Author's note:
hey folks! I hope that you're doing well and you're safe with your family and friends. Here I am with a new short story. It was a request story, which was requested long back by Jyoti. I know I am pretty late, too much maybe, but anyways here it is.
So about the story, it is based on post sankatkal episode - aka the submarine episodes. So you can consider the happenings in those episodes to be the foundation for the reactions and actions in this story. This will be a short story, mostly will try to wrap it up in 2 - 3 chapters, highly depending on how much long chapters you're willing to read. Mostly a pre-written story, so expecting to post regular updates. This is a major trio - duo story. Emphasising on the aftermath of sankatkal happenings.
Hope you have a good time reading this one! Enjoy and stay safe!
"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
Shikayatein
The moist air of a rainy day had covered the whole city into a picturesque painting. The season that came with thunder, also brought bundles of joy in the form of refreshed occasional showers all around the city. Sometimes even to the busiest ones that knew the rainy season more for its traffic than its scent.
It would have been a wonderful idea to actually experience it through the large glass wall, if only the circumstances had been any different. The slow paced traffic and printing noise in the bureau wasn't aiding much either. Not to mention the substantially hectic week that they had, filled with chaos and overwhelm of emotions; no one could be blamed to act gloomier than the sky they were beneath. Somewhere they all wished, if they could just wrap it up and sleep till forever. But, today wasn't certainly their lucky day.
The senior officer entered inside as he went to his desk and started discussing the work. "Kuch pata chala uss truck ke number plate ke bare me?" He inquired.
"Nahi sir number plate fake tha. Hum abhi pure main road ki CCTV check kar rahe hai. Kahin na kahin se toh aage driver ka chehra dikhega." Pankaj said as he showed him the CD's they had acquired from the traffic police.
He nodded as he spoke ahead. "thike..tum log end Tak lead karo isko. Kuch bhi ho ye hamara ek hi lead hai. Hum log neighbours se baat karenge."
As he said that another person entered inside and said "kya hua kuch pata chala daya uska?"
Daya shook his head in no as he walked ahead. "fake tha plate(gazing at the screen)ab toh neighbours se hi sakti se puchna hoga Abhijeet."
"Hmm..(gazing at the screen and then at daya)pata nahi kya bolenge pichle hafte se ek hi raat lagaye baithe hai ke shifting chal rahi thi hame laga movers and packers ka truck hai."
Sitting down daya spoke " yaar Aisa kaunsa museum shift kar rahe jo itna bada truck laga inhe? Aur wo bhi kaun se company ka ye taq nahi pucha kisi ne? Itni badi society hai par har koi so raha tha bass.."
Abhijeet sighed as he just shook his head. "Chodo..ek bar dekh lena kya mamla hai agar kuch koi bole toh theeke."
"Han nai toh direct forensic se hi help hogi..yahan toh mujhe lag raha hai raghu ko hi bolte hai lead nikalne ke liye..andar ka kam hai ya supari walo ka..matlab.." when he got interrupted as acp sir entered inside. Everyone was wishing him good morning.
"Good morning sir." Daya said as acp sir came and stopped a second as his gaze fell on Abhijeet. Who wished him too. "Good morning sir" he said as Abhijeet felt acp sir gaze on him.
It was just for five ten seconds maybe, as acp sir stared at him. Trying to understand, let alone get a clue of the person standing in front of him. But no matter what, all he found was absolute nothingness. Feeling the stare of daya on him, acp sir averted his gaze as he just nodded to all of them and left towards his cabin. The whole ordeal was small, but didn't go unnoticed by any of them. All of them exchanged glances amongst them that said just one thing, nothing is normal.
Daya who watched acp sir leave into his cabin was silently standing at his place as he saw Abhijeet turn and return back his attention towards their leftover conversation.
"Han toh tum kya keh rahe the?"
Hearing Abhijeet's tone, which sounded devoid of any emotion, made him look at Abhijeet in an unbelievable gaze. Daya was finding this whole thing more weird than anything. His eyes silently asked Abhijeet.
"Are you just going to pretend that it's all fine? Really?"
The question that was present in dayas gaze was something Abhijeet knew very well, enough well to ignore than acknowledge. So he just plainly continued with.
"Daya bologe kya bol rahe the?(after a pause) jana hai na site pe..tu.."
Seeing how skillfully he just blatantly ignored what he said. Daya just spoke in a flat tone. "Yaad nahi mujhe. Tum dekho kya karna hai" daya spat instantly. As Abhijeet gazed at him with a passive face. Keeping the file aside, daya just walked around to leave. Abhijeet just stared at him to leave.
Kabhi lafzon se dard hai,
Toh kabhi uss sannate se,
Kehne ko toh hum pass hai,
Par beech ke,
ankahe jasbaton fasle hai milo ke,
He then ignored this, and turned back to purvi and said "tum nikalne ki tayyari karo.." saying he just left for the file room.
Purvi in turn gazed at Pankaj who was already gazing at her. "Sir ye.." Pankaj initiated as sachin just cut him off with.
"Tum log nikalne ki tayari karo..(gazing at the door of the bureau)baki jane do.." as he turned and started working. Sachin knew what Pankaj wanted to say and so did everyone in the room. But what could they do about it?
What happened was way too complicated to explain, or rather understand. Everything was supposed to be okay, but they all knew it wasn't. At Least not yet.
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Next day at the bureau:
After completing the majority of file work and reports. The teams were discussing their action plan.
"Sir yahan se teen entries hai..(pointing at the board) major toh samne se hai ye doh..par ek peeche se hai.." Pankaj spoke as everyone looked into the plan in front of them.
"Hmm..par idhar overlooking gallery hai..matlab atleast next bus stop tak ki vision hai unhe.." Sachin added as daya nodded with affirmation.
"Han wo toh hai..(gazing at them) uska matlab hame cars pehle hi chodni padegi..aur hum sab ek sath wahan dakhil nahi ho sakte..(pointing at the main road) ek toh hame pairs me jana padega aur toh aur undercover rehna padega.." he said as he marked the road on the map..
Purvi came forward as she questioned. "Par sir hamare aane ki bhanak unhe pehle bhi lag sakti hai..(pointing at the adjoining buildings) itne sare high rise buildings hai connected. Kya pata unhone apne aadmi baitha rakhe ho?(gazing at all) aakhir salon se dhanda kar rahe hai wahan.."
"Han purvi you're right..aur isiliye hame ek time bhi nahi...alag alag time me jana hai..aur alag alag raston se..(gazing at the map) ab hum in buildings me service providers banke ghus sakte hai .kuch gas delivery ke bahane ..(gazing at them)alag alag time alag alag log jana padega..jo aage jayega wo spot pe set ho jayega.." Abhijeet spoke as he gazed at Daya who nodded in assurance.
"Han…frankly aur koi chara nahi hai..pehle toh direct attack ka tha..par wo hum sabki jaan risk me dal sakta hai..so divide ho jate hai.." as daya spoke acp sir came near them..
"Kya hua koi tension hai?" He asked, seeing the tension on their faces.
"Nahi sir..tension aisa nahi...par plan me change ho raha hai..pehle hum direct base pe jane wale the..par location ki peculiarities dekhne ke baad lag raha hai ke divide hoke jana hi sahi hoga.." rajat added as he opened the other maps on the table.
ACP sir came ahead as he observed those maps.
"Nahi baat sahi hai..(pausing)uss area me 4 saal se active hai ye log. Ye raid and all se darne wale nahi hai..(gazing at the building)inhe record karo..inke khilaf video proofs ekattha karo..agar ek sath jaoge toh ek sec mai bhag jayenge..(then in a tensed voice) aur kya pata hamla bhi karde..(Abhijeet gazed up at him as he said that) ab tak teen police walon ko mar chuke hai ye log..police Cid ka dar nahi hai unhe.." he said as he keenly observed the map and the roads connecting the building.
"Isliye sir humne decide kiya tha ke 2 ke pairs me jayenge..ek backup rahega aur Shak hone jaise bhi nahi lagenge.." daya said as he gazed at acp sir who nodded in assurance.
"Wo toh thike par logo ko strategically place karo.." he said as he leaned forward to read the papers on the table.
Daya nodded as Sachin took a new colour pen and started the spots for each. And Daya started to state the spots and the officers allotted there.
"Sir mai aur purvi South side se jate hai.." Pankaj said
"Aur mai aur nikhil side gate cover karte hai.." Vineet said.
"Han sir..(pausing) aur sir mai aur shreya arihant building ki entry aur exit dono cover karte hai.." Freddy said as Shreya nodded.
"Han par Freddy tum dono ko dugna chaukana rehna padega wahan bohot logo ki nazar hogi.." acp sir warned as Freddy nodded.
"Kar lenge sir hum.." acp sir nodded as daya continued.
"Thike sir main areas me front gate mai aur Abhijeet cover karenge..aur.." daya was interrupted suddenly by abhijeet..
"Daya..(stopping him as daya looked up)tum rajat ke sath front end cover karo.." Abhijeet spoke as he gazed at Daya who was staring at him with a narrowed confused gaze.
"Par kyu(seeing others gaze on him he changed his words with) I mean tum..fir?" As he asked acp sir gazed at Abhijeet. Who ignored his gaze and spoke to daya.
"Han..wo mai aur..(gazing at sachin) hum second entrance cover kar lenge.." Abhijeet added. As daya stared at him in a disbelieving face. As Abhijeet just averted his gaze. He was suspecting something was brewing in abhijeets mind but he just wanted to know what. So he tried to speak ahead.
"Han sachin ke sath toh theeke..(unable to find the right words as everyone was staring at them both) means.."he waved off in the middle of the sentence as he didn't want to make it feel weird for rajat or sachin. Who were gazing at them both confused. He gazed at Abhijeet expecting him to at least make an eye contact. To at least tell him why he was doing this? Why was he avoiding getting paired with him? What was it? Did he feel that he was safer with Rajat than him?
No. This is ridiculous. Daya felt this avoiding thing was way too absurd. How can he be safer with anyone else other than Abhijeet himself? Was he really doubting himself after this ordeal? Really? Dayas mind is questioned.
As he silently gazed at acp sir, expecting him to see the amount of damage his words have caused between them..expecting him to say, to assure or at least say something in between this. But acp sir did nothing but gazed at him and then stared at Abhijeet who was busy averting his gaze from them both. Daya just felt pain as he saw this reaction from acp sir.
Kehne ko toh aaj sab sahi hai,
Baat maafi maangne ki,
Ya maaf karne ki ab nahi hai,
Ab beech mai koi cheez nayi hai,
Jiski wajah se samne ho kar bhi,
Hamari dard ki kahani ankahi hai,
So just stared aside and spoke. "Theke..tumhe agar..(gazing at Abhijeet in a hope to converse something but getting nothing)means...yeah..(gazing aside as he tried to focus his eyes ahead)thike...fir..(acp sir gazed at him)chalo..ready hote hai.." daya said as he fixed his gaze at Abhijeet as he spoke. As he could feel the awkwardness in the air bec of the conversation. Everyone was realising what was happening, but no one was able to make it any less weird or awkward.
So everyone dispersed and before daya could say anything Abhijeet spoke to acp sir. "Mai..nikalta hu sir.."
ACP sir barely nodded as he left the space in hurry. As he left the bureau, acp sir turned only to see daya staring at him.
"Aap kuch kahenge nahi use?" Dayas tone was laced with frustration and worry at the same time. He was finding this behaviour weird. As it was more than obvious that Abhijeet was avoiding him since the last so many days. It wasn't the first case when he had avoided being with daya. Ever since that incident somewhere it was evident that Abhijeet didn't believe that he was enough to protect daya if time comes. But why was acp sir just blatantly ignoring it all? So he gazed at acp sir. Who paused for a second and spoke.
"Mai kya keh sakta hu.." acp sir spoke in a low tone as dayas eyes flickered for a second. He couldn't believe him to be saying that after this..his brows furrowed as he felt a strong urge to argue with him.
But rather gave a frustrated gaze towards acp sir and spat in anger. "Kehte toh aap hai sir..(acp sir gazed at him as he said that) ye aapka choice hai..(pausing) kuch na kehne ka.." as he said that acp sir was going to say something but he spoke ahead. "Chalta hu..der ho rahi hai.."
Saying he left the bureau in moments. ACP sir just watched him leave the bureau as he took a deep breath.
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In the evening:
ACP sir was working in the cabin when salunkhe sir arrived. After gazing at the bureau being empty. He spoke, "kya koi bada case aya hai kya?" He said as he entered the cabin. ACP sir who was busy signing some papers nodded.
"Han wo ek operation hai..sab gaye hai.."
Salunkhe sir nodded as he sat down gazing at acp sir. "Chalo.. matlab aaj tum toh free ho..(pausing) aaj chalte hai kahin bahar khane ko.."
ACP sir gazing up for a second. "Nahi aaj nahi..abhi kam hai bohot.."
"Are yaar tumhara kam toh chalta rahega…(adding) kab nahi hota tumhe kam.." gazing at aco sir who was busy signing. "Ek do ghante ki baat hai..thoda refresh ho jaoge.."
"Salunkhe dikh raha hai na kam kar raha hu..(irritated voice)kyu baar baar zid kar rahe ho?" ACP sir asked as he turned the pages harshly. Salunkhe sir gazed at him and added in a tired voice.
"Yahi hai tumhara..sirf kam kam kam karna hota hai tumhe..(pausing)samne wale ke dil ki koi fikar hi nahi hoti.." he said in a grumpy voice. But rather got a harsh reply to this seemingly carefree complaint.
ACP sir closing the file in front harshly. "Han nahi hoti kadar mujhe..nahi samajh aati mujhe ye jazbaat..(pointing) ye rishte ..na pehle kabhi rishte nibha paya hun..(in pain) na ab kar paa raha hun..(salunkhe sir kept gazing silently)nahi rehta control...bol deta hun cheese..(feeling frustrated) kabhi kabhi toh lagta hai ke mujhe kisi se kabhi kuch kehna hi nahi chahiye...sirf sab ulta karta hu..'' acp sir spoke as he closed his eyes and pressed his forehead.
Salunke sir who was silent till now..just leans back in his chair. Understanding what this is all about..
"Matlab baat nahi ki hai tumne usse.."
ACP sir spat in anger. "Baat..(gazing at salunkhe sir)kya baat karu usse?(pointing towards the bureau)tikta bhi hai wo bureau me jo usse baat karu?(salunkhe sir shook his head) Roz subah se sham bahar rehta hai...aur kabhi mil bhi le toh sirf yes sir no sir ke siwa kuch kehta nahi hai..(gazing down)aur kahu usse toh bhi kya?(pausing) aur kis haq se salunkhe?"
Salunkhe sir nodded silently. As he speaks in a warm tone. "Maafi mangne ke liye haq ki zaroorat nahi hai Pradyuman..(acp sir just kept gazing at him as he said that)manta hun ke..jasbat jatana ya samazna tumse kabhi sahi se nahi ho paya hai..(leaning forward) par kam se kam use ye toh samajhne do ki tum koshish kar rahe ho.."
ACP sir shook his head in negative as he spoke in a tired voice. "Kar raha hun salunkhe…(pausing) mere se jitna ban sake karta hun.."
Salunkhe sir sighing with. "Yaar isse bhi aage jane padega tumhe..(gazing at him) kya baat ki tumne usse?"
"Wo..kuch nahi mai..mai use kuch keh nahi raha hun...use jo chahiye.." salunkhe sir cut him in anger.
"Kuch nahi kehna use apne man ka karne dena is your way of apology Pradyuman?(acp sir trying to interrupt) had hai yaar...matlab ektoh use itni baar jo man me aaye kehte ho...aur ab tumhe lagta hai ke baass use kuch na kehna hi use mafi mangna hai..(acp sir gazed downward) matlab sachme I have no words…(pressing) ek baar koshish tak nahi ki hai tumne..(acp sir interrupting again)don't even try to justify this...wo sun nahi raha tha par tum toh koshish kar sakte the na?(gazing at him)Han hai wo ziddi..par tum kuch kam ho?"
"Salunkhe mai.."
"Mujhse kuch mat kaho tum..(showing him hand to stop)usse baat karo firhi mujhse milne aana..(getting up)ye..ye sab karke tum sirf tumhare liye hi nahi..hum sab ke liye mushkil kar rahe ho..yaad rakhna.." saying he just left from there in frustration.
ACP sir seeing him going just shook his head. "Baat karo...kaise karu..(pressing his head) bass ho gaya aaj wapas aayega raatko tab baat karni hi hai muze..(feeling pain)ab aur der ye dil pe nahi rakh sakta mai.."
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