Were We Written in the Sand

...

Flashback:

Still in her wedding dress Tarika rushed into the hospital. Untouched with the strange gazes of the people around her she kept running along the corridors. She tried calling Daya but found her phone was dead. Managing her bridal heavy skirt she kept looking through the doors of the cabins.

She stopped. There he was. Lying on a hospital bed. His eyes were closed and head was banged. Tarika placed her right palm over her mouth in a reflex to suppress her cry of agony. She was about to touch the handle of the door when someone held her wrist. Tarika jerked and looked at her side.

"You shouldn't be here." Came a very cold voice.

"Daya, I... I just want to see him once." Tarika cried.

"Tarika try to understand! Why are you making things difficult for both of you?" Daya lost his temper.

"Because it can't get any better damn it!" Tarika cried loud. "What do you think only your friend is in pain? Huh? Daya, not only I have lost him," she choked, "I have given all the rights to someone else! I have even lost the right to remember him and cry. I have lost the right to even ask forgiveness. I have lost my everything." Tarika sobbed and leaned against the wall in defeat.

"Yes, you have lost your all rights. And hence, you shouldn't be here." Daya said controlling his tears.

"I know. And yet I am here. And does it look like I would listen to you?" Tarika said with fiery eyes.

"Tarika I beg to you."

"I don't damn care."

"Tarika..."

But she had already entered into cabin and banged the door behind her. Daya sighed and decided to wait outside for a while.

With the sudden sound Abhijeet opened his eyes. He was in trance due to sedatives. Tarika could tell he wasn't in his full sense. She saw his eyes getting watery. Another fits of sobs came out of her mouth. She stepped towards him. Abhijeet was crying. But he didn't move. His eyes were fixed on her forehead. The red powder on her forehead was giving her a complete bridal look which might had tearing his heart apart.

Tarika slipped her fingers in his hand and held it tight. Abhineet made some futile attempts to get rid of her grip but failed.

"I am..." Tarika started but couldn't finish her sentence. All the machines started to bip at once. Tarika left his hand in panic. Daya entered inside. Within a few seconds the nurses and doctor entered too.

Tarika was shocked to see the doctor. The doctor also lost trance for a moment but as the nurses urges him for instruction he gathered his senses and attended Abhijeet. Tarika was standing there like a statue. Daya dragged her outside the cabin and made her sit on the bench. He sat beside her silently not knowing what to say.

"Did Avinash attend Abhijeet in OT?" Tarika asked.

"I just saw him." Said Daya.

Tarika looked lost totally. Daya pressed her hand lightly, trying to make her feel good.

"How long the surgery took?"

"Not so long."

"It isn't serious, is it?"

"No. He will be fine."

Tarika sighed.

Daya cried too.

"I.. I dont know how to manage him." Daya stated.

"You have to be strong Daya."

"I can't Tarika."

"Daya..."

"No Tarika. No. Apart from his job if he ever been so passionate for something its you. I have never seen him demanding or praying anything for himself but if he ever prayed he always wanted you in his life."

Tarika looked away. Only if he had said once. But she wouldn't tell Daya about it. She could give hundreds of reasons but deep down she knew that its all her fault, all her guilt. It wasn't like she didn't want him in his life but the destiny had bigger plans for them.

"Don't come in front of him for a couple of days." Daya ordered.

"I have to talk to him."

"Talking would change nothing." Daya said loudly but then lowered his voice, "Talk to him later. Please."

Tarika looked at her fingers without answering.

The door opened and Abhinash came out. Daya ran to him.

"Is he okay?" Daya asked, panicked.

"He's fine. Let him sleep and take rest." Abhinash said tapping Daya's shoulder.

"Can I see him?"

Abhinash nodded and Daya went inside the cabin.

Abhinash looked at his newly wed wife sitting at the bench lost in her thoughts. He went near her.

"You might wanna see him." He said with pain in his voice.

Tarika shook her head, still looking down.

"He's fine."

She didn't say anything.

"I am leaving. You want me to wait for you in car?"

"Let's go." Tarika stood up.

"You can have your time."

But Tarika walked away.

Flashback ends.

Tarika stood near the window looking at the sky. She knew it was too much for Abhinash to see his newly wed wife at hospital in their wedding night. He was guilt for leaving her like that but turned out she didn't even care. Abhinash was a very good friend of her and may be was always in love with her. He gave her time to adjust in new relationship. He never forced, he never demanded but that sadness over his face was hard to go unnoticed. Tarika's heart used to ache for him from the starting but during those days she was out of control herself. It did take a long time.

On The other hand Abhijeet was in guest room, restless. He was travelling in his memories. Well, he had been living in his memories only. But every memory felt so fresh suddenly. Like, it'd just happened a couple of days ago.

Flashback:

Days passed. Abhijeet had left hospital. Daya was staying with him. Abhijeet was quite. He didn't ask about Tarika. That morning in hospital when he woke up and looked around with hopes in his eyes, hoping it all to be a bad dream Daya crushed his hopes by saying, 'she's not here.' Abhijeet had answered, 'sure, she isn't.' A different kind of rag was eating him inside but he calmed down. He needed to get well soon. And for that he needed to be calmed.

That was it. He never asked about Tarika to Daya or to any team members when they visited him. But she didn't leave his mind for a single second. Daya didn't allow him to go out. He tried to sneak out to go and see her but Daya was too alert to let him do so. However, he never admitted that he was trying to sneak.

Abhijeet was about to start Bureau tomorrow. He hadn't completely recovered but ACP sir allowed him desk job. Abhijeet knew both Daya and ACP were allowing him in Bureau because they thought he's coping up with the situation well. That he had accepted everything and trying to move on.

For others Tarika might not be a very important part for him but it was impossible to trick Daya.

Abhijeet was cleaning his gun seating on couch when Daya approached him.

"Abhijeet, I need to talk to you."

"I am listening." Abhijeet said, without looking at his buddy.

"Abhijeet..."

"There's nothing which can shock me anymore Daya. So, say it."

"Abhijeet, I.. I think you should extend your leave."

"What? You talked to ACP sir for me Daya to let me in Bureau. What happened now?" Abhijeet looked at him.

"I know. But now I think, you are not ready to face Tarika." Said Daya.

Abhijeet paused. His eyes got teary only by listening her name.

"Will I ever be ready for it Daya?" Abhijeet asked, pleading.

Daya lost his words.

"It's never going to be better for me untill I," Abhijeet paused and concentrated on his gun again.

"Untill what?" Daya asked, afraid. He knew there's something behind his calm behaviour. A calm Abhijeet was scarier than a ragged Abhijeet. Daya knew it very well.

"Nothing Daya." Abhijeet gave a small smile.

"Abhijeet... you.. you are not trying to get her back, are you?"

"She loves me Daya." Abhijeet stated looking straight in his eyes. "And she deserves to be with the person she loves."

"She doesn't love you anymore. She's married now. Don't be ridiculous."

"She does. She came to see me in her wedding day. She cares. She always do. It's just she's forced into this marriage. I know it. I am so damn fool. She gave me multiple hints but I was so naive to understand. I was so dumb I let her go like that. But, I will rectify everything. I just need to talk to her, which I will tomorrow."

"You are not going to do anything like this Abhijeet!"

"Try and stop me."

"Ofc I will."

"Huh! Why did she marry that lamb anyway?" Abhijeet asked carelessly.

"Abhijeet! He's her husband. This marriage is not a joke for her. She's serious about it. Dont hurt her feelings more. She had went through a lot already. If you can't be supportive then just stay away from her."

"Stay away from her Daya?" Abhijeet choked with lump in his throat. "How can I?" He pleaded. "There's not a single second I do not think about her. I can't let her go just like this. Only thinking about it make my heart stop beating. Daya, I wanted her so badly in my life. I wanted her more than anything else. I AM OBSESSED WITH HER DAMN IT!"

"You have to let go your obsession boss." Daya said, jerking him.

"No."

"Yes Abhijeet."

"Leave me alone."

"Abhi.."

"I said leave me alone." Abhijeet turned around.

"Fine. I am leaving. But remember one thing Abhijeet. Don't scop so low into your level that you cant even look up into her eyes in future. You already have lost her love. Don't lose her respect too."

Daya left. Abhijeet shrugged. He wasn't going to let the things end so easily. He had to try.

Flashback Ends

There's a knock on his door which was opened already. He discovered a tiny hand pushing the door. Abhijeet's breathe caught into his throat. A girl 5/6 years of age entered into his room with a glass of water. Abhijeet stood up from his place automatically. He didn't know why his eyes got teary. He didn't know if its happiness or pain. The feeling was strange. That small girl was an exact replica of the woman he had been loving all his life. Same eyes, same curls.

"Hello uncle. My name is Abhika."

"Hello." Abhijeet's word came out as a whisper.

"Water?"

Abhijeet took the glass from her and drank a little.

"Gramdma asked if you had your dinner?"

"I'm not hungry." Abhijeet said lovingly.

"Ohm okay. But mamma says its a bad habit to skip meal."

"Your mamma?"

"Yes." Abhika nodded

That made Abhijeet chuckle. The woman who'd been skipping meals all her life was lecturing her daughter about it.

"She's right."

"Then, should I bring you food?" Abhika asked happily.

"No. I am really not hungry." Abhijeet smiled.

"Okay. It's almost my bed time. Good night."

"Abhika.."

"Yes uncle?"

Abhijeet wanted to adore that little girl. But he was afraid how would she react to the affection of a stranger.

"Nothing. Good night."

Abhika turned to go but again faced Abhijeet.

"I think I have seen you somewhere." Abhika said pretending to remember.

"You have?"

"Yes, I have a very sharp memory."

"Indeed." Abhijeet chuckled

"Anyways, good night."

"Night."

Abhika left. Abhijeet sighed. His almost stable emotions had started to get messed already. He didn't know how many things were still unknown to him.

KK: Thanks for your reviews in previous chapter. Please review for this too. And pray for me.