Part 37...
Riya's soft touch and the warm embrace made him look at her. She slowly nuzzled her face into his neck and stayed in his arms for what felt like hours. With every passing second, Arjun felt his heart calmer.
As a new day broke and its warm, golden sunrays fell on them, Chotu came running to them,
"Sir… woh Anu…"
~oOo~
The door opened with a loud click. Arjun pushed it ajar and turned to Riya who was leaning on the wall next to the door – half asleep. Chuckling, he tucked a lose strand of hair behind her ear and nudged her into the house.
The past few weeks have been very hectic for the ETF team. Although they weren't given any new cases, the paperwork and enquires post Sikander's demise were enough to keep the team on their toes. Arjun, especially had to go through a series of enquires and answer to his higher authorities for shooting a fellow officer. Rathore, Chotu and a few other officers present at the 'incident' stood by Arjun and gave their testaments for him (Riya couldn't because she's in a relationship with Arjun).
Though the enquires were still going on, Rathore was sure or rather hell bent to make sure that Arjun gets away with the minimal or if he can help it with no charges at all. Arjun however, was just as carefree and untroubled by the whole situation as he always is with everything else. It was Riya who took over Arjun's part of the worry with her own and tried to help in any way she could.
With everything happening, the little time they got off work, they were usually in the hospital. To everyone's great relief Anu and Shree were on their way to a recovery, in fact Shree was already discharged from the hospital and Anu would be discharged the next day. Arjun and Riya went to visit her at the hospital after work and just reached home.
He closed the door behind them as Riya dragged herself into the living room, and fell on the couch in a heave.
"Riya fresh hoke, kuch khake, so jao" Arjun said crouching at the edge of the couch so their faces were at level.
"Bahut thak gayi hoon Arjun, bhook bhi nahi hain. Mein bas so jaathi hoon" Riya said as she snuggled into the couch closing her eyes as if to sleep right there and then.
Arjun smiled shaking his head. He quickly picked her up in his arms and headed towards the bedroom.
"Arjun! What are you doing?" Riya asked startled by his sudden move but at the same time circled her arms around his neck.
"Shhh, so jao…" he said softly and made his way towards her room and gently placed her on the bed.
Arjun kissed her forehead, lingering there for a few seconds and sighed. His face was only inches away from hers and even in the darkness Riya could see the emotions flickering on his face. She looked at him silently for a few minutes, as he sat there lost in his own thoughts. Though he never mentioned it to her, Riya knew exactly what was going on in his mind. She could read his uncertainty as if written on a piece of paper, word for word.
"Ghar chele jao Arjun" She said finally and saw surprise flicker in his eyes.
"Ghar?..." Arjun asked trying to sound like he didn't know what she was talking about, although, half heartedly
Riya didn't reply instead looked at him pointedly.
Ghar, home. Arjun's home, Arjun and Roshni's home. Soon after they got the news that Anu and Shree were out of danger and would be well given some time, Riya thought Arjun would go there the first chance he got. Though she feared he'd breakdown completely in the house, she realised and understood the importance of the visit. But to her surprise, he never went and she never asked why. Until now.
"Arjun, I can see you want to go…but…I don't know why you are not…"
Arjun's eyes flitted to the chain around her neck, before he turned away from her and sat on the edge of the bed. Riya watched him silently for a few seconds before hugging him from behind, resting her head on his back.
"Kyun…" She asked and waited.
After a few more seconds of silence he finally replied, no louder than a whisper,
"Pata nahi Riya. Kuch ajeeb si bechaini ho rahi hain…like…like…"
"Like everything will end by going there…" Riya finished his sentence.
Arjun's heart picked up speed when she said that. The last thing he wants right now, is her misunderstanding him. He slowly turned around to explain what was going on in his mind but got surprised when she voiced it before him.
"An end to the promise you made to yourself. An end to the sole reason you've been alive since Roshni's death. An end to your past and…Roshni"
Riya whispered as she realised his reason for hesitancy over the past few days. Though she just said it, it took a couple of minutes to sink in. Does he really think that with Sikander's end, so was Roshni's?
"Arjun, what you are thinking is just…it's not how…Arjun, you going to that house only and only means that you will finally get to tell her, that you got her the justice she truly deserves. You will finally get a sense of closure by going there par unke saath tumhare yaadein ya unke saath tumhare bithaaye pal kabhi, koyi nahi cheen saktha. She'll always be with you…"
Arjun stared at her silently for a few minutes before asking, "Aur tumhe isse problem nahi hain?"
Genuine surprise flickered in her eyes, and hurt too.
"Mujhe kya problem ho sakthi hain? Arjun, she's a part of you and…the Arjun I know and the Arjun I fell in love with, does not exist without her. So, if you think that it is the end of Roshni then it will be the end of the Arjun I love, with it my love for you and…me…"
Arjun stared, shocked, at the miracle in front of him. A miracle she is, isn't she? A gift from someone high above. As he looked into her eyes, her beautiful, beautiful eyes; he felt all the love and pride that there is in the world for her. He watched her with the most adoring and lovable look for the longest moment before a smile spread on his lips.
He lifted his hand and brushed the strands of hair off her neck.
"Riya…"
"Riya, I…I…" he looked at her and shook his head. Arjun falling short of words doesn't happen often.
Thinking actions speak louder than words, he leaned forward and in one smooth move captured her lips with his. Pouring in all the love and admiration he felt, he immediately deepened the kiss and savoured the moment to the fullest.
When he finally parted from her, he still did not have any words. But, she understood, he knew she understood. Gently pushing her down onto the bed, he adjusted himself so that he was hugging her from the back. His fingers entwined with hers, as he wrapped his arms around her torso. They stayed like that, silently cherishing each other.
Soon, Arjun felt her heavy and rhythmic breathing and knew that she was in a deep slumber. He kissed her cheek, covered her with the comforter and quietly made his way out of the house. He drove off in the middle of the night to the opposite side of the city, to the house he should have visited long back. Still, he was glad that he waited this long. Because now he was going to his old house with a different light.
Back in the house, Riya stirred in her bed and realised the warmth that was surrounding her a few moments back was missing. She opened her eyes ever so slightly, looking around she immediately understood that Arjun wasn't in the room or in fact anywhere in the house.
Smiling she went back to sleep, hoping and praying silently that he would be alright after the much needed visit home.
~oOo~
continued on next page...
Next day…
Riya sighed and threw her phone on the couch. Folding arms across her chest, she glared at the phone as if somehow Arjun would feel it on the other end. She'd been calling him for the last hour but he did not answer the phone once. Starting to get worried, she thought of heading out to his old house when her phone started ranging.
"Hello Arjun" Riya answered, without looking at the name on the phone.
"Hello beta, mein bol rahi hoon. Arjun abhi tak nahi aaya?" Mrs Rawte spoke.
"Oh sorry aunty, haan Arjun abhi tak…aunty aap tension math lijiye. Woh ajayenge, kahi kaam se baahar gaye toh…"
"Haan beta par, yeha doctor keh rahe hain ki woh Anu ko discharge kardenge. Yeh ladka bhi na pata nahi subha subha kaha chela gaya"
Subha nahi maa, he left last night! Riya thought but did not say it out loud.
"Maa...aa…aunty mein abhi hospital aa rahi hoon, aur Rathore sir ko bhi inform kardoongi woh bhi aajayenge. Hum sab formalities poori kardenge tab tak Arjun bhi aa jayenge…"
"Thik hain beta, tum aur Sameer aa jao" Mrs Rawte said and cut the call.
"Arjun kaha ho?" Riya said out loud and sighed.
About twenty minutes later Rathore came over to pick up Riya on his way to the hospital. She walked out when Rathore too came out of the car,
"Arjun kaha hain, Riya?"
Riya hesitated before speaking,
"Sir, Arjun…Arjun ghar gaya hain"
"Ghar? Kiska ghar? Woh lodge…Riya tum usse ghar bol thi ho?"
"Nahi sir, Arjun kal raath unke puraane ghar gaya…" Riya didn't finish the sentence seeing Rathore's expression.
"Riya woh waha kal raath ko gaya aur abhi tak wapas nahi aaya? Aur tum yeh baat mujhe ab bata rahi ho!!"
Apprehension increased in her. She immediately dialled Arjun's number and waited as the phone started ringing. This time it rang a few times before he cut the call. Riya stared at her phone in disbelief.
"He cut my call…" She whispered looking at the phone.
"He what??" Rathore asked not quiet catching what she said.
"He cut my call!" Riya said a bit louder for Rathore to hear. She let her hand fall to the side and turned to Rathore with an annoyed look.
"Cheliye…" She walked past him and sat down in the passenger seat, closing the door with a bang.
Arjun, tu toh gaya! Rathore thought as he got into the driver's seat and drove them to the hospital.
~oOo~
"Bhai aap kaha gaye? Maa aur Riya kitne pareshaan ho gaye, pata hain aapko?" Anu asked the first thing he walked into her room.
Arjun glanced at his mom and Riya before quickly making his way towards the bed where Anu was sitting, not giving either of them a chance to glare at him. He pecked his little sister on the forehead and sat next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"Finally, ready to go home?"
"Haan, ab mujhse iss hospital main aur nahi raha jaata"
"Haan, par uski asli wajah kya hain, yeh hume pata hain" he teased her.
"Kya?" Anu asked, frowning at her brother.
"Shree! Jabse woh hospital se discharge hua hain, tabse tumhe bhi ghar jaane ki badi jaldi hain, nahi?"
"Bhai…shhh, maa sunn legi"
"Sunne de na. Waise bhi, batane waala hoon maa aur papa ko jaldi…"
"Nahi bhai, abhi nahi…"
"Kya abhi nahi?" Mrs Rawte walked near them finishing packing everything, ready for the discharge.
Both brother and sister looked at each other and said in unison, "Kuch nahi!"
Mrs Rawte shook her head and turned to Arjun, "Kaha gaye the Arjun? Subha se gaayab…?"
"Woh maa, mein…" He was about to say something when Rathore and Mr Rawte walked into the room. Arjun sighed in relief, as everyone's attention directed towards the two.
"Chelo, sab paper work hogaya, ab hum ghar jaa sakthe hain" Rathore informed them.
Riya and Mrs Rawte collected the bags they just finished packing, while Rathore and Arjun helped Anu out of the room.
Riya and Arjun took the day off work, to settle in Anu. Mr and Mrs Rawte have been staying at Rathore's for the past few weeks. Rathore asked Anu to come and stay with them till she recovered completely but she refused, saying she didn't want to put any pressure on Tanvi who was well into her pregnancy. Also, Mr and Mrs Rawte would be going back to Pune by the end of the week so that would mean extra work for Tanvi.
Rathore and Arjun's parents sat in one car, while Arjun, Riya and Anu sat in another car. Soon they headed towards Riya's house. Throughout the drive Riya did not as much as look at Arjun and he knew that he had a lot of pacifying to do.
Dropping Mr and Mrs Rawte home, Rathore left for work. Riya made sure Arjun's parents were comfortable and started fussing about Anu.
"Riya, mein thik hoon…tension math lo…" Anu said for the nth time since they reached home.
"Anu, tumhe lait jaana chahiye…mein…" Riya got interrupted by Arjun's phone ringing loudly.
"Hello" Arjun talked into the phone. After listening for a minute he glanced at her and walked out of the living area as if he didn't want her to hear the conversation.
Riya frowned, what the hell is going on? But immediately let it go, knowing if it was something important Arjun would definitely let her know about it. With that, her attention moved back onto Anu,
"Tum lait jao, mein tumhare liye extra pillows laati hoon. Aunty, uncle aapko kuch chahiye?"
"Nahi beta, hum thik hain" Mrs Rawte replied.
Riya went into her bedroom to bring some extra pillows and bedspreads. She was about to go outside when the door opened and in came Arjun. He quickly closed the door behind him and to her surprise locked it.
"Arjun what are you doing?? Lock kyun kiya?" Riya started to walk towards the door but Arjun stopped her.
"Riya main…" Arjun wrapped his arms around her waist but got interrupted by her.
"Arjun, door lock kiya…maa baahar hain, kya sochengi woh? Please, Arjun…." Riya struggled in his strong hold. Arjun tried holding her still but she did not pay heed.
"Chup!!" Arjun said, a bit louder than he meant to, effectively silencing her.
She looked at him for a few seconds with wide eyes before he spoke again,
"Chup chap khadi raho!"
Arjun made sure that Riya wasn't going to make a run for the door before freeing her and wrapping his arms around her waist. He gave her a tug making her fall against his chest but she did not look up at him. She stared at his shirt buttons instead.
Arjun smiled seeing her antics. Slowly, taking his time, he dipped down. Her lips parted slightly as he inched closer and closer. With literally no space between them, and just when his lips were about to touch hers, she pulled back and turned away from him. Arjun looked at her surprised, she never pulled away from a kiss before. Rolling his eyes he hooked his finger under her chin and gently made her look at him.
"Meine kaha na, chup chap khadi raho!!" His voice temptingly husky, he said it deliberately and slowly.
Riya's eyes flickered to the door and then to his face and finally rested on his lips.
"Ar…Arjun, subha se…kaha…"
"Baad main bataunga toh chelega?" Arjun asked, his head already dipping down to her neck. His nose grazed her skin, leaving behind a trail of Goosebumps in its wake as he nudged the strands of hair off her neck.
"Baad main?"
"Hmm…" Arjun answered her blowing lightly in the dip at the base of her neck. Her breathing hitched as his hand ran down her side and his lips gently touched her skin, trailing kisses down her neck. She moaned softly, making him smile. Her hands roamed up his back till her fingers rolled into his hair. Pulling him closer, she tilted her head giving him more access.
Working his way up, his lips found hers. Slow and sensual, he kissed her leisurely. When she needed to breathe, he left her lips and continued trailing kisses down her neck. Nuzzling into the crook of her neck, he felt her shudder.
"Arjun…" she gasped.
Kissing and drawing on her skin, Arjun became still when he heard his name. He felt he might lose the little self-control he had, so, he parted from her resting his forehead against hers. Breathing hard, she lifted her heavy eyelids to look at him with a mischievous smile lighting her face.
Arjun looked at her in amusement as he knew what she was about to do.
"Riya…" he tried warning her but too late, her lips met his and he couldn't stop himself from kissing her back. The kiss became more passionate and heated by the passing second.
Arjun groaned at that move, "You should not have done that!"
Swiftly picking her up, he carried her to the bed. Laying her down he positioned himself on top of her, with hands on either side of her head, Riya's heart picked up speed as his eyes flitted down to rest on her lips and he leaned in painfully slowly before his lips claimed hers again.
One of Arjun's hands dropped down to the curve of her waist, and made its way to the hem of her top. Slow and deliberate he slid his hand onto her bare belly. Riya could hardly breathe as his hand left her skin hot and wanting more. She groaned when his lips left hers abruptly, but a second later felt them on her stomach. She arched into him and a moan escaped her lips.
He groaned again, frustrated, "We should stop…" he whispered.
"Hmmm…" she agreed but neither loosened their hold on the other. After a few moments of catching their breath, Arjun sighed and pulled down Riya's shirt. Moving back up, he pecked her forehead and then her lips and rolled off her. Sitting at the edge of the bed he straightened his clothes and hair.
Riya sat up and hugged him from behind. Closing her eyes, she let out a deep breath.
"Tum thik ho?" Arjun asked her cupping her hands with his, on his chest.
"Hmm…" she replied.
After a few moments of silence, her eyes flew open remembering something. She jerked off him making him turn towards her.
"Kya hua?"
"I am supposed to be angry with you…"
Arjun chuckled and looked at her adoringly, while she narrowed her eyes at him.
Originally posted by: sips_crazy
thanks for the dedication dear !!
Now waiting for the next part ...Unres toh main aaram se karungi😉
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