Chapter 3
When they landed safely at the Mumbai International Airport, Shreya couldn't contain herself. She hugged Daya tightly. He was taken by surprise.'Thank you sir. Agar aap nahi hote toh shayad main yahan kabhi wapas nahi aa pati. Aur naa jane wo log kya karte mere saath', she said Shuddering.
'Kuch nahi karte. Aur ab wo bhool jao.' said Daya.
'Kaash Anisha yaha hoti hamare saath. Bohot miss karungi use.' she said stifling a sob.
'Haan. Uss khooni ko toh main chodunga nahi', said Daya.
Ever since they had arrived from Brazil, Daya and Shreya hit it off instantly. Their warm, loving and caring friendship was noticed by everyone.
They liked being in each others company. Now they wanted to take their relation a notch higher.
'Kya tum aaj mere saath dinner par chalogi', Daya asked her one afternoon.
She gave him a shy smile and nodded. But at the eleventh hour a case came along and much to their dismay, they had to cancel their evening plan. Days passed and they never really got another opportunity to go out together. But one fine Friday, Shreya took the initiative. 'Sir aaj shaam hum dinner pe chale? Kabse jaane ka plan tha hamara. Aaj toh koi case bhi nahi hai' she said.
Daya looked around. Others kept stealing glances at them smiling often. 'Haan thik hai.' he said.
Shreya went to ACP Pradyuman who was checking a case file. 'Sir Kya aaj main jaldi ghar jaa sakti hu? Mujhe bahar jana hai', she said.
'Haan jao', said ACP smiling at her.
'Oh no! Agar maine bhi yahi reason bataya to sabko gossip ka chance hi mil jayega... Mujhe kuch alag reason batana hoga sir ko', thought Daya.
Shreya left the bureau at 3 pm itself. At around 4.30 pm Daya went to ACP sir's cabin. 'Sir meri tabiyat thik nahi hai... Kya main ghar jaa sakta hoon?' asked Daya.
ACP Pradyuman was busy with something.
'Haan Daya. Isme puchnewali kya baat hai? Aaram karo ghar jake', he said immediately.
Daya came out feeling guilty. He hated lying to ACP sir who was like a fatherly figure to him.
'But all is fair in love and war', he thought smiling to himself.
'Abhi main chalta hoon', he said approaching Abhijeet's desk.
'Haan apna khayal rakhna. Main shaam ko possible hua to aa jaunga tumhare ghar 7 baje tak', said Abhijeet winking at Daya.
Daya's House, 7.00 pm -
He was checking himself in the mirror. His slightly unshaven handsome reflection stared back at him from the mirror. He was dressed in formal trousers and a shiny navy blue tuxedo.
'Wah mere bhai! Aaj to koi bhi ladki tere liye jaan dedegi. Kuch jyada hi handsome lag rahe ho aaj. Shreya toh aaj pakka fida honewali hai tumpar!' said Abhijeet slapping him on the back.
'Chup kar yaar Abhijeet. Tu majak kar raha hai na mera? Main already bohot nervous hoon yaar!' said Daya.
'Daya dekh le warna itni saari ladkiyan tunhare aas paas dekh kar Shreya naraz ho jayegi!', said Abhijeet.
'Bas kar yaar. Main cancel hi kar deta hoon ab', said Daya.
'Hmmm. Thik hai. Main bata deta hoon Shreya ko tum nahi aa sakte', said Abhijeet.
'Abhi nahi. Mera matlab hai...' said Daya awkwardly
Abhijeet laughed. At that moment his cellphone rang.
'Haan Tarika bolo... Kya? Par tumne roka kyu nahi unhe? Oh no kitni badi musibat aa gayi! Ab kya kare? Thik hai hum dekhte hai. Kab nikle wo bureau se? Kya?! Aur tum abhi bata rahi ho? Ok ok bye.' he disconnected the call and looked at Daya with a tense expression on his face.
'Kya hua Abhijeet? Itni tension me kyu ho?' asked Daya.
'Tarika ka phone tha. Daya bohot badi problem ho gayi hai. ACP sir tumhare ghar aa rahe hai abhi tumhe dekhne. Tumne unse kaha tha na tumhari tabiyat thik nahi hai', said Abhijeet.
'Kya? Wo yaha aa rahe hai. Par wo yaha aa gaye to main Shreya se milne kaise jaunga? Aur main toh bilkul thik hoon. Unhe pata chal jayega ki maine unse jhooth kaha', said Daya worriedly.
'Tu bhi na Daya! Koi dusra reason nahi bata sakta tha unhe? Ab kya kare?', said Abhijeet deep in thought.
'Abhijeet main Shreya ko batata hoon ki hum 8.30 baje milenge. Tab tak ACP sir bhi chale jayenge. Main sone ka natak karta hoon. Tum unse baat karke unhe ghar chod do', said Daya.
'Nahi isme bohot badi risk hai. Agar unhone yahi rukne ki zid ki to? Hum aise karte hai abhi nikalte hai yaha se. Tu hotel jaa. Agar phone aaya unka toh uthana mat. Phir wo mujhe call karenge. Main unhe bataunga ki hum doctor ke paas aaye hai, said Abhijeet.
'Haan ye plan accha hai chalo jaldi', said Daya.
Both moved out of the house. As they were locking the door, they heard voice in the staircase. Abhijeet peered down. 'Daya ghar ke andar chalo jaldi... ACP sir aur Salunkhe sir aa rahe hai!' said Abhijeet. They went inside the house in a hurry.
'Daya jaldi bed pe let jao!' said Abhijeet.
'Par Salunkhe sir kaise aa gye? Tarika ne toh sirf ACP sir kaha tha', said Daya.
'Nahi pata mujhe yaar.' said Abhijeet. He covered Daya upto the chin with a blanket. 'Sone ki acting karo. Aur jab tak main na kahu aakhein kholna mat', said Abhijeet.
'Abhijeet hum kitne bade bewakoof hai. Ghar se jaldi bahar jane ki bhi jaroorat nai hai. Agar hum darwaja nahi kholenge toh unko aise hi lagega ki hum ghar par nahi hai.' said Daya.
'Shit!' said Abhijeet.
'Kya hua?' said Daya.
'Jab hum andar aaye tab main darwaja band karna bhool gaya', said Abhijeet and ran outside.
Daya closed his eyes.
'Mar gaya! Lagta hai aaj Shreya ko bohot intejar karna padega', he thought.
Shreya reached Hotel Palm tree sharp at 7.30 pm.
She was super happy. Alone with Daya for the first time. She wanted to make their first date memorable. 'Oops! Did she say 'Date'? Well unofficially it was a date.'
She blushed hard. Where was he? She was getting desperate.
Daya's House -
Abhijeet ran at top speed into the living room to shut the door and almost bumped into Dr. Salunkhe.
'Kya kar rahe ho Abhijeet?' said Dr. Salunkhe.
'Sir aap dono yaha?' said Abhijeet with an air of surprise.
'Haan... Hum Daya se milne aaye the', said ACP Pradyuman.
'Par abhi toh wo so raha hai', said Abhijeet.
'Abhijeet tum darwaje par kyu baatein kar rahe ho? Andar to aane do hame', said ACP.
'Are haan haan aayein na sir', said Abjijeet.
They entered Daya's room where they saw him fast asleep.
'Kya hua Daya ko. Subah toh bilkul thik tha', asked Dr. Salunkhe.
'Bukhar tha. Aur sir dard ho raha tha', said Abhijeet.
ACP touched Daya's forehead. "Par bukhar toh nahi hai bilkul', said ACP
'Haan wo dawai di hai na abhi. Isliye. Aap jaiye na sir .main hu uske saath', said Abhijeet
'Nahi hum thodi der rukte hai yaha. Main toh soch raha hu aaj rahi ruk jaun', said ACP
'Nahi sir aap aisa nahi kar sakte', Abhijeet exclaimed.
'Kya matlab?' asked ACP with narrowed eyes.
'Matlab sir aap dono thak gaye honge. Aapko ghar jaake aaram karna chahiye', said Abhijeet.
'Yaha bhi toh rest kar sakta hu na? Aakhir mere bete ka hi to ghar hai', said ACP
'Sir wo toh hai. Par aap dinner ka kya karenge?'said Abhijeet.
'Tumhe kya problem hai Abhijeet. Mujhe aisa kyu lag raha hai ki tum hame yaha se bhagana chahte ho?' said Dr Salunkhe suspiciously.
'Are nahi nahi, mujhe kya problem hogi?' said Abhijeet.
'Chalo bahar baithte hai. Main coffee banata hoon sabke liye', said ACP.
He and Salunkhe went outside. As soon as they went out, Daya sat up in his bed.
'Abhijeet, main aaj Ka hamara plan cancel nahi kar sakta. Agar agle 10 minute ke andar ye dono nahi gaye toh main unhe sab sach bata dunga', said Daya.
'Pagal ho kya? Tum aisa kuch bhi nahi karoge. Tere saath meri bhi lag jayegi', said Abhijeet.
'Toh tum kuch karo Abhijeet. Dost ke itna nahi kar sakte?' said Daya.
'Daya ye emotional blackmail hai yaar.', said Abhijeet.
'Jab tum aur Tarika chup chup ke milte ho tab main sambhal leta tha na? Tum aaj mere liye itna nahi kar sakte? Not fair Abhi!' said Daya smiling naughtliy.
'Daya tu bhi na! Main kuch karta hoon. Tu... Tu so jaa yaar pehle', said Abjijeet.
They heard someone approaching. He threw blanket over Daya carefully concealing his tuxedo.
'Kisse baatein kar rahe ho tum?' asked ACP coming inside the room.
'Main... Kisise bhi to nahi', said Abhijeet nervously.
'Jhoot mat bolo... Maine suna hai tumhe baat karte hue', said ACP.
'Main khudse baatein kar raha tha', said Abhijeet.
'Khudse?!' said ACP
'Jaane do Pradyuman... Pagal hai wo', said Salunkhe.
'Excuse me sir? Aap bewajah mujhe bolte rehte hai', said Abhijeet.
'Bewajah kaise? Khud se badbadane wale ko pagal nahi to aur kya kahenge?' said Dr. Salunkhe.
'Chup raho tum dono. Chalo bahar coffee ready hai', said ACP.
'Jee aap jayein. Mujhe ek phone aa raha hai. Main abhi aaya', said Abhijeet.
After they went, Abhijeet called Tarika.
'Hello Tarika? Kuch karo yaar please. ACP sir toh yaha se nikalne ka naam hi nahi le rahe. Aur ye Daya mera sir khaa raha hai. Haan, Thik hai. Par jaldi please. Bye.' he said hung up.
'Daya chup chap lete raho. Main aata hoon', said Abhijeet and went out.
They sat drinking coffee in silence.
After 10 minutes, ACP Pradyuman's phone rang.
'Hello ACP Pradyuman speaking. Kya? Par ye hua kaise? Haan haan main abhi aaya', he said and hung up.
'Kya hua sir?' said Abhijeet.
'Mera padosi ka phone tha. Koi mere ghar ke andar ghus gaya tha. Pata nahi kya churaya hai. Mujhe abhi jana hoga.' said ACP
'Oh my god! Sir jaldi jake dekh lijiye. Aur Salunkhe sir ko bhi leke jayein. Ho sakta hai apko unki madad lage. Main yaha sab sambhal lunga', said Abhijeet.
'Haan. Sahi keh rahe ho Abhijeet. Chalo Pradyuman jaldi', said Dr Salunkhe.
They left hurriedly and Abhijeet let out a sigh of relief.
Daya came out. 'Abhijeet main chalta hoon. Shreya ke 7 missed calls aaye hai. Ab to mera phone bhi nahi utha rahi wo. Hum 7.30 baje milne wale the. Ab 8.15 baj gaye.' he said in onw breath.
'Haan yaar. Lekin unhe parking se to bahar jane de', said Abhijeet
'Haan. Haan. Thanks abhi aur haan Tarika ko bho thanks bolna. Waise kya bataya tum logo ne ACP sir ko?' asked Daya.
'Bohot lambi story hai. Baad me bataunga. Tu jaa jaldi ab', said Abhijeet smiling.
'Haan thike. Baad me milta hu. Bye', said Daya and left.
9.45 pm, Palm Tree Hotel -
Shreya sat waiting for him. Three empty coffee cups lay in front of her. Daya had messaged her at 8.30 that he was on his way. But he still hadn't arrived.
Now it was too much for her. Shreya called him again.
Daya picked up the phone.
'Shreya? Thank god tumne call kiya. Tumhara phone out of reach aa raha hai. Main kab se intejar kar raha hoon. Kaha ho tum?' he said.
'Main bhi aapka kabse intejar kar rahi hoon. Main hotel me hi baithi hoon kabse!' she exclaimed.
'Mujhe kyu nahi dikhai de rahi phir? Accha ruko mere left side me ek bohot badi painting hai. Saare famous singers ki. Waha aa jao', said Daya.
'Sir aisi same painting toh bilkul mere saamne hai! Kaha hai aap?' she said.
'Ye kaise possible h... Ek minute tum kounsi area ke Palm tree hotel me ho?', Daya asked.
'Nariman Point Ke yaha.' said Shreya.
'Kya? Nariman Point? Waha kyu chali gayi? Main to Bandra ke yaha wale Palm Tree Restaurant me hu!' said Daya.
'Kya?! Lekin mujhe laga ki aap ko beach pasand hai to dinner ke baad hum beach pe jayenge isliye aapne Nariman Point ke yaha jaana socha hoga', said Shreya.
'Tum thik se sun logi meri baat tab na! Maine kaha jana hai ye kehne se pehle hi tumne phone rakh diya', said Daya now losing his temper.
'Aap mujh par chilla rahe hai? Main pagalo ki tarah aap ka intejar kar rahi hu yaha pe 2 ghanto se. Log mujhe ghur rahe hai. Aap mera phone nahi utha rahe. Kabhi uthaya toh thik se baat nahi karte. Mujhe toh lagta hai aap mujse milna chahte hi nahi! Sirf majak kar rahe hai mere saath.' said Shreya angry tears sliding down her cheeks.
'Shreya mere kehne ka wo matlab nahi tha. Dekho -' he said.
'Nahi sir please. Mujhe aapse koi baat nahi karni. Aap khud khaana kha lijiye. Main ghar jaa rahi hu. Aur please phir mujhe kabhi contact karne ki koshish mat karna', she said and hung up.
She stormed out of the hotel, sat in her car and drove off.
Daya was exasperated.
'Main bhi na! Gusse me use kuch bhi bol diya. Aaj ka din hi bakwaas hai. Kya hamara milna hum dono ke naseeb me nahi? Par mujhe abhi Shreya se milna hoga. Bohot jyada naraz hai mujhse.' he thought. He took his bike and went to Shreya's house.
Just as he entered her parking, he saw her getting down from her car.
'Shreya ruko, please.', said Daya.
'Daya sir please mujhe bohot late ho raha hai', said Shreya.
'This is not fair Shreya. Tum mujhe explanation dene ka chance bhi nahi de rahi ho. Mujhe tumhe sirf batana hai ki hua kya tha. Phir tum jaa sakti ho', said Daya.
She kept quiet but stood there.
'Maine Abhijeet aur Tarika ke alava kisise nahi kaha tha ki hum milne wale hai. Tumhe pata hai sab log. Mujhe iss baat ka issue create nahi karna tha. Isliye maine ACP sir se kaha tha ki mere tabiyat thik nahi hai isliye main jaldi ghar jaa raha hoon. Jab main ghar se nikal raha tha tab achanak ACP sir aur Salunkhe sir mujhe dekhne mere ghar aa gaye. Abhijeet ne unse kaise bhi karke convince kar liya ki main sach me bimar hoon. Uske baad main bohot traffic me phas gaya aur phir ye hotel location ka problem. Main sach keh raha hu Shreya. Main sach me milna chahta tha tumse aaj akele. Mujhe tumhe address thik se msg karna chahiye tha. Par excitement me main tumhe batana bhul gaya. Aaj sirf meri wajah se hamara pura plan flop ho gaya. I am sorry. Main tumhe hurt nahi karna chahta tha', he said and looked at her.
She was crying silently but wasn't looking at him. He waited for a few more minutes waiting for her to say something. But she didn't say anything.
'Bye Shreya.' he said and turned to walk back to his bike.
'Daya sir mujhe bohot bhook lagi hai', said Shreya innocently. She sniffed.
Daya stopped in his tracks and smiled to himself
He then walked back to her.
'Sorry Sir maine aapko kuch bhi keh diya phone par... Mujhe maaf kar dijiye please...' she said.
He wiped her tears. 'Rona band karo pehle. Aur chalo', he said.
'Kaha?', she asked.
'Tumhe bhook lagi hai na?', he said.
'Haan. Par ab to 11 baj gaye. Itni raat ko kya milega?' she asked.
'Shreya ye Bombay hai. It's never late', he said.
She smiled and together they walked back to his bike. He took her back to Nariman point near Marine Drive where they had grilled sandwiches and Tava pulav on a street Truck. She felt so happy. What a memorable first date it was!
'Kya tum kuch der rukna chahogi yaha? Bohot accha lag raha hai', asked Daya.
She gave her assent immediately. Well known as the 'Manhattan' of Mumbai, they watched the spectacular skyline.
They walked along watching the lights in silence listening to the waves of the sea. Later they sat on a huge boulder. Nobody was there except the two of them. He was sitting very close to her.
'Shreya hum acche dost toh hai hi. Lekin main soch raha tha ki hum kuch aur bhi ban sakte. Matlab dost se kuch aur.' he said softly.
'Daya?' she said looking at him.
He kept a warm hand on her shoulder. She felt tingly inside. She smiled feeling a bit shy and her cheeks blushed faintly. He pulled her into his strong arms and they embraced each other. She melted in his hug. The warmth from his chest touched hers and she felt an overwhelming sensation. 'Thank you Daya. Aaj ka din sabse special raha hai mere liye', she said.
'Ab se tumhara har din special rahega Shreya. Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki mujhe tum jaise ladki se pyar ho jayega', said Daya.
'Mujh jaisi matlab?' she asked.
'Hum bilkul opposite hai. Personality bohot alag hai hamari. Main bohot jyada reserved hoon. Aur tum bohot extrovert ho. Full of life', he said.
'Shayad isliye to kehte hai opposites attract', she said smiling.
He smiled and pulled her closer. At half past twelve, they reached Shreya's home.
'Ab to ek pal bhi tumse dur rehne ka mann nahi kar raha', he said.
'Daya, stop it please. You are making me nervous', she said.
'Mujhe kuch chahiye Shreya.' said Daya looking into her eyes.
'Kya?' she said softly.
He stepped closer and brushed loose hairs off her face. She turned her head to one side and smiled.
He leaned in, smiling and kissed softly on her lips. The touch of his lips on hers sent shivers down her spine. She pulled him closer and they embraced each other without breaking the kiss.
His unshaven face brushed against her soft skin giving her Goosebumps. They stayed like that for a long time their lips gently pulling at each other's. He caressed her hair gently. They broke finally gasping for air. 'That was wonderful', he breathed into her ear.
She blushed crimson.
'Good night Daya', she said kissing him on cheek and ran to her apartment.