Part 2
One week later,
ETF Office-
A Mercedes entered intothe premises. Suryakant and Shweta stepped out before the driver could even park. They hurried into the office. Around 40 minutes ago, Sameer had called them up saying that Arjun had arrested Roshni, charging her with numerous crimes and had asked for their immediate presence to knock some sense into him.
Suryakant(entering the elevator): Pata Nahi Ya Ladka Kar Kya Raha Hai? Agar uske papa ko pata chal gaya toh aasmaan fat jaayega
Shweta: Surya tumhe unki fikar ho rahi hai? waha Roshni arrest hui hai Arjun ko pata nahi kya ho gaya aur tum ho ki aise waqt par bhi apne business ke baare mein soch rahe ho?
Suryakant: main sirf practical ho raha hu, aur rahi baat Arjun ki toh ye sab tumhare laad-pyaar kahi nateeja hai, jab dekho tab apni man maani karta rehta hai
Shweta(sternly): woh toh karega hi, uske pita ne use zid virasaat mein jo di hai
Suryakant: tum abhi bhi uski side le rahi ho? Usne apni hi biwi ko arrest kar liya hai
Shweta: ho sakta hai ki koi galatfehmi ho, mujhe Arjun par pura bharosa hai woh kabhi kuch galat nahi karega, bas apni duty ko lekar zyaada serious hai, zaroor Roshni galat waqt par galat jagah pahunch gayi hogi
Suryakant: Woh Toh Dono Khud Batayenge
The elevator dinged at their destination and they stepped out. Searching their way about, they reached the conference room where Sameer was pacing up and down in tension. Shree and Chotu were sitting quietly smart enough to not make a single sound.
The trio too were shocked when Arjun and Riya arrived in office an hour ago with Arjun manhandling Roshni and throwing her into lock up. He looked livid with rage. Sameer tried to reason with him but Arjun refused to even listen to him saying the same thing over and over that she had murdered his daughter and that he would make Sikandar pay for her crimes. Roshni was crying, pleading and begging innocence but Arjun wouldn’t hear any of it.
Suryakant: Sameer!
Rathore turned and heaved a sigh of relief: uncle! Thank God aap gaye
Suryakant: Roshni kaha hai?
Sameer: ayiye, batata hu
He led them to the lockup. The room was empty except for a wooden plank that passed for a bed. A one way glass occupied half of the left wall. They could all see her tear-stricken face, crouching in a corner.
Shweta(concerned):Roshni!
She immediately tried to open the door but she wasn’t able to.Her eyes automatically turned to Sameer for help. Sameer too was confused. His hand went up to turn the key but it reached out for nothing. He turned to Shree and Chotu in anger.
Rathore: CHAABI KAHA HAI IS DARWAAZE KI?
Shree and Chotu shivered under his gaze.
Shree: humare…humare paas nahi hai sir
Chotu gulped in fear: ha woh…shayad…shayad Riya ke paas ho..hogi
Rathore punched the wall in anger: Riya! Riya! Riya! Ye Ladki Pata Nahi Kab Mushkile Badhane Ki Bajay Kam Karna Seekhegi? Bula Kar Lao Use!!
The boys glanced at each other in fear and then at Rathore.
Shree: woh…Riya, Riya kaha hai, hume…hume nahi pata sir
Rathore: PATA NAHI KA KYA MATLAB HAI?
Chotu: sir humne use nahi dekha
Rathore: DAMMIT!!
He turned to the door and stepped back. Pausing for a second he thrust forward putting his shoulder to it and breaking it. Roshni flinched at the noise and turned to source of the sound. Shweta rushed to comfort her. Roshni hugged her and broke down.
Roshni: Maa!!
Shweta: shh…bas beta bas, shaant ho jao….hum haina?
Roshni(sobbing):maa….Arjun, dekho na… woh kya keh raha hai? main…main apni beti ko kaise maar sakti hun?....kaise?
Shweta’s eyes moistened seeing her in such a state.
Suryakant: Sameer ye sab ho kya raha hai?
Rathore: Uncle, Arjun keh raha hai ki Roshni hi Sikandar hai aur usine Shivangi ko maara hai
Suryakant(angrily): ye ladka paagal ho chuka hai! Shivangi ki maut ek accident thi! Agar maan bhi leki uske peeche kisi criminal ka haath hai toh bhi Roshni woh criminal kaise ho sakti hai?
Rathore: yahi baat toh samaj mein nahi aa rahi hai Uncle, maine usse baat karne ki bi koshish ki lekin woh kuch sunne ko hi taiyaar nahi upar se bhabhi ki haalat kharaab ho rahi thi woh alag. Isliye maine aap dono ko phone kiya warna main khud maamle ko nipta kar bhabhi ko chudwa deta
Shweta was worried sick now: Sameer, Arjun kaha hai?
Sameer: woh apne cabin mein hai aunty
Suryakant: tum fikar mat karo Roshni beta, hum tumhe yaha se nikaal denge, pata nahi Arjun ke dimag mein ye sab aaya kaha se par hum usse baat kar lenge, tum bilcul chinta mat karo
Roshni sniffed (trying to smile): main jaanti hun papa, koi mera saath de na de aap dono zaroor denge
Suryakant forced a smile.
Shweta caressed her head: hum Arjun se milkar aate hai, hm?
She nodded. Rathore ordered a desk holder to take her to the conference room where she could be seated comfortably and told her to stay with Roshni in case she needed anything. Then, he took them to Arjun’s cabin.
Suryakant opened the door straightaway wanting to give Arjun a piece of his mind but instead the view in front of him took his sanity away. And not just his, all five of them stood in shock trying to understand what the hell was going on.
Arjun’s arms were wrapped around Riya tightly and hers around his neck. Their foreheads were touching each other’s with barely any space between them.
Shweta was the first one to react. She turned furious at her son for keeping a lady in his arms other than his wife.
Shweta: ARJUN!!
The couple jumped apart in startle. Arjun’s tears dried up at the voice. They were no less confused to see all of them standing at the door. As they turned, Suryakant and Shweta immediately recognised the face which they had seen in the photos.
Rathore: HOW DARE YOU RIYA?! WAHA ROSHNI BHABHI KAID HAI AUR TUM? TUMHARE ANDAR THODI SI BHI…
Arjun stepped up: Rathore Shut Up! Khabardaar Jo Riya Ko Is Sab Mein Ghasit Ne Ki Koshish Ki Hai Toh!!
Rathore received another blow. He couldn’t believe his friend was going up against him for the sake that insolent woman!
Shweta(angrily): Kyun Na Ghasite? Ye Sab Isi Ki Wajah Se Ho Toh Ho Raha Hai!!
Riya tried to defend herself: aunty aap galat…
Shweta: Chup Raho! Main Apne Bete Se Baat Kar Rahi Hu!
Arjun: maa please, Riya ki koi galti nahi hai! aap use kyun…
Shweta: Galti Nahi? EK SHADI-SHUDA ADMI KE SAATH GULCHARRE UDA RAHI HAI AUR TUM KEH RAHE HO KI USKI KOI GALTI NAHI HAI?
Arjun: maa, please keep her out, aap meri baat toh…
Shweta: Isi Ke Saath The Na Tum Us Din Hotel Room Mein? Yahi Thi Na Tasveeron Mein?
Her words confused the team but it was crystal clear for Arjun and Riya. The photographs had slipped out of his mind. He missed the point where sooner or later his parents would see Riya for real and catch his lie…
Flashback
It was a pleasant Sunday morning when the doorbell of the Rawte mansion rang. Shweta opened the door.The porch was empty. Thinking of it to be a prank, she was about to close it when her eyes fell on an envelope at the door step. She picked it up. It was addressed to Mrs. Rawte. She wondered if it was supposed to be hers or Roshni’s?
Closing the door, she broke open the seal and emptied the content. Photographs fell into her hands.She was confused why someone was sending Arjun’s random pictures in a hotel room. As she skimmed through them, the sight in front of her made her go white. She ran to Suryakant in shock.
Arjun was in his room,reading a case file. Roshni had gone out with her friends as usual. Not like he cared but it annoyed him to the edges of earth that she was a two-faced liar.Acting all sweet and dutiful in front of his parents and making him look bad, uncooperative and an insensitive husband.
Well, to an extent hewas but that was after he realised what her true colours were. She was a typical, spoilt brat who did not care for anyone but herself. After that, he had stopped trying to argue and just played along to whatever she said in front of his parents. She didn’t matter for him, but they did.
His reading was suddenly interrupted by his father crashing the door of his room open. He was surprised to see him so angry and immediately got off the bed. His mother stood behind with hurt on her face. Her expressions were only confusing him further.
Arjun: papa, kya hua?Aap itne gusse mein kyun hai?
Suryakant: Jiska Beta Aisi Harkat Kare Woh Gussa Na Ho Toh Aur Kya Ho?
Arjun: aap kya bol rahe hai? (irritated) ab kya kar diya maine jo aapki nazro mein gunaah hai?
Suryakant threw the photographs at him: KYA HAI YE SAB? KAUN HAI YE LADKI?
Arjun gathered the photos. As his brain registered the images, he felt like he had been struck by a lightning bolt. His mind immediately flashed to the day when he and Riya had gotten intimate for the first time.
Flashback 2
The case at Lotus resort had finally been solved. Since, it was at the outskirts of the city, the team had decided to stay for the day and leave early next morning in order to avoid peak hour traffic. Arjun retired to his room and made himself on the comfortable recliner watching the sunset in the horizon.
The door of his room silently opened. Riya tip-toed inside with a bowl in her hand. Seeing Arjun with his back in her direction she smiled. She closed the door again as quietly as possible and stealthily walked across the bed. She placed the bowl on the bed so it would be sure to not make any noise and turned again towards Arjun. Just as she was about to reach him he welcomed her.
Arjun: bolo Riya kya hua?
Riya looked at him ins hock: aapko kaise pata chala?
Arjun stood up and walked to her: agar darwaaze se yaha tak aane ke liye itna time lagaogi toh kisi ko bhi pata chal jaayega ki room mein koi aur hai
Riya whined: ye toh cheating hai, mujhe aapko surprise dena tha!
He chuckled and was about to pull her to him when she turned enthusiastic again.
Riya: acha woh sab chodiye! (she quickly presented the bowl to him) ye lijiye!
Arjun(surprised): gajar ka halwa!
He grabbed the bowl and started eating it greedily, relishing it’s taste. Riya giggled seeing him acting like a child at the sight of his favourite dish.
Arjun(eating): bahot acha hai!!...kitna time ho gaya…..kaha se laayi?
Riya: maine banaya
He placed the spoon down in shock and gulped the halwa in his mouth.
Arjun: seriously?
Riya: ha toh?
Arjun: par yaha kaise?
Riya: are maine resort ke kitchen mein jaa kar Chef se request kiya toh woh maan gaya
Arjun chuckled: Riya tum bhi na, abhi ye sab karne ki kya zaroorat thi? Tumhe khilaana hi tha toh waapis Mumbai jaa kar bhi bana leti
Riya wound her hands around his neck and stared into his eyes.
Riya(meaningfully): Happy Birthday Arjun
The color of his face faded away.
Arjun: tumhe…tumhe yaad tha?
Riya felt her heart stinging (softly): aapko kisine wish nahi kiya na?
His eyes moistened for abrief second as he recalled his mother doting and cooking delicacies for him every year. Now, she was only Roshni’s mother. He composed himself and faked a smile.
Arjun: are kya Riya tum bhi? main koi 5 saal ka bacha thodi hu jo din bhar birthday party celebrate karta firunga?
He tried to move away from her hold to distract himself with the sweet but she didn’t let him.
Riya: Arjun….you don’t have to hide from me
Arjun sighed: I’m…I’m not hiding Riya, main bas….thoda, thoda beh gaya tha….aur kuch nahi
Riya: I love you
His eyes twinkled every time she confessed and that day was no different.
Arjun: I love you too!
She smiled and lifted her heels off the ground to tenderly kiss him. His arms automatically wrapped around her. They didn’t even realise when or how they reached the bed. All they knew was that they were in the arms of the person they loved the most.
Flashback 2 Ends
Suryakant: Ab Chup KyunHo? Jawab Do!
Arjun came out of his thoughts and quickly turned to his mother.
Arjun: maa, papa jaisa aap log samaj rahe hai waisa nahi hai, main…maine Roshni ko koi dhoka nahi diyahai
Shweta: toh fir ye sab kya hai Arjun? Tum us ladki ke saath (forcing herself to stop) How Could You?
Suryakant: Kar Toh Woh Already Chuka Hai! Ab Kya Faayda? (turning to Arjun in disgust) Tumne Ek Baar Bhi….
Arjun: maa main maanta hun ki ye photos meri hai par ye…ye puraani hai, shaadi ke pehle ki. College mein…ek ladki ke saath affair tha mera
Suryakant: agar shaadi se pehle ka hai toh fir ab kyun bhej raha hai woh?
Arjun: mujhe nahi pata papa! Maa main sach keh raha hun, mere aur Janvi ke beech affair tha but woh wahi khatam ho gaya tha.
Shweta was getting further confused but she wanted to trust her son. Suryakant shook his head.
Suryakant: dekho Arjun! Shaadi ke waqt ka ho ya shaadi ke pehle ka Ye Photos Roshni Ke Haath Nahi Lagni Chahiye, Samjhe Tum? Khabardaar Agar Uska Dil Tuta Hai Toh!!
Arjun: aisa kuch nahi hoga papa, sach
He let out a deep breath and left the room. Shweta cupped his face.
Shweta: Arjun, mujhe sach-sach batao, isliye tum Roshni se shaadi nahi karna chahte the? kya tum Janvi se shaadi karna chahte the?
Arjun: nahi ma, aisa kuch nahi hai! it was just an affair, that’s it!
Shweta(incredulously):just an affair? Arjun koi bhi ladki bina commitment ke itna bada kadam nahi utha sakti hai! Aisa Ho Hi Nahi Sakta Hai Ki Woh Tumse Kuch Expect Na Kar Rahi Ho!
Arjun restrained himself with difficulty: Maa Jo Bhi Hua Hum Dono Ki Marzi Se Hua Aur Hum Dono Ki Marzi Se Khatam Bhi Hua. Aap Please Gade Hue Murde Mat Khodiye!
Shweta looked at him with disappointment: maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki mera beta kisi ladki ke saath aisa karega
Arjun: Maa, Aap Khamakha Baat Ko Kheench Rahi Hai!!
Shweta: kheench toh tumne pehle hi liya hai Arjun bas ab uske nishaan dikhne lage hai
Before Arjun could protest any further, she left the room. Arjun closed his eyes in frustration.He hated lying to her. He was going to kill the person who got those photographs.
Flashback Ends………………………..
Edited by bloomie - 6 years ago
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