CHAPTER 3

Three years had passed since Shreya joined CID Mumbai and there was much life had given her. Good job, colleagues, friends and love perhaps. She was not sure. She had tried to show her feelings towards him so many times but he had not confessed yet.

'Aap kuch bolte kyun nahi Daya sir?' she thought. He too loved her, didn't he? His concern, care and affection was clearly visible in his eyes.

She was staring at him as he worked on his computer. 'It should be a sin for a man to be that good looking.', she thought. Tall and well built an aura of confidence and power always surrounded him. 'Kaha kho gayi shreya?', Sachin's question interrupted her thoughts.

'Kuch nahi sir, case ke bare me soch rahi thi.'

True in the beginning she had lot of misunderstandings about him. But one incident had changed her perspective towards him entirely.

**FLASHBACK**

Scene 1

Everybody in CID bureau was worried.

'Sir Shreya ka mobile trace nahi ho pa raha hai aur Daya sir ka phone not reachable hai, said Sachin.

'Kya matlab hai tumhara? CID officer ke liye koi bhi kaam namumkin nahi hai Sachin! Agle adhe ghante me mujhe Shreya aur daya ka pata chalna chahiye', said ACP Pradyuman angrily.

Scene 2

Shreya was locked inside her car. The clouds were swirling and the wind was getting stronger. Rain lashed on the wind sheild of the car. Any minute now her car would go crashing down the valley. She fumbled frantically with her seat belt. But it wouldn't come off. She tried to open the door handle but she couldn't do it. And then she saw him. 'Daya sir main yaha hoon', she screamed hoping her would hear her over the howling wind. She banged her hands on the car's windows.

Daya was not able to see a thing. The wind was screaming, shrieking, and tearing at his hair. And then he saw her. He dashed towards the car and tried to open the door. It was jammed. The car rocked harder. He picked up a huge stone and broke the window. He unlocked car from inside and pulled open the door. 'Jaldi aao Shreya', he said. He helped her with the seat belt. The rain was getting heavier by the minute. He pulled her out of the car and they ran towards a huge tree for shelter.

'Shreya tum thik to ho na?' He saw her left hand was bleeding heavily. 'Tum akeli kyun aayi thi yaha?'

Shreya didn't say anything. Should she trust him? She was scared and confused.

'Chup kyu ho? Kya hua batao mujhe.'

'Kuch nahi sir. Mujhe ek aadmi ka call aaya tha. Wo mujhe kuch evidence dene wala tha. Lekin jab me yaha aayi tab kisi ne mujpe fire kiya. Main usse follow kar rahi thi. Meri car bohot speed me thi. Aur mera accident ho gaya. Isliye thodi chot aayi. Lekin aapne mujhe kaise trace kiya?'

'Tumhara cell phone ka last location jungle me dikha raha tha. Phir jab main aage aaya tab tumhari car dikhai di. Maine CID bureau me inform bhi nahi kiya hai. Yaha network ka bohot problem hai. Hame jald se jald unhe inform karna hoga. Wo sab tension me honge. Shreya kitna khoon beh raha hai tumhare haath se. Ruko main rumaal bandh leta hoon.'

'Aap kyun takleef le rahe hai sir! Main manage kar lungi', she said.

Now Daya couldn't control his anger.

'Tum kya samajti ho apne app ko haan? Ek to iss jungle ilake me itni raat ko bina kisiko bataye akele chali aayi tum. Tumhe kya lagta hai tum bohot bahadur ho! Kitna attitude hai tumme! Karo jo karna hai. I really don't care', saying this he stormed off into the night.

She spent the entire night alone in the forest. She saw Daya sitting at the other end but he did not come to talk to her. She felt safe with him around. She also felt very guilty for her behaviour. Finally after sometime, she went to him. 'Sir I am very sorry. Jab se main join hui hu tabse maine aapse thik tarah se baat nahi ki hai. Maine aapko hamesha galat samjha. Mujhe maaf kar dijiye please.'

He looked at her. 'It's okay Shreya. Sorry to mujhe kehna chahiye. Tumhare pehle hi din maine tumhare saath ajeeb sa behave kiya tha. Aur aaj bhi main tumpe chillaya. I am sorry.'

'Nahi sir please aap sorry mat kahiye'

He saw that Shreya had tied his handkerchief on her left hand to stem the blood flow. 'Accha ab tum thoda rest kar lo. Subah hote hi hum yaha se nikalne ka raasta dhoondenge. Tumhe aur kahi chot toh nahi aayi na?

'Nahi sir. Aap chinta mat kijiye. Main thik hoon. App bhi thoda rest kariye.'

And they smiled at each other.

**FLASHBACK OVER**

She would get angry when he used to flirt with her. But looking back now all those moments spent with him were her most priced possessions. She remembered -

**FLASHBACK**

She and Daya were alone in bureau. They were working on an important case. It was very late. 'Coffee bana leti hu', shreya thought. She went into the pantry and took out a cup, added sugar but couldn't find coffee. She searched and searched and then she saw it. Someone had kept the coffee jar on topmost rack. She couldn't reach it even with her heels. 'Main kuch help kardun?', asked daya.

'Aap? Nahi thank you. Main nikal lungi.'

'Tum kitni ziddi ho shreya. Main tumhe genuinly help kar raha tha aur tum ho ki', said daya and started leaving.

'Rukiye sir. I am sorry. Mujhe aapki help ki zaroorat hai', said Shreya

Daya smiled. 'Hmm. To yaha aajao'

Par kyu?, she asked.

Tabhi to main tumhe utha paunga. Main tumhe upar uthata hoon phir tum coffee jar nikallena', said Daya.

What?! Sir app phirs?! Jaiye sir aap. Mujhe coffee pini hi nahi hai. Main manage kar lungi', said Shreya angrily.

'Tum bohot jaldi gussa ho jati ho shreya. Relax main majak kar raha tha.', he said calmly.

He removed the coffee jar from the shelf. 'Ye lo. Aur jaldi kaam khatam kar lena. Phir main tumhe ghar chod dunga.'

'Nahi please sir main chali jaungi', she said sounding terrified.

'Shreya I am sorry. Main dubara tumhare saath aise behave nahi karunga. Tumhe mujse darne ki koi jaroorat nahi hai. Trust me. Aur itni raat ko main tumhe akela nahi chod sakta. Toh ab zid mat karo. Kaam hone ke baad chup chap chalo mere saath.' said Daya and walked off leaving her alone.

** FLASHBACK OVER**

Shreya smiled to herself.

'Daya sir hamesha meri care karte hai. Aur wo kitne cute aur handsome hai. Main to bewajah unpe gussa karti thi. Kya mujhe hi unko apne dil ki baat batani padegi?

Oh god help me! Kya karu main?'