12. THE TULMULTOUS TIMES
The next day saw the team assembled near the discussion table.
Parth was heading the table with Rituparna.
Deepika was sitting opposite them; Boxer was, as usual standing.
The CBI members had merged with the SS members and were sitting around the table.
Parth kept his notes on the table. He looked at everyone, including Deepika, in turn.
She flinched away.
Parth: So' Hopefully aap ne apne folders padhe hoge. Hume intelligence mila hai ki Sahil Pawar ka consignment aane waala hai. We need to be swift. We need to cut all the illegal arms of Sahil Pawar before we do him in so that he is utterly powerless'
Shotgun: Ye consignment kab aa raha hai?
Parth: Aaj raat. We will join the Mumbai Customs and Coast Guard. So these are your instructions'
He put a single A4 typewritten sheet in front of each member according to their specialization.
Ajay took his in his hand and studied it carefully. He was supposed to be at the dock at 9 and would be joining team A, and Chaitanya, a CBI guy and Parth, Junhui, with the customs.
Boxer was supposed to do the same.
Neha was going to be the technical supporter from the office, with Bhushan, the CBI compter expert.
Shotgun would be accompanying the Coast Guard. Deepika looked into her sheet. She was going to be in with Rituparna on Customs team B with Mukesh and Wahid, from the CBI.
The atmosphere around the table tensed when Parth reminded them of all the risks and dangers involved.
The meeting concluded on Rituparna reminding them of the place and the time.
Neha, Ajay, Boxer and Shotgun got up, accompanied by Junhui and went over to their respective places, contemplating on the latest developments.
CBI team too got up after obtaining permission from the Head.
Parth picked up his notes and without sparing a glance at Deepika or Rituparna, he left the places in long strides.
Deepika and Rituparna sat at the table, their minds clamouring with various memories but both unable to communicate them with each other.
Ajay stared at the paper in his hands for a full minute before going over to Neha's cubicle. He sat beside her.
Neha: Kya hua Ajay?
Ajay: Kaash' Aaj yahan Aaryan hota'
Junhui apperared at Neha's other side.
Junhui: Shut up Ajay. Woh humare saath hi hai.
Ajay straightened.
Ajay:Nahi... woh nahi... main Aaryan ki baat kar raha hoon.
Shrugging in the most mysterious manner, Junhui left.
Neha: Ise kya ho jata hai kya pata.
Just then Ajay seized her hand.
Ajay said, "Thank god tum nahi aa rahi'."
For the first time, Neha was struck by the pure sincerity and the love behind those simple words'
Ajay really did love her'
She felt as though she had the heaven at her feet.
Neha: Suno Ajay' Is force me aane se pehle jo kasam tumne li hai wahi maine' I know the risks involved.
She stopped, her voice breaking, she said, "Promise me' Tum apna khayal rakhoge Ajay' "
A single tear fell on his hand. The both sat there, the full seriousness of the mission settling in; they both had been at the verge of losing each other more than once.
Deepika and Rituparna sat at that the discussion table.
Deepika was so motionless that it appeared as though she had been carved out of stone. Her mind was filled with memories'
She remembered the time when she had been kidnapped by Bomber'
Aaryan had rescued her'.
He made sure no harm befell on her'
She remembered the time when she had seen him playing with children who had been held in the special squad office by Bomber'
Seeing his happy face, it had awakened something new in her'
a feeling which was totally alien for her'
And he had been stoic'
He was thinking about the time she had refused to budge when he had asked her to run, when he was attempting to defuse the last bomb hidden in the office by Bomber.
He had admired her for that'
She had never let her personal feelings get into the way of her work' unlike him' but she had made some slips, by his insistence'
He chuckled and immediately regretted it'
Deepika was looking at him.
For the first time after all these months she wished to God that she could see him again'
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