Ariya Of Roses and Thorns - Page 14

Part 7

He gripped her neck tighter creating friction on her injury.

Riya: AAAAHH!! ………………………

Arjun was burning. His anger for Sikandar was only increasing by the second. He wanted to kill him then and there. Unfortunately, his body was covered with her. Shooting his hands had chances of the bullet creating an exit wound and hurting Riya as well. Headshot was possible but dangerous. Only half of his face was in view.

Sikandar stepped back towards the front of the car: apni gun neeche feko!!!

He was attempting to get into the driver’s seat. Sameer subtly gestured Ayesha to go in the other side. She took steps forward, in sync with the others but at the same time in the opposite direction.

Arjun: Sikandar Chod Use! Warna Zinda Nahi Bachoge!

Sikandar laughed as Riya struggled to be free from him: nahi bachna hota toh tu ab tak goli chala chuka hota! Apni gun fek!!

Riya: Arjun…please

Her eyes pleaded with him to shoot. Arjun gripped the gun tighter not able to bring himself to put her life in danger.

Riya: please Arjun….you promised me!

Cursing her mentally, he got ready to shoot. Just then his eyes fell on Ayesha who had crept up from behind. She nodded at him. More confident, he took aim. Ayesha lunged forward and pulled Riya to a side. Arjun’s bullet shot out reaching its mark.

Riya: AAAHH!!!

Sikandar’s body fell to the ground in a pool of blood. Arjun rushed to Riya.

Arjun: Riya tum theek ho?

Riya nodded in a daze.

Arjun sighed: thanks Ayesha

Ayesha: aap thank you kyun bol rahe hai sir?

Sameer: are Ayesha sawal mat karo, Arjun Rawte ka thank you mil raha hai, seedhe-seedhe le lo kya pata fir kabhi mile na mile

Arjun rolled his eyes: shut up Sam

Sameer: why?

He glared at him but Rathore chuckled in reply.

Arjun: kaam nahi hai koi?

Rathore: hai na….Shree, Waha se saari laashein ikatha karo aur Local police se coordinate karo, (turning to Arjun) sirf Pydhoonie?

Arjun glanced at Riya: I think…

Riya: nahi, Mira Road par bhi ek jagah hai

Sameer nodded: theek hai, Chotu, tum aur Ayesha waha jao, inke saath jo bhi associated hai, sab ko uthao, main aur Arjun Pydhoonie sambhalte hai

Ayesha: ladkiyon ko kaha le jaaye sir?

Arjun and Sameer looked at each other.

Arjun: Saheli?

Sameer: nahi re, woh thodi choti hai, ek saath itna saara handle nahi hoga, Jeevan Nirmal?

Arjun gave him a thumbs up. Sameer turned to Ayesha. She nodded and they left. He turned back to Arjun and Riya.

Sameer: so tera khabri nahi but teri khabri hai

Arjun: yea

Sameer: but tum agar…waha kaam karti ho toh humari help kyun kar rahi thi? I mean choti-moti tips alag baat hai, tumhe paise milenge but apna gang kyun uda diya?

Riya remained mum. Understanding, Arjun spoke up.

Arjun: tu woh sab chod! Aur chal, bahot kaam hai abhi bhi…Riya tum humare saath hi raho

Sameer: ha fir baakhi ladkiyon ke saath-saath chod denge

Though not understanding exactly what he meant, she nodded obediently.

Arjun: Sam tu waha pahunch, main Riya ko doctor ko dikha kar aata hu, use chot lagi hai

Riya: uski zaroorat…

Arjun glared at her: puch nahi raha hu!!

Riya cowered. Sameer raised his eyebrow at the emotions on his face mv “khabri ke liye itni chinta?”

Sameer: theek hai, par jaldi aana

Arjun nodded. They went on their separate ways. Arjun drove towards a nearby hospital and they went into the ER. The doctor examined Riya and prescribed an ointment to help the wound heal.

Arjun banged the door shut when they sat back in the car. Riya flinched. She saw him gripping the steering wheel tightly. His behavior that day was confusing her. He turned to her.

Arjun: dard ho raha hai?

Riya: uh…thoda sa, theek ho jaayega…

Arjun: I’m so sorry Riya

Riya(taken aback): tum sorry kyun…

Arjun(distressed): mujhe sach mein nahi pata ki un logon ko kaise pata chala tumhare baare mein, meri wajah se unhone tumhare saath (he stopped) I’m really…

Riya: Woah hold on! Pehli baat, unhone kuch nahi kiya aur (She fisted her palms but he felt relieved) agar karte bhi toh it doesn’t matter! (he frowned) It is not different than any other day! Aur dusri baat main khud pakdi gayi thi

Arjun: kya matlab?

She narrated the incident at the brothel about how Pathan had played a trick to catch the informer.

Riya: tum logon ki side se koi information leak nahi hui

Arjun: fir toh Sam ne acha kiya

Riya: kya?

Arjun: Pathan ko goli maar ke, maine socha tha use zinda rakhenge, information mil sakti hai

Riya: woh tumhe madam ji se bhi mil sakti hai, unhe bhi bahot kuch pata hai, atleast thode contacts honge jo baahar ke logon ke baare mein bata sake

Arjun nodded: hm, waise bhi (he smirked putting on the ignition) mujhe uski shakal dekhni hai…this is going to be fun!

And fun he had. Madam ji was appalled on learning what had transpired. She cursed and abused Riya as they arrested her. The pimps of the gang too were all arrested. With the help of local police Sameer and Arjun wounded up the girls and they headed towards Jeevan Nirmal, an NGO for the rehabilitation of women and children.

Ayesha and Chotu met them there after shutting down the Mira Road brothel. Arjun sided upto Savita Tai.

Arjun: ek favour chahiye mujhe aapse

Savita: ha?

He subtly gestured towards Riya: please uska khayal rakhna aur agar ho sake toh aap jaha bhi use bheje woh khud monitor karna aur please use achi jagah par bhejna

Savita: ACP Arjun, hum aise hi unhe nahi bhejenge, pehle unki counselling hogi, uske baad skill training taaki woh khud ko support kar sake, uske baad hi woh NGO se baahar Jaayengi. Ab kaha jaana hai ye toh wahi tay kar sakti hai

Arjun nodded: ha but…fir bhi uska khayal rakhna

Savita was confused. She wondered why the officer was taking particular interest in the girl. Still, she agreed.

Relief washed over him: thank you so much!

He went back to the group where Sameer was thanking Riya.

Sameer:….tumhare bagair hum kabhi us gang ko pakad nahi paate. Maanta hun ki aise aur bhi kayi log hai aur trafficking ko ek jhatke mein is desh se nikal nahi sakte hum but har ek choti koshish kisi ki zindgi badal sakti hai

Riya: jaanti hun

Arjun: Riya…

She turned to him but a lady working there called out to her at the same time.

Riya: aa rahi hu

She glanced at Arjun. Her tiny smile greeting him again.

Riya: A few lessons have been learnt officer

Arjun smiled as the team looked at her in shock. She left.

Chotu: Arjun sir ye….

Sameer: waha helipad par bhi uski English fluent thi, kaun hai ye?

Arjun sighed: isi shehar ki ek aam ladki jiske sapne kuchal diye gaye

Their hearts sank. No wonder she was eager to help them get rid of the mess. But at the same time another truth dawned on them. Life was unpredictable. Anybody can see thee worse days of their life in the worst ways possible. Nobody in the common crowd would ever imagine living such a life. Yet, she had, she had been forced to. God had smiled upon her enough to have the nightmare be gone but how many like her would have the same fortune?

A week later-

Arjun’s car stopped outside the NGO. The commissioner had been very happy. The media was celebrating. They should have been celebrating too but the amount of post investigation work had kept them busy throughout the week. Finally, sparing time he decided to visit her.

He had been dying to see her the entire week. They hadn’t really had a proper conversation after the one in the car. The fact that she didn’t have a phone did not help either. He met the owner and asked about her whereabouts.

Savita: tum garden mein baitho, main bhejti hu use

Arjun nodded. He headed towards the garden and sat on a bench waiting for her. He looked around trying to distract himself. There were children playing around, a few women and some workers. After a few minutes he saw her figure walking towards him.

He immediately stood up. He could see uncertainty and confusion on her face. Realising it, his brain quickly started to cook up an excuse. She came to him.

Arjun: hi

Riya: hi….tum, yaha?

Arjun: ha woh…main ek kaam se aaya tha paas mein, toh socha tumse milta chalu

Her eyebrow furrowed. Arjun cleared his throat and indicated towards the bench.

Arjun: baitho na

Cautious and confused Riya sat on the bench. His gaze went to her neck. The wound had healed considerably.

Arjun: abhi bhi dard ho raha hai?

Riya: kaunse dard ki baat kar rahe ho

Arjun felt dumbfounded: uh…woh…main..

Riya: relax, mazak kar rahi hu

Arjun: tum thode halke mazaak kar sakti ho?

Riya: I’ll try

Arjun nodded. Silence set in for a few moments.

Arjun: so uh…aage kya plan hai?

Riya made a face: filhaal toh therapy mein hu

Arjun smiled: pasand nahi?

Riya: aisa nahi hai it’s just… mujhe pata hai ki cheezein meri control mein nahi thi us time, mujhse jo ban pada woh maine kiya, mere parents ki wajah se maine mudkar nahi dekha tab tak jab tak…jab tak us, raat tumne meri madad ki. I’m bored of repeating the same things again and again.

Arjun: so that should be good na? (seeing her confused face) mera matlab hai ki you are looking forward towards your future. Wanting to get away from the past is the first step. In fact woh step toh tumne usi din le liya jab tumne humari madad karne ka decision liya

Riya: tum agar is tarah mere shrink ki tarah baat karne waale ho toh main jaa rahi hu, I have enough sessions lined up

Arjun: are nahi! main toh bas generally keh raha tha

Riya: hmm…..par itna aasan nahi hai, ghar main waapis jaa nahi sakti aur

Arjun: aur?

Riya sighed: aur hum chahe jitni bhi koshish kar le, society kabhi bhi hume normal nazariye se nahi dekhegi fir bhale hi hum zabardasti waha kyun na ho

Arjun rolled his eyes: Riya, humari society ko saari cheezon se problem hai isliye woh baat toh tum karo hi mat, koi khade mein gire toh giraane waale ko suli par bhi chadhayenge aur jo gira use lecture de-dekar suicide karne par majboor kar de…..woh sab chodo. Tum ye batao ki agar, agar ye sab na hua hota toh kya karnewaali thi?

Riya: kya karnewaali thi matlab? Pani puri khatam karke ghar jaane waali thi

Arjun chuckled: are baba waise nahi, tumhara ambition kya tha?

Riya: mujhe software engineering karni thi

Arjun: really?

Riya: ya

Arjun: wow, toh ab kya karnewaali ho?

Riya: main soch rahi thi ki agar main yahi kaam kar saku, I could teach the kids, maine Savita Tai se pucha tha, unhone kaha ki kar sakti hu, fir staff quarters mein rehne ki jagah bhi milegi. Unhone kaha ki aage meri jaise aur ladkiyaan bhi aayengi toh main unhe bhi help kar sakti hu. It’s easier to relate to someone who’s been through the same.

Arjun: idea bura nahi hai, I’d be glad if you stayed (her eyes shot at him) I mean…(changing the topic) woh toh tum kar hi sakti ho but kya ab tumhe engineering nahi karni?

Riya: ab kaise hoga Arjun?

Arjun: are kaise waise chodo, tumhe karni hai ya nahi?

Riya: par Arjun….

Arjun: bolo na

Riya: Arjun it’s not possible

Arjun: are possibility ke baare mein tum mujh par chodo, ha ya na?

Riya: par…

Arjun: ha ya na Riya? itna bhaav mat khao!

Riya(surprised): main bhaav nahi kha rahi hu, practical….

Arjun: toh bolo na ha ya na

She fell into thought. Despite not being convinced, there was nothing she could wish for other than following her passion again.

Riya: …. Ha

Arjun jumped up: great! (he grabbed her hand) chalo!

Riya(shocked): kya? Arjun tum kya kar rahe ho? kaha le jaa rahe ho?

But he ignored her questions. Savita was surprised to see Arjun barging into her office with Riya at his tail. What was more shocking was the way he was holding her hand and pulling her along. She came out of her shock only when Arjun started talking.

He explained the scenario to her and she readily decided to help Riya get a correspondence admission. They used to do that for everyone who came to the NGO and wanted to pursue any sort of education. That way, Riya could pursue her studies and work at the NGO at the same time while earning a little as well.

Flashback Ends……………………