Ring.. Ring.. her phone rang..
" Mom.. ", she sighed.
Well she was expecting someone else.
" He must be busy.. ", she thought.
Ring.. Ring..
The tone interrupted her thoughts. She recieved the call.
" Tarika.. theek hai na tu ? Itna late kiya phone uthane mai ", her mother 's tensed voice.
" Mumma I am fine . Ap itna maat sochiye "
" Haan.. haan mai kyun sochu? "
" Mummaa.. "
" Accha.. yeh baata Abhijeet ab kaisa hai? "
Her eyes moisten, she took a deep breath and uttered,
" Baat nahi hui.. "
" Thank God woh comma se bahar aa gaya. Mai toh.. "
" Umm.. mom ", she cut her.
" Haan bol? "
" Actually I am so tired now. I will call you back ", she made an excuse and cut the call .
She put her mobile down. Then sat on the couch holding her head in frustration.
" Beta we care for you "
" Kisike gham mai zindagi beeta dena koi solution nahi "
" Think about yourself "
" Ekbaar mil le usse "
" Uff! ", she yelled holding her head tight.
Then she remembered she had forgotten to take her meds. Grabbling inside the drawers she took out her pills and took one.
Still she was not feeling well. She splashed some water on her face. Her eyes captured her reflection on the mirror. She stared for a while, touched those dark circle under her eyes.
Ting.. tong..
The bell rang. She quickly wiped her face and ran towards the door. As if she was waiting for the bell to ring.
" Tarika ji "
His soft tone chilled her mind. How much she had missed his voice!
" Tarika ji ", he again called.
" Huh.. "
" May I ? "
" Oh! I am.. I am sorry ", she mumbled.
He passed her a smile and went inside.
" Woh soup bohot hein accha tha... Yeh apka flask ", he handed her the flask.
" Isme kuch hai? ", she tilted the flask. It was heavy.
" Haan, Chai hai.. Adrak wali chai "
She smiled shyly. He always made her feel special .
She had missed this special feelings too.
" Woh Siya.. Siya kaisi hai ab? "
" Theek hai. Pata hai kya bol rahi thi? Mujhe pata tha... Mere friend ko kuch nahi ho sakhta..", he spoke smilingly.
" Sahi kaha.. ", she uttered plainly.
" Sach mai agar usse kuch ho jati.. pata nahi uss guilt ke saath mai kaise jeeta.. Hospital mai jab pata chala tabse chain ki ek saas nahi le paya mai.. Raat ko sahi se so nahi paya mai, Tarika "
She recalled those long sleepless nights. Those fearful thoughts crept back into her memory.
" Tarika Ji "
" Haa! ", she shivered.
" Kya baat hai? Apki.. apki tabiyaat toh theek hai na? "
" Haan... haan mai theek hoon ", she managed to speak.
" Sure? "
" Yeah.. Accha yeh batawo lunch kar liya tumne? "
" Tarika, it's almost 5. 00 pm "
" Lemme get you some snacks then. Tum baitho na ", she spoke hurriedly.
" Rehne do.. Khane mai restrictions hai, sab mana hai ", he complained.
" Accha? Diet chart diya? "
" Sare beswad khana ", he murmured.
" That's good for you. Umm.. tum na mujhe woh diet chart de dena "
" Ap mujhe woh sab besawad khana khilawogey? "
" Mai banawungi toh nahi khawogey? "
" Hmmm.. sochke dekhengey ", he smirked.
" Abhijeet! "
" Bohot kharab taste hai ", he made a face.
" Bas kuch din aur phir I promise I will make your favourite dish "
" Aloo ke paratha "
" Phir Aloo! Bad mai raat ki dhai baje call maat karna, Tarika ji allergy ho rahe ", she mocked him.
" Ab zyada nahi hota "
" Oh! really? "
" Tarika ji.. ",
" Fine.. ", she rolled her eyes.
" Aur Bhindi ki sabzi bhi "
" Bhindi! seriously Abhijeet? "
" Yes ", he smiled big.
" Okay "
" Saath mai gajar ka halwa ho toh "
" Abhi.. ", her eyes got double in size.
" No.. no gajar ka halwa "
" Haha.. okay done "
" Sach mai? "
" Yeah ", she smiled big.
After a long time she was feeling so much relieved.
She took a deep breath. He noticed her. Her eyes seemed red.
" Ek baat puchu? ", he uttered.
" Permission le rahe ho? "
" Tarika ji ", his voice seemed cold.
" Haan ", she respond but couldn't met his gaze.
" Ap ro rahi thi ? "
" N..nahi toh "
" Fir ankhe kyun lal hai? "
" Kya bol rahe ho? "
" Kya chupa rahe ho? ", he stepped closer.
" Kuch bhi toh nahi ", she turned around but he hold her back.
" Tarika.. Dekho meri taraf "
She tried hard to hold back her tears but her heart was aching.
" Mai theek hoon, Abhi ", she managed speak in the most possible normal tone.
" Jhooth bolna bhi sikh gayi tum? ", he faced her.
" Mai.. ", she lowered her face. Letting those tear droplets fall.
He lifted her face and looked straight into her eyes. She closed her eyes, pressed her both lips together to suppress her painful outburst.
He was definitely not expecting that but he could feel how hard it had been for her.
He wiped out those tears.
" Look at me, Tarika ", he demanded.
Slowly she opened her eyes. Their eyes met. He keenly observed her. No makeup, tired eyes, dark circle. He couldn't remember last when he saw her without wearing Kohl.
" Tumne apna bilkul dhayan nahi rakkha na? Kya haal banaya hua hai apna? "
She just smiled. He hold her hands and felt something different.
" No waxing! ", he murmured.
She was feeling a bit shy.
" Kajal lagana chodh diya hai kya? ", he complained.
" Kajal.. ", she signed.
" Haan hospital mai jab mujhe milne ayi thi tab bhi nahi lagaya tha. Tumhe kya laga mai notice nahi karunga? "
" Woh jaldbazi mai.. ", she tried to explain.
" Accha? "
" Kaise lagati mai? Tum hein toh kehte the ki.. "
" Ki binaa kajal ke ap adhure lagte ho ", he completed her sentence.
" Har cheez notice karte ho tum na? ", she slowly spoke.
" Koi shaq? "
" Kaise lagati mai kajal? Huh? Yeh.. yeh kajal mujhe tumhari yaad dilata hai ", she bursted out.
His heart pinched. She removed her hands from his and stepped forward aimlessly. He followed her.
" Mujhe toh pata hein nahi tha ki tum meri life ke haar hisse mai aise jude ho.. Har woh choti badi detail mujhe tumhari yaad dilati thi.. ", she leaned against the wall.
" Tarika .. "
" Mujhe toh pata hein nahi tha ki.. ki ek mahina itna lamba hota hai ", she spoke blankly.
He knelt in front of her.
" Tumne.. ek baar apne bare mai nahi socha? ", she continued.
" Us waqt mujhe baas uss masoom ki jaan bachani thi, Tarika. That was my duty "
" Yeah, right. Your duty.. ", she uttered staring at the ceiling.
" Ab.. ab mai aa gaya hoon na? ", he gently touched her face.
She took a slow breath, feeling the heat of his continuous gaze.
"Hey, say something "
He was concerned , waiting for her answer. She glanced at him. Suddenly she grabbed him by colar.
" Tumhe kabhi darr nahi lagta?, Abhi? ", her voice trembled, on the verge of tears.
" Mai ek C.I.D officer hoon, Tarika "
" Toh kya CID officer insaan nhi hotey? "
" Yeh kaisa sawal hai? "
" Yeah, right ", she harshly wiped out the tears.
He was worried . He was expecting a heartwarming moment but he was unaware of the fact she was in pain. Everything seemed gloomy towards him.
" Tarika, kuch toh bolo. Dekho, I know you was in pain and .. "
" No, you don't. You don't know. No freakin body knew ", she cut him.
" Kya baat hai Tarika? ", he soften his tone.
Oh! his caring tone. She realised all she needed was care.
There was a brief silence.
He moved a bit closer to her. He glanced at her glistening eyes. Those orbs were reflecting many untold emotions.
" Utho, Tarika ", he forwarded his hand.
She took a glace at him and then hugged her legs tight to her chest.
" Please ", he stroked her curls.
" No ", she whispered.
Ring.. Ring..
Her phone rang but she was motionless.
Ring.. Ring..
" Your mom ", he said.
" Oh! "
" Pick up the phone "
" No ", she denied.
Ring.. Ring..
" Uff! Cut the damn call ", she yelled.
" Par Tarika, Aunty ji.. "
She stood up from her position. Then snatched the mobile from his hand, shut it and threw it hard into the couch cushion.
He was stunned by her act. He never saw her this mad.
" Something is terribly wrong ", he felt it.
A/N : Definitely it was hard for her.
Let see how well he can handle her.
Hope you have enjoyed. Thank you so much reading. Special thanks to Riya and Preeti for helping me out.
Feel free to share your thoughts.
Keep smiling and
Keep loving Abhirika.
- Shadow grey 99