CHAPTER 9: The truth at last

Shreya was still crying.

'Shreya... Rona band karo aur chalo hamare saath...' she heard Tarika's voice.

She tried to wipe her tears.

'Main thik hoon... Mujhe kahi nahi jaana... I am fine. Tum log jao mai yahi thik hoon' said Shreya.

'Dekho Shreya main bohot gusse me hoon abhi. Zid mat karo. Chalo yaha se mujhe tumse bohot jaroori baat karni hai', said Tarika and she pulled Shreya behind her.

Purvi's Home, Night

'Shreya ab bas kar... Kitna royegi... Dekh Daya sir aise nahi hai. Woh kabhi tujhe dhokha nahi de sakte. Jaroor kuch hua hai', said Purvi trying to calm her down.

'Aur bata to deti tum kaha janewali ho. Itni raat ko waha pahadi par akeli. Kuch ho jata toh? Hum sab pagal ho rahe the tumhe dhoondte dhoondte. Daya toh abhi bhi gayab hai. Na jane kaha hai wo aur Muskaan', said Tarika.

'Sorry main batana chahti thi. Waha pohochte hi main tumhe call karne hi wali thi lekin ye sab hua aur mujhe samjh me nahi aa raha tha ki main kya karu... Main hi bohot badi bewakoof hoon. Jab mujhe pata tha ki Daya sir aur Muskaan ek dusre se pyar karte hai tabhi mujhe chale jana chahiye tha unki zindagi se', said Shreya.

'Tumse ek baat kahu? Tum perfect ho Daya ke liye. Caring, Innocent, matured aur jo use ache se samaj sake. Tumme wo saari baatein hain. Pehle jab Daya ne tumhare baare me bataya tab mujhe gussa aaya tha. Muskaan ke liye bohot bura lag raha tha. Par phir yakeen hua ki Daya ne sahi decision liya hai', said Tarika smiling at her.

'Nahi Tarika main Daya sir aur Muskaan ke beech nahi aana chahti kabhi bhi. Lekin baad me Daya sir ne yakeen dilaya ki wo sirf mujse pyar karte hai. Main nahi rok payi apne aap ko. Yahi badi galti kar di maine. Mujhe Daya sir ko bhool jana hoga. Isime sab ki bhalai hai', said Shreya.

Purvi tried to reason with her but Shreya was not ready to listen.

But Tarika was not going to let the matter rest. 'Mujhe Daya se baat karni hi padegi', she thought.

The next day, At CID bureau.

Daya walked in looking really worried. He went to Abhijeet's desk. 'Abhijeet Shreya kaha hai? Kal se uska kuch pata nahi hai! Mera phone bhi nahi utha rahi!' he said.

'Daya ho kya gaya hai tumhe? Itna sab ho jane ke baad wo tumhara phone kyu uthayegi? Waise tum chahte kya ho? Mujhe toh vishwaas nahi hota ki mera dost aise kar sakta hai', said Abhijeet.

Sachin, Freddy and Nikhil were watching them silently.

'Kya bol rahe ho tum? Aisa kya kiya maine? Mujhe kuch bhi yaad nahi', said Daya surprised.

'Ye aaj kal tumhe achanak kya ho gaya hai? Kuch yaad nahi rehta! Lekin itni important baat bhi tumhe yaad nahi?' said Abhijeet.

Just then Tarika walked in.

'Daya tum kyu kar rahe ho ye sab? Hum sab tumhara decision respect karte hai. Lekin kisi ke zindagi ke saath khelne ka tumhe koi haq nahi. Agar tum Muskaan se pyar karte ho to Shreya ke saath ye pyar ka natak kyu kiya tumne?' she said.

'Ek minute! Kounsa natak? Tum sab log ye kya bol rahe ho? Trust me mujhe kuch bhi yaad nahi hai! Aur main sirf Shreya se pyar karta hoon! Batao mujhe maine kya kiya kal raat? Hua kya tha exactly?' said Daya.

Tarika and Abhijeet exchanged glances.

'Kal party me tumne Muskaan ke saath time spend kiya poori sham. Uske baad tum dono ne milkar Shreya se kaha ki tum log use maar doge. Aur Daya tumne kaha ki tum Muskaan ke pyar karte ho aur Shreya ke saath sirf pyar ka natak kar rahe the', said Tarika.

'Kya?!', said Daya in disbelief. 'Ye nahi ho sakta. Mujhe kuch yaad kyu nahi aa raha? Main Shreya ke saath aisa kabhi nahi kar sakta! Main abhi mil leta hoon use'

'Nahi Daya... Abhi mat jao... Wo bohot disturbed hai. Abhi tum waha jaoge to problem ho jayegi', said Tarika.

'Par mujhe batana hai use ki ye sach nahi hai', yelled Daya.

Before anybody could speak, he experienced sudden pain in his head. He sat down on the chair.

'Sir Kya hua aap thik toh hai na?' asked Freddy.

'Haan... Bas thoda dard ho raha hai', said Daya.

Abhijeet handed him a glass of water. 'Daya shaanth ho jao. Ab hume batao ki kya hua tha kal raat exactly'

'Main party me 7.30 baje pohoch gaya. Phir maine ACP sir ne ek kaam bataya tha wo kiya aur uske baad... Uske baad... Mujhe kuch yaad nahi', said Daya.

'Kya... Kuch yaad nahi? Daya kya tumne kuch piya tha party me? Cold drink vagera?' asked Abhijeet.

'Nahi kuch bhi nahi', said Daya.

His hand shot up suddenly to his forehead.

The pain in his head grew sharper... He felt dizzy and then there was complete darkness.

At the Hospital

Abhijeet was waiting for the doctor to come. He was worried for Daya. Since last few days he had noticed Daya's weird behaviour.

Tarika patted his Shoulder. Abhijeet please fikr karna band karo. I am sure Daya thik hai. Ye stress ki wajah se hua hoga aur kych nahi', she said.

'Hope so', said Abhijeet.

Doctor called Abhijeet into his cabin.

Abhijeet:Kya hua doctor? Daya thik hai na?

Doc: Haan. Abhi tak hosh nahi aaya hai. Par wo thik hai. Lekin thodi hairani wali baat hai Abhijeet.

Abhijeet: Kounsi baat?

Doc: Daya ka accident hua tha tab maine hi treatment di thi usse. Tab toh sab normal lag raha tha. Abhi maine kuch tests kiye. Uske brain ko kuch deep injury hai jiski wajah se insaan sab kuch bhool jata...thode waqt ke liye... Isse kabhi kabhi chakkar bhi aa jata hai jaise aaj usse aayi. Ya phir sir dard hota hai. Tumne kabhi kuch ajeeb notice kiya hai uske behaviour me?

Abhijeet: Haan pichle kuch dino me notice kiya tha maine. Uss din 2 minute pehle ki baat bhi use yaad nahi aa rahi thi. Doctor lekin iska ilaj to hoga na?

Doc: Haan... Der hui hai lekin phir bhi wo cure ho sakta hai. Agar thodi aur der kar dete na toh complications badh jaate. Main medecines de dunga. Wo usse roz deni hogi.

Abhijeet: Haan doctor main wo dekh lunga. Thank you very much Daya ko bachane ke liye.

A few hours later Daya got discharged from the hospital.

Now everybody knew the truth. Muskaan was unusually quiet. She was definitely not happy the way things were happening. Abhijeet had a faint idea about what must have happened but he decided to talk to Muskaan later.

Purvi was happy for Shreya. Her best friend had got her love back. She was sure everything would be fine now between Daya sir and Shreya.

'Tarika ab to baat karne do yaar Shreya se mujhe. Na jane main kya kaha use. Bohot upset hogi. Mujhe milna hai usse abhi', said Daya.

'Haan jao. Bohot hurt ho gayi hai. Kisiki bhi sunne ko tayar nahi hai. Ab tumse milne ke baad hi wo thik hogi', said Tarika.

'Haan thik hai. Aaj sham hi milunga use', said Daya.

Done with the chapter! The suspense might have been a bit predictable. Hope the chapter was not boring... :(

Please review...

Next chapter will be the last one which will have Dareya romance and of course Muskaan's confession regarding her role in this whole drama! See you all soon... :)