Author's Note : I never thought I'd get such an idea. It came out much like I wanted. Hope you guys like it


|::| Motherhood|::|

She was standing at the beach alone. There was wonderful blue mass of water in front of her, as far as her eyes went. With inattention she looked at her left. At a great distance some indistinct hills and mountains were seen, and at the foot of the mountain large waves were falling with gusts. The scene was amusing - Tarika unconsciously began to walk towards the blue water and all of a sudden a very strange thought hit her mind.

Even two years ago she was all alone. After her family's death of that horrible accident she broke down, she thought there was no one for her. All her feelings, dreams, expectations almost died. But then Abhijit and her whole team supported and restrained her. Sometimes she thought if they didn't stand beside her what would happen. She was lost in her thoughts and took two more steps forward, unknowingly.

"Tarika?!" she banged out of her thoughts and turned to see the person with the familiar voice. A smile curved on her lips and she walked towards him.

"Tum yahan! Iss waqt yahan kya kar rahe ho?" she smiled and asked him. "Wo Daya aur main yahan tehel né aye the...ACP sir ka phone aya toh Daya baas abhi abhi gaya hai. Main né socha thodi der ki baad jaoon. Lekin aap..." he shot her a questioning look. "Main bhi tehel né hi ayi thi...Accha hua ki tum mil gaye, chalo saath chalte hai", she replied.

"Haan! chaliye...Iss mein bhi koi poochne wali baat hai?! Hein!" he laughed and both began to walk on the beach, silently. Meanwhile they heard a sobbing sound of a kid. Both of them looked here and there and found a baby girl sobbing, sitting behind a coconut cart. They looked at each other anxiously an walked towards the little girl. Abhijit kneeled down and patted the girl's cheek and said, "Kya hua beeta? Aap ro kyun rahi ho? Hein! Kiske saath ayi ho aap?" The girl was really scared. So he signed Tarika to handle her. Tarika nodded and she also bent down her knees and pulled the girl closer to her. With caressing she wiped her tears and asked her, "Rona bandh karo beta, aur batao aap ka naam kya hai?" The little kid was still suspicious about them and lowered her chin. Tarika wiped her cheek and smiled. "Daro maat! Kuch nahi hoga...Kya naam hai aap ka beta?" she asked softly. "Me..Meera", she stammered. "Areh wah! Meera! Bohot pyaara naam hai. Hai na Abhijit?" she looked at him and he nodded. "Accha beta ro kyun rahi ho aur kiski saath ayi ho?" Tarika asked and Meera began to cry this time. Tarika put her arms around her and hugged her with affection and care and looked at Abhijit with anxiety and rubbed Meera's hair.

.

At the bureau Meera was sitting on the table and playing with toys and Tarika was standing next to her. CID officers were discussing about the little girl in ACP Pradyuman's cabin.

"Sir ye bacchi toh kuch bolne ki liye taiyaar hi nahi hai!" Abhijit exclaimed and put his hands in his pockets. "Abhijit..ab ye bacchi sirf panch saal ki hai aur hum toh iske liye ajnabi hai...kaise batayegi" Pradyuman rubbed his forehead. "Sir humain Meera ki photo saare akbaar aur news channels main dikhana chahiye", suggested Freedy. "Lekin agar usse isko ya iski parivaar ko koi pareshaani hui toh?" said Pradyuman. "Kaisi pareshaani sir?" Freedy asked. "Aisa bhi toh ho sacta hai Freedy ki ye bacchi, Meera khoya nahi agwa hui thi! Agar aisa hua toh paper pe iski photo dene se iski jaan ko khatra ho sacta hai", ACP explained.

"Haan sir! ho sacta hai", Abhijit agreed. "Sir humain pehle Meera se hi baat karni padegi", Suraj suggested. "Hmm...Abhijit", Pradyuman looked at Abhijit, "Tum jaake baat karne ki koushish karo". Abhijit gave him a nod and all of them moved towards Meera and Tarika. Seeing them coming Meera got scared and jumped into Tarika's lap and hid her face in her chest. Tarika softly wrapped her hands around her. She looked at the officers and patting Meera's hair nervously she signed them not to ask her anything now. ACP understood what she wanted to say, so he ordered all the officers to get back to another case and asked Abhijit to drop Meera and Tarika home. Abhijit, along with the two of them walked out the bureau and ACP smiled himself and kept looking through the glass window until they got in the car. He rubbed his teary eyes and again got back to work.

.

Meera was lying on the bed and painting something and Tarika was in the kitchen preparing dinner. At the mean time the bell rang. She opened the door and found Abhijit standing with bags in his both hands.

"Ye sab kya hai?" she exclaimed. "Areh! wo..Meera ki liye Purvi, Shreya, Freedy aur ACP sir né kuch khelone bheje hai", he told her, trying to wipe the sweat from his forehead with the palm of his hand. Tarika took one bag from his hand as he was having trouble handling two bags. While taking the bag Tarika's hand touched his. He didn't even notice it but she felt kind of awkward and shy. He entered the house and she closed the door and went to the living room. Abhijit settled himself on the sofa and Tarika went inside to bring Meera out.

She was just five years old and it wasn't easy for her to get free with strangers but she felt quite safe with both Abhijit and Tarika. And ACP and Freedy too. When Tarika told her that "Abhijit uncle" had come, she ran to him and leapt on his lap. He hugged her and so did she. Tarika saw the whole thing from the doorway and smiled. She walked towards the kitchen to prepare dinner. Before going she asked, "Abhijit! tum humare saath khana khaoge?" Abhijit hesitated a bit but at the next minute he gave her a nod and she smiled.

After dinner Tarika made Meera to go to sleep and after she had slept Tarika and Abhijit had a long conversation. Not about any particular matter but many things, important and unimportant both. After Abhijit had left Tarika sat on the sofa for sometimes and then went to her room. There she found Meera sleeping calmly. She walked towards and stood next to her. Tarika then unfolded the blanket and pulled it over her, leaned and kissed on her forehead. Then she lied beside her and with caressing put her hand over Meera and turned off the lights.


Author's Note : So how was it? Should I continue or what?