The Beginning
She walked towards the platform no.3. There was no other soul in sight. Her platform heels clicked along on the tiled path. She stopped when her regular spot came and looked at her watch. It was 12:50 am. The 12:53 local would reach soon. She had three more minutes to go.
Her party at Juhu's J W Marriott had been one to remember. Her friend had offered to drop her home seeing the late hour but she politely declined the offer. One because his route was opposite and two because she liked travelling in the local. Besides, there would hardly be any passenger if at all, at this hour. She always took the general compartment when she was late as it was closer to the guard's cabin if at all she needed him.
The clock struck 53! The train whistled and rumbled along the tracks, before slowing down and stopping at the platform. She climbed aboard and as expected, found the compartment to be empty. She took a window seat and sat comfortably. She opened her purse and to her horror she realised she had forgotten to take her earphones. Cursing her luck she played on her phone. She was alone. No one was going to be disturbed anyway, were they? She placed the phone near her and removed her heels. She rested her head near the window sill, enjoying the cool breeze flowing her way.
Unfortunately for her, her peace was short-lived. As the next station arrived, so did a group of drunk youngsters with their cigarettes in hands and smoke blowing out of their mouths.
She cringed as she saw the alight and subtly shut the music. Her feet went back in her shoes and her body straightened as she clutched her purse closer to herself. She looked straight and tried to act normal.
The boys were hooting and talking like it was their playground making dirty jokes and abusing random people as well as those in the group. As one's cigarette got over, he threw it on the floor and turned to light another. As he lit his smoke, his eyes fell on the figure sitting two benches away. He looked at her from top to bottom.
Her hair were let loose. A spaghetti pink and silver knee-length dress rested on her body. Dangly earrings, a dainty pendant and a silver bracelet adorned her.
She knew he was watching her and she felt disgusted. More than that, she felt angry. She clenched her fist and continued to not make eye contact with him.
He smirked as turned back to the group. The loud talking turned to whispers...well not really. She knew exactly that they were talking about...her! All eyes were staring at her subtly trying to make sure that they were not so obvious. But it wasn't really helping.
She considered getting off at the next station but it was late. The last train had gone and transport? She couldn't trust anything at that hour. The next thought that came to her mind was her phone. Her hand subtly tried to reach out for it but stopped. Any sudden movement from her side could provoke them. Only one option was left now.
The train screeched to a halt. A man entered the compartment.
She groaned mentally mv Great! Ek aur! She slowly raised her eyes to look at him. He didn't look so bad. His attire was formal office wear, sleeves rolled up to just below his elbow and for some reason his eyes looked sharp. And suddenly, they caught hers.
On the other hand as soon as he alighted, his gaze fell on the bunch of hooligans. Not wanting to deal with them he looked decided to sit in the opposite direction and that's when his gaze fell on the girl who clearly uncomfortable in their presence. His gaze was stuck at her face. He noticed him reading her and his eyes locked with her.
They were jolted back to reality when the train started moving again. Without wasting any other second, he straight away walked upto the bench she was sitting on and sat beside whilst maintaining a personal space.
To say she was shocked was an understatement. Her patience level going down she raised her head to chew him out when she saw him staring the other boys out.
Afraid of his fiery gaze, the boys looked away in silence returning every now and then but retreating every time from his intense stare.
She smiled internally and her stiff posture relaxed. The rest of the journey also remained silent. She shifted in her place when her stop came near. He stood up with her and followed her out of the station from a distance, till he saw her reaching the taxi stand. He turned and walked towards the opposite direction where a row of bikes were parked.
He removed the key of his bike and carefully wheeled it out to the road. He smiled as he inspected it, it was completely safe and sound. He had been really apprehensive about leaving his bike at the station when he had received a call from office. He had to rush to Khar for urgent work and the whole day had been spent there. All through the day he had been getting vicious thoughts about his bike being soiled and vandalised in the unsafe, illegal parking lot of the station. He could have easily taken the ride home with his colleagues but the thought of his bike lying unattended over there all day and then all night scandalized him so he decided to take a local.
He unlocked the helmet and wore it. He sat on the bike adjusting his mirror and started the ignition. The bike turned towards the main road and moved ahead when suddenly...
She was waiting by the taxi stand for a taxi but all the drivers present there had slept off. She cursed her luck and waited for a running taxi. She had seen the man following her till she reached and then turn and leave. She mentally thanked him and smiled to herself. She removed her phone and tried booking a private cab but none were available in the area. Mv "Uff! Lagta hai aaj kismat hi kharab hai! She had no other option but to wait for a running one.
But the night was not over. To add to her miseries, the group of boys suddenly appeared in her line of sight. She groaned mv "Kyun bhagwan kyun? Kya bigada hai maine aapka? Aapko pata haina main thak gayi hun, toh fir kyun kar rahe aisa mere saath?
The boys shamelessly walked to her, seeing her saviour absent. It was seconds before they had her surrounded.
She warned: chup chap nikal jao yaha se!
They sniggered: acha? Warna kya karogi tum? Miss Madhubala?
That triggered her anger. She glared hard at them but it didn't affect any of them in any way. Laughing, one of them stepped closer to her and that was it.
She threw her purse at his face, punched the one next to him and kicked the one behind her. Her sudden onslaught shocked everyone and they rushed in to catch hold of her.
He was staring at the scene shocked at what was going on. He came to his presence only when he saw everyone charging at her. He quickly sped forward near them, stopping haphazardly and throwing his helmet away to help her but...
She picked up her purse and used it as a weapon to hit anyone who came near her. An elbow hit one's chin, a punch broke another's nose, atleast two's toes were trampled by her heels. She gave another hit with her purse and knocked the last one out with a punch, leaving all of them on the ground, groaning and writhing in pain.
She flipped her hair to arrange them and carried the purse on her shoulder again before turning the man.
Girl: hey!
The man was staring at the half-dead bodies on the ground. Her addressal brought him out of his trance.
Man: huh?...ya..uh toh tum..?
Girl: I was just tired, ab party se aane ke baad kaun itni mehnat karega toh maine socha, baat aage badhi toh...
Man: I figured that par tum...
She realised what he was trying to ask: oh woh! black belt in taekwondo and Krav Maga
He smiled: I see...nice moves
She smiled back at him and extended her hand: Riya Mukherjee
He shook her hand: Arjun Rawte...waise tum gayi kyun nahi ab tak?
Riya: kya karu? aaj mere transport ko kisi ki nazar lag gayi hai, ye sab so rahe hai, private available nahi hai aur running aa nahi rahi hai
Arjun looked at his bike but then thought against it, thinking she wouldn't be comfortable.
Riya: and by the way, Thank you...jo aapne train mein kiya
Arjun shrugged it off: usme thank you ki kya baat hai? ye toh mera farz hai (gesturing towards the boys) agar ye log apna bhul jaate hai iska matlab ye toh nahi ki main bhi bhul jau
Riya felt impressed: I wish ki aapki jaisi soch duniya mein aur bhi logon ke paas hoti
Arjun: and I wish aapki jaise kabiliyat saari ladkiyon mein hoti, toh koi bhi kabhi bhi kisi ladki ke marzi ke bagair uski taraf aankh uthakar bhi nahi dekhta
Riya unknowingly blushed a little. Arjun's heart leaped when he saw her cheeks getting red mv "Dammit! Kya ho raha hai mujhe?
Arjun: umm...if you're comfortable I can drop you off (gesturing towards his bike) warna aapke ke liye cab dhundhkar aata hun.
Riya unconsciously fidgeted with her hair as she shot a glance at his bike. She felt butterflies in her stomach at the offer. If she accepted it, she would definitely swoon, if she didn't she would probably have to wait the whole night over there.
Riya: I... uh... I'll be fine (glancing at the bike) I mean...I'm comfortable.
Arjun grinned like an idiot: great! Give me a second
Riya nodded.
Arjun retrieved his helmet and took his seat again mv "Oh God! Please, please, please traffic jam dena raaste mein...please, and then suddenly his brain's logic came to slap him mv "idiot! Kaisi baatein kar raha hun main? Raat ke 2 bajne waale hai. is waqt traffic jam kya mera baap lekar aayega?
He called out to her once he was settled: Riya
Riya looked up and nodded. She walked to him and settled herself behind him. His heart did a somersault when he felt her hands on her shoulder for support.
With great difficulty he spoke: kaha...jaana hai?
Riya: woh...Forjett Road, Gulmarg colony, house no. 15
Arjun: ok
He turned the key and the automobile sprang to life again. Taking a deep breath, he sped off taking care not to go too fast as to scare her.
Riya on the other hand enjoyed the breeze filling her hair and caressing her face. The wind was cool but her body was warm. She was fighting the urge to hold him closer to herself mv "oh god! Main Arjun ko jaanti tak nahi, kya ho raha hai mujhe?
Arjun looked at her from the rear view mirror. She looked surreal. How he wished to her arms around his waist rather than on his shoulders. Mv "Arjun...control! he felt weird at the thoughts he was having as he had never had them before.
Neither of them wished for the ride to end but the destination arrived when it had to. Arjun slowed down and stopped near house no. 15. Unwillingly, Riya got down.
Riya: thank you
Arjun: don't mention it!
Riya lowered her eyes: I..guess it's goodbye then
Arjun(upset): seems like it
Riya: have a good night
Arjun smiled: ho chuki hai meri night good
Her eyes shot up in surprise as blush crept again but before she could comprehend anything, the bike sped off to the road. She hid her face in her hands trying to control her emotions and walked to the house.
Next day-
The ETF office was going about their normal routines. Shree, Chotu, Ayesha, Liza and Sakshi were chatting as they worked on the paperwork of the previous day's case. Rathore was calmly sipping his coffee letting the juniors do what they wanted till the arrival of a new case. Arjun entered with his usual cutting.
Sakshi: good morning Arjun!!! Kaise ho?
Arjun shook his head at another of an advance and took a sip of his tea. Everyone looked at him in surprise as he didn't give a sharp answer like he usually did.
Rathore stood up: kya baat hai? chehra kyun itna utra hua hai tumhara?
Arjun recalled the previous night's events and sighed: Sam, agar jo mere saath hua woh tere saath hota toh tera bhi chehra utar jaata
Rathore raised his eyebrow: kyun? Aisa kya ho gaya?
Arjun: are puch mat yaar...
The fax machine beeped just then. Shree stood up and picked up the paper.
Shree: Rathore sir aapke liye hai
He handed it over to Rathore and took his seat. Rathore read half-way through and kept it away.
Rathore: are ha! main tum logon ko batana bhul gaya...kal commissioner sir ne kaha tha mujhe, aaj se ek nayi ladki join honewaali hai
Ayesha was excited to have another female member on the team: kaun? Aur kiske liye?
Rathore: as research and encounter specialist
Shree: research aur encounter? Sir ye dono fields ka aapas mein koi connection nahi hai toh ye qualify kaise hui?
Rathore: mujhe bhi aisa laga par commissioner sir ne kaha ki woh humare liye asset saabit hogi, unhone mujhe uske handle kiye do-teen cases bhi dikhaye and I must say, I was impressed.
Liza: iska matlab ab ladkiyaan aur ladke dono chaar honge yay!!!
Everyone shook their heads at her idea of equality.
Arjun: dhakhan! Agar baakhi baatein ho gayi ho toh naam bhi bata de uska
Rathore: uska naam...
Just then door of the conference room was knocked.
Rathore: come in
A girl in her mid-twenties entered with an envelope in her hand looking absolutely like a model who was walking the ramp for formal wear. A crisp white shirt, skinny black jeans and black ankle boots only added to her already present beauty.
The two junior boys swooned over her. She blushed lightly as Arjun smirked at her.
Rathore: yes?
She handed him an envelope: Riya Mukherjee reporting on duty sir.
Rathore smiled and took the envelope. He opened it and removed the document from inside to read.
Riya kept trying to avert her eyes from his gaze. She knew if she looked directly into his eyes, she would start blushing again. However, Arjun was enjoying every bit of her reaction and mentally thanking his fate to bring her there.
Rathore was keenly reading the whole appointment letter when Arjun rested his elbow on his shoulder while staring directly at Riya.
Arjun did not avert gaze from her even momentarily: oho Sam, itna kyun pad rahe ho? Tumhari nayi officer sab kuch good kar leti hai, chinta mat karo
Riya couldn't hold back any longer. She gave him a playful smile as her cheeks turned red.
Riya: are nahi sir, main kaha? Aapke jaise bad ko good karnewaale bhi toh haina sir?
Rathore and team exchanged weird glances among themselves and between the couple. What the hell was happening? Did The ACP Arjun Rawte just flirt with a newcomer? Did she revert equally?
Arjun: are nahi, nahi, itni bhi tareef achi nahi, hume hazam nahi hoti
Riya: hazme ki chinta mat kijiye na sir, hum haina? Pet se lekar haddiyan tak, sab hazam ho jaayega
Arjun placed a hand on his heart: uff! Aapki isi ada par toh hum marte hai
Riya: nahi, nahi, marne ki baatein na kare, humara dil tut jaayega
Arjun: aisa kaise tut jaayega? Hum tutne thodi denge? Hum toh use sambhalkar apne seene ke sandook mein kaid kar denge
Riya: kaid? Par fir hum uske bagair kaise jeeyenge?
Arjun: itni chinta mat kijiye, aap humara dil rakh lijiye
Riya raised her eyebrow: chaliye theek hai, de diya aapko humara dil
Arjun: haaye! humara toh jeena safal ho gaya
He blows her a flying kiss. Riya looks away as she laughs.
Riya: Arjun bas na
He chuckles at her reaction and opens his arms as he steps forward. She crashes into his chest and he embraces her tightly unaware of the team dropping their jaws and staring with their eyes wide open.
The End
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