FF: Khamoshiyaan... (chap 37 page 133) - Page 54

CHAPTER 23:

Aman and Rathod were riding back to the office aftera meeting from the Comm. office.

Aman was at the driving seat. Rathod was in his thinking mode beside him.

Am: so another member? It seems I was your lucky charm Rathod. Mere athe hi do aur members!! Pehle Aisha aur ab ek aur!!!

Sam: wo tho hai. team me aur commander ke zaroorath the, tho tum agaya. Aisha ko tho wapas ana hi tha. But ab ye… iske kya zaroorath hai? I don't see it.

Am: har member ka koi na koi zaroorath tho hai team me. Aur agar sir ko lag rahe hai ke wo teekh hai, tho dekthe hai.

Sam: any way 2 more days for final decision. Lets see.

Aman drives silent for a while. There were Comm sir and also Mr. Raghu Dixit, an important name heard along with the law enforcement team, present at the meeting. After the meeting Sam was talking with Raghu sir, while he was with Com sir.

Am: tum Raghu sir ko kaise janthe ho?

Sam: Raghu sir, mere aur Arjun ke mentor the. So we knew him long tme back. Arjun tho Raghu sir ke chamcha tha. His best student.

Am: hm… tho hamare dosti ke pehli step shuru kare? Aise chup chap drive karne me kuch maza nahi hai.

Sam: office pohonchne me bas 20 min hai. usme kuch nahi hosaktha.

Am: koi bath nahi, we'll continue later.

Sam smiles at him. "Arjun aur mien, police accadamy me mile the. pehle uthne milthe tho nahi the…fir dheere dheere sab badalne laga…"

He spoke till he reached the office. The talks were abruptly stopped many a times. There was a sigh or deep thought lingering in his eyes when he spoke. So even in the 20 min that Aman got, he just understood this much…

'Arjun and Sameer were best friends…' there was more to know. But not now. Sam needed time. And Aman was ready to give it.

***

She walked down thecorridor tha lead to his room. It was a few months back that she had walked down the same corridor to meet him… to confirm it was actually him…

She had walked that day with a lot of excitement… ACP Arjun Rawte… the Rawte himself…. WOW… how could she miss to identify him at first? Why couldn't she recall him on the first time she met him here? She was smacking herself that day… but…

After the meeting she had to walk away with a heavy heart… Why? Why is he doing this to him? Why can't I help him? What's wrong in taking someone's help?

Though she knew the answers, she couldn't help herself from questioning …

She was really upset… and later…

A talk with Mr. Varma… the baba for him… it changed everything…

And then came the mission… he would have named it 'mission impossible'…

But for her…. It was… "I'm possible…"

And she did it too…

And today… she was walking the same corridor again, and this time it was her turn to speak…again…

Before knocking she took a moment. Was he willing to see her? She knew he wasn't. Still let's try…

She typed: need to speak.

A moment gap and a reply: bolo

She typed back: not like this. I need to TALK.

The expected reply. No.

She typed back moving closer to the door. May I come in.

And then knocked the door. Not waiting for the reply she walks in. Baba was there in his room. Yes it was his time for the routine. "Namaste baba. Kaise ho aap?"

Ba: mien teekh hu beta. Aap achanak yaha kaise?

She: kisise kuch bath karni thi. Isliye bina bole yaha agayi. Puchengi tho jawab na hi hoga na…

Arj: agar mujhse kuch kehna chahthe ho tho seedhe bolo, aise intermediate ke zaroorath nahi hai.

She: ha mujhe bath karni hai. lekin agar yaha sirf Aryan hai, tho mujhe tumhse nahi, balki Arjun se bath karni hai. tho bolo ab tum Arjun ho ya Aryan?

Arj: (a bit fuming) naam me kya hai Ms. Sakshi Anand? ab tumhare samne mien hu, tho bathao kya kehna chahthe ho?

Sakshi was fuming herself too. She didn't know why. Every time when he corrects himself as Aryan, it hurt her. It was as if he was burying himself deep below. As if he was killing the Arjun in him. As if commiting suicide.

Sak: hum… naam mien kuch nahi hai, tho badalthe kyu ho? maana ke baba ne tumhare naam Aryan rakha… but never asked you to keep it for your life time. haina baba??

Ba: ha beta. Mien kabhi bhi tumhe Aryan banana nahi chahtha tha… wo bas halath ke wajah se..

Arj: ab ye sab bathein yaha kyu ho rahe hai? What's your trouble? Mere naam ya kuch aur??

Sak: mien yaha tumse kuch puchne ayi hu? Was it you who recommended my name for ETF's new investigation journalist?

Arj: kyu? Any problem?

Sakshi was too much frustrated. "yes… I knew it. tho tumne hi mere naam recommend kiya tha! Why?? kya mien apne aap samne aasakthe the? I needed your support?"

He looked a bit surprised. "I still don't get what's your problem. You don't seem to be happy working in ETF. Is it so?"

Sak: no. I would die to work with ETF. Any one would…

She stopped. A look at him told her she took the wrong route. She looked worriedly at baba. He also looked a bit taken back.

Arj: (almost as a whisper) yeah… anyone would…

Sakshi moves to him and takes a seat by him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything. Sorry"

Arj: its ok… tho bolo whats your trouble?

Sakshi gets up and walks to the window. "I wished to go ahead in my work. Reach new heights. But aise nahi Arjun. I needed to stand on my own legs. Not by recomentation. Mien shayad kisi aur behthar candidate ke jagah lerahe hoge. That can't happen"

Arj: tho tum ye soch rahe ho ke mien tumhe isliye suggest kiya kyunki mien tumhe janthe hai? sirf isliye ke meine kaha,aur Raghu sir ne manliya? Come on Sakshi… ETF ke job sirf recomentation pe nahi, apne kabilyat pe milthe hai. ha meine hi tumhe 'suggest' kiya tha. Par 'recommend' nahi. Do no mien kafi fasle hai.

Sak: par…

Arj: Raghu sir aur comm. sir ne soch ke sab ke port folios dekhke hi tumhe select kiya hai. not just because I said it. aur ha…. Kabhi bhi apne kabilyat pe shak math karna. I said it because I know you're potential. Ithne di kafi the tumhe samajhne keliye. And I'm sure; you will do well over there.

She was more that happy. She was overwhelmed. Arjun was a man of very few words and to hear her praise was totally out of the world.

Sak: tum yaha ho… aur tumhe mere aur Raghu sir ke bathein kaise patha?

Arj: sirf ye shareer yaha hu. Mien tho hamesha waha hi hu.

She looked lost.

Arj: ab zyada apne dimag pe zor math dalo. Ye sab bathein Raghu sir ne bathaya tha.

Sak: hm… so you really think I can do it?

Arj: nothing happens from my thinking Sakshi. Jo bhi hai, wo tumhare dil se hona chahiye. Warna, na tum aur na koi aur enjoy karenge.

She was indeed felling much better now. She thought it was time to lighten the atmosphere.

Sak: waise, ye Aryan avatar kafi suit karthe hai tumhe. Arjun wali roop me jithna khadoos ho, uthna Aryan nahi hai.

Arjun rolls his eyes and takes his usual weapon… not the "samjhe ya samjhao…" but the silence.

Sakshi and baba knew the meeting was dispersed.

Ba: kithne din hoge yaha?

Sak: do din. Kal raath ko flight hai. uske agle di join karungi.

Ba: ok, aao tumhare karma hamesha ready hai. jao fresh hojao.

Sak: ok… baba apke special cutting chai milegi na??

Both baba and Sakshi peeps at Arjun who had all his ears now.

Arj: no way… yaha sirf mujhe nahi milthe. Baki sab ko milthe hai…

Ba: Aryan tum janthe hona…

Arj: ha, ha… jantha hu. Isliye zor nahi dal rahe hai. ab isse yaha se lejao. Aaj keliye ithna hi stress kaafi hai mere liye.

Sakshi opens his mouth wide. She had a good reply in mind. But Arjun indeed looked tired…. Again.

Baba notice it too. "chalo Sakshi tum bahar rukho. Mien abhi aya…"

She takes her bag and looks at Arjun. "rath ko milthe hai"

Arj: don't stress yourself too much Ms. Anand.

Sak: seedhe ye kyu nahi kehthe ke math aao.

Arj: bath usse samjhana chahiye, jisse samajh athe hai.

She rolls her eyes and walks out leaving baba with him.

Baba (amused): kyu tang karthe ho usse hamesha?

He just smiles.

After a while baba comes out. Sakshi was waiting for him. "kya hua Sakshi?"

Sak: how's he?

Ba: waise jaise tumne dekha hai.

Sa: mere matlab…

Ba: patha hai. He is getting better. But abhi bhi wo apne apko uss band kamre me rakha hai. usse azad karne ke koshish nahi kar rahe hai. kabhi sochtha hu, ke meine jo kiya wo sahi tha ke nahi…

Sa: aise math boliye baba. Apne uss waqt jo kiya… shayad hi koi karenge… wo apke bete se kuch kam nahi hai.

He looks at her. She smiles.

Sa: Aryan Varma… bohot miss kar rahe the aap usse… right?

He looked lost again.

Sa: aur issilye hi aap Arjun ko Aryan ka naam diya.

He smiled sadly. "kafi samajdar ho. no wonder he suggested you to ETF."

Sa: apko patha hai mujhe kis bath pe zyada khushi hai? (he nods no). Waha mujhe mere manzil ke aur ek aur kadam badhane ke chance milega."

Ba: matlab?

Sa: Aisha… she is back… in ETF…

Baba was so happy. "sach? Tumhe kaise patha?"

Sa: ithne din se Aisha ke saaya jo bani thi. Aur Arjun ko patha hai."

Ba: ek minute. Kya kuch din pehle, tum aise kuch kiya tha ke Arjun bohot khush the?"

Sa: ha, meine Aisha ke ek picture forward kiya tha. Kya hua?

Ba: kafi din se thode badlav hai usme. Mere kafi bathein manne lage hai. rath ko sothe hai. aur…

Sa: kya abhi bhi akele bathein karthe hai?

Ba: ha… lekin aaj kal thode kam udas dekthe hai. aise lagtha hai ke man halka hua hai.

Sa: wo tho hoga hi. Aisha ne apne zindagi firse shuru jo kiya hai.

Ba: kya uske photo hai tumhare paas?

Sa: ha… (she shows him) ye hai Aisha.

Ba: bohot ache… lekin kuch hai in dono ke ankhon me…

Sa: ha… ye bath meine bhi notice kiya tha. Dono ke ankhen ek hi bath kehthe hai… "I miss you…"

Baba smile and sends a silent prayer that the happiness in their life may be restored soon.

One of them had drifted to a sleep…

While the other was watching the sunse from her window…

***

Rathod had left early that day. Aman was finishing his work and walking out. He saw a light in Aisha's cabin. He hesitated for a while and then knocked at the door. "yes…."

He opened the door. "Aisha…."

Ai: are sir, aap gaye nahi?

Am: nahi, bas nikalne wale the. Can I drop you?

She thought for a while. "Yeah. Thanks"

He closes the door and waits outside, while she shut down the system and goes out with her bag. They walk together to the SUV.

The drive was a silent one. "Kaha rahthe ho tum?"

She gives him the address.

He felt that he owe an apology. She was looking out and was silent as usual. "Aisha…." he voiced to get her attention. She looked at him.

Am: I'm sorry.

Ai: kyu sir?

Am: uss din… meine tumhe Nadiya bulaya tha… I mean…

Ai: its ok sir. Uss waqt mien Nadiya thi. Ab nahi. So it's ok.

He reached her place. He stopped and turned to her. "ha.. I know. Par I was a bit shocked. Tum aise achanak Aisha banke aye… I mean it was a bit too much for me."

Ai: hm… uss mission ke baad aap mujhe abhi mil rahe ho… tho confussion tho hoga hi.

Am: uss din ke bad, ye hamare pehli mulakath nahi thi.

Ai: matlab?

He was not going to bring it up. But it came up as a slip of tongue. Now he was looking for a way to open it.

Am: tum…. Dance bohot ache karthe ho…

Now it was her turn to get shock. She looked surprised at his words. "ye aap….kya keh rahe hai…?"

Am: Taj Mahotsav… mien bhi waha thi…

Now she knew that he was the witness for her vulnerable days. She didn't know how to react. She sat there for a while, and then walked out…

He was upset… had I brought back her pain again?