CHAPTER 7
A few days back:
"Sid!!! Abey pagal ho gaya hain kya???? Gadi itni tez kyun chala raha hain!??Ye Mumbai ke sadke hain!!!!!" a frantic guy was urging his friend to slow down.
The jeep zoomed past signals, dangerously fast.
"Darpok kahika!" Sid said and laughed at his friend.
"Shukar manao kisi red signal pe cross nahin kiya hain hamne! Tune pi rakhi hain yaar.. Abey agar accident ho jaati hain tho sab marenge yaar.. Ab bas bhi kar!" he pleaded again and looked in front, gripping the door in fear, "Sid!!!!!!! Agey dekh!!!"
But it was too late..
The jeep crashed into the vegetable cart of a vegetable vendor trying to cross the road. Sid in an attempt to avoid running over the vendor lying on the road, bleeding, took a sharp turn towards the right.
A black SUV, screeched to a halt just in time to prevent a fatal accident. Even a second's delay would've turned out to be disastrous.
People rushed to the spot, while two furious men exited the SUV. One of them rushed to the victim while the other grabbed Sid by his collar.
"Niklo bahar!" ACP Sameer Daam Singh Rathore yelled at him.
"What the hell!" Sid swore as he stepped out of the jeep, "Who the hell are you?"
Rathore chose to ignore that question and dragged him towards the vendor, who managed to get up with Arjun's help. The vendor's forehead was bleeding and his hand seemed to be fractured.
"Rathore, main isse hospital le jata hoon.." Arjun said. "Aur main isse Police Station," Rathore said, glaring at Sid.
"Tum log ho kaun?" Sid tried to free himself from Rathore's grip.
"ETF..?" Sid's friend said, upon seeing the symbol on the SUV, fear evident in his voice.
"ETF..!" Sid echoed.
In the hospital:
Arjun had just informed the vendor's family about his accident and was returning to the vendor's room, when he saw a well dressed gentleman entering the same. A lawyer stood outside the room.
It wasn't difficult for Arjun to guess the reason for the man's visit.
The vendor had to file a case against the jeep's driver and the man was probably here to negotiate with the vendor.
"Disgusting..," Arjun thought as he approached the room.
"Aap ek minute rukiye.." the lawyer hadn't completed his sentence when Arjun barged into the room to see the vendor accepting a fat envelope from the man.
"Ek victim ko aise ghus dekar jurm ko chupana.. bhi ek jurm hota hain," Arjun said, his hands folded.
The man's forehead creased, as he recognized the ETF officer standing in front of him, "ACP Arjun Rawte..?" he wondered.
He composed himself immediately, "Iski madad kar raha hoon.."
"Madad?" Arjun snapped at him, "Kaisi madad..?"
"Dekhiye.." the man said walking towards Arjun, "Mere bhai ki vajeh se iska bahut nuksaan hua hain. Insaaniyat ke naate iski madad kar raha hoon. Agar ye mera ehsaan chukana chahta hain tho.. main kya kar sakta hoon? Isse forcibly rok tho nahin sakta hoon na?" he said with a smile.
Arjun turned towards the vendor, who was staring at the envelope with tears in his eyes.
"Tum kya karna chahte ho?" Arjun asked the vendor.
"Main.. main koyi case nahin karna chahta hoon saab.." the vendor said, looking at Arjun with guilt in his eyes.
"Kehte ho ki police apna kaam nahin karti hain. Aur ab khud bik jaate ho..? Tumhari.. hamari bhi jaane jaa sakti thi.." Arjun said, his anger rising.
"Apko jo kehna hain kaho saab. Woh sabzi mandi jo tabah ho gayi hain.. wahin meri aamdani hain saab. Usise mera ghar chalta hain. Biwi bache wala hoon.. Karz ke alava mere paas kuch nahin hain saab.. Inn paison se main apna karz chuka doonga.. bache ki iskool ki fees aajayegi.. Mujhe uss case se zyada inn paison ki zaroorat hain saab. Aapke saamne haath jodta hoon, mujhe koyi case nahin karni hain.." the vendor joined his hands and begged Arjun to leave him alone.
"Jab case hi nahin banegi tho iss baat ko yahin chod de..?" the lawyer asked, entering the room.
"Fikar mat kijiye.. Main apne bhai ko bahut ache se samjhadunga ki trffic rules nahin thodna chahiye.." the man said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Ye nahin tho kya? Case tho lagenge aapke bhai pe. Isiliye jo kuch bhi samjhana chahte hain police station jaake samjhayiye.. Nahin tho mujhe aake samjhana padega. Aur woh apke bhai ke liye bilkul acha nahin hain.." Arjun said.
The man frowned and stormed out of the room, his lawyer following him.
Present moment:
Karan walked towards Riya and was about to say something when, "Karan.. tumhe kisise milwana hain.." Riya said and took him to Arjun.
"This is Arjun.." she said, "Arjun, this is Karan."
"Riya ka hone wala pati.." he added, "It's a pleasure meeting you here, ACP Arjun Rawte.." he said extending his hand towards Arjun, a smirk on his lips.
"The pleasure is all mine," Arjun shook his hand, returning his smirk!
"Bhabi ji!" Sidharth Singhania said walking towards Riya and his brother as Arjun remained unseen, "Finally hamare liye aapko waqt mil gaya!"
Karan and Riya turned around, revealing Arjun. Sidharth froze in his tracks upon recognizing Arjun.
"Sidharth! Please.. don't call me Bhabhi.. It's really awkward.." Riya said smiling at Sidharth. Sid stood there speechless; he merely looked at his brother. What if Arjun spoke about his case in front of everybody?
Karan nodded his head at Sid to assure him that everything would be fine.
Sid smiled at Riya and said, "Aise kaise? I'll have to practice right from now! Bhabhi.."
"Sid.. tum jao ab!" Karan said and turned towards Arjun, "Bahut kuch bataya hain Riya ne aapke baare mein. In fact woh hamare engagement se zyada aapse milne ke liye excited thi."
Arjun raised his eyebrows, "Really?" he asked her.
Riya looked at Karan, with a shocked expression, "Stop it Karan.." she said, urging him not to say another word.
"He's exaggerating.." Riya said, a little embarrassed, "Bas bahut khush thi ki waapis aa rahin hoon.. you know.. after so long," she paused for a moment, "Khair.. Woh sab chodo..! It's almost dinner time! Khana khale?" she diverted the topic.
Arjun could sense her uneasiness while talking about him. She wasn't ready to accept that she was excited to meet him. But, was he any different from her? When Poonam told him that Riya was coming back to India, he was delighted. However, he refrained from showing any of that excitement in his voice, nor on his face. Why?
Arjun decided that ignoring such questions was best thing for him to do. But one thing was true, he was very happy to see Riya back in India.
"No.. nahin beta.. hum jaa rahe hain. Ek party attend karni hain..Already bahut der ho rahin hain hamein. Some other time.. Ab tho milte hi rahenge.." Karan's father said.
Pleasantries were exchanged. Karan and his family bid them good bye, much to Riya's relief. She felt suffocated in their presence. "It is because you're new to all of this.. Adjust karne mein time tho lagega.. You'll be fine.." she assured herself.
When the storm died down and silence returned to Shanti Nivas (the Mukherjee house) Arjun walked towards an elderly man sitting in a wheel chair, who was smiling at him. He knelt down and touched his God Father's feet.
Debojit Mukherjee's paralysed legs couldn't feel Arjun's touch, but his heart blessed him. He patted Arjun on his shoulder and said, "Tum tho apne guru ko bhool hi gaye ho.. Arjun."
These words brought tears to Arjun's eyes. A smile crept onto his lips, "Ek kaam karta hoon sir.. Yahin shift ho jata hoon.. Hamesha aapke aankhon ke saamne hi rahoonga.. What do you think?"
"Arjun.. jhoot bolne ki bhi ek had hoti hain. Ye tho ghar aane se raha.. upar se kehta hain ki yahin shift ho jaayega," Riya's Dadi said sitting on the couch, posing to be angry with Arjun.
"Bilkul Dadi sahin kahan aapne.. Arjun aaj kal bahut nautanki kar raha hain," Poonam joined her Dadi. "Bhagne ke bahane doondh raha hain," Aman added.
Arjun's smile widened, "I'm sorry Dadi.. Kaam mein kuch zyada hi busy tha.. aa nahin paya.. Mujhe maafi tho mil jaayegi na..?"
"Nahin bilkul nahin.. Main apne bete ki tarah bevakoof nahin hoon.. Pehle jaake khana kha. Phir dekhungi.." Dadi said and walked towards the dining table, "Bahu..! Khana lagado.. ya mujhe bhuke rakhne ka koyi iraada hain?"
"Maa! Aap bhi na!" Sumitra, Riya's mother rolled her eyes and began to arrange the plates on the table, while Archana helped her out.
Arjun shook his head and sighed.
"Kuch log kabhi nahi sudhrenge.. right?" Mr. Mukherjee said and laughed.
"Aye.. Pagli. Tu kyun ro rahin hain?" Aman said walking towards his sister and wrapping his arms around her shoulders.
"Kuch nahin.." Riya said wiping her tears, "Main abhi aayi.." she said and ran upstairs to her room.
Arjun's eyes followed her. He knew the reason for her tears. In fact his state wasn't different from hers.
Riya closed the door behind her. She tried wiping her tears away, but they didn't seem to stop. Whatever happened downstairs.. those taunts by her Dadi, her fake anger, Arjun's smile and her father's hearty laugh.. all of them reminded her of a happy family.. her happy family. Everything was going so great. Until an evil eye cast it's shadow upon them. Until the day her father was paralysed due to a spinal injury. His collegues praised him that he was a brave officer and almost sacrificed his life in line of duty. But, nobody understood the trauma his family had to go through. Nothing seemed to go right from then on. It was like a chain reaction.. And today she returned home to realize that those days would never come back; Riya knew that very well. She sighed and gathered herself, "Zyada soch mat Riya aur chup chaap niche jaao.."
A few minutes later:
Riya joined the family at the dining table. Her mother was overloading Arjun's plate with food, while Arjun just sat in front of his plate waiting for her complete what she was doing.
Riya chuckled at the sight and heads turned towards her.
"Tum bhi baitho.. Aao.." Riya's bhabhi said pointing at the empty chair beside Arjun.
Riya took it and smiled at his discomfort. Arjun frowned, "Aunty.. ab bas bhi kijiye. Aur bhi behtar tareeke hain mujhe maarne ki.. Itna khana main nahin kha paaunga.."
"Acha..? Do chaar batake jaana, theek hain? Aazma ke dekhungi.." she said put the bowl aside.
"Tho batao Arjun.. Riya ke baare mein tumhara kya khayal hain? Kuch badli bhi ya nahin..?" Riya's father asked Arjun eager to know how his daughter fared on her first day in ETF.
"Badal tho gayi hain.." he said trying to sound casual, "Mujhe yakeen nahin hota hain ki Riya ab ek police officer hain."
Riya was about to say something when Riya's mother interrupted her, "Main tho yakeen karna bhi nahin chahti. Bas meri beti ki shaadi ho jaaye.. Pata hain Arjun, jab Karan ke privaar waale rishta lekar ghar aaye tho Riya ne kya kahaan tha? Ki woh ek police officer hain.. Agar unn logon ko iski career se koyi problem nahin hain, tabhi woh iss shadi ke baare mein sochegi.. Unke mooh pe hi kehdiya ki, agar aisa nahin ho sakta hain tho woh log uske baare bhool sakte hain.. Khushnaseeb hain ye, aisa sasuraal mila hain jo isse samajhtha hain.. Waise uss ladke ke parivaar ko bhi bahut pasand hain Riya. Lodon mein dekha tha pehli baar. Phir Karan se baat ki.. uske baad rishta lekar ghar aagaye.. Woh ladka.."
"Sumi..! Ab bas.. Arjun ko khane do.." Mr. Mukherjee intervened, putting a stop to his wife's non-stop chatter. But that was what he loved the most in his wife. He loved hearing her talk, and talking was Sumitra's most favorite thing in the world.
"Aur Riya? Tumhe pasand hain woh ladka?" Arjun asked, looking at the girl sitting beside him trying her best to eat something, despite losing her apetite. Riya looked up stunned. It was a question that no one except her father and her grandmother asked her since the day, her family decided to get her married to Karan. She had given the two of them two different answers. She looked at her Dadi and that instant she knew her Dadi would say something completely unnecessary. She shook her head pleading her Dadi to remain silent.
"Of course pasand hain.. Isiliye tho haan kahan hain maine," she said avoiding his eyes, "Kareeb ek saal se jaanti hoon usse. Investment Banker hain London mein.. Kuch kaam se India aaya hain.."
"I didn't ask you all that Riya.. I understood your answer.." Arjun said.
"Arey waah Arjun. Achanak Riya ka itna khyaal?" Aman said, "Mujhe tho lagta tha ki tum abhi bhi usse naraz ho.."
He started the wrong topic and Poonam decided to avert any unnecessary arguments, "Oh.. Come on Aman bacho jaisi baatein mat karo.. Dosti mein ye sab kuch hota rehta hain.. Kyun Arjun?"
"Haan bilkul," Arjun said getting up from his place, "Ab main aur nahin kha sakta hoon.. I'm done."
"Main bhi.." Riya said and let go off the spoon in her hand. It fell to the side staining the table cloth.
"Riya tumne tho kuch khaya bhi nahin.. Riya wait.." her mother tried to stop Riya who just brushed her off saying, "Pet bhar gaya hain Maa.. I'm done.." Arjun saw Riya walking towards the wash basin. Riya pulled the towel from the hanger, with her left hand and offered it to him.
Arjun took it, wiped his hands and returned it to her, his eyes fixed on her hardly visible frown.
"Pakdo.." she said and gave the towel to Arjun. She washed her hands and then wiped them dry. Arjun replaced the towel.
"Arranged marriage huh..?" he asked despite several warnings by his mind.
"Kyun.. koyi paap kar rahin hoon main..? Waise bhi tumhe kya farak padta hain?" she retorted, rephrasing his 'farak nahin padta hain'.
The question was spot on.. why did it bother him? Well, he did have an answer. It wasn't the arranged marriage that was bothering him, it was Karan that he didn't like. Their first meeting wasn't actually a pleasant one. But, from what he knew about Riya, he was sure that Riya wouldn't marry a guy she didn't like, even if she was poles apart from the person she was before.
"Tumhari shaadi hain.. tumhari marzi.." he said shrugging.
A commotion in the hall grabbed their attention. Poonam's husband Sahil had just arrived and was asking Poonam to be quick. Their son was with his grandmother and they were waiting for Poonam.
"Khaana khake jao Sahil," Sumitra said.
"Nahin Maa.. jana hoga.. bahut der ho rahin hain.. Kal hamare ladle bete ki exam bhi tho hain.. Ab jaake dekhna padega ki usne kuch padha bhi hain ya nahin!" Sahil said.
"Arjun aur Riya bhi yahin hain? Wow! That was great work! Kaafi shocking tha jab unn teeno ke arrest ke baare mein pata chala.. thank you!" Sahil said shaking hands with Arjun.
There was some casual talk and Poonam left with her husband.
Arjun, Aman and Mr. Mukherjee settled down in the drawing room, which was the most beautiful room in the house and Arjun's personal favorite too. It was room whose walls were adorned with photographs that reminded him of all those beautiful days. There was one particular picture on that wall of memories that he couldn't take his eyes off. That photograph might shatter his heart all over again everytime he looked at it, but he never chose to avoid it. It was a picture taken on the day of his wedding, with Roshni and the entire family.
He stood there staring at it, while eyes remained devoid of any emotion. The emptiness in his eyes, was result of that excruciating pain, Roshni's death had inflicted upon him.
He felt Mr. Mukherjee's presence by his side. He turned to look at his mentor, to see him smiling at him. Arjun knelt down, "Usse iss sab ki keemat chukani padegi sir.." he looked at Mr. Mukherjee's paralysed legs and Roshni's photograph, "zaroor chukani padegi.." he said, fury replacing the void in his eyes.
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I'm so sorry for my delay in updates guys.. I'll try my best to update frequently.. even if they are smaller!
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