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Chapter One
Hello and goodbye
It was a full moon night. A car is seen parked along a deserted highway and a man is pacing near the car impatiently as if waiting for someone.
Man : Ek ghanta ho gaya aur yeh Vikash ka aabhi tak koi naamo nishan tak nahi. Aagar who khud aana nahi chahta, toh hume call karke yaha kyun bulaiya aur woh bhi ase sunshaan jagah pe. Kamse kam time pe toh aana chahiye . Aur tabse ushe mobile pe try kar raha hoon, phone bhi nahi utha rahe he.
The man decides to wait for some time and after waiting for half an hour , he decides to go. Through out the way, he tries to call someone repeatedly from his mobile and finally shakes his head murmuring to himself.
Man : Yeh Vikash bhi naa. Tab mobile utha nahi rahe the aur aab toh mobile hi switch off aa raha hai. Yeh Vikash toh so gaya lagta hai. Pehle toh Vikash kabhi aasa nahi karte the. Aaj use achanaak kya ho gaya? Kahi woh kisi muskil mein toh nahi phas gaye? Nahi nahi, yeh mein kya soch raha hu'. Phir bhi na jaane kyu aasa lag raha hai mujhe ke kahi na kahi kuch na kuch huya hai uske sath.
Just then his mobile rings. Thinking it to be Vikash, he picks up the mobile without seeing the caller screen.
Man : Haan, Vikash, bolo.
Caller : Vikash, kaun Vikash' Aare Abhijeet, yeh main bol raha hoon, Daya.
The man is shocked and then only he sees the caller screen after removing the mobile from his ear. Stunned, he keeps on seeing the caller screen for a few moments before coming to senses and before he knew it, his feet lands on the brakes.
Abhijeet : Daya, tum aabhi'. Woh mera matlab hai ki ' Tum aabhi tak soye nahi ?
Daya : Tum mera choro aur waisi bhi woh sawaal main tumse puchne wala tha . Waise tum aabhi ho kaha aur tum kaun Vikash ki baat kar rahe the aabhi ?
Abhijeet : Vikash' Woh' Woh aasa hai ki woh mera ek acha dost hai .. Baas itna hi aur kuch nahi.
Daya : Abhijeet, maine kaha tha na tumse ke tum mujshe kuch chupa nahi sakte . Pata nahi par mujshe aasa lag raha hai ki tum mujshe jhoot bol rahe ho.
Abhijeet : Tumahra dimag toh theek hai, Daya ? Yeh kya bol rahe ho tum? Bhala mai tumse kya jhoot bol sakta hoon, hain? Suno, yaar, main aab aapna mobile rakh raha hoon. Main Vikash se milna ja raha hoon. Woh mera phone nahi uthaa rahe the jabki usne mujshe khud aapne ghar bulaiya aur kahaa ki uske tabiyaat thora kharaab hai. Mujshe uski phikaar ho rahi hai.
Daya : Par tumne toh mujshe kabhi kisi Vikash ke bare mein nahi kaha. Aur toh aur-
Abhijeet (interrupting in anger): Daya, yeh jaroori hai kya mai tumshe har dost ka naam batayoon? Main yeh jaroori nahi samjha isliyeh maine kabhi tumse yeh Vikash ke bare mein nahi kahaa.(Now his tone becomes teary) Aur waise bhi aagar main tumhe yeh bata doon ki yeh Vikash ne mera saath kya kya ush din toh tum ujse jaan se maar do ge. Isliye behter yehi hoga ki tum mujshe iss ke bare mein kabhi na pocho.
Daya : Par, Abhijeet, tum meri baa-
Daya's heart literally breaks into pieces to hear the teary tone of his best friend's voice before the call is cut. He becomes determined to console his friend and find out what happened to Abhijeet on that fated day. Because as far as he knows in all these thirteen years, he has never heard Abhijeet use that teary tone with him before. Pulling on his jeans and a shirt, and locking his home, he jumps in his Quallis and moves in the direction of Abhijeet's home.
Here, along the highway, Abhijeet do not even has a answer why his tears are flowing heavily. He, CID Senior Inspector Abhijeet , whom is considered as the brain of CID and the right hand of the soul of CID , ACP Pradyuman, is crying like a baby who has lost its mother.
Then only he remembers he told Daya about Vikash. But unknowingly, he blurted out about Vikash, his once time best friend in his teen days, whom he considered as a brother, when he was to tell Daya about his informer, Vikash. He remembers Vikash, his once time best friend, as the handsome and flirty playboy who names his girlfriends as if he was reciting a poem. Vikash always used to tease Abhijeet about his lack of girlfriend and his down to earth attitude. Because of this, Vikash always tries to set him up with some beautiful girl whom he chooses , but it always ends with the same disastrous results, with the girl blaming Abhijeet that he is too serious and needs to loosen up. Later, Vikash would laugh at Abhijeet and reminds him to loosen up otherwise girls will never come near him because of the role of bookworm, that Abhijeet potrays. Abhijeet could remember Vikash telling him as if it was yesterday .
Vikash (laughingly): Kya yaar, Abhi, tum bhi na. Bechari ladki ko aise hi bhaaga diya. Pata hai maine who ladki khas karke tumahre liye suna tha. Aur tum ho ki'. Yaar, kabhi toh kisi ladki ko dekha karo yaar. Nahi to tum hamesha aise hi rahogi, samjse. Aur itna bookworm mat bano yaar' Tume meri tarah aish karna chahiya.
Yes, Vikash would definitely say like that . Since Vikash was from a rich family, it does not matter whether he would seriously take his studies or not because he was to take over the reins of his father's empire as he was the only child of the Narayans. But since Abhijeet was from a average family, he has to take his studies seriously. But despite this, one is from a rich family and the other from a simple family, their bond of friendship never dimmed, instead it grew into a strong one even though they went on to the college. Their friendship was the envy of many others and even though, many tried to divide them, instead it only grew strong because of the trust and strong belief they used to have in each other.
During their days at the university, it was the same. Their friendship is always strong, never to be seen with suspicion, and even saving each other from various troubles. Before their graduation, not wanting to lose Abhijeet, Vikash has even offered the post of Vice President of the Narayan Enterprises , telling Abhijeet that he at this post while he himself as the CEO, the Narayan Enterprises will be a force to reckon with. But Abhijeet remembers himself telling Vikash that he has no wish to join the corporate world, rather he wants to join the Police Force. Though at first , Abhijeet remembers Vikash feeling sad, then he laughingly waves it off saying that he will find someone else. But even then Abhijeet could clearly see the pain behind Vikash's eyes of losing Abhijeet when he steps in the Police Force. And likewise, on their day of graduation, Vikash has been sad at having to lose Abhijeet but he made Abhijeet promise to keep in touch as always.
As Abhijeet remembers, that has been the last day each has seen each other physically . After that, Abhijeet has only seen his friend in tv and newspapers, becoming a famous and ruthless CEO, while he himself becoming busy as a police officer, never getting time time to call and their routines keeping each other busy. Though at first, their calls have been frequent but later turned scarce and after that turned non existent. And suddenly , just like that , a call from Vikash came to him one night. It was a rainy day and at night also, it was raining and that too,quite heavily. He was returning from a bone tiring undercover mission after six months and he was tired as hell. At first he thought he was dreaming when he heard Vikash message on his caller machine. He could not even imagine what had forced Vikash to call him at that time of the night and that too after two whole years? Vikash has called Abhijeet to his home on an urgent matter for which he need his help. That night , as he remembers, has been the bone chilling night for the experience which he has experienced. Even thinking about it now gives him sadness for that has been the day when Vikash has betrayed him. Never before till then has he thought that Vikash will betray him in that way.
Abhijeet's train of thoughts comes to an end when his phone beeps and he sees a message alert flashing on it. He opens it only to see some words and numbers written in it.
The message is as follows : Bl-7-5-2-0-1Real
Big Apple Opposite LA
Bl24
He quickly sees the number from which it comes and realizes that this is of his informer Vikash brother's number. He quickly saves the message in a file in his laptop and deletes the message from his mobile. Just as he was closing the laptop and planning to go to Vikash's home, his mobile again rings. Seeing the caller screen, he sees it that it is Daya. He receives it.
Abhijeet : Kya hua, Daya? Tum abhi tak jage ho?
Daya : Yeh kaisa behuda sawaal hai, Abhi? Khud jage ho aur mujse yeh saawal puch rahe ho. Ab kuch mat bolo sirf meri baat dhyaan se suno. Mai nahi jaante ki tum kaha ho par mai tumhare khar ke verandah pe baitha huwa hoon. Aab jaldi jaldi ghar aa jao. Weather dekh raho ho tum , barish hone ko he. Agar barish mein tum bheeg gaye to tumein sardi ho jayegi aur waise bhi to tumhe sardi se allergy hein.
Abhijeet (laughingly) : Itni chinta, hain?
Daya (teasingly) : Aare mujshe kaha itna chinta ? Woh mai sirf apne hone wale bhabhi ki taraaf se bol raha hoon warna toh woh yehi samjegi ki mai apne bhai ko bharish mein bheegne ke liye chor ke aa gaya.
Abhijeet : Daya, bakwaas band aur daat under.
Daya (trying hard to control his laughter, resulting in snort) : Main kaha haas raha hoon?
Abhijeet : Daya, sudhar jaa, samjhe, warna tum gaya samjo.
Daya : Ok boss, tum khali aao jao wapas jaldi se. Tumhara bina yeh dil nahi lagta mera '
Abhijeet (smily tone): Yeh kiski taraaf se bol rahaa ha, hain?
Daya ( teasingly) : Dr. Tareeka ke taraaf se.
Abhijeet(in anger) : Dayaaa'.
Daya : Aa jao jaldi wapas, boss. Main wait kar raha hoon'
Abhijeet : Yaar Daya, ek baat hai, suno. Mujshe Vikash ke ghar pe jana hai aur main yeh keh nahin sakta ki mujshe kitna der ho jayega. Isliye tum chale jao.
Day : Main hilna wala me se nahi hoon samjhe. Tum jab tak nahi aaoge main kahi nahi jana wala.
Abhijeet : Yaar, Daya, meri baat mano aur tum ghar chalo jao.
Daya : Par Abhij-
Abhijeet : No ifs and buts. Chalo, apne ghar jao and goodnight.(Softly) Aur Daya, aapna khayaal rakhna, ok.
Daya : Abhijeet, tum theek hona na? Pata nahi, par mujshe bohot daar lag raha hai tumshe. Tum aise kyun keh raho ho jaise yeh hamari aakhri mulakaat hai? Tum kuch kaarne wale toh nahi ho?
Abhijeet : Nahi toh. Mai baas aise hi. Kya ek baaray bhai aapne chotay bhai ke liye khayaal nahi rakh sakte? Tum aaksar meri takleef ke baare soch soch kar khud ko bhul jaate ho. Isliye keh raha hoon ki apna khayaal rakhne ke liye. Chalo,aapna phone rakhta hoon, bohot baat kar liya aur Daya, aapne ghar jao aur so jao, ok. Main bhi Vikash ke ghar pe jake apne ghar ke taraaf jaonga, ok.
Daya : Par, yaar, tum uske ghar abhi ja rahe ho aur woh bhi itni raat ko? Tum kaal ke liye nahi ruk sakte kya? Tab main bhi tumahre saath ja sakunga . Aur waise bhi woh tumahre saath-
Abhijeet (interrupting softly): Daya, jo ho gaya so ho gaya. Ab beeti baat par rone se kya faida, hain? Usse mujshe jaroraat hai, toh mujshe jana parega ki nahi, yeh tum hi batao? Isliye main uske paas ja raha hoon. Aisa kuch bhi nahi hoga jaisa tum soch rahe ho.
Daya ( convinced) : Theek hai, yaar. Mujshe tumpar bharosa hai. Goodnight aur tum apna khayaal rakhna, ok.
Abhijeet (softly) : Tum bhi, goodnight.
Daya keeps on thinking about Abhijeet's unusual night ride, finally moving in the direction of his house in his quallis, detemined to ask him the next day.
Abhijeet keeps on watching the deserted highway for a few minutes after ending Daya's call. He felt as if there was a big lump in his throat. Not only has he lied to his closest friend about Vikash but he has also kept everyone in dark about his real intention. For a moment , he muses what will happen to others if they comes to know of his real motive. But he knows that he cannot back now that he has the upper hand. But his tears again threatens to come out at the prospect of others whether he will see them again or not. Finally, he wipes his tears.
Abhijeet (deteminedly): Ab rone se kuch faida nahi hone wala. Jo hoga woh baad mein dekha jayega. Daya, mujshe maaf kar do, yaar. Agar main tumhe yeh sab kuch bata deta to tum'. tum mujshe kabhi akela jaane nahi dete. I am really sorry, Daya.
Saying this, he closes his eyes for a minute and when he opens them a minute later, his eyes becomes hard and he becomes the CID officer that everyone knows as Senior Inspector Abhijeet. He switches off his mobile and starting his car, he moves in the direction of Vikash's house.
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Chapter two
Unexpected news
The next day turned out to be a bright and sunny day, with no clouds and with a clear sky. Daya could not help humming a song while driving his quallis to the bureau. He has decided to go early so that he could talk to Abhijeet about the previous night and knowing Abhijeet, Daya knew that he will come to the bureau as early as possible.
But when Daya reached bureau, he could tell that something was wrong. The other quallis, a sign that Abhijeet was present, was not there. An unknown fear striked in his heart and Abhijeet's words last night echoed in his mind.
Without wasting time, Daya went inside the bureau, skipping stairs every time. When he entered the bureau, his fear turned into reality. His senior, ACP Pradyuman of CID was in his cabin on phone and was talking furiously, judging by his facial expressions. His subordinates- Fredricks, Vivek, Sachin, Kajal and Nikhil are looking at ACP worriedly with Abhijeet to be seen nowhere.
The moment they saw Daya enter, Fredricks almost ran to him in hysterics.
Fredricks (worriedly) : Daya sir, aap aa gaye? Abhijeet sir aapke saath nahi aaye?
Vivek (worried too) : Haan sir, ACP sir kaafi samay se Abhijeet sir ke mobile try kar rahe the. Par mobile switch off aa rahe the aur abhi bhi switch off hi aa rahe hai.
Daya (shocked) : Kya matlab, Abhijeet ka phone switch off rahe hai? Pehle toh kabhi aisa nahi hua. (He also tries Abhijeet's number, but the result is the same)
Kajal : Haan sir, ACP sir aapko hi phone karne wale the ki tabhi achanak sir ko doosra call aaya aur woh apne cabin me chale gaye . Par pata nahi akhir woh hai kaun par ACP sir kafi samay se apne cabin me baat kar rahe hai.
Just then ACP Pradyuman comes out of his cabin.
ACP : Haan Daya, tum aa gaye. Yeh Abhijeet kaha hai?
Daya : Pata nahi, sir. Mujshe laga ki woh yehi bureau mein hai. Shayad who raaste mein hongein.
ACP ( angry) : Agar woh raaste mein hai toh uska mobile kyun switch off aa raha hai? Woh mujshe kaun batayga?
Daya ( noticing ACP's anger) : Sir, aap theek hai? Aap kuch-
ACP ( irritated) : Nahi, main theek nahi hoon, Daya, bilkul theek nahi hoon main. Pata hai abhi abhi kiska phone aaya tha? Mera khabri, Ramesh ka. Pata hai usne mujshe kya kaha ?
Daya (curious) : Kya kaha sir ?
ACP : Aaj woh jab aapne ghar se nikalkar aapne juwa ke aade par gaya waha ushe ek khabar mili ki kaal raat ko Malad me ek gaon me ek ghar pe aag lag gaye or toh or waha ush ghar mein sub kuch jaal kar khaag ho gayein.
Sachin : Par sir, waha uss gaon mein aag lagi kaise air toh aur kisine use bujane ki koshish kyu nahi ki?
Daya : Haan sir, Sachin theek keh raha hai, waha aag lagi toh lagi kaise aur kisine woh ghar ko aag laga hua kaise kisine nahi dekha ?
ACP : Mujshe khabar mili hai ki, kaal raat ko shaadi the us gaon me, kisi Baburam ka beta ka aur sab log uss dulha ke saath chale gaye uske dulhan ko lane ke liye, joh hi doosre gaon pe hai. Isliye kisine dekha nahi.
Uss shaadi mein sirf do aadmi dulhan ke saath nahi gaye the baaki saab aadmi log gaye the. Aur ha, auraat log ghar pe the apne baacho ke saath. Pata chala hai ki auraat log aag bujane ki koshish ki thi par yoh log akele kitna karte?
Woh do aadmi jo shaadi mein nahi gaye the woh dono use ghar mein the jis ghar pe aag lagi aur pata hai woh dono kaun hai?
Vivek (brimming with curiosity) : Kaun the, sir?
ACP ( nows looks at them in their eyes) : Woh dono bhai the, Vikash aur Aakash. Aur yeh Vikash, pata hai kaun the? Abhijeet ka khabri tha.
All are stunned. Daya reels back in shock, he suspected something like this would be coming. And suddenly he remembers the name of some Vikash mentioned by Abhijeet yesterday .
For a moment, all are too stunned to say anything. Then someone voiced the one and only question , all were thinking in their heads.
'' Par sir, aisa kaise ho sakta hai? Mera matlab yeh hai sir, ki, koi bhala Vikash aur Aakash ko kyun maarna chahega? Kya un dono ke pass aisa kuch tha tha jo woh dono Abhijeet sir ko dene wale the? ''
Except ACP, all turns their heads to see Nikhil who has voiced his query.
ACP( again irritated) : Wohi toh problem hai, Nikhil. Yeh baat sirf ek hi aadmi jaante hai aur woh hai Abhijeet. Aur ab woh gayaab hai. Pata nahi yeh Abhijeet kar kya rahe hai? (To Daya) Abhijeet ne tumhe kuch bataiya tha kya? Woh agar mujshe kuch chupata hai bhi toh who tumshe kuch nahi chupata, hai na, Daya?
Daya (worried and thinking at the same time) : Pata nahi, sir. Par isbar mujshe lagta hai ki shayaad Abhijeet ne mujshe jhoot bola hai.
All are surprised and shocked, ACP the most.
ACP ( more surprised than shocked) : Yeh tum kya keh rahe ho Daya? Abhijeet aur tumse se jhoot. Abhijeet aisa kar hi nahi sakte. Yeh tum kya bol rahe ho Daya?
Fredricks( confidently) : Haan sir. Abhijeet sir aapke saath kabhi aisa kar hi nahi sakte.
Nikhil : Haan sir. Abhijeet sir aisa kabhi nahi kar sakte aur woh bhi aapke saath. Main naya naya aaya hoon sir par itni kaam dino mein main jaan gaya hoon sir ki Abhijeet sir aur aapke bich kaafi gehra rishta hai sir. Abhijeet sir aapke saath aisa kar hi nahi sakte.
This brings tears in the eyes of everyone present there. ACP moves upto Daya and puts his hand on Daya's shoulder.
ACP ( softly) : Daya, kya kaal raat ko tum Abhijeet se miley the?
Daya ( Sad) : Nahi sir' Abhijeet kaal raat ko'. Woh bohot dukhi'. ( remembers the teary tone in which Abhijeet told him about Vikash) And then Daya tells everything what had happened the previous night, right from the call he made to Abhijeet to the unusual tone in which Abhijeet wished him goodnight.
Daya ( teary) : Sir, mujshe tabhi shaq hua ki Abhijeet mujshe aise kyun baat kar rahe the jaise woh uski aakhri din ho? (His tone becomes too teary) Mujshe kaal Abhijeet ke saath chala jana chahiye tha, par pata nahi kyun usne mujshe aisa kaha ki yoh akela hi chala jayega kyunki use kahin jana hai.
Aur aaj subah main Abhijeet ke ghar pe gaya tha toh ghar ke darwaze par tala laga hua tha aur subah ki newspaper bhi para hua tha. Maina socha tha ki woh tabhi bureau ke liye jaldi nikal gaya hoga par aab lagta hai ki woh kaal raat se ghar pe pohoja hi nahi.
ACP( consoling Daya) : Dekho, Daya, Abhijeet ko kuch nahi hoga.
Fredricks ( teary and consoling at the same time) : Haan Daya sir, Abhijeet sir ko kuch nahi hoga. Hum hain na sir, hum log Abhijeet sir ko dhoond ke nikalenge. Aap please roiye maat.
Daya ( teary) : Aare Freddy, main kaha ro raha hu. Yeh to baas aisa he'.
Both he and others knew that its a lie.
Daya ( suddenly determinedly) : Sir, main Abhijeet ke ghar jaata hoon sir. Padoshiyo se shayaad kuch pata chal jaye.
ACP ( business like tone ) : Nahi Daya. Tum Sachin aur Kajal ke saath Malad me uss gaon me jaon aur is Vikash aur Aakash ke bare mein pooctach karo. Main, Vivek, Fredricks aur Nikhil, Abhijeet ke ghar pe jate hai.
All moves out. Just about when ACP, Vivek, Fredricks and Nikhil were about to move out, ACP's mobile rings. ACP signals others to move on. Daya and his team moves on in his quallis while ACP moves at a little distance away to talk. The colour of his face immediately drains after hearing something on the other side.
Vivek ( curious) : Freddy sir, yeh ACP sir ko achanak kya ho gaya? Chehra ka rang ekdum chala gaya. Lagta hai koi baara baat hai.
Fredricks ( also curious) : Haan, Vivek' Lagta to kuch aisa hi hai'
Nikhil : Sir, kahi Abhijeet sir ke baare me toh nahi hai? Kahi unhe kuch ho toh nahi gaya?
Fredricks (angry) : Yeh kya bol rahe ho, Nikhil? Subh subh bola karo samjse. Yeh kya anaab shanaab bole ja rahe ho ?
Nikhil ( apologizing) : Sorry sir. Main toh baas aise hi-
Vivek (interrupting) : Freddy sir, kya humein ACP sir se pooch lena chahiye ki aakhir baat kya hai?
All three moves towards ACP, who is staring blankly. All three looks at each other. Then, Fredricks decides to take the initiative.
Fredricks ( cautiously) : Sir, kya aap theek hai? Kya hua sir? Kya Abhijeet sir ko kuch hua hai? Sir, kya hua?
Only then ACP comes out of his stupor and looks at them.
ACP ( still shocked) : Freddy, DIG sir ka phone tha. Woh yaha aa raha hai.
Freddy ( shocked) : Kya aabhi or who bhi iss waqt ? Hum unhe kya jawaab denge aur itni achanak usse kya ho gaya jo yaha aana para?
ACP : Ek naya Senior Inspector aa raha hai hume join karne ke liye, Senior Inspector Ajay.
Vivek ( shocked) : Par Abhijeet sir ka kya hoga? Hum to-
ACP ( interrupting) : Vivek, aab Abhijeet kabhi nahi aayega.
All ( shocked) : Kya !!!!
ACP ( now looks at them in their eyes) : Abhijeet ne kaal raat ko CID se resign kar diya hai.
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[ MEMBERS_ONLY ] [ NO_COPY ]
Chapter Three
The end of everything...
Throughout their journey to Malad, Daya could not help thinking about what happened last night.
Vikash, that' s what Abhijeet has mentioned has mentioned the name and that too so painfully. He has never heard the name of Vikash from Abhijeet's lips until yesterday.
What has happened in his past for which Abhijeet still feels pain even now?
Daya felt his eyes being threatened by tears which were trying to overcome his vision. It was as if he was feeling Abhijeet's pain and sorrow. Pain for the fact that he could not help his best friend overcome that grief which was caused by this so called Vikash many years back.
Never for a moment, he thought that Abhijeet is being betrayed by someone whom he trusted more than his own life. The way that Abhijeet carries himself is so perfect that nobody can suspect of his once loss. Perhaps, Daya muses, that even ACP sir did not knew until now. Why, even he himself did not know, being his closest friend until yesterday.
Wiping his tears discreetly, so that Kajal and Sachin won't notice notice, he vows to find this so called Vikash. But finding Abhijeet is more important now.
But what he could not understand was why Abhijeet has never told him about Vikash in all these past fourteen years. All this time they have been together but never even once has the name of Vikash passed through Abhijeet's lips.
Sachin and Kajal both noticed their senior, Daya who seems to be deep in thought, finally sharing a glance.
Kajal finally takes the initiative.
Kajal (curious) : Kya hua, sir ? Aap kuch pareshan se lag rahe hai ?
Daya (startled) : Kuch nahi, Kajal. Main baas aise hi kuch soch raha tha.
Sachin (curious) : Vikash ke bare mein ?
Daya : Haan. Yeh soch raha hoon ki Abhijeet ne mujshe kabhi kisi Vikash ke bare mein nahi bataya. Na hi main yeh jaanta hoon ki Vikash ke naam ka koi khabri bhi tha. Abhijeet ne kabhi bhi mujshe bataya nahi.
Sachin (surprised) : Aisa bhi toh ho sakta hai ki Abhijeet sir ne shayaad aapse kehna bhool gaye hai iss Vikash ke bare mein.
Daya (shaking his head) : Nahi, Sachin. Mujse aisa nahi lagta. Yeh kuch aur hi baat hai'.jo Abhijeet mujshe chupa raha tha'pata nahin kyun'kya who mujshe itna shaq ki naazar se dekhte hai?
Both Sachin and Kajal feels sad to hear the tone of sadness in his voice. Still they do not have anything to console Daya with. For a few minutes inside the car, a pensive atmosphere lingers.
Daya (talks to himself suddenly startling them) : Agar batana nahi chahte the toh theek hai, maat batayo, par aise gayaab hone ka kya matlaab nikale hum. Kaamse kaam kuch to bata kar jaate, aise kyun bina batakar chale gaye? ( More to himself) Tumhe pata bhi hai hum saab logo ko kitna fikaar ho raha hai tumahare bare mein'. Kaamse kaam ek baar to aa jaao' Sirf ek baar'..
Sachin (determined) : Sir, aap chinta maat kijiye. Hum log Abhijeet sir ke baare mein pata laga ke hi rahenge chahe humari jaan kyu na dene pare.
Kajal (also determined) : Haan sir. Hum pata laga ke hi rahenge.
Without saying word, Daya determinedly drives his quallis towards Malad, knowing fully well that none of them from the CID team will leave any stone unturned in finding Abhijeet.
''''''''''''''..
Here, outside the bureau, all the three are staring transfixedly at ACP Pradyuman, the three being Fredricks, Vivek and Nikhil.
Fredricks (shocked) : Yeh aap kya keh rahe hai sir? Abhijeet sir ne resign kar diya? Yeh kaise ho sakta hai or yeh baat DIG sir ko kaise pata?
ACP : Abhijeet ko pata tha ki main uska resignation letter kabhi nahi leta or agar leta bhi hoon, toh pharke waste bin mein phek deta. Isliye woh seedha DIG sir ke paas apna resignation letter de diya.
Vivek : Par Abhijeet sir ne aisa kyu kiya or kab kiya? Abhijeet sir toh kaal humare saath hi-
ACP, Fredricks and Nikhil looks at him when they saw Vivek staring blankly.
Vivek (in a trance) : Tabhi toh Abhijeet sir jaldi''aur Daya sir'..
ACP (urgently) : Kya hua Vivek? Tum kuch kehna chahte ho?
Vivek(coming to his senses) : Sir, kaal aap jab shaam ko kuch kaam ke liye nikaal gaye the tabhi thori der baad Abhijeet sir bhi nikaal gaye the yeh keh kar ki unhe kahi urgent jaana hai. Daya sir ne kaha tha ki woh Abhijeet sir ko drop kar dega par Abhijeet sir ne saaf mana kar diya yeh keh kar ki woh akela hi chala jayega.
Fredricks (now remembering) : Haan sir, aur tabse Abhijeet sir bureau mein laut ke waapas nahi aaye. Hum sabko yehi lage ki shayaad Abhijeet sir apne ghar gaye honge. Humne Daya sir se poocha bhi tha par unhone yeh kaha ki shayaad Abhijeet sir kahi door gaye honge kyunki Daya sir ne Abhijeet sir ko phone karne ki koshish ki thi aur tab Abhijeet sir ka mobile out of range bata raha tha.
At Fredricks' answer, ACP simply sighs and shakes his head.
Nikhil : Kya hua sir?
ACP : Mujshe pata nahi tha ki Abhijeet kuch aisa karne waala tha aur woh bhi itna planning ke saath.
Vivek : Kya matlaab sir ?
ACP (looking directly in their eyes) : Vivek, Abhijeet aam aadmi ke taraah kabhi nahi sochta. Tum Abhijeet ko nahi jaante. Woh sab kuch poore planning ke saath karte hai. Tumhe pata hai usse itna jaldi Inspector se Senior Inspector kyun promotion mila. Issi dimaag ki liye. Vivek, Daya ko toh main samaj sakta hoon par Abhijeet ko abhi bhi samaajne mein thora waqt lagta hai. Usse harkaat to paar nazaar rakh kar bhi kehna muskil hai ki woh next kya karne wala hai.
Tumhe logo ko kya laga woh Abhijeet ka mobile out of range baar baar kyu dikha raha tha? Yeh Abhijeet apne paas ek phone jammer rakha hoga tabhi toh uska mobile out of range bol raha tha.
Aur rahi baat uski door jaane ki, yeh sab bhi Abhijeet ke plan hi hai. Taki woh ussi samay ke bich Delhi ja saake kyunki Mumbai se Delhi itna door nahi hai, sirf do ghaante ki doori par hai agar flight se jaaye toh. Haalaki mobile off karna parta hai plane mein, Abhijeet ka mobile out of range bata raha tha , iska matlaab yehi hua ki usne apna mobile kisi ke paas rakha hoga jammer ke saath taki kisiko shaq karne ka mauka hi nahi mile aur jise bhi usko call kare toh yehi lage ki Abhijeet kahi door hai kyunki mobile toh out of range hi batayega jammer ke kaaran.
After hearing ACP's explanation, nobody knows what to say. Suddenly ACP's voice cuts the silent atmosphere.
ACP (to the three) : Tum teeno Abhijeet ke ghar jao aur pata karo padoshiyo se ki kaal raat Abhijeet ghar pe aaye the ya nahi ? Aur haan, kuch bhi ajeeb baat pata chale toh mujshe toorant batana. Main yaha bureau mein rukta hoon, Ajay ke liye bureau mein toh koi na koi hona chahiye.
ACP is about to go when Nikhil's voice stops him.
Nikhil (hesitatingly) : Sir, hum baaki logo ko kya jawab denge ?
ACP turns and looks at them for a few seconds before turning back again and goes inside the bureau. Though ACP Pradyuman did not spoke a word, they could clearly see the pain behind his eyes at having to lose Abhijeet, whom he always cared and loved more than his own son.
''''''''''''''''''
After a silent journey, Daya, Sachin and Kajal reached Malad. After asking for directions from a paaserby, they finally reached the destined village.
From what they could see, it clearly shows that the village though quite small, looks quite happy and prosperous. Yet, for some reason, the trio could not shake the feeling that something is hidden deep within the greens of the village, waiting to be found.
Getting down from the car and finding no one around them, they decided to go to a nearby hut. Daya was just about to knock when they heard footsteps behind them. Turning back, they saw a middle aged man looking at them curiously.
Man (brimming with curiousity) : Aap log kaun hai ? Kisi se milna hai aapko ?
Day (looks at the man from bottom to top) : Haan...waise aap...
Man (smiling) : Mera naam Bhola hai, yaha paas uss ghar mein rehta hoon (points to a good looking house nearby). Boliye aap logo ko kis se milna hai ? Vikash se milna hai aapko ?
Daya (alert and suspicious) : Yeh baat aapko kaise pata chala ki hum log Vikash se milne aaye hai ?
Bhola : Yeh Vikash se milne sirf aap log hi nahi aaye hai. Pehle bhi, usse milne do aur log aate the.
The trio are shocked to hear the revealation from him. Daya shows the photo of Abhijeet.
Daya (urgently and showing the photo) : Kya unn dono me se koi ek yeh tha ?
Bhola (keenly looking at the photo) : Nahi sahaab. Yeh aadmi woh nahi hai. Woh aadmi toh koi aur hi tha. Dekhne me toh kisi aache ghar ke lagte hai.
Kajal : Aur woh doosra aadmi ? Uska kya ?
Bhola : Madamji, aadmi nahi balki larki.
Sachin (suprised) : Kya !!! Ek larki ??
Bhola (remembering) : Haan sahaab. Woh dono aksaar Vikash se milne aaya karte the.
Daya : Accha, aap aab yeh bataye ki kya aap ko poori aachi tarah se unn dono ka chehra yaad hai.
Bhola : Jyaada toh yaad nahi, par jitna yaad hai woh main aap logo ko bata sakta hoon.
Daya : Theek hai. ( To Sachin) Sachin, tum jaldi jao aur ek sketch artist ko bula ke lao.
Sachin goes off for his designated task.
Daya ( to Bhola) : Accha, kya aap yeh bata sakte hai ki woh dono Vikash ke saath kya karte the'.. mera matlaab yeh hai ki kaha milte the ya kya karte the ?
Bhola (shaking his head) : Nahi sahaab. Jab woh dono aate the toh woh Vikash ko hamesha aapne gaari mein kahi leke jaate the aur haan, hamesha Vikash teen ghante ke baad aapne ghar pohoj jaata tha. Vikash hamesha subaah 6 baaje unn dono ke saath jaate the aur 9 baaje waapas aate the. Usse subaah jaate huye hamesha mein dekhta hoon aur laut te samaay mein meri biwi dekhte hai kyunki main hamesha 8 baaje kaam ke liye nikaal jaata hoon.
Just then, Sachin comes with the sketch artist and in a few minutes, the sketches of both the persons are made.
Kajal (showing the sketches to Bhola) : Aapko poora yakeen hai ki woh dono yeh dono hi hai ?
Bhola (confident) : Ji madamji. Yeh dono hi the.
Daya : Accha, aap ek aur baat bataye. Aapne inn dono ko akhri baar kaab dekha tha ?
Bhola ( remembering) : Inn dono ko maine aakhri baar parsho'.haan, parsho subaah dekha tha.
Kajal : Aur ek baat. Aapne humse yeh kaha tha ki yeh do log iss Vikash se aakshar milne aate the, toh aakshar matlaab ? Mera matlaab hai, haar roz aate the ya kabhi kabhi ?
Bhola (remembering) : Nahi, madamji. Haar roz nahi, balki ek saphtah mein teen bar aate the yani ki ek mahine mein teen char baar aate the. Aur woh bhi hamesha alaag alaag gaari main.
Sachin : Accha, aap ek aur baat bataiye. Yeh Vikash karta kya tha ?
Bhola : Yeh Vikash kya karta tha koi nahi jaanta. Jab usse koi poochta tha toh woh baat ko taala deta tha.
Daya : Aur uska bhai, Aakash ? Woh bhi kuch karta tha ya aise hi'.?
Bhola (surprised) : Aakash ? Kaun Aakash ? Vikash ka door door tak nahi koi bhai ya rishtedaar tha. Woh akel hi rehta tha yaha.
The trio looks at each other surprised.
Kajal : Par yeh kaise ho sakta hai ?
Bhola : Haan madamji. Yehi saach hai. Vikash ka koi bhai nahi tha. Woh hamesha yaha akela hi rehta tha.
Sachin (whispering to Daya) : Tab toh sir, jaroor kuch na kuch garbaar hai. ACP sir ka khabri ne toh hume yehi bataya tha ki Vikash ke saath saath uska bhai Aakash ka bhi maut ho gaya hai.
Daya (also whispering) : Hmmm''. Daal mein jaroor kuch kaala hai. (Now talks to Bhola at a normal volume) Accha, who sab kuch theek hai, par kya aap hume uss jagah pe le ja sakte hai jaha Vikash rehte the ?
Bhola takes them through various twists and turns, finally reaching Vikash's house, only to stop dead in their tracks. They could not believe their eyes at the scene which was unfolded before them. Everything has been burnt down to cinders. Seeing the scene before them, all their hopes were dashed in finding anything which could lead them further towards this case. Still, they tried to find anything, but in vain. They could not find a single thing, like a piece of string or a button. Nothing, they could not find anything.
Sachin (to Daya) : Nahi, sir . Aisa yaha kuch bhi nahi mila jisse hum kuch pata lage saake ki yaha kya hua tha.
Kajal : Haan sir. Yaha toh sab kuch jaal kar khaag ho gaya. Haar jagaah dhoonda, par kahi bhi kuch bhi nahi mila.
Sachin (to Daya) : Sir, aab hum kya kare ? Hum toh phir se wohi pe aa gaye jaha se shuru kiya ha.
Sachin and Kajal both looks back to see Daya pulling his gloves in a trance, all the while looking at the heap of ashes of what has been once the house of Vikash.
Suudenly, Daya looks at Bhola.
Daya (to Bhola) : Aapka bohot bohot shukriya. Aapne humari kaafi madat ki.
Bhola (smiling) : Aare nahi nahi, sahaab. Isme shukriye kis baat ki. Yeh toh mera farz tha. Aaye, mai aap logo ko aapke gaari tak chorke aata hoon. Mana maat kijiyega.
Having no choice, they goes with Bhola.
Bhola (to the trio) : Waise mujshe yeh baat samaj me nahi aa raha hai ki koi bhala Vikash ko kyun marega. Woh larka toh kabhi kisi se saath jyaada baat bhi nahi karta tha. Phir koi kyun'''
Daya looks at the man. Though he looks to be simple, his mind seems to be sharp, but even he himself could not help thinking what Bhola has said.
No, perhaps they were missing something. Various questions arose in his mind like
1. What does Vikash has to do anything with Abhijeet ?
2. Who has killed Vikash and why ?
3. If this Vikash was Abhijeet's informer, then why did Abhijeet kept him as a secret from his closest friend ?
But one thing keeps on coming in his mind every now and then. Is Vikash's death somehow related to Abhijeet's sudden disappearance ? Now, as he muses that his mind is not able to grasp the sudden happenings around him but his heart seems to to be telling him that somehow Vikash and Abhijeet seems to be working on something together. And whatever they seems to be doing, it looks like that some third party also knows their motive. If they have wiped Vikash from their way, then most likely Abhijeet will be next on their list without any doubt.
No, as Abhijeet's closest friend and as a fellow CID officer, he cannot let that happen, no matter what happens. But the main problem is that no one, not even he himself knows wher Abhijeet is at this moment. For anyone knows, Abhijeet could even be kidnapped or dea-'
No, he tells himself firmly as he stops his train of thoughts. He knows that Abhijeet is not someone to be taken lightly. He is someone who can strike back at any time when given the chance, always waiting for the right moment. Why, many times, as far as he knows, Abhijeet has even come back from the jaws of death unscathed.
Now, squaring his shoulders, he makes himself determined to find out the connection between Vikash's death and Abhijeet's sudden disappearance .
Finally, reaching the quallis, the trio again thanks Bhola profusely, finally moving on.
Sachin (to Daya, noticing him deep in thoughts) : Sir, kya hua ? Aap kuch soch rahe hai ?
Daya : Pata nahi, Sachin, par mujshe kyu aisa lag raha hai ki humare haath se kuch choot raha hai par nazar nahi aa raha hai' Aisa kuch hai jo humare abhi bhi pakaar ke baahar hai'.Par samaj mein nahi aa raha hai ki aakhir woh hai kya ? Aur tum logo ne ek ajeeb baat notice kiya ?
Kajal (curious) : Kya sir ?
Daya : Pata nahi, par mujhe aisa lag raha ki shayaad kahi na kahi is Vikash ki maut or Abhijeet ki gayaab hona, kahi na kahi, jaaror koi baara coonection hai. Tabhi toh ek ki maut aur doosra gaayab'.
Aab mujshe dheere dheere yaad aa raha hai ki pichle kayi dino se Abhijeet ko haar roz kaafi baar bureau se nikalte huye dekha tha, jab koi case nahi hota tha tab bhi. Tab maine dhyan nahi diya tha, par aab aisa lag raha hai ki shayaad Abhijeet iss Vikash ko milne jaate honge. Lekin kis baat ke liye''
Sachin : Shayaad, sir, aisa bhi toh ho sakta hai ki Abhijeet sir koi case pe kaam kar rahe the.
Daya : Nahi Sachin, agar aisa baat hota toh ACP sir ko jaroor pata hota par ACP sir ko dekhar toh yeh nahi lagta ki Abhijeet koi case pe kaam kar rahe hai hume bina bataye.
Kajal : Haan sir, yeh baat toh hai. Aur ek baat, yeh dono hai kaun (and looks at the sketches). Kahi inn dono ka haath toh nahi hai Abhijeet sir ki gayaab hone mein ?
Shayaad yeh dono Abhijeet sir ko pakar ne mein kahi uss Vikash ke paas toh nahi gaye the ? Aur agar woh dono kuch aur hi kaam ke liye uss Vikash ke paas gaye the toh Abhijeet sir ko iss baat ki khabar the ya nahi ki jo aadmi Abhijeet sir aaksar milne jaaya karte the, ussi aadmi ko milne ke liye koi aur bhi aata tha.
Sachin : Haan sir, aur ek baat. Uss Bhola na hume kaha tha ki Vikash se milne do log aate the par kabhi Abhijeet sir ko uss mein jaate huye nahi dekha. Toh yeh baat toh pakki hai ki Abhijeet sir iss Vikash se milne kahi aur jaate the.
Par ek baat toh hai, yehi ki yeh do log Abhijeet sir ko jaante the ya nahi. Agar jaante the toh hai kaun woh dono aur agar nahi jaante the, toh kya Abhijeet sir ko iss baat ki khabar the ki unke khabri se milne koi aur doosra log bhi aate jaate the.
Not a word comes from anyone of them, each one realising that none of them have the answers to these questions.
[ MEMBERS_ONLY ] [ NO_COPY ]
[ MEMBERS_ONLY ] [ NO_COPY ]
Chapter Four
Pieces
For a few minutes , not a single word comes from anyone of them, only the sound of heavy breathing is heard, which seems to fall loudly in their ears. Finally, the sound of Vivek's voice rouses all of them.
Vivek (to Fredricks) : Sir, hume Abhijeet sir ke ghar jaana chahiye. Wahi se hume kuch pata chal sakta hai.
The trio, being Vivek, Fredricks and Nikhil moves in the direction of Abhijeet's house silently. Reaching Abhijeet's house, Vivek reels back in stunned surprise.
Vivek (to Fredricks) : Sir, Abhijeet sir ke ghar ka darwaaza toh khula hua hai.
Fredricks almost runs to the house. When he is about to open the gate, a girl and a boy comes out of the house suprising the trio.
Nikhil (also surprised) : Sir, yeh toh koi aur hi hai. Yeh log Abhijeet sir ke ghar pe kya kar rahe hai ?
The two teens are surprised to see the trio coming up the gateway.
Girl (surprised) : Yeh log kaun hai ? Kahi NGO se toh nahi hai ?
Boy (laughingly) : Yeh kya bol rahe ho ? Yaha hum log kya hum kisi bache ko kidnap karke rakha hai ?
Girl : Rahul, tum bhi na. Kabhi toh serious-. Chalo rehne do. Hum log poochkar dekhte hai.
Rahul (jokingly) : Ok, madamji. Ab chale.
The girl punches the said boy's shoulder playfully and goes up to the trio.
Girl : Ji boliye. Kya aap logo ko kuch chahiye. Kya aap log NGO se hai ?
The trio looks at each other bewildered.
Vivek (to the girl) : Hum log NGO se nahi, balki CID se hai.
The two teens reels back in stunned surprise.
Rahul (surprised) : CID se ? Yaha kya kaam aa para CID se ? Hum log to-
Girl (interrupting and stomping on the boy's foot) : Aap log iss ke baat par bura maat maniye. Yeh toh aise hi'. Sab kuch bol deta hai ( stares and frowns at the said boy, who gives a embarassed smile to her who rolls her eyes) Mera naam Pari hai. Aap log aandar aaye toh'.. please maana maat kijiye.
The trio urgently enters the house only to see three more teens sitting on bags and suitcases gossiping with each other.
Rahul (to the other three teens) : Oi bacho log. Kuch log aaye hai. Dikhay nahi deta kya. Kuch gaaram ya thanda lekar aao.
Vivek is about to refuse politely, but stops seeing their eagerness.
Pari (to the trio) : Aaplog mana maat kijiyega. Yeh toh humein biswaas nahi hota ki CID waale humein milne aaye hai. Hearing the name of CID, a crash comes from the kitchen. Rahul runs to the kitchen, only to laugh in hysterics.
Rahul (to someone in the kitchen) : Kya Nita ? Itni darr gayi CID ka naam sunte hi ? Milne ke baad kya hoga, wahi behosh maat ho jana.
Nita (in the kitchen) : Tum toh chup hi raho samjhe. (Mimicing his voice) Milne ke baad kya hoga, wahi behosh maat hi jaana.
Nita comes out with a tray with tea while Rahul comes with the other tray full of snacks, still trying hard to control his laughter.
Nita (to the trio) : Sir, lijiye na.
Fredricks taking the cup of tea, looks at the five teens carefully, who looks like normal college going teens. Till now, there seems to be no harm in them. Finally, it is him, who starts the conversation directly to the point.
Fredricks (to the teens) : Aap log college students hai ? Toh yeh ghar aapko kaise mila ?
Rahul (to Fredricks) : Darashal, baat yeh ki hum log Chennai se hai. Hum log yaha ek hi college se hai. Hum log ek ghar dhoond rahe the, ek chota sa ghar rent pe, tabhi yeh Sid (points to one boy) ko iss ghar ke baare mein pata chala.
Sid : Mujshe pata nahi tha ki yeh ghar khali tha. Main jaane waala tha ki tabhi mujshe wall pe ek notice dikhai diya ki yeh ghar sale ke liye hai or neeche ek contact number tha.
Maine woh number ko call kiya or woh log hume iss ghar ko rent pe dene ke liye taayar ho gaya. Par aap sab log yeh kyun pooch rahe hai ? Yeh illegal toh nahi hai ?
Vivek : Nahi, nahi. Yeh illegal nahi hai. Baat yeh hai ki yaha aap logo se pehle humare ek Senior Officer rehte the. Yeh unka aapna ghar tha.
Jose (one of the teens who seems surprised) : Kya, yeh unka aapna ghar tha ?
All the five teens starts looking around.
Pari (confused) : Par unhone aisa kyun kiya ? Koi bhala aapna itna accha ghar kyun bechega ?
Nikhil : Uss dealer ko aane do, phir dekhenge ki aakhir baat kya hai. Aapne uska naam kya bataya ?
Rahul and Sid (together) : Sir, Dhyand naam tha unka, Mr. Dhyand.
Just then all hears the unmistakable sound of a gate opening. Jose, who is nearest to the door, watches dicreetly towards the gate and confirms that the man which is coming towards the house is none other than Dhyand, the house dealer.
Just as Dhyand enters, Jose shuts the door locking it and smirks at Dhyand smugly, who looked taken aback by his actions.
Dhyand : Yeh kya baatamiji hai ?
Nikhil (to Dhyand) : Sorry, Dhyandji, usse aisa karne ko humne kaha tha (coming out from behind the curtains with Vivek and Fredricks)
Dhyand looks surprised at their sudden appearance.
Dhyand (angry) : Aap logo ne ? Aap logo ki himaat ki-
Dhyand did not get to complete his sentence when he found himself pulled towards them by his collar by Fredricks.
Fredricks (angry) : Dekh hum log CID se hai. Aur hum log aab tum se jo poochte hai uska sahi sahi jawaab dena samjhe (leaves Dhyand's collar who startled by this sudden movement, falls ungracefully on the sofa, who now looks quite shaken up by his angry behaviour).
Fredricks : Chal. Aapna kahani shuru kar. Yeh ghar tumhe kisne becha ? Aur jaldi jaldi bata warna ter-
Dhyand (fearfully) : Sir, aap log mera biswaas kijiye. Yeh ghar khud mujshe ghar ke malik ne becha tha, Mr. Desai ne.
Nikhil (surprised) : Desai ? Yeh Desai kaun hai ? Yeh ghar toh Abhijeet sir ke hai, Senior Inspector CID se. Aab yeh Desai bich mein kaha se aa gaya ?
Dhyand : Mujshe kuch nahi maloom sir. Yeh Mr. Desai ka hi ghar tha. Usne yeh ghar aab kisi Vikram ko becha hai. Aab iss ghar ka asli maalik yeh Vikram hi hai. Par yeh yaha nahi, Canada mein rahta hai. Isliye usne iss ghar ko rent pe rehne ke liye logo ko dene ke liye kaha hai. Yeh raha uska details (hands them a file)
Fredricks reels back in shock, the file almost falling from his hands.
Vivek (concerned) : Sir, kya hua ? Uss file mein kya hai ?
Seeing his senior speechless, Vivek takes the file fron his hands and looks at it. He could not believe his eyes at what he saw.
In the file, it is written in plain black and white that this house was sold by Desai at 52 lakhs. But what stupified him was that this house was sold to Desai by some Arthur Cross and that too, three months ago.
If this house was sold three months ago, then where was their Senior Officer Abhijeet sir living all these three months. And who is this Arthur Cross ? As far as Vivek could remember, the name did not seem familiar to him. Perhaps Abhijeet sir knows him. Still, he knows, that he has never heard this name from Abhijeet sir's lips. Perhaps, this Arthur Cross is some old acquitance of their senior. Planning his mind, he decides that he will ask Daya sir, who as Abhijeet sir's closest friend, may know this Arthur Cross.
Vivek (closing the file and looks directly in Dhyand's eyes) : Jaab Arthur yeh ghar teen mahine pehle aapko bechne ke liye aaya tha, toh uss dealing mein aap the?
Dhyand : Sir, dealing me mai hi tha, par ghar bechne ki papers yeh Arthur nahi balki ek larki aayi thi.
Fredricks (now coming to his senses) : Kya ? Ek larki ? Uske hooliyaan yaad hai ?
Dhyand (trying to remember) : Jyaada toh yaad nahi kyunki humare yaha bohot log aate hai. Aab haar log ka toh chehra yaad rakhna toh possible nahi hai. Khali mujshe itna yaad hai ki woh larki kaafi aache gharane ki lagti thi aur woh (remembering)'' woh haan'.. woh ' yaad aaya' woh kuch ring jaise pehenta tha' haan'. woh ring hi tha'.jaise koi designer ring ho aur woh ring ka design bohot unique tha' aisa lagta tha ki woh design humare desh mein baante nahi hogi, kahi baahar ka hoga.
Kyunki mera ek cousin jewellery designer hai, toh maine usse kaha ki mujshe ek design kaafi pasand aaya tha ek client ki. Taab maine usse design ke baare mein bataya toh ussne yeh direct keh diya ki yeh design humare yaha baanta hi nahi hai, yeh design sirf aur sirf Paris mein hi banaya jaata hai'.. (again remembering something ) aur ek baat, woh ring pe platinum or gold, dono hi element tha, jo bhi sirf aur sirf Paris ke hi speciality hai' woh ring kaafi mehenga hai, poora teen crore, koi aam aadmi toh woh ring khareed hi nahi sakta'maine usse aise hi poocha tha' aur ussne kaha ki woh ring usse uski husband ne usse diya tha uske jaanam din pe' Par uss larki chehra toh ekdaam yaad nahi hai khali yeh maalom hai ki woh ek scarf se sar ko dakh ke rakha tha aur woh ek goggles pehenke aayi thi'. Baas itna hi yaad hai or kuch nahi' baaki sab kuch dhoola dhoola sa ho gaya hai'
Nihkil (to Dhyand) : Yeh Desai aab kahan rehta hai ?
Dhyand : Nahi sir, yeh Desai yaha nahi rehta hai. Woh bhi Canada mein hi rehta hai.
Fredricks : Uss larki ka mobile number hai ya woh bhi yaad bhi nahi hai ?
Dhyand : Number hai'. Yeh Mrs. Neelam ki number (gives them the number ).
Nikhil tries the number but in vain.
Nikhil (to Fredricks) : Nahi, sir . Number lag nahi raha hai, out of range bata raha hai. Yani number shayaad theek ho bhi ya nahi bhi ho sakta hai.
Vivek (to Dhyand) : Aap abhi jaa sakte hai, baad mein agar jarurat pare toh hum aapko bula sakte hai. Par haan, aap yeh shahaar chorke maat jaaye..
Dhyand leaves after completing the legal procedures, while the trio checks the whole house minutely from top to bottom, but they does not finds anything.
As per the investigation, they moves on to the next door neighbour. Even after asking them, they finds no clues as to when Abhijeet has left the house with his belongings because for one and half month, his neighbour have been abroad.
Somehow, the trio has a felling that their senior, Abhijeet sir has choosen the perfect time to move out from the house without anybody knowing, taking the advantage of the empty guest house near him and his absent neighbour.
But to where and why remains the million dollar question.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''
In all his years in CID, never before ACP Prayuman had even imagined that such a day will come when he will lose one one of his eyes forever.
Even after racking his memory, he could not even think why his most trusted officer, Abhijeet, whom he loved and cared more than his own son, go to such extreme measures. Was he feeling unhappy or did someone threatened him to leave CID with someone's life hanging on the balance?
Even if he were feeling unhappy, his closest friend Daya would surely know even if no words were spoken between them. And as far as everyone knows, Abhijeet is not someone who would simply quit just beacause someone threatened him with someone's life . If that would have been the case, it would have been the other way round.
Then what is the reason for this sudden and extreme measure.
ACP Pradyuman feels himself close to tears at how this news will taken by Daya. Knowing Daya, who shares a very close relationship with Abhijeet, he will break down and will quit becoming his own self. Even worse, Daya will even follow Abhijeet's step and will resign from CID.
ACP Pradyuman's train of thoughgts comes to an end when he hears footsteps. Turning back, he saw his senior, DIG sir, with a smart young man, coming towards him. Knowing the reason, ACP Pradyuman goes forward.
ACP (to DIG) : Aaye sir.
DIG (looking around the empty bureau) : Tumahre baaki officers kaha hai, Pradyuman ? Ek bhi dikhai nahi de rahe hai ?
ACP : Maine unn sab logo ko ek case pe lagaya hai.
DIG (staring at ACP in the eyes) : Kahi Abhijeet ke baare mein toh nahi ?
ACP (turning back and looks towards the CID logo) : Haan sir. Maine unn logo ko ussi kaam pe lagaya hai. Main kabhi yeh maan hi nahi sakta ki Abhijeet aisa kuch kar sakta hai. Kuch na kuch toh kaaran jaroor hoga.
DIG : Tum jaante ho na, Pradyuman, agar Abhijeet ko tumhe mil bhi jata hai, toh tum usse CID mein wapaas nahi le sakte kyunki uska resignation letter headquareters ne accept kar liya hai.
ACP (closing his eyes) : Haan sir, mujshe maloom hai.
DIG : Isliye toh main Ajay ko yaha lekar aaya hoon.
Now, ACP Pradyuman turns towards them.
DIG (to ACP) : Yeh Ajay hai. Aaj se Abhijeet ke jaagah yeh lega ( ACP shakes hands with Ajay). Tumahre baaki officers ko bhi yeh baat bata dena ki aaj se Ajay unke senior hai, Abhijeet nahi. Main abhi jaata hoon.
DIG almost reaches the entrance of the bureau, when the tone of his voice stops ACP Pradyuman.
DIG (to ACP) : Pradyuman, ek aur baat. Main nahi chahta ki ek ke liye CID Mumbai ka koi aur bhi officer resign kare.
Both of them knows that this piece of advice is meant for Daya alone.
ACP (determinedly) : Theek hai, sir. Mera hote huye aur koi bhi resignation letter meri CID team ki taraaf se aapke paas nahi jayega.
Without looking back even once, DIG moves out, his footsteps fading away into the distance, leaving ACP Pradyuman with nothing but memories of what has been once.
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Chapter Five
Lost''
A quallis is seen parked along a deserted road near a forest and a man is pacing near the car. He seems to waiting for someone, along with two more people who are inside the car. Finally, a milkman comes on a bicycle and passes near them. The man which was pacing went to the later one and began to talk in the pretext of taking milk.
After a few minutes, the milkman goes off and the man returns to the car and drives off, fading in the distance.
'''''''''
Fredricks, Vivek and Nikhil reaches the bureau in silence. Entering the bureau, they stops in their tracks at seeing a young and smart man talking to their senior ACP Pradyuman.
Both ACP and Ajay turns back to see Vivek, Fredricks and Nikhil standing at the entrance.
Ajay (smiling at the trio) : Aare aap log waha kyu khaare hai. Aander aaye.
Embarassed, they enters.
ACP (to the trio) : Haan, tum log aa gaye. Yeh Senior Inspector Ajay hai. Aaj se yeh humare saath kaam karega Abhi- (stops when Abhijeet's name is about to come on his lips)
The trio shakes hands with Ajay warmly.
Vivek (to ACP) : Sir, chauka dene waale baat pata chala hai. (And tells them about the fact what they found out, right from the sale of Abhijeet's house to the girl who has brought the papers to the dealer).
Hearing all of this, ACP Pradyuman reels back in shock, too stunned to say anything.
Ajay (surprised) : Toh teen mahine tak Abhijeet kaha reh raha tha ?
Fredricks : Wohi toh problem hai sir. Koi bhi nahi jaante ki Abhijeet sir kaha gaye aur kaha reh rahe the.
Ajay (to Nikhil) : Nikhil, woh larki ki sketch toh tumahre paas hai jo tum logone uss Dhyand ke maadad se banaya tha ? Woh bureau ki records se milakar dekho, dekho ki kuch milta hai kya ?
But the efforts goes in vain since no trace of that woman is found in their records.
ACP (coming back to business) : Toh yeh baat toh pakki hai ki woh larki Abhijeet ko jaanti hai. Aur yeh Arthur Cross ka kya chakkar hai ? Woh hai kaun ? Pehle toh kabhi iska naam Abhijeet ki mooh se nahi suna ?
Ajay : Sir, shayaad Abhijeet ka koi purana dost hoga.
ACP (shaking his head) : Nahi, Ajay. Mujshe aisa nahi lagta ki yeh Arthur Abhijeet ka dost hai. Yeh toh kuch aur hi chakkar hai.
Just then, all hears the unmistakable sound of hurried footsteps coming towards the bureau. All of them turns back just in time to see Daya, Sachin and Kajal entering the bureau. Their reactions are also the same on seeing Ajay.
They questioningly looked at Ajay and then at ACP Pradyuman. Just when ACP was thinking how to break the news of Abhijeet's resignation to them, Ajay decides to take the initiative by going forward.
Ajay (smiling and with outstretched hand) : CID Inspector Ajay. Aaj se mai bhi aap logo ke saath CID mein hoon .
The trio looked questiongly at ACP Pradyuman.
ACP (looking directly in the eyes of the trio) : Yeh senior Inspector Ajay hai. Aaj se Ajay humare saath kaam karega Abhijeet ke jagaah par.
Daya (startled) : Par kyun, sir ? Abhijeet toh abhi bhi-
ACP (interrupting strongly) : Daya, Abhijeet ne CID se kaal raat ko resign kar diya hai. Usne aapna resignation letter khud DIG sir ko de diya hai aur uska resignation letter headquarters ne accept kar liya hai.
The trio took a long time processing their senior's words, too shocked to say anything.
Sachin (shocked) : Par yeh kaise ho sakta hai, sir ? Abhijeet sir kabhi kabhi aisa kar hi nahi sakte.
Kajal (to ACP ) : Haan sir, Abhijeet sir bhala aise kaise kar sakte hai ? Koi na kaaran toh-
ACP (interrupting strongly) : Koi kaaran chaaran nahi. Agar biswaas nahi hota toh khud hi dekh lo uski resignation letter. ( Gives a copy of resignation letter to Kajal who then passes to Daya).
Daya could not believe his eyes when he saw the resignation letter. Here, Abhijeet has written his resignation in plain black and white, leaving no place for others for any doubt. He is still finding it hard to believe that Abhijeet can take such a step. How can he do this without a care in the world ? Did he not even think for a minute that what will happen to CID if he leaves ? Without Abhijeet , CID will become a body without the eyes. He is like the second ACP of the CID.
Even then, also, he is still trying hard to control his tears which is trying to overcome his vision. But found that he could not control his tears. How can Abhijeet can do this to him ? What happened to all those years when they had promised each other that they will never leave each other, no matter what. So now, why ? Why did he take such a step ? Did he somehow wronged him during all these years prompting him to take such a step ? What and where did he do wrong ? Perhaps he has wronged him somewhere without him knowing, so now this is the result.
Daya found his train of thoughts coming to an end when he feels a feels a hand on his shoulder. He looks up to see that it is none other than his senior, ACP Pradyuman who is looking at him with a knowing look filled with sadness.
Daya (sadly) : Abhijeet ne aisa kyu kiya ? Kahi mujshe koi galti toh nahi ho gaya aanjane mein ? Tabhi toh Abhi-
ACP (patting his shoulder and consoling him) : Nahi Daya. Kabhi bhi aisa maat sochna. Koi na koi kaaran toh jaroor hoga. Hum usse dhoond ke hi rahege.
Seeing this scene unfolding behind him, all felt like crying. They have never seen Daya like this ever before in such a vulnerable state. Morever, what can they do except to console him and perhaps putting a ray of hope in him that Abhijeet will return someday. But even that courage to put a ray of hope also diminishes every time by time the picture of Abhijeet's resignation letter comes to their mind. That letter is the proof that perhaps '' perhaps this time Abhijeet will not return.
For a moment, all are silent. All are startled when they hears a crash behind them. All turns back to see that Ajay is crouching and seeing something with his back towards them, totally oblivious of the blood which is oozing heavily from his right hand and seems to be gathering the broken glass in a trance, all the while looking at two papers in his left hand, which has fallen from his hand in shock. For a moment, all are too transfixed at seeing the blood on Ajay's hand.
It is the voice of ACP Pradyuman which rouses Ajay.
ACP (unbelievingly) : Ajay !! Kya ho gaya hai tumhe ? Tumhara dhyaan kidhar hai. Agar haath cut jaata toh.
Still, there is no response. Then Ajay looks directly at ACP.
Ajay (giving the sketckes to ACP) : Aap mera choriye aur yeh dono sketches dekhiyein. Kuch mila aapko ?
ACP (taking the sketches from Ajay all the while looking at his hand) : Pehle tum aapna haath ko first aid lagayo. Kaafi khoon beh gaya hai. ( ACP's expression suddenly turns from a caring one to an expression of disbelief and irritation when he sees Ajay wrapping his hankerchief instead of putting first aid on it) Ajay, yeh tum kya kar rahe ho ? Tumhe maloo- (Suddenly stops when he realizes that this action is exactly the same as that of Abhijeet who also has a habit of wrapping his own hankerchief around his hand when it gets cut sometimes and remembering to put first aid on it only when Daya sees the wound and pesters him like anything to put first aid on it only after the wound is washed properly before his eyes)
How can he, ACP Pradyuman forget this action ? He has lost count of how many times he has scolded Abhijeet because of this careless habit. Yet Abhijeet never learns. But even then, he had a suspicion, that perhaps Abhijeet used to do that just to rile him up for fun. How can Ajay know this action ? Is Ajay none other than Abhi-. No, that can never be and will never be. Still, he cannot help but being a little suspicious of Ajay.
He turns to look at Daya, and by seeing his expression, ACP Pradyuman's years of experience tells him him that even Daya is now suspicious of Ajay by seeing this action whom they knows that this action is only done by Abhijeet to rile him up just for fun.
After finishing the wrapping up of his bleeding hand, Ajay looks up to see both his senior, ACP Pradyuman and his fellow CID officer, Daya looking at him intensely.
Ajay (surprised to see both looking at him) : Kya hua ? Aap dono mujhe aise kyu dekh rahe hai ?
ACP (shaking his head) : Nahi, baas aise hi. Mujshe biswaas nahi hota. Aare, first aid kar lene mein tumhe koi problem hai ?
Ajay (smiling) : Nahi, sir. Koi problem nahi hai. Mein baad mein first aid laga lunga. Bilkul laga lunga. Pehle aap sketches toh dekh lijiye. Meri binti hai aapse ( joins both his hands in a praying position).
ACP (sighs and closing his eyes, shakes his head and then turns to look at both the sketches ) : Yeh'. Yeh kaise ho sakta hai ?
Daya (startled ) : Kya hua, sir ? Aap itna chauk kyu gaye ?
ACP : Yeh dono larki toh ek hi hai. Jiss larki ka sketch tum logo ne uss gaon mein bana kar laye aur jo sketch Vivek ne laye hai uss Dhyand se, yeh dono larki ek hi hai. Sirf difference yehi hai ki yeh larki dono jagaaho mein bhaes badalkar gaye the. Gaon mein bina scarf ke aur uss dealer ke paas scarf aur goggles pehenkar gaye the. Iska matlaab yehi hua ki is larki ko shayaad Abhijeet jaanta hoga tabhi toh Abhijeet ki ghar ki sale papers aur uss khabri, Vikash ke gayi thi. Par woh aadmi kaun tha jo uss gaon mein iss larki se saath Vikash se milne gaya tha ? Aur iss larki ke saath Abhijeet ka kya chakkar hai ?
At this, all looks at each other and each one of them realizing that their list of questions just got more bigger, longer and tougher without any answers to each one of them.
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