Aditi : Thank you aditi..Yes the judgement day is near.

Laksara : So happy to see you after a long time. Hope you are doing well.

Sanussanu : Thank you !! If you are happy , that's the most beautiful thing for me. I am making someone's day better. What else can I ask for.

Sunhatasyousay : Yeah ! I try to update Tuesdays but yesterday was just kind of busy. Sorry to keep you waiting. Here goes your next phase of togetherness.

Guest : Thank you. I hope you enjoy this one also.

Guest : Thank you ! I dont know where do I get the ideas for romantic moments. They just flow out of nowhere...

Guest : Hey !! Finally here is an update !

Sakshi B : Hey I missed you..I hope you liked this chapter ...lots of love...

Chapter 28

Amairaah's head was foggy. Like she was drunk on heavy amount of alcohol even though she didn't have a drop of it in her system. It was as if every eyelash weighed more than it should. Amairaah knew that someone was trying to wake her up. She could hear name being called out. A further tap on her shoulder confirmed it. She tried to open her heavy eyes. Amairaah could see that someone was looking at her directly into her eyes but she couldn't keep focus. It was as if the whole world was a low quality movie.

Somebody was trying to pull her out of the unconscious state.

" Amairaah !" She heard the voice echoed through her mind. She tried to focus giving in all she ever had.

When finally Amairaah's eyelids were half open she could she 2 almond shaped eyes staring directly into her.

" Amairaah can you hear me ?" The voice spoke again. The eyes were unknown and Amairaah couldn't even predict the voice.

Suddenly she felt someone hold her hand.

A familiarity wash through her hand. The touch transferred warmth in this cold and blue atmosphere. The arms were tough and the skin felt like it was having some wrinkles. This was her gaurdian. This was ACP Pradyuman. He was here and she was safe. So even though the voice and the eyes felt unknown to her , Amairaah decided to respond.

Amairaah nodded her head a little. She was still very weak to carry out the daily normal movements. So putting in all her energy she she nodded her head to respond positively to the question being asked.

" Good !" Said the voice. " Now can you follow this ?" The voice continued. And suddenly Amairaah saw a small circle of light moving to and fro in front of her eyes. She tried to look at it but it was moving to fast.

" This response is good too !" The voice continued again. Amairaah then felt a cold metal being pressed against her chest at multiple position.

" All good !" The voice finally said.

Suddenly the door opened forcefully and one to two people entered.

" Doctor ? Sab thik hai na ?" The female voice asked. It was her sister's. " Kal bich bich me thode thode time ke liye akh khol rahi thi. It is a good sign right ?" Came another male voice. Of course It was Daya.

" Yes officers . Everything is perfectly fine. Her vitals are very very normal. And she is on her speedy way to recovery. Just as I have said before , we didn't expect much. But she surprised us in quite a way. Looks like we have fighter amongst us !" The doctor said with a cheerful smile.

" And yes , She is trying to keep herself awake but she is just too tired to do that. So we let her rest for the time being !" The doctor replied keeping a hand on Shreya's shoulder assuring her as she left.

The bad times had finally passed. The happiness could be seen on ACP sir's face. The emotions that he had been holding on for too long were now let loose. His eyes showed some shine evident of the tears that formed within. A heavy load was lifted off his chest.

( Flashback )

Both the friends were sipping a cup of hot brewing coffee the gardens of the mansion.

" Yaar Deven , kuch bhi bol betiyaan hoti hi badi pyari hai ! " Pradyuman said to his friend. He continued again , " Mere naseeb me toh beti thi nahi aur beta...tumhe toh pata hi hai !" Deven kept his cup on the table and assured his friend , " Tu bhi na Pradyuman , kaha purani purani bate lekar baithata hai ! Aur meri beti teri bhi toh beti hui na. " ACP sir smiled at the big heart of his friend.

" Waise bhi apni job aisi hai kya pata kal jake tumhe hi unhe sambhalna pade !" Deven said looking towards the beautiful sunset that was folding in front of him.

Then ACP replied, " Aisa soch ke..." . The voice of ACP was cut by his friend's youngest daughter. " Kya baba aap bhi...! Mujhe toh lagta hai aapko adat hi ho gyi hai aisa sochneki. " Amairaah said coming from behind and sitting besides her father on the lawn resting her head on her father's lap.

" Adat nahi beta...bas aapki fikar lagi rehti hai !" Deven replied strkoing Amairaah's hair.

Amairaah very calmly looked her father. The was a different kind of serene plastered on her face.

" Papa..Aapne hi toh sikhaya tha na. Iss mulk ke samne mujhe apna aap dikhayi nahi deta. Me hi mulk hu..me hi toh Hindustan hu...Aap chinta mat karo. Aapki saso par humse jyada iss mulk ka haq hai. Aur agar aap waha border par humare barime sochte rahe toh mulk ki kaun raksha krega. Bas aisa sochiye ki jab aap jung pe jate hai toh pura Wankhede stadium aapke liye cheer kar raha hai. Deven...Deven...aisa..Aur pure stadium ke bich me , me..aapki beti ...The centre of attraction as always...aapke liye sabse jyada cheer kregi...!"

Both the men smiled at the matured behavior that Amairaah showed. She was merely 13 at that time but the love that she showed for her country could be sensed in every word she spoke.

" Deven...Mujhe mere samne humare army ki first female general dikhayi de rahi hai ! " ACP Pradyuman said. Deven smiled and said , " Baat toh sahi keh rahe ho Pradyuman ! Waise bhi tujhe hi sambhalna hai tere iss ladli bacchi ko. Hume filhal humari dusri ladli ki khwaish puri karne jana hai ." Amairaah and Pradyuman smiled at each other and hugged. They were quite close from the beginning and the bond strengthened due to their immense love for motherland.

" Waise Pradyuman uncle...aap mujhe apne ghar pe rehne bula sakte hai !" Amairaah said out of nowhere. " Kuch khas wajah ?" ACP Pradyuman asked while sipping his coffee and not diverting his eyes away from it.

" Haa...aapke dost itteme jara jyada strict hore. My life is getting difficult here day by day. Bhagwan me kaise jiyungi yaha..." Amairaah said childishly and in typical teenager way totally filled with Drama.

ACP Pradyuman laughed at her theatrics. He got up from his place and put an arm around Amairaah's shoulder and said , " Chalo...lets talk to your strict pitaji then...!" And they both went happily inside the house.

( Present )

ACP Pradyuman stroked his daughter's hair very lovingly. How close he had come to losing her. How he had miserably failed his responsibility to protect her. What if Amairaah couldn't return. ACP sir's chest tightened on these thoughts.

Suddenly he felt someone rough hands being kept over his other hand. He looked at it and saw that it was Amairaah's. Her once plump hands were now thin and frail. The sking was roughened and there were red crimson discoloration around her knuckles.

ACP Pradyuman became sad on looking her hands but then he noticed that her hands were trying to assure him something. He then looked at her tired eyes. Even though her eyes looked like they could sleep any moment now , the blue irises carried an immense amount of warmth in them. An emotion made way from Amairaah's eyes directly to her father's heart. An emotion saying that - its okay, We all are okay..And in the end only that matters. And the way she looked at ACP sir , even time had to take a minute and soak in silence that had never been so loud.

Suddenly ACP Peadyuman felt another hand kept on his shoulder. He knew this was Shreya . He looked at her with his love filled eyes.

Finally everything had settled into place once again.

" Sir..Abhijeet aapse baat karna chahta hai !" Daya said coming inside the room and handing the fone to his senior. ACP sir nodded and made his way outside.

" Me coffee leke ati hu sabke liye !" Shreya said taking some loose change and bringing some refreshment for her collegues.

Daya was still standing at the door waiting for everybody to clear the room. The room had become quite heavy. It was going to be coz everyone was finally stripped off their emotion. Everyone had finally let go.

He looked towards Amairaah and smiled. His smile was not a very big one that extended from molar to molar. Instead a small one. Basically he had no words. It was for the first that Amairaah thought that Daya had no words to speak at all.

He just came by her side and sat on the small stool that was provided. He took Amairaah's hand in his and looked at the injuries. His blood boiled looking at that. The guy is gone he thought in his mind.

But Amairaah tried to relieve her hands from his. Daya tried to hold it in one place because he didn't want her to do any extra movements. It was already too damaged. But Amairaah wouldn't listen. She freed it and opened Daya's fist completely. With her index finger she started writing on his palms. Daya looked at it closely to see what was she writing.

" F...I...N...E ! Fine ??" Daya asked and Amairaah nodded. " Ooo..I am fine ? Is that what you wanna say ?" He asked again. Amairaah nodded positively. He laughed at that ! Amairaah then started to write another word. " B...A...D...H...A...I...!" Amairaah wrote again. Daya asked " Kiske liye ?" Amairaah started writing " R...I...N...G ...S...H...R...E...Y...A ! Daya blushed on seeing that. " Badmash bachchi ! Chalo aram karo tum ! Bohot bate ho gyi aaj ke liye !" Daya said as he straightened the blanket. He got up from his stool when suddenly he was stopped by Amairaah's hand. The words had failed Amairaah. She couldn't say anything . But Daya saw small tear escaping through her eyes. Her index finger again wrote T...H...A...N...K...Y...O...U...

Daya came back and sat besides her. With the pad of his thumb he gently wiped off that single tear streming down her eyes.

He smiled at her once again. And this time it was a big smile. " Hey...listen to me ..." Daya said caressing her hair . " What did we learn last time ?" Daya asked in a very loving voice.

" Not to go in the past !...Right ?" Daya answered the question for Amairaah. Amairaah nodded. He continued , " So we stay here ! Happy , contended and most importantly at peace." Amairaah nodded once again. " Are we clear champ ?" Daya asked. And Amairaah nodded positively once again. " Good ! Rest for now. " Daya said closing the curtains behind her to block the sun. He left saying that.

( Corridor )

" Daya , Abhijeet ka Phone aya tha. Hume abhi 2 ghante me nikalna hoga. Shreya yaha rukegi aur tum kal subah ki flight se wapas aaoge !" ACP sir said to Daya.

" Sir agar aap ko jarurat hogi toh me bhi aapke sath ajata hu. Waise bhi I don't think there is much to worry now !" Daya said looking at Shreya. Shreya nodded fully suppoting Daya. Afterall she knew , Now all these guys were needed in Mumbai. So she didn't hesitate. Not even a bit.

" Nahi Daya , aaj shyd court me case filing ki procedure start hogi. So you are needed here. Fir kal subah toh ana hi hai !" ACP sir said ordering Daya.

" Yes Sir !" Daya said obeying the commands.

Daya went a little far to make some calls about tommorow's flights.

" Amairaah ka dhyaan rakhna Shreya aur khud ka bhi. Tum dono mere jigar tukde ho. Itne asanise kho nahi sakta tumhe !" ACP sir said to Shreya as soon as he got to be with her alone.

" Yes sir !" Shreya responded. ACP sir kept his hand on her head playfully. " Chalo tum andar jao. Mujhe aur Abhijeet ko nikalna hoga abhi ! Mumbai pohochte hi call krte hai hum !" ACP sir said as he took her leave.

Shreya signalled to a talking Daya that she is going inside the room.

( Amairaah's room )

Daya entered the room and saw that Amairaah was fast asleep. Shreya was very quitely talking on phone with someone. Daya came and sat besides her. He asked her to whom she was talking . Shreya mouthed to him thay she was talking to Radhabai. After about 10 minutes Shreya kept the phone. Daya said to her " Thodi der baad court jake ata hun ! Waha kya majra hai dekh ke ana pdega !" Shreya nodded as they sat silently. They were still tired. After about 15 mins when Daya got up to leave for court ,Shreya held his hand and asked him to seat.

" Kya hua ?" Daya asked. Shreya looked down and said. " Woh me bas soch rahi thi. You are the guy that doesn't need anyone. You are the one that everyone needs." Daya quite didn't understand to where this conversation was headed.

" Matlab ?" He asked in surprise.

" Daya...Sr. Inspector Daya...most of the time you help unknown people. You help Abhijeet , You help ACP sir , You help Rahul, You help Sachin, Pankaj , Purvi . And here you are helping me and helping Amairaah. " Shreya said still looking down.

" Shreya me abhi bhi kuch samjha nahi !" Daya said again.

" Don't you ever need anybody Daya ?" Shreya said finally looking at him.

Daya smiled at her slightly not saying anything.

" Tum ho na mere liye !!" Daya finally said to her.

Shreya smiled and nodded her head. They both exchanged a look .

A look exchanging a thousand words. A look exchanging a thousand vows. A look beyond their eyes , A look beyond their hearts with the eyes directly looking at their soul.

A tale told , A tale foresaid , A tale awaiting for the days ahead.

( Afternoon )

Amairaah was fast asleep. Shreya knew that. But there she was sitting besides Amairaah talking to her anyway.

" These past 4 years have been very very difficult. I know. We have been through a lot. You have been through a lot. But everything is fine now. I know we never actually got such time to talk alone.

Par darr lagta tha tujhse baat krte krte. Aisa lagta tha ki teri nazron me , me hi gunhegaar hu. "

Shreya's voice stuttered as she started uttering those words.

" Bohot bate krni thi tujhse..bohot... Par koi nahi. Raat gyi baat gyi. Abhi me tujhe bilkul chod ke nahi jaungi. Kabhi akele nahi chodungi.

You have been a very strong girl. Shyd tumhari jagah me hoti toh kabki tut jati. But you my brave sister, I am so much proud of you. So So much that you can't even imagine."

Saying this Shreya kissed the forehead of her sister. Promising her that she would never leave her alone.

(Evening )

The whole day passed with Shreya sitting besides Amairaah. Amairaah had hardly woken up after morning. She was completely asleep the whole afternoon.

Shreya softly opened the window behind Amairaah so as to let in some air. The afternoon colors had softened. The soothing evening breeze washed in and the sound of birds came . Sun was sinking lower in the sky and the light was fading away.

Daya came inside wearing formal clothes amd carrying some files. He kept the files on the nearby table and took his seat.

Shreya poured him a glass of water and Daya drank it in a whole go. He was really thirsty.

" Aapne lunch kiya na ?" Shreya asked. Daya nodded.

" ACP sir aur Abhijeet Mumbai pohoch gye !" Daya said to Shreya.

Shreya nodded and took the files into her hands.

" Kaunsi date mili hai case ki ?" Shreya asked with a little worry.

" 15 din baad ki !" Daya replied.

Daya saw the worry wash over Shreya's face. It was but obvious for her.

Daya smiled and took her hands in his own.

" Shreya , tum chinta mat karo. Maine special application likhi thi. For security and personal reasons Jab Amairaah aur tumhari gawahi lenge. Tab waha sirf judge aur kuch police authorities rahenge. It will be a completely private affair. "

Shreya then smiled contently. Amairaah wouldn't be that well to face tha court matters all over again.

" Kal subah 7:30 bje ki flight hai meri ! " Daya said. Shreya was sad upon hearing this but she knew Daya was needed there. So she happily agreed to his decisions.

They were continuing there talk when they were interrupted by the doctor.

" Good evening officers !" The doctor said cheerfully. " Good evening doctor !" Shreya replied. " How is she ? Din bhar kuch takleef to nahi hui na ?" The doctor asked moving towards Amairaah's bed.

" Nahi doctor ! Din bhar se so hi rahi hai !" Shreya replied.

The doctor checked for vitals. They were normal.

Amairaah was half awaked by now. She smiled lightly.

" Me thode time me kisiko bhejti hu ! Woh ye feeding tube nikal dega. Let's start her on solid foods from tonight." The doctor said signing some files.

And Shreya and Daya were cloud nine. Things couldn't get much better.

Even Amairaah felt giddy with excitement. She wanted to run and shout and tell people that finally she was onto her own. But she had to wait. Adrenaline coursed through her body. And even though tired, her eyes showed pure happiness.

It was a kind day afterall. The happinees on everybody's face lay still. These were the movements to be cherished and loved. The quite ones. The one without any noise like that of telephone or that of clock. The sound that was present was that or the light breeze coming from the window. Though Shreya was standing on the floor she felt like she was already on the clouds.

Finally life had settled down !