Author's Note -
Heyo! Back with an update! Thanks to all those who reviewed and thanks to the silent readers as well. But before anything else I would like to make a note today. Unseen Tales is now stepping into an important zone. Where a little bit of psychology will be involved. So at this point, I would like you all to know that I'm a psychology student myself. In third year BA with psychology special. So I'm trying to keep the things as real as possible... Yet I am not yet qualified to call myself a psychologist and hence I am not saying I cannot make a mistake. If i do... Advance apologizes. Also as this is fiction I might not go into very real details. Thank you! Go on and read!
*2 days later, Jeet Mansion*
Aditya - Toh ab aage kya karna hai?
Aditya and Sharada had called them over for dinner today. While ACP sir and Abhijeet had already arrived, Daya who had agreed very reluctantly said he would come later as he had some work to attend.
Hence as they awaited Daya and until it was dinner time Aditya, Sharada, ACP sir and Abhijeet were all sitting on the terrace with a warm mug of coffee each.
ACP - Mai soch raha tha kisi psychologist ko consult karte hai. Doctor ne bhi wahi kaha tha na jab uska discharge hua tha woh... Suicide attempt ke baad...
Abhijeet - Ha theek hai... Mai apne dost Kartik se baat karu? Woh psychologist hi hai...
Aditya - Ha Kartik theek rahega i guess...
Sharada - Lekin usse pehle... Daya raazi hoga?
Abhijeet - Woh bolta hai usse help nahi chahiye! Mujhe lagta nahi hai woh aasani se manega.
ACP - Par manana toh padega usse...
Abhijeet - Aur manega kon?
All three of them stared at Abhijeet while he exclaimed realising the meaning of their gaze...
Abhijeet - Yeh toh cheating hai! Mai nahi bolne wala usse kuch!
Aditya - Baat toh tumhe hi karni padegi.
Abhijeet - Kyu? Mai yaha sabse chota hu! Aap log bade hoke bachche ko aage kar rahe ho!
Sharada - Tum bachche ho?
Abhijeet - Ha toh aap teeno ke liye toh hu na!
Aditya - Ha ha aisa bachcha jo goli chalane aur khane ke liye sabse aage rehta hai!
ACP sir chuckled at Aditya's taunt and Abhijeet turned to him angrily...
Abhijeet - Aap bhi has rahe hai! Bolo na dad ko!
ACP - Bhai iss mamle mai toh mai Adi ki hi team mai hu!
Abhijeet - (sadly) Mai apse baat hi nahi kar raha jao. Humari 15 saal ki deal tod di apne ki aap dad ke samne humesha meri team mai rahege!
Aditya shook his head in disappointment at Abhijeet's drama while ACP sir ruffled his hair saying...
ACP - Acha acha nahi tod raha mai koi deal. Adi dare you saying anything to my best officer! Par bhai abb toh Daya se baat karoge na?
Abhijeet - Mai kaise karu sir? Abhi abhi toh itni mushkil se dosti ki hai maine usse. Agar woh meri baat ka ulta matlab lega toh lene ke dene pad jayege...
Aditya - Par woh tumhare alawa kisi ki baat sunega bhi toh nahi! Uss din ki thi na tumne aur Prayduman ne usse baat karne ki koshish. Tumhi toh bol rahe the ki gusse mai uth ke chala gaya woh.
ACP - Ha Abhijeet. Mai samjhta hu tum kya kehna chahte ho. Par woh meri baat nahi sunega. Aur mai chahta bhi nahi ki woh meri sirf isilye sune kyuki mai uska senior hu... Aur koi haq toh waise bhi hai nahi mere paas...
Aditya half glared half looked sympathetically at him and said to Abhijeet...
Aditya - Meri toh shurwat usse baat karne ke bahane dhundne se hogi...
Though he tried his best he couldn't hide the hurt and disappointment in his voice.
Sharada who had been sitting quietly for a while now said...
Sharada - Mai baat karugi usse.
Aditya - Hain?
Sharada - Ha kyu? Mai nahi kar sakti mere bete se baat?
Aditya - Aree par woh tumhari baat sunega? Mujhe toh nahi lagta meri sunega.
Sharada - Ha par meri zarur sunega. Pata hai mujhe kaise manana hai usse.
ACP - Ok then! Bhabhi aap ajj dinner ke baad hi baat kar lena usse...
Sharada - Ha theek hai.
Abhijeet - Toh phir usse pehle mai usse Kartik se milwane ki baat kar leta hu. Batauga nahi ki woh psychologist hai. Agar Daya nahi bhi manta baad mai toh kamse kam Kartik se informally toh mil hi lega.
ACP - Ha... Kal jo tumhara get together hai uss mai uss mai le sakte ho? Kartik bhi aayega na. Wahi mila dena dono ko!
Abhijeet - Ha sir why not! Mai usse dinner pe puch lunga... Or better say bata dunga about the get together.
Sharda - Ha phir mai baat karke dekhti hu. Jaisa uska reaction hoga uss hisab se tum Kartik se introduce karana.
Abhijeet - Ok then final! (Grinning) Usee baat karne se bach gaya mai! Ab mai chalta hu niche! Aap log apna oldie club chalu rakho!
ACP - Jeet? (Shocked)
Abhijeet - Aree sir mai toh dad ki baat kar raha hu! Unke pure 16 baal white ho gaye hai pata hai apko!
Aditya - Tumse ek baat nahi rakhi jati ne apne pet mai!
Abhijeet - Aree kaha dad! Am one of the best secret keepers (smirking). Ajj tak sir ka ek bhi secret nahi bataya maine apko?
Aditya - Tumhe toh mai...
Aditya got up behind Abhijeet while he sprinted across the terrece and then downstairs with Aditya trailing behind him not ready to give up even though he knew he would not be able to get him. ACP sir and Sharada followed them downstairs in a disappointed smile discussing the impossible remedy to cure the madness of the two.
As they reached down Abhijeet and Aditya had already ran around the whole living room and Abhijeet was about to run out in the lawn when at at door he collided with Daya.
Aditya - Daya pakad... Ke rakhna... Usse (huffing)
Daya - Ji...
Daya held Abhijeet's hand strongly in his grip while Abhijeet glared at him.
Abhijeet - Aree chodo na yaar...
Daya looked at Aditya at once and then shook his head.
Abhijeet - Aree! Tum mere dost ho ki unke!
Daya - Apka dost hu isilye toh apki baat nahi manu toh chalega. Uncle ki na manu toh kaise chalega!
Abhijeet - Par senior mai hu tumhara. Dad nahi!
Daya - Ha toh uncle apke dad hai! Automatically woh mere senior ho gaye na. Mai unki baat pehle manuga!
Aditya - Excellent Daya!
Aditya held Abhijeet's ear pulling him towards himself.
Abhijeet - Dad chodo na...
Daya - (innocently) Apne kiya kya hai sir?
Abhijeet - ACP sir ko yeh bata diya ki dad ke 16 baal white ho gaye hai! (Grinning)
Aditya - Tumhe toh mai! (pulling his ear)
Abhijeet - Sirrrrr! Bachao na!
ACP - Adi! Chod de na bichare ko!
Aditya - Yeh bichara hai! Tum aur tumhara yeh Jeet jaan kha jao bas meri!
Sharada - Hogaya aap dono ka toh raste se hatiye. Daya kabse darwaze pe khada hai. Side mai khade hoke jaghadte rahiyega!
Aditya loosened his grip to move aside from the door while taking advantage of the situation Abhijeet slipped to behind ACP sir.
Sharada - Daya beta aao. Mai dinner lagwati hu!
Daya - Thank you ma'am...
Soon the cook set the dinner and they all settled in the dining. At once Abhijeet cleared his throat and said...
Abhijeet - Daya woh kal na woh humare class twelve ka get together hai. 10 saal ho gaye na. So tum bhi chalna mere saath.
Aditya and Sharada stopped eating to see Daya's reaction while ACP sir though attentive kept eating so as not to make Daya suspicious.
Daya - Mai? Mai waha aake kya karuga sir?
Abhijeet - Aree chalna na tum bhi. Sab friends se milwauga apne. Shubhrank, Pranjal, Vedant... Aur Kartik.
Daya - Par sir...
Abhijeet - Itne din se tum bhi ghar se nahi nikle ho. Ab jab doctor ne finally thodi bohot idhar udhar jane ki permission di hai toh bhi ghar pe hi baithe rahoge kya!
Daya - Sir apke dost hai... Mai toh janta bhi nahi hu. Kya karuga waha pe. Faltu mai apke saath ghumuga woh bhi awkward ho jayege...
Abhijeet - Tum bhi mere dost ho (sternly). Aur woh log koi rakshas nahi hai. Kha nahi jayege tumhe. Tum bhi dosti kar lena unse. Koi awkward nahi hoga phir.
Daya - Sir...
Abhijeet - Tum chal rahe ho kal mere saath and this is final. Shaam ko 7 baje ready rehna.
Having no choice Daya nodded while Aditya finally taking a bite of his dinner murmured...
Aditya - Kitna khadus hai yeh! (Loudly to Daya) Don't mind him ha! Kabhi zayada date toh batana mujhe... Ache se theek karuga!
Daya again nodded innocently and Abhijeet who was looking at Aditya angrily now glared at him.
Soon enough they wrapped dinner and moved out in the lawn with ice-creams. They chatted merrily and made sure Daya was comfortable. And he indeed was. The awkwardness of being in his senior's house with his parents along with another senior seemed soon wearing off him. Though he rarely talked other than when asked about something he did not really wish to run away unlike he had thought he would feel.
When after using the washroom he chose to settle on the swing in the lawn a little faraway from where the others were sitting, no one seemed to disturb him luckily. Except for when after around 15 minutes later, Sharada came around and asked in soft smile indicating to place beside him on the swing...
Sharada - Baith jau yaha?
Daya - (shifting a little aside) Please bathiye na ma'am. Aap kyu puch rahi hai... Aphi ka toh ghar hai...
Sharada - Ha toh kya hua... (After a moment) Cricket pasand nahi hai? (Aditya, ACP sir and Abhijeet were sitting discussing a cricket match)
Daya - Ji? Matlab kuch khas nahi... Kabhi kabhi dekh leta hu...
Sharada - Mujhe bhi... Kya matlab hai ek ball ke piche 22 log bhagte rehte hai! Upar se 2 umpires bhi! Aur inn teeno ko toh bas cricket ke aage kuch dikhta hi nahi hai!
Daya nodded in a small smile at Sharada's description of cricket. She continued...
Sharada - Toh phir kya kya hobbies hai tumhari?
Daya - Um... Kuch khas nahi... Bas piano baja leta hu thoda bohot...
Sharada - Kya baat kar rahe ho! Mujhe violin ka shoq hai! Kabhi saath mai bajayege!
Daya - Ji...
Sharada - Aur batao... Aur kya kya pasand hai tumhe?
Daya - Ji aur toh kuch aisa nahi hai...
Sharada - Acha favourite dish konsi hai tumhari?
Daya - Sab chalta hai...
Sharada - Ha chalta hai sab par favourite kya hai?
Daya - Aisa kuch khaas pasand nahi hai...
Sharada - Hmm... Toh girlfriend toh hogi!?
Daya - Ji? (Shocked)
Sharada - Ha (casually). Dekho ab Jeet toh hai hi khadus. Ha theek thak toh dikhta hai par inn sab mai interest hi nahi hai! Tumhari toh hogi na girlfriend kamse kam!
Daya - Ji nahi...
Sharada - Aree don't be shy! Batao batao... Koi photo hai?
Daya - Sach mai nahi hai ma'am... (Innocently)
Sharada - (sadly) Tum bhi Jeet ke hi jaise ho matlab. Karte kya ho tum log din bhar uss office mai baitke!
Daya - (smiling ruefully) Ab toh office bhi kaha jata hu...
Sharada - (caringly) CID bohot mayine rakhti hai tumhare liye?
Daya just nodded looking away... Somewhere wondering why did he even say about the office in first place.
Sharada - (mustering all her courage) Suspension ki wajh se...?
Daya did not reply. Not even with a nod. He just kept looking at the small flowers in the lawn beyond ACP sir, Abhijeet and Aditya's still talking figures.
Sharada - Beta ek baat kahu?
Daya did not look back at her, however she took his silence as yes.
Sharada - Ek baar kisi ki help leke dekh lo na? (As if reading his mind she answered his unasked question) Fayeda ho na ho... Woh dekh lenge. Koshish karne mai kya harz hai?
Daya still didn't turn to her so she softly held his palm in her own and said...
Sharada - Bas ek baar kisi psychologist ko milke dekh lo. Phir aage ka faisla tumahara hoga. Par ek baar toh mil lo?
Daya looked thinking and then said slowly...
Daya - Par...
He uttered nothing more but Sharada once again answer his unuttered query...
Sharada - Jeet ka ek dost hai. Mai bhi janti hu. Acha ladka hai. Usse mil lena tum... Jeet milwa dega.
Daya - Ji... (Slowly, still unsure)
Sharada - Thank you... (Smiling)
They soon again joined ACP sir, Abhijeet and Aditya. And Sharada assured the three by eyes that she had talked to Daya and he had agreed. Though worried anticipating how Daya and Kartik's meet would go they all pretended normal and continued discussing cricket...
*Next day, evening*
Abhijeet - Yeh lo yeh try karo...
He threw another shirt at Daya which Daya caught with a irritated expression.
Daya - Sir aap pichle aadhe ghante mai mujhe kamse kam 15 shirts try karwa chuke hai!
Abhijeet - Ha toh tum itne boring kapde kyu pehante ho! Ek bhi party ke layak shirt nahi hai tumhare paas toh mai kya karu!
Daya - Sir mujhe toh waha waise hi koi nahi janta. Mujhe toh yeh bhi samjh nahi aa raha ki aap mujhe waha leke kyu jaa rahe hai! Kya farak padta hai mai kya pehan raha hu!
Abhijeet - Mujhe padta hai! Mere dost ho toh lagna bhi toh chahiye na! Chup chap yeh wali shirt try karke aao!
Sighing, Daya went back inside the bathroom and came out 5 minutes later trying on the 16th shirt of the day and even before Abhijeet could open his mouth to reject it he said...
Daya - Yeh wali final hai sir. Ab mai phir se change nahi karne wala!
Abhijeet made a face but nodded reluctantly. It was still the best one Daya had tried on today. Then he changed himself and soon they drove off to the hotel where the party was to be held.
Abhijeet was welcomed with a bone crushing hug from Shubhrank and Vedant.
Pranjal - Aur batayiye inspector sahab finally yaad aa gayi humari!
Abhijeet - Aree yaar kya karu kaam itna rehta hai ki...
Vedant - Ha ha... Humare liye waqt hi nahi hai sahab ke paas toh!
Abhijeet - Yaar tum log bhi na. Dekho mai aaya na iss baar...
Shubhrank - Ha ha kyu nahi... 15 baar phone karne ke baad aaya hai... Isko toh mai aana bhi consider na karu!
Abhijeet glared at Shubhrank...
Abhijeet - 2 baar call kiya tha. Uska 15 bana diya! Waah bhai! By the way... Pehle isse milo (pointing to Daya) Yeh mera dost Daya! Hum saath mai CID mai kaam karte hai!
Daya forwarded his hand for a handshake saying...
Daya - Good evening sir...
Shubhrank who had held his hand left it in shock...
Shubhrank - Sir?! Konsa sir? Kaisa sir?
Pranjal - (to Abhijeet) Tum khadus ho yeh toh mujhe pata tha... Par itne ki yeh tumhare dosto ko bhi sir bula raha hai?
Abhijeet - Maine kuch nahi kiya! Mai toh khud isko bol bol ke pareshan ho gaya hu ki mujhe sir na bulaye!
Vedant - Bhai dekh lo Daya... Abhijeet ko jo bulana hai bulao par hume toh sir galti se bhi sir na bulana.
Daya - Lekin...
Pranjal - Koi lekin wekin nahi... Andar chalo aur chill maro...
They pulled them both inside and settled on one of the tables where another of Abhijeet's friend, Kartik was waiting for them. Giving a quick side hug to each other they all settled down...
Abhijeet - Ha toh let me introduce you all! Daya yeh hai Shubhrank. Mechanical engineer hai sadly...
Daya - Sadly?
Abhijeet - Ha sadly isilye kyuki isse actually poha ka stall kholna tha. Par galti se engineer ban gaya!
Shubhrank - Jeet tu!
Abhijeet - (ignoring him) Yeh hai Vedant. Marketing ki company hai iski par pure college mai maine iski marketing ki thi! (winking)
Vedant - Ha ha... Kyu nahi! Itni khatarnak marketing ki thi ki kya batau! Birthday mera tha nahi aur pure college ko bol diya ki mera birthday hai! Sab zabardasti mujhe wish kiye jaa rahe hai!
Abhijeet - Ha toh free ki itni sari duaye dilwai tujhe! You should thank me! Aur yeh hai Pranjal. Computer sahiba... I mean computer engineer jisne programming karte karte apne dimag ki bhi programming kar dali!
Pranjal - Kuch bhi matlab!
Abhijeet - And this is Kartik. Humare college ka sabse bada book worm. Abhi yeh jo blazer wlazer pehan ke baitha hai na... Ignore that... Bas chaar moti moti kitabe leke ghumta tha hai! University topper hai! (He deliberately skipped Kartik's profession.)
Kartik - Acha... Aur by the way university mai second kon aaya tha?
Shubhrank, Pranjal, Vedant together - Tha koi Abhijeet!
Abhijeet - Whatever. And everyone this is Daya. My colleague and friend from CID! Ab tum log baithke baate karo. Mai aur Kartik baki sab ko milke aate hai.
Kartik - Aree par mai mil chuka hu sabse!
Abhijeet - Ha toh mere saath phirse millega toh kuch ho jayega! Chal na!
Abhijeet dragged Kartik away leaving Daya with Shubhrank, Vedant and Pranjal. Meeting his batchments on the way he moved to a secluded corner where Daya could not see him.
Kartik - Kya hua bhai? Mujhe yaha kyu leke aaya hai...
Abhijeet - Kuch baat karni hai...
Kartik - Daya ke bare mai?
Abhijeet - Tujhe kaise pata?
Kartik - Bhai observation sirf police wale hi nahi psychologists bhi karte hai (grinning)
Abhijeet - Ha ha theek hai... Ab pata hai toh bata ki kya karna hai?
Kartik - Problem kya hai usse?
Abhijeet - Ab yeh toh tu batayega na? Psychologist tu hai ki mai?
Kartik - Symptoms kya hai yeh puch raha hu...
Abhijeet - Acha woh... Akela akela baitha rehta hai... Zayada baat nahi karta, apne aap ko ek shell mai band karke rakha hai. Badi mushkil se dosti ke liye manaya hai usse...
Kartik - Acha... Kab se yeh sab chal raha hai?
Abhijeet - Yaar sach kahu toh mai usse mila hi kareeb 3 mahine pehle hu. Shant sa toh tabse hi hai... Par haa aur zayada hi shant ho gaya hai jabse CID se suspend hua hai. Usko karib karib 20 din ho gaye honge...
Kartik - Ok...
Abhijeet - Aur ha... Woh... Woh ek baar suicide attempt bhi kar chuka hai.
Kartik - What? Kabhi?
Abhijeet - Around 10-12 din pehle...
Kartik - Toh tum itne dino baad mujhe kyu bata rahe ho? Pehle consult karna tha na... Aur toh aur woh suicidal hai! Aise mai toh usse hospital mai hi rakhna tha!
Abhijeet - Woh manta nahi yaar Kartik! Doctor ne medicines di thi. Woh de rahe hai hum usse regularly. Aur mai bhi uske saath hi reh raha hu... Taki woh akela na rahe...
Kartik - Treatment ke liye tayar hai woh?
Abhijeet - Ha... Kind of... Matlab maa ne baat toh ki hai. Tujhse milne toh tayar hai ek baar...
Kartik - Acha theek hai... Kal usse hospital le aana mai uska case study karta hu. Aur ha uski family?
Abhijeet - Pata nahi... Woh batata nahi hai aur maine pucha bhi nahi infact... Taki woh...
Kartik - Hmm... Samjhta hu. Theek hai kal dekhte hai. Mai puch lunga.
Abhijeet - Okay... Thank you so much yaar...
Kartik - Thank you se kaam nahi chalne wala bhai! Tujhse toh mai pura hisab vasuluga! Aur ha mujhe uska case study karne ke liye uske bare mai janna padega. Family ka toh mai usse puch lunga... Par agar tu bhi kuch janta ho toh woh batana padega aur koi ho uska dost yaa koi aur... Toh usse bhi kal le aana...
Abhijeet - Yaar wahi toh problem hai! Mai kuch zayada nahi janta uske bare mai... Hmm bas ek hissa raha hu zindagi ka... Jo usse yaad nahi! ACP sir ko le aauga mai. Woh zayada clear bata payege uss bare mai.
Kartik nodded understandingly and they walked back to the table to join others...
To be continued...
Author's Note -
Hogayi ab Kartik ki entry! Kya hoga ab? Will Daya open up to him? And will Kartik be able to help him out? Do review!