Abhijeet pressed the open door button but the doors won't open
He banged on the door in panic.
Tarika: umm koi nahi hai bureau me. I don't think is se koi fayda nahi hoga
Abhi: a..arey aise kaise ruk gayi ye beech me. Aisa toh pehle nahi hua hai kabhi. Lights bhi aise...
He was visibly worried.
The lights stopped flickering for a second and then went out completely, leaving them in darkness. Abhijeet gasped. He was completely triggered. He couldn't think clearly with the panic rising.
Tarika: Don't worry guard generator start kar denge. Chal jayegi lift thode der me.
Abhi: hmm
He was uncomfortable and Tarika could sense his fear.
Abhi: (irritated) itni der toh nahi lagti yaar kya kar rahe hain ye. Inhe pata bhi hai ki light gayi hai ya nahi.
Tarika: Kar rahe honge. Bas kuch der, relax please.
Tarika switched on the flashlight of her phone.
Few moments passed by. Nothing changed. Abhijeet unbuttoned his collar button. His palms started to feel sweaty. His wiped the sweat off his forehead. His heart raced.
Tarika: Abhijeet? Abhijeet r..relax
She was worried for him, but couldn't clearly think how could she make this situation any better.
He took out his phone to call Daya but there was no network. He moved around the elevator a bit, hoping to get some network.
The window shut itself with a thud, due to the storm outside.
Daya went to the window and checked outside before shutting it and locking it. The storm had got worse and he was starting to get worried about Abhijeet.
He picked up his phone to call him.
Abhijeet finally got some network and called Daya anxiously.
"The number you are trying to call is busy"
Abhijeet got frustrated not realising that Daya was trying his number only.
Abhi: (irritated) ye daya ka phone kyu busy aa raha hai itni raat me.
Tarika: ek sec network aa raha hai?
She took her phone and tried to call the guards but she couldn't find any network. She took Abhijeet's phone to try again.
There was a loud thud behind her back. She turned around. Abhijeet was on the floor gasping for air.
Daya: ye Abhijeet ka call nahi lag raha. Chal kya raha hai. Tarika ko kar hi deta hu ab call. (Tries) arey iska bhi nahi lag raha. Guard ko poochta hu ye dono kab nikle (tries to call the guard) kamaal hai iska call lag raha hai toh ye utha nahi raha.
Abhijeet ki bahut tension ho rahi hai, mujhe usey aaj akele chor na hi nahi chahiye tha. Subah jabse car ke trunk me laash dekhi tabse kuch pareshaan hai. Ek second, car toh abhijeet ke paas hi hai bureau me. Bureau ki car toh Sachin le gaya mujhe drop karke... Barish me bike leke jau?
He looked around not sure what to do. Then unlocked his phone screen and looked at the wallpaper of him and his best buddy and decided to go anyways.
The phone fell from her hands as she rushed to him.
Tarika: Abhijeet? Abhijeet kya hua aapko?
He was not able to talk. He tried to unbutton his coat and she helped him open it and took it off.
Tarika: better? Try to breathe haan?
Abhijeet couldn't clearly think. His thoughts drifted to his past. The darkness around him feeding the demons in his mind. He felt as if he was back to his bed in the asylum, in the darkness, alone.
Tarika shook his arm: Abhijeet?
He could hear his name being called far away, a faint voice calling out for him.
Daya reached the bureau in his bike, completely drenched in rain.
The guard room was vacant.
He checked the register Abhijeet and Tarika hadn't signed out.
Daya: Ho sakta hai barish me nikal gaye ho bina sign... par gate khula hai, guard gayab hai kuch toh gadbad hai..
Just then the guard came running.
Guard: Daya Saab aap? Itni raat me?
Daya: tum kahan the? Phone kiya itni baar nahi uthaya?
Guard: sorry Saab, yahan road pe ek accident ho gaya tha. Mai dekha koi nahi aa raha tha madad karne. Bike wala thok ke nikal gaya, aur barish me zyada koi travel bhi nahi kar raha. Mujhe laga jaldi se paas wale hospital me pahuncha deta hoon, par fir hit and run case tha toh police bhi aayi aur statement wagera... time lag gaya. Sorry Saab.
Daya: thik hai thik hai. Ye batao Abhijeet aur Dr. Tarika nikal gaye?
Guard: Jab tak mai tha tab tak toh nahi gaye the... jab hospital gaya Mai tab nikal gaye toh nahi pata...
Daya: Abhijeet nikalta toh guard room khali dekh ke pakka call karta ya dhundhta... par barish me kuch keh bhi nahi sakte. Kam karo generator on karo Mai parking me dekhta hoon gaadi hai ki nahi.
Tarika: (anxious) Abhijeet Abhijeet? Kuch boliye please. Abhijeet
His hands were sweaty and cold. She checked his pulse was also slow.
She started rubbing his hands
Tarika: Abhijeet please...
She placed her hand on his cheek.
The lights flickered on. Abhijeet blinked, his eyes adjusting to the bright light. He looked around and realised where he was. His stopped for a moment, Tarika was so close to him, her hand on his cheek.
None of them could say anything.
The lift started with a jerk, causing them to fall back and break eye contact.
Abhi: sambhalke... t.. tarika ji aap theek hain?
Tarika: haan mai toh... you ok na? Mai toh dar hi gayi thi.
Abhi: Haan haan mai theek hoon. Sorry kahan light gayi mujhe kuch karna chahiye tha aur mai khud hi pata hi... wo.. aaj shayad thoda zyada stress.. mai... sorry
Tarika: arey nahi. Aap toh Stairs se jaane bol hi rahe the. Maine hi zid ki lift ki aur ye sab. I didn't know you were claustrophobic sorry.
Abhi: nahi aisa kuch nahi hai aaj zyada hi thoda...
They both got up.
Daya: Car toh parking me hai ye Abhijeet hai kahan.
He was going to check the bureau just when the lift opened.
Abhijeet: Nahi mai drop kar dunga koi baat nahi. Theek hoon abhi.
Tarika: I don't think you should drive...
Daya's heart skipped a beat as he realised they both were trapped in the lift. And when he saw abhijeet's hair in a mess, coat off he sweaty face, he knew Abhijeet wasn't fine.
Abhi: daya tum...
Daya: haan wo call nahi lag raha tha toh mai...
Abhi: par car toh yahan tum...
seeing him drenched Abhi understood his buddy had come on a bike in this rain.
Daya: chalo ab kaafi late ho gaya ghar chalte hain.
Abhi: Tarika ko bhi drop karna hai.
Tarika: n..nahi it's okay I'll manage. Aap ghar jaiye you need rest.
Abhi: arey nahi mai.. mai thik hoon
Daya: peeche baith jao dono mai drive kar lunga. Waise bhi wapas bike me jaane ka bilkul mood nahi hai.