Chapter 4
The following afternoon, Abhijeet and Tarika were telling Daya about the incident which had happened in the morning.
Daya was laughing hard, tears rolling out of his eyes.
'Has le beta. Jab teri baari aayegi na tab dekh lunga main bhi' said Abhijeet angrily.
'Yaar main ye ishq - vishq ke kaam karta hi nahi hu aur agar maine kiya bhi na toh bhi main aise karunga ki kisi ko shak bhi nahi hoga' said Daya.
'Abhijeet mujhe sach me bohot dar lag raha hai. Agar unhe sach pata chal gaya aur uhone hume naukri se nikal diya toh hum kya karenge?' asked Tarika sounding worried.
'Toh tum dono Private Detective Agency shuru karo' said Daya chortling.
'Daya chup kar yaar! Main bohot serious hoon' said Tarika punching him in the arm.
'Main bhi bilkul majak nahi kar raha Tarika' said Daya.
'Tumse baat karne ka toh koi matlab hi nahi hai' said Tarika frowning.
At that moment, Freddy slumped into the seat next to Daya.
'Abhijeet sir, aap ke liye ek sensational khabar laya hoon' said Freddy.
'Kuch mat sunao yaar Freddy. Mera bilkul mann nahi hai' said Abhijeet.
'Khabar aapke aur Dr Tarika ke baare me hai. Phir bhi nahi sunni?' asked Freddy.
'Kya? Hamare bare me?' asked Tarika.
'Kya hua Freddy?' asked Daya.
'Khabar sunane ka kya milega wo bolo pehle' said Freddy.
'Are yaar mujhse rishwat le raha hai tu? Besharam kahi ka' said Abhijeet.
'Five star hotel me treat' said Freddy flatly.
'Accha thik hai dedi. Ab batayega bhi ya nahi?' asked Abhijeet.
'Haan ya Freddy suspense mat badha ab' said Daya.
'ACP sir mujhe aaj aap dono ke baare me puch rahe the. Wo ye jaana chahte the ki aap dono me sirf dosti hai ya phir dosti se badhkar kuch aur' said Freddy.
'Kya?' Abhijeet and Tarika yelled in unision and Daya let out a snort of laughter.
'Haan. Sach keh raha hu main' said Freddy.
'Daya shut up!' Abhijeet said.
'Tumne kya kaha?' asked Tarika.
'Main kaha ki mujhe kuch nahi pata aur maine unse kaha ki jaakar Daya sir se puche' said Freddy and it shut Daya up.
'Main? Yaar mujhe kyu beech me la rahe ho tum?' said Daya.
'Toh kya main akele bardaasht karu ACP sir ke sawal?' said Freddy.
'Boss, ab mujhe bhi treat chahiye. Agar galati se mere muh se kuch ulta sidha nikal gaya toh...' said Daya.
'Kaise dost ho yar tum log' said Tarika angrily.
'Ye kya baat hui? Kya problem hai ACP sir ki? Kya zindagi bhar hum bina shaadi kiye hi rahenge?' said Abhijeet.
'Sir mera vishwaas kijiye. Shaadi karna itni acchi baat bhi nahi hoti. Biwi ki har baat maani padti hai. Aur wo pehle jitni pyari pyari baatein bhi nahi karti' said Freddy.
'Freddy!' Daya, Tarika and Abhijeet screamed at the same time.
'Thik hai. Main kuch nahi bolta' said Freddy.
'Abhijeet mujhe toh lagta hai hume ek do mahine tak ek dusre se milna hi nahi chahiye. Jara mamla thanda ho jane do.' said Tarika.
'Haan haan kyu nahi? Ab sirf yahi bach tha karne ke liye. Main toh kehta hu hum jake ACP Sir se sab keh dete hai. Karne do unhe jo kuch bhi karna hai' said Abhijeet.
'Tum pagal ho gaye ho Abhijeet' said Tarika.
'Itne panic kyu ho rahe ho tum Abhijeet? Aur tum aisa kuch bhi nahi karoge.' said Daya.
'Par unhe sacchai pata chal gayi toh?' asked Tarika.
'Kaise pata chalegi? Ye baat sirf hum log jaante hai aur koi bhi nahi. Aur hum me se koi bhi unko ye baat batane nahi wale. Toh unhe karne do jo karna hai. Jab unhe koi bhi saboot nahi milega tab wo apne aap piche hat jayenge' said Daya.
'Par baki logon ka kya Daya? Purvi, Sachin, Rajat, Jaywanti aur Pankaj?' asked Abhijeet.
'Unko sirf shak ho sakta hai jaise abhi ACP Sir aur Dr Salunke ko hai. Par saboot nahi hai unke pass' said Daya simply.
The door of the Cafeteria swun open once again and Shreya came into view. Everyone smiled at her and the conversation at the table broke off instantly.
'Hi Shreya' said Tarika.
'Hi!' said Shreya and was about to sit next to Tarika when Daya said, 'Arey Shreya yaha baitho na. Bohot jagah hai'
He drew out a chair beside him. Shreya hesitated a bit but Daya gave her a stern look and she sat down next to him.
Freddy and Abhijeet had been busy checking the menu but Tarika was watch ing Daya and Shreya closely. She had completely forgotten about Daya and Shreya as the matter of herself and Abhijeet had come up.
As soon as Shreya sat down, Daya entwined his fingers in her.
Shreya fidgeted a little but Daya wouldn't let go.
Tarika cleared her throat loudly and said, 'Kya logi Shreya - Chai ya Coffee?'
'Chai.' said Shreya and smiled. She was still struggling to free her hand but Daya held it even more tightly. Tarika, desperate to catch them red handed, dropped her spoon deliberately on the floor. She bent down to pick it up from under the table.
Shreya had seen her and she reacted instantly. She kicked Daya's leg under the table. It worked wonders. Daya let go of her hand immediately and let out a painful "Oww!"
'Kya kar rahi ho tum?' he asked looking at Shreya.
'Sorry sir, galati se lag gaya. Actually na yaha jagah kam pad rahi hai. Main waha jake baithti hu Tarika ke side me' said Shreya and went to sit beside Tarika.
Tarika gave her a fake smile, cursing herself for not catching Daya and Shreya in their clandestine acts.
All the commotion gathered Abhijeet and Freddy's attention as well. They too were looking at Daya and Shreya suspiciously.
They began to sipping their sea silently. Tarika was sure of one thing that something was certainly cooking between Daya and Shreya. And she would soon find out what it was.
'Waise sir, ACP sir ne aap dono ko kaha dekh liya? Matlab un dono ko aap ke upar shak kaise ho gaya?' asked Freddy.
'Freddy!' said Tarika in alarm signalling at Shreya.
'Kya hua?' asked Shreya looking interested.
'Kuch nahi. Freddy jaldi jaldi khatam karo aur chalo. Phaltu ki baatein karne me time mat waste karo. Bohot sare kaam baki hai' said Abhijeet.
'Oh no!' said Daya suddenly.
'Kya hua?' asked Abhijeet.
'Tarika, ACP sir uss Vaibhav se bhi toh ouch sakte hai na? Usne toh tumhe dekha hoga Abhijee-'
'DAYA HUM BAAD ME BAAT...' Abhijeet yelled making Shreya jump.
'Sorry' he said to Shreya. 'Daya main keh raha tha ki hum baad karenge. Kafi kaam pada hai' he added to Daya.
Tarika got up first. 'Main Vaibhav se baat karti hu Daya. Shreya tum aa rahi ho?' she asked.
'Haan. Chalo' said Shreya and together they left the the Cafeteria.
'Daya tune kya hum sabke saamne barbaad karne ka plan banaya hai kya? Uss nayi officer ke saamne tum hamare baare me bol raha tha' said Abhijeet.
'Sorry yaar main toh bhul hi gaya' said Daya.
'Sir, lekin ab kya kare?' asked Freddy.
'Kuch nahi. Normally behave karo sab log. Kuch nahi hoga.' said Daya.
O-o-o-o
The same night Daya and Shreya were sitting on the beach, watching the sea waves crashed on the rocks.
'Daya aapko toh jara bhi tameez nahi hai! Aaj sabke saamne mera haath pakda tha aapne.' said Shreya furiously.
'Arey par wo table ke neeche tha na.' said Daya.
'Aapko kya lagta hai ki sirf aap ek hi dimag wale hai aur baki sab bewakoof? Tarika ko shak ho gaya tha humpar. Maine dekha ki usne jabardasti spoon giriya floor par taki wo table ke neech kya chal raha hai wo dekh sake. Isliye mujhe aapko kick karna pada table ke neeche' said Shreya.
'Kya? Mujhe toh kuch pata bhi nahi chala' said Daya.
'Kaise pata chalega? Aapko toh sirf har waqt romance karna hai' ssid Shreya.
'Achha sorry! Agli baar dhyan rakhunga' said Daya.
'Waise aapko jyada lagi toh nai?' she asked.
'Haan bohot jyada. Abhi bhi pain ho raha hai' said Daya.
'I am so sorry!' said Shreya looking worried.
'Main majak kar raha hu Shreya' he said pulling her close and smiling.
'Par Daya please, bureau me thoda dhyan se. Mujhe bohot dar lag raha hai' said Shreya.
'Tumhe dar lag raha hai? Join karne se pehle toh nahi darti thi tum? Ulta mujhe hi keh rahi thi ki main darpok hoon' said Daya.
'Haan kyuki tab main ACP sir se mili nahi thi' said Shreya.
Daya laughed. 'Ghabrao mat. Kuch nahi hoga. Waise tumhe ek secret bata deta hu. Bas kisise kuch kehna mat. Abhijeet aur Tarika ek dusre ko pasand karte hai' said Daya.
'Kya?' asked Shreya shocked.
'Haan. Ye baat sirf mujhe aur Freddy ko pata hai aur ab tumhe. Actually ACP Sir ko un dono pe shak ho gaya hai. Tum Cafeteria me aayi tab hum wohi discuss kar rahe the' said Daya.
He then told her all about what had happened.
'My god! Ye sab itne dino tak chupa raha? Wow! Kitna maja aata hoga na unn dono ko aise chupke chupke milte hue' said Shreya excitedly.
'Isiliye toh main tumhe chupke chupke milne aata hu na' said Daya.
'Par aapko toh apni emotions pe control hi nahi hota' said Shreya and Daya laughed.
'Main soch raha tha ki main hum dono ke baare me Abhijeet aur Tarika ko bata du' said Daya.
'Kya? Nahi Daya please aisa kuxh mat karna' said Shreya looking scared.
'Arey wo kisise kuch nahi kahenge. Mere Best Friends hai. Ulta hume bohot maja aayega. Chao milke date par jayenge. Saath me Freddy aur uski wife Manisha ko bhi leke jayenge' said Daya.
'Daya please na. Abhi nahi. Mujhe join hue sirf chauda din ho gaye. Wo log kya sochenge mere baare me.' said Shreya.
'Sochna kya hai? Pyar karna koi galat baat hai kya?' asked Daya.
'Please todha time aur ye baat secret rehne do. Ek baar meri sabse acche se dosti ho jaye phir bata dena. Please Daya' said Shreya.
'Accha thik hai. Waise hi karenge okay?' said Daya.
'Haan.' said Shreya smiling at him.
O-o-o-o
Dr Salunkhe and ACP Pradyuman were sitting in ACP Pradyuman's home.
'Kuch bhi nahi mila na Pradyuman? Kaha tha maine tumse' said Dr Salunkhe.
'Tune uss Vaibhav se pucha?' asked ACP Pradyuman.
'Haan. Usne kuch nahi dekha' said Dr Salunkhe.
'Aisa kaise ho sakta hai yaar Salunkhe. Kisi ne kuch bhi nahi dekha? Aisa ho hi nahi sakta!' said ACP Pradyuman.
'Mujhpar kyu chilla rahe ho bhai? Kuch dusra sochna hoga' said Dr Salunkhe.
'Maine soch liya Salunkhe ki kya karna hai' said ACP Pradyuman.
'Kya?' asked Dr Salunkhe.
'Jasoos lagaunga main Abhijeet ke piche' said ACP Pradyuman.
'Kya? Dimag toh thik hai na tumhara? Bahar ke agency ke log hire karoge tum? Aur tum bhool rahe hai ki Abhijeet ek CID Officer hai. Use pata chal hi jayega ki uspar koi nazar rakh raha hai' said Dr Salunkhe.
'Puri baat sun le Salunkhe. Bahar ke log nahi. CID ke log lagane wala hu main kaam pe' said ACP Pradyuman.
'Kaun? CID me se hume kaun madad kar sakta hai? Sab mile hue hai unke saath' said Dr Salunkhe.
'Shreya. Wo toh abhi nayi nayi join hui hai. Kisi ke saath bhi uski itni gehri dosti nahi hui hai abhi tak. Wo sahi rahegi ye kaam karne ke liye' said ACP Pradyuman.
'Sahi keh rahe ho Boss! Mast idea hai ye. Waise wo hoshiyar bhi lagti hai. Acche se karegi jasoosi ka kaam. Lekin Boss ye mat bhool jana ki hum CID ki naukri karte hai. Kiska kiske saath chakkar chal raha hai ye dhoondhna hamara kaam nahi hai' said Dr Salunkhe laughing.
'Mujhe mera kaam acchi tarah se pata hai Salunkhe. Lekin CID ka kaam accha hone ke liye mujhe ye information nikalna bohot jaroori jald hi baat karta hu Shreya se' said ACP Pradyuman, thoughtfully.
'Boss, main toh kehta hu tum ek aadmi Daya ke piche bhi laga do' said Dr Salunkhe.
'Daya kyu?' asked ACP Pradyuman.
'Banda handsome hai. Uski bhi zaroor koi deewani hogi' said Dr. Salunkhe.
'Waise toh Rajat aur Sachin bhi hai' said ACP Pradyuman.
'Haan. Sahi baat hai. Pehle Senior Officers se shuruwat karte hai' said Dr Salunkhe.
'Haan thik hai' said ACP Pradyuman.
'Par Shreya akeli sab par nazar kaise rakhegi?' said Dr Salunkhe.
'Shreya Abhijeet aur Tarika pe nazar rakhegi. Use main Abhijeet ke saath hi bhejunga investigation karne. Aur Jaywanti Daya par nazar rakhegi. Mujhe yakeen hai kuch na kuch to jaroor milega hume. Aur main Shreya ko ye nahi bataunga ki Jaywanti ko bhi kuch kaam diya hai maine aur Shreya ke baare me bhi Jaywanti ko kuch pata nahi hoga. Dono independantly kaam karenge. Iss wajah se thodi aur jyada privacy rahegi' said ACP Pradyuman thoughtfully.
'Hmmm. Idea bura nahi hai Boss' agreed Dr Salunkhe.