FF: Khamoshiyaan... (chap 37 page 133) - Page 32

CHAPTER 14:

Sam: kuch tha mere paas, jo tumhare amanath hai.

Ais: kya sir?

He puts his hands in his pocket and brings out something. He takes her hand and puts in there. She opens it slowly. It was a key… Room 121 of Ravi lodge…

Room 121… Ravi lodge. She kept the key on her table after looking at it… After feeling it…

***

Aman was having a hard time with the trail behind Raghav. The recent experience taught him to keep his work hidden from the department as someone was pulling the strings over there. But time had taken him to a much reliable team…the ETF… and yes, he was happy. And then came Sree, the tech guy, who had the answer to anything related to technical assistance. Be it from tracking a call, to breaking codes or even for spying in to a network. Aman found a new friendship growing smoothly among them, that he wished to carry on forever.

Aman: Sree, I need an access to a party.

Sr: name it sir, you'll have it.

Aman: it's the Ultima party.

Sr: oh…. So you are gonna have a gala time then… you get anything over there… I repeat 'anything'….

Aman: don't tempt me brother. Just give me an access card.

Sr: Waha jane keliye, you should have a name of a man with a few lakhs in your account, an attittude of a 'I'm a tough guy type' who can fan himself with money and all the more a great sense of flirting… I hope you get what I mean.

Aman: (smiling) pehle condition tum mere liye satisfy kardo. Baki do… attitude aur flirting… that I can manage.

Sr: ok…. So your name is… kiska naam du?? (he saw Liza coming to him with Chotu) ha… Jason D'Cruze.

Liza: what?? Mere surname kisko derahe ho?

Sr: Aman sir ko. Unhe kisike saath flirt karne hai. Tho isse acha naam kya hoga?? You are world's best flirt na?? It will give him moral support.

Liza: Specky…you are going to pay for it…

Aman hears all these at the other end. He is laughing hard over the other end.

Aman: oye… Tom & Jerry ka ladayi khatam hue hai tho mera kaam kare?

The phone at Sree's end is also on speaker. So Liza & Chotu hears this.

Liza: hello sir? Hows your work?

Aman: I'm fine Liza. Baki sab kaise hai? Rathod?? Chotu?

Ch: I'm here sir. Aur Rathod sir bhi teekh hai. ab filhal wo yaha nahi hai. kisise milne gaye hai.

Aman: ok, fine. Sree? Kaam hua?

Sr: yes sir, waha ke data base me apke naam, I mean Jason D'Cruze ke naam registered hai. I'm sending you your card copy. Just print it out and then you know what to do.

Aman: ya I know. Wo seal sab barabar hai na?

Sr: sure sir. You'll have no problem. Trust me.

Aman: I do Sree. Ok then guys. Hope to see you soon.

Sr: all the best sir.

The line goes off.

***

Aman is amazed again at the boy's work. After processing the entry card no one would guess that its duplicate. "well done Sree"

He, as Jason had a lot of work. As Sree had said he could get anything at the party. Drugs, drinks… girls… name it. And you have it.

And Raghav… he could have him too. The trouble is… how to get him out. The Ultima centre was a fortress by itself.

***

Next day:

After the daily routine, today she had a destination to reach. She took a cab to the place. A familiar face of the man at the reception welcomed her. "are Madam aap?? Ithne saal baad?"

Ais: ji, wo mien yaha nahi thi.

Rec: acha. Room ke ek chabi tho ACP sab ke paas hai. wo aksar yaha athe jathe hai. Mien apko dusra chabi detha hu.

Ais: nahi mere paas key hai. Rathod sir ne diya tha mujhe.

Rec: acha teekh hai. aap jayiye.

Aisha smiles at him and takes the familiar corridor. It was not her first visit through the place. Still it felt strange this time.

Months before her marriage: when Aisha was still the Kapoor girl:

Morning 7 am:

She was walking through the corridor trying to find out the room 121. "ye Akdu Rawte ko yahi jagah mila tha kya rehne keliye? Kithne sare hotels aur lodges hai is shahar me? Aur fir unhe yaha rehne ke kya zaroorath hai? aur wo receptionist mujhe aise kyu ghur rahe the? Strange… aur sabse strange hai hamare Rathod sir. Khud yaha aake sir ke haal nahi dekh sakthe the kya? Mujhe bhej diya?"

Arjun was in a dare devil type undercover mission… all alone for a while to catch a well known smuggler. He was back previous night with the victory, though the victim was hardly in a state to stand by himself by the time they reached the office. And along with that Arjun was also wounded, well as in the Rawte's words… 'Kuch khas nahi hai…' though there was stab mark on his elbow and a hit mark on his forehead. A 'little bit' blood trailing down from the forehead too. So true… 'kuch khas nahi hai'.

Sam ordered Aisha to take care of his wounds and for that came "NO!!! Sree, come to my cabin". Sree went to the cabin and dressed the wounds. Aisha rolled her eyes. "lagtha hai janab mere saath akele rahne se dartha hai" Chotu gave her a hi5 and all went back to work.

After dressing Sree came out with a bit worried look. "chot kafi gehra hai. Aur ye Akdu Rawte ko kaun samjhayega ke hospital nam ke bhi ek jagah hai… jaha treatment hotha hai!! Ziddi kahinka…"

Arjun was dropped home by Sree late that night and in the morning Aisha got a call from Rathod to check Arjun and to take him to the office. And thus Aisha had reached the lodge. She reached in front of the room and pressed the bell. She pressed again and again, no response. "ab ye sir kaha gaye?" She tried his phone, it rang inside the room. But still no one took it and neither did he open the door. Now she was worried. She tried to push the door. It was locked from inside.

She took her phone. "Chotu kaha ho tum? Come to Ravi lodge now!!"

It only took few minutes for Chotu to reach there as he was on his way to office. She said the matter to him and knocked off the door. They rushed in to see the sight…

She opened the door. The room was kept neat and tidy. Thanks to Sam who saw it done all these years. She went in touching everything. She sat by the bed, where she had seen him first time in this room…

Arjun was sleeping peacefully in his light blanket.

Ch: lo… janab abhi soraha hai!! ithna sab kuch hua! Unhe patha bhi nahi chala!!

Ais: shut up Chotu. (she goes close to his bed.) Sir!! Sir!!

There was no movement. They were worried now. She places a hand on his shoulder. He was burning. "god… Chotu… inhe bohot thez bukhar hai. call doctor now."

By that Chotu rushes to bring in a doctor. She looks at him well. He was in his night pants and a shirt. And he was shivering too. She looks around and brings in a wet towel and place on his forehead. He mumbles in his sleep, shivering. She does it again and again.

Doctor comes in some time along with Chotu, and Sree and Rathod. Chotu had informed them too. The cuts that he received last night had started to get infection leading to a fever. Doctor tended to his wounds and gave him the injections. Arjun was to sleep a few more hours and Sam left her behind to tend him.

It was the first time when she was noticing Arjun. She looked at him carefully. She knew about his past. But never sympathized with him… after all that was the last thing that he wanted. But today she sympathized with him… with his loneliness… with his 'I don't care a damn' attitude… with his existence…

May be the jungli billi was mellowing a bit faster than before…

She lay back on the bed closing her eyes trying to feel his warmth. Unfortunately it was so cold…

Few weeks before the marriage:

She knocked at his door and he opened it with a smile. "good morning Aisha!!" he said as he opened the door.

"apko kaise patha ke mien hu?"

"bas guess kiya tha. Lo sach bhi hua! Come in!!!"

She walked in to see his bags packed. She looked at him enquiringly. "kahi jarahe ho?"

"ha… mien yaha se jaraha hu… hamesha hamesha keliye!!!"

To say that she was shocked would be an understatement. He saw it and walked towards her with a serious face. "ha Aisha, mien jaraha hu!!"

Ais: par kaha? Aur kab? Aap pehle kyu nahi bathaye? Koi mission hai? kithne din keliye?

He cupped her face and looked at her intensly. And then smiled. "KBC khel rahe ho kya?? Ithne sare sawal ek saath??"

Ais: Arjun don't joke. Bolo kaha jarahe ho?

Arj(back in a serious tone): waha jaha tumhe bhi ek din aana hoga…hamare ghar!!

Ais: kya?

Arj (smiling): ha, mien hamare ghar jaraha hu. Thode bohot sajana sab hai na!! uske baad tumhe bhi lejaunga shaadi karke… kuch samjhe ya…

Ais: aap sachmuch is lodge chod rahe ho?

Arj: ha, yaha mere ateeth se juda hua bohot bathein hai. Lekin mien apne ateeth me nahi, is bar aaj ke saath jina chatha hu. Iskeliye mujhe yaha se jaana hoga.

Ais: aur jaha aap hoge, waha mien bhi hogi. I promise.

He smiles at her and hugs her tightly. She places her head over his chest… her rightful place…

She could feel his hug even today. She got from the bed and went to the window. She opened it to watch the street ahead. There was his table and chair near to the window. She sits on the chair and leans to place her head and keeps it on the table.

Weeks after the marriage:

She drove quickly. She knew where he would be. Though they had moved to the new home… though he was ready to move on… he could never give that key back to the lodge owner. He needed some time to part from it. After all that room was his only sanctuary for a long time. And Aisha knew it too. So she never forced him. They were having a beautiful married life. Nothing could come in between them.

She reached the lodge. She enquired at the reception about him coming in. they comfirmed it. She walked towards the room.

The recent case where a husband had killed his wife in a simple matter of doubt on her character had disturbed him. "agar aap apne shaadi pe bharosa kiya hotha… apne patni pe bharosa kiya hotha… agar apke pyaar sacha hotha… tho ye sab nahi hothe… rishte ke buniyad hi bharosa hotha hai… aur ye tum kabhi nahi jaan paye… lejao isse… warna…"

Chotu took him away at that time to save the victim form Arjun's wrath. He was too disturbed in the office.

"apne professional life ko personal life ke sath math anedo Rawte… control yourself"

"tum mujhe math sikhao…" Arjun blasted and walked away from the room. Aisha was worried to the extreme.

Ais: Sorry sir. Unke tharaf se mien mafi mangthi hu.

Sam: no need Aisha. I know him. Bas wo ab thode naraz hai. thode baad teekh hojayega. Just take care of him

She nods and takes his permission to go to Arjun. He was in the room sitting on the cahir, with his head on the table. She went by him and palces her hand on his shoulder. "Arjun…"

He looked up to her. He was feeling bad for what he said back there. "Aisha… I'm sorry. Meine kuch zyada hi…"

Ais: it's ok. Sir apse naraz nahi hai. Lekin Arjun, apne gusse pe kabu rakho. Warna bohot problem hoga…

He looks at her with tired eyes. "I know Aisha. I'm trying… bas…"

She sits on her knees and hugs him gently. That one gesture was enough for him to relax…

She got up from the chair and walked towards the window leaning on to the pane.

"Arjun… thak gaya hu mien akele… ab aur math satho please… ab mujhse aur nahi hogi… kya karu mien? Kaha dhundu apko? Sab kehthe hai ke…please aise math hone dena… please…"

She wipes her tear that rolled down from her eyes. She looks out at the road… a group of friends were having a great time together. May be its time… may be its time to meet her friends too…