SS PhAb: New Beginnings Last Part Pg 16 Updtd - Page 2

His face was so close. She could see every little detail of it. Just off his lip on his right cheek, his skin creased a little. He must dimple when he smiles, thought Phulwa. Then she noticed the mole on his left cheek and was suddenly mesmerized by it. She shook herself inwardly. She couldn't be caught, not now, not by this man. And why was he having this effect on her? She had met men before, in fact, in her line of work, she was surrounded more by men than by women. But she had never felt anything even close to this in their company. His breath mingled with hers. Her eyes roamed his face. He did not have what would be conventionally called amazing good looks. But there was a simple almost ethereal beauty to his face which captivated your attention and kept it there just like what was happening to her right now. She had to get out of this feeling. She pushed him back a little, using all the force she could muster. Abhay snapped out of his trance. He released her abruptly and tried to focus his mind on business again.

"What is your name?"

He was serious once more and his voice reverted to that of a police man making an enquiry.

Phulwa blurted out the first name that came to her mind.

"Gauri." She said without hesitation. It was her friend's name but he did not have to know that.

Abhay nodded then gestured to the heavy coat she was wearing.

"Remove that and let me see what's under it." He ordered.

Phulwa was shocked! Was this man mad or what? What did he want to see?

"What! How dare you," then she realised a normal village girl would not talk in that tone and quickly added, "Sir! I'm a girl from a respectably family. Being a police officer, you are asking to see me? This is disgusting."

Phulwa was fuming. She wanted to kill him. Good thing for him that she had to act, otherwise she would have strangled him right there.

Abhay suddenly realised how his words must have sounded. He cleared his throat, caught off balance by its double meaning.

" That's not what I meant lady!" He glared at her. "I want to see if you are hiding something. I was informed there would be a robbery here. That's why I want to check what's in your coat."

He waited for her to do as he said.

Phulwa blushed at the directions her thoughts had taken. She was thankful it was night time, and he could not see her flaming cheeks. Dacait Phulwa and blushing? That was new to her too. Damn this man! She glared back at him for a moment then opened the big coat to reveal her simple kurta and pants.

Abhay was surprised at her attire. Since when did village girls dress up like that?

Phulwa seemed to read his mind and quickly made up a story to divert his attention.

"My dad did not want me to go out at this hour. He thought it might cause tongues to wag in the village. That's why I wore this and covered my face also. This way nobody could recognise me as a girl." She said all this in a rush then shut up as she realised it might be sounding too eager and long an explanation.

Abhay mused over that for a second. She had a point there. Even he hadn't realise she was a girl until he had pinned her to the wall and……..He reprimanded himself for going there again. He had a duty to attend!

"Give me the coat. And come into the light please."

Phulwa advanced and stood directly under the street lamp. She hated showing herself like that. No officer had ever seen her before, now this man was going to be the first one of them. But there wasn't much she could do about it. It was more important to escape from there right now. She would see to him later. She handed him the coat.

Abhay's fingers touched hers for a brief moment but it had enough effect that it caused both of them to draw their hands back as if burned. Phulwa looked away while Abhay concentrated on checking the pockets of the coat. He tried not to look at her. The light made her even more appealing and he preferred not to dwell on that right now.

There was nothing in the pockets. He looked at her, forced to scan her silhouette. He could not ask to check her. This time he had the uncanny feeling she might hit him. He felt the corners of his mouth twitch but he controlled the need to smile. From what he could see, she wasn't hiding anything in her kurta. The cloth was hugging a little to her form and…there his mind went again. He coughed.

"Okay. But you should not be out here at this hour. Wait here."

He turned and punched in Jitendra's number. He might as well make sure. He did not want to feel as if he had not done his duty.

"Jitendra, can you call Balwant Thakur and asked him if everything's all right there? By the looks of it, nothing happened. But just make sure before I head back home."

Phulwa was feeling a bit apprehensive now. What if Thakur had noticed something abnormal? True, she had broken in without a sound. Nothing had gone wrong but if he went to check his safe, then for sure he will know. How she wished she had her gun with her. Thinking it was an easy job, she had been over confident. But nevermind, Phulwa did not need guns, she thought. She could win against him hands down. Then she thought back at how strongly he had held her and sighed. His back was turned, she stooped low quickly and grabbed a rock, hiding it behind her.

Abhay turned. He doubted this girl was Phulwa. In fact, he was sure she was not. After all, the image he had drawn of her was nothing like this. But he still had to do his job.

"Once I get back this call, you can go."

They were now both fidgety. They were looking everywhere except at each other. Abhay's phone rang. Phulwa held her breath and tightened her grip on the rock.

"Ok fine then. I guess there's no use waiting here. It's already 1 am."

Jitendra had woken up Thakur who had not been pleased at all. He had said there was nothing wrong. The guard had not signalled any intruders and he himself had not heard anything. Abhay was suddenly annoyed at the man. He had wasted his time for nothing ! His eyes fell on Phulwa. Maybe his time had not been wasted that much.

"You can go now."

Phulwa was incredulous. She had been all set to hit him and get away. She was almost sad she could not do it. After all, the man had caused her so many problems. She preferred not to think about the nature of the problems though. She nodded and made her way past him but Abhay grabbed her arm. She turned angry eyes at him. Abhay did not know why, but that look made his heart trip yet again. It was the first time he had seen a woman look like that when angry. An almost wild look, that of a cat ready to pounce.

"You forgot your coat. Be careful on your way back."

He pushed the coat in her hands and strode away with an almost arrogant swagger distinctly his own. Phulwa kept looking after him then fuming started walking in direction of the village. When Abhay's car was out of sight, she returned back on her tracks to where she had thrown the pouch and retrieved it. She smiled wryly, thinking ACP Abhay would not be very happy if he knew with whom he had collided today.

******

The next day when Abhay got up, he was feeling like he had not rested at all. Thoughts of last night kept coming in his dreams. Gauri had not been in the drabby kurta though! But for the first time in his life, he found that drabby kurtas on women could be attractive too. Or was it only on Gauri? His imagination was working overtime, he thought, as he got down from the bed. His white vest was damp, he passed it over his head and threw it away before going to take a shower. He had been twisting and turning all night unable to chase away images of brown angry eyes from his mind. He hoped today's work will make him forget all this. In fact he was thinking of wrapping up this Phulwa case as soon as possible. The map Jitendra had given him was starting to make some sense.

****

He was in high spirits as he entered his cabin. The drive had done him good. His hair was a little messed up because of it but he felt refreshed. He did not notice the looks that Aarti, the woman officer there gave him. He looked like such a bad boy with his hair falling in his eyes. His walk that of a man with a purpose. His biceps pushing against the sleeves of his uniform shirt. Jitendra entered after him looking distressed.

"What is it?" he swung his chair around and sat on it stretching a little.

He put his feet up, grabbing a random file on the table.

Jitendra gulped. How could he tell him what happened? Feeling his silence, Abhay looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"Sir, Balwant Thakur called. He said Phulwa broke into his house last night."

Abhay's feet dropped to the floor and he got up staring at Jitendra incredulously.

"What? That's not possible. I was there. Anyway, didn't he say everything's ok when you called?" Abhay's tone was up and his voice resonated off the walls of the cabin.

Abhay was livid. What was this new drama now?

Jitendra gathered his courage.

"Yes Sir, he did say all was well. But this morning when he opened his safe, there was nothing there. And he is sure it is Phulwa's doing."

"The bl**dy moron! When you asked him to check, what exactly did he check? Whether his clothes was on him?" Abhay sent the file he was holding flying across the room.

He walked from around his desk, coming to stand in front of Jitendra.

"What about the guard? Where was he?" he could not control his anger.

Nobody escaped him. How could Phulwa have done it?

"He was discovered this morning. Seems like he had been unconscious for most of the night. He can't remember much, Sir."

Abhay clenched his fist. There was something nagging him but he had yet to put his finger on it.

The girl! Gauri. She had been there. No, this can't be, thought Abhay. He could hardly believe it but now his uneasiness was too great to be ignored. He had to make sure.

"Jitendra, go to the village and enquire if there's any Gauri living there. Call me as soon as it's done. I'll meet you there."

Jitendra looked at him as if scared his boss might have gone mad.

"Uhh Gauri, Sir? But why?" he asked

The look Abhay threw his way shut him up instantly.

"Just do as you are told. Don't waste time." Abhay leaned against his desk hoping he was wrong. Otherwise, he would feel like biggest fool that ever lived.

*****

Jitendra called him almost an hour later. Abhay drove to the village pushing the accelerator to its limit. Three Gauris had been found. If his suspicions were wrong , then one of them would be the girl he had met last night. He preferred not to think about what would happen if this was not the case.

He got down and walked to where Jitendra stood.

"Sir, these are the girls called Gauri in the village."

Three girls stood in line, a scared look on their faces. As they saw Abhay, they diverted their eyes blushing a little. Abhay scanned each of them but he already knew. His heart sank.

"Are you sure these are the only Gauris in the village?" he asked, hoping the answer was no.

Jitendra nodded.

"We checked on the records also. There is no other Gauri listed apart from these three here."

Abhay turned his face away so they could not see the storm brewing in his eyes. She had fooled him. How dare she? Surely, he will make her pay for it in due time. Count your days Phulwa, he said in his head, because they will be up soon. He angrily drove off leaving a baffled Jitendra and three Gauris staring at him.

Ok, so you can now hit me with your comments if you didn't like it😆 Next part depends on how much free time i get so if im a little late with it, sorry!!!