FF: Fire and Water (Ch. 26-A Updated on Pg.145!) - Page 95

CHAPTER 25-B

"Give me two minutes," Riya said and hurried into her room to freshen up.

Meanwhile Arjun called Rathore, "Rathore, Commissioner sir se baat huyi?"

"Haan, Pathan ke baare mein tip mila hain. Dharavi ke jhopad pattiyon mein kahin chupa bitha hain. Woh informer isse jyada kuch bata nahin paya hain. Bahut mushkil se usse ye pata chala hain. Agar aur chalaki dikhatha tho maara jaata, " Rathore said.

"Kya? Dharavi ke jhopad pattiyan?" Arjun was shocked. It would be like trying to find a pin in a haystack. Damn!

"Kya hua sir?" Riya asked who had just come out of her room, ready to leave. Arjun listened for a moment and then cut the call.

"Jaldi chalo Riya. Gaadi mein batata hoon," Arjun said as he walked out of the house.

Riya followed him locking the door behind her.

"Pathan ke bare mein tip mila hain. Dharavi ki jhopad pattiyan.." Arjun told her.

"What? Lekin wahan kaise doondhenge? Agar usse iska shak bhi hogaya tho, bhaag niklega!" Riya said with a frown on her face.

"Dharavi police station ka inspector aur constables already wahaan mufti mein pahunch gaye hain. Unke saath kuch aur officers bhi hain mufti main," Arjun said.

***

Rathore, Shree and Chotu were standing at the entrance of the slums. Rathore had parked the ETF vehicle a little away from the slum. Rathore turned around to see Arjun and Riya walking towards them.

"Kuch mila?" Arjun asked Rathore.

"Hum bhi abhi aaye hain. Shiwde gaya hain andar unn police constables aur Dhravi police station ke Inspector ke saath," Rathore said, "Bahut mushkil hain Rawte usse doondhna. Pata nahin yahan kaun uska aadmi hain."

Arjun spoke nothing but looked around. He saw a little boy, walking merrily with an empty tea stand in his hand.

Arjun stopped him, "Yahin rehte ho?"

"Haan. Kyun?" the boy asked wondering who these people were. He realized they would be the police, since it is usually they who come around asking for people showing photographs as such.

He bent down to show that boy a picture of Pathan that Shree handed over to him, "Isse pehchante ho?" he asked. He knew that this boy would have made several trips around the slum, selling tea to various people, who came in for several dealings. He wanted to try his luck and he was indeed lucky this time!

"Haan, dekha hain. Aaj subah. Langda hain ye!" the boy said, recognizing Pathan after giving a little thought.

The team was startled listening to the boy.

"Kya kismet hain!" Shree murmered.

"Let's go," Rathore said.

The boy lead the way and took them through the intricate lanes of slum, which were nothing less than a maze. Riya wondered as to how these people remembered which lane lead to what.

Menwhile Rathore called Shiwde and instructed them to be alert as they had found Pathan's location and he might try to escape from any side.

They'd been walking for ten to fifteen minutes now. The boy finally came to stop and pointed at an isolated lane that led to tiny house, probably with a single room. That was the only house in that lane.

"Har roz subah yahaan se guzar tha hoon. Aur ussi waqt ek aadmi aata hain, har roz. Lekin maine kabhi iss langde ko bahar nahin dekha. Lekin aaj woh doosra aadmi ek bade dabbe ke ssath aaya tha. Isiliye uss langde ne darwaaza poora khola aur maine uska chehra chupke se dekh liya aur wahan se kat li.." the boy said.

"Uss doosre aadmi ko pehchan paaoge?" Rathore asked the boy and he replied in affirmative.

"Theek hain. Riya tum iss ladke ke saath yahin ruko. Hum andar jaate hain," Rathore said signaling the others to follow him.

Riya nodded and loaded her gun, ready for anything.

Rathore, Arjun, Shree and Chotu moved towards the house silently with their guns ready. The window was closed. It was around 11:00PM in the night and the surroundings were silent.

Arjun had a sudden feeling that they were too late. There was no other window to peep in or break into the house. It was at the dead end of the lane.

"Rathore, mujhe lagta hain hamein andar jaana chahiye. Chotu darwaza thod do," Arjun said.

"Are you sure Rawte?"

Arjun nodded and Rathore signaled Chotu to break open the door.

Chotu with one push, broke the door to pieces, the door being an old and a weak one.

They were too late! All they could find was an empty carton, the same one the boy had mentioned. Apart from that there was nothing in the room, they could use. Emptied water bottles and some empty plastic covers.. nothing else!

"Damn it!" Rathore was furious.

"Lekin ye bhaga kaise? Itni jaldi..?" Arjun said looking around.

"Hamare aane se pehle hi yahan Dharavi Police aachuki thi aur search shuru kardiya.. Unme se kisiko woh nahin mila. Aise kaise ho sakta hain sir?" Shree said confused.

Rathore called up Inspector Shiwde and asked him to meet them at the entrance of the slum immediately.

"Tip aane aur police ke yahaan pahuchne mein kitna waqt laga?" Arjun asked Shiwde.

"Kareeb aadha ghanta sir," Shiwde said.

"Aadha ghanta?" Rathore asked angrily, "Itna waqt?"

"Sorry sir, yahaan ke saare raste bhi hum bandh nahin kar paaye. Aate waqt beech raste ek bahut bada jhagda ho raha tha aur poori road block huyi thi. Wahan se nikalne mein der.." saying so the Inspector bent his head.

Arjun was furious too.

"Lekin agar Pathan uss aadhe ghante mein bhaag paya tha, matlab usse pehle se pata tha ki police yahaan aayegi? Varna woh bhagega kyun?" Riya asked suddenly.

The boy was taken in by the police to make a sketch of the other man.

The entire ETF team looked at her surprised. Rathore raised an eyebrow and said, "You're right Riya. Ye ho sakta hain."

Arjun said, "Yahin hua hain."

"Kaun kaun tha jab ye tip mili?" he asked Shiwde.

"Sir, ye tip Police control room aaya tha sir. Pata nahin kaun tha. Phir yahaan ke police ko khabar mili. Comissioner sir ko immediately report kar diya tha hamne. Phir aap aaye.." Shiwde said.

"Theek hain. Tum jao," Rathore said.

"Rathore, koi tho hain jisne ye information leak ki hain. Control room mein ya Dharavi Police.. koi bhi ho sakta hain," Arjun pointed out, "Ria ek kaam karo tip milne ke baad uss control room mein kis samay par kiske dwaara ye information hum tak pahunchi hain uske baare mein ek ek detail pata karo. Shree, tum Dharavi ke police officers ke cal records obtain karo, har kisika. Unme koi bhi unknown ya unidentified number ho tho pata lagao."

"Permission ke baare mein sochna mat. Orders pass ho jayengi. Control room mein jisse ye tip mili thi aur jiss kisi ko bhi ye tip malum tha.. unka bhi collect karo. Time ke hisaab se numbers narrow down karna asaan hi hain. Hamein iss gaddar ke baare mein jaldi pata lagana hoga," Rathore said to Shree and then called the Comissioner. He informed him about the situation.

The police officers continued their investigation there. The house was sealed and everything was taken in as evidence.

The first attempt was a failure, but both Arjun and Rathore remained calm because they knew that this was just the beginning.

***

Arjun and Riya were on their way home, when Riya's mobile suddenly buzzed. It was a message from Shree.

Shree: Ho kya raha hain Ri? Arjun sir aur tum ek saath? Woh tumhe ghar chodke gaye nahin???

Riya saw the message and suddenly blushed remembering how she had hugged Arjun and everything that ensued between them. He hadn't said those three words yet but she knew, she was special to him.

Riya: Nahin Shree. Hum baat kar rahe the..

Shree: Sirf baat ya..? :p

Riya: SHREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shree: Theek hain theek hain.. sry.. tc! ;-)

Riya: Gud nyt.. tc.. :-)

Riya smiled as she returned her mobile to its place.

"Kya hua?" Arjun asked wondering what made her smile.

"Kuch nahin sir. Bas woh Shree ka message tha.."

Arjun remembered how Shree and Chotu supported Riya when the news about Roshni was revealed to her. He had always scolded them for their childish antics, but their friendship always amazed him!

"Sir, aapko kya lagta hain? Pathan yahan kar kya raha hoga?"

"Kuch tho bada hone waala hain Riya. Woh kya hain hamein pata lagana hoga. Vaise bhi Pathan uski iss halat mein kuch khaas nahin kar paayega," he said recollecting that it is because of him that Pathan couldn't walk without support, "Woh sirf apni jaan bachane ke liye chup raha hain aur orders de raha hain."

Riya was lost in thought. The search has started.

"Sikender ko saza dene ka waqt aa gaya hain.." she said to herself and closed her eyes.

Arjun hit the brakes when they reached Riya's place.

But, Riya was already in deep sleep.

She looked so peaceful. Arjun slowly brushed a strand of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear.

A smile crept onto his lips as Riya shifted uncomfortably in the seat.

"Riya?" he woke her up, though his heart didn't want him to.

"Kya hua sir?" Riya woke up with a start and looked around with panic.

Arjun couldn't stop himself from laughing, "Kuch nahin hua hain. Bas tumhara ghar aa gaya hain. Aur.." he stopped midway.

He frowned upon seeing Riya's aunt and uncle waiting for her at her place.

"Tumhare Chaacha aur Chaachi hamesha tumse milne aadhi raat ko hi kyun aate hain?" he said visibly annoyed. Riya turned around to see them standing in her portico, which had it's light on.

Riya didn't respond, but immediately exited the SUV.

She walked towards her aunt and uncle. Arjun decided wait in the SUV as he knew Riya would want to talk to them privately.

He saw them join their hands before her and apologizing to her. Riya shook her head. She had her back towards him. He could now see Riya's aunt and uncle smile, with tears in their eyes.

Riya's aunt hugged her one last time and blessed her. They began walking towards the gate. Riya turned around and he could see that she had tears in her eyes too. They walked out of the gate and out of Riya's life.

Arjun now got down and walked towards Riya.

"Tum theek ho?" he asked her.

"Yes sir. Bas yahin soch rahin thi ki inme ye badlav pehle kyun nahin aayi.. Agar aati tho.." she said and shook her head, "Khair.. ye sab chodiye sir. Bahut der ho gayi hain. I think ab aapko bhi.."

"Jaana chahiye? Jaanta hoon. Lekin Anurag ka kya?" he asked with his hands folded.

Riya smiled, "Uska? Kuch nahin kar paayega sir. Agar kuch karne ki koshish karega tho uski khair nahi."

Arjun raised his eyebrows, "Main mazaak nahin kar raha hoon Riya," he said sounding serious.

"Main bhi mazaak nahin kar rahin hoon sir. Apna khyaal rakh paungi. Phir bhi agar zaroorat padi tho, aapko batadungi. Theek hain?" she said assuring him that she'll be fine.

Arjun nodded and said, "That's it?"

Riya thought for a moment and said, "That's it sir. Aapko kuch aur kehna tha?" she asked wondering why he had asked that question.

"Kuch nahin. Bas apna khyal rakhna. Aur kal subah.." Arjun was interrupted by her, "Main aa jaungi sir. I'll be fine."

Arjun sighed and said, "Good night Riya."

"Good night," Riya said, deliberately not adding a 'sir' to it. It was the first time he had initiated it. It was so special to her.. she wanted to record it and listen to it again and again; she ended laughing at her own childish thought.

In the SUV:

Arjun felt calm and finally found his peace. The turmoil in his life seemed to have finally found its end. He hadn't said those three words to her yet, but that felt insignificant to him right now. Riya felt the same. It was an unspoken, unsaid truth that the both of them knew. They now had something which was much more precious and important to them, a beautiful bond between them that was beyond mere words of love. They respected each other and trusted each other. They now cared for each other and were no more hesitant to accept that.

"Ab tumhe Arjun sir se darne ki koi zaroorat nahin hain Riya," a voice in her mind said.

Riya smiled and walked towards her room. She saw the photographs lying on her bed. She knelt down beside her bed, and picked up the photograph of her Taayi.

"Aap hamesha mere saath hi hogi Taayi, mere yaadon mein, mere mann mein. Main aaj aapse vadaa karti hoon ki main aapke Arjun ka khyaal rakhungi, unhe hamesha khush rakhungi. Aap mere aur Arjun sir ki zindagi main ek ahem hissa thi aur hamesha ek ahem hissa rahegi. Aapki jagah koi nahin le sakta hain.." saying so, she closed her eyes and rested her head on the bed. She fell asleep.

Riya was in deep sleep when Roshni lit up the room, materializing beside Riya. She looked at her sister dotingly and kissed her fore head.

"Woh ab mera nahin, tumhara Arjun hain Riya.. Usse hamesha khush rakhna aur tum bhi kush rehna..!" Roshni said and faded away into the silence of the night.

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Hello Guys!!! I'm back with an update. I hope you like it..!

It was mostly about the case and it is extremely slow paced. But please bear with me, as it is necessary. I do not want to rush anything!!!

Also, I'm not rushing with Ariya romance because I don't want it to seem OOC. They shared a very different relation until now and hence they are giving each other some time to accept the new phase of the relation. I hope you guys will spare me for that!😉

I'll try to update asap!

Please leave your comments! They mean a lot to me..! 😊

it was brilliant😃

nyc update

great update😃😃...i loved it...we've got just no complains...because i know how important this case is!
even though he dint say those three words yet it was pretty evident that he too feels the same for her!
his care for her spoke volumes😃😃
i cant wait for the upcoming updates...u r doing a wonderful job👏👏👏

Awsome..fabulous....😳
AjunRiya alwasy rocks yrrr...😉
Shree was too good...And Rathore also...
Update soon...

Lovely update...Amazing...

Originally posted by: Santhu.The.King

Superb 👏
Like The Ariya Relation Building Up... But I Think It's To Slow n You Know... Not Heart Connecting In A Way At Some Point..
Anyways It Was Nice 😃
Continue Soon. 😛

Originally posted by: littlebrat

nyc update

thanks atleast for posting something out of your busy schedule

really appreciate it