Ariya The Wait - Page 7

Part 3

Ayesha: idiots! Ab bhugto!.....................................

Half-disheartened at the fact that they wouldn’t be able to talk freely in the presence of the second-in-command, they squeezed into the SUV. However, that did not stop them from chattering throughout the journey. Arjun adjusted the rear view mirror. Riya felt his gaze on her. She looked up and smiled at him before continuing her conversation.

They reached the theatre in time. Owing to the weekday, it was easy to get tickets and they booked an entire row for themselves. Riya, Ayesha and Chotu slipped away to get snacks while the others took their seats. On return, Riya noticed Arjun sitting on the last seat oblivious to what was happening in his surroundings, busy on his phone. Shree pulled her on the seat next to him. He was about to bombard her with questions when he got distracted due to Chotu snatching away his popcorn. She removed her phone and typed. Arjun’s phone beeped with a message.

Riya- corner waali seat mere liye pakdi thi?

Arjun smiled- chi! Hum dono ke ghar khaali hai, kiss karne ke liye theatre kyun?

Riya- thank god! Mujhe toh samaj mein nahi aata, log humesha privacy ke liye public place kyun chunte hai?

Arjun- kyunki woh bevkuf hai, meri tarah smart nahi

Riya- says the guy who hijacked a ladies washroom

Arjun- woh necessity tha, Rathore ko bhi hug kar liya tumne lekin meri taraf dekha bhi nahi

Riya- aapko dekhne ki bhala kya zaroorat hai mujhe? Aap toh mere dil mein hai

Arjun- oh please ye filmy dialogue mat maaro, bahana toh thoda original socho

Riya was about to reply when Shree turned back to her: Ri, itna muskura kar kise message kar rahi hai?

Arjun glared at Shree for the interruption but he did not see it.

Rathore: mangetar ko aur kise?

The others stared at him.

Shree: mangetar kab paida hua tera?

Rathore: andhe ho kya Shree, uske haath mein engagement ring nahi dikh rahi hai?

Liza mv “ye engaged hai? toh fir ye aur Arjun sir washroom mein kya kar rahe the?”

Chotu: haila! Ye kab hua?

Riya: kaafi time hua

Shree whined: tune bataya bhi nahi

Riya: shaadi nahi ki hai Shree, don’t worry, tujhe invite karna nahi bhulungi

A wide grin plastered to his face: fir theek hai, mujhe koi problem nahi hai

The lights dimmed pausing their interactions and the screen lit to life. They walked out two and a half hours later, their stomach full with popcorn and snacks.

Ayesha: yaar mera toh pet fat jaayega

Riya: sach mein, mujhe nahi lagta Chotu ke ilawa kisi ke andar khaane ki jagah bachi hai

Shree: ha, main bhi full hun, dinner postpone karte hai

All heads nodded in agreement.

Rathore: theek hai toh fir, kal office mein milte hai

Chotu: ji sir

They separated to find taxi’s as Arjun took the car with him. Sakshi followed him. He stared at her.

Sakshi: are ghar chod do, tumhe toh raaste mein padega

He was about to refuse when Rathore stole his prize.

Rathore: chalo Riya tum humare saath aao, chod deta hu

Riya glanced at Arjun momentarily: nahi sir main chali jaungi

Rathore: stop with the formality Riya, chalo!

He held her hand and dragged her along with him and Ayesha. The love birds looked at each other grimly. Arjun glared at Rathore and entered the car. Sakshi slipped into the passenger forcing the journey on him. He angrily turned the ignition and drove off.

Riya’s home-

She changed and snuggled into the bed when a message beeped on her phone.

Arjun- good night

Riya- sweet dreams

Arjun- tum aa gayi na? meri dreams apne aap hi sweet ho jaayegi

Riya smiled and shook her head in disbelief.

Early Next Morning-

A car drove into the pathway of her house. Arjun stepped out and hurried up the steps of the porch. He rang the bell repeatedly.

Inside, Riya was getting ready for office when the horrendous ringing made her run to the door.

Riya: aa rahi hu baba!!

Arjun’s phone rang. He picked up the call just as the door opened. Riya was about to squeal in surprise when he gestured her to remain quiet.

Arjun: kya hua?......(confused)abhi?.........(angrily) What The Hell Rathore!!! Ye Koi Time Hai Kya?........ (he looked at her apologetically) fine!!

Call disconnect

Riya: kya hua?

Arjun frowned: commissioner...meeting

Her shoulders drooped: abhi?

He nodded and she complained to him.

Riya: kya zaroorat thi phone uthaane ki?

Arjun: mujhe laga case ke liye hoga…warna mujhe kaunsa shauk hai uske saath baat karne ka?....jaana padega

Riya: koi baat nahi office mein milte hai

Arjun: hmm

She stepped forward to hug him. Arjun tightened his hold on her.

Arjun: muhurat hi nahi hai do pal chain se baat karne ka

She chuckled: atleast ek dusre ko dekhna ka toh muhurat aa gaya na?

Arjun: woh bhi hai,something is better than nothing (he kissed her forehead) milte hai

She nodded as he turned on his heel to leave for the headquarters.

ETF office-

The juniors were completing the paperwork, chatting happily due to the absence of the bosses.

Chotu: agar roz-roz Arjun air aur Rathore sir ki meeting ho toh kitna acha hoga na?

Ayesha: no way! Bure fasenge

Chotu: kaise?

Ayesha: Chotu, woh nahi honge toh case nahi honge aur case nahi honge toh….

Riya: field work nahi hoga aur agar field work nahi hua toh din bhar paperwork

Chotu(dramatically): NAAAHIIII!!!!!

The others burst into laughter.

A sharp voice reprimanded them: Koi Kaam Nahi Hai Tum Logon Ke Paas?

Startled they turned to the door to find Arjun seething in anger. Rathore walked in behind with a bored look on his face.

He defended them: Rawte! Sab tumhari tarah antisocial nahi hote. Unhe kaam khatam karna aata hai aur subah se itne chide hue kyun ho tum? Commissioner sir ke saamne bhi ulte-seedhe jawaab de rahe the

Arjun glared at him in response and left. Rathore shook his head in disbelief.

Rathore(sitting on his chair): pata nahi ise achanak-achanak kya ho jaata hai?

Sakshi: are subah ki chai nahi pee hogi, isliye mood ukhda hua hai

Riya raised her eyebrow: tumhe bahot pata hai

Shree teased: are Ri, Sakshi ko nahi pata hoga toh kise pata hoga? kyun Sakshi?

She blushed : shut up!

Riya: ooh waise

Shree winked at her: haa

Sakshi: are bas karo yaar

Rathore: kaam karte hue baat karne ki permission hai, baatein karte hue kaam karne ki nahi

They lowered their heads and continued. Riya mv “toh ye chakkar hai….sorry Sakshi but tum jis train ka wait kar rahi ho woh toh already mere station par pahunch chuki hai.”

Arjun’s cabin-

He was grumpily sitting in his seat, staring at nothing, twirling a pen in his hand. How he hated meetings! The damn commissioner couldn’t have chosen some other day and now he would have to wait till night again to talk to Riya in peace. A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts, irritating him further.

Arjun(annoyed): Get Lost!!!

A head peeked in: are you sure?

His eyes twinkled: Riya!

She smiled and entered. Placing the file in front of him, she sat on the opposite chair. Arjun pushed the file away.

Riya: sign toh kar dijiye

He made a face and signed it without sparing another glance at the content before pushing it away again. He extended his hand. She placed hers in his and they entwined their fingers.

Riya: meeting kaisi thi?

Arjun: don’t you dare Riya

She chuckled as he shook his head.

Arjun: waise ye file ka bahana kitna acha haina?

Riya: ha hai toh sahi lekin chai ka bhi bura nahi hai

Arjun(confused): chai kaha se aa gayi beech mein

Riya: aapki girlfriend keh rahi thi, aapko chai nahi mili isliye aapka mood off hai

He rolled his eyes: Sakshi?

She nodded with as much as a straight face as she could.

Arjun: are yaar, woh mera peeche kyun nahi chodti? Tum kuch kar nahi sakti kya?

Riya: main kya karu?

Arjun: nahi, mera matlab, hum itne saare cases dekhte hai kahi kisi lover ne jalan ke maare khoon kar diya, kabhi apne pyaar ko hi maar diya, waise kuch tum nahi kar sakti

She raised her eyebrow: ha aur khoon karke main jail chali jau? Scene kya hai huh? Dusri mil gayi aapko ek saal mein

Arjun: are saath mein jaayenge na, maza aayega

Riya: what? Aapko jail kyun jaana hai

Arjun: jail ho, ya kaala paani yaha se toh zyaada hi privacy milegi

Riya laughed: hey bhagwan, aap bhi na. itni si baat ke liye koi….

The door knocked and they immediately pulled away their hands. Shree entered annoying Arjun further.

Arjun: KNOCK KARNE KE BAAD JAWAB SUNNA HOTA HAI!!!!

Shree gulped in fear: woh, sorry sir, woh…Rathore, Rathore sir ne bulaya hai, ca…case, case aaya hai

The couple glanced at each momentarily with disappointment in their eyes.

Arjun: Bol Diya?

Shree nodded wordlessly.

Arjun: TOH NIKLO!!!

Scared of his wrath, he ran away.

Riya: Arjun sir…bhaag jaaye kya?

Arjun sighed: I wish!..............................