AUTHORS NOTE:

Ls: Thanks a lot dear for waiting and having patience with me and this story. I really hope I stand up to your expectations. Thanks a lot, dear. Take care and keep washing your hands. And please don't go out. :)

Trio Fan: Thanks a lot dear for waiting for me and keeping in touch with this story. It really means a lot to me. Thanks a lot really. And please take care keep washing hands...:)

Abc: thanks a lot dear...and sorry for keeping u waiting i hope this was a fast update...thanks a lot again and keep washing hands stay safe..:)

123: i am so glad that this is ur favourite story dear.. i am really thankful to you and your reviews. Tke care dear and stay at home:)

Luvcidduodosti: Yaar ab kya kahein aapse aap ke review se toh chaar chand lag jayte hai yaar. dekh iss bar fast update kar di hun...sachme...:) chal personal pe baat karenge baki ki...:) love u yaara..

Learning pen: sorry meri dost han wo aapn sab wait kar rahe the par main thi ke waqt ban hi nahi raha tha kuch karne...chalo i hope u liked this update and take care...:)

Abhishikha: thanks a lot yaar...and ssly sorry for being this lae.. i hope u like this update...:)

Pooja abhi deewani: thanks a lot yaar...take care dear...:)

Debashree: han yaar sorry iss bar bohot jyada late kar di mai toh...khair i hope u like the chapter...:)

Jyoti: Chala ala chapter...next chapter chi wait kare stovar ha enjoy kara ata ...

Mystery princess: Hello yaar han ab update jaldi kar di mai toh...chalo dear hope u enjoy this chapter too...and please batana kya accha laga...take care dear stay at home...:)

perfect abhi: thanks a lot dear...hope ke aapko ye bhi accha lage...take care dear...:)

Sangita das: thanks a lot dear..hope ke ye update late nahi tha aaur aapko pasand aagaya...chalo take care dear...:)

Cutie pari: aapse kya kehna...chalo ab padhlo aapka excitement retain rakho...

Eragonliam: Well what can i say. I am super delighted to see your review. And was scared that maybe the peope like yiu who take out time to write and motivate us might not be intrested anymore considering the huge gap between updates. But seeing you still tuned in made me happy and even more motivated. And thanks a lot for the flattening compliments. I am more than glad that you are finding my stories this good. I really didnt expect my writing to have such a great impact. And it is really assuring that it is coming from you. A avid reader who has such a good count of reads. Well its really motivating for me. I will for sure try to get it completed in this lock down period. And really hoping that things get between by the time i end this story. And meteor shower! God thank you soo much. I really hope thati stand upto your expectations till the end. Thanks again and stay at home. Keep washing hands! take care.


First of all sorry for all the typos. Bohot honge. Maine re read nahi kiya hai. Hope you like this chapter. And please stay at home. Kuch din andar rehne se agar kisi ki jaan bach rahi ho toh itna toh hum CID fans banke kar hi sakte hai. Doesn't matter which part of the world u are right now. Stay home, enjoy time with family, keep washing your hands and stay positive. Everything will be fine. Just learn from this COVID -19 What it is trying to teach us. Because unless we don't learn the lesson it won't go away. And sorry this is a SMALL chapter.


"Sometimes it doesn't matter if there is light at the end of the tunnel or not. What matters is, that tunnel is ending."


Chapter 25:

Daya turned to gaze at the face of the voice as he turned to look back at the person who was standing right behind him. It took him a few moments to actually realise who it was. As he tried to turn and stand up. When the person Infront started to speak.

"Insaaf sirf tumhe nahi. Insaaf un sab logon ka hoga jo iss chawl ko bachanae ke liye khudki zindagi daav pe laga di. Un sabko Insaaf dena hai" the man said in a firm tone as daya felt like he recognised who he was as he spoke

"Aap..wo..Chacha hai na chawl me rehne wale" daya asked as he stood up supporting the wall.

"Han. Chawl ka chacha. Aur IB inspector Abhir ka pita" he said in a proud tone as he gave daya a handkerchief to press on his wound.

"Tumhe dressing karwa lena hoga metal ki wound hai septic ho sakti hai" he said as he walked and picked up dayas gun as daya stood their trying to recollect the name he just heard.

"Abhir. Han mai janta hun uska naam tha uss file me(turning towards chacha) wo toh initial stage mi hi tha iss chawl ke investigation ke upar" daya said as he gazed at chacha who came towards him while handing him over hisfallen gun.

"Mera beta ek file mese naam se bohot badhkar tha(daya silently gazed at him) usne ritvik ke khilaf gawah bhi taiiyar kiye the(in a low tone) sach kahu toh usne hi shurwat ki thi iss ritvik ke mehel ko aag lagane ki" he said

Daya realising what he said asked him in anxiousness "Gawah?kaunse gawah?"

When chacha started walking inside the other different alley. Daya gazed at him in confusion and asked while following him. "Aap bata rahe the(gazing around the place as they walked) gawah ka kya?" he asked ut getting no reply from chahcha just followed him. As they went from alley to alley. Most of them daya doubted if they even existed. As soon they reached the place where he was able to see a small home at the end of the dark alley. Chacha stopped and then turned towards daya as he spoke "Andar chalo" daya stopped for a second but then entered inside only to find a old woman sitting on the bed with another woman who was working in the kitchen.

Chacha slowly switched on the lights as he slowly indicated daya to sit. As the other old woman who was in the kitchen came infront and spoke " Are beta tumhe laga hai kya kuch" she said as she gazed at the blood on his hand and shirt.

"nahi..nahi..mai mai theek hun…(gazing at chacha who came inside after locking the door neatly) aap bata rahe the wo gawah…" daya spoke as he stood there.

Chacha sat down as he indicated daya to sit too. But daya was reluctant. So chacha spoke in concerned tone "Socho mat (pointing towards seating as he spoke) Ek retired IB officer ka hi ghar yeh hai" he said as daya gazed at him confusion and shock for a moment. "Baitho…"

Daya finally sat down and spoke "Aap IB se hain toh…(gazing around the house) aise ghar me yahan…"

Chacha spoke in a low tone "Ghar ka kya karte jab ghar ka beta hi na ho?"

Daya went silent as the other old woman came infront of him and forwarded him a glass of water. As daya accepted it.

"Mai tumhe gawah wahan bahar bhi bata sakta tha. Par main tumhe batana chahta hun ke tum jinhe dhund rahe ho who bass ek gawah nahi hai jinhe court me samne rakhna hai" chacha said

Daya tried to correct him his position saying "Nahi sir…mai iss case ko sirf ek case ke dayre se nahi dekh raha hun..i am concerned..ma"

When chacha spoke "janta hun me. Aur isi wajah se aaj tumhe yahan laya hun(silently gazing outside) yahan aaj tak itne sare officers aaye aur gaye. Kuch paison ke samne biq gaye toh kuch ne ritvik ke jor ke samne dum tod diya…aur kuch…(after a pause) kuch toh yahan shaheed hogaye. Par unke wajood ke baare me na hi kisiko pata hai…bas ek purani file banke aaj ye sab hai gadhe"

Daya silently watched as he spoke as the two other elder women stared at them both silenly.

"Ye abhir ki maa hai(gazing at his wife who was silently standing with moist eyes) aur yeh mere dost ki wife(daya pained seeing them both sitting there quietly) inhone apna jahan khoya hai iss case ke peeche iss chawl ke peeche. In chawl walon ko pata bhi nahi hoga ke iss chawl ki dharati me na Janae kitno ka khoon baha hai aur najane kitne ghar bikhar chuke hai(gazed at daya) hamara bhi aisa hi ek ghar tha jo abhir ke jaane ke baad mano toot gaya. Jise shayad hum(gazing at his wife)kabi wapas samet hi nahi paye( after a sigh) isliye hum dono ne yahan aakar reh lena sahi samza…yahan ke har ek bacche har uss naye ane wale officer me..humne hamare abhir ko dhunda. Najane kitni sari cheezon ke gawah hai hum" he said as he got up and brought something.

It were three big boxes they looked heavy as daya gazed quizzed "Le lo..(pointing at those boxes) isme hai Insaaf"

Daya gazed at him as he spoke in a soft tone as he went through the data. There were all the details newspaper excerpts to everything that he ever needed to prove ritviks case wrong. Everything.

"Har kuch sahi tarike se document kiya hai(while showing him the dates and incidences and photos) buddha ho gaya hun par IB ki aadat gayi nahi hai. Ye sab court me aise hi leke jaa sakte ho"

Daya was silent for a moment as he was just unable to believe what was infront of him. all the things that he needed to prove Abhijeet innocent to proving ritvik guilty were right now in his hands. Literally. He gazed up at chacha as he spoke

"Aap..aap..ke pass ye sab that oh aapne ye sab kabhi…diya kyu nahi..aap.." daya said

When the mother spoke "Kyuki aaj tak unn officers me hame kabhi hamara abhir nahi dikha(with moist eyes she gazed at daya) par shayad aaj tum me mujhe mera abhir dikha (daya fell silent) mera beta jo Insaaf ke liye na jane kitni hadon ko par kar ke ladha. Aaj..(coming near daya) tumhe andar aate dekh aisa laga…( tears rolling down her eyes) aaj mera abhir aaya hai…mera abhir aaya hai"

"Khamosh Ho jati hai duniya,

Jab koi aapna chala jata hai,

Jaan chali jati hai uske aapno ki,

Bachti hai toh sirf saasein jeene ki,

Umeed bhi sath chodh deti hai,

Jab ye palke bhi aasun baha nahi pati"

Daya was silent as a soft tear rolled down his eyes seeing her. As she touched dayas shoulder in care and spoke "Beta…tum…dilaoge na Insaaf?" she asked with teary eyes. It was first time \ that someone had actually touched him like a mother. He felt as if all his hope was regained and he was revived to fight again.

Daya stood up by wiping that tear and spoke gazing at her and said "Maa ji…Mai..(after composing his tone) Shayad aapka abhir nahi. Par mai aapko wada karta hun ke ek bete ka farz, ek officer ki zimedaari mai zaroor porri karunga (gazing at the other old woman in the room) unn sab ka balidan mai aise wifal nahi hone dunga" the mother and the other woman smiled in tears.

"Bikhar jate hai ghar tab,

Jo kaltak simte hue the,

Ruk jati hai hasi jo kal taq khilkhila rahi thi,

Aankhen taras jati hai kisi ko aapna kehne ke liye,

Tab yahi alag alag bikhre tukde ek dusre me aapni puri tasweer khoj lete hai"

Chacha stood up as he came in front with "Tumhare gawah tumhare samne hai. Hum teeno jitna iss chawl ke itihas aur yahan hui har cheez har harqat ke baare me koi nahi jaanta. Aur shayad ritvik bhi nahi(gazing at the other two) hum denge gawahi. Isi pal ke liye toh shayad hum itne saalon ta ruke the"

Daya nodded as he spoke "Hamre pass jyada waqt nahi hai ab…mai..aapko yahan se khud hi leke jaaunga mai aapki kisin ki zindagi ko khatrre main ahi dal sakta" after a pause and realising something "Main..main ek min" saying he called the HQ as he got in call with the person in charge.

"Hello, mai sr inspector daya CID Mumbai se bol raha hun muze witness protection ke liye application karna hai urgent basis pe. Main emergency clause use karna chhata hun"

"Ji, case name?"

"Ji aadarsh chawl case" daya said

"Okay mai case head se baat karke aapko call transfer karti hun" the woman on the call said and put the call on hold even before daya could realise what she said.

Daya gazed at the phone and tried to stop her "Hello hello…" but the call was already on hold.

Daya said "Shit shit…(regretting) ye call ab acp sir ko transfer karegi god" saying he just got restless.

When after a minute the the call was removed from hold and she spoke

"Sir. Case head aapse personally contact kr rahe hai"

Daya in low tone thinking that damage is done "Ji thank you"

And before daya could think anything acp sir call was flashing on his screen. Daya took a deep breath and recived the call. As it was hard for him to talk to acp sir as he had been absolutely in no contact with him. Let alone telling him about the case updates.

"Ji sir" daya said in a low tone.

"Tumne witness protection ki request ki hai HQ mai?" acp sir asked. His tone was normal which quizzed daya a little but he spoke

"H..han wo muze.."

"Toh HQ phone karne ki kya zaroorat thi?" acp sir asked as he spoke ahaead "Mujhe phone kar sakte the"

Daya was silent as acp sir said that as he didn't knew how to explain his situation knowing fully well that all of this was unofficial and unethical.

"Tumhari request grant kardi hai. Tum baat karlo unse kahan kaise kya karna hai" acp sir said as daya could hear some people talking around him.

"Ji sir" he said in a low tone. As he just wanted to tell him a lot. He just wanted to tell him that he was tensed for today. He was having some hope now. He just wanted to talk to him. But daya didn't knew how was he going to say that.

"Sir.."

"Han"

"Sir wo…m.."

When someone called acp sir and was talking with him. so daya stopped and waited. When after some moments acp sir came back on the line. When he asked

"Tum kuch keh rahe the"

"Nai sir..kuch nahi..wo bass mai dekh leta hun sir" daya said feeling that it was better to not speak now. and was about to cut the call. When acp sir spoke something.

"Daya…"

And for a moment daya felt like he was about to break down to him that how much he was tired. How much he was broken. And how much he wanted to collapse.

"Kabhi kabhi tootne ka jee chahta hai,

Aise jaise dil koi sheeshi ho,

Kabhi kabhi jee bhar ke Rone ka man karta hai,

Jaise bachpan me kiya karte ho,

Kabhi kabhi kamzor banneki khwaish hoti hai,

Sachme kabhi kabhi bass kisi ke pyaar se sar pe haath rakhne ko guzarish hoti hai,

Bass yaar, lagta hai ke agar bikhar jaye toh koi aapna,

Koi aapna bass hame sametle"

"Mere office me ek din ek trainee officer aya tha 17 saal pehle( after a pause) usne pehle hi din mujhe challenge kiya tha aapna alag investigation ka tarika azmake. Pehle toh mai bhi shock tha ke uss officer ki itni himmat par( daya slightly smiled as he knew he was talking about him) par tumhe pata hai. Usse jyada mujhe faqra tha uspe aur uske buland iradon pe. Uske tarike shayad mere tarikon se mel nahi kha rahe the. (after a deep pause) par mayne ye rakhta hai ke wo sahi tha. Uska irada accha tha (daya felt his eyes moist)aur shayad wo aaj bhi sahi hai(after a silent moment he spoke) Uski taqat uske haathon me nahi uske dil me thi, uske ziddi dil me thi jo bass har cheez sahi kare bina manta nahi tha..(pausing again) umeed karta hun ke me aaj bhi, usi officer se baat kar raha hun" acp sir spoke in the most composed and soft tone.

"Aasuon me hasne ka ehsaas kuch aur hi hota hai,

Aapno se bin mange pyaar milna hi zindagi hai,

Kal agar gir jaye toh haath thamne koi aapna ho,

Shayad yahi zindagi ka aslee sukoon hai"

Daya was silent for two minutes as a warm tear rolled down dayas eyes. As he pressed his lips trying to keep his emotions in control as he stood near the window. Gazing down and composing himself. Acp sir didn't say anything as he very well knew what daya was going through.

When after a deep breath daya spoke "Yes sir. Wo aaj bhi yahin hai. Aur uski aakhri saans taq rahega sir.." he said in a firm tone.

"Good…Rkhta hun" acp sir said as he cut the call.

Soon he recived call from freddy and he said "Sir..Hacker mil chuka hai sir. Aur sirf mila nahi. Wo ritvik ke khilaf testify karne ke liye taiiyar bhi hai"

Daya realising how things were falling in place all of a sudden as he said "Great! Tum log use leke court pohoncho mai tabtaq kuch aakhri kadiyan jodta hun"

"Ji sir…"

He cut the call and then turned towards them three who were gazing at him with hope in their eyes. When he said in determination

"Ap taiiyar ho jaiiye. Hum ja rahe hai gawahi dene( after a pause) har uss shaqs ke liye jisne iss sab ke liye aapni zindagi daw pe lagayi hai, aapna khun bahaya hai. Aaj hum unn sabko Insaaf dilayenge…sabko…"


Author's note:

Take care guys. Next chapter me court and hearing. Sab kuch hoga next chapter me. Stay tuned.