Chapter 10

Bloomie

@bloomie

Arjun: happy birthday!

Riya khush hokar uchalti hai: ARJUN SIR!!!! thank you!! (bouquet lete hue) aapko kaise pata orchids mere favourite hai?

Arjun: jaise tumhe mere baare mein sab pata chal jaata hai waise and……also the fact ki tumhare phone ke wallpaper mein humesha orchids hi hote hai

Riya haste hue flowers ko vase mein arrange karke unhe paani mein rakhti hai.

Riya: aap waha kyun khade hai? Andar ayiye na

Arjun: umm…woh (Riya turn hokar use look deti hai) nahi bahana nahi bana raha

Riya raised her eyebrow: pakka?

Arjun: ha woh…umm…dinner?

Riya pleasantly surprise hoti hai: baahar?

Arjun: ha...if you don’t mind

Riya apne aapko dekhti hai, woh casuals pehan kar ghum rahi hai: uh..main do minute mein change karke aati hun

Arjun nod karta hai. Riya jaldi se apne ek elegant party dress mein change karti hai aur Arjun ke saath jaati hai. ek pal ke liye Arjun usme kho jaata hai par control kar leta hai. Car mein uski nazar Arjun par padti hai. Tabhi use dhyaan aata hai ki office ke formals mein nahi hai. Matlab woh dinner ka plan spontaneous nahi, balki pre-planned tha. Arjun ki nazre toh side se baar-baar Riya ko dekh rahi hai, uski chehre ki muskaan aur khushi ko dekhkar uska dil bhi khush ho jaata hai.

Arjun use usi restaurant mein le jaata hai jaha par woh dono jaaya karte the, par difference itna tha ki is baar usne alag se reservations karke rakhi thi. Ek corner mein chota sa room hai single table ke saath, background mein soft instrumentals baj rahe hai. Thoda decoration bhi kiya gaya hai. Riya preparations dekh kar smile karti hai. Arjun pulls out a chair for her. Riya takes her seat. Ek waiter aakar unhe serve karta hai.

Riya: kya baat hai? Aapne toh saari taiyaari karke rakhi hai.

Arjun: maine booking aur menu fix karne ke ilawa aur kuch nahi kiya Riya

Riya: aapne jitna kuch kiya hai woh bhi bahot hai mere liye

They have a peaceful dinner talking about random things as usual cherishing each other’s company. To her surprise, he held out a hand for her.

Arjun: May I have this dance?

Riya willingly took his hand: yes

He took her hand and led her a few steps away from the table. His one hand gently held her by the waist as the other held hers. Her second hand rested on his shoulder. They danced slowly to the music in the background. Riya noticed a short while later that he was trying to say something.

Riya: kuch kehna hai?

Arjun(taken aback): nahi toh…ha…mera matlab…tum…tum ho…

Riya: kya hua? Bataiye na?

Arjun took a deep breath, closed his eyes and started singing:

Tum ho toh lagta hai main hoon

Na ho to lagta hai kyun hoon

Tum ho toh udta hai man ye

Na ho to tehra sa hai kyun

Riya looked at him shock and controlled her urge to scream happily lest he stopped. He slowly opened his eyes. All his nervousness went down the drain as he saw the twinkle in her eyes and he continued to dance with her.

Ho sake toh rehna tum saath mere

Ho bure ya ache haalaat mere

Zindagi bhar rehna tum saath mere

Ho bure ya ache haalaat mere

Saath mere.. (x3)

Taare saare bichare neend se haare

Magar humko aur tumko sona hain kyun

Kahi bhi tum na jaao

Yahi pe hi ruk jaao

Tumhe jaane ki jaldi itni hai kyun

Ho sake toh jagna tum saath mere

Bin tere na katt te din raat mere

Zindagi bhar rehna tum saath mere

Ho bure ya ache haalaat mere

Saath mere.. (x3)

Apne dil mein bana ke dhadkan mujhko

Tumhe rakhna hi hoga darte ho kyun

Pagalpan ki haddein todo na aake

Na jaane tumne khud ko roka hai kyun

Main zameen hoon tum ho akaash mere

Aur thoda aao na paas mere

Ho sake toh rehna tum saath mere

Ho bure ya ache haalaat mere

Ho sake toh rehna tum saath mere

Ho bure ya ache haalaat mere

Zindagi bhar rehna tum saath mere

Ho bure ya ache haalaat mere

Riya hugged him tightly: thank you so much…..(Arjun smiled and she whispered into his ear) waise for the record, don’t worry. Main zindgi bhar aapke saath hi rahungi.

Arjun immediately separated from her: Nahi! Aisa..aisa nahi hai…woh toh bas…maine aise hi soche samjhe jo yaad aaya gaa liya. Tum humesha kehti…kehti thi na aur...aur mujhe samaj mein nahi aa raha tha ki…ki main tumhe kya gift du…sirf isliye

Riya uski nervousness dekhkar smile karti hai: wahi toh….bina soche samjhe humesha dil ki baat nikalti hai

Arjun: nahi Riya sach….aisa nahi. Woh maine recently suna toh…

Riya teased him: theek hai toh fir main chali jau aapko chod kar?

Arjun(horrified): Nahi!!!! Nahi!! Bilcul nahi…mera woh matlab nahi tha!! Tum Mujhe Nahi Chod Sakti! Main Tumhare Bina…

He was at a loss of words and just stared at her unsure of how to approach the topic. Riya smiled and stepped closer. She held his hands and placed them on her waist and wound hers around his neck.

Riya(warmly): relax! Kahi nahi jaungi...main toh bas ched rahi thi aapko

Saying so, she rested her head on his chest. Arjun smiled and hugged her tighter, placing his chin on her head wanting never to let go.

Arjun: tumhare birthday ke din, sabse achi gift mujhe mili hai Riya

Riya: meri bhi utni hi achi hai

Arjun: I wouldn’t be so sure

Riya: par main hun, samjhe ya samjhau?

Arjun chuckled: samaj gaya Riya ma’am, your wish is my command….ab chale?

Riya(disappointed): itni jaldi? Thodi der aur dance karte haina

Arjun: I think you’ll like the other place more

Riya: matlab? Hum kahi aur bhi jaa rahe hai?

Arjun: ha, ek surprise hai tumhare liye

Riya(surprised): isse zyaada aur bhala main kya maang sakti hun?

Arjun: ab woh toh waha jaane ke baad hi pata chalega na?

Riya ko samaj mein nahi aata ki woh kya kahe?

Arjun: chale?

Riya bas ha mein sar hilati hai. Arjun smile karta hai aur use restaurant se le jaata hai. Woh drive karke ek secluded beach le jaata hai Riya ko. Pehle Riya ko kuch samaj mein nahi aata hai par jaise hi woh dono beach par jaate hai toh use dikhayi deta hai.

Riya(shocked): Oh My God! Hot air balloon? Ye…ye sach mein aapne…(Arjun ke chehre par dabi hui khushi dekhkar hi use apne sawaal ka jawaab mil jaata hai) mujhe yakeen hi nahi ho raha

Arjun silently takes her hand and walks to the balloon. He helps her climb in before untying the ropes and following himself. The balloon starts to rise in the air, slowly drifting away from the shore and into the sea. The view was becoming increasingly breathtaking. He stood beside her holding her hand as the environment mesmerised her.

Riya: mujhe toh abhi bhi yakeen nahi ho raha hai ki aapne ye sab mere liye kiya

Arjun: kyun? Main tumhe itna bura occasion planner lagta hun?

Riya giggled: nahi baba, woh toh bas (her eyes suddenly welled up) aise hi

Arjun immediately tried to wipe the moisture away: hey kya hua?

Riya: kuch nahi Arjun sir, bas dil bhar aaya. Mummy papa ke jaane ke baad kabhi kisi ne itni mehnat nahi ki mere birthday ke liye… (she placed her hands on his chest as he wrapped his around her waist) thank you

Arjun smiled: kitna thank you bologi Riya? Aur waise bhi ye maine tumhare liye nahi kiya Riya. Mere liye kiya hai (she looked at him questioningly) ha Riya, ye mere liye hai. Kyunki tumhari ye muskurahat, ye khushi, yahi mera sukoon hai. Tumhare bina, main kabhi apni zindgi mein fir khush nahi ho paata.

They gazed into each other’s eyes against the starry backdrop, away from the hustle and bustle from the city and completely perfect for the silence they shared. Cool breeze was flowing all around them. The atmosphere was as serene as it could get.

He hadn’t thought of it but then, when would they get a chance like this again? He softly tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes feeling his affection. He slowly leaned forward and kissed her gently…

Suddenly Riya pulled away after a few seconds: Oh God No! Pinch Me!

Arjun(confused): kya?

Riya: pinch me! (anxiously) main pakka sapna dekh rahi hun. Flowers aur dinner tak theek hai, par dance? Aapne actually mere liye gaana gaaya fir ye balloon ride aur ab…(flustered) it’s too good to be true, main pakka sapna dekh rahi hun…please mujhe utha dijiye

Arjun laughed and pulled her closer: ye koi sapna nahi hai jaan, yahi hakeeqat hai aur rahegi!

Saying so he kissed her again and this time…she melted completely in his arms.

The Next Day-

Crime Branch office-

Riya was half asleep in office that day owing to the fact that the balloon landed after they finished watching the sun rise. Vishal had arrived in office for a formality of the previous case and automatically looked into the day’s case as well.

Vishal: mujhe toh lagta hai ki ye khoon us aurat ne hi kiya hai

Jai: kyun sir? Mujhe nahi lagta hai ki woh aisa kuch kar sakti hai as in Forensic…

Vishal: kyun nahi kar sakti Jai? Aurat ki kabiliyat par kabhi shak nahi karna chahiye, haina Riya?

Everyone braced for impact. They all knew she hated it when he used her dialogue, hell! She hated him but Riya was too sleepy to notice. Her eyes were alternating between the white board and screen. Even Narvekar felt surprised at her behaviour.

Narvekar: Riya?

His voice brought her out of her trance: huh? Ha sir?

Narvekar eyed her suspiciously: aana zara mere saath

He got up and left the conference room to his cabin. Riya followed sheepishly. She realised he had noticed her not paying attention to the case.

Vishal: are yaar! Ab ye us bichari ke peeche pad gaya, main dekhta hun...

Taara(sternly): uski koi zaroorat nahi hai Vishal, Amod achese se jaanta hai ki apne team ko kaise manage karna hai aur waise bhi Riya is the last person on who he will raise his voice on. Isliye tumhe chinta karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. tumhara kaam ho gaya hai, ab tum jaa sakte ho

Vishal muh banakar chala jaata hai. Dusri taraf Riya Narvekar ke peeche uske cabin mein jaati hai.

Narvekar(apni seat lete hue): baitho Riya

Riya uske saamne baith ti hai: kya hua sir?

Narvekar: ye toh main tumse puchna chahta hun, tum theek toh hona? Tabiyat kharab toh nahi hui na? kahi kal baahar lunch karne ki wajah se? woh Xora…

Riya use hyper dekhkar shaant karne ki koshish karti hai: are nahi sir!! Aisa kuch nahi hai…main baahar khaana kha sakti hun aur khaati hun bhi hun frequently woh actually(sheepishly) mujhe bahot neend aa rahi hai, isliye

Narvekar: kyun? Soyi nahi kal?

Riya ka man Arjun ke saath bitaye hue palon par automatically chala jaata hai. Woh blush karne lagti hai. Amod surprise hokar apni eyebrow raise karta hai.

Riya: woh…main…raat bhar baahar ghum rahi thi

Amod(shocked): Raat Bhar?!?! Kyun?!!? Kiske Saath?!?! Aur Raat Ko Kyun Ghum Rahi Thi Tum? Woh Bhi Saari Raat? Din Mein Nahi Ghum Sakti??

Riya(innocently): Amod sir aap mujhe bolne toh dijiye

Amod: toh bolo!

Riya: sir…main woh…main raat bhar, uh…Ar..Arjun sir ke saath baahar thi

Amod sigh karta hai: kyun Riya? Tum kyun uske saath…(control karke) Riya dekho mujhe tumhari fikar hai, main bas yeh nahi chahta ki tum hurt ho. I don’t give a damn who you’re with but him…

Riya: kyun sir? (woh calmly use explain karti hai) kya galti hai unki? Kyun aap sab unke peeche pade rehte hai? I agree ki, main jaisa blind trust aap par karti hun waise hi un par bhi karti hun par Amod sir, He has earned it as much as you did. Aap mujhe apne gusse aur unki taraf bane hue nazariye ko side par rakh kar ek baar bataiye ki unhone kaunsa gunah kiya hai? Is it because ki woh thode strict hai? ya isliye ki woh apni duty karne ke liye rules todte hai? woh toh aap bhi karte haina sir? Ya fir isliye ki he wasn’t able to save his wife and lost her? Ye partiality kyun Amod sir?

Amod apni hi soch mein chala jaata hai. Riya ka ek-ek shabd sach bankar register ho raha tha uske dimag mein. Sahi toh keh rahi hi woh, Arjun ki kya galti thi?

Riya uski thought process dekhkar smile karti hai. woh use usi soch mein chod kar dusro ke paas chali jaati hai. tabhi Narvekar ka phone bajta hai.

Narvekar: Jai Hind sir….(smiling)yes sir….(shocked) WHAT?!? Nahi sir aisa nahi ho sakta hai…but sir….(annoyed) THAT LOGIC IS BULLSHIT!....dekhiye Vikram sir, main…..Aap Aisa Kaise Kar Sakte Hai? woh bhi is tarah achanak? ……(sighing) kaha?.....Aapko Ye Bhi Nahi Pata Toh…(irritated) yes sir!

Woh gusse mein phone table par patakta hai.

Narvekar: Kaam Dhandha Nahi Hai Inke Paas! Meri Achi Khaasi Team Ki Kyun Band Bajane Par Tule Hue Hai Pata Nahi!!

ETF office-

Case ka discussion chal raha hai itne mein Arjun ka phone bajta hai.

Arjun: Jai Hind sir!

Vikram: Arjun, tumhe ab kuch karne ki zaroorat nahi hai

Arjun: what?

Vikram: humari lead crack ho gayi

Arjun alert hokar seedhe baithta hai: kya hai woh? ......................................