Chapter 2

13th April 2015, Mumbai

'Good morning Daya!' Mr Belfort wished peeping up from behind the newspaper.

'Good morning! All well?' asked Daya.

'Yeah! So how are you going to spend your weekend? Up for a drink young man?' asked Mr Belfort.

'Nah. You know I don't drink. And I have got work at bureau. So it'd gonna be a hectic week end for me' said Daya.

'Oh sad! Anyway see you around! I have exact ten minutes to finish reading the newspaper before my wife arrives and ropes me to do gardening!' said Mr Belfort.

'Haha! All the best!' said Daya and went inside his house to get ready.

An early riser, Daya would always make it a point to talk to Mr and Mrs Belfort, his charming neighbours. Then he would hit the inbuilt gym inside his house and go to work. Daya was a CID officer. He was a senior inspector and held a respectable position in the society. He was young, dashing and a good looking hunk and yet he was single. Many girls had proposed him but he still hadn't found that special someone. He didn't know who exactly he was waiting for.

He remembered hos best friend's words clearly, 'Daya aise to tumhe koi nahi milne wala. Mujhe to samajh me nahi aata tum exactly dhoond kise rahe ho!' said Abhijeet.

Mr Belfort too would introduce Daya to young ladies from his family or friends but to no avail.

Daya knew that when he would meet his love, he would know. How and when was still a mystery.
He did his workout and got ready.

He stepped out of the house and approaches his bike. Mr Belfort having done his gardening was back on his favourite chair in the garden and now was listening to the radio.

'Goodbye Mr Belfort!' said Daya.

'Goodbye! Oh I forgot yet again! Daya can you do me a favour? Can you get me a medicine?' asked Mr Belfort.
'Sure!' said Daya.

Mr Belfort handed him the medical prescription. As Daya turned to go, Mr Belfort stopped him suddenly.

'I read your horoscope today! Your daily forecast is quiet interesting!' exclaimed Mr Belfort.

Daya knew what was coming. It would definitely be related with his marriage. He was quite right.
'I read your horoscope today! It says you are going to meet the love of your life this month!' said Mr Belfort quite overjoyed.

'How many times have you told me the same horoscope Mr Belfort? And I am really not worried. I know I will get someone soon who is the right one for me. Besides I am happy with my life.' said Daya smiling and went off on his bike.

O-o-o-o

The cell phone was ringing continuously. Purvi rushed to pick it up.

'Hello?' said spoke.

'Purvi! Kitna time phone uthane me?' asked Shreya.

'Shreya! Number change kiya kya? Mujhe kitchen me thi aur mujhe ring sunayi hi nahi di!' said Purvi.

'Accha accha thik hai. Mera phone dead hai. Abhi battery change karne aayi hu. Usi shop se call kiya ye batane ke liye ki main monday se bureau join kar rahi hu!' said Shreya excitedly.

'Wow! Congrats! Main kitni khush hoon! I am sure tum ye job bohot enjoy karn wali ho! Accha, mera appointment letter lene main abho CID bureau jaa rahi hu. Tum bhi aane wali ho kya bureau?' asked Shreya.

'Haan lekin mujhe late ho jayega. Pehle ek case ke silsile me kuch logon se puch tach karni hai. Hum ek kaam karte hai. Shaam ko dinner pe milte hai' said Purvi.

'Great! Thik hai! See you then!' said Shreya.

O-o-o-o

Mumbai traffic was extremely tiresome. Daya reached the bureau ten minutes late. He rushed inside the building. Daya stepped into the lift and bumped into Abhijeet.

'Are Daya tum? Maine socha main hi sabse late hoon' said Abhijeet.

'Ye traffic bhi na. Nahi to main jaldi nikala tha ghar se' said Daya.

'Accha kal se koi nayi ladki hoin honewali hai. Purvi ki dost hai. Shreya naam hai uska' said Abhijeet.

'Accha? ACP sir bol rahe the last week kuch.' said Daya.

'Hmm... Maine pucha Purvi se. Bohot intelligent hai and dikhane me bhi acchi hai. Aur sabse important baat. Uski shaadi nahi hui hai aur na hi uska koi boyfriend hai' said Abhijeet.

'Ye sab tum mujhe kyu bata rahe ho?' asked Daya.

'Are bas keh raha hoon' said Abhijeet naughtily. The day passed quickly.

In the evening Daya and Abhijeet went out for dinner.
'Abhijeet main jara uss shop me jaake aata hu. Meri nayi shirt collect karni hai' said Daya.

'Accha thik hai. Tumhara hine ke baad saamne wale restaurant aa jana. Main ek call karke aata hoon' said Abhijeet.

Daya entered the mall. The shop was on the fifth floor so he took the lift. It was dark inside. The light had died. The lift stopped on the first floor and a young girl entered. She seemed much shaken. She was trembling slightly. Daya was watching her and she paid no attention to him. She was in her own world. Daya wondered whether she had noticed him at all.

The door clanged shut and they were plunged into darkness. Daya turned on his mobile flashlight. It was at that time the girl noticed him. Her eyes went wide with terror. She glanced at his black shirt and let out a blood curling scream.

'Kya hua?' Daya yelled suddenly.

'Maine kuch nahi kiya! Please don't kill me!' she screamed at the top of her voice.
'Par main kaha kuch kar raha hu?!' Daya exclaimed giving her a bewildered look. The lift reached the fourth floor and the door opened.

'Noooo!' the girl wailed and collapsed on the floor. She had passed out.

'The people standing outside the lift shot angry and suspicious glances at Daya.
'Daya patted her cheek lightly.

'Kya hua? Aakhein kholo! Please koi paani leke aao jaldi' said Daya.

Someone sprinkled water on her face. But the girl didn't stir. 'Kya kiya tumne is ladki ko?' somebody asked.

'Aap chup rahiye. Maine kuch nahi kiya. Main ek CID officer hoon' said Daya flashing his badge.

'Toh phir ye aise kaise gir gayi?' a woman asked.

'Mujhe kya pata? Shayad chakkar aa gayi ise. Main ise hospital le jata hoon.' said Daya.

He called Abhijeet. 'Abhijeet jaldi se Lifeline hospital pohoch jao. Haan main thik hoon. Tum aa jao main sab batata hoon.' said Daya.

He lifted the girl and took her to his car. Then he drove to Lifeline hospital.

Half an hour later -

'Dekhiye ghabrane ki koi baat nahi hai. Wo thik hai. Use chakkar aa gayi thi air kuch nahi.' the doctor informed him.
'Kya hum mil sakte hai use?' asked Daya.

'Nahi maine use abhi neend ki dawai di hai. Kya aap unke rishtedar hai?' the doctor asked.

'Nahi. Main nahi jaanta is ladki ko. Thik hai hum abhi chalte hai. Agar kuch problem ho to hume bata dena. Ye raha mera number.' said Daya.

'Lekin uss ladki agar pucha aapke baare me to kya batau?' asked the doctor.

'Main CID officer Daya hoon. Agar usne pucha to bata dena. Thank you Doctor' said Daya.
He and Abhijeet then headed back home.