Next day morning, Daya house

Daya is standing thinking about his life in general. He feels Shreya coming to him. She hands a mug of coffee.

Shreya: Daya..aapki coffee…

Daya: Thank you Shreya…lekin tumne kyun takleef kiii…main kar leta

Shreya: main jaanti hoon Daya…maine apne liye banaayi toh socha ek cup tumhare liye bhi banaoo….main thodi aapke ghar me hamesha ke liye rehne waali hoon..bas kuch din ki baat hai..after saying this she starts to walk inside..

Daya (closing eyes): Shreya ek min…mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hai…

Shreya stops at her place and looks at Daya. He is looking at the cup in his hand…he is breathing slowly and maybe forming words to speak in his mind..

Shreya: haan Daya…kya kehna hai aapko?

Daya keeps the cup of coffee on the balcony ledge. He walks slowly to Shreya. He still doesn't look into her eyes.

Daya (slowly talking, hesitant): Shreya..woh…main..mera matlab hai..Jaanu ke liye…I…he shuts his eyes, fighting the tears forming…Shreya main Jahnvi ka papa bannna chahta hoon…kya tum mujhse shaadi karogi?

Shreya looked at him with a shocked look. She couldn't help but tears flew down her face fast…

Daya (scared): Shreyaaa…tum ro rahi ho? Please..andar chalo…andar chalke baat karte hai..

Purvi house

Purvi wakes up with a severe headache. She opens her eyes and shuts them immediately. She tries to get up but falls back on her bed feeling dizzy.

Tarika (coming to her side): Arre…sambhalke Purviii…abhi bhi bukhaar utra nahi hai tumhara…main thodi si strong coffee laati hoon..

Tarika returns with a cup of strong coffee for Purvi. She helps her get up and makes her sip the coffee..

Purvi (blank look): Tum yahan? Bureau nahi gayi?...ACP sir se keh dena main dopahar ko aa jaoongi..bass abhi nahaa leti hoon..she gets up from the bed..but is held by Tarika.

Purvi (irritated): mujhe chodo Tarika..I am fine..kuch nahi hua hai mujhe..

Tarika (angry): yeh tum nahi …doctor ko kehna chahiye…chalo…maine hospital me appointment liya hai..

Purvi (trying to free her hands): Hos…hospital…tum..tum paagal ho gayi ho…kuch nahi hua hai…she stumbles..

Tarika (making her sit, talking softly): meri baat maano Purvi…please chalo…tumhara bukhaar bahut tezz hai….ek baar doctor ko dikhaa do..sab theekh ho jaayega..

Purvi looks at Tarika blankly. She is her best friend and now acting like a mother. She agrees.

Daya and Shreya

Shreya (emotional): Daya ye aap…aapne aisa kyun kaha? aapse madat maangne ke peeche mera aisa koi iraada nahi tha….

Daya (guilty): Main..main jaanta hoon Shreya…but jo kuch bhi hua hai..usme iss bachi ka kya dosh hai…Jaanu crawls up to Daya's lap..she gives a sweet smile to him. Daya picks the baby…kitni masoom hai…tum isse akele kaise paalogi? Isse ek baap ki zaroorat hai Shreya…

Shreya (tears): main kya kahoon…meri samajh me nahi aa raha hai….Sidharth ki maut ke baad….main sab kuch chodke chali gayi…main akeli rehna chahti thi….Sharman uss dauran meri zindagi me aaya….dekhte dekhte dosti ho gayi…achanak usne ek din mujhe shaadi ke liye poocha….maine bhi haan kar di…dekhte hi dekhte shaadi, phir Jaanu..phir jhagde aur..divorce..she sheds tears…

Shreya(sobbing): maine apni zindagi me bahut kuch bina soche samjhe kiya hai…aur ussiki galtiyaan bhugat rahi hoon….I am sorry Daya..magar main ab koi bhi faisla jald baazi me nahi karna chahti..mujhe thoda waqt chahiye….

Daya (confused): waqt?..theekh hai..Theekh hai Shreya..mujhe bhi koi jaldi nahi hai..

Shreya (getting up): baaton baaton main bhool gayi…Jaanu ka doctor appointment liya hai…thodi der me hospital jaana hai..

Daya: main bhi chalta hoon…

Shreya: aap wahan kya karenge..aap bore ho jaayenge…aap mujhe sirf hospital chodd dijiye..

Hospital

Doctor: Ms Purvi…aapko koi infection toh nahi hai..lagta hai yeh bukhaar bas tension yaa stress ke wajah se hai…you need plenty of rest and a break…chutti pe jaayeye aap…

Tarika (smile): Thank you doctor…chale Purvi..

Purvi and Tarika step out of the cabin, when they come face to face with Shreya who is walking from their opposite direction.

Shreya: Arre Tarika..Purvi..tum dono yahan? Hospital me? Sab theekh toh hai..

Tarika: darrne ki koi baat nahi hai..Purvi ko thoda bukhaar tha..but she is better now..Purvi smiles weakly at Shreya…tum yahan? Jahnvi theekh toh hai naa? Tarika strokes the baby's belly..the baby giggles..

Shreya: who jaanu ka bass routine check up thaa….she thinks a little..acha hua tum log yahan mil gayi..mujhe…she hesitates…mujhe kuch baat karni thi tum dono se…kya hum log kahin baith sakte hai?

Tarika looks at Purvi…she really doesn't want to talk with anyone..especially Shreya or Daya..

Purvi (quickly): main bahut tired feel kar rahi hoon..Tarika…tum jaao Shreya ke saath..main taxi se chali jaoongi..

Shreya: ek min Purvi..kya hum sab tumhare saath chal sakte hai…please…

Purvi looks into the eyes of her friend…she really wants to talk to them…Purvi nods a yes.

Purvi house

Shreya: mujhe tum dono ki help chahiye….mujhe kuch jaanna hai…tum dono mujhe sach bataoogi naa?

Tarika (nodding): Puchoo..kya poochna hai?

Shreya (keeping jaanu down): mere…mere jaane ke baad..kya Daya ki life me koi aur aaya tha? Tum dono ko toh pata hoga naa..

Purvi feels a guilt pain in her heart. She leans against the sofa to rest her body. She definitely doesn't like this conversation…what should she answer Shreya?

Shreya (looking at them): Bolo naa…tum dono…tum chupp kyun ho?

Tarika: tum kyun jaanna chahti ho?

Shreya (clearing her throat): baat..baat yeh hai ki..aaj subah…she hesitates again…aaj subah ..Daya…her throat becomes dry…aaj subah Daya ne mujhse shaadi ki baat ki…

Tarika grips Purvi's hand tight, Purvi is dry eyed..she wishes she has some tears to shed…but surprisingly none appear in her eyes..

Shreya (getting up): maine sapne me bhi nahi socha..Daya mujhse shaadi ki baat karenge..

Purvi: isme chaukne ki kya baat hai.. Daya Sir…Daya sir aaj bhi tumse pyaar karte hai… …this is something she has been saying to herself since some days….her words come out strongly..she doesn't sound like the sick girl that she is..

Shreya: Purvii…hum dono ke beech kuch hone se pehle hi bikhar gaya…Purvi shuts her eyes…this is what has happened with her now…or was it just one sided?...phir se who sab kaise ho sakta hai? Shreya doubts Daya..

Tarika: toh…tumne kya socha hai?

Shreya (sitting down): maine kuch socha nahi hai…isliye tum dono se madat maang rahi hoon…yeh faisla sirf mere liye nahi hai..Jaanu ki zindagi ka sawaal hai…she picks up Jaanu..

Jaanu: pa paaa…

Shreya (kissing Jaanu): Jaanu ne papa bolna toh seekh liya magar..woh saaya hi nahi hai uske zindagi me….Shreya wipes her tears..

Purvi (getting up, sitting next to Shreya): Shreya…she places a hand on her shoulder..Shreya looks up into her eyes…Purvi's eyes are kind, strong…she looks very calm and sorted in life.. Shreya ek ladki ke life me ek father figure hona bahut zaroori hai…yeh mujhse behtar kaun jaanta hai..mere paida hone ke pehle hi mere Papa ne Maa ko chodd diya..unhone bahut mushkilon ke saath mujhe paala….mujhe Maa-aur Baap dono ka pyaar dene ki koshish ki…magar aaj bhi ek Papa ki kami mehsoos hoti hai mujhe…Jaanu bahut choti hai….usse ek Papa ki zaroorat hai….she smiles…aur Daya sir se acha koi doosra nahi ho sakta…zyaada socho mat…tum jo bhi faisla logi, jitni jaldi faisla logi..utna acha hoga….

Purvi (looking at Tarika): Tarikaa..mujhe peeth me bahut dard ho raha hai…main aaram karna chahti hoon….

Tarika: haan haan..main kuch khaana banaa deti hoon tumhare liye..

Shreya: mujhe nikalna chahiye…main Daya ko phone karke bulaati hoon..

Purvi smiles and goes to her and shuts the door. She goes to the bathroom and locks the door from inside. She opens the tap of the basin and over the sound of the running water, she shuts her mouth and sobs..

Daya (on phone talking with Shreya): Tum Purvi ke ghar pe kya kar rahi ho?

Shreya: Purvi mujhe hospital me mil gaye…usse bahut bukhaar hai naa…

Daya (worried): Bukhaar? Purvi ko? Kya hua? who theekh toh hai?..he gets restless…he has to see her..make sure she is allright….

Shreya (surprised): Daya..aap itni tension me kyun hai?

Daya (wiping sweat): woh…Purvi ko pehle aise bimaar nahi dekha..isliye sunke thoda darr lag gaya..kaisi hai woh? He awaits for Shreya's answer…

Shreya: hmm…pehle se behtar hai…aaram kar rahi hai..

Daya (getting into car quickly): ohh..main aata hoon…mujhe usse dekhna hai….

Purvi house

Someone rings the bell impatiently. Shreya opens the door.

Shreya: Daya? Aap itni jaldi kaise aa gaye? Aapne itni baar kyun ghanti bajaayi? Aur aap itna haanf rahe hai? Kya hua?

Daya (coming inside quickly): iss building ki lift….he huffs…lift bandh thi…he coughs..main..seddiyon se bhaagke aaya…his eyes scan the room…Pu..Purvi kaisi hai?

The door of her room opens. Shreya and Daya turn towards the door.

Purvi (cheerfully): arre Daya Sir…aap yahan? Aayiye naa…aap pehli baar mere ghar pe aa rahe hai….baithiye…main paani leke aati hoon..

Daya looks at her…she is dressed up in her normal work clothes….there is no trace of make up..she loosk fresh and oddly happy..

Purvi turns and goes to the kitchen. Tarika is heating something in the microwave, she gets startled to see Purvi.

Tarika: Purviii..tum? tumhe aaram karna chahiye..yahan kya kar rahi ho? She watches as Purvi takes milk and is making coffee..

Purvi: Tarikaa…main bilkul theekh hoon..dekho toh..bukhaar bhi nahi hai…tumne bahut kaam kar liya..ab baahar jaoo..main tum sab logon ke liye kuch meetha banaati hoon…jaooooo..

Purvi pushes Tarika out of the kitchen. Tarika goes to the drawing room still in surprise, when she sees Daya.

Tarika: Daya..tum kab aaye?

Daya: bas abhi..yeh Purvi andar kya kar rahi hai..usse aaraam karna chahiye naa..he is angry!

Tarika: meri samajh ke baahar hai…abhi subah hi itna tezz bhukhaar tha..aur ab mujhe hi dhakka maarke baahar kar diya…ajeeb ladki hai..

Purvi steps out with a tray of coffee and halwa..

Purvi: Kya Tarika…mehmaano ke saamne meri complaint kar rahi ho?

Daya (shock): mehmaan?

Purvi (smile): haan…aap pehli baar mere ghar me aaye hai…aap mere senior hai…mere mehmaan hi huye naa…she states the facts of their relation to him…Daya looks into her eyes….they appear sad and troubled but she covers it up..

Purvi (enthusiasm): aaj sach me bahut acha din hai…khaaiye naa..maine halwa banaaya hai…itni jaldi me yahi banaa paayi main..main Jahnvi ko khilaati hoon…Jaanuuuu…she pays attention to the baby girl.

Daya (concerned): tumhe yeh sab karne ki kya zaroorat hai..tumhe aaram karna chahiye..

Purvi (not looking at him): kya aaram? Hum CID officers ki zindagi me aaram ke liye time hai kya? Har waqt mindko busy rakhna chahiye..warna ulte seedhe khayal aate hai…she laughs…

Tarika is pained to see Purvi behave outwardly happy and bouncy when she is completely broken from inside. Purvi plays with Jahnvi, when she accidentally slips. The baby falls and cries..

Shreya: ohooooo…..koi baat nahi….Jahnvi cries even more loudly…shhhhhhh….bachaa…she is uncontrollable now…Daya…she calls for help..

Purvi watches as Daya picks Jahnvi from Shreya and pats her back to calm her down. Shreya also plays with the baby. Both of them coo in baby language to make her quiet.

Tears threathen to spill over to her eyes, but Purvi fights them. Daya glances at Purvi and manages to spot pain in her eyes. She turns quickly and picks up the cups and trays to place in the kitchen. She is keeping everything in the sink with a clang, Daya arrives with a cup she had missed.

Daya: Purviiii..

Purvi's heart stops as she hears her name in his voice…its soft and he takes her name with great concern.

Purvi (quickly wiping tears): ji sir..

Daya: tumhe kisi cheez ki zaroorat ho toh bataa dena..

Purvi: ji sir…

Daya: Purvi…woh…he looks here and there..he wants to say something..

Purvi (not wanting to listen anything): mujhe bureau jaana hai sir….urgent meeting hai…

Daya (checking time): meeting? Tumhe aaram karna chahiye..

Purvi(smile): Nahi sir…yeh waqt aaram ka nahi hai…meeting bahut important hai ….

Everyone takes leave of her. Purvi picks up an envelope from her desk and locks her door to go to the bureau.

DCP Chitrole office

DCP Chitrole: haan Purvi..bolo kya baat hai..

Purvi (placing envelope on the table): sir…main yeh job resign karna chahti hoon..

Will Daya and Shreya get married? Will Purvi go away forever? await my next chapter...

Dear all, apologies again for the delay...as you all know exams are ongoing...I am having exams too :)..actually not me my kid..but its one and the same :) Thank you for being patient enough..I shall definitely complete this story soon...

Dear Popi Roy - there will be romance in the end...definitely..hope you will like it... and as per DayaVi ff(after marriage) I shall give it a try...it may be not be soon..but yes...definitely thinking :)

Dear Dareya forever: I am not trying to hurt anyone here...this is just a story...and the way Daya and Shreya's track was in CID...an OC would have not added the excitement...anyways Shreya is a positive character here...

Dear SS: I totally loved your Sachvi idea...its little dark but I think the story will turn out well...I shall write about it...its in my list of next stories...Thank you:)

Dear Manjot: I am sorry..you want Shreya's part to end soon...yes sir! it will...very happy ending..

Keep reading..and I will be more regular now:)

Best of luck to those all students who have exams !