Chapter 17

Bloomie

@bloomie

Part 17 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

Sakshi: ye kya tha?

Rathore rolls his eyes: Arjun Rawte! (shaking his head) Chalo kaam par lago!

The team nods……………………..

On the other hand, Arjun brings Riya to the canteen. He glances at her. She refused to meet his eyes. He could see her shoulders move up and down due to her anxious breathing. Although she was confused as to why he had brought her there, she did not have the courage to ask him anything.

Arjun waved his hand to call the server.

Server: yes sir?

Arjun: do hot chocolate

Server: sure sir

His order confused her further. Her curiosity won over her fear.

Riya: aap… aapko toh meetha nahi pasand

Arjun: ha zyaada nahi lekin tumhe chai nahi pasand aur mujhe coffee nahi pasand, beech ka raasta toh dhundhna padega na?

She lowers her head again. The server arrives in a few minutes and places their order in front of them. Arjun starts sipping all the while observing her. She was way too hesitant. Her hands trembled as they went around the glass and pulled it closer. Stirring slowly, she takes a sip of the hot liquid.

Arjun waits patiently till her anxiety is reduced and she gets more comfortable in his presence.

He gently calls out to her: Riya?

She raises her head, her gaze still stuck on the glass.

Arjun: dekho meri taraf

Reluctantly, her eyes move up to meet his. He stiffens seeing the emotions in them. He was expecting to see fear and uncertainty but there was something else along with it and it was stamped all over her face. Guilt? Why was there guilt in them?

Of course there was guilt! She was Riya for god’s sake! Of course the emotional heaviness had gotten to her. God knows what all that ba*tard of a tech freak had drilled into her brain. He curses himself for not realising it earlier. He should have known! He should have known from the very beginning that it was what that had been bothering her. No wonder she was withdrawing from everyone, especially him.

He sighs, it was time to take the bull by the horns. Arjun shifts his chair to her, surprising her. Her heartbeats increased and her legs stiffened as adrenaline surged throughout. She wanted to run away but her feet were frozen.

Arjun takes her hand in his, relaxing and confusing her at the same time. She lowers her gaze unable to look into the intensity in his. He places his second hand over their hands.

Arjun(softly): Riya, look at me

She felt herself go weak as she met his gaze again. She bit her lip to not break down in front of him. Using all the strength she had left, she had used it to contain her emotions all these days. And now, just a moment with him was threatening to break the dam.

Arjun: kya baat hai Riya? tum itni disturbed kyun ho?

She nods negatively: kuch… kuch nahi sir

Arjun: Riya ye baat tum bhi achi tarah se jaanti ho ki tum mujhse jhoot nahi bol sakti, please batao mujhe

Her eyes burned on hearing the care in his voice but nothing came out of her mouth. There was a lump in her throat that blocked her vocal chords. She shook her head.

Arjun: Riya do you trust me?

She nods.

Arjun: toh fir mujhe madad karne do, please batao mujhe

Moisture envelops her eyes. She opens her mouth to say something but chokes on her feelings. She bit her lip to stop herself from crying.

His heart sinks seeing her in the condition. He gently squeezes her hand to reassure her. Taking a deep breath, she speaks in a cracked voice.

Riya: usne… usne, sabko… meri wajah se, meri wajah se maara

Her body could hold no longer. She breaks down in front of him.

Riya(sobbing): aapko… aapko bhi…usne, meri wajah se…

He shifts forward in his chair and wraps his arms around her. She wept bitterly in his arms. All the bottled up emotions poured out in a flood, wetting his shirt. He softly caressed her back to soothe her. Arjun teared up himself. He pressed her head against his shoulder, pulling her closer to himself.

Arjun whispers in her ear: ro lo Riya, jitna rona hai ro lo, jitna bhi dard daba kar rakha hai, sab beh jaane do

That one statement and then there was no going back. She cried hysterically forgetting everything else. And he let her, she needed to let go of her pain before he could help manage her emotions.

The staff of the canteen were staring at the duo with their jaws on the floor. Was it really Arjun Rawte? A few desk holders that were down for a break silently got up and left. The scene was too difficult to digest for them. Besides, something told them, it was best to leave them alone.

It was an eternity before he felt her shoulders stop shaking. She was still crying though. He continued to stroke her hair, calmly waiting for her to feel better. A short while later, he felt her shifting away from him and loosened his hold. Her breaths were laboured due to all the crying. She took deep breaths as Arjun removed his handkerchief and offered it to her. She took the cloth and pressed it to her face, wiping the remnants of the saltwater.

Arjun looked towards the counter and gestured to the staff for a glass of water. He hurriedly filled a glass and brought it to the table.

Arjun gently placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up from the kerchief and saw his other hand holding the water. Sniffing, she took the glass and sipped a little water. She inhaled sharply as the liquid passed a sense of calm down her throat. She sipped again and took a deep breath, finally raising her eyes to meet his.

Riya: Arjun sir…

Arjun: go wash your face, hum uske baad baat karte hai

She nodded and stood up to go to the washroom. Arjun collapsed against the back of his chair. Step 1 was over. He was not sure how he could make her overcome her guilt being the sensitive one that she was but he was determined to try. He had to!

She arrived a few minutes later and sat on her chair. Arjun raised his head to look at her. There was serenity on her face, a certain glow that he had been missing all these days. Involuntarily, his lips curved into a smile. He straightened himself and took her hand in his.

Arjun: better?

She nods with a tiny smile playing at her lips. He squeezes her hand.

Arjun: Riya, jo bhi hua usme tumhari koi galti nahi hai

Wrinkles appeared on her forehead: lekin woh, Shree… usne, usne mujhe paane ke liye un logon ka khoon kiya

Arjun: ha Riya main maanta hun ki Shree ne ye sab apne so called pyaar ke liye kiya lekin isme tumhari kya galti?

She looks at him quizzically.

Arjun: Riya un logon ko maarne ka faisla uska tha, tumhara nahi. Jis ladke ne us din tumhe pareshaan kiya usse tumne aaram se nipat liya tha, hum bhi toh the waha, in fact, hum sabne dekha tha tumhe use maarte hua aur fir toh hum chale gaye, fir use maar kar kya faayda honewaala tha Shree ko? Woh doctor aur Shyamlal un dono ne khud kanoon tod kar laalach mein aakar uska saath diya aur fir jab Shree ka kaam khatam ho gaya toh usne unhe bhi maar diya, apne tracks cover karne ke liye aur fir woh professor, usne mujhe information di isliye usne unka khoon karwaaya toh fir is sab mein tumhara kya dosh Riya?

Riya: aapko bhi maarne ki koshish ki usne, (tearing up) sirf isliye kyunki aap meri madad…

Arjun: Riya, us din hospital tak uska peecha karna meri choice thi, dusri baat, I am not obliged to help you (he raises her chin) maine tumhari help ki kyunki main karna chahta tha, kyunki main tumhe firse ETF mein dekhna chahta tha, kyunki main tumhe chudana chahta tha, kyunki tum mere liye maayine rakhti ho, main tumhe aise waha dard main nahi chod sakta, aur ek aur baat ki woh meri duty bhi hai, (teasing) jo ACP Arjun Rawte kisi ajnabi ki madad karne se peeche nahi hat ta woh kya apni hi team member ki help nahi karega? Come on Riya, meri reputation mat bigado

Laughter forced itself through her lips making him smile. She frowned again.

Riya: lekin agar maine uska proposal accept kar liya hota toh un logon ki jaan nahi jaati

Arjun: kaise accept karogi Riya? jiske liye feelings nahi hai uske saath rishte mein kaise baandhogi khud ko? Aur tumhe thodi pata tha ki woh aisa kuch karega?

Riya: par usse kya? Nirdosh logon ki jaane gayi, uska kya?

Arjun: fir toh tumhe mujhe bhi jail mein daal dena chahiye Riya (she look at him questioningly) ha Riya, meri wajah se bhi toh ek nirdosh ki jaan gayi, meri wajah se hi toh Sikandar ne Roshni ko maara, (her eyes widen in horror) agar mein uska peecha chod deta toh woh meri biwi….

Riya: nahi sir, usme aapki kya galti? Woh ek criminal hai, aapne toh sirf apni duty nibhayi, usne buzdilon ki tarah aapse ladne ke bajay Roshni ji ko maar diya

Arjun: toh fir Shree bhi toh criminal hai Riya, woh tumse sahi mayino mein pyaar nahi kar paaya isliye usne tumhe kidnap kiya, itne logon ki jaan li, mujhe rokne ki koshish ki… agar main gunehgaar nahi, toh tum kaise?

A tear rolled down her cheek as his words sank into her brain. She lowers her gaze.

Riya: usne…usne mujhse kaha ki aapki jaan meri wajah se gayi

Arjun places his other hand on her cheek: usne tumse jhoot bola, woh sirf tumhe kamzor karne ki koshish kar raha tha Riya aur dekho, main toh tumhare saamne zinda hun, woh bhi sahi-salamat, fir kyun apne aapko dosh de rahi ho?

Riya asks him again innocently: sach mein maine nahi maara unhe?

Arjun shifts closer and cups her face, gazing straight into her eyes.

Arjun: Riya tumne kisi nirdosh ki jaan nahi li, nahi maara tumne unhe, ab samjhi ya samjhau?

As her brain processes the words, a wide smile comes on her face digging her dimples into her cheeks.

Arjun’s heart skipped a beat as he saw the heart-warming smile. He had been dying to see her like that ever since he first saw her at the hospital. Now, he was sure he had brought Riya out of her imprisonment. He is jolted back to reality by her words.

Riya: Thank you Arjun sir, for everything. Pata hai, jab aap mujhe hospital mein mile the, main usi waqt jaan gayi thi ki aap mujhe kisi bhi tarah waha se nikal kar rahenge, jeet aapki hi hogi.

His heart warmed hearing those words again that had kept him alive for so long. Sometimes, he really wondered how she was able to trust him so much. Was he even worth it?

Riya: aur mujhe pura vishwas hai ant mein bhi jeet aapki hi hogi

Arjun smiles understanding her reference: ho gayi Riya, tumne sahi kahi tha

He had been dying to share the news with her. Even after killing Sikandar, he told the same thing to her photograph over and over again in hopes that she would hear it wherever she was. His heart ached to not be able to share his life’s biggest news with her. It had been absolute torture and now, it felt like he finally had made peace with the past.

She looked at him, confused for a moment. Understanding what he said, her eyes sparkled and she almost jumped out of her seat in happiness startling him.

Riya: Aapne Sikandar Ko Pakad Liya?!?

He grins seeing her excitement: pakda nahi, encounter kiya

Riya: Iska Matlab Aapko Finally Insaaf Mil Gaya?!?!?

Arjun: ha Riya

Without thinking anything, she engulfed him in a hug. He embraced her, cherishing the feeling of her being in his arms. She fit so perfectly in them!

Unknowingly, she whispered in his ear: mujhe aap par bahot garv hai

Arjun froze for a moment. His eyes shot open. They moistened as his brain repeated her words in his head. He closed his eyes and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

A vessel slipped from one of the staff as he cleaned it, making a crash. Riya’s eyes shot open and immediately pulled away from Arjun realising what she was doing. Arjun cursed the guy mentally and looked at Riya. She was red.

His heart leapt in his rib cage. He happily teased her further.

Arjun: Riya, jab humne tumhe waha se nikala us time bhi tum itna khush nahi hui, ab Sikandar ke marne par itni khushi?

She fidgeted with her hands as her tint increased: woh… woh nahi, woh bas…yu hi

Arjun: pakka na? kahi tum sadistic toh nahi ban rahi?

Riya looked away as she blushed furiously: Arjun sir! aisa… aisa kuch nahi hai (he chuckles) woh toh bas, aise hi (she quickly changes the subject) isliye aap aaj kal muskura rahe hai

Arjun: bahot jaldi notice kiya tumne

Riya(sheepishly): woh, nahi… notice kiya tha lekin… kuch samajh mein nahi aaya

Arjun: acha? Jaha tak mujhe yaad hai, tumhare never ending sawaal ke jawab toh humesha main hi deta hun, toh fir pucha kyun nahi?

Riya (innocently): main upset thi

Arjun chuckles: ha aur ab dekho, mera hot chocolate bhi cold ho gaya tumhe samjhaane ke chakkar mein

Riya scratches her head in embarrassment : sorry

He cups her face: don’t be sorry Riya, bas apne aapko kisi aur ki galti ki saza mat do aur hum sab se door mat bhaago

She nods assuring him that she wouldn’t repeat it. Their eyes lock with each other. He pulls his hands back after a few moments.

Arjun: ab bichare cold chocolate par daya kar de?

She giggles and bobs her head in agreement. They turn to their drinks, while talking casually.

Upstairs-

As the team investigated the affair angle, they arrived at the conclusion that it was neither the wife nor the secretary who was responsible but the wife’s brother who had come to know Kulkarni was cheating on his sister and killed him in a fit of rage.

Ayesha: chalo ek aur case ho gaya

Rathore: ha lekin jo pending hai uska kya?

Chotu: kaunsa case sir?

Liza: are sir Riya ki baat kar rahe hai, haina sir?

He nods. He looks at his wrist watch.

Rathore: teen ghante ho gaye aur dono ka ata-pata nahi hai

Sakshi: ye Arjun Riya ko lekar kaha gaya? uski gaadi toh neeche hi hai

Rathore: wahi toh, cabin mein bhi nahi hai upar se kyun lekar gaya woh bhi nahi pata. Ye Riya bhi ajeeb hai, koi aise hi haath pakad kar le jaata hai toh chali jaati hai...kal ko koi ajnabi aakar utha le gaya toh? thoda sa bhi dhyaan nahi rakhti apna. Had hoti hai laparwahi ki!!

Voice: 100% cases mein ye toh Arjun sir ka dialogue hai toh fir aap kyun bol rahe hai Rathore sir?.................................