A/N:- Another long chapter with a lot of drama and a long flashback! Well, I'm so sorry for being quite unprofessional in this chapter. It might not be written nicely.

Hope you like it. And do read my new book 'Journey to the High School!'

Here you go!

Happy reading-


"Sachin, kuch pta chala uss car k bare mei? Jisse Daya aur Rishi ka accident hua tha? Aur, kya bole Salunkhe sir? Uss khabri ki laash se ugalva paye ki nhi?" Abhijeet asked turning to his cop Avatar after Shanaya's leave.

"Sir voh car ki sari details fake thi sir. But driver ka chehra pta lag gya h paas ke CCTV camera se!" Shreya replied instead.

"Aur sir, laash se toh nhi pta chala kuch, lekin us khooni ke peeche Pankaj aur Purvi lage huye hai. Aur chaukane vali baat yeh h ki uss khabri ka khooni aur voh driver dono ek hi h!" Sachin updated him about the other cases as well.

"Kya voh dono ek hi h?" Abhijeet was a little shocked with this.

"Haan sir, purvi us khabri pr nazar rakhe huyi thi isliye usne uss khooni ko dekhliya tha!" Sachin said.

The day was rather free as there wasn't any other case reported and by evening Purvi and Pankaj caught the murderer. Soon he was found sitting, shivering on the cold chair of investigation room.

"Kiske kehne par mara uss khabri ko?" Abhijeet asked as he stood towering in front of him with Shreya and Sachin accompanying beside.

"Mai.. maine nhi maara sahb! Maine kuch nhi kiya!" The scared killer stammered and lied of course.

"Ae! Tujhe uspr goli chalate humne khud dekha h! Seedhe seedhe bta de, kyu aur kiske kehne pr maara us khabri ko?" Sachin warned him angrily.

"Voh.. hamare sath mila tha sahb. Usko galat khabr dene ko kaha gya tha taki CID ka dyaan kahi aur rahe aur hum apna kaam asaani se kr le!"

"Phir?" Abhijeet asked setting his collar intentionally to make him more scared.

"L.. lekin.. usne.. apko sahi khabr pohuncha di. Jiski vajah se humara plan kharaab ho gya."

Abhijeet smirked with, "Hum ese hi khabriyon pr vishwaas nhi krte! Chal ab bta kon h tera boss? Kiske kehne pr maara tune?"

"Sahb voh.." He was about to say when the door noise distracted them.

"Acha hua tum dono aa gye!" Abhijeet went out of the glass walled investigation room as he saw Rishi and Shanaya entering in.

"Ab Kaise ho Rishi?" Daya pointed to his fractured hand, getting up from his desk.

"Pehle se theek!" Rishi replied with a smile while Shanaya just rolled her eyes, "Vaise bhai apne achanak se bulaya?" Shanaya asked ignoring Daya.

"Haan, voh.. iss admi ko dekho!" He indicated to the investigation room from where Sachin and Shreya came out with the man, "Pehchante ho tum dono ise?"

"Umm.. nhi!" Rishi said while Shanaya shook her head, "Pehle kabhi nhi dekha!"

"Dhyaan se dekho Rishi!" Daya forced him a little but the result was same. Rishi again shook his head.

"Koi nhi, ab toh yehi batayega." Abhijeet turned to the man, "Dekh sach bta de varna tera esa haal hoga ki tu soch bhi nhi skta!"

"Sahb.. mai.. maine.. ku.. kuch nhi kiya!" The man was again and again looking at Daya as if he was scared of him.

"Bta rha h ki-" Daya came forward and held his collar in order to punch him.

"Sahb.. aap.. kyu.. kyu kr rhe ho esa.. Mai.. toh apke hi kehne pr us khabri ko mara na.." The man spoke between his uneven breathing coz of Daya's grip.

"Kya?" All were shocked on what they heard. Daya looked the most bewildered, "Mai? Maine bola tujhe?" He yelled in shock.

No one was to believe what they heard just now but Shanaya was about to burst on him again when Rishi held her hand tightly. She gave him a questioning look but he shook his head to stop her from blurting fire.

"Sahb.. aap esa kyu kr rhe ho.. Apne hi toh bola tha ki apki gadi ka accident karwana h aur us khabri ko khatm karne ko bhi toh bola tha!"

"Maine bola tha tujhe?" Daya held his collar in rage and jerked him roughly, "Dekh, yeh bakwaas band kr! Mai toh janta bhi nhi hu tujhe!" Abhijeet and Sachin came to calm Daya a bit and made the man free from his grip.

"Aap kesi baate kr rhe ho sahb.. Mai.. jhooth kyu boluga sahb? Apun paisa bhi liya h apse!" The man was shivering as he saw Daya's burning eyes.

"Tujhe toh-" Daya tried to punch him but Abhijeet stopped him as, "Daya ek minute! Please, shaant rho tum!"

"Abhijeet? Tum yr..? Yeh bakwaas kr rha h!" Daya spoke loudly to convince Abhijeet and others who stood there.

"Daya maine kaha na shaant raho!" Abhijeet said in a strange tone that could be understood by just Daya. "Sachin!"

"Sir!"

"Jahaan se utha ke laye ho ise, vahin chhor aao!" Abhijeet ordered him just to get a shocked and unbelievable response.

"Sir aap yeh kya-?" Shreya asked, bewildered.

"Do what I said." He ordered and all shut their mouths.


Flashback:

Shanaya could be seen exiting the Railway station with a not-so-big backpack rolling behind her. Her face was rather colourless with eyes begging for sleep. She sighed as now she was supposed to take a cab to home.

She pulled her cell phone out and was about to order a cab when she saw Rishi coming towards her.

"Rishi?" She was surprised though her eyes were too weak to even express.

"Haan mai! Lekin tu itni weak kyu lag rhi h?" Rishi asked as he took the handle of the bag and indicated her to walk to his car.

"Kuch nhi.. I just wanna sleep a whole day!" She whispered and threw herself on the front passanger seat.

Rishi chuckled lightly, "Car mei nhi sona please mai tujhe utha nhi paunga!" He tried to tease her but she just spared a glance that too with half open eyes.

After some time, Shanaya and Rishi were standing at Shanaya's house' doorstep when something caught their eyes.

"Yeh kya h?" Shanaya picked up an envelope which looked more like a invitation card. Rishi panicked a little as he wasn't expecting it this soon as he was already acquainted with the piece of off-white paper.

"Seenu yeh sab baa.. baad mei dekhti rehna. You need rest right now!" He tried to divert her attention from that card but..

"Arey naam toh dekhne de! Bht rarely invitations aate h mujhe." And she ripped the cover and unfolded the card.

The card was very beautiful and was enough to attract anyone's attention. But for Shanaya, something more attractive was inside which could transfix her stare probably.

"Seenu yeh baad mei..." Rishi hurriedly spoke but her blank expression was enough to prove him that the wrong was already done.

"Kya yr Rishi! Ek toh teen din se mera call receive nhi kar rha h yeh. And now he's throwing pranks on me. Not fair hun!" Shanaya spoke calmly as she was a little irritated also.

She was sure that the thing that she read just now, can never come true. The card inviting her for the wedding of DAYA and someone called SHREYA, was just a prank according to her and thus her reaction came out to be usual.

"Seenu?" Rishi was bewildered on getting such a calm response from her. How could she be this calm? Rishi was in a turmoil, whether to spill the truth or to save it for the right time, as her health resisted him.

But then something stopped him. It was his courage. He wasn't sure if he could blurt out the truth afterwards, coz maybe now was the right time! He gulped as he saw Shanaya struggling to open the locks.

Rishi pulled her arm and made her face him. She was confused and also irritated. He took a deep breath and finally spoke, "Yeh prank nhi h Seenu!"

The seriousness in his voice and the traces of moisture made her to look in his eyes. Ofc this wasn't something she could ignore.

"Rishi tu bhi iss.. bakwaas se mazak mei mila hua h? I.. didn't expect it from you!" She was a little hesitant as she searched words to speak. She then turned to open the locks again but this time, Rishi pulled her a little roughly and yelled..

"Seenu yeh mazak nhi h! Daya sachmei shaadi kar rha h.." His voice broke up, "Shreya se!"

She just stared him as he spoke. Her face was silent but somehow was still hinting trust. Trust on him; trust on their love; trust on their friendship! She wasn't much stupid to accept whatever the fuck Rishi said, but somewhere deep, was sure that Rishi wasn't lying.

"Seenu! Shreya, Tarika ki behen h!" Rishi spoke calmly trying to read her expressions.

Shanaya tried hard to not tear up. Though she was sure this wasn't true, but can't deny the fact that words do affect her, even if they are false.

"Uss.. usse hi baat karte h.. na seedhe..!" She spoke with a little heavy tone and walked towards the car, clutching the card as tight as possible to probably stay strong.

"Theek hai!" Rishi sighed as he was already prepared for this.

Rishi knew his best friends won't rely on these cards and shits. He knew they believed in talking their hearts out and was what he has done past years, to solve their issues and make them catch up.

But this time it was different. He knew the reason behind and wanted to do something for both is them, but this time he as bound, he was helpless.

They reached duo's home without anyone speaking a single words. Shanaya was confused and hurt little, while Rishi was helpless.

As they took the last turn to duo's house they saw a car entering the main gate. Rishi stopped the car before only as he recognised the person driving the car. Shanaya looked at him with questioning eyes, he struggled to find words and said in a convincing tone..

"Mujhe lagta h yeh sahi.. sahi time nhi h inn bato ka. Sham mei aram se bhi toh baat kar skte h!" Rishi was sure that she caught his stupid lie.

"Tu uske ghar tak le aya and ab tujhe yeh ab sahi nhi lagta? Mai bevkoof nhi hu Rishi!" Shanaya was a little loud this time, a little restless.

"Seenu meri baat samjhane ki koshi-"

"Tujhe nhi aana, tu mat aa! Teri yeh bakwaas agar jhoot nikli na Rishi, toh mujhse buta koi nhi hoga!" She exited the car and banged the door behind.

Rishi panicked and got out instantly to stop her but she was already entering the main gate.

"Shanaya please! You.. you cant go in!" Rishi held her arm to stop her but she jerked him roughly and started moving towards the back door.

Rishi tried to stop her many times but she wasn't able to get any of his words. She was too determined to clear out the misunderstanding but when something stop her in mid.

Rishi traced her eyes and instantly got what she saw. They were standing a little far from the lounge window.

They could see an old couple in mid fifties sitting and talking about something. Abhijeet was sitting, facing the couple and Tarika was sitting on the right.

But two people were completely lost from the site.

"Yeh.. yeh log kaun hai?" Shanaya shivered by the very thought that popped in her mind.

"Tarika ke mummy papa." Rishi whispered sadly.

"Sh..shreya?" She whispered in a hurt tone when she saw Daya and Shreya entering the lounge.

Rishi just hummed. He wasn't able to speak anything. Everything was in front of her now. Everything.

Her heart ached badly after seeing the smile on their faces, especially on his face. Don't know for how much time she did not breath. Her eyes started expelling saline water which unfortunately didn't affect her stare. She stood there staring Daya's happy face.

"Seenu please chal yaha se! Yeh.. yeh time sahi nhi h." He added sadly, "Aur.. aur uska decision ab change nhi hoga! Humne puri koshish karke dekh li."

Flashback ends.

Rishi came out of his thoughts when he heard the landline ringing. He wiped his tears away and turned to the rest CID team who were working on various files and discussing various cases to find any clue that could related this case.

He looked at Shanaya. She was on surfing her phone, but was lost somewhere else.

Rishi sighed and pov, "Mai nhi samajh skta Seenu ki uss din tujhe kitna dard hua hoga. But tujhe sach batana ka aur koi rasta tha hi nhi. Daya ne kaha tha uske ghar Tarika ke parents aane vale h.. aur humne socha ki yehi sahi waqt h, tu sab khud apni ankho se dekh legi!" He took a deep breath and pov, "Mujhe maaf kar dena Seenu!"


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