FF: Ek Aur Zindagi.. Ch:29 page 137 - Page 54

PART 17:

Sameer logged in to his mail at Sree's workstation and opened the mail. It had an attachment.

The pic showed a happy Arjun ruffling Adi's hair… next Arjun feeding Adi…

And a line below it.

"Kash ye lamha hamesha aise hi rahthe…."

***

There was a gasp from each lip, while Sree was frantically working on his equipment. Sameer was dialing Arjun's number again and again, but in vain.

Sa: Dammit!!! Ye Rawte ke phone kaha gaya? Line kyu nahi lag rahe hai.Sree any progress.

Sr: still on it sir.

Sa: fast Sree. Time bohot kam hai. Chotu, patha lagao ke ye kaunsa food outlet hai. I need to know what happened there.

Sakshi: I hope sab teekh hi ho.

Ai: hm…

Li: ye bar bar kyu horaha hai? who is this person behing Arjun sir and Adi. Uss bache ne kya bigada hai?

Ai: kisi ko Adi ek weak point laga hai. so wo wahi target kar raha hai.

Sam: Aisha, jab tumhare aur Rawte ke bath hui thi, tho kya wo bathaya tha ke wo kaha jarahe hai.

Ai: nahi sir. bas ithne hi bathaya ki khane ke baad ghar jarahe hai.

Sr: sir jiss id se apko mail mila hai, wo ab delete hogayi hai. koi kaafi chalaki se kaam chala rahe hai.

Sam: (in between his try on the phone) aur ab ye Rawte kaha hai?

Ch: (coming in) sir, wo R. M Mall ke ek food outlet pe the. waha aaj kafi bheed bhi tha. Tho kaun kaha hai ye nahi patha chalega.

Ai: par waha CCTV footage tho hoga hi.

Sr: you are right Aisha. malls me coverage tho zaroor hoga.

Sam: get me it immediately.

Sr: yes sir.

He was about to take the bag and leave.

Sak: par Arjun hai kaha?

"mien yahi hu…" came a voice from the door way.

Arjun was at the doorway with Adi lying in his arms. The little boy seemed too tired that he was lying on his father's shoulder. He came forward to the team.

Sam: Rawte kaha the tum? Aur tum apne phone kyu nahi utha rahe the?

Arjun took his phone from his pocket and gave it to Sree. It looked damaged.

Sa: kya hua tha? Aur…

Arjun raised his hands and stopped him. And then he pointed at Adi, who have not yet raised his head from his dad's shoulder. All got the meaning.

Ar: Aisha thode pani le aana.

Aisha goes and brings a glass of water.

Arj: Adi… Adi utho beta. You are safe. dekho hum office me hai.

Sakshi was the only person who has not heard this tone of Arjun and she was taking in the shock slowly.

Adi slowly brought up his head and looked at Arjun. "pani piyoge?"

Adi nods no. His face looked a bit pale. There was still a bit fear in those eyes. Arjun patted his cheeks. "daro math. Kuch nahi hoga.ok…"

There was no response from the kid. He took the glass of water from Aisha and made Adi drink a bit. Sameer nodded to Aisha who got the meaning. She came forward. "Adi… come. Hum andhar jathe hai"

He looked unsure at her and then at Arjun. When his dad nodded yes, he went to Aisha's arms. There was so much ease in the way Aisha was miggling with Adi. She turned to go but saw the confused look at Sakshi's face. "tum bhi aao."

Sakshi followed Aisha to the cabin. Arjun leans back to the table half exhausted.

Sam: kya hua tha?

Arjun is silent for a while but then turns to Liza. "Liza tum tumhare assistant ke saath parking lot jao. mere SUV me jo bullets milega, uske ballistic report nikalo. I need all the information ASAP."

She looked confused, but then responds quickly. "yes sir". she calls Manish, her assistant and goes to the parking lot.

Sam: bullets aur tumhare SUV me? Kuch lage tho nahi?

Arj: nahi. Bas Adi dar gaye hai. patha nahi ab kya hoga?

Sam: kya hua tha waha pe? Aur wo mail mujhe kisne bheja?

Arjun stands up. "so he sent you the mail? Kya tha usme?"

Sameer shows the pics to Arjun, who held his fist to control. He turns to Sree. "kuch patha chala?"

Sr: sir mien usse dhoond nikal rahe the, ke wo apne id cancel kardi.

Arj: so someone is playing smart.

He takes out a paper and notes a number. "Chotu, is bike ko dhoond nikalo. Wo jiske bhi paas hai, mujhe uske pure kundali chahiye."

Ch: yes sir.

He leaves quickly.

Sam: ab bol sakhthe ho ke kya hua tha.

Arj: hm…

***

Sometime back in the mall:

Arjun took Adi to a food outlet. It was almost full. He chose it so that no one would attempt anything stupid over there. Adi was always closer to him. Just a breath away. Adi enjoyed the food time with him and he was enjoying too, though the cop in him was alert.

Adi got his favorite ice cream.

Arj: kya soch rahe ho?

Ad: wo icecream wali aunty se bohot din se nahi mila hai.

Ar: kyu? Ithna miss kar rahe ho?

Ad: meine unhe challenge di thi. Dekhna hai ke complete kiya hai ke nahi.

Arjun ruffles his hair. Someone took a snap, unkown to him.

He was feeding Adi, again someone took a snap.

The guy mailed it to Sameer. Again he went for another snap. This time Arjun saw it. The guy saw Arjun looking up and he panicked. "hey…." Arjun called out. The guy stood up to leave.

Arjun was ready to run behind him, but Adi's presence stopped him. "Adi chalo…"

Adi: kya hua dad?

Adi knew that there was something serious. His dad's face showed it.

Arjun grabbed Adi's hand and his mobile and rushed out. To keep up with the guy, he took Adi in his arms.

The guy went into a lift and went down. Arjun missed the lift in a split of second.

He knew where the guy would be heading. He took the escalator so that he too can reach there, the parking lot.

By that time Sameer got the mail and called back Arjun, but he was busy so didn't pick up the call. He rushed to the parking lot. The guy had already got onto a bike. He noted the number mentally. He rushed to the SUV and placed Adi in his seat. In a rush his phone falls down. He picks it up getting a vibe that it was damaged now. That was the last thing that he wanted.

He took his SUV and was about to follow the bike that was already near the exit. But a car crossed his path out of nowhere and lowered its window half and showed a gun. Arjun used his instinct and pulled Adi down the seat and he himself lowered. There were gun shots and his window cracked. The glass pieces were showering in. he placed himself over Adi and covered the little boy. A few seconds later he heard the car zooming out. He raised himself and saw the car had already left thus missing its number.

His window had cracked a lot, there were holes and above all Adi was still inside shivering. He brushed away the glass pieces and pulled Adi and hugged him tight. The little boy's fear was way beyond repair now. "Adi… I'm here…. I'm here…" that's all that he could say.

Few men rushed his way. Someone had seen the event in the CCTV control room and rushed to the aid. The men included security too. He came out of the SUV.

They got to know about the situation. "aap teekh tho hai na sir?"

Arj: kaha hai tumhare security jo exit ke paas hona chahiye tha? Do you have the register of all the vehicles that come in?

Man: yes sir. we have it. par patha nahi ke security kaha hai?

Arj: what do you mean by 'patha nahi'? ithne laparwahi kaise hosakthe ho tum log? Ab wo sab chodo. Jald se mujhe yaha ke CCTV footage chahiye.

Man: par sir, wo hum apko kaise?

Arj:just do what I said. CCTV footage of the food outlet, parking lot, and the corridor from outlet to the lot, sabkuch ETF ke office pohonchna chahiye. Is that clear?

Man: par ETF ke office kyu? aap…

Arj:ACP Arjun Rawte, ETF. Any more questions?

Man knew the authority. "no sir, sab kuch waha jald se jald pohonch jayega"

Arj: I wouldn't have waited, agar haalath aise na hothe tho.

He hugged his shivering boy tighter. They understood the matter. "sir aap nikliye. Sare CCTV footage office me bohot jald pohonch jayega."

Arj: hm…

He placed Adi back in the SUV and zoomed out as fast as possible. He couldn't risk Adi's life anymore. And the safest place available was the office.

***

A man comes in and gives few CDs. "sir, jo CCTV footages aapne mange hai, wo sab hai. aur saath saath aaj sham se sare footage bhi hai."

Arj: thanks.

He leaves. Arjun gives it to Sree.

Sameer, Arjun and Sree go to the hall to look into the footage. At a point he saw the man who took the pics. "that's him."

Sam: Sree get a pic of him aur patha lagao ke wo kaun hai?

Sr: yes sir. aur Arjun sir, apke phone kafi had thak kharab hochuke hai. you may need another one.

Arj: hm…

Sree leaves. Sam saw Arjun a bit tensed and tired. "are you alright Arjun?"

Arj: I should not have taken Adi out. Mujhe Aisha ke baath maan lena chahiye tha. Par kab thak Sam, kab thak Adi ko aise band kamre me chupa sakthe hai? bacha hai wo. Ek mahine baad wo wapas chale jayega. I needed this time with him. fir baad me hum do…

He stops and breaths heavily. Sam keeps a hand on his shoulder. "don't worry sab teekh hojayega. This wont last long. And we will make sure of it."

Arj:hm. I know. (after a while) mujhe wo parking lot ke video firse dekhna hai. kahi uss car ke number mile tho kaam ban saktha hai.

Sam: come lets check.

***

Same time in Aisha's cabin:

Aisha took Adi in her arms and went to the cabin. Once inside, he settles in Aisha's lap. He leans onto her chest, tired and worried.

Aisha makes Adi look at her. "apko darne ke koi zaroorath nahi hai Adi. Hum sab haina? Aur apke dad bhi… ok…"

He nods yes silently. Sakshi was watching Aisha's interaction with Adi silently. And Adi too…he didn't look like that jovial kid anymore. He was frightened a lot.

Ais: aapne kuch khaya hai? He nods yes.

"kuch aur loge?" he nods no.

"ok.. fir aap sojao. Kaafi tired ho na?"

Adi: dad…

Ais: apke dad baaher hai. mien unse keh dungi ke aapko lejaane keliye. Aap sojayiye.

He lay closer to her chest again. And mean while he saw Sakshi. She smiled at him. "hai… Adi…"

He just looked at her. From her bag she took a completed rubix cube and forwarded it to him. he took it and looked at her.

Sa: sorry meine almost complete kiya tha. Lekin apke dad mujhse puche bagair teekh kar diya. Sorry…

She tried to smile to him.He slowly acknowledged her with a small smile.

Aisha knew he was too tired. He pats him gently after placing him on her shoulders. Sakshi was smiling at Aisha and her ways. Aisha enquired about her smile silently. saksho nodded negative. Slowly Adi slept. Aisha made sure about it. she kissed his hair.

Sa: Aisha, kabse janthe ho tum Adi ko?

Ai: jabse wo yaha pehli bar aye hai. almost 1 month now.

Sa: aur 1 month me tum dono ithne close bhi hogaye? You look just like his mom.

Ai: sh…

She silenced Sakshi and made sure Adi was sleeping.

Sa: (silently) Adi ke mom… kya hua tha?

Ai: (silently) accident.

Sakshi felt bad for the kid.

Ai: Sakshi, Arjun sir se kehna ke Adi so gayi hai.

Sa: ok.

She leaves and reaches the hall. "Arjun… Adi so gaye hai…"

He was with Sam and Sree, analyzing the video again. "ok…"

He walks out. Aisha was bringing out Adi too. He leads her to his cabin.

Sam and Sakshi could see them well.

Arjun opened the door for her and Adi… she places the kid on his couch. She gently brushes aside his hair and kisses his forehead.

Arjun was nearby watching her caressing Adi. She turned to him.

Ai: kafi dar gaye hai wo.

Ar:hm.. patha nahi ab kya hoga? Adi ko wo sab nahi dekhna chahiye tha.

Ai: kya?

He briefs about the shooting. She is evidently shocked.

Ar: I should have gone home when you mentioned it.

His eyes were fixed on Adi. She could see the guilt over there.

Ai: aise math sochiye sir. wo aap dono ko aise bhare jagah pe mile tho ithna hi hua. Just imagine wo aapko apke ghar thak peeche kiya hotha tho…

She shuddered at herown thought.

Ar: hm…

Ai: don't worry sir. we will make sure he is safe.

Arjun looked at the confidence in her eyes. "thanks Aisha… for everything"

She smiled at him, addressing it.

***

Sakshi and Sam could see Arjun and Aisha inside his cabin. Both of them were evidently speaking about Adi and the issue.

Sak: ye sab kya horahe hai Sameer? Aur kyu?

She was meaning the incident, but Sameer's focus was else where.

Sam:kuch bathein batha nahi sakthe Sakshi. Usse samajhna chahiye. Lekin kuch log wo samajhna hi nahi chahthe…

She looked at Sameer. His eyes were still at Arjun's cabin.