Chapter 16

Riya: ji nahi Arjun aap mere saath nahi aa rahe hai.

Arjun uth khada hota hai: toh tum akeli nahi jaa rahi ho...

Riya: Arjun aap shehar chodkar nahi jaa sakte! Court ka order hai!

Arjun: lekin...

Riya: aur aapki hearing bhi kab hai?

Arjun(frustrated): pata nahi...check karta hun. (Woh laptop mein se department ke records check karta hai) 25^th ko...aaj kya tareekh hai?

Riya(flatly): 24^th!

Arjun(khushi se): matlab kal na? ye toh achi baat hai (Riya use confused look deti hai) are baba kal hearing hai, maine tumse kaha tha na ki main chut jaunga? Toh hum parso Pune chale jaayegne

Riya: fir office kaun jaayega?

Arjun: are ek din mein kya ho jaayega? Itne din mere bina kaam kar rahe the na woh log...aage bhi kar lenge!

Riya: Arjun please zid mat kijiye, main shaam tak waapis aa jaungi, aur 3-4 ghante ka hi toh raasta hai. aur main pehle bhi toh jaati thi.

Lekin Arjun abhi bhi doubt mein hai: main jaanta hun Riya lekin hum already unke peeche hai, itna bada consignment pakde jaane ke baad woh aur bhi satark ho jaayenge...khatra ab bad gaya hai. upar se tum phone bhi nahi rakhti

Riya: main PCO se call kar lungi na

Arjun: aur agar kuch gadbad hui aur tumhe PCO ke paas rukna ka time nahi mila ya fir PCO hi nahi mila toh?

Riya: main kisi police station jaakar aapko phone karungi...gunde chahe jaise bhi kabhi police station ke andar toh nahi ghusenge na?

Arjun: police station kaise jaogi? Tumhe apni pehchan chupani hai!

Riya: are nakli ID haina mere paas

Arjun ab argue nahi kar paata hai. Riya use hug karti hai.

Riya: main apna pura khayal rakhungi...I promise aur aap dekhna, Jab tak aap office se waapis aayenge na tab main ghar par aapka intezaar kar rahi hongi

Arjun: main kal thodi office jaunga?

Riya: aap court ke baad nahi jaayenge?

Arjun: nahi...(fir kuch sochkar) shayad jaunga...pata nahi...kal ki baat kal...par Riya phone toh rakh lo

Riya: nahi sir, phone bahot risky hota hai. ekto trace ho sakta hai upar se agar kahi chut gaya toh aur badi musibat

Arjun: theek hai...acha tum train se mat jaana, main ek admi ka bandobast karta hun, woh tumhe drive karke le jaayega, aur waapis bhi le aayega.

Riya: theek hai lekin waha main public transport hi use karungi, gadi lekar ghumungi toh shak ho sakta hai

Arjun nod karta hai.

ETF office-

Shree, Liza aur Ayesha baithkar records dekhna continue kar rahe hai. Sakshi apni hi soch mein dubi hui hai.

Sakshi mv "kal hearing hai...ek baar us Saxena se baat kar leti hun. Ab tak woh handwriting waala kisa toh usne suljha liya hoga...hmm... uske dimag mein ek idea aata hai aur usse chehre par smile. Woh uthkar chali jaati hai.

Darwaaza khulne ki wajah se Liza ka concentration hat ta hai. woh Sakshi ko baahar jaate dekhti hai.

Liza: ab ye kaha jaa rahi hai?

Shree aur Ayesha upar dekhte hai.

Ayesha: who cares?

Shree: are par kal hearing hai, isne firse koi naya kaand kar diya toh?

Ayesha: isse zyaada aur kya kar sakti hai woh?

Shree: point hai

Teeno firse apne files par concentrate karte hai. kuch der baad...

Ayesha(excitedly): Mil gaya!!!!

Shree aur Liza dono khushi se uchalte hai: KYAA???

Ayesha file mein se padhte hue unhe inform karti hai: ha...apparently do- dhai saal pehle bhi ek aisa case aaya tha

Shree: laash mein drugs?

Ayesha: ha...uska in charge koi ACP Harshit Desai tha, in fact us waqt woh log is case ke peeche the bhi nahi the, woh by chance usme ulajh gaye...kisi trainee ki mock drill thi koi brothel mein aur waha se ye sab kuch pata chala. (woh apni chair table ki taraf pull karti hai) main ACP Harshit ki details nikalti hun. (woh system mein unke records check karti hai) ye...ye toh...

Shree: kya hua?

Ayesha: us case ke solve hone ke kuch mahino mein hi unki accident mein maut ho gayi

Liza: koi aur tha kya?

Ayesha file check karti hai: ha do naam aur hai...main check karti hun (woh Alok aur Riya dono ke naam enter karti hai) THEY'RE BOTH DEAD!!

Shree/Liza: WHAAT?!?!?!

Shree: theek se check kar

Ayesha: ha baba wahi hai, photos bhi match ho rahi hai, woh dono mar chuke hai. ladke ki maut bhi accident mein hui thi...road accident aur woh trainee bhi shaheed ho gayi

Ayesha un dono ki taraf mudti hai aur file side par rakhti hai: ye case toh...teeno on-team officers ka aise accidents mein mar jaana koi ittefaq nahi ho sakta hai, ye zaroor murders hai.

Shree: you're right! Par iska matlab ye bhi hai ki woh case kabhi solve hua hi nahi. Unhone shayad sirf us brothel se connected ring ko khatam kiya hoga aur unhe laga ki case solve ho gaya hai

Liza ko achanak strike hota hai: OMG! Brothel!!

Ayesha: ha?

Liza: Ayesha brothel! Hume jo bhi laashein mili woh saari ladkiyon ki thi! Ek bhi mard nahi tha! brothel se behtar kaunsi jagah ho sakti hai ladkiyon ke liye

Ayesha aur Shree dono ki bhi batti jalti hai.

Ayesha: it all makes sense now. Woh log brothel se ladkiyon ko maar kar unme drugs smuggle karte hai. waha toh ladkiyon ki koi kami bhi nahi hoti aur waise bhi trafficking ke racket toh khatam bhi nahi hote. Ek band hota hai toh dusra shuru...it's a perfect fit!

Interrogation room-

Chotu aur Rathore as usual saare admiyon ka interrogation kar rahe hai. lekin kisi ko kuch nahi pata. Rathore baakhiyon ko Chotu ke bharose chod Raghu par concentrate karta hai. use pura yakeen hai ki Raghu hi unhe agli kadi tak pahunchayega kyunki Arjun ne khud uska pata dhundha hai. Arjun...use firse unka jhagda yaad aata hai aur woh saari bhadaas Raghu par hi nikaalta hai.

Raghu bhi moti chamdi ka hai. woh kuch nahi bolta par Rathore ke sar par khoon sawar hai. finally Raghu ko apna muh kholna padta hai aur woh Sameer ko doctors ki list deta hai jo unke liye kaam karte hai.

Raghu(weakly): aur...Altaf...Altaf Mumbai ko...Mumbai ko handle karta hai.

Rathore: kaha milega Altaf?

Raghu: pata nahi

Rathore firse use maarne lagta hai

Raghu apni saari taakat laga kar chillata hai: MUJHE NAHI PATA!!! (weakly) nahi pata mujhe

Rathore use chod deta hai. use yakeen ho jaata hai ki Raghu ke paas batane ke liye ab kuch nahi hai. woh baahar jaane lagta hai. jaise hi woh darwaaza kholta hai..

Raghu: ruko...

Rathore uski taraf turn karta hai.

Raghu: humara...humara pata us ladke aur...ladki ne diya...haina?

Rathore koi jawab nahi deta. Uske man mein firse sawaal paida hone lagte hai par woh apne expression change nahi karta.

Raghu use mock karta hai: kya woh wahi ladki thi? Jise woh dhundh rahe hai? Agar mile toh Use kehna...ki uske zindgi ke zyaada din nahi bache.

Rathore: aur kuch?

Raghu aage nahi bolta. Rathore baahar jaa kar apne peeche darwaaza band karta hai. woh Chotu ko awaaz dete hue almost bhagkar conference room mein jaata hai. Ayesha, Shree aur Liza use dekhkar startle hote hai. Rathore room mein nazar ghumata hai.

Rathore: Sakshi kaha gayi?

Shree: pata nahi sir

Rathore: Hell With Her! Shree Raghu ki interrogation ki footage chalu karo!

Liza: sir hume bhi kuch...

Rathore: baad mein!

Woh apni chair par baithta hai. Chotu bhi uske peeche tha woh bhi aage aakar apni seat leta hai. Shree footage chalata hai. Raghu ka pura confession including uska Rathore ko puchna aur warn karna dikhta hai. use dekhkar hi Ayesha samaj jaati hai ki Rathore ke dimag mein kya chal raha hai.

Ayesha: goodness! Sameer! Aapko abhi bhi lagta hai ki woh ladka Arjun sir hai!

Baakhi teeno shock hokar unhe dekhte hai.

Chotu: Arjun sir beech mein kaha se aa gaye?

Ayesha: subah Arjun sir ne hi phone karke us raid ki location batayi thi. Tab se inke dimag mein ghus gaya hai ki woh Arjun sir the

Rathore: nahi Ayesha, Arjun, uski informer,us ladka aur ladki ko chodo...main us ladki ke bare mein pata karne ki koshish kar raha hun. Woh jo bhi hai uski jaan ko khatra hai. woh log use dhundh rahe hai.

Shree: par sir, jaise woh bol raha tha aisa lagta nahi ki woh bhi sure hai ki jo ladki ki woh baat kar raha hai woh wahi ladki hai jiski woh baat kar raha hai

Sab use ghurne lagte hai

Shree(fumbling): mera...mera matlab tha ki woh bhi sure nahi hai ki uske hissab se jis ladki ne hume information di wahi ladki unki wanted list mein hai. usne toh sirf andaaza lagaya

Rathore: either way, unki wanted list mein ladki hai lekin Raghu nahi jaanta ki woh kaun hai, kyunki aisa hota toh woh humse confirmation nahi maangta.

Liza: sir agar koi ladki unki wanted mein hai, toh uska bachna namumkin hai

Chotu: Liza tu kiski side par hai

Liza: ye main nahi, records keh rahe hai

Rathore: finally! Kuch mil hi gaya...kya kehte hai records?

Ayesha: aisa ek case pehle bhi tha, lekin ittefaq tha. woh Sameer ko situation explain karti hai.

Rathore shock ho jaata hai: teeno mar chuke hai?

Ayesha: ha

Rathore: aise kaise ho sakta hai?

Ayesha: aisa hua hai Sameer! Sabse pehle ACP Harshit, fir woh Alok aur aakhir mein woh trainee. Woh bhi us case ke kuch hi mahino mein. Us ladki ka pata kaise lagayenge hum? 

Rathore: Raghu ko nahi pata, lekin Altaf ko zaroor pata hoga. After all woh pure shehar ko handle karta hai

Chotu: sir hum apne khabriyon ko activate kar denge, lekin uska pata lagana mushkil hoga

Rathore: jo bhi ho Chotu, pata karna hi padega...hopefully hume der na ho jaaye aur ek kaam karna kal subah woh saare doctors...

Shree: kal subah kaise hoga sir?

Rathore: kyun kal Diwali hai?

Shree: sir abhi toh February hai, Diwali toh October mein hoti haina?

Rathore use glare karta hai.

Shree(dar kar): mera matlab kal 25 tareekh haina toh...

Rathore(chouk kar): kal 25 hai? iska matlab aaj 24 hai?

Ayesha bore hokar use dekhti hai: nahi Sameer aapke liye bhagwan ne special calendar banaya hai 25 ke pehle na 30 tareekh aati hai

Rathore: are shut up yaar, aaj 24 hai matlab kal 25 hai matlab kal Arjun ki hearing hai!!!!

Ayesha: aapke ilawa hum sab ko yaad tha

Rathore(offended): oh hello! Mujhe pata hai ki uski hearing 25 ko hai! bas ye dhyaan mein nahi aaya ki kal 25 tareekh hai

Ayesha: whatever, kal tak wait karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Shree! Chotu! Jin-Jin doctors ke naam us Raghu ne liye unhe local police ke radar mein daalo aur sabko arrest karwao! License cancel karo sabka!

Rathore apne aap mein utter karta hai: lo shuru ho gayi iski boss giri, huh!

Ayesha(sternly): kuch kaha aapne?

Rathore: nahi...nahi toh...(Shree aur Chotu ko dekhkar) are baithe kya ho tum dono? Sunayi nahi diya kya?

Teeno apni hasi chupani ki koshish karte hai. Shree aur Chotu bataye hue kaam par lagte hai.

Arjun's house-

Riya kitchen mein dinner bana rahi hai. Arjun wahi counter par baith kar uske saath baatein kar raha hai. achanak Arjun ke phone ki ringtone bajti hai. Arjun caller ID dekhkar shock ho jaata hai. ghanti baje ja rahi hai.

Riya: Arjun kya hua? Kiska phone hai?

Arjun control karne ki koshish karta hai: umm...woh...Sa...Samrat ka

Riya(confused): kaun Samrat?

Arjun: woh...kha...khabri hai...main aata hun

Riya koi aur sawaal puche usse pehle woh apne room mein chala jaata hai. Riya uske direction mein dekhti hai.

Riya mv "khabri ka phone aane se inke chehre ka rang kyun ud gaya?

Arjun apne peeche room ka darwaaza band kar deta hai aur fir phone utatha hai. woh hello nahi bolta. Ek ladki ki awaaz uske kaan mein padti hai.

Ladki: kaise ho Arjun?

Arjun(sternly) : phone kyun kiya hai Sakshi?

Sakshi smile karti hai: kya karu Arjun? Tumhare bina man hi lagta aur upar se court case...sach kahu toh tumhe is tarah katgare mein khada dekh mujhe bahot bura lag raha hai.

Arjun(taunt karke): acha? Itna hi bura lag raha tha toh fir case kyun kiya?

Sakshi hasti hai: come on Arjun, iski wajah toh tum bhi jaante ho...ye toh tumhari galti thi lekin...(meaningfully) agar tum chaho toh baat ab bhi ban sakti hai. (Arjun jawab nahi deta bas sun raha hai) sab theek ho jaayega, tumhe tumhari naukri aur dignity dono waapis mil jaayegi...aaj raat 10 baje, Carter road, Galaxy apartments, flat no 1206.

Arjun abhi bhi jawab nahi deta. Use samaj mein nahi aata ki Sakshi ke dimag mein exactly chal kya raha hai.

Sakshi: waqt se aa jaana...aur ha! akele, bina koi surveillance please koi aise waise surprises nahi, phul wagera laana chaho toh zaroor la sakte ho. Ok bye!

Call disconnect

Arjun apne sar mein haath ferta hai mv"kya karu? Jau ya na jau? Aakhir chahti kya hai woh? Kaunsa raasta hai uske paas? Is it worth a try? Nahi...waise bhi kal hearing hai maine Riya se waada kiya hai. uski baat maan kar kya milega? Lekin...agar main nahi gaya aur usne firse kuch naya kar diya toh? Main chance nahi le sakta...ek baar chala jaata hun. Shayad woh sach mein settlement karna chahti ho? Darwaaze par knock hota hai. Arjun presence mein aakar darwaaza kholta hai.

Riya: sab theek haina Arjun?

Arjun(normally): ha Riya sab theek hai, khabri tha

Riya squint karti hai: toh fir aapki shakal kyun utar gayi thi

Arjun smile karke use waist se pakadta hai: tumhe sab pata chal jaata haina?

Riya: ha, aur ye bhi ki aapko baaton ka focus change karna achese aata hai, isliye ab chup-chap mujhe bataiye ki kaun tha

Arjun smile karta hai: are baba, khabri tha. woh Samrat haina? Jab bhi phone karta hai koi na koi khatarnaak buri khabar hi deta hai. ab socho, ek taraf mera case, dusri taraf tumhara case, teesri taraf woh Rathore, chouthi taraf kal court ki hearing ab aise mein woh khatarnaak khabar dega, toh kaise manage hoga?

Riya disbelief mein sar hilati hai: aap bhi na...zaroorat ke bina tension lete hai. koi buri khabar thi?

Arjun: nahi, actually,use thodi help chahiye thi toh main 9:30ko niklunga. Tum so jaana.

Riya: uske liye mera sona kyun zaroori hai?

Arjun: are tumhe kal Pune jaana haina, aaram kar lo. Main do ghante mein aa jaunga.

Riya: acha baba jaisa aap kahe, lekin pehle khaana kha lijiye

Arjun: hmm...