Chapter 7
Kalyani was coming out of a bookshop when she collided with someone.
"Hey babes! Are you stalking me? Because wherever I go, you come across my path." Malhar said removing his sunglasses.
"Don't you get tired saying these cringy lines everytime to every girl you meet?" Kalyani realized she really was stupid when she thought that this unbearable, irritating guy can make her happy, "I wonder how can a girl with a non-negative IQ fall for these cringy tactics?"
"Not even one," Malhar said to himself. He remembered his school and college days when girls of his class had nicknamed him 'Masterji' and 'Bhai Sahab' because of how shy and serious he was. Nothing has changed even now in his life minus his undercover alter-ego.
"Did you say anything?" Kalyani asked.
"Nothing, just counting the names of girls who've fallen for exactly these cringy lines..."
"Oh shut up!" Kalyani said and started crossing the road without looking around. Suddenly an overspeeding school bus came rumbling. Out of shock, Kalyani closed her eyes. But someone pulled her with force.
"I don't want to die," Kalyani said repeatedly, burying her head in Malhar's chest, clutching his shirt , "I don't want to die."
"Shhh...Shhh..." Malhar hushed her, tenderly stroking her hair, "Nothing will happen to you or Moksh. I won't let anything happen to both of you."
Kalyani said through tears, "Promise?"
Malhar nodded.
Malhar just wanted to hug Kalyani, and he would've done so if not Inspector Sharma posted in Karol Bagh Thana had called him by his real name.
"Arey ACP Sir? Aap yahaan, Daryaganj mein," He said, then seeing Kalyani holding him, Sharma smiled in a conspiratorial manner and said, "Tabhi tevar badle badle hain janaab ke. When did you start dressing so fashionably? Even in our informal parties, you always used to wear the same boring checked or striped shirts. Aur Bhabhiji ke liye nayi car bhi le li? Saal bhar ki salary uda di aapne to."
"Rent ki hai," Malhar said gnashing his teeth, then correcting himself, hissed in Sharma's ears, "Bahut bolne lage ho Sharma. Kal department meeting ki preparation ho gayi?"
Tomorrow was meeting of city police with officials of Narcotics Bureau and Sharma knew ACP Malhar Rane was the toughest taskmaster.
"I was just going home," Sharma said meekly.
After Sharma left, Kalyani pulled Malhar towards her and looking straight into his eyes, "Who are you?"
"Arey! First meeting me hi to bataya tha apna naam. Ghajini ke Sanjay Singhania wali problem ho gayi kya tumhe?" Malhar said, stuttering.
"Why he was calling you ACP Sir?" Kalyani was not going to be easy on Malhar.
"Arey Wo...Wo, he was my childhood friend and as children, our favourite game was police police. So I always became ACP in the game, that's why he calls me ACP till now. Old times nostalgia, you know."
"I too have played police police and doctor doctor in childhood. Normally kids become Inspector or just doctor in the game, no one becomes an ACP, DCP or oncologist in a childhood game."
"So a kid can't even dream...I used to watch CID as a child and was a diehard fan of ACP Pradyuman. That's why A...C...P..."
"Whatever," Kalyani shrugged, "Harkatein to ek percent tumhari nahi hain ACP wali."
"Accha Ji," Malhar said, suppressing his smile, "Aap keh rahi hain to sach hi hoga."
When Kalyani left, Malhar's phone rang. On the other side was Pawar.
"Hello Sir," he said, "I got a lead from my informer that Atharv and all the big drug dealers of Delhi are buying expensive and rare drugs from kingpins in Hong Kong and Thailand on loan which they'll repay with interest once their deal with you is cracked."
"Good," Malhar smirked with an evil gleam in his eyes, "And when they hand over all drugs to us and realise that the transactions in their accounts were made-up and not real, the mob bosses of HK and Thailand will make their life worse than hell. Then they'll have no other option than handing themselves over to law to save themselves from the torture of mob bosses."
"Your plan is brilliant Sir," Pawar hesitated, "But what about Kalyani ma'am?"
"What about her?" Malhar's tiredness was evident in his voice, "And why are you calling her ma'am? Senior hai tumhari vo?"
"No I just thought...You and Kalyani ma'am...sorry...Kal...Sir, I can't take her name."
"Bas Kaam chodkar har faltu cheez me dimaag lagwa lo tum logon ka. Are talent barbaad kyon kar rahe ho apna? Side business shuru kar lo tum aur Sharma apna: Shaadi.Com- Bharosa Dilli Police Ka. Agar apki shaadi kisi bhi vajah se tooti to doolhe ki taangein todne ki zimmedari hamari. Rakho phone aur baaki information collect karo," Malhar scolded Pawar.
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Cricket
