Chapter 14: The Trip.

Coffee café-

DAYA and SHREYA were enjoying their coffee.

SHREYA asked DAYA: what did you said to SACHIN?'

DAYA sheepishly said: I just asked him to find a girlfriend in these 3 days time. It will be good for him.'

SHREYA nodded skeptically and asked: By the way, what are you going to do in these 3 days?'

DAYA: I couldn't give much time to my wife after the wedding. So I am thinking to take her on a vacation.'

SHREYA: that's a nice plan.'

DAYA: what are your plans?'

SHREYA: I just want to spend each moment of this three days with my husband.'

DAYA smiled and asked: Can you suggest me some places to go on a mini trip with my wife?'

SHREYA: There are many beautiful places to visit.'

DAYA: Like?'

SHREYA counted: Shimla, Manali, Darjeeling etc.'

DAYA: Where do you think my wife would like the most to go?'

SHREYA: Why don't you ask her?'

DAYA nodded: Good idea.'

And he took out his phone to message his wife. Soon the two got busy in their phones.

SHREYA asked to DAYA: I have to go. I have some plans with my husband.'

DAYA nodded: Sure. Let me drop you.'

SHREYA nodded and the two walked out of the café.

ABHIJEET's place –

ABHIJEET stops the car in front of their house and both the siblings got down from the car.

PURVI asked: Would you tell me bhai what's going on? You also serviced your car on the way.'

ABHIJEET happily replied: It's because we are going on a long drive.'

PURVI asked: Long drive?'

ABHIJEET nodded: Yes. I couldn't take you out on Rakshabandhan. So today we are going on a long drive. Now quickly get ready and pack your bags.'

PURVI: Wait, why do I need to pack bags to go on a long drive?'

ABHIJEET: Long drive means, we are going on Mumbai to Goa road trip.'

PURVI asked in surprise: What?'

ABHIJEET nodded: Yes. This was the surprise for you.'

PURVI skeptically asked: What about your duty?'

ABHIJEET: Don't worry about that. I got three days leave. And now don't ask any more questions. It's 3 o'clock now. Just go and quickly pack your bags like there is no tomorrow and meet me here at sharp 4 o'clock. Ok.'

PURVI happily nodded: ok.'

An hour later –

ABHIJEET was waiting for PURVI near the car when PURVI comes out of the house with her luggage and was surprised to see her brother as she saw her brother in total holiday mood in Hawaiian attire with a hat and goggles on.

ABHIJEET happily took the luggage from her to keep in the car trunk. ABHIJEET asked her to get in car taking the driver seat. PURVI gets in the car and ABHIJEET drives off while humming.

PURVI looked amused at her brother and asked: What's the matter brother? Aaj aap, aap nahi lag rahe. Aakhir in sabke raaz kya hai?'

ABHIJEET giving a look to her asked: Raaz? Kaisa raaz?'

PURVI mischievously sang: Ye badle-badle andaaz, ye badle se hosho awaaz, uspe ye dil khushmizaaz. Koi to baat zaroor hai, warna aap pahle aise to nahi the.'

ABHIJEET looked at his sister in surprise as PURVI continued: Kahi aapko bhi to wo nahi ho raha hai jo ek baar DAYA bhai ko hua tha.'

ABHIJEET asked: Kya hua tha DAYA ko?'

PURVI: Pyaar.'

ABHIJEET coughed suddenly and then stuttered: Kk.. Ky..Kya? Aisa kuch nahi hai.'

PURVI: Achha... To phir kaisa hai?'

ABHIJEET: It's just because I am happy that for next three days there will be no crimes, criminals or cases. It will be just me ABHIJEET and his sister PURVI.'

PURVI still showing doubt asked: Really...?'

ABHIJEET nodded answering: In these three days I want to do everything we have missed in last three years because of my hectic job and your studies.'

Night Time: TARIKA place -

RAJAT sits on floor in front of a round floor table as TARIKA served food for both of them sitting opposite to him. They stared each other in an awkward silence. It's been a long time they had a meal together. TARIKA breaking the silence said: start it.' RAJAT looked and nodded.

As soon as the food passed down RAJAT's throat, he coughed hard. Seeing that, TARIKA passed him the water glass.

After sipping water RAJAT casually asked her: Have you ever cooked before?'

TARIKA: No. this is first time I cooked.'

RAJAT looking down mumbled under his breath: was she experimenting her cooking on me? I don't want to visit hospital again after eating this.'

He looked up at her as she asked: Did you say something?'

RAJAT: Did you hear anything?'

TARIKA nodded negative saying: I thought you said something.'

RAJAT quickly answered: I said you don't need to cook. I will cook from tomorrow.'

TARIKA looking at him asked: you can cook?'

RAJAT: Khane layak to bana hi leta hoon. Zinda rahne ke liye to bana hi lunga.'

He mumbled the last line but TARIKA with her CID instinct got the hint and asked him showing the food she cooked: Is it that bad?'

RAJAT nodded his head in no thinking it's not just bad it's too bad.

TARIKA tried to read his face but couldn't and tasted the food herself. This time she coughed hard and RAJAT slowly pushed the water glass towards her.

TARIKA drank the water and asked him: Why didn't you tell me before that it's terrible.'

RAJAT simply said: it's good for the first time.'

TARIKA asked: Should I cook something else for you?'

RAJAT almost shout in horror: No!' and after realizing he was a bit aloud, he slowly said: It's ok. The rice is fine. I will eat it.'

And looking down he started eating silently.

TARIKA pulled back the bowl of horrible daal from him as RAJAT watched her.

TARIKA slowly pushed the rice bowl towards him saying: Eat that.'

Unaware of TARIKA, RAJAT smiled at the gesture of his sister.

After the dinner RAJAT was heading to upstairs but stopped and turned back to his sister asking: I am going Bangalore tomorrow.'

TARIKA who was cleaning the table looked at him quizzically.

RAJAT: I disappeared from there without any words. At least I should say goodbye to them.'

TARIKA remembered how she too left from her office in haste hearing about RAJAT's kidnapping.

TARIKA asked him: But today only you got discharged from hospital.'

RAJAT: I will be fine.'

TARIKA: I will come with you.'

RAJAT: It's ok. You don't have to come. I can go alone and you also have your duty.'

TARIKA remembered something…

Flashback –

Hospital: RAJAT's Room –

Before RAJAT got consciousness, she got a call from a private number and walked out of his room to receive the call.

She picks up the call to hear from the opposite end: Hello officer TARIKA.'

TARIKA very well know the voice as she answered: Mr. Z.'

Mr. Z chuckled from the other side: I am glad to know that you remember my voice.'

TARIKA: I am not someone to have that weak memory.'

Mr. Z: I guess. By the way, I heard about your brother. How is he, dead or alive?'

TARIKA spat: you don't need to worry about him.'

Mr. Z smiled: I am really surprise to see the love between you two siblings. And now I am really confused, whom should I kill first you or your brother? Either way you both will suffer the same pain for each other.'

TARIKA: I am thankful to you for making me realize it.'

Mr. Z: It's not really you officer TARIKA. I thought you will go mad by now looking for me who killed your family and now almost killed your brother. But you seem calmer than I had expected.'

TARIKA: Why should I hurry when you are the one in need Mr. Tony Marques?'

The color fades from Mr. Z's face as he asked in reflex: How do you know my name?'

TARIKA: Are you surprised? I havn't expected you to take me that lightly. Wasn't it a fair game to know each other better?'

Mr. Z: I must say you are playing better than I had expected. You are making the game more interesting.'

TARIKA: Then you will be glad to know this. 23 years ago your girlfriend whom you loved the most got killed in the encounter where officer PRITHVI and VASUDHA arrested you. And to take revenge of that you killed my family but that didn't lessen the pain in your heart. Then suddenly you got to know that the kids of PRITHVI are still alive, so you decided to take my father's revenge from me killing someone my own to see me through the same pain you have suffered all this years. Right?'

Mr. Z was shocked to hear that and after a silent moment he replied in a grave tone: yes, you are right. I want to see you to feel the same pain I have suffered through all this while.'

TARIKA warned him: Don't you ever dare to touch my brother! You have already tried once and very well know what happened to your most loyal right hand man KISHOR.'

Mr. Z chuckled: The game won't stop here until I kill one of you to end this game.'

TARIKA: Try it but don't forget that I am a CID officer and RAJAT is the son of CID officer PRITHVI and VASUDHA. It won't be that easy to get us Mr. Tony.'

Mr. Z remained shocked as TARIKA continued: I won't come for you. I will wait for you to come to me and the day you show up to me I will make sure to end the game my way. Till then, goodbye!'

She even didn't give the chance to Mr. Z to react and cut the call.

Flashback End.

Present:

TARIKA said to RAJAT: I have 3 days leave. I can come with you.' RAJAT nodded.

TARIKA: Then I will book the tomorrow morning tickets to Bangalore. Be ready in the morning.'

RAJAT nodded and went upstairs to his room.

On the way: Dhaba -

ABHIJEET and PURVI were enjoying their dinner at a road side Dhaba under the open sky twinkling with stars.

PURVI looking at the sky said: Wow… It's so beautiful.'

ABHIJEET too looked at the star filled sky with a contended smile and asked PURVI: Are you enjoying it?'

PURVI happily replied looking at him: very much. By the way, how do you get the idea to have a Mumbai to Goa unplanned road trip?'

ABHIJEET looked at her and said: I want to tell you something that dad taught me through this road trip.'

PURVI looked at him at the mention of their father asking: What's it?'

ABHIJEET: you were very little, so you won't remember. Dad use to take us on a road trip every year.'

PURVI: He was really cool then.'

ABHIJEET added: And adventurous too. After all he was a journalist.'

PURVI listen to her brother as he continued: He told me once in one of the road trip "Manzil tak pahochne ke liye hum safar ko bhool jate hai par haqiqat me to manzil bas ek zariya hai safar ko poora karne ka. Jo khushi safar tay karne me hai wo manzil pe nahi. Safar zindagi hai aur jab bhi jeene ka man kare to yu hi safar pe nikal jaya karo. Wahi safar me tumhe zindagi milegi aur zindagi ko tum."

PURVI asked him: Dad humesha aisi baate karte the?'

ABHIJEET smiling to himself: Tab unki baate sar ke upar se jaya karti thi par ab samajh aati hai.'

ABHIJEET looking at her asked: Tumhe samajh aayi?'

PURVI nodded her head in no: Aap samjha do.'

ABHIJEET: This trip will give us a change of air, break from our daily hectic routines, more sibling time with each other, lots of unexpected fun & adventure of life and above all forgetting all your tension and worries you can be just yourself.'

ABHIJEET looking at her said: It means... it is life or road trip, regardless of the destiny just enjoy the journey you are in.'

PURVI nodded in understanding as ABHIJEET smiled at her.

Note:

Thank you all the reader and reviewers for liking the story.

Abhirika and Rajvi will meet on their way back to Mumbai. So please till then wait and enjoy the story.