Chapter 6

.....The Coincidence.....

'Sir... '

Dr salunke who was checking the x-ray by holding it in the right hand turned towards the female voice.

'Hello Salunke sir, I'm Dr. Tarika. ' she said with a bright face, standing against him.

The short man with a thick moustache,wearing a thick black framed specs instantly recognised the lady doctor.

'Oh.. Ya..I know..Dr. Tarika, from the forensic Department of pune. Am I right? '. The old doctor (not so much old, but as old as her father.) continued with a smile, 'Pune se Dr. Raj ne phone karke bataya tha ki unka ek smart, intelligent, dedicated doctor vo vaha se chod rahe hai mere liye.'

Tarika felt goosebumps when her boss praised her. (Oh.. He is so nice, lagta hai ki tujhe ek bahot accha boss mila hai Tarika...)

'Aisa kooch nahi hai sir... ' She smiled sheepishly.

Actually, the words used by her boss were not enough to describe her brilliance. She was a bright student in college who passed out earning the 2nd rank!. Her dedication and compassion for her dream job is unexplainable.

'Raj sir ne aapke baare me bahot taarif kiya hai. Kehate hai ki aap jaise genius forensic doctor is duniya me koyi aur nahi hai. Me khush naseeb hu ki mujhe aapke saat kaam karne ka mauka mila hai.' Tarika commented.

Dr. Salunke smiled at her comment and replied,

'Bas Tarika, Mujhe etna taarif sunane ka adaat nahi hai. Abh se mujhe akele kaam nahi karna padega. Tumhare vajah se hum kaam jaldi katam kar sakte hai.'

'Accha vo chodo. ACP sir se mile tum?'

'Nahi sir. Jab me bureau gayi thi to unhone kaha ki ACP Sir bahar gaye huye hai. So isliye me direct yahi par aagayi.'

Tarika replied.

'Koi baat nahi. Jab Pradyuman aajayega tab use jaake mil lena. Ok?' her boss asked her throwing a questioning glance and got an assuring smile from her beautiful face.

'Tarika, ek kaam karo, Yeh X-ray ek baar dekh lo.'

And there after they both got busy with their works...

.
*At 1.30 PM.

Tarika is now sitting on a chair, slightly bending her body forward and keenly observing the evidence which is placed on the glass slide through the hands were placed in the microscope and she is totally immersed in work.

'Hey..Dr. Tarika, busy h kya? ' A female voice interrupted her.
Tarika shifted her gaze from the microscope towards that source of sound.

'Hi, purvi? No.. I'm not busy at all.. 'Tarika replied the lady cop with her charming smile.

'Lunch saatme kare. Kya kehte ho?' The invitation was accepted by her and both of them headed to cafeteria near the bureau.

*In the cafeteria.

Both the gorgeous ladies had occupied their seats and they completed their lunch together with little chitchats. This was a perfect chance for both to know each other personally.

Purvi asked tarika :
'Accha tarika ye batao ki tum yahan, Mumbai me pahale baar aaye ho kya?'

'Haan. Meri family sab bacchpan se Pune me settled the. Vahi pe mene medical studies complete kiya. Phir 4 saal me vaha ke forensic department me thi. Abhi yaha par transfer hua. Kal hi me Mumbai aayi thi.'

'Oh. Ok .you know,this is my hometowm. Mera janam yahi par hua dha. I have completed my studies her and now,Cid join karke 5 saal ho chukke hai. Accha..Tarika, Tum kaha par rahte ho?'

'Meri ek family friend hai vo yahi par rahte hai. To vo logo ne mere aane se pahale sab set karke rakha tha.'

'Oh I see.. '

At the next moment, Pankaj joined the ladies. He sat on a chair which was lying beside them. He was carrying a plate for him and placed it on the table.

' Khaana kha liya aapne? Etni jaldi?' he managed to speak while stuffing the food greedily into his mouth with a spoon in his hand.

'Haan pankaj,Thoda aaram se khale yaar, tumara khana koyi nahi churayega.' Purvi teased him.

Tarika smiled at his child like antics.

'Purvi tumhe to pata hai na, khana mera weakness hai. Jaldi khana khaunga tho jaldi bhook lagega, to phir baadme agle break me vaapis kha lunga. ' He said making faces, which made purvi and tarika laugh.

' Tarika, yeh humesa se asehi hai. Iske dimaag me sirf khana ki baat gumti hai. Bolke koyi fayda nahi hai.' purvi do not give up from teasing her best buddy.

Tarika was about to say something but stopped by her phone. As she picked the phone, it was a call from Dr. Salunke, her boss and he ordered her to return to the lab immediately because he want to take a half day leave (probably to hangout with his girlfriend!). She cut the call, excused herself from there and went to lab. The old doctor had left already from there. Tarika sat on the chair and began to prepare the autopsy report.

It has been 4 hours that she had been continuously working. She examined each and every evidence which were given by the cops, crosschecked the reports and called her boss to inform him that she has completed her work in time. Her boss told her that she have to handover the report to cops.

Tarika grabbed the report and left the lab. She arrived at the doorstep of bureau and looked around.

Purvi,who was attending a phone call caught her attention and she quickly moved near her. She cut the call and asked Tarika

'Arre Tarika,tum yahaan ? Kya hua? Kooch kaam hai kya?'

'Ha purvi, Salunkhe sir ne mujhe abhi phone karke kaha ki ek report dena baaki hai.'

'Oh, Ek kaam karo Tarika, Abhijeet sir yaha hai, unke paas dedo.'

At the exact moment, the door of interrogation room(this room is situated in the right side corner of bureau,near the Acp sir's cabin) got opened with a loud noise. Both the ladies got stuck by that sudden thud and shifted their glance towards the room's door, which was opened by a man whose shirt is half-tucked with first two buttons remaining opened, sleeves folded till his eldows, sweat beads covering his forhead and with messy hairs.. He wore a super-angry look in his face and his fiery eyes with slight reddish hue on them.. oh god... This man is freaking hot!.

He turned his head sideways and throw a fiery glance at the culprit who was lying on the floor, whose head is slightly bleeding by the cut which was probably caused by hitting on the floor. Pankaj who was also present in the interrogation room made the man sit in a chair by holding his collars.

' Tum mujhe kooch nahi kar sakte. Chaye tum meri jaan lelo magar me nahi bataunga.' The man said in a challenging voice and began chuckling. The dialogue and his laugh made Abhijeet mad.

He rushed to the man and caught him by his collars and uttered while gritting his teeth :

'Tujhe tho me.. dekhta hu ki me aaj tere muh se sacch ugalta hai ki nahi.'

'Sir.. Sir, abhijeet sir.. Please sir aap jayiye, isko to me dekh lunga. ' Pankaj somehow managed his senior who is really Short Tempered.

Abhijeet made himself free from Pankaj's grip and turned back and headed toward Tarika and purvi.

Tarika is taken aback by the terror caused by Abhijeet a few. She was flabbergasted by seeing different avatars of the same person, from morning. The short tempered, arrogant nature of Abhijeet was oblivious to her.

'Dr. Tarika, aap yaha? ' She looked at him and thank god, the fire in his eyes is replaced with a calm, friendly look.

'Ah.. Han..Vo kya hai na Salunkhe sir ne yeh report aap logo ke paas pauchane keliye kaha tha. ' she handed over the report to him.

His eyes went through the report and some wrinkles appeared on his forhead eventually. His right hand's thumb unknowingly went below the right edge of his lips and his other hand was busy in holding the file. He was wearing a serious expression on his face. Some sweatdrops travelled from the side of his forehead and reached his perfectly chiseled chin.

He had done with the reading now and appreciated Tarika for her work.

'Itni jaldi report tayar hogi.. Matlab Salunkhe sir lab me na raho tho bhi kaam tho ho hi jaayega. '

'Hee! Aisa kooch nahi hai sir. Sab unhone hi kiya tha. Mene tho sirf unhe assist kiya tha bas.' she replied to his comment.

'Kya bulaya aapne? Sir? Aise bulane ki koyi zarurat nahi can call me 's better. '

Abhijeet told her with a complaining look. Aw.. He looks like a cute little will believe that he is that angry dare cop who had flames of fire in his eyes a few minutes ago.

'Okay sir.. Uhm.. Sorry.., ABHIJEET.' She correced herself and they both shared a smile.

.

.

*7.30 pm at the parking area of CID bureau.

Abhijeet had a dreadful day and he was really,really tired. Chasing the criminals, interrogation,.. Arghh.. The day was a hectic of a CID cop is always like this.. He know it very well.. But cops are also humans, not super heroes. Drive to home, take a cold shower and... go to bed.. Ahh! These were the primary things he had in his mind at the moment. He occupied the driver seat,put his seat belt on and started the engine.

It was her first were no severe workloads, but she was tired (probably, because of her diet!). She stepped out of the lift and walked through the parking area of CID bureau, towards the main entrance. As she reached the main entrance, she heard the horn of a car and turned back.

It was none other than Abhijeet, in his car. She moved against the glass window and bent to have a look at him.

'Tarikaji, Abhi lab se nikale kya? Vaise ghar kaise jaarhe ho? ' He asked her.

'Haan Abhijeet, Abhi just nikali thi me. Taxi kuch milega ki nahi,vo dekhna padega. Subah gaadi kharab hui thi vo abhi bhi workshop me hi hai. 'She gave a tired smile and replied.

'Aree uski koi zarurat nahi hai. Me aapko drop karta hu, aaiye.' he offered a lift.

Tarika protested at first but Abhijeet compelled her and he succeeded in his task.

The car is moving swiftly through the road, both were silent. To avoid the awkward silence prevailing there, Abhijeet turned on the FM radio.A Melodious romantic song started playing. The car stopped at the traffic signal.

The yellow light spread over there from the street lights illuminated Tarika's face as she rested her head to the left side. Abhijeet staring at the red light and waiting it to turn green, is tapping his fingers on the steering wheel with the rhythm of the song. Tarika slowly closed her eyes feeling the fresh air on her face, but those tired eyes soon opened as she felt moisture in her soft cheecks. Another droplet of water fell on her face followed by the previous drop. Her gaze went towards the deep black sky, where millions of stars were twinkling. A cool breeze caressed her curls and made her chill. It's gonna rain? oh! How much she loves rain...

Abhijeet's eyes went towards tarika who is deeply staring the sky, Obliviously stretching her neck upwards for getting a good look of the beautiful view. She is smiling unknowingly, completely Incognizant of his presence. Definitely, something is special about her. Something which attracts him towards her,like a magnet.

Suddenly, A silver crack appeared on the sky and there was a loud had a mini heart attack when she heard that piercing sound of thunder and it made slightly jump on her seat. Abhijeet, whose eyes we're already sticked on her, chuckled by seeing her state.

'Tarikaji, Aapko bijali katakte hue hai etne dar lagta hai kya?' he asked with a mocking face.

'Vo kya hai na..sab logo ko kisina kisi se to darte hi hai na,..tho me bijali se darti hu. 'she snapped without making eye contact.

The atmosphere was getting cloudy with a chance of heavy rain. The signal turned green and they continued their journey again.

'Mm..Abhijeet,Yaha se left turn lelo.'

'Left? Okay. '

He turned the steering.

'Take a right from here. '

' Yeh jagah ?' he asked for confirmation while driving through the well known route.

'Dr. Tarika, Aapka ghar yaha pe hai?'

he was confused and amused at the same time. The car was stopped by him in front of a house and tarika was preparing to step outside.

'Haan Abhijeet, Me yahi par rheti hu, mera ek family friend hai unka ghar hai yeh, me kal raatko hi Mumbai aayi hu, abhi sab settled ho hi raha hai, yeh ghar, jagah, sab kuch... Aree bhul hi gayi, aaiye na gharpe, ek coffee peeke jaaiye.'

She invited him to her new house who was astonished by her reply.

'Ah... What a coincidence! 'He pointed his hand towards his house, which is exactly opposite to her house.

'Thats my house..And.. We are neighbours.! ' Abhijeet exclaimed.

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To be continued! Stay tuned to know what's Tarika's response. And yup, don't forget to review:) will update as soon as possible.

Thank you cuckoo, kichu, evil. Teen, Kamikaze knight, ABHIRIKA JAI, guests, HIDEnSEEK 06 and all others who reviewed the story. Keep supporting and keep loving ABHIRIKA:)