A/N: This is quite a long chapter. Also, a kinda boring one, more like a filler. So those who can, please bear with it.

Chapter 3

..

Goregaon, Mumbai, 8.00 AM

"Hello? Senior inspector Abhijeet here, from the CID. Yes, that's right." The second in command of the investigation department was on the phone, the first thing in the morning, instructing the traffic control cops, and by the sound of it, he seemed rather angry.

"There has been a hit-and-run near the crossing of the JVPD junction last night at around nine. A lady was hit probably by a big vehicle. I want all the details of the CCTV footage of that accident and the vehicle faxed to the CID within the next hour…. I don't care if it was raining! I should see the fax in the CID bureau ASAP. Yes, thank you!" He disconnected, placing the phone in his pocket and muttered viciously under his breath. "Once I get to him, I'll grab that bastard by the neck and give him a piece or two about following traffic rules and respecting lives!"

When he turned back, he saw his girlfriend sitting in the same position she was when he dialed the phone number. Seated on the sofa, staring at the wall before her into nothingness, she didn't budge and showed no signs of distress, oblivious to any other living presence in the house. Abhijeet noticed her face garnered the same emptiness as when she had appeared at his house early that morning.

"Tarika?" He softly called her name leaning down a bit. Needless to say, he received no response.

"Tarika? Earth to Tarika!" He called again, shaking her a bit and she gave a soft jerk, bringing herself back to the reality. When she looked in his direction, he saw the same void, the same vacant eyes staring back at him, and he sat beside her, patting her head.

"Stop stressing yourself, Tarika. She will wake up soon! There's nothing we can do about it." Abhijeet implored, his hand reaching across her shoulder and pulled her closer.

When she spoke, her voice was unnaturally calm. She momentarily relaxed her head on his shoulder before straightening up again and said, "actually, I was… I was thinking about Vivek. He… he's really disturbed. He didn't even inform anyone before leaving from the hospital last night."

Abhijeet gave a sigh, understanding perfectly what Tarika – or Vivek – were going through. After a brief pause, he said, "go and talk to him. He needs you. He needs people around, at this time. Go to his house… and take Freddy along. He will be able to handle him."

"Hmm!" Tarika nodded, her head returning to Abhijeet's shoulder. They lay in that position, silently, comforting each other without words.

After a few minutes, when Abhijeet heard her sniffing, he caressed her hair, without separating from the embrace and his free hand reached over to wipe her tears. She did not protest, letting his fingers run over her cheeks every time the tears made them moist.

Every time, and specially at times like these, the comfort of his hug eased her agony, her inner demons, allowing her to let her emotions flow, destroying all barriers. Every time, the proximity they shared conveyed to her she can place her inner self, her darkest fears in front of him, and he would soothe her, perceiving her melancholy completely.

And for Abhijeet, the feeling was mutual. He didn't know since when and he didn't know how he started finding solace in the mere fact that he had the ability to calm her trepidation, to commiserate her whenever she needed him. Maybe it was the trust she had bestowed in him. Or maybe it was her unconditional love she had always poured in their relationship, making them feel more at ease than they could elsewhere.

Abhijeet lifted her chin and made her look at him. Tarika, usually dressed to the nines and conscious about keeping herself elegant and soigne – something which Abhijeet found absolutely adored, the occasions were rare when she made herself look messy. Yet, with her face bleak, eyes swollen and hair unkempt, he had the urge to keep gazing at her, getting lost into the gloom in her eyes.

"You know you don't look good when you cry, right?" He lied, giving her a wry smile and she returned it, albeit feebly. "You look beautiful only when you're angry," he gave a faint laugh, attempting to lighten her mood a little and she gave a gloomy smile.

"Go… go and wash your face. I'll make something for breakfast, and later I'll drop you to Vivek's place. I'll talk to Freddy and ask him to come there. I have to go to the bureau and find out details about Tasha's accident." Said Abhijeet, patting her cheek once again. He took a pause and continued, his tone going downcast, "In the afternoon, we'll go and see Tasha. I'll pick you up." The sight of Tasha lying on the hospital bed, the oxygen mask covering her face swam before them, and they both closed their eyes for a split second.

After listening to list of activities for the day, Tarika nodded despondently, getting up and walking toward the bathroom. She had no strength whatsoever, in objecting or telling him she would manage coming to the hospital on her own, and he didn't need to take those extra efforts. she let the plan stay the way it was decided, figuring she needed Abhijeet to face Tasha's comatose state when she would visit her in the hospital.

Vile Parle, Mumbai, 11.00 AM

When she reached Vivek's house, Freddy was already present. He had been there even before Abhijeet called him to request him to visit Vivek. That thing needed no saying.

Once he opened the door, Tarika, without speaking a word, enquired to Freddy about Vivek's state through her eyes, he shook his head dejectedly, in the same desolate silence.

She placed a hand on Freddy's shoulder, making a futile attempt of consolation. Freddy had always been her most favorite senior of all – the man who had a heart of pure affection, who never failed to shower love and compassion on all of his team members, regardless of his own value in their life, regardless of whether the abundance would be reciprocated even by a fraction of a percent. In situations grave, Freddy was the first one to convey his agitation, leaving aside the fear of being judged as the emotional one.

As much as everyone else, it shattered her own heart when he expressed despondency, when he resorted to pray, and when all he always prayed for was the happiness and well-being of people around him.

Specially when it came to Tasha and particularly to Vivek, who was the closest friend and the companion he could call his own.

Freddy sighed and gestured toward Vivek, a woebegone look on his face.

Cautiously, she approached the latter. With Vivek, Tarika had never wondered she would have to think twice before saying something, or while sharing her secrets. It had always been extremely casual for her, Tasha and Vivek – their bond, the numerous times they made promises, the memories they created, the pranks they pulled on each other. The tears they wiped for each other. The path leading to her inner demons had been more familiar to Tasha and Vivek than to her boyfriend himself.

With a heavy heart, she sat beside him as he stared into oblivion, his face devoid of any expression. Taking one glance at Freddy who shook his head and looked away before she could notice his tears, Tarika called out, her voice barely above a whisper, "Vivek?"

"I will not see her!," he spoke without looking at her – or at anything in particular. "I can't bring myself to see her. I… I can't!," he added, his breath turning raspy and he burst out, burying his head in his palm as he cried. Harshly. Bitterly.

Tarika closed her eyes for briefly before gathering herself and cupped her friend's face, making him look at her. "Vivek, you had promised you'll never break. We will never break. You had promised! You have to face it, you have to fight… you have to be strong for Tasha. She needs you. She needs us!" she spoke in a pleading tone, looking earnestly in Vivek's empty eyes.

"I don't know if I have that strength in me, Tarika! I don't know if I have that strength. I… I won't be able to see my Tasha like this!," Vivek said, collapsing in Tarika's embrace, pouring out all his emotions before his two best friends. Tarika hugged him tighter, gently rubbing his back while Freddy settled beside him and caressed his hair.

They let him wail. It was necessary, for him and for the time when he would finally face Tasha in the hospital. They knew how important it was for Vivek to empty the pain dwelling in his heart, for making him stronger and resilient enough to fight the battles looming ahead. And they knew they always had to be there for him when he would be fighting those battles. Fighting with him, protecting him.

Therefore, when Vivek finally managed to calm down and said he needed some time, they understood, not arguing any further.

"Tarika, I'll stay here with Vivek. You go to the hospital," said Freddy, assuring her Vivek would be fully taken care of. In spite of herself, Tarika gave a feeble smile. "I know, Freddy sir. I can always trust you, with anything."

"Where are Vivek and Freddy?," asked Abhijeet as Tarika sat in his car to go to the hospital.

"Vivek refused to come. Freddy sir is staying back with him."

"Why?"

Tarika looked at Abhijeet and sighed audibly. She didn't have the strength or the wish to give an answer. Abhijeet simply understood.

City Hospital, 2.00 PM

"I'm not going by myself!"

Despite Abhijeet telling her to see her best friend alone, Tarika refused to leave his hand and partly dragged him as they entered the room.

"I am with you, Tarika. Don't be scared!" Abhijeet consoled his girlfriend, figuring her hesitation and her increasing trepidation as he lead her toward Tasha's bed.

They reached the bed and for the first time, they saw Tasha's insentient form from a closer distance, her face appearing distorted by the tubes passing through her nostrils, her forehead and ears plastered with heavy bandages and varied machines that provided her body and her brain the necessary support to stay functioning. Never before had Abhijeet felt so scared, so helpless in his entire life.

The continuous sound of the liquid dripping through the intravenous drip seemed more cacophonous, like a heavyweight metal object plummeted on the floor. It scrunched his heart, axing it to pieces countless.

All this while, he noticed Tarika seated near the bedside, taking Tasha's hand in hers and struggling to speak something, but the words refused to fall out. Continuously staring at her best friend, it appeared to him that she was trying to blabber something – something incomprehensible – sobbing wildly, grappling with difficulty to catch her breath. It was a sight so painful to Abhijeet, it hurt him more than he imagined and tears pricked his eyes unbeknownst to him. After all, he couldn't even count the number of instances he had gone through the exact same trauma every time he saw Daya lying on the hospital bed.

"You can trouble me how much ever you want for the rest of your life. I won't say anything. But please, please just wake up! Please!," Tarika managed to say amidst bouts of breathlessness, imploring in a earnest tone, garnering the hope that Tasha listened to her pleas. Tears cascaded down on the white bedsheet as Tarika's head dropped down on her best friend's hand pressed firmly in between her own. A memory sprang before her as she continued sobbing.

.

"Mind telling me what pleasure do you get in harassing me and my sleep?," said Tarika over the phone, groggy yet evidently annoyed.

Tasha's tone was incredulous. "Excuse me? You said you'd come with me for a jog. I'm leaving now, join me in the next ten minutes!"

"I'm not coming anywhere at this fucking hour! And when I said I'll join you, I most certainly did not mean, at five in the morning! Now, get lost and let me sleep!," Tarika snarled, yawning grumpily.

"How much will you sleep?," said Tasha in an irritated tone.

"I'll sleep for thirty-six hours straight! Do you have a problem? And don't even bother to wake me again for the next three hours at least!," yelled Tarika, her brows furrowing.

"Yea, go back to sleep, you lazy-bum. Or should I say – go back to dream about Abhijeet sir. Bye! And remember, a day will come when you'll try waking me up from sleep and I won't even bother answering you! Now fuck off!" Tasha growled, disconnecting the call.

Tarika shook her head at the silly statement, laughing it off before crashing down on the bed.

.

She had no idea the statement would come true, much to her dismay!

Abhijeet, who had been standing in a corner witnessing the heart-breaking scene, turned around in an abrupt manner, dabbing at his own moist eyes, heaving a long suffering sigh. The occasions were infrequent when he – otherwise dealing with the dirtiest and the gravest situations with the utmost courage – felt defenseless at the darkness hovering before him. He felt vulnerable, and there was hardly anything he could do about it.

Suddenly, Tarika walked toward him, taking long strides and held him by the arms. "Abhijeet, please tell her to wake up. She'll listen to you! Please, please tell her!," she beseeched in a diligently distraught tone, shaking violently as the words struggled to fall out from her throat. Abhijeet, noticing her increasing hysteria, held her tightly by the shoulders, attempting to calm her down. "Relax! Relax, Tarika!," he said, his own anxiety growing on seeing his girlfriend on the verge of getting a panic attack. He led her out of the room and made her sit on the chair outside, covering her shivering form in an embrace and rubbed her arm till she eased down considerably.

"She will wake up, fit and fine! She will, have trust." He cupped her face in his palms and looked deep in her eyes, speaking in a firm tone. However, the trepidation swimming at the back of his mind was known only to him. The senior inspector was unsure of what lay ahead for them. He was unsure of how deep the caverns of darkness would go further – or whether there will a ray of light, a flicker of hope awaiting them.

But Abhijeet was sure of one thing. In the coming days, he would have to stand strong, instill that courage in him and comfort Tarika and the others whenever they needed him. Especially Tarika. There was no doubt that she relied upon him for emotional and mental support, and more than anything, during this dark phase. She had always been there by his side whenever he had gone through similar times; it was now time for him to repay, maybe a percentage of what she did for him.

He refused to let go of her till he helped her weak figure walk to his car and made her relax her head on the passenger seat beside him.

A week later,

ACP Pradyuman was the first one to stand outside the ICU that afternoon, waiting on tenterhooks for the visiting hours to start so that he can see the girl he had always seen so vivacious with such a positive boost of energy in her.

No matter how brave and stern a face he put, it had ached every nerve in him when he saw his youngest subordinate sprawled on the bed in a nearly lifeless state, not responding to any of his demands – with or without his wishes. For the assistant commissioner, the occurrences were pretty recurrent when any of his juniors fought with life and death, after they abided by the commands he himself gave them about not thinking twice before putting their lives in danger. The truth was, as much as it made him proud of the fact that his officers were always ready to sacrifice their own safety at his orders, his own words, his own resolve always enfeebled him when he saw any of them land up in the hospital, unsure of whether they would be able to see the light of the day.

And this time, he went through a similar range of emotions when he learned of Tasha's fatal accident, the same familiar turmoil seeming to swallow him down. He shook his head vigorously, not letting the tears flow down. He could not afford to cry. Not now!

Abhijeet arrived after a few minutes, just as the visiting hours commenced.

They were awaiting the approval from the nurse to visit to enter the room when the entire floor was brought down by what seemed to be a deafening howl. It hardly took them a couple of seconds to realize it had emerged from Tasha's room.

Eight days after the horrifying accident, after lying unresponsive to the world around, Tasha had woken up.

A/N: Finally, Tasha has regained her consciousness. But has she really healed? Or is there more trouble awaiting Abhijeet, Tarika and the others? Something beyond their anticipation? Stay tuned to find out! Thank you for putting up with the looong and lame chapter!