Chapter 27

Bloomie

@bloomie

Sameer gently put a comforting hand on his shoulder: Arjun he’s dead

Arjun suddenly came to the presence and stared at Sameer. For a second, the look in his eyes reminded him of his Sam but how could it be? He didn’t have any Sam in his life now. He quickly regained his composure and stood up. Sameer too stepped away from him. An awkward silence rested between the two.

They tried to catch each other’s eyes and looked away when they did. Neither of them knew what to say.

Arjun broke the silence: main commissioner se baat kar lunga, tumhe koi explanation dene ki zaroorat nahi padegi, bina zaroorat ke encounter ke liye

Sameer looked at him but he still did not make eye contact: it’s ok, I mean…usne hostage rakha tha…aur waise bhi…he, he deserved it. Main sambhal lunga

Arjun looked at him in surprise. Sameer sighed.

Sameer: listen, that day at the airport…I…I didn’t mean what I said. Main tumhe Naina ke liye kabhi maaf nahi kar sakta par iska matlab ye nahi ki main aise criminal ko chod du. Us din kahi na kahi mera ego beech mein aa gaya, mujhe laga agar tum plan change karoge toh sab bigad jaayega, I didn’t trust you aur sach kahu toh abhi bhi tum par aankh band karke vishwas nahi karta lekin, lekin jo bhi ho atleast abhi ke liye hum saath mein hi atke hai (he extended his hand) toh jab tak atke hai, tab tak ajnabi bankar nayi shuruwat kare? Keep it professional?

Needless to say Arjun was shocked.

Arjun(suspiciously): kaun ho tum aur tumne Rathore ke saath kya kiya hai?

Rathore rolled his eyes: main Rathore hi hun aur karne ka kaam tumhari girlfriend, Riya ka hai, mera nahi

Arjun squinted: girlfriend? Tumhe kaise pata ki…

Rathore: tumhe hum sab andhe dikhayi dete hai? Rawte tum bhale hi smart ho lekin iska matlab ye nahi ki hum bevkuf hai.

Arjun recalled what Riya had done with the commissioner(sternly): shut up! Kya kiya usne?

Rathore raised his eyebrow: tumhe sach mein nahi pata?

Arjun(irritated): mujhe pata hota toh tumse kyun puchta? Kya kiya Riya ne?

Rathore kuch bolne waala hai tabhi Shree bhaagkar aata hai.

Shree: sir!!!....Sirr!!!!

Rathore: kya hua?

Shree: sir! woh Riya aur Ayesha…

Arjun/Rathore(tensed): kya hua unhe?

Shree: nahi sir, unhe kuch nahi hua, woh maine abhi unhe phone kiya toh unhone uthaya nahi toh maine udhar officer ko phone kiya usne bola ki Ayesha aur Riya dono jaldi-jaldi mein office chale gaye

Arjun: bina bataye? Kyun?

Shree: pata nahi sir (Rathore ka haath dekh kar) Rathore sir aap kaunse imaginary friend ke saath haath mila rahe hai?

Rathore ko tabhi dhyaan aata hai ki uska abhi bhi wahi hai. woh immediately use hata kar Shree ko glare karta hai.

Shree(darkar): main…main Chotu ke saath ruk jaata hun sir, aap log jayiye! Bye!

Aur patli gali se bhaag jaata hai. Rathore disbelief mein apna sar hilata hai.

Arjun: chale?

Rathore nod karta hai. dono Shree aur Chotu ko in-charge banakar nikal jaate hai.

On the other hand, ETF office-

Liza aur Sakshi dono Sakshi ke desk par baithe hue baatein kar rahe hai.

Liza: itna time ho gaya, abhi tak kisi ne call kyun nahi kiya?

Sakshi: pata nahi, I hope sab achese…

Tabhi office mein hulchul machti hai. dono turn hokar dekhte hai ki Ayesha aur Riya kisi ko interrogation room ki taraf le jaa rahe hai.

Liza: ye dono yaha kya kar rahi hai?

Sakshi: woh chodo, unke saath kaun tha?

Liza: chal dekhte hai

Sakshi apna coffee ka mug wahi chod kar Liza ke saath interrogation room mein jaati hai. Ayesha aur Riya ko Pathan ke room mein jaata dekh woh aur bhi confuse ho jaati hai. lekin unhe andar jaana sahi nahi lagta. Instead dono one-way glass se use dekh rahe hai. Liza waha ke surveillance ka sound on karti hai.

Achanak Sakshi uska dhyaan andar kheenchti hai: Liza! Ye toh Jasmine haina?

Liza bhi shock hokar dekhti hai. woh ladki sach mein Jasmine thi par jo photo unhone dekhi thi ye usse bilcul alag rahi thi. Uska chehra toh same tha par shareer par violence aur abuse ke nishaan saaf-saaf dikh rahe the, woh rote hue Pathan ko hug karti hai.

Andar-

Jasmine bahot dari hui hai, bas Shivangi ko follow kar rahi hai. Jab woh aur Ayesha use andar laate hai toh use samaj mein nahi aata ki woh log use waha kyun laaye hai? apne saamne baithe insaan ko dekhkar woh ghin hoti hai. woh khoon se latpat pade admi ko dekhkar Riya ko tightly pakadti hai.

Ayesha aur Riya ek dusre ko glance karti hai. Riya use questioning look deti hai. Ayesha positively nod karti hai.

Riya Jasmine ko confuse karte hue use apne se dur karti hai: Pathan!

Pathan upar dekhta hai. Jasmine ko dekhkar uske pairon tale zameen khisak jaati hai aur woh bhi aisi haalat mein.

Pathan: JASMINE!!!!

Jasmine ghabra kar firse Riya ko tightly hug karti hai aur darte hue us admi ko dekhti hai. use woh chehra jaana pehchaana lagta hai.

Pathan uthne ki koshish karta hai par uske haath dono taraf hathkadiyon se bandhe hue hai: Jasmine!!!

Uski awaaz dheerese Jasmine ke man mein register hoti hai. woh confusion mein use dhyaan se dekhti hai. achanak…

Jasmine: PAPA!!!!!

Woh uske paas bhaag kar use pakad kar rone lagti hai. Pathan bhi use hug karne ki koshish karta hai lekin kar nahi pata. Woh frustrate hota hai.

Pathan: tum…tum yaha kya kar rahi ho Jasmine? Aur ye sab kisne kiya? (woh gusse se ladkiyon ki taraf dekhta hai) Tum Logon Ko Sharam Nahi Aati!!!  Tumhari Himmat Kaise Hui Meri Beti Ke Saath Aisa Salukh Karne Ki? CHODUNGA NAHI MAIN TUM LOGON KO!!!

Riya: kyun? Khud par aayi toh dard ho raha hai? aur un ladkiyon ka kya jinhe tumne zindgi bhar zillat sehne ke liye chod diya?

Ayesha: apni beti ko dard mein dekhkar tumhara dil jal raha lekin un saare maa-baap ka kya jinki betiyon ka tumne shoshan kiya? Un bhaiyon aur patiyon ka kya jinki behno aur biwiyon ko tumne unse humesha ke liye dur kar diya?

Jasmine ye saari baatein sun kar aur bhi zyaada confuse hoti jaa rahi hai.

Jasmine(abhi bhi rote hue): aap…aap sab kya bol rahe hai? papa…Shivangi miss…aap kis baare mein baat kar rahe hai? Shivangi Miss ne toh mujhe waha se baahar nikala (Pathan confuse hota hai)...aur...aur papa ye sab kya hai? aap aise kyun hai yaha par? Aap…aap toh Dubai mein the na? aur Shivangi Miss, aap…aap papa ko Pathan keh kar kyun bula rahi hai?

Pathan ko chup dekhkar Riya ka gussa badhta hai: ab chup kyun ho gaye Pathan? Apni beti ke sawalon ka jawab do…ya fir main bolu?

Pathan use glare karta hai. Jasmine ka confusion aur bhi badhta hai.

Ayesha: ye kya bolega Riya, Jasmine ke sawalon ke jawab hume hi dene padenge. (uski taraf dekhkar) Jasmine tum sach jaana chahti hona? Toh suno…tumhare papa Naved Sheikh nahi hai, woh Pathan Lala hai..

Pathan(gusse mein): Chup Karo!!! Khabardaar Jo Ek Aur Shabd Nikala Hai Toh Apne Muh Se!!!!

Ayesha use ignore karke continue karti hai: Aur Uska Sirf Ek Hi Business Hai….Drugs Aur Human Trafficking Ka!

Riya: Woh Ek Criminal Hai Aur Tumhare Papa Ke So Called Boss Sikandar Ne Hi Tumhe Kidnap Kiya Tha Aur Tumhare…(apni tone ko soft karke) tumhare saath jo bhi kuch hua woh sab bhi usine kiya hai

Jasmine ko apne kaano par vishwas nahi hota: NAHI!!! YE JHOOT HAI…ye nahi ho sakta hai, aapko galatfehmi hui hai, mere papa aisa kabhi nahi karenge!! (desperately)  Haina papa??? Aap keh dijiye… aap ne aisa kuch nahi kiya…papa boliye na!!! aap kuch bol kyun nahi rahe?

Pathan Jasmine ko jawab nahi de paata, woh bas uske sawalon se nazre jhuka kar baitha hai. ek taraf uske sawal use pareshaan kar rahe hai dusri taraf use yakeen nahi ho raha ki Sikandar ne uski gair haazir mein Jasmine ka faayda uthaya. Uska khoon khaul raha hai Jasmine ko dekhkar aur saath hi saath woh usse nazre nahi mila pa raha hai

Jasmine cheekhti hai: PAPA!! BOLIYE NA!!! AAP CHUP KYUN HAI?!?!?

Riya uske kandhe par haath rakhti hai. woh aur nahi seh paati aur sach ko realise karke apne ghutno par gir kar rone lagti hai.

Jasmine(mumbling): bolo na….ki sab jhoot hai…bolo!!!

Riya use hug karke comfort karti hai….

Baahar-

Sakshi aur Liza sab dekh aur sun rahe hai. Jasmine ki haalat dekh kar unke aankhon mein bhi aansu aa jaate hai. tabhi achanak Arjun aur Rathore andar aate hai.

Rathore(irritated): kya ho raha hai yaha par?

Sakshi(apne aansu ponch kar): woh Sameer, Jasmine…mil gayi

Woh room ki taraf ishara karti hai. Arjun aur Rathore aage aakar dekhte hai. andar Jasmine zameen par baithi hai. Riya apne knees par aur Jasmine use tightly hug karke ro rahi hai. uski body par abuse ke nishaan hai aur Ayesha bas Pathan ko glare kar rahi hai. unhe immediately situation pata chal jaati hai

Rathore: iska matlab Jasmine waha godown par thi….hume andar jaana chahiye Pathan ka muh zaroor khulega

Liza(surprised): Sikandar firse haath se nikal gaya?

Rathore: nahi

Liza: toh phir Pathan ka muh kyun khulwana hai?

Rathore: Sikandar ki gang bahot faili hui hai, woh mar chuka hai aur uske baad ek Pathan hi aisa hai jo us gang ko puri tarah se khatam karne ke liye humari madad kar sakta hai…(Arjun ki taraf mudkar) tum aa rahe ho?

Arjun silently nod karta hai. dono room mein enter karte hai. Ayesha aur Riya ki nazre un par jaati hai. Arjun Riya ko Jasmine ko baahar le jaane ka ishara karta hai.

Riya use bulane ki koshish karti hai: Jasmine?.....Jasmine

Ye dekhkar Ayesha bhi kneel karti hai(comfortingly): Jasmine, chalo yaha se...

Riya: shaant ho jao beta, sab theek ho jaayega…humare saath chalo

Jasmine kisi tarah apne aansu ko control karke uthti hai.

Pathan: Jasmine…

Jasmine wiped her tears and turned to him: Ab Kuch Kehne Ki Zaroorat Nahi Hai Aapko!!!… (cracked) main kabhi sapne mein bhi nahi soch sakti thi ki aap aisa kuch kar sakte hai (angst) YOU ARE THE ONE WHO HAS RAPED ME NOT THEM!!!

Pathan ki aankhe mein bhi aansu aa jaate hai: Jasmine!! Please….meri baat…

Lekin Jasmine apna muh fer leti hai. Ayesha aur Riya use support karke baahar le jaate hai. Arjun unke baahar jaane ka wait karta hai. uske baad…

Arjun(sternly): tera baap toh gaya….ab seedhe-seedhe apna muh khol de!!

Aur is baar Pathan tote ki tarah sab bolne lagta hai kyunki ab…ab uske paas kuch nahi bacha. Uski beti usse nafrat karne lagi hai aur badla lene ka bhi sawaal nahi paida hota kyunki Sikandar bhi mar chuka hai. ab resist karne se use kuch nahi milne waala hai. isliye woh sab kuch batane lagta hai. desh-videsh mein Sikandar ke jitne thikaana hai jitne business hai, agents hai, sab kuch.

Dusri taraf Riya Jasmine ko hospital le jaati hai aur use treatment ke liye admit karti hai. ab uska khayal rakhne waala koi nahi hai isliye ek NGO se contact karke uski responsibility bhi use saunp deti hai taaki woh aage securely apni life jee sake.

Shree aur Chotu bhi thodi der mein aa jaate hai. Pathan ki di hui saari information team ke baakhi members circulate kar lete hai. Mumbai mein toh sab band ho hi gaya tha, ab baakhi sheher, state aur countries ki police ko bhi woh log inform kar dete hai taaki woh log baakhi ka kaam khatam kar sake.

Rathore Vikram se Sikandar ki encounter ki baat bhi kar leta hai lekin Vikram koi argument nahi karta kyunki woh jaanta tha ki Arjun zaroor use maar dega bhale hi permission ho ya na ho. Woh team ko congratulate karke unhe teen din ki chutti de deta hai.

Riya NGO se formalities puri karke waapis ETF jaati hai. Rathore aur Arjun ke ilawa sab conference room mein baithe hai. unhone bhi thodi der pehle saari information paas karna khatam ki thi. Ab sab canteen se khaana mangwakar baithe hai. Riya bhi jaa kar chair par collapse ho jaati hai.

Riya: please don’t tell me paperwork karna hai

Ayesha: tension mat le yaar, maine Sam se keh diya ki agar unhone paperwork ka P bhi bola toh main apne maayke chali jaungi

Sab haste hai.

Shree: anyway, Riya ab Jasmine kaisi hai?

Riya: I hope woh achi hai, maine ek NGO se baat karke use uski responsibility de di hai. abhi toh Doctor ne use neend ka injection dekar sula diya hai.

Liza: acha hai, so jaayegi toh man shaant ho jaayega, bahot bura hua uske saath. Najaane kya beeti hogi bichari par jab use pata chala hoga ki jin logon ne use zindgi bhar ke zakhm de diye uska baap bhi usi mein shaamil tha.

Ayesha: ha uske saath bura hua lekin sach kahu toh I feel atleast us kaaran Pathan ko nehle pe dehla mila. Jab tak khud par nahi beet ti tab tak insaan kabhi nahi samaj paata ki woh dusro ki kitni chot pahuncha raha hai, main ye nahi keh rahi ki Jasmine ko uski saza milni chahiye but…you know kabhi-kabhi justice is grey.

Chotu: ha humne kitni koshish ki woh is sab mein involve na ho, par fir bhi….

Kuch der room mein silence baithti hai.

Chotu: are Riya, tu bhi kha na, lunch nahi kiya fir bhi bhook nahi lagi kya tujhe?

Riya smile karti hai: ha lagi hai yaar, khaati hun…par koi ye toh bolo ki Arjun sir kaha hai? please ye mat kehna ki commissioner ke paas gaye hai ya firse kahi gayab ho gaye

Shree smile karta hai: woh apne cabin mein hai

Riya(relieved): thank god! (apna purse utha kar) aati hun

Ayesha: purse lekar kyun jaa rahi hai?

Riya: are saaman hai thoda, aati hun

Woh Arjun ke cabin mein chali jaati hai aur darwaaze par knock karti hai.

Andar se: aao Riya

Riya enter karti hai. Arjun khidki ke paas khada hai. woh mudta nahi hai, usne Riya ko aate hue dekh liya tha aur usi ki raah dekh raha tha. Riya table par apna purse rakhkar uske paas khadi hoti hai.

Riya: kaise hai aap?

Arjun: pata nahi…samaj mein nahi aa raha kuch. Itne waqt se bas apna badla pura karna chahta tha aur ab (woh Riya ko hug karta hai) ab khaali-khaali sa lag raha hai…lekin ha ek alag hi chain mehsoos ho raha hai

Riya smiled and tightened her hold on him. They stayed like that for a few minutes till Arjun felt his mood lifting.

Arjun: Jasmine?

Riya: maine NGO se baat kar li hai, they will take care of her

Arjun : main nahi chahta tha ki use kuch sehna pade especially aisa kuch

Riya: jaanti hun, par hum sab kuch toh control nahi kar sakte na? Vikram sir se toh humne use bacha liya lekin uske hi logon se nahi bacha paaye

Arjun sighed: tum sahi keh rahi ho

Riya: did you eat?

Arjun’s eyes widened a little: um…woh…main…uh…sorry?

Riya shook her head and separated herself from him. She walked to the table and fished out a packet from her purse. Arjun stepped towards her in amusement as she opened the packet to reveal samosas.

Riya: baithiye aur kha lijiye

Arjun smiled as he sat on a chair near her: tumhe pata tha main nahi khaunga?

Riya: ha…(serving him) ab lijiye

Arjun took one of the steaming hot samosas as Riya too sat and dined with him. As he took the first bite…

Arjun(surprised): hmm…ye, ye toh woh M.J road ke tapriwaale hai ke samose hai. tum kaha se le aayi?

Riya: are raaste mein traffic tha, toh nazar padi us par fir mujhe yaad aaya ki aapko uske samose bahot pasand hai aur is baat ki 100% guarantee thi ki na aap khaayenge aur na hi aapka mood zyaada acha hoga toh le aayi

A bubble of happiness burst inside him and he suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace startling her.

Arjun: thank you Riya! I love you so much!!

Riya teased him: are waah! Ek samose ke liye I love you? Pehle pata hota toh roz le aati, aapko patane ke liye itni mehnat nahi karni padti

Arjun: Riya!!!!! (Riya laughed seeing him back to his normal self) this is not done! Tum humesha mujhe chedti kyun rehti ho?

Riya: oh god? Main aapko chedti hun? Arjun sir agar ye baat aapne kisi ko batayi na toh use heart attack aa jaayega….ki The ACP Arjun Suryakant Rawte ko koi ched bhi sakta hai

Arjun whined again: Riya!!!

Riya laughed and fed him: acha baba sorry! Aap pehle kha lijiye shaanti se

Arjun took a bite while gazing into her eyes: tumhari aankhein sach mein bahot khubsurat hai

Riya(amused): ab kaun ched raha hai?

Arjun(innocently): main toh compliment de raha hun

Riya teases him: acha?

Arjun: tum fir shuru mat ho jao!

Riya: theek hai theek hai, khaiye ab

Arjun: tum laayi ho toh tum hi khila do

Riya: sab kuch main hi karu, toh aap kya karenge?

Arjun: tumhare haathon se khaunga aur tumhari aankhein mein doob jaunga

Riya blushed red at his statement and looked away. Without broaching the topic further she silently fed him and he did just what he said he would do. Enjoyed the beauty of her eyes while relishing his favourite by her hand………………………