Hiiii guys, sorry to make you wait so long... it was my sister's godh bharai :D I was rather pre-occupied with things so couldn't post any sooner.
Coming to your comments, aap sab ne sahi guess kiya ki dulha kon hai :) Hope you like this chapter as well! Please let me know what you thought :) Love u all
We pick up where we left off.
Shreya watched him as he went after ACP. He looked back and saw Shreya look. He paused at the door for two seconds and then went out of sight.
Daya and ACP got in the car and Daya was behind the wheel.
Daya: Kaha chalein sir?
ACP: Beach chalo.
Daya: Waha kyu sir?
ACP: Kaha na Daya, ab koi sawaal nahi. follow my orders.
Daya did as told and went to the beach. They both got out of the car and started walking along the stretch in silence.
ACP: Daya, shaadi ke baare mein tumhara kya khayaal hai?
Daya with a heavy heart: Kuch khaas nahi sir. Mere liye CID hi mera sab kuch hai. Shaadi ka khayaal mere dil yah dimaag mein nahi aata.
ACP: Daya, zindagi mein kisi ka sahara toh lena hi hota hai na?
Daya: Mujhe kisi ka saath nahi chahiye sir. main akela hi khush hu.
Then there was silence for a few minutes. ACP broke it:
ACP: Jaante ho Daya, jab mera beta chota sa bachcha tha, hum dono yaha aksar aaya karte the. Bohot masti karte the.
Daya listened in silence. He didn't know why ACP was going off track from Shreya's groom and talking about his son. He just listened.
ACP: Bohot ziddi tha. Hamesha apne mann ki karta tha. Phir bada hua... aur phir... inhi haathon se...
He broke into tears and Daya put his hand on ACP's shoulder.
Daya: Sir aap yeh sab ab kyu soch rahe hain?
ACP: Mujhe bolne do Daya. Uski maut ke baad meri life ka yeh CID team ke ilawa koi maksat nahi raha. Aur ab, yehi meri family hai. Tum sab bachcho ki khushi mein hi meri khushi hai.
Daya: Hum sab bhi aapko pitah saman maante hain sir.
ACP stopped walking: Toh aaj iss pitah ki ek baat manoge?
Daya: Aapke liye kuch bhi sir.
ACP: Shaadi karlo.
Daya: Sir? Main kaise?
ACP: Daya tumne kaha ki tum meri baat nahi taaloge.
Daya: sir... aap... pehle Abhijeet ka dekhiye na sir. Uski karadijiye aur phir meri dekhte hain.
ACP: Woh tumhari tarah itna old fashioned nahi hai ki ladki ko dekhte hi 10 miles ulte taraf daudega. Uski life mein tarika hai. par main jaanta hu ki agar kisi ne tumhe force nahi kiya toh tum zindagi bhar akele rahoge.
Daya: Sir yeh sab aap kya baatein kar rahe hain? Hum Shreya ke dulhe ko milne jaa rahe the na... yeh beach mein detour kyu?
ACP just smiled and soon started to laugh. Daya was very confused.
Daya: Sir aap hass kyu rahe hain?
ACP: Kyu ki tum CID mein hokar bhi itne bewakoof ho.
Daya: Matlab... sir?
ACP: Shreya ke liye uske parents ne tumhe choose kiya hai.
Daya's eyes widened. He stopped breathing for a second not knowing if what he just heard is real or not.
ACP: Dekho Daya, maine unhe kehdiya ki tum na nahi karoge. Jaanta hu ki tumhe shaadi byah jaisi baaton se nafrat hai par mera maan rakhne ke liye please maan jao Daya...
Daya still speechless and now ACP became worried.
ACP: Dayaaa... kya hogaya? Kuch kahoge bhi?
Daya barely able to say a word looked straight into ACP's eyes: Sir...
He had tears filled in his eyes. ACP had no clue what was going on so he decided to call Abhijeet.
Abhijeet: Ji sir
ACP: Abhijeet, mujhe lagta hai Daya ko jhatka laga.
Abhijeet: Woh toh lagna hi hai sir.
ACP: Kya kaha?
Abhijeet: Kuch nahi sir. Kya hua Daya ko?
With this Shreya was alert because she was worried for Daya.
ACP: Abhijeet, maine Daya se uski shaadi ki baat ki.
Abhijeet: Sir par aap toh...
ACP: Yaar tum dono dost itne budhu kaise nikle... aur apne aap ko CID officers kehte ho... Agar maine ghar pe yeh kaha ki main Shreya ke dulhe se milne jaa raha hu aur yaha agar Daya se uski shaadi ki baat kar raha hu toh nahi samajh sakte ki shreya ka dulha kon hai?
Abhijeet was crazy excited and overjoyed: Sir aap kaha hain? Main abhi aaya.
ACP told him the address and Abhijeet was bolting out the door.
Shreya: Abhijeet sir, kya hua Daya ko?
Abhijeet in excitement: Bohot kuch ho gaya Shreya, bechara sadme mein hai. Main abhi usse ghar lata hu.
Shreya: Par hua kya sir?
Abhijeet: Shreya, mere paas samjhane ka waqt nahi hai. Mere bhai ko meri zaroorat hai. Main abhi aaya.
Shreya was not sure how to react because she heard Daya's shocked and Abhijeet needs to be with his brother but Abhijeet is very excited.
Abhijeet reached the beach and ran to where ACP and Daya were. ACP was still trying to get Daya to talk but Daya was still not saying anything but now had tears in his eyes.
Abhijeet came running to Daya and hugged him.
ACP: Tum dono bhai yeh bataoge ki kya ho raha hai?
Abhijeet: Sir main batata hu. Aapka yeh Daya jaise dikhta hai waise hai nahi.
ACP: Matlab?
Abhijeet: Sir yeh Shreya se pichle do saal se pyaar karta hai. Aur Shreya bhi.
Daya put his head down a little embarrassed.
Abhijeet: Jab sab shaadi ki baat kar rahe the toh kisi ne koi naam nahi liya toh zahir si baat hai ki Daya aur Shreya ko laga ki ladka koi aur hai. Aur dono apna pyaar tyaag karna chahte the kyu ki Daya Shreya ke parents ko hurt nahi karna chahta.
ACP after listening to all this and letting it sink into his head: Daya, tumse yeh ummeed nahi thi.
Daya: Sir, mujhe maaf kar dijiye. Mujhe aapse pehle hi bata dena chahiye tha. par usse pehle hi Shreya ki shaadi ki baat chalne lagi toh maine socha der hogayi.
ACP: Tumhe mujh par itna bhi bharosa nahi hai Daya? Agar Shreya ke maata pitah kisi aur ladke ko bhi chunte toh main phir bhi tumhare liye koshish karta.
Daya had tears in his eyes.
Abhijeet: Sir yeh bass dar gaya tha
ACP: Tum toh baat hi matt karo Abhijeet... Uska dimaag kaam nahi kiya toh tumhara bhi gaya kya? Apne dost ko aisi kurbaani dene kaise diya tumne...
Daya: Sir woh meri galati hai. Abhijeet toh bolna chahta tha par maine mana kiya.
ACP: Yeh acha hai. dono ek doosre ki galatiyo pe parda dalo.
Abhijeet: Sir, jaise bhi hua par anth mein bohot acha hua sir... hamare dulhe raja ki taraf se haan hai.
Daya was blushing and nodded in yes.
ACP was soooo hyper excited he hugged both his sons and they all laughed with tears in their eyes.
ACP: Ab ghar chalo. Shreya ke parents wait kar rahe honge.
Abhijeet: Waise sir, aapne hame pehle kyu nahi bataya?
ACP: Agar Shreya ki taraf se ya Daya ki taraf se naa hota toh baad mein indono ko ek saath kaam karne mein uncomfortable feeling ho sakti thi. Isliye socha alag se baat karenge. Maine hi Shreya ke parents se kaha ki koi kisi ka naam nahi lega.
Abhijeet: Yeh aapne acha kiya sir.
Daya was lost in his own happy world the whole way home while abhijeet and ACP sir continued with their conversation. As soon as the car parked in front of the house,
ACP: Daya, Shreya ko abhi nahi pata hai ki tum hi dulha ho. Main chahta hu ki tum hi usse batao.
Daya blushing: Ji sir. main hi usse bataunga.
They all got out of the car and walked up to the front door and found Shreya pacing up and down the hall waiting for them. As soon as she saw them
Shreya: Sir aapko kya hogaya? Abhijeet sir yaha se bhaagte hue aapke paas gaye... keh rahe the aap sadme mein the.. kya hua?
Daya: Main... woh...
SM: Sab andar toh aaiye...
SF: Ladke ne haan kehdi?
ACP: Bilkul. Woh toh chupa rustam nikla... abhi abhi mujhe pata chala ki woh Shreya se na jaane kab se pyaar karta hai.
SM and SF: Kya? Sach? Yeh toh bohot achi baat hai.
ACP: Main chahta hu ki Daya Shreya se uske dulhe ke baare mein baat kare.
Shreya looked at ACP and forced a smile and looked at Daya who was unusually happy for a time like this.
SF: Haan haan, bilkul. (to shreya) Beta, Daya ko andar le jao.
Shreya did as told and took him to his bedroom. She walked in towards the balcony and Daya closed the door behind him.
Shreya didn't say anything and Daya knew why.
Daya: Main usse mila.
Shreya: Mujhe uske baare mein kuch bhi nahi jaanna. Khaas kar aapse.
Daya: Par woh tumhe bohot chahta hai Shreya. Tumhe bohot khush rakhega.
Shreya: Kaha na ki mujhe uske baare mein kuch nahi sunna.
Daya: Thik hai... toh mujhse nahi toh apne hone wale pati se hi yeh sari baatein sunlo.
Shreya remained quiet. She had tears in her eyes because she thought Daya wasn't the one.
Daya walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulder and turned her to face him.
Daya: Pari tum roh kyu rahi ho?
Shreya: Aapko kaise koi farak nahi padta? Kya aap mujhse pyaar nahi karte? Meri shaadi ki baat chal rahi hai aur aap hain ke mujhse aise baat kar rahe hain jaise meri shaadi aap se ho rahi ho.
Daya just hugged her. She too hugged him.
Daya: Main tumse kabhi door nahi jaunga pari. Hamesha tumhare saath rahunga.
Shreya: Main kisi aur se shaadi nahi karungi. Main sirf aapki hu aur hamesha aapki hi rahungi.
Daya: Toh chalo bahar chalke sab ko bata dete hain ki tumhe yeh shaadi nahi karni.
Shreya: Aapne pehle mujhe kuch kehne se mana kar diya aur ab yeh keh rahe hain?
Daya: Shreya, main tumhare bina nahi reh sakta aur jaanta hu ki tumhare liye bhi mere bina nahi rehna. Chalo hum abhi sab ko sab kuch bata dete hain.
Shreya: Darr lag raha hai... agar ghar wale nahi maane toh?
Daya: Toh hum bhaag kar shaadi kar lenge!
Shreya braced herself: Thik hai.
Daya: Tayaar ho?
Shreya nervous: Ji.
Daya: Tum daro matt, main sabse baat karta hu. Thik hai?
Shreya squeezed his hand in agreement and let his hand go.
Daya and Shreya walked out and stood next to each other. ACP already explained the situation to everyone outside so they were eagerly waiting for the pair to come out with positive news.
SM and SF came and stood near and were worried because Shreya was looking tensed.
SF to Daya: Kya hua beta?
Daya: Papa, Shreya yeh shaadi ke liye... tayaar hai.
SF was jumping with joy and SM was hugging Shreya and everyone in the house were overjoyed. Shreya was completely confused not knowing what's going on.
Freddy: Ab hum tumhe Shreya nahi Bhabhi kahenge.
Daya: Aur mujhe?
Freddy: Aapko hum phir bhi sir hi kahenge.
Shreya: Par... main... Daya... Yeh sab kya ho raha hai?
SM: Tu ne Daya se shaadi ke liye haan keh diya toh ab kya nakhre dikha rahi hai? Jaanti hu mann mein laddoo phoot rahe hai...
Shreya loudly: Kya?
Shreya looked at Daya who was looking happier than ever and she too couldn't resist a smile.
Shreya: Aapne mujhe bataya kyu nahi ki meri shaadi aapse...
Daya: Aise hi tumhari taang kheech raha tha...
Shreya: Acha... ab main aapke haath pair aur aapke saare body parts kheechthi hu. Mujhe itna sataya... itna rulaya...
She was chasing after him around the house and everyone was enjoying this cute fight.
Shreya picked up a cushion and threw at him: Andar bhi mujhe nahi bataya ki meri aur aapki shaadi hai.
Daya: Arre... Shreya... baat toh suno...
Shreya: Nahi sunungi aapki baat... Mujhe bohot sataya aapne..
and she ran after him and finally caught up to Daya and started punching his chest. He grabbed her wrists and just pulled her into a hug in front of everyone and she just hugged him in joy.
Daya: Khush ho?
Shreya: Bohot.
For two seconds they forgot that they were surrounded by the CID team.
Abhijeet: Waise hum sab bhi bohot khush hain.
Shreya and Daya instantly broke the hug and stood awkwardly with smiles.
SM: Daya beta, tune bataya nahi ki hum teri baat kar rahe the?
Daya: Woh... main.. aise hi... tang kar raha tha.
SF: Hamari Shreya kuch zyada hi maarti hai... sambhal ke rehna Daya beta.
Daya smiled looking at Shreya and she blushed.
Daya: Ji papa. waise aapki beti ke haath ka toh main kuch bhi khaane ko tayaar hu.. chahe woh maar ho ya phir kuch aur.
Rajat: Wah sir... hum sab ko pata hi nahi tha ki aapke andar ek romantic angle bhi hai...
Shreya was bushing.
ACP who was smiling said to SF: Ab hame engagement ki date aur uske turanth baad shaadi ki date fix karleni chahiye.
SF: Ji sir, humne kal hi pandit ji ko bulaya hai toh kal hi kuch fix kar dete hain.
ACP: Ji yeh idea bohot acha hai. Chalo hame ab chalna chahiye.
Daya: Itni jaldi?
Everyone giggled and Shreya too giggled.
Daya noticed what he said: Mera matlab... abhi humne dessert nahi khaya na? toh... khaake ... baadmein nikalte hain?
Everyone laughed and Shreya felt shy so went into the kitchen to bring dessert. As Shreya was offering a bowl to Daya,
SM: Yeh Shreya ne khud banaya hai Daya beta. Keh rahi thi ki kheer daya sir ko bohot pasand hai.
Daya smiled looking at her and she felt super shy and moved on to the next person.
AFter she served she went and sat next to her mother.
SM: Aaj se teri jagah mere paas nahi Daya ke paas hai.
Shreya looked at her mother in shock that she was telling her to go sit next to Daya. She felt shy but got up and sat next to him. He was also all smiles.
The grown-ups were talking about their own matters while the rest of the team was sitting around Daya and Shreya.
Pankaj: Yeh kheer bohot achi bani hai Shreya.
Sachin: Haan bilkul... waise... agar koi comment Daya sir ke muh se bhi aajata toh acha hota na...
Daya looking at Shreya: Achi hai.
Shreya was blushing hard because everyone's focus was her and Daya.
Rajat: Waise Shreya, shaadi ke baad sir ko kya bulaogi? "Aji sunte hooo"? ya phir... "Chintoo ke pappaaaa"?
They all laughed and shreya laughed a little too but was feeling shy thinking about kids.
Abhijeet: Ab tum dono ki shaadi ho rahi hai toh sharam kaheki bhai? Ab dono aaraam se apni prem kahani batao sabko.
Rajat: Haan Shreya, humko sunna hai... shuru se shuru karo!
Freddy: Shreya nahi, hum Daya sir ke muh se sunna chahte hain... sir aur romantic... mujhe toh abhi bhi lagta hai ki yeh sab sapna hai aur hum bohot jald jaag jayenge...
Pankaj: Kyu sir?
Sachin: Aree... Daya sir na jaane kitne saalo se ladkiyo se door bhaagte the... Shreya main aisa kya dekh liya jo uske piche hi pad gaye?
Just like this... with small chit chat, teasing and all excitement, they all had fun and it was time for everyone to leave.
SM and SF: Daya beta, ab tumhari aur meri beti ki sagaai bhi hone wali hai. Ab toh tum yehi ruk jao.
Daya looked at Shreya who's silent expression said the same thing. She knew Daya won't stay because he wants everything done right.
Daya: Maa main aaj nahi ruk sakta par haan... weekend ka saara time yahi spend karunga.
SM & SF were so pleased that he's so sanskari with very good mentality and they knew that he will keep Shreya very happy. They said bye to everyone else with the intention of leaving Daya and Shreya along for a few minutes.
Shreya and Daya exchanged glances that showed pure satisfaction with everything going on. Shreya stepped forward and did something very unexpected. She wrapped her arms around his neck, stretched herself up to level with his face and kissed him. He was surprised because he was always the one to initiate but this time it was her. She stepped back after the kiss and looked him in the eye. He too looked at her and they exchanged all their fears/insecurities/love everything through their eyes. They were so in love at this point that they didn't even have to explicitly say anything to each other because they understood each other so well. After a few minutes, he stepped back and was on his way to his car and out.
SM after closing the door behind everyone: Hum tujhe batana bhul gaye beta, ki hum do din baad hi nikal rahe hain wapas.
Shreya: Itni jaldi kyu maa?
SF: Beta, Hume aaj tak teri bohot chinta thi... par ab jab Daya tumhare saath hai toh hum ap aaraam se wapas jaa sakte hain.
Shreya smiling: Par aap ruk jayenge toh mujhe khushi hogi.
SF: Hume waha kuch kaam hai beta. aur phir teri shaadi hum yaha mumbai mein thodi karenge... Ahmedabad mein apne ghar se tujhe vida karenge. Waha bhi toh saari tayyari karni hai na.
Shreya had tears of joy in her eyes: i love you papa... and she hugged him.
SF: Teri khushi mein hi hamari khushi hai beta.
SM too came near and hugged her daughter.