[CONTINUED]:
When Shreya reached hospital, she felt like she would faint at any moment. It took all her will-power to steady herself.
After getting the news of the accident, she asked only one question, "woh thik toh hain na?" and Sachin replied that, "kuch kaha nehi ja sakta! Abhi behosh hain." then she did not call anyone or received any call in her way to hospital. Her mind was not in the state to take any more shock!
The only thought coming to her mind now, which she did not want to think, but could not push away, was 'what if something happened to him?'
Her own words, which she said to him just a few hours ago, were now coming back to her, making her wince. How could she be so stupid? If, just once, she had listened to him, may be that not happened! She said that she did not want to meet him ever again! Those words were possibly coming true now! What if she never got a chance to apologize?
Somehow, she controlled her emotions, and asked about Insp. Daya's condition at the reception. The receptionist told her that he was still unconscious and at the ICU.
Shreya- ICU kahan hai?
Receptionist- us tarf!
Shreya went there, where Abhijeet, Tarika, Sachin, Freddy, and Pankaj were present at the corridor near the ICU.
Tarika- Shreya, tum thik ho?
Shreya- haan, main thik hoon. Yeh sab… huya kaise?
Sachin- kuch kah nehi sakte, abhi investigation chal raha hai. jahantaq pata chala hai, Daya sir main road pe gadi chala rahe the, aur dusri taraf se ek truck aa raha tha, usi se sir ki gadi takra gayi. Ab ho sakta hai ki woh driver sharab peeke gadi chala raha tha! Woh pakda gaya hai, local police puchtach kar rahi hai usse!
Shreya did not say anything else. She stared at the closed door of the ICU. The love of her life, her Daya sir, was behind that closed door, unconscious and probably fighting for life! What would she do without him?
Tears started rolling down her cheeks. She reached out and placed one hand on the door, and whispered, " I am sorry Daya sir! Please, ab jald thik ho jayiye!"
Someone touched her shoulder softly and said in a guilty voice, "I am sorry Shreya! Meri wajese tum dono ke bich itna sab kuch ho gaya aur…"
Shreya wiped her tears and turned to face Abhijeet.
Shreya (softly)- nehi sir, is mein aapki koi galati nehi hai! aap toh bas apne dost ke sath mazak kaar rahe the! Main hi bewakoof thi jo unki koi baat nehi suni! unhone kitni koshish kee mujhe samjhane ki, lekin main…
She could not say anymore and broke down sobbing. Abhijeet himself was extremely worried, but could not show it, as that would make Shreya's condition worse! He just pulled her for a side-hug, and tried to console her. Tarika also came forward, trying to make her calm.
After a few minutes, when she felt bit better, Abhijeet patted her back and said "bharosa rakho Shreya! Kuch nehi hoga humare Daya ko."
Everyone closed their eyes and prayed that what Abhijeet said, may come true!
After long, painful hours of waiting, finally the doctor came out and all of them rushed to him.
Abhijeet- kya huya Doctor? Daya kaisa hai?
Shreya- please batayiye na! woh thik toh hain na?
Doctor- Dekhiye, ab chinta ki koi baat nehi hai! woh ab khatre se bahar hai!
Relieved smile came on everyone's face. Abhijeet and Shreya, both wiped some happy tears, and Thanked God for listening their prayer, so did Freddy.
Sachin- Doctor, kya hum unse mil sakte hain?
Doctor- haan, abhi thodi derr mein unko cabin mein shift kiya jayega, phir aap mil sakte hain.
Abhijeet- ok, Thanks Doctor!
The doctor left. After sometime, a nurse came to inform them that Insp. Daya was shifted to his cabin, and they could meet him. Everyone rushed there immediately.
They entered in the cabin, where Daya laid on the bed with closed eyes. He had a large bandage wrapped around his head, and some scratch- marks on face and arms, but apart from that, he looked ok.
Abhijeet moved closer and touched his forehead and softly called, "Daya!"
Daya opened his eyes and seeing Abhijeet, a sweet smiled appeared on his face. Abhijeet also smiled, then asked, "ab kaisi tabiyat hai tumhari?"
Daya- main thik hoon Abhijeet.
Saying that, he tried to sit up, but felt dizzy. Abhijeet held him and gently scolded, "aaramse Daya! Kya kar rahe ho?"
Getting concerned, Shreya took a step towards him, but stopped in midway. She was eager to meet Daya, but did not know how to face him or what to say! So, she just stood behind others, staring at Daya.
Abhijeet helped him to sit comfortably, then asked, "yeh sab huya kaise? Drunk- driving ka case hai kya? I mean, woh dusra driver…
Daya (cutting off)- nehi yaar, uski galati nehi thi! Woh horn de raha tha, lekin mujhe sunai nehi diya! Actually main kisi baat ko lekar bohot pareshan tha, toh… aur jabtak main ne us truck ko dekha, tabtak bohot derr ho chuki thi.
A stray tear rolled down Shreya's face, as she knew very well the reason of Daya's 'pareshani'!
Abhijeet- agar itna hi pareshan the, toh gadi lekar main road pe nikalne ki kya zarurat thi? Maloom hai na, kitni traffic hoti hai wahan? Kitna bada khatra ho sakta tha!
Daya- sorry yaar, woh…
Abhijeet- kya sorry, haan? Pata hai, Doctor ne kya kaha? Yeh tumhare sar pe jo chout lagi hai, agar thodi aur gahri hoti, (getting emotional) toh pata nehi kya ho jata!
Daya stared at Abhijeet for a brief moment, then without saying anything, pulled him for a bone-crushing hug.
Daya (face pressed in his chest)- kuch nehi hota Abhi! Tumhare hote huye, mujhe kabhi kuch ho sakta hai kya!
Abhijeet smiled and murmured, "tu kabhi nehi sudhrega", then returned the hug. Everyone was watching them with admiration.
After sometime, both pulled back and just then, the Doctor entered.
Doctor- dekhiye, ab aaplogonko yahan se jana chahiye! Inhe abhi aaram ki zarurat hai!
Freddy- lekin Doctor, kya hum inke paas rukh nehi sakte?
Doctor- thik hai, lekin aap mein se kisi ek ko rukhna padega! Hum itne sare logon ko yahan rahne ki permission nehi de sakte.
Abhijeet- thik hai Doctor! Shreya hai na, woh rahegi yahan, Daya ke paas!
Shreya (surprised)- main sir?
Abhijeet- haan, kyun? Koi problem hai?
Shreya- nehi sir, aisa kuch nehi…
Abhijeet- toh thik hai! tum yahan rukho, hum bureau chalte hain! sham ko dubara aayenge! Ok Daya?
Daya just nodded. Abhijeet ordered Sachin to call at bureau as all others were also worried for Daya. He himself called the local police to come and record Daya's statement about the accident, and also instructed them to release the other driver. Freddy said that he had to call his wife and inform her that Daya sir was alright, as she too was very worried for him. Everyone left after having some small talks with Daya, and telling Shreya to take care of him.
Now there was an awkward silence between them. Both of them had so much to say, but could not get from where to start.
Finally, Daya decided to break the silence.
Daya- Shreya!
Shreya- jee sir?
Daya- yahan aao!
Hesitantly, Shreya moved close to his bed. Daya signaled her to sit beside him, and she obeyed.
Daya- dekho, main janta hoon ki tum mujhse bohot naraz ho! aur jo kuch bhi mere bare mein soch rahi ho… bas agar ek baar meri baat sun lo toh…
Shreya (cutting off)- aapko kuch kahne ki zarurat nehi hai sir! Main sab janti hoon. (pause) Dr. Tarika ne mujhe sab kuch bataya!
Daya (surprised)- kya? kya kaha unhone?
Shreya- sab kuch, aapke aur Insp. Anila ke bare mein… aur us mission ke bare mein, jiske dauhran aap…
Daya- iska matlab, tumko sara sach pata chal gaya?
Voice chocked in emotion, she just nodded.
Daya (with a relieved sigh)- Thank God! Dekha, agar tum us waqt mujhe kuch kahne deti, toh itna problem hota hi nehi!
Shreya- I am sorry sir! Please, ho sake toh mujhe…
Daya (cutting off)- nehi Shreya! Aise mat bolo! Mujhe achha nehi lagta. Waise bhi, galati meri bhi hai! jab mujhe pata tha ki is Anila ki baat ko lekar koi misunderstanding create ho sakti hai, toh mujhe pahle hi tumko sabkuch bata dena chahiye tha! (Shreya was about to say something, but Daya stopped her) itna hi nehi Shreya, isse bhi badi galati kee hai main ne!
Shreya looked at him questioningly. Daya continued,
"sab kahte hain ki main bohot emotional hoon. ACP sir aur Abhijeet toh kahin baar mujhe yehi kahkar daantte hain, ki main sentimental fool hoon, humesha dil se sochta hoon, dimag se nehi! Shayed woh sahi kahte honge, lekin mujhe bas itna pata hai, ki jab mujhe dil se sochna chahiye tha, tab main ne dimag se sochne ki galati kee!
Main ne tumse kaha ki shadi jaise bada faisla soch-samajhkar lena chahiye, iske liye humein is rishte ko waqt dena hoga! Lekin sach toh yeh hai ki kahin na kahin mere dil mein yeh darr tha ki Sonali aur Purbi ki tarah tum bhi kisi din mujhe chodkar chali jaogi! (Shreya's heart pinched) main tumse yeh poochta raha ki kya tumhe mujhpar bharosa hai? sach toh yeh hai Shreya ki mujhe aapne aap pe bharosa nehi tha! Apne pyaar par bharosa nehi tha ki yeh pyaar kabhi tumko mujhse alag nehi hone dega!
Aaj jab tumne mujhse kaha ki aaj ke baad kabhi mujhse nehi milogi, pata hai, puri tarah black-out ho gaya tha main! Na kuch dikhai de raha tha, na sunai de raha tha! Bas aisa laag raha tha ki ab meri zindegi jeene ka koi matlab nehi raha!
Her heart broke into million pieces hearing that! Almost sobbing, she said, "yeh sab meri wajese huya! Bina sachhai jane, bina kuch soche-samjhe, itna bada ilzaam laga diya aap par!"
Daya- Shreya, sambhalo aapne aapko! Tumhari jagah koi bhi hota, toh shayed aise hi react karta! (pause) aur pata hai, aaj jo bhi huya, usse mujhe ek bohot badi seekh mili!
Sonali aur Purbi ko main pasand karta tha Shreya, pyaar kabhi nehi kiya! Kyun ki sachha pyaar toh zindegi mein ek hi baar hota hai! aur meri zindegi mein woh pyaar, tum ho! main tumhare bina jee nehi paunga! Ab mujhe aur kuch nehi sochna Shreya, ki age ki zindegi mein humein kya problem ho sakti hai ya hum har zimmedari thik se nibha payenge ya nehi! Main bas itna chahta hoon, ki jo bhi mushkil ghadi aaye, hum milkar uska samna karenge! Chahe kuch bhi ho jay, hum ek dusre ka sath nehi chodenge, aur na hi ek dusre ka bharosa todenge! Bolo, kya tumhe manzur hai?
Shreya (tear-filled eyes)- yeh toh mujhe humesha se manzur tha sir! Bas aap samajhe nehi! Meri zindegi ka pahla pyaar bhi aap hain, aur aakhri bhi! Lekin, ab main ne is tarah aapka bharosa toda, uske baad bhi aap…
Daya stopped her by putting a finger on her lips, and then pulled her in a kiss. When their lips met, all her worries and guilt were gone, and she melted in the strong, loving embrace.
Finally, they pulled away and Daya said sweetly, "mujhse shadi karogi Shreya?"
Shreya blushed and said, "kya aap bhi! Is tarah koi propose karta hai kya? hospital mein!"
Daya- arre haan! Propose karne ke liye toh koi khubsoorat jagah honi chahiye! Roses, candles, violin.. hai na? (pause) lekin iski kya zarurat hai Shreya? Jab tum sath ho, tab toh har jagah duniya ki sabse khubsoorat jagah ban jati hai!
Shreya blushed even more and hid her face in his chest. Smiling, Daya ran his hand through her hairs, and then whispered, "toh, date fix karein?
Shreya did not reply. She did not need to. Right at the moment, they both knew very well what the other was thinking. Everything in their world, was ok now!
They love each other more than life itself, and they trust each other, even more than themselves.
THE END
A/N- Thanks to all of my reviewers for your continuous support and valuable comments. I did not expect it from so many people in first story.
Katiiy, zoomra, Anupama Mishra, Anoushka Jaina, Ritesh, Dareya789, .1, kajal, mahnoor, .161 and all others; a big hug for all of u!
