Chapter 20

Bloomie

@bloomie

He searched the whole office and finally found her on the terrace crying silently in a corner all by herself. She felt a little guilty for scolding him rudely but what could have she done? Her emotions refused to let themselves be controlled.

Arjun too was feeling ashamed, not because he was being scolded in front of everyone but because he knew he had hurt her. Unwillingly, but he had. He could only imagine what she had been feeling seeing him in that state. He knew he and Amod were the only people that mattered most to her. He knew after losing her family, she couldn’t bear to lose them and he had been careless enough to revive her bitter memories. He walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Riya didn’t turn: please chale jayiye yaha se!

Arjun was taken aback. He hadn’t expected such an answer. She had never turned away from him, ever! in any situation. She had always understood him and stood by him like a rock. Half of him was too disheartened, already trying to muster up courage to live without her, ready to let her go away from him, accepting the fact that he didn’t deserve her. But the other half was still trying to hold on, screaming at him that it was his turn to stand by her, his turn to comfort her and make her feel loved. The conflict inside of him rose and finally, he took a chance with the latter. After all, what more could he lose?

Arjun: nahi jaunga

Riya wiped her tears and turned: Problem Kya Hai Aapki? Sakshi Ke Saath Reh Kar Uski Bimari Lag Gayi Hai?

Arjun: nahi, tumhare saath reh kar tumhari zaroorat pad gayi hai

Riya was tongue tied at his answer. Arjun hugged her tightly.

Arjun: I’m sorry Riya, mujhe sach mein nahi pata tha. I was careless, please mujhe maaf kar do. I promise aage se dhyaan rakhunga. Tum please mujhe chod kar mat jao (cracked) nahi jee sakta tumhara bagair…bahot pyaar karta hun tumse

His words melted her in his arms and she cried freely burying her face in his chest relieving all her worry. She separated from him after calming down.

Riya: dobara aisi laparwahi ki na toh main aapko jaan se maar daalungi samjhe ya samjhau?

Arjun: kabhi nahi karunga…promise. Tum kahogi toh pineapple kya saare fruits khaana chod dunga

Riya: koi zaroorat nahi hai pineapple ka dhyaan rakhiye itna khaafi hai. waise bhi aapko aapki sehat ka dhyaan rakhne se allergy hai, fruits nahi khaayenge toh ho gaya kalyan.

Arjun smiled and pulled her closer. She looked up at him but her smile had not yet returned. The twinkle in her eyes was absent. He hated to see her that way and fortunately he knew exactly what to do to cheer her up. He started singing:

Pal.. do pal.. ki hi kyun hai zindagi

Is pyar ko hai sadiyan kaafi nahi

To khuda se maang loon

Mohlat main ek nayi

Rehna hai bas yahan

Ab door tujh se jana nahi..

Jo tu mera hamdard hai

Suhana har dard hai..

Jo tu mera humdard hai

And just as he expected he saw her lips curve into a smile. He smiled automatically. Arjun’s hand wrapped around her waist and he started swaying her.

Teri muskurahatein hain taakat meri

Mujhko inhi se umeed mili

Chahe kare koi sitam yeh jahan..

Inmein hi hai sada hifazat meri

Zindgani badi khoobsurat hui

Jannat ab aur kya hogi kahin

Jo tu mera humdard hai

Suhana har dard hai...

Jo tu mera humdard hai

Ohh.. O..

He twirled her and hugged her from the back….lightly kissing her cheek before twirling her again and completely wrapping his arms around her leaving barely an inch between them and kissing her forehead.

Teri dhadhkano se hai zindagi meri

Khwaahishein teri ab duayein meri

Kitna anokha bandhan hai yeh..

Teri meri jaan jo ek hui

Lautoonga yahan tere paas main haan

Vada hai mera mar bhi jaaoon kahin

Jo tu mera hamdard hai

Jo tu mera humdard hai

Suhana har dard hai...

Jo tu mera humdard hai

Hmm.. humdard hai

Hmm.. hamdard hai

Hmm.. humdard hai

Arjun gave a victorious smile as the twinkle in her eyes returned. Riya shook her head as she read his emotions.

Riya: aapko ache se pata haina ki mera mood kaise theek karna hai?

Arjun: tumhe bhi toh pata hai (he pulled her closer) aur waise bhi ye raasta toh tumhi ne mujhe bataya hai, haina?

He touched his forehead with hers. Riya giggled as she nodded.

Riya: aapki awaaz bahot achi hai

He tightened his grip on her and leaned in to kiss her….

Arjun: ek baat kahu?

Riya: hmm

Arjun: kisi ne mujhe kabhi bhi gaate nahi suna, na main gaata tha na hi tumhari tarah kisi ne by chance sun liya…Rosh ne bhi nahi. Mujhe bilcul acha nahi lagta tha agar koi mujhe sun le par (touching her forehead with his) ab tumhare liye gaata hun toh bahot acha lagta hai…aisa lagta hai jaise mera ek hissa hai jo sirf aur sirf tumhare liye hai. jis par sirf tumhara naam likha hai….aur jo kabhi nahi mitega

Riya blushed and lowered her eyes as he kissed her again…

Conference room-

Shree was briefing up the others on what he and Riya had acquired before Arjun had fallen unconscious. They took the case forward and were working on the further leads. Rathore was instructing them about the further steps.

Sakshi was sitting in her seat gripping her pencil. She was angry at Riya being close to Arjun, angry at her reprimanding and insulting her, angry that her name was the first word out of Arjun’s mouth, angry that She had scolded him and he hadn’t said a word back at her and now? Now both of them had disappeared.

Her pencil suddenly snapped into two causing everyone to turn towards her. Shree knew what was happening. He looked at her angrily.

Shree: Sakshi enough yaar! Kya problem hai tumhari?

Sakshi(gusse mein): Meri Problem Woh Riya Hai!!

Rathore irritate hota hai: Enough! Shree Scene Mat Create Karo Aur Sakshi Tum! Yaad Rakho Tum Yaha Sirf Ministry Ki Wajah Se Ho, You Barely Count As An Officer Aur Riya, Mere Aur Rawte Ke Baad Chain Of Command Mein Hai, So You Better Show Some Respect Aur Rahi Baat Uski Aur Arjun Ki Toh Woh Un Dono Ka Personal Matter Hai, Ye ETF Ka Office Hai Koi Matchmaking Bureau Nahi!! Aaj Ke Baad Mujhe Is Office Kisi Bhi Tarah Ka Koi Personal Jhagda Nahi Chahiye, Is That Clear?!?!

Shree: Sir, main jhagda nahi karna chahta lekin Sakshi har baat par Riya ke khilaaf khadi ho jaati hai. woh humari senior hai par fir bhi kabhi kuch nahi kehti lekin iska matlab ye bhi toh nahi ki ye jo man mein aaye bol de.

Sakshi: Senior My Foot! Kisi Ko Uski Asliyat Kyun Nahi Dikhti…Yaad Nahi Tum Logon Ko Jab Uske Pehle Din Par Uska Purana Chief Aaya Tha Toh Usne I Love You Bola Tha Aur Ab Yaha Woh Arjun Ko Apne Jaal Mein Fasa Rahi Hai!!

Rathore mv “jaal mein Riya nahi balki Arjun fasa raha hai Riya ko.”

Ayesha bhi bolti hai: Sakshi Bas Bahot Hua! Tum Khud Ek Aurat Hokar Dusri Aurat Par Aisa Ilzaam Laga Rahi Ho, Sharam Nahi Aati Tumhe? Tum Chahe Maano Ya Maano Woh Humari Senior Hai And She Deserves The Respect! Agar Tumne Ek Aur Baar Koi Aur Ulti Seedhi Harkat Karne Ki Koshish Ki Toh Main Written Complaint Bhej Dungi Aur Tum ETF Kya Pure Police Department Se Nikali Jaogi

Lekin Sakshi ko aur gussa aata hai: Tum Sab Mere Dost Hone Ke Bavjud Uski Side Kaise Le Sakte Ho?

Liza: humne tumse pehle bhi kaha hai Sakshi hum dushman nahi hai tumhari par tum jo yeh kar rahi ho woh galat hai, Arjun sir ke liye tumhara infatuation obsession ban raha hai.

Sakshi gusse mein uthti hai: obsession abhi tak nahi dekha tumne mera Liza, Mujhe apne raaste ke kaanto ko nikaalna achese aata hai samjhi tum?

Rathore ka ab baandh tut ta hai, woh table par haath bang karta hai: SHUT UP SAKSHI! NOT ANOTHER WORD WARNA ABHI ISI WAQT SUSPEND KAR DUNGA!!!

Sakshi: Sameer tum…

Tabhi Chotu ka phone bajta hai. sab uski taraf irritate hokar dekhte hai.

Chotu darte hue apna phone dekhta hai: sir informer!

Rathore aur gussa hota hai: Toh Bata Kya Rahe Ho? Phone Uthao!!!

Chotu (dar kar): ji sir! (phone utha kar) ha bol!

Informer: sir, pakki khabar hai Javed kal shaam ki fight se ek deal negotiate karne ke liye Dubai jaanewaala hai

Chotu: Javed ya Ravi

Informer: Ravi sir

Chotu: theek hai

Call disconnect

Shree: kya hua?

Chotu: sir khabar achi bhi hai aur buri bhi

Rathore: Rawte Ki Tarah Pehliyaan Bhujana Band Karo!!!!

Chotu(dar kar): sir woh Ravi kal raat ki flight se Dubai jaanewaala hai kisi deal ke liye

Rathore: iska matlab hum use range haath pakad sakte hai, uske paas drugs honge!

Chotu: nahi sir, woh sirf negotiate karne jaa raha hai

Rathore: koi baat nahi, uske paas drugs nahi honge iska matlab ye nahi ki woh criminal nahi hai

Sab confuse hote hai.

Liza: par sir aapne hi toh kaha tha ki use range haathon pakadne ke ilawa humare paas aur koi raasta nahi hai kyunki woh sirf Javed nahi Ravi bhi hai toh agar uske paas drugs nahi honge toh hum use range haath kaise pakdenge?

Rathore: use drugs laane ki zaroorat nahi hai Liza woh hum bhi daal sakte hai.

Shree: matlab hum use frame karenge?

Rathore(firmly): ha!

The tea exchanged surprised glances.

Ayesha(amused): aap rules todenge? The great ACP Sameer Damsingh Rathore? Kahi Arjun sir ki allergy aapke dimag mein toh nahi ghus gayi na?

Rathore use glare karta hai. baakhi sab giggle karte hai (of course except Sakshi)

Rathore: Shree jao jaa kar dekho Rawte aur Riya kaha hai

Shree: ji sir

Shree chala jaata hai.

Rathore(sternly): Miss Sakshi aap baithne waali hai ya fir ghar jaane waali hai?

Sakshi use glare karte hue apni seat leti hai. Dusri taraf Shree Arjun aur Riya ko pure office mein dhundhte hai lekin woh kahi nahi dikhte. Mv “had yeh toh kaha gayab ho gaye dono? Kahi baahar toh nahi chale gaye?” woh parking lot mein jaa kar check karta hai lekin Arjun ki gaadi wahi hai aur watchman ne bhi unhe jaate hue nahi dekha. Woh firse premises mein jaa kar search karta hai par fir bhi dono nahi milte. Thak kar woh ek desk holder se puchta hai.

Shree: are Arjun sir ya Riya ko dekha kya?

Ladka: Arjun sir ka toh dhyaan nahi hai par Riya ma’am ko upar terrace ki taraf jaate dekha tha maine. Thodi upset lag rahi thi

Shree ko apna sar fodne ka man karta hai mv “do baar check kar liya lekin terrace nahi kiya!” : acha chal thanks!

Woh terrace ki taraf jaata hai mv “pakka Arjun sir bhi Riya ke saath honge.” Woh terrace ke darwaaze par aata hai use kholne waala hai lekin fir kuch soch kar zor se knock karta hai.

Udhar Arjun aur Riya ek dusre ki baahon mein hai. knock ki awaaz sun kar alag hote hai. Agle hi second Shree aata hai.

Shree: sir, woh Rathore sir bula rahe hai. ek information mili hai

Arjun nod karta hai. Woh aur Riya dono Shree ke saath firse conference room mein jaate hai. Sakshi dono ko dekh kar glare karte hai.

Arjun: kya pata chala?

Chotu: sir Ravi aaj shaam ko Dubai jaanewaala hai ek deal ke liye

Arjun: apni koi business deal ya fir Javed ki?

Riya: kya farak padta hai sir, hume use pakadne se matlab hai, do potli drugs bag mein aur sniffer dog customs ko sab kuch bata denge. Hume sirf customs ko yeh batana hai ki hume ek drug smuggling ki khabar mili hai aur uske liye hume unki madad ki zaroorat hai. at the same time hum mein se koi uski bag mein koi drugs daal dega aur bas humara kaam ho gaya

Arjun ke ilawa sab use ghurne lagte hai.

Rathore sigh karta hai: maine ye socha tha ki kya karenge, tumne jaane bagair pura plan soch diya?

Riya: um….sorry?

Rathore smile karta hai: good job!.............................................