Chapter 2

Bloomie

@bloomie

Aise hi 5 mahine beet jaate hai. Arjun ke samjhe ya samjhau aur kuch toh chut raha hai se Rathore pak chuka hai, uski manmaani se sau baar apna sar patak chuka hai lekin uske transfer ya jane ke baare mein koi baat nahi ho rahi hai.

Ayesha Sameer ke kehne ki wajah se distance maintain karti hai aur un dono par nazar rakhti hai taaki baat aage na badhe.

Shree aur Chotu toh uske aane-jaane se kaanpne lagte hai par itna time hone ki wajah se thode used to ho jaate hai. Uske saamne koi bak-bak nahi karte. Uska diya hua saara kaam time to time karte hai.

Liza ko zyaada farak nahi padta hai. Woh apna kaam karti hai aur agar Arjun conference room mein rehne waala ho toh conveniently lab mein jaakar chup jaati hai.

Sakshi toh Sakshi hai. Pehle din se hi us par nazre daal kar baithi hai. Har mauke par uske saath flirt karne ki koshish karti hai. Uske aage-peeche ghumti rehti hai.

Aur Arjun? Use koi farak nahi padta. Woh sirf apne maksad ke liye ETF mein aaya hai. Woh kisi ki taraf aankh uthakar nahi dekhta hai. Bas problem hoti hai toh Sakshi ke uske kaam mein taang adane se. woh uski existence ko acknowledge tak nahi karta hai.

Ek din-

Sab conference room mein hai. Case ki discussion kar rahe hai lekin atmosphere tensed hai. Unke case ki wajah se nahi balki kisi aur wajah se. utne mein Sakshi ka phone bajta hai.

Sakshi: ha bol?....(khushi se cheekh kar) Kya Keh Rahi Hai?!?!!? ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS?!?! (uske chillane ne sabki nazar us par padti hai).....acha ha main check karti hun, bye!

Woh phone rakhkar immediately news on karti hai. TV par news run ho rahi hai.

Anchor: hume apne darshakon ko ye batate hue khushi ho rahi hai ki Xora naam ka khatra ab is shehar se tal chuka hai (sab chain ki saans lete hai) Mumbai Police ke Crime branch Unit 5 ne ek baar fir apna kamaal dikha kar is shehar ko ek bade khatre se bacha liya hai. Haala ki, is jeet ko haasil karne ke liye, unki ek officer, Riya Mukherjee ne apni jaan ki baazi laga di hai. Unki haalat critical hai aur woh City hospital mein admit hai. Hum apne darshakon se vinti karte hai ki us farishte ke liye prathna kare taaki unki jaisi jabaaz officers humare desh ki raksha kar sake…

Arjun ke pairon tale zameen khisak jaati hai lekin uske expressions blank rehte hai.

Ayesha: thank God! Ye khatra tal gaya….mujhe toh bottled water ka bhi paani peene se dar lag raha tha, pata nahi kab mar jau?

Liza: sach mein…jaan nikal rahi thi meri toh, post-mortem bhi theekse nahi hua

Shree use nudge karke Arjun ki taraf ishaara karta hai. Liza apni galti realise karti hai lekin isse pehle ki woh koi explanation de Arjun apni gun lekar office se nikal jaata hai.

Sameer: Rawte? Kaha jaa rahe ho? (par woh reply nahi karta) Dammit!!! Is Admi Ki Toh!!!

Arjun ke kaano par Rathore ki awaaz toh jaati hai lekin woh use process nahi karta. Uske dimag ne kaam karna band kar diya hai. Woh bhaagkar parking ki taraf jaata hai. Uski gaadi tezi se chal kar City Hospital jaati hai.

Xora ki wajah se saare hospitals mein bahot bheed hai. City hospital was no less. Upar se media. Use main gate se hospital ke parking tak jaane ke liye hi aadha ghanta lag jaata hai. Har minute ke saath uska pressure badh raha hai. Woh finally car park karke building mein bhagta hai.

Chaaron taraf log faile hue hai. Aisa lagta hai jaise woh hospital mein nahi Kumbh ke mele mein aa gaya ho. Woh reception par puchne ki koshish karta hai par chaaron log itne busy hai ki koi uski taraf dekhta tak nahi. Patients ke family members aur doctors dono ko woh log handle karne ki koshish karte hai.

Arjun waha se side ho jaata hai. Woh ek paas hone waale ward boy se puchne ki koshish karta hai.

Arjun: Crime branch ki officer kaunse kamre mein hai?

Ward boy: mujhe nahi pata saab, itne saare patients hai, dhyaan rakhna mushkil hai lekin ha woh operation theatre mein honi chahiye. Aap 7th floor par check kar lijiye

Arjun: thank you so much!

Arjun aage kuch sune bagair lift ki taraf bhagta hai lekin….waha ki paanchon lift mein lambi-lambi lines hai. Woh irritate hokar seedhiyon ki taraf bhagta hai. Finally woh 7th floor par pahunchta hai. Operation theatres hone ke wajah se patients ki families aur hospital staff ke ilawa aur koi nahi hai.

Woh ek corridor se dusre corridor jaata hai and finally use apni purani team dikhti hai. 6 log ek theatre ke baahar khade hai. Arjun aage nahi jaata bas corridor ke end se waha jhaankta hai. Waha Unit ke chief ACP Amod Narvekar, Senior Inspector Taara, technical head Raj, commando Jai, encounter specialist Deepak aur ek aur admi hai.

Arjun assumes ki woh uske jaane ke baad join hua hoga, uski jagah par. Woh sab bahar hai iska matlab operation abhi bhi chal raha tha. Woh wahi wait karta hai bina kisi ki nazar mein aaye. Uska man ab ghabraane lagta hai. Itne der tak woh sirf waha pahunchne ke baare mein soch raha tha aur ab use Riya ke liye dar lagne laga tha. woh main hall ki chair par baithkar aankhein band karta hai. Woh automatically uske baare mein sochne lagta hai…

Flashback

Arjun ka transfer ho gaya hai…firse. Uska Crime Branch mein pehla din tha. woh drive karke jaa raha hai ki achanak ek ladki road par jaakar gir jaati hai. Horrified, his foot forces the brakes stopping the car in the nick of time. Irritated beyond threshold he unfastens his seat belt and rushes out to give the woman a piece of his mind.

The lady was still crouched down cradling a puppy in her hands checking him for injuries. Hearing the sound of the car’s door, she stood up, the puppy still in her hands and apologised before Arjun could even speak.

Lady: I’m so sorry!!! I know maine aapko heart attack de diya par (gesturing to the puppy) ye achanak road cross karne laga aur aapki distance aur iski size ki wajah se aapko dikhta nahi isliye main beech mein aa gayi… I’m really sorry.

Arjun was taken aback and impressed that she put her life in danger for a stray puppy and stared at her for a few seconds. Just then a dog barked as she arrived at the spot with three other puppies at her tail. The lady smiled and coaxed the one in her hand.

Lady: are dekho! Mumma aa gayi tumhe lene. Paagal! dara diya na mumma ko? Aisa nahi karte na bacha? Tum good boy hona? Aage se aisa mat karna okay?

Arjun felt amused as she talked to the animal as if he could understand.

She gently lay the puppy on the road who whimpered back to this mother not before giving the lady a playful lick. The mother too showed her gratitude by wagging her tail and licking her hands and face. The lady giggled in happiness as she petted the lot. The family took off after a few minutes.

She turned back to the stranger: I’m really sorry. Mujhe pata hai it was irresponsible par main kya karti? Mujhe us waqt aur kuch sujha hi nahi aur main use marte hue nahi dekh sakti thi.

Arjun shrugged it off: it’s okay, accident tha. aap theek hai?

Lady: ha...and thank you for stopping warna main toh gayi hoti

Arjun: main nahi rukta toh khud jail jaata jiska mujhe koi shauk nahi hai (he suddenly noticed a graze on her elbow) aapko chot lagi hai

The Lady checked her elbow: are kuch nahi! Ye toh choti kharoch hai, apne aap hi theek ho jaayegi ek-do din mein.

Arjun nodded and went back to the car. She stepped away from the path as he went off.

When he reached the Crime branch and had met the Chief. Narvekar introduced him to the team. He was pleasantly surprised to see her as a Research specialist. She smiled back warmly as she recognised him.

He knew his reputation preceded him everywhere. Everyone treated him the same as an annoying Hitler boss and he knew the Crime Branch knew that too. It was no different but….she? for some reason she always talked normally to him, never being afraid of him. If he was angry she would leave him alone for some time and then bring his cutting for him. If he was upset and not showing it to anyone, she would come and sit beside him without asking any questions. After a few days he naturally started talking with her too. He actually started liking her company. She was one person who he didn’t mind to socialize with.

Flashback Ends.

Arjun mv “teen mahine jaana hai tumhe Riya, aur fir bhi mera dil tumhe apna maanne laga hai. Pata nahi pata aage chal kar kya hoga? Par main tumhe nahi khona chahta, tum hi ek akeli ho jisne mujhe samajhne ki koshish ki. Ek tum hi mujhe insaan samajhti ho.”

Riya ek akeli aisi thi jisse Arjun team se jaane ke baad bhi baat karta hai. Itne transfers aur postings hui lekin Riya ke ilawa kisi ke saath touch mein nahi hai. Haala ki woh baat alag hai ki woh kabhi use call ya message nahi karta tha, sirf Riya ki baaton ka jawab deta hai. Kabhi kaam mein shayad ek do baar jawab dena bhul bhi jaaye lekin Riya humesha is baat ka dhyaan rakhti thi ki woh theek se kha aur so raha hai ya nahi. Waise bhi she was the only one jisne ye notice bhi kiya tha ki Arjun apni health ko lekar careless hai.

Arjun ki ringtone use disturb karti hai. Woh Rathore ka naam dekhkar irritate hota hai.

Arjun: Bolo!

Sameer(firmly): Kaha Ho Tum? 2 Ghante Hone Ko Aaye Hai, Office Aao!!

Arjun equal rudeness se reply karta hai: Kyun? Ek Din Bhi Mere Bina Kaam Nahi Kar Sakte? Itne Incompetent Ho Tum Log?

Sameer(angrily): Shut Up Rawte!! Watch Your Words! Hume Tumhari Koi Zaroorat Nahi Hai. Lekin Chief Hone Ke Naate Main Aisa Indiscipline Bardaasht Nahi Karunga Isliye Chup-Chap Office Aajao!!

Arjun hospital ki wajah se apni awaaz ko control karta hai: Main Nahi Aane Waala Aaj! Tumhe Jo Karna Hai Kar Lo!

Sameer: RAWTE MERA DIMAG MAT KHARAB KARO!

Arjun: Main Nahi Aaunga Matlab Nahi Aaunga!

Itna kehkar hi woh call disconnect kar leta hai aur phone switch off. Woh firse Riya ko yaad karne lagta hai. Uski nazar deewar par lage ek chote mandir par padti hai. Bhagwan par kabhi vishwas nahi kiya, kabhi-kabhi Roshni ke kehne par haath jod leta tha par aaj? aaj uske pair apne aap hi mandir ki taraf chalne lagte hai. woh kisi tarah apne kaanpte hue haathon ko jodkar aankhein band karta hai.

Arjun mv “please use bacha lijiye, usne laakhon logon ki jaan bachayi hai uska inaam maut nahi ho sakti. Mujhe zaroorat hai Riya ki, please bacha lijiye use.”

Kuch der baad use corridor mein hulchul sunai deti hai. Woh turn hokar firse jhaankta hai. Doctor OT se baahar aa chuka hai aur team use gher ke khadi hai.

Narvekar(tensed): Doctor? Riya theek ho jaayegi na?

Doctor: fikar karne waali koi baat nahi hai, humne blood transfusion kar liya hai. Woh khatre se baahar hai. Ek hafte mein discharge ho jaayega. 15-20 din tak weakness rahegi fir dheere-dheere she can continue with routine life.

Sab ye sunkar relief hote hai khaas kar Narvekar aur Arjun.

Taara: Doctor kya hum usse mil sakte hai?

Doctor: abhi toh woh anaesthesia ke effect mein hai. Hum unhe regular room mein shift kar le fir ek ghante mein aap mil sakte hai.

Narvekar: thank you so much Doctor! We owe you!

Doctor: no officer, we owe you. Aapki officer sach mein bahot bahadur hai. Uske bina toh is shehar mein laashein bich jaati.

Narvekar smile karta hai. Doctor excuse karke chala jaata hai. Uske jaate hi team ka celebration shuru ho jaata hai. woh log itna excite ho jaate hai ki Nurse ko aakar unhe chup kara kar bhagana padta hai. Unhe us direction mein aata dekh Arjun chup jaata hai. Sab khush hokar regular room ki taraf jaate hai.

1 ghante baad Riya ko hosh aata hai. Uska room bhar jaata hai. Sabki daant aur pyaar khaane ke baad Doctor use rest advise karta hai.

Doctor(Riya se): aapki family mein se koi ek raat ruk sakta hai.

Riya ka chehra thoda utar jaata hai.

Narvekar: main yahi hun doctor, Riya ka khayal rakhunga…

Itne mein woh dusra admi kehta hai: are nahi Amod! Tumhe takleef lene ki kya zaroorat hai? Main hu na? main ruk jaunga Riya ke saath.

Riya Amod ko horrified look dekar plead karti hai.

Narvekar(firmly): main ruk raha hun Vishal and that’s final! Waise bhi tum log ab ghar jao. Sabko aaram ki zaroorat hai. Shayad kal off mil jaaye main baad mein message bhijwata hun.

Vishal ka chehra utar jaata hai par woh argue nahi kar pata. Baakhi sab chale jaate hai.

Riya: thank you Narvekar sir, main Vishal sir ko office mein jhel lu, wahi kaafi hai.

Narvekar smile karke uske bed ke paas baithta hai: jaanta hun Riya, chinta mat karo. Jab tak hospital mein tab tak main use tumhare saath akele nahi rehne dunga

Riya: I love you sir seriously! Thank you!

Narvekar hasta hai: I love you too.

Doctor: Mr. Amod, mujhe aapse kuch baat karni hai treatment se related aap mere saath aa jaayiye

Narvekar nod karta hai(Riya se): tum so jao, main thodi der mein aata hun okay?

Riya nod karke aankhein band karti hai. Use bhi weakness feel ho rahi hai. Narvekar Doctor ke saath chala jaata hai. Uske jaane ke kuch pal baad Arjun finally apni hiding se baahar aata hai. Narvekar ko jaata dekh woh Riya ke room mein jaata hai.

Riya ko kisi ke aane ki awaaz sunai deti hai. Narvekar itni jaldi waapis aa gaya is confusion mein aankhein kholti hai. Lekin uska andaza galat hai. Waha Narvekar nahi koi aur hai.

Riya(spell bound): Arjun sir aap?

Use waha dekhkar Riya ke pairon tale almost zameen khisak jaati hai. Crime Branch se transfer hone ke baad uski aur Arjun ki baatein zaroor hoti thi lekin woh un 5 mahino mein kabhi mile nahi

Arjun uske paas baithta hai: hmm, ab kaisa feel kar rahi ho?

Riya complain karti hai: haath hilane ke liye bhi takleef ho rahi hai, aisa lag raha hai jaise shareer mein jaan hi nahi bachi, khud ki body bhi control nahi hai rahi hai.

Arjun: ek baat kahu? (Riya nod karti hai) I’m proud of you

Riya lightly blush karti hai: thank…you

Arjun Narvekar ke lautne se pehle waha se nikalna chahta hai: apna khayal rakhna okay? (uthte hue) Main jaata hun

Use mushkil ho rahi hai fir bhi Riya kisi tarah Arjun ke jaane se pehle uski ungli pakad leti hai. Arjun choukta hai. uski nazar unke haathon par jaati hai. woh use questioningly dekhta hai.

Riya: main ek baat puchu?

Arjun: hmm

Riya: aap yaha kyun aaye?

Arjun: pata nahi…bina soche aa gaya. News dekhi toh apne aap yaha pahunch gaya. Shayad dimag ko dil par haavi hone ka waqt hi nahi mila

Riya smile karti hai: fir kab milenge?

Arjun: kabhi nahi?

Riya (innocently): toh kya aapse milne ke liye mujhe baar-baar hospital aana padega?

Arjun uska haath ko theekse pakadkar firse baithta hai(calmly): Riya, shut up

Riya: par aapne hi toh kaha ki news sun kar apne aap aa gaye? Aur aap mujhe nahi milenge toh phir toh aap sirf hospital ya fir seedhe samshaan…

Arjun uske muh par haath rakh deta hai: Riya!

Riya uska haath hatati hai: par aapne hi toh bola ki aap mujhse nahi milenge aur main yaha thi isliye aap bina soche samjhe aa gaye toh fir mujhe toh aapse milne ke liye hospital hi aana hoga na?

Arjun sigh karta hai: Riya, ye kaisa solution hai?

Riya: toh aap hi boliye ki main kya karu? Mujhe toh aur koi raasta nahi dikhayi de raha hai.

Arjun: tum kyun mujhse milna chahti ho?

Riya: kyunki aap mere dost hai aur (accusingly) ab mujhe pata chal gaya hai ki aap phone par ache se jhut bolte hai

Arjun: maine kaunsa jhut bola?

Riya: look at yourself, kitne duble ho gaye hai aap? Pakka time se khaana nahi khaate honge, mujhe toh lag raha hai aadhe waqt khaana khaate bhi nahi honge, pehle ki tarah.

Arjun light smile deta hai. Woh Riya ki concern ko dekhkar surprised feel karta hai. Roshni ke ilawa aur uske baad kisi ne usse is tarah baat nahi ki.

Arjun: aisa nahi hai Riya, woh kuch dino se kaam zyaada tha office mein, case bhi…

Riya: case bhi mushkil the, subah jaldi jaata tha, raat ko late aata tha….yahi na? (Arjun surprise hota hai) aapke bahane pata hai mujhe. Aap apna khayal hi nahi rakhte.

Arjun: bahana nahi hai Riya, is baar sach mein hua. Tum kaho toh ETF ki do hafte ki reports laa kar tumhe dikha du

Riya convince hoti hai: acha theek hai, lekin ye toh bataiye ki aap mujhse milenge ya nahi?

Arjun use aur argue nahi kar paata: milunga

Riya ke chehre par automatically smile aati hai: promise?

Arjun: promise! (Riya khush ho jaati hai. Arjun use blanket mein tuck karta hai) ab tum aaram karo, hum baad mein baat karenge. Davaiyaan time se lena aur khud ka khayal rakhna.

Riya nod karti hai. Arjun uska haath gently chod kar darwaaze ki taraf jaata hai. Woh bas use kholne hi waala hai ki Narvekar kholta hai. Dono ek dusre ko dekhkar shock ho jaate hai. Isse pehle ki Narvekar shock se baahar nikal paaye, Arjun wahase chala jaata hai. Darwaaza band hone se Amod presence mein aata hai. Par woh Arjun ke direction mein dekhte hue Riya ke paas jaata hai.

Riya: kya kaha doctor ne sir?

Amod uski taraf dhyaan deta hai: huh? Ha! Woh kuch nahi bas davaiyaan wagera, kab leni hai kitne din and all that….Riya? ye Arjun yaha kya kar raha tha?

Riya: mujhse milne aaye the, haal puch kar chale gaye

Narvekar: woh tumhara haal puchne ke liye yaha tak aaya?

Riya: ha

Amod ko ye baat bilcul bhi hazam nahi hoti hai kyunki woh bhi Arjun ko usi nazar se dekhta tha jisse pura department….ek gusse waala khadoos jo kisi ke baare mein nahi sochta. Woh koi jawab nahi deta. Riya ye notice karti hai lekin comment nahi karti aur apni aankhein band karke so jaati hai. Use khud apni body bahot weak feel ho rahi thi…………………………