Arjun and Riya saga: Veil - Page 4

Res for comment on third post It’s crazy to read this many words per post 😭 aap novel likhlo

Originally posted by: SarafWasima

Res for comment on third post It’s crazy to read this many words per post 😭 aap novel likhlo

Itna asaan hota to pehle likhte lol

I think long story so...

Originally posted by: Phir_Mohabbat

Arjun is different in lot of ways these days, but his core traits remained same. showing indifference to others, yet also the first one to advice. shows he doesnt care, but caring too much. stern in the face of corruption and power play, and teaching the same to others. harsh words, soft heart. A man full of contradictions, her Arjun.

He always melts in front of a child. It can be a baby, a toddler, or a teenager. His mask comes out, and he is a caring, attentive man who will fight the world to protect them. There is a small boy who works at the tea stall right across the street outside ETF. He had threatened the owner because of child labor, but the kid, barely in his teens, had cried and begged to do his job. Arjun admitted the boy to a government school, till this date pays his fees, gave him books, clothes and often money after he delivers beverages in ETF. But he let him work in the shop, and everyday he goes there to have his favorite cutting chai.

Sometimes she goes with him, and orders a coffee cause years, she finds cutting chai too strong for her liking.

She saw him ruffling the kid's hair one evening, and felt her heart burst through her chest at such a small gesture. Arjun looked back, as if knowing what she felt like.

He asked her one night at their apartment, just as they were doing dishes.

"Do you want kids?"

She never thought about that. To think of it, she never thought she would have this life, either.

"Maybe?" He frowned at her. "I dont know. I never thought about it." Pausing, she asked. "You? i know you do. you love kids."

"How do you know?"

"I have eyes, Arjun." looking down at dishes, she asked hesitantly. "Do you?"

"Yes."

"Since Ro-"

"before that." he admitted, lost in thoughts. "Since the time i realized the environment i am growing up isnt suitable for anyone, let alone a child. I kept dreaming about a different life. a normal life, lots of friends, good parents, laughter. someone who loves me unconditionally, and to the person i dont have to pretend. I used to think I can do better than my parents."

"And now?"

"I want to, I just dont know if i wont fail in that, just like my father." He shook head. "I have the roadmap in what not to do. Nobody taught me what i should do." Looking at her face, he continued. "I probably never mentioned it, but your parents are amazing. to each other, especially."

"They are." She smiled. "So much love between them."

"Its unbelievable to look at. no wonder they raised you."

"i messed up in life a lot, Arjun."

"everyone. what we are today matters."

"Ditto." He blinked at surprise, not knowing she will turn the table on him. "if we know wrongs and rights, maybe we have a chance."

"We?" a smile threatened to break out of his face.

"Dishes."

"i want to hear it."

She wouldnt admit it no matter how much he pushed.

She had never pushed Arjun to reveal about the time away from them. She had seen the scars on his body and how he was tight lipped, and waited until that maybe one day, he will tell her things. That day never came, and she accepted that. Probably there is a reason Rathore sir and Arjun never told her anything

She never asked Aisha if Rathore sir had ever told her about their time. But then, she would understand going undercover and seeing things. Maybe that was a common bonding point between the couple. Something Arjun and her don't have in common and may never become a comfortable topic between them.

She had sensed it before Arjun could show it. Lashing out, being rude, not seeing eye to eye with her and others , going off solo on field, brooding, not answering her if she asks something. She gave him time from her side - whatever she knows about the team, there is no contention related to ETF or his work life. He was never someone who is moody around Roshnis birthday or death anniversary. The meetings with his parents are going on smoothly too. That only left one thing- maybe something from past was bothering him.

One particular day, when things were too tensed in office and their home had the familiar suffocating feeling, she decided that enough. It's time she talks to him and understands the root of his foul mood. If she did something unintentionally, of course she will ask for apologize. If he can't tell her, she will call Rathore sir immediately.

Just when he was going to vanish inside their bedroom, she stopped him.

"Arjun, I know something is going on. I saw it...I tried to give you space..but i can see it didn't work. Can you tell me what is it?"

She circled around the common question for a while,but he didn't give her an inch. Her frustration build at his cold demeanor, but she kept herself in control. she fired questions - is it work? Some case which hit too close? Some behaviour he didn't like? Is it Roshni? Is it his parents? Is it her family? Did she make any mistake? Made him feel incompetent? Disrespected him somehow? Emotionally hurt him? Is it his past? The time he was away from everyone?

At that his eyes flashed.

"Arjun, please..talk to me. I am here. Don't hide yourself." at his silence, she felt like giving up. "if not me, is there someone else you want to talk? Tell me who's it. You need to let it out, baby. It's not good to keep things hidden."

She must have said something wrong - his eyes flashed, his lips curled in bitterness, his fists clenched tightly next to him.

"That's rich, coming from you. Someone who hid her entire identity from everyone." She reeled back - him mentioning it out of nowhere, after so much time had passed, at the false implication he gave to her all these years, pretending he was over her secret. Apparently not. Then why did he come to her? What was happening?

She was questioning her entire life at his words.

Something cold settled into the pit of her stomach. Her fingers reached her neck, feeling her chains- one of Arjun's, other her mangalsutra. In a moment, the chain which hung around her neck - his chain, which he gave to her once upon a time - she removed it, tightened her fist around the lose jewellery, then slowly, she kept it on table.

"I don't know what's going on with you." She hid her trembling voice. "But i won't stand for it. You fix yourself, do whatever it takes...then you let me know. I won't stay here with you when you behave like this...and certainly, i won't bring a child between us in this situation."

She took out her apartment keys and kept it next to the chain.

"I don't deserve it. Our child don't deserve it. Do better, Arjun. All or nothing, remember it."

She walked out of her apartment without a single glance.

She was shaken awake the next morning by Shree, and found herself in her desk, leaned on a chair and her feet on another. She had arrived in office in daze, completely unaware of her surrounding, refusing to cry even in private. she wanted to touch her mobile in case of messages or phone calls. She and Arjun had always shared their live locations, and even if she was angry and hurt, she didn't switch off her GPS.

Shree took one look at her face and pursued his lips in sympathy . They are closest of friends, there are some things in their lives which the other know - only them in the entire world. Yet, there is a line. Shree don't discuss issues related to Liza. He knows Riya won't do it either.

"There is a sofa in my house in case you need it " he patted her head consolingly.

Arjun debated himself and waited till afternoon before presenting himself in front of his wife, slightly worried at the way she had completely shut him out. Sure, she behaved normally around others, just like a fellow co worker. But his wife, the woman he loves was missing from the building.

He had hurt her immensely, and wanted her back right now.

He kept her apartment keys tentatively on her desk, locking eyes with her passive ones. Very rarely he's on this side of argument.

"I know you are hurt. I behaved .... Horribly. I need to apologise to you a lot, and I will do everything in power to fix this. But please...please Riya. Come home."

She glanced at the keys. "Maybe tomorrow." His heart sank. "I need some time."

"Where will you stay for the night?"

"Maybe in office. Shree has generously offered his sofa." At his fallen face, she explained herself. "I didn't tell him anything."

"That's...." he didnt care about that. "I will request you again. Please. Come home." She looked away to avoid his earnest gaze. "I can take the sofa. I can leave the apartment if you want. Please. Please Riya?"

She stayed silent in front of his plea.

She stood in front of her apartment, outside of the locked door with keys in her hand. It's her house, and yet, she didn't feel like going in. She debated with herself - maybe office chairs will be better than the tensed situation inside the house.

The door opened suddenly, and Arjun stood on the other side, looking at her as if they have met after a long time. Giving her a tentative smile, he moved aside to let her in.

After a long hot shower, dinner made by Arjun and bearing the suffocating silence, she was ready to call it a day. Just when she was about to get into bed, he stopped her, quick brush of fingers around her neck as he put on the familiar chain on her.

They both couldn't sleep- it never happened that they were so close, yet so far, not even touching each other. Not a brush of fingers, not one of them pressed against the other. The distance between them felt bigger than the ocean.

Arjun debated with himself, and turned to her, pushing himself close to her. She didn't stop him, but she didn't welcome his touch either.

"I am sorry." There was no immediate response from her side.

"There was a time I felt so alone in this house. I cried due to loneliness and wanted only you. Day and night, i prayed everyday that you come back. To lessen my loneliness, i would wear your shirt. Especially the white one...it made me feel closer to you." She fell silent. "If I have to feel lonely even when you are next to me...maybe we shouldn't..."

He pressed himself impossibly closer to her. "I am sorry. I will do better. I will tell you everything.."

"It doesn't matter if it's me. Talk to someone...anyone."

"I will." He vowed. This will never repeat, he promised to herself. "I am sorry Jaan. Please forgive me. Please...."

At last, he felt her soft touch over his arm.

There was a scene unfolding in front of her- her mind couldnt comprehend what it was, but she knew in her bones that it was an awful thing. She tried to fight the invisible ghosts, reaching for something...

She was shaken awake the next moment.

"You are crying in sleep." Arjun moved away slowly, frowning with questions. "What is it?"

"i dont know." Tired, she rubbed her eyes. She glanced at the clock- 6 am. Great.

"This is the third night in row you had nightmares."

"I cant remember it once i am awake." her night suit was drenched in sweat, along with her side of bedsheet. she needs to put it in washing machine, but there is no time. She had a flight to catch.

When she got out of bed, Arjun asked. "where are you going?"

"I will get ready." avoiding his eyes, she hurried inside washroom.

she got ready slowly, movements lethargic due to her bone deep tiredness. When she put some last minute things in her bag, Arjun stood in front of her with a mug of steaming hot coffee. Letting out a quick smile, she took it and started to pack her things once again.

She wasnt avoiding him, not at all. He slept in the bed, if he spoke something she wont avoid him. they behaved civilly, but he hadnt said anything since that day. Anything beyond a platonic touch, and she scrambled away in tension. She wasnt waiting for him to say anything- deep down she knew Arjun might never tell her anything. she didnt mind it, even if it pinched her heart a little. All she wants is to fix this distance between them, and the ball is in his court. She had given all support she could manage.

"Let me." Arjun crouched down next to her, arranged things and zipped the bag, picking it up and carrying it to the living room. She finished her drink quickly, looked at herself in the mirror, and decided it was time to leave.

"Let me drop you to the airport."

"Rathore sir is sending driver."

"Okay, i am coming till downstairs."

"There is no need, really." It hurt him, she could see. Once it was out there, she couldnt take it back.

She got a call from the driver, and gave him a grimace signalling she would leave. Arjun hesitated, then put his arms around her tightly, burying his face in her neck. There was a kiss pressed on the shell of her ear, and then his arms were gone.

"try to get some sleep on flight."

She looked down. "Wouldnt want to scare others with my screaming."

Her arms didnt raise to hug him in return.

The 2 days annual conference on training and statistics was done, and she was back in airport to catch her flight in Mumbai. She went through a magazine lying on table, scrolled her phone in case any issue in ETF, looked around, suddenly nervous for no reason. She is going back home. What is there to worry?

Then, she saw him. her stomach dropped immediately, and it felt like walls were closing in. She had dialed a familiar number and she didnt even realize it.

"Riya? are you at the airport?"

"Y-yes."

"what is it? whats wrong?"

"I saw him."

"Who?

"Arnav...ASR." she let out a teary chuckle at her own words. "He was there."

"Alone?"

"No." she shook head. "With his wife... with another boy. she is pregnant. ready to pop anytime." she giggled nervously.

"Did you speak to him?"

"No." she whispered softly. "No. they just boarded for the Delhi flight i guess."

Arjun remained silent for a while. "How do you feel?" his question made her thoughtful. how does it feel, really?

"they looked happy. it felt like life, somehow, finds its own way."

"Are you happy?" she didnt answer immediately. "I know i have hurt you... i didnt even speak about-"

"I told you, Arjun. its not about you talking to me. just..."

"i want to talk to you." he sounded confident. "Tonight."

"Tonight? dont be in hurry-"

"Tonight." He confirmed. "I will pick you up from airport."

That warmed her heart.

Arjun didnt started to spill out his guts immediately. He revealed about the 2 years away in bits and pieces, struggling a lot to filter out his feelings. The words just wont get out of him, no matter how hard he tried. Riya suggested to record his voice in private, just to let it all out. Or write it in a diary. Not necessarily she had to read or hear it, its mainly for his mental peace. After a lot of deliberations, Arjun tried to do both. Wrote things in his diary which she had bought for him one day, and when he didnt feel like writing, recorded his voice in a device.

With time, it felt like a burden had lifted off his shoulder.

It was one of those days where tension ran too high, the team spent too much time outside in heat and dust, high octane chase after criminals, threatening suspects, and loud arguments amidst team members regarding theories. Riya needed a break badly, especially looking at the exhausted faces of the juniors. When she glanced at Shree, he was thinking the same thing.

But Crime never stops due to their tiredness.

They chased a bunch of goons related to current case through a slum, market, roads and finally a under construction building project. Shree's voice guided them on where to go, Aisha, Riya along with the 3 juniors, Arjun and Rathore sir right on the track. The goons split up, and others followed suit. Riya with Ananya, Rathore sir with Shiv, and Neil, Aisha with Arjun. They were quite close to catch these thugs.

It happened quite suddenly- 3 goons ahead of them werent looking, one of them fell straight from the edge of a floor and plummeted to death. All of them screeched into a halt, then scrambled away to escape the ETF team, Riya and Ananya splitting to run after them. She caught hold of a goon, hitting his head with her gun then shooting at his foot, causing him to be immobile. Then, she decided to follow her junior.

Suddenly, the floor beneath her shook violently, and just as she fell on floor, a portion of the concrete broke apart, pillars under her giving away. The dust and cement made her choke up, and she hid her face in elbow, coughing all the way. It was hard to look ahead too, she wondered how were the rest of them. God, let them be okay.

After a while, everything stopped, followed by an eerie silent. She tried to move slowly, not sure how strong the foundation under her was. The dust had almost settled, she was about to shout for others-

A familiar figure cut through the dust, and she adjusted her eyes to look at it. he seemed really familiar...

The person called out her name too, and in reply, she whispered, "Yes?"

"Ri?" Shree was still connected through earpiece. "what happened? are you okay? where are others-"

"I need to look for them." She murmured, looking around for the figure. Maybe she hallucinated, there was no one.

Just as she stood up shakily, gently holding onto a broken pillar next to her, familiar footsteps rushed towards her. She saw Arjun first, whose wild eyes settled immediately as he looked at her, and uncaring of the debris and unstable floor, he rushed to her quickly, hugging her so tight that her feet swept of the floor.

She tried to be calm listening to his erratic heartbeats, but her eyes looked for that person she had felt near her.

Once back in the office, Arjun gave a dressing down to Ananya for splitting up, but the junior stood upto him, holding her ground that she did nothing wrong. He was taken aback, Riya was proud as her eyes twinkled at the junior. After a while, she held onto Arjun to let it go, and getting the opening, her junior scrambled away quickly.

He checked her gently-massaging through her scalp for any bump or cuts, looked at her arms and legs for bruises, lifted her shirt to check her ribs. There was nothing, just some superficial cuts and her dusty hair, and to comfort himself, he gently dabbed medicine on her cuts. She smiled up at him softly at his care, running her finger through his long thick mass of hair. His eyes fell shut in relief- it was too close.

She asked him when he had composed himself. "Was there someone else with you when you reached me?"

"No." he was confused. "I ran after the goons, Rathore covered me. We heard the loud noise and i ran for you."

It filled her with unease.

"Anything wrong?" Arjun didnt understand her silence.

"No." she shook head, giving a false smile.

In a weird sorts of co incidence, after that construction incident, she didnt get any nightmares. She didnt wake up screaming, slept through the night without any issue and Arjun was relieved that whatever was happening, was gone. She dreamt nice things, good memories of her past, but the moment she woke up, she couldnt remember what it was.

One night, when both of them arrived home quite late, she said to Arjun, "I know you dont like maggie, but i am making it. Would you like to have some?"

In response, he shrugged, itching to wash off the busy day as quickly as possible as he headed to washroom.

She wasnt that tired, and even hummed an old song Arjun was singing other day under her breath, preparing their bowls and getting spoons from a shelf.

Noodles huh Ri, never offered us any.

What do you mean? i always bought food for you two.

Never noodles. Well, we arent your husbands, right?

Stop it, foody.

Couldnt you find anyone less khadoos and sadu than him?

He is not that bad...

Of course how can you not defend your dearest darling..

I dont call him darling.

what do you call him then? Baby? Sweety?

No!

"who are you talking to?" At Arjun's voice, she snapped out of ... whatever this was. Her heart dropped, staring widely at her husband.

What the hell just happened?

"Riya?"

"I was talking to myself."

He eyed her suspiciously, but didnt ask anything further.

It kept happening throughout the next few days, at unexpected time and place that she couldnt differ dream from reality. But it always happened in private- her subconscious took pity on her not to make a fool out of herself to others. little conversation here and there, yes conversation since shes also replying to the imaginary voice in her head.

Shree came to her desk one day. "Did you fight with Arjun sir?"

"No?"

"Why the sad face?"

"I am not sad." That was true, confused is the correct word.

"Come, we will get some coffee." Holding her arm, he pulled her out of chair.

They ended up in their preferred place in terrace, coffee mugs in their hand. Her questions were just at the tip of her tongue, but she also didnt want to worry him. He had lots of things in his plate already.

"Shree?" He hummed in reply. "Do you ever dream?"

"Very less. i mostly sleep through the night without any. Why?"

"I am having dreams from a few weeks."

"What kind of dreams?"

"Good, i guess. i dont feel worried or anything. i just dont remember things."

"Maybe you are too tired and your brain isnt stopping even while sleeping."

"might be." She knew that wasnt true. She hadnt asked the question yet.

"Shree?"

"yes?" he smirked at her. "You are in mood of lots of questions." that made her smile too.

"Do you ever dream about Ch- him?"

His smile slipped at her question. "Never. not even at the start. i sometimes wanted to see him in my dreams. But never saw him." Tears filled his eyes, and he took of his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I used to hear his voice sometimes. Now..."

"Now?" she asked softly, rubbing his shoulder in sympathy.

"I think..i am forgetting his voice. Sometimes our past memories seems hazy to me. I cant remember what he said at what time. Its like i am losing his traces." Pausing, he cleared throat. "You know what Liz said?" At her silent query, he continued. "She said Death is only about our bodies. Our souls never die. it lives in people who loved us. Merge into them with time."

"Thats interesting." She pondered upon his words. "it makes sense."

"Sense what?"

"Maybe he is merging in our consciousness."

The process of merging must be horrible, especially to her compared to Shree. She didnt understand why its happening now, after all these time. Her life is fixed, shes happy, she had got everything she wanted and more. then why shes seeing her dead friend everywhere?

She always replies to his voice. it had to be imaginary, she could just stop. but for some reason, she always replies. One such day of similar freakyness, just as she had given a verbal lashing to one of the team for not doing their job correctly, she heard him again.

You are a scary boss.

I am not scary.

You are same as Arjun sir.

I take offense at that. I am in no way..

He married you and made you a xerox of him.

Thats not true.

Fine, if you say. When we are going home?

Once i am done with this file..

The dinner better be good.

Do you think anything beyond food..?

She looked up, hoping to see his smiling face, but a scary image waited for her. It was his face, but mangled, cuts, bleeding everywhere. His cheek bones were broken, eyes bulging out, one ear was cut off, a long gash in forehead so deep that his brain matter almost came out. She could almost smell his burnt scalp.

She suppressed her screaming at the horrifying image, looked down at her file and tried not to tremble in fear. It didnt work, so with shaky legs, she quickly got out of her chair, sprinting out of the office and away from Chotu.

She didnt know where she ran into, but one moment her chest was heaving because breathing became a monumental task, then Arjun was there, cupping her cheek and saying something to her. Slowly, her senses came back.

"Count. 1, 2, 3..."

"1..1, 2...2, 3, 4.." they both counted till 40, and finally she could breathe properly.

"Where are you?"

"ETF office... fire escape."

"Whats your name?"

"Lav-Riya."

"Surname?"

"Mukherjee. Rawte." that made him smile a little, which she mimicked.

"Who am i?"

"Arjun. My husband."

Thankfully, he didnt ask anything about her sudden panic attack, but she knew his questions will start once they were in home. She realized it was high time she let him know whats going on. It can escalate beyond day dreams. What if she becomes a danger to him? Do something to hurt her team? No, before that she would do everything in her power to stop it.

Sitting on the bed, she let it all out.

"Other night in kitchen, i wasnt talking to myself." Arjun looked back cautiously, his hand holding her palm with all his strength.

"Who were you talking to?"

"I..." she struggled to say it out loud. It would mean its real, and shes slowly losing her mind at this blissful phase of her life. "I am seeing ... hearing..."

"Hearing what?"

"Chotu."

Arjun stroked her hair gently as she cried against his chest, disbelieve that her mind can betray her now, after everything they both have been through. She wasnt ready to lose things in this way. There was a time her body had betrayed her, but her mind was the faithful friend giving direction to her life. if she lose that, then what would happen?

Her mind went to awful directions. Those can become possibility real quick.

"I dont know why it is happening to me." She sobbed, hiding her frame into him.

"Tomorrow." His voice shook, but he was determined. "Tomorrow we will visit a doctor. medicines, appointments, maybe some sessions. it will fix things."

"What if it doesnt?"

"it will." He pressed a kiss over her head. "Have faith in your god. he wont let you down like this."

They went to the doctor next day, spent the entire day going in and out between tests and constant worry. She prayed to God all the time-please god. Not this. Not this way. Not now.

Her result came by evening, both of them staring at it in disbelieve.

This was not a way she would have wanted to know that she is expecting.

She definitely didnt want a psychosis in this condition.

The news of pregnancy wasn't as joyful as they hoped.

Arjun and Riya entered the house in silence, shocked out of their wits at the unexpected turn of surprise. From the possibility of mental illness to this - it's been a roller coaster.

After staring off in silence in bed, she turned to him.

"Arjun, you awake?"

"Yes." Sleep isn't the priority right now. He should be happy. Jumping on cloud. The future of his own family is right in his palm. What's the issue then?

"Are you thinking about what the doctor said?" He remained silent. "I think we need a specialist. With the Xora thing, we never know."

"Will do the first thing tomorrow." He said flatly. One of the things that was pressing into him was this too. Riyas physical ability never came back after the virus, even with daily job at times she's too tired to even move. Doctor got to know about her medical history and the way his face fell wasn't missed by both of them. It wasn't good.

"Arjun?" He held her hand gently in response. "What if I can't give you this?"

"It's not about me, Jaan. It's mostly about you. You would need to face all issues- mental, physical, emotional "

"I was thinking...what if the baby comes out as deformed? Disabled? Maybe something happens and ..."

"Riya, stop." He turned to her, pulling her close to him. She looked scared, unlike he has ever seen before. Even after the lowest point in their life, she held herself with a control he always admired.

No control this time. Her fear stark naked for him to see.

"What if I fail in this?" She whispered brokenly.

"Why do you think it's a test?"

"It's your dream and..."

"If a situation comes, it will be you. There is no choice."

"Your dream-"

"No dream, no future, nothing without you. I won't let go of this " he motioned at their intertwined hands. "For any future possibilities. Understand it, Riya. Okay? And don't think there is a test you have to pass anyhow. It's a joint decision, and nothing is above you. Absolutely nothing "

She nodded after a long time, too choked up to say anything in return.

They kept the news private within each other, too early to share and in the worry that things can go wrong anytime. Riya took her medicines to counter the hallucinations, and Arjun kept a hawk eye on her movements. With time, she stopped responding to the voice, didn't see anything horrible, and even stopped hearing the voice.

Her doctor had bought in a psychiatrist during one of her meetings, and suggested maybe a closure is needed to end this once and for all. One day, she decided on something, and prepared herself mentally for what to come.

She had to do it alone. But she brought in Shree anyway.

"Where are we going?" He asked once they were about to drive away.

"To the location where we found Chotus body."

He didn't speak the rest of the way, clenching the wheel tightly until his knuckles were white. maybe he's angry, maybe shocked at her odd request. Maybe it's sadness. She almost apologized for not giving a heads up, but sensing his mood, she kept quiet.

Shree stopped the car a bit away from the crime scene, and she crossed the rest of the path. The wounds still felt fresh. Her body shook with worry, it was like she was reliving that horror ble day when workers removed debris and pulled him out...

With great difficulty, she started to speak, halting stammering all the way.

"I am sorry it took me so long. I wish you were here every single day. In happiness, in sadness, all i could imagine what you would have said or how you would have reacted. I miss you every single day. Everyone does.... I am sorry, but i have to let you go, okay? I am so sorry for this. If it was just me, I would have embraced this. How could I not want to see my friend's face or hear his voice? But it's not just me now, you know? I won't want to hurt anyone, especially..."

Her hand was on stomach in a protective gesture.

After lots of tears, goodbyes, and warm hugs from Shree, they drove away from the location, and oddly, it felt like a burden has been lifted of her shoulder. Sounded like a simple thing to do, a humongous task to achieve, but she never gave time to herself to process her grief all these time. Maybe she didn't want to go back to old time. Maybe she was too comfortable with the new happy reality. Maybe it's just her old habit which don't process thing, just move onto something new.

"I should have told you before " she said softly.

"It's okay. It felt like a goodbye to my side too." shree replied, and to her surprise he wasn't angry. It was a relief.

"It felt like a betrayal to him somehow...but I had to do this."

"I know. I heard." There was a smile. "Congratulations."

She looked down shyly. "we didn't tell anyone. I wasn't sure.... With my mental health and Xora effects..."

"Ri." He cut in, his voice confident. "nothing will happen. You will see."

"How are you so sure?"

"After everything you have been through, God owes you. Everything will go right from now on."

She looked back in surprise.

Their apartment is old, no option of lift, and it was a tiny thing with one bedroom, joke in the name of living room, small kitchen and one bathroom. It's early, and he knows with the possibilities he should not dream. Absolutely not. At least till the danger 3-4 months timeline is crossed.

But his mind and heart is eager, and his father's words that a new house is needed keep flashing in his mind. So he hunts for this one particular house, or maybe a big apartment for future. Just in case. In absolute secrecy- of course she would need to decide on final thing, but he does his research on his own. He even asked Rathore in case he knew any property, his former friend was slightly surprised but didn't ask much - a married couple wanting to buy a property together isn't that uncommon. He saw some apartments, but didn't like anything.

It was frustrating. He didn't like things not going according to his way.

The extra cautious, high risk conceiving meant a lot of medicines, unable to eat normal food, extreme crankiness, and body aches all over. In office, she schools her irritation in order to keep things private, but in home, she's a whining toddler crying to her husband and demanding his affection. He can't do much apart from massaging her back which apparently hurts 247, bear her sudden mood shift -cranky to crying, see her throwing up every 2-3 hours, and the moment she feels better, jumping on him tearing his clothes to get a taste of him. It was mind boggling, unreal,but who he is to deny private times like this? She's insatiable, and he could never resist her..he starts liking her demanding vixen kind of mood these days.

One day she groaned after their one of enthusiastic session which lasted a long time. "Oh my god. I am already failing in this motherly thing. A crying, messy, nymphomaniac of a mother."

He tried to stop smiling. It came out of a snort. Then full on belly deep laughter.

One day, he put a mug of coffee in her hand, just like he always does. Just one cup per day these days. She made a face like she was going to throw up, alarming him as he backed off a little.

She dumped the entire mug in dustbin, thankfully.

"Is that your chai?" He nodded, and saw her taking his tea- whose smell she could never bear apparently, too much spice and all that- taking a sip and hummed at the taste happily.

Very odd, these last couple of weeks are.

They went for the first ultrasound one day. The surprises just never stopped.

"Twins." She said to him, sounding stunned.

"Twins." He confirmed.

She started to giggle, at the twist and turns of their lives that keeps on coming.

His house hunting restarted with a single minded agenda - they had a deadline now.

He cherished their new step of life every single moment. The way she shouted for him excitedly when she started to show. Listening to her patiently that nothing fits her anymore - no shoes, no pants and definitely no shirt. Going for impromptu shopping for her, coming back with baby related things. Daily morning walks and evening strolls once they had their dinner. Trying to make a concrete schedule where they can fit their work and personal life with two new extra responsibilities that's coming their ways.

It's scary, but it's also exciting. Hopeful.

"Is it too early to decide on names" they were lying on bed on day, talking about mundane things. His fingers lightly traced her stomach, as if he can feel the babies right then. Not yet- she had informed him in exasperation. But still, he did that.

"Tell me." He replied.

"If it's two boys - Aryan. Riyansh."

"Aryan is that based on our colleague from another department?"

"Maybe?" He rolled eyes at her.

"Riyansh is basically Riya."

"Then you tell me." She turned to him, taking his one arm to use it as pillow under her head. Extremely demanding this days, no asking. Definitely no requests.

"Samrat. Dev."

"Is that based on Rathore sir?" He didn't bother responding to her teasing.

"What if it's two girls?"

She hesitated before asking. "Do you want to keep Roshni?"

"No." His response came immediately. "Let it be in past." She let out a nod, scooting close to his chest.

"I didn't think much, actually."

"What about Jiya?"

"It's beautiful, Arjun. The other name?"

"Tomorrow, Jaan. It's late, let's sleep."

They informed the team one day, and Arjun stood a bit far not to get swept into hugs and congratulations from his team. His wife had always handled attention better than him.

Rathore walked upto him and shook his hand. "congrats on the new chapter of the life, Rawte."

That's the only wish he accepted.

Riya let her colleagues and junior ask thousand questions and pamper her, then she put an end to it all.

"So obviously i would go on maternity leave. And I can't go out on field much with this. You three need to report to Rathore sir mostly. Shree would basically take over." Three of them stared at Shree, gulping in fear. "Please, don't shout on them much."

"Whatever the soon to be mom says." Shree replied in good humour.

The two of them came to logical conclusion about moving out of the apartment before the babies came, and she didn't look sad about this decision, it eased Arjun immensely as the two of them jointly looked for their new house. It soon became a plan where everyone was involved - their parents, colleagues, even the juniors shared them available house options. It became a routine for them to go out to look at the property after their work ended and on weekends.

Soon, the options were down to 4 properties. 2 were apartments - walking distance from office, gated township, good security, neighbours seemed nice, schools grocery malls everything was nearby. 2 were houses, one so far from office that they have to commute 2 hour everyday for up and down. One house was in city, but it was old, with an added budget for renovation. Riyas parents saw the properties over video call and suggested to go for any of the houses. Suryakant arrived one day with his wife in tow to look at the properties.

His eyes said he liked the house which was far away from the office.

He said during their conversation about the house. "Did she put down resignation papers?" At his son's stern expression he continued. "with two kids, both of you can't work. That too in such a risky job."

"She's not leaving her job. She would come back to job once the leaves are over."

"Be practical." His father snapped.

"Leaving job would be her decision, but it definitely won't be because of children. We will hire nanny. I would be here. If she wants to quit job, her wish. But it won't be because burden and expectations are only from her."

His mother said to Riya once they men were out of their earshot. "I wonder where he learnt that."

"Learnt what, Ma?"

"Standing up for his wife. I never taught him that." She sounded surprised.

They decided on the house outside city.

"Daily commute will be headache." Riya sounded torn.

"It's a huge property, less air pollution, greenery, no traffic noise. Two storied house, open space in front and back..."

"I know. I know." She bit her lips, looking at him with her brown, doe eyes. "It's not practical."

He kissed her forehead. "Say yes. You like the house."

"I do." She sighed.

"Say yes then."

"Yes."

A bit time was spent on renovating the houses and soon it was time to move in. Their friends and colleagues volunteered, and soon their all things were arranged into the new house.

They didn't sell the one bedroom apartment. It had too much sentimental value.

They skipped on a lot of traditional things - like a Puja before moving in, baby shower for Riya, even the house warming party. his mother grumbled but took promise that Puja would be done once the babies are born, no negotiation there. Riyas parents promised to visit soon, and between all the madness of their jobs, moving in, check ups, the date arrived soon.

Aisha was there when Riya felt the burning pain which made her almost drop on floor if Aisha hadn't rushed to catch her.

"It's time." She gave an assuring smile to the other woman.

Maybe Shree did have a point. Things are supposed to go properly from now on.

They had a boy and a girl, their tiny frames swinging next to their mother who was sound asleep, exhausted beyond anything. The last few months she couldn't sleep properly for a single night. Her belly was so huge that breathing was hard, it was mostly her tossing and turning until it was her back against his chest, and a few hours of sleep before it's time for him to leave for job.

Arjun didn't dare to touch the kids. Afraid that the illusion will break. He saw his mother picking up one of the kids, then handing over to him. His palms felt clammy. His chest was tightening. It was scary, what if he dropped the baby?

He had to sit down.

Holding his own son and daughter came naturally to him, as if a buried instinct to hold them gently, soothe their whimpers and strong urge to protect them from everything. Just a few minutes with them, awed at the reality where he had half him and half Riya- that too in two babies. When they slept and his son caught his finger with a strong grip, he felt tears running through his cheeks. He had lived to see this day, by absolute miracle.

And he can't be more happy about this.

Riya woke up the next day, blinking up at Arjun who stroked her hair.

"Aryan. Jiya "

She smiled at the babies.

All they do is argue these days.

House isn't clean enough. He isn't holding the baby correctly. Not changing correctly. Not feeding correctly. And hundreds of issues which Riya would find in him. But he don't hear these kind of things from his mother or her mother. Only from her. Always tired, disappointed tone as if he's failing her somehow. Failing the kids somehow.

So he fights back when he's cornered. Hard tone replies her that he's doing fine, as he tends to babies. If one starts crying, other one starts too. Twins connection, as doctors said. That also makes handling two crying kids together a lot difficult. Both of them tries soothe the babies, and by some miracle he always managed to calm one of them down quickly. Then he takes the other baby from her, they are silent, and Riya continues her criticism.

One day, he has enough. He snapped back, and she turned her back on him. Irritated, he rushed out of their house, needing to clear head.

And bumps right into Aisha and Rathore.

She gives him a nod and goes in, and Rathore stares him down.

"What?" He bit out.

"Did you just fight with your wife who just gave birth to two kids?"

The pent up emotions burst out of him. Rathore didn't deserve his tantrums but he listened patiently.

"She just finds fault in everything I do. Suddenly a switch turned in her head...I don't understand where I am going wrong. Not like i have experience in this. It's first time for me too, and I think I am doing okay. It's always her who picks at things to argue with me. Her mother, my mother never said i am handling doing things wrong. What the hell is happening..."

"She's stressed, Rawte."

"I am stressed too. I am right here..."

"It's sleepless nights, irritation at the constant work, tiredness for you. It's physical and emotional for her. They were inside her and suddenly they aren't. A switch has flipped inside her mind, literally." Pausing, he added. "I don't mean to minimize your efforts. But its different for both of you."

"It's not fair that she brings up something to argue about all the damn time."

"Yes. That's correct. I would suggest apologize if you said something rude, tell her gently where she went wrong. If she don't understand, give her some time. It's Riya. She has the biggest heart out of all of us. She would come around."

Back inside the house, they found Aisha next to the sleeping babies. "She went to sleep. She looked exhausted. We are here if you need us, Arjun sir."

Debating with himself for a while, he went inside their bedroom.

Riya apologized that night. It didn't feel as good as he had thought it would. After all it boils down to what was in her head.

"You are good with them. They stop crying when you hold them. I think they hate me." She sobbed against his chest.

"They are babies, Riya. They don't hate anyone." He said it lightly, not wanting to hurt her further.

"I feel so ungrateful." She looked at him with red, teary eyes. "Aisha... She wants it so bad. You know? I could see it. I have it what she wants, but I can't even appreciate it. What kind of mother am i? Our kids deserve better."

"Jaan...listen to me. Relax. Take a deep breath. Try to sleep. I am sorry, i didn't realise you are struggling this much. Try to sleep, okay? Understand, they don't hate you. You are their mother. It's just taking some time to adjust. That's all."

"They love me?" She asked with hope. His heart ached at her question.

"Of course they do. Don't overthink okay? Sleep now. I will take care of the rest."

When Shree visited and the kids started moving more- kicking their tiny feet up in air, small fists moving all over, their curiosity brown eyes, like their mother, fixed on him, he became their number one target to latch onto. One tried to take away his glasses. Other looked curiously at his metallic leg.

Then he felt a strong tug of his curly hair and he yelped. Sneaky little things, Riya's kids are.

When he picks them and makes scary sounds, they always bursts out in giggle rather than crying. Braveheart little things, definitely Arjun sir's dna with the actions and reactions.

His heart ached for one of his own. He would like to think he would do okay with him or her.

There are times Arjun felt like he had failed the kids somehow, that someone in his place, more heart and less damage would do better. There are nights the kids dont stop crying. Hours they both will try to put them to sleep but they refused to. Some days he or Riya panics thinking something is wrong with the babies. Nights when he would wake up randomly to check if they are breathing, and stare at them until the daylight comes out and hes shaken off the haze when Riya touches him. A lot of struggle, frustration, and exhaustion raising two kids. And he didnt even do the physical labor of carrying them into the world.

Maybe the two of them didnt really think through. But then, its impossible to be prepared for the weight of responsibility that their own flesh and blood out in this world, their complete dependence on them, and their own knowledge that anytime things can go wrong- they both have seen too much loss, blood and death. There is no other option than paranoia.

He goes back to work, and he itches to return to house to spend time with the four of them together. Its like a lot of development happened over videos and messages, and he had to let go of the guilt that hes not doing enough. He is, Rathore stressed. Even Raghu sir advised- he told Arjun, that guilt will be there, but balancing would be the key. Its not possible for the both of them to be present for all things. They would miss out on a lot of things, but they had to show up at the end of the day. Balancing is the key.

He did what he could. Go home on time. Lots of hugs, kisses and cuddles. Watch the kids doing the same things over and over again and how it soothed him that he didnt really miss out things. Their first giggle. The way they rolled on their stomach. Crawling everywhere. Shakily trying to stand up. The way he sings to them and they fall asleep in his arms. the way their big brown eyes look at him, their happy little movements when they see him.

Fatherhood is also rewarding in a lot of ways.

Riya stretched her leaves and worked from home until she couldnt, and her own feelings that its not fair that shes working from safety, enjoying time with her babies when hundreds others in office are unable to. They rushed to hire a nanny, and just the day before she was supposed to rejoin work, the lady arrived. A decade older than the couple, a recommendation from Liza's family, she had a lot of experience in handling and raising babies.

She fit like a member in their little family. Never overstepped, never tried to make them feel guilty, always a solid presence and a guardian for the babies. She supported their weight, advised them on parenting, and both Arjun and Riya felt like they can blindly trust on someone to walk this path.

Time passed like a river, some days stretched too long, some days in a blink of an eye.

The twin first birthday came up, then 2nd, then 3rd, with added responsibility of education and friends and latest toys and gadgets to fit with their peers. Within their ETF family, they grew up with their best friends and it felt like Riya that the bonding from older generation will continue to younger ones. Shree and Liza married when they twins are 3 months old, in a church wedding no less, and they had a son soon. Arav, Aryan and Jiya, the three musketeers screaming, running after one another, playing games, whispering and giggling amidst each other, with their own secrets and stories.

Arav had stayed over for the night so many times that they had another bed in the twins bedroom. He was a sweet boy, head full of curly hair, face like his mother with a smile just like his father. Very respectful and polite when he interacts with the elders. He has funny bones just like his father, his here and there one liners even make Arjun break into a smile. The brain between a lot of situations in their house, and when caught, hiding behind Aryan.

Shree whispered to Riya. "Told you, our kids will be best of friends."

Arjuns's mother said Aryan is exactly like him, before reality beat him down to his current stiff persona. He would like to think hes a changed man with marriage and twins, but he knew there is no way to get back to old times when he could be truly free. With his mother's words floating in his mind, he observed his children.

Aryan is a very, very stubborn kid. If he wants something, he will be sweet polite respectful, but wont rest until he gets it. He wont throw temper tantrum, he wont cry or whine or stop eating. He will remember it for a long time and ask for that one thing on his birthday that no one can refuse him this time- very calculated, single focused mind the kid has. Arjun has to be admit he is splitting image of his own pictures back in childhood- same hair, same smile, same ways of speaking and mannerisms. Just with the eyes of his mother. Quite protective of his sister, always taking blame for Arav, a fiercely loyal, independent kid who clings onto his father. His heart is all Riya, but his behavior is all Arjun. Their little Ari, apple of everyone's eyes- from their ETF family to his friends and teachers in schools, even the neighbors. But his favorite person after Pa and Mom is Shree Mamu. He wont leave his side whenever the two meet.

Jiya, their Jiji because Ari used to call her that since he started to speak, a shadow of her Mamma. Mischievous smile with identical dimples like Riya, twinkling eyes lit up at small mundane things- rain, splashes of water during bath time, flowers in garden, the way their breaths come out white during winter, delicious smell of food, or even her Mother's jewellery tinkling from the stands. A happy sensitive kid, easily feeling hurt but forgets it immediately. Always has to remind her to say please and thank you and sorry to people. Still demands to be picked up which Riya and Aisha only listens to, goes everywhere with her favorite pink teddy her father had gifted her on her first birthday and introduce people to him. The days when they bring their kids to office, she is the cutest kid whom everyone wants to see and spend time with. Open, trusting on people easily, balanced out by Aryan who takes time to warm upto people, and Arav who breaks their tension in no time.

Their kids grow up in their own people, along with Arav and their 6th addition to family- a gold retriever named Piku who was gifted to the twins 8th birthday by Rathore, of course Aryan wanted one for a long time and patiently waited when he could ask this one thing. Handling a puppy is lot worse than raising two kids, and after a few months Riya was fed up, giving an ultimatum to the twins to handle him since its their responsibility, and since their mother is rarely that angry, the two of them started to do everything for the puppy. Arjun trained him on weekends and taught the kids how to make him stand, sit, fetch ball, and they picked on it immediately. Jiji slept with him on her bed. Ari always cuddles with him and talks to him in private.

When the kids were 10, Aisha and Sameer adopted a girl. Ruhi, who was part of a case they handled a few years ago and since that time, Aisha had her heart set on the little girl. It took time for official papers even with their powers and position, and soon the day arrived when they brought her home. Aisha asked permission if she can bring her new kid in Arjun and Riya's house- a place where all of them meet up most of the time, and she agreed easily.

Ruhi was a quiet kid. Her face betrayed nothing- if she was sad or happy, she would not show it. She ate very less, even if Riya piled her plate with food. Arav, who made Arjun smile, couldnt get through the little girl, and it just made him cling into her mothers chest and sniffle in sadness, and avoid her from that day onwards. She mostly nodded to questions, only responded to Aisha. There is no development deficiency, its just her experience in the orphanage. The poor girl had also watched her father beating her mother to death, and then shooting himself with a gun. A scarred soul, who kept to herself, didnt even play or read or watched TV like other kids of her age.

Amazingly, it was Ari who got through her. He didnt bother her, didnt force her to speak up or play with her. Just Hi and Bye when she arrived in their house. One day, Arjun saw him explaining a cartoon to Ruhi, and to his surprise, she listened will full attention. Even asked him questions and looked at him when Ari spoke something- she never made eye contact unless it was Aisha. It took time for her, one step forward and two steps back, but a day came when she behaved like other kids, played video games with Ari and Arav, shouted that they cheated, even tried to push them off sofa which they returned with equal vigor. Hid under bedsheet with Jiji and scared others making scary voices. Had her own stories and secrets with the other three. A fellow conspirator of Jiji who sneaked into Riya's dressing table and smuggled nailpolish and other make up items to experiment. Shrieked and cackled when the boys and their dog will play around.

Arjun would like to think the both of them, with their extended families did an alright job with the children. They are better students than he himself ever was, Aryan is meticulous, Jiya needs some reminders to close her homeworks. They rarely had any complaints from teacher, it was just one time Aryan had pushed another boy cause apparently he pulled Jiya's hair. They were so normal, behaved exactly like their fellow similar years old friends and classmates that sometimes its a disbelieve from Arjun, that he hadnt screwed them up somehow.

Its mostly Riya, though. He always told her and she would give back the compliment.

It's said that when in love, it feels like people knows their partner from a deeper level than the present timeline. To Riya, it felt quite cheesy, even if she's always believed in true love and happy stories .

Then one day, she sees her childhood picture smiling back at her through an old picture. Along with 10 others kids, and one of them was her husband, Arjun.

He was also surprised to see the picture.

"Where was this taken?" He asked.

"Uncles house, we used to live their before we moved to USA. A high profile meeting, probably your parents attended as they are big shot business people."

Their connection, which apparently started from a decade before, kind of felt like their relationship was something written in stone. Maybe it took some time, lot of pain and heartbreak. But it was meant to be.

If she was cheesy now, she didn't care.

Arjun looked back with a similar smile on his face.

When Arjun joined work, leaving her and the nanny with the babies, she watched the door every hour and prayed that he would come back any time. After all these months, she didn't particularly care much about her guilt that she's mistreating her kids. She was exhausted, and she could just drop on floor anytime. So when he would walk through the door, she would hastily give one of the kids to him and walk back in to their bedroom in a zombie state.

Her favourite time of the day - even when she's exhausted and almost dead- was watching Arjun interact with the kids. His soft soothing voice talking to them as if they are adult, and the babies looking back seriously at him. Only for a few moments until they are splashing water over him. He would bathe them, change, sing lullaby to make them fall asleep.

Years later, when she had also joined work and the guilt comes back every night when they come home and she had missed some learning developments from the kids, she stumbled upon her daughter and her husband, sitting on couch as Arjun put on nailpolish on her tiny little nails, with a concentration of a monk. Jiji babbled away some thing, and will say something which would make his lips twitch into a smile, and when he was done, both of their brows furrowed in identical looks of concentration as they inspect the handiwork. Once satisfied, Jijis little arms will go around her father, with a shouting Love you Papa and quick kiss on cheek, and she would run away Ari Ari look my nails....

Jiji would always come to her Mumma for making pretty braids with her hair, but she would ask her Papa for fashion advice.

There are days when cases takes toll on them, especially now everything is so hypersensitive to her that she can barely suppress her tears as they reach home. It's Ari who walks upto her, sits in her lap and pats her head softly, his tiny little arms around her neck as he hugs her. She responds with Thank you baby, and just before going back to his room, he would kiss her forehead quickly. Pa does the same, he would say.

Aryan becomes independent to the point he did everything on his own and it always made Riya feel proud and a bit lost that time is running out so fast for them. Just the other day he was crawling all over Shree and met baby Arav, and now he's folding his own clothes and making his own bed. Then he would knock at her bedroom asking how to wrap a tie, and crouch next to Arjun to understand what goes wrong with a SUV. He would grow up and have his own family and yet, maybe he would need his parents some or other ways.

They often go to USA to visit her parents, Jiji loves the snow just like her mother used to, as Ari spends time reading the signboards and pronounce those correctly. When they go to Arjun's native place to the grandparents, Suryakant would the one requesting them to let kids stay with them for 1-2 days. He has mellowed down a lot, but old habits die hard. He still won't show emotions to his son or daughter in law, but that was okay. Ari and Jiji will sit next to their grandmother and listen with rapt attention of her stories.

Years passed, and death started to hit their family unit. Arjun's mother died first, in a freak accident when she fell down from stairs. Suryakant followed a year later, asking on death bed if Riya considered his as her father in law.

By the time she had called out Baba, just like Arjun does, he was gone.

Death was a concept which was easily explained to the kids. People goes somewhere and never comes back, Arav had told the twins when his own grandfather, Liza's father died. Jiji asked Riya one day- where they goes Mumma? When can we see them? Ari didn't ask anything, his keen on eyes observed their mother.

He has started to recognise when she lies.

Chotu's mother died one day, and this time Riya went alone, attended the funeral and then sat outside the house on stairs and wept for all the losses. Her parents died in the next couple of months - they went to USA and packed up the house, and Ari started the music system his grandpa taught him on the last trip. A familiar song played - the old song her parents used to dance on

Arjun pulled her on feet, both of them swaying to the music as the kids watched. Riya wept silently.

On the professional front, Aisha joined police academy in a teaching positions, helping students to guide into the dark world of undercover job. She asked Riya- are you angry? And she replied - how can I? It's for Ruhi. Ananya left ETF to get into undercover job, training under Aisha, one of her finest students.

She still had Shree and Rathore sir with her, along with Neil and Shiv. Until one day Rathore sir took early retirement, and said he would pursue his old hobby of car racing now . Arjun hugged him this time- don't be a stranger. Sir had laughed. Never, if I am not taking my daughter and wife to your house 3 times a week, i would lose both of them in divorce.

In his retirement party, Arjun and Jiji danced on the same song Riyas parents used to love.

Shree still drives his bike when he comes in office. One day, he took SUV for a visit to headquarters, and Arjun took the keys from him.

When Riya waited outside for his to bring the car, he drove in riding the bike. He stood near her and handed over a helmet.

"Can you handle a bike?" She teased.

"Any doubt?" His eyebrows raised, pleased when she sat behind him, hands securely holding onto his waist.

Nearly two decades of togetherness, and the man still surprised her.

On the way to home, a car had hit their bike. When Riya came to consciousness in hospital, with a worried Shree hovering near her, he informed her that Arjun was missing.

When they both walked into the office, Rathore sir was there. Riya let him pull her into a hug, her chin trembled but she won't cry....not now.

They got a call not too long after she had stepped into the ETF building.

"ACP Mukherjee, if you want your husband alive, you need to hand us over Raja. You have 2 days of time, after that... We have other targets too."

When she hold onto a desk with all her strength, her knuckles turned white.

Rathore sir agreed to let the children stay with him- Aisha and Ruhi were away to visit his family, and Shree, Sir and Liza would stay with three kids. We would protect with our lives, the men had vowed. She couldnt tell them that thats the worst thing to hear in this situation. If anyone else gets hurt or dies due to them, she wont be able to bear it.

When she reached house to have a look at the twins before they leave with Liza, they came running to her. Aryan is taller than her in his teens, almost reaching his fathers height. Jiya comes till her shoulder. They held onto her like they used in childhood, with same intensity of exhilaration, but there was no joy today.

"Papa?" Jiya asked, tears streaming down her cheeks. Riya wiped her tears, refusing to cry in front of them.

"He will come back soon."

Liza gave a hug to her and took away Jiya, leaving Aryan with his mother. He gently touched the wounds on his mother's face, and she closed eyes in tiredness. "These are nothing."

"Promise me you will come back." He held her hands tightly.

"I promise."

"Pa and you both."

She couldnt promise that, and he understood. His chin trembled with unshed tears, and he hugged her tightly for a moment before following his sister.

2 days passed, and they werent even a bit closer to the men who had taken Arjun. They tried to locate the hiding place but found nothing. They sent pictures of Arjun, most likly drugged out of his mind and bleeding all over his body but the metadata was completely wiped. The entire city was bursting with regular checks and heavy security, but once again there was nothing.

They got a box one day, with some hairs inside. It's Arjun's, Liza confirmed them. With the box came a note- next time, it will be an ear.

Shiv cursed and punched a wall in frustration. Neil looked at Riya with a knowing look, and Shree understood it.

For some reason, there were no contacts from kidnappers, and two weeks passed in similar manners. They all spent their time in ETF office, and Riya didnt go back to the house- it was too empty and it would just distract her from this current situation, she said. The twins called her a lot, now that they had one parent left they are scared out of their minds. Jiya was hysterical, Aryan was holding onto but he had a breaking point. Arav was quiet like never before, always running to Shree when he comes home and asking in a sad tone if Arjun kaka is home. Liza tries to handle things, but often she cries and Jiya joins her, both girls holding onto each other in fear of what may come tomorrow.

They had never faced a situation like this in all these years.

on 16th day, they got a location. After a few initial checks, it turned out Arjun was inside with at least dozen of men. Maybe they stopped communicating due to heavy policing, maybe he is dead. Riya was at the last thread of her own mental strength. So when she said she would go in with 2 knives and a gun, no one stopped her.

She didnt call her kids before going in.

Riya went through the men with a physical strength and accuracy that she never had before- might be adrenaline, or the absolute rage that someone tried to take away her family. She shot the men and the bullets hit on their heads. Her bullet proof jacket protected her, and she covered her face with helmet. When she got a metallic stick in her hand, she beat a man until his spine cracked. It was such a psychotic thing, her rage, that some of the men ran out of door and straight to ETF.

She removed her helmet for one of the goons, and beat his head until it was a mush of brain matter and bone fragments. It scared the rest of people, their eyes wide with shock and fear, and they ran away from her. There was no one to stop her when she rushed through different rooms to look for Arjun.

She found him in one of the rooms, and saw a goon- must be the leader- holding a knife on her husband's throat.

"Stop right there, ACP." He warned. Arjun looked at her through half hooded eyes, a cloth on his mouth, hands and feet tightly bound behind.

She threw a knife at his head, it missed and hit his palm, the knife stuck on brick wall behind the man with the palm sliced through it. The goon screamed, and Riya rushed to free her husband. Just before she was about to get him up, she took out her gun and shot at the man- his heart, his legs, arms, on his throat, his stomach, and lastly his head, until the bullets had emptied.

Supporting Arjun, she walked out of door.

Thankfully, it was mostly drugs and some bruises and broken ribs for Arjun, so she took him home, watching him watch sleep as she sat on floor, her back against wall as she stared him, unable to tear her gaze away. she couldnt cry, or scream, or say anything. she just had to do one thing and that was watching her husband. Her brain had stopped working as well, it didnt feel it yet that Arjun was home.

The twins ran inside house and headed straight for their Father, watched them sleep with their own tears. She signaled at them to keep quiet, so they turned to her, crouching next to her on floor. Jiya was on her lap, sniffling but finally relieved. Aryan put his mother's head on his shoulder, wanting to support some of her baggage. He wouldnt cry, but his heavy breathing said how relieved he was.

When Riya opened her eyes next time, she was on bed, and between her and Arjun, the kids slept.

She felt like she could finally breathe.

Decades later, when Jiji persued her education in fashion designing in abroad, making her mother emotional and proud that her old life had come back to her in some ways, and Aryan was preparing to go to Army, they got the diagnosis.

Pancreatic cancer.

Arjun watched his wife and kids with all the self assurance he managed- of course it will be fine, he would take care of himself, wont neglect his health, go for chemo sessions and will do everything in his power to live a little longer.

In private, he took a promise from his wife, his partner for 3 decades, Riya, that she shouldnt let him suffer for too long. She put on a brave face for both of them, and assured him- of course, Arjun. you wont suffer.

It dragged on till 3 years, her husband fought with death even in his last years to have some little more time with his family. Aryan had passed out from NDA and was posted in Ladakh, and Jiya had introduced her first serious boyfriend. Life went on like it always did, and Arjun knew that his Riya wont be too alone if he goes now.

She pressed a kiss on his head, Arjun surrounded by old friends and families and new faces, and he closed his eyes forever after that.

Riya held onto for 2 more years after that. Jiji married and had a child, and she got a job offer from Vogue to settle in Italy. Ari moved through ranks of Army, engaged with a lovely girl he had met during his academy days. He is looking more like Arjun every passing day, and he got his life partner. she didnt feel too sad when she felt like it was time to leave.

Dementia hit her hard, and in her lucid times, she gathered friends and families to let them go her to a speciliased home. There were tears, hugs, last goodbyes and lot of laughters of their old memories. Rathore sir had dashing grey and black hair, looking like a hero Sir- Shree teased him. Aisha looked as beautiful as ever, Ruhi a confident young woman wanting to get into IPS. Shree was nearing retirement, and he demanded- i would have you over for my party, Ri. Arav was all grown up now, a reputed cricket player, but still a Mumma's boy who held her hands too tightly. Liza had left her job years ago, accompanying Arav everywhere and now Shree will do the same.

Shiv will take over chief of ETF duty after Shree leaves. The once brash, cocky young man with teasing smile was replaced with a suave leader who jokes with juniors to comfort them, also takes their class like Shree used to- his ever green bachelor lifestyle meant he could devote all his time in ETF. Neil was married and divorced, had a daughter of his own- Priya. Named after you Maam, he had said when little girl was born, and Riya was cried so hard that she couldnt speak anything. Ananya is a instructor in Police academy now, married and happy with her husband in their childfree lifestyle.

When the once juniors smiled back- almost like they were 30 years younger now, Riya remembered her marriage, how these three had danced the most and made everything so lively. Her first kids, Aisha had told her before her twin were born. Of course you will be a good mother, look at them!

One evening, when Riya felt like her mind came back to her after a long time, she watched from the window of her care facility room how the sun set behind beautiful yellow and pink clouds. It reminded her of the evening Arjun took her to beach, all those years ago, and said i am all yours, all of me.

It was time, she knew.

She would meet her Arjun after all these time.

Shree didnt cry that much at his best friend's funeral- Riya Mukherjee Rawte, or Lavanya Kashyap. He felt lonely, like a part of his soul had chipped away forever, comforted others- even Aryan had put his arms around him for a hug, but he didnt cry.

Ri would be at peace finally, reunited with her greatest love story in the world beyond life.

Aryan, Arav and Shree decided to clear the old apartment Riya had weeks after the funeral- something to distract the boy's mind, also wanting to refresh his own memories. He was the one who stumbled upon the old diaries and voice recordings. Recordings wont play- he need to go back home to do some tinkering, but his fingers traced the hand writing of Arjun sir and read a few lines slowly.

It was mostly about his past, and the years he and Rathore sir was away from them. For privacy's sake, his eyes skimmed through paragraphs, and then he noticed. All the chapters ended with the same line.

Riya, my greatest gift of life has always been you.

"Dad?" Arav called out to him. "Where are you?" Shree called back, and boys came to stand near him.

"What is it?" Aryan asked, taking the diary from him.

"A treasure."

On the one year anniversary of Ri's death, Shree published the diaries and voice recordings of Arjun sir. He named the book as Caritas.

When Shree was young, and used to tease Ri about her crush on Arjun sir, slightly exasperated and completely hillarious to his own self, he used to think how open, exposed for everyone to see Riya's feelings are. Arjun sir was a closed book, whenever Ri would go near him to turn a page, he would push her away with tears and heartaches. Then one day Ri told Arjun sir loved her too. But he never showed it- no romantic eyes, no intimate gestures, nothing. Even during reception photos, Arjun sir stood close to her, but it didnt even feel like they were husband and wife now, no showing there.

Then Aryan and Jiya came, and Shree said to himself- those are the proofs of their greatest love, for the entire world to see. They raised their kids and his Arav too, and it proved everyday how deep their love was. It showed through Jiji's mannerisms, Ari's open display of affection at his father, how Arav was loved by Ri like her own son, her heart full of love- even if Arjun sir never showed open display to Ri, the proof was right there. The twins were the proof of their heart and soul.

long after they are gone, and he stumbled upon the diaries and recordings, he understood his Arjun sir. His proof of love was already given to Ri- maybe she never read the diaries or heard the recordings, but it was out there for her to see everyday. How he shed off his wall to let her in. How he decided to marry her with all rituals even if he didnt like it. How he changed his behaviors and anger to make space for her in his life. How he raised the kids. How he shared the daily duties and stood next to her as an equal partner. After everything, Shree knew, showing to the world means nothing.

Love means standing next to their partners everyday, holding their hands tightly to ride through the storms.

Riya blinked rapidly at her surroundings, and caught herself in mirror. Young once again, her braid done nearly on one side, dressed in white shirt and blue jeans, her old ETF ID card hanging from jeans.

There was a red clip on her hair.

She knew this familiar path, and this time, she walked out slowly, with a smile on her face. The day was so clear on her mind- after all these time, it would only mean one thing.

Near a white car, Arjun stood, his back towards her.

She kept a hand on his shoulder, and he turned with a small smile, decades younger, dressed in similar clothes.

"Hi." She smiled through tears.

"Hi."

The story ended from where it all started

omg....omg....aaptho wattpad par bhi likha na story ko ...

Originally posted by: Sam111

omg....omg....aaptho wattpad par bhi likha na story ko ...

yes i did