Chapter 36: The Best Gift.
ABHIJEET's flat -
ABHIJEET was really surprised by the surprise because he hadn't expected it and smilingly said: That's why you all left me behind at the bureau.'
All shrugged happily and he just shook his head walking to them.
PURVI: Quickly cut the cake and tell me how it is? I baked the cake myself for you.'
ABHIJEET looks at the team and they all gives a nod to him and he cuts the cake as all happily sang for him.
After cake cutting ABHIJEET had no bound to his happiness as he looked around his whole family.
PURVI smiled looking at him and said: All day I thought what to gift you on your birthday that could make you happy. I searched the whole shopping mall but couldn't find that one thing. Finally I found it here.'
ABHIJEET looked at her and she answered: It was your smile. The smile, that directly comes to your eyes from your heart. Always keep smiling like that.'
ABHIJEET's smile widened as he took her in a side hug: Having you and my team is the best gift I ever had in my life.'
PURVI playfully: I know mai aapki jaan hoon aur aapki team aapki khushi. Bas aapke life me kami hai pyaar ki.'
ABHIJEET looked at her impossibly but PURVI opened a little a box showing him two beautiful couple rings in it and said: This is your birthday gift and in return gift I want a sister-in-law to fit that ring completing the love of your life.'
ABHIJEET unbelievably looked at her and PURVI said: You lived all your life for me. Now I want to you to live your life for yourself.'
DAYA: We want to see you happy.'
ACP came forward: That's why I am here to say, it's the time you should get married.'
ABHIJEET looked unbelievably at them.
ACP: You don't need to be shy or scared of me. I know everything.'
ACP looking at PURVI: We have a strong network, right PURVI?'
PURVI smiling at DAREYA said: Right sir!'
ABHIJEET: So, that's how my information gets leak.'
ABHIJEET now looking at TARIKA smiled saying: Well, as you all know everything… I really found someone special... Bas unke ghar ke bade bujurgo ka aashirvaad mil jaye to mai ye ring unhe pehna doon.'
TARIKA gave him a look while others shouted: Ye bade bujurg hai kaun..?'
Just then they heard a loud crash at the door as ABHIJEET and PURVI turned around to see RAJAT landed on his face on a pile of shopping bags at the door and the cause of his fall PANKAJ stood right behind him holding a pile of Ice-cream boxes that covered his face as he apologized: Sorry.. Sorry… Sorry. I didn't see you.'
ABHIJEET asked RAJAT: Are you ok?'
RAJAT looked up to see all the eyes on him and flashed a troubled smile: I am ok. Sorry!'
TARIKA whispered looking at RAJAT 'He is such a troublemaker' while RAJAT stood up taking ABHIJEET's hand and explained: PURVI forgot this bags and asked me to bring Ice-cream. I needed help so I bring PANKAJ.'
PURVI takes the Ice-cream boxes from PANKAJ to keep in fridge and PANKAJ says hello to everyone.
Finding it a nice opportunity ABHIJEET introduced PANKAJ to the team shocking PURVI: He is PANKAJ, our new CID officer. He was undercover at college and as his job got done there, from tomorrow he will join us at the bureau.'
Everyone welcomes him happily in the team and ACP said: Well, I have one more announcement to make.'
ACP walking near ABHIJEET gave him a letter saying: This is your gift from CID for your unquestionable and selfless duty towards CID for past 12 years. You got promoted from senior inspector to ACP. Congratulations ACP ABHIJEET!'
ABHIJEET stood shocked and the team happy as ACP continued: And you are unanimously chosen as the leader of CID by your team.'
ABHIJEET: What? What about you, sir?'
ACP: It is my team. It was and it will always be my team. Now I am growing old to chase criminals.'
ABHIJEET: What are you saying sir? How can CID work without you?'
ACP: ABHIJEET, I am not leaving CID. I am just retiring from ACP's post. I did my best in my times and now I want to see you all doing your best in your time while keeping an eye on the team as your chief.'
ACP calls DAYA forward and said: Looking at your past records, the officials have decided to promote you too for your bravery and hard work.'
ACP gestured ABHIJEET handing him another letter as ABHIJEET looked at it and smiled at DAYA saying: I am really proud to say that you too got promoted from senior inspector to ACP. Congratulations ACP DAYA!'
DAYA hugged back his friend: Here we go again. We even got promoted together.'
ABHIJEET breaking the hug and looking at the team said: Today it-self is the best gift of my life. I got promoted, got my love, my life and my happiness altogether under the same roof. It's the best birthday I ever had. Each one of you, thank you so much for being in life.'
That was the proud and memorable moment for the team as they celebrated it congratulating each other and clicking pictures of the moments as ACP watched them from a far smiling at his team.
RAJAT bumps with SACHIN and said aloud: Oh! You are dating KAJAL no? I didn't see you at the bureau in the afternoon.'
RAJAT gestured pointing his two fingers from his own eyes to SACHIN's: VINEET told me, he is soon going to join CID Mumbai to keep an eye on you.'
SACHIN felt a bit uncomfortable in front of ACP and keeping his hand around RAJAT's shoulder, he took him away saying: I need to ask you something.'
SACHIN asked RAJAT: Was it a warning or a friendly alert?'
RAJAT looking at him said: You can take it as a friendly alert from me and warning from VINEET.'
PURVI comes there to call everyone for dinner.
Dining Table:
One by one all takes their seats at the dining table as DAREYA sits side by side and ABHIJEET without anyone's notice pulled TARIKA to the chair next to him as TARIKA looked a bit shocked at him and he just smiled at it.
They all helped themselves at the table as ABHIJEET asked FREDDY: Why didn't you bring MANISHA Bhabhi and SAKSHI (FREDDY's 15 year old daughter)?'
FREDDY: The two went to their MAMA's place to celebrate JANMASHTAMI and didn't return yet.'
ABHIJEET nodded while others talked, laughed and had fun sharing funny stories with each other.
ACP asked NIKHIL: Arre NIKHIL, when are you getting married?'
NIKHIL: Right after ABHIJEET sir.'
ACP looking at ABHIJEET said: Now when you found the love your life, don't make your juniors wait. Get married soon.'
Unaware of the fact RAJAT asked ABHIJEET: You are getting married sir?'
ABHIJEET: Yes, as soon as the girl's family members accepts me.'
DAYA intentionally raised the topic: Even RAJAT is looking for a nice guy for TARIKA.'
TARIKA coughed and DAYA told the team about his condition.
ACP asked RAJAT: Arre bhai CID ladke se kya problem hai? All the people here are CID officers only. Even PURVI wants to join CID's forensic department.'
PURVI: I changed my mind. I wanted to become a forensic expert like TARIKA Miss, but now she became a CID officer, I am thinking to become a full time CID officer.'
ACP: That's great.' And looking at RAJAT he said: See. What's wrong in CID?'
DAYA indirectly prompted: Yeah... For suppose take our ABHIJEET, he has all the qualities and even knows household chores. How can you reject such a person just for being a CID officer? Just think about it.'
RAJAT actually imagined TARIKA and ABHIJEET together but suddenly broke his own fantasy: Nahi.. Nahi... Ye shaadi nahi ho sakti.'
TARIKA felt bad looking at ABHIJEET but he just rolled his eyes with a smile to assuring her.
Kitchen -
After the dinner ABHIJEET comes to the empty kitchen to see PURVI and SHREYA with the help of RAJAT and PANKAJ already cleaned the kitchen except the dishes and others chit-chatted at the balcony enjoying ice-cream.
TARIKA comes to kitchen to see ABHIJEET near the sink and takes the dishes saying: I will help you.'
ABHIJEET was quick say: No TARIKA JI. It's ok.'
TARIKA: Please let me.'
She was soaping the dish when the first dish only slips from her hand but both manages to catch it together and looks at each other.
TARIKA: Sorry...'
ABHIJEET smiled: Tumhare bhai ne sahi kaha tha. It's ok.'
ABHIJEET took the scrubber from her hand and said: I will soap it. You can wash them.'
And they exchanged their places as ABHIJEET soaped and she washed the dishes.
TARIKA: I am sorry for RAJAT's behavior. I don't know what got into him to behave like an annoying brother.'
ABHIJEET looked at her: It's ok. Just like you had your reasons to keep him away from CID, he must have his own reasons behind it. And now I really want to win his heart to get you.'
He smiled at her saying: Wo manzil hi kya jaha mushkilein na ho... So don't worry about him. I will handle it.'
TARIKA smiled back at him resuming her work.
Hall -
ACP was walking by the hall and his eyes fell on tired RAJVI fall asleep on a same couch with PURVI's hold on RAJAT's hand and strangely he got a flash of a little girl and boy sleeping the same way.
His trance broke with ABHIJEET's voice as he came from behind asking: Arre sir, DAYA ne mujhe bataya aap ghar jaa rahe ho?'
ACP looked at ABHIJEET and showing RAJAT asked: ye kaun hai ABHIJEET?'
Just when ABHIJEET's eyes fell on the sleeping two and he explained: Sir, he is TARIKA JI's brother. PURVI likes him and... I like him too for PURVI.'
ACP: I am not asking that.'
ABHIJEET looked serious as ACP said: He looks very familiar. Does he have any connection with CID other than his sister?'
ABHIJEET said: Sir, his parents were… in CID.'
ACP was quick to guess: Is he CID officer VASUDHA's son?'
ABHIJEET shocked: Do you know her, sir?'
ACP looked at him.
Flashback:
After the death of his wife and son in the accident, PRITHVI saw the news of CID officer VASUDHA's murder.
He immediately contacted Senior Inspector PRADYUMAN asking him about VASUDHA's son and got to know that her son went missing after her murder.
PRITHVI told the whole situation to Inspector PRADYUMAN about the kid's life being in danger and PRADYUMAN assured him to find the kid soon.
Next day early morning PRADYUMAN got a call of a vendor from the railway station and reached to the location.
The vendor disclosed PRADYUMAN two kids around 5; a girl and a boy hiding in a big carton under the vendor's shop were fast asleep with the little girl's hold on the little boy's hand.
PRADYUMAN was quick to get the little kid as VASUDHA's son but he didn't have the idea of the little girl.
PRADYUMAN was relieved to see the kids alive without any harm. Seeing the kids calm but terrified not leaving each other's hand in front of him, PRADYUMAN took the two to his place first without informing the police.
On the way he informed PRITHVI and PRITHVI reaches to his place to take VASUDHA's son.
The little boy recognized PRITHVI seeing him as he called out his name 'RAKSH'. RAKSH walking to him hugs him tightly without any words.
PRITHVI showed his gratefulness to PRADYUMAN for finding the kid safe and requested him to keep it a secret for the kid's safety and bids farewell.
PRITHVI walks out of the house holding RAKSH's hand who kept staring back at the little girl standing at her place looking at him with earnest eyes as tears wells up in them and he walked out of the door with his father with a heavy heart unknown to his own knowledge.
And the very next day PRADYUMAN finds out that the little girl was PURVI, daughter of journalist PRAKASH who was helping them with a case from the photo in PRAKASH's wallet after finding his dead body in a godown.
Flashback end.
ABHIJEET remained shocked after hearing that as ACP said: Seeing how brutally their parents got killed, I never mentioned that incident to the police record for the safety of the two kids.'
ACP staring the sleeping duo: I wonder what happened that day with PRAKASH and VASUDHA that this two ended up together.'
ACP smiled saying: But I am really happy to see the two together again. Especially, the same way I saw the two 18 years ago for the first time.'
ACP looking at ABHIJEET said: We will talk about it later. I will leave early. You go and enjoy with your team. Good night.'
ABHIJEET nodded: Good night sir.'
ACP leaves and TARIKA arrives their looking for ABHIJEET but her eyes fell on sleeping RAJVI as she asked: What's this?'
ABHIJEET looked at her and then looking at the two said: Don't you think just like us they are meant for each other.'
TARIKA looked confused and he smiled at her saying: Now when I think about it, whenever the two are in trouble they are always together by each other's side.'
Note:
Thank you all the Readers and all the Reviewers.