Hi all... I'm back with an update...
For the first time in here, I have replied to your comments...
thank you for staying with me all through...
so here I go.
PS: Montage dedicated esp to Shyamala Aunty who missed it, and to all others too...
CHAPTER 35:
Aisha was again at the dead end. They were 3 men admitted on 14th and 15th together. One Mr. Pathmanabhan, next Mr. Aryan Varma. And the end an unknown man, who was dead.
Now what? She went through the files again and again. But no…
Ai: kya koi aur files hai?
He saw her desperate face. He nodded negative. She slumped to the sofa.
Ai: par aise kaise hosaktha hai?
He didn't have an answer. And she knew it too.
She again went through the list. Pathmanabhan belonged to a higher age group. While the other two gave a better option. Aryan Varma had the address of the family and whereabouts. But the other… unknown… dead.
She tried to take her eyes off that topic. But now she had to open all the possible doors.
Ai: ye theesra person… kuch patha hai?
Aj: I asked about it too.police ne aakke verify kiya tha. Uske baad, usual procedure.
His tone was low, that gave the hint as of what would have happened.
Ai: police ne kya kaha?
Aj: I'm not sure about the details. Mien yaha uss waqt nahi thi na…
She nods yes. She mentally noted the all material. Even copied something that she felt that might come handy later… including Aryan's address.
Ai: thanks a lot sir. I don't know how to thank you well.
Aj: please don't. I hope aap jinhe dhoond rahi hai, unhe apko jaldi mil jaye.
Ai: issi hope ke sath ji rahi hu sir. thanks again.
She smiled and reached his door, when he called her. "Aisha…" she turned to him.
Aj: please don't think that I'm interfering your life… but… why now?? do saal pehle kyu nahi?
She stopped her track. A very valid question…
Ai: patha hai ke miene der kiya hai… 2 sal pehle mujhe bathaya gaya tha ke wo wapas nahi ayega… aur mien wo maanne pe majboor thi. Sochne ya samajhne ke haal me nahi thi. Aur chali gayi. Jab sochne ke haal hua thab ek ehsas ke sath jeene laga ke wo mere kareeb hai. socha wahi kafi hai. par ab aur nahi. I know he is there somewhere… kaha, yahi patha lagana hai… aur mien patha lagake hi rukhungi…"
He sensed the sencierity in her tone.
Aj: you really love him na?
She smile and nods yes.
Aj: aur wo bhi tumse pyaar katha tha?
Ai: shayad mujhse bhi zyada.
Aj:tho kabhi ye nahi socha,ke agar wo kahi hai, tho abhi thak tumhare samne kyu nahii aaya?
Her smile vanished. She never thought that side before.
Ai: patha nahi… kabhi socha hi nahi… shayad koi wajah hoga…
Aj: will you forgive him?
Ai: (thinking) hamare beech me samjhaane aur samajhne ko zyada nahi hothi thi… dekhthe hai kya hoga… par mujhe sirf ithna patha hai ke ek din hum zaroor milenga…
She smiled and left the room. She walked past the corridor, still thinking about Ajay's words.
"akhir aap mere samne kyu nahi aaya Arjun? kaha ho aap? Aisa kya hua ke aap bhi chup gaye?"
***
Mumbai:
A new case was called in. An elderly couple was found dead in an apartment. The team reaches the spot for verification. It looked as if done during the loot, but many evidences said something else. There was much more hidden.
Mr.Anmol Gupta, who was dead, was an ex-journalist. When Sakshi came to know about it, it did ring a bell. She has heard a lot about him. The one time fearless writer, who have now gone for retirement. But he still wrote for some magazines at times.
But what had induced for the death of him and his wife? There were many questions that came up.
Sam: Sakshi, patha lagao ke wo ab kaha work kar rahe the.
Sak: Sameer, Mr. Gupta kabhi kabhi Evening Times keliye liktha tha. Lekin wo ab yahi se liktha tha. He never went to the work place.
Sre: sir, Mr. Gupta ke PC toot chuke hai.
Sam: see, if you can do something, agar usse kuch mila, tho case keliye useful hoga. Aman aur Sakshi, go to the Evening Times office, patha lagao ke wo kin cases me kaam kar rahe the.
They leave. "Liza, take the bodies for postmortem. Aur Chotu, chalo, sabse puchthach karthe hai"
All are set to work.
Aman drives and Sakshi keeps on looking outside. "kya hua?" Aman was not that used to her silence.
Sak: 2 din hue hai. Aisha ne call thak nai kiya. Aur mere call liya thak nai.
Am: she is not a kid Sakshi. She can handle herself.
Sa: I know par…
She was worried how close Aisha was now to the truth. It was not that she didn't want to, but she wished to help her, support her, when she needed it.
Am: I don't get why you are so tensed.
Sa: (silent for a while) I know about everything now, Aman. Liza ne bathayi mujhe, ke sab kithne tensed the un dino me. Fir Aisha ke chale jaana… sab kuch…
Am: and I see you are hurt.
Sa: who wont be Aman? I mean… just imagine, that your love disappears infront of one's eyes. Kaise feel karoge? Ye ehsaas ke sath jeena, ke hum akele hai… kaise hoge? Aur ye eshaas, jo paas hoke bhi dur kar rahe hai… jo apne aapko zinda laash banake choda hai… how will that be? Logonke nazron se dur, apne apse dur… apne ateeth se dur… kaise jeepaoge?
She never realized that Aman has stopped the car, and was watching her outburst dumbstruck…
She breathed heavily… trying to calm herself. Only then she came to know what she has said.
Aman was looking at her with many questions. She couldn't take her eyes off him for a while. but she snatched it away. "I… I'm sorry… wo… meine…"
Am: what was all that about? Kya kehna chahthe ho tum?
Sak:kuch nai, chale? We have work to do.
Am: no, aaj tumhe jawab dena hoga Sakshi. Akhir kya chupa rahe ho tum? Theri bathein, soch… mere samajh me kuch nai araha hai. kabhi tum aise bol rahi ho jaise tum koi bada sa secret chupa rahe ho. tumhare Aisha ke aur jo lagaav hai, wo kuch aur hi keh rahi hai. don't think that I'm a fool Sakshi. I too notice things.
She was shocked and confused as of what to say.
Sa: Aman aise kuch…
Am: ye math bolo ke kuch nahi hai…
Sakshi lowers her eyes. When he dosent gat his answers, he gets upset.
Am: Kerala me kisse milne gayi thi?
She looked up. Pale….
Am: last time tum Kerala gayi thi… ek 'special dost' se milne. If I am not wrong, tum pehle bhi gayi thi. Aur meine kal hi jaana ke Aisha bhi Kerala hi gayi hai…
Sa: tumhe kaise…
Am: by chance I saw a few papers. Usme Aisha ke recent transaction ka ek bill mila. It was for a ticket to Cochin International Airport. Ab bolo Sakshi, kya chal rahe hai?
She was not in a position to answer. She wished she could, but she was bound… by a promise.
Aman's mobile rang. It was from Rathod.he briefly looked at her and took the call. "haan, Rathod. No, we are in our way… ok…sure… bye"
He turned to her, demanding answers. She sighed.
Sa: aaj case ke baad bath kare?
He was silent.
Sa: we should not overlook our duty, right?
He sat silent for a while too. "ok… par aaj rath ko hi bath karna hai…"
She nodded yes. He set ignition to the car. But before started he turned to her. "ab bas ithna tho bolo… is it related to Arjun?"
Her eyes welled up. She was stuck in her situation. She nodded yes.
He looked all the more shocked and turned away. He breathed heavily and went forward. There was work to do…now…
***
KERALA:
Aisha had called up the Police station. Her badge was getting its power here. When she had mentioned about an old case, they first didn't budge. But the tag of ETF did do the wonders. The incharge officer asked her to come the very next day so that she would get the relevant informations.
Again a night to be spent alone.
Some where a bit far away was him. Wide awake. Sleepless night was again his companion now. But tonight he felt different. As if there was someone closer to him, just a breathe away.
Next day:
She walked in again as the officer Aisha. The incharge officers did have the material she wanted. The picture of the unknown dead man was given to her in a file. She was hesitant for a while, but she masked it well.
She opened the file and let down a silent sigh… the face was really unknown…
Ai: any news about this man?
Po: no mam. Yaha ke sare records check kiya tha. Even paper aur media me information diya. Still no one came forward.
Ai: anything else?
Po: kisine Hospital me chodke chale gaye the. tho kuch zyada nahi. Kafi din ke baad hame formalities ke saath aage bhadna pada.
Ai: ok… I want a copy of this.
Po: you may have it mam.
After a few more enquiries she leaves the station. Next step was Aryan Varma. But she was not sure to go ahead or not. Because he was with his family.
Should I go ahead or not?
She received a phone call. It was from Sameer. "hello Sir, sorry meine apko call nahi kiya."
Sa: its ok Aisha. I hope you are fine now.
Ai: yes sir. I'm fine. Everything alright over there?
Sa: yes and no.
Ai: kya hua?
Sa: do you know about the Xeena group of Industries ke boss? One Mr. Bosco?
Ai: haan, purane undercover ke time me janti thi. Kya hua? He was missing in action for a while.
Sa: well he is back. And I'm sorry; you may have to come back soon.
Ai: no problem sir. I'll be back ASAP.
Sa: I knew you would. We want the old Nadiya back in action.
Ai(smiling) : yes sir. I will be back soon.
She cuts the call and exhales. It's time to go back. She looks at Aryan's address. "see you later Aryan"
She immediately books a ticket to go back to home.
***
Mumbai:
Aman walks in to his cabin. He was having his case in hand. It should not be hindered by anything else. But incident in the last night had taken away his sleep. And now he was still in the same lost state.
He saw Sakshi walking by his cabin. She stopped her track and looked at him through the glass door. They both knew what was going on each other's minds.
"you promised…" he read it in her eyes.
"do I have a choice…?" it was clear in his eyes.
She sighed and walked away to her cabin.
He sat heavily in his chair. He wished he had never been to her room last night…
Last night:
Sam: ok team lets call it a day. Let's meet tomorrow morning. Chotu, Bosco ke koi bhi khabar mile tho inform kar dena.
He walks out. Aman looks at Sakshi, who was fiddling with her papers.
Sree: Sakshi chalo, mien tumhe drop kar detha hu.
Sakshi's eyes meet Aman's. She turns back to Sree. "nahi Sree. Tum jao. mien thodi der baad niklungi…"
Sr: are you sure?
Sa: yeah. go ahead. Good night.
Sree leaves with Liza.Sakshi sits back to her chair. Aman was in his chair too. Fingers entwined below his chin, waiting for her. She knew he was waiting for her. But was she ready? What should I say? What about the promise? How much should I say? Can I trust him? Was there any other option?
"Sakshi…" his tone was impatient. She kept back the file and turned to him. "mujhe ghar drop kar sakthe ho?"
He was still silent.
"ek cup chai ke baad bath kare?" he nods and stands to go back. She stayed in her place itself. He knew she needed sometime.
Some time later he was waiting for her in the parking lot, and she came with slow steps. He knew she was fighting with herself. Maybe the truth was of that great importance. Be it on any other matter, he would not have budged her. But now he couldn't wait. Especially when the matter was related to Arjun.
The drive to Ravi Lodge was so silent. She never even looked at him. Maybe the empty road and rare vehicles was getting her attention. Or else, she was not interested in anything at all…
He parked in front of the lodge. She was plucked back from her trance. She silently got down and walked in. she knew he would follow her. He hesitated for a while. Was he doing the right thing? But now there was no time to think over it. He needed answers.
He reached the corridor that had her room. She was standing infront of a room.
It was Room No: 121. Hr eyes were fixed on the door. He stood by her. Feeling his presence, she sighed. "ye ACP Arjun ke kamra hai…"
She looked at him and those eyes said a lot. She walked towards her room, opened it and walked in.
Aman still was infront of 121. So that explained Aisha's presence in this Lodge long time back. This room might have given her, his presence.
He went to 128, Sakshi's room. The room was small and cosy. She showed him a sofa, and went to the kistchen region. He walked past the sofa and stood by the window. The street was not that interesting as usual. He felt her presence behind him. He turned and saw her with 2 cups of tea. He took one and she turned back. But his voice held her back.
"is he alive?" she felt stuck at that position. She felt Aman closer to her now. He was right in front of her.
"Is Arjun alive?"
Anupamaa
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