Arakshi OS: Ek Hassi

Sakshi walked in the ETF premises, her face a little down and her steps a little unsure. She wasn't upset because of yet another lecture she had received from Arjun, no, she was merely sad because she had lost her voice. But the reason was still unknown to her. Was it the midnight ice-cream she devoured or was it Arjun's constant prayers for her to shut her mouth, she didn't know. And frankly speaking, she didn't want to know.

As she entered the conference room, the chatter died and four heads turned to stare in her direction. Normally, Shree and Chotu would have yelled in greeting and she would reciprocate with an equally loud scream. However, instead of her usual cheerful greeting, she had to settle for a small smile accompanied by the wave. Although her strange behaviour puzzled everyone, they didn't question her as the two ACPs were present in the room.

Silently grabbing her seat, Sakshi just listened in to the discussion regarding the case they were assigned the day before. It was an unusual sight for the team. Sakshi and quiet? If someone told them that it would happen, they would have laughed and called that person crazy. But now that they were witnessing it, they couldn't help but wonder what had happened to her.

Realizing that his team was getting distracted, Rathore said, "Team, hume crime location pe ek baar phir jaana hoga. Aisha and Shree, you guys go with Rawte. Sakshi aur Chotu, tum dono mere saath chaloge. Lisa, I want the post-mortem reports as soon as possible."

Everyone waited with bated breath, hoping to hear Sakshi object and insist that she goes with Arjun. Ever since she joined ETF, she ensured that she gets to ride with Arjun, be it to the crime sight or her home. But she merely nodded and went to settle in Rathore's car. And the rest could only stare at her retreating figure with wide eyes.

In the SUV, Rathore decided to finally ask what they had been wondering since the morning. "Tumne aaj maun-vrat rakha hai kya Sakshi?", he joked.

His joke invoked the intended response. Sakshi laughed loudly, her mouth open and a hoarse voice sounding. The screeching sound surprised the two men in the car and they stared at her, bemused. She hadn't even realized that she was the only one laughing and now receiving confused looks.

"Sakshi, tumhari awaaz?", Chotu asked her, concern lacing his tone.

Realizing that she still hasn't shared it with her friends, she whipped out her phone and typed a message. Passing the phone to Chotu, she waited patiently for him to read it aloud. Chotu grabbed her phone and began reading.

'I had ice-cream as midnight snack last night. And now it seems that I lost my voice.', the message read.

The two glared at Sakshi as if she had suddenly grown a second head. She smiled sheepishly, silently apologizing for her irresponsibility of her health. She was aware of the protective feelings the men in the team held for her, some considering her their closest friend while some treated her like their sister. All, except one. Arjun. The man she had fallen in love with and the man who refused to show her any touch of kindness. But she knew how to deal with the 'angry young' man.

Arjun, however, was frustrated with her lack of talking. And even more with her not tagging along with him. Even though he wouldn't admit it, he had become accustomed to her endless chatting. As he drove to the place, his ears rang with the awkward silence that had enveloped the car and his temper skyrocketed. Why the hell was she not saying a word? Does it have anything to do with what happened yesterday? But I always yell at her. Why did she suddenly decide to heed to my taunts?, he wondered.

Over the months of working with her as a team, he gradually developed a silent bond with her. She was the only one after his wife's death who willingly tried to bring him back to his old self. She was the only one who believed his claims about the existence of Sikandar. And she was the only one who tolerated his behaviour and stood by him through the entire journey of avenging Roshni's death. But that came with a price; he was forced to bear her non-stop chatterbox nature.

And her silent behaviour bothered him, a lot more than he would like it to.

At the crime location, Sakshi was busy texting someone on her phone. Arjun had developed a habit of avoiding her as she constantly clung to him during cases. However, today he felt empty, not having her presence near him. Unbeknownst to his expressions, he glared hard at the phone, wanting to burn the person who had her undivided attention.

Minutes, that felt like hours, of staring daggers at her phone, Arjun realized that he was jealous. He didn't like it when Sakshi didn't hover around him. Rather, he enjoyed her company. Now that he no longer had it, it boiled his blood. Whoever dared snatch her from him will have to pay with their lives was his only thought.

Conceding defeat to his conflicting mind, he approached her. Facing her with a serious expression, he asked, "Tumhe kuch clue mila, Sakshi?"

Sakshi stared at him wide-eyed, surprised to see him initiating a conversation with her. Haye Arjun, tum voluntarily mujhse baat kar rahe ho? Tum kitne cute ho. Mann toh kar raha hai ki tumhara dimaag chaat jaaun. Lekin main tumse baat nahi kar sakti, she thought and a sombre expression came over her face. Oh how she wished she could pull his cheeks.

Mentally grinning, hoping that now she will have to talk, he cheered himself for his tiny victory. However, his happiness was short lived as she just shook her head and walked away. He stared at her back, gawking at her audacity of ignoring him. But he was not the one to give up so easily. He will get her to talk, even if that's the last thing he'd do.

What have you reduced me to Ms. Anand, he mused.

The team returned to their headquarters after solving the complicated case. The two ACPs stormed into their cabins, refusing to deal with their immature juniors. The five juniors sat together, gossiping and teasing each other. Sakshi could only manage to laugh as her voice decided to completely give up on her.

"Sakshi, tum please ek baar kuch bolo na. Chotu bata raha tha ki tumhari awaaz bohot madhur hai.", Aisha mocked her, causing her to pout and others to burst into hysterics.

Lisa, giggling under her breath, continued, "Haan Sakshi. Tum har roz jo gaana gaati ho, aaj apni surili awaaz mein gao na." More laughter followed. Sakshi wanted to yell at them to shut their mouths, but she knew if she said a word, it wouldn't really work in her favour.

Tum dono meri baari aane do. Itna chidhaungi ki sharm se paani paani ho jaogi, she cursed them in her mind.

But it seemed that her friends were in no mood of being merciful. Shree poked her, his eyes twinkling mischievously. She turned her glaring eyes to him. "Mujhe lagta hai ki Arjun sir aaj bohot khush honge. Finally unhe tumhari bakbak se chhutkara mil hi gaya."

Instantly, Sakshi smacked his arm and glared at him dangerously. Almost instinctively, she yelled, "Shree!"

However, her hoarse voice only served the purpose of having everyone in splits. She blushed, regretting opening her mouth and pouted. All her attempts of saving herself from their teasing comments failed and she ultimately joined in their laughter. However, a thought suddenly struck her mind.

If these guys are laughing so much from my voice, kya Arjun bhi hasega? Kya mujhe uss par try karna chahiye? Yun toh wo kabhi smile bhi nahi karta, lekin kya pata meri baithi hui awaaz hi use hasne pe majboor karde, she pondered before quickly rejecting the idea. Nothing could ever affect that akdu.

She typed on her phone, showing the message to her friends. 'Ek baar meri awaaz waapis aa jaaye toh tum sab ki khair nahi.', the message read. The team merely laughed even more.

On the other hand, Arjun was restlessly pacing his cabin. He couldn't understand why he was desperate to hear her voice. And not having an answer to a question agitated him. Several times in that day, he found himself lost in her thoughts. He would imagine the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something that she was passionate about. He would close his eyes and see her smiling face, offering him his chai. He didn't think he had ever craved for chai more than he did now, partly because he missed having her beside him. Even today, she had silently brought him chai, kept it on his table and left. No words were exchanged between the two.

Ceasing his movements, his eyes widened as he thought, Par mujhe kyun itna farak padh raha hai? Mujhe toh khush hona chahiye ki Sakshi mujhse baat nahi kar rahi. But why does it feel so empty without her?

Suddenly, his eyes fell on the giggling group of adults, who clearly acted like they were no older than 5-years-old, and his temper flared. Oh, so she can freely chat and laugh with her friends but mere saamne bhoot banke khadi ho jaati hai, he yelled in his head, hoping that his mind will respond with something to console him. But alas, nothing of that sort happened and now he needed answers. Answers for her ignorant behaviour.

Noticing that it was around 10 at night, he realized that it was time to retire for the day. Seizing this opportunity, he instantly walked out of his cabin and called Sakshi, "I'll drop you Sakshi.", before turning around and leaving.

If somebody had told them that they will all die tomorrow, it would have been less shocking than what Arjun just said. He was willingly offering, ordering Sakshi to ride with him home. And all those days, it was Sakshi who would forcefully sit in his car and make him drop her. Ignoring the teasing glances she was receiving, Sakshi squealed in her head, nodded and skipped out of the building after her Arjun.

No sooner had she stepped in the parking lot than she found herself pressed against the side of a black SUV. Eyes widened, Sakshi stared at a fuming Arjun glaring at her. His hands were on the either side of her head, effectively pinning her to the car. She gulped as his face moved closer to hers.

Hey Bappa, iss aadmi ke mood swings toh pregnant aurat se bhi zyada khatarnaak hain. Pata nahi ab kis baat ko lekar gussa ho gaya. Maine toh poora din kuch kiya bhi nahi, sending a silent prayer to God, she stared right back at him. There was no way she was going to let him intimidate her.

"Tum mujhe ignore kyun kar rahi ho?", his voice was dangerously low. Confused at his words, she slightly tilted her head and gave a questioning glance in his direction. Her looks irritated him even more. To him, it seemed like she was taunting him. And he was seething with anger.

He bent his head, lightly brushing their lips together. Her breath was stuck in her throat and her eyes widened even more, if that was possible. Pressing gently on their joined lips, he harshly questioned again, "Bholi banne ka naatak mat karo. Subah se dekh raha hoon ki tum mujhe avoid kar rahi ho. Jab bhi main tumse baat karna chahta hoon, tum bina baat kiye mujhse door bhaag rahi ho. Aakhir kyun Sakshi?" His voice rose to a shout by the end.

Although perplexed by both his affection and allegation, she didn't dare move from her place. Her hands moved to clutch his shirt, his warm breath causing her knees to weaken. And the brushing of their lips wasn't helping either. It wasn't a proper kiss, but it was a kiss nonetheless. Her heart warmed at the thought that he was bothered by her silence, maybe more than he would ever admit. Her mind was in a haze and she couldn't respond to his questions; she wasn't in the right state of mind.

Her silence was the last straw to his patience. All politeness flew out of the window and he violently demanded answers from her. "Bolo Sakshi. Kyun kar rahi ho mujhe?", he screamed angrily.

However, she simply shook her head in a 'no'. Her voice wasn't worth hearing, and he was assuming it to be her ignorance of his presence. And every second that ticked by, also ticked him off. The volcano was about to burst and she could feel it.

"Maine kaha bolo!", he yelled for the last time.

"Main nahi bol sakti Arjun!", Sakshi squeaked out instinctively. Her hoarse voice echoed in the empty and quiet parking lot. An eerie silence enveloped the atmosphere. Arjun's hands fell to his side, his mouth wide open in shock. Sakshi immediately regretted shouting because her sore throat began hurting even more.

Arjun's mouth opened and closed like a fish a few times, unsure of what to say. If her throat wasn't killing her, Sakshi would have cracked up on his dumbfounded expressions. "Tum...", his voice trailed off.

Suddenly, a sound filled her ears. A sound so foreign that she thought she had imagined it. Stunned to the core, she turned and her eyes fell on a laughing Arjun, tears spilling out of his eyes and hands on his stomach. Mesmerized by the sight, she stared at him in admiration. The way he eyes shined and his lips curved up, she didn't think she could ever get over the image imprinted in her mind. And she dared to think...he actually looked handsome.

She pinched herself to ensure that she wasn't dreaming. But it was all real. He was laughing. He was laughing! A graceful smile crawled to her lips as the realization settled in. Something good finally came out of her sore throat.

Jumping up in joy, momentarily forgetting about her pain, she exclaimed, "Tum hass rahe ho Arjun. Tum sach mein hass rahe ho. OMG I can't believe this. Maine finally apna challenge poora kar hi diya. Tumhare chehre pe muskurahat aa hi gayi. Good job Sakshi.", she patted her back in praisal.

Her raspy voice amused him and had him in splits. She beamed at him, displaying her pearly whites before she skipped to sit in the car. He could hear her whispering to herself 'tum toh kamaal ho Sakshi. SYS ko hasne par majboor kar hi diya.' Arjun, still chuckling loudly, stared at her retreating back and shook his head.

Yeh ladki mujhe paagal karke hi chhodegi, he thought, a smile still etched onto his lips.