"Da-Daya tum.. thik tho na tum sab? Kuch hua toh nahi kisi ko? Mujhe kisine kuch bataya ku nahi!"
"Tarika ham sab thik hai.. jaldi jaldi mei waqt nahi kila tumhe inform karne ka... mai bad mei bat karta hu.. "
"Take care."
They both cut the call. Tarika sighed in relief.
'They are safe.' she said to herself.
Tarika quickly noted the adress from Television and left the house to reach there.
Upon reaching there she could see a devastated building and rescue team. She also spotted Daya and Pankaj there.
"Daya.."
"Tarika tum yaha kya kar rahi ho?"
"Tum sab thik ho na?" Tarika asked ignoring his question.
"Ham thik hai.. par.."
"Baki sab kaha hai? Abhijeet?"
"Pr bhi tin jagah blast hua hai.. Abhijeet thode der pehle hi yaha se gaya."
"Oh damn!"
Tarika fished out her phone and dialed his number leaving her all issued aside.
'The number you are trying to call-'
She cut the phone.
"Kya hua?" Daya asked
"Unreachable.."
"Dr Tarika," Pankaj called her, "App please is patient ko thoda dekhengi.. ambulance abhitaq returned nahi aya."
Tarika nodded and started attending the victims
While she was still attending the victims, the ambulance arrived.
As soon as she got a moment to breathe, she tried his number again.
Unreachable.
She walked back and forth, unable to contain her fears. She tried calling him.
Unreachable.
Again!
Goddamnit... She really _needed_ to see him... Just to know that he was okay.
She'd only watch him from a distance...
' _Distance_ ' she repeated in her mind.
She walked up to Daya
"Daya... Wo Abhijeet Kaha..."
He smiled, completely understanding her.
"Mein Bhi wahi jaa Raha Hu... Chalo mere Saath."
Tarika nodded.
As they reached their destination, Daya almost jumped out of his car and walked towards Abhijeet. He stopped halfway, to look at Tarika who was still sitting in the car.
He gestured her to come out but she shook her head.
He then walked back to her.
"Kya bachpana hai ye Tarika!"
"Mein yahi theek Hu Daya."
And she wasn't lying... She was okay, now that she had seen that he was okay.
If only she could somehow see his face.
"Tarika..."
"Tum jaake mil lo uss se."
Daya sighed.
"Dono ke dono ziddi ho!"
Hearing him Abhijeet turned around.
Sure he had a few bruises, but seeing his face was a relief to Tarika.
"Itna zor se bolne ki kya zaroorat thi," Tarika muttered under her breath and got out of the car.
"mein victims ko Dekh leti Hu," she said loud enough for even Abhijeet to here and walked away.
Daya shook his head disapprovingly.
"Dekh iss waqt daudi daudi aayi hai tere liye... Koi Nahi karega aisa... Jaake mana le usko."
"Haan Yaar Daya... Koi Nahi karega aisa... She deserves someone better."
"Abhijeet... Tum khud ko aise mat Bola Karo... Mere saamne toh nahi."
Abhijeet smiled lopsidedly.
His eyes wandered in the direction she had gone... Perhaps he would get to see her again.
He saw that she was helping the victims. He smiled unknowingly seeing her talking and treating the victims. He noticed that she felt disturbed because of curls that was falling on her face. He wanted to go to her and fix those curls behind her ear. He wanted to hug her and cry his heart out. But he feared...he feared that someone will again attack on her to take revenge against him. He wanted but he couldn't. He didn't want to give her more pain.
Daya came and put his hand on his back. Abhijeet came back to his sense.
"Jayo uske pass..apne ap ko aur mat roko.."
"Huh...nahi yaar! Main use aur takleef nahi dena chahta hoon..main nahi chahta meri wajah se use phir se pareshani ho...y"
Daya laughed at him in a teasing manner. Abhijeet looked at him with confusion.
"Takleef! Tum toh abhi use takleef de rahi ho... aur uske sath sath khud ko bhi!"
"Mujhe pata hai Daya ki use takleef ho rahi hai mere iss faisle se.. lekin yehi sahi hai. Wo mujh se dur rahegi toh safe rahegi.."
"Tumhe sach much aisa lagta hai Abhijeet? Tarika khud bhi CID ka ek part hai! Tum raho ya na raho..risk uska bhi utna hi rahega.."
"Phir bhi yaar.. main uss risk ko aur barhana nahi chahta! Main nahi chahta ki mere wajah se use koi kharoch tak aye.."
"Oh toh ye baat hai! Matlab tumhare wajah se kuch ho toh tumhe usse lena dena hai! Warna use kuch bhi ho jaye tumhe usse koi fark nahi..."
" *DAYA!!!*" Abhijeet shouted.
"Tu..tu aisa soch bhi kaise sakta hai ki main..Tarika k..." Abhijeet closed his eyes.
"Tumhara bat ka matlab toh yahi nikalta hai na " Daya smirked.
Abhijeet shook his head disapprovingly and went back to his work.
Suddenly Tarika shouted.
"Daya!"
Abhijeet and Daya both towards her without wasting a second.
"Kya huaua Tarika?"
"Wo waha.. ek bachi fasi hui hai.." She showed him.
"Daya, mai dekhta hu.. tum ustaraf jo log fase huye wo dekho.. bohot critical condition mei hai."
Daya nodded and ran off.
Abhijeet without looking at Tarika ran to safe the child.
"Sam," Tarika shouted, then lowered her voice, "sambhal ke." She kind of spoke to herself
Abhijeet come out with the kid in his arms, both of them coughing badly. Tarika was already present there with another doctor and nurse. The doctor and Nurse attend the kid, giving her primary treatment before sending to hospital.
"Abhijeet," she noticed burn marks on his forearm, "Tumhara hat.. jal gaya." She held his wrist to have a better look.
"Choti si hai.." he tried to free his hand but Tarika held tightly.
"Infection ho jaiga.. atleast bandage bandhwalo."
"For God Sake Tarika, go and attend the kid. I'm fine." Abhijeet shouted.
"For God Sake Senior Inspector Abhijeet you are not fine. The kid is getting her treatment and you need yours." Tarika shouted back.
Abhijeet get quiet. Tarika shouted rarely, and when she do Abhijeet never dare to shout back. There's some chances they will up quarrelling unnecessarily.
She made Abhijeet sit down on an empty chair as victims had been by now sent to hospitals.
Her hand still resting on his shoulder, she dragged the stool which had the first aid kit close to the chair.
Next, she positioned herself closer to him by keeping one of her legs between his spread knees. Her other leg was just beside his right leg in such a way that if she sat down, she'd end up sitting on his thigh.
Oblivious of their proximity and his rising heart rate, she leaned towards him and started cleaning his wound.
A slight tension in her eyebrows, her lips pursed, she continued her work, unaware that she had held his gaze captive.
Her hand subconsciously rested on his chest. Abhijeet gulped.
It was hard to be so close to her and yet be so far. His trembling fingers almost reached out to hers when she spoke.
"Ho Gaya..."
As she spoke, she noticed his stare. He still continued watching her cheeks turn red. Gosh... Angel.
Even before he himself could realize, a smile appeared on his face.
"Abhijeet Aise ky-"
And then she noticed her position. She immediately removed her hand from his chest and stepped back.
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice cracking.
She turned around to prevent him from seeing her watering eyes.
When she stepped away, Abhijeet felt as though his own soul had been taken away from him.
He raised his hand to garb her wrist, to pull her back to himself. But he stopped in mid air and clenched his fist in mid air.
He couldn't do it.
He mustn't.
For her, if not for himself.
"Mein bahar dekhta Hu," he said, getting up from the chair.
Tarika nodded, not bothering to turn back around. After she heard his retreating footsteps, she leaned against the wall and heaved an audible sigh.
Tears escaped her eyes as she sobbed... Softly... Unstoppably.
"Dr Tarika,"
Tarika came back in sense with Vivek calling her. She turned around to face him.
"Dr Tarika, Abhijeet sir ne apko ghar chodne ke liye bola hai. Yaha ka baki kam rescue team dekh lenge."
Tarika nodded. She silently followed Vivek to CID jeep.
All the way Tarika was thinking about Abhijeet and her relationship. She should have fought back. True. But with which right. Their relationship was unnamed. He never made any verbal promises. Never.
'No, I have to leave the city. I can't live here in front of him and not talking to him, not touching him. Yes, i will leave.' Tarika made a mental note.
Next day Abhijeet entered into bureau.
"Abhijeet, tum yaha kya kar rahe ho? for God sake Abhijeet, you need rest."
"I know Daya.. buy ghar mei bohot bore lag rahaa tha.. mai yahi beith ta hu na thode der.. lunch taq chala jaunga."
Daya nodded disapprovingly and left.
How could he made Daya understand that it's the only way to see Tarika. He hadn't watched him since last night. And he's tensed.
He moved to Acp sir's room but he wasn't there. He was about to leave when an envelope caught his eyes saying 'Dr Tarika.'
With great curiosity Abhijeet opened the envelope.
"Leave application for 1 week!"
"Abhijeet!" ACP sir entered, "Tum yaha? Aram karne ko kaha tha na maine?"
"Wo sir.. mai bas.."
"Bas kya?"
"Mai.. mai bas thode der meii chala jaunga sir."
"Acha thik hai.. tabiyat thik hai ab tumhari?"
"Ji sir. sir.. ye, application.."
"Haan, Tarika ne chutti li hai 1 week ki.. tumhe bataya nahi?" ACP asked suspiciously.
"Na.. nahi sir.. bat nahi hui meri usse.."
!Haan.. use Delhi jana tha apne parents ke pass." he watched his watcch, "abtaq tooh uska flight bhi take off kar gaya hoga."
Abhijeet became still.
"Acha sir.. mai, mai chalta hu."
He silently moved out of the cabin.
Abhijeet was tensed before and now he was hurt. He didn't see her since night and now he had to spend a whole week without seeing her face. He felt an unknown pain in the left side of his chest. " _It's gonna be a long week for him_" he thought.
Daya saw him standing on the balcony looking outside.
"Ab kya huya?" Daya asked him.
"Tarika Delhi chali gayi yaar ek hafte k liye..mujhe bataya tak nahi!" He told Daya feeling disheartened.
"Aur wo tumhe kyon batati? Tumne hi toh majboor kiya hai use ye sab karne k liye!"
Abhijeet realised that it's all his mistake. Only he's responsible for all the happening in their lives. He had nothing to say now.
"Main ghar ja raha hoon.."
"Thik hai.. take care."
Abhijeet nodded and left from there.
Daya shook his head with "in dono ka kuch nahi ho sakta!"
Avoiding eye contact with any of his colleagues, he moved out of the bureau.
Earlier, she used to plan her vacations in detail with him on the phone... Often, he used to surprise her with tickets, sometimes, tickets for two even.
And now... Now he didn't even know where she was if it wasn't for that application he read.
At his house, he frantically looked for all the flights bound to Delhi. He narrowed down 3 flights based on the information ACP sir had given him.
The last one would be landing...
He looked at his watch... Just about now.
After a brief conflict in his mind, he quickly dialled a number.
"Hello...Airport security?"
"Yes... Aur aap?"
"Mein Senior inspector Abhijeet... CID Mumbai."
"Good afternoon sir."
"Haan... Good afternoon... Mujhe kuch information chahiye thi."
"Haan sir boliye... Kya madat Kar Sakta Hu mein aapki."
Abhijeet quoted the flight numbers to the security officer on the other side.
"Ye sab flights Delhi land Kar chuki Hain na?"
"Yes sir... Last flight ne abhi paanch minute pehle hi land Kiya."
"All passengers safe?"
"Yes sir."
"Nobody had any difficulty whatsoever, right?"
"No sir... Any problem sir?"
"No... Nothing. Thank you very much."
Abhijeet cut the call, cursing himself for doing what he just did.
Damn! What was wrong with him. Couldn't he control himself?
He had to... He needed to... It couldn't go on like this forever.
"Aargh!" He sat down on the sofa with a thud, clutching the small strands of his hair.
"Damn it!" He kicked the centre table.
'Mai pagal ho jaunga aise.. nahi, I have to bbe strong. Haan.. kuch karta hu destruction ke liye... hmm kya karu!! Yeah movie dekhta hu..'
He switched on the TV. Shuffling the channels one after one he set a movie channel. A romantic scene was going on and he immediately go back on his past with Tarika. He remembered how he used to smirked at Tarika when any scene like that popped on the screen. Tarika would glare at him and then would end up blushing. How many times the movie was forgotten and they ended up making out on sofa.
He switched of the tv. Nothing in his life was untouched by her. Nothing.
Next day he joined Bureau after a lot of arguments with Daya and ACP thinking work would keep him busy and away from her memories.
And it did too. The day was Hectic. Hence he barely got time to mourn. Though that numb feeling on his chest was present all the day.
"Abhijeet ghar chalo. Or ketna file study karoge?" Daya barked at him.
"Tum jao, mai chala jaunga."
"Nahi tum mere sath chalo."
"Daya.."
"Nahi mai kuch nahi sununga."
"Yaar Daya.. acha thik hai chalta hu but tujhe mera ek kam karna parega."
"Kya kam?"
"Wo.. Tarika ko phone karke thoda puch na ki woo thik thak hai na.."
"Ismei puchne ki kya bat hai! Mai khub bata deta huna.. wo thik nahi hai... keisey rahegi wo thik tumhare bina?"
"Wo mere binahi thik rahegi Daya.. tu bas use phone pe puch."
"Nahi.. use jhat se pata chal jaiga ki tumne phone karwaya hai.. jab dur janeke keh rahe ho tooh tum bhi door hi raho na.."
"Dur hi toh chali gai wo.. "
"Ab kehke kya faida! Boss, tum bohot galat kar rahe hoo.. agar Tarika ko kuch ho gaya na toh yaad rakhna mai tumhe kabhi maf nahi karugna.."
"Use kuch na ho isliye toh.."
"Tum apna ye bakwas apne pas hi rakha karo.. bat karte ho.. uske liye! Kya kia hai tumne uske liye Abhijeet! Nam diya hai ek rishtey ko? Time?"
"Kuch nahi de paya isliye toh.. na nam, na time or nahii koi safety.."
"Yesab usse rishta jodne se pehle sochna tha na! jab tab nahi socha toh ab kuu! Usne har wo dayre toda tumhare sath ke liiye.. or tuum apna dar bhi na tod pai.."
Abhijeet kept quite. True.. he never have overcame his fear.
"Chalta hu.. chale jana ghar.. "
Daya left.
Abhijeet tried continuing with the files but Daya's words kept echoing in his ears.
"Usne tumhare liye harr dayra Tod Diya par tum apna darr Bhi Nahi Tod paaye."
Abhijeet remembered how Tarika would stay up all night, making him midnight snacks and coffee if he needed to work. Sometimes, he would end up falling asleep in her lap and she wouldn't even shift her position so as to not disturb his sleep.
Abhijeet leaned back to his chair and closed his eyes.
"Daya Sahi keh Raha hai... Meine bahot dard Diya hai usse..."
He started dialling her number but stopped in between.
"Par dard Bhi toh uski hifaazat ke liye hai... Uski safety se badh Kar kuch Nahi..."
He kept his phone back on the table.
.AN: so, Tarika has left. Now what? Will she come back or she will behave stubborn. Stay tuned to read more.
