CHAPTER 2

Daya entered the bureau. He spotted shreya sitting on her desk. She had come in a new shirt, it was pink. Her hairstyle was also changed. She had not made a bun but had left her silky hair loose and was looking perfect. Daya took a break from staring at her and pasting a smile on his lips made his way towards her.

Shreya saw him coming and stood up to greet him but he himself greeted her with a smile.

"Hi Shreya!"

Shreya was a little surprised but managed to respond.

"Hel-hello sir, good morning!"

Shreya thought now he would move to his desk but he remained there staring at her.

"Kya baat hai, nayi shirt? You know, pink tumhe bahut suit karta hai". Daya said flirtatiously.

"Han?" Shreya uttered in shock, "umm..thank you sir, wo bas aise hi!"

"Kya baat hai shreya, kafi busy lag rahi ho? Itna kaam kyun karti ho tum? Thoda rest bhi kar liya Karo." Daya said leaning on her desk. "Main kuch help kar du tumhari?"

Shreya was too shocked now. She blinked her eyes twice. "No it's ok sir, thanks, main kar lungi" she said and tried to concentrate in her work.

She was happy that daya was near her and talking so sweetly but more than that she was getting uncomfortable with his presence. He was behaving odd. She was praying him to leave her desk but neither he was leaving her desk nor staring at her. Shreya's loose hair strands were falling on her face. She thought of clutching her hair in a bun but as she grabbed her hair in her hands daya stopped her.

"Aa haan.. kya kar rahi ho? Rehne do na, khule balo me tum jyada khoobsurat lagti ho!"

Shreya looked at him surprisingly and slowly left her hair as such.

Daya smiled at her, "ye hui na baat!" He said and moved from there.

Shreya stared at him. "Am I hallucinating? Ye daya sir ko achanak se kya ho gaya? Pehle to kabhi mere good morning ka theek se reply bhi nahi karte the aur aaj khud pehle 'Hi' bola. Meri shirt ki tareef ki. Mujhe khoobsurat bola? Mujhe kuch samajh me nahi aa raha hai. Achha hua wo yaha se chale gaye, 2 minute aur rukte to main pagal hi ho jati. Pata nahi aaj kya ho gaya hai unhe?" Shreya mumbled rotating her pen between her fingers.

o-o-o

In lunch time Daya himself approached Shreya.

"Shreya, aaj ghar se lunch nahi layi tum? Wo tumhari mummy ke hath ka Rajma bahut tasty tha. Phir kab milega khane ko?" He asked in such a friendly tone like if Nikhil and Pankaj were talking to her.

Shreya was delighted. "Sir, aapne pehle kyun nahi bataya ki wo aapko itna pasand aaya tha? Main kal hi le aaungi aapke liye!" She said in excitement.

Daya smiled at her enthusiasm to bring lunch for him.

o-o-o

Daya, Abhijeet, Shreya and Nikhil were chasing a gang of criminals. They all scattered in different directions to trap them.

Daya came across one of the goons. He started firing on daya. Daya tried to cross fire to defend himself but unfortunately he was not able to open the lock of his pistol.

"Damn it!" Daya hid himself behind a wall and tried to open the lock but couldn't do so while the goon continued firing on him.

Daya was gritting his teeth struggling to unlock the pistol when suddenly shreya cane there and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Sir aap theek to hain?"

The pistol got unlocked as shreya placed her hand on his shoulder. The goon was about to fire on shreya, but daya shot him and knocked him down.

"Sir, you ok?" Shreya asked worriedly.

Daya looked into her eyes obligingly. "Thanks shreya!"

Shreya could not get him why he was thanking her.

Ultimately they overpowered the goons and arrested them. All were heading back to bureau when daya stopped shreya.

"Shreya, would you like to have some ice cream?"

Shreya was surprised again and so was abhijeet.

"Kya kaha tumne daya?" Abhijeet asked in disbelief.

Daya looked at him, "main bas ye keh raha tha ki kitni tej dhoop hai, its so hot na. To aise me ice cream khane ka maja hi kuch aur hota hai."

Abhijeet looked at daya and then at shreya, she was smiling. Abhijeet too smiled.

"Theek hai bhai, tum log jao ice cream khane, hum log bureau chalte hain."

"Chale shreya?" Daya asked.

Shreya nodded with a smile. She was touched with his gesture. He asked her for ice cream. She had become habitual of getting daily new surprises from him and it was the sweetest one of them. Shreya felt special.

o-o-o

Abhijeet asked daya about the change in his behavior towards shreya.

"Kya baat hai daya? Pehle shreya daya sir-daya sir karti rehti thi, lekin ab tum khud shreya-shreya karke uske peeche ghumte rehte ho. Mujhe pata tha ek din wo tumhare dil me apni jegah jaroor bana legi, par itni jaldi? Tum to ekdum deewane hi ho gaye ho shreya ke."

Daya laughed at abhijeet, "hahaha abhijeet tum na? Tumhari problem kya hai actually? Pehle main uske sath rudely baat karta tha to tumhe pasand nahi tha ab main uska dost banne ki koshish kar raha hu to wo bhi tum digest nahi kar pa rahe ho?"

"Nahi but aise achanak se kuch dino se tumhara behavior kafi badal gaya hai." Abhijeet said.

Daya nodded his head, "Aisi koi baat nahi hai yaar. Mujhe bas ehsas hua ki shreya bahut achhi ladki hai aur mujhe uske sath achha behave Karna chahiye, that's why!"

Daya said and moved from there to put an end to his inquiries.

On the other hand shreya was flying in the air. She had started feeling that daya also loves her.

She returned from forensic lab.

"Guys, good news hai!" She exclaimed loudly.

"Kya hua, daya sir ne propose kar diya tumhe?" Purvi asked excitedly.

Shreya hit her, "shut up, fingerprints match ho gaye. kuch bhi bolte rehte ho tum log!"

Shreya said blushing. But exactly this was the condition. Seeing daya's special treatment for shreya everyone in bureau had started whispering about their relationship. Even they all were waiting daya to propose shreya and made an official announcement about their love.

Shreya was already in love with him and she was just desperately waiting for him to confess his feelings.

o-o-o

Daya had purchased a new flat but he was miserably stuck in the complicated legal formalities.

"Daya, tumne abhi tak naye flat me shift nahi kiya?" Abhijeet asked.

"Abhijeet main to aaj hi shift kar lu but wo agreement ka registration nahi ho pa raha hai. Wo bewkoof lawyer bhi kuch kar nahi pa raha. Aur wo registrar, mujhe itne dino se ghuma raha hai. Ek chota sa signature hi to Karna hai lekin pata nahi uski kya problem hai? Aaj phir jakar dekhta hu, kya pata aaj ho jaye!" Daya said hopefully.

Abhijeet made a sad face for him, "dekh lo bhai, tumhara luck sath hua to jaroor ho jayega warna tum us registrar ke office ka chakkar hi lagate reh jaoge!"

Daya looked at abhijeet, "mera luck? Yeah right, Shreya kaha hai?"

Abhijeet looked at him confusingly, "shreya se kya kaam? Mujhe nahi pata wo kaha hai? Mujhse jyada tumhari dost hai wo tumhe pata hona chahiye."

Daya smiled, "it's ok, I'll find her" he said and left in search of shreya.

As he saw her, he approached her, "Shreya, tum thodi der ke liye free ho kya?"

"Ha lekin kyun sir? Kuch kaam tha?" She asked.

"Ha wo...mujhe thodi shopping karni hai. Abhijeet busy hai. To tum chalo na mere sath please!" He cringed.

Shreya smiled, "ok"

Daya took her with him and deliberately took that rout on which the registrar office was located. He stopped in front of the office.

"Sir yaha kyun ruk gaye aap?" Shreya asked.

"Shreya, wo actually, maine naya flat liya hai na to bas ek important paper hai uspe registrar ka signature chahiye. Ab yaha se gujar rahe hain to maine socha sign karwa lu. Tum bas 2 minute ruko, main bas abhi aaya." He said and turned to move but stopped and turned to shreya.

"Waise, shreya tum yaha akeli baith ke kya karogi? Aao tum bhi andar hi chalo na. Bas 2 minute ka kaam hai, phir shopping pe chalenge!"

Shreya nodded and moved inside with him.

Daya met the registrar and for his surprise his task was completed within exactly 2 minutes. Daya was extremely happy.

"Thank God! Finally, is kaam ke liye main na jane kitne dino se chakkar laga raha tha."

Shreya too smiled seeing him happy. Daya turned to her.

"Shreya, ab wo flat legally mera ho chuka hai. Chalo na tumhe dikhata hu, bahut achha flat hai." Daya said excitedly.

"Sure" shreya said and daya took her to show his new flat.

He took out the keys and opened it. He was about to step inside but stopped and looked at shreya.

"Kya hua sir, chaliye na!" Shreya said.

"Shreya, maine apni zindagi bhar ki kamai laga ke ye ghar khareeda hai. Tum nahi janti ye mere liye kya mayne rakhta hai. Isliye main chahta hu ki, is ghar me pehla kadam uska pade jo mere liye sabse khas hai. Aur wo tum ho shreya. Please shreya, main chahta hu ki is ghar me pehla kadam tum rakho!" Daya said staring into her eyes.

For a second shreya couldn't believe on her own ears. What did he just say that she is someone most special for him? Shreya was overwhelmed with his words.

"Sir main? Main aapke liye sabse khas hu?"

Daya stared at her, "Shreya, tumhe to pata bhi nahi hai ki tum mere liye kya ho? You know I am the luckiest man on this earth, kyunki tum mere sath ho. Thank you so much for always being there with me."

Shreya smiled with slightly wet eyelids. "Sir, ye ghar aapke sapno ka ghar hai. Itne emotions Jude huye hain aapke is ghar ke sath. Kyun na hum ek kaam kare? Hum dono is ghar me ek sath pehla kadam rakhe to?"

"Nahi shreya... Pehle tum.." Daya was saying but shreya held his hand.

"Please sir!" She said looking into his eyes.

Daya smiled and entangled his fingers with her. They both took the first step inside the house together holding each other's hand.

Shreya entered and admired the house. "Wow, it's really beautiful."

Daya looked at her, "hmm...aur ab to ye aur bhi jyada khoobsurat ho gaya, pehla kadam tumne jo rakha."

Shreya looked at him and they shared a brief eyelock.

o-o-o

Daya and abhijeet were sitting in a cafe.

"To daya, finally tumne apne naye ghar me shift kar liya hai, ek choti si party to do yaar." Abhijeet demanded.

"Ha de dunga abhijeet, sabar Karo, kahi bhaga nahi ja raha hu main!" Daya said.

Suddenly a girl came there calling for daya.

"Daya, tum yaha?"

Daya and Abhijeet both looked at the girl surprisingly.

"Aastha tum yaha?" Daya uttered.

"Ha main! Chalo achha hai tum yahi mil gaye. Mujhe tumse bahut important baat karni thi but tumhara phone hi nahi lag raha tha." Aastha said.

Abhijeet was just silently watching both of them.

"Achha, kya baat hai?" Daya asked.

"Kal mom dad Mumbai aa rahe hain. Maine unhe tumhare bare me sab bata diya hai lekin wo tumse milna chahte hain. Tum please time nikal kar kal sham ko ghar aa jana mom dad se milne, ok?" Aastha said leaving abhijeet in a shock.

Daya stared at her, "tumhare mom dad se milne? Theek hai, main aa jaunga!"

"Ok bye, main chalti hu han, thodi jaldi me hu!" Aastha said and left after giving a kiss on daya's cheek.

Abhijeet came out of the shock and turned to daya, "kaun thi ye ladki aur tumhe apne mom dad se kyun milwana chahti hai?"

Daya startled, "Abhijeet, wo actually baat ye hai ki. Wo Aastha hai, meri girlfriend. Hum 1 mahine se date kar rahe hain, aur maine socha ki ek baar uske mom dad se mil lu, humara rishta pakka ho jaye, phir main sabko batata hu, isliye abhi tak kisi ko bataya nahi"

Abhijeet was speechless. He stared at him with blank expressions.

"Are you kidding me daya? Tum is ladki ke sath date kar rahe ho? Hum sab ye soch rahe the ki tum aur shreya date kar rahe ho?"

Daya gave him a look, "kya baat kar rahe ho abhijeet? Main aur shreya? Pagal ho gaye ho kya?"

"Matlab tum shreya se nahi kisi aur ladki se pyar karte ho? To phir tum shreya ko dhoka kyun de rahe ho?" Abhijeet asked bewildered.

"What nonsense? Main shreya ko koi dhoka nahi de raha" Daya said.

"To aur kya kar rahe ho? Jab tum Aastha se pyar karte ho to shreya se itni dosti karne ka kya matlab hai. Humesha uski tareef karte rehte ho. Uske sath lunch pe aur dinner pe jane ke bahane dhundhte ho. Use ice cream khilane le jate ho? Jab wo nahi hoti to bechain se ho jate ho aur use dekhte hi tumhare chehre pe raunak aa jati hai? Kya matlab hai in sab bato ka? Are humari chodo shreya bhi yahi samajhti hai ki tum usse pyar karte ho? Jabki tumhari pehle se hi girlfriend hai. Daya tum jante ho na ki shreya tumse pyar karti hai phir uske sath ye kya khel khel rahe ho tum?" Abhijeet almost yelled at him.

Daya heaved a sigh, "abhijeet, main janta hu ki shreya mujhe pasand karti hai. Pehle main usse door bhagta rehta tha to wo khush nahi thi but dekho jabse maine usse dosti Ki hai wo khush to hai na? To isme dhoka dene wali kaun si baat ho gayi? Main bas... use khush dekhna chahta hu, wo bahut achhi ladki hai isliye main uski dosti nahi khona chahta, that's it" daya said all in a breath.

Abhijeet glared at him, "nahi daya, I am not satisfied. Tumhara jawab kuch justify nahi ho raha. Kuch aur hi baat hai. Tumne shreya se dosti kyun ki? Uspe achanak se itne meharban kyun ho gaye tum? Mujhe sach batao!"

Daya tried to evade his questions but when abhijeet insisted daya told him the whole story that how shreya is linked with his good luck.

"Yahi sach hai abhijeet. Shreya mera lucky charm hai, isliye main humesha uske aas paas rehne ke bahane dhundhta hu. Isliye maine usse dosti ki."

Abhijeet threw an angry glance at him. "Shame on you daya. Tumne shreya se sirf isliye dosti ki taki tumhara har bigadta hua kaam ban jaye? Tumhe uski dosti uska sath sirf isliye pasand hai taki tumhare sath kuch galat na ho. How selfish daya? Tum uske sath sirf apne matlab ke liye ho? Us bechari ke sath aisa mat Karo daya. Use jakar sach bata do aur keh do ki wo jyada sapne na sajaye aur hawa me udna band kar de. Use to pata bhi nahi ki bahut jald uske sare sapne toot kar bikharne wale hain wo bhi us insaan ke hatho jise wo apne dil me basakar baithi hai."

Daya looked at abhijeet, "abhijeet agar main shreya se pyar nahi karta to isme meri kya galti? Pyar jabardasti to nahi hota na. Han main manta hu ki main selfish hu. Usse maine sirf apne matlab ke liye dosti ki. Lekin ab main use sab kuch sach bata dunga aur uske baad agar wo mujhse dosti tod degi to I'll accept that."

Abhijeet smirked, "huh, tum aisa isliye bol rahe ho, kyunki tum achhi terah se jante ho ki wo aisa nahi karegi. Lekin main tumhare aage hath jodta hu, uske sath aisa mat Karo. Bahut masoom hai wo, uski feelings ke sath itna bada game mat khelo"

"Look abhijeet, main kal sabko Aastha ke bare me bata dunga. Shreya ko bhi ye pata chal jayega to use aur kuch samjhane ki jarurat hi nahi padegi. Wo samajh jayegi."daya said carelessly.

Abhijeet gave him a displeased look.

"Anyway abhijeet, kal main aastha ke mom dad se milne ja raha hu. Kuch batao main kya karu ki wo mujhse impress ho jaye aur aastha aur mere rishte ke liye maan jaye" daya asked for some help.

Abhijeet smirked again, "main kaise help karu tumhari, good luck to tumhara shreya ke paas hai."

Daya jumped happily, "oh really, sahi kaha tumne. Main ek kaam karta hu shreya ko sath lekar jata hu aastha ke ghar. I am sure agar shreya mere sath rahegi to kuch galat ho hi nahi sakta, aur use bhi aastha ke bare me pata chal jayega to wo apne aap mere bare me sochna band kar degi."

Abhijeet glared at him, "this is disgusting daya. Ye jante huye bhi ki shreya khud tumse pyar karti hai tum use lekar kisi aur ladki ka hath maangne ja raha ho? Koi sentiments aur emotions bache hain ki nahi tumhare andar? Tumhe lagta hai ki ye janne ke baad shreya tumhare sath jane ko taiyar hogi?" Abhijeet shouted.

"Agar wo mujhse sach me pyar karti hai to meri khushi ke liye jaroor aayegi. Main usse aaj hi baat karunga" daya said thoughtfully while abhijeet looked extremely angry with him.

.

.

...To be continued