Chapter 6

kunchu

@kunchu

Part 6:

It didnt take long for the team to track down Vinod. Though he had tried to dispose his phone and hide his identity, they could get hold of him by midnight. as per Arjun's orders, Chotu was keeping a tab on Shekhar too.

When Vinod was in the interrogation room, all were ready to meet him. But on second thoughts, Sameer felt it would be better if Arjun don't enter this time.

Sam: ruko Rawte. we will speak to him.

Ar: kyu? ab public ke tharah tumhe bhi mujhpe shak hone laga hai?

Sam: when did I say that? ab keliye, iss interrogation mujhe handle karne do. 

he kept his constant gaze and walked in with Aisha.

Sakshi who stayed back with Arjun behind the glass screen, saw him holding his fist tight as if ready to crack the knuckles at any moment.

*** 

Inside the interrogation room:

Sameer was not at all pleased by the less corporation and absurd answer given by Vinod. He was negating his own lines again and again. Either Vinod was too tensed to keep himself up or he was playing his game well. Either way, it was getting the temper rise in the officers.

Sam: (banging the table) iss adhe raath ko hamare saath hoshiyari dikhane ka koshish math karna. Its not good for you. Hamare paas aur bhi thareeka hai sach ugalvane keliye.

Vi: mein ... sach keh raha hu sir... mujhe... kuch nahi patha.

All could read his tension and lie in his words.

Arjun lost his control. "Rathod.."

He spoke to the earphone so that Sameer and Aisha could hear.

Ar: Sahi sawal pucho Rathod. ye aise nahi manega...

Sameer knew that the fuse was about to blow. and it did too... as soon as he saw Arjun storming in down the stairs.

One look at Vinod and it was clear, that he hadn't expected his coming in this time. Vinod had heard that Arjun was in the team which handles the case. But never once he thought he would be coming in front of him. 

Arjun came forward and pulled Vinod up from his chair holding onto the collar. 

Vinod was just inches away from Arjun, and from the eyes, he could feel the anger burning him deep.

ar: bohot hua khel. ab bas. saaf saaf bolo, kya horaha hai ye sab??

Vinod shivered in his temper. "Arjun..."

He tried to call him, Arjun pushed him back to chair. He could see the same Vinod who had spoken for him many a times to his father. Vinod and Nath were always trying to take his side, when he needed it. But a look from his father used to silence them down.

Arjun tried to block all those memories. Nothing could come in now.

Ar: akhri bar puch raha hu. kyu kiya aap aisa? he trusted you.

Vi: did he Arjun?? did he really trust me?

Arjun was not looking forward for this answer.

Ar: lets talk about the case in hand.

Vi: nahi Arjun. Jo bhi hua hai, usse kya kya changes hua hai,... ye tum nahi jaanthe. Infact mujhe abhi bhi yakeen nahi horaha hai, ke tum unke side me ho. Aur shayad kaise na hoge?? After all you are his son!

"ENOUGH!!!"

He had heard enough. "Firse puch raha hu... talk about the case now. Firse nahi puchunga. Why did you kill Vadhera? just to trap him?"

"meine unhe nahi maara Arjun!!" Vinad roared again.

Ar: awaaz neeche. jhoot bol rahe ho tum. you had reason to trap him.

Vi: yes, I did. But I didnt. Tumhare baba ke wajah se mere job chali gayi. tumhe patha nahi ke kithne baar meine kaha tha, ke mein bekasur hu. but nai, wo tho zidd pe the. nikaal diya mujhe. mere pure zindagi meine unke liye kaam kiya. aur fir bas aise hi nikaal diya. mere pariwar, mere future... sab chale gaye. badla chatha tha mein. par..."

His eyes were moist. Aisha pushed a glass of water to him.

"mein sirf uske business deal me problem banana chatha tha. unke zindagi me nahi. chahe jo bhi ho... I still owe him a lot. and you know it too, Arjun"

Arjun knew Vinod had dedicated his life for his father and his business.

Sameer: tho aaj jab ye sab hua, tho tum kaha the?

vi: ghar pe hi tha. aap mere family se puch lena.

Ar: tumhare aur Shakhar ke beech kya chakkar tha?

Vi: jab mujhe patha chala, ke unke aur Vadhera ke business me jhagda hua hai... thab mein sirf ithna hi chahtha tha ke, ye deal sirf Vadhera ko mile. agar tumhare baba ko nuksan hotha, wo sirf apne kaam se hi tha. Pariwar se nahi...

Vinod said it looking at Arjun.

He kept his silence, though his eyes said he was upset.

Vi: meine hi Shakhar ko contact kiya tha. aur kaha ke mein wo sab karne ko thaiyar hu, jisse Vadhera ko ye deal mile. wo maan gaye. par usne bathaya ke ye sab secret honi chahiye. Vadhera bohot hi imaandaar admi hai. usse ye sab pasand nahi hoga.

Sam: tho Vadhera ko ye sab patha nahi tha.

vi: nahi. mujhe patha tha ke Rawte sir kaise iss deal ko milne ke koshish karenge. i helped Shakhar so that Vadhera get the deal.

he sat silent for a while, tensed.

Ai: fir? 

Vi: fir.. deal milne ke baad Vadhera ne ek party rakhi thi. waha mein bhi tha. aur wahi se Rawte sir gusse hoke chale gaye. mere liye yahi kaafi tha. I just wanted to see him failed.

sam: fir ye maarne ka plan kaha se hua?

Vi: Vadhera ko patha chal gaya ke usse ye deal cheating se mili hai. Shekhar ka call tha kal rath ko. kaha ke unhe sab patha chal gaya hai. aur bohot buri tharah se upset bhi tha. aur mujhe kuch patha nai. fir sabere patha chala ke unke death hua hai. aur Rawte sir suspect hai. but I am sure aapke baba aise kuch nai kiya hoga. wo waha kya kar rahe the, ye mujhe nai patha. But I know he is innocent.

Ar: fir, tum Shakhar se connection kyu thoda?

vi: mein dar gaya tha. mujhe patha tha, ke aap log Shekhar se bath zaroor karenge. tho shayad mujhthak bhi pohonch jayega. isliye...

They could say he was saying truth. But they needed more evidence. And for that they needed to get Shekhar. Arjun calls Chotu and tells him to bring down Shekhar to office.

They were retiring from the room when Vinod voiced up. "mujhe kuch kehna hai Arjun..."

He turned and waited for him. Sameer saw Vinod looking around. He mentioned Aisha to follow him and also to Sakshi to off the mic.

When they were alone Arjun waited for him to speak up. At last Vinod spoke.

"maana ke meine galthi ki hai. But I didnt want sir to be caught this way. Mujhe bas unhe thode thakleef dene ka hi plan tha. not anything more. Please trust me"

Arjun waited for a while but as he didnt say anything he tried to turn away, he voiced up again. "Arjun... Aapko shayad patha nahi hoga... apke baba apke pure khabar rakhe the."

He didnt want to hear more but he was caught back by his words. 

"nhe tumhari biwi ke bare me bhi patha tha..." that caught his attention.

"jab unki death hui... tho unhe bohot thakleef hua tha. par samne nahi aapaya..."

Now that was the maximum he could take.

"wo haadsa pure duniya janthe the... koi samne nahi aaya, kyunki wo mujhse related nahi the...ab agar wo bhi nahi aya... that dosent make any difference."

Vi: aise nahi hai Arjun...

Ar: bas... thats enough...

He walked away leaving the man at the hall. 

All saw Arjun walking fiercely to his cabin. All could guess the matter, so let it be for him. But soon, Sameer and other heard a crashing sound inside the cabin, which made them rush to the cabin. "Rawte kya hua??"

The question was answered by his figure turned away from them and a broken glass, shattered to grains.

"Rawte..."

"leave me alone..."

They knew it would be the best thing to do for now, so walked away. 

Arjun sat by his couch with his face held in his palm to control his breath. He could see his love soaked in blood, her pyre through his eyes... him all alone in a home... and a distant figure who looked at him... his father.

He cursed himself for thinking all these again. His intercom rang, which he took without answering. 

"Sir... Shekhar is here" Sree whispered at the other end.

"hm... coming"

Sree felt the line going off at the other end and turned to Aisha and Sakshi.

"agar ye Shekhar ne kuch kiya hai... then trust me... today is his end...".