CHAPTER 9

A/N: Hey guys! Back with another update.

Well, a note, guys. There may be some parts where I may make mistakes with the timelines. So please bear with it. Anyways, Enjoy reading.

Recap: Abhijeet and Daya remember the previous night incident.

Flashback

Abhijeet and Daya were sitting on the terrace, enjoying their coffee after dinner. Shreya and Tarika were clearing the kitchen. The children had gone to Ahmedabad to stay with Shreya's parents for vacation. Daya and Abhijeet were casually chatting when Abhijeet's phone rang. He received it.

Abhijeet: "Hello, Senior Inspector Abhijeet here."

Voice: "Namaste Abhijeet Sahab! Kaise ho? Tabiyat – paani sab thik? Aur biwi – bacche sab kaise hai?"

Abhijeet got alert at that sound. It was unknown, but the tone was way too familiar. A tone normally used by his close…. ENEMIES. He immediately put the phone on speaker.

Voice: "Are kya baat hai? Aap koi jawaab nahi de rahe? Koi pareshani? Agar ho to hume batao, hum madat kar denge."

Abhijeet: (signalling Daya to trace the number) "Are nahi, nahi. Mai toh bas yeh yaad karne ki koshish kar raha tha ki aap jaise shubhchintak ki awaaz kaha suni hai."

Voice: "Aap aur yaad, hahahaha….. (controlling his laughter) Aapko nahi lagta ki yeh do cheeze mel nahi khaati?"

Daya was going to angrily give a reply, but Abhijeet glared at him and signalled him to continue his work.

Abhijeet: "Jaanta hu, mel nahi khaati par kabhi kabhi aap jaise logon ki dua se mel khaa bhi leti hai. Waise aapne phone karne ki wajah nahi batayi."

Voice: (in stern tone) "Pehle apne dost se kaho ke phone trace karna band karde, warna tere jigar ka tukda, jo is waqt tere ek saathidaar ke ghar pe reh raha hai, tukdo me bat jayega."

Daya immediately cut the line. Abhijeet was shocked, but composed his tone.

Abhijeet: (trying to show strong and smirking) "Bore nahi ho jate aaplog? Hume har baar dhamki dete ho, use puri karne ki koshish bhi karte ho aur phir haar jate ho. Kitni ubaau zindagi hai, yaar aaplogon ki."

Voice: (in the same smirking tone) "Abhijeet Sahab…. Aadat nahi gayi na aapki taane maarne ki?"

Abhijeet: "Kya kare? Aadat hai…. marne ke baad hi jayegi."

Voice: "To kya kehte ho? Maar dalu?"

Daya got extremely tensed. He immediately got up and started looking around.

Voice: "Hahaha…. Are Abhijeet Sahab, apne dost – cum – bhai se keh dijiye ki itna pareshaan na ho. Hum abhi aapko nahi maarenge. Are aapko maar diya to humara kaam kaun karega?"

Daya: (finally bursting out) "Aye, apni jabaan sambhal ke baat kar, samjha? Tu jaanta bhi hai, tu kisse baat kar raha hai?"

Voice: (angrily) "Jabaan to tu sambhal apni, Daya. Abhijeet Sahab, samjha dijiye apne dost ko, warna agle ek ghante me apki Tanu ka sir, apke darwaze ka showpiece ban jayega. Waise bhi woh humari nazaron ke saamne hai, har pal. Agar use zinda dekhne ki khwaaish ho, toh agli baar jab phone karu tab jo bhi bolu woh karne ke liye taiyaar rehna."

And the phone got cut leaving them stunned.

Flashback Ends

Daya: "Pata nahi, kaun tha. Par jo bhi tha, humari Tanu ki jaan ki dhamki de raha tha. (angrily) Jaise ki woh use kuch bhi kar dega aur hum chup – chap use karne denge. (seeing Abhijeet in deep thought) Kya hua? Tum kaha kho gaye?"

Abhijeet: "Daya, yeh jo bhi koi hai, hume bohot karib se jaanta hai. Warna us hadse ke baad to kabhi hum dono ka jikar hua hi nahi tha. Bureau ke logon ke alawa jyada log jaante bhi nahi hai ki woh Rajat ke saath reh rahi hai. Ya phir woh hum par kafi samay se nazar rakh raha hai. Yeh jo bhi hai, use yeh baat pata hai ki bhale hi mere aur Tanu ke bich me kitni hi anban ho, woh aaj bhi mere liye sabse jyada keemati hai aur mai uske liye kuch bhi kar sakta hu."

Daya: "Isiliye tumne Tanu ko ghar aane ke liye puchha na?"

Abhijeet kept mum at that. Though it was a reason, he was now desperately missing his princess, his angel. And her increasing closeness with Rajat was really irritating him. Only he knew how much he controlled himself during the work hours from bursting out on Rajat. Daya was enjoying Abhijeet's facial expressions. He could easily make out what Abhijeet was thinking. Seeing him smiling, Abhijeet composed himself and tried changing the topic.

Abhijeet: "Waise… tumhe kya lagta hai? Andar kya baate chal rahi hongi ACP sir aur Tanu ke bich me? Kya baat karni thi Tanu ko unse?"

Daya: "Shayad leave ka puchhna hoga. Tanu ne ACP sir se kaha tha ki use do-teen mahine ki leave dilwa de."

Abhijeet: "Haan, par us baare toh woh dono yaha bhi baat kar sakte the, na? Cabin me jaane ki kya jarurat thi?"

Daya: (shrugging his shoulders) "Kya pata, waise bhi Dada – poti ke bich me kya baate hoti hai, yeh aaj tak kabhi hume bhala samajh me aaya hai?"

Abhijeet smiled at it. Being the first child, she had always been ACP sir's heart – throb. He had always considered Abhijeet and Daya more than his sons, and loved them even more than Nakul. So the privilege of being the grandfather to Abhijeet's first daughter was just so fascinating for him. Both, Tanu and ACP sir, whenever they met, used to have extremely long chats on God knows what topics. Everyone used to just marvel at that relation. Even after Minu's birth, everyone used to become busy in taking her care when she was around. But he was the only one who stayed with Tanishka. So it was him only, who made Tanishka gulp down her anger and helped her relieve her hurt. Also after that harsh incident, though he would always play and hang around with Minu and Dhruv, but his mind and heart would be in the sweet memories of his elder grand-daughter. Abhijeet thanked God for bringing this relation into his daughter's life and made himself busy in his work.

ACP: "Waise tumne apne ghar jaane ka decision liya hai, toh… kya tumne… Abhijeet ko maaf kar diya?"

Tanishka sighed deeply and thought to open her heart in front of him. After all, he had always been the only person who had listened to her yelling and cribbing whenever she had a row with her papa.

Tanishka: "Pata nahi. Kabhi lagta hai ki papa ne woh sab jaanbujhke nahi kiya hai. Anjaane me ho gayi galti unse. Maaf kar dena chahiye. Aur kabhi lagta hai ki bhale hi galti anjaane me hui ho, galti galti hoti hai. Aap bade bhi hum baccho ko anjaane me hui galtiyon ke liye daante – dapatte ho, na. Aapko bhi toh pata hota hai ki woh galti anjaane me hui hai, phir bhi. Toh phir mai kyu maaf karu? Yehi soch-sochkar sir chakaraane lagta hai."

ACP: "Sahi keh rahi ho tum. Par agar dono hi ad gaye toh yeh galatfehmi ki gath chhutegi kaise? Kisina kisi ko toh pehel karni hi hogi, na?"

Tanishka: "Har baar mai hi kyu, Dadu? (harshly rubbing the tears that were threatening to fall) Kya kabhi woh pehel nahi kar sakte? Pehle bhi jab bhi woh mujhe daatte the, toh aap mujhse hi kehte the shaant hone ko, unse maafi maangne ko jabki meri koi galti hi nahi hoti thi. Haan jaanti hu ki maafi maangne se koi chhota bada nahi ho jaata, par phir bhi….. Is baar mai nahi jaungi baat karne. Unhe meri yaad aati ho, to aayenge mere paas. Warna reh lenge yeh sochkar ki…. unki ek hi beti hai."

ACP: "Tanu…. Aisa nahi kehte bacche…. Khair, toh phir tum itni aasani se maan kyu gayi uske saath ghar jaane ke liye?"

Tanishka: "Unpar nazar rakhne ke liye. Unka kuch bharosa nahi hai. Waise bhi khudko Superman – Ironman ke judwa bhai samajhte hai. Agar unlogon ne kisi tarah se unse contact karke dhamki-wamki de di, aur yeh hume bachane ke liye mahapurush banne nikal pade, toh? Isliye. Waise bhi mai yaha unse hi baat karne aayi thi, par mujhse pehle unhone hi puch liya aur maine haa bhar di."

ACP: "Waah bhai! Kya baat hai! Matlab, gussa bhi karna hai aur saath me fikar me tadapna bhi hai. Waah!"

Tanishka didn't reply. Personal grudges were there. But that didn't mean she would leave him to die. He was her father, whatsoever may happen. Though the bitter memories were there, but she couldn't deny that she had spent some good time with him. And that good time was the only thing that gave her hope that someday, he might become her dear, old papa. She came out of her thoughts feeling a hand on her head and saw ACP sir standing. She immediately hugged him to sooth herself. He too just silently kept patting her back. After a few moments, she separated herself and murmured a small 'Thankyou'. ACP sir smiled painfully.

ACP: "Tum sach me bohot badal gayi ho, bacche. Mai apni us Tanu ko bohot miss kar raha hu, jo apne haq humse lene me kabhi hichkichati nahi thi. Balki woh haq kab hum use de dete the aur kab woh humse le leti thi, hume khud bhi pata nahi chalta tha."

Tanishka got up and went near the door. She opened it and before leaving –

Tanishka: "Us waqt jab mai woh haq le rahi thi, tab mujhe yeh nahi pata tha ki kisi din mujhse mere sabse keemati haq hi chhin liye jayenge. Aur jabse woh chhin gaye hai, tabse apne baki haqon par bhi haq jatane se dar lagta hai."

Saying this, she left the bureau and the building. Abhijeet closed his eyes in pain. The door being open, everyone had heard those words, that hurt. But none of them had words to soothe it. The day passed in a blur and the evening dawned. Shreya had immediately informed Tarika about Tanishka's home – coming due to which Tarika's happiness knew no bounds. Both the ladies had left early to make some preparations to welcome her as she was returning after a really long time. Daya too left to pick up Tanishka. However, Abhijeet left at the normal timings. Daya reached Rajat's house to find both of them standing at the door with Tanishka's bags.

Daya: "Lao, mai bags gaadi me rakh deta hu."

Tanishka: "Nahi chachu, rehne dijiye. Mai rakh dungi."

Saying this, she picked the bags and kept them in the car one by one. Daya just kept looking at her silently. After keeping the bags, Tanishka came towards Rajat to take his leave.

Rajat: "Apna dhyaan rakhna. Aur ho sake toh please, apne gusse pe control rakhna. Please, yeh request hai."

Tanishka: (murmuring) "Har koi mujhe hi gusse par control rakhne ko kyu kehta hai? Jinse virasat me mila hai, unse toh kuch nahi kaha jaata. hmpf…."

Both Daya and Rajat heard that murmur and chuckled looking at each other. Tanishka, seeing them chuckling, got more angry and went to sit in the car.

Rajat: "Are Tanishka, suno toh (but got the loud bang of car door as reply) Sorry sir, lagta hai raaste bhar aapko yeh gussa jhelna hoga ab."

Daya: "Are Rajat, sorry mat kaho. Waise bhi Abhijeet ke wajah se aadat pad gayi hai ab mujhe. Kai saalon ka experience hai ab toh."

Both of them laughed at it. Daya bid good-bye to Rajat and took his seat behind the steering and drove away. The route was somewhat around 30 minutes long. However, in very short time, both of them noticed a thing and that was…. A white coloured innova was following them from the market place outside Rajat's colony.

Tanishka's POV: Yeh car pichle kafi time se humara pichha kar rahi hai. Lagta hai ki yeh wohi log hai woh papa se dushmani nikalna chahte hai. Par phir yeh log humara pichha kyu kar rahe hai?... Oh no! Kahi mera shak sahi toh nahi? Agar sahi hua toh phir papa par aur bhi kadi nazar rakhni hogi. Pata nahi, chachu ne ab tak notice kiya hai ya nahi."

Daya's POV: Matlab woh aadmi hawa me dhamki nahi de raha tha. Woh log waakayi me Tanu par har pal nazar rakhe huye hai. Kahi inlogon ne attack kar diya toh? Ab kya karu?... Haa, yeh thik rahega. Waise bhi agar Tanu ne notice kar liya aur sawaal puch liya toh problem ho jayegi. Kyuki sach to mai use batane se raha aur jhooth bola toh jarur pakda jaunga. Yahi sahi hai. Yahi karta hu.

The car jerked a bit and came to a halt. Tanishka smiled under her teeth as she got that Daya had noticed the car. Daya excused himself saying that he wanted to check the car, got out and opened the bonnet. Hidden behind the bonnet now, Tanishka took out her phone immediately and jotted down the innova number in the memo from the passing car as it slowed down a bit near them. Daya kept looking at the car with his gun at stand-by in his hand, whilst trying to show himself busy in checking the car. As the car passed by and went ahead, Daya closed the bonnet and sat back in the car. Till then, Tanishka had messaged the no. to both ACP sir and Rajat and briefed them about the incident. She had also told them to meet her next day at her house. The journey started back and Tanishka now thought to investigate her doubts.

Tanishka: "Chachu…. woh white innova humara pichha kar rahi thi, na?"

Daya had to tighten his grip on the steering to overcome the shock and at the same time hid it from Tanishka. So she had noticed it. He thought to tell her a half truth as a complete lie would get easily caught.

Daya: "Haan."

Tanishka: "Kyu? Matlab… aapko toh pata hoga na?"

Daya: "Pata nahi. Dekhte hai, no. le liya hai maine. Ghar jaate hi pata karlunga. Par tum mamma, chhoti maa aur khaas karke, apne papa ko mat batana. Bina wajah pareshaan ho jayenge. Yeh baat sirf hum dono ke bich me rahegi."

Tanishka nodded assuringly and the silence took its place once again in that car.

There you go. Please Read and Review.

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