Were we written in the sand
...
Tarika entered into Shimla Bureau wearing a light red colour saree with black black sleeveless blouse, hair as neatly clipped as always. She passed a formal smile to Abhijeet before heading for ACP's cabin. Abhijeet was talking with Rashi, sub-inspector who looked very interested towards the handsome cop.
Tarika stopped on her way out to hand over a file to Abhijeet. She waited for the pair to finish their talk. Rashi was behaving extra sweet and smiling a lot. She was playing with her long hair too to gain Abhijeet's attention but Abhijeet being Abhijeet, was totally oblivious to his surroundings. Or it seemed so. Tarika could tell he was deliberately showing himself oblivious to Rashi.
"Clear?" Abhijeet asked, finally looking at Rashi.
"It should be when you are the one explaining." Rashi replied teasingly.
Abhijeet gave an awkward smile. Rashi didn't move so he raised his eyebrows in a way to ask her to leave.
"I.. I'll get back to work."
"Good.'
Rashi walked away.
Tarika let out a soft giggle.
"What?" Abhijeet was confused
"Nothing. It's just nothing has changed after all."
"It seems changed to me." Abhijeet said softly.
"I meant girls falling for your charms." Tarika cleared her point.
"Yeah.. but it used to bother you previously and now look at you, enjoying the situation " Abhijeet smiled.
"Abhijeet." Jay called him.
"Excuse me." Abhijeet excused himself not wanting to witness Tarika's blank expression anymore.
Tarika stood there for a while and left for lab.
At lab...
Rashi after gathering the important information about the ongoing case moved towards Tarika.
"Dr Tarika."
"Yeah? Anything else you need to know Rashi?"
"No.. I mean actually yes. But not about the case." Rashi blushed
Tarika recalled the morning incident and understood Rashi's situation. Abhijeet and his charms on girls. Would it ever gonna fade? Tarika rolled her eyes internally.
"Yeah?" Tarika asked the sub inspector to continue.
"Actually, it's about Abhijeet sir.'
'What about him?"
"You were at Mumbair CID for a long time na? So, you know him..."
"Yeah, he's single." Tarika said with a smile.
"That I know." Rashi laughed. "I was asking, how's he? Like, as a person."
"The way he is." Tarika said shortly. Deep down she knew his everything was real. There's nothing fabricated in him. And yet, there's a lot to know, a lot to discover in him. A reserve person he was.
"He seems, I don't know, reserve."
"He is. His job demands him to be. And he doesn't have a family."
"Tch, I know."
Tarika was surprised with her knowledge on Abhijeet.
"Then, what else do you wanna know?"
"Dr Tarika... He looks lost. His eyes are so dull like they had died years ago. Does he have a painful past? More like someone who once loved and lost?"
Tarika's heart sank. Even a random girl could tell his condition. What had she done to him? Her eyes got watery and she avoided her gaze.
"Dr Tarika?"
"I have some works to do. I will talk to you later." Tarika walked away.
"Dr Tarika listen..."
0-0-0
0-0-0
Tarika leaned against her car and broke down. She was trying to live a new life leaving him like like that. How could she? As if she wasn't guilty enough, Rashi added extra fuel in it.
"Tarika?" Abhijeet called
She wiped away her tears.
"TARIKA? Why.. Why are you crying?" Abhijeet asked and smirked inwardly teasing himself, 'now you see her crying?'
"Nothing Abhijeet. You are going home?"
"No.. I have some work."
"Okay."
"I went to lab to ask for your car. But i see you are leaving.."
"Its okay. You can take it."
"No no.. I will manage.."
"Abhijeet its fine. Please."
"You should have asked why didn't I ask Jay for his car instead."
"Have I ever questioned you like this?" She smiled
"True." Abhijeet smiled too.
"Good night then"
"Let me call you a cab." Abhijeet walked ahead to book a cab for her. Tarika smiled and got into the cab.
Next Morning...
Abhijeet joined the family at breakfast. It's Sunday morning.
"You didn't have your dinner last night beta " Tarika's mother in law said.
"Actually aunty I returned late."
"I will leave your meal in your room next time."
"Aunty you dont have to.."
"No uncle, skipping meal is not good for health. If you dont take care of your health how will catch the bad guys hmm?" Abhika said.
"Okay... I'll not skip meals from now on. Happy?"
"Yaaay!"
Tarika smiled.
"Uncle, will you take me to ice skating?"
"Yeah.. sure. When you wanna go?"
"Today?"
"Umm.." Abhijeet looked at Tarika.
"Don't look at mom. She wont come."
"Why?" Abhijeet was surprised.
"She doesn't want to ice skat."
Abhijeet looked at Tarika who averted her gaze.
"I will serve tea." she left for the kitchen.
Abhijeet asked Abhika's grandmother's permission.
"I dont have any problem. Ask Tarika. And if you can please take her too."
"I.. I will ask her."
After finishing breakfast Abhijeet was leaving when Tarika called him.
"You can take Abhika if you are not busy."
"Thanks. I am not busy today."
"I will make her ready."
"Aren't you coming?"
"Can't you manage Abhika alone?"
"I dont know. We are yet not that close "
"You are too good with kids Abhijeet. I wouldn't have let her go with anyone else " She smiled.
Abhijeet paused for a while.
"It was in your bucket list Tarika... ice skating. You are living in Shimla for 6 years. And you never tried it?"
"I just don't feel like doing it anymore Abhijeet."
"Why? Your life hasn't stopped Tarika."
"Yes. But I have stopped someone's life. I have caged a person in a shell 6 years back. And it kills me."
"Tarika... I dont blame you."
"I do."
"You better stop doing that."
"Seriously Abhijeet... I just dont feel to do anything.. please dont push me."
"You are coming with us."
Abhika too joined Abhijeet and insisted Tarika. Tarika finally gave up.
"Yaaay" Abhika exclaimed.
KK: Eid Mubarak guys.