Chapter 19

Bloomie

@bloomie

Part 19 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

Riya: toh fir aapne kyun bulaya sir?

Arjun: kyun main tumhe kaam ka bagair nahi bula sakta?..................................

Riya: uh…woh, bula sakte hai

Arjun: toh fir?

He felt like laughing at her confused face but controlled himself.

Arjun: acha suno, ek kaam tha

Riya: abhi toh aapne kaha ki kaam nahi hai

Arjun: ha kaam nahi hai, par kaam hai

Riya(bewildered): matlab?

Arjun: are, office ka kaam nahi hai, mera kaam hai

She exhaled deeply: oh, kahiye

Arjun turns and picks up the photo-frame from the table. He hands it to her. The ground beneath her feet slipped away as she saw her photo-frame.

Riya: ye…ye aapke paas?

Arjun: mere paas hai tabhi toh tumhe de raha huna?

Riya: mera matlab, ye toh ghar par tha, aapke paas kaise aaya?

Arjun: acha waise? (she nods) woh toh maine tumhare ghar se churaya tha

Riya(stunned): WHAT?!

Arjun replies casually: ha

She fumbles: par…par kyun…aapne…

Arjun: hume pata nahi tha na ki tum zinda ho toh tumhe yaad karne ke liye kuch toh chahiye na? toh maine tumhari tasveer chura li, baatein karne ke liye (her eyes widened in shock) aur ab tum khud hi aa gayi ho toh mujhe tasveer ki zaroorat nahi hai, tum le jao ise ghar. Waise subah Chotu bata raha tha tum apna samaan dhundh rahi thi mil gaya?

She was barely able to nod.

Arjun: kamaal ho tum bhi Riya, woh samaan yaad hai lekin ghar se frame gayab hai ye pata nahi chala tumhe? had hoti hai laparwahi ki

Riya jolts out of her trance hearing his taunt. She gives him an irritated look.

Riya: aapko wahi sab yaad rehta haina jo mujhe yaad nahi?

Arjun: are yaad toh rahega hi, 6 mahine se isi frame ke sahare toh hu

Riya is taken aback: iske… sahare matlab?

Arjun: are abhi toh bataya, tum nahi thi toh isi se baatein karta tha, itni jaldi bhul gayi?

Riya: woh…main… woh… main… main… aap, aap ke…

Arjun: oho kya bol rahi ho?

She shakes her head: thank you sir! bye!

Riya runs out of the room without sparing him another glance. Behind her, Arjun starts laughing. She runs to the washroom to control herself.

“maine tumhari tasveer chura li, baatein karne ke liye”

“6 mahine se isi frame ke sahare toh hu”

Her face turns crimson as she remembers his words. Did he really mean them? He stole her photograph from her home? It all felt like a dream. A dream that she had wished to be her whole life. One thing was certain for sure. This Arjun was not just a result of completing his revenge on Sikandar. There was something about him that was different.

As the day ends, they all pack up and start leaving.

Chotu: Ri chale?

Riya looked at her paper: tum jao Chotu, main aadhe ghante baad niklungi

Chotu: are kal kar lena

Riya: are thoda hi hai, kaam khatam ho jaayega ek, tum jao

Chotu: ok, kal milte hai, good night

Riya: good night Chotu! Bye!

She concentrates on her report. Outside, the wind picks up as clouds cover the city. Finishing her report, she packs up her stuff. Riya picks up her purse and heads out only to find torrential rain.

Riya: oh god ye bin mausam ki baarish? (she looked around but there was no one else) ab kaise jau road tak?

She was still thinking over what to do when someone calls her from behind.

Arjun: Riya tum gayi nahi abhi tak?

She turns to see Arjun walking with an umbrella.

Riya: woh, main report complete kar rahi thi… aapko pata tha ki baarish honewaali hai?

Arjun: are nahi, main yaha cupboard mein ek chaata rakhta hun

Riya: oh

Arjun opens the umbrella and gestures her near.

Arjun: chalo main tumhe chod deta hun

Her heart skipped a beat at sharing an umbrella with him. A reddish tint spread across her cheeks as she inched near. He placed an arm around her shoulder to keep her inside the shade and they stepped out having the water drip melodiously against the cloth covering them. He could feel her body heat up. He wondered whether it was due to the cold or because of their proximity. She clung on to the umbrella accidentally brushing their hands together. She blushed red and shifted her hand downwards. Arjun squeezed her closer in happiness.

He opened the door for her and made her sit before going to the driver’s seat. She was wiping the remnants of the water that fell on her hand. He smiles and starts the ignition. She stared out the window happily while he kept stealing glances of her.

Her shoulder still felt warm because of his touch. She bit her nail shyly as her mind replayed the memory again and again.

Arjun drove inside further into the compound of her society stopping only near the porch. She removed her seatbelt.

Riya: thank you sir, good night

Arjun: good night Riya

She unlocks the door and is about to open it when a thought crosses her mind. She turns. He was gazing back at her. She looks away muttering under her breath.

Arjun: kya hua?

Riya: woh uh… (lowering her gaze) aap chai piyenge?

Arjun looks towards the sky: is mausam mein? Of course! (She beams) tum chalo, main car park karke aata hun

She nods happily and gets down. Arjun turns the car to find a parking spot. Riya waited for him by the elevator. Her heart was leaping in her chest. She takes deep breaths to calm herself lest he see her flushed face.

Arjun on the other hand was as delighted as her. Finally, he would be able to spend some time out of office with her. He arrives in a few moments with the umbrella in one hand.

Riya smiles and presses the button.

Riya’s house-

She opens the door with her keys and they enter in. He places the umbrella neatly by the door not wanting to wake up the Miss hygiene within her. She gives him a towel to wipe off the rain droplets.

Riya: aap baithiye, main chai lekar aati hu

Arjun nods. She almost runs into the kitchen. He shakes his head and looks around. The house was exactly the way it had been when he had come in to steal her frame. He chuckles at the plight of his men who had ended up cleaning it for her.

The first time he came, he had just seen the living room, selected a frame from the few displayed and left. Now, he was actually taking in the beauty of her house. It was just as she was. Subtle shades on the walls, dust-free and neatly arranged. He comes across a French window leading to a huge terrace. He was surprised seeing it. Since when did high-rises in Mumbai start having such beautiful spaces for flats? He opens and the door and steps out.

The roof extended till the end of the room therefore keeping the sun and rain out. The boundary wall was filled with flowering plants, mostly roses. Their fragrance was overwhelming due to the rain. A few pots were hanging from the ceiling as well. There was a small table with two small armchairs on either side. A bamboo couch rested against the left wall and a nested swing near the plants.

Riya: sir?

He turns to see her holding two mugs in her hand. He smiles and takes the one containing tea, brushing his fingers against hers. She blushes a little and they sit on the chairs.

Arjun: bahot khubsurat terrace hai

Riya: thank you sir, actually ye 2 BHK hai, ab main akeli hi rehti hu toh maine dusre bedroom ko terrace bana diya

Arjun: tabhi main sochu, flats mein kaunsa builder itni badi terrace bana kar deta hai? ye paudhe toh murjha gaye honge itne waqt main

Riya(sadly): ha, sab sukh gaye the. safayi karne ke time naye plants lekar aayi thi

Arjun(sternly): tum khud gayi thi?

Riya(taken aback): nahi, woh aapka admi tha na

Arjun: oh fir theek hai, waise ab tumhara pair kaisa hai?

Riya(lost): ghaav bhar gaya hai, bas nishaan reh gaya

His eyes dart to her face hearing the tone of her voice. He softly places his hand on her. She comes back to the present and gives him a faint smile.

Arjun: are you ok?

She nods: ji sir, woh toh bas… yaad aa gaya

He observes her face for a few seconds. Making sure she was fine, he lets go of the topic. They talk casually over random topics for a while till she musters a little courage.

Riya: Arjun sir, ek baat puchu?

Arjun: pucho

Riya: aapne… mera matlab, aapne kal kaha tha ki, uh…

Arjun: bolo Riya, don’t hesitate

Riya clenched her eyes shut and spoke in a single breath: aapne Sikandar ka encounter kaise kiya?

Arjun is amused at her scared face. Then, he recalls his own outburst on her the last time she had peeked into Roshni’s file. He scratched his head, half cursing himself. Her anxiety was increasing by the second. The silence feeding into her fears, she pried her eyes open slightly only to find him gazing at her with a slight smile on his face. He places his cup on the table and takes her hand in surprising her.

Arjun: sach kahu toh main ETF mein aise hi nahi aaya tha. Tumhe Sheen ki kidnapping toh yaad hogi? (she nods) uske baad commissioner sir ne mujhse kaha ki intelligence ko Sikandar ke khilaaf ek lead mili hai aur woh us par work kar rahe hai aur jaise ki koi saboot milta hai woh ye case ETF ko denge. Isliye maine ETF join kiya. 3 mahine pehle, woh lead crack ho gayi aur hume pata chala ki woh koi aur nahi balki businessman Hiten Dixit hai.

Riya(surprised): wahi jo humesha charity ke liye headlines mein aata rehta tha? K.D & Sons ka maalik?

Arjun: ha wahi, aur uski jo charity hoti thi woh bhi darasal money laundering ka bahana tha, jo paisa use drugs aur ladkiyaan bechkar milta tha woh use aise organizations mein daalta tha jo asal mein usi ke liye kaam karte the. Hume ye toh pata chal gaya ki woh kaun hai lekin uski public image ki wajah se cheezein thodi difficult thi. Humne us par nazar rakhna shuru kar diya, Ayesha pehle bhi drugs ki duniya mein undercover rahi hai, isliye uska intelligence network use karke hume pehle uske pure business ke baare mein pata kiya aur fir use range haath pakadne ka plan kiya. Aur fir maine use arrest karne ke bajay maar diya aur Rathore ne apne pair par goli maar di taaki hum ache se kahani banakar suspend na ho

Riya could hardly believe her ears: Rathore sir ne rules tode?!?!

Arjun chuckles: ha!

Riya took a few seconds to process the information: aap bahot khush honge na us din? Man kar raha hoga ki ka woh saamne aaye aur kab aap us par goli chalaye

Arjun: ha lekin

Riya: lekin?

Arjun: lekin dar bhi lag raha tha, agar us din woh humare haath se chut jaata toh use pata chala jaata ki hume uski asliyat pata hai aur na jaane duniya ke kaunse kone mein jaa kar chup jaata. Aadha man ye keh raha tha ki bas jaldi se deal ka time ho jaaye aur dusra aadha keh raha tha ki hume aur planning ki zaroorat hai, hum ache se taiyaar nahi hai, agar galti ho gayi toh bure fasenge par fir… as usual, tumhari tasveer ne meri help ki. Tumne kaha tha na ki, ant mein jeet meri hi hogi? Bas wahi himmat bana ke aage badh gaya

Needless to say, Riya was pleasantly surprised. She had never imagined that he would confess his fears to her and moreover, she had never thought she would in any way help build his confidence that too in the biggest battle of his life. A flood of emotions filled her chest. She wasn’t even sure what they exactly were but she knew love dominated in its presence. She seemed to have lost sense of words. She gazed into his eyes and they locked with each other.

Riya: aapko meri kahi hui baatein itni yaad thi? Kyun?

Arjun: tumhe kya lagta hai Riya? main kyun tumhe yaad karta tha? kyun tumhari tasveer chura kar apne paas rakhta tha?

She was dumbstruck. A flickering thought passed her mind but it was too far-fetched for her to believe it. How could it be? She comes out of her thoughts feeling a squeeze on her palm. She looks down to her hand in his.

Arjun(gently): bolo Riya

Riya gulps her uncertainty: woh… chai khatam ho gayi hai, main lekar aati hu

She stands up to go to the kitchen. Riya proceeds to pick the mugs when he grabs her wrist and pulls her to himself, crashing her against his chest.

Riya: Arjun sir!

Arjun: tumne mujhe jawab nahi diya Riya

She kept gazing at him, unable to speak. The breeze caused a lock of her hair to fly in front of her face. He gently tucked it behind her ear. She closed her eyes as his hand moved to her cheek. She felt him come closer. His thumb caressed her temple.

Unable to handle the intimacy, she slipped out from his hold and ran to the ledge, breathing heavily in an effort to calm her racing heartbeats. Oh God! What was happening? Was Arjun really even there or was she dreaming?

Arjun smiled and went to her. He stood beside her and held her hand, entwining his fingers with his. She blushed red. They shared the silence comfortably as the breeze continued to blow. Light rain drops kept greeting their faces from time to time as they looked out into the city.

He turns his face to her: you know, tum blush karte hue aur bhi khubsurat lagti ho

She could only blush further at the statement. Riya gripped his hand in response.

Arjun: I missed you Riya, itna ki main shabdo mein bayaan bhi nahi kar sakta

Riya: I missed you too, sabse zyaada

He smiled and placed his palm on her cheek. She closes her eyes, pressing her face on his palm and feeling the warmth and security of his touch. A tear rolled down her eye. He wipes it away softly with his thumb and steps closer.

Arjun: Riya?

She slowly opens her eyes: ye sapna hai ya hakeeqat?

He touches her forehead with his: ye mera sapna hai Riya aur tumhari hakeeqat

Saying so, he gently kissed her forehead. She hugged him tightly, hiding her face in his chest. He buried his face in the crook of her neck.

An hour later-

The rains had reduced. It was more or less drizzling by then. Arjun sat in his car. He happily rested his head against the headrest. He closed his eyes flashing the memories that had just occurred sporting a huge smile on his face.

A shadow rose from the backseat in silence. He stretched the wire in his hand. With a swift movement, he threw it over the front seat and pulled it to strangle him.

Arjun’s eyes shot open feeling the metal pressed around his neck………………………….