Pending Gift - 7

Please stay in your seats and keep your seat belts on until the seat belt light turns off. It is 9:37 pm here in Mumbai, with a temperature of…

"Come on…come on!" He was bored, and not to mention impatient. "Hurry up …"

He knew that muttering and drumming his fingers on the armrest wouldn't do anything to speed the pilots up, but he had to let his frustration out somehow, right?

"Come ON!" he groaned inwardly. "How long does it take to drive a plane a few meters to it's parking space? Seriously?"

Normally Senior Inspector Abhijeet would be calm. After all, being a CID Officer he was prone to many tasks and missions which require ample of patience but right now he was impatient to hell would be understatement because today was not a normal day. After being away for a mission for almost six years, he was finally back. Being away for such long time from his colleague from his bureau and more importantly her was no doubt difficult task but he can't help it either after all " Duty first, sentiments later.." was his ideology and that was taught to him by his seniors and he always appreciated that.

After six long years, he was finally going to see his friends and not to mention her, he missed them badly while he was on mission, right from the long drive with daya to irritating freddy, teasing Vivek and Tasha to enjoying his small fights with the beloved Salunkhe sahab, he missed every bit of it, but among all these what was he longed was her.

After being away from her for Six long years, made him realize how much he loves her and how much he want her to be part of his life, after not seeing her and after talking with her for six years made him want to see her the next moment he reached Mumbai and he knew she would be there waiting for him on the airport, equally excited to meet him.

He pressed his face against the window impatiently. Minutes stretched to hours. Instead of feeling 33, he felt like he'd aged to 60. Taking a plane couldn't take that long, right?

Ding

The sound of the green light on the seat belt sign turning off had Abhijeet jumping off his seat in a matter of seconds, grabbing his carry-on baggage in the overhead compartment. No time to waste! He had to see her again. It had been what, six years? Too long since he'd seen her face. Too long since he'd heard her laugh. Too long since he'd seen her smile. He grimaced. Mission had prevented him from seeing her, heck, even calling her. He needed to see her. And not just that.

Today was a special day.

He felt the small velvet box in his left pants pocket. It was time, he'd decided. He needed to tell her, no, show her how much he loved her. After six years of not seeing her, he needed to do this. He couldn't wait to see her and make his move.

...

She was nervous.

This would be the first time she'd see him in what, six year? Too long since she'd seen his face. Too long since she'd heard his laugh. Too long since he said in his usual tone "Tarika ji". She had missed him. So much. It had been too long.

But as much as she wanted to see him, she also didn't want to see him.

She bit her lip. She wondered how she'd tell him. She wondered how he'd react. She was afraid.

She put on a brave face and tried to smile.

...

"Where are you where are you where are you WHERE ARE YOU!" His head whipped around in a frenzy, looking for the curly black hair he knew all too well. His eyes darted from head to head, looking, searching, searching for her. He couldn't wait. He needed to do this.

He touched his left pants pocket once again, patting the velvet box inside for comfort and strength. He could do this. Heck, he'd captured all the dangerous criminals till now but he couldn't do something as simple as this, right?

He took a deep breath and continued searching.

...

She craned her neck to find him

"Where in the world is he?" she whispered, standing on her tiptoes to find him. She felt mind-fumblingly nervous. How would she break it to him?

She closed her eyes and counted to three to calm herself down. She could do this.

When she (finally!) found him she steeled her nerves, put on a smile, stood on her tiptoes and waved, yelling.

"ABHIJEET!"

His head turned towards the sound of his name, and more importantly, the voice of the one he'd waited so long to hear. His face broke out in a smile as he ran towards her, arms wide open.

She saw him run towards her with a grin so wide she thought his face would split in two. Her own smile faltered. How was she going to tell him?

"Tarika..!"

He enveloped his arms around her and embraced her tightly. He buried his nose in her hair and breathed deeply. He'd missed her. So much. Six year had been too long. Too long. He smiled as she returned the hug. He needed to tell her. Now.

"Listen, Tarika-"

"Abhijeet, I need to-"

They stopped and stared at each other, waiting for the other one to make a move.

"Tarika, I-"

"I need to tell you-"

They both stopped once again. "You first." Tarika said with a sheepish smile.

His face broke out in a grin as he dug for the box in his pocket and pulled out the box he'd wanted to show her for so long. He relished her surprise as he held his hand in front of her brandishing the box before him.

"Tarika. I've been away for so long, and that made me realize how much I need you..How much I love you.. I promise, I'll stay with you forever...as long as I'm alive, till death apart us, I would be with you. Tarika , will you marry me?"

Three minutes passed as he looked at her, her hand covering her mouth, waiting expectantly for an answer.

"Abh ..ijeet…"

He looked at her eagerly waiting for her answer.

"Abhijeet , I…I…" Then she burst into tears.

His brow furrowed in confusion. "Tarika?" He quickly got up on his feet and wrapped his arms around her. "Tarika if you're not ready, than I understand, and I…"

"Abhijeet, I'm so sorry."

Wh-what?" Now he was really confused. What was going on?

She pulled her right hand out of her jacket, where it had been all this time. "Abhijeet, when you were gone, I'm sorry..Abhi…"

"What do you mean? What are you saying?" He looked at her with confused eyes.

She showed him her hand, and he gasped, eyes widening in shock and realization.

"Abhijeet," she whispered, showing him the ring on her finger, "I'm already married."