Ariya Saathi - Page 19

Aur bina kuch aur sune woh chala jaata hai...

Arjun ka mood pura din ukhda hua rehta hai. woh usual se bhi zyaada rude ho jaata hai.

Sakshi use enter karte dekh humesha ki tarah wish karti hai: Good morning Arjun!! Kaise ho?

Usually woh jawab nahi deta tha par us din: Apne Kaam Se Kaam Rakho!! Aur Agar Khud Kaam Nahi Kar Sakti Toh Dusro Ko Disturb Mat Karo!!!

Sab uski rudeness se alert ho jaate hai. Rathore use glare karta hai aur apna gussa control karne ki koshish karta hai. Ayesha use shaant rehne ka ishara karti hai. woh sar hilata hai.

Chotu(whisper): yaar aaj toh Hitler hitlergiri karne ke mood mein hai

Shree(whisper: ha yaar, sambhal kar rehna hoga warna pakka kisi gaav mein posting ho jaayegi aaj

Liza(whisper): par hua kya? Kal tak theek hai, achanak subah-subah inka mood kyun bigda hai

Shree use flat look deta hai: jaa, jaakar puch le

Liza use glare karti hai woh kuch bolne hi waali hai ki...

Arjun unhe glare karta hai: Kya Khusur-Phusur Kar Rahe Ho Tum Log? Kaam Nahi Hai??

Teeno dar kar apni files mein concentrate karte hai. kuch der mein case aata hai toh sab usme busy ho jaate hai. end mein khooni confess nahi kar raha hai. Arjun ki frustration aur badhti hai. woh apni 3^rd degree shuru kar deta hai. aur 10 minute mein uska muh khul jaata hai.

Rathore uske behaviour se irritate hota hai. woh us par blast hone hi waala hai ki Ayesha use side par le jaati hai.

Rathore(irritated): kya hai Ayesha?

Ayesha: Sam aapne kya decide kiya tha? ki aap unhe aapko affect nahi karne denge

Rathore: tum dekh nahi raho ho woh kitni manmaani kar raha hai? subah Sakshi ko daant diya, fir tum logon ko, fir case ke time aur ab ye...

Ayesha: main jaanti hun, dikh raha hai mujhe

Rathore: toh phir?

Ayesha: aapko aisa lagta hai ki unhe kuch bhi kehne se un par kuch asar hoga? Nahi na? toh phir kyun apna pressure badha rahe hai aap? Karne dijiye unhe jo karna hai woh, humara unse koi lena dena nahi, get it?

Rathore sigh karta hai: tum sahi keh rahi ho, use kuch bhi bol kar koi faayda nahi hai, khair chodo! (apni watch dekhkar) time to go home!

Woh conference hall mein jaa kar sabko free kar deta hai. team bhi jaldi-jaldi waha se ghar bhaag jaate hai kyunki unhe Arjun ke gusse ka shikaar nahi banna hai. Arjun on the other hand office se nikal kar seedhe restaurant jaata hai. woh enter karke idhar-udhar dekhta hai.

Tabhi ek waiter aata hai: sir, (ek table ki taraf point karke) madam waha aapka intezaar kar rahi hai.

Arjun nod karke us table ki taraf jaata hai. Riya apne phone mein busy hai.

Arjun(baithte hue): sorry raaste mein traffic tha

Riya apna phone side par rakhti hai: it's okay main bhi 10 minute pehle hi aayi

Arjun: hmm

Waiter aakar unka order puchta hai: ma'am regular?

Riya: ha

Waiter nod karke chala jaata hai. Arjun glass wall se baahar road ko dekhta hai.

Riya: aap upset lag rahe hai, commissioner sir se baat nahi hui?

Arjun (upset): hui thi (use face karke) par kuch faayda nahi hua. Unhone kaha ki ek mahina wait karo. Woh log kisi breakthrough par pahunchne waale hai

Riya: toh iska matlab ek mahine ke baad aap pure form mein uski band baja sakte hai

Arjun apni eyebrow raise karta hai: that's one way of putting it

Riya: aapse ek baat kahu?

Arjun: kaho

Riya: aap na muskurate hue itne ache lagte hai toh phir itni kanjusi kyun karte hai?

Arjun ke chehre par automatically choti smile aati hai: tumhare saath toh muskurata hun na? kaafi hai

Riya: ha woh toh hai, mere saamne toh aap muskurate hai waise bhi dekha jaaye toh acha hi hai agar kisi aur ne aapko dekh liya toh woh toh apne aap hi heart attack se mar jaayega including...aapka woh Sikandar. Aapko use goli maarne ki zaroorat hi nahi padegi, dekh lena!

Arjun softly held her hand as his smile widened: tum humesha mera mood kaise theek kar deti ho?

Riya tightened her grip on his hand: main kuch nahi karti sir, aapko bas apni dil ki bhadaas nikalne ki zaroorat hai, aur kuch nahi

Arjun exhaled deeply: ye bhadaas toh uski laash dekhkar hi niklegi Riya

Riya: I'm sure woh din jaldi aayega

Arjun: I hope so too

Dono baatein karte-karte dinner karte hai. Riya se baat karne ke baad Arjun ka mood bhi theek ho gaya hai. Dono parking mein chal rahe hai.

Arjun: thank you Riya, subah se dimag kharab ho gaya tha mera, ab acha lag raha hai

Riya: your welcome lekin

Arjun: lekin?

Riya (teasing): lekin mujhe inaam milna chahiye na

Arjun apni eyebrow raise karta hai: inaam? Kaisa inaam?

Use already vague idea hai ki Riya shayad kya maangegi lekin fir bhi usse puchta hai.

Riya(sweetly): thoda sa gaiye na

Arjun apni eyes roll karta hai aur humesha ki tarah baat ghuma deta hai: tum taxi se ghar chali jaogi na? ruko! Main tumhare liye lekar aata hun

Riya: this is not fair!! aap humesha mujhe bhagane ke mood mein hote hai (she crossed her arms and faced the other side pretending anger) jao main aapse baat nahi karti!

Arjun kuch kahe usse pehle wahi paas mein khade kuch ladke shuru ho jaate hai.

Ek: are koi baat nahi, usse nahi toh humse baatein kar lo

Riya ko gussa aata hai woh seedhe apni gun nikal kar load karti hai. sabki bolti band ho jaati hai.

Arjun mv "are yaar, ye toh sach mein bahot naraaz ho gayi hai. in ladkon ka jo hoga woh toh hoga lekin mujhe bhi zaroor kacha chaba jaayegi ye.

Riya: Bolo Kaha Baat Karni Hai? Area Ke Police Station Aaoge Ya Fir Crime Branch Mein?

Chaaro ladke waha se chup-chap bhaag jaate hai. Riya gusse mein mutter karke apni gun firse andar rakhti hai aur main gate ki taraf jaane lagti hai.

Arjun uska haath pakadta hai: are Riya suno na (He turns her towards him but she refuses to look at him) ab dekhogi bhi tum meri taraf? tum mujhse baat nahi karogi toh kaun karega Riya? ( he cups her face whilst shocking her) Aisa nahi hai ki main tumhare saamne nahi gaana chahta par mein kisi ke bhi saamne nahi gaa sakta fir chahe woh koi bhi ho, aaj tak kabhi Roshni ke liye bhi nahi gaaya. Tumse zyaada koi maayine nahi rakhta mere liye. tumhare bina main kaha jaunga?

Riya melts away and hugs him taking him by surprise. He hugs her back after initial hesitation.

Riya softly whispered in his ears: aap bhi mere liye bahot important hai.

A smile breaks on his face as he embraces her further. They stayed like that for a few moments before moving away from each other.

Arjun: ab toh taxi ki zaroorat nahi hai haina tumhe?

Riya: mujhe toh thi hi nahi, aapko zaroorat thi...mujhe bhagane ki

Arjun tries to make it up to her: ice cream?

Riya(cheerfully): ha!!

Dono firse normal hokar ek dusre ki company enjoy karte hai. baad mein, Arjun use ghar chod deta hai.

Arjun: have a good sleep

Riya nod karti hai: aap bhi (Woh car se utar kar fir mudti hai.) Arjun sir, meri ek baat maanenge?

Arjun(wearily): Riya main nahi gaa sakta hai

Riya apni eyes roll karti hai: woh nahi baba, kuch aur

Arjun(relieved): woh main kar sakta hun, kaho

Riya (staring straight into his eyes): main jaanti hun aapke liye Sikandar tak pahunchna bahot important hai aur uske liye aap kuch bhi karne ko raazi hai, kisi bhi had tak jaane ke liye taiyaar hai lekin mujhse vaada kijiye ki aap gusse mein aakar koi galat kadam nahi uthayenge, aap kabhi sahi aur galat ke beech ka farak nahi bhulenge

Arjun kuch pal ke liye chup rehta hai bas uski aankhon mein dekh raha hai: main vaada karta hun ki gusse mein aakar koi ulta-seedha kadam nahi uthaunga aur na hi kuch galat karunga

Riya(smiling): thank you!

Next day-

Arjun achanak se conference room mein enter karta hai.

Shree startle hokar use wish karta hai: goo...good morning sir

Arjun nod karta hai: kal ke case ka paperwork ho gaya?

Chotu(darte hue): woh...thodi der sir, bas ho jaayega

Arjun: hmm...jaldi khatam karo

Shree(whisper): hash! Aaj khadoos normal khadoos mode mein hai

Chotu(whisper): ha bach gaye

Thodi der mein Rathore aur Ayesha bhi aate hai. Ayesha Shree aur Chotu se ishaare mein Arjun ke baare mein puchti hai. woh dono bhi silently answer karte hai ki sab theek hai. utne mein ek case aata hai.

Rathore: ek ladke ne kisi ka khoon kar diya hai

Liza: kiska sir?

Rathore: uske baap ka, woh khoon se latpat police station pahuncha aur behosh ho gaya

Ayesha: matlab hume hospital jaana hai?

Rathore nods: let's go!

Hospital-

Ek ladki bed par leti hui hai. uski haalat bahot kharaab hai. uske haath par bandage hai aur idhar udhar injuries aayi hai. ek ladki uske paas baithi hai. ladki ke sar par bhi injury mark hai. Dono 20-22 saal se zyaada nahi honge. ETF waha pahunchti hai. ladka unhe dekh kar ladki ka haath pakad leta hai lekin uska face more or less blank rehta hai.

Rathore us ladki se puchta hai: tum kaun?

Ladki: main...Alok ki mangetar hun, Rachna

Rathore Alok ki taraf turn hota hai: hum ETF se hai, puch-tach karne aaye hai.

Alok Rachna ki taraf dekhta hai aur fir nod karta hai: main aapke sawalon ka jawab dunga.

Rathore use uske papa ki tasveer dikhata hai: inhe jaante ho?

Alok: ye mere papa hai, main...(cracked) maine inhe apne hi ghar mein maar diya

ETF uska blatant confession sunkar chouk jaati hai. Rachna ki aankhein bhar jaati hai. woh apni nazre jhuka deti hai.

Rathore: kyun?

Alok: main, unhe maarna nahi chahta tha. kuch din pehle main Rachna ko pehli baar ghar le gaya papa se milwaane. Woh bahot khush the aur unhone humari shaadi fix kar di. Kal unhone mujhe Rachna ko dinner par invite karne ko kaha taaki sagayi ki date fix kar sake. Lekin main office ke kaam mein fas gaya aur mujhe ghar jaate hue bahot late ho gaya. Jab main gaya toh maine dekha ki Rachna bed par behosh hai aur papa uske saath...humare beech haatha-paayi aur unhone fruit bowl mein pada chaku utha liya. Woh mujhe dhamkaane lage aur us sab ke beech pata hi nahi chala ki kab mere haathon unka khoon ho gaya. Mujhe toh kuch samaj mein hi nahi aa raha tha. waqt toh jaise tham sa gaya tha, Rachna behosh thi, papa mar chuke the, fir mein waha se police station chala gaya.

Rathore Ayesha se ishara karta hai. Ayesha Rachna ke paas jaa kar uske kandhe par haath rakhti hai. Rachna apne aansu ponch kar upar dekhti hai.

Ayesha: kya tum bata sakti ho ki kya hua tha?

Rachna gehri saans leti hai: main Alok ke ghar gayi thi. Woh office se lauta nahi tha lekin Uncle ghar par the. main unke saath casually baatein kar rahi thi. Hum Alok ka wait kar rahe the lekin jab der ho gayi toh unhone Alok ko call kiya par unka phone switched off tha. thodi der baad Alok ka saamne se phone aaya. Usne kaha ki woh kaam mein fas gaya hai aur uski battery bhi low ho gayi hai. maine soch main kisi aur din fir aaungi lekin uncle ne kaha ki main dinner karke jau. Lekin fir dinner ke dauran woh mujhe alag nazar se dekhne lage. Main uncomfortable feel karne lagi. Maine ignore karne ki koshish ki lekin woh nahi ruke, fir achanak unhone mera haath pakad liya. Maine chudaane ki koshish ki toh kehne lage ki unhone meri aur Alok ki shaadi ke liye manzuri isliye di taaki main waha rahu unke paas. Main bahot dar gayi. Woh mere saath zabardasti karne ki koshish karne lage aur us sab mein mera sar deewar se takra gaya aur main behosh ho gayi. Jab hosh aaya toh dekha ki ek constable mujh par paani chidhak raha tha aur main bed par thi. Aur uncle ki laash...woh rone lagti hai.

Ayesha use console karti hai.

Rathore: theek hai, aapke bayaan se toh sab kuch saabit ho jaata hai lekin fir bhi hume apni taraf se investigation karni hogi.

Alok bas apna sar hilata hai. ETF waha se chali jaati hai.

Shree: kaise-kaise log hote hai, apni bahu ke saath koi aisa kaise kar sakta hai?

Sakshi : Sameer, please kya hum kuch nahi kar sakte? Main maanti hun ki murder hai lekin usne apni mangetar ko bachane ke liye ye sab kiya

Rathore: murder is murder Sakshi, ab ye self defence count hota hai ya nahi ye baat court tay karega. Hum isme kuch nahi kar sakte. Anyway, Liza tum post-mortem karo. Shree, Chotu, Ayesha make sure they are telling the truth. Pata karo ki baap-bete ki rishte ke kaise the unke beech koi unban wagera thi ya nahi.

Sab nod karke apne kaam mein lag jaate hai. Unki taraf se bhi investigation mein wahi sab prove hota hai jo Rachna aur Alok ne kaha. 3-4 din baad Alok ki health behtar ho jaati hai. ETF firse hospital jaati hai unka final statement lene ke liye.

Rathore: aap ek final statement de dijiye, agar aapko kuch aur yaad aata hai ya fir kuch aur hai jo aap hume batane chahte hai toh kar sakte.

Alok aur Rachna firse wahi statement dete hai jo unhone pehle diya tha aur us par sign kar dete hai. ETF jaane waali hai, tabhi...

Rachna(tearfully): sir? (Rathore mudta hai) sir, Alok...Alok ko saza, I mean..

Rathore uski kashmakash samajta hai: humari taraf se case self-defence ka hi banega, lekin aakhri faisla Judge ke haathon mein hai.

Alok Rachna ka haath pakadkar use console karta hai: it's okay Sir, Thank you for your help.

Rathore nod karta hai. ETF chali jaati hai. Rathore car ki taraf jaate-jaate unhe instructions deta hai.

Rathore: ye statement file kar do, main formalities puri karke case band kar do..

Arjun: Nahi...