A/n : Thank you readers for reviewing my previous story. Trying my hand first time at a length story with some emotional stuff. It is based on the episode "Maut Ka Vehem" with some changes in the actual events.
Lets start :
The case is solved. Shouki thanks everyone and left.
"Abhijeet, Daya ko lekar ghar jao aur tum kal subah jaldi aajana. Dcp aa raha he toh tumhara rehna jaruri he. Purvi, Pankaj muje is case ki file de dena jane se pehle.", ordered Acp to all his officers except Daya.
"Daya, ghar jakar aram matlab sirf aaram. Koi shikaayat nahi ani chahiye. Samje?" threatened Acp. He embarrassingly nodded postive and prepared to get up.
Others dispersed to do their assigned work, while Abhijeet helped Daya walk out of the bereau till the car. Acp waited to move to his cabin until he could see his son move out limping and whispered, "I am sorry my Son!".
After settling him inside the car, Abhjeet moved towards the driving seat. Ignoring the continuous stare from his buddy cum bhai, he kept driving with focus towards their home.
Disappointed by not getting any response, Daya laid his head on head-rest and closed his eyes wondering what has happened to his bhai.
Daya(thinking): Ise kya hua? Maine toh koi b superman wala kaam nahi kiya is case me. Shayad guilty feel kar raha ho meri ye halat dekhkar? Ghar jakar baat karta hu.
Same time, a sharp pain shoots in his sprained leg that was causing him to limp. He gently holds his sprained leg, makes a fist of left palm and takes slow deep breath's, hiding the discomfort from sharp eyes. Sharp shine has noticed all from the corner of his eyes but helpless.
Abhijeet(thinking): bas thodi der aur bacha. Ghar pahuch kar painkiller de dunga... Sab meri hi galti he...
Reaching home, Abhijeet rushes to open Daya's side door and is sad to see his buddy's sweaty forehead and discomforting posture."Daya, chal andar chal kar sojana", said him gently placing his hand on his forehead.
Entering inside, Daya settles himslef on sofa with eyes closed. Abhijeet walks inside his room, gets fresh and moves towards his younger one. He sits on knees and gently lifts his sprained leg and places it on the coffee table.
"Abhii.. ye kya he. Chodo mera pair.. Mujhe acha nahi lag raha he", while bending down to remove hands off his legs.
Abhijeet: Shhhh.. pain ho raha he na? Betho aram se. Sahab kahenge toh nahi muh se lekin me samajta hu.
Daya: Kya kahu me.. Tum baat hi nahi kar rahe ho. Pata nahi kya kya sochte rehte ho.. aao yaha betho..
Abhijeet(gets up) : hmm.. abhi nahi Daya. Me khana bana lu fir baat karte he. Tab tak tu aram karle. Chal kamre me..
"Thik he..".
Abhijeet settles him on bed with a pillow supporting his sprained leg. Gets him a glass of juice and painkiller, that is silently accepted by other one. He helps in lay down and instructing him to sleep and he will back soon.
After 30 minutes, he enters again with a food tray.
Abhijeet (self talk) : Aree, ye toh abhi tak so raha he. (Checking time) abhi sirf 7 baj rahe he, ek kaam kartu hu aur ek ganta sone deta hu. Tab tak dinner time b hojayega, moving back to kitchen to place the food tray and sits on the sofa in hall. Soon his mind drifted to todays incident.
Flashback
Daya is checking out and is at reception when his phone rings.
"Ha Abhijeet, Check out almost hogaya he. bureau hi aa raha hu".
"Thik he. Sambhal kar ana.", instructed the senior officer with a worried expression.
"Kya Boss tum b.. aise bol rahe ho jaise me koi bacha hu... agar tumne abhi phone rak diya toh agle 20 minute bad me tumhare samne rehunga..", said Daya happily.
"Jitna bola jaye utna karo. Jaldi aao.." came the immediate reply to Daya and call got disconnected even before he could reply.
Daya (mind) : Boss b na, khudne plan banaya, khudne mujhe phasaya aur ab khud tension le raha he... pagal he..
After 30 minutes In bureau:
Abhijeet is continuously trying a call but receiving no response.
Acp: kya hua Abhijeet, pareshan kyu ho?
Abhijeet(worried): Sir, Daya phone nahi utha raha he. Ab tak toh use aajana chahiye tha. Check out kar chuka tha aur rasta sirf 20 minute ka he.
Acp: Traffic me phas gaya hoga.
Abhijeet(angry): Toh phone toh uthaye na...
Acp: Purvi location trace karo aur pankaj usi area me use kaho hotel jakar dekhe.
Bureau landline rings and Abhijeet receives it.
Abhijeet: Hello..
Man: Sahab, yaha par cid ki ek gadi kadi he aur usme ek insan passenger seat par behosh lag raha he. Windshield b tuta hua he aur maine gadi ka door kholne ki koshish ki lekin wo lock he.
Abhijeet: Kya? Passenger seat par? (thinking about daya) Gadi silver rang ki he? Ap kaha par he?
Man: Jee sahab. Link road ke pass wali gali me.
Abhijeet: Ap please wahi rukye. Me waha 5 min me pahuch raha hu.
Man : thik he
Abhijeet: purvi, freddy chalo mere sath jaldi. Sir.. wo daya..
Acp: chalo jaldi... Raste me bata dena.
After 5 mins they reach there. All are shocked to see the scene. With trembling hands and fear in his heart Abhijeet is trying to open the door with penknife.
Acp : apne call kiya tha hume?
Man: ji sir. Me yaha se guzar raha tha aur ye sab dekhkar apko phone kiya.
Acp: Bahut bahut dhanywad apka. Ap ja sakte he.
"Daya ankhe khol yaar", trying to feel his pulse on back of his neck. Wiping the sweat trailing off his forehead. Patting his cheek, ut yar.
Noticing Abhijeets struggle Acp ordered him "use chaldi nikalo aur hospital chalo. Freddy ye gadi forensic bhijwao. "
Abhijeet and Freddy take out daya and make him lie on the backseat of other car with his head in Acp's lap. Abhijeet takes driving seat and starts.
Acp(patting his cheeks) : Daya utho.. Abhijeet, jaldi...
After 10 minutes In hospital:
Daya is taken into emergency by attending doctor. Acp, Abhijeet and Purvi waiting outside with worried expression and stress.
After 2 hours:
Doctor comes out to give the most awaited news. "Apke officer badi kismat wale he. Agar 2-3 min aur deri hojati toh .. stroke, cardiac arrest, memory loss kuch b ho sakta tha." A sudden fear grips both the father and son making them worried for their heart. They look at each other and ask doctor "hum kab mil sakte he".
Doctor: Room me shift hojaye toh ap mil lena aur thodi der me discharge b hojayega. Waise he was suffocated. Oxygen level bahut hi low tha... Aur ek baat unke right leg me sprain se swelling be he. 2-3 din me thik hojayega lekin pura bedrest karna padhega.
Abhijeet: Ji Doctor. Hum dhyan rakhenge..
Shouki arrives and meets them.
Acp : Shouki tum aur Purvi yaha rukho. me aur Abhijeet Daya se milkar aate he.
Both enter inside the room. Acp, moving his hand over his forehead and cheeks, holding his free hand, whispers "Daya". Meanwhile, his phone rings and its his buddy's call.
Dr. Salunkhe: Daya kaisa he?
Acp: Behosh he par thik he.
Dr. salunkhe: Boss, bureau aa sakte ho kya? Kuch batana he.
Acp: Ha aata hu.. (disconnects the call). Abhijeet, me aur Purvi chalte he lagta he kuch mila he case se related. Tum yehi raho.
"Ok sir" and he moves towards his soul who is lying on the bed silently. Gently caress his head, clears off his own tears and says "Sorry bhai".
He feels presence of somebody else in the room and turns towards her.
Shouki: aj ap logo k wajase Daya ki ye halat he. Ap log kehte he ki aatma wagaire kuch nahi hoti toh fir ye kisne kiya? Maine decide karliya he me ye sehar chod kar chali jaungi..
Gaining consciousness, grasping the words falling on his hears, he tries to speak.
Daya : nahi Shouki, agar tum yaha se chali gayi toh hum us khooni ko kabi nahi pakad payenge. Please mat jao..
Abhijeets moves to attend his phone where his senior ordered him to come to bureau with others as the culprit is caught.
Flashback over.
"Sir b kitne guilty feel kar rahe he. Jaante hue bi ye sab kiya humne." and his pool of thoughts is broken with the door bell. "aap"? with surprise.
Visitor: kya hum andar aa sakte he?
"ha ha ayiye na sir. Aise kyu puch rahe he?" Making way for them to enter.
Acp: Daya se baat ki?
Abhijeet: nahi. Dard ho raha tha toh painkiller kha kar so raha he.
Dr. Salunkhe: abhi tak? Kab uthega ? Ya dinner b kar ke so raha he?
Abhijeet: Nahi . Dinner karna he. Ap baithiye . Me coffee lata hu . Uske bad utha dunga usko.
Acp: Nahi abhijeet. Coffee rehne do. Sath milkar utha the he usko. Chalo..
All 3 enter Daya's room and happy to see him sleeping with face full of innocence and at peace with a gentle smile.
"Dekho toh kaise so raha he. Koi shikayat nahi, koi gila nahi. Sare order chup chap man leta he", exclaimed Acp.
Abhijeet: wahi toh problem he sir. Sare order chup chap man leta he.
"Daya, utho beta.. Dinner ka time ho raha he.. ", smilingly sitting on his bed, caressing his forehead and holding his palm in his hand.
Daya: Hmm...
Acp looks at Abhijeet and gets "ye toh roz hota he" look and smile.
Acp (again): Utho beta.. bahut der hogayi he..
Daya: Hmm...
Dr. Salunkhe is a silent happy observer giving "tumhare hi beta he" look to his friend. Still seeing no movement, elder one steps forward, sits on other side of bed, holding his palm between his hands, requesting, "Dekh Daya utja yaar.."
Daya is confused in his semi-consciousness wondering who is the first person holding his hand if this one is Abhijeet but finding the touch familiar. Kahi Acp sir toh nahi? Sleep is playing with his mind.
Abhijeet (again): Daya, ut jaldi dekh Acp sir kabse utha rahe he..
Now, Daya wins over his sleep with this name and opens his eyes with a jerk, trying to sit, murmurs as "Acp Sir"?
"Aree dhiree dhire", while helping him sit. "Hogai neend puri ladle ki? Kaise he bete sahab"? Uttered his father mischievously.
"Thik hu Sir".
"Abhijeet, kya tum please Daya ka dinner yehi le aaoge.?", requested Acp sir.
Dr. Salunkhe: Ruko, me b aata hu Abhijeet.
Acp holding his son's hand and with lots of love : Beta, I am really sorry. Please mujhe maaf kardo. Sab kuch jante hue b tumhe bhej diya aur tumhe ye sab kuch sehna pada.
"Ap sorry mat boliye please. Ye toh hamara farz he na.. Aur hum prepare the lekin jo socha tha waise nahi hua toh isme apki kya galti.", replied his son with same love.
"fir b Daya. Koi aur solution nikal sakta tha. Kabi toh orders mana kardiya karo.. shikhayat kar liye karo.. I am really... " and the statement is interrupted by his son as "Kaise mana karu? Ap toh hamare sirf sir nahi pita he, guru he.. aphi se toh sabkuch sikha he.. aur aphi se toh ye sab sehne ki shakti milti he.. aur yaha toh baat mere 2 idols ki thi.. ap aur abhijeet.. toh me kaise mana karta.. Please bhul jayiye jo hua"
"Thank you very much beta" exclaimed a joyous father filled with gratitude due to the trust and faith that his sons have in him. In return he blessed him and kissed him on his forehead.
Abhijeet and Dr. Salunkhe both enter holding food tray. Keeping it on table.
Dr. Salunkhe: Lagta he sab thik hogaya, kyu Daya?
Daya: Ji
"Daya, please mujhe b maaf kardo. Agar me ye idea nahi deta toh shayad ye nahi hota. I am really guilty and sorry."
"Boss, please ab tum mat shuru hojao.. sab thik he abhi.. (to lighten the mood) Lagta he ap logo ne aj decide kiya he ki sorry se mera peth bharna he.. mujhe bhook lagi he khana de do.."
Abhijeet passing food plates to all. Acp refused it saying they would have it at his home which made him ask "kyu? Apko mera haath ka khana acha nahi lagta, Sir?".
"le lijiye sir. Apko b toh pata chale ye kaise kaise khana banata he aur julm karta he mujhpar", spoke Daya naughtily.
Holding his ears, "Acha beta, ye julm karta he aur tum? Maggie k alawa kuch ata he?"
Daya: ahh.. chodiye sirrr.. dard ho raha.. maine toh bas yuhi kaha..
"Dekha sir b meri side he daya" and winks at him.
Daya (looking at his food plate): waise sir ap se ek baat aur karni thi..
Acp: ha bolo na..
Daya(innocently): wo kya he na.. mere dono haath me dard he gadi ke glass break karne ki koshish karne se.. toh kya ap mujhe khana khila denge?
Acp(smiling at his innocence): agar me nahi kahu toh?
Daya(looking down with lots of innocence): toh ? Kuch nahi.. me khud khane ki koshish kar lunga..
Acp : drama king.. ye lo.. forwarding a bite to Daya.
Dr. Salunkhe: Pradyuman, tumhe yad dila du tumhara ek beta yaha b he..
Acp: achaa.. mujhe toh pata hi nahi tha.. tu kis liye aya he yaha fir..
Dr. Salunkhe: sochlo, fir nahi kehna maine tumhara beth chin liya tumse.. and forwards a bite to Abhijeet.
Accepting the bite first and then smirkly "kya ap b? Bhala aise b kabi ho sakta he kya?" questioned Abhijeet.
Dr. Salunkhe( grumping): Bhalai ka toh jamana hi nahi raha..
Everybody laughs loudly. Acp forwards a bite to Abhijeet as well. Abhijeet happily accepts it. All finish their dinner with casual chit chat.
Acp: acha ab hum chalte he. Good night Take care..
Daya: Thank you sir ane k liye varna me aj gunga hi bankar reh jata .. iske karan..
Oldie duo laugh , look at Abhijeet and leave.
Abhijeet arrives with 2 cup of coffee in his buddys room and sits on couch with his cup.
"Boss, waha nahi.. yaha betho.. mere pass.. "
Abhijeet moves.
"ab bolo.. kya bol rahe the sir k samne .. sorry, guilty.. hazaar baar bola he tum sorry mat bola karo.. i dont like it.. aur ye sab duty k liye tha.. ab chup kyu ho?" rolling his eyes towards the other one.
"Soch raha hu hazaar right number he ya nahi.." mentioned abhijeet jokingly.
Daya: Abhiii.. mazak nahi..
Abhijeet: Acha baba.. no mazak.. tu hi soch tu kya karta agar meri jagah tu hota... jab doctor kehte ki sirf 2-3 min ke deri se stroke, cardiac arrest , memory loss kuch b hosakta tha.. (fear gripping his as he rememberd the incident) ek case ke chalte tuje itne bade risk me dal diya.. duty important he but usse b jyada tu he mere liye. Maine socha tha me sab sambhal lunga agar hotel room me attack hoga... lekin us khooni ko b apni strategy isi waqt badalni thi.. (angry) aur me kuch nahi kar paya( guilty)
Daya assuring him continuously by holding his hands. Samajta hu me ye sab Abhi.. fir b yehi kahunga jo hogaya sab bhul jao.. case b solve hogaya aur me thik hu.. jo hota he ache ke liye hota he.. varna mujhe itna pyar kaha milta.. (naugtily). Chalo ab shanti se so jao.. me tumhe aj ek gaana sunata hu.. (happily).
He accepts it happily as he is relaxed and knows that his brother will not give up until he finds him back. He keeps the cups in kitchen sink, locks the door and lays on the bed next to his buddy and asking him through eyes " tum kab sooge"?
"Me b so jaunga thodi der me.. pehle tum sojao.."
Nodding his head in assurance, closed his eyes (in mind) mentioned Thank you God!
Daya puts his head on headrest , and hand on his bhai's forehead and starts singing softly:
Aa ri aa ja
Nindiya tu le chal kahin
Udan khatole mein
Dur dur dur yahan se dur(2)
Aa ri aa ja
Mera to ye jeevan tamam mere yaar bhara dukh se
Par mujhko jahan mein mila sukh kaun bada tujhse
Tere liye meri jaan zehar hazaar main pee lunga
Taj dunga duniya
Ek tere sang jee lunga
Oo nazar ke noor
Aa ri aa ja
Nindiya tu le chal kahin
Udan khatole mein
Dur dur dur yahan se dur(2)
Aa ri aa ja