""Tere Mere Darmiyan""
Tarika came into the bureau to hand over the file of current case. She saw that the atmosphere of the bureau was way serious. The current case was about a robbery. So she guessed that the reason behind the seriousness was something else.
Tarika signalled Freddy through eyes who was looking towards the cabin of Acp sir where Daya Acp sir were discussing something very important. They were looking visibly tensed.
Freddy: mujhe thik se toh nahi pata..per baat Abhijeet sir ko lekar hai..
Tarika: A-Abhijeet ko leker? Lekin wo toh mission pe hai na..
Freddy: haan wohi toh..Acp sir harbari mein bureau aye..aur Daya sir ko bulaya apne cabin ye kehke ki Abhijeet sir k bareme unhe kuch baat karna hai..
Tarika got worried. She decided to stay in bureau till she came to know what was the matter.
After a while Daya came out of the cabin looking fully gloomy. There Acp sir was sitting on his chair keeping his hand on his head.
Tarika: Daya kya huya? Abhijeet thik toh hai na? Usse related koi case agaya kya?
Daya: Tarika wo baat ye hai ki...Abhijeet jis mission per kaam kar raha tha uska information leak ho gaya...
Tarika: what!? Aise kaise information leak ho sakte hai!
Freddy: haan sir..mission k bareme toh sir Acp sir aur Abhijeet sir ko pata tha na..
Mujhe bhi nahi bataya tha sir ne..
Daya: Acp sir k alawa CBI k 2 officers ko pata tha..unke bhi 2-3 officers the iss mission mein..
Unhe me se kisi ne leak ki hai..
Tarika gulped. She knew the consequences. What could happen to Abhijeet if he got caught!
Tarika: Abhijeet se contact huya kuch? Wo thik toh hai na?
Daya: Acp sir koshish kar rahe hai..per contact hi nahi ho pa raha hai..
Tarika: wo us-us ke pas kancha SIM hai na..
Tumko toh number pata hai na..
Daya: Tarika maine sab kuch try kar liya nahi ho raha..aur HQ se officers ko jo chips diye gaye the..wo sab deactivated ho gaya..
Freddy: phir sir Abhijeet sir ko kaise dhundenge..
Daya: mujhe kuch samajh nahi araha hai Freddy ki kya karu! Maine apne khas khabriyo ko kaam per laga diya..
Lekin..
Tarika: lekin kya Daya? Abhijeet mil toh jayega na?
Daya: Tarika ye mission bohot hi khatarnak tha..information leak hogaya matlab unlogo ko Abhijeet k bareme pata chal gaya..agr Abhijeet waha se bahar nikal aya hoga toh shayed hume wo mil jaye..
Per agar wo waha hoga toh..
Tarika: kya Daya?
Daya: tum khud hi samajh lo..main nahi keh sakta!
Tarika froze.
A shiver ran down her spine.
"Abhijeet... Abhijeet ko kuch Nahi Hona Chahiye... Kuch Nahi Hona chahiye," she spoke in an inaudible voice.
She remembered how Abhijeet had left for the mission... How he was smiling and waving her goodbye.
She could still see him... Smiling at her.
Tears rolled down her cheeks... One after other, refusing to stop.
"Daya," ACP rushed out of his cabin, "ek lead Mili hai... Abhijeet ki location shayad - _shayad_ Satara ke chemical godown mein hai."
"Sir mein abhi nikalta Hu."
"Mein Bhi chalti Hu."
"Nahi Tarika... Waha khatra ho Sakta hai"
"Daya please..."
She then looked at ACP with pleading eyes.
"Tarika ko lekar jao Daya."
"Sir."
As they drove to Satara, Tarika was fidgeting... She somehow couldn't digest the fact that Abhijeet's information had been leaked.
Her mind came up with endless possibilities... She kept telling herself to be positive... To have faith but it was becoming increasingly difficult.
After what seemed like a thousand years, they reached the godown.
"itna saara khoon!" Tarika exclaimed.
Daya kept quiet but he looked extremely worried too. There were small bottles, injections, ropes and rods lying around.
Tarika picked each of them and checked.
"Drugs diyein Gayein Hain," her voice was low.
She almost choked as she understood what could have happened.
"Ye pendrive Mili hai," Daya came from the other chamber of the godown.
They rushed to the car and connected the pendrive to the CID laptop.
There was only one video in the pendrive.
Tarika gulped, preparing herself yet hoping for good news.
The video started with Abhijeet in the godown. His beard and moustache grown wildly, his face was barely recognizable. His hands were stretched and tied to two pillars of the godown. His posture bent, his lips dry, eyelids drooping, he looked like he had been starving for days... Weeks even.
"P-paani..." Tarika read his lips.
It wasn't easy ... Reading his lips as the godown had barely any lights save the one (probably an emergency lamp) that had been used to record the video.
Tarika shivered. She remembered having read about how cops were tortured after being caught... How they yearned, how they begged for just a little light... Let alone food or anything else.
"P-paa... " His lips moved again, trembling... Unable to find the strength to even complete the word.
Tarika felt her heart beating faster... She couldn't bear to see him like this.
And then she heard laughter - multiple people laughing.
Two people walked up to Abhijeet. One stood behind him and the other one stood in front of him.
The one behind him hit his back, just below his neck with a rod.
Once...twice...
Thrice...
Four times...
Till his back gave in and he stooped forward, coughing.
Next, the man in front of him kicked his gut, making him swing backwards again.
His eyes closing, Abhijeet's head stooped towards his left, his neck unable to support it anymore.
A punch.
Another one. On his left cheek.
His mouth opened due to the impact of the blow... Blood coming out of it.
He spit some blood on the floor while some trickled down his jaw.
They ripped open his shirt, the buttons fell down to the floor.
They pulled the fabric away from his body making him flinch.
As they pulled some fabric that was stuck to his body due to his wounds, he gasped, squeezing his eyes shut.
Through her vision that was blurred with tears, Tarika noticed the wounds on his body.
A deep, fresh cut across his stomach... A bluish red wound below his shoulder, another blue one on his chest... Tarika couldn't look anymore.
"Bata kisliye Aaya tha?"
"Nahi."
His voice was feeble but firm. He would die but not give away the country's secrets.
One of the men took out his pocket knife. A sharp, deep, quick cut was made on his chest.
"Aaah," Abhijeet screamed.
Then some liquid... Which Tarika knew to be something that was pain aggravating was poured on his bare torso.
"Aaaah!! Aaaah..."
The most painful, the most bloodcurdling scream she had heard.
His screams, gasps... They kept echoing in her ears.
Abhi managed to smirk even in this condition.
The man slapped him hard.
A man came running into the godown: boss...police ko yaha ka pata chal gaya...nikal na parega..
Man 1: sare saboot ikattha kar le..
Aur tu ye video iss pendrive mein transfer kar jaldi se..
Man 2: thik hai boss!
They untied the rope and dragged away Abhijeet.
The video ended. Nothing more was recorded in that video.
Tarika was shivering watching that video. He face became wet with her fresh tears. Daya looked at her. He placed his hand on her shoulder.
Daya: Tarika sambhalo khudko...
Tarika: Ab..Abhijeet...wo..usko..
She couldn't even talk because of hiccups.
Daya hugged her to console her. He himself was having a hard time to control his emotions. But he was used to seeing all this..he himself experienced these all too.
Daya: kuch nahi hoga Abhijeet ko..hum use dhund lenge...
Tarika nodded still in hug. Daya broke the hug and gave her the water bottle.
Daya: Tarika paani pilo thora..
Tarika remembered Abhijeet was asking for water in the video. How could she even drink water knowing Abhi was in such devastated condition.
"Mujhe nahi pina."
"Don't be kid Tarika. Pata nahi kabtak mile Abhijeet hame. Tabtak tum aise toh nahi rahogi na!"
"Abhijeet... wo ketne din tak. aise ssurvive kar paiga! Nahi Daya, please use dhuno."
"Ham dhun rahe hai na. or He's alive. Yahi bari baat hai hamare liye iswaqt. Or wo use etne asani se nahi marenge. They will keep him alive.. jabtak unhe pata nahi chala jataa Abhi ke mission ka"
Tarika cried harder. Daya patted her back lightly
"Please, pio."
Tarika shook her head. Daya gave up.
"Okay, tum yaha gari mei wait karo. Mai dobara check karke ata hu andar."
Daya left. Tarika sobbed. She remembered the video again and again.
"Abhijeet... please, wapas a jao. Please."
They came back from satara. Two days passed like this. Suddenly Daya got a call from one of his 'khas' khabri.
"Haan bol. Kya? Kaha? Dekh tujhe mu manga inam milega bus tu mujhe Abhijeet ka location tress kar ke de... jaldi."
He cut the call.
"Sir, ek news hai."
"good ya bad?" asked ACP
"Philal keh nahi sakta "
"Batao.."
"Abhijeet has escaped."
"Kya! Ye toh achi khabar hai Daya. Pata keisey chala?"
"Sir, uski halat bohot kharap hai. Kaha bhaga.. ye directly pata nahi chala. Bohot dur ke link se pata lagaya hai kalya ne. Kisi jungle mei. Wo bohoti buri tarah jhakhmi hai. Or..."
"Or?"
"Sir.. wolog use kutte ki tarah dhun rahe hai. Abhijeet has got sone information against them."
"Philal uska bachnahi jayada jaruri hai. wo unke hat a gaya toh pata nahi kya halat karenge wo uska..."
"Sir.. koshissh jari hai. Kalya ne apna admi laga ke rakha hai. Location tress hoteehi... ham waha pohoch jainge."
Daya saw Tarika standing near the threshold and moved near her.
"Tarika... ab toh tension mat karo. He will be fine."
"Tum khud hi etne pareshan ho or mujhe keh rahe ho?"
"Breakfast kia tumne?"
"Fast hai mera aj."
"Tarika... weisehi Tumhari tabiyat thik nahi hai. Chalo canteen.. kuch khallo."
Abhijeet ko mil jane do Daya... mai khayal rakhhungi tab.. abhi nahi."
"Or Abhijeet ake Tummhe aise dekhega toh? Tarika, wo hamesh mission mei jabe se pehle mujhe kehke jata hai 'Daya, Tarika ka khayal rakhna' or phir ake mujhse larta hai.. ki tumne weight loss kia... yaar thora toh rahem khao!"
Tarika smiled. she smiled after a long time. Daya too gave a small smile in return.
"Wo thik hoga Tarika. he will come back to us. He's a warrior. Tum please apna khayal rakho."
"Ajka fast rakhne do."
Daya nodded.
Daya got a call again.
"Haan bol. Sacha? Kab? Nahi... dhayan se. Kisi ko pata nahi chalna chahiye."
He cut the call.
"Kya hua Daya." Acp asked.
"Sir.. Abhijeet ka pata chal gaya. Par.."
"Par kya?"
"Uski halat bohot kharap hai. North ke taraf nadi kinare ek gaw mei."
"Khabar pakki hai na?"
"Haan sir... 90%. Hame arranangements karni chahiye. 10% ki khabar adhe ghante mei mil jaiga."
Aco nodded and left for arrangements.
"Daya mai.." Tarika started.
"Tarika.. nahi. Please. Bohot khatara hoga waha. Please."
Tarika nodded
"Mai.. yahi intizar karungi."
Daya went from there with Acp Freddy. They reached in that village. Daya showed Abhijeet's photograph's to the villager. But they denied to recognize him.
Daya: dekhiye hum CID se hai..plz inhe dhund ne me hamari madad kijiye..
One old woman came forward.
Woman: kya ye koi apradhi hai?
Acp: nahi..ye ek CID officer hai..iske jaan ko khatra hai..
Freddy: ap janti hai inhe?
Woman: nahi nahi..mujhe nahi pata kuch..aise hi pooch liya maine..
The woman went from there. Acp looked at her suspiciously.
Acp: Daya najar rakho unper..mujhe lagta hai inko kuch malum hai..
*At night*
A person came in shawl in the rest house of CID. That person throw a stone wrapping with paper through the window which made noise enough to make CID team alert.
Acp: Daya tum jake bahar dekho..main dekhta hoon kya pheka hai..
Daya went outside and came back after a while.
Daya: andhere mein kahi gayeb ho gaya sir..
Acp: Abhijeet ka pata lag gaya...
Daya: kaise sir?
Acp showed him the paper where was written "ap jinhe dhund rahe hai wo surakshit hai. Nadi k piche wale khet k baju mein jo ghar hai..waha ajaiye."
Freddy: sir kahi ye koi trap toh nahi?
Acp: nahi Freddy..mujhe nahi lagta...
Daya: sir phir chalker dekhte hai..
Acp nodded. They took their guns and left from there.
They reached their and saw a small hut.
Daya: shayed wohi ghar hai...
Acp: chalo dekhte hai..
Daya knocked on the door. A woman opened the door.
Daya *surprised: ap?
She was the same who inquired about Abhijeet in the morning.
Woman: haan..ap jinko dhund rahe the wo yehi hai..
They barged into the home and saw that Abhijeet was lying on a bed with shawl on him. His face was covered in beared and bruises. Acp sir placed his hand lovingly on Abhijeet's forehead. He could feel the high temperature of Abhijeet.
Acp's eyes filled with water which he cleared even before anyone could notice. Freddy was crying silently seeing his Abhijeet sir in this condition. Daya was fighting hard with his emotions too.
Acp: ise toh bohot tej bukhar hai...
Daya: kya! Sir hume jaldi se ise hospital le jana chahiye..
Woman: maine ise ayurvedi dawa diya hai..bukhar thodi der me utar jayega..
Philhaal isko aram karne dijiye..
Daya was about to say something when Acp sir said: thik hai...
Acp sir went towards her.
Acp: apne subha humse jhoot kyon bola?
Woman: Aplogo se pehle bhi kuch log aye the ise dhundte dhundte...
Per main nahi bataya..
Phir apne jab kaha ki ap log CID se hai..toh mujhe laga shayed ye koi mujrim ho..per phir apne kaha ye CID officer hai..
Wo pehle wale log bhi apke aspas hi the..isiliye nahi bataya...
Acp: apne bohot accha kiya..
Daya: apko Abhijeet mila kaha?
Woman: nadi k kinare..ye kuch bol nahi pa raha tha..maine insaniyaat k khatir apne ghar le aya..
Daya: apka bohot bohot shukriya..apko pata nahi apne humper kya ehsaan kiya!
At night Abhijeet's condition got worsed suddenly. ACP sir arranged a helicopter in emergency basis. They took Abhijeet to the hospital. The doctor treated him and kept him under observation on ICU for 48 hours.
At morning Daya got a call from Tarika. Seeing her call Daya remembered he forgot to call Tarika.
'Shit!'
"Haan Tarika bolo."
"Kaha ho? Kab se wait kar rahi thi. Tumne phone kia nahii... tohh maine kgud kar liya."
"Wo Tarika.. I am sorry..."
"Its okay. I know bohot pareshan ho tum. Kuch pata chala Abhijeet ka?"
"Haan.. wo, wo mil gaya... par..."
"Daya.." ACP sir called him.
"Mil gaya? Wo thik hai na? tumlog kaha ho? Please batao mai bhi ati hi."
"Tarika mujhe ACP sir bula rahe hai. I will call you later."
"Daya.."
She protested but Daya cut the call.
"Ji sir.."
"Hame Abhijeet ko jald hi yaha se move karna parega. fast. Je got attacked."
"Kya! par sir is halat mei keisey? Uski halat toh dekhiye ap. Ham protection bara dete hai na."
"Nahi Daya.. mai koi chances nahi lena chahta. And DCP ka order hai. mai chahu bhi toh nahi tal sakta. Arrangements mei ho jange 30 minutes mei. Tum secuirity dekho. Mai DCP ko shant karta hu."
ACP left
Within 45 minutes Abhijeet was moved to a secure place. He's still unconscious but was under well protection.
"Dekho Daya.. is jagah ke baree mei mujhe, tumhe or DCP ko pata hai. kisi or ko pata nahi chalna chahiye.."
"Sir.. Tarika.."
"Nahi Daya.. bat ko samjho... Tarika ko toh bilkul nahi. Ham sab pee najar rakhe huye hai. And Tarika is a easy target. tum use samjhao...Abhijeet ka protection ka mamla hai wo saamajh jaigi."
"Okay sir. Sir Abhijeet ne proofs kahi chupa diye honge. uske pass se toh hame luch nahii mila."
"Haan..wahi kia hooga usne. use ekbar hosh a jai bus."
AN: So, some of you said its only jealousy we write! Well, we all (who write for this account) think in thr same way. And we like jealous Abhijeet kya kare. But i know it must be irking for you. And however most of our stories which are being posted recently are written months ago. But of course we will try to write other general too. Hope, you have liked this one.
~Let's Imagine~