CHAPTER 04
Abhijeet drove for hours and hours without taking any pause. His jeep was storming through silent road of highway making them blare for a moment. He looked towards the details he had to make sure that he was moving on the right way. The moon was shining on his head. Trees on each side form canopy overhead, giving the effect of a tunnel. The journey had made him tired. He tried to find a spot nearby but all he could see was the empty road with a million trees. He again started his jeep in search for a place where he could recharge himself. To his luck, he found a hut near, from which dim light was wiping the darkness around. He parked his jeep and slowly moved towards the hut. As he went closer, an old man loomed into view.
"Kaun ho beta." man asked while slowly moving towards him.
He thought it would be totally absurd to tell a stranger about his real identity and this crucial time.
"Mera naam Karan hai aur main aik tourist hoon.( thinking for a better story) Raat ho gayi hai tu main raasta bhatak gaya hoon. Kya main sirf aaj raat ke liye yahan ruk sakta hoon." He asked hesitantly.
The man looked towards him for a minute than answered in hospitality.
"Are beta, is main aisi kya baat hai. Tum jab tak chaho yahan ruk sakte ho. Aao mein tumhein jaga dikha doon. ( after a pause) Beta ab ye koi 5 star hotel tu hai nahi, chota sa ghar hai tu tumhein masla tu nahi hoga na rehne main." He waited for an answer from Abhijeet but he was lost in examining the place. It was clear from his face that he hadn't listen to a single word.
"Aap ka naam kiya hai?" Abhijeet asked uncertainly.
"Ramu Kaka." He answered calmly.
Ramu kaka showed him a small room with only a single charpai and a wooden table. Abhijeet put his things in a corner.
"Aap ka bahut shukriya."
"Chalo tum aaram karo kisi cheez ki zarrorat pare tu bula lena." And Ramu Kaka left the room.
Abhijeet lay down on the charpai but sleep was far from the eyes. He was changed the sim in his mobile phone so nobody could track him that, where is he? He changed his sides but the only thing which was roaming in his head was Daya. Is he alive? Is he safe? What will happen if anything happens to him? He was checking his mobile phone continuously to check that how much time is left in morning. Finally, he gave up and came out from the room. He like that quiet environment. He sat under a tree while keeping his head on his legs. After something, he jerked as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and found Ramu kaka who was looking at him.
"Kya hua Karan. Neend nahi aarahi kya." He asked politely, while sitting beside him.
"Ji. Bas aise hi." Abhijeet answered as short as he could.
Ramu kaka looked towards him and then started staring around.
"Beta who gun charpai par tumhari hai kya."
"Nahi. Meri tu gadi mein--" His mouth fell open and he looked towards Ramu kaka in astonishment who was looking at him with a broad smile on his face.
"Beta. Tum tourist nahi ho. Ya tu tum kisi gang se ho ya police wale ho. Lekin koi aam insaan nahi ho."
"Kyun, police wale or mafia wale aam insaan nahi hote kya." He asked quietly.
"Nahi. Dono banne ke liye himmat chahiye hoti hai. Thora sakht dil aur maaf karna (looking towards him with a smirk) jhoot bolne ki aadat bhi."
"Mein koi chor nahi hoon. (taking a heavy sigh) Mein aik police wala hoon. Cid se hoon mein. Aur kisi ko dhund raha hoon."
Ramu kaka started wondering whether Abhijeet is searching the same person he found early in the morning.
"Aur is baar mein waqai sach bool raha hoon. Kya aap ne yahan kuch ajeeb dekha hai." Abhijeet asked hopefully.
"Dekho beta tum pe bharosa kar raha hoon. Shayad kuch aisa hai jo tumhein dekhna chahiya." Ramu kaka took him to the room where the man was resting he found early in the morning injured. He slowly opened the door as the man inside was sleeping. Abhijeet moved a little further to see his face. A little ray of hope and excitement spread on his face as he saw who was there.
"Gautam." He spoke excitedly.
"Beta kya tum us ko jante ho." Ramu kaka asked.
"Jee. Jin do logon ko main dhund raha hoon ye un main se aik hai. Is ko pata ho ga ke Daya kahan hai."
"Par beta is ko tu apna naam bhi yaad nahi. Subah se pooch raha hoon. Isse kuch yaad hi nahi."
The excitement from Abhijeet's face vanish as quickly as it arrives.
"Aap ko ye kahan se mila." Abhijeet asked.
"Beta yahin thora aage. Aaj subah hi toh mila tha yeh mujhe." Ramu kaka told him the facts.
"Ab bas aap aik kaam kijiye ga. Is sab ke bare mein kisi se zikr mat kijiye ga." Ramu kaka nods his head in ok.
Acp sir was continuously trying his phone but all in vain. He tried few more times then called Salunkhe sir and told him everything including their conversation and kabir sir complain.
He looked towards the photo they clicked in Switzerland. Their smiling faces. Their hands on each other showing their supportive nature for each other. Will it become a memory...
A/N: Hi guys. Finally back to home( fanfiction). Enjoy the story. Don't forget to read and review..Thanks to all the reviewers and silent readers.Expected reviews: 20 to 25See you soon with the update of you are the reason.