Chapter 3
She was running as fast as her legs could carry her. Her breathing was uneven. She wasn't bothered about the route she had taken. All she wanted was to escape from the forest alive. She heard somebody following her. She saw a shadowed figure through the mist following her with quickening pace.
She let out a loud scream which echoed off the eerie forest. Her foot got caught in a root of the tree and she fell down on the ground. She let out a howl of pain. Her foot was twisted at an unnatural angle. An awful smell assaulted her nostrils and she felt a sick sensation in her stomach. A man came into view. He was holding a silver dagger. It glinted in the moonlight. The man wore a black coat. His face was not at all visible. He raised the dagger.
'No!' she screamed.
He stood still. He was looking at her. 'Wh -who are you?' she whispered trembling.
'Prepare to die!' he rasped.
'Noooo! Please! Leave me!' she begged.
He raised the dagger and it came swishing down straight at her. She rolled over to her left side.
She let out a hair rising scream as the dagger pierced her arm.
'Aaaahhhh!' Shreya was screaming.
'Madam! Kya hua? Aap thik to hai?' a voice spoke.
Shreya opened her eyes. She looked around her. She didn't know where she was. She sat up on the bed suddenly and wiped the beads of sweat on her forehead.
The doctor burst inside her ward. 'Nurse Kya hua? Sab thik to hai na?' he asked.
'Main yahan kaise? Kisne admit kiya mujhe?' asked Shreya.
'Aap ko kuch bhi yaad nahi? Aap gir gayi thi chakkar aane ki wajah se!' the doctor said.
'Oh haan... wo... wo aadmi to mujhe thik se yaad nahi. Par haan main use dekhke bohot dar gayi thi. Main jor se chilla rahi thi aur aur phir mujhe chakkar aayi' said Shreya.
'Aap dar kyun gayi? Wo ek CID officer the unhone hi aapko admit kiya yaha pe' the Doctor said.
'Pata nahi. Kuch thik se yaad nahi aa raha. Wo hai kaha?' she asked.
'Wo toh chale gaye!' replied the doctor.
'Chale gaye? Ajeeb insan hai' thought Shreya.
'Waise madam aap abhi bhi neend me chilla rahi thi! Kya aapko koi pareshani hai?' asked the doctor.
'Nahi. wo... maine actually ek bura sapna dekh liya. Sorry' said Shreya.
'Thik hai koi baat nahi. Aapke saare reports normal hai. Mujhe lagta hai aapko bohot jyada stress hai kisi baat ka. Isiliye ye sab ho raha hai aapke saath. Meri baat maniye aap do teen din rest kar liyjiye' said the doctor.
'Are ye aap kya keh rahe hai doctor? Parso se meri nayi job start ho rahi hai. Pehle hi din mai chutti kaise le sakti hu? Lekin main apna khayal rakhungi. Waise mujhe discharge kab milega?' she asked.
'Abhi mil jayega discharge. Lekin ghar jane se pehle aap jara mere cabin me aayein. Main aapko medicines de deta hoon.' the doctor said.
'Okay thik hai. Thank you doctor' said Shreya.
O-o-o-o
After leaving the hospital Shreya called Purvi.
'Tu baat mat kar mujhse! Kal raat gharpe kitna wait kiya maine tera. Aur jara cell phone dekh le apna. Chalis pachas missed honge mere kam se kam!' said Purvi angrily.
'Yaar I am sorry. Actually main kal mall gayi thi shopping karne. Uske baad tere hi ghar aanewali thi lekin phir...' said Shreya. (She told Purvi what had happened)
After listening to Shreya, her anger vanished and she asked in a concerned tone, 'Tu thik to hai na? Aur wo CID officer kaun tha? Aur ek CID officer ko dekhke tu itna dar kyu gayi?' asked Purvi.
Shreya bit her tongue. Purvi didn't know anything about Shreya's little secret. How could she be so foolish? But Shreya would have to be careful now. Purvi was a CID officer after all. She couldn't risk letting her know her secret.
'Hello? Shreya tu sun rahi hai na?' Purvi asked.
'Haan. Wo mere phone ka kuch problem hai. Accha sun main pehle mere flat pe chali jati hu. Thoda fresh hokar mujhe kuch grocery shopping karni hai aur naye headphones bhi kharidne hai. Main tujhe aaj shaam ko milti hu tere ghar pe pakka. Phir bast karenge.' said Shreya
'Accha thik hai. Par abhi tu akeli hai. Jara sambhalke. Tujhe ab thik lag raha hai na?' asked Purvi.
'Haan main bilkul thik hu. Tu fikr mat kar' said Shreya.
'Ok to phir aaj raat mere ghar pe hi ruk jaa. Kal subah saath me hi bureau chale jayenge' said Purvi.
'Okay! Chal bye! Milte hai shaam ko' said Shreya and hung up.
She then took a cab and went home.
O-o-o-o
Daya was surfing on the web along with his Sunday Brunch. His phone beeped suddenly and went dead.
'Oh no! Iski battery change karni thi! Aur haan recharge bhi karna tha! Bhagwan jaane mera postpaid plan kab activate hoga! Lekin tab tak ke liye mujhe dusre mobile pe recharge karna hi hoga!' he thought.
He sighed and went to his room to get dressed. A few minutes later he was on his way to the mobile shop.
O-o-o-o
6 pm, Mintel Mobile Shop
Shreya entered the shop carrying heavy grocery bags.
'Bhaiyaa jara headphones dikhayei. Aur Cover bhi lena hai mujhe Galaxy Note ka. Aur please thoda jaldi' she said impatiently to the shopkeeper.
He went in and got a box of headphones.
'Ye dekhiye madam. Ye black wale kaafi chalte hai aaj kal' he said.
Shreya place her phone on the counter and began searching for the headphones.
Meanwhile Daya entered the same shop. He was in a hurry. He had to reach the mobile battery store before it closed.
'Isme kuch funky colour nai hai? Jaise wo -' Shreya was saying when Daya interrupted -
'Bhaiyaa 500 ka recharge karna hai. Please jaldi kijiye main bohot jaldi me hu' he said.
He was in his own world and didn't notice the angry stare Shreya gave him. Daya placed his phone which was a galaxy note too next to her cell phone.
The shopkeeper came back with new headphones as well as his recharge book. 'Kya price -' said Shreya but once again she was cut off by Daya.
'Jee mera number likh lijiye' he said.
'Aaj kal logon ko tameez aur discipline naam ki koi cheez pata hi nahi hoti.' Shreya muttered angrily so that Daya could hear her.
'Jee kuch kaha aapne?' Daya asked her.
She threw him a disgusted look. Daya suddenly recognised her. She was the same girl who had yelled and then fainted in the lift.
'Tum?' Daya asked.
Shreya had not seen Daya's face properly and so she didn't remember him at all.
'Excuse me?' she asked with attitude.
'Hadd ho gayi! Ek to maine ise hospital admit kiya. Iski help ki. Mujhe thank you bolne ke wajay attitude dikha rahi hai mujhe' thought Daya.
'Hello' said Shreya waving her hand in front of his face which brought Daya back from his trail of thoughts.
'Kya?' asked Daya.
'Aapko recharge nai karna? Ek to mujhe disturb kiya aur mera time waste kiya aur ab mujhe kyu ghur rahe ho?' she asked.
'Ek minute main tumhari beech me nahi aaya hu. Mujhe bohot jaldi hai. Tum faltu ke comments kar rahi ho uska kya?' asked Daya.
'Dekho tumhe jo karna hai jaldi karo. Mujhe tumse ladhne me koi interest nahi hai. Bohot saare kaam hai mujhe' said Shreya.
Daya once again turned to the shopkeeper but then someone called his name. 'Daya!'
He looked around and spotted his college friend waving to him from outside the shop.
'Main bas abhi aaya.' he said to the shopkeeper and went outside.
Meanwhile Shreya continued with her shopping.
Five minutes later Daya came back when Shreya was saying, 'Bhaiya kitna hua cover aur headphones ka?'
'Aacha mera ho gaya recharge ka? Kitna -'
This time it was it was Daya's turn to get interrupted. ' -pehle mujhe batayein!' Shreya said in a loud voice.
'Dekh lijiye bhai inka pehle' said Daya. He went and stood at a corner looking at her.
Shreya paid the money and took her grocery bags and then she picked up the phone and moved out of the shop.
'Ho gaya unka sab? Ab mujhe batayein' said Daya.
'Sir aapka recharge maine kar liye hai. Ek baar check kijiye aapko SMS aaya hoga' said the Shopkeeper.
'Haan... ek minute' said Daya picking up his phone.
He looked at the wallpaper and wondered aloud 'arey ye kiska phone hai?' A second later he realised the problem.
That girl had taken his phone by mistake!
'Oh no!' he uttered and rushed out of the shop.
'Are sir aap jaa kaha rahe hai?! Mere paise to dijiye!' the shopkeeper yelled and ran after him.
Daya spotted Shreya just a few metres ahead on her scooty.
'Madam rukiye! Mera phone galti se aapke paas aaya hai!' Daya yelled running behind her.
Shreya was wearing a helmet so she didn't hear whatever Daya was saying. She saw Daya following her from the mirror.
'Oh no! Ye to wahi aadmi hai jo mere saath uss mobile shop me tha!' Ye mera picha kyu kar raha hai? Kahi ye goonda to nahi? Ab ye kaunsi nayi musibat aa gayi?' thought Shreya and she raised the acceleration.
'Pagal ladki ye rukh kyu nahi rahi hai! Ek to mera phone' thought Daya angrily.
The shopkeeper too was running behind Daya as fast as he could. He was really angry.
'Are madam aap accelerator kyu de rahi hai?! Aapko ko breaks lagana hai!' Daya yelled.
'Nahi mujhe rukna nahi chahiye! Kya karu? Iss raste se aage jati hoon. Jyada traffic nahi hoga to main fast gadi chala sakungi. Purvi ke ghar jaane me der hogi par thik hai. Aaj iss aadmi se bachne ek hi raasta hai' thought Shreya.
She zoomed off at full speed and Daya had to stop running. He had lost her.
'Ab kya karu main?! Iss ladki ne to mera din kharab kar diya! Lekin main bhaag kyu raha tha itna? Mere paas to bike thi!' thought Daya angrily.
At that precise moment the shopkeeper came behind him panting. 'Ye to had ho gayi! Recharge ki chori kar rahe ho?' he yelled at Daya.
'Main chori? Nahi nahi aap ki koi galti nahi hai. Kyuki aaj ka din hi bakwaas hai!' said Daya controlling his temper.
'Wo ladki mera phone le gayi. Uska kya karunga aab main? Aur main ek CID officer hoon. Main kyu chori karunga?' asked Daya.
'Dekhiye aap mere paise mujhe de dijiye bas. Baki mujhe kuch pata nahi' said the Shopkeeper.
'Ye lijiye aapke 500 rupaye!' said Daya angrily.
The shopkeeper went back. Daya too went back. He sat on in bike wondering what to do. How on the earth was he going to find that girl? He didn't even know her name! Daya checked her contacts for anyone named 'mom' or 'dad' or 'home'. But he couldn't find one. Finally Daya decided to go home. He turned on the ignition but the bike wouldn't start. Daya was so angry! What the hell was happening with him?
He walked his bike to a nearby garage. While the mechanic was doing his work, the girl's cell phone rang. Daya was surprised to see ACP Pradyuman's name as the caller.
Daya received the call and spoke to him.
O-o-o-o
Purvi's House,9 pm
'Aur phir wo mere piche bhagne laga! Uss mobile shop mera itna sa jhagda hua mera uske saath isliye mere piche hi pad gaya wo! Ek to itna attitude bhara hai uske andar ki puchna mat. Bas agli bar mere saamne aane de use! Jail nahi bhijwaya na to mera naam bhi Shreya nahi! Ye sab main aaj bhi karti lekin abhi tak main CID join nahi hui hoon na' said Shreya angrily.
'Shreya baas kar! Kitna gussa karegi! Aanede use saamne phir sab milke dekh lenge' said Purvi.
'Hmmm... aur uski wajah se hum hamara dinner kyu spoil kare? Chal kitchen me chalte hai. Rice banana baki hai' said Shreya.
Both Shreya and Purvi went to kitchen and set to work.
Daya reached Purvi's house at 9.30. He rang the doorbell and Shreya opened the door.
'Tum?' she shrieked.
'Dekho - ' Daya began.
'Just shut up! Tum samajhte kya ho aapne aap ko? Mere ghar tak aa gaye! Dekho abhi chale jao yahan se! Tum jaante nahi ho main kaun hoon. Main CID officer hoon. Abhi jail bhijwa dungi tumhe! Kyu kar rahe ho picha mera?' asked Shreya.
Purvi ran outside hearing all the commotion. She was shocked to see Daya.
'Daya sir aap yaha? Andar aayein na!' said Purvi.
Shreya was shocked to hear her words.
'Purvi tu pagal ho gayi hai kya? Kya keh rahi hai? Yahi hai wo aadmi jo mera picha kar raha tha!' said Shreya.
'Kya?! Shreya tu hosh me to hai? Ye Daya sir hai! CID ke senior inspector!' said Purvi.
'What?' asked Shreya surprised.
'Haan Purvi thik keh rahi hai' said Daya.
'Par -' Shreya began.
'Ek minute. Pehle main baat karunga aur tum ekdam chup rahogi samjhi?' said Daya.
Shreya merely nodded.
'Uss mobile shop me tum mera phone utha ke le aayi - haan haan ye aisa hi hua hai!' said Daya when Shreya nodded in a 'No'
'Ye raha tumhara phone. Isliye main tumhara picha kar raha tha. Tumhe rukne ke liye keh raha tha. Lekin tumne uska galat matlab nikala. Thodi der pehle ACP sir ka phone aaya tumhari cell pe.
Unhe kuch kaam tha tumse. Unhone mujhe bataya ki tum Purvi ke ghar par ho. Isliye main yaha chala aaya. Ye lo tumhara phone. Kya mujhe mera phone wapas mil sakta hai?' asked Daya calmly.
Shreya wanted to disappear into thin air at that moment. What would he think of her? She felt really guilty. He was a senior officer and she had insulted him when he hadn't done anything.
Purvi was giggling. 'Shut up!' Shreya said and went inside to get Daya's phone.
'Sir Shreya ki taraf se main sorry kehti hoon aapko. Wo aisi hi hai. Please aap uski baaton ka bura mat maniye' said Purvi.
'It's okay Purvi' said Daya smiling.
'Sir please aap andar aayein' she said.
Daya stepped inside her house.
Shreya arrived holding both cell phones. She was still checking them out and wondering how she committed such a foolish mistake.
'Sorry sir! Wo maine dekhe nahi. Aur aapka phone baja bhi nahi to maine notice nahi kiya' said Shreya handing him his cell phone.
'Ha! Mujhe kaam ke alava koi phone hi nahi karta! Bohot kam dost hai mere. Lekin tumhara phone to bohot baj raha ek baat kahu? Saare log bure hi hote hai aise please mat samajhna!' said Daya.
Shreya looked away guiltily. She couldn't meet his eye.
'Sorry' she mumbled.
'Sir aap dinner karke hi jayein hamare saath' said Purvi.
'Are nahi tum log enjoy karo. Main chalta hu. Mujhe thoda urgent kaam hai' said Daya.
He left the house.
'Main bas abhi aayi' said Shreya and ran outside.
Daya was already on his bike.
'Sir ek minute!' Shreya called.
'Daya' he said introducing himself.
'Daya sir main phirse ek baar aapko sorry bolna chahti hu. Mujhse bohot badi galati ho gayi' said Shreya.
'It's okay Shreya.' said Daya finally. He realised he had spoken very rudely to her a few minutes ago.
'Nahi actually main bohot jyada agressive ho jati hu kabhi kabhi. Sab log mujhe isi wajah se daat te rehte hai. Par aage se main dhyan rakhungi' said Shreya.
'Hmm... Waise ab tum kaise feel kar rahi ho? Discharge kab mila hospital se?' asked Daya.
'Aapko kaise pata chala main hospital me thi?' asked Shreya surprised.
'Mujhe nahi to phir aur kise pata hoga? Maine hi to admit kiya tha tumhe!' said Daya.
'Oh wo aap the? Mujhe thik se kuch yaad nahi aa raha! Thank you so much sir! Aapne sachme bohot help ki meri. Aur maine bewajah gussa kiya aap par' said Shreya.
'Koi baat nahi. Chodo ab wo sab. Kal tumhara first day hai na? Milte hai phir kal' said Daya.
'Haan. Main bohot excited hoon. It's like a dream come true for me' Shreya was saying.
Daya was observing her. They were quite close to each other. Her hair was flowing with the wind. He noticed for the first time how beautiful she was. He smiled slightly at the silly thoughts crowding his mind.
'Sir aap aise kyu dekh rahe hai?' Shreya asked him.
'Kuch nahi. Chalo main chalta hoon. See you tomorrow' said Daya.
After he left Shreya ran back to the house. She smiled to herself.
He was really good looking and -
Her thoughts were broken as Purvi called her from the kitchen.
O-o-o-o
It was late in the night when Shreya noticed something abnormal. She was staring at herself in the mirror when she noticed a slight cut on her arm. She couldn't recall when she had got hurt. 'Strange' she thought.
She brushed aside the thought and settled on her bed thinking about her handsome senior. She couldn't get his face out of her mind. She was really excited about her new job.
But she shouldn't have ignored the cut on her arm. She really had no idea about the evil which was slowly moving closer to her.