Chapter 2 – Stranger in the house

Daya clamped her mouth with his hand. She struggled but his grip was firm.

'Chillao mat please. Main kuch nahi karne wala hu tumhe', he said.

She finally managed to get free from his grip.

'Tum mere ghar me kya kar rahe ho? Aur ho kaun tum? Aise kaise kisi ke ghar me ghus gaye?' the girl shouted at him.

'Main sab batata hu. Tum do minute chup raho. Koi sun lega hame.' said Daya.

He closed the door.

'I am sorry main tumhari ghar me aa gaya tumhari permission liye bina. Actually main bohot badi problem me hu. CID mera picha kar rahi hai. Isliye unse bachne ke liye main bhagte bhagte yaha aa gaya. Main sirf aaj raat yaha rukna chahta tha. I am really sorry', he said.

'CID tumhara picha kyu kar rahi hai? Yani tum koi criminal ho?' she asked terrified.

'Nahi nahi mujhe galat mat samjho. Mera bohot bada accident ho gaya tha aur mujhe kuch bhi yaad nahi hai. Mujhe khud nai pata CID mere piche kyu padi hai. Waise mera naam Daya hai. Mujhe mera naam bhi bahar se hi pata chala. ', he said.

'Aur main kyu yakin karu tum par?' she asked.

'Main sach keh raha hoon. Please kya sirf aaj ki raat main yaha reh sakta hoon? Subah hote hi main chala jaunga yaha se. I promise.' he said.

Her heart was racing. CID was behind him. If he was telling the truth, then... She thought for a moment.

'Ok thik hai. Par sirf aaj raat.' she said.

'Thank you. Thank you very much... Umm... Tumhara naam kya hai?' asked Daya.

'Shreya naam hai mera', she said.

'Ok. Thanks Shreya.' he said.

'Tum yahi so jao. Main chalti hu.' said Shreya and went to her room.

She didn't know why she wasn't scared to let an unknown man stay in her house. She carefully locked her bedroom door. Tomorrow it was going to be her first day at office. She felt a thrill of excitement.

'Mera first day bohot memorable hone wala hai kal', she thought happily.

She set a 5 o' clock alarm and slept.

Shreya got up very early the next day. She quickly got dressed and came out. She saw Daya sitting up.

'Main tumhara hi intejar kar raha tha. Chalta hoon main. Thanks once again. Aur please mere bare me kisiko kuch mat batana. Bhool jao ke main yaha kabhi aaya tha.'

'Par ab tum jaoge kaha?', asked Shreya.

'Umm pata nahi. Main manage kar lunga', he said.

'Dekho maine bohot socha kal raat. I can trust you. Tum bahar gaye aur tumhe police ne giraftar kar liya toh? Isliye tum yahi raho. Jab tumhe sab yaad aa jayega tab chale jana', she said.

'Kya? Tum sach keh rahi ho? Par tumhare gharwale kya kahenge?' he said.

'Main akeli rehti hu yaha pe. Aur mujhe koi problem nahi hai. Main kisiko nahi bataungi tumhare baare me. Soch lo',she said.

'Tum sahi keh rahi ho. Jab tak mujhe kuch yaad nahi aata tab tak main bahar nahi jaa sakta. Main yahi ruk jata hoon. Thank you Shreya. Tum mujhe jaanti bhi nahi aur ye sab kar rahi ho mere liye.' said Daya.

'It's all right. Accha ab main chalti hoon. Mujhe office jana hai. Shaam ko late hoga aaneme shayad. Fridge me bread and fruits rakhe hai wo kha lena. Kal se lunch aur dinner bana lungi tumhare liye.' she said and left.

'Thank god ye yaha rehne ke liye tayar ho gaya. Agar ye aadmi sach me criminal hai aur maine use CID ke hawale kar diya to sir mujse kitne khush honge. Lekin kuch bhi karne se pehle mujhe iski puri history nikalni hogi. Pata lagana padega ki isne kiya kya hai aur CID iske piche kyun padi hai. Aur iss kaam ke liye mere bureau se acchi jagah ho hi nahi sakti.', thought Shreya.

She sat in her car and drove off to CID bureau.