The Tale Of A Young Lady

She sat on the sofa quite patiently. He was taking his time. She looked at his face and so did he. He didn't say a word but his eyes were showing a lot of emotions. One particular suddenly irritated her…what was that? For a small moment she hoped it was love but she concluded it as of pity. Yes, it was pity. Pity for her. It suddenly fuelled her with anger. Why was he here? To show his sympathy. To show her that how great he was and how helpless she was. No. she doesn't want this. She will never let this happen. She will never marry him.
"Yes!" she muttered.
"Sorry?" he asked confused.
"I mean no." she corrected herself.
"No?"
"…I mean I won't marry you. That's it." she said with anger. A sudden emotion passed through his face. He looked crestfallen. She felt a sudden ache in her heart. Is this right? She asked herself. She felt a sudden urge to look away from him. Memories of past one month flooded in front of eyes as if it all has happened today only.

One Month Ago-

She was finishing last of her reports drafting when the landline rang for the third time. Now enough is enough, she thought. She will tell that man not to call her again at this hour ever. What the hell does he think of himself? Ok fine, he is one year senior but so what? He doesn't have any right to call her like this asking same stupid question. She will complaint about him to sir. She decided in her mind.

"Hello" she said in irritated tone.

.

Few hours later, she sat in the plane quietly. A silent tear escaped her eye but she managed to clean it away before anyone could notice it. The phone call was from her father's friend. The news was not very unexpected. She was always prepared for it. This is what she was always taught. And for her whole life she had acted accordingly. But today she was not brave daughter of ACP Pradhuman of CID Mumbai. Today, she was the little princess of her late father. A father who stood by her side whenever she was in need. Someone, who fulfilled the duties of both mother and father when her mother left the world too early. Whenever he could find time in between his busy schedule, he would come and stay with her. It was all thanks to her father's adventurous stories that she decided to persuade a carrier which would eventually lead her to serve her country. She still remembers how happy he was when she told him that she has been appointed in Delhi Forensics. But now, she was all alone. Being daughter of an ACP was never this difficult. Today she felt so weak. So broken. All her life she has always acted as a tough girl. A girl with a heart of stone they said when her father was fighting for life in hospital and she was sitting for her exam. A girl full of attitude they said when she was never made any attempt to make friends. A miserable and unfortunate girl who had to spend most of her childhood in hostels and adulthood alone, they never said. And now, when her father is gone, she has no one's shoulder to cry on to. All her life she was asked not to reveal her father's identity as an ACP. But now, even after his death, she was asked the same. They don't want public to know that she is his daughter, he said. As his father had many dangerous criminals as enemies and her identity would bring to her more harm than good. And her father loved her way too much to bring any danger in her life. But today all this seemed senseless to her. She wanted to tell the whole world that she was the proud daughter of ACP Pradhuman. She wanted to tell the world how many sacrifices her father had made. But no, she couldn't. She rested her head on headrest and for once didn't stop her tears.

He did all the cremation ceremonies of her father. She sat in a corner all those days. Bits of news were coming to her. How her father was indulged in a high-profile secret mission. How his team was working with him day and night. How this man Abhijeet was there when he was abducted. How much his team did for the past one week to find him and when they did, he was counting his last breaths. How he talked to his most favourite officer Abhijeet in the hospital room before dying. But what? No one knew. She met all his officers one after the other. Some were strictly professional while others were sympathetic. Few new ones were actually surprised that their ACP sir had a daughter too. And the funny part is that such amazements were not bothering her. She was still a secret for the world. In some ways it's great. Now the rest of the world will leave her alone with her miserable life. Great. But that was not true. A secret…yes, she was but alone…no… the CID team of Mumbai had planned something for her. It was decided by these sensible offices that Senior Inspector Abhijeet will marry to the late ACP's daughter. And Senior Inspector Abhijeet had agreed to marry poor daughter of late ACP. Such a great person! And the whole team including the DCP and commissioner were supporting him. And it was not like they were asking her. In fact, they were telling her that this is what she will do. And lame questions like are you interested in marrying that person were not bothered to ask.

And now she was sitting in this room counting her fingers. Ok he is a nice person and has done so much for my father…but marriage? She asked herself. But what if her father wanted this? What if this was what he asked him to do? At least the rumours suggested this. She closed her eyes. Ughh…this was tiresome. She opened them and saw him staring at her. Then he started gently.

"I understand Tarika. This all happened so suddenly."
"Oh No. Not that sudden. You guys just forgot to ask me."
"Tarika this is for your safety."
"My safety? I am safe Abhijeet. And the fact that I am alive today clearly proves that I have lived my whole life with enough safety. I don't need to marry someone to live a safe life."
"Tarika listen. I know you can take care of yourself. But there is something you should know."
"What?"
"Tarika your father left you a will. Among other things, your father has also left you a property here in Mumbai. There is an orphanage on this property. According to your father will, your husband will be owner of that property. If you will refuse to take this property then it will become government's property and that was the last thing your father wanted."
"What do you mean?"
"Tarika, a group of rich people want this property desperately. Many big leaders are involved in it. They have invested a lot on a project for which they need this very property. What they are doing is all illegal but these are all corrupt people Tarika. The place where this orphanage is in middle of area and whoever is going to be owner of that place will be in immediate danger. Although we will try our best to hide your relations with sir but still these people have their own sources. The actual owner of this orphanage was a friend of ACP sir. He gave it to your father to keep it safe and your father wanted you to keep it safe."

"No." it suddenly struck her. "They wanted you to keep it safe. Not me. That is why he made such will. So that if something happens to him then you can take care of this property. This is what he asked you to do before dying."

"Yes, he wanted me to take care of property but you were more important to him Tarika. He loved you more than anything in this world and he thought that if we got married then you will remain out of dangers." He said hopefully.

She looked in his eyes but couldn't understand his emotions. Was he doing this marriage for this will's sake or there was something else as well. It was hard to guess. But now it was of no use. She was not left with options. She closed her eyes before speaking.

"Ok Abhijeet. But please remember that even if I married you it won't be an actual marriage. It will be more like a deal between us."
"Yes, as you say." he smiled and again a rush of emotions crossed his face but before she could conclude any of them, he stood up.
"Now I should leave. I am getting late for work. I will see you soon, Tarika ji." He left before she could say anything.

.
He sat in his car and before starting it he pulled out his wallet and looked at the picture in it.
"I wish I could tell you how much I Love you. From the very first day when I saw your picture. When sir asked me to keep an eye on you for next one month to make sure you are safe. I was not sure why I am so happy. But each and every glimpse of you made my heart beat faster. I wish I could tell you how beautiful my mornings have been after those days. I Never thought that this heart will ever love someone but then you are you. How can someone not love you? And I don't know how sir guessed it. But I wish Tarika I could tell you that it's not just this will thing. I want you, and only you."

"Abhijeet" he startled and pushed the wallet in his pocket and came out of the car.
"Yes Tarika."
"Vo actually, I was thinking that can we change this will. I mean after marriage." She stopped and he smiled.
"No Tarika we can't. Sir had made this will in a way that we cannot change it…for at least one year after marriage " But last few words were said in his mind only. He left before she could think of any other way to cancel their marriage.

.

.

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She packed up her things hastily and left the lab in a hurry. Finally, the case was solved and the whole team was happy to leave early today. She liked her new team a lot and it felt good to work with so many people who knew her father so well. Specially her boss Dr. Salunkhe was very close to her father and treated her like his own daughter. All of the team helped her a lot in getting transferred to Mumbai and she was happy with this new change.

"Hey! You are late!" he said as she sat in his car in a hurry.

"Sorry! I was completing the report. I didn't realise how late I was until you called." She apologised.

"Ok, don't worry. We still have some time left before the flight." He said as he sped off towards the Airport.

The whole team was waiting for them at the airport. They crowded them as they reached near the gate.

"Finally, Abhijeet! I thought you are gonna miss the flight." Dr. Salunkhe observed.

"What were you thinking boss? Finally, after a whole month of marriage you are getting a chance to go to honeymoon. Who misses such opportunity?" Daya joked.

Other team members were also joking around and wishing them a happy journey. Tarika took all the wishes politely but contently. She looked at her husband who was discussing some details about their trip to Venice. He looked genuinely happy and excited about the trip. They all were.

At the beginning of their marriage, she was very puzzled about this relationship. But as the time passed, she and Abhijeet started sharing a beautiful bond. They worked together and spent all the time at home in each other's company. Sometimes they would discuss cases and other times watch movies and discuss their favourite books and music. She felt happy around him and he seemed happy too. But she was not sure if she was ready to take her marriage a step forward and moreover, Is he actually interested in her as a wife? She didn't want to spoil their friendship with her silly mistake.

But now, standing at this airport looking at his face, she knew she was ready. And when the flights were announced and they bid goodbye to everyone and entered the airport, he came to her side and locked his fingers around her free hand chatting happily about their upcoming journey, she knew he was ready too.

Author's Note- Hey! Hope you like this silly tale of mine. I know some parts are a little childish but, in my defence, I wrote it four years ago! Do leave a review if you something about this story.