FF: Khamoshiyaan... (chap 37 page 133) - Page 28

CHAPTER 12:

She opened her eyes. There was no one to welcome her back other than his smiling face right in front of her eyes…

She kept her first step to her home. It had a soothing feeling. The feeling that she had missed while entering the house in Allahabad. After all this was a home not a house. With its flavors intact as pleasant memories… with a feel of him being closer than ever before.

She placed the bags in the hall. The furnitures were drapped by sheets. It was dusty, but was still cosy. She pulled out the drape over the sofa and took a seat gathering herselves up. Her throat was heavy due to the choking sensation. She leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes.

Sree was still behind her utilizing every opportunity to pull her legs. "yaar, apne aapko dost kehthe ho. Par ek choti si sawal ke jawab nahi desakthe kya?"

Ais: Sree, mera picha chodo. Liza, take him. Tum dono sabke saath hall mein wait karo. Mein chai le athi hu.

Liza: ye tum kya keh rahe ho Aisha? Nayi naveli dulhan… kaam karne lage? Tho hum sab mar gaye hai kya? Tum aram se baito. Chai mein banathi hu.

Ais: ithna bhi ehsan math karo yaar, kal se ye sab mujhe hi karni hai.

Liza: ha ha… kal se apne pati parameswar ke har kaam tumhe hi karni hai… waise kal se nahi, balki aaj se hi…

Aisha was red blushing… "chup karna shaitan…"

Sre: oye hoye… sherni jab sharmathe hai, tho kya lagthe hai!!! Shayad issi bath pe fida hua hai Akdu Rawte!!!

"kuch kaha tumne Sree??" a voice came near the kitchen door. Sree almost dropped himself dead by Arjun's voice.

"nahi sir… kuch bhi tho nahi…"

Sam and Arjun were at the door along with Chotu who was behind them. Chotu was red by suppressing his laugh. Arjun was glaring at Sree, and bechara Sree… he was pale as if seen a ghost.

Suddenly Arjun started laughing aloud with Sam and everyone. Sree was still in shock.

"bathao Sree, kya puchna chahthe ho tum?"

"nahi sir… kuch nahi…"

Arj: Liza, bolo… what was his doubt?

Liza: wo… specky ye puch rahe the… ke aap… Aisha ko propose kaise kiya tha??

Sree was totally dead now.

Arj: hm… Sree, pehle thode aur bade ho jao, fir samjhatha hu tumhe… ok?

Sre: ok sir… I mean no need sir…

That led to another series of laughter.

She opened her eyes wiping a droplet that came along her cheeks. She got up and went to the rooms around. The pooja room, the kitchen, the bedroom…

She pulled herself from the past and tied up her shawl. She moved along cleaning the dust. The home hidden behind the dust was coming out slowly.

It took some hours to clean it up and at last it was over. She went in for a bath and came out freshed up. It was a new beginning for her now and how better could she start it than lighting up a diya in frnt of the bappa idol. She closed her eyes in front of Him, with folded hands, mind as free as it can… after a long time…

Its almost dark and still she didn't have had her dinner. She took her purse and closed the door. Tonight she didn't have a chance to cook her food, but from tomorrow she can. She mentally noted the necessities and explored to the well known city.

***

Aman reached Pune. His work on Raghav and the recent news from his trusted informers were taking him to another level. There was a time that he felt that he couldn't trust anyone more. But now, the very term 'trust' and 'togetherness' had a new meaning. All thanks to a day with the ETF.

Raghav didn't have much chance to escape now. He knew his time would be up sooner or later.

***

She had a quite dinner at a small restaurant which was not so crowded. Her mind was unusually blank. She knew it was only for the time being. She needed to think and more than that… decide what to do next. Let the night pass. Let's keep all the thinking part for tomorrow morning.

After dinner she casually strolled through the busy footpath. Yes its true… the city never sleeps…

It was very uncomfortable at the start. She somewhere missed the quite lanes in Allahabad. But no, she should be used to it… its life… not everything can be muted for a life time. This is life, where everything comes in for a reason… every word you speak, every feeling you feel… even the heart you break… its for a cause… and what can that be? An answer to be answered by oneself… it may take time… but every question does have an answer… the problem is where to search for it…

She walked absent mindedly… the ETF officer in her was dormant now. Now she was just Aisha… Aisha Arjun Rawte… a lady who had seen various faces of her life… and still searching for an answer…

She shook her head to clear some thoughts and went to a grocery to buy some essentials for a few days. It will take a few days to get everything in full swing… and time… she had plenty of it now…

She reached back home…

Night… again a part of time which he used to dread… and she too in Allahabad… but tonight… she was feeling nothing of that sort. She arranged the grocery back in the kitchen and went to change. The bed was inviting her.

He was on a phone…she came into his … no their room… it was a new feeling. The team after their bullying session which was concluded by a hard glare from Rathod, had left sometime back. She walked in slowly. He recognized her presense and then soon cut the call. He turned to her who was standing by the bed. He walked slowly closing the distance. She was feeling something different too. He gently touched her shoulder and pulled her chin to face him. "kya hua Aisha? Hum dono ke beech me ye uneasiness kabse shuru hua?"

She smiled at him leaning her head on his chest. He wrapped her in his arms placing his chin on her head. That was the best moment till now for her in her life… the warmth in his arms… the promise of being there forever… the unsaid magical words… there was nothing missing in her life… she was feeling complete…

She could feel him around her. His warmth, his promise… but where are you Arjun? aisa kya tha iss shehar mien ke tum mujhe wapas bhej diya? Ab mujhe kya karni hai? kisse baath karni hai? Sameer se? par mien kahu tho kya? Sree, Liza, Chotu… kya kahu mien un sabse? I am lost Arjun… I'm lost again…

"nahi Aisha… you are not lost… ab so jao… ek nayi subah ke sath sochthe hai…"

She took right side of the bed, turning to see him on the other side. He was there… smiling at her… "so jao… mien yahi hu…"

***

Next Day:

She was up and after her bath, she did the arthi. She made a small breakfast for herself and took it out to the hall. The newspaper man who had promised her a paper last night had already placed a paper for her. She sipped her tea with paper on the table. A familiar face caught her attention that she placed her cup down. Sameer Rathod.

ETF solves another murder mystery.

She smiles at the heading. Another feather to the ETF cap. She looked keenly at the picture. It just had his pic rather than the team. "God… I miss you guys!!"

She looked at Rathod's face. It showed tiredness masked by a straight look. She didn't have the heart to look into the case details. Somewhere she felt she had an answer to one of her questions.

***

ETF Office:

Rathod walked into the office and noticed Sree busy in his work station. Chotu walked to Sam. "good morning sir!!"

Sam: good morning Chotu. Ye Sree kya kar rahe hai?

Ch: Aman sir ke call aye the. Unhika madad kar rahe hai.

Sam nods and walks to his cabin, with a great heart. "so everything is falling back to line… good"

He smiled at no one particular. Liza knocks and brings in some files for his signature. He was half way through the file when his mobile rang. Unkown number.

He picked it up. "hello"

There was silence the other side. He looked up from his file. "hello anyone there?" he asked again.

Still silence for a while. then came…

"good morning Sir…"

His eyes were wide open. There was no need for a second guess. "AISHA??"