , humne pehle dhyan nahi diya per Study room kaafi bada hai.

Work table aur bookshelf ke bich bahut space hai per do (2) tables , vo bada vase sirf bookshelf ke aas pass hi rakhi gayi hai ek setup ki tarah. Taaki jab koi seedhee se niche gire tab bachne ke chances bahut kam ho.

Aur ye saab subah jaldi jaldi me nahi kiya gaya hai ye sab pehle se hi set tha."

"Toh ho sakta hai ye sab haadse ke ek din pehhle kiya gaya ho.?"

Sakshi guessed.

"Shree, haadse ke pehle din ki CCTV footage check kiya tha tumne .?"

Rathore enquired.

"haan sir maine kiya tha, Vaishali normal lag rahi thi aur baaki sab bhi.

Dayal ji toh sham ko hi nikal gaye the ghar se uske baad bhi ghar pe koi nahi aaya. Aur bahar ka bhi ghar pe koi nahi tha ek electrician ko chhod ke."

"Electrician.?"

Arjun asked.

"Haan ye dekhiye."

Shree played the video for everyone to see and spoke up.

"Jab Dayal ji ghar pe electrician head staff Sudam ke sath aaya tha terrace ka kuch kaam tha maine puchha tha, aur Dayal ji ke ghar se nikalne ke baad aur Unki wife ke bahar jaane se pehle vo nikal gaya tha kaam khatam karke."

"Per kal hum jab Dayal ke ghar dusri baar gaye the tab bhi electrician aaya tha."

Rathore pointed out.

"Haan vo study room me ek light thik karne aaya tha."

Sakshi answered then looked at the screen carefully before adding quickly.

"Per kal jo aaya tha vo ye nahi tha."

Arjun fell silent staring at the screen for a moment, the asked.

"Laash ko sabse pehle kisne dekha tha.?"

"Um sir head staff ne."

Ayesha replied,when Riya piped up.

"Per Sir khooni ko kaise pata tha Vaishali niche hi giregi.?"

Riya questioned him.

"I mean niche jitna setup kiya gaya hai usse dekh ke lagta hai jaise khooni ko 90% surety thi ki seedhee giregi.

Vaishali ka ye koi pehli baar toh nahi tha upar chadh ke kaam karna , aur ladder pe rubber feet bhi lage huye the toh seedhee giri toh giri kaise.?"

Riya added thoughtfully.

"Haan ye bhi hai."

Chhotu murmured.

"Vo ab ye head staff hi batayega.

Chhotu, leke aao Sudam ko bureau me."

Arjun commanded, thus Chhotu quickly stood up from his chair.

"Yes sir."

________________________________

"Aap log mujhe yahan kyun leke aaye hain.?"

The man eyed the officers in the interrogation room nervously, while everyone except Rathore present there kept looking at him suspiciously.

"Jitna mujhe pata tha mai aapko sab kuch bata chuka hun , toh phir mujhe yahan laake bithane ka kya matlab.?"

The man spoke again , sounding a little furious this time.

"Sab kuch bataya nahi tumne, abhi bhi kuch baaki hai."

Arjun said in a straight voice, and watched the man stare at him confusingly.

"Matlab.?"

"Matlab ye ki Roma ko tumne kyun maara abhi tumhara batana baaki hai."

Shree answered him and the man's eyes widened a little.

"Kya bakwas kar rahe hain aap? Maine kuch ni kiya. Vo toh girne se marr gayi thi na? Mai kyun maarunga usse.?"

"Vo gir nahi gayi thi , tumne girwaya tha usse. "

Riya clarified.

"Chup chap sach batado, jhuth bolne se koi faida nahi hai ab."

Sakshi added.

"Dekho bahut kam waqt hai tumhare pass jaldi se batao ki kaise kiya aur kyun kiya, nahi toh phir tumhari khatirdari karni padegi hame."

Chhotu threatened tightening his fist, and the man gulped.

"Aap log kya...*PAuse* aap logon ko kuch aur nahi mila toh bewajah mujhe fasa rahe hain? Aap mujhe jabardasti ka khooni bana dena chahte hain.?

Mai kyun maarunga usse ? Mera kya lena dena hai uske sath.?"

"jaanta hun tumhara koi lena dena nahi hai usse. Per jiske kehne pe tumne sab kuch kiya hai uska lena dena hai.

Aur hame uska naam jaanna hai ."

Arjun said eyeing him intently , just when Rathore entered in after finishing his call.

"Kuch kaha isne.?"

"Nahi sir ab tak toh nahi. Bas naatak kar raha hai."

Ayesha answered him.

"Toh yahan time kyun waste kar rahe ho ? Chhotu iski haddi pasli tod ke phenk do jail me, sari zindagi jail me sadhega toh akkal thikane aajayegi iski."

Rathore said roughly and was about to leave the room , when the man shouted in fear.

"Nahi nahi.

Mai sari zindagi jail me nahi rehna chahta.

Maine toh bas vo kiya jo mujhe karne ke liye kaha gaya tha."

"Toh koi tumhe kisiko maarne ke liye kahega aur tum kar doge.?"

Riya narrowed her gaze at him.

"Mujhe paison ki shakht jarurat thi. Upar se niche tak mai karze me duba hua hun, mai karza nahi chukata toh log mujhe wese bhi maar dete.

Jab mujhe kaha gaya ki ek chhota sa kaam karne se mujhe itne paise milenge ki mai apna sara karz chuka sakta hun toh maine socha kyun nahi..zindagi bhar kaam karta toh bhi mai itna paisa nahi kama paata."

The man confessed sounding guilty.

"Aur vo chhota sa kaam kya tha.?"

Shree asked.

"Mujhe bas kaha gaya tha ki study room ke book shelf ke upar se jo light ki wire hai usse thoda sa kaatna tha aur khula chhod dena tha.

Itna hi kaam tha mera , mujhe nahi pata tha Roma aese marr jayegi."

"Jo electric wire tumne khula chhod diya tha uski wajah se Roma ko uss bookshelf saaf karte waqt shock laga, jiski wajah se seedhee ka balance bigad gaya aur vo sidha niche gir gayi.

Aur tum keh rahe ho tumhe pata nahi tha vo isse marr jayegi.?"

Rathore glared him gritting his teeth.

"Vo table ko aage tumne kiya tha na.?"

Chhotu questioned.

"kaunsa table.?"

The man sounded confused.

"Wohi table jisse Roma ka sar takraya tha."

"Haan per uska kya? Mujhe toh kaha gaya tha ki vo table deewar se laga ke rakhne se deewar kharab ho sakta hai issliye usse aage kiya tha thoda."

The man answered , and chhotu shook his head.

"Koi itna bewakoof kaise ho sakta hai."

Sakshi muttered under his breathe.

"Ab ye batao kisne kaha tha tumhe ye sab karne ke liye.?"

Arjun asked leaning both of his hands on the table , and the man lowered his gaze fidgeting with his hands.

"Vo.. Maalkin ne."

"Kya.?"

Ayesha stared at him in disbelief , while others mirrored her expression.

"Maalkin Roma se bahut nafrat karti thi. Sahab ka Roma ke sath kareebi maalkin ko bilkul pasand nahi tha.

Sahab ghar me aate hi bas Roma Roma karte the ,uske alawa sahab ko koi aur dikhta bhi nahi tha.

Hame pata hai jab bhi maalkin aur Sahab ke bich me Roma ko leke jhagda hota tha , tab Sahab maalkin pe hath uthate the aur unhe chup kara dete the.

Maalkin ko lagta tha Roma sirf sahab ke paison ke pichhe hain.

Issliye vo usse sabaq sikhana chahti thi ,aur unhone mujhse kaha ye kaam karne ke liye.

Jaise sab kuch ho jaaye aur kisiko pata bhi na chale."

The man explained.

"Per study room toh lock rehta hai , tum andar gaye kaise.?"

Riya asked curiously.

"Maine pehle socha tha Roma ke pass jo dusri chabi hai usse chura lunga, per vo pata nahi vo chabi kahan rakhti thi mujhe mila hi nahi.

Phir uss sham ko jab Sahab bahar jaane ke liye nikalne wale the maine dekha Sahab phone pe baat kar rahe the aur galti se vo study room bina lock kiye chale gaye ,toh mera kaam asan hogaya."

"kya ye study room ki chabi hai.?"

Rathore asked putting the key on the table, they had found earlier in Roma's house.

The man inspected the key properly, then shook his head.

"Nahi sir ye nahi hai, uss chabi ke pichhe ek nishan hota hai isme vo nahi hai."

"Jab Dayal ji nikal rahe the vo phone pe kya baat kar rahe the kuch suna tumne.?"

Arjun enquired.

"Maine zyada toh nahi suna per haan sahab bol rahe the kaam me itna busy rehte hain ki vo usse mil nahi paate hain."

Rathore released a sharp breathe and walked out of the room, without uttering another word.

Arjun went to the conference hall after few minutes and found Rathore standing there looking frustrated and was in some deep thoughts almost as if something was bothering him.

"Dayal ki wife ko arrest karne jaana hai."

Arjun said interrupting his thoughts, and picked up his gun from the table while the other members too came walking in.

"Tum aaj ye nahi keh rahe ho ki kuch chhut raha hai."

Rathore murmured eyeing Arjun, who kept mum.

"Sir , kya aapko nahi lagta ki Vaishali ka murder Dayal ji ki wife ne kiya hai.?"

Riya asked looking at Rathore.

"Sab kuch itna simple nahi lag raha hai. Dayal ki biwi ko pata bhi nahi hoga ki vo Roma nahi VAishali hai, per Dayal?

Dayal ko bhi vaishali ke sting operation ke baare me kuch pata nahi tha, ispe yakeen nahi ho raha hai mujhe."

Rathore replied in a serious tone.

"Sir kuch aur baat hai kya? Aap pareshan lag rahe hain."

Ayesha looked at him in concern, thus Rathor sighed heavily.

"Maine Dayal ke secret business ka pata lagane ke liye apne kuch khabriyon ko lagaya tha.

Aur pata chala hai ki uska ye secret business ladkiyon ka byapar ka hai."

"Kya.?"

Ayesha's confusion was replaced by shock.

"Vo yahan se kam umar ke ladkiyon ko bahar bhej deta hai aur wahan se unhe bech diya jaata hai.

Aese rackets international level tak chalti hai,aur Dayal isme bahut saalon se involved hai.

Per ye kaam usne kuch mahino se kam kar diya hai, esspecially jabse usse party ticket mili hai."

"toh vo ladkiyon ke gayab hone ke pichhe sach me Dayal ka hath hai.?"

Sakshi sounded surprised.

"Iska matlab Vaishali ka shaq sahi tha."

Chhotu pointed out.

"Haan aur issliye mujhe lagta hai Vaishali ko jarur kuch pata chala tha iss racket ko leke , per isse pehle ki vo Dayal ko expose kar paaye usko maar diya gaya.

Per ab jab Dayal ki biwi ka naam samne aaya hai, hum Dayal tak nahi pahunch sakte."

"Per sir hum Vaishali ki sachai batake Dayal pe investigation kar sakte hain na.?"

Shree suggested.

"Nahi shree isse kuch nahi hoga, kyunki khooni Dayal ki biwi hai aur Dayal isme pura side hojayega ki usse kuch pata hi nahi tha iske baare ya Vaishali ke baare me.

Dayal ke party ka power hai aur ab jab case solve ho gaya hai hum Dayal se koi sawal nahi kar sakte.

Mujhe laga tha iss khoon me jarur Dayal ka hath hoga aur uss bahane hum uske secret business ko expose karenge per abhi toh vo aur bhi alert hogaya hoga, aese me hum uspe hath bhi nahi laga sakte.

Aese logon ko power deke hamari system hi unhe aur corrupt banati hai , aur hum chah ke bhi kuch nahi kar sakte.

Damn it."

Rathore banged his fist on the table, when Arjun spoke breaking his silence.

"Hum ek hi waqt me ya toh public servant ban sakte hain ya sirf protocol follow karne wale officers."

"Sab kuch bolne jitna aasan hota toh life bahut easy ho jaati Rawte."

Rathore glared him.

"Kuch bhi easy nahi hota Rathore, banana padta hai."

Arjun spat back , thus Rathore looked away from him an a second later something stroke his mind.

___________________________________

A squad assembled in front of Dayal's house as the ETF officers entered in with Rathore leading from the front ,and stood in front of Dayal who was having his tea and snacks in the hall.

"Officers aap log phir se yahan.?"

Dayal stood up from the couch eyeing each of them and Rathore spoke taking off his sunglasses.

"Roma Urf VAishali ke murder ke ilzam me hum tumhe arrest karte hain."

"Kya ? Arrest aur mujhe.? Maine kya kiya hai.?"

"Khoon kiya hai tumne.

Murder ko accident ka roop dene ki bahut achhi aur nakam koshis ki thi tumne , per ab tumhara khel khatam ho chuka hai."

Rathore answered.

"Aapka dimag thikane pe toh hai officer? Maine kisika khoon ni kiya hai, meri biwi ne kiya hai toh usse arrest karo."

Dayal said angrily.

"tumhari biwi ne khoon kiya hai ye tumhe kaise pata? Humne toh ab tak kuch bataya nahi hai tumhe."

Arjun raised his brow and the man suddenly realized his own words.

"Aur maine abhi abhi Roma urf Vaishali kaha tha, uss baat se bhi tumhe zyada hairani nahi hui."

Rathore pointed out.

"kaise hairani hogi sir , isse already pata jo tha ki vo Roma nahi Vaishali thi."

Chhotu said glaring the man.

"Aap log kya keh rahe hain mujhe samjah me nahi araha hai , aur mujhe itna sar dard nahi chahiye.

Mai abhi issi waqt ye case close karta hun."

"Case close karne ki aukaat nahi hai tumhari.

Issliye jab tak hum achhe se baat kar rahe hain chup chap yahin pe baithe raho aur koi chalaki nahi.

Nahi toh mujrimon ke sath salook karne ka tarika hamara thoda alag hai.

Samjhe..ya samjhaoon.?"

Arjun said looking straight in to his eyes and the man fumed visibly.

"Tumhe pata hai tum kisse baat kar rahe ho officer? Ek phone.. Ek phone karunga aur tumahri iss puri team ki dhajjiya udd jayegi. Dubara department join karne se pehle tum logon ko mujhse maafi maangni padegi."

The man grabbed his phone quickly dialling a number, meanwhile the officers except Arjun and Rathore rolled their eyes in amusement.

"Hello ,mai bol raha hun .

Abhi ke abhi mujhe ye ETF ki team mere ghar se bahar chahiye."

The man talked over the call and seconds later the colour from his face drained from whatever he heard on the other side of the call.

"Kya?

Aese kaise mujhe nikal sakte hain party …....."

The man paused himself on hearing Rathore's chuckle and glared him.

"Ye sab tum logon ka kiya dhara hai.?"

(Flashback)

"Kuch bhi easy nahi hota Rathore, banana padta hai."

Arjun spat back , thus Rathore looked away from him an a second later something stroke his mind.

Straightening up Rathore pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialled a number quickly.