SS2 FF Full Update (Parts I - IV) - Page 17

Later that afternoon....

Dipika had just sat down on her bed having just taken her medicines and Neha was just taking a magazine to browse through when Neha's cell buzzed.

Looking at the number Neha frowned a little and attended the call. 🤔

Dipika adjusted the pillow to lean back when she heard Neha exclaim….

Neha: Aunty aap?!?!?

Dipika turned to look at Neha when Neha jerked her head towards the phone in her hand and at Dipika and mouthed "Your mother!". 😔

Dipika looked at her surprised and speaking over the phone Neha came up to her.

Neha: Nahi Aunty…. She's fine! Bas haath me fracture hai.

Dipika looked at Neha puzzled wondering why her mother was calling at Neha's cell.

When Neha neared Dipika's bed she was saying.…

Neha: Hai naa Aunty… Ek minute!

Neha extended her cell to Dipika and shook her head smiling, meaning Dipika's mother was not in a good mood.

Taking the phone, Dipika spoke into it…..

Dipika: Maa…. 😛

…………………….

Dipika's face broke into a sweet, loving smile and she said…..

The whole conversation takes place in Bengali….

Dipika: Such me maa… Ame theek hain chi!

……………………

Dipika: Haan hain naa… Neha hai….

……………………..

Dipika: Maa… Pareshaan kyun hoti ho? Main…

………………………

Dipika: Sachchi… Bilkul theek hoon. Aap se baar kar rahi hoon naa ab.

…………………….

Dipika: (Hastily) Nai nai… Maa… Please kuch mat bataiyega! 😕

……………………

Dipika: Exams hai naa Maa!

……………………

Dipika: Theek hai… Baat karoongi.

…………………..

Dipika: Cell ghar vich hai maa…. Raat ko baat karoongi.

…………………..

Dipikia: (Thinking) Achcha!?! Bolo cell ki battery weak hai…. Kal tak theek kar doongi.

…………………

Dipika: Bye maa! 😊

Sighing relieved Dipika gave back the phone to Neha….


Smiling Neha sat beside Dipika on the bed and asked….

Neha: Poor Aunty! Bahut pareshaan thi… Lekin unhe tumhare accident ke baare me kaise pata chala? ❓

Smiling Dipika said….

Dipika: Bilkul bhool hi gayi. Roz unse phone pe baat karti hoon naa…. Even if for one minute…. Aaj phone nahi aaya to pareshaan ho gayi thi…. Cell pe try kiya, but it was at home and even she has tried the landline… Baad me office phone kiya to kisi ne bata di ki meri accident ho gayi… Isliye tumhare cell pe contact kiya unhone… I had given your number for emergency!

Neha: Haan… She was very agitated…. Waise exams ki baat? Kaheen…. 😕

Dipika: (Agreeing ) Haan… She was upset. Yahan aana chahathi thi, to maine mana kar diya…. If she comes here who will take care there?

Neha was just nodding when the room door opened and the doctor came in. Neha stood up to give him space and stood beside Dipika.

Doctor: So Ms.Gosh, Looking good eh?!? 😃

Dipika: (Smiling) Yes doctor! Very much better.

Doctor: (Checking her pulse) I should say… Nothing serious. Thank God! Your reports are normal too. (Checking her hand bandage) Aap chahe to abhi ghar jaa sakte hain.

Dipika and Neha looked at each other happily at this news. But for confirmation Neha asked…..

Neha: But doctor… Aap ne observation ke liye kaha tha?!? 🤔

Doctor: (Looking up at Neha) Haan… But that was just for precautions… Untill the results came. But now they have come and everything are normal, so no tension.

Neha: (Squeezing Dipika's shoulder) Thank You doctor! 😊

Doctor: No problem….. Reports aur medicines ki file reception se bill payment ke samay collect kar lijiyega…. (Looking at Dipika) Aapko do din me ek baar check up ke liye aan padega for your head injury… Baad me ek hafte me ek baar till your fracture becomes okay!

Dipika: (Nodding) Ji doctor!

Doctor: So fine…. Take care! Jab tak chot theek nahi ho jaati, no strain. So please apne work ke liye kuch dinon ki rest de dijiyega. 😊

Dipika: (Surprised) Ji… Vo… Yes doctor. 😵

Saying this doctor left the room, leaving a stunned Dipika behind.

Neha looked at Dipika stutter and smiled to herself.

She very well knew that Dipika was committed to her work very much. Unnecessarily she even never took a leave of absence. Her previous records were very much proof enough. Neha also knew that Dipika only took a long leave of fifteen days in May. And in these many years of service in the department, she had taken a long leave recently for the first time apart from May, for a very special and urgent need. Other than that she was sincere and dedicated to her work.

Neha smiled even more thinking that this was the only one trait which Dipika and Aryan shared, apart from which they were totally different in their ways. 😛

Well! Well! It is rightly said that "Opposites attract!" 😉

Half Hour Later....

Reception....

Neha: Dipika… Let's sit here. Reports mil gaye hain, but the bills are getting done.

Sitting down on a chair in the reception's sitting area Dipika said….

Dipika: Okay…. (Hesitantly) Er… Lekin Neha bill ke amount? ❓

Neha: Offo…. Baba…. Maine kaha naa I'll take care….

Dipika: But stil.l.. Bahut zyada hua kya? I mean… 😒

Neha: (Sternly 😳 ) Dipika…. You are making me a stranger. Money, settlement sab baad me… I know you are strict in money matters. But just for now leave it. We'll look into it later. (Looking at the counter) Lagta hai, they are calling, Just wait here. I'll come. 😊

Saying Neha went over to the billing counter leaving a pleased and happy Dipika to have got such a caring friend. 😳

Fifteen minutes later Dipika and Neha were driving to Dipika's home in a taxi.

After much persuasion and orders Dipika had agreed to stay with Neha till she got better. They were just going to Dipika's home to get her stuffs. 😊

On the way to Dipika's home irrespective of her protests Neha made a call to Aryan informing him about Dipika's discharge. Neha smiled over the phone looking at Dipika, as another tirade of instructions or rather orders followed over the phone from Aryan. 😉 😳

Seeing Neha talk over the phone to Aryan Dipika's mind immediately drifted back to her torturous past fifteen days which was continuing to be her present.

Since she had recalled that day's incident in the afternoon, she found herself to be restless. 😒

That day… She had not slept a wink.

She had cried as never before. But at times chided herself for been so emotional. 😭 Again she had cried. But Dipika also knew that she was not sensitive and emotional always.

It was just that somewhere she had a percent belief that Aryan had left behind his past, maybe not completely forgotten it, but to an extent as to accept his future. And her love for him. Her belief was actually getting stronger, she had felt. But no, Aryan was still in his past, living the present with it.

That night she decided to prepare herself to accept it. Before she was sure once she knew Aryan's problem she would support him fully to overcome it. But now when the problem was in her front, she was at loss. She had no solution to it. 🥺

She also consoled her heart and mind not to trouble Aryan anymore. But as always like before she would be his friend, always be there for him and always keep him under control. That moment she had remembered Vishal so much and had wanted to talk to him. But alas she didn't know where he was. He was away on a special mission and his whereabouts were as always confidential. 🤔

But what put Dipika in a state of confusion in the past days was Aryan's attitude. He had changed drastically. For starters he had started to go home regularly. Very rarely and of now only for one case everyone had to stay back in special squad. He had instructed fresh flowers to be placed in his and Dipika's tables daily. She also found sweet smelling fragrant flowers in the Goddess's feet every day. He was still bent on breaking rules, but was far more at least understandable than before. 😛

Dipika had talked to Neha about this change in Aryan, but she was at loss too. On Neha's say Ajay and Boxer had also tried to sweet talk to Aryan about his change but had failed too.

Dipika couldn't help wondering about this change in him. She was feeling more attracted towards him because of this and was getting angry at Aryan for that. 😡 Because she had decided to forget him as a life partner but now he was behaving like all she had wanted to see him. But she knew that her anger was unnecessary and once she saw him she forgot everything. ❤️

She felt helpless and wounded more in heart. Because come what may, happen what may she still loved him and she didn't know why but she loved him more than ever than before 😳 😕

Neha: Dipika…. Coffee! 😛

Saying Neha brought in a tray of coffee to the small balcony where Dipika was sitting reading a forensic book…. She was already missing Special Squad, been away just for a day. 😔

Neha poured the coffee in the cups… She then gave one coffee mug to Dipika and taking the other, relaxed back in the lounge chair….

Neha: (Sighing) Feels so good…. Bina tension ke rahe bahut din hue and it has been ages since I have had company at my house…. 😛

Smiling Dipika asked…..

Dipika: So you don't miss office is it? Office bhi nahi and not someone else too?!?!? 😉

At this Neha blushed a little and said…. 😳

Neha: Of course I miss office…. (Softly) As for Ajay… Subah se kai baar phone kar chuka hai…. Mera use miss karna ya naa karna to baad me aate hai… He misses me only because I am not there to stare and scold him…. Otherwise he is actually happy about me not there around... Humpf! 😈

Dipika chuckled softly and enjoyed the cool breeze blowing from the tree near by…. 😆

It was evening six - thirty….

Dipika and Neha had reached Neha's house just one hour back, collecting Dipika's stuff from her house….

Dipika had her hair held behind in a catch and had changed from her jogging suit to....

And Neha too had changed into her leisure attire, with hair high in a pony.....

Neha had arranged the extra room for Dipika and now they were relaxing….. 😊

Neha: Waise Dipika raat ke dinner ke liye kya khaogi? ❓

Looking back at her Dipika said….

Dipika: Kuch bhi Neha…. Don't please trouble yourself…. Whatever you have usual…..

Neha: (Sipping her coffee) Oh… That's okay…. Aaj you can order what you want…. Bahar se mangva rahi hoon…. I can't cook for five people…. Oh My! Uske liye practice bhi nahi hai!

Dipika: (Surprised) Five people? Koun paanch log?!? 😔

Neha: Hmm.. Tum, main, Ajay, Boxer and (With a slight deliberate pause, which went unnoticed by Dipika) Aryan! 😉

Neha looked over the rim of her cup trying to study Dipika's expression…..

On hearing Aryan's name Dipika's expression changed from relaxed mode to tension mode… She stared hard at Neha and looked back up at the far setting sun…. 😵

Neha shook her head and wondered what was now bothering the both… Before he held himself at a distance from Dipika, when Dipika was near him…. But now Dipika has distanced herself when Aryan has changed himself!

She knew what was troubling Dipika, but also knew that Aryan has overcome his past…. But sometimes his attitude in cases makes her wonder too whether he really has changed…. So she was not sure of how and what to talk to Dipika about! 😕

Neha was just wondering about it when her cell buzzed….

Neha: Aryan! (Neha looked once at Dipika who still had her face turned the other way… No response…. But Neha knew she wouldn't get any….. 😔 )Bolo….

………………..

Neha: Mere liye tandoori and gobi Manchurian…. Ek minute main Dipika se poochti hoon…. Dipika kya logi khaane pe? ❓

Dipika looked back at Neha with a look which confused Neha too…. Anger, frustration, irritation, hopelessness, helplessness?!?!? Neha couldn't place it……

Dipika: (Softly) Anything…..

Neha: (Trying once again) But….

Dipika: (Smiling a little) Maine kaha naa Neha anything….

Saying Dipika looked down and started to ruffle the pages of her book….

Neha looked at Dipika for few seconds and spoke back into the phone…….

Neha: Haan Aryan… Vo….

………………………

Neha: Oh suna! Theek hai….

……………………….

Neha: Achcha… Bye!

Neha cut the call and looked up at Dipika…. Dipika was idly turning the pages of her book… She knew she was not reading anything of it..... So she decided to talk to her……

Neha: Kyun aise khud ko aur Aryan ko satati ho?

At this Dipika looked up at Neha questioningly….. ❓

Shaking her head Neha said……..

Neha: You very well know what I am asking about Dipika…. Hamesha kehti ho ki Aryan ko trouble nahi karna chahati…. Lekin ab kya kar rahi ho…. Khud ko bhi takleef de rahi ho… Ek baar, sirf ek baar ussse baat to kar sakte ho…. Will he be troubled or not we'll at least know….

After a long silence Dipika answered slowly……..

Dipika: Wahi main janana nahi chahati Neha ab…. Since the day I knew about Aryan, even before coming to Special Squad I have empathized him… Never sympathise…. Because I have never seen a man so strong in life with a personal tragedy as such…. But hated his obsession with the cases he handles…. The too much of a personal touch he takes in them……..

Neha: (Frustrated said sternly) But Aryan is a strong guy Dipika…. Ussse kuch bhi nahi hoga…. He can take care of himself and others too…… 😳

Dipika: Neha samajhne ki koshish karo…. Jab mujhe ehsaas hua ki main ussse pyaar karti hoon, I was happy… I felt lucky thinking about him as my life partner…. But kaheen ek dar aa jaata hai…. We have seen many cases where his obsession has led him…. (Choking 😕 ) He even faced death Neha.... I am police officer and know it is inevitable that we don't get hurt in such a profession, but still you don't do it deliberately.... And there was only one way to come out of that, when he feels he has someone's responsibility on him… I wanted him to realize that…. Lekin vo realization aata tabhi jab vo iske baare me sochta….. Lekin ab to nahi…. Not when he….. 😵

Neha: (Raising her voice) Will you please stop this…. Main Aryan ko bahut achchi tarah jaanti hoon… He loves no one…. He loved… But not anymore…. Especially with the distance too large…..

Dipika started to intervene when Neha interrupted again and said……

Neha: I know…. Doooriyaan pyaar ko aur badati hai…. Of course haan… Lekin Aryan is also practical thinking Dipika…. Vo Shaina ko like (Neha refrained using the word 'love'... She knew it would pain Dipika invlountarily 💔 )karne se pehle use actually respect karta tha… You do know for what very well… For her strong mindedness, sincerity and will power… She does what she thinks and gets what she wants….. So he too respects her decision… Yahi... Sirf yahi karan hai ki usne Shai ko kabhi force nahi kiya…. 🤔

Dipika looked on at Neha with an expression of not-convinced….

Neha looked back at her and closed her eyes for a second thinking of how to convince Dipika…. But nothing striked her 😔

Neha: (Opening her eyes) Fine…. Let it be! Tum manane waali me se nahi ho…. Stubborn too you are….. 😡

Saying Neha got up frustrated and stomped off to her room…. Dipika tried to stop her, but Neha was too fast….

Dipika felt upset about upsetting Neha... But she was helpless..... 😒

She pondered about what Neha had said…. She agreed each and every word of it..... Even she respected Shaina… Maybe she was never convinced with the way she aggressively solved cases, but always had admired her quality of determinedness….. 👍🏼

But still how could she be wrong in what she had heard that day…. Her ears didn't cheat…. And Aryan was so close to making her future when he had backed off….. 😕

No Dipika was not convinced about what Neha had said…

She looked back up at the full moon shining down…. When someone's face crept in to the silver plate smiling…. The only face which could make her smile too😳

And involuntarily Dipika's face broke into a smile and she picked up her mobile from the tea table, to make a call…..😳

Aryan drove the car neither fast nor slow…. He had a smile lit on his face and looked at the digital clock in his car which showed 8:30 p.m……

Ajay: Lekin ye matka kya hai? ❓

Ajay asked seated beside Aryan in the front seat of Aryan's car..…

Boxer: Matka?!?!? Kya matka? 🤔

Boxer peeped from the back seat to the front and saw Ajay ruffling through the packets he had on his lap…..

Aryan glanced sideways at them and immediately concentrated back to the driving….. How he wished he had kept the package somewhere! 😔

Ajay showed Boxer a small earthen pot in a cover and shrugged his shoulders….

Boxer extended his hand to the front and picking the small pot, felt it around……

Boxer: Are ye to thanda hai! Hey…. (Looking it round and round)Aisa to Shotgun kabhi kabhi office laata hai…. Kuch sweet dish hai… Are uska naam bhool gaya re! 😵

Ajay: (Irritated that he forgot)Boxer…. Dimaag ki batti jalaoo… Haseena se kehke Kellogs corn flakes khaoo…. Buddhi par kuch nahi tikta! 😆

Aryan looked at them both converse and smiled…. This one thing of Special Squad made it even more special… They laughed, joked about anything and everything but were always sincere and serious when it comes to work… He went back to his driving, giving an ear to his buddies' conversation……… 😉

Hitting Ajay on the shoulders Boxer said……

Boxer: Haan… Keh doonga…. Neha se ki tumhari cell pe Seema ka phone aaya tha… Ice cream khaane kal date fix ki hai! 😃

Jerking back his head Ajay folded his hands and said…….

Ajay: Chaachu Maharaj mujhe kyun ghaas foos khilane ki shouk chadi hai tumhe? Tum agar kuch aisa jhooth mooth ke liye bhi kuch keh doge to Neha ke saath saath maa bhi mujhe ghooma deti hai….. Dahi bada bana dengi! 😆

Boxer was grinning at Ajay's reaction when he slapped hard at Ajay's folded hands and exclaimed…….

Boxer: Dahi… Wahi to… Dohi…. Mishti Dohi!

Ajay: (Scratching his head) Misthi Dohi?!?!?!? Koun hai vo?

Boxer: Are maamu…. Koun nahi… Kya…. (Indicating the pot) Mishti Dohi… Sweet dish…. Bengali (Stressing the word) sweet dish…… 😳

Boxer raised his eyebrows at Ajay who grinned back and both glanced at Aryan…. They both smiled back seeing him concentrated very much on driving…. They very well knew that he had listened to their conversation….. 😛

Winking at Boxer Ajay mentioned…..

Ajay: Hmm…. To ab samajh me aaya ki gaadi thodi der ek sweet shop ke saamne kyun ruki….. Aur name ab yaad aaya kuch Bengali sat ha…. (Frowning, took the pot from Boxer 😕 )Lekin Boxer ye kiske liye? Shotgun to aaj humare saath nahi aaya hai…. Vo to apne maa ko check up ke liye leke gaya hai… Maine to kabhi ye taste nahi ki… Aur Neha ko to sweets zyada pasand nahi hain…. Tumne mangvaye Boxer? ❓ 😉

Boxer innocently shook his head and grinned back….

Ajay: Aryan?!? (Aryan just looked back at him.. Before he could say anything) Nahi?!? Haan…. Tum bhi kahan sweets khate ho…. Phir… Shayad parcel badal gaya hoga… Haila… 😲 😆

This time too Boxer nodded his head, batting his eyelids and looked at Aryan who glanced at them sideways still chiding himself inside, for not keeping the parcel seperate….

Ajay: (Continuing) So sad…. Kisi ka parcel humare paas aa gaya Boxer… Vo bhi isme paanch pot hain…. Bechare... Shayad hume ise loutana chahiye.... Kyun Boxer? 😃

Boxer: Haan haan…. Kisi ka sweet day bante bante bigad gaya.... Chalo wapas de aate hain..... Aryan zaraa gaadi ghumana zaraa.... 👍🏼

At this Aryan looked at them sternly…. Boxer and Ajay tried hard to suppress their grins….

Aryan: (Looking back at the road) Tum dono ko koi aur kaam nahi? Khaane par bhi investigation….. Ye vo… Dipika ne mangvaya hai….

Ajay: (Hitting his head ) Are haan……….. Dipikaaaaaaa ne mangvaya hai… Lo Boxer tum bhi naa…. Kaha kyun nahi, ki Dipika (Stressing the name) ko actually Mishti Dohi pasand hai…. 😉

Boxer: Chalte chalte main bhool hi gaya ki Dipika Bengali hai Maamu… Main kya karta? (Indicating that Dipika loved Aryan who was not a Bengali) ❤️

Winking again at Boxer Ajay said……. 😉

Ajay: Lekin maine to suna ki Dipika ne kuch khaane ke liye bhi kuch order nahi kiya….. She said anything!!!!!!! Anything me ye aata hai? (Ajay asked with childish tone) 🤪

Ajay and Boxer grinned at each other and looked at Aryan…. Their grins faded seeing Aryan give them a killer look…. 😈

Both of them shook their heads silently at each other and settled back in their seats silent for the rest of the journey…….. 😉

Aryan turned back to the road and thinking of the pot sweet dish he smiled to himself….☺️

It was true….

Dipika had ordered nothing…. They had just bought tandoori items and three side dishes at the restaurant…. But the sight of a Bengali sweet shop, made Aryan buy the sweet…. He thought after such a long, tiresome and hurting day Dipika was worth a treat…. 😳

Aryan wondered more and more about how his thoughts circled around Dipika more often nowadays….

After that day, he was very careful not to let lose his feelings to anyone, not even to his own buddies or Neha…. For the first time in his life he felt insecure…. 😕

He loved her…… True to his heart, he now knew he loved her…… If he ever had thought of a future he knew now it would be with her…. But he refused to think of any future……

When did he realize it???? Long ago…

Aryan had always respected and admired Dipika… From the start!

Even now he smiled thinking of the day she had come to Special Squad for the first time and had ordered them to do paperwork…. How everyone had hated her! 😡 But he had actually admired her style and nature of work….. What surprised him more was the more she ordered others, she actually followed it herself…. What they call as "Practice what you preach!"…..

Later her attitude, style of work, her way of looking at cases had always surprised him…. He admired his colleague more and more as he worked with her.….

But………

The realization of a friend within her came months later…..

The days away from Special Squad were the first borne seeds for this realization…….

It was actually a time when he had a lot of time thinking about him and his buddies…. Their old days and such… Talking with his Maasi Maa…..

He had heard stories from Neha, Ajay and the rest of the gang about Dipika's behavior in his absence... He had been surprised and stunned about her protectiveness…. He had never thought her capable to handle such a situation so strongly… Especially with Vishal's initial attitude, he knew any one would have been gone overboard….. But she had changed even him! ⭐️

Later after returning to Special Squad his relationship with Dipika had changed from mere colleague to friendship…. He had enjoyed the moments with her and had often wondered about how vast a knowledge of subjects she held…..

When the friendship had blossomed into love he himself never knew…. But on the International Day of Love he knew it for sure…. He wanted to be with her forever…. But he had often stopped himself thinking about it because he was himself unsure of what he wanted…. Sometimes he felt to accept it, but sometimes thinking about his past experiences stopped him….. But that day the love in the air or what he didn't know, had made him break all barges.... 😍

The past fifteen days were a complete change make over in him…. He accepted he loved Dipika…. And there was no change in it… Seeing her in front of him everyday, he couldn't be without accepting it…. Rather that torturing that he didn't love her, he felt it better to accept it, but strong mindedly stopped himself from disclosing it anywhere, to anyone…. 😒

But he wanted her happiness…. So he changed himself…. He did all he could which he knew would make her happy…. He now accepted her as a friend and did all he could for her….. And as days passed he realized he liked it and felt happy for it….. This way he felt closer to her! 😳

So all he did was for her…… But somewhere when his past crept in, he became his old self… But one sight of her he automatically controlled himself…… 😔

He looked up at the full moon shining down through the wind shield…. When someone's face crept in to the silver plate smiling…. The only face which could make him smile too 😳

And involuntarily Aryan's face broke into a smile and he looked further up the road to see Neha's apartment loom in front……… 😛

The door bell rang…

Coming out of the room, wearing her hair high in a pony Neha said……..

Neha: Hey… Lagta hai vo log aa gaye! 😛

As expected it was Aryan….

Welcoming him in and giving him a friendly hug she said…..

The moment Aryan entered the hall way his eyes roved around the room…. Seeing this Neha smiled and commented…..

Neha: Subah dekha tha… But seems didn't see for ages…. (Hinting a little about herself and about Aryan 😉 ) Aao naa… Aise behave kar rahe ho ki pehli baar aa rahe ho Aryan…. You have come so many times naa...

Neha dragged Aryan inside to the hall way.... Only then Aryan noticed Dipika in the balcony…. His smile came back….

Halfway through to the balcony, Neha asked….

Neha: Aryan…. Ajay and Boxer tumhare saath hi aane waale the? 🤔

Tearing his gaze away from the balcony Aryan said…….

Aryan: Vo neeche aa rahe hain… Actually un dono me jhagada chal raha hai ki koun khaane ka packet laayega….. 😆

Aryan smiled at this, but Neha hands on her hips said….

Neha: Vo dono bhi naa… Such me Haseena se poochna padega ki how she handles Boxer at home? Urgh…. 😡 Tum andar chalo, amin un dono ko kheenchke aati hoon…. Oh Maa… Unke is chakkar me khaane ko kuch na ho jaye… 😕

Saying Neha ran out of the door down the stairs of her flats….. 😃

Shaking his head, smiling Aryan looked back at the balcony…. He saw Dipika looking the other way…. He started walking towards the balcony….. He could see soft breeze blowing in and the curtains were flapping…..

As he reached the balcony he saw that Dipika's hair had come lose from her catch…..

Dipika removed the catch and tried putting it back on, but couldn't put it back with one hand… In the evening Neha had helped her out to twist her hair and put the catch……

Aryan reached her back and took the catch… Dipika jerked her hand forward and looked back up at Aryan surprised…. 😍

Aryan: (Smiling) Good evening! Main kar deta hoon….

It didn't even strike Aryan as to ask permission to do so…. He just volunteered and twisted Dipika's hair and put the catch on it…. 😳

Dipika tried to stop him but her speech system didn't work just the moment… ☺️When Aryan's hand had brushed against hers she immediately melted in his touch…. She yearend for it... Relished it.... But instantly woke up from her senses thinking about her decision… 😕 When she realized this and decided to stop him it was too late.... Aryan had already knotted her hair and was now sitting in front of her in the balcony….. 😊

Neha, Ajay and Boxer entered the hall and had seen Aryan knot Dipika's hair…. They looked at each other and smiled…. Then silently Neha led off Ajay and Boxer to the kitchen to unpack the food items….. 😛

Aryan: (Enjoying the breeze) Nice breeze… So how was your day?

Dipika looked up at him and smiling said…..

Dipika: Achcha tha…. Glad to be out of hospital…. It was boring….. 😔

Aryan: (Raising his eyebrows) Ah…. Ek din ke liye itna tadap…. (Chuckling a little ) Mera kya haal hua hoga been in that hospital for days and away from office for a month.... Waise suna hai doctor ne tumhe bhi rest lene ko kaha hai for days!

Dipika: (Smiling knowingly)Jab tabiyat bahut bigadi ho to rest zaroori hai…. Waise bhi ye mamooli sa chot hai… I myself know it….

Aryan: Dipika… Tum doctor nahi ho… Isliye jo vo kahe, vo karna…. Right?!!?!? 😉

Aryan shook his head smiling indicating to think back at the same way Dipika had said few months ago……..

Dipika looked at Aryan not answering anything…. His attitude was making her wonder more and more…. He was changed absolutely…. But why?!?!? 😕 Of course she was happy with it and loved him more for it…. ❤️ But now she was in a state where she couldn't even compliment him for it… Because she feared she may let lose her emotions in its wake….

Dipika: Mera chodo… How was your day? ❓

Aryan: Mera?!? Fine… Ek naya case aaya hai… Dealing with drugs, evidences say…. Aaj ek lead….

Dipika: (Interrupting sternly) Aryan…. No… Maine tum logon se kitni baar kaha hai ki we don not discuss cases outside in public places other then most necessary….

Aryan: Oush… Sorry bhool gaya…. No more such discussion in public unnecessarily.... Fine!

Lifting up his hands and Dipika just smiled back a little at his jovial attitude….

Aryan frowned a little thinking of the sullenness in her…. 😕 If it was the normal Dipika he knew she would have retorted something jovially….. Complimented him in a not so serious manner.... But she didn't say anything now…..

In fact he had noticed that Dipika was been moody and sort of distanced for the past few days…. She even spoke less in office…. He thought maybe it was fatigue and work pressure, but it seemed to him now that she was doing it deliberately….

Before he could think about it further…….

Just then they heard Neha call out……

Neha: Dinner ready!!!!!!!!

Aryan and Dipika looked back at the door and smiling got up to have dinner….

The whole evening went smoothly… Dinner was wonderful and everyone enjoyed it…. 😛

When Dipika came to know that they had bought Mishti Dohi she was surprised.… But Aryan had refrained Ajay and Boxer from telling her that he was the one who had bought it….. But secretly even before dinner they had told Neha about it….

Ajay told her that it was just a small treat for her rough day.... Dipika relished it... And seeing this Aryan was more than ecstatic.... 😍

Neha was pleased that Aryan was now taking interest in Dipika but was sad that Dipika was now behaving differently….. Even though she knew Dipika's reasoning she knew it was baseless....

When at last everyone had had dinner it was nearing ten'O clock… So the guys decided to leave…. Especially for Dipika's sake as she had to sleep early due to her medication…..

At the door Neha was biding bye to Ajay and Boxer……..

Neha: Haseena kab ghar aa rahi hai Boxer? ❓

Immediately Boxer's face lit a thousands watts and he answered….. 😳

Boxer: Parson…. Sunday ko…. Usne kaha ki Ammi ki yaad bahut aa rahi hai to aaj subah use wahan chod ke aaya…. 👏

Aryan was inside talking to Dipika……..

Aryan: Bye… Good night! Take care… And please kal office aane ki zaroorat nahi hai…. Thode dinon ke liye rest le lenaa…..

Dipika was about to retort back, but stopped herself and nodded just for the sake….

Dipika: (Smiling feebly) Okay.… Good night!

Aryan nodded little and started to go out…. He hugged Neha good night and was about to go through the door when he looked back once again at Dipika…..

She was not there anymore… He felt a disappointed but thought maybe she was tired and gone to her room……. 😒

Why did he feel so empty today? He actually nowadays yearned to see the old Dipika, scolding him, chiding him… In fact close to him psychologically…. But he felt lost!

Sighing he gave a feeble smile to Neha and left through the door….

Closing the door Neha came in…. She had noticed the lost look on Aryan's face…. When she came in and found that Dipika was not there, she knew the reason….

Neha went to Dipika's room and helped her with her medicines, and helped her get into bed…. Then later she too went off to her room….

It was late into night before Dipika slept……. Which she didn't physically but the medication did its work! 🥱

Destiny plays its game…….

The woman who loves her love more that herself was now ready to let go of the thoughts, for his sake…. His happiness… Or she thought….. But still was protective about it…. ❤️

The man who loves his love more than anything today was ready to let go of the thoughts, for her sake…. Her safety…… Or he thought….. But still was protective about it…. ❤️

But what both didn't realize was the more they distanced themselves from each other reasoning their love's happiness; they were actually coming closer than before…. 🤗

They melted inside at each other's sight…. 😍

They yearned to be in each others arms…. 🤗

They wanted to freely share their thought and feelings…

The deliberateness along with the sight of each other was making their love strong….

A love that one day both of them would be never able to resist…. Would be never able to let go off… ⭐️

When the pot would be 75% full of love…. All that would be needed would be a proposal…. A reason to come closer than ever… 🤔

And that would be the destiny's game where our "Love Guru" enters…… 👍🏼

Count down starts….. 👏

You have days in hands to welcome him… Or….. Her?!?!?!? 😉

A hand came out of the cover and groping for the alarm clock…. Still covers over head Neha switched off the alarm…….

After five minutes Neha pulled off her covers grumbling….. 🥱

Neha: (Yawning) Ye mornings itni jaldi kyun aati hai? ❓

Lazily she got up and sat on her bed, stretching herself…. Lazily she stretched her hand and took the alarm clock…… Opening her eyes slowly she looked at the clock…. It showed seven'O clock….

Her eyes flew open and she stared at the clock….

Neha: Oh My God! Seven! Lekin maine to alarm six'O clock ke liye rakhe the! Oh…. 😲

Neha looked at the alarm indicator and saw that it was in six….

Neha: Oh this alarm again failed!

Getting up from the bed she went over to the dresser searching for a band to put on her head….. All the while mumbling……

Neha: Ajay to yahan aath baje pahoonch jayega….. Agar tab tak ready nahi hui, to we are going to get late for office…. (Going over to the cupboard, picking her towel) He is going to go overboard and Dipika too….

Neha dropped the towel she was picking and hit her head, exclaming….

Neha: Dipikaa!!! Vo to yaheen hai…. Oh My God! I have to get her breakfast and lunch ready before I go…. Warna kya khayegi din bhar? Waise did she get up? 😵

Shaking her head Neha opened the door of her room and rushed out….

She stopped short at the door… Something was strange…. She stood trying to understand what it was…. 🤔

Then she understood…..

There was sweet smell of agarbathi around the hall… And the radio was playing…. 😳

Neha was not an ardent prayer type girl, but had full belief in God… So she had a small shelf in the hall with Lord Ganesh's idol in it…. She just lit the lamp daily morning…. So she knew the agarbathi effect was coming from there….

Just then she heard the sound of milk cooker in the kitchen and still stunned by the effects in her homw went in to the kitchen….

She saw Dipika cutting a packet of coffee powder and put the contents in a cup….

Standing at the door Neha came in feeling sorry…..

Neha: Dipika! 😒

Dipika looked up at Neha smiling as she picked up the second packet of coffee powder…. 😛

Neha saw that Dipika was freshly bathed wearing…..

She had her hair clipped up because she couldn't wear a catch or a band on her own….

Dipika: Good Morning! Had a good night's sleep? ❓

Neha: (Feeling genuinely sorry)I am so sorry…. Actually mujhe yaad hi nahi raha…. Do main kar deti hoon…. 😔

Saying Neha took the second packet of powder Dipika was cutting and cut it herself….

Dipika chided her and said…..

Dipika: Hey Neha… Its okay! Actually mujhe aadat hai subah uthne ki…. To aaj bhi jaldi hi neend khul gayi…. I actually stayed in bed for half hour, lekin baad me bore ho gayi…. I had my bath and just went around the house…. Ganesh ji ka mandir dekha to deep jalaya…. I felt doing something, so I rummaged the fridge and saw milk in it…. Isliye coffee banana socha….

Neha extended the coffee cup to Dipika and asked concerned…...

Neha: Lekin Dipika, you should woken me up…. Actually subah cheh baje uth jaati hoon… Pata nahi aaj alarm saath baje hi baja…. But how did you manage all? Haath pe dard to nahi hua naa? 😒

Neha and Dipika came out to the hall and sitting down on the dining table Dipika said….

Dipika: Nahi Neha…. Itna bhi dard nahi ho raha…. I can move it around a little… Not lift it high…. But I can manage....

As Dipika and Neha had coffee, Dipika asked….

Dipika: Neha newspaper nahi aata kya? ❓

Neha: Oh… Vo actually main subah hi office ke liye nikal jaati hoon naa… Breakfast bhi office ke saamne ki diner me hi karti hoon…. So I don't buy newspaper at home… Office me hi padti hoon…. Ek kaam karti hoon, jab tak tum yahan ho main newspaper waale se newspaper daalne ko keh deti hoon… Aaj ke liye watchman ko laane ke keh deti hoon!

Dipika: Thank you! Shayad tumhe der ho rahi hai…. Tum jaake taiyaar ho jao…

Neha: (Looking up at the wall clock)Hmm…. Lekin pehle tumhare liye kuch bana deti hoon for eating….

Dipika: Its okay Neha… Maine fridge me bread aur butter dekha tha…. I'll make myself a toast… That should do….

Neha: Lekin Dipika, dopahar ke liye kya khaogi? 😔 Sab plan choupath ho gaya us alarm ji wajah se…. 😡 I thought of cooking for the afternoon also and go…. Ab to…

Dipika: (Stopping her in between 😊 ) Its okay Neha… I'll manage…. Paas me kayi diners hain naa…. I'll get something to eat…. Tum jao, you are getting late for office….

Neha: I am really sorry Dipika…. I am not so good a host… Lekin promise kal se I'll… 😕

Dipika: Hey relax… Its okay baba….. Ab tum jao… 😊

Neha nodded and went off to get ready….

Five minutes to eight Neha came out of her room wearing this….

She then went to the mandir, offered a short prayer and looked around for Dipika… She found her in the kitchen making a toast….

Dipika looked at her and raised her eyebrows appreciatively….

Dipika: Neha! Manana padega you look good in any attires you wear….

Neha: (Blushing a little 😳 ) Thank you! Main kar deti hoon….

Picking up the plate Dipika said….

Dipika: Its okay… Ho gaya…. Lo tumhare liye bhi banaya hai… Ajay aa raha hai pick up karne?

Picking up a toast Neha said.....

Neha: (Nodding ) Hmm… Actually he was not so punctual as to come sharp at eight... Lekin baad me kehke, usse gussa hoke ab aane laga hai… He'll be here any minute…. Mujhe neeche jaana chahiye….

Munching on her toast Neha went into her room, to pick her bag….

Checking it she came up to Dipika sitting on the sofa eating her toast and said….

Neha: I'll think I'll leave….. (She bent down to giver her a hug 🤗 ) Sorry once again for a mishap morning…. I'll phone later…. Aur haan neeche watchman se newspaper ke liye keh deti hoon… He'll come and give it…. Kal se newspaper waale se hi keh deti hoon…. Bye! 😊

Dipika nodded and bade her bye….

Dipika: Bye! 😛

Seeing her go Dipika settled back to finish her toast….

Five minutes later the door bell rang….

Dipika went to the door and saw that it was the watchman of the apartment….

Watchman: Ji Neha madam ne newspaper dene ko kaha!

Taking the newspaper Dipika thanked the watchman and closed the door…

She sat back on the sofa and spread the paper on the center table…. What she read made her sit straight, stunned and shocked…. Shaking her head angrily she hurried back to her room to get ready for office…. 😲 😡

When Dipika got down from the taxi and paid the driver she had a strange feeling..... She looked up at the office building and down at her dress....😔

Never in her service here had she worn anything like this to office. But what could she do?❓ She had not taken any of her suits with her to Neha's place. She had never expected to come Special Squad during her stay at Neha's. All she had were casuals. But wearing jeans or salwar was out of question because of her hand. So she did have a tough time selecting her dress to wear to office that day.

Taking a deep breath she walked in to the office. 🤔

As she had expected the place was not swarming with the media. But something was strange. Frowning she walked down the corridor to the office and stood stunned at the door.😲

Special Squad was literally turning in to war field. Two women and two men were shouting at each other, threatening at each other.

The office staffs were all standing around just looking on. Amongst them Ajay, Neha, Boxer and Shotgun were all there. Aryan was not there.

Ajay wearing.....

Boxer's outfit....

Shotgun's attire.......

Angry to the core Dipika stomped in.....

Dipika: Kya ho raha hai yahan? Ye office hai, koi fish market nahi....😡

She came and stood beside the couples fighting....

All heads turned towards her stunned at her appearance... Dipika gave a stern look around and all the other staffs dispersed.

The couples had stopped fighting and were giving each other killer looks, glancing at Dipika......😡

Ajay nudged Neha beside him and indicated Dipika silently asking "What she was doing here?"... Neha shook her head and told him to wait.... 😒

Neha: Dipika... Tum yahan? Tumhe to rest...

Dipika: (Interrupting sternly) Rest?!? After all this.... 😳

Dipika waved the newspaper in front of Neha's face....

Neha looked back at Ajay and Boxer shaking her head.... The very thing they feared had happened.... Since the article had come in newspaper they had thought Dipika would phone about it... But never had thought that she would come in person to office that day....

Boxer indicated Aryan's cabin to her and hurried in....

Dipika: Aryan kahan hai?❓

Neha: Vo andar commissioner saab ka phone aaya hai to baat kar raha hai....

Dipika gave a curt nod and turned to the woman nearest to her....

Dipika: (A little softly) Ji aap koun?

The woman who was staring at the other woman, looked back at Dipika and said in a choking voice....

Woman 1: Main Natasha ki maa....😭

Dipika looked at Neha who whispered in her ears....

Neha: The girl victim in our case....

Dipika nodded and looked at the others....

Neha took over from there and introduced the other men and woman.....

Neha: (Indicating the man near woman 1) Ye Mr.Sinha Natasha Sinha ke father.... (Indicating the other man and woman) Ye Manish ke parents... Mr and Mrs.Mehta....

Dipika: (Nodding) Main Dipika Gosh... Special Squad ki acting head... Aap logon ko please samajhna chahiye ki ye ek office hai... Is tarah...

Aryan and Boxer came hurrying out of the cabin.... Dipika gave a glance towards Aryan and turned back to the couples....

Dipika's heart leapt seeing him in that suit... He looked great that day wearing....

Seeing her look Aryan knew that she was angry and not pleased with the turn of events.....

Mr.Mehta: (Angrily😡) Oh Madam.... Jhagada nahi kar rahe.... Nyay maang rahe hain.... Likha hai paper me kya kya?!?! Apne nahi dekha?

Mrs.Mehta: (Crying) Mera beta kisi ladki ke saath aisa kuch bhi nahi kar sakta..... Heera hai vo...

Before Dipika could respond....

Mr.Sinha: Aapke us heere ne hi meri bitiya ki zindagi cheen li hai.... Beta paala hai ki saamp....😡

Mr.Mehta: (Getting angry at this) Dekhiye... Tameez se baat kijiye.... Mere bete ne aisa kuch nahi kiya... Saara college jaanta tha ki aapki ladki hi uske peeche phirti thi... Mere bete ki laakh mana karne ke baad.... Aisi bachalan....😡

Mr.Sinha: (Raising a fist) Ae.... Zabaan sambhaalke....

Mrs.Sinha: (Wiping her tears) Ji suniye... Chup...

Mr.Sinha: (Looking at his wife sternly)Chup... Chup kaise rahoon??? Are humari beti par ye ilzaam laga rahe hain... Uske bete ne humari beti ko phasaya aur ab bahut shareef bane phir rahe hain... (Looking back at Mr.Mehta) Meri beti ab nahi rahi, iska ye matlab nahi ki us par jaisa chaho ilzaam laga lo.... Warna...😈

At this Mr.Mehta caught Mr.Sinha's collar and said hissing....

Mr.Mehta: Warna... Warna kya kar loge tum? Beti paalne nahi aati, to paida kyun kiya?

Dipika: (Shocked) Ye aap dono... Chodiye...

Mr.Sinha too got angry and tried to punch Mr.Mehta....

But at the last moment Aryan stopped his hand... But even after that Mr.Mehta and Mr.Sinha struggled catching each others collars....😡

Ajay and Boxer came to Aryan's aid seperating the fighting men....

Mrs.Sinha and Mrs.Mehta too were verbally accusing each other....

Dipika and Neha tried to part them.... Standing near by Vishaka too came to their help.....

At a stage Mrs.Mehta tried to slap Mrs.Sinha... Neha stopped it just in time, but in the wake Mrs.Mehta's hand hit hard on Dipika's fractured arm...

Dipika let go off Mrs.Sinha's left hand which she was catching with her left hand wincing in pain...😵

Neha, Vishaka, Ajay, Boxer, Aryan were all trying to control the fighting couple so didn't notice Dipika get hurt...

Dipika's eyes started to water with pain... Immediately she catching her right arm, she hurried into the pantry....😭

After a few minutes when the couples were not ready to listen, Aryan became frustrated and shouted out....

Aryan: Chup rahiye! Ye Special Squad office hai... Jhagada karna hai, maar peet karni hai aapke beech, to bahar chale jayiye... 😡

At this the men and woman stopped fighting fuming, looked at Aryan...

After a few seconds Aryan calmed down and looking at each men and women strongly and determindedly said....

Aryan: Dekhiye paper me jo kuch bhi aaya hai, un sab ka kuch bhi evidence nahi hai... Hum us case par work kar rahe hain.... Hume kuch bhi nahi pata ki wahan us roz kya hua.... Agar aap janana chahate hain ki aapke bachon ka kaatil koun hai, to aapko humari madad karni hogi... Is tarah jhagada karke nahi.... Aap khud soch lijiye.... (Before going) Aap us room pe (Indicating the interrogation room) chaho to wait kar sakte hain....😔

Saying Aryan went off to his cabin...

The rest of the team too looked at the men and women and followed Aryan to his cabin.... Vishaka went back to her place....

The men and the women stood looking at each other for a long time.... Then Mr.Sinha led his wife to the room....

After a few minuted Mr and Mrs.Mehta too went inside the room.....😕

Aryan was standing facing the other way from the cabin door. He had a hand over his waist and was smoothing his head in frustration.

The rest of the team filed in after him and stood behind him, looking at each other worried. Whatever was it, the media had gone too far this time. And to top it all with Dipika knowing it… They knew today was going to be a tough day. 😔

No one dared go and talk to him, because he was not his self now…..

He was more than angry now….. Only morning the media had come swarming in because of the article… The whole team hadn't liked it and as usual Aryan had dealt with them the way he usually does…. 😉 👏

Just as soon they had dealt with it, the parents of the victims had come fighting justice for their children. They claimed that the newspapers were blaming each other, that is the girl and the boy, for their deaths.... But it was not so. The fight had begun thus.

The whole staff had tried calming them, but in vain. Just before Aryan could intervene he had got a call from the Commissioner's office and then Dipika had come.😕

Without looking up Aryan turned around and said…..

Aryan: Dipika…. Vo press article…

The Aryan turned around and saw that she was not there… The rest of the team too looked around…. Only then they all realized that Dipika was not with them…. 🤔

Frowning Aryan looked at them in turns and asked……. 😕

Aryan: Dipika?! Dipika kahan hai? ❓

No one knew the answer and just looked at each other...

Aryan got irritated at this and again asked, a little more stern this time….

Aryan: Where is she? ❓

Finally Neha spoke up…

Neha: I... Hume nahi pata Aryan… Main aur vo un do auraton ko sambhaal rahe the…. Uske baad hum me se kisi ne use nahi dekha….

Aryan looked at them and panicked a bit...... 😉

Ajay: Aryan…. Yaheen kaheen hogi… Us newspaper article ke baare me hum se baat kiye bina kaheen nahi jayegi… Vo…

Ajay was talking to the air… Aryan hurried out of the cabin and looked around the office… The team followed him outside….

Aryan saw Vishaka coming out of the autopsy room and hurried up to her….

Aryan: Vishaka! Dipika andar hai? ❓

Vishaka: Dipika mam!?!? Nahi sir… Andar koi nahi hai….

Frustrated Aryan looked around and thought of where she could be…

Boxer: Aryan… Uske mobile par try karna… Ghar gayi hogi shayad!

Aryan nodded and fished out his mobile from his pocket to call her when he heard Shotgun's voice…

Ajay, Boxer, Neha were with Aryan outside the autopsy room… They looked up to see him talking to a staff outside Aryan's cabin…….

They hurried up to him and he said….

Shotgun: Dipika pantry me hai… Madhu abhi waheen se aa rahi hai….

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief… But before anyone could calm down Aryan was hurrying up to the pantry….

The rest of the team looked at each other and suppressed a smile… Then they too followed him in…. 😳

Aryan opened the pantry door and saw Dipika seated in a table left her hand clutching her bandaged hand… He saw that she had her head rested back on the chair and seemed to be in pain… Worried Aryan went up to her, just as Neha and the others entered the pantry and saw Dipika's state….
😕
Aryan stood to one side and Neha went to Dipika's left side…. She saw that Dipika's eyes were closed but tears were about to spill out of them…. Upset Neha was just about to extend her hand to wipe them off, when Aryan had already done that…. 😳

Surprised Neha looked at Aryan, who was in turn looking down at Dipika…. Many a days before Aryan's concern for Dipika could be noticed in a hide and seek manner…. But today it was been very obvious and Neha was pleased at this change in him.…. 😉

As Aryan's hands wiped away her tears Dipika woke up with a start at his touch and in the wake winced a little…. 😵

Immediately worried Aryan asked….

Aryan: Are you okay? Carefull…. Kya hua? Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho? 😍

Neha looked down at Dipika for the answer and casually glanced down at her bandaged hand…. She was amazed at the way the fingers out of the bandage were swollen…
Bending down a little concerned Neha asked…. 😲

Neha: Dipika… Your hand seems to be swollen…. But how? Why? ❓

She looked at her for a question… By now the rest of the team too concerned about Dipika's state, came and stood beside her….

Seeing Dipika's hands Aryan too bent down and checked it out…

Aryan: Haan… (Then scolding her 😡 ) Tumhe yahan aane ki kya zaroorat thi? We can manage everything…. Dekha haath phir se swelling shuru ho gayi….

Dipika looked at Aryan stunned at his outward concerned over her… But she knew she was not in a state now to think about it…. Softly she pushed away Aryan's hand from hers and catching her hand got up…. 👍🏼

Aryan was slightly taken aback by Dipika's response but didn't show it…. 😔

Looking at him hard she said…..

Dipika: I am okay Aryan…. And as for managing…. Padha maine newspaper me aur dekha maine office me ki aap log kitni achchi tarah se cases handle kar rahe hain…. Back to the pavilion… Is it Aryan? ❓
Aryan overcome by sheer shock of Dipika's such outward burst didn't answer straight away…. But before he could answer anything, Neha tried to soothe the situation….

Neha: Lekin Dipika… Swelling kaise? (She still had her hand over her bandaged hand and checked it out again) Doctor didn't say anything about it…. Strain bhi tumne zyada nahi di naa? ❓

Dipika looked at Neha and smiled feebly….

Dipika: Haath pe lagne se thodi swelling to hogi hi naa Neha….

Neha: (Shocked 😲 ) Kya? Haath pe laga? Kab?Kaise?

But instead of answering Dipika just shook her head and looked down nursing her hand…

Neha frowned thinking how Dipika got hurt again… She remembered that her hand was perfectly fine when she had come in Special Squad…. 😕

Then she remembered her handling the mothers and Mrs.Mehta trying to hit Mrs.Sinha….

Neha: Dipika… Mrs.Mehta ka haath lag gaya naa… Oh…. 😒

Aryan and the others looked at her confused and Boxer asked…. 😕

Boxer: Neha Mrs.Mehta?!?! Unka haath kaise?
Neha getting a little angry at the lady….

Neha: Vo Boxer… Vo do auratein lad raheen thi naa… Myself and Dipika were trying to calm them…. Ek samay pe Mrs.Mehat tried slapping Mrs.Sinha… Tab shayad lag gaya tha Dipika ko…. She was standing near Mrs.Mehta….

The team too now got angry at this news… But no one could be blamed at the moment… 😡

Aryan was the one to break the silence…. He saw that Dipika was in grave pain but was not showing it… But somehow he understood it……

Aryan: Dipika, hume hospital chalna chahiye… Your hand might get worse…. ❤️

Neha and the others once again looked at each at Aryan mentioning "hume"… They tried their best not to smile with the overwhelming concern Aryan was showing towards Dipika…. 😳

Dipika too noticed this and this was making her more confused then before…. But before anything she wanted answers to questions…. She was in pain… Yes… But she decided that could wait… This time her team had gone too far than before….. She needed answers…. Now she was Special Squad's Acting Head…. 😳

Staring at everyone sternly Dipika said in a hard voice….

Dipika: Hospital baad me Aryan…. It can wait... Ab mujhe apne sawaalon ke jawab chahiye… This time everything has gone overboard…. Aur as Chief Investigation Officer… You (Stressing the word) are responsible for those questions…. 😳

Saying Dipika by passed the group surrounding her and went out of the pantry…. Before going she turned back to look at the stunned group and said….

Dipika: Discussion table… Now! 😡

She was gone…

The group looked at each other stunned at Dipika's reaction…. Many a times before Dipika had been harsh on them about office and its rules.… But had never spoken to them like that…. But today was different…. Because they themselves knew that things had gone out of hand…. 🤔

Shotgun: Standing here won't do any good…. I think we should get over this…

The team looked at each other and nodded… Aryan led the way out of the cabin to meet the barges of Dipika's questions and killer stares….😒

Discussion Table….

Everyone was seated at their regular places…. As usual Aryan at the head and Dipika directly opposite to him…….. But she was standing facing the other way, while everyone was seated……. With a copy of the newspaper in front of them all… Dipika had arranged it all! 😕

This time no one chided any one for standing through the discussion… Because all knew that this one thing was going to be heated…. 😡

The others looked at Aryan for some opening statement…. But found rays of concern over his face…. 😳 And they all knew that this was not due to the going to follow discussion, because Aryan cared a damn about media and reports…. ⭐️ But this concern was for Dipika, who was in pain…. It seemed to be clearly written over his face… 😒

Neha looked at Aryan who just gave a slight nod…. Taking a deep breath Aryan started….

Aryan: Dipika… Ab…😔

Immediately Dipika around and banged the paper in her hand on the table….. 😡

With voice raised high as never before……

Dipika: Ab sirf aur sirf ye important hai Aryan….. Nothing else!

Aryan looked at Dipika slightly surprised at her reaction…. Because she had countered for what he hadn't said… And what he was about to say was "Ab iski kya zaroorat hai? Pehle hospital chalte hain…" ❤️

He stopped from reacting anything….. 😛

Dipika looked at everyone staring at each other till they lowered their eyes… She was fuming with anger…. But tried calming herself…

Her right arm was throbbing with pain… Because the swelling was suppressed by the tight bandage and the pain was getting worse…. She felt her head start to throb slightly too…. But Dipika was not in a mind to even give it thinking….

Dipika: Can anyone please tell me, how did the case details leak to the media?

No one spoke for a while hearing Dipika's tone like that…. After few moments seeing that Dipika was losing her patience Aryan spoke up……

Aryan: Dipika…. Hume khud kuch nahi pata… Jab hum office aaye it was full of media people…. Tab hi hume pata chala about the newspaper article… Before we could investigate into the matter, the victim's parents came, commissioner's phone… And…. 😕

Dipika glared all the while Aryan was giving explanation……

Ajay: Haan… Shayad us hotel ke kisi staff ne is news ko newspaper waale ko de di…. It is no secret that we did get two dead bodies from a famous hotel….

Dipika: Really wonderful answer! Full marks for it… Sabaashi doon?

In her haste she even tried to clap her hands… Immediately she closed her eyes and winced a little as she moved her right arm... 😵

The others around immediately became concerned for her…. 😲

Aryan made a move to get up from his seat too…
He stood up in his place, but stopped moving when he saw Dipika had opened her eyes again to stare at him…. 😒 Aryan noticed her eyes watery… He was getting more and more angry about the fact that Dipika was refusing medication and all this because of the newspaper article…. He vowed to himself to get hold of whoever the reporter was! 😉

Dipika opened her eyes to find Aryan standing in his place concern written all over his face… Immediately her heart went out to him…. She melted within to see his concern for her…. But was all the more scared to even show a slight sense of gratitude…. Least she betrays his feelings! ❤️ 😉

She calmed down and turned her loving glance to one of anger stares….

Dipika: Case ke baare me we could assume that some one from that hotel may have given out news for money or some name…. Lekin is article me humare first investigation report ki details ke saath saath, forensic evidences ki bhi full details hai…. How do you explain that? People are running around studying forensics for just a piece of article news, is it?

Dipika's headache was getting worse…. Her heart was at a stage of stopping because the pain in her hand was getting worse…….

Even though what Dipika said was true, it was baseless…. Aryan now felt as if she was not angry upon the release of case details but was pinning the blame on them that someone here had leaked the information…..
Looking at her frowning Aryan asked suspiciously…. 😳

Aryan: Dipika… Tum ye nahi kehenaa chahathi ki someone here leaked the news? ❓

At this the whole team looked at each other stunned and at Aryan and Dipika repeatedly….

Dipika avoided looking at Aryan and this confirmed Aryan's worst fears……

Unbelievingly Aryan came to the side of the table and said voice raised a little higher……

Aryan: Dipika… You don't?!?!? Yahan sab Special Squad main itne saalon se kaam kar rahe hain… No one would…. 😲

Dipika looked at him and found her vision blurred… She shook her head and replied a little feebly…….

Dipika: Maine aisa kuch nahi kaha Aryan…. I trust everyone here…. Lekin ye bhi hai ki case ke sabhi confidential details media ko pata chala hai… 😕

Dipika paused here and was trying to get her breath steady as her pain in her head and hand was becoming unbearable…….

Aryan noticed her pause and saw her eyebrows burrow… He immediately knew that her pain was getting worse… He started to tell her go to hospital when Dipika continued…..

Dipika: Case ke victims ke naam hotel se mil sakte hain… Lekin unki cause of death? Drugs overdose hai, ye kaise unhe pata chala? Ye to autopsy details hai… Not one that would and should go out of Special Squad…. 😡

Boxer: Yahi nahi… Usme ye bhi likha hai ki us drug ke information nahi hai, jo actually cause of death hai…. 🤢

Dipika: (Nodding, but stopped because she felt dizzy 😵 ) Hmm… Mujhe case ke baare me kuch nahi pata… Lekin is article ko padne ke baad I am up to date as you all are…. Kaise? How? Tum logon ko to pata hai ki case ke details agar bahar nikalte hain to investigation me kitni problems hoti hai….. For God's sake…. How can you all be so irr…

Dipika stopped talking and caught her head… She felt the images in front of her swarm…

Aryan: Dipika!

Seeing her rove in her place the whole team got up hastily from their places….

But Aryan was the one to reach her first…. 😉

Just as Dipika's knees buckled Aryan caught her… She blacked out…

Worried Aryan lifted Dipika in his arms…. Neha came forward and carefully placed Dipika's bandaged arm over her, so that they didn't sag to the side....

Aryan looked down at her once and then said to Ajay…..

Aryan: Ajay jaldi se gaadi nikalo….

Ajay nodded and ran out of the office with Aryan following behind, looking down at Dipika in his arms concerned…. 😒

The rest of the team followed him down….. 😕