In Shreyaa's Room...
He stepped towards their daughter's room.
A sobbing sound crossed over his ears . His heart pinched. He was feeling guilt.
Shreyaa noticed him wiping her tears out she removed her gaze other way.
He bends towards her and faced her.
" Shreyaa.. ", he uttered.
He softly cupped her face with care . A fresh tear slipped from her eyes. He quickly swiped it and secured his loving daughter in a tight embrace. She sobbed more and he patted her back. She felt good enough and faced him.
He rotate his fist in a quick manner and while holding his ear he cutely uttered,
" Sorry "
She kept her face down.
He knew that Shreyaa get too much scared of these type of things . She had witnessed her own mother's death. She just hates this fighting thing, especially among parents.
" Hey, Papa sorry na. Please forgive me ", he appealed.
She didn't respond then he concluded,
" Papa needs your help. "
She looked upwards and signed in a questioning manner.
- " Yeah, your help to convince you gussedhari mata ", he added.
She smiled and questioned,
- " Why ? "
- " I donot know either. Bas etna janta hoon ki ab wo sirf ap ki sunegi. Kya ap papa ke madad karoge? Mumma is sad beta. She needs you ", he tried to explain.
She stands up and said,
- " I will "
- " Umm... Do tell her Papa loves you both "
She noded approvingly and stepped forward. He followed her.
Here, Daya was knocking the door for a quite long time but didn't get any response . Seeing Abhijeet and Shreyaa he complained,
- " Kya yaar naaraz tumse hein, meine kya kiya? Darwaza hein nahi khol rahe ".
- " Areh ab khulega dekhna. Ab Shreyaa aa gayi na? ", Abhijeet signaled towards Shreyaa.
Without uttering any words Shreyaa started knocking the door at her style .
First Tarika didn't respond. Then she keenly observed the knocking style..
Knock... knock knock... knock... knock knock knock...
She was preety sure that it was Shreyaa and opened the door immediately.
" Areh wah Sheyaa knock karte hein khol diya aur tabse jo mein bina darwaza todey knock kiye jaa raha tha uska kya? ", Daya joked.
Shreyaa passed them a look and went inside in a hurry and shut the door again, left the confused duo behind.
- " Jaisi maa uski waisi Beti ", Abhijeet said.
- " Ab bas yeh pata lag jaye ki hua kya hein mere pyare bhabiji ko, jo aise rudra murti banay baithi hein ", Daya said.
- " Haha tu bhi na.. waise haan pata nahi "
Here in bureau...
" Pradyuman, Mujhe tumse kuch baatein karna tha. It is important. "
- " Loh, naam liya aur shaitan hazir ", ACP murmured.
- " Kya? kuch kahaan tumne? "
- " Kuch nahi, bas abhi yaad kar raha tha tujhe "
- " Boss, Mein bilkul mazaak ke mood mein nahi hoon "
ACP observed him for a while and said,
- " Haan, woh sab toh thik hein. Tu baith jaa pehle. "
Acp passed the chair towards Salunkhe.
- " Kyun ki joh khushi ke baat mein kehne jaa raha hu. You know , there is high chances ke tere payro tale zameen khisak jaye ", he added.
Salunkhe made a face.
- "Toh tu nahi baithega na? ", ACP said.
- " Pradyuman..."
- " Kya baat hein? haan? ", he asked in a cold tone.
- " Pehle tum batado mujhe waqt lagega ".
- " Abhijeet got promotion ", he slowly uttered.
Hearing Acp 's word an extreme pressure hit his mind. Dr. Salunkhe took a deep breath and sat down.
- " Oh accha... ", he murmured under breathe .
- " Areh Salunkhe, Etna kya udas hona? Haan manta hoon tera naukri ek sal aur baki hein buddhe ", he joked.
- " Tarika got suspended for a week ".
- " Kya! Par kyun?
- " Remember , Case no. 4325 ; Ek drug dealer gang ka parda fash hua tha. Usmein ek aurat ke hathon paye gayi drugs ke test kiye gaye the humrein lab mein. Reports ke mutabek woh saare drugs nakli tha toh kanun usse ba - ijjat bari kar di. Lekin ab yeh pata chala hein ki wo aurat bohot hein bada drug dealer hein aur humerein reports ke wajay se wo baari ho gayi aur abroad bhi ja sakey. Unhe shaq hein ke reports ke saath ched chad hua hein. "
ACP silently kept listening ..
- " Isse liye, they are accusing Tarika. Unhe lagta hein ki shayed Tarika ne apne profession ki faida uthayi hein. Aur toh aur jo " Inter Forensic Projects " chal raha hein ab usmein Tarika participates bhi nahi kar sakhte. They said, Doctors like her donot deserve this kind of opportunities. It's too much yaar ", he signed.
- " Par sirf Tarika ko hein kyun doshi mana ja rahein? "
- " Kyunki Pradyuman, Us waqt jab yeh case aya.. mein.. mein nahi tha. Woh akele handle kar rahi thi sab kuch ", he replied in shaken voice and continued,
" Bacchi bohot taqleef mein hein. Mein tumhe yahin batane aya tha ki kih tumne toh aur bhi kadwa sach suna diya " , he uttered helplessly.
- " Haan, Dekh agar Tarika ne kuch nahi kiya toh yeh sab jaldi sulajh jayega. Don't worry ", Acp tried to consoled him.
- " Tumhe lagta hein Tarika aisa kabhi kar sakhti hein? Come on Pradyuman .. "
- " Toh, ab wo log kya karne wale hein? Basic interrogation?
- " They have started already. Dr. Sameer central forensic gaye hein us case ke details lene. Lab se CcTv footage, Computer se sare details le liye aur toh aur Tarika ki mobile track kiye jaa rahe ".
- " Himmat rakh, kuch bhi nahi hoga. "
- " Mein toh ab baas yahin soch raha hoon ki woh Abhijeet na jane kaise pesh ayega. Bacchi waise hein pareshan hein ".
- " Salunkhe, tu shayed bhul raha hein ki woh ek Senior hein and most importantly her husband ".
- " I just hope saare report sahi ho aur Tarika begunah sabit ho jaye bas "
- " Reports kab tak layenge Dr. Sameer? "
- " Aj shyam tak ".
Acp nodded.
Here in Abhirika 's Residence ...
Abhijeet was busy in a phone call and Daya was silently observing his motion.
Abhijeet cut the call and moved towards Daya.
- " Kiska call tha? ", Daya asked
- " Khabri ka ", Abhijeet uttered plainly and gazed towards the door.
- " Toh, Jana padhega? "
- " Tarika ko meri zaruraat hein. Abhi aise jana sahi rahega? "
- " Areh, donot worry. Haan, thodi dhuki hein lekin she is samajhdar enough . Toh, tum jao aur mein hu na? , Daya encouraged him and patted his back signaling him to go ".
- " Sambhal lena, he uttered and moved towards the door . "
Here in Abhirika 's Room ...
As Tarika was feeling sorry, it was tough for her to met shreyaa ' s gaze. She was calculating what to say.
Shreyaa keenly observed her mom. The kind of bonding they have always shared was more than special and still it is.
Forwarding her hands she touched her chin and signed,
- " Momma "
finally she broke the silence .
Tarika quickly grabbed her hands. Tightly she made a fist and kept noding disapprovingly.
This made Shreyaa too feel sad. Tarika kept sobbing and tried to say something but annoying hiccups interrupted as she was crying for a long time .
Shreyaa stood up and searched for water bottle. The room was a total mess. Water was splitting all over the floor from the broken flower vase. She stepped forward but was about to slipped. Tarika grabbed her hurriedly.
- " Are you okay Momma? ", her caring voice, full of concern.
Shreyaa noded.
Tarika didn't signed it though. It is easy to sense someone's concern. Especially of your loved one's.
Shreyaa made her mom to some drink water and sat beside her.
- What happened?, she asked."
Tarika placed her head into Shreyaa 's lap. Sometimes daughter can play a role of a mother too. A mother daughter bonding is truly a boon . A relation of unconditional love.
Shreyaa patted her forehead.
She was staring at her mom in a Questionable manner.
- " My baby is getting bigger. The mother nature inside of her is reflecting enough ", she thought and smiled in anticipation.
Surely kids are blessing . They can make any situation humble.
Tarika sat up and faced her.She started..
- " Yeah, I amsad but I am feeling more guilt because I have hurted you and Abhijeet more. Pata nahi kaise... m matlab gusse mein kuch zyada hein karliya. "
Shreyaa recalled her father's words.
- " Papa said he loves us both ", she said.
- " I know and I love you guys more. Should I have to mention it? "
- " We know. "
Tarika look towards her face..
- " Hey, kiddo! why you are getting that bigger etni jaldi haan? You know you are acting more mature than your silly momma. "
Tarika showed her three of special fingers and said , " I love you baby "
she giggled and shared tight hug.
After some time they get aparted.
- " Toh, you mean tumhare papa mujhse naraaz nahi hein. "
She smiled and said ,
- " Ap dono ek dusre ko sorry bol doh . "
- " Haan, mujhe sorry toh kehna hein chahiye par.. par kaise. Ab etna tamasha jo meine kar liya jab ki baat utni bhi badi nahi thi ", she murmured.
Shreyaa tried to understand and Tarika noticed her.
- " Sorry kaise bolu? "
- " Just go and say sorry, simple. "
Tarika passed a helpless look.
Shreya noticed a neatly wrapped gift box.
- " Mumma, Apke liye? "
- " Shayed "
Shreyaa handed the box to Tarika.
" For my lady lucks "
Tarika felt like her heart is aching.
" What have I done ! "
Shreyaa opened the box. There was only an envelope. She took it out of the box and handed Tarika.
- " It is an official letter ", Tarika concluded and started reading the letter.
" A Promotion letter "
Yes, his Promotion letter.
His Promotion, to the rank of ACP.
This thing made her cry. A mix reaction rushed over her mind. A reaction of unbound happiness and a burden of her ammature behaviour.
- " Momma? kya hua? "
- " Here , read it. "
She passed her the letter.
Shreyaa read it and now she was too feeling sorry for her dad.
- " I have ruined his precious day.. "
she paused for a while and again uttered,
" Actually our precious day. "
Knock... knock. Tarika, Shreyaa beta.
She heared Daya 's desperate voice.
She wiped her tears and slowly opened the door.
Daya signed and said..
- " Finally... kya ho kya gaya tha tum dono ko haan? Pareshan karke rakh diya. Aisa kaun karta hein? "
Daya was about to day something more but Tarika interrupted ,
- Abhi kahaan hein?
- " Umm, dekho woh tum please naraaz mat ho. Actually khabri se milney gaye hein. "
- " Mera naraaz hona jayez nahi hein Daya.. Naraaz toh usse hona chahiye. Kya pata shayed woh hein bhi. "
- " Areh nahi, Tum dono love birds ek dusre se dukhi kaise reh sakhte ho nahi? "
- " But I have ruined the best day of his life Daya. "
" What have I done ! "
- " Tarika relax.. Tumhe pata chal gaya yeh accha hua. Ab aur koi confusion na raha. Toh apas mein solve kar lo. "
- Haan.
Tring.. tring a phone call interrupted .
- " Umm, ek minute ", he excused.
After sometimes he returned
- " Tarika, Woh ACP sir ka call tha toh kuch urgent tha ", he hesitated while speaking.
- " That's okay Daya. Iam fine and now I really want to make sure everything to be turned fine, she replied plainly. "
- " Sure? "
She assured him.
- " Okay then, take care. Bye champ, he concluded and left the place.
After some moments..
- " Should I call him? No, he must be busy or may be sad. "
She seems tensed.
Shreyaa noticed that and pressed her hands. She assured Tarika by blinking her eyes, expressed not to worry.
Suddenly the door bell rang ...
Tarika eyed towards the door and Shreyaa noticed it.
- " Papa? ", she passed a questionable look.
- " May be, Shreyaa mein unke samne kaise jau? I am really feeling guilt "
Shreya showed her a palm signaling not to worry.
Ting tong...
Shreyaa moved towards the door and Tarika was mentally preparing herself.
Intense pressure gloomed her mind.
Silence..
Another minute passed.
- " Shreyaa ", she uttered.
A silhouette passed and she followed that.
- " Abhijeet ",
The person didn't respond.
- " Dekho, I am really very sorry "
She stepped towards the silhouette...
After some times...
Abhijeet quickly stepped towards his house. He seems disturbed, busy in a phone call.
- " Areh, aise kaise tu chala gaya? Atleast mujhe inform toh kar deta. Tere bharose gaya tha na mein? "
- " Accha, mein pohonch gaya. Talk to you later ", he added and pushed the door but it was already opened.
He stepped slowly.
- " Tarikaa... Shreyaa ", he concluded.
But there was pin drop silence.
And here the chapter ends. So, who was that person. What happened to Tarika and Shreyaa?
Eager to know ?
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Peace.