FF: Khamoshiyaan... (chap 37 page 133) - Page 20

CHAPTER 8:

"Good evening Sir!!!"

The elderly man turned to him from the file with a smile. "good evening. so you are back!! How was your trip??"

"Great sir... and as for now... ACP Aman Ali, reporting on duty sir!!!"

He gave the envelope to the man, who smiled at him with full heart.

Com. Dustin Coelho was happy to have one of his best officers back on duty!!!

Coe: (indicating him to sit) good to see you back Aman. so what brings you back now? I felt you were going for a long leave. but it took only 2 weeks for you to return back.

Aman: I know aap kya keh rahe hai. I needed some time off from that last mission. It was draining me. After all that I had done for that mission, wo is kadr bust hoga, ye kabhi socha hi nahi tha.

Coe: don't say that Aman. Ha mana ke jisse tum dhund rahe the, wo tumhare hathon se nikal gaya, but tum usse iss tharah expose kiya hai ke usse chupna hi hoga.

Aman: kissi bhi ghayal sher ko khule aam nahi chodna chahiye sir.

Coe: and you never did it too Aman. sabkeliye tumhara chutti bas ek holiday plan the, mere liye nahi. I know you better my boy.

Aman smiles at him. He was always caught red handed by this man and how he did it was a mystery. His trip was never a mere trip for taking photos, though it was his passion. He was behind the man whom he was searching for last 7 months- Raghav. His undercover mission was busted by some silly tips from someone inside the Dept. He was dying to know who did it.

Raghav was heard to be found at some random places. He was checking it out. Last location was Allahabad, again it ended as a false trail.

But then that one location changed his whole plans.

Coehlo was observing him closely. There was something missing from the happy-go man. There was something disturbing him a lot.

Coe: ek cup chai piyoge?

Aman looked at him. Now the man infront of him was not the Comm, but his mentor and well wisher. He nods yes.

Tea comes in and they sip silently, while Coehlo signs some papers calling it a day for his official duty.

Coe: so tell me Aman, whats bothering you?

Aman: wo... pehle aap mujhe ye bathayiye ke uss envelope mein actualy tha kya!!

Coehlo was smiling. "kamal hai Aman, that damn envelope is with you for last few days. aur tum abhi thak wo khola hi nahi.kyu?"

Aman: patha nahi. ab aap hi batado ke kya hai usme.

Coe: I am having some plans for you, Aman. I would like you to join in Mumbai.and this time for a change, not as an undercover cop. but in the real forefront.

Aman thinks for a while. "agar aap mujhe kuch aise jagah bhej rahe hai jaha kuch bhi karne se pehle upar se hazar permission lena ho, tho please no. send me for some other operations. kam se kam, waha mujhe apne zindagi tho mere marzi se jine ke permission milege."

Coelho knew it before. Its tough to take this man. His soft looks and tender eyes could always fool you. But if he has decided something, then no... its tough to put him back.

Coe: nahi Aman, jaha tumhe bhej raha hu, waha tumhare upar sirf do log hoge. ek unfortunately ... Mein...(smiles) aur dusre tumhare Chief.

Aman: akhir aap mujhe bhejna kaha ja rahe ho??

Coe: meet me tomorrow morning. we'll speak about it and finalize it.

Aman nods yes.

Coe: abhi bhi tum mere sawal ke jawab nahi diya!! Whats bothering you??

Aman thinks for a while.

Aman: sir, I need some information. wo ek drug deeling ke mission me jisme mein undercover gaye the, kuch do saal pehle, Mumbai me hi... uske reports chahiye.

Coe: do saal purane mission report? Kyu?

Aman: kuch patha lagana tha. Where can I get it?

Coehlo knows which mission he speaking about. He calls someone and asks for the file. He gives it to Aman.

coe: here it is. we'll speak again tomorrow.Be here at 8 30 am. ok?

Aman:(getting up) sure sir. Jai Hind sir.

He walks off from the office leaving Coelho in thoughts. "Why does he want that file now?"

He takes his phone and calls someone.

"hello Rathod... we need to talk. meet me in my office in 1 hour. ok bye"

***

Allahabad:

Swati's leaving was disturbing her a lot. She lost her appetite and sleep, which was never her big companion. She was lost.

And this time even he left her to think for herself."Arjun... please be here...please..."

"I'm always here jaan. bolo kya hua??"

"I think its time Arjun, that I should decide something. aur wo kya hai, mujhe abhi bhi patha nahi hai. Swati have full faith in me. par kaise? How can she trust me? Usse tho kuch bhi patha nahi hai na?"

"par tumhe tho patha hai na Aisha?? You know well whats there for you..."

"And I also know what not there too..."

"dekho Aisha, maana ke sabkuch uthna asaan nahi hoga. well it was never easy before too. par waha koi hai jo tumhe wait kar rahe hai. kuch friends, ek zindagi, ek lakshya, jo abhi bhi tumhare nazar se anjaan hai. jao Aisha, go back. you will love it. Trust me"

There was a sincerity in his tone. well, he always had it. she could feel him waiting for a reply.

She waited for some more time.

And then she took her laptop and went to the mails. She read Rathod's last mail again.

The cursor again stood above the 'reply' button. She was not sure.

She felt a hand over hand, a finger over hers on the mouse. She looked at him. He winked at her with a smile. He guided her hands and they clicked the reply button. She looked at him enquiringly.

"agar tum ready ho, tho type tumhe hi karni hogi... I can't do that much..." he had his naughty smile on.

She exhaled with stress and went to her keypad.

Rathod Sir,

She had to wait. This was not an easy task. He nodded her to go forward.

Sorry for not replying till now. I'm fine. Thank you.

I think I'm coming back to Mumbai soon. Please don't expect a lot now. I haven't decided anything yet. As for now, I may be coming to Mumbai soon.

Sorry for all the trouble you had to take,

Aisha

She looked at him. He made a face. "ab kya hua?" she enquired.

"kuch maza nahi aaya... kam se kam, pura naam tho likho.."

She smiled at his words. She returned back to the mail and completed it.

Aisha Arjun Rawte.

"ab ok hai na??"

"nahi... its perfect. Send it"

She hit the 'send' button and turned to him.

"Congrats Aisha, for taking a step again to your life. I'm proud of you. Raath bohot hochuki hai. so jao... good night!!" she felt his good night kiss and closed her laptop and slept in her rocking chair.

Mumbai:

Rathod walked in to Coehlo's office. The working time was over. It was a bit late. He wondered why he was called at such an off time. He knocked and waited for permission. with the consent he walks in.

Coe: aao Rathod. hope this off time didn't trouble you.

Sam: not at all sir, though its a bit surprising. anything important?

Coe:ha kuch hai. I think I'm going to bring in a new second-in-command for you.

Rathod was silent now. He knew it would come, but so fast??

Sam: hm... ok Sir. kaun hai? kab join kar rahe hai?

Coe: bohot jald. I don't know if you both have met each other. I may be coming to your office by tomorrow evening. Not sure yet, but almost confident.

Sam: hm... ok.

Coe: I see you are not happy.

Sam: aise koi baath nahi hai sir. wo... ek naye officer...

Coe: precisely ek naye Second-in-command... thats the trouble right?

Sam was again silent. "nahi sir aise koi baath nahi. I am sorry mere zid ke wajah se ETF se aapke jo expectations the wo thode kam hua.. uskeliye I'm sorry.. mein..."

Coe: Do you really think thats the reason I'm doing this?? because ETF have lost its lusture?? come on Rathod!!! ETF never did let me down till today. agar mein aaj ithne khush hu uske ek bade reason is your team. I'm bringing him, just because you all are pushing your envelope a bit too much. You need a back up. are you getting what I'm meaning?

Sam: yes sir. thanks a lot.

Coe: never think I'm replacing someone Rathod. you know I can't do that. but its already so late. and its said,'better late than never'.

Sam: I get what you mean sir. You may go ahead with your plan. My team is always ready for it.

Coe: ok then Rathod, hopefuly lets meet tomorrow evening.

Sam(getting up): ok sir. Goodnight.

Coe: good night.

***

Aman opend the file at night. He went through the case details searching for the one name. and at the end he saw it.

Nadiya: level 2 drug peddler. Dead in the encounter.

"jhoot...!!!" He said aloud.

"you are not dead Nadiya. You are not at all dead!! par shayad tum wo zindagi chod diya hai. thats great!!" he smiled at that thought.

He ddin't know why he felt happy to know that."par kya hua tha uss raid mein? kash uss din mujhe Mumbai se bahar jaana na padthe... kash..."

***

Next day morning: ETF office:

Sam was a bit off. The team was quick to grab it as he came in. He was not angry. But was silent, which was so not his style. He didn't blast Liza for her bickering with Sree, nor was angry at Chotu for being late.

He didn't say anything and just went to his cabin.

Liza: ye chief ko aajkya hua? maunvrath hai kya?

Ch: are aaj mein late hu, aur unhone notice bhi nahi kiya. kyu?

Sr: ithna bura laga?? tho jaake firse unhe yaad dilado ke tum aaj late ho.

Ch: mine aise kab kaha?

Liz: firbhi unhe kya hua...

Sr: ha yaar... kahi kuch chuut raha hai...

That was an absent minded juster, that put a silence in everyone. All looks at each other for a second and then everyone takes a file and rush off as if remembering some very important work pending.

Liza reaches her lab, and exhales. She could feel his piercing look.

Chotu, was lost in thought though he was looking at a file.

Sree was in his work station with his 2 screens gliding up, but his eyes were on a closed cabin at the far end.

He exhaled and went back to his work.

Sam's cabin:

So someone was coming in today. His eyes went to the closed cabin that was in his opposite lane.

He tries to clear his mind and get back to the work.

He opens his mail and there it was...

He smiled at the name. "WOW!!! At last you replied!! Thank you Aisha...thanks a lot!!!"