Part 39: Out of Court Settlement

3 years ago

BurakZeynep

@BurakZeynep

~17th June 2019, 10 a.m Roy Detective Agency~

Ved Roy checked his phone for the last time before shoving it into his drawer. Today was his off day. There was no evidence filing, no fieldwork, no client meetings. Given his rigorous and irregular working hours, having such a day to himself was a treat. He picked Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone from his shelf and started reading it with relish. Fifteen minutes into the book, Ved started feeling restless again. As much as he loved his job he hated how suspicious it made him of even the most favorable situations. Sighing, he took his phone out and checked Ronit's location for the second time. On their last encounter he had secretly planted a bug on his phone so that he can keep a track of Ronit's every move. Since the last two days, he has been checking Ronit's location after every fifteen minutes. Everything was in order. Ronit was going to classes, coming to his hostel, hanging out with friends in nearby places. But strangely enough, this did not make Ved very happy. Call it paranoia or instinct, this low key behaviour did not sound like Ronit Chaubey at all. Shayad, Ved thought, Ronit iss liye chup hai kyuki woh achche se jaanta hai ke woh bilkul akela hai. Ab to Mr.Chaubey ka power bhi nahi raha usse bachane ke liye. Just then, he heard a knock on the door. Ab kaun aaya hai, Ved thought annoyed. Ved called him in. Opening the door, entered a pot bellied middle aged man with a handlebar moustache and thick black rimmed glasses. "Good morning, sir. Kahiye? Main aapki kya madad kar sakta hu?Please baithiye na", Ved asked politely. The man took his seat opposite Ved. "Mera naam Vinayak Gupta hai, main Mr.Rishabh Bajaj ka yaha kaam karta hu.". Hearing this Ved's welcoming smile faded. If there was one thing he absolutely hated it was the people he snooped on knowing who he was, where he lived. Early on in his career, he had to face physical assault and even death threats due to this. This was why he was so cross when Prerna told him about handing over the file to Mr.Bajaj along with his name. They argued over it on their way back from the jail when Prerna had mentioned it to him. According to Prerna Mr.Bajaj was a decent man who meant no harm. He wanted the file just to protect himself from future scandals. That's all. "Typical trusting Prerna!", Ved had snapped at her, "Just because tum itni gullible ho iss liye log tumhe itna dumb samajhte hai!". Prerna didn't say another word she just turned red in the face and threw him out of the cab in the middle of the road. Kal sach mein kuch zyada bol diya, Ved thought guiltily. "Excuse me Mr.Roy", Mr. Gupta's voice broke into his thoughts. "Sorry", Ved said, "Woh actually main kuch soch raha tha- anyway, aap bataiye aapko kya kaam hai?". Mr.Gupta said, "Main yaha aapko ek job offer karne aaya hu.". Ved raised his eyebrows at this, bhi"What?", he asked surprised, "Job? Aur woh bhi mere liye?". 

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Prerna remained glued to her seat, the judge's decision ringing in her ears. Six months! She has to stay in Basu Bari for six months!!How on earth did they come to this! "Priyu Di!",Shivani's voice broke into her thoughts. Prerna looked up. Before she could give any answer, she saw Anurag approaching them. "Chal Shivi!", Prerna said angrily. Turning a deaf ear to Shivani and Anurag's pleas to stop Prerna angrily stormed out of the courtroom. She was about to step out of the building when she got mobbed by reporters. "Prerna ji!",A man said directing his mic at Prerna,"Ab aap kya karengi?". Another woman said,"Divorce ke baad bachcha kiske paas rahega?". "Aapko Mr.Basu alimony mein kitne paise denge?" came another question. Prerna tried to calm herself by taking deep breaths, trying to stop her palpitations. She tried to step back only to find reporters huddled behind her, ready with their mics. "Prerna ji!",the man behind her called. Wiping the sweat from her brow, Prerna looked around her. She was blocked from all sides.  Did these people have no sense of decency? Can't they see how suffocated she was feeling right now? "De-dekhiye",Prerna said weakly,"Meri tabiyat theek nahi hai...aap log please mera raasta chhoriye". But her own meek request was drowned by their own volley of invasive questions. "THAT'S ENOUGH!!!", yelled a voice. Prerna and the reporters turned to see the owner of the voice. It was Anurag's. His face was flushed in anger. The reporters nervously made way for him as he stormed past them and stood next to Prerna, putting a protective arm around her. Prerna was feeling too sick to protest. Anurag glared at the reporters. "Aap logo mein sharm naam ki koi cheez hai bhi ya nahi?!"  he said,"Jab aapko dikha raha hai ke Prerna aapse baat nahi karna chahti to aap log kyu usse iss tarah harrass kar rahe hai!". A young reporter defiantly replied,"Sir! Hume bhi koi shauk nahi hai aap logo se baatein sunne ka hum to bas apna kaam karne aaye hai yaha". Anurag retorted,"Oh really. Kaam? Aur kya kaam hai aapka? Meri pregnant biwi, jo clearly aapse baat nahi karna chahti, usse zabardasti baat karna? Kya aapko nazar nahi aata Prerna kitna uncomfortable feel kar rahi hai, agar uski yaha tabiyat kharaab ho gayi to uski responsibility kaun lega? Aap lengi ma'am ya aapka channel lega?". This silenced the reporter. "Ek aur baat", Anurag continued, "Aap log mujse jo chahe poochhiye, jaise chahiye baat kijiye main kuch nahi kahunga. Lekin agar aaj ke baad mujhe aap log Prerna ko pareshaan karte huye dikhe to main aap sab pe harassment ka case kardunga. Chalo Prerna.". Watching Anurag lead Prerna to his car and drive away. A reporter asked confused,"Aaj inka divorce honewala tha na?"

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~Salt Lake, Sector V~

Sitting in his new swanky office premises Mr.Bajaj smiled to himself. Things were really going well for him. Indian companies had a lot of potential he just needed to pick the right company to invest in. Just then Mr.Gupta entered his cabin looking flustered. Mr.Bajaj asked curiously,"Kya baat hai, Gupta? Woh detective...kya naam hai uska- dev-Ved! Usne humara offer accept kar liya hoga I guess. Woh kab se join kar raha hai?". Mr.Gupta's face flushed even more. He looked down at his shoes. Rarely did he disappoint his boss of ten years. His efficiency was a matter of pride for him. And today because of that upstart he had to disappoint his boss. Mr.Bajaj's voice broke into his thoughts."Kya baat hai Mr.Gupta?",Mr.Bajaj asked amused,"Tumhari tabiyat to theek hai na?". "Ha-haan sir",Mr.Gupta said,"Magar…". "Magar kya?",Mr.Bajaj asked. "Woh..uss detective ne hume join karne se manaa kar diya". Lighting his cigar Mr.Bajaj said,"Kya?That's unbelievable! Aapne usse salary package ke baare mein bataya tha na?". Exhausted, Mr.Gupta took a seat opposite his boss and said,"Maine usse sab samjhaaya lekin woh apne decision par araa raha. Usne kaha ke khudka business chalana, khudka boss banke rehne mein jo azaadi hai woh priceless hai. Iske comparison mein hum jo salary aur facilities usse offer kar rahe hai woh bohot chhoti hai.". I swear, yeh Prerna jitni ajeeb hai utna hi ajeeb iska yeh Jasoos dost hai, Mr.Bajaj thought to himself. "Anyway",Mr.Bajaj said,"Usne mere file ke baare mein kya kaha? Uske paas koi copy hai?What do you think hume usse koi problem hoga?". Mr.Gupta shook his head and said,"Nahi sir, jaha tak maine usse samjha hai ladka laalchi nahi hai. Uss mein integrity to hai. Rahi baat file ke copy ki usne(clearing his throat) kaha ke agar uske paas copy nahi bhi huyi to usse pata hai kaha se aur kaise laana hai.". Mr.Bajaj raised his eyebrows,"Aur kya aap next time aisa hone denge Mr.Gupta?". Mr.Gupta wiped his sweat with his handkerchief,"Nahi sir",he said,"Uss din apne jab mujhe woh file dikhaya tha maine tab hi apne contacts ko call kiya tha. There will be no more loose ends sir.". Mr.Bajaj stared at him long and hard. Then he finally said,"Good. Kyuki agar aapne mujhe phirse disappoint kiya to mujhe bohot bura lagega.I trust you Gupta please iss baar mujhe galat mat saabit karna". 

"Of-of course not sir", Mr.Gupta stuttered.

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"Anurag, stop the car. Mujhe wapas court jaana hai. ", Prerna said. Anurag replied,"Haan, Prerna chale jayenge. Paas hi mein Woodlands Hospital hai bas ek baar waha se tumhara checkup kara lete hai". Prerna snapped,"Mujhe koi checkup-weckup nahi karana. Aur rahi baat mere tabiyat kharab hone ki woh mujhe stress ki wajah se hua tha.". Anurag angrily hit the steering of the wheel, "Yeh presswale bhi na!",he snapped,"I don't believe yeh log itna kaise gir saktte hai!".

"Aur tum?",Prerna said evenly,"Tum aisa kaise kar sakte ho?Tum uss din jaan boojh ke divorce papers ghar lekar aaye the na". 

"Mere paas aur koi option nahi tha.",Anurag replied his eyes still on the road. This made Prerna angrier. "Option nahi tha, matlab?",Prerna said in a clipped voice. "Matlab, tum meri baat samajna hi nahi chahti",Anurag replied frustratedly,"Tumhe apne gusse ke alaava aur kuch dikhayi nahi deta, kuch sunayi nahi deta! Aur agar tumhe dikhayi deta ya sunayi deta to tum dekhti ki main tumse kitna pyaar karta hu, main kitna desperate hu tumhe apni past ki galtiyon ko sudhaarne ke liye.". Prerna replied,"Maine tumhe mauka diya tha, main chahti thi tumpe vishwas karna magar tum….". Anurag sighed and said,"Prerna uss din main bas halaaton ka shikaar hua tha aur kuch nahi! Lekin tumne to meri ek bhi nahi suni.". Prerna replied,"Maine tumse saaf saaf kaha tha Anurag ke iss baar mujse kuch nahi chhupaana, lekin tum to sach jaan kar bhi uss baat ko chhupana chahte the. Meri aankhon mein parda daalna chahte the. Aur aaj bhi tumne wahi kiya! Tumne pehle yeh jataaya ke tumhe humare alag hone se koi aitraaz nahi aur aaj court mein tum mukar gaye! Tum kehte kuch ho aur karte kuch ho! Aur tum chahte ho ke main tumpe vishwaas karu!". Anurag shot back,"Maine tumhare ghar chhorne se pehle hi kaha tha ke main tumhe iss baar nahi jaane dunga. Aur maine waisa hi kiya! Aur rahi baat mera tumhe divorce papers bhejne ki...toh Prerna agar mein woh nahi karta toh tum aaj mujse court mein ladne ke liye prepared aati. Toh phir yeh case mahino tak chalta kyuki tumhe divorce chahiye aur mujhe nahi. Aur hum dono mein se koi bhi back down nahi karna chahta! Toh aise mein mere paas aur option kya tha!". This made Prerna even angrier,"Right!",she replied sarcastically,"Mujhe manipulate karne ke alaava tum aur kar bhi kya sakte the!". Anurag retorted,"Well I've learnt from the best! Tumhe yaad hai tumne kaise mujse dhoke se humare marriage certificate pe sign karaya tha?Kaise mujhe aur meri family ko arrest karaya tha aur mujhe force kia tha ke main sabke saamne tumhe apni patni maanu?". Prerna was about to retort when Anurag said,"I know, I know, maine tumhe majboor kiya yeh sab karne ke liye I understand that. Maine tumhe jo dard diya uska mujhe pachtawa hai, mujhe apne galti ka ehsaas hai iss liye to main apni galti sudhaarna chahta hu. Main bas tumse ek aur mauka maang raha hu apni galti sudhaarne ka. Bas chhe ki hi to baat hai. Chhe mahine baad bhi agar tumhe lagta hai ke tum mere saath nahi rehna chahti then I promise you! Main tumhara peechha nahi karunga.". Anurag stopped his car at an alley. For a few minutes the couple sat in silence. Prerna finally spoke up,"Agar maine tumhe abhi mauka de bhi diya phir kya guarantee hai ke chhe mahine baad tum phirse kissi bahane se yeh divorce nahi rokoge? Dekho Anurag, hum parents banne waale hai. Main nahi chahti humare jhagre ke beech humara bachcha bhi phase. Main chahti hu ke humara bachcha jab iss duniya mein aaye uska swagat pyaar aur khushiyo se ho, naa ki apne ma baap ke jhagre aur court cases se.". Anurag replied earnestly,"Main bhi wahi chahta hu Prerna. Main bhi wahi chahta hu. Iss liye main keh raha hu ke please tum humare rishte ko ek aakhri mauka do. Tum chahe mujhe kitna bhi galat samjho yeh baat to tumhe bhi maanni paregi ki humare life mein itna kuch ho gaya ke hum kabhi humare rishte ko time hi nahi de paaye. Hum na kabhi ek normal couple ki tarah ek saath rahe hai, na baat kiya, na ek dusre ko samjhe hai. Main bas chahta hu ek normal maahol mein hum apne rishte ko bachane ki ek koshish kare. That's it.". Prerna closed her eyes and sighed. Anurag will not back down she knew it. But at the same time she couldn't help but agree that they never got a fair chance to let their relationship grow. Maybe this was the chance they needed? A chance to let their relationship work out without any lies or secrets or underhanded schemes. Prerna glanced at Anurag who was staring at her waiting patiently for her decision. She finally said,"Theek hai, main humare rishte ko ek mauka dungi. Main agle chhe mahine tak Basu Bari mein rahungi tumhare saath. Magar meri ek shart hai?". "Bolo",Anurag said. Prerna said, "Tumhe mujse promise karna hoga ke chhe mahine baad agar mujhe divorce chahiye to tum bina kissi jhijhak ke mujhe divorce doge, tum ya tumhari family mujh par kissi bhi tarah ka pressure nahi dalega iss rishte mein rehne ke liye. Agar tumhe meri yeh shart manzoor hai to hi main tumhare saath aaj Basu Bari jaungi.". Anurag smiled,"Fine.Mujhe tumhari yeh shart manzoor hai. Main inn chhe mahino mein tumhe dikha dunga ke hum ek dusre ke liye hi bane hai. Lekin tumhe meri bhi ek shart maan ni paregi?". Prerna asked curiously,"Kaunsi shart?". Anurag replied,"Tumhara yeh maan na hai ke uss din humare beech baat itni bigdi kyuki main tumse Ma aur Suman bhabi waali baat chhupayii thi hai na?". Prerna nodded,"Haan". Anurag replied gently,"Uss din maine tumse baat iss liye chhupayi kyuki mujhe darr tha ke agar tumhe sach ka pata chala to tum mujhe aur Basu Bari chhorke chali jaogi aur tumne wahi kiya. Tum chahti ho ke main tumse koi baat na chhupayu theek hai main aisa hi karunga. Magar tumhe bhi mujse yeh promise karna hoga ke humare beech situation chahe jitni bigad jaaye tum agle chhe mahine tak mujhe chhorkar kahi nahi jaogi.". Prerna thought for a moment before saying,"Theek hai, tum apna vaada nibhao main apna vaada nibhaungi.". "Good",Anurag said starting his car."Main aaj shaam ko tumhe pick karne aunga".

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