Chapter 9

Bloomie

@bloomie

Rathore: excuse me?

Team tension mein dono ke beech glances exchange karne lagti hai.

Arjun: ye case abhi khatam nahi hua hai Rathore, kahi na kahi kuch chut raha hai

Rathore use stern look deta hai: Rawte, tum apni chuti hui cheezein dhundhte raho, ye case open and shut hai!

Woh jaane ke liye mudta hai par Arjun use firse tokta hai.

Arjun: woh dono jhut bol rahe hai! Tumhare liya zaroori kya hai? Mujhe galat saabit karna ya fir case solve karna?

Rathore (balling his fists): hum investigation kar chuke hai Rawte!!!

Arjun: hume sirf wahi pata hai jo un dono ne hume bataya. Us ghar mein kya hua ye baat sirf teen log jaante hai, Alok, uska baap aur Rachna. Just because hume unke khilaaf kuch nahi mila iska matlab ye nahi ki woh doshi nahi hai!

Rathore: Rawte! Apni paheliyan bhuja kar mera dimag mat kharab karo! Jo bhi kehna hai saaf-saaf kaho!!

Arjun: common sense use karo Rathore, jab koi bhi insaan shock mein hota hai, trauma mein hota hai tab woh sir wahi sab kuch kehta hai jisne uske dimag par sabse zyaada asar kiya. Un dono ne hume jo kahani sunayi theek thi, lekin aaj? Aaj bhi unhone wahi kahani sunayi…

Rathore: ha toh jab wahi hua…

Arjun apna haath upar karke use rokta hai: koi addition nahi, koi deletion nahi. Aisa kaise ho sakta hai? Unhone wahi baat word to word kahi hai aur aisa tab hota hai jab woh kahani ratti-ratayi ho! Jab koi bhi insaan shock se baahar aata hai toh use aur cheezein yaad aati hai kuch cheezein uski memory mein badal jaati hai aur in dono mein se kisi ke saath bhi aisa kuch nahi hua!!!!

Waha silence baith jaati hai. Liza himmat karke bolti hai.

Liza: umm, Ra..Rathore sir? (Rathore use face karta hai) actually, umm, Arjun sir sahi keh rahe hai…aisa hota hai

Rathore gehri saans lekar khud ko control karta hai: aur is baat ko saabit kaise karoge tum? Apni ye theory suna kar?

Arjun soch mein chala jaata hai: hume unhe kuch der alag rakhna hoga aur fir ek ko kahenge ki dusre ne sab kuch bata diya. Uska muh apne aap hi khul jaayega.

Rathore mentally groan karta hai aur Ayesha aur Chotu ko ishara karta hai. Woh dono jaa kar Alok aur Rachna ko alag karte hai. Ayesha Rachna ko room ke baahar le jaati hai. ETF follow karti hai. Aur jaise Arjun ne expect kiya tha, wahi hota hai. Woh Rachna se jhut bolte hai ki Alok ne Chotu ke saamne sab ugal diya hai. Woh shock ho jaati hai lekin koi aur chaara na hone ki wajah se use bhi confess karna padta hai.

Arjun unka confession sunkar waha se chala jaata hai. Rathore disbelief mein sar hilata hai.

Shree(whisper): baap re kya dimag hai Arjun sir ka? Inhone toh property ke liye uska khoon kar diya.

Sakshi(dreamily): come on Shree! Woh Arjun hai. Ab tak tumhe pata chal jaana chahiye ki woh kis cheez ka naam hai.

Waha ki formalities puri karke Rathore sabko chod deta hai. Arjun bhi ghar chala jaata hai. As usual Riya ka reminder aa jaata hai jo use dinner karne ke liye yaad dilata hai. Arjun smile karke use reply deta hai. Tabhi achanak uski nazar date par jaati hai.

Arjun mv “are aaj toh 21 September hai, acha hua yaad aaya warna woh toh mujhse shayad kehti bhi nahi.”

Woh dinner karne ke baad file lekar baith jaata hai. Uski nazar baar-baar ghadi ki taraf hi jaati hai. Finally, 12 baj jaate hai. Woh apna phone nikal kar Riya ko call karta hai lekin..

Arjun mv “are iska number itni jaldi kaise engage ho gaya?”

woh wait karta hai lekin call disconnect ho jaata hai. Arjun do-teen baar intervals mein use call karne ki koshish karta hai par har baar Riya ka number engage aata hai.

Arjun mv “ye ladki bhi na, pata nahi kisse duniya bhar ki baatein kar rahi hai? Chalo koi baat nahi message chod deta hun, kal subah baat kar lunga.”

Arjun Riya ko message karta hai- Many Happy Returns of The Day Riya!. Bhagwaan tumhari har icha puri kare. Have a great life! Aur fir file rakhkar so jaata hai.

Next Day-

Arjun subah uthkar sabse pehle apna phone check karta hai.

Riya ne reply kiya hua hai- thank you so much!! Waise ye bhagwan ke saath aapne kab contract sign kiya?

Arjun smile karta hai aur reply karta hai- tumhara toh contract haina?

Thodi der baad woh ready hokar Riya ko phone karta hai. Dusri taraf Riya bhi uska phone dekh kar khush ho jaati hai.

Riya: Good morning!!!

Arjun: Good morning Riya, Happy Birthday!

Riya: thank you! Acha aapne naashta kiya?

Arjun: wahi kar raha hun madam

Riya: good, (excitedly) aapko pata hai kal kya hua?

Arjun: kya hua?

Riya: Narvekar sir ne na mujhe 11:45 ko hi phone kar diya fir hum log ek ghante tak gappe lada rahe the..

Arjun: tabhi tumhara phone engage aa raha tha

Riya: ha,(excitedly) acha main baat toh suniye!!

Arjun: bolo

Riya(apni excitement control karne ki koshish karte hue): aapko pata hai unhone mujhe kya gift diya?

Arjun apni eyebrow raise karta hai: usne tumhe phone par gift diya?

Riya: HAA!!!

Arjun uski khushi dekhkar choukta hai: kya?

Riya: meri….saza…MAAF HO GAYI!!!! MAIN AAJ SE FIR FIELD WORK KAR SAKTI HUN!!

Arjun bhi use khush dekhkar khush hota hai: that’s great!! Tumhari toh chandni lag gayi!!

Riya: Ha!! Main Itni Khush Hun! Itni Khush Hun! Ki Main Aapko Bata Nahi Sakti Ki Main Kitni Khush Hun!!

Arjun hasta hai: Chalo! aise hi khush rehna

Riya smile karti hai: Arjun sir, ek aur baat thi…uh…aap…woh darasal….

Arjun: kya hua Riya bolo na?

Riya: woh….aap dopaher ko aayenge?

Arjun: kaha?

Riya: woh team ko treat de rahi hun haala ki Amod sir ne bola ki woh denge, aap woh sab chodiye, aap aayenge?

Arjun: I’m sorry Riya, main nahi aa sakta.

Riya: par…

Arjun: hum fir kabhi mil lenge aur waise bhi tumhare Amod sir ko mujhe dekhkar saanp sungh jaata hai

Riya: lekin aapko unke liye thodi aana hai? Mere liye aana hai…aap mere birthday ke din mujhse nahi milenge?

Arjun: Riya please aise emotional blackmail mat karo

Riya: main emotional blackmail nahi kar rahi, main sach mein emotional ho rahi hu

Arjun: Riya I’m sorry, main nahi aa sakta. Some other day? Okay?

Riya(disappointed): hmm…

Arjun uski sadness bhaanp leta hai: hey! Tum please meri wajah se apna mood mat kharaab karo. I promise main tumhe baad milunga hmm?

Riya: theek hai

Arjun: chalo ab smile kar do, tumhara chehra utra hua acha nahi lagta aur aaj ke din toh bilcul bhi nahi!

Riya(confused): aap toh yaha hai bhi nahi toh aapko mera chehra utra hua kaise dikh raha hai?

Arjun: jo dil mein hote hai unhe saamne hone ki zaroorat nahi hoti, samjhi ya samjhau?

Riya (giggling): samajh gayi

Arjun uska mood theek hote dekh smile karta hai: acha ab mujhe nikalna hai, baad mein baat karenge

Riya: okay, aap lunch karna mat bhulna, main message karungi

Arjun: tumhare hote hue main khaana kaise bhul sakta hun Riya?

Riya: ha toh woh koi bhulne waali baat bhi nahi hai, apni health ka dhyaan rakhiye

Arjun: rakh hi raha hun meri ma! Ab bye! Aur ha best of luck firse field par jaane ke liye aur…Happy Birthday!

Riya smile karti hai: thank you so much!

Call disconnect

Arjun ko Riya ko disappoint karna acha nahi lagta par kya kare? Woh sabke saath comfortable nahi hai. usne Riya ko mana toh kar diya lekin fir bhi uske liye kuch karna chahta hai. woh isi soch mein office jaata hai lekin waha bhi uska dhyaan aadhe time isi baat par atka hai.

Rathore: Rawte! Tum aur Chotu jaa kar victim ke family se fir ek baar puch taach karo

Lekin Arjun jawab nahi deta.

Rathore use dekhta hai. Arjun blankly ek direction mein dekh raha hai.

Rathore apni eyebrow raise karta hai: Rawte? ( no response) Rawte!....RAWTE!!!

Arjun irritate hota hai: Kya Hai? Kyun Chilla Rahe Ho?

Rathore: Kyunki Tum Behre Ho Gaye Ho!!

Arjun: Get Lost! Chal Chotu!

Rathore use death glare deta hai par Arjun use ignore karte hue Chotu ke sath chala jaata hai.

Rathore(muttering): Damn this man!

Ayesha: Sam calm down

Rathore: look at him!!

Ayesha: hum is baare mein baat kar chuke hai, you know unhe koi farak nahi padta, what’s the point?

Rathore sigh karta hai: coffee laa do mere liye ek, dimag kharab kar raha hai mera ye admi…Shree Call records mein jo unknown number hai uske baare kuch pata chala?

Shree: sir maine scan shuru kar diya hai, result milte hi batata hun

Rathore nod karta hai.

On the other hand, Crime branch-

Riya ke enter hote hi Vishal use greet karta hai. woh uske haathon mein bouquet thama kar use hug karne ki koshish karta hai.

Vishal: Happy birthday Riya!!!!

Riya confusion aur shock mein side step lekar uska hug unsuccessful karti hai: are Vishal sir? aap…itni jaldi office aa gaye aaj?

Vishal(sweetly): of course jaldi aa gaya, tumhara birthday aur main tumhe wish na karu aisa ho sakta hai kya?

Riya mentally groan karke apni nazre idhar-udhar ferti hai lekin use bachane ke liye koi nahi hai.

Woh fake smile deti hai: oh…uh…thank you…bye!

Woh jaane ki koshish karti hai lekin Vishal raasta rok deta hai.

Vishal: are Riya ruko! Kaha jaa rahi ho? Mujhe tumse baat karni hai.

Riya: baat? Kaunsi baat?

Vishal: are wahi, tum kabse record room mein bore ho rahi ho haina? Tum fikar mat karo, main Narvekar se baat karke tumhari saza kam karwa dunga aur…

Peechese: uski chinta tumhe karne ki zaroorat nahi hai Vishal!

Dono mudte hai. Riya Amod ko dekhkar relief mehsoos karti hai. Amod aage aakar Riya ke haath se bouquet le leta hai.

Amod: tum apni fikar karo, yahi kaafi hai

Vishal use khunas se dekhta hai mv “10 minute baad nahi aa sakta tha ye?”: meri fikar? Mujhe kaha kuch hua hai Amod?

Amod: par hoga…tum aaj training ground nahi gaye?

Vishal ki aankhein badi ho jaati hai lekin woh cover karta hai: nahi, (Riya ko dekhkar) mujhe Riya ke liye gift jo laana tha, kaise jaata?

Narvekar(sternly): toh ab chale jao. Woh use ek envelope handover karta hai

Vishal bored look dekar leta hai: ab ye kya hai?

Narvekar: khol kar dekh lo

Vishal envelope kholta hai aur andar ke paper padhta hai: WHAT THE HELL NARVEKAR!! TUM MUJHE SUSPEND KAISE KAR SAKTE HO?? WOH BHI 15 DIN KE LIYE??

Narvekar: apni awaaz neeche rakho! Chillana mujhe bhi aata hai. tumhari jaankaari ke liye bata du ki disciplinary action face karte waqt agar tum use lightly lete ho aur use skip karte ho toh yahi protocol hai

Vishal: Mujhe Protocol Ache Se Pata Hai!!

Narvekar: good then, see you after 15 days! Aur ha uske baad baakhi ki discipline tumhe full time training grounds par face karni padegi toh I think hum toh ek mahine ke baad hi milenge, bye!

Narvekar Riya ko lekar andar ki taraf chala jaata hai jo abhi bhi puri tarah se shock se nahi nikli. Andar jaate hi…

Riya khushi se kudti hai: Oh My God! Oh My God!! Oh My God!! Thank You..Thank You Thank You So Much Amod Sir!! Shit I Love You !!! aur use hug karke cheek par kiss karti hai.

Amod(amused): what’s shit about loving me?

Riya use flatly dekhti hai: bahot hi lame joke tha

Amod(defensively): itna bhi bura nahi tha okay aur waise bhi chodo us Vishal ko. Ek mahine tak woh tumhe tang nahi karega

Riya(cheerfully): ha! Kaash mera birthday roz hota, toh roz Vishal sir ek mahine ke liye unit se gayab ho jaate

Amod hasta hai: agar woh already gayab ho gaya toh dobara kaise hoga?

Riya: are ha…woh bhi hai. Kya farak padta hai? main aaj bahot khush hun!

Amod: toh kaam par lago, field ki yaad nahi aayi?

Riya(innocently): bahot!

Amod: I’m sure usne bhi tumhe miss kiya hoga…aao, shuru karte hai.

Woh log bhi case mein busy ho jaate hai. Riya long break ke baad field par jaakar khush ho jaati hai. As promised Narvekar sabko treat deta hai. din ka kaam khatam karke woh log bhi free hote hai.

Narvekar: Riya koi aur plan hai kya tumhara?

Riya: mera aur kaun hai jo plan karega mere saath?

Narvekar: tum aise mat bola karo, mujhe guilty feel hota hai

Riya hasti hai: jaiye-jaiye apni priya patni ke paas ghar jayiye

Narvekar: tum bhi chalo na, atleast aaj akela mat raho

Riya: Amod sir aaj ho ya kal, kya farak padta hai? mera ghar waise hi khaali rehne waala hai jaise ki 10 saal se hai

Narvekar sigh karta hai: we are not talking on this anymore

Riya smile karti hai: Amod sir, aap mujhe dukhi nahi kar rahe hai, jo fact hai use toh badal nahi sakte na? aur waise bhi main khush hu, sach mein!

Narvekar use aur argument nahi kar paata: acha baba theek hai, jaise marzi karo par ghar pahunch kar…

Riya: kar dungi message, woh mera routine hai okay?

Narvekar: okay baba

Riya: abhi main jau? Meri taxi wait kar rahi hai woh faaltu mein waiting charges laga dega fir

Narvekar hasta hai: jao, good night

Riya: good night! (woh jaa hi rahi hai ki firse mudti hai aur Amod ko hug karke cheek par kiss karti hai) thank you so much for everything. I love you!

Amod: I love you too, take care. hmm?

Riya nod karke chali jaati hai.

Riya ghar par baithkar TV dekh rahi hai. Doorbell bajti hai. Riya uthkar darwaaza kholti hai. Arjun haath mein ek chota bouquet lekar khada hai.………………………