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ZINDEGI...EK ALAG NAZAARIYA SE.
' Kya kar rahi ho yahan??? Kyun ayi ho??? Ek baat ek bar me samajh me nehi ati kya??? Kisne bheja tumhe ya khud chali ayi dekhne ki jinda lash kaise din guzaar rahi hai???'
She couldn't tolerate more & ran as fast as her legs could carry her away from the periphery of his house.
Tears brushed her eyes & all her tries to control them became fruitless as they decided to fall.
She reached her house & slumped down with a sigh. She herself couldn't figure out the reason of her outburst. Is it because she felt insulted or is it she couldn't bear to see his pain.
FEW HOURS BACK...
' Kya kar rahi ho yahan??? Kyun ayi ho??? Ek baat ek bar me samajh me nehi ati kya??? Kisne bheja tumhe ya khud chali ayi dekhne ki jinda lash kaise din guzaar raha hai???'
A voice thundered through the empty room behind her breaking the eerie silence which make her shudder.
The person didn't like to startle his jovial ex- subordinate but couldn't help it assuming the reason of her visit.
Girl: Sir ek urgent case ...
She was abruptly stopped.
' Kitni bar bola hai I don't care. Kyun mujhe irritate karti ho Riya???'
Ri: 'Arjun sir, bura maat maniye ga lekin is tarah ap khudki insult kyun kar rahen hain?'
Ri understood that now no body can save her from arjun as this time she's crossed her limit. But still she dared.
Riya' s words pierced his ears & showed him the reality but his ego inspite of accepting it help to increase his temper to a new level.
Arjun: ' Get out of my house. Get out I said. '
Ri not being an exceptional feared arjun's anger but what became unbearable to her is his defeated psychology, thus she ran away to find solace in the confines of her house.
Somewhere, in another part of the city, in one of the lavish buildings of the most significant security forces of the country, the chief, Sameer Rathod was found barking orders at his juniors.
They couldn't guess the reason behind the changed behaviour of their otherwise captain cool chief, but they better let go of their curiosities & resumed their duties.
Some things r better left unexplained is what the genious curly haired tech head, Shreekant Sen satisfied his intelligent brain with.
The oversized child commando, Chandrakant Patil was so confused that having a burger even after a sumptuous breakfast seemed a better option that finding reasons behind chief's volcanic state.
The funky forensic expert, Liza D'cruz practically locked herself up in her lab to get rid of any scoldings that too without fault.
Lady dabang Ayesha Kapoor concentrated on the case to avoid the chief's glares.
The chief on the other hand was in a no better state. He was tired of the constant battle that the 4 chambered & 5 lobed organ in his body fought to gain supremacy.
His brain gave the verdict that arjun will not help them but his heart still showed a blurred ray of hope as nobody knew his dutiful best friend than him. But all his efforts to maintain a calm composure became futile as his heart & brain failed to ring in synchrony, resulting in his intermittent explosive outbursts on his juniors.
Thus he decided to call Riya but was highly dissapointed knowing the unpleasant encounter. Having no ounce of energy left in him, he decided to call it a day, wishing for a positive day ahead.
As the faint Sundays decided to mark the beginning of a new day on earth by tearing apart the night sky, Arjun couldn't sleep more. If his each day is filled with sheer frustration, then the sleepless nights with recurring dreams r no better.
He trotted into his kitchen to help himself with a glass of tea. Though, in the past he liked to have it most in a stall beside the seashore amidst the scudding waves with his best friend Sam, but today he preffered the tranquility of his house.
But to his dismay, the empty can of tea leaves welcomed him instead. He stepped out of the house & allowed his legs to carry him where his heart yearned.
Half an hour later he found himself beside the seashore in a secluded corner but the quietude of the place at the early hours of dawn couldn't stop his inner voice from taunting him.
He sat there, thinking about the incidents in his life, that not only transformed him but also marred his existence to a great extent.
" ACP Rawte, apse yeh umeed nehi thi department ko. Itna irresponsible behavior??? We r ashamed of having an officer like u. Yeh kaise ho sakta hai ki apko kuch pata hi na ho??? This is height of carelessness. "
He couldn't justify himself that day in front of his seniors that day. Even his mentor & best friend were also helpless. But the aftereffects were horrible. He has to justify himself constantly now.
He still couldn't made up his mind to accept the facts that his most trusted colleague betrayed him with e secret information. He is yet to come in terms with the truth that his colleague joined hands with the underworld & even tried to frame him.
" Ap chup kyun hai ACP Rawte?? Kahin ap bhi is me shamil toh nehi hai??"
This was the final blow. Arjun couldn't endure more & became violent. He could bear the accusations of carelessness thrown at him but definitely couldn't tolerate when his ideals were challenged, principles questioned, honesty & dignity is tampered
He was mentally shattered & left himself to the mercy of antidepressants.
Its been two years, still the rebukes & taunts ring afresh in his ears. Those three weeks of his life was like going through purgatory.
Though he didn't have to do much to prove his innocence as the culprit redeemed his guilt by committing suicide but the scar that his heart & mind bore tainted him.
He was released scot free. A promotion in rank & a post in the premiere security force ETF followed but instead of feeling happy, he felt insulted. These couldn't compensate for the agony that he underwent & thus he decided to quit the force.
The anguish that clouded his heart & the pain that permanently gripped his mind made him apathetic & frustrated towards life.
He alienated himself & started living a reclusive life, isolated & withdrawn from the outside world.
The commissioner of police didn't accept his resignation though & thus he was called at times of emergency still now, but nothing could change his firm decision.
Even Sam's constant pestering fell into deaf ears & met with scowls always
Arjun was a funloving guy who took each day of his life as a challenge. He was quite adventurous, thus decided to join IPS though comimg from a very well established business family much against his father's will.
It was only his sheer determination that helped him to climb the ladder of IPS ranking in quite a short time. His out of box thinking and extremely sharp intution proved dangerous for the culprits. Years in the police service had strengthen him, made him srtict and diciplined but he didn't lose his humorous , witty nature as he learned to balance between the two.
He was a man who was respected, loved and feared but his enemy list consisted of people not only from underworld but also some of his colleagues.
Thus when the case of the underworld drug king Anna was handovered to him, he chose only three of his most trusted colleagues. The investigation started but they reached the dead end every time. It took him quite sometime to understand that somebody was backstabbing them. He was close to catching the main culprit Sanjay his colleague when his higher officials interferred.
Although Anna and his gang was caught but the honesty of arjun's team was being questioned. Sanjay was caught who evetually ended his life but arjun and his other colleague Manav had to undergo tremendous humiliation before getting rid of all the charges.
Arjun was sitting in that corner for a long time when a familiar call broke his chain of thoughts.
Riya: Arjun Sir, aap yahan?
Arjun would have blasted her in some other condition for disturbing him again but one look at her face didn't let him do so. Something was different about her today. His sharp eyes didn't miss the red puffy eyes which in any other condition shine with bright smile. Her voice also seemed cracky. Her usual bubbly self was missing.
Arjun: Yum yahan kya kar rahi ho? Kya surya namaskar karne ayi ho?
Riya understood the sarcastic hint very well.
Riya: Nehi Sir, main yahan roz ati hoon yeh dekhne ke liya ki suraj mere liya kaunsa umeed leke ayi hai, zindegi kaant ne ke liye.
Riya knew she had spilled the beans beyond repair so to ammend it she quickly said bye to arjun and started to leave when arjun called her from behind. She mentally prepared herself for the questionaire.
Arjun: Sorry. Woh kal ki behaviour ke liye.
Riya was surprised but she understood that maybe arjun respected her privacy. She sighed deeply.
Riya: Arjun Sir, agar ap bura na maane toh ek baat kahu?
Arjun gave a slight nod to continue. Somehow he felt riya will not blabber today as she usually does.
Riya: Agar apko sorry bolna hai toh khudko boliye sir, kisi aur ko nehi. Aksar hum maafi bhagwan ya samne khade insaan se maangte hai lekin hum khud khudko maaf nehi kar paate.
Riya waited for the volcanic eruption but was met with a pair of intense deep eyes which was trying to understand the depth of her words.
Arjun: Kya jaante ho mere bareme? Tumhe kya pata jis kaam ki maine puja ki ab ussi kaam ke naam se cheed jati hoon. Jahan bhi jau aisa lagta hai ki log chillake bol raha hai ki dekho ye gaddar aagaya. Jin logoko laagta tha ki main kabhi koi galati nehi kar sakta unhe laagta hai ki main apni power ki istemaal karke sanjay ko mar diya aur khud bach gaya. Raat ko neend nehi aati aur subah kaant ne ko daudta hai.
Riya was surprised to see this side of arjun.
Riya: Duniya aise hi hai sir. Woh dekhiye sir ek larka ugta hua suraj ko pranam kar raha hai. Jara usse poochiye ki kya woh had sham doobta hua suraj ko bhi pranam karti hai? Nehi woh aisa nehi karta. Zindegi hamdardi haasil karke abhimaan se jeeya nehi jaata. Yahan dard free me milta hai chahe aap chaho ya na chaho lekin khushi ki talash karna padta hai. Jis anand pe hamara haq hai usse bhi cheen na padta hai sir.
Jo log apke peeche baat karte hai kya woh apki force quit karne se chup ho jayenge? Nehi aisa karke aap indirectly un sab ko hi sahi sabit kar rahe hai. ETF ko apki jaroorat hai sir aur is desh ko bhi.
Both of them didn't realise when they left the sea behind and came to stand infront of an orphanage. Arjun was in deep thoughts. Riya had done much to churn his thought process altogether and show them a ner direction. Arjun mechanically followed Riya inside the orphanage where they were welcomed with huge joyous shouts of children of different age.
In some other condition arjun would run away from a crowd but today his heart desired something else and he decided to follow it .
Riya was taken inside a room where it was written A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY RIYA DIDI with diyas on the floor. Both arjun and riya was touched by this simple gesture. Both of them started playing with the kids when riya excused herself to have a talk with the mother of the orphanage.
After sometime arjun started looking for riya to bid goodbye when something caught his sharp ears.
Mother: Khudko iss din in baccho ke liye itni taqleef kyun deti hai riya. Kabhi toh apni bareme soch. Aj tak jo baat ko chaha kar bhi bhool nehi paya usse iss tarah yaad karne se kya fayda beta? Hum baccho ko samjha denge beta woh tujhe kabhi wish nehi karenge.
Riya: Nehi mother yeh kaisi baate kar rahe hai aap? Yeh sach nehi hai.
Mother: Toh sach kya hai? Kya tu is din puri duniya se bhagta nehi phirta ta ki tujhe koi birthday wish na kare?
Hearing all these ajrun was shocked would be an understatement. But he was confused much more and couldn't relate what he heard to the jovial riya that he knew. ETF research specialist Riya Mukherjee who ran behind him with all sorts of questions now herself became a huge question mark to arjun.
Both riya and mother spotted arjun and stopped their conversation. After sometime they took the leave of the kids and started walking. Riya knew arjun had heard everything and though a thousand thoughts ran in his mind, arjun could not ask her anything. Both of them didn't know what to say when suddenly riya was startled hearing the loud honk of a truck . She started sweating profusely and became senseless.
Arjun held her and took her to the nearest hospital. He stayed there till she gain conscious. This time he was determined to have his answers. After ri became stable, without wasting any time he brought her to his home, paying no heed to her denials.
Arjun: Kya hai woh sach riya jisse tum chaha kar bhi bhag nehi sakte? Kya majboori hai tumhari ki tum jan bujh ke isse jhelti ho?
Riya became pale but arjun knew that she needed to vent out everything. Behind those happy sparkling eyes she efficiently hid a paim much grave that no body could easily decipher.
Riya: 10 saal pehle ki baat hai sir, hum log Kolkata se Mumbai shift hue ek saai hua tha. Mere family me ma , baba aur meri dada Riju the. Hum log kolkata me bhi orphanage jaate the , isliye yahan aake hum dono ne iss orphanage me jaana shuru kiya. I was 16 and riju da 20. Inspite og having most lovable parents, mere liye dada hi mera ma baap tha. Hum log jaise ek saath jeete the, ek saath saanse lete the. Ek dusre ke bina rehna hum soch bhi nehi sakte the. Hamare b'days hum specially in baccho ke saath spend karte the.
Riya stopped for sometime as arjun waited for her to open up.
Riya: That was my 17th bday. Hum orphanage ja hi rahe the ki raaste me ek truck...
Riya couldn't continue further as she felt a chocking lump in her throat. She felt as if somebody was crumbling her heart mercilessly. She found difficult to breathe.
Arjun pressed her palm slightly to give her a little relief as she travelled down her horrible past.
Riya: Hum raaste me maaze kar rahe the , sir lekin ek dusre ka haath kabhi nehi choda. Ek hi pal dada ka haath puri jindegi ke liye choot gaya. He was run over by the truck, he died instantly. Bohot din tak main yeh accept hi nehi kar paya ki dada nehi hai. Meri jindegi ussi pal ruk gayi. Jab main khudko thori bohot sambhala toh apni b'days khudko room me lock ka r deti thi. Aj bhi unki akhri cheekh meri kano me gunjti hai ,sir.
Kahin na kahin mujhe lagta hai ki, main hi jimmedar hoon dada ki maut ke liye. Ma baba ne mujhe kabhi doshi nehi kaha lekin main galat sochti hoon aisa bhi nehi kaha. Baba phirse kolkata transfer hogaya 3 saal pehle lekin main yahan rahe gaya apni studies ke liye. Aj bhi lagta hai bahar se ghar wapaas ayun toh hall se ek flying pillow meri swagat kare, aisa laagta hai ki koi jorse mujhe peeche se dara de. Har ek pal uss ghar me mujhe dada ki yaad dilati hai lekin aj tak main kahin aur shift nehi ho paya.
Main orphanage jaana chor diya tha lekin meri ek b'day per un baccho ne akar jabardasti mujhe wish ki. I felt like running away lekin aisa nehi kar paya. Apko pata hai in baccho me kuch bohoy bimar hain. Kisiko leukemia toh kisika dil kamjor. Shayad inke jindegi ke kuch hi di baki hai aur sabse badi baat ki yeh baatein un logoko pata hai.
Main itna selfish nehi ban paya apne gum me jab main dekha ki ek baccha mujhe wish kar raha hai jo shayad agle saal na ho aisa karne ke liye. Itne dukh me bhi mujhe ek alag sa khushi mili jab main dekha un logoko maaza karte hue. I understood ki meri gum sirf in baccho ki khushi hi mita sakte hai. Tab se main phirse orphanage jaane laaga.
Who kehte hai na ki jab tumhare as paas sirf andhera ho toh tumhe roshni ki kiran andhera me dhoond ne se hi milega. Mere saath bhi aisa hi hua.
Hume jaroor apne bareme sochna chahiye lekin hum itna prieviledged nehi hai ki sirf sur sirf apne bareme hi soche sir.
Riya stopped. She had nothing more to say. Both of them were crying. They didn't know how to console each other. They sat there hugging each other deriving strength as well.
As they parted, arjun asked whether she will go to office today to which riya replied, shes taken the day off. Arjun decided to drop her home. He was awestruck. He understood that the riya they knew was only a faade but he couldn't understand from where does she get such immense inner strength.
Arjun came back home after dropping her but a lot of things has transpired between them in these hours. Arjun was confused at why his heart wished to follow what riya said, why suddenly he found her words logical. Why did he listen to her in the first place?
Here riya was in a no better state. She was hell confused as well. She was thinking that why after all these years she was feeling lighter? Why was she feeling guarded and secured in arjun's company?
Both were trying hard to get answers to their questions. The reason was in front of them which both couldn't see.
NEXT DAY:
Riya ran towards ETF building muttering to herself, hey bhagwan kitni late ho gayi aj? Ek toh kal off tha, upar se aj. Chalo chodo rathod sir se sorry bol dungi, yeh arjun sir thodi na hai ki subah hi lecture sunne ko milega'
Least she was aware of the surprise waiting for her. She was entering her cubicle when something stopped her.
" Miss Mukherjee, yeh konsi time hai office aane ka? Kya apki office hours 10am se shuru hoti hai?"
Riya absentmindedly said sorry but immediately spun around when the voice sound strikingly familiar.
" Arjun sir, aap??" she shrieked.
" Yes Miss Mukherjee, in person, apne koi bhoot nehi dekha" , arjun affirmed.
"Haan Riya, Arjun has joined team, and I'm going on a leav. Bohot dini tak iska kaam bhi maine hi sambhala, ab iski bari." , said a happy chief Sameer Rathod.
Sam's statement was met with a smirk from arjun and it didn't took even a sec for riya ti realise that the two best friends have reconsiled.
With that Sam took their leave. Arjun asked her to brief him the ongoing case. As it was an open and shut case it was over quite early. After finishing the due paperworks when riya was preparing to go home arjun offered to drop her.
Silence prevailed in the car. Both were feeling awkward to strike a convo. So atlast arjun said,
Arjun: Thanks riya. Tumne sirf un baccho ko hi zingegi ki ek nayi mayne nehi di balki mujhe bhi, jo jeena bhul gaya, phirse jeena seekha diya. Main apne dukh me itna andha ho gaya tha ki yeh dekh hi nehi paya ki aj bhi kuch log mere liye intejaar karte hai, aj bki kisiko meri jaroorat hai.
Riya gave a genuine smile. Arjun was not satisfied though, he kept thinking what did he sat so as to trigger the stop button of Riya FM Radio. Arjun started the radio. The song that was playing evoked the feelings in them which they were trying hard to supress.
Baatein kuch ankaahe si wo..
Kuch ansuni se hone lagi
Kaabu dil pe raha na
Hasti hamari khone lagi
Wo.. wo.. wo.. o.. wo.. o..
Shayad yahi hai pyaar
Shayad yahi hai pyaar
Keh de mujhse dil mein kya hai..
Aisa bhi kya guroor
Tujhko bhi to ho raha hai..
Thoda asar zaroor
Ho yeh khamoshi jeene na de
Koi to baat ho..
Wo.. wo.. wo.. o.. wo.. o..
Shayad yahi hai pyaar
Both of them understood their feelings for each other but found it too early to accept anything. Everything happened so suddenly that they needed time to sort themselves.
Tu hi meri roshni hai
Tu hi chirag hai..
Dheere dheere mit jaayega
Halka sa daag hai
Yeh zehar bhi yun peeya hai
Jaise sharaab ho..
Wo.. wo.. wo.. o.. wo.. o..
Shayad yahi hai pyaar
Baatein kuch ankaahe si wo..
Kuch ansuni se hone lagi
Kaabu dil pe raha na
Hasti hamari khone lagi
Wo.. wo.. wo.. o.. wo.. o..
Shayad yahi hai pyaar
Shayad yahi hai pyaar.
Both of them needed time to recuperate, it isn't easy to let go of their haunting pasts but still together they can construct their future. Together they can be each other's strength and find peace and solace.
Arjun stopped in front of Riya's house. Riya bid goodnight and went towards her house. Arjun stared at her retreating figure for sometime. Suddenly he called her.
Arjun: Riya...
Riya: Yes Sir, boliye. Kuch kaam hai?
Arjun: I love you TOO'.
Arjun said that stressing on the word TOO.
Riya couldn't believe what she heard at first. After acknowledging what arjun said, she started fumbling with her words.
Riya: Sir, apko... kaise... pata? Mera ...matlab... maine... toh ..kabhi...kaha hi ... nehi.
Arjun smirked: Mujhe bhi abhi pata chala kyunki tumne abhi confess ki.
Riya knew that arjun had tricked her in confessing her feelings for him. Her happiness knew no bounds. If it is a pleasure to love someone, then it's a blessing when your love gets reciprocated. But what made Riya elated was that after a long time she saw a glimpse of old witty Arjun, even though for a very short time.
She smiled whole heartedly which reached upto her eyes . She ran towards arjun and engulfed him in a hug. Both of them promised each other a bright future ahead where they will support each other through every thick and thin. They promised to stay by each other till death.
ZINDEGI...EK ALAG NAZAARIYA SE.
' Kya kar rahi ho yahan??? Kyun ayi ho??? Ek baat ek bar me samajh me nehi ati kya??? Kisne bheja tumhe ya khud chali ayi dekhne ki jinda lash kaise din guzaar rahi hai???'
She couldn't tolerate more & ran as fast as her legs could carry her away from the periphery of his house.
Tears brushed her eyes & all her tries to control them became fruitless as they decided to fall.
She reached her house & slumped down with a sigh. She herself couldn't figure out the reason of her outburst. Is it because she felt insulted or is it she couldn't bear to see his pain.
FEW HOURS BACK...
' Kya kar rahi ho yahan??? Kyun ayi ho??? Ek baat ek bar me samajh me nehi ati kya??? Kisne bheja tumhe ya khud chali ayi dekhne ki jinda lash kaise din guzaar raha hai???'
A voice thundered through the empty room behind her breaking the eerie silence which make her shudder.
The person didn't like to startle his jovial ex- subordinate but couldn't help it assuming the reason of her visit.
Girl: Sir ek urgent case ...
She was abruptly stopped.
' Kitni bar bola hai I don't care. Kyun mujhe irritate karti ho Riya???'
Ri: 'Arjun sir, bura maat maniye ga lekin is tarah ap khudki insult kyun kar rahen hain?'
Ri understood that now no body can save her from arjun as this time she's crossed her limit. But still she dared.
Riya' s words pierced his ears & showed him the reality but his ego inspite of accepting it help to increase his temper to a new level.
Arjun: ' Get out of my house. Get out I said. '
Ri not being an exceptional feared arjun's anger but what became unbearable to her is his defeated psychology, thus she ran away to find solace in the confines of her house.
Somewhere, in another part of the city, in one of the lavish buildings of the most significant security forces of the country, the chief, Sameer Rathod was found barking orders at his juniors.
They couldn't guess the reason behind the changed behaviour of their otherwise captain cool chief, but they better let go of their curiosities & resumed their duties.
Some things r better left unexplained is what the genious curly haired tech head, Shreekant Sen satisfied his intelligent brain with.
The oversized child commando, Chandrakant Patil was so confused that having a burger even after a sumptuous breakfast seemed a better option that finding reasons behind chief's volcanic state.
The funky forensic expert, Liza D'cruz practically locked herself up in her lab to get rid of any scoldings that too without fault.
Lady dabang Ayesha Kapoor concentrated on the case to avoid the chief's glares.
The chief on the other hand was in a no better state. He was tired of the constant battle that the 4 chambered & 5 lobed organ in his body fought to gain supremacy.
His brain gave the verdict that arjun will not help them but his heart still showed a blurred ray of hope as nobody knew his dutiful best friend than him. But all his efforts to maintain a calm composure became futile as his heart & brain failed to ring in synchrony, resulting in his intermittent explosive outbursts on his juniors.
Thus he decided to call Riya but was highly dissapointed knowing the unpleasant encounter. Having no ounce of energy left in him, he decided to call it a day, wishing for a positive day ahead.
As the faint Sundays decided to mark the beginning of a new day on earth by tearing apart the night sky, Arjun couldn't sleep more. If his each day is filled with sheer frustration, then the sleepless nights with recurring dreams r no better.
He trotted into his kitchen to help himself with a glass of tea. Though, in the past he liked to have it most in a stall beside the seashore amidst the scudding waves with his best friend Sam, but today he preffered the tranquility of his house.
But to his dismay, the empty can of tea leaves welcomed him instead. He stepped out of the house & allowed his legs to carry him where his heart yearned.
Half an hour later he found himself beside the seashore in a secluded corner but the quietude of the place at the early hours of dawn couldn't stop his inner voice from taunting him.
He sat there, thinking about the incidents in his life, that not only transformed him but also marred his existence to a great extent.
" ACP Rawte, apse yeh umeed nehi thi department ko. Itna irresponsible behavior??? We r ashamed of having an officer like u. Yeh kaise ho sakta hai ki apko kuch pata hi na ho??? This is height of carelessness. "
He couldn't justify himself that day in front of his seniors that day. Even his mentor & best friend were also helpless. But the aftereffects were horrible. He has to justify himself constantly now.
He still couldn't made up his mind to accept the facts that his most trusted colleague betrayed him with e secret information. He is yet to come in terms with the truth that his colleague joined hands with the underworld & even tried to frame him.
" Ap chup kyun hai ACP Rawte?? Kahin ap bhi is me shamil toh nehi hai??"
This was the final blow. Arjun couldn't endure more & became violent. He could bear the accusations of carelessness thrown at him but definitely couldn't tolerate when his ideals were challenged, principles questioned, honesty & dignity is tampered
He was mentally shattered & left himself to the mercy of antidepressants.
Its been two years, still the rebukes & taunts ring afresh in his ears. Those three weeks of his life was like going through purgatory.
Though he didn't have to do much to prove his innocence as the culprit redeemed his guilt by committing suicide but the scar that his heart & mind bore tainted him.
He was released scot free. A promotion in rank & a post in the premiere security force ETF followed but instead of feeling happy, he felt insulted. These couldn't compensate for the agony that he underwent & thus he decided to quit the force.
The anguish that clouded his heart & the pain that permanently gripped his mind made him apathetic & frustrated towards life.
He alienated himself & started living a reclusive life, isolated & withdrawn from the outside world.
The commissioner of police didn't accept his resignation though & thus he was called at times of emergency still now, but nothing could change his firm decision.
Even Sam's constant pestering fell into deaf ears & met with scowls always
Arjun was a funloving guy who took each day of his life as a challenge. He was quite adventurous, thus decided to join IPS though comimg from a very well established business family much against his father's will.
It was only his sheer determination that helped him to climb the ladder of IPS ranking in quite a short time. His out of box thinking and extremely sharp intution proved dangerous for the culprits. Years in the police service had strengthen him, made him srtict and diciplined but he didn't lose his humorous , witty nature as he learned to balance between the two.
He was a man who was respected, loved and feared but his enemy list consisted of people not only from underworld but also some of his colleagues.
Thus when the case of the underworld drug king Anna was handovered to him, he chose only three of his most trusted colleagues. The investigation started but they reached the dead end every time. It took him quite sometime to understand that somebody was backstabbing them. He was close to catching the main culprit Sanjay his colleague when his higher officials interferred.
Although Anna and his gang was caught but the honesty of arjun's team was being questioned. Sanjay was caught who evetually ended his life but arjun and his other colleague Manav had to undergo tremendous humiliation before getting rid of all the charges.
Arjun was sitting in that corner for a long time when a familiar call broke his chain of thoughts.
Riya: Arjun Sir, aap yahan?
Arjun would have blasted her in some other condition for disturbing him again but one look at her face didn't let him do so. Something was different about her today. His sharp eyes didn't miss the red puffy eyes which in any other condition shine with bright smile. Her voice also seemed cracky. Her usual bubbly self was missing.
Arjun: Yum yahan kya kar rahi ho? Kya surya namaskar karne ayi ho?
Riya understood the sarcastic hint very well.
Riya: Nehi Sir, main yahan roz ati hoon yeh dekhne ke liya ki suraj mere liya kaunsa umeed leke ayi hai, zindegi kaant ne ke liye.
Riya knew she had spilled the beans beyond repair so to ammend it she quickly said bye to arjun and started to leave when arjun called her from behind. She mentally prepared herself for the questionaire.
Arjun: Sorry. Woh kal ki behaviour ke liye.
Riya was surprised but she understood that maybe arjun respected her privacy. She sighed deeply.
Riya: Arjun Sir, agar ap bura na maane toh ek baat kahu?
Arjun gave a slight nod to continue. Somehow he felt riya will not blabber today as she usually does.
Riya: Agar apko sorry bolna hai toh khudko boliye sir, kisi aur ko nehi. Aksar hum maafi bhagwan ya samne khade insaan se maangte hai lekin hum khud khudko maaf nehi kar paate.
Riya waited for the volcanic eruption but was met with a pair of intense deep eyes which was trying to understand the depth of her words.
Arjun: Kya jaante ho mere bareme? Tumhe kya pata jis kaam ki maine puja ki ab ussi kaam ke naam se cheed jati hoon. Jahan bhi jau aisa lagta hai ki log chillake bol raha hai ki dekho ye gaddar aagaya. Jin logoko laagta tha ki main kabhi koi galati nehi kar sakta unhe laagta hai ki main apni power ki istemaal karke sanjay ko mar diya aur khud bach gaya. Raat ko neend nehi aati aur subah kaant ne ko daudta hai.
Riya was surprised to see this side of arjun.
Riya: Duniya aise hi hai sir. Woh dekhiye sir ek larka ugta hua suraj ko pranam kar raha hai. Jara usse poochiye ki kya woh had sham doobta hua suraj ko bhi pranam karti hai? Nehi woh aisa nehi karta. Zindegi hamdardi haasil karke abhimaan se jeeya nehi jaata. Yahan dard free me milta hai chahe aap chaho ya na chaho lekin khushi ki talash karna padta hai. Jis anand pe hamara haq hai usse bhi cheen na padta hai sir.
Jo log apke peeche baat karte hai kya woh apki force quit karne se chup ho jayenge? Nehi aisa karke aap indirectly un sab ko hi sahi sabit kar rahe hai. ETF ko apki jaroorat hai sir aur is desh ko bhi.
Both of them didn't realise when they left the sea behind and came to stand infront of an orphanage. Arjun was in deep thoughts. Riya had done much to churn his thought process altogether and show them a ner direction. Arjun mechanically followed Riya inside the orphanage where they were welcomed with huge joyous shouts of children of different age.
In some other condition arjun would run away from a crowd but today his heart desired something else and he decided to follow it .
Riya was taken inside a room where it was written A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY RIYA DIDI with diyas on the floor. Both arjun and riya was touched by this simple gesture. Both of them started playing with the kids when riya excused herself to have a talk with the mother of the orphanage.
After sometime arjun started looking for riya to bid goodbye when something caught his sharp ears.
Mother: Khudko iss din in baccho ke liye itni taqleef kyun deti hai riya. Kabhi toh apni bareme soch. Aj tak jo baat ko chaha kar bhi bhool nehi paya usse iss tarah yaad karne se kya fayda beta? Hum baccho ko samjha denge beta woh tujhe kabhi wish nehi karenge.
Riya: Nehi mother yeh kaisi baate kar rahe hai aap? Yeh sach nehi hai.
Mother: Toh sach kya hai? Kya tu is din puri duniya se bhagta nehi phirta ta ki tujhe koi birthday wish na kare?
Hearing all these ajrun was shocked would be an understatement. But he was confused much more and couldn't relate what he heard to the jovial riya that he knew. ETF research specialist Riya Mukherjee who ran behind him with all sorts of questions now herself became a huge question mark to arjun.
Both riya and mother spotted arjun and stopped their conversation. After sometime they took the leave of the kids and started walking. Riya knew arjun had heard everything and though a thousand thoughts ran in his mind, arjun could not ask her anything. Both of them didn't know what to say when suddenly riya was startled hearing the loud honk of a truck . She started sweating profusely and became senseless.
Arjun held her and took her to the nearest hospital. He stayed there till she gain conscious. This time he was determined to have his answers. After ri became stable, without wasting any time he brought her to his home, paying no heed to her denials.
Arjun: Kya hai woh sach riya jisse tum chaha kar bhi bhag nehi sakte? Kya majboori hai tumhari ki tum jan bujh ke isse jhelti ho?
Riya became pale but arjun knew that she needed to vent out everything. Behind those happy sparkling eyes she efficiently hid a paim much grave that no body could easily decipher.
Riya: 10 saal pehle ki baat hai sir, hum log Kolkata se Mumbai shift hue ek saai hua tha. Mere family me ma , baba aur meri dada Riju the. Hum log kolkata me bhi orphanage jaate the , isliye yahan aake hum dono ne iss orphanage me jaana shuru kiya. I was 16 and riju da 20. Inspite og having most lovable parents, mere liye dada hi mera ma baap tha. Hum log jaise ek saath jeete the, ek saath saanse lete the. Ek dusre ke bina rehna hum soch bhi nehi sakte the. Hamare b'days hum specially in baccho ke saath spend karte the.
Riya stopped for sometime as arjun waited for her to open up.
Riya: That was my 17th bday. Hum orphanage ja hi rahe the ki raaste me ek truck...
Riya couldn't continue further as she felt a chocking lump in her throat. She felt as if somebody was crumbling her heart mercilessly. She found difficult to breathe.
Arjun pressed her palm slightly to give her a little relief as she travelled down her horrible past.
Riya: Hum raaste me maaze kar rahe the , sir lekin ek dusre ka haath kabhi nehi choda. Ek hi pal dada ka haath puri jindegi ke liye choot gaya. He was run over by the truck, he died instantly. Bohot din tak main yeh accept hi nehi kar paya ki dada nehi hai. Meri jindegi ussi pal ruk gayi. Jab main khudko thori bohot sambhala toh apni b'days khudko room me lock ka r deti thi. Aj bhi unki akhri cheekh meri kano me gunjti hai ,sir.
Kahin na kahin mujhe lagta hai ki, main hi jimmedar hoon dada ki maut ke liye. Ma baba ne mujhe kabhi doshi nehi kaha lekin main galat sochti hoon aisa bhi nehi kaha. Baba phirse kolkata transfer hogaya 3 saal pehle lekin main yahan rahe gaya apni studies ke liye. Aj bhi lagta hai bahar se ghar wapaas ayun toh hall se ek flying pillow meri swagat kare, aisa laagta hai ki koi jorse mujhe peeche se dara de. Har ek pal uss ghar me mujhe dada ki yaad dilati hai lekin aj tak main kahin aur shift nehi ho paya.
Main orphanage jaana chor diya tha lekin meri ek b'day per un baccho ne akar jabardasti mujhe wish ki. I felt like running away lekin aisa nehi kar paya. Apko pata hai in baccho me kuch bohoy bimar hain. Kisiko leukemia toh kisika dil kamjor. Shayad inke jindegi ke kuch hi di baki hai aur sabse badi baat ki yeh baatein un logoko pata hai.
Main itna selfish nehi ban paya apne gum me jab main dekha ki ek baccha mujhe wish kar raha hai jo shayad agle saal na ho aisa karne ke liye. Itne dukh me bhi mujhe ek alag sa khushi mili jab main dekha un logoko maaza karte hue. I understood ki meri gum sirf in baccho ki khushi hi mita sakte hai. Tab se main phirse orphanage jaane laaga.
Who kehte hai na ki jab tumhare as paas sirf andhera ho toh tumhe roshni ki kiran andhera me dhoond ne se hi milega. Mere saath bhi aisa hi hua.
Hume jaroor apne bareme sochna chahiye lekin hum itna prieviledged nehi hai ki sirf sur sirf apne bareme hi soche sir.
Riya stopped. She had nothing more to say. Both of them were crying. They didn't know how to console each other. They sat there hugging each other deriving strength as well.
As they parted, arjun asked whether she will go to office today to which riya replied, shes taken the day off. Arjun decided to drop her home. He was awestruck. He understood that the riya they knew was only a faade but he couldn't understand from where does she get such immense inner strength.
Arjun came back home after dropping her but a lot of things has transpired between them in these hours. Arjun was confused at why his heart wished to follow what riya said, why suddenly he found her words logical. Why did he listen to her in the first place?
Here riya was in a no better state. She was hell confused as well. She was thinking that why after all these years she was feeling lighter? Why was she feeling guarded and secured in arjun's company?
Both were trying hard to get answers to their questions. The reason was in front of them which both couldn't see.
NEXT DAY:
Riya ran towards ETF building muttering to herself, hey bhagwan kitni late ho gayi aj? Ek toh kal off tha, upar se aj. Chalo chodo rathod sir se sorry bol dungi, yeh arjun sir thodi na hai ki subah hi lecture sunne ko milega'
Least she was aware of the surprise waiting for her. She was entering her cubicle when something stopped her.
" Miss Mukherjee, yeh konsi time hai office aane ka? Kya apki office hours 10am se shuru hoti hai?"
Riya absentmindedly said sorry but immediately spun around when the voice sound strikingly familiar.
" Arjun sir, aap??" she shrieked.
" Yes Miss Mukherjee, in person, apne koi bhoot nehi dekha" , arjun affirmed.
"Haan Riya, Arjun has joined team, and I'm going on a leav. Bohot dini tak iska kaam bhi maine hi sambhala, ab iski bari." , said a happy chief Sameer Rathod.
Sam's statement was met with a smirk from arjun and it didn't took even a sec for riya ti realise that the two best friends have reconsiled.
With that Sam took their leave. Arjun asked her to brief him the ongoing case. As it was an open and shut case it was over quite early. After finishing the due paperworks when riya was preparing to go home arjun offered to drop her.
Silence prevailed in the car. Both were feeling awkward to strike a convo. So atlast arjun said,
Arjun: Thanks riya. Tumne sirf un baccho ko hi zingegi ki ek nayi mayne nehi di balki mujhe bhi, jo jeena bhul gaya, phirse jeena seekha diya. Main apne dukh me itna andha ho gaya tha ki yeh dekh hi nehi paya ki aj bhi kuch log mere liye intejaar karte hai, aj bki kisiko meri jaroorat hai.
Riya gave a genuine smile. Arjun was not satisfied though, he kept thinking what did he sat so as to trigger the stop button of Riya FM Radio. Arjun started the radio. The song that was playing evoked the feelings in them which they were trying hard to supress.
Baatein kuch ankaahe si wo..
Kuch ansuni se hone lagi
Kaabu dil pe raha na
Hasti hamari khone lagi
Wo.. wo.. wo.. o.. wo.. o..
Shayad yahi hai pyaar
Shayad yahi hai pyaar
Keh de mujhse dil mein kya hai..
Aisa bhi kya guroor
Tujhko bhi to ho raha hai..
Thoda asar zaroor
Ho yeh khamoshi jeene na de
Koi to baat ho..
Wo.. wo.. wo.. o.. wo.. o..
Shayad yahi hai pyaar
Both of them understood their feelings for each other but found it too early to accept anything. Everything happened so suddenly that they needed time to sort themselves.
Tu hi meri roshni hai
Tu hi chirag hai..
Dheere dheere mit jaayega
Halka sa daag hai
Yeh zehar bhi yun peeya hai
Jaise sharaab ho..
Wo.. wo.. wo.. o.. wo.. o..
Shayad yahi hai pyaar
Baatein kuch ankaahe si wo..
Kuch ansuni se hone lagi
Kaabu dil pe raha na
Hasti hamari khone lagi
Wo.. wo.. wo.. o.. wo.. o..
Shayad yahi hai pyaar
Shayad yahi hai pyaar.
Both of them needed time to recuperate, it isn't easy to let go of their haunting pasts but still together they can construct their future. Together they can be each other's strength and find peace and solace.
Arjun stopped in front of Riya's house. Riya bid goodnight and went towards her house. Arjun stared at her retreating figure for sometime. Suddenly he called her.
Arjun: Riya...
Riya: Yes Sir, boliye. Kuch kaam hai?
Arjun: I love you TOO'.
Arjun said that stressing on the word TOO.
Riya couldn't believe what she heard at first. After acknowledging what arjun said, she started fumbling with her words.
Riya: Sir, apko... kaise... pata? Mera ...matlab... maine... toh ..kabhi...kaha hi ... nehi.
Arjun smirked: Mujhe bhi abhi pata chala kyunki tumne abhi confess ki.
Riya knew that arjun had tricked her in confessing her feelings for him. Her happiness knew no bounds. If it is a pleasure to love someone, then it's a blessing when your love gets reciprocated. But what made Riya elated was that after a long time she saw a glimpse of old witty Arjun, even though for a very short time.
She smiled whole heartedly which reached upto her eyes . She ran towards arjun and engulfed him in a hug. Both of them promised each other a bright future ahead where they will support each other through every thick and thin. They promised to stay by each other till death.
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