Chapter 16

BitterBerry

@BitterBerry

Ps: Totally unrelated to the chapter below. But you can see it coming 

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[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

Chapter 16

Is it too much? Asking dignity with a little acceptance and love without a mountain of insecurities. It is. It is too much because it took the very sanity of our lives.

Arjun

Even though I thought about it thousand times, even though I have declared myself as the culprit, her verdict pained like a fresh wound. And for the first time after six years, I felt like I failed…I failed another woman in my life who genuinely and truly loved me beyond anything.

Her words slashed through the open wounds again. Now I realized why she couldn’t condone my presence even in a single room, because I too can’t do the same. Because all those struggle I did just to survive with sanity felt like failing in front of my eyes. I was wounded before, but her accusation tore my flesh, soaked in my blood and sent me back to the pale life I struggled to come out from.

Dr. Shukla wanted revenge, the same way his father was murdered. His broken body dumped in a municipal water tank when Dr. Shukla discovered him. It was indeed heart wrenching. The doctor was maddened over this fact because every single person of the law and orders were  involved from the police to the management. He wanted revenge from everyone. He took shade in the public, the faceless mass, enraging them, inflicting them with the disease, infiltrating their confidence in the government and the force. He was successful in his conspiracy.

When we reached Tulsi Lake in Northern Mumbai that supplies huge amount of water per day to greater Mumbai, I found Dr. Shukla near the water body, his hands acting fast with something as he was leaning more into the water. I saw small vials in his hands which looked like it had serum. I couldn’t imagine the extent of disaster this will bring if this water will be contaminated with the bacteria. I pulled out my gun and pointed at him saying, “Stop Dr. Shukla”. He turned, his hands finally stopping from what he was doing. “Don’t come near me. I will...” he looked at his hands and thought for a while, “I will mix this in the water. None of you will survive”!He threatened me. I couldn’t take any chance. I couldn’t forget the picture of the hospital, patients rushing in and dying. I can’t let this man get away from this. I inched closer towards the doctor keeping the gun ready while he took steps backwards. And that’s when I heard a voice, “Sir, STOP”!!

The voice froze me. Riya? Then I saw her standing right there, her hand was at her holster. Is she mad? Why is shes topping me? Her actions rattled me. I couldn’t miss the gleam in the eye of Dr. Shukla. Without much thought I pulled the trigger.

When I pulled the trigger, two things happened. First, she lurched forward, pushing Dr. Shukla to the ground falling alongside him. Second, Dr. Shukla pulled out the handgun from his back, I never noticed it was there in the first place.

Riya screamed again still lying on the ground. She was looking for himself. “Sir please leave him. He’s important for us. He knows the cure” How can she think he is still important for us? She sounded crazy without any explanation. The man standing in front of me threatened me to wipe out an entire population and Miss. Riya Mukharjee wants him alive? I couldn’t think of what should I believe. She had been erratic the whole day and crazy even before that. She ranted about her statistics and was sure Dr. Shukla had some other measures. At such a crucial time I couldn’t rely on data points to save lives. I kept my hold steady still pointing the gun at the doctor.

Then the unexpected happened. I saw her turning towards me. Unflinching emotions clouded her eyes as she pointed the gun at me now. I was too shocked to react when she pulled the trigger. A sharp pain shot through my arm as I fell sideways on the ground. Things looked hazy and I lay there immobile. I couldn’t focus over what was happening around.

When I finally braced myself, and pulled myself up I was frozen again in time with the scene in front of me. She was crushed under his body in a fit of struggle. Every muscle in my body tightened, seeing her going for the gun the doctor was holding. The gun suddenly vanished between their bodies. I didn’t know who had the upper hand. I wasn’t sure who I should aim for. Or I just knew who I really want to shoot. I didn’t think further and I shot Dr. Shukla. His struggle fainted and his body collapsed over Riya. Riya pulled out the gun between their bodies, blood strained pointing vertical.

I didn’t know when Rathod arrived with back up or how he still was pointing that gun towards the Dr and Riya. We inched closer, our guns steady in our hands. Along with us, the entire back team aiming their gun straight at Riya. I was sure they have noticed how she shot at me. How she tried to save Dr. Shukla from killing himself. How she became a traitor in their eyes. The fury in the police officers from the backup team was evident. They couldn’t digest the fact that, one among us was actually trying to save the culprit. The culprit who took thousands of life. Yet, she wanted to save. I recalled what she had said before. She said he knows the cure. As per the doctors there was no cure for the such infection. How could she still bring a hero out of that person. Her actions baffled me.

She was totally blank, her eyes were still. Shock would be an understatement, she looked like she was traumatized. She didn’t realize what was happening around. The gun fell from her hand as she closed her eyes. As if life draining out of her. Rather she looked like she’s giving up. I could be least bothered in such a situation, but for the first time after so many years it pained me. It pained me to see her like that. She looked worst that way. But that was not the worst. The worst was about to come.

I don’t keep regrets in life. But I regret my actions that day. I trusted the criminal and his threat but not my teammate.

I can't sleep knowing exactly the same things are tormenting her. I wanted to comfort her, but she'd rather chose to suffer alone. Staring into the ceiling for a long I realized insomnia has some other plan today. Locking my flat from outside, I made my way down towards the gym. I didn’t realize for how long I spent in the gym but it was a call from Shree that broke my perseverance.

He sounded worried when I picked up the call. “Sir, Riya isn’t in that emergency room.” He was panting heavily. “She’s in her apartment, Shree.” “The guards here said you two went for a stroll as she was having some issues. But you two never returned.” He wanted to know the whole picture.

“Shree, she herself asked me to take her out. I had no choice. She was about to run”.

“You both ran anyway.” He muttered under his breath and cut the call. I looked outside and it was already morning. I went for a walk, around the apartment. My jogging routine has been hugely disturbed with the comeback of this woman in my life. It was past 8 when I came back to the apartment.

When I marched towards my flat, strangely something caught my eyes. There was a bunch of wildflowers right in front of her door. I couldn’t think of anyone who could bring her flower at such an hour. Not that I know every single person of her life. Only Shree knew she is here. He wasn’t ready to talk to her days ago and now he’s bringing her flowers? It didn’t settle with me. I picked up the flower and inspected it for any note. But there was nothing. Then I pressed the bell. I was sure she wouldn’t even look at my face.

The door clicked open, but it wasn’t Riya. It was Aisha who opened the door. And then I noticed Shree, sitting on the sofa with his laptop on and a mug of coffee sitting beside. Riya was fidgeting with the Coke when her eyes landed upon mine. She stared hard. I found nothing new in that. I asked Aisha about her health while placing the flowers over a desk near the door and asked Shree to come out when he’s done with his coffee.

“They will stretch it to the ministry”. Aisha sighed. “ that’s none of our concern Aisha.” She is right that ministry wont let it go. But its not in our part to interfere unless there is something that could link everything that has happened there with our case and the doctors murder. After some five minutes Shree came out of Riya's flat.

“Shree I wanted to ask if the backup team collected any phones from the warehouse”?

“yes sir there were some. I am working on the contact list”!

“let me know if anything important is evident to connect the Doctor with Azim Hussain”. Azim Hussain isn’t a man any department would want to let go. Be it ETF or NIA. His background says he’s mostly into smuggling. But his involvement in several attacks and bomb blasts can’t be avoided as well. He supports manpower, ammunition. But Kashyap said he was the mastermind of last month blast at Hyderabad. Why would he kill a doctor is still unexplainable. And that is exactly what we’ll have to find out. Aisha briefly told me how Riya used her connection with Coast guards and how they instinctively gave into the plan.

“I have asked Sakshi to collect information about the board members of the clinic, collect their number as well.” I said to Shree and he just nodded his head before vanishing inside Riya’s flat.

“I think it’s time. Let’s go to office.” Aisha said glancing over her wrist. It must be past nine.

“You go with Shree, I will join you guys”, I said staring myself wearing the same clothes since previous day.

“Okay sir. And I think she’d need a lift.” She said indicating towards Riya's flat. I just nodded my head unsure of whether I should even ask her or not? Why can’t she go with Shree and Aisha!

I went inside my flat and got freshened up, changing myself to a fresh pair of clothes. Like always I only had bread to chew on. I didn’t even feel like making a sandwich. So I dropped the idea. I locked the door and made my way out.

Did Aisha really mean when she said Riya would need a lift? I saw Riya waiting for the elevator. I marched forward and stood beside her. Like always her face was unreadable. She didn’t look like what happened between us affected her. Or she just masked it perfectly.

“Hey I didn’t bring those flowers okay.” I didn’t know why I said that. Maybe I just wanted to know who brought those flowers and I will only know if she knows.

“I know that. You are not the flowers type anyway.” What does she mean by I am not the flower type?

“then you don’t know me really”! I said defensively.

“When was the last you dumped a flower bouquet in your dustbin”? She asked.

I remember dumping a red rose bouquet Sakshi brought me some years back. But how the hell she just knows?

“Four years ago.” I softly muttered.

“And you say I don’t know you.” She smirked and stepped inside the elevator as it reached our floor. I followed behind.

“You understood me pretty well.” I stifled my smile and tried to keep my voice as bland as possible.

“Oh you are getting me wrong. I was just being stupid back then? Wasn’t I”? She turned to me and smiled cheekily. It was one of those smiles she used when she had to get her things done. But didn’t look like she wants anything from me. I didn’t answer. I had no answer to her question and all those whys? We reached the ground floor and walked out in different directions? Didn’t Aisha tell her about it? I saw her walking towards the apartments main gate. I went to get the SUV from parking. When I was out of the apartment gate, I saw her standing nearby, her hands raised above keeping herself from the heat of the sun rays. The sky was clear as glass without a trace of cloud. It didn’t appear as if it was raining the whole evening. This monsoon is just like her mood. Sometimes so serene and sometimes just outrageous.

I just took in her appearance. She wasn’t wearing that hospital gown. And but then she looked like the Riya I saw during the first time we met. Blue denim jeans with a white shirt neatly tucked in and sleeves rolled up she looked breathtakingly beautiful. But there was something missing. Something that stuck in my shirt that day. That damn red hairpin. Then I noticed myself. I wasn’t wearing any color different than hers.

Now she was occasionally peeking into the road, reaching out her injured hand to stop a cab! But her forms were failing and she looked already tired but she wont take rest for a single time. I stopped the SUV in front of her and opened the door.

“You wont have to talk to me the entire time. Come on. Also it is my responsibility to make sure you are safe, owing to the stunt we pulled on last night.”

“Of course. You are the responsible one. Always”. She jibed and finally gave in. She tied the seat belt securely and sat in silence.

My ringtone roared inside the SUV as she slightly glanced at my phone that was on the dashboard. Since my phone was connected to the SUV I just swiped to answer.

“Arjun, where are you? I am waiting for you since half an hour. What happened to your punctuality speech ACP? Also I think we should have breakfast at 24×7 okay. I know its a Sunday and you are just too lazy to grill yourself a sandwich” Sakshi Anand chirped in from the other side.

“do you practice annoying people early in the morning on a daily basis Sakshi? I am on my way. Just wait there and no we are not having any breakfast.” I replied shortly and cut the call.

“The woman is always hungry.” Riya commented and kept mum again.

After some 10 minutes I safely parked the SUV near a bust stop where Sakshi was waiting. She noticed the SUV and marched towards us. She was about to open the passenger seat door when she noticed Riya and frowned. She took the back seat. I was expecting some form of chatter to start in there but nothing happened. After like some ten minutes Sakshi opened her mouth, failing to contain her curiosity. 

“You were in the emergency room right. What are you doing here with Arjun”? Sakshi asked.

“He made me breathless last night. So we just strolled out to get some air. I don’t know how we reached the apartment.” There was a hint of mischief in her voice even though she appeared as is she’s confused. Sakshi kept quiet after that and didn’t utter anything until we reached the ETF office. It is nice to realize someone can make Sakshi Anand shut her mouth.

It was very unlikely to see the ETF office to be this chaotic on a Sunday morning. ACP Sameer Rathod would have been busy wasting petrol while racing his range rover if he wouldn’t have been this engaged with furiously incoming calls. Beside him Aisha had pestered a stern face while sitting there immobile.

Rathod noticed us and waved as he continued talking. Then within a moment he just slumped on the chair with irritation.

“You look like you want to break stuff as if your goa trip got cancelled Rathod.” I commented which could have earned a hilarious response from him but didn’t. Instead he just glared in my direction.

“I left you there with some responsibility Ratwe.” I looked at Aisha and she just exhaled deeply unable to understand her boyfriends mood.

“ I just gave a lift to that responsibility and she’s pretty fine as per her. Aren’t you Riya?” I asked looking behind me as she entered to the conference room. Upon seeing her Rathod just frowned and then sighed. Riya just nodded her head in response. That somehow calmed Rathod. After a few minutes ACP Kashyap entered followed by the coffee boy. I didn’t miss the coke placed just beside my cutting chai. ACP Kashyap looked at Riya worriedly and she just blinked her eyes, maybe to reassure him.

“Now that we all are here, let’s discuss what happened previous night.” Rathod started.

Riya nodded at Aisha, grasping the Coke and listened carefully to whatever Aisha explained. The whole scenario sounded like breaching a birthday party uninvited.

“I am pretty sure they dropped something in the water”. Riya spoke after Aisha finished the whole story. “ We have to check that location again.” She added later.

“I understand what you are trying to say Riya, but they wont allow that without involving Navy”. Rathod sighed. It’s not that he cant keep up collaboration, but he hates the delay in such procedures.

“We can present them our lead and the proof. Let’s join hands with Navy, find out what’s the matter. If its related to our case it will turn in our favour and if not, let the Navy handle it.” Shree intervened.

“Exactly. I already sent Chotu to gather everything related to Girish and his death”. Aisha replied.

“I understand your eagerness team, but we cant proceed without the coast guard officer. He has to act in our favour”. Rathod said.

“he will. Dont worry, I assure you". Riya spoke after that.

“Shree said you have a lead.” She casually looked at ACP Kashyap and he nodded in a yes. I studied him for the first time after he entered the ETF office. Both these NIA officers are too weird to understand. Last time he threatened being all overprotective and now he doesn’t looks like as if he’s affected that she’s shot. He is acting as if it’s the part of the job. Even though it’s the truth.

ACP Kashyap pulled out a DVD from from his jacket and placed it on the table. Shree who was still hovering over his laptop finally noticed the DVD and took it to insert it his laptop.

The drive had a video. It looked like a CCTV recording. Much of the activity that can be seen is very inadvertently visible. The video was retrieved from a chemist store where a person came very nervously, he was constantly looking at his back, hands fidgeting. We noticed a patch of wetness in his brown shirt and faint red color in his hand. He looked injured. He asked the chemist for something and then the chemist after some time gave him something in a packet.

“What is this?” Riya was the first one to ask.

“I found this footage near wadala, and recordings are right after the shootout.” Kashyap said.

“This person maybe one of the acquaintance of the terrorist. But how can we be sure? He might be someone who is just injured and went there to get his medicine.” Rathod interjected.

“this is the only place where he could have gone since it’s the only chemist shop in that area. I shot Hussain twice. So it was more likely that he’d seek a chemist for help. I also talked to the chemist. He said the guy only bought some antiseptics and painkillers.” Kashyap explained.

“that means this guy helped Hussain with the prelim and then took him to the hospital”. I concluded.

“There is a possibility”. Kashyap nodded.

“Shree can you improve the video quality and get a picture of this guy?” Riya asked Shree and he just said a yes.

“Sakshi, what about those board members?” I asked her.

“I took a record of all the samples from that lab and Liza should be analyzing them by now. There is nothing much to the board of members. There are three people in the group excluding Dr. Rao.

Dr. Mukund Banarjee, he is a member of Indian society for infectious diseases. Along with that he is one the top specialist in infection management at the City Govt. Hospital. It is said that he used to advise Dr. Rao in most of his research methodologies. Then there is this Dr. Pramod Shah. He is a heart surgeon. He happened to be an old friend of Dr. Rao and helped him in the set up of this clinic. Lastly, its Dr. P. K Tondon. His background is a bit different from these doctors. He’s specialized in advanced pharmacokinetics. He owns a pharmaceutical company and that makes antibiotics and antibodies for passive and active treatment. Whether its not clear how he is related to Dr. Rao, he still helped the clinic with high priority drugs during critical times. I have sent their contact details to Shree.” She finished. Looking at the background of these broad members doesn’t reveal much. Mostly any motive that could divert the direction of our case towards these three. Again a dead end.

“Why don’t you just take the day off.” I heard the brash voice from Riya again, laced with irritation as I wondered to whom it was indicating. Then I noticed Aisha placing a palm over her mouth. She looked exhausted. This lady can never be a disappointment for us.

“We can just turn the AC off.” Aisha said. That’s her way of protesting. Riya looked even more irritated. She thumped the Coke on the table as the tin made a sound, picked up the profiles of the board members and marched out of the conference room ending the discussion from her side. She looked practically concerned for Aisha. I didn’t notice any sort indifference from her side for Aisha. Suddenly she felt like the Riya who was always too concerned for the team, too caring when it least mattered.

“Is she always this way”? I didn’t need to turn to see who’s asking it. ACP Kashyap just smiled at Sakshi and said, “sometimes she just turns a bit protective. You know for the team and all.” “She literally pushed me into water when I protested to stay there as she was the injured one and needed medical attention.” Aisha said smiling fondly. I saw lines of appreciation coming towards her in her absence. I didn’t need to hear it from someone else how she cared for the team. There was still time before Shree gets the picture of that man. So I made my way out too.

She was outside, tapping her fingers over the desk as receiver of the landline dangled between her collarbone and jawline. Frustrated she put the phone down and sighed.

“Its for internal communication only.” I clear my voice and pulled my phone out to her. She was confused. I couldn’t say for what reason.

At the same time Chotu entered  with a paper bag and some files.

“I don’t think she’d need that. How are you feeling Rii?” he asked finally taking in her view.

“Just as you are seeing me Chotu. What’s in the packet?” she asked Chotu curiously.

“see it yourself”, chotu said with excitement as he handed her the packet. She peeked in the paper bag and gasped, “ you must be kidding.” She exclaimed and pulled out a box. That’s a phone. Which she practically needed so desperately.

“You didn’t have to do that Chotu.” She said but she was excited too. “There’s another. For Aisha right”! She clarified.

“Yes. And don’t worry, I will make sure Rathod sir clears the bill”. He just laughed hard even though it wasn’t a joke. She laughed too.

“Chotu, what bill are you talking about?” There was horror on his face as he heard voices. There was no trace of laughter, even a muscle didn’t twitch on his face. Riya immediately composed herself and back to the irritated Akdu self. Rathod looked confused looking at the duo. She protested and denied to take the phone. Chotu explained how Shree called him to bring two new phones as Riya and Aisha have damaged their phones.

“That's very thoughtful of you two Chotu.” Rathod commented smiling and followed downstairs. Chotu sighed heavily when Rathod was out of sight. Even though he didn’t say anything, Rathod looked troubled. Chotu grabbed the paper bag from Riya and made his way towards conference room saying he will do the device set up with Shree.

“Do you have any contact number of the lieutenant who saved us yesterday”? She finally asked after a round of hesitation. My mind darted back to the lieutenant who said his girlfriend was down there. Aisha didn’t even recognize him and Riya was unconscious. That means Riya is his girlfriend? Suddenly that thought unsettled me. But I got a grip over myself.

“How come the one who remembers years of case study and statistics forgot her boyfriends number?”

Her eyes went wide upon hearing my reply. She didn’t expect me to make that jibe. But what else could I? I couldn’t understand the hollow look her eyes held. Then she went silent. She didn’t reply. She neither confirmed she’s that lieutenants girlfriend.

“I almost died last night. He saved our lives. And all you had to realize that I am his girlfriend. Wow.” She retorted with a frown visible on her face. Now a days she’s making such face every now and then.

“Well, aren’t you?” I asked but I didn’t hope for a reply. I didn’t want to hear the reply.

“Why do you care?” she narrowed her eyes.

“Curiosity ma’am. You know, human nature”! I left towards the conference leaving behind the astonished ACP.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

The events of past is slowly unfolding and the future will proceed in the same way. 

I hope you enjoy the chapter.

I thank each and everyone for Taking out time, reading the previous part for liking and commenting as well. 

Regards 

Ankita