Chapter 3
""""
Shreya kept asking about Shaurya Malhotra and Daya kept avoiding her questions.
Getting no answers from Daya she decided to check out the criminal records in their database. But there was no information about anyone called 'Shaurya Malhotra'. She felt disappointed.
'Mujhe to laga tha ki ye aadmi koi bahut bada criminal hoga. Jo shayad kisi baat ka badla lene ke liye Daya ko aur mujhe pareshan kar raha hai. Lekin iska to koi record hi nahi hai. Cid ke paas har chote bade criminal ke bare me information hai lekin Shaurya Malhotra ke bare me kuch bhi nahi. Daya bhi kuch batane ko taiyar nahi. Kya karu main? Kaise pata lagau?'
Abhijeet saw Shreya dipped in her thoughts. He approached her.
'Kya baat hai Shreya? Tum kuch pareshan lag rahi ho?'
Shreya looked at him. 'Han sir. Main bahut pareshan hu aur meri pareshani ki wajah hain Daya.' She said looking quiet serious.
Abhijeet became confused. 'Kyun? Kya kiya usne?'
Shreya looked at him a bit hesitating and looked away taking a deep breath.
'It's ok agar ye kuch personal hai aur tum mujhe nahi batana chahti to...
'Nahi sir..' Shreya cut him off. 'Personal to hai but shayad aap meri help kar sake.'
'Of course main tumhari help karunga agar main kuch kar sakta hu to. Batao to sahi baat kya hai?' Abhijeet said in concern.
'Sir aap Daya ko mujhse kahi jyada jante hain. Aap dono itne salo se ek sath kaam kar rahe hain. Daya aapko bahut trust karte hain. Wo mujhse kuch chupa sakte hain but aapse nahi.' Shreya said.
Abhijeet nodded, 'Nahi Shreya. Aisi koi baat nahi hai. Daya tumse bhi kuch nahi chupa sakta. Uske liye tum sabse jyada important ho.'
'But wo chupa rahe hain.' Shreya said a bit loudly. She couldn't hide her frustration in her voice.
Abhijeet just stared at her.
'Kya aap kisi Shaurya Malhotra ko jante hain?' Shreya asked.
'Shaurya Malhotra?' Abhijeet exclaimed. 'Nahi. Main to pehli baar ye naam sun raha hu.'
Shreya let out a sigh.
'Lekin baat kya hai?' Abhijeet asked.
Shreya told him everything starting from that 'wellwisher' note to that doll.
Abhijeet remained silent for a minute. He was confounded.
'Kaun hai ye aadmi? Mujhe sach me kuch nahi pata Shreya. Daya ke muh se maine kabhi is aadmi ka naam nahi suna.'
'Aur kisi Neha ka?' Shreya asked.
'No.' Abhijeet denied clearly. 'Main Daya ke sare dosto aur dushmano dono ko bahut achhe se janta hu. Ye dono naam maine pehle kabhi nahi sune.'
Shreya sat back in distress. Abhijeet placed a hand on her shoulder. 'Daya tumse bahut pyar karta hai Shreya. Main sirf itna kahunga ki uspe bharosa rakho. Agar wo tumse kuch chupa raha hai to uske peeche koi wajah hogi. Wo jo bhi karega tumhare bhale ke liye hi karega.'
Shreya looked at him and slightly nodded her head. 'I know.'
Abhijeet smiled and patted her back.
o - o - o - o
It was midnight but Shreya was still awake. She was sitting in the armchair staring at the doll pensively. The same doll she found cute at first sight was now the most horrible thing for her.
Suddenly she stood up leaving the chair and moved to the doll. She grabbed it and moved outside.
Sometimes later she was standing at Daya's doorstep ringing the bell. She rang the bell for a number of times but the door didn't open.
'Kya Daya itni gehri neend me so rahe hain ki bell nahi sunai de rahi.' She murmured and turned to leave but the same time Daya opened the door.
Shreya turned and both looked at each other.
'Shreya tum? Itni raat ko yaha?' Daya said staring at her surprisingly.
'I am sorry. Aapko itni raat ko disturb...' Shreya said.
'Nahi its ok. Main so nahi raha tha.' Daya said.
'To darwaja kholne me itni der kyun lagai?' Shreya asked.
'Wo... pehle tum andar aao.' Daya said.
Shreya stepped in but she noticed Daya hiding something behind his back. Shreya saw him holding his gun. Daya tried to hide it but Shreya had noticed it.
Shreya looked at Daya surprisingly. 'Oh to ab samjhi aapko darwaja kholne me itni der kyun lagi. Aap apni gun dhundh rahe the.'
Daya shrugged. 'Han toh?'
'Han to?' Shreya said. She looked at him worriedly. 'Daya why you look so scared? Us din us Shaurya ka naam sunte hi aap gun dhundhne lage aur aaj aap darwaja kholne se pehle bhi gun...look at your face. Aap abhi bhi utne hi ghabraye huye lag rahe hain jitne ki us din. Ye sab kya ho raha hai..'
'Shreya..' Daya held her by her shoulders. 'Kuch nahi ho raha hai. Tum janti ho cid walo ke dost kam dushman jyada hote hain. Mujhe kya pata ki darwaje pe kaun khada hai? Kya pata uske hath me gun ho aur jaise hi main darwaja kholu wo mujhe goli maar de. Kya kar lunga main? To apni safety ke liye gun lekar jana padta hai. Alert rehna padta hai. What's the big deal?'
'Aap pehle itna 'alert' nahi rehte the Daya. Achanak se aapka kaun sa dushman paida ho gaya hai jo aap alert rehne par majboor ho gaye. Aap pehle aisa nahi karte the.' Shreya said.
'Main humesha aisa karta hu. Tumhe kaise pata hoga? Tum isse pehle kabhi aadhi raat ko mere ghar aayi ho? Aur ye koi waqt hai kisi ke ghar jane ka?' Daya scolded her but sweetly.
Shreya glared at him and took out the doll from her purse and put it in his hands. 'Take this.'
Daya looked at her in shock.
'Just tell me main is doll ka kya karu? Main ise ab apne paas aur nahi rakh sakti. Mujhe dar lagta hai isko dekh kar. Ye mujhe sone nahi deti. Iske peeche kya story hai wo to aap mujhe batane wale nahi. To ye aap hi rakho apne ghar me saja ke. Main ise aur nahi jhel sakti.' Shreya said.
'Bas itni si baat?' Daya said. 'Main batata hu iska kya karna hai.'
Shreya looked at him confusingly as he walked and threw the doll into the dustbin. He looked at her. 'I don't like dolls.' He said with a smirk.
Shreya stared at him in disbelief. 'Wow!' She exclaimed sarcastically. 'Doll ko dustbin me phek dene se problem solve nahi ho jati Daya. Ab bahut ho chuka. Agar aapne mujhe isi waqt sab kuch sach sach nahi bataya to main aapse baat nahi karugi.'
Daya smiled and held her hand pulling her closer. 'Mat karo baat. Waise bhi tum chup rehti ho to jyada achhi lagti ho.'
Shreya shot him a look. 'Main majak ke mood me bilkul nahi hu Daya.'
Daya enclosed her in his arms. 'Ok listen. Tumne sahi kaha, I am scared. Mere chehre pe dar hai. Lekin main khud ke liye nahi tumhare liye dara hua hu. Gun maine khud ke liye nahi tumhare liye pakdi hai. Ye aadmi jo koi bhi hai wo mujhe nahi tumhe harm karna chahta hai. Wo tumhara wellwisher nahi tumhara dushman hai.'
Shreya became shocked. 'Wh-What? What are you saying? Mujhe harm karna chahta hai? Par kyun? Maine kisi ke sath kuch galat nahi kiya hai. Even main iss aadmi ko janti bhi nahi to wo kyun mujhe. ..'
Daya cupped her face. 'Relax! Isi liye tumse ye sach chupa raha tha. Tum bahut jaldi panic kar jati ho. Tum use nahi janti aur tumhe janne ki jarurat bhi nahi. Main hu na. Main janta hu use. Main tumhe bata bhi du ki wo tumse kis baat ka badla lena chahta hai to tum samjh hi nahi paogi. Aur mere hote huye tumhe pareshan hone ki koi jarurat nahi hai. Main use handle kar lunga. Mere hote huye wo tumhe hath bhi nahi laga sakta. Waqt aane par tumhe sab kuch bata dunga. But abhi mujhse koi sawal mat karo please. Just trust me. I love you.' He said palming her right cheek affectionately.
Shreya forgot all the logics and queries in her head looking into his eyes. 'I trust you!' She said hugging him.
Daya rested his chin on her head. There was something strange in his eyes which Shreya couldn't see.
Shreya separated. Daya changed his expressions quickly as he faced her. 'Ab main chalti hu. Good night.' Shreya said kissing his cheek.
Daya held her hand when she turned to go. 'Kaha ja rahi ho? Bedroom to udhar hai.'
Shreya just smiled looking into his eyes. 'Shut up!' She left blushing slightly.
Daya closed the door after she left his house.
A grin appeared on his face. 'Pyar insaan ko dumb bana deta hai. You proved it Shreya. How dumb you are. Tumhe gale se laga kar aankho me thoda sa pyar bhar kar kuch bhi bolo tum maan jati ho. You fool. You know that I don't believe in love but jab bhi 'I love you' bolta hu tum blush karne lagti ho. Nonsense!' He shook his head laughing.
.
.
.
...to be continued
A/N: In upcoming chapters Daya's character may give you shocks. So better be prepared!