Were We Written in the Sand
...Shimla! The city of snow. The air of which contains serenity and a different kind of feel. A dream place to visit. And for those, who had visited once, it's a place wanting to be back again and again.
He wanted to come back again too. With her probably. Sitting by the window seat of the bus as he travelled through the city to reach his destination he filled his lungs with air. Years ago they had been there together, with the team. They didn't have anything deeper than. Just that increasing heart beats whenever he used to see her. It used to be difficult to keep the compliments to himself. For others it might look he used to deliberately make the comments but they were out of his mouth even before he could process them in mind. And even then, though half heartedly or may be full heartedly who knew he had said to her they would come back here again, together. She had only smiled before rolling her eyes playfully. She didn't use to trust his words, did he? She used to make his attempts look so futile, so stupid.
His heart constricted. He questioned himself, then when did it all become so serious from her side? He could remember a few episodes of her care and love filled behaviour but again he couldn't decipher the starting point. It was all so gradual, so slow. So slow that he missed it himself. So slow that he couldn't understand when it had come to the end point. He missed the hints. He missed the pleads. Or he just didn't care?
OO
FLASHBACK:
Abhirika were sitting in a restaurant. Abhijeet was busy over a call and Tarika was just stirring her soup, aimlessly lost in her thoughts. Abhijeet finished the call and looked at her.
"The soup isn't good?" He asked.
"No, its.. its fine." Tarika smile.
"What is it Tarika? You look awfully down these days."
"Stress of works I guess."
"Really? Aren't we work at the same premises? I know how stressful the works are going. Tell me Tarika."
"Umm.. Abhijeet..." Tarika looked away and sighed. "My parents are coming over."
"Oh, that's wonderful." Abhijeet sounded happy.
"Not so much." Tarika uttered under her breath.
"What? Why?" Abhijeet asked hearing her.
Tarika might not wanted him to hear that. So she became startled.
"No... It is wonderful. Really... but they..."
"They??"
"They... " Tarika sighed again.
Abhijeet's phone rang again. It was his informer this time. He started to talk with him and in between he looked at Tarika. She was calm and disappointed. As she realized Abhijeet had to leave to meet his informer she looked away disheartened and left the table slowly. The information he was getting was so important that he couldn't interrupt in between and he had no choice but to look at her going.
"Okay. I will be there to have the proofs." He cut the call and ran outside with a hope to find her waiting for him by his car. But she was nowhere. He sighed, cursing his damn luck. He took out his mobile to message her and found her message.
'I have taken a cab. Good night. Be careful.'
Abhijeet smiled ruefully on his luck and messaged her back.
'I am sorry.'
And he was sorry. Truely. Completely. And he also knew that she knew and believed.
FLASHBACK ends...
o
o
Why didn't he have time to listen to her that day or any other day? Was she really taken for granted in his life like others always used to say. But just because he was bad with words it didn't mean she wasn't important to him. She was the only person on earth he wanted to have in his life by any means. It was just he couldn't convey it.
Well, he could speak for himself. But why couldn't he gave her the comfort to tell him things which were stressing her that much without hesitation. And there he failed himself, his emotions.
He looked around the bus. It wasn't very crowded. Minutes later the bus stopped and he got down with his bag. He took a cab and started his journey towards the shimla crime branch. Yes, there she had been working now. He didn't have any idea till he stumbled upon the paper containing the names of all the officers working there before he started his assigned work. He's sent here from head quarter for supervising a case. But in reality he was there to find out the culprit who's betraying the nation. It's more like a mission but among his fellows. He wasn't very keen to come here but when he saw her name he couldn't stop himself. He couldn't suppress his urge to see her after all these years. He wouldn't cause any trouble. He wouldn't even ask for her time. He would just have her glances and leave. Or perhaps, if she behave a little warm he would ask if she missed him.
He chuckled on his thought. What had he been thinking? Why would she miss him? She wouldn't. But at least she remembered him, sometimes? He wished. From the day he got to know he's meeting her he had been imagining the meeting on his mind in all possible ways. But nothing actually mattered to him. All he wanted was, just to see her eyes getting warm seeing him. He could live with that perfectly fine. Nothing else.
He again got lost in his past.
o
o
o
FLASHBACK
Two days after that restaurant incident Abhijeet had to leave for a mission abruptly. Daya was driving him to the airport from his home at night.
"Don't be iron man okay." Daya gave his instruction while concentrating on road.
"Yeah fine."
"What is it?" Daya asked, finding his friend worried.
"Umm.. nothing. It's just Tarika.."
"You haven't told her?"
"She didnt pick up my phone. I left her a message."
"Oh! You didn't even have time to meet her."
"Yeah.. plus her parents are in town."
"Oh.. so arguments? That's why she's not picking up your phone?"
"I dont know yaar. There's something going on in her mind. But she's so hesitated to tell me. And damn with my work... I couldn't manage time for her either "
"Don't get so frustrated buddy."
"I am going to propose her after this mission."
"Yeah.. will see. You have been telling me this from a long time now." Daya rolled his eyes.
"This time I will surely do it."
"Okay okay. But seriously, you concentrate on your mission. I will take care of everything here. I will ask her what's bothering her."
"Thanks yaar Daya!"
"Really! Thanks!"
Daya had to press the break hardly.
"Hey careful!" Abhijeet exclaimed. But Daya's gaze was fixed on road. Abhijeet followed his gaze and found Tarika on road, standing beside her bike.
"What the heck!" Abhijeet exclaimed again taking off his seat belt.
"She's probably here to bid you good bye." Daya said.
Abhijeet gave an unbelievable look to his best friend and got down from the car.
"Hurry up. We will be getting late." Daya shouted behind his buddy.
Abhijeet walked towards Tarika. Tarika forced a smile on her face seeing him.
"What are you doing here?" Abhijeet was enraged.
"I wanted to meet you before you leave." Tarika shrugged as if it wasn't any matter.
"Tarika! It was risky. And.."
"Save it Abhijeet."
Abhijeet sighed.
"Okay. You better take care of yourself when I am gone." Abhijeet said, adorably, cupping her face.
"You too." Tarika looked down.
"Tarika, I don't know whats bothering you but I promise I will fix everything after coming from the mission."
Tarika nodded.
"I am fine Abhijeet. And I am sorry for avoiding you like this. Don't think much about all these. Everything is fine here. Come back safe and sound."
"I will." Abhijeet hugged her.
"Make your promise." Tarika encouraged him.
"You know it by heart now."
"Still I want to hear "
Abhijeet smiled and broke the hug. Taking her hands in his he looked into her eyes.
"I promise I will return back to you. And if by any chance I do not, please forgive me."
Tarika nodded with tears in her eyes. She never cried before bidding him good bye before.
"And I promise I will wait for you. But if by any chance I do not, please forgive me."
"Tarika... what are you saying?"
"Just copying your words." She laughed. " It isn't so pleasant to hear, is it?"
"Ofc not." Abhijeet warned her.
"Close your eyes."
"What? Why?"
"Please." Tarika insisted.
"Okay." Abhijeet closed his eyes.
He felt her lips on his and opened his eyes in shock. He tried to take a step back but Tarika held his collar tight. He didn't have any choice but let her kiss. It was a short one. Tarika broke the kiss and looked down.
Abhijeet was embarrassed. Daya was going to eat him alive.
"Take care." Tarika didn't look at him and left with her bike. Abhijeet was too shock to respond. He came back in reality with the car's horn. Hurriedly he got into the car.
Daya smirked.
"Don't say a word!" Abhijeet warned him.
Daya didn't but that didn't stop him from giving his friend teasing look.
And Abhijeet was more worried about Tarika's weird behaviour than her sudden kiss.
FLASHBACK ends...
o
o
o
He entered into the crime branch with enraged heart beats. 6 years! It had been a long 6 years. And then it suddenly occured to him, did she know he would come? Had she also anticipating the meeting like him? With this his desire to see her increased by ten more folds.
Here he was. The ACP of the branch welcomed him warmly. He could sensed the presence of around 10 people in the room but he didn't look around. He want to meet her eyes directly, when they would be introduced. Though he tried to concentrate on every officer it was getting difficult with every passing second.
"Welcome to our crime branch." ACP welcomed him again.
Something in his heart crashed down. He's done with the introduction but where was she? He's been introduced with a lab junior male assistant but what about her? Should he ask the ACP?
"Oh, our forensic Expert Dr Tarika is on leave today. You will meet her tomorrow." ACP added.
Abhijeet closed his eyes in relaxation. Its going to be a long 24 hours indeed but at least she's here. He's going to meet her.
Waiting was hard.
KK: I hope you have liked the chapter. Thanks for your awesome reviews on ANJ. Please review for this one too.