FF: Khamoshiyaan... (chap 37 page 133) - Page 85

CHAPTER 36:

"Is Arjun alive?"

The world stopped there for her. How should she answer it? Truth or not?

Aman was in no way to leave the matter there. "tell me Sakshi, is he alive?"

The tear that brimmed in her eyes gave her answer to him. He couldn't believe it. It was almost clear from her actions but to come to know about it, it was something different.

He took some steps back and brushed his hair. "God… why did you do this Sakshi? Ithne badi baath ko chupa rahe ho? And how are you facing Aisha when you know everything??"

Sa: ek baar mere haal tho dekho Aman. And after that decide. Tumhe nahi lagtha ke mujhe aise karne se thakleef nahi horahe hai? you have no idea how I am facing all this every single day?

Am: then why? Aisha, Rathod, Liza, Sree, Chotu… office ke sab… sab Arjun se milna chahthe hai.and you know he is alive. Sare duniya usse mare hue sabith karna chahthe hai. aur tum… sabse sab kuch chupa rahe ho??

Sa: because I am helpless.

Am: aise kya hua ke tum ithna bhi helpless hua hai? Aur Arjun?? why is he not coming in front? Aise kayron ke tharah chupa kyu hai?

Sa: please Aman, don't comment on what you don't know.

Am: then tell me what I should know.

Sa: (sitting on the sofa) I cant. I just can't.

Am: kyu nahi?

Sa: because I'm bound by a promise….

Am: promise?? Iss waqt tumhe ek wada rok rahi hai, jab waha sab ye soch rahe hai ke Arjun zinda nahi hai.

Sa: kyunki ye wada meine khud Arjun ko diya hai!!!

Am:WHAT??

Sa: socho Aman. Jo Arjun is team ke sab kuch the, jo Aisha ke pyaar the, jisse apne kaam se ithna lagav the, agar wo chup rahe hai tho, koi na koi wajah tho hoge na?

Am: aise kya wajah hai?

Sa: I'm sorry but I cant speak about it.

Aman watches her, she looked real helpless. He sits by her on the sofa.

Am: ok… how much does Aisha know? (she looks at him) wo Kerala yuhi nahi gayi hogi.

Sa: she still don't know anything. Bas meine sirf ithna kaha hai ke sare ummed abhi thak bandh nahi hai. issi ek bath par pakdhi hai wo, issi bath se apna manzil dhoond rahi hai wo.

Am: how close is she?

Sa: patha nahi.

They took a while. Tears were flowing down her cheeks. The bubbly active Sakshi looked broken, as if she was letting herself go of many binding around her. Still there was much to loose.

Am: 2 saal… 2 saal se tum sab janthe ho?

Sa( nodding no): kuch mahine pehle. It was just a coincidence.

Am: aur wo wapas nahi ana chahthe.

Sa(smiling sarcrastically) hell… he wish to come back. But he just can't.

Am: is he alright?

Sa: hmm

Am(sighing and leaning back to the sofa) I don't know if I wished to hear the truth. Acha hotha mien puchthe hi nahi.

Sa: then just imagine, how am I living each moment in the office. har pal,Aisha ke ankhein usse doondthe dekhthi hu mien. Har aahat pe mudke dekthi hai. bas ussi ke yadonme rahthi hai wo. Tell me how must be I feeling.

Aman looks at her. She was getting hysterical. "Sakshi…" he moves closer to her. But she was no where in straight mind.

Sa: aur Sameer… apne dost ko bohot miss kar rahe hai. dikhathe tho nahi, par meine dekha hai, wo kabhi kabhi tumhare seat ke aur dekthe hai. kyu? because that was his seat too. Liza Sree Chotu… I don't know I was hanging out with them.

Aman keeps a hand on her shoulder. "Sakshi… relax…"

Sa: aur Arjun… I have seen the worst in him. Aisha aur uske relation ko samne se tho nahi dekhi hai meine. But I can feel it. yaad hai uss din jab Commissioner sir aya tha… jab Arjun ko… (Aman nods yes)… uss din Aisha ne kaha tha ke wo Arjun ko feel karthe hai. bathein karthe hai… and you know what… that was what he said too… kyu horaha hai ye sab? Kab thak?

She broke down completely. Aman was feeling very bad seeing this face of Sakshi. He held her shoulder by his hands. And she lost her control. She leaned on to his chest and cried out. The worry and every other feel were letting out. And she got the only thing she needed… a shoulder to cry.

Aman held her tight for a while. She sobbed, and he let her be. She was holding it back for a long time. His hands caressed her hair, and she was letting out all her pain.

The time went by. She stirred when she knew what had happened. She sat up and looked at his damp shirt. "sorry… apke shirt…"

Am: its ok. Are you feeling better?

She nodded yes. He saw water bottle placed on the table. He went and poured it to her and handed her. She was feeling much better.

He sat opposite her. She was keeping her eyes down, wiping away the tears and sipping the water. She looked so innocent at that moment. Silence prevailed.

His mobile buzz brought them back. It was from Rathod.

Am: hello Rathod. Nahi… I'm just going home. Kya hua?...ok… hm…. Ok lets see tomorrow.

He cut the call. She noticed that he was upset at some matter.

Sa: kya hua?

Am: Aisha kal aarahi hai. back as Nadiya.

She sighed. There was relief in it.

Am: you are used to facing her Sakshi. But how am I going to face her?

Sa: you should. Please. Ab thak meine is baath ko chupake rakha hai. ab kuch din aur please…

Am: hmm… ok mien chaltha hu.

She walked with him towards the door. After getting out he turned back to her. "Sakshi… sometimes its better to break a promise than a heart…"

She smiled weakly to him. "the heart is already broken Aman. I can't help it now"

He went out after a few seconds. He heard her closing the door. He wondered how she was going to cope up the night. He reached Room 121. He couldn't stop himself from thinking. "don't be late Arjun. We won't be able to hold back for a longer time"

That night was sleepless for him. And her as well.

Now:

Rathod walked to Aman's cabin to give the recent news and saw him him thinking. "kya hua Aman? Everything alright?"

He looked up. "huh? yeah all fine. kab aye?"

Sam: bas abhi. Par bath kya hai? you looked tensed.

Am: nothing serious Rathod. Bolo yaha kaise.

Sam: Bosco of Xeena groups. Ussi pe hi Mr. Gupta reposts bana rahe the. And he did find something interesting. Uske jo PC mila tha, usse Sree ko kafi informations mile hai.

Am: that's good news. So what was that news?

Sa: he sends new models abroad. Saath me drug smuggling. Some girls knew about it while some didn't. And that's were Nadiya is going to have work.

Am: so she is coming back?

Sa: yeah bas athe hi hoge. Nadiya ke purane contacts se usse bhi waha join karwa saktha hai.

Am: but it can be dangerous. I mean, agar kisiko patha chala ke wo ek officer hai tho…

Sa: jo Nadiya ko introduce karne wale hai,wo hamare side me hai. aur do saal ke uski missing profile can be helpful. Aur ye bath meine nahi khud Nadiya, I mean Aisha ne hi kaha hai.

Am: so she is really back in action.

Sa: I'm happy that she is. Jiss din usse wapas le aya tha,I did have doubts. But all cleared now. aaj kal wo sach much badal rahi hai.

Aman smiled weakly because he knew the real reason for her come back. Sameer noted Aman's silence.

Sa: tell me Aman whats the matter that is troubling you.

Am: nothing Rathod.

Sa: I know we are not having anything beyond professional relation, but I would like to be friendly too. Bas baki sabse math kehna.

Aman smiled at the smiling friend. "I know we are friends Rathod. And that's why I'm saying, nothing serious"

Sa: tell me if you need any help.

Aman was feeling guilty for betraying that friendship. But he felt it more when he noticed Aisha walking across the hall. Sameer saw her too. "here she is. Chale?"

Am: yeah…

He walked out bit reluctantly.

Sa: welcome back Aisha. hope your work is done.

Aman and Sakshi were nearby too.

Ais: yeah almost reaching it.

Aman glanced at Sakshi, she took away her eyes away from him.

Sam: that's good. So are you ready?

Ais: yes. Meine John se bath karli hai. He knows what to do. We may need back up too. Suna hai aaj Bosco khud aane wale hai.

Sam: that's great. Aman and Sree will be right behind you. Mien, Chotu aur baki team will cover the region. Aaj hi ye kaam khatam honi chahiye.

Ais: It will be.

The team gets to work mode. Sakshi had to stay back to complete the legal matters along with her material back up for the case.

The case was going exactly as planned. Nadiya didn't have much difficulty in getting in. or rather it was that all felt. But only she knew her inner turmoil. Every moment she was getting glimpses of the busted mission by Arjun.

Aman was to give her back up. They were connected by the mics. At a lonely point, he could hear her heavy breaths. When ever she was in company she did well, but being alone, he could hear her strain.

Am: you ok Aisha?

Ai: yeah. just that…

Am: relax. You are doing fine. And we are with you.

Ai: patha hai.

After sometime the team surrounded the complete gang in their adda where they were planning to prep the mission. It also had Bosco's presence as it was bigger deal. Though there were casualities on all sides, the mission was over.

Aisha had a small cut on her upper arm during the chase, which the paramedics had taken care of. Sakshi came down to the spot and Aman saw her bit disturbed. She was giving the back ground information about Bosco that could be helpful during the paper works. It seemed Bosco had a good scope of staying behind bars for a long time.

Aman casualy moved to Sakshi. "you alright?"

Sak: hmm

Am: you don't look so. Kya hua?

Sa: had a call. Aisha was damn close.

Some time back:

She was in her works when she got a call from Baba. She couldn't stop herself from taking it.

Sak: hello baba, all fine?

Ba: Aisha Kerala me hai. hospital pohonch gayi hai. aur kuch kuch patha lagaya bhi hai.

Sa: hmm

Ba: lagtha hai, sab bohot jald hi badalne wale hai.

Sa: patha hai baba. And let it be. Mien thak gayi hu. Mujhse ab nahi hoga.

Ba: kya hua Sakshi?

She mentioned about Aman.

Ba: acha kiya beta. Akhir kab thak?

Sa: haan baba. Akhir kab thak. Arjun kaisa hai.

Ba: (happy) akhir results positive arahe hai Sakshi. Sensation is coming back. Ek bar sab stable hojaye tho, treatment ke sath physiotherapy bhi shuru hoga. I hope thab thak koi negative bath na aye.

Sa: matlab?

Ba: jabse tum wapas gayi ho, wo firse chup chap hogaya hai. na kuch boltha hai. na mingle kartha hai. aur teekh se sothe bhi nahi.

Sa: he is frightened baba. Ek din usse jawab dena hoga and that troubles him.

Ba: ye sab tho hona hi tha.khair raktha hu. Apna khayal rakhna.

Sa: ji baba. Bye.

Now:

Aman: and how do you know about that?

Sa: waha koi hai jo mujhe bathaya hai.

Am: god… again secret. I'm fed up of it.

She smiled. "ye tho bas shuruath hai ACP. There is much more"

ETF office: late evening.

Aisha was in her cabin. The work was over. She opened the file that she brought from Kerala. The unknown dead man's picture was in her hands. She scanned it and checked in her data base.

It beeped after sometime.

There was result. It was Shekhar. Siva's right hand. The same Siva who did the blast that changed her life…

Siva was dead in the blast too. Now Shekhar's also found inKerala. This cannot be coincidence.

Well it not…. Shekhar was the man who tried to kill Arjun in hospital… who was dead by Varma's hands…