Arakshi FF: Beyond Just Love Pg 137 - Page 57

Hello Arakshians, back with a new long part…..pls excuse errors!

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Chapter 14: Somethings never change while some are bound to change!

Aisha has a check up at the gynaec..so she and Sameer leaves for the clinic….Chotu is behind some informer…So he leaves too…

So it was just Shree and Liza who head back to ETF….

Liza was unusually silent….her usual pokes and mocks for Shree were missing…may be she was affected by Sakshi's state….

Shree glanced at her a few times to see if she would pick up a fight with him and change the gloomy atmosphere…..But she didn't seem to notice him at all! Was he missing her mocks and playful silly fights? Naah…aisa nahi ho saktha….He thought to himself but even then, he wasn't able to let her be silent!

He decided to take the lead…..and spoke up, "waise Liza, tum harr waqt aise karthi ho ya aaj mujhe paas dekha toh aisa kardiya?"

Liza was puzzled and looked at him enquiringly, "kya kiya maine?"

Shree points to the nail marks in his hand….She had dug deep into his hand when she held him for support when she saw Sakshi first….

She smacked herself and slowly caressed his hand, "aww…sorry Specky…..mujhe dhyan hi nahi tha…Shit!" Is it paining?

Shree chuckled and replied, "thoda…but its ok…."

Liza: Uss waqt bathaana chahiye tha na?

Shree: I knew you were disturbed…main bhi disturbed tha…..Sakshi ko aise pehli baar dekha na…wahaan pe kuch nahi dikhaaya but…..

Liza could understand his hurt feelings and she was feeling no different seeing the ever bubbly active girl Sakhi lying on the bed paralyzed……

She sighed deeply thinking about the unpredictable twists and turns of human life!

He spoke up, "relax Liza….Sakshi jaldi teek ho jaayegi….hum sab milke usse waaapas laayenge….dont worry!"

Liza nodded to him and turned away while he added,"aur phir Annie ji bhi hai na?"

Liza turned to him rolling her eyes, "kya baat hai Specky Sen? Jab dekho Annie ji ke gunn gaa rahe ho?"

Shree: [teasingly replies] kuch kuch ho raha hai Liza….kuch kuch!

Liza: kuch kuch haan? Looks like Mr Techie Sen is smitten by Annie ji already, huh?

Shree: patha nahi….Kya tumhe aisa lagtha hai ke Annie ji hi hai woh pari jisska main wait kar raha hoom?

Liza didn't reply but turned away giving a faint smile…she thinks to herself, "kaash tum jaan paathe ke main kya sochthi hoom Shree! Kaash.."

She smacked herself for thinking on those lines…..She stopped thinking and turned back grinning to him, "Specky….patha hai mujhe kya lagtha hai?"

Shree excitedly urges her to go on while she adds, "mujhe lagtha hai ke tum bohat jald hi Arjun sir se SYS sunne waale ho…..aur woh bhi rudra taandav waala!"

Shree pouted and turned away to the steering wheel…….

************************

Arjun was still near Sakshi when he heard Annie's footsteps at the door….

He just held Sakshi's hand and enquired, "chalen?" realizing that Annie must have got ready to go!

Sakshi nodded with a smile…"hmm"

Annie brought the wheel chair…Arjun lifted Sakshi slowly and seated her on the chair…

He wheeled the chair himself after locking the door… Not that he doubted Annie's ability to wheel her safely but he just didn't want to take any risk when it was related to Sakshi

Annie smiled to herself seeing his care and concern….she followed them with the medicine kit and some other essential things which Sakshi would need!

As they neared the SUV, Sakshi tried her best to get up from the chair by herself only to slip a bit…..her legs weren't supporting her effort to stand……

Arjun grabbed her before she slipped away voicing in concern and panic, "Sakshi…..sambaal ke….."

He felt as if his heart had stopped for an instant when he saw her slipping down……He gathered her up in his arms!

Sakshi smiled at her own helplessness and desperation to stand on her own….He could feel the pain in that smile of hers….he mellowed down and continued with her in his arms, "trust me….ek din tum zaroor apne aap chalkar gaadi mein beitoge Sakshi…."

Annie who was witnessing all of this and was silent to let them have their private moment added, "aur woh din jaldi aayega"

Sakshi looked gratefully at Annie and then shifted her gaze to her husband who was holding her….his eyes never left her face and all she could see in his eyes was the love he had for her!

She nodded confidently, "haan…main….jaldi…..hi…….."

She stopped her words when he bent to her and pecked her hair as if securing her close to his heart forever…..She couldn't complete the words but she said it with determination in her mind…"yes she would get well soon…..she had to do it for him!"

Annie opened the door and Arjun placed Sakshi gently to the seat…….Annie got in to the back seat while Arjun got in as well….

He leaned towards Sakshi and pulled the seat belt around her……..His face brushed past hers…..his stubble grazing her chin and his aftershave was what she breathed in for a long moment………She just closed her eyes letting the moment to sink into her…..His essence, his masculine scent was something she could breath in forever!

Seeing her closed eyes, he enquired as he moved back to his position "kya hua? Are you alright?"

His voice snapped her out…..there was worry and concern in his tone….

She just shook her head to confirm that she was perfectly fine!

Arjun patted her cheeks with an assuring smile and then zoomed off towards ETF office….He drove carefully to avoid any bumps and jerks……..With Sakshi in the vehicle, he couldn't afford to take any chances…….

She was silent as usual but it was unusual for him……it was their first drive after he married her…their first drive together after she was in this state…

And he was missing the real Sakshi whom he already knew…..the chatterbox who needed a bandage on her mouth to keep it shut and numerous times, he had even thought of doing it to shut her up………

But today, he missed her crazy talks……He glanced to her side several times……She looked calm and was enjoying the view through the window….It was indeed long time since she had such a drive…Out of the four walls…out in the open……the people, the traffic jam, the cars, the buses,the two wheelers, the noise, the endless shops, the crowds, even the pollution perhaps….she chuckled at her own thoughts…everything interested her now as if she was seeing them for the first time……"God, how much had she missed this!"

Her mind sighed thinking about it!

Whereas his mind wandered off to the past where they had been together for cases…….

He used to get annoyed with her continuous banters…..her excuses and lame reasons to start a conversation with him…….Her attempts to strike a chord with him…..but not once had he relented to her……..

He used shift, toss in his seat in frustration while she used to conveniently ignore his indifference and keep talking……Talking Talking talking was all she could do according to him……and all those talking were just silly and trivial for him…..

But even he himself knew deep within that her silly talks had given him break throughs in mind boggling cases…quite oblivious to herself, she would pull up some vital things which would prove vital to the case…..The topic about flowers which she had started randomly had made him realize what he had missed out in the case…..So even her silly talks helped him at times……

She was indeed her lucky charm! But never once, he had accepted that! When Shree had said that once playfully unaware that Arjun was listening, he had glared at Shree capable enough to burn him down and also given him his SYS lecture!

He used to scold her when she would come to him with silly questions, "gossip ko chodhke agar kaam ke taraf dhyaan dogi tab sab kuch apne aap samajh aayega….Samjhi yaaa Samjhaavum?"

"Samjhi" she muttered mindlessly as if she had read his thoughts……Her sudden talk drew his focus immediately….Hadnt he been waiting for her to start a conversation with him like before? Yes, he couldn't deny that……He longed for her to start talking like before…….

Call it telepathy or coincidence, he smiled at that……He didn't stop it with a smile…..He enquired, "Kya samajh gayi Sakshi?"

Sakshi looked to his side and just smiled back in response…..while he urged her to tell what she was thinking, "bolo Sakshi……"

Sakshi: [with a faint smile] bol….hi…toh…nahi…paa…rahi hoom!

Annie who was silent spectator till now responded, "Sakshi….tum sab kuch bol sakthi ho….bas kuch hi din mein yeh mushkil bhi dur ho jaayega….but just keep trying…You cant give like that!"

Arjun added to lighten her mood, "waise bhi Sakshi….tum aaraam se rukh rukh ke bol sakthi ho…..humein thodi na koyi flight pakadhni hai….so relax ok?"

Sakshi smiled but she was amused at his changed attitude….everything in him had changed for good and whatever he said and did only reflected his love for her!

Sakshi's smile wasn't unnoticed by him….as if hearing her mind voice, he spoke up, "yahi soch rahe ho na ke yeh ACP Rawte itna kaise bathal gaya?"

Sakshi was stunned now and looked at him which confirmed to him that she was exactly thinking the same…he grinned at her stunned expressions and replied, "tumne mujhe bathal diya hai Sakshi…..you can have the credit for the changes in me!"

Sakshi knew he wasn't kidding her when he said that….he had a depth in his voice which evidently showed that he really meant that!

She just glanced at him lovingly and placed her hand on his arm squeezing it a little as if to let him know that he meant the world to her…..He cupped her fingers gently and that gentle gesture had so many meanings…..

One of them was loud and clear…."this togetherness will remain forever!"

Annie couldn't have asked for more for her darling friend whom she had started considering as her sister! She just prayed silently for their happiness and their love!

***************************************

Stepping into ETF brought along a lot of memories….her first day there….her meeting with the entire team..Shree, Liza, Aisha, Chotu……Sameer and of course ACP Arjun Rawte…….about whom, she had just known and read in newspapers…that day was a dream come true for her!

Memories of that day were hard to forget!

She looked around as Arjun wheeled her in…..nothing had changed…..everything appeared the same…yes of course…..it was only she who had changed…….the girl who had walked in freely, cheerfully was now on a wheel chair and needed help to move……

She sighed and brushed away such depressing thoughts…..she never wished to think all that but perhaps, it was inevitable!

In everything that came her way, she could see her past….every thing had a past story to tell her!….The happy past where she was fit and fine!

Shree and Liza were ready to welcome her in……As soon as she entered, a balloon burst…..from it showered down gold and silver stars, moons to celebrate her entry in ETF!

She was pleasantly surprised and tried to cherish and capture all of those moments in her memory!

Once the initial moments smoothly passed by, Arjun glanced to their side meaning that they better get back to work…..

Shree and Liza took the clue from his stare and went back to their work!

Sakshi didn't miss that silent communication between them…..she shook her head in amusement thinking, "Some things never change!"

Arjun crouched down to her, "kahaan beitna pasand karogi? Mere cabin mein ya…."

She placed her hand on his, "nahi….mere…desk….."

He understood what she intended….He took her to her desk which hadn't changed in those years as well…..She touched the desk and fondly glided her fingers on the keyboard where she had typed away n number journals and case articles!

She turned to him and gestured to leave voicing, "aap…..jaahiye….I….will…..be…..fine….here….."

He nodded, "hmmm….agar kuch chahiye toh…"

She snapped him, "Forget….that…I….am….here….Arjun……Annie….is….here…"

She didn't want him or his work to get affected by her presence there….she never wanted to become a disturbance to the team……So she gestured that she is fine and can manage there!

He smiled and shook his head meaning ok……As he turned to leave, he spoke to Annie, "agar kuch ho toh call karna…121 is my extension!"

She nodded and he walked to his cabin!

By then, she had switched on the PC….she could see that Shree had kept her computer in perfect condition…Also there was no trace of dust or whatsoever on the PC or the desk! As if it was never left abandoned!

She moved a bit to the phone….Annie helped her pick the phone and dialed a number she said…..It was Shree's extn…she spoke into the phone."Shree…..thanks!"

Shree turned from his laptop and looked at the direction where Sakshi's desk was…..He knew why she thanked him and he replied, "tumaare PC aur desk keliye…huh?"

Sakshi smiled and nodded, "hmmm"

Shree replied, "tumaare SYS pati ka orders kaise na maanntha, haan?? Itni himmat nahi hai mujhme Sakshi"

Sakshi enquiringly voiced, "Arjun?"

Shree: haan…Arjun sir ka order tha ke yeh desk aisa hi rahe….maine kal hi ek overall check kiya tha…its in perfect condition mam!"

Sakshi chuckled and then nodded looking at the monitor…she smiled at the thought that Arjun had kept all of this in mind…..the essence of it being he had never forgotten her…she was always in his mind!

She cut the call and gave back the receiver to Annie who placed it back!

Annie sat besides her and she was already seeing improvements in Sakshi…..ETF looked like second home to Sakshi and coming there had made Sakshi active and there was a fresh air of motivation and confidence around her……. Annie knew, things were only going to improve and go up hill now…….

Annie placed her arm around Sakshi and drew her for a warm hug because, this Sakshi was someone whom she had anxiously waiting for…….and when she saw it happening, her eyes filled with tears of joy and only a hug could compose her!

Sakshi was in no less happy state…..Arjun's love, care and attention, his gentle gestures, his affectionate talks, everything about him….then coming back to ETF, the unexpected warm welcome, her desk, her PC…..all of this was getting too much to handle for her as well….

Her eyes swelled up with happy tears! ……..All of it appeared too good to be real but it was real and she was ecstatic!

And Annie's comforting hug only added to her happiness and the confidence that one day, she would stand and move around again independently…….

Yeh Hosla Kaise Juke,

Yeh Aarzoo Kaise Ruke

Manzil Muskil toh kya,

Bundla Sahil toh kya,

Tanha Ye Dil toh Kya

Ho Hooo

Raah Pe Kante Bikhre agar,

Uspe to phir bhi chalna hi hai,

Saam Chhupale Suraj magar,

Raat ko ek din Dhalana hi hai,

"Kya main iss dosti ke andhar allowed hoom?"

His voice snapped them out…..

They turned to see him standing with a wide smile………..

Rut ye tal jayegi,

Himmat rang layegi,

Subha phir aayegi

Hooo