Farishtey (last part: Pg 114) 2/10 - Page 11

PART 4:

Late night Sameer Rathod was in a police head quarters in Mumbai, briefing a team of officers under ACP Shyam. Some time back, Coehlo had walked in to this office and had introduced them and soon Sameer took the charge of guiding them. There was pure professionalism over there. They talked just about the case in hand. He had more than his own experience not to take anything personally.

There was a culprit to be caught. His work pattern reminded of someone in past whom the ETF had once caught after a long run. They had to take actions quick to avoid further damage.

There was quick raid and encounters and by the early morning almost everyone in the team was exhausted. But there was no time to sit back and rest.

They took a break in the early morning just before the sunrise. Sameer was given a room in the guest house. He was about to get out of the team's office when he heard someone speaking behind him. "isn't he the old chief of ETF? Kafi naam tha uss team ka. Par kehthe hai na... kuch bhi zyada time thak nahi chalega. After all, that team too perished."

He could feel a rise in temper inside him that made him turn around and speak up.

"my team never perished. Jab thak unke yadien hai, thab thak wo zinda rahega. Is that clear?"

The team froze at those words. ACP Shyam came forwards to apologize on his team's behalf and let Sameer go. Shyam had a good session with his teammates not to poke the ACP Rathod as his presence was very much needed at that time.

Sameer retired to his room to catch up the much awaited nap, if it could bless him.

It was a buzzing of his mobile that made him open his eyes. He looked up the clock and saw that he had slept a bit more than he expected and felt bad that he had over slept. He saw a miss call from Sree and wondered what might have been the reason. But then first he called ACP Shyam and asked for the updates and assured he will be there ASAP.

And then he moved to the window and called back Sree, who took it without any delay. "kya hua Sree? Aise sabere kyu call kiya?"

"Sir aap Mumbai me ho?"

"tumhe kaise patha? Kahi tum mujhe trace tho nahi kar rahe?"

"sir aaj thode pehle Coehlo sir ke call tha. He asked about an old case, jisse judi ek case ko help karne aye hai. Tho aise..."

"hm... yes I am here. Abhi guest house me hu. Thode der me uss team ko join karna hai"

"when are you going back sir?"

"most probably aaj sham thak case solve hojayega. Maybe tomorrow morning."

"ok sir... take care."

"you too."

They cut the call and left out all the questions that they had in their mind hanging to themselves. Neither could the voice it nor could they answer it.

Sameer went to ready. There was a team waiting for him, though it was nowhere to those who were with him.

***

Sree had an off mood day at the office. His teammates could read it. The Special wing of Police at Kolkata was lucky to have this guy in the team. He had answer to any questions related to technology. He was friendly and gentle and brave. More than once he proved it that he was not just good behind the screen but also on the forefront too.

But they never knew that the Sreekant Sen that they saw daily was not the Sree he used to be. He mostly kept to himself. The teammates knew his background and so didn't probe him much. But he was good with the team. He tried to be friendly as much as he can but still something was pulling him back.

His facilities were not as good as he used to have. The up gradation requests were still on papers. He wished he was back at his old work station where he had everything at his finger tips. And a sudden call from Coehlo was disturbing. Coehlo was good at his words. He didn't ask anything that might have triggered his mood to be off, but he just mentioned that Sameer was down at Mumbai. He felt something was far away from his reach, something that he wished to be back in his hold.

He leaned back and closed his eyes wondering how Rathod Sir was managing back down there. One thought lead to another and then to the next. Finally ending up with the pleasant memories of all those good days.

A slight thud and smell of coffee made him smile with eyes closed. "thanks Chotu, you are a life saver". He smiled and opened his eyes to see not the huge man, but another young man who had a pained look on his face. Subhroto, the assistant tech expert of the team was not new to these situations. Many a times he has heard these names. Chotu, Liza, Sakshi, Rathod sir... he felt sad for the guy in front of him.

"sorry yaar. Wo mein..." Sree stumbled on how to rectify the error.

"its ok Sree. You still can take your time. You don't look good today. Sab teekh tho hai na?"

"haan, all fine. Wo bas..." he didn't have a reply.

Subhroto leaned on to the table and watched Sree intently. "mere ek bath manoge Sree? Why don't you take some time off? You deserve a break yaar. Chief wont mind. Why don't ask him?"

"aue leave leke bhi kya karega?"

"just go away from all these. Jaha thodi bohot shanti hai"

"we are bound to be here bhai. Shanti sab hamare dictionary me hi kaha likhi hai?"

Subhroto lost his words to him. Sree looked as pensive as ever. He patted his shoulder and went back to his chair.

Sree couldn't help from thinking what his buddy told. A day off can't hurt more. He looked upto his chief's cabin. The new chief was not comparable to Rathod Sir. He had limitations owing to the limitations he had at the office. Still life was smooth. He walked to his chief's cabin who welcomed him with a smile.

***

Avni was busy in the hospital. She was recently in charge of the neonatal care unit were the new born needs special attention. It required whole attention always as the kids lives were in their hands.

At noon, she took a break. She had an hour gap until next schedule. She had Arjun's number as Anjali had given his number in case of emergency. She had taken it half heartedly but now it looked helpful.

Arjun attended the unknown number but was quick to get the identity.

"hello, Mr. Arjun...?"

"ji haan... kahiye."

"mein Anjali ke bare me kuch kehne call kiya tha... wo.."

"wo school me hi hai. Apne class me hai. Should I call her?"

"no... Actually mujhe aapse hi bath karni thi."

"kahiye..."

"dekhiye Mr. Arjun, mujhe aapse koi problem nahi hai. Aap kaun hai, aapke ateeth kya hai, un sare bathonse mujhe koi farak nahi padtha. Par Anjali... wo meri zindagi hai. Aur hamari ek choti si duniya hai. Waha jab koi aur aye, tho mujhe ghabrahat hothi hai. Meine suna hai ke aap aur aapke dost milke kuch logonko insaaf dethe hai. Badi achi bath hai. Par please Anjali ko in sabse dur rakhiye. Wo bachi hai. Aur mujhe uske fikar hai... I hope aap samajh rahe hai... jo mein keh rahi hu..."

"I get it Mrs. Joshi. Aur isiliye mein apne aapko Anjali se dur rakhna bhi chahtha hu. Zindagi me kafi kuch khoya hai meine. Ab aur nahi. Par wo meri student hai. Tho unse na milna, wo bhi nahi hoga. But I promise you, mere wajah se aapke zindagi me koi problem nahi hogi."

"Bath sirf apke sath work karne ka nahi hai... Anjali kisi aur pe depend karne lage... ye bath..."

"I get what you mean. And I will try my best."

"thanks Mr. Arjun. Aur waise bhi, its not Mrs. Joshi. Its Avni. Just Avni."

"hm... ok."

She cut the call even without saying bye. But Arjun knew she had to speak it. After all she is her mother. But he didn't know how to keep Anjali away from him. He had said plainly to her that her Mumma don't like them together. But the kid was adamant. And he couldn't push her away too.

He didn't know when Anjali and her classmates were passing the same corridor for their computer lab. He found her standing infront of him. "everything ok, Mr. Arjun?"

He nodded and let her go. This was indeed tough.

***

By evening the case was solved. The flight was due to next morning. He had a night to spend. He freshens up in his room and decides to go out for a while. The staff vehicle was provided and he was free to go. He drove silently through the roads that were almost like his back of the palm. He never knew when he reached in front of the same gates that used to open a world for him.

The ETF head quarters.

It was all dark as was never before. A watchman was at the gates, who stood up as he saw him. The watchman was surprised to see him. He gave a feeble smile and opened the gates.

He drove to the main door, followed by the man. He sat in his driving seat for a longer time. The once buzzing doorway looked ignored now. He felt the man by his window. He sighed and walked out.

"Salaam Sab"

"Salaam. Kaise ho Chandu? Abhi bhi yahi hai?"

"night shift me, mein hu saab. Sabere tho Manish hai"

"hm..."

They stood silent when Chandu spoke up. "mujhe nahi patha tha ke aap bhi arahe hai"

Sameer looked at him confused. "mein bhi, matlab?"

"Sree sir ander hai. Kuch ek ghante pehle aye the. Chabi bhi unke paas hai"

"ooh..."he never expected Sree to be here too.

He took leave and walked in. The corridors were bit dusty now. It didn't have men and women rushing hurriedly. There was none at the reception desk. He walked in through the corridor.

Through the lane where Arjun had once blasted Sakshi for her lie. He was not there when it happened. But he had heard about it later from Aisha. And that day she showed something that made him wonder what she was hiding.

She never said it to him and then she went away with that secret.

He reached the entrance of the main hall, from where there was path to all the sections. To Liza's lab, to his own cabin, to the conference hall, to Rawte's cabin, and to Sree's cabin.

And that was when he saw him.

Sree was near to his old cabin, leaning onto the table, hands crossed at his chest, oblivious to another entry in the room.

Sam felt bad about the whole change in the air. The once so buzzing room looked so haunted.

The Department would have not diluted the team if he and Sree had decided to stay back. But they declined even before asking.

Sameer went to Sree and touched his shoulder. Sree almost jerked as if from a bad dream and looked at Sir, adjusting back his specks. "sir aap yaha?"

"kab aye Sree? Aur mujhe bathaya thak nahi"

"aaj dopahar ko sir. Ek din ke chutti liya. Aur yaha aaya. Mujhe laga aap case me busy hoge. Aur rath ko call karthe hai"

"hm..."

Sameer sighed and walked out and sat on those steps in the hall. He was looking around visibly tired.

Sree also took a seat by his side.

"kithne badla badla lag raha hai na, sir? Patha nahi tha aise bhi din ayega"

"kuch bhi hamare hath me nahi hai Sree. Aur jiske hath me tha, wo tho kayaron ke tharah chup gaya"

There was an acidic touch in his tone. He knew there was no point of asking anything about him.

"par uss din shayad..."

"lets drop that topic Sree"

"nahi Sir. I don't think so"

Sameer looked at him. Never before had Sree negated him.

Sree looked down remembering those events.

"uss din Liza ne call kiya tha mujhe. Pure din sir upset tha. baadme patha chala ke..."

"uss din Roshni ke birthday thi..."

Sree looked at him. The face was pale now, taking the name. Sree had a small clue that Sameer knew Roshni, but not the whole picture.

Sree nodded yes answering the words.

"ajeeb date hai wo. Ussi din me kafi saal pehle, meine mere dost ko sabse khush dekha tha. Kyunki uske zindagi me uske pyaar aya tha. Aur ussi din me ab, baki sabkuch kho diya."

He looked lost again. Sree knew he needed this time. Later he saw Sameer waking up from that dream state. "Liza ne kya kaha tha?"

"sir ke mood bohot kharab tha. Unke health bhi kuch teekh nahi tha. Bar bar sir dard, chakkar aana, aur fir bewaja gussa karna. Agar koi puche tho bas gussa kiya tha. Kisiko ye nahi patha tha ke problem kya hai"

"par Rawte ko ho kya gaya tha?"

"patha nahi sir. Par kuch tho zaroor tha. Pehle wo sabpe chillaya. Baadme Sakshi se mafi bhi mang liya. Aur ye bath Liza uss jagah pe jane se pehle bathaya tha. Aur uske baad..."

He stopped. That was the last time when he heard her.

When Sakshi had called Aisha, she sounded as if she was about to cry. After much asking, she told what Arjun had said to her, that he had felt sorry for his words. But there was something more that was hidden inside her. She couldn't say it loud. But then duty calls came and Arjun asked them to reach that factory.

And the secret that Arjun had felt the team as his own family died with her.

Sameer was still lost in those words. "par uss din hua kyat ha? Pehle Rawte ke hal? Badme ye sab. Fir uske arrest aur fir bhag jana"

"case tho unhone solve kar diya tha. Par abhi bhi kafi sare bath anjaan hai"

"hm..."

"shayad unhe patha ho?"

"hone do... mujhe farak nahi padtha"

Sameer stood up and moved away. This was the old Sameer Rathod who used to get his temper high at the mere mention of the name Rawte.

Sree knew he had to handle it with care. He walked to him. "teekh hai Sir. Abhi bhi Arjun sir isi shehar me hai. Ithna tho mujhe patha hai. Aur kuch aur, ke wo ab kisi aur ke sath..."

"precisely ek chor ke sath hai. Aur ab uske manmani karne me kisiko koi farak nahi padtha. I too have heard it Sree. Just drop the matter."

Sree knew he had lost his chance.

"ok.. aap wapas kab jarahe ho?"

"kal 9 baje ke flight hai. Aur tum?"

"9: 30"

"hm... dinner karoge?"

Sree nods yes. They had a quick look around and moved out. They couldn't hold back the suffocation anymore.

***

At night Arjun was out for a stroll. It was not too late. Next day being a weekend, it was considerably crowded. He was walking by the lanes that were near to the beach. Clad in his jacket, he walked alone in the crowd. And he would have continued if he hadn't heard the voice from the other side of the road.

Avni was a bit early home tonight. As it was one of those rare occasions, Anjali wanted a night out. So they made a quick plan of an outing by the beach, a dinner from the favourite restaurant and the favourite khulfi. They had already been at the beach for sometime now and were on their way for the food. They were on the other side on the road, when Anjali spotted Arjun.

"Mr. Arjun..." she almost cried out shocking Avni and Arjun himself. He looked at her side and saw her waving at him smiling. By her side was Avni, who didn't know how to react. He didn't want to interfere in between them. He just smiled at Anjali and waved back and tried to walk in the direction he was already taking.

He just took a few steps when he heard a voice again. This time it was Avni. "HEY..."

She screamed loud. He turned and saw Avni almost falling back and a biker trying to speed away. Clearly they had snatched her chain.

Arjun moved quickly forward and threw what he got in his hand first. A bigger chuck of stone when hit on the shoulder blade, the biker lost his balance and both him and the one sitting behind fell down.

Arjun rushed to them and caught them immediately. They tried to fight back only to be held back by him. The people just stood watching the scene and not giving their hand. He retrieved he chain and was about to give a good hit when he felt something piercing his shoulder.

Clearly the chain snatchers were well organized and had people on ground too. When the bikers were caught one among them attacked Arjun with a knife. As he had come forward none guessed such a move. For the on lookers it was another guy who was trying to help. But soon the scene changed when Arjun fell down with a groan and others spread away when the 3 men frightened them with a knife.

Anjali and Avni were at the start too shocked to do anything. But as they saw Arjun being hit, they rushed forward. The men spread away, and Arjun was trying to get up with a groan.

He winced in pain with his attempt.

Anjali held him back on the ground. "mumma... blood nikal rahe hai. Hospital jana hoga..."

Arjun tried to protest but Avni could see the pain visible on his face. One among those who saw was merciful to stop a taxi and helped him to it. And Avni and Anjali went with him.

All the way he was bleeding heavily and Anjali was trying to cover his wounds with a hanky that she had. Avni cut a small piece of her duppatta and gave pressure on his wounds and asked the driver to speed up. It was indeed bleeding heavily.

Many lines were destined to cross on day. And one such was about to begin.