Chapter 5

'Mujhe nahi lagta Daya aur Shreya ke beech kuch hoga. Shreya toh abhi abhi aayi hai' said Abhijeet.

'Haan wo mujhe pata hai par main sure hoon. Kuch na kuch toh baat hai. Main tumhe jald hi proof de dungi' said Tarika.

O-o-o-o

'Samajh me aa gaya na Jaywanti tumhe? Aur ye sab jo maine tumse kaha uske baare me kisiko khabar nahi honi chahiye' said ACP Pradyuman.

'Nahi sir. Kisi ko kuch pata nahi chalega. Aap fikr mat kijiye' said Jaywanti.

O-o-o-o

One Friday evening, Daya walked inside the Bureau to find it vacant except Shreya, who was busy writing something in a large book.

Daya crept silently behind her and
gave her a quick peck on the cheek. Then he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind he leaned down to whisper in her ear, 'Tumhara kaam ho gaya ho to chale?'

'Daya! Kya kar rahe ho? Chodo mujhe' she said looking alarmed.

Daya let her go, frowning slightly.

'Tum kuch jyada hi darpok ho Shreya. Poora Bureau khali hai. Koi bhi nahi yaha hume dekhne ke liye' he said.

'Par koi achanak aa bhi sakta hai na? Waise Kaam toh mera dus minute me ho jayega. Jaana kaha hai?' asked Shreya.

'Kahi bahar chalte hai. Dinner or phir Marine Drive?' suggested Daya.

'Umm... actually mujhe bahar nahi jana. Aap mere ghar chaliye' said Shreya.

'Ghar jake kya karne ka irada hai waise?' asked Daya with a mischievous glint in his eye.

'Jaisa aap soch rahe waise kuch bhi nahi!' said Shreya her face reddening slightly.

Daya laughed. 'Okay okay. Par ek shart pe. Dinner tum banaogi' said Daya.

'Toh Dinner hamesha main hi banati hu! Aap toh aise baat kar rahe hai ki main aapko bolti hu khana banane ke liye' said Shreya.

'Are baba mera matlab hai ki mujhe tumhare haath ka khaana khana hai. Bahar ka nahi. Waise tum chaho to main kuch special bana sakta hoon tumhare liye' said Daya.

'Nahi rehne dijiye. Baad me mujhe kitchen saaf karne me poora din lagega' said Shreya laughing.

Daya was about to say something when the door flung open and ACP Pradyuman walked in. He paused looking at Shreya who looked terrified and Daya who was trying to avoid eye contact.

'Sir, aap abhi tak Bureau me?' asked Daya trying to sound casual.

'Haan. Mujhe kuch jaroori kaam tha. Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?' asked ACP Pradyuman.

'Main? Haan... A... B... main... wo Shreya ko samjha raha tha ki report kaise likhna hai' said Daya.

'I see. Ho gaya samjhana?' asked Daya.

'Haan sir. Main bas nikal hi raha tha' said Daya.

'Sir, kya main bhi jaa sakti hu? Mera sab kaam ho gaya' said Shreya.

'Haan. Lekin jane se pehli mere cabin me aao. Mujhe kuch kaam ki baat karni hai' said ACP Pradyuman and walked into his cabin.

'Daya mujhe darr lag raha hai. Kahi ACP sir ko humpar shak toh nahi ho gaya?' asked Shreya.

'Are ghabrao mat. Kuch nahi hoga. Jao dekho wo kya keh rahe hai. Main yahi rukta hoon' said Daya.

'Nahi. Aap neeche jayein. Yaha ruk gaye toh unko shak hoga' said Shreya.

'Thik hai. Main neeche tumhara wait kar raha hoon Car me. Jaldi aana phir hum tumhare ghar jayenge' said Daya and at the same time Tarika opened the door.

Daya and Shreya stared at her. Had she heard what Daya had said a moment ago? They couldn't tell. Her face was impassive.

'Bye Tarika. Kal milte hai' said Daya and walked out of the Bureau.

'Umm... main ACP sir se milke aati hu' said Shreya and walked to ACP Pradyuman's cabin.

Tarika's face was no doubt impassive but she had perfectly heard what Daya had said. So she had been right! Daya and Shreya knew each other quite well... rather too well. Heart thudding with excitement, she dialled Abhijeet's number.

When Shreya came out of ACP sir's cabin, she was still in a state of shock. To her relief, Tarika wasn't there. ACP Praduyuman has set a task for Shreya and she had no idea how was she ever going to do it. She was glad that she and Daya had decided to meet tonight. She would have to talk to him.

O-o-o-o

Abhijeet and Tarika (On the telephone)

'Tarika tum phirse shuru ho gayi? Kyu piche padi ho tum Daya ke? Main kaha na tumse aisa kuch nahi hai' said Abhijeet.

'Dekho aaj main ye sabit kar lungi ki main sach bol rahi hu. Lekin iske liye tumhe mere saath aana hoga. Maine abhi Daya aur Shreya ko ek saath jate dekha. Wo dono Shreya ke ghar gaye hai maine suna Daya ko baat karte hue' said Tarika.

'Thik hai. Toh karna kya hai wo bolo' said Abhijeet.

'Tumhe Shreya ke ghar ka address pata hai?' asked Tarika.

'Exact address nahi pata. Par address mil sakta hai. Tum abhi Bureau me ho na? New joinee record me mil jayega address tumhe' said Abhijeet.

'Right! Accha tum ek kaam karo. Exact aadhe ghante me mujhe mere ghar se pick karo. Aaj hum un dono ko red - hand pakdenge' said Tarika enthusiastically.

O-o-o-o

Some time later, At Shreya's House -

Daya was listening to Shreya with an amused expression on his face.

'ACP sir ne tumhe Abhijeet aur Tarika par nazar rakhne ko kaha hai? I don't believe this! Hume laga tha ki ACP sir thode din me bhool jayenge. Par nahi. Ye mamla to serious hota jaa raha hai. Mujhe Abhijeet se baat karni hi hogi' said Daya.

'Lekin agar ACP sir mujhe puchenge toh main kya batao unhe?' asked Shreya.

'Kaho ki shak karne jaise kuch bhi nahi. Lekin main Abhijeet ko warn karunga taaki wo dono bhi savdhaan rahenge' said Daya.

'Lekin Daya, humara kya? Kya pata hum dono par bhi ACP sir kisi ko nazar rakhne ke liye kaha ho?' said Shreya.

'Aisa kuch nahi hai Shreya. Abhijeet aur Tarika ko ACP sir ne uss CCTV footage me dekh liya isliye unko shak ho gaya. Hamara toh aisa kuch bhi nahi hai' said Daya.

'Par Tarika ka kya? Usko toh humpar shak ho gaya hai. I know it! Unse bohot baar hume saath dekh liya. Aur ab jab aap unhe kahenge ki maine ye sab aapko bataya tab to unka shak aur badh jayega' ssid Shreya.

'Wo kaise?' asked Daya.

'Main toh aapko jaanti tak nahi. Toh phir ACP sir ne mujh se jo kuch bhi kaha wo main aapko kyu bataungi ye sawal aa sakta hai unke mann me' said Shreya.

'Wo Abhijeet ko kaise batana hai wo hum dekh lenge. Par Shreya mujhe sach me nahi lagta ki Abhijeet aut Tarika ko humpar shak hai. Aisa kuch hota to Abhijeet ne mujhse ab tak puch liya hota.' said Daya.

Not very far from Shreya's house, Abhijeet and Tarika got out of the car.

'Dekho yahi lane me andar hoga Shreya ka ghar. Aur wo dono Daya ki car se gaye hai toh uski car bhi yahi kahi hogi' said Tarika.

The lane was dark due to poor lighting and they couldn't see properly. They kept walking for about five minutes and failed to see the nameplate "Malhotra's".

'Are you sure Tarika ki hum sahi lane me aaye hai? Abhi tak to kuxh bhi dikhai nahi de raha' said Abhijeet.

'Abhi tak saare Bunglows dekhe kaha hai humne? Thoda sabr karo Abhijeet' said Tarika in a muffled whisper.

'Tum aage tak le jaogi mujhe aur phir tumhe pata chalega ki yaha Shreya ka ghar nahi hai toh phirse itni door chalna padega' Abhijeet complained.

'Chup raho Abhijeet please. Aisa kuch nahi hoga. Yahi kahi hoga uska ghar' said Tarika.

'Maine kaha tha gaadi leke andar aayenge. Din bhar un goondo ka picha kiya hai maine aur upar tum tum itna exercise karwa rahi ho' said Abhijeet.

'Abhijeet! Baccho ki tarah behave karna band karo. Bas thodi der hum pohoch jayenge. Aur maine gaadi andar lane ke liye mana kiya kyunki agar galati se bhi Daya ne hamari gaadi pehechan li toh poora plan flop ho jayega' said Tarika.

Inside Shreya's house -

'I don't know par hum ye sabse kab tak chupayenge?' asked Shreya.

'Dekho meri baat maan lo. Hum hamare baare me Abhijeet Tarika ko bata denge. Waise maine Abhijeet se koi bhi baat aaj tak chupayi nahi hai. Wo mera best friend hai. Pehle toh ma aur tum sirf acche dost the. Phir humne ek dusre se pyar ka izhaar bhi kar liya. Hume pata hai ki hum hamedha ek saath rehne wale hai toh ab batane me kya problem hai? And trust me, Abhijeet aur Tarika kisiko kuch nahi batayenge hamare baare me.' said Daya.

Outside Shreya's House -

'Tarika bas. Main aur nahi chalne wala. Tum ek kaam karo aage jake dekho. Agar Shreya ka ghar mil gaya toh mujhe bula lena main aa jaunga. Aur agar nahi mila toh ye jasoosi kisi aur din karenge' said Abhijeet.

'Abhijeet! Wo dekho! Wohi ghar hai! Name plate dekho "Malhotra's likha hai' said Tarika excitedly.

'Haan naam toh wohi hai' said Abhijeet.

'Wow kitna sundar ghar hai Shreya ka' said Abhijeet looking awed.

Fortunately the entrance gate was open and Tarika beckoned Abhijeet to follow her. Shreya's living room had large glass windows which ran down till the floor.

'Sundar toh hai. Lekin filhal toh sab kuch romantic hai' said Tarika.

'Kya matlab?' asked Abhijeet.

Tarika and Abhijeet hid behind a few huge potted plants.

'Wo dekho Daya aur Shreya! Maine kaha tha tumse ki wo dono humse kuch chupa rahe hai' said Tarika looking very pleased with herself.

Abhijeet gasped at the sight in front of him. The weren't fully drawn and he could see Daya and Shreya clearly who were sitting on the couch engrossed in some serious discussion.

Inside Shreya's house -

'Thik hai Daya. Hum Abhijeet sir aur Tarika ko bata denge. Par wo sab aap batayein. Main sirf aapke saath aaungi' said Shreya.

'Okay' said Daya.

And when Shreya still looked scared, he wrapped his arm around her drawing her close enough to tick her under his chin.

'Shreya, trust me kuch nahi hoga' he said.

'Hmm' she mumbled.

Outside Shreya's house -

'Daya aur Shreya! Mujhe toh vishwaas hi nahi ho raha' said Abhijeet.

'Maine kaha tha tumse. Main galat ho hi nahi sakti! Jab Shreya pehle din bureau aayi thi tabhi maine samajh liya tha ki kuch gadbad jaroor hai' said Tarika.

'Yaad hai Cafeteria me kaise has raha tha hamare upar? Ab toh main ise dekh lunga. Par Daya ne hume bataya kyu nahi? Acche dost kehlata hai na hume? Aise hoti hai kya acchi dosti?' said Abhijeet.

'Kuch to wajah hogi warna Daya aise nahi karega' said Tarika.

'Haan wo pata hai mujhe lekin ab main isse dekh lunga. Kabse mauka dhoond raha tha main usse tang karne ka. Aaj wo mil gaya' said Abhijeet triumphantly.

'Toh chale andar aur unhe thoda surprise de?' asked Tarika.

'Nahi. Abhi nahi' said Abhijeet.

'Par kyun?' asked Tarika looking confused.

'Mujhe koi accha plan banane do. Itni aasani se nahi chodne wala main usse' said Abhijeet.

'Ye kya keh rahe ho tum Abhijeet? Isse accha mauka najane kab milega!' said Tarika.

'Are milega. Jaroor milega. Parso Shreya bol rahi thi ki agle hafte iska birthday hai. Ab uske birthday par Daya pakka kuch na kuch plan karega. Tab surprise denge dono ko' said Abhijeet.

'Haan! Ye accha idea hai. Hum bhi Shreya ko gift leke jayenge' said Tarika.

'Pehle dekhte hai Daya kya plan karta hai' said Abhijeet.

'Par hume pata kaise chalega?' asked Tarika.

'Wo tum mujhpar chod do' said Abhijeet.

'Okay, toh ab chale? Un dono me se kisi ne dekh liya toh problem ho jayegi' said Tarika.

'Haan thik hai. Chalo' said Abhijeet and they walked back towards their car chattering away.

O-o-o-o

Purvi was hating his antics more than ever.

'Who the hell was that gym trainer? Why was so special about her that he he all praise for her?' she wondered.

Aaj kal kaam me dhyan nahi hai tumhara Purvi' said Rajat appearing beside quite announced.

Purvi jumped but then watching his gleeful face she frowned.

'Aisa kyu keh rahe hai sir aap?' asked Purvi.

'Tumne jo case report likha tha usme kuch aur hi likha tha tumne' said Rajat.

'Kya?' Purvi asked looking confused.

'Mera naam' said Rajat smiling.

'KYA?!' Purvi said aloud.

'Haan' said Rajat smiling.

'Ye aap kya keh rahe hai sir? Aapka naam main report me? Nahi nahi! Ye kabhi nahi ho sakta' said Purvi.

She gulped. Had she been so pre occupied with her thoughts? Could she really have done that? No that wasn't possible!

Rajat smirked and was sure that a battle was raging in her mind.

'Excuse me sir, m - mujhe ek kaam hai. Main abhi aayi' said Purvi getting up from her chair but Rajat blocked her way.

'Sir ye kya kar rahe hai aap?' asked Purvi.

Rajat leaned a bit closer and Purvi was forced to sit down in her chair.

'Gussa ho na mujhse? Dekh sakta hoon main' he said.

'Kya? Main kyu gussa karungi aapse? Mujhe kya fark padta hai aap kiske saath waqt bitaye? Chahe wo aapki gym trainer ho ya phir koi au-' she broke off realising she had gone too far.

'Khud ke sawal ka jawab tum khud ne de diya' said Rajat.

'Aisa kuch bhi nahi hai! Jane dijiye mujhe' said Purvi furiously.

'Mujhe lagta hai tum jealous feel ho rahi ho mujhe meri gym trainer ki taarif karte dekhke' said Rajat.

'Main kyu jealous feel karu? Main thodi na aapko pasand karti hu ki mujhe kisi aur se jalan-' she stopped talking and bit her lip.

Rajat laughed. 'Phir ek baar tumhe tumhare sawal ka jawab mil gaya Purvi' he said.

'Sir aap mujhe baat karne par majboor kar rahe hai. Mere raaste se door ho jayein' said Purvi.

'Main majboor kaha kar raha hoon tumhe? Tum hi bol rahi ho sab kuch' said Rajat.

Purvi had had enough. She knew she was blushing too much already and she didn't intend to give away her feelings for him at that moment. She got up and pushed him away, attempting to leave. But Rajat caught her wrist firmly.

She looked at him and watching his expressions, colour flooded her cheeks. She couldn't help smiling.

'Sir hum Bureau me hai' she said.

'Toh?' asked Rajat.

'Kisine dekh liya toh...' said Purvi.

'I don't care' said Rajat.

'But I do! Sir chodiye mujhe' said Purvi trying to free herself from his grasp.

'Thik hai. Ek vaar mujhe sirf Rajat kehkar pukaro phir chod dunga main tumhe' he said.

'Rajat please chodo mera haath' she said shyly.

'Mera naam aise sunne me bohot accha lag raha hai. Khair abhi to chod raha hoon main tumhe par agli baar itna aasaan nahi hoga' said Rajat.

When he let go, Purvi threw him a shy smile and hurried out of the bureau.

O-o-o-o

Two Days later -

Inside ABC Jewellers

Daya was looking at the numerous platinum bands which the shopkeeper had put before him. Each ring was unique and beautiful in its own way and Daya was confused which one to choose.

A particular ring in shape of a spade caught his eye. He motioned the shopkeeper to show it and when he looked at it closely enough, he knew that was the one. 'It would look perfect on her finger' thought Daya.

Just when he was about to tell the shopkeeper to pack it for him, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Daya turned and - 'Abhijeet? Tum yaha?' asked Daya.

'Haan. Isi raaste se guzar raha tha aur tumhare gaadi dekhkar ruk gaya. Saamne nazar gayi toh shop me tum khade the isliye puchne chala aaya. Waise ye sawal toh main tumse bhi puch sakta hoon. Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho? Kisi ko ring gift karni hai?' asked Abhijeet.

'Ring? Nahi toh' said Daya.

'Toh subah subah jewellery shop me kya kar rahe ho Daya? Aur ye jo tumhare haath me ring hain wo kiske liye hai?' asked Abhijeet.

'Ye? Are... nahi... main wo... bas aise hi dekh raha tha' said Daya.

'Accha?' questioned Abhijeet.

'Yaar main ye ring kisi ko gift vagera nahi de raha. Khud ke liye kharid raha hu' said Daya.

'Lekin ye toh ladies ring hai' said Abhijeet.

'Haan... maine wahi kaha isse ki ye ladies ring hai. Kabse mujhe ladies ring hi dikha raha hai' said Daya glaring at the shopkeeper.

'Sahab, aapne kab kaha ki aapko aapke liye ring dekhni hai? Aap toh directly ladies section me hi chale aaye' said the shopkeeper.

'Are yaar tu jane de. Main baad me aata hu. Waise bhi itna kuch important nahi hai' said Daya left the shop in a jiffy.

'Daya mujhe lagta hai tum mujhse kuch chupa rahe ho' said Abhijeet.

'Nahi toh!' Daya laughed.

'Acha thik hai. Tum Bureau jao. Mera ek chota sa kaam hai. Main wo karke baad me aata hu' said Abhijeet.

'Ok thik hai. Bye' said Daya.

When Daya and Abhijeet left, Jaywanti who was standing nearby frowned. 'Daya sir aur Abhijeet sir dono Jewellers ki shop me? ACP sir ko toh mujhe batana hi padega' she muttered.

O-o-o-o

Same Day evening, Forensic Lab -

It was pretty late and almost everybody had left. Abhijeet almost ran to the Forensic Lab. He wanted to tell Tarika something very important.

Abhijeet wasn't however aware that Rajat had spotted him dashing to the forensic Lab and was tailing him quite closely now.

'Hi Abhi! Accha hua tum aa gaye. Mujhe tumhe kuch dikhana hai' Tarika said greeting him warmly as Abhijeet entered.

'Kya baat hai Tarika jee? Aaj direct "Abhijeet" se "Abhi"?' said Abhijeet.

'Aaj Salunkhe sir kisi conference me chale gaye hai. Aur Lab me main akeli hoon toh ab tum bhi "Tarika Jee" se "Tarika" par aa jana' said Tarika smiling.

'Hmm. Accha main tumhe ek important baat batane aaya hoon.' said Abhijeet and then he told her how he had met Daya at a jewellery shop in the morning.

Tarika gasped. 'Jaroor Shreya ke liye hi kharid raha hoga' she said.

'Haan. Wo toh hai. Toh ab main kuch karne wala hoon' said Abhijeet smirking broadly.

'Kya?' asked Tarika.

Pehle tum batao kya dikhana chahti thi mujhe' asked Abhijeet changing the topic.

'Hamare ye kuch purane photos mil gaye mujhe. Kitna accha aaye hai na? Kitne acche lag rahe hai hum saath me' said Tarika showing him one of the photos.

'Haan. Of course! Main jis photo me hota hoon wo photo hamesha acch hi aata hai' said Abhijeet.

'Bohot boring joke tha Abhijeet' said Tarika in a bored voice.

'Joke nahi tha ye. Sach keh raha hoon main' said Abhijeet.

'Oh no!' Tarika exclaimed. The photos had slipped from her hand and scattered in the floor.

She and Abhijeet picked them up and Tarika put them back in her bag.

'Accha Abhijeet batao toh ki plan kya hai? Daya aur Shreya ko kaise surprise karna hai?' asked Tarika.

'Tumhara kaam ho gaya ho toh nikalte hai. Ghar jate samay bataunga' said Abhijeet.

'Nahi Abhijeet. Aaj mujhe Salunkhe sir ne bohot kaam diya hai. Main jaldi nahi nikal sakti' said Tarika.

'Accha toh 15 minute ke liye Coffee pine chalo. Wahin par bata deta hoon.' said Abhijeet.

'Thik hai, Coffee pine jayenge par yaha batane me kya problen hai?' asked Tarika.

'Yaha nahi bata sakta Tarika. Bohot risky hai. Kyuki deewaro ko bhi sunayi deta hai aaj kal' said Abhijeet.

'Okay okay. Thik hai chalo. Par jyada time nahi hai mere paas sirf 10 minute' said Tarika and both of them walked out of the Lab.

Rajat who had heard their entire conversation, crept inside the Forensic Lab smiling to himself.

He approached Tarika's desk and picked up a photograph fallen on the floor which Tarika hadn't noticed.

It was a picture of her and Abhijeet with their arms around one another and looking very much in love.

Rajat smirked broadly looking at the photograph.

'Sahi kaha Abhijeet sir aapne. Deewaro ko sunai deta hai aur dikahi bhi deta hai. Aur aaj to mujhe double lottery lag gayi - Daya Sir aur Shreya aur Aap aur Dr Tarika' he said aloud, grinning mischievously.

A/N - I was watching a few old CID episodes and I kinda think Rajat and Purvi look good together so I have paired them.