Were We Writen in the Sand
..."How are you, Abhijeet?"
A simple querry and yet he found his eyes getting wet with the mere words. It wasn't intentional. It happened just as a reflex. Something he wanted to be asked from a long time and when it did happen he wasn't sure if the tears were of happiness or sorrow.
He had left her house early in the morning. After spending the night sleepless he decided to leave without meeting her in her house. He thought to meet her at work and ask if she would be okay with him staying at her house. How funny! She wouldn't.
The lady on the other hand who asked the question looked down with a rueful smile, as if laughing on her fate.
"What's so funny?" Abhijeet asked. He was surprised with his casualness. He wasn't sure he would be able to do this. Well done.
"The fact that I still bring tears into your eyes." Tarika smiled this time.
Abhijeet kept looking at her without blinking. They were standing at the corridor of Shimla Crime Branch. It was early in the . They finally had met each other after 6 long years.
Tarika started to get uncomfortable with his constant gaze and looked away. Abhijeet still kept looking at her. Why was she looking so off. Had she been crying the whole night? But why?
"I'm good." Abhijeet lied efficiently, just like the past 6 years.
"Good to know."
Her casual behaviour was killing him. But that's how it was destined to happen. There's nothing left between them anymore after all.
"How are you?" Abhijeet qurried back. But unlike her, it held millions of emotions in it. It was like every cell of his body were contributing, like they all actually wanna know how she was.
"Good." Tarika answered nodding her head. This time her eyes got watery too.
Abhijeet's heart ached more than before. He felt like she's been lying too, just like him. He narrowed his eyes at her. But she smiled in return, knowing she had been caught with her lie just like him.
Tarika looked down at her fingers not knowing what to talk further. Abhijeet on the other hand felt like he could pass the whole day standing there, like that.
"How's everyone at Mumbai?" Tarika asked.
"Fine."
Tarika nodded again.
"I met Abhika." Abhijeet said.
"Yeah, she told me."
"She's just like you."
'I suppose."
Abhijeet took a deep breath.
"Tarika,"
Tarika looked up at his face.
"Are you happy?" Abhijeet asked her the question he wanted to know all along this years.
Her face became impressive. It was like she was trying to mask her emotions from him.
"Here you are." Raj walked towards them. "I was looking for you. We need to hurry to the crime spot."
Taking his eyes off from her Abhijeet nodded at Raj.
"Good morning Dr Tarika." Raj greeted her.
"Morning." Tarika replied shortly.
"See you later. Come Abhijeet." Raj walked away. Abhijeet followed him reluctantly.
Tarika sighed and walked towards the lab.
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At night after returning from work Abhijeet was packing his bag when someone knocked at the door.
"You? Please come." Abhijeet said opening the door.
The old lady entered and and looked around the room. She looked at his bag.
Abhijeet followed her gaze.
"Actually aunty, I didn't know... and it seemed rude to leave last night. I have arranged my accomodation." Abhijeet explained.
He didn't knew the lady before. Abhijeet had never been in Abhinash's house and morever as far as he knew his mother wasn't staying with him permanently at that time. Nevertheless, Abhijeet could understand if the lady knew him. And he was sure she didn't know him in best way.
"Have you talked to Tarika about it?"
"Ji... Ji?" Abhijeet was taken aback by the querry.
"You should talk to her about it. I dont have any problem with you staying here. You are her friend after all. She always says Mumbai CID is like a family to her. And I wouldn't like her family to wander around in Shimla for accommodation."
"Oh.. I mean..." Abhijeet was hesitant.
"I was here to call you for dinner."
"No.. no thanks. I.. umm... I had my dinner."
"While you are here I will really aappreciate it if you dine with us." The lady smiled.
" I... I will try." Abhijeet said politely.
The lady smiled and left.
Abhijeet sighed. He didn't want to face Abhinash. But he didn't want to leave abruptly too. That would make things more awkward. He wanted everything to be normal this time. He didn't want to rush things. He sat on bed and sighed again. He remembered the time when he wasn't this calm. When he went crazy behind her, destroying everything he had in his hand.
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FLASHBACK:
Abhijeet was driving his car through the roads of Mumbai. Sitting beside him was Tarika, totally calm. Abhijeet was continuously sneaking peeks at her. He had trapped her into going with him in a crime spot. He called Tarika to come to parking lot hurriedly as they had to go to a crime spot. Sensing the seriousness in his voice she got there as soon as possible. But when she reached she found him to be the only person there. Before Tarika could sense something fishy Abhijeet ordered her to get into the car while going through his mobile. Tarika obeyed in pure innocence. The journey started and as time passes Tarika realized his intention. But she stayed calm. Exceptionally calm. That made Abhijeet irked. He wanted her to demand explanations, he wanted her to shout at him. But somehow Tarika knew what he wanted and she was doing exactly the opposite of that. She didn't even protested his looks. That was making Abhijeet nuts. But he tried to control.
"You should have asked by now where we are going." Abhijeet finally stated.
"Wherever you are taking me." Tarika said that in a strict and annoyed voice but as soon as the words were out of her mouth she regretted it. She looked at him and indeed found him staring at her meaningfully.
She had said that line to him multiple times, but with love and trust. Nothing was same as before. The same words, but feelings were different.
"Abhijeeeet!"
Tarika screamed and at the same time control the steering. The car ended up hitting a tree by the road side.
"You.. you are okay?" Abhijeet gently touched her shoulder in anxiousness.
Tarika looked at his hand making Abhijeet conscious. He took off his hand hesitatingly. Tarika smiled ruefully on her mind.
"I'm fine."
They got down from the car. The car was damaged.
"I will call the mechanic and leave the car here. The hotel is just a few minutes away from here. Can you walk or should I call a taxi?"
"Let's walk." Tarika said shortly and started walking ahead. Abhijeet guided her. Things weren't still going as he planned. Tarika was totally untouched with his presence. He wasn't able to make an impact on her so far. But he wasn't going to give up.
AN: Sooooooo late update! Two months I guess. Seriously guys when I started this story I didn't want it to drag for years like my previous stories. But may be I forgot that this cant be happening with my profession. I have been super busy nowadays. So, here's a short update. Keep reviewing to encourage me.