Chapter 29: The Heartbeats.

Morning: CID Bureau -

The weather was partly cloudy outside and here ABHIJEET sees TARIKA totally engrossed in the monitor working on something wearing a serious expression.

ABHIJEET stopped their and watched her from far...

Subah Ko Baadlo Ne Ooda Hai,

Zami Ko Phir Aasma Ne Akela Chhoda Hai.

Baras Jaye Jo Baarishe dilo Ki,

Tay Hongi Dooriya Aasma Se Zami Tak Ke Faaslo Ki.

He tried a lot of times to read her eyes but fails every time.

She smiles at NIKHIL and SACHIN's jokes, talks friendly with SHREYA, scolds her brother mercilessly and always shows her wise side to him but then again turns to be cold and serious while alone.

He has seen all the emotions in her eyes except love. Why she can't love? Why it is so hard for her to love and to fall in love?

He felt a poke on his shoulder and come out of his trance to see DAYA.

DAYA: Why are you watching her from here? Just go and ask her straight.'

DAYA pushed him forwards and ABHIJEET ended up getting TARIKA's attention as she looked up at him.

ABHIJEET blurted: Hi!'

TARIKA felt a bit weird and asked: Hi. Do you want to say something?'

ABHIJEET nodded and asked: Can you go on dinner with me tonight?'

TARIKA looking at him quizzically: Are you asking me to go out on dinner with you?'

ABHIJEET: Yes.'

TARIKA asked: Why me?'

ABHIJEET: Because I need you.'

There TARIKA for the first time skipped a beat of her heart feeling unusually uneasy remembering her conversation with him in front of the headquarters as she dumbly looked on at ABHIJEET.

College: Canteen -

PURVI was sitting at the canteen with VANI and PANKAJ.

RAJAT and TARANA after class meet at the corridor and RAJAT walks her to the canteen greeting PURVI's group. TARANA joins the group and RAJAT leaves from there.

PURVI and TARANA again watch him going with a smile before PURVI catches TARANA's gaze.

PURVI looking at TARANA asked: Do you love him?'

TARANA still looking at RAJAT's direction answered: After knowing him well no body can help but love him.'

PURVI thought 'Who will know it better than me.'

PURVI asked TARANA: Will you two get married?'

TARANA chocked hard on her coffee and coughed badly.

VANI and PANKAJ stood up worried as PURVI bring water and made her drink asking: Are you all right?'

TARANA getting normal nodded and PURVI sits back to her chair relieved saying: You just scared me.'

TARANA still in shock asked: What's wrong with you? RAJAT is like my brother.'

PURVI and VANI looked at her then each other with wide shocked eyes: What?'

Flashback: TARIKA's Place –

TARANA to RAJAT: I am sorry. All jerks are not bad. Some are really nice. Thank you so much for that day.'

RAJAT smiled at her and TARANA asked him: Can I call you brother?'

RAJAT looked blanked and then looked at TARIKA. She is his only family his sister and he can't give that place to someone without her permission. TARIKA smiled giving her consent to him.

RAJAT smiled looking at TARANA: Sure. TARIKA and TARANA sound nice. You two are meant to be my sisters.'

TARANA smiled: I never needed it but I really want to have a brother like you. Thank you so much.'

RAJAT smiled: But... be like a friend to me not just like typical brother-sister. You will always have me as your back up brother but till then you have to be the heroine of your own story. Ok?'

TARANA nodded with a smile and her parents too smiled at it.

Flashback end.

TARANA told them the whole story.

PANKAJ asked her in shock: That means he is your brother not boyfriend?'

TARANA: I love him as a brother.'

PURVI's heart filled with extreme joy and her happiness reflected through her eyes as she stood up giving a quick but heartily hug to TARANA and sprinted out of the canteen as the three stared her in surprise.

PURVI ran all the way to the Engineering wing to RAJAT's class and not seeing RAJAT in class she asked a student: Do you know where RAJAT is?'

Student: He didn't come to class. He must be at ground.'

College: Playground -

PURVI came running to the ground and looked at the players practicing football searching for RAJAT.

Not seeing RAJAT there also she asked one of the players: Have you seen RAJAT?'

Player: He didn't come for practice yet. He must be in his class.'

PURVI: He is not there.'

Player: Then he will be in locker room.'

PURVI said thanks to him and ran towards the direction only to stop in mid seeing RAJAT coming towards the ground.

PURVI's heart bounced with joy and she couldn't control but cheerfully called out his name: RAJAT!'

RAJAT was surprised to see her there. She was happily waving at him with both hands.

RAJAT was confused to see her like that but looking at her happiness he smiled and waved at her.

PURVI can't help but just smile. She has stepped back once before also but not this time nor anymore.

She just smiled watching him in front of her but RAJAT's expression changes and he gestured her to turn around.

PURVI doesn't understand him and RAJAT repeatedly signals her to look back with his hands shouting: Look back.'

PURVI got him a bit late and turned around to see what he was warning her about but it was too late as the football came with full force hitting her forehead.

And she fell back but didn't hit the ground as someone's caught her in mid air.

Few boys ran towards the direction only to freeze at a little distance to see RAJAT caught her on time before she could hit the ground.

One of the boy asked RAJAT: Is she all right?'

PURVI opens her eyes briefly to see RAJAT held her in his arms looking worried at her and smiled at him before passing out.

RAJAT felt his heart beating suddenly and asked to himself why this feeling is making me uncomfortable.

Another boy spoke up bringing RAJAT's attention: I think she is knocked out by the hit.'

First boy to RAJAT: She was looking for you. Take her to the infirmary first.'

RAJAT nodded and picked PURVI up in his arms walking towards the college infirmary and laid her to the infirmary bed.

After the lady doctor in her 40's with grey hairs checked her, RAJAT asked her: She is all right?'

Lady Doctor smiled signaling him towards PURVI saying: She is absolutely fine.'

RAJAT looked at PURVI to see her a bit hazed but conscious.

RAJAT walking near her bed asked: Are you all right? Is it hurting?'

PURVI nodded in no.

RAJAT sighed in relief: You just scared me.'

PURVI just smiled in return.

RAJAT: You should rest here for a while. I will go and inform others to come to you.'

RAJAT turned around to go but stopped and looked back to see PURVI held back his hand.

RAJAT looking at her asked: Do you want something?'

PURVI nodded gesturing him to come a little closer.

RAJAT bending down a bit asked: What's...'

But before he could complete his sentence or understand anything he felt an abrupt yanked falling towards PURVI as PURVI pulled him by his arm catching him off guard making her lips touch with his and said: I Love You.'

The tune of O saathi... played behind...

RAJAT's heart stopped and he froze to his place as PURVI shyly ran out of the infirmary.

RAJAT shifted his gaze up at the lady doctor who stood their equally surprised but with a playfully teasing look.

Allah mujhe dard ke kaabil bana diya

Toofan ko hi kashti ka saahil bana diya

RAJAT kept his hand on his lips and slowly walked out of the room still in shock watching PURVI out to the ground way from the corridor.

Bechainiyan samet ke saare jahaan ki

Jab kuchh na ban saka toh mera dil bana diya

He stopped at door and watched PURVI as she walked backward spreading her arms wide open in air looking at him and shouted happily...

'I Love You... I Love You RAJAT...!'

O saathi

Tere bina.. Raahi ko raah Dikhe na

O saathi

Tere bina... Saahil Dhuaan dhuaan...

RAJAT remembered all of the time his heart beat fluctuated unusually around her.

The first time she hugged him at the hospital, the time she came like a wind and hugged him at the Belgaum and the village they stopped by on their way back to Mumbai from Bangalore where she fell on him on.

His hand automatically went over his heart as he stared her and asked to himself 'what this uneasy feeling is?'

PURVI just smiled looking at him. This moment, this happiness is beyond eternity. There is no beautiful feeling than being in love and loving someone unconditionally.

Both looked up at the sky in amaze as it looked like her call was heard and accepted by the almighty and he showered it's blessing on her in the form of rain.

Jhoom Uthenge Har Rang Saawan Ke,

Khil Uthenge Phool Phir Kudarat Ke Daaman Me.

Jo Bujhegi Pyaas Iss Baar Suni Dharti Ki,

Barsengi Khwahishe Bankar Duaaye,

Milenge Jahaan Dil Se Dil Lekar Rang Naye Indradhanush Ke.

EVENING: TARIKA's Place –

TARIKA entered the house to see RAJAT at home. He was lying on the couch watching The Oggy and Cockroaches on TV. It was his working time but surprisingly he was at home.

She didn't say anything and went to her room.

She comes back after a while getting ready and said: I am going out for dinner. Don't wait for me.'

She gets no response from RAJAT and finds him lost somewhere else.

TARIKA feeling strange asked: Are you all right?'

RAJAT sits up asking: My heart can't stop beating.'

TARIKA: Duffer, you will die once it stop beating.'

Lost RAJAT: It never beat so loud before.'

RAJAT looking at her asked: What is it when someone says they love you and your heart beats goes up helplessly?'

TARIKA sits next to him remembering ABHIJEET's words and again her heart beats goes up just thinking about it.

She kept her hand on her heart saying: I don't know.'

Both the sibling looked clueless at each other and then watched TV in oblivion till they heard a horn.

TARIKA got up saying: I am leaving.'

RAJAT didn't ask her where and why like he never did before.

Night: Restaurant -

TARIKA was eating her meal and ABHIJEET was feeling uneasy sitting in front of her.

TARIKA: Why are you nervous like we are on a date?'

ABHIJEET: What if we make it one?'

TARIKA asked shocked: What?'

ABHIJEET: I don't think I will ever get the courage to ask you for a date…'

ABHIJEET looking in her eyes said in a breath: It was true that I see you in my dreams. It was true that TRISHA was my childhood crush and I still like her. From the day I met you in the jungle I just can't stop thinking about you. I can't stop but smile like fool whenever I see you. I can't help but ends up walking to you. I just lose my heart every time to you. I don't know what the meaning of all this…is'

TARIKA looked shocked at him and ABHIJEET took a long breath and said: but the fact is... I like you.'

TARIKA took a moment to grab all that and said: He is here.'

ABHIJEET looked at the direction to see a man sitting at a table and cursed him internally for appearing at such a moment.

TARIKA: Where is the team?'

ABHIJEET: They are at stand by outside the restaurant.'

TARIKA: He is our only lead. We can't afford to lose him.'

ABHIJEET nodded in his duty mode and warned the team outside to be ready through the Bluetooth.

ABHIRIKA looking at each other nodded and walked towards the man MANISH.

MANISH instantly recognized ABHIJEET and took a run but eventually got caught by the team.

Flash back –

Actually ABHIJEET came to ask TARIKA for dinner because they got the tip that MANISH is going to visit the restaurant who is their only lead to get to the main dealer of a drug racket.

Flashback end.

ABHIRIKA was silent all the way as ABHIJEET stopped the car in front of her house.

TARIKA got out but stopped as AbHIJEET said: Whatever I said to you at the restaurant is true. If not much just think about it once. I will wait for your answer.'

TARIKA looked at him and he said bye to her driving away.

Note:

Poem: 'Baarishe' by Tulipbeauty.

Song: O Saathi from Baaghi 2 movie.

I am sorry guys, I updated the previous chapter without running a re-check. There were few spelling mistakes in it but you guys are so nice that no one complained or mentioned about it. Thank you.

Hey Shweta, I want to give my best to this story that's why I am not writing another story.

Sansriti, thank you so much dear. Umm... Few more troubles with little fun on way and then soon all the suspense will start to unfold with the end of the story.

I wrote this story thinking it will be my one and only story here. That's why it's a bit long story. Please bear with me till then.

Thank you so much all the Readers and all the dear Reviewers.