Chapter 2
The minute Daya and Shreya entered the bureau, they were hammered with all sorts of questions.
Daya and Shreya were totally clueless about the events of the past. They kept repeating again and again that they couldn't remember anything.
Finally ACP Pradyuman cracked.
"What the hell do you mean you can't remember anything Daya? Think harder. Unless either of you gets your memory back, we won't know what happened to our case!" he said looking frustrated.
"Sir, I think something really weird is going on. How can both of them lose their memories at the same time? I think we should inform DR Salunkhe" said Abhijeet thoughtfully.
"I think you are right" agreed ACP Pradyuman. "Let us go to the forensic lab"
On the way to the forensic lab, Abhijeet said, "Daya where were you the entire night?"
"Wh - why?" Daya sputtered.
"I had called on your landline number. You didn't answer." said Abhijeet watching him.
"I - I don't remember Abhijeet" said Daya aware of Shreya's eyes upon him.
When they entered the lab, Dr Salunkhe greeted them jovially.
"Good morning! Nice day, isn't it? To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you early morning?"
"It's Daya and Shreya" explained ACP Pradyuman. "They cannot recall yesterday's events"
Daya and Shreya explained what exactly had happened.
"I think we need to do your blood test. This looks like an effect of some dangerous drug" said Dr Salunkhe.
About two hours later, Dr Salunkhe walked into the lab looking serious.
"What have you got for us Salunkhe?" asked ACP Pradyuman.
"Boss, Daya and Shreya have been given a drug called Amniota. It is a very rare and dangerous drug which when injected into blood results in partial lapses of memory. The person is conscious while doing the acts but he has no recollection of the past events. Both the blood reports tells me that traces of Amniota were found in large quantities." said Dr. Salunkhe.
"What?! But I can't even remember who injected me with the drug" said Shreya.
"How long does the effect last? We will get our memories back, won't we?" asked Daya.
"Yes ofcourse. The effect is obviously not permanent. You will get back your momory as the effect of the drug starts wearing off. You will get back your memory within 12 to 24 hours." said Dr Salunkhe.
"So, according to me the drug must be given to them yesterday evening. Now that 12 hours have already passed, I think they will be able to remember a few things soon enough"
Shreya listened to the conversation silently. Her heart was hollering. Frankly, she didn't want the memory to come back. Who knew what had happened between them the previous night? What if something had really happened between them?
She felt herself going red in face. She would never be able to look at him in the eye. She chanced a glance at Daya and saw that he was buried deep in thought. He too apparantly was thinking about the same thing.
How could they have been so careless? Or was it because of the drug? How could they have got so carried away?
Shreya tried to tell herself again and again that she was overreacting. Nothing must have happened. But then there was no acceptable explanation as to why they woke up in the same bed without clothes.
Shreya shut her eyes tightly. She could clearly picture his nakd torso in her mind's eye. What if Daya could picture her that way too? Gosh! She had never faced a more embarassing situation in her life before.
Shreya knew she would never be able to think clearly about her senior anymore. One night had entirely changed everything.
"Is there any antidote for this drug sir? It's important for us to know what happened yesterday if we want to solve the case" said Abhijeet.
"Ummm... antidote... give me moment. I'll -"
"No!" Daya and Shreya cried in unision.
Everyone turned to look at them.
"There is no need for antidote. It will come. I can already remember us chasing the goons" Daya lied.
Shreya couldn't help blushing. Both of them knew that they wanted to delay the moment as far as possible. They were too embarassed to know what had actually happened the previous night.
"What do you remember?" asked ACP Pradyuman.
The way Abhijeet was looking at Daya, he could tell that Abhijeet knew that he was lying.
Carefully avoiding Abhijeet's eye, Daya said, "We had gone to bust a drug consignment. I remember we going to some Pub. I can see Shreya's outfit clearly." said Daya.
Shreya coughed hastily and hoped that no one would notice her flushed cheeks.
"I don't care clothes you or Shreya were wearing!" snapped ACP Pradyuman. "We know both of you had gone to a pub near madh island under a disguise. You need to remember what happened after that"
"I woke up and found myself lying naked in Shreya's bed" Daya was bursting to say but she decided to keep his mouth shut.
"Sir, don't worry. I will make sure that I get my memory back. CID has not left any case unsolved and this case too will be solved." Daya assured him.
Abhijeet observed Daya and Shreya closely. They appaeared quite normal but were they avoiding looking at each other? Why were they all jumpy when he mentioned the antidote. Where was Daya the entire night?
Abhijeet was sure that Daya was keeping something from him. What exaclty, Abhijeet couldn't quite put his finger on. He could have sworn that he saw Shreya blush while looking at Daya. What was the thing his best friend was hiding from him? Abhijeet was determined to find out.
Some time later -
Daya, Shreya Purvi and Abhijeet were the ones left in the bureau. Others had gone to attend another case.
Daya was completing some old case report when he had a vision. He couldn't make out what was happening exactly. It was all coming out in bits and pieces.
Speakers were blaring...He was surrounded by lot of people around. They looked happy about something. Or maybe they were just having fun. It certainly looked like a pub. He was drinking something from a glass. Daya could actually feel its bitter taste on his tongue. What was it? Beer? Champagne? Or some other drink? He couldn't tell. Then the scenario changed abruptly. Now he was running between the between the dark alleyways. Someone else was with him. He couldn't see the face yet but he knew it would be Shreya. He was panting. They were chasing someone.
He was panting. His body was slick with sweat. But now he wasn't running anymore. He was someplace cozy. He was... he was... gosh! There was a woman in his arms. They were entwined like they were one. He was kissing her hungrily. They were sensous wild kisses. Then he was surrounded by moans and groans and then... all went black.
"Shit!" Daya exclaimed loudly.
"What?" asked Abhijeet jumping up from his seat.
"Did you remember anything?" asked Purvi.
But Daya was too horror stricken to speak. He was replaying the last memory over and over in his mind.
A woman? In his arms? Kissing? Who was that woman?
"Sir, what happened?" asked Shreya.
He looked at her and shut his eyes. Could that woman have been S - shreya?
"I trust you sir. I know you wouldn't do anything wrong" Her words which she had voiced earlier rang sharp and clear in his mind.
"What have I done? Have I done something wrong with her?" Daya wondered.
"Daya, please say something!" said Abhijeet agitated.
"Shreya, do y - you remember anything?" asked Daya.
"No. Why? Do you remember anything?" she asked.
"Thank god" Daya said inwardly.
"Are you alright Daya? You look so white and pale" said Abhijeet.
"A glass of water, please" squeaked Daya.
"Here sir" said Purvi offering him a glassful of water.
"Daya are you going to say anything or not?"
Abhijeet watched Daya. He looked very nervous and extremely worried about something. He wiped his sweaty forehead.
"I don't remember everything. We were in a pub and then we were chasing someone. T - that's all" said Daya.
"You are lying. I can see you are really worried about something. What is it?" asked Abhijeet.
"Nothing Abhijeet" said Daya.
Shreya looked at Daya. He gave her a weak smile. Was it possible that he had seen something which he could tell to everybody? Was it involving both of them. She couldn't tell. But she knew Daya was not being entirely truthful.
"Oh Shreya! What is this?" said Purvi pointing at a spot near Shreya's collarbone.
Shreya looked down and saw a - WHAT? A hickey?!
Daya's eyes widened in shock and Shreya wished she were somewhere else.
"What is it?" asked Abhijeet distracted by the sudden interruption.
"Some insect bite maybe" said Shreya covering up the hickey with the collar of her shirt.
"No. I looks like a h-" began Purvi but Shreya said in a tone which made it clear that the discussion was over. "I know it is an insect bite!"
"What else Daya? Come on, strain your memory a bit. We don't have much time" said Abhijeet changing the subject.
"I can't remember anything more than that Abhijeet. I am trying" said Daya exasperatedly.
"I am going to go to Dr Salunkhe and ask for that antidote" said Abhijeet.
"No, Abhijeet wait!" Daya said but Abhijeet wouldn't hear it. He left the bureau muttering to himself.
After Abhijeet had left, everyone went back to their respective workstations. Purvi kept shooting furtive glances at Shreya but she looked quite calm and composed.
Daya excused himself and went outside to the terrace. He needed some quiet time to himself, away from the prying suspicious eyes.
Flashes of Shreya's face came back to him. The muted sounds of pleasure and passion were tormenting me. He was convinced that he had forced himself upon her. Strangely he couldn't remember her objecting to his advances. Was it possible was that she had willingly surrendered herself to him? He wished desperately Shreya would never remember the previous night. She wished somehow he would me able to delete that memory from her mind.
"You know something" he heard Shreya's voice.
Daya turned back to find her standing next to him.
"Tell me. What is it? What is it that you can't face? Is it about us? Did we...?" he voice trailed off.
When Daya kept quiet, she said, "I would know sooner or later. I will get my memory back as well"
"We... we did something which we were not supposed to do" muttered Daya.
"What? What do you mean?" asked Shreya.
"We -"
"Shreya! ACP sir wants to talk to you" said Purvi.
Very reluctantly Shreya walked away with Purvi, leaving Daya behind.
He watched her go, sighing in relief. He didn't know how she would react. How far had they gone?
Right on the cue, a memory flashed in front of his eyes -
"Goodnight sir"
"Goodnight Shreya."
"Why aren't you leaving sir?"
"Close the door. Then I'll leave."
"No! I am not closing the door before you go"
"Shreya... don't be so stubborn. Close the door"
"No!" she laughed.
"You look so beautiful tonight... just like an angel"
"Thank you sir. You don't look bad either."
"Don't wear that dress in front of me ever again, Shreya."
"Why? Don't you like it?"
"I like it. A lot more than you can imagine. And then I just want to..."
"Want to? What sir?"
"Kiss you. And touch you. And make you mine" he growled.
They shared a smouldering look and none was ready to break the eye contact. He was moving closer... he was close enough to count her eyelashes. And he was kissing her. And she was kissing him back.
The next instant his left hand was around her waist, pulling her close against him. His other hand was tangled in her hair. She was panting, moaning driving him crazy.
Without breaking the kiss, his hands explored her body, moving dangeorusly close to her breasts. Heat was radiating from their bodies. Finally his hands cupped her breasts and she broke the kiss, trembling from head to foot.
He shut the door with his leg and his lips grazed at her neck. His fingers rubbed her hard nipples and she whimpered, shivering in his arms.
It didn't take them long to end up in her bedroom. They were tearing at each other's clothes. The urgency was evident. He was kissing her everywhere. He had no coherent thoughts. Soon, they were completely naked. They looked at each other as if asking for permission but they already knew they wouldn't be able to stop now that they had gone this far. He took her in his arms and together they fell on the bed.
Daya was jolted back to the present. Was this reality or just his dream? Yes... he had dreamed about her a lot of times. He had dreamed about them together. He had dreamed about fulfilling his erotic fantasies with her. Had they really done it then? Under the influence of the drug? He was worried how would Shreya take it. What if she was angry? Will she ever talk to him again? Will she ever love him back?
As Purvi and Shreya walked back to the bureau, Shreya let out a sudden outburst.
"Purvi wait! I remember it. I remember it all!" she said excitedly.
"What?! Really? Wait I will call ACP sir" said Purvi.
"Daya sir and I had followed our suspect in a pub near madh Island. We were well hidden he I think he saw and recognised Daya sir. So he escaped the pub. We followed him and chased him through dark alleyways. His men fired bullets at us. We followed him until we arrived dilaphilated godown. It was really big but empty. We saw the drugs packed in a forlorn looking suitcase and ready for delivery.
Daya sir was going to inform the team but out of nowhere bullets rained down on us. We were outnumbered four to two. We managed to take down five men. Daya sir told me to take hold of the drugs while he dealt with the remaining men. I did as told but when I came outside, I realised that we had left our car behind, near the pub.
A goon fired a bullet at me and I hid the suitcase in the bushes. I wrestled with him and injured him heavily. When he fell unconscious, I went to look for Daya sir. He was lying on the floor complaining of strong headache.
I was wondering what to do when I felt a pin prick sensation in my arm.
"It must have been that drug!" said Purvi.
"Yes. Because after that even I got a severe headache. I think we passed out after that. After I woke up, we couldn't remember why we were there in first place. The men whom we had killed were not there. Yet our clothes were dirty and we found some bullet shells too. Daya sir deduced that we have come here to catch the criminals. We looked all over the place. My headache was getting severe. So Daya sir said he will drop me home and then he would go to bureau to inform you." said Shreya.
"What about the drugs?" asked ACP Pradyuman urgently.
"I think it will still be in the bushes. I don't think I took it out. I had forgotten all about it when I woke up" said Shreya.
"Purvi, tell Abhijeet that he should take Shreya to Madh Island. It is necessary to retrieve the suitcase if it is there at all." said ACP Pradyuman.
"Sir, but the goons escaped" said Shreya.
"They wouldn't have gone far. We will nab them soon. Both of you have done a great job" said ACP Pradyuman.
"Thank you sir" said Shreya. "I remember the some of the faces clearly. I am sure Daya sir does too. We can help in making sketches of the criminals"
"That's great. I will have the sketch artist arranged by the time you get back from Madh Island" said ACP Pradyuman.
Shreya went with Abhijeet and fortunately they found the suitcase still well hidden under the dense bushes.
Shreya was happy that inspite of being injected by the drug, they had been able to get hold of the drugs. Yet the mystrey of the previous night still remained. Shreya didn't know what had happened between Daya and her once they had reached home. She wrung her fingers nervously. She didn't what surprise lay hidden in that memory.
She was describing the criminal to the sketch artist when a memory flashed in front of her eyes.
She was pressed against the door. He was kissing her neck while his hands were pulling down her gown... he was grinding into her, pressing his hardness into her... and then his mouth closed over her taut nipple...aaarrgghhh!
"Mam, are you alright?" the sketch artist was staring at her frightfully.
"No! No! This can't have... I need to speak with Daya sir!" said Shreya getting up from her seat.
"Wha- m'aam come back! I haven't finished the sketch yet!" the sketch artist yelled after her.
But Shreya towering with rage, paid no attention to him and rushed outside to find Daya.
Sneak peek into the next chapter - Shreya confronts Daya about the previous night and they both have a row. What will happen? Will their true feelings be revelaed or they will be separated forever?