CHAPTER 4
Shreya stared at abhijeet and smirked, "Sahi kaha sir aapne, galti meri bhi hai. Main bhi pehle confess kar sakti thi." She sighed and turned to sachin, "Sachin sir aapko yaad hai ek baar cafe me main, daya sir aur aap, teeno sath me coffee pi rahe the. Maine daya sir se pucha ki kya unhone wo film dekhi hai jisme ek ladka aur ladki officers hote hain, ladki nayi nayi join hoti hai aur use ladke se pyar ho jata hai. Daya sir ne bola ki unhone nahi dekhi hai aur aapse pucha to aapne kaha ki aisi film jald hi banne wali hai." Shreya smiled in last.
Daya lowered his head. Sachin looked at daya and then at Shreya, "Han Shreya yaad hai."
"Sir aapne aisa kyun kaha tha? Kya soch kar aisa kaha tha? Kya main sach me kisi film ke bare me baat kar rahi thi?" Shreya asked him like a lawyer interrogating an eye witness.
All eyes were fixed on sachin and daya's eyes were fixed on his shoes.
Sachin looked at Shreya, "Shreya maine aisa isliye kaha kyunki mujhe pata tha ki tum kisi film ki nahi balki indirectly khud ke aur daya sir ke bare me baat kar rahi thi."
Shreya let out a chuckle, "great, aapko samajh me aa gaya par..." She glanced at daya, "...jisko samajhna tha use nahi samajh me aaya!"
Daya couldn't face her and lowered his eyes.
Shreya continued, "Lab me Dr Salunkhe puchte hain ki wo apni girlfriend ko kaise manaye, aur main unhe tips deti hu ki kisi ladki ka dil jeetne ke liye ek aadmi ko kya Karna chahiye. Gifts, candle light dinner etc etc." She smirked, "kya main wakai ye sab sirf Dr Salunkhe se keh rahi thi? Nahi...wo to sirf main janti hu ki wo sab main actually kisse keh rahi thi." Her eyes became teary, "but you're right abhijeet sir, meri galti hai. Is terah se ghuma phirakar bolne se kise samajh me aayega ki main kya chahti hu. Mujhe saaf saaf bolna chahiye tha." She took a pause, " Daya sir ko goli lagi aur mujhe dekhiye bina inse puche aur bina ye parwaah kiye ki sab kya sochenge maine inke liye fast rakh liya. Jo shayad unhe nahi pata tha ya shayad baad me pata chala but isse ye to nahi prove hota na ki main unse pyar karti hu. Mujhe to shauk hai na sabke liye vrat rakhne ka."
Everyone was silently looking at Shreya. Abhijeet was also speechless like daya.
Shreya continued with a heavy throat, "Har wo koshish ki maine jo main kar sakti thi ye jatane ke liye ki mere dil me unke liye kya feelings hain lekin phir bhi meri galti hai. Mujhe loudspeakers lekar pure shehar me announcement Karna chahiye tha that I am madly in love with him. Hai na?" She said sarcastically.
Everyone kept mum. Shreya rubbed her tears swiftly and continued, "main ye to nahi kahungi ki main ek ladki hu isliye main pehle confession kaise kar sakti hu? But main ye jaroor kahugi ki, main ek junior officer hu aur already apne senior se pyar karke maine bahut badi gustakhi ki, phir kitni baar usko indirectly propose karne ki koshish ki, lekin himmat thodi kam pad gayi. Nahi thi itni himmat ki jakar apne senior officer ke samne jo mujhse age me kam se kam 15 saal bada hai, khadi hokar bolu ki sir I love you!" She said loudly and paused, "Nahi kar saki itni himmat main. I am sorry abhijeet sir, meri hi galti hai, you're absolutely right."
Abhijeet looked at daya and found him sitting with tearful eyes and lowered head. He turned to Shreya, "Shreya dekho...
"Ek minute sir, abhi meri baat khatam nahi hui hai!" Shreya said to abhijeet showing her hand to stop, "Maine intejar kiya ki aaj nahi to kal wo mere dil ki baat samjhenge aur mujhse baat karne aayenge. Par tabhi siddharth ka rishta aa gaya. Main khush thi ki ab kuch bhi ho jaye ab to daya sir ko apne dil ki baat bolni hi padegi. Wo mujhe kisi aur ke sath jate huye nahi dekh sakenge." She smiled painfully, "Oh god, main bhi na, itni stupid thi jo aisa socha maine. Us din wo aaye mere ghar ya shayad ye kahu ki abhijeet sir ne force kiya aane ke liye. But jaise bhi aaye lekin humesha ki terah Kuch nahi keh paye."
Daya tightened his fists.
Shreya added, "Khoon hua hai, mujhe jana padega, keh kar chale gaye! Come on guys, koi mujhe bataye main iska kya matlab samjhu? Mujhe dekhne koi ladka aa raha hai ye jaan kar bhi unhe koi fark nahi pada wo khooni aur lash me jyada interested the. Iska ek bahut hi asan sa conclusion maine ye nikala ki jaisa main soch rahi thi actually waisa kuch hai hi nahi. Wo mujhse pyar hi nahi karte. Ab batao, main agar siddharth se shadi karne ke liye mana karti to kya keh kar? Us insaan ka naam lekar jiske teraf se mujhe koi assurance hi nahi hai ki wo bhi mujhe chahta hai. Kya kehti apne parents ko abhi ruk jao, wait Karo, wo mujhse pyar karte hain aur ek din wo bolenge tab nain unse hi shadi karungi? Kya keh sakti thi main aisa kuch? Nahi! Maine hath badhaya apna ye soch kar ki wo mera hath pakadenge lekin nahi unhone apna hath aur peeche kheech liya." She shouted looking at abhijeet, "Aur aap sabko lagta hai ki meri galti thi! Kya baat hai!"
There was a deep silence. Nobody found a word to break it. Daya finally stood up and went near Shreya, "Tumhari koi galti nahi thi Shreya. Jo bhi hua uska responsible sirf aur sirf main hu."
Shreya didn't look at him neither showed any response.
Abhijeet stood up, "Alright Daya, alright Shreya, mana daya ki hi sari galti thi. Lekin ab wo sorry bol raha hai maafi bhi maang raha hai aur I love you bhi bol raha hai, to ab to maan jao. Usne bhale hi kabhi kaha nahi lekin ye baat to tum phir bhi janti ho ki tum uske liye kya ho. Wo tumse bahut pyar karta hai Shreya. Ab to ye zid chod do."
Shreya took a deep breath to relax herself and turned to abhijeet, "Sir ab baat ye nahi hai ki kiski galti thi, baat ye nahi hai ki kisne sorry bola aur kitni baar bola. Baat ye hai ki main taiyar nahi hu commitment ke liye. Maine kisi se pyar kiya aur uske liye jeeti rahi lekin badle me mujhe kuch nahi mila. I am frustrated and heartbroken. Isliye ab main kisi ka proposal accept karke kisi ko apni zindagi ka hissa bana ke use koi chance nahi dena chahti ki wo phir mujhe hurt kar sake. Ab main khud se pyar karna chahti hu aur khud he liye jeena chahti hu. Main kisi se koi umeed nahi rakhna chahti. Kisi pe koi bharosa nahi karna chahti. Please try to understand me, mujhe meri life meri marji se jeene deejiye. Main akeli khush hu." She said and turned to go but abhijeet stopped her.
"Ek minute shreya!"
Shreya turned and snapped, "aur sir ek aur baat, aap sab mere bahut achhe dost hain lekin mujhe ye bilkul pasand nahi ki aap log meri personal life me interfere kare, mujhe ye bataye ki mujhe kya Karna chahiye aur kya nahi. Main aap sab se rishte kharab nahi Karna chahti lekin agar aap log roj roj iss terah se mujhe disturb karenge to main aap logo ke sath kaam nahi kar paungi."
All were shocked.
Shreya added more, "Aap log daya sir ke bhi dost hain aur mere bhi lekin aap sab log sirf daya sir ke sath khade hain. Kabhi Sachin sir mujhe samjhate hain, kabhi Purvi aur Tarika, kabhi Freddy sir, kabhi Pankaj kabhi aap lekin ek single person ne bhi mujhse ye nahi kaha ki main sahi hu. It's ok I don't expect anything from anyone. Aap log please mujhe baar baar daya sir ka proposal accept karne ke liye force karna band kariye warna... Mujhe majboor hokar transfer lena hoga. Kyunki is uncomfortable aur awkward ambience me main kaam nahi kar sakti."
Shreya finished and daya got a shock, "transfer?" He uttered.
"Shreya ye tum kya bol rahi ho?" Sachin said.
"Ek minute sachin!" Abhijeet said and turned to Shreya, "Theek hai Shreya. Aaj se tumhe koi pareshan nahi karega. Tum dono ko milane ki ye humari aakhiri koshish thi jo nakaam rahi. Tumhe transfer lene ki koi jarurat nahi hai. Tumhe koi disturb nahi karega. Ab ye matter sirf tumhare aur daya ke beech ka hi hai aur hum sab me se koi bhi isme interfere nahi karega."
"Thank you sir!" Shreya said as abhijeet finished.
"Daya tumhe kuch kehna hai?" Abhijeet asked daya.
Daya stared at Shreya and then turned to Shreya's mom, "Auntie khana bahut achha tha. Thanks for the lovely dinner. Ab hum sab chalte hain. Good night!" He said and took a last glance at shreya and moved from there.
All asked permission to leave and one by one left following daya.
Shreya's mom was totally disappointed and also angry with her stubborn attitude. She didn't talk to her.
Next daya, cid bureau
Shreya reached bureau and greeted everyone trying to sound normal. Others also behaved as nothing happened the last night on dinner.
Shreya sat on her desk turning on her computer to start her work. Suddenly the door opened and daya stormed inside. Shreya looked at him. Daya moved towards her with fast steps. Shreya was confused and before that she could understand anything daya approached her and grabbed her hand.
"Sir!" She yelled
Daya pulled her from her desk and almost dragged her forcefully with him towards the door.
Everyone was watching it surprisingly but nobody reacted.
"Sir kya kar rahe hain aap?"Shreya screamed at him trying to free her hand but daya's grip was strong and he was in no mood to listen to her
He dragged her outside in front of everyone and took her near his car.
"Mera hath chodiye, sir kya kar rahe hain aap!" Shreya shouted.
Daya paid no attention to her neither loosened his grip. He opened the car door and forcefully pushed her inside.
"Ye sab kya hai daya sir, aap pagal ho gaye hain!" Shreya yelped.
"Chup raho, baitho andar!" Daya scolded her and grabbed the driving seat beside her.
Shreya tried to open the door and run away but daya locked the doors.
Shreya looked at him angrily. Daya leaned over her, Shreya frowned but daya grabbed her seat belt and forcefully fixed the belt.
"Ye kya jabardasti hai? Aap Karna kya chahte hain?" Shreya screamed struggling with the seat belt.
Daya started the engine, "ghabrao nahi, jaisa tum soch rahi ho waisa kuch bilkul nahi karunga!" He replied calmly and started driving the car.
"Kaha le ja rahe hain aap mujhe? Aapka dimag kharab ho gaya hai? Gadi rokiye! Ye kya tareeka hai. Maine aapka proposal reject kar diya to iska matlab aap mere sath jabardasti karenge. Aapne mujhe samajh kya rakha hai? Aap mere sath kuch aisa waisa karne ka sochiyega bhi mat. Main ek trained cid officer hu, yaad rakhiye. Gadi rokiye!" Shreya shouted grabbing the steering.
Daya jerked her hands away, "tum trained ho lekin agar main tumhare sath kuch karna chahu to tum mera kuch nahi bigad sakti. Ek baar tumhe apni baho me le liya to tum hil bhi nahi sakti samjhi."
Shreya widened her eyes and got scared.
Daya giggled, "Lekin main aisa kuch karne ka soch nahi raha hu isliye tum chup raho aur mujhe ideas mat do. Chup chap baithi raho. Mujhe bas tumse baat karni hai, isliye tumhe ek aisi jegah lekar ja raha hu jaha hum dono ke alawa koi na ho."
"B-but mujhe aapse baat nahi karni. Ye kya tareeka hai baat karne ka , jabardasti hath pakadkar almost mujhe ghaseet kar gadi me baitha liya. Aap aisa kaise kar sakte hain?" Shreya shouted.
Daya ignored her and increased the speed.
Shreya got more scared seeing him driving harshly, "Ye kaise gadi chala rahe hain aap? Daya sir aapka dimag to theek hai na? Accident ho jayega. Gadi rokiye, mujhe nahi jana aapke sath kahi bhi."
Shreya kept on shouting but daya kept on driving on a very high speed. He was driving towards the outskirts of the city. Daya took a turn and shreya became panicked as there was a board written 'Accident zone' ahead.
She looked at daya fearfully, "Sir aapke dimag me kya chal raha hai? Kaha ja rahe hain? Ye rasta accident zone me aata hai."
Daya showed no response and maintained the same speed on the same path. Shreya found the path was leading to a bridge, a broken bridge actually!
She shivered and looked at daya, "Sir ye bridge toota hua hai. Stop the car!" she screamed, "Hum dono mar jayenge, kyun kar rahe hain aap aisa, gadi rokiye!" She shouted
Daya again paid no heed.
Soon the car was running on the bridge and approaching the broken end.
Shreya's eyes grew wider as the car was about to jump down. She closed her eyes in fear and screamed on top of her lungs, "Aaaaaa!"
Suddenly daya applied the break and the car stopped on it's place.
Shreya was literally shaking in fear. She opened her eyes and found the car stopped just a few inches before the broken edge of the bridge.
She turned to daya, "Are you out of your mind?" She yelled, "Mujhe maarna hi chahte hain to goli maar dete mujhe. Is terah se meri jaan nikalne ka kya matlab hai?"
Daya turned to Shreya, "Relax, main kyun marna chahuga tumhe? Tum aisa soch bhi kaise sakti ho? Main sirf tumse baat karna chahta hu, 2 minutes, listen to me!"
Shreya stared at him in utter disbelief, "Ye koi jegah hai baat karne ki? Ek toote huye bridge pe hain hum, 2 inches aur aage gayi hoti car to hum dono neeche hote. This is eccentric!"
Daya remained calm, "Dekho Shreya, bas 2 minute meri baat sun lo, phir main khud gadi reverse karunga aur tumhe safely wapas tumhare ghar tak chod kar aaunga."
Shreya gritted her teeth, "Boliye!"
Daya stared at her, "Tumhe kya lagta hai Shreya, main tumhare bina jee nahi sakta? Tum meri zindagi me nahi aayi to kya meri saanse tham jayegi? Meri dhadkan band ho jayegi?"
Shreya looked at him confused.
Daya laughed, "Aisa kuch nahi hoga Shreya. Tumhare bina bhi meri dhadkan chalegi, meri saanse chalegi, main tumhare bina bhi jee sakta hu." He took a pause and continued, "Lekin main is terah se jeena nahi chahta Shreya. Us zindagi ka koi matlab nahi hoga!" He said looking deep into her eyes.
Shreya kept on looking into his eyes. Her eyes started watering.
"Shreya, main janta hu tum akele khush ho, main bhi akela khush reh sakta hu. Ab ye decision tumhe lena hai ki hum dono akele akele khush rahe ya ek dusre ke sath!"
Shreya kept on staring into his eyes.
"Kyunki main janta hu Shreya tum mujhse jitna pyar karti ho na, uski koi had nahi hai. Tum mano ya na mano."
Tears came out of shreya's eyes and she looked away.
Daya took out the ring and put in shreya's hands, "Ye ring tumhare hath me hai Shreya. Agar tumhara faisla badal sakta hai to ise apni ungli me daal lo, aur agar ab bhi tumhara decision wahi hai to is ring ko uthakar bridge se neeche phenk do."
Shreya broke down in tears as daya finished. She was crying loudly. Daya was just staring at her. Shreya composed herself after a minute.
"Jab aap us din mere ghar aaye aur ye jante huye bhi ki kisi aur se meri shadi hone ja rahi hai, aap bina kuch kahe chale gaye, you have no idea, mujhpe kya gujri thi? Kitna dard hua mujhe. Ab shayad aapko pata chal gaya hoga ki jab aap kisi se ummid lagao aur wo toot jaye to kaisa lagta hai. Jab aap kisi se pyar Karo aur wo aapke pyar ki kadar na kare to kaisa lagta hai. Jab koi aapke proposal ko reject karta hai to kaisa lagta hai. Mere liye aapka kuch na kehna ek rejection hi tha." Shreya finished looking back at him.
Daya heaved a sigh, "to tum sirf score settle kar rahi thi?"
Shreya said nothing.
"Ab kya faisla hai tumhara, kyunki mujhe lagta hai score barabar ho chuka hai." Daya said smiling.
Shreya looked at the ring in her hand. She opened the door and got down the car.
Daya too came out of the car. Shreya was looking down the bridge. Daya became disappointed as shreya raised her hand to throw the ring down the bridge but she stopped and glanced at daya. She moved to him and put the ring back in his hand.
Daya looked at her confused.
Shreya looked into his eyes, "Main ye ring khud kaise pehan sakti hu aapke hote huye!" She said forwarding her hand in front of him with a smile.
Daya felt like he had won the world. He held her hand and immediately slipped the ring in her finger.
Shreya threw herself in his arms and hugged him tightly. Daya too hugged her close to his heart.
Meanwhile a constable came there with a stick in his hand.
"Hello... Kya ho raha hai yaha? Pehle to teenagers aate the yaha suicide karne, ab aap jaise log bhi aane lage. Chalo chalo niklo yaha se jaldi, nahi to jail me daal dunga. Bridge toota hua hai dikhai nahi deta. Ladai jhagda apne ghar me baith kar solve nahi kar sakte? Chale aate ho choti choti baat pe suicide karne?"
Daya and Shreya exchanged glances.
Shreya turned to the constable, "Hawaldaar sahab, hum suicide karne nahi aaye the, bas rasta bhatak gaye the, abhi sahi rasta pata chal gaya hai, hum wapas ja rahe hain."
Daya and shreya smiled at each other and got in the car. Daya reversed the car and glanced at shreya who was peeping outside the window enjoying the air on her face with a beautiful smile on her lips. Daya's ring was glittering in her finger.
o- The End -o