Two days passed like that. Abhijeet engorged himself in work totally to keep her out of his thought. It was difficult indeed. But he managed somehow reminding himself she's better of without him everytime he felt an urge to call her.

It was killing him inside, not talking to her, not teasing her, not loving her. But he managed.

Abhijeet was working on a file on his desk when his phone rang. He was socked less and scared more seeing the caller id. It's Tarika's mom.

"Hell Aunty, manastey."

"Hello beta. Keisey ho tum?"

"ji.. mai thik hu. Ap keisey hai? Or uncle?"

"Ham thik hai.."

"Or Ta-Tarika.."

Her mom sighed.

"Kya bat hai aunty.. Tarika thik toh hai na.." he got panic.

"Abhijeet, beta.. Tarika thik nahi lag rahi mujhe.. usne mana kia hai tumhe phone karne ko.. phir bhibmai karr rahi hu toh bas uske liye hi.."

"Aunty.. kya hua usse... bataiye na app? Tabiyat bigar gai kya uski?"

"Nahi.. bas siriyo se gir gai aaj wo."

"Kya!"

"Haan.. dhayan hi nahi hota hai uske kucch ajkal.. etna gumsum rehti hai.. Abhijeet, beta tum dono sidhe mu bolte nahi ho par mai samajhti hu ki tum dono mei sirf dosti toh hai nahi.. agar kuch problem hai toh sulah kar lo.. tum bhi toh khush nahi beithe hoge waha Mumbai mei."

"Aunty.. aap.."

"Mujhe jawab mat do Abhijeet.. bas apne apko do... maine Tarika ko etna khamos rehte kabhi nahi dekha... ek bar phone hi karr lo use."

"Ji.. ji aunty.. mai dekhta hu... agar koi problem hui toh mujhe bataiyega jarur.."

"Thik hai beta. bye."

"bye" Abhijeet cut the call.

Abhijeet banged his clenched fist on the table, fuming.

"Damn it! Khud Ka khayal Nahi Rakh Sakti."

But on further thought, his anger turned to guilt. He dialed her number.

"... The number you are trying to reach is currently busy. "

"Humph! Kaat Diya !"

He tried again.

After two more attempts she picked up.

"Abhijeet mein baad mein -"

Her voice cracked, she sounded like she had been crying for a long time.

"Ta - Doctor Tarika... Meri baat suno ek Baar -"

"Senior inspector Abhijeet... Doctor Tarika is on leave," she said firmly.

"Senior inspector Nahi... Mein Abhijeet bol Raha Hu... Sirf Abhijeet."

'Tumhara Abhijeet,' he added in his mind.

There was a brief silence and upon getting no response from her side, he continued.

"Tarika - "

"Hmm..."

"Kaisi ho?"

"I'll call you lat-"

"Phone mat kaatna... Please... Bus panch minute lunga."

"Tarika?"

"Bolo..."

"Tumne jawab Nahi Diya... Kaisi ho?"

"Kaisi ho Sakti Hu?"

"Tum... Tum achanak chali kyu Nahi gayi?"

"Tumhe Nahi pata?"

"kyun Kar rahi ho ye sab... ?"

"Tum kyun Kar rahe ho?"

"Tum ache se samajhti ho..."

"Aur koi option hai mere paas? Tum Jo Chahte ho wahi toh Kar rahi Hu... Karti aa rahi hu."

"Tarika mein Kabhi Nahi chahunga ki tum iss tarah toot jao..."

"Toh tum hi bata doh... Kaise Karu mein khud ko usse dur Jo dur hokar Bhi mere itne kareeb hai? Joh bi...na... Bina... Kisi..."

"Tarika ro mat... Please..."

"Bina Kisi...," She continued crying, "rishte... Ke Bhi... Harr rishte ke daayre todkar meri kadar karta hai..."Abhojeet was at lost of words. He thought to change the topic for now.

"Jayada chot toh nahi ai?"

"Oh.. matlab mamma be phone kis isliye tum phone kar rahe ho!" she laughed sarcastically, "maine bhi najjane keisey soch liya tum khid se phone karoge..."

"Tarika bat ko ghumao mat," Abhijeet said, angry, "tell me, jayada jakhmi toh nhi hui?"

Tarika kept quite. she was liking his anger. Somehow it soothed her, her pain. She could also feel the pain in his voice and it gave her pleasure. He's too suffering too. the mere thought of this was soothing her.

"Tarika batao."

"you have lost the right to use this tone with me." Tarika said, emotionlessly, "in fact you have lost every right that you had on me.. once. Main phone rakhti hu.. kam hoga tumhe.. aise apna waqt barbad mat karo aire geiro se bat kar kar."

Tarika cut the call.

"Tari-"

Abhijeet made an attempt to talk but it was too late. Abhijeet threw the phone away

Tarika kept looking the screen of her phone. She knew the next call will be delayed as he had to encourage himself to call her back. But hopefully he would call back. Oh, she wouldn't tell him that she's only having an ankle sprain and a little back pain.. no she wouldn't. She would loss the chance to hear his voice.

Tarika lied down with the phone beside her... in a hope that he will call again.

Hour later her phone rang again.

Daya.

Tarika smirked. No, she wouldn't answer any of her colleagues or her friends' call. She knew better who were making them to call her.

Let him be desperate.

Let him suffer too.

Let him have the pain.

Tarika closed her eyes due to the high doses of medicines which she was taking purposefully.

She woke up in the middle of her sleep... It was another Abhijeet dream where he was breaking up with her.

She checked her phone.

3 a.m.

21 missed calls.

But none from him.

She checked her WhatsApp.

No new messages from him.

She sighed and was about to keep her phone back...

Wait.

Online?

It was rare of him to even use his phone at this hour... Let alone be online on WhatsApp.

Before her mind could come up with more conjectures, her phone rang.

"Hello," she whispered so as to not wake her parents up.

Unknowingly, a smile appeared on her face as she remembered their late night conversations... How she'd whisper on the phone when she was visiting home.

On the other end, Abhijeet smiled too... It was somehow good to hear that soft whisper.

"Tarika ji..." He said in a flow.

"pata hai mein Aapke online hone Ka kabse intezaar Kar Raha tha."

Her eyes widened listening to that "Tarika ji" .

"Ahem," he cleared his throat, "ab theek ho na?"

Suddenly there was a change in his tone. A distance in his voice.

"Jab chupaya Nahi jaata toh chupaate kyu ho?"

"Na chahte huye chupana par raha hai..kya kare!" Abhijeet replied sarcastically at his fate.

"You have options and right to decide.. mujhe toh wo bhi nahi hai.." Tarika replied in a sad and teasing tone.

"Aise toh mat bolo.. tumhe pura haq hai"

"Kis rishte se? Jo benaam rishta tha wo bhi toh cheen liya tumne.."

Abhijeet closed his eyes in pain.

"Tarika mere baat ko samjho plz.. maine jo kiya wo bhale k liye kiya"

"Haan toh maine koi object kiya hai? I'm following your decision only!"

"Lekin maine aisa nahi chaha tha.. "

"Phir kya chahte ho tum?"

"Tumhe! Main pehle wali Tarika ko dekhna chahta hoon.."

Tarika laughed historically, "wo Tarika toh usi din kho gayi.. "

"Tarika..!" Abhijeet whispered in pain.

"You forgot again Mr. Abhijeet... it's Dr. Tarika now", she replied rudely.

"No.. its Tarika.. only Tarika.. and it always will. Samjjhi tum."

"Don't use that tone with me." Tarika said with a rag. Tears were flowing down her cheeks.

"I will..."

"No you can't."

"I can.. i am your senior. And now tell me what happened to you. Thik ho tum? Kaha chot ai tumhe?"

"Nahi bat-"

"Tarika." His voice was deep and demanding.

Tarika kept quiet all on a sudden.

"Tell me."

"Thik hu.."

"Kaha laga chot?"

Tarika showed reluctance to answer.

"Tarika.." Abhijeet urged.

"Ankle sprain.. n back pain. Nothing serious."

She could hear him expelling a soft breath like he was holding that for a very long time.

"Khayal rakah karo apna." Abhijeet's voice became softer.

"Ku? Kiske liye?" she asked like a kid.

" Mere liye.. I can't see you like this.."

"Then stop doing what you are doing..."

Abhijeet didn't believe in his ear.. did she just protest? After so many days? She never protested before... and Abhijeet had taken advantage of this. He knew he had.

"Tarika.."

She cut the call not wanting to burst out on phone.

She switched off her phone. He's done with her. He didn't have any reason to call her back.

"Tarika beta.."

Her mom entered.

"Haan.. mamma. " She sobbed.

"Abhitaq soi nahi?" she switched on the light

Tarika turned her face away to hide the tears but it was too late.

"Tarika! Tu ro rahi hai? Kaha hua beta?"

Her mother sat beside her.

"Kuch nahi mamma.. bas aisehi.."

"Bata mujhe.."

Tarika hugged her mother.

"Kuch nahi mamma... sach.. bas aisehi... wo miss kar rahi thi sabko."

"Sabko ya Abhijeet ko?"

Tarika broke the hug and looked down.

"Maine sahi abdaza lagaya. Jhagra hua tum dono ke bich?"

Tarika shook her head.

"Phir?"

"We.. we broke up mamma."

"Kya! kuch huaa?"

Tarika explained her mother.

"Usne tujhe jane ko kaha or tu chali gai.. you just walked away like that?"

"Mai kya karti mamma? Jabardasti uski jindagi mei rehti?"

"Tarika beta.. wo dara hua hai.. aise mei tujhe use uske dar ko mitana hai.. use or baraw nahi dena. Use yakin dulana hai kI tu uske sath mehfuz hai uske begar nahi.."

Tarika wiped away her tears. She never thought that in this way. She was so angry on him that she forgot everything but her anger.

"Tickets Karwa di hai Teri kal subah ki," her mom smiled.

"Kya Maa ... Aap log bus mujhe bhagana chahtein Hain."

"Theek hai... Toh rukh jaa yahi - cancel Karwa dungi."

"Arrey Nahi !" She said immediately and then bit her lip.

"Aapko kaise... Kaise pata ki tickets karani thi?"

Her mother fondled her chin while she looked down, embarrassed.

"Maa Hu Teri..."

She then kissed her forehead and got up with "packing Kar Lena."

Tarika held her hand and smiled.

"Thanks Maa."

*The next day*

Tarika entered his cabin with a slight limp.

He immediately noticed the bandage around her ankle. He got up from his chair and walked up to her.

"Ab dard Kaisa hai?"

"Kaunsa waala dard?" She said with rueful sarcasm.

Abhijeet just looked at her in pain. Warm tears left her eyes... She just couldn't take it anymore.

This coldness... This distance.

"Tarika please... Ro mat."

"Kyun... Kyun na rou? Kya hak hai tumhe aisa bolne Ka?"

"Bolo!" She grabbed his collar, half shouting, half sobbing, "chup kyun ho?"

"Kyunki mujhe Bura Lagta hai !" He held her shoulders, his voice as high as hers.

"Kyun? Kyun Bura Lagta hai tumhe? Mera dard... Meri aankhein -"

"BAS TARIKA!"

"Mera dukh... Mere aansu -"

"Kyunki tum meri ho damn it !"

Some more tears left her eyes her hands moved from his collar to wrap themselves around his neck.

"I hate you!" Her voice broke.

She pressed herself against him. Her lips crashed against his... In anger... In pain.

His hands too found their way around her waist while his lips responded with the same passions... The same fervour.

" I... Won't... Forgive you," she spoke before their lips touched again.

This time his lips touched hers... Harder... Deeper... More intense.

And then all of a sudden, Abhijeet stepped back, rather abruptly, realising what they had just done. He turned his face to the other side and crossed his arms over his chest, commanding his gaze not to rest on her.

Tarika while trying to hold her breath step towards him. Abhijeet turned his back to her

"Tarika leave." He ordered.

"No. You look at me." She ordered back.

"Dr Tarika," he said turning back to face her and raising his voice, "I said leave my cabin right now."

"Senior inspector Abhijeet.. I said I won't." Tarika raised her voice too.

Abhijeet looked around to see if someone hearing them. Luckily the Bureau was empty as that was early morning.

"Tarika out."

"Make me." Tarika dared him.

Abhijeet held her wrist and dragged her out of his cabin.

"Aah.." Tarika moaned in pain bending down.

All of Abhijeet's rag got lost in seconds.

"Shit! Laga phirse? Haa? Dikhao..."

He made her sit on the sofa beside the door while his hand left the knob of the door. He knelt down taking her sprained leg on his thigh after removing her sandles.

He swayed his hand over the sprain bandage.

"Bohot dard ho raha hai?" He looked up.

Tarika nodded.

"Kaha? Yaha?" he showed her ankle.

Tarika shook her head.

"Toh?"

"Yaha?" she said pointing to her heart.

Abhijeet realized their proximity and proceeded to stand up but Tarika held his cheek and bent down a little.

She brought her lips close to his when Abhijeet turned his head aside.

"Tumhi ne toh kaha mai tumhari hu.. phir ku door kar rahe ho mujhe? Mai agar tumhari nahi toh kisi or kii bhi nahi Abhijeet."

Abhijeet moved down her hand from his cheek and held that in between his palms. He then looked into her eyes.

"Mujhse nahi hoga Tarika. The guilt will kill me."

"And your avoidance will kill ME Abhijeet."

"tch," Abhijeet left her hands and stood up, "my presence will literally kill you Tarika... Tum samajhti kyu nahi!"

She looked at him for a good two minutes. Her mother was right. He was scared... Scarred too.

She tapped on the empty space next to her on the sofa, asking him to sit there.

Abhijeet complied without protests.

"Tumhare Saath mujhe kuch Bhi Manzoor hai... Maut -"

She stopped as Abhijeet placed his palm over her lips.

"Aisa mat bolo Tarika... Tumhe kuch ho Gaya toh mein -"

She smiled. Seeing his fear, his care, she couldn't help but smile.

She then spread her arms to take him into a warm embrace.

His head rested on her chest while she caressed his hair.

"We shouldn't resist what comes to us naturally... We shouldn't resist what is meant to be. Zindagi Ka kya hai... Kya pata hai kab khatam ho Jaye."

"Ussi Ka toh darr hai."

"Jaanti Hu..."

Abhijeet raised his head to face her. His eyes brimmed with tears, he looked into hers.

"Jaanti ho toh kyu Kar rahi ho mujhe majboor?"

"Kyuki mein ye Bhi jaanti Hu ki meri jagah Yaha Hain," she placed her hand his chest, right above his heart.

"Aur Tumhari," she grabbed his hand and kept it between her breasts where he could feel her racing heart, " Yaha."

He smiled... Lost in the comfort of her words.

And then like a transient spell, the comfort left him as doubt crept in.

"I don't..." He withdrew his hand, " I don't know Tarika."

"You don't have to always know. Sometimes you just need to feel."

"The heart is naive."

Tarika shook her head.

"The heart is unguarded because it believes... In the innate goodness of human beings, in the warmth of hearts... In the existence of love."

She said the last part barley above a whisper.

"But for me only your existence matter." He said, looking deep into her eyes.

"And my happiness?"

"Your happiness lies in your will."

"And my will is you."

Abhijeet stood up.

"It's not working Tarika."

"We need to talk." Tarika said from her position.

"I don't.."

"Make me understand Abhijeet and I will do the same. And at the end we will decide. Don't finish it like this."

"I wanted to talk. didn't I? You were the one leaving without listening anything."

"Now I want to listen."

"It's neither a good time nor a good place."

Tarika stood up.

"So i will be leaving then. Bad mei bat karte hai dono."

Abhijeet looked at her to see if she was unhappy. Indeed she was.

"Office ke bad?"

Tarika asked. Abhijeet nodded not wanting to make her sad anymore.

This make Tarika to smile. Though the smile was forceful Abhijeet enjoyed that.. oh that smile after along time. Abhijeet's lips also curved upside to reciprocate hers'.

Tarika took a step close to him. Abhijeet moved behind.

"It's not over yet Abhijeet."

"It is from my side."

"Then just stand still and let me kiss."

"I won't be able to resist."

"Then reciprocate."

"No."

Tarika sighed and sang in a broken place.

'Tum mere ho ispal mere hoo,sayad kal ye sama na rahe,kuch aisa ho tum tum na raho,kuch aisa ho ham ham na rahee,'

She rested her head against his while placing her one hand on his nape.

Abhijeet sang,

'payar ka ye alam na rahe...mai phir bhi tumko chahunga,mai phir bhi tumko chanhuga,is chahat mei mar jaunga,mai phir bhi tumko chahunga.'

Tarika kissed him. Abhijeet didn't push her back. He contributed with same passion. The kiss was slow, smooth and passionate. Like they were in no hurry.

When they broke the kiss Abhijeet wiped away Tarika's tears

"Don't cry."

"You too." Tarika said, smiling, wiping the tears from his face.

Abhijeet couldn't stop but smiled too.

"Bye."

"Bye."

Tarika turned to go when Daya entered.

"Tarika tum! wapas agai? Pair keisa hai a tumhara?"

"Thik hai Daya ab."

"Tum dono ka drama khatam hua?"

"Abhitaq nahi." Tarika mocked.

Daya rolled his eyes.

"Jaldi khatam karo yaar... ye sad sad environment ab saha nahi ja raha hai mujhsse."

"Mere help karoge?" Tarika whispered.

"Mai toh hameshahi tumhare team mei hu." daya winked.

Tarika smiled

"Bye."

"bye."

She left.

AN: so, now what? Tarika is determined but Abhijeet isn't trying to understand at all. What will happen? Will Abhijeet overcome his fear or will Tarika give up. To know more, stay tuned with us and keep reviewing.

~Let's Imagine~