A New Journey
…
Tarika, Tasha and Vivek were sitting at a corner table in Bureau canteen having their lunch and talking about this and that when suddenly Abhijeet entered there and directly moved to the counter talking over phone. As soon as he stood in front of the cashier he handed him a brown parcel. The senior in command took the parcel and left the canteen busy over phone, without glancing here and there.
"How can people have sandwich over lunch?'' Tarika groaned inspecting the whole situation.
''He literally lives on sandwiches.'' Vivek said, filling his mouth with food.
''Don't worry. Soon, he won't.'' Tarika stated looking at the way Abhijeet had just left.
'' Will you take it slow?'' Tasha urged her best friend.
''Tch… I don't want to waste time.''
''But I want you to have your ways slowly. Otherwise he will just break your heart with a bolt.''
''And if I take it slow then?'' Tarika asked.
''He will break it slowly.'' Vivek laughed.
''Shut up.'' Tarika rolled her eyes, ''Okay listen. I want to give him something as a gesture of appreciation of what he had done to help me. What do you think I should gift him?'' Tarika asked her friends.
''I don't know,'' Tasha pretended to think, ''what he likes apart from guns and case files.''
''Tasha, can you be a little serious for once please?'' Tarika was irritated.
''What? I am trying to help here.'' Tasha said, offended.
''Give him detective novels.'' Vivek suggested, intervening their arguments.
''Yeah. You can do that.'' Tasha suggested.
''No. That seems boring. I want to give him something meaningful and friendly enough.''
''Perfume'?'' Tasha proposed, not sure.
''Yeah… Great idea. But what brand and flavour he uses?'' Tarika was confused.
''Does it matter?'' Vivek asked.
''Of course. What's the purpose of gifting him perfumes if he doesn't wear them?'' Tarika rolled her eyes.
''Vivek will find it out.'' Tasha looked at Vivek.
''Yeah sure, I will ask him directly and tell you.'' Vivek said casually.
Both new joined females slapped their forehead in union.
''What?'' Vivek asked, offended.
''If you ask him and then she gift him the same named perfume won't he gonna assume she did that with your help?'' Tasha explained.
''Yeah. So what? Is that a problem?''
''You don't need to do anything Vivek.'' Tarika stood up. ''I will think about it. Now I have to go. I need to complete a file by evening.''
''Bye.''
''Bye.''
The departed their ways to their respective work places.
.
At evening 7 pm when Tarika was wrapping up her works Abhijeet entered into the lab engrossed in his own thoughts. Tarika noticed him walking towards her lost in his tracks.
''Hello Abhijeet.'' She greeted him with a smile.
He looked up at her and then looked around. He didn't realized when he had reached the lab thinking about the current double murder case which had been running him nut the whole day.
''Oh Hello, Dr Tarika.'' He said, dry.
Tarika raised her one eye brow in a mocking manner with a smile indicating him to check his words. Abhijeet though confused for a second got her immediately after the mocking look. He couldn't but smiled. The stress started wearing off from his mind and he felt light. He should start smiling more often- he noted. It seemed working on his stress after all.
''Tarika,'' he corrected himself. ''Good evening.''
Tarika nodded in acknowledgement, smiling.
''You have come for this?'' Tarika asked, the playful smile never leaving her lips.
Without answering Abhijeet took that file in his hand and went through the first page. He tapped his index finger on a point and a smile spread over his face.
'I was right.' He murmured.
Tarika was looking at him patiently. The man standing in front of her knew nothing apart from his work, did he? Was he like that only during a troublesome case? What about in between cases? Did he relaxed himself then? Did his forehead cresses softens when there's no case to solve? Though she knew such occasions were very rare but she couldn't help imagining him relaxing on his chair closing his eyes thinking about anything but crimes and criminals. Did he even know there's a world beyond mysteries and crimes? Suddenly she felt the desire to walk along with him by the sea and make him feel the water jets touching their feet and to make him talk under moon and dance under rain. She knew he would laugh her off but still she would keep trying. She decided right away, that she would be by his side as a friend always even if he rejects her feelings as more than friends. This man needed to live like a free bird. He didn't even know he had been living in a cage the bars of which were made of crimes, condemning him from seeing anything beyond it.
''Thank you Dr Tarika, I mean Thank you Tarika.'' He said, looking up from the file.
''My pleasure sir, I mean Abhijeet.'' She mocked him in his style.
Abhijeet smiled sheepishly getting her taunt.
''I see you are leaving.'' Abhijeet indicated her backpacks.
''Oh Yeah. I am done for today.''
''See you tomorrow then.'' Abhijeet gave her a smile. ''Good night.''
''Good night Abhijeet.''
Abhijeet nodded and turned around to leave. Tarika called him.
''Abhijeet.''
Abhijeet closed his eyes hearing his name being called. Although he found it melodiously beautiful being called by her with his name he wished she would stop doing that so frequently. It developed an unknown kind of emotions in him. He felt like listening her. He felt like being commanded to listen to her. He hate to be commanded. Oh, he didn't seem like hating this commanding, to his surprise. And who the hell was commanding him? She? No… She just calls. His mind commands. His traitor mind.
Nevertheless he turned around.
''Have a proper dinner, won't you?'' Tarika said, with hesitation, not knowing if she should tell him this. She was fearing how he would react.
''What?'' Abhijeet was confused. That what rather came out softer than he intended it to.
''Í noticed you only had sandwich on lunch. Actually you had a parcel. I don't know if you ate that or not.''
'No, I didn't.' He wanted to tell her. But he realized he should actually ask 'Why do you care even?' But somehow he was touched by her gesture, her concern.
''I… I have at least one proper meal. Don't worry.'' He said politely.
''Oh.. ok..'' Tarika looked down.
Abhijeet left silently without further talk. Tarika consoled herself saying she did a good job. She sighed. It's gonna be hell tough to owe this man completely.
.
20 minutes later Abhijeet was standing near the window of his cabin taking fresh air to calm down himself after the tiresome read of forensic file. He watched Tarika getting into her car. He kept looking at her as she took off her coat, tied her hair in a bun and chose music over the player. He founder her lips moving fast and realized she was singing with the music. She drove off and he came out of his trance only to find her roommate staring at him standing there.
''Tasha..'' He behaved like he had been caught in a guilty act.
''Sorry sir… But I knocked a few times you didn't respond.'' Tasha apologized.
''What is it?'' He asked harshly trying to cover up.
''Its about the call records.''
''Show me.'' He walked towards his table followed by a smirking Tasha which he obviously didn't see but could feel it. He decided to ignore.
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KK: Thank you so much for the wishes. Please leave a review.