(Continued...)
Chapter 8
"Purvi, ye sab kya tha my child?" Lisa asked as student and teacher walked towards the taxi stand.
"Ma'am, ye kaun hai mein bhi nahi jaanti, magar kuch log aise hain jo na jaane kyun mere saare professors ko target kar rahe hain", said Purvi quietly. She looked calm, and yet her eyes showed nothing but unadulterated vigilance.
"Kya? Yaani mere alawa kisi aur ko bhi maarne ki koshish ki?" exclaimed Lisa.
"Haan, professor Conrad pe bhi humla hua tha! Ye jo koi bhi hai, mein isse nahi chodungi", replied Purvi in silent fury.
"Ye tum kya keh rahi ho? Professor Conrad?? God in logon ko buddhi de aur ehsaas dilvaaye ki woh jo kar rahe hai kitna galat hai!"
"Haan, ma'am." Purvi was interrupted by her buzzing cell-phone. She pulled it out and read the text.
Umeed hai tera saans lena ho gaya. Chal, do ko bacha liya, ab teesre ki baari hai. Tere chemistry teacher, professor Baruah mere paas hai! Unki salaamati chahti ho to aaj theek 6:00 ko Mount Chelsea aa ja. Agar 1 minute bhi der hui toh professor Baruah ka the end!
Purvi looked up angrily. Ab bas! she thought. Iss aadmi ko mein nahi chodungi, ek baar mere saamne aa jaye. Par philhaal professor Baruah ki jaan bachaani hogi! But she could not keep taking risks. She needed to keep calm and stick to her plan. She unflinchingly kept walking as Lisa eyed her questioningly.
"Kya hua, Purvi? Tumne wahaan bus pe bhi phone pe kuch dekha aur upset ho gayi. Batao na mujhe?" said her teacher.
Purvi sighed. "I need to think, ma'am. Ye jo bhi hai, hadd kea age badh raha hai."
"Matlab, ek aur professor…" whispered Lisa, her eyes wide.
"Haan, ma'am", said Purvi. "But trust me, kuch nahin hoga unhe. Aap wohi kijiye jo main kahun, please."
Lisa nodded, feeling both anxious and proud of her student. The air was gradually rent with ambient noises of horns and whirring engines as they neared the taxi stand.
*****
Several feet behind them, the tall man ambled along, the black motorbike silently steering under his arms. She didn't seem to have noticed anything despite him trailing her for the entire day. Stupid girl, he thought with savage pleasure. He watched as she ushered the teacher into one of the taxis… and then proceeded to get in herself. He perked up. She was supposed to be going to Mt. Chelsea… so why was she apparently accompanying the teacher home? And that too so calmly? Was she up to some tricks?
He hastily hopped onto his bike and hit the gas. He followed the taxi all the way out of Luni road to an area just outside a large group of chawls. Abruptly, the car stopped by the footpath and so did he. Purvi got out and, motioning her professor to stay in the car, proceeded to walk into a small PCO among a small group of shops. The man almost laughed out loud. Did she think she could contact her teammates from a PCO and get away with it? He had been instructed to deal severely if she tried it, and now he would do it. He waited to see if she would come out, but she didn't. He couldn't see inside the shop from his position.
Just as he was dismounting for a better look, faint footsteps thudded behind him. He spun instinctively, but it was too late. There was a blur of motion and stars burst out in front of his eyes as a well-placed blow struck the side of his head. He fell, and his motorbike painfully landed on top of him. He felt the barrel of a gun pressing on his forehead.
"Bahut shauk hai logon ka peecha karne ka?" whispered a menacing yet melodic female voice over him.
*****
"Hahaha! Tumne bohot acchi nakal ki Purvi ke awaaz ki! ACP ko laga ki sach mein uski officer hi hai!" the caller said with unabashed glee.
"Thank you, ma'am", said another girl standing beside her, who had mimicked Purvi's voice.
"Ye lo tumhaare paise", the boss said, giving her a bundle of cash. "Ab jaao; na toh main tumhe jaanti hoon, na hi tum mujhe."
"Ok, boss!" Saying so, the other walked away.
"Boss ab kya karna hai?" a man next to her asked.
"Karna kya hai?" chuckled the boss. "Professor Baruah toh humaare kabze mein pehle se hi hai! CID bhi phas hi gaayi hai, aur Purvi beechari ko aapni zindagi ka sabse bada phaisla karna hoga! Shayad stress mein aake woh apni jaan hi le le! Haha! Bhai, aaj samajh aayega usse gaddari ka anjaam. Tadpegi woh, afsos karegi, gidgidaayegi par koi fayeda nahi hoga!" She eyed him again. "Woh ready hai na, Vicky?"
"Ekdum ready hai, boss", answered Vicky sycophantically.
As if in counterpoint, there was a loud groan from the next boon. The woman cocked her head towards the sound, clicking her tongue.
"Tumhe bola tha na, boodhe ko chup rakhne ko?" she snapped.
"Haan boss", said Vicky nervously. "Rukiye, abhi main…"
"Main khud karti hoon", interrupted his boss, walking into the room where the feeble-looking professor Baruah was bound and gagged. He looked up at her, his eyes wide, and struggled to free himself, tugging hard at his tied hands. The woman glanced at them and remembered the same hand's pincer-like grip upon her arm years ago. He hadn't even bothered to respect that she was a girl as he did it. She felt an incredible surge of pure loathing as she stepped forward and slapped him hard before seizing a handful of his hair and pulling back his head to stare directly into her eyes.
"Woh din main kabhi nahin bhulungi, Professor", she whispered. "Aur agar aapki pyaari chamchi Purvi bhool gayi ho toh aaj usse bhi yaad dilaungi. Kitne saal intzaar kiya maine iss pal ka!"
Her voice rose abruptly to a shout; she looked crazed, frenzied as she let go of him. Professor Baruah watched the boss walking a few steps ahead and smashing a bottle on the floor, snarling, "Purvi, ab tu toh gayi!"
*****
"Koi faayda nahin, sir", said Freddy, looking up in desperation. "Call kisne kiya, kuch pata nahin chal raha. Aur ab toh 6:00 bajne mein bas 15 minutes bache hain!"
"Purvi ka kuch pata chala?" asked the ACP heavily, turning to Shreya.
"Sir, gavahon ne kaha hai Purvi Lisa ke saath wahan se nikal gayi aur kisi ko nahin pata woh kahan gayi", said Shreya.
Before the ACP could react, Abhijeet and Daya rushed into the bureau looking unusually alarmed.
"Sir, aap vishwaas nahin karenge abhi kya hua", said Abhijeet.
"Kya, Abhijeet?" said the ACP questioningly.
The duo revealed what had happened, and everyone sprang to their feet in a single fluid motion. As they finished, the atmosphere in the bureau changed considerably. This had changed everything.
Chapter 9
The abandoned warehouse in Mt. Chelsea was bathed in the twilight, casting long shadows onto the cracked surface on the table which the woman boss was now aimlessly drumming with her fingers. The area was deserted for several miles; nobody would know about the horrors about to take place there, as long as the fools did as she said. Perfect. She glanced at her watch: 5:58 PM. Anytime now.
A little white speck was growing larger and larger on the horizon. It was the CID car. Her lips curved into a malicious smile, hidden behind the mask pulled over her head. Twirling a cheap country-made pistol in her hand, she got to her feet and lumbered out onto the road, waiting for them. The Qualis slowed down as it approached her; she walked forward and as the windows rolled down, she saw ACP Pradyuman and Abhijeet frowning at her from the front seats. Smiling, she raised her weapon-free hand and gestured them to drive into the nearby shed.
"Wahan kyun, ain?" said Abhijeet sharply. "Tum chahti kya ho? Kahan hai Purvi?"
"Apne officer ko zinda dekhna hai toh sawaal band, jaisa kaha hai vaisa karo", she said loudly.
The ACP gestured Abhijeet to do as told. Reluctantly, the other drive the car into the shed and parked it. At once, there was a hiss of gas inside the shed. She could see the cops writhing and screaming inside the car before going motionless. Vicky walked up to her side.
"Bilkul sahi se ho gaya na?" she asked.
"Haan, boss", answered her henchman quietly.
"Darta kyun hai?" she chuckled. "Kisi ko kuch pata nahin chalega. Bechari Purvi ko toh pata hi nahin ki uske saathi yahan nerve gas inhale kar chuke hain. Bas ek ghante mein sabki kabr khudegi yahin."
*****
Purvi walked into the warehouse exactly as the clock struck 6:00 PM. The woman smiled as she walked forward to greet forward.
"Yahan pe bhi right on time! Manna padega, Purvi", she said quietly, though her eyes behind the mask showed nothing but venomous contempt.
"Kaun ho tum, aur kya chahiye tumhe?" asked Purvi angrily.
"Pehle ye batao ki tumhe kya chahiye", replied the woman, pointing to a gargantuan, rusted shutter several feet away and snapping her fingers. "Professor Baruah, ki apne saathi?"
With a deafening grinding of metal, the shutter slid upwards to reveal a terrible sight. In the large space separated by a single partition, were both the hostages. In the left one, Professor Baruah was lying unconscious with his neck on a large plank, a huge blade dangling over it. On the other one stood a car, each of Purvi's unconscious colleagues clearly visible inside. The woman grinned as Purvi's expression changed to one of horror.
"Tumhaari dushmani mujhse hai na?" said Purvi angrily. "Toh phir mere saathiyon aur professor ko kyun –"
"Professor ki baat hi na karo, Purvi!" snapped the woman. "Aur jahan tak tere saathiyon ki baat hai, inke bina tumhara exam kaise loongi? Yahan pe bhi top karke dikhao na!"
"Exam?" repeated Purvi.
The woman pulled out a remote and tossed it to her. "Bahut simple hai. 2 buttons hain. Left waala dabaogi toh Professor chhut jaayega, par car par laga bomb blast ho jaayega. Right waala dabaane par bomb neutralize ho jaayega, par who blade girega aur professor ka sar…" she ended by motioning a violent beheading. "It's your choice now."
Purvi stood frozen, her mouth hanging open, her eyes pleading for mercy. The woman felt an incredible rush of vengeful pleasure. "8 saal pehle mera bhi kuch aisa hi haal tha, Purvi. Aur tumhaari wajah se mera duniya khatm ho gayi. Ab tumhaari baari hai."
"Ye kya bol rahi ho tum?" exclaimed Purvi. "Maine aisa kiya hi kya? Aur tum aakhir ho kaun?"
"10 seconds!" snapped the woman. "Agar koi ek button nahin dabaya toh blade bi girega aur bomb bhi phatega. 10… 9… 8… 7…"
Purvi's eyes narrowed. She raised the remote and, her hands shaking, pressed the right button. There was a great explosion behind them, a shockwave that almost knocked them off their feet. The woman turned to see the car reduced to a pile of flaming debris of twisted metal and flaming tires. She let out a savage peal of laughter.
"Ab bataiye Purvi ji, how do you feel apni choice ke baare mein?" she cackled.
"Bahut khush", answered Purvi calmly.
The woman turned to face her and was astonished to see her smiling grimly.
"Hum bhi bahut khush hain, madam", said a husky voice courteously from her side. "Ab behtar yahi hoga ki aap surrender kar dein."
She spun to see the unhurt CID team approaching her, guns drawn. Fredericks held a scowling Vicky captive behind them. Her brain was flooded with shock and reckless rage; she drew her pistol and opened fire. Ignoring their shouts and warnings, she threw herself behind a pile of boxes and engaged in a reckless gunfight. She knew it was hopeless, but she didn't care. She shot without aim or goal, feeling a small part of the terrible rage inside her being fired along with the bullets. Within minutes, the ammunition was exhausted.
"Dekho, ab tumhaari bhalaayi isi mein hai kit um surrender kar do", said the ACP sharply, walking forward cautiously. "Hum goli nahin chalaana chahte hain. Tumhaari kismat acchi hai ki kisi ki maut nahin hui, so shaayad court tumhe –"
"Court?" shouted the woman, springing to her feet and glaring at him. "Tumhe kya lagta hai, I'll let you people drag me to court like a dog? Mera maksad badla tha, bas badla. Woh toh pura hua nahin, phir ab main je eke kya karungi?"
She flung her gun aside and withdrew a small bottle from her jacket, pulling off the cork with her teeth.
With a jolt, the ACP realized what she was about to do. "Ruk jaao! Fek do usse!" he cried as everyone surrounded her, alarmed.
The woman shook her head and laughed. "Aur nahin fekungi toh kya karoge? Mere jeene ki koi wajah nahin rahi, ACP. Goodbye."
She raised the bottle of poison. Before she could put it to her lips, Abhijeet raised his gun in a flash and fired. His shot was utterly precise – the bottle exploded to pieces right in her hands and fell with a resounding shatter to the ground. Before she could do anything, she found herself seized powerfully from behind.
"Bahut ho gaya", said Purvi's voice angrily. "Ek ke baad ek gunaah kiye jaa rahi ho! Zara dekhein toh aap hain kaun."
The woman fought back fruitlessly. Purvi ripped off her mask and threw it aside, her eyes growing wide upon seeing her captive's face.
"Shipra, tum?" she exclaimed.
"Haan, main", snarled Shipra. "Bahut shukriya bachaane ke liye. Ab tu toh gayi!" She tried to strike at Purvi, but found herself seized by Shreya as well.
Purvi looked at her with a mixture of anger and pity. "I'm sorry, Shipra, par tum aise nahin maanogi." She held her shoulder and delivered a crackling slap across the woman's face.
Chapter 10
"Professor Baruah ko hosh aa gaya hai, sir. He'll be fine", said Fredericks, disconnecting the hospital call.
"Good", said the ACP before turning back to the table, where Shipra was sitting surrounded by Abhijeet, Daya, Purvi and Shreya. "Ab batao Shipra, kyun kiya ye sab tumne? Kya dushmani hai tumhaari Purvi aur uske teachers ke saath?"
Shipra looked up at him, scowling. "Pehle aap bataiye, ki aap sab bach kaise gaye uss blast se?"
The ACP glanced and smiled at Purvi, who smiled back. It was a long story, and as she started explaining, she felt the actions of the day flash once again in front of her eyes…
*****
She knew she was being watched. The man was right there behind the tree and, by the looks of it, seemed ready for an ambush. She moved through the passengers to a spot from which he couldn't see her, and motioned them to be silent.
"Dekhiye, baat serious hai", she explained quietly. "Please mere saath co-operate kijiye. Mujhe aap mein se kisi ek ka phone chahiye, aapko baad mein wapas zarur mil jaayega. Main ma'am ke saath taxi stand jaa rahi hoon. Police ko bulakar jo hua woh bataiyega, but kisi ko pata nahi chalna chahiye ki main kahan jaa rahi hoon."
This was vital – she suspected that her and even Lisa's phones were being tapped. Calling the police was important, but informing her teammates about her whereabouts was risky until she had caught that mysterious man and find out what was going on.
*****
Sure enough, as the taxi drove on, Purvi saw the black motorbike trailing them in the rearview mirror. She stopped the taxi outside a PCO and entered it to fool the pursuer. She exited the shop from the back door, took a detour from the side and ambushed him.
"Bahut shauk hai logon ka peecha karne ka?" she snarled, her gun on his head. "Jaldi batao tum ho kaun, aur kyun kar rahe ho ye sab, warna yahin teri lights out ho jayengi!"
The terrified man revealed that he had been hired by some woman to follow and threaten her as instructed. He was the one who sent professor Conrad the polythene-covered bomb in the envelope. He had stuffed the other bomb in a fruit can and slipped it unnoticed into Lisa's bag in the mall.
"Aur professor Baruah? Tumne hi unhe kidnap kiya?" she pressed.
"M…mere bhai Vicky ne kiya", he stammered. "Woh abhi boss ke saath hi hai. Unka bahut bada plan hai…"
"Kya plan hai?" demanded Purvi.
"Mujhe waqai nahin pata, bas itna pata hai ki Mount Chelsea mein hain woh", he said, sweating.
"Apna phone do mujhe. Vicky ka number lagao", she snapped.
The man did as told. Vicky answered and Purvi spoke in a tone laced with both patience and menace.
"Dekh Vicky, mujhe sab pata chal gaya hai. Tera bhai mere paas hai", she said sharply. "Agar tumhare boss ko kuch pata chala, ya agar Baruah sir ko kuch hua toh ye gaya. Ye suno iski aawaz. Ab batao kaun hai ye boss, aur kya iraada hai uska?"
Vicky answered fearfully that he didn't know the woman's name, but told everything he knew about the trap she had laid.
Purvi felt a stab of shock, but her training instincts took over almost at once. "Tum uss chamber ka gas badalkar nakli gas daal do taaki mere saathiyon ko kuch na ho. Baruah sir ke blade arrangement ko bhi sabotage karo, unhe kuch nahin hona chahiye."
"Woh main nahin kar sakta", breathed Vicky. "Woh toh khud boss ne kiya hai aur woh uspe poore time nazar rakhi hai. Agar unhone dekh liya toh usse maar daalegi!"
"Theek hai; toh gas nikalo udhar se. Aur yaad rakho, koi hoshiyaari ki toh tere bhai ki durdasha kar denge", she snapped.
*****
"PURVI??? Thank God, yaar kahan ho tum, ye kya kar rahi ho? Pata hai hum sab kitne pareshaan hain?" cried Abhijeet sir's voice over the man's phone.
"I'm sorry, sir", said Purvi hastily and explained the entire situation to him, how she had been getting threatening SMSes, about the blast, how the man had been trailing her and she couldn't risk trying to contact them if her phone was potentially being tapped.
"Main samjhta hoon, Purvi", said Abhijeet. "Par abhi thodi der pehle humein ek ladki ka call aaya ki tum uske kabze mein ho, aur tumhe bachaane ke liye hum Mount Chelsea aayein!"
"Mount Chelsea?" repeated Purvi. "Sir, it's a trap – iss aadmi aur Vicky ne mujhe sab kuch bataya. Maine kuch aisa plan kiya hai…"
She told him. Abhijeet said, "I see, Purvi. Agar hum Mount Chelsea mein police force lekar gaye aur uss ladki ne unhe dekh liya toh professor Baruah ki jaan ko khatra ho sakta hai. Humein unhe bachana hoga, ye risk lena hoga. Main ACP sir se baat karta hoon. Tum bhi alert rehna, take care."
"Yes, sir", said Purvi grimly. Handing over the thug to the local constables and telling them to take care of Lisa, she hopped onto his black motorbike and drove off to Mount Chelsea.
*****
And it worked out. They pretended to do as told, drove to the warehouse at Mount Chelsea and faked fainting when Vicky released the fake nerve gas on them. While Purvi engaged Shipra in conversation, they quietly exited the car moments before she blasted it as planned. They then had enough time to close onto their target.
"I'm sorry, Shipra, par humein criminals se ek kadam aage rehne ki aadat hai", said the ACP. "Ab batao, ye sab kyun kiya tumne? Kya problem hai tumhaari?"
Shipra looked up at Purvi with pure loathing in her eyes. "Puchiye na issi se? Aapki pyaari officer ne kaisa kaam kiya college mein?"
Every eye rested on Purvi, who looked genuinely perplexed. "Shipra, tum kya keh rahi ho, mujhe sach mein nahin pata."
Shipra snorted contemptuously. "Socha nahin tha ki ek CID officer banne ke baad bhi tum itna gir sakti ho, Purvi!"
"Bas bahut ho gaya, Shipra", snapped Abhijeet. "Aise koi humare saathi pe jhoothe ilzaam daale, hum bardasht nahin karenge. Saaf-saaf batao, kya hua?"
She looked up at him. "Purvi aapko bata chuki hai ki mujhe college se university exam papers churaane ki koshish ke liye expel kiya gaya tha. Main akeli nahin thi. Uss kaam mein isne bhi mera saath diya tha!"
"Kya??" exclaimed the ACP.
Everybody looked at Purvi, who looked shocked. "Shipra, maine baad mein woh karne se mana kar diya tha! Tumhe bhi wohi sujhaav diya tha, par tumne meri baat nahin maani!"
"Jhooth!" snarled Shipra. "Tumne unse meri shikayat kar di, sab kuch bata diya! Unhone mujhe papers churaate pakad liya, aur phir…"
Her voice trailed off. For a moment, she felt transported back to the day when she and Purvi were best friends in college, rivals at time, but always on good terms. Though they achieved required marks – Purvi highly while she barely passing – they struggled for them like every other student. The pressure of university exams was mounting everyday in their final year. And when they learned about where the questions papers were being kept on the day before the examination, the temptation was unbearable. They planned a nighttime heist on the room to grab a copy to what was certain to be a bright future. Only, at the eleventh hour, Purvi refused.
*****
"Ye tujhe achaanak kya ho gaya, Purvi?" she said, aghast. "Subah toh itni excited thi, phir ab kya ho gaya? Humne toh planning bhi kar li!"
"Haan, Shipra, bahut socha maine", said Purvi quietly. "Par hum log humesha imandaari se hi marks laaye hain, chahe who jitne bhi ho. Toh phir ab aakhri baar aisa kaam kyun? Mere papa ne humesha kaha hai ki jo bhi imandaari se mile, utne mein hi khush rehna chahiye. Beimaani se mili cheez kabhi phalti nahin hai."
"Band kar apni philosophy", snapped she. "Jab result mein bade-bade Punjabi ande dekhegi toh ye saara gyaan nikal jaayega. Pata hai external examiner kaun hai? Sab ke sab fail honge iss baar!"
"Toh hone do", said Purvi defiantly. "Kya soch rahe the hum, Shipra? Kabhi exam mein kisi ki copy mein jhaanka bhi nahin, aur ab papers churaane par utar aaye? Aur agar pakde gaye toh? Zara socho!"
"Soch liya jo sochna tha", she answered coldly. "Main toh jaa rahi hoon udhar aaj raat. Tujhe aana hai toh aa, warna main akeli hi jaaungi aur papers laake apne baaki doston ko bhi –"
"Tumhe ho kya gaya hai, Shipra?" exclaimed Purvi. "Wake up! Abhi bhi waqt hai – meri baat maano aur bhool jao aise galat kaam. Agar tumne aisa karne ki sochi bhi toh I'll go straight to sir and report you!"
*****
They parted ways after a small argument. She was determined to do it and, as planned, she broke into the room at night and was caught attempting to steal the papers red-handed by professors Conrad, Baruah and Lisa. She was dragged to the dean's office and her parents were summoned as well. She was debarred from the examination and expelled from the college. She became the stock of vile gossip and mockery in the place. Her career was permanently blacklisted. After six years of toil, she could only manage to be a receptionist in a small store.
"Picchle mahine pata chala ki mere papa ko blood cancer hai", said Shipra, her voice cracked as tears flowed freely from her eyes. "3000 per month ki salary hai meri. Tumhe lagta hai itne mein unki treatment ho paageyi? 20 lakh rupees maang rahe hain hospital ke doctors! Unki condition bigadti hi jaa rahi hai. Maine saari ummedein kho di… and I don't want to see him die, sab meri wajah se! Mera bas ek hi maksad bacha – jisne meri zindagi barbaad ki, uske saath vohi karna!"
She shot another venomous look at Purvi, who looked positively appalled. "Shipra, maine tumhe kitna samjhaya ki woh chori na karo! Tumne meri baat maan li hoti toh aisa kabhi na hota!"
"Yeah, yeah", snapped Shipra sarcastically. "Aur 'I'll got straight to sir and report you' ka kya? Dikha di na apni dosti? Jaake kar di meri complaint, dikha diya apna –"
"Maine koi complaint nahin ki, Shipra!" exclaimed Purvi. "Maine toh woh sirf tumhe discourage karne ke liye kaha tha! Tumne kya socha, main jaan-bujh kar apne dost ki zindagi aise barbaad kar dungi?"
"JHOOT!" screamed the other. "Mujhe sab pata hai, tum mujhse jalti thi, tum –"
"Agar tumne uss din ke baad sab se baat karna na chhoda hota toh tumhe poori baat pata chalti", said Purvi with a mixture of revulsion and sadness. "Tumhari complaint ek peon ne ki thi. Usne hum dono ki baatein sun lit hi. Baad mein Lisa ma'am ne bulakar mujhse bhi bahut poochtaach ki, aisa kaam karne ki sochne ki liye daanta. Tumne mere paas aana bhi chhod diya, toh main tumhe kya batati?"
Shipra's eyes were wide with shock. She seemed to wish to convince herself that once-best friend was lying, but she could see the truth sparkling in Purvi's eyes. She sank into her chair, breathing heavily.
"Matlab… maine jo kuch kiya who sab… bekaar mein?" she whispered.
"Shipra, agar Purvi ne complaint ki bhi hoti toh kya tumne jo kiya woh sahi ho jaata?" asked the ACP. "Galat kaam ka anjaam bura hi hota hai. Aur woh maanne ke bajaye tum aur crimes kiye jaa rahi thi. Zara apne aap se poocho ki tum kya karne waali thi. Main kehna toh nahin chahta, par jo kuch hua, sab ki zimmedaar tum khud hi ho."
Shipra broke into uncontrollable sobs. Purvi tentatively placed her hand on her shoulder, and after a while, she looked up. "I'm sorry, Purvi". It was all she could manage to say. Purvi nodded sadly.
"Shipra, tumhe custody mein toh lena hi padega", said the ACP quietly. "Shukr hai ki tumhaari waah se kisi ki jaan nahin gayi, isliye hum umeed karte hain ki court tumhe kam saza degi."
"Hum government se appeal karke tumhaare papa ka accha treatment karane ki puri koshish karenge", said Abhijeet.
"Aur saza khatm hone par hum umeed karte hain ki tum apni galtiyan sudhar k eek acchi citizen banogi", added Daya.
As she was taken away, Shipra eyed Purvi apprehensively, who gave her a nod and small smile. Despite everything that had happened, she knew she had been forgiven at least by her former friend… perhaps not former after all. She felt a great rush of regret and admiration for her kindness.
*****
Purvi turned away from the door through which her friend had been led, realizing that she'd been staring for almost ten seconds. She saw her teammates smiling as they approached her.
"Suna hai Carson road pe kaafi jalwa dikaya aapne. Ab uss bechaare ko apni bike jam ke repair karwaani padegi", said Abhijeet mischievously.
Purvi flushed red. "Sir… woh… asal mein aur koi raasta nahin tha…"
"Arre hum samajhte hain, Purvi", smiled Daya. "Itna pressure hone ke baad bhi tumne bahut kabliyat se situation ko handle kiya."
Purvi nodded. "I'm sorry sir, main aap sabko call karke bataana chahti thi, par mujhe darr tha ki agar usse pata chal gaya toh…"
"Tumne theek kiya, Purvi", said the ACP. "Par koi bhi bada kadam uthaane ke pehle anjaam ke baare mein acche se sochna. Situation jaisi bhi ho, presence of mind aur vigilance bahut zaruri hai."
Purvi nodded again, and smiled tentatively. Shreya clapped her on the back appreciatively.
"Vaise Freddy, tumhe apna mooh kholne ki zarurat nahin", said Abhijeet abruptly.
"Kya?" said Freddy, looking startled. "Sir…"
"Woh chocolate ka box maine galti se newspapers ke saath koode mein daal diya tha, mil gaya", said Abhijeet. "Par haan, agar tum phir bhi muh kholkar apna test karwana chahte ho toh theek hai."
Everybody laughed.
Epilogue (of sorts)
Everyone had finished their work for the day and left. The ACP shut down his computer, locked his office and prepared to leave. As he exited the bureau, he saw Purvi standing alone outside the door, holding onto the railing and looking out at the bright crescent moon sailing peacefully amid the sea of stars and straddling clouds. He watched for a few seconds before quietly walking up to her side.
"Purvi?" he said, and she quickly turned to look at him. "Ghar nahin gayi abhi tak?"
"Woh… sir, bas jaa hi rahi thi", replied Purvi hastily and made to move down the staircase.
"Arre theek hai, main toh bas aise hi pooch raha tha", said the ACP softly, smiling at her. "Yahan khadi hokar kya dekh rahi thi?"
"Kuch nahin sir, bas aise hi…", replied Purvi, not meeting his eyes.
"Shipra ke baare mein soch rahi thi kya?" asked the ACP, looking closely at her.
Purvi looked up at him. "Haan sir… vaise exactly…" she paused, looking apprehensive.
"It's okay, bolo na kya hai?" insisted her senior gently.
"Sir… aap sab itne honest aur hard-working hain", said Purvi hesitantly. "Kitne baar dekhna maine jab koi Abhijeet sir, Daya sir ya aapko ghoos dene ki koshish karta toh aap turant uska kya haal karte hain. Aap sab kitne…" She stopped again. How would she say what she felt they were? Noble, selfless, heroic, outstanding figures of inspiration? She was afraid of sounding sycophantic.
The ACP eyed her sternly. "Purvi, ye 'aap sab' ki baat bhul jao aur 'hum sab' ki socho. You're one of us."
Purvi nodded. "Sorry sir, mera woh matlab nahin tha."
"It's okay", said the senior. "Par ye baat kyun soch rahi ho tum?"
"Sir, maine college mein kareeb-kareeb university papers churaane ke plan mein hissa liya", said Purvi rapidly, her voice growing heavier. She couldn't stop herself. "Planning bhi kar li thi! Aaj aap sab ke baare mein soch ke sharm aa rahi hai mujhe. Main kitni…"
The ACP put his hand on her shoulder and shook it gently, giving her a small smile. "Dekho beta, duniya mein koi bhi 100% accha ya bura nahin hota… accha toh bilkul nahin. Hum sab ke andar acchayi aur burayi hoti hai. Laalach mann mein jhalakna koi uncommon baat nahin hai. Par aise waqt mein hum kya karne ki chunte hain, wohi decide karti hai ki hum kaise insaan hain. Tumne hamesha acchayi ka raasta chuna, and I'm proud of you. So apne baare mein neecha kabhi mat socha."
Purvi smiled gratefully at him. "Shipra ke liye bura lag raha hai, sir. Dua karti hoon ki uske pitaji theek ho jaayein."
"Main bhi, Purvi", said the ACP. "Umeed karta hoon ki aisi situation phir kisi ke saath na ho." He paused. "9:00 baj chuke hain – ab toh chalo? Raat mein kahin gaadi kharab ho gayi toh phir se kisi ki bike leni padegi tumhe."
Both of them laughed, and the ACP reached out to stroke in fatherly fashion the head of his loyal officer, for whom he had been so worried the entire day. Together, they walked down the stairs out of the bureau.
THE END
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