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This is basically a short story type which I will update in a few parts. Do tell me how it is and whether I should continue it.. Here goes the first part.
INDEX:
PART 1: YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
"No let me go, leave my hand," pleaded a friend.
"How can I? ...How can I let you go?" said the other.
"Time has come to bid a farewell, Daya", saying so, Abhijeet sets himself free from Daya's clutches and falls off the cliff.
"Abbbhhhiiijjjiiittt," Daya's voice echoes all around the cliff.
Purvi, Pankaj and Freddie join in, upon hearing Daya's voice.
"What happened Daya Sir? Where is Abhijit Sir?", Purvi's face was fear stricken. She wonders if everything is alright. They rush towards Daya and hear a thud sound.
Daya lands heavily on the ground, constantly staring at his hand, "How can you?...how can you Daya release Abhijit's hand?" he constantly blames himself.
Purvi and Pankaj try to shake him up but to no avail.
Freddie calls ACP Sir to share the same news, "ACP Sir, Abhijit Sir is no more."
ACP reaches the spot with his momentous squad while Daya weeps over his own guilt, which he considers to have been committed by him.
ACP walks over to Daya, "What are you doing Daya? This is not the time to behave like this. You need to be strong in order to search for Abhijit."
Daya revives his senses only to see ACP Sir in front of him, "Sir, do you think a person falling from a few hundred feet and above will survive any how?"
"Since when have you become like this Daya? Since when? You used to be my toughest cop, you used to never give up unless you were satisfied. But today? How can you say that Abhijit is not alive since we didn't get his body yet?"
Daya stomps his feet and stands up with a jerk, "Sir, see you are also believing the same deep inside you that Abhijit is dead, you called Abhijit a BODY!"
"No Daya, I didn't mean that. I meant to say he may be alive or something, we need to find him." Pradyuman tries to explain.
A policeman calls Pradyuman Sir's name, "ACP Sir, have a look. We found this jacket hanging on the tree near the cliff.."
Before ACP can get hold of the jacket, Daya snatches the jacket from the policeman's hands, "This is Abhijit's jacket."
He starts to sob hugging the jacket while other officers try to pacify him.
ACP Sir, needless to say, is annoyed by Daya's behaviour but he knew there's something deep inside which is troubling Daya.
"Daya, I think you need to take a leave for a few days. Till then, we will try to know Abhijit's whereabouts."
Daya obeys and walks away with Abhijit's jacket unmindfully.
"Sir, you allowed Daya Sir to take leave without his involvement in such a serious case?" Purvi enquired.
"Sometimes, you need to give some space to the toughest human being too," ACP replies in a soft tone.
"Sir, do you really think Abhijit Sir is alive? I mean Daya Sir also doesn't believe this.." Pankaj shrugged himself.
"Pankaj, do you also want to take leave like Daya?" ACP retorted with a banter.
All the officers willingly oblige and begin doing their work.
Later that night, Daya storms into his house. He switches on the light and finds the entire house decorated including his bedroom too. He notices a beautiful piece of cake on the table of his dining. He goes near where it's written, "Happy Birthday Daya."
Daya goes into a flashback.
Abhijeet is shown sending a phone call to Daya and calling him for a morning walk earlier that day. Daya leaves quickly to meet his best friend. They meet near a cafe where they hug each other and Abhijit wishes him for his precious day, his birthday.
"So Abhijit, you remember my birthday?" Daya chuckles to himself.
"We aren't newly met friends Daya, I have known you since twenty years or so. Remembering your birthday is not a coincidence, it has become a habit, being beside you as your best friend has become a habit, you have become my habit friend, " Abhijit replied with an elegant smile.
Both the friends take sip of their coffee while they delve deep into their past, how they met, their friendship, their duties, their time spent together and everything.
Time flew by and finally Abhijit takes a glance at his watch, "So Daya, today we will have to face a new set of criminals but I hope we'll reach home by the evening. Okay now tell me, what do you require as a gift on your birthday?"
"Abhijit, your friendship is my gift. I don't need anything", Daya clears his throat.
"But dost ko gift dena toh banta hai. Okay never mind, I will get something for you," saying so, both of them leave for their work.
Daya comes out of the flashback.
He places himself on the couch. He holds Abhijit's jacket in his hand. He looks at the beautiful decorations before him.
"So this is the reason why you needed keys to my house in the afternoon while I was at the bureau? You put in so much efforts to give me a surprise tonight but only for you to leave me forever and go away? Why Abhijit why?"
His eyes fall on a neatly wrapped package on the table.
Daya picks it up and unpacks it, he finds a watch in it and a little note.
"This isn't an ordinary watch Daya, it is meant for your BAE. Yes.. As I was wandering around to find a gift for you late in the afternoon, I noticed a few couples buying this, I thought to give it a try. Is it meant only for couples? No. Even for best of friends too. This watch works on signals. If you press the right hand button, it will send signal to the other watch. And if the other one presses it, it will reach your watch. Isn't it interesting? When one is in trouble, the other one will come to help hearing the signal. Here I wear my watch and in the evening, you will wear yours. We will hear signals of each other until the one doesn't forget the other. Death may only part us. With love, Abhijit..."
A fresh trail of tears trickle down Daya's eyes as he observes the watch shimmering before him, "So Abhijit, in the afternoon when you returned to the bureau, you were wearing this beautiful watch. I asked you whether you bought a new watch, you avoided my question. Now I get it."
Daya unlids the watch and fixes it properly on his wrist. He lays down on the couch as he observes the blood smeared jacket of his dear friend. He kisses his precious gift and hugs the jacket once again as Abhijit's words from the little note lingers in his ears, "We will hear signals of each other until the one doesn't forget the other. Death may only part us. With love, Abhijit."
Daya presses the right button of his watch but there was no signal on the receiving end. Daya narrowed his lips only to say, "No you are not forgotten Abhijit..." and slowly his eyes curl as he dozes off to sleep.
To be continued...
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