Chapter 6
Purvi had been in an entirely different world since she and Rajat had confessed their feelings for each other. After their indirect confession in the CID Bureau, they had met in the evening and she had embraced him tightly and had told him how she had a crush on him for long time and how her feelings had grown stronger for him over time.
She told Rajat that Sachin, who was her best friend knew about her feelings for Rajat.
Later, they had talked and talked which seemed like forever. Purvi realised that there were so many things which didn't know about him and there was so much to talk.
She hadn't had the opportunity to tell this news to Sachin yet.
Abhijeet had found Purvi grinning stupidly while staring at the opposite wall. When he had asked her the reason, she had managed to convince him that she was remembering a very funny joke. She didn't know whether she had managed to sound convincing enough.
From that moment she warned herself to stay alert and not make her colleagues suspicious.
Next day evening after work, she and Sachin were sitting in a Coffee Shop when she finally told him everything.
'Tabhi main soch raha tha ki tumhe do dino se ho kya gaya hai. Ab pata chala ki Rajat sir ke khayalo me kho gayi thi' said Sachin.
'Chup kar! Aur bureau me tumhara muh band rakhna' said Purvi.
'Kyu? Kya hua?' asked Sachin.
'Tumhe rules toh yaad hai na? Jo ACP Sir ne banaye hai?' asked Purvi.
'Bade ajeeb rules hai. Jab tak personal life ka kaam pe asar nahi hota tab tak kya problem hai?' said Sachin.
'Ab ACP Sir se hum thodi na argue karenge' said Purvi.
'Waise tumhe kya lagta hai Daya sir aur Abhijeet sir ki koi girlfriend nahi hogi? Aise hi baithe rahe toh umar nikal jayegi unki shaadi ki' said Sachin.
'Daya sir ka pata nahi par Abhijeet sir aur Tarika toh pakka pasand karte hai ek dusre ko. Lab me toh dono hamesha shuru ho jate hai' said Purvi giggling.
'Haan maine bhi notice kiya hai' agreed Sachin.
'Lekin ab mujhe Abhijeet sir ka darr lag raha hai. Pata hai aaj kya hua...' said Purvi and she told him how Abhijeet had grinning stupidly staring at the wall.
When she was done, Sachin was chortling. 'Tumne prove kar diya aaj Purvi ki pyar se side effects sacchi aise hi hote hai' he said.
Purvi punched him on his arm. 'Shut up!'
'Waise Abhijeet sir ne tera excuse itni aasani se maan liya?' asked Sachin.
'Wo kuch kehne se pehle hi ACP sir ne hame kaam ke liye bahar bhej diya. Lekin mujhe nahi lagta ki wo convince hue hai. Isilye toh tension ho raha mujhe' said Purvi.
'Rajat sir se keh de. Ab wohi iska solution nikal sakte hai. Waise tune kisi aur ko bataya nahi na?' asked Sachin.
'Nahi sirf tumhe pata hai. Main Rajat se hi baat karti hu' said Purvi.
'Oho! Ek din me "Rajat sir" se "Rajat" ho bhi gaya? Kya baat hai!' said Sachin in a teasing voice.
'Tu mujhe tang karna band kar. Nahin toh baat nahi karungi tujhse' said Purvi.
'Okay okay, sorry' Sachin laughed.
O-o-o-o
When Purvi expressed her worries to Rajat on the telephone the following night, he assured her that she need not worry.
He told her all they had to do was to keep acting normally and he had also mentioned that he knew a secret and soon they were going to have a lot of fun.
Purvi had asked him about it but Rajat had refused to tell her. He said he would tell at the right time.
O-o-o-o
A week later, On Shreya's birthday -
Daya deliberately lingered in the CID making sure everyone had left for home including Shreya.
Then, cautiously he withdrew a small velvet box from his pocket and opened it. A smile spread across his lips as he saw a glittering diamond ring sitting inside the box.
Daya was about to take it out but stop abruptly. He thought he heard a noise. Whatever the noise was, he couldn't tell. He whipped around but the CID Bureau was quite empty.
And then he heard distant footsteps. He saw ACP Pradyuman approaching, speaking on his cellphone. Daya hastily closed the box and stuffed it into his desk drawer. He stood up and began to clear his desk just as ACP Pradyuman came inside.
'Daya tum abhi tak yaha?' he asked looking surprised.
'Haan sir, main bas nikal hi raha tha. Pichle case ki kuch files complete karni thi isliye ruka tha' said Daya.
'Accja jane se pehle mere cabin me aao. Mujhe tumhe kuch report dene hai ghar pe study karne ke liye' said ACP Pradyuman.
Daya followed him into his Cabin and five minutes later, he was came back carrying three large files. He put them into his bag and then opened his desk drawer. The velvet box was still there. He pocketed it and left the bureau.
O-o-o-o
An hour later Daya was standing at Shreya's door step looking dapper in black suit.
Shreya opened the door, smiling.
'Aap jaldi aa gaye' she said.
'Haan. Jyada samay tak tumse dur nahi reh sakta main' said Daya hugging her.
Shreya smiled.
'Happy Birthday! Bohot acchi lag rahi ho' said Daya.
'Thanks Daya' said Shreya.
'Toh ready?' asked Daya.
'Haan. Lekin aapne abhi tak bataya nahi ki hum jaa kaha rahe hai' said Shreya.
'Hum dinner ke liye jaa rahe' said Daya.
'Aur mera birthday gift?' asked Shreya.
Daya's eyes widened in shock. 'Oh no, main birthday gift lana toh bhul hi gaya'
'Kya? Aise kaise bhul sakte hai aap?' said Shreya frowning.
'Sorry. Hum ek kaam karte hain. Dinner ke baad kahi shopping larne chalte hai. Tumhe jo chahiye le lena' said Daya.
'Aap sach me bhul gaye? Mujhe laga ki aap majak kar rahe hai' said Shreya.
'Are majak kyu karunga main?' asked Daya.
'You are impossible!' saod Shreya and hurried towards the car.
'Are ghar ka darwaja toh band karo!' Daya called after.
When she didn't reply, Daya closed the door. He felt the velvet box in his pocket and smiled.
'Pehle hi bata diya toh phir surprise kaisa' he murmured and walked to his car.
As soon as Daya's car left, another sedan hurried after it. Abhijeet and Tarika were following them.
'Mujhe toh abhi se hasi aa rahi hai' said Tarika.
'Daya ki reaction dekhne me bada maja aayega' said Abhijeet.
'Lekin Abhijeet bechari Shreya ka mood off ho jayega hamari plan ke wajah se' said Tarika.
'Haan par Daya ko satane ka isse accha mauka nahi ho sakta. Waise baad me jab sab clear ho jayega toh hum Shreya se sorry bol denge' said Abhijeet.
'Hmm thik hai' said Tarika.
O-o-o-o
The restaurant was exquisite. It was on the eleventh floor and it gave a full view of the city. Candles and shimmering glass lamps gave it an ethereal aura. Daya and Shreya were enjoying Shreya's birthday dinner. Even though she had been a bit angry that Daya had forgotten her birthday gift, she was having having too much fun to be angry with him.
A partition separated them from the right side of the sitting area where Abhijeet and Tarika were sitting.
'Chalo isi bahane hamare bhi candlelight dinner ka plan ho gaya' said Abhijeet sipping his milkshake.
'Haan. I love this place' said Tarika.
'Thank god aaj kuch important kaam nahi aaya. Warna sara plan flop ho jata' said Abhijeet.
'Waise Abhijeet, tumhe kaise pata ki Daya Shreya ko ring dinner ke baad hi dega?' asked Tarika.
'Are gift toh usually baad me hi dete hai na. Aur abhi tak shant hai iska matlab ring ka raaz abhi tak Shreya ke saamne nahi aaya' said Abhijeet and both of them burst out laughing.
'Shhh... Tarika zara dhyan rakhna unn dono par. Main kuch miss nahi karna chahta. Dhyan se. Unhe pata nahi chalna chahiye ki hum yaha hai.' said Abhijeet.
'Wo icecream kha rahe hai. I think dus minute me ho jayega' said Tarika.
'Okay. Toh jaldi karo tum bhi' said Abhijeet.
Five minutes later, Tarika said, 'Abhijeet jaldi karo. Wo dono nikal rahe hai'
Abhijeet paid the bill and both of them followed Daya and Shreya out of the restaurant.
It was quite peaceful outside. Abhijeet and Tarika hof behind a nearby bush, listening with rapt attention.
'Ab kaha chale shopping ke liye?' asked Shreya.
'Shopping baad me. Tumhare liye ek surprise hai' said Daya.
'Surprise? Wow!' said Shreya in an excited voice.
Daya withdrew the box from his pocket. It was the same velvet box except now it was wrapped in a golden coloured gift paper.
'Daya ye kya?' Shreya asked, stunned.
'Tumhara birthday gift' said Daya grinning.
'Par... par aap toh keh rahe the ki aap gift laana bhul gaye hai!' said Shreya.
'Tumhe surprise dena chahta tha' he said.
'Wow! Daya thank you so much. I love you!' she said hugging him tightly.
'Gift toh kholke dekho' said Daya.
Shreya nodded and carefully unwrapped the gift paper. She gasped seeing a velvet box.
'Daya... I - ' she stared at him lost for words.
'Aise mat dekho. Kholo uss box ko' said Daya.
Shreya opened the box and her eyes widened in surprise.
Daya smiled at her reaction. 'Kaisi lagi ring? Pasand to aayi na tumhe?' he asked.
Shreya looked at him looking extremely angry. 'Ye kya majak hai Daya?' she asked.
'Majak?' Daya asked looking confused.
'Do you think this is a joke?' she questioned angrily.
'Joke? Kya hua tumhe ring pasand nahi aayi? Agar aise hai toh hum change karke le lenge' he said.
'You are impossible Daya! Kya samajh ke rakha hai aapne mujhe? Maine sapne bhi nahi socha tha ki aap mera aisa majak udayenge' said Shreya.
'Shreya kya hua? Maine aisa kya kiya ki tum itni gussa ho gayi? Hum ek dusre se pyar karte hai . Kabhi na kabhi to engagement honi hi thi. Maine sirf tumhe ek ring gift ki usme itni gussa honewali kaunsi baat hai?' asked Daya.
'Isme koi ring nahi hai Daya!' said Shreya in a loud voice.
'Kya? Ye kya bol rahi ho tum?' asked Daya.
'Oh, toh aapko pata hi nahi! Great!' said Shreya acidly.
'Mujhe sach me nahi pata ring box se kaise gayab ho gayi!' said Daya snatching the box from her hand. It was true, the ring was missing.
'Kyu jhooth bol rahe hai aap Daya? Sach sach bata dijiye na ki aap mujhe birthday gift nahi dena chahte the? Ye sab drama karne ki kya zaroorat thi?' asked Shreya.
'Shut up Shreya! Tum soch bhi kaise sakti ho ki main tumhare saath aisa majak kar sakta hu? I swear maine ye ring kharidi thi. Aaj office me maine khud ye box kholke dekha tha aapni aankho se. Mujhe sach me nahi pata ki ring kaha gayab ho gayi' said Daya impatiently.
'This is the limit Daya. Bas ab bohot ho gaya. Maun ghar jaa rahi hu' she said.
'Shreya tum sach janne bina yaha se nahi jaa sakti. Trust me, maine ring kharidi thi. Main tumhe purchase bill dikha sakta hu. Chalo mere saath' said Daya grabbing her arm.
'Mujhe kahi nahi jaana aur mujhe koi bhi proof ki zaroorat nahi hai. Jo kuch bhi samajhna tha main acchi tarah se samajh gayi hu.' said Shreya and started to walk away.
'Shreya please meri baat suno!' Daya called and went after her.
A minute after they had left, Abhijeet and Tarika scrambled from behind the bush, doubling with silent laughter.
When Daya and Shreya had gone far, they burst out laughing.
'Oh god! Abhijeet mere pet me dard ho raha hai!' said Tarika choking.
Abhijeet was clutching his stomach unable to control himself.
When they calmed down after five more minutes coughing slightly, Tarika said, 'Maine aaj tak kisi ko itna tang nahi kiya!'
'Maine bhi' said Abhijeet staring at the diamond ring in his hand.
Tarika burst into a fit of giggles once again.
'Abhijeet, mujhe bohot guilty feel ho raha hai. Shreya kitni naraz ho gayi. Aur aaj uska birthday bhi tha' she said gravely.
'Haan sahi keh rahi ho tum. Hasi majak sab thik tha par Shreya kuch jyada hi bura maan gayi' said Abhijeet.
'Tumhari idea thi ye toh Abhijeet!' said Tarika.
'Lekin tumne bhi toh saath diya hai mera plan execute karne me' said Abhijeet.
'Ab kya kare? Jake bol de Shreya aur Daya se?' asked Tarika.
'Nahi nahi. Abhi nahi. Kal baat kar lenge Daya se. Waise itna tension mat lo. Humne to ye sab majak karne ke liye kiya tha aur Daya jaroor mana lega usse' said Abhijeet.
'Haan sahi keh rahe ho tum. Waise tumne wo ring gayab kab kar li?' asked Tarika.
'Maine Daya ko dekha office me aaj shaam. Uske haath me ring ka box tha. Phir ACP sir ne usse kuch kaam ke liye Cabin me bula liya tab gayab kar li maine ring' said Abhijeet smirking.
'Hmm. Chalo bohot late ho gaya hai. Lekin kal subah bureau pohochte hi hum Daya aur Shreya ko sorry bol denge' said Tarika.
'Haan haan. Sorry bolenge aur Daya se puchenge bhi ki usne ye sab humse kyun chupaya' said Abhijeet.
O -o- o-o
Abhijeet returned home very late and tired from the nights events. However, when he turned a key in the lock and entered his house, he found a large white envelope on the floor. It didn't have sender's name Somebody had slipped it inside from under the door.
Abhijeet picked it up and removed its contents. The envelope had a single photograph of him with his arm around Tarika. On the back of the photograph, someone had scribbled in an untidy scrawl - "I know you and Dr Tarika are dating".