The Engagement Contract

A/N - I am sure this plot has been explored by many writers still I could not stop myself from writing on it. So here is the first chapter of my new DaReya story. Hope you all enjoy it :) Please leave a review :)

Chapter 1

CID Officer Shreya was sitting cross legged in the living room of her Mumbai apartment with a morose looking expression on her face, staring absent mindedly at the television screen.

Nobody would believe it was her birthday today. She looked so sad and glum. The reason? Her best friends were not around to celebrate her birthday, her family lived in Ahmedabad and she didn't have a boyfriend. She had spent the entire day in her apartment sitting on the couch deciding what to do. Sure enough it had turned out to be her worst birthday till date.

The clock chimed nine and at the same time, her door bell rang.

Shreya walked towards the door and opened it wondering who might be her visitor.

Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw Senior Inspector Daya standing outside her door with a birthday cake in his hand, grinning like a kid.

Shreya stood gaping at him unable to believe that the man with whom she was secretly in love was standing outside her door on her birthday.

'Andar ane ko nahi kahogi?' Daya asked breaking her trance.

'Huh? Oh sorry sir! Andar aayein na please' said Shreya allowing him to step inside.

'Sorry Shreya maine aaneme bohot der kar di. Lekin main kya karta? Mujhe ACP sir ne ek bohot urgent kaam bataya tha jise poora karna bohot jaroori tha. Anyway Happy Birthday! Aaj ka din kaisa raha tumhara?' he asked.

'Thank you sir! Waise kuch khaas nahi tha. Bas TV dekh rahi thi' said Shreya shrugging her shoulders.

'Kya kaha tumne? Tum tumhare birthday ke din ghar baithke TV dekh rahi thi?' asked Daya in disbelief.

'Main akeli kya karti? Kuch bhi nahi tha karne ke liye! Tarika aur Purvi bhi to yaha nahi hai. Ma aur Baba se phone par baat hui. Bas aur kya' said Shreya.

'Shreya aisa nahi chalega. Chalo jaldi se tayar ho jao. Hum abhi dinner ke liye jaa rahe hai', said Daya.

'Kya? Abhi?' asked Shreya slightly in a daze

'Han! Kyun? Tumhe koi problem to nahi?' asked Daya.

'Nahi sir' said Shreya.

'Toh jao jaldi phir' said Daya.

'Okay. Aap baithiye. Main abhi aayi.' said Shreya.

'Arey Shreya ye lo. Happy Birthday once again' said Daya handing her the cake.

'Oh thank you' said Shreya smiling widely.

She kept the cake on the kitchen counter and almost ran to her room to get ready.
Once she had carefully shut the door, she whooped in joy.

'Wow! Daya sir ko mera birthday yaad hai! Unhone mujhe wish kiya. God! I love him! I love him so much! Shreya aaj to tumhe unse I love you bolna hi hoga! Chahe kuch bhi ho jaye. Aaj ka ye birthday tumhe tumhara sabse best birthday banana hi hoga' she muttered to herself.

She wore her favourite black dress which came to rest below her knees with a simple red clutch and red stilettos.

She was checking her reflection in the mirror when Daya knocked the door from outside.

'Shreya? Andar kya kar raho ho? Accha jaldi tayar ho jao hume late ho raha hai.

Hastily, Shreya opened the door and said, 'Sorry sir. Mujhe late ho gaya. Chaliye main ready hoon'

Daya surveyed her and let out a low whistle. 'Wow. Bohot acchi lag rahi ho'

Shreya looked away smiling slightly bit didn't say anything.

When they reached the restaurant, Shreya groaned. There were hundreds of people waiting to be seated.

'Oh no! Yaha kitni bheed hai' said Shreya in dismay.

Daya smiled and led her right into the restaurant.

'Good evening sir! I am afraid you'll have to wait for some time. We are full' said one of the restaurant staff.

'My name is Daya Shetty. I have made a reservation' said Daya.

'Ah! Very well. I remember it. Is the young lady with you?' asked the man.

'Yeah. She's is my date today evening' said Daya.

Shreya looked at him surprised.

'Date?' she wondered.

Finally they got their seats and gave the order.

'Kaisa laga restaurant?' asked Daya.

'Bohot accha hai. I love it' said Shreya.

'I hope khaana jald se jald aa jaye. Bohot bhuk lagi hai' said Daya.

Shreya was enjoying herself very much and she wished the evening would never end. When they were done with the main course and desserts, Daya dropped her home.

'Sir ek baat kahu aapse?' Shreya asked.

'Haan bolo.' said Daya.

'Sir aapko pehle kabhi aisa dekha nahi. Matlab aap bureau me itne strict behave karte hai aur aaj ye sab' said Shreya.

'Wo kya hai na Shreya mera ye rang sirf special logon ko hi pata rehta hai' he said softly.

'Thank you sir. Mera din special banane ke liye' said Shreya.

'Abhi aur ek surprise baki hai' said Daya.

'Wo kya?' asked Shreya beweildered.

'Upar chalte hai. Phir batata hoon' said Daya.

Shreya's heart skipped a beat.

'Aise kya baat ho sakti hai? Kahi Daya sir mujhse apne pyar ka izhaar to nahi karne wale? Wo chahe kuch bhi kahe. Main toh aaj unhe apne dil ki baat batakar hi rahungi' she said to herself.