T2: Ek Aur Zindagi..(Epilogue:page 130) - Page 47

Part 44:

The enagagement function went on smoothly. Only the near and dear of Sam and Aisha, along with the colleagues, and some seniors were present. After the function were a grand dinner and some music. The shaadi was fixed in 2 months time. There was enough time to prepare.

Time went smooth. The days were as same and special too.

Adi was now fully occupied in his school works, but that didn't let him away from the small amount of masti that he would have. If not a busy morning, his dad would take him out for the jogging. At weekends they took time to go out along with Dadi. She was there to take care of him in all the time when he was away.

ETF, well they never got much chance to relax. Being in Mumbai, they were completely occupied. But that never affected the bonding or relation.

Aisha and Sam had their own little moments in the busy schedule. Sree and his gang never missed a chance to poke Aisha on that matter. But soon, she was not the only person who was the centre of attraction.

It was during one of the dinner meet when Sakshi decided to speak up to Rishab. Infact there was nothing much to speak up, it was getting clear with the days spent together. Even her silence said out loud for his unasked question.

He smiled at for the first time tonue tied' Sakshi. "so... Ghar pe bolu?"

She looked down and smiled. He got the answer. He sighed and leaned back to the chair heavily. "finally!!!! Kithna time lagathe ho tum ladkiyan??"

"oye!! Sab aise nahi hai. Haan kuch log meri tharah hai!"

And after that loads changed. Her mom was very happy that at last Sakshi was ready for a commitment.

***

More than a month passed by after Sam's engagement. The day was busy as usual. Later at night, Arjun reached home after work. Adi was with Dadi in the kitchen. It was his new hobby these days to be in the kitchen at times. He had a point to sit on the counter and loved to stir the ingredients that Dadi added. By now he knew the amount of tea powder, sugar and the extra masala that his dad loved in his tea. He had yet to master the art of making perfect rotis. It was still not in round shape.

Arjun also joined them at times. But today he was tired. Dadi went to the room with a cup of tea and found Arjun lieing lazily on the bed, without changing, and legs dangling at the end of the bed. She placed the cup on the side table and caught his attention. He sat up and she sat by his side. "kya hua? Thak gaye ho?"

"haan bas thode bhag dhod karna pada..."

"are you sure Arjun? Kafi pareshan dikh rahe ho."

"kuch nahi aayi, bas work related thodi tension hai. Aur kuch nahi"

"ok... koi bath nahi. Chai piyo aur fresh hoke aao. Thab thak dinner ready hogi"

He nods yes tiredly.

"Dadi... jaldi aao. Ye jal jayegi..."

They both smiled at Adi's cry. "isse kitchen me kaam karna pasand hai. Tumhare tharah. Yaad hai, bachpan me mere aage piche ghoomthe the na?"

He smiles remembering it. She goes out. Arjun sips the tea remembering how he used to be with her in the kitchen. And later... the scolding that he used to get from Baba.

That brought back the gloominess that was with him from the evening. That one phone call had given him a headache that he didn't know what to do.

The day was hectic and the case was solved. After a whole day in the sun, all were tired. They had headed to the office and made final discussions. Arjun was in his cabin with a cup of tea when his mobile rang. He took it without looking at the screen. "hello..."

He waited for a while. No reply from the other side. "hello..." he probed again.

"Arjun..." he sat upright at the voice. Why is he calling now? He looked at the screen. It's a local mobile number. Means he is in town? Since when?

"Arjun... are you there?"

He breathed to calm himself. "hm..."

"busy ho?"

"nahi"

"I know, tum mujhse abhi bhi bath karne keliye ready nahi ho. Par mujhe kuch bath karna hai Arjun. Can we meet?"

He had never heard his Baba speaking in such a low tone.

"I know you are busy. Firbhi..."

"abhi?"

"nahi abhi mein shehar me nahi hu. Parson sham thak ajayega. Thab mile?"

He thinks for a while. "ok..."

"ok, tho fir Grand hotel ke cafeteria me milthe hai. Sham 5 baje ko?"

Arjun thinks for a while. "ok, par agar koi case aya tho..."

"Ek message kar dena"

Arjun agrees to it. He cuts the call.

He didn't know why such a sudden meeting was fixed and why he agreed to meet. But then he let it be. But ever since that time he was having a heavy head, as if something was about to happen.

Even at home he was not in his usual form. He heard patiently to Adi, but still he couldn't absorb it well. Dadi asked again, but he declined. He decided not to disturb her till knowing what the matter was.

Next morning, he didn't wake up Adi as he was asleep. He had a jogging all alone, letting his thoughts to wander free. After that he reached home and was getting ready for office.

At breakfast Adi complained for not calling for jogging. It was his favorite cycling time that he had missed. But Arjun made it up saying that they would go the next day.

At office, Sam was quick to get Arjun's mood. He went to Arjun's cabin and sat opposie to him. "kya hua Sam?"

"Sakshi ne kuch kaha?"

"nahi tho"

"well... She is planning to get married soon. Uske ek friend ke sath. Ghar pe bath hui hai. Maybe soon engagement bhi hoga."

"hm. Good"

Sam sat silent facing him.

"bath kya hai Sam, tum sirf ye bath karne nahi aye ho"

"haan, kuch aur bhi kehna hai. Par mujhe nahi, tumhe."

"mujhe kya kehna hai Sam?"

"mere tharaf dekho. Tumhare chehra saaf saaf keh raha hai ke koi problem hai. Bolo bath kya hai?"

"kuch nahi"

"stop that crap infront of me. Ab bolo"

He waits for a while and then decides to speak. "kal ek phone call aya tha, sham ko"

"kiska?"

He sits silent again. Rathod takes a guess. "Baba?"

Arjun nods yes. "kya hua? Sab teekh tho hai na?"

"patha nahi"Arjun shrugs it off.

"kya matlab hai patha nahi ke? Kya kaha unhone?"

"mujhse milna chahtha hai. Kuch bath karne."

"tho mila?"

"aaj nahi. Kal sham ko."

"tho tum ja rahe ho na?"

Arjun is silent again. "dekho Arjun, meet him. Talk to him. Listen what he have to say. Ek bar milne se kya farak padtha hai? Aur kya patha, sab kuch iss bar teekh hojaye tho?"

"I doubt it Sam"

"Ok, let it be anything. Go and meet him tomorrow. Aayi ko patha hai?"

"nahi. Jab thak mile thab thak kuch math bathana. I don't want to hurt her again"

"Ok, nahi bathauga. Par tum milna zaroor. Kaha milne ko kaha hai?"

"Grand hotel me. Unke choice me abhi bhi koi change nahi hai."

"hm..."

"par meine batha diya hai ke agar koi case aye tho mein nahi aunga"

"Aisa kuch nahi hone wala. Ek shaam tumhare bina bhi mein apni team ko sambhal saktha hu. So you don't worry about that."

Arjun gives a smile, but then he was not happy yet. Sree knocked and enterd. "Sir, DIG sir ke sath meeting...?"

"haan chalo. Chale Rawte?"

He nods and picks up his gun and walks out.

***

Same time somewhere else:

"Kal keliye sab thaiyar hai na?" A man who looked like he was the boss among all asked keeping a hard face. It was a dingy hotel room, with a bunch of 6 members. All nodded yes. "teekh hai. Firse ek bar plan ko discuss karthe hai. Koi galthi nahi honi chahiye"

All gather around a blue print and discuss it. A young man seems a bit unsure.

"kya hua? Koi pareshani hai?"

"bhai.. hum aise chote jagah pe kyu hamla kar rahe hai? Koi bade jagah kyu nahi? Jaise pehle..."

"bade jagah me security bhadadiya gaya hai. Ab hamare mange puri karne keliye, yahi karna hoga"

"par iss hotel me tho sirf aam log hi jathe hai. Koi VIP nahi"

"Aam jantha ho... tho aur bhi achi bath hai. Jab aam jantha pe aanch athe hai, tho pehle kisse khabar pohonchthe hai?"

"media ko. Wo hum dekh lenge sab."

"good. Ab sare pareshani dur karo. Kal shaam sab teekh hoga"

They agree to it and disperse.

***

Next day:

Adi was with Arjun for the jogging. "kya bath hai Dad? Aap teekh ho?"

"han Adi, bas kaam ke bare me..."

"relax dad. It will be fine." he ruffles his hair. "I know. Chal"

They take another round of the park, him jogging and Adi cycling.

By noon, Sakshi enters the conference hall. "kamaal hai, aajkal logonko ho kya gaya hai?"

"kya hua Sakshi?"Aisha was having a glass of water.

"kya kahu Aisha? Mere friend se bath kar rahi thi. Usne kaha ke kisine paper office me call karke bathaya hai ke aaj shaam ko bohot bade problem hone wale hai."

"hoax call hogi" Aisha was used to it.

"yeah maybe. Firbhi, unke office se 2-3 log uss jagah jarahe hai. Just to make sure of it."

"hm..." they had more important matter and so left it off.

By evening Sam made sure Arjun left for the hotel. He reached the car parking zone and waited in the car for a while. It was almost time. He was about to tuck in the gun, but then looked around. It was a public palce and was little bit crowded. It won't be fine to walk in with a gun tucked in. he keeps it back in the dash board and gets down.

A guard salutes and welcomes him in the hotel. He moves in a looks around. His baba was already there in a corner seat. He breaths in and composes himself and walks in.

He stood for a moment infront of him. Baba mentions him to sit and so he gets seated.

A silence was in as usual. "busy the?" Baba tried. He nods no. He was looking around and trying to think how to converse. "Arjun..." Baba caught his attention.

"maana hamare beech fasle bade hai. Par kya wo ithne badh chuke hai ke aap humse nazar nahi mila parahe hai?"

"Aise koi bath nahi hai"

"fir kya bath ha Arjun?"

He didn't know hoe to answer it. "Aap kuch kehna chahthe the..."

Baba sighs and nods looking down. "haan. Kafi kuch kehna hai. I hope hum dono ko uthna patience ho sab kehne aur sunne keliye..."

He waits for Baba to speak up.

"dekho Arjun... mein..."

His words stop as there comes a commotion. Arjun sprangs up hearing gun shots. There was panic and cries all around. Few men come in with masks on. One of them fire in air. "chillao math. Hamare sath cooperate karo, aur zinda bachjao. Warna..."

He shoots at the guard who was already under their custody. He falls dead. Arjun checks for the gun and curse himself for keeping it in the car. He looks back at his baba who was visible worried. He goes to him. "suniye. Don't panic."

But baba was not listening. He tries to shake. "baba... please..." Rawte looks at him. "trust me baba... kuch nahi hoga. Don't panic. Ok?"

He nods yes. Arjun fishes out his mobile. He knew time was limited. He quickly messages to Sam.

"Sab log aage aao. Hoshiyari karne ke koi zaroorath nahi hai. Aur sab apna phone switch off karo aur hame do."

Arjun wanted to take action. But one look at Rawte said that it was not time. He held his baba's elbows and asked him to come forward. He needed sometime to analyze.

They sat together in the hall. He sat along with baba at the rear end of the hall. He tried not to show his face much. Maybe if they get his identity, it may lead to havoc. He needed to closely observe until next step or till his team reach here.

***

Same time ETF office.

Sree runs to the hall. "Sir, breaking news dekhiye"

He on the tv and saw the news about a few people who had taken up a hotel cafeteria with some civilians. Sam notices the hotel name. "Grand Hotel?? Rawte bhi wahi hai!!!"

His mobile buzz. A message was in. "Grand hotel. SOS"