CHAPTER 2

"Hello! Ghar pahuch gayi tum?" He asked over the phone.

The person replied in positive from the other side.

He was satisfied, "Ok then good night."

He cut the call and his wife who was staring at him all the while was ready with her question.

"Daya jab tumhe uski itni hi fikar hai to tum use ghar tak chod kar hi kyun nahi aate?"

Daya shot her a displeased look, "Tumhe koi problem hai agar main ek baar usse phone karke puch lu ki wo safe hai ya nahi?"

She smirked, "Kyun wo khud ko safe nahi rakh sakti? She is a trained cid officer, come on!"

Daya turned to her, "Samantha she is my colleague. Hum dono late night kaam khatam karke bureau se nikalte hain. Kya badi baat ho gayi isme agar main phone karke ye ensure karta hu ki wo safely ghar pahunch gayi ya nahi?"

Samantha raised her brows, "Sirf tum aur Shreya hi late night kaam kar rahe the ya baki ke officers bhi itne hi hardworking hain?"

Daya was irritated with her taunts. "Baki ke officers bhi the. In fact puri team thi. Aur kuch puchna hai tumhe?" He snapped back losing his cool.

"To baki ke officers ki parwaah nahi hai tumhe? Unhe to phone karke tumne nahi pucha ki wo safely ghar pahunch gaye ya nahi. Sirf Shreya ki parwaah hai baki ke colleagues ki nahi?" She again taunted.

Daya was in no mood to talk to her. He adjusted the pillow and lay down, "Mujhe tumse behas karne ka koi shauk nahi hai. Tumhe jo sochna hai wo socho. Shak ki bimari ka duniya me koi ilaz nahi hai." He turned off the lamp and closed his eyes.

Samantha stared at him for sometime and she too lay down beside him facing her back to him. She closed her eyes but was unable to sleep.

o-o-o

Next morning Samantha woke up early and decided to prepare breakfast for Daya as an effort to make up for the wrangle took place between them the last night.

Daya descended down in the hall and was surprised as Samantha wished him good morning with a smile. He responded with equally sweet smile.

"Aaj breakfast maine banaya hai." She said applying butter on the breads.

"That's great!" Daya said grabbing his chair.

Samantha started serving him when someone rang the doorbell. Samantha called the maid to open the door.

The maid opened the door and Shreya stepped inside.

"Good morning Daya sir!"

Daya looked up at her, "Are Shreya tum, aao na."

Samantha glared at Shreya approaching them with a file in her hands.

"Sir wo..." Shreya started to say but paused as Samantha coughed to gain her attention.

"Ahem...ahem"

Shreya looked at her.

"Daya sir ke alawa aur bhi log hain yaha inspector Shreya!"

Shreya tried to smile, "umm...good morning mam!"

Samantha just gave a fake smile in return. "Well, aisa bhi kya kaam rehta hai tumhe Daya se, 24 ghante wo tumhare sath hi to rehte hain phir bhi kaam pura nahi hota. File lekar ghar pe aa gayi. At least chain se breakfast to karne do."

Shreya looked at Daya feeling embarrassed. "Sir, I am really sorry but it's urgent. Mujhe aapse kuch discuss Karna hai bureau pahuchane se pehle."

"It's alright, tum baitho. Aaj Samantha ne breakfast banaya hai, tum bhi lo na." Daya said glancing at Samantha.

"Yes of course, baitho na Shreya!" Samantha said pulling a chair for Shreya showing fake courtesy.

"Thank you so much but main breakfast karke aayi hu." Shreya said looking at Samantha and Daya.

"Ok, to tum baith to jao kam se kam tab tak main kha lu." Daya said.

Shreya took the chair.

"Oho Shreya, ye kya baat hui, Daya breakfast kar rahe hain aur tum unhe baith kar dekhti rahogi. I know he is so good looking. Sari ladkiyan ghoorti rehti hain unhe but at least tum mere samne to sharm karo. Wife hu main unki." Samantha mocked.

Shreya was speechless and looked at Daya for help.

"Samantha ye kya bol rahi ho!" Daya said scolding her through eyes.

Samantha let out a laugh, "Oh come on, I was just kidding."

Shreya gave her an awkward smile.

Samantha sat opposite to Shreya and next to Daya. "Achha Shreya, ek baat batao, kya tumhe promotion ki bahut jaldi hai?"

"Promotion? Jaldi to nahi lekin har koi promote to hona hi chahta hai. Lekin aap aise kyun puch rahi hain?" Shreya asked.

"Wo kya hai na tum logo ki job me promotion hard work se, dedication se milta hai. Senior officer ke peeche peeche ghumne se nahi." Samantha said taking a glance at Daya.

"Excuse me! What do you mean?" Shreya said feeling offended.

"Samantha kya bol rahi ho tum?" Daya said angrily.

Samantha gave him a look and turned to Shreya, "Are han ek baat to kehna hi bhool gayi tumhara lip gloss bahut achha hai. Aur eyeliner bhi bahut khoobsurat hai. Tumhari cid ki job to bahut hectic hoti hai na! Phir bhi tum makeup ke liye time nikal hi leti ho han. Very good! Lekin ye itna makeup karti kiske liye ho. Daya to already tumse impress ho hi chuke hain."

"Look Samantha" Daya said, "Shreya sirf mera lihaz kar rahi hai isliye chup hai. Lekin ek baar agar usne bolna shuru kiya to tum rone lagogi. Isliye bol raha hu chup ho jao. Ye kya laga rakha hai tumne? Makeup, lip gloss, what nonsense? Koi kitna makeup karta hai, kyun karta hai isse tumhe kya lena dena?"

"It's ok sir!" Shreya said pasting a smile on her lips and turned to Samantha. "Mam main kisi ko impress karne ke liye makeup nahi karti hu. Makeup is like a confidence booster for me. Mujhe pasand hai isliye karti hu, khud ke liye. Aur rahi time ki baat to mujhe aapki terah 4 ghante nahi lagte. Sirf ek minute lagta hai."

Daya remained silent.

Samantha was glaring at Shreya as she was replying her. She made a face, "Achaa wo sab chodo, ye batao tumhara koi boyfriend hai?"

Now Shreya was also loosing her cool because Samantha was crossing her limits. She looked at Daya. "Nahi."

"Koi boyfriend nahi hai!" Samantha said pretending to be surprised, "Koi crush?"

"Nahi!" Shreya snapped angrily.

Samantha chuckled, "Achha to tumhe kaise ladke pasand hain, batao na, bas ye mat kehna ki shadishuda!" She said looking at Daya.

"Samantha, for god's sake stop it!" Daya yelled.

This was enough for Shreya. She got up leaving her chair. She looked at Daya, "Sir main bahar aap ka wait kar rahi hu." She said and turned to go.

Daya stopped her, "ruko Shreya, main bhi tumhare sath chalta hu." He stood up leaving his plate. Samantha too stood up.

"Daya tum aise kaise ja sakte ho, breakfast.." Samantha was saying but Daya cut her.

"To hell with your breakfast! Tumhari bakwas sunkar pet bhar chuka hai mera."

"Arey aisa kya kar diya maine? Tum is ladki ke liye mujhpe gussa kyun kar rahe ho?" Samantha shouted coming in front of Daya.

"Samantha mera dimag already kharab ho chuka hai. Hato mere raste se warna mujhse bura koi nahi hoga." Daya said pushing her aside. "Let's go Shreya. Hum raste me discuss kar lenge."

Daya said and started moving with Shreya but Samantha came and grabbed Shreya's arm.

"Khush ho tum phir se humara jhagda karwa ke? Chahti kya ho tum? Tumhare jaisi ghatiya ladki maine kabhi nahi dekhi. I hate you Shreya. Dobara mere ghar me kadam bhi mat rakhna. Just get out of my house!"

Shreya jerked her hand, "Kya kar rahi hain aap? Maine kya kiya?"

"Samantha chodo use!" Daya shouted. He held Shreya's hand, "Chalo Shreya yaha se."

They both moved out.

"Just get lost both of you." Samantha screamed. She came to the breakfast table, "Subeh jaldi uthkar breakfast banao, lekin koi appreciation nahi. Us 2 kaudi ki ladki ko 2 baate kya suna di maine breakfast chod diya. My foot! Main hi bewkoof hu jo achhi wife banne ki koshish kar rahi thi wo bhi us insaan ke liye jo bhool chuka hai ki main uski wife hu." She picked up all the items one by one and threw into the dustbin like a garbage.

Here Shreya was feeling extremely guilty.

"Sir, I am so sorry. Sab meri wajeh se hua. Na main subeh subeh aapke ghar aati aur na hi aap dono ka jhagda...

"Please Shreya isme tumhari koi bhi galti nahi hai. Samantha ko sirf ladne ka bahana chahiye. Forget that, batao kya kaam tha?" Daya said softly.

Shreya discussed the problem and soon they reached at bureau.

In free time Shreya came to Daya with two cups of coffee.

"Thank you!" Daya said to Shreya.

They started sipping the coffee.

"Sir wo main kai dino se soch rahi thi ki aapki wife ko mujhse itni problem kyun hai? Wo mere sath itni rude kyun ho jati hain. Ab jakar mujhe samajh ne aaya. She is simply jealous of me. Kyunki duty ki wajeh se hi sahi par aap mere sath unse jyada time spend karte hain. Kisi bhi aurat ko ye achha nahi lagega ki uska husband kisi dusri ladki ke sath jyada waqt bitaye. Unhe galatfehmi hogi ki humare beech kuch..." Shreya stopped looking at Daya.

Daya looked up at her, "humare beech kuch? Kya kuch? Kya hai humare beech? kuch hai kya? Nahi na, to phir!"

"Sir mera matlab..."

"Kya matlab Shreya, 8 saal ho gaye humari shadi ko lekin humare beech understanding hi nahi hai. Samantha har choti baat ka issue banati hai. Bharosa hi nahi hai use mujhpe. Use lagta hai ki mujhe use cheat karne ke alawa aur koi dusra kaam hi nahi hai. To kya main apni female colleagues ke sath kaam Karna band kar du. Is shak ki bimari Ki wajeh se wo meri har female friend ke sath misbehave karegi aur mujhe achha lagega?"

Shreya lowered her head, "sir lekin wo sirf mere sath hi aisa karti hain. Aap ke sath kaam karne wali dusri female officers se wo nafrat nahi karti."

"Han kyunki jaise bureau me sabko lagta hai ki mere man me tumhare liye ek soft corner hai aur main tumhe dusro se jyada favor karta hu use bhi yahi lagta hoga." Daya said rolling his eyes. "Ab tum hi batao kya aisa kuch hai?"

"Kaisa?" Shreya asked.

"Yahi ki mere man me tumhare liye koi soft corner hai." Daya said annoyingly.

Shreya chuckled, "Sir wo to aapko hi pata hoga na."

Daya looked at her and both shared a brief eyelock.

"Ok then, let me make it clear, aisa kuch bhi nahi hai." Daya said staring straight into her eyes.

"I know sir!" Shreya said and continued sipping her coffee.

After a minute Shreya again spoke. "Sir ek baat puchu, please don't mind. Jab aap dono ki bilkul banti hi nahi. Na understanding hai na aap dono ek dusre ko pasand karte hain na pyar karte hain, to phir aap dono ne shadi kaise kar li?"

Daya shot her a glare.

Shreya bit her lips, "I am sorry sir, shayad kuch jyada personal question kar diya maine. I am sorry."

"Ab sawal puch liya hai to jawab bhi sun lo." Daya said, "Samantha ke dad ek bahut badi research organization me scientist hain. Ek baar kuch logo ne unhe kidnap kar liya tha. Tab maine hi apni jaan khatre me daalkar unki jaan bachai thi. Bas wo impress ho gaye. Unhe apni bigdi hui iklauti beti ke liye ek perfect ladka nil gaya. Agle din wo uska rishta lekar mere darwaje pe khade the. Ab main jisne kabhi kisi khoobsurat ladki ki taraf aankh uthakar bhi na dekha ho, achanak se use ek itni khoobsurat ladki ka rishta aa jaye to kya hoga? Main confused tha. Abhijeet, acp sir aur baki ke logo ne kaha ki mujhe han bol deni chahiye, aisa rishta roj roj nahi aata. Maine han kar di aur apni zindagi barbaad kar li."

Shreya sighed.

Daya added, "aisa nahi hai ki humare beech kabhi pyar nahi tha." Daya smiled remembering old memories, "Pyar bhi tha understanding bhi thi, everything was perfect phir ek din... " he took a pause.

"Kya hua sir?" Shreya asked.

"Shadi ke 2 saal baad pata chala ki Samantha kabhi maa nahi ban sakti." Daya told.

Shreya was shocked. She stared at Daya blankly.

"Us din ke baad se sab kuch badal gaya. Maine to jaise taise ye kadwa sach accept kar liya lekin Samantha toot gayi. Wo choti choti bato pe gussa karne lagi. Chidchidi ho gayi thi. Maine use bahut samjhane ki koshish ki, ki mujhe isse koi fark nahi padta ki wo maa nahi ban sakti. I am ok with that. Lekin uske dimag me ye baat baith gayi ki ab main usse pyar nahi karta aur ab mujhe uski koi jarurat nahi hai. Hum dono ka rishta din ba din bigdata gaya. Samantha to kitni baar divorce ki bhi baat kar chuki hai. Ye to main hu jisne abhi bhi is rishte ko bacha kar rakha hai."

Shreya felt her eyes getting moist.

"Ab to jab tak humara jhagda nahi hota din hi pura nahi hota." Daya said with a painful smile.

"I am really sorry sir!" Shreya said feeling a bit emotional.

"Tum kyun sorry bol rahi ho?" Daya said looking at her.

"Sir lekin wo aapke sath itna bura behave karti hai, kya kabhi aapne gusse me unpe hath..." Shreya left her question incomplete as Daya looked at her.

"Nahi... Maine uspe kabhi hath nahi uthaya. Aur ye isliye nahi kyunki main ladkiyon pe hath nahi uthata or something like that but wo isliye kyunki agar maine usko ek thappad mara to wo palat kar mujhe 2 maregi. She is that kind of woman."

Though the atmosphere was serious but Shreya giggled at Daya's last words. He too laughed a little.

"Ab lagta hai humari shadi ek bahut badi galti thi. Isliye nahi ki wo kabhi maa nahi ban sakti, but isliye ki wo waisi nahi hai jaisi ladki main chahta tha. She is not the one for me!"

Shreya looked at Daya as he said the last line. Disappointment and frustration was clearly visible in his eyes.

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...to be continued

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A/N: Dear guest congrats for guessing the characters so correctly.

"Love survives" readers, next chapter coming soon. Thanks for the love. :-)