Lost and Found
The nurse entered the bedroom which had been practically made into a hospital. The girl on the bed was lying unconscious as usual. She went to the stand and changed the drip bottle discharging IV to her. She was about to leave when she felt the tube shift lightly. She reflexively looked at the patient. Her fingers were twitching.
Nurse(shocked): Raunak sir!!
She quickly checked her pulse. It was normal. The recovery was expected but sudden. Raunak dashed into the room.
Raunak: kya hua?
Nurse: sir inki pulse...
The lady slowly parted her lips: Ar...ju...n s..ir...
Two days later-
A car stood outside a B-grade lodge in the streetlight. The girl was waiting in the passenger seat. Raunak arrived soon and got into the car. She was surprised to see him alone.
Girl: kya hua?
Raunak: main gaya uske paas par woh tumse milna nahi chahta
Girl: milna nahi chahte matlab?
Raunak: maine use kaha ki Riya tumhara wait kar rahi hai but usne kaha ki main kisi Riya ko nahi jaanta aur darwaaza band kar diya mere muh par
Riya felt hurt and angry. She balled her fists tightly mv "of course kaun lagti hun main unki ki woh mujhse milna chahenge, maine socha tha ki aap sab ki tarah nahi hai par nahi! you're all the same!
Raunak: Riya?
Riya came out of her thoughts: ha?
Raunak: waapis chale?
Riya was about to answer positively when her ego came to slap her: Nahi!! unhe mujhse milna hoga!!!
Before Raunak could react she got out of the car and slammed the door.
Raunak rushed after her: Riya ruko, please! You're still weak, climbing steps is not good for you...tumhara stamina level bahot low hai abhi!
Riya: I don't care!!
She entered the lodge and headed straight for the steps
Receptionist: tum kaun ho? Kaha jaana hai?
Riya: apne kaam se kaam rakho!!!
And left before he could ask further questions.
Raunak caught up with her: Riya ruko! Agar woh tumse nahi milna chahta toh tum kyun uske peeche padi ho?
Riya ignored the question and continued climbing. It was only the first floor but as Raunak said she was still weak and started panting halfway through making her pause.
Raunak: Riya tum apni health kyun kharaab kar rahi ho? Chodo use
Riya(catching her breath): nahi
And before he could reason with her, she set off again. Raunak shook his head in irritation and followed her. Riya went straight to Arjun's door and started banging it.
Inside-
Arjun was busy reading a case file when the uncivil bangs disturbed him. Angry at the disturbance he put his file to the side and opened the door to shout but was shocked to see an equally angry pair of eyes looking back at him.
Riya's plan was to scream the second he opened the door but seeing him again, melted her. Even though she wanted to speak, no words came out of her mouth.
Arjun was in a worse position than her. As his brain registered he face that belonged to the eyes,he stood rooted to the ground, sure that he was dreaming! He blinked rapidly to snap out of it but the face remained. But how could it be? Riya Mukherjee was dead!
Seeing them as statues,Raunak broke their trance by coughing a little. Riya's eyes momentarily glanced at him but was back to Arjun who was still staring at her in disbelief. Her anger started rising again.
Firming herself she confronted him: Mujhe Aapse Baat Karni Hai!
Her voice broke the remaining spell of the shock. Instead of replying, he straight away engulfed her in his arms burying his face in her shoulder, startling her and Raunak. She became a statue again, unable to believe that he was hugging her so intensely.Slowly, she was able to lift her arms and hug him back. The second her arms went around him, she started sobbing. Feeling her tears, he softly caressed her back to calm her down.
Raunak looked away in order to contain himself.
Arjun slowly parted away once he felt Riya calm down and that's when she saw the unshed tears in his eyes.
Riya: sir!
Arjun smiled lightly and wiped them away. His smile gave another shock to her.
Arjun: I think, hume andar chalna chahiye
Riya could barely nod.Holding her hand, Arjun led her inside his room. Raunak silently followed them. Arjun made Riya sit on the bed and sat beside her. Raunak stood at a little distance unsure of what to do.
Both of them had numerous questions running in their head but neither of them knew how to begin.He gripped her hand, entwining his fingers with hers.
Arjun/Riya: Kaise?/ Kyun?
Their questions confused each other. Arjun was the first to snap out.
Arjun: main kuch samjha nahi
Riya teared up again: kyun kiya aap sabne mere saath aisa?
Arjun: kya kiya? Kya bol rahi ho Riya?
Riya: kyun chod diya aap logon ne mujhe? Aur...aapne bhi? aap sabke saath insaaf karte hai toh mere saath aisi Nainsaafi kyun?
Her words only confused him further: kab choda Riya? tum kya keh rahi ho? Aur...aur tum zinda kaise ho?
It was her turn to be confused now: Zinda kaise hun matlab?
Arjun: Riya...Xora, you...tum...tumne, humari aankhon ke saamne (controlling) tumhari saansein ruki thi
Riya(shocked): KYAA?!?! Aap Logon Ko Laga Ki Main Mar Chuki Hun???
Arjun: ha Riya, par kab choda humne? Kis baare mein baat kar rahi ho tum?
Riya's gaze waivered to Raunak: woh...main...I...(looking back at Arjun) I don't think I'm so sure now.
Arjun: Riya...
Riya: Raunak! (Arjun finally glanced at the new face) Raunak ko...he saved me. Main...Goa ke ek hospital mein lawaaris thi
Arjun: WHAT?!?! GOA?!!Tum Goa kaise pahunchi?
Riya: mujhe nahi pata
Arjun turned to Raunak: kaise mili tumhe Riya?
Raunak: woh darasal,main ek doctor hun aur ye ek bed par thi, mujhe waha kabhi bhi koi aata jaata nahi dikhta tha toh maine pata kiya toh pata chala ki woh akeli hi hai, yaha tak ki uska naam bhi kisi ko nahi pata, jab do din pehle ise hosh aaya tab mujhe pata chala ki ye Riya hai aur yaha rehti hai
Arjun: par woh hospital mein pahunchi kaise?
Raunak: ye toh mujhe bhi nahi pata, aur paralytic coma case tha, koi relative nahi isliye hospital bhi uska kharch kaise utatha? Toh main ise apne ghar le gaya
Finally, the question in Riya's mind started making sense to him. That's why, she had thought they had abandoned her. He turned to her.
Arjun: Riya, humne tumhe nahi choda. Tum baat karte-karte ruk gayi aur doctor ne kaha ki...we lost you.(lowering his eyes) maine khud tumhari aankhein band ki thi (sighing) ek baar pulse check kar li hoti toh usi waqt pata chal jaata...I'm sorry ye sab meri galti hai...meri wajah se tum...
Riya: sir please aap aise mat boliye aur...aur ab toh main waapis aa gayi na?
Arjun: hmm...Us Doctor Ki Khabar Toh Main Le Lunga Par (he suddenly cupped her face, startling her) tum theek hona? Chot toh nahi aayi? Aur aise ghum kyun rahi ho? Travel karke bhi thak gayi hogi, abhi toh hosh aaya hai aur tum ho ki aise inter-state travel kar rahi ho? Sharam nahi aati tumhe? Ek phone nahi kar sakti thi? Main khud aa jaata tumhe lene lekin nahi! tumhe toh bahot shaukh hai Jhansi ki Rani banneka! Bevkuf ladki! Itna bhi nahi samajti ko kabiliyat hona aur taaqat hone mein farak hota hai!!
Riya was clearly surprised at the shift in emotions. She had never seen him talk this way before. Unknowingly, crimson shaded her cheeks.
Riya: sir main...main theek hun
Arjun: shut up! Tum doctor nahi ho!
Riya was about to protest when Arjun turned to Raunak: Doc, iska kya karna hai? koi davai? Aur khaana-peena?
Raunak adjusted his collar: uh...woh...main prescription de deta hun, kuch vitamins lene honge, woh physically weak hai aur kuch dino tak agar junk food na khaaye toh behtar hoga
Arjun: theek hai(turning to Riya) tumhara ghar toh band hoga, chaabi kaha hai kuch pata hai?
Riya: woh...mujhe yaad nahi hai I mean, mere purse mein hi honi chahiye par...mera purse?
Arjun: office ke locker mein hai, anyway usme time lag jaayega acha main tumhe kahi aur le jaata hun
Riya: par sir...
But Arjun didn't listen,he got up from the bed and opened his cupboard. Stuffing few of his belongings and case files into his handbag, he closed everything and gestured Riya and Raunak to wait outside. Arjun locked his room and gave the key at the reception. The man was clearly shocked at the sudden decision but Arjun left before he could ask anything.
Riya: sir aap khamakha...
Arjun: maine tumse tumhara opinion nahi maanga Riya, har jagah apni naak ko ghusaane ki koshish mat karo!
Riya stared at him dumbfounded at the sudden arrival of the boss again. Arjun led them to the SUV.
Raunak: Arjun, it's okay. Humne hotel mein booking ki hai aur gaadi bhi...
Arjun: koi baat nahi Raunak, I understand, tum bhi thak gaye honge. Tum room mein jaa kar rest kar lo. Tumhe aane ki zaroorat nahi hai (shaking his hand) and thank you so much! Riya ko humare paas waapis laane ke liye. Tum soch bhi nahi sakte tumne hum par kitna bada ehsaan kiya hai. I owe you for life. (holding Riya's hand) aao Riya
Raunak somehow controlled the urge of blasting then and there. Arjun was clearly shooing him away. Riya was bewildered at the happenings and tried to reason with him.
Riya: Arjun sir aap Ra...
Arjun: ha Rathore sir se bhi baat kar lunga, tum fikar mat karo. Filhaal tumhe aaram ki zaroorat hai.
Without wasting another second Arjun forced her into the passenger seat, threw his bag behind and sped off.
Riya took a few seconds to register what was happening: sir! aap car ko aise kyun bhaga rahe hai? aur aapne Raunak ko kyun chod diya? Woh jaane ki baat nahi kar raha tha...
Arjun: main jaanta hun Riya
Riya(confused): jaante hai? toh fir...toh fir aap? (annoyed) Usne meri jaan bachayi! Aap uske saath aise kaise behave kar sakte hai, gaadi rokiye!
Arjun: ye gaadi nahi rukegi and for your kind information Raunak uska asli naam nahi hai aur most probably woh doctor bhi nahi hai
Riya: ye aap kya keh rahe hai? main jaanti hun use!!
Arjun: Riya tumhe hosh mein aaye sirf do din hue hai, tum kuch nahi jaanti!!
Riya: Arjun sir aap...
Arjun: do you trust me or not?!
Riya felt tongue-tied.She glanced behind, the lodge was far off by now and then looked back at Arjun.
Riya: par...main...woh...
Arjun: baad mein batata hun Riya, pehle, let's get you somewhere safe
Riya: safe? Matlab? Kaha le jaa rahe hai aap mujhe?
Arjun: wahi soch raha hun, official safe house toh shehar ke outskirts par hai. I don't want to cut you off from the city. Tumhara ghar definitely option nahi hai, I think m...
Riya: sir mere kuch samaj mein nahi aa raha hai
Arjun: Riya relax and sit back, hum thodi der mein pahunch jaayenge.
Unable to understand anything, Riya did as told but she wasn't able to relax. She kept fidgeting with her hands in confusion. A short while later, they pulled up into the driveway of a house. Arjun was partly relieved already, as he hadn't noticed anyone following them for any part of the journey.
Riya looked around in confusion, the garden was beautiful but ignored. Her breath caught in her throat as she climbed up the steps and her gaze fell on the nameplate bearing Arjun and Roshni's name.
Arjun opened the lock oft he house and entered into the house. He switched on the lights and turned towards Riya who was still on the steps, staring at the name plate.
Arjun: aao Riya
Coming out of her trance, she nodded quickly and walked inside. Arjun led her to a room and gestured her to sit on the bed. Arjun gathered from her constricted body language that she wasn't exactly comfortable in the house. Why though? He wasn't so sure.
Arjun: tum aaram karo,we'll talk in the morning okay?
Riya nodded lightly and Arjun left the room closing the door behind him. Riya felt a fresh burst of oxygen in her but still felt hesitant around the place. After all, she didn't want another dose of door raho mujhse. She lay down and looked around for ablanket but there was none. She thought about asking Arjun for one but then decided against it. She clutched the other pillow and closed her eyes. Within seconds, she fell into deep slumber tired from all the journey and rush of all the different emotions.
Arjun re-entered after afew moments: are Riya tumhare
He stopped seeing her asleep. He shook his head realising he forgot to give her a blanket. He opened the cupboard and removed a quilt. He covered her completely and sat on the edge. He still couldn't believe she was alive and in front of him. His hand automatically lifted to caress her hair. Dropping a soft kiss on her forehead,he left the room.
The happenings at the lodge flashed in front of his eyes. His brain stuck on when Raunak shifted his collar causing black ink to peep out. It was that instant that he recognised the symbol. The symbol of his worst enemy.
But he was confused,what was going on his mind? If he had taken her away, why did he bring her back? And why did he take her without him knowing about it? What was the point?He opened his laptop and opened the only file he had pertaining to the gang...His!!...
Index :-
Part 2 : pg 4
Part 3 : pg 8
Part 4 : pg 11
Part 5 : pg 16
Epilogue : pg 20
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