She was arranging the stacks of paper. And at last it was over. "Phew Riya… kitna kaam karthi ho tum??" she patted her own shoulder and smiled.
And then someone knocked at the door and peeped in. "madam, saab ke chai…"
"chai nahi.. cutting chai kaho yaar!!" he smiles at her and she goes to him with a tray, on which she receives the tea glass and pays him. After that she takes the glass with the tray and places it on the table. She tries to touch the glass. It was too hot that she withdraws her hand at that second. "bapre ithne garam hai, how does he drink this? Well, as hot as him. (she smiles to herself) I hope ye glass kam se kam clean ho. "
She pulls out a tissue and wipes the rim of the glass muttering, "ouch" as the glass was too hot. "god, ye chai pine ke baath tho dur, hoton pe rakhna hi mushkil hai. crazy man… akdu Rawte… well not that akdu… little bit akdu… hm… nahi, usse bhi kam akdu…" she smiles again.
Its been a time that she is being noticing the so-called Akdu Rawte. But little did she know that it was not unnoticed by him.
She took the tray to his cabin and knocked. "Come in…" came his majestic voice.
"thode pyaar se bulana…" her mind said without voice.
"pagal… marwaoge tum…" her brain scolded the mind.
"ab invitation chahiye kya??" his voice came again, bringing both her heart and brain on track. she rolled her eyes at the closed door.
"ab tum dono mujhe marwaoge" she scolded the heart and brain. They kept finger on their lips and stood like good students. "hm…stay there. Let me handle him. Ok??" the brain and heart nodded yes. She smiled and opened the door.
"kya kar rahe tum uss door ke piche?" he didn't even look at her. His eyes were in the file. Chair turned to a side. One leg over the other knee. A file in 1 hand while the swirling the marker pen. She just kept gazing him without shame. The brain poked her.
"Riya.. I'm asking you something" still didn't look at her.
"sir wo.. apke chai…"
Lo... that was the magic word. He turned to her. And placed the pen down. He casually took the HOT tea glass as if taking a flower from her tray. Her eyes were about to pop out.
"ye kaise utha liya?" her innocent heart asked.
"are same temperature hai yaar!! The cup is as hot as him… so it wont affect him" the brain was a genius.
He looked at her. "hey kaha kho gaye ho tum?? Muh tho band karo!!!"
No reaction. The brain took its work and poked her hard.
"kya… ha… I mean no…" she mumbles. The brained rolled its eyes. While heart was giggling loud.
Arjun raised his eyebrows. "WHAT??"
Ri: kuch nahi sir… aap chai pijiye…
Arj: and what else am I doing??
Ri: hm.. kuch nahi. Ok mien chalu??
Arj: meine kaha roka hai?? whats your problem Riya??
Brain: don't you get it Akdu Rawte, she is gonna mad…
Heart: mad in love…
Ri: CHUP…
Arj: excuse me!!!
Ri: nahi.. not to you.. I mean… kuch nahi.. ok I'm going now.
She tries to walk out, when he calls her back. "Riya…"
She closed her eyes. Her name didn't sound better before. She smiles and turns to him. "yes sir?"
Arj: Aisha kaha hai?
Ri: (eyes wide open) WHAT??
Arj: where is Aisha??
Ri: wo… apne cabin me…
Arj: send her here.
Ri: kyu??
Arj: for work of course. Have something to discuss.
That time someone knocked and came in. "excuse me sir!!"
Arj: ha, Aisha, actually I was asking for you.
Ais: (walking in) yes sir kahiye.
Arj: I want to discus about the file you gave yesterday night… (he turns to Riya) yes Riya…
Ri: nahi sir kuch nahi…
She walks off upset. It didn't go unnoticed by them. Arjun turns back to Aisha who had raised her eyebrows.
Arj: WHAT??
Ais: kab thak sir?? Kab thak aise chupaoge aap?
Arj: what Aisha?
Ais: bano math sir. I know you like her. And she is mad about you. Kyu uss bechari ko aise thadpa rahe ho. she thinks there is something between us. And we know there is nothing like that. then why don't you say it?
Arj: pehle usse patha hone do Aisha. I'm waiting for that moment.
Ais: I hope you wont make her wait long. She really loves you.
Arj: and you think I don't know about that? uske mere samne ghabrana… mere chai cups wipe karna… mere khana order karna.. wo Rathod se kehke mujhe zabardast me khane pe bhejna.. I know every damn thing. I'm just waiting for her Aisha. Just her.
Ais: wow, at last your romantic side is out.
Arj: only to my friend. Keep your mouth sealed. Ok??
Aisha shows her lips zipped up and smiles.
Arj: ok lets go to the file then.
Outside she could see him having a smile at Aisha, the one she wished to see for her. She walked to her cabin. Neither Chotu's food fight nor Sree's comments could call her back. She walked to her cabin and sat there alone, with her face in her hands. She could see his smile.
"why do I get this much upset? Why am not happy when he is happy with someone else? Do I not deserve him? Does he like Aisha than me? Maybe… she is good, efficient and what more… she looks good too… I don't deserve him… he likes her. And is happy with her. What else would I need? No, that's enough for me… so relax Ri… he is happy… and so you should be happy for him too…"
"but Ri…" her brain and heart tried to speak to her.
"no guys not now… please leave me alone for a while… please" they vanished.
"leave who Ri…??" Sree was at the door. She nods no and smiles at him. "ok, chal… ek case hai. sir bula rahe hai" she compose herself and walks to the hall. After a short while, Arjun comes in with Aisha. She felt bad again, and lowers her eyes. He noticed it. "now whats her problem?" he thought.
Rathod: guys, we have a situation. Ek ghar ke 4 members ko ek group of gundas ne capture kiya hai. we have to free them. there are no demands and are in great danger. So team hurry up.
They get ready for the operation and all the way Arjun notice Riya was not looking at him. He was getting frustrated. Each time he tried to go to her, she puts herself in Rathod or Sree's company. He was boiling now.
They reached the location. The team planned a strategy. Riya was supposed to go with Arjun.
Ri: sir, what if Aisha go with him?
Arjun is pissed off now. But before he could say anything, Sam cuts in. "who is the chief here Riya?? So take your orders and go"
She nods and moves toward Arjun still not looking at him. Aisha looks at Arjun and asks 'whats the matter' with her face. He shrugs as if 'no idea'.
They move in now. She was not concentrating well. He noticed it. twice he saves her from getting hurt. And then he lost his control. He pins her to the wall. "Whats your problem Riya? Kafi time se notice kar raha hu mien. Whats your problem? Kyu ignore kar rahe ho mujhe??"
She shivers at his proximity. She just keeps on looking at his eyes, that were just on her now. The moment she always wished to live. The moment that was worth living. "Riya…." His voice had a different flavor today.
But suddenly firing begins and he gets shot on his arms. "ah…"
"sir…" she screams, holding on to him, making them both duck in time. he fires the man with his injured hand and kills him. The bullet was inside his upper arm and he winced in pain.
"sir aap teekh tho hai na??"
"pagal ho?? I'm shot stupid!!!" he tries to get up and she helps him. They together fight the goons. Out of nowhere a man kicks his gun out of his hands and hits him. "Sir…." She screamed. Before she could do something, he was at the gun point. That too point blank range. She held her gun pointed at the goon. Her hand was shivering.
Man: aisa sochna bhi math madam. Warna ye tho gaye.
Arjun was weak that he couldn't fight back. But he could see the stress in her eyes and her hands shivering.
Arj: don't listen to him Riya, shoot…
She holds the gun by her both hands. The man notice it and smirks at her.
Arj: shoot Riya, shoot..
She didn't know what to do. What if she hurts Arjun? her love? Both her brain and heart were silent now. Then came a bang. The goon fell down. They turned and saw Aisha had pulled the trigger at the man. Arjun looked at Aisha and Riya. Aisha rushed to him and held his injured hands. Riya saw this and started to walk back. Arjun's eyes were just on her. The team rush in with first aid. But he stops Aisha's hands. She looks at the direction where he was looking. The team is confused as if why he is not allowing the first aid. Arjun looks at Aisha, who smiles at him. "its now or never , Sir!!"
He nods and walks off with blood dripping from his hand.
She was leaning onto the SUV crying with her face in her hands. "Riya…" she heard his call. She turns to the voice. "tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?"
"aapke haat?? First aid kaha hai?? Aisha ne first aid nahi lagaya?? Ithne blood…. Mien kuch karthi hu.."
She tries to move but he holds her wrist. "you didn't answer me my question Riya. Bolo whats troubling you?"
"sir, blood… first aid…"
"RIYA… answer me… why are you avoiding me? Its killing me… why don't you understand it? I cant live like that…"
"kya??"
"yes I love you Riya… please don't avoid me…"
"but Sir… I don't deserve you. I cant even protect you. Then how can I love you? Aisha ne tho…"
"Aisha sirf mere jaan bachayi hai Riya… lekin mere jeene ke wajah tum ho. now don't you dare you to under estimate yourself. Samjhe ya…"
She gives a weak smile. "that means you love me sir?"
"mujhe kehne ke aur thareeka patha nahi hai Riya… siwaye…"
He kisses he lips at the spot. She is in shock and eyes wide open. "ab kuch samjhe ya firse samjhau?" he asks with a naughty smile. She blushes hard and hugs him and thereby hits his arm. "Ah…."
She leaves him at the moment seeing him wincing. "Dard horaha hai??"
"nahi… khujli horaha hai!! of course its paining stupid!!!"
She smiles at him and now he hugs her and she gets to place her head on his heart…. She was so happy now to be there… where she actually belonged.
"congratulations... and celebrations…" her heart sang aloud…
"congrats ke bachi chup… are koi first aid tho karo!!!" he genius brain poked again.
Riya got up with a jerk from his chest, confusing him and looks at the wound. "oh no… first aid.. ,mein abhi ayi…" she kiss his cheeks and runs away to bring first aid. He just stares back at her running away like a kid and touches the cheek where she kissed him now. She smiles and leans on to the SUV.
"pagal hai ye ladki…"
"well said brother…" said her heart, which was with him now….