CHAPTER 2
Daya returned with a fallen face like a player returns to pavilion after loosing his match. His brain was blocked disabling him to think about anything properly.
All the 'propellers' rushed to him bombarding him with their questions.
"Kya hua Daya? You are looking upset!" Tarika asked observing his expressions.
Daya looked up and found all the eyes were asking the same question.
"Wahi hua, jo na tum logo ne socha tha aur na maine. Shreya ne mera proposal accept nahi kiya!" Daya said coldly showing the ring still in his hand to abhijeet.
Everyone exchanged glances in shock.
"Kya?" Abhijeet exclaimed, "Kya kaha kya usne?"
Daya narrated the whole conversation word by word as if he would have recorded it.
"I can't believe it! Aisa kaha Shreya ne? Pagal ho gayi hai kya wo? Aisa kaise keh sakti hai wo?" Abhijeet said in disbelief.
"Usne kaha iss ring ke liye dusra hath dhundh lena." Daya said sadly, "Ye ring wapas rakho abhijeet. Bahut heavy lag rahi hai ab ye mujhe. I can't hold it anymore." Daya said returning the ring to abhijeet.
"Ek minute Daya!" Tarika spoke, "ye kya baat hui? Shreya ne ring wapas kar di, to tum bhi ise abhijeet ko wapas kar rahe ho? Usne kaha ki chale jao aur tum chale aaye? Are baba try to understand the female psychology!"
Abhijeet and Daya both shot her a puzzled look.
"Female psychology?" Abhijeet asked.
"Yes! tum logo ne suna nahi hai ki ladkiyon ki juban pe bhale hi na ho par unke dil me han hoti hai. Daya, Shreya naraj hai tumse, isliye gusse me aisa bol diya hoga, genuine hai yaar, but somewhere deep inside wo yahi chahti hai ki tum uska hath pakad kar usko roko!" tarika said smiling.
Daya thought for a moment then nodded his head, "Nahi tarika, aisa kuch nahi hai. Wo mujhse sirf naraj hi nahi hai balki uske dil me mere liye jo kuch bhi tha wo ab khatam ho chuka hai. Aur wo bilkul sahi hai apni jegah pe. Sari galti meri hai, I don't deserve her!"
No one could utter anything. Abhijeet sighed and broke the silence.
"Tum tension mat lo daya, main baat karunga usse...
Tarika cut him, "Tum kyun baat karoge? Daya ke muh me aawaj nahi hai? Shreya ne bola go away, aur ye bhai saab chale aaye aur aakar baith gaye. This is high time Daya. Come on take a stand. Baat tumhare pyar ki hai, tumhari life ki hai. Kuch socho, kuch Karo. Are, tumhare dil me Shreya ke liye koi wish, koi desire, koi Passion hai bhi ya nahi? Tum wakai use pana chahte ho ya nahi? Humare baat karne se kya hota hai? Hume kya fark padta hai? It is you to whom it matters most. Tumse naraj hai manao use. Pyar karte ho usse to use ye bhi to batao ki usko pane ke liye tum kis had tak ja sakte ho? Aur actually Shreya dekhna bhi yahi chahti hai ki tum uske liye kya kya kar sakte ho?"
Daya stared at Tarika, "Toh batao na kya karu main?"
"Wo tum jano, main kyun batau?" Tarika snapped."Aur han ek baat yaad rakhna tumne use propose karke koi ehsan nahi kiya hai uspe. In fact ehsan to uska hoga agar wo tumhe maaf karke tumhari ring pehan leti hai toh"
Daya kept quiet. Abhijeet frowned at Tarika.
"Ha tum to usi ki side logi na. After all tumhari saheli hai."
"Meri saheli?" Tarika laughed, "Kyun tumhari dost nahi hai wo? Mujhse jyada wo tumhare sath rehti hai, tumhare sath kaam karti hai, okay? If you haven't noticed yet!"
Abhijeet was ready to blurt out but daya yelled at them, "For God's sake, tum dono chup raho! Ek to aise hi mere dimag kaam nahi kar raha aur tum dono mere sar pe khade hokar chilla rahe ho. Kuch sochne do mujhe!"
Abhijeet and Tarika exchanged glances and became silent.
o-o-o
Shreya was discussing something with Nikhil and Purvi. Daya came there and faked a cough. Nikhil and Purvi looked up at him but Shreya completely ignored him.
"Nikhil, Purvi, dekho jara Pankaj ki help Karo, koi file nahi mil rahi use!" Daya said signalling them to leave Shreya alone.
"Ok sir! Chalo Nikhil!" Purvi said to Nikhil.
Shreya frowned at Daya for sending Purvi and Nikhil away but said nothing. Purvi and Nikhil left. Daya moved near her.
"Shreya, mujhe baat karni hai tumse!"
"Boliye!" Shreya said coldly without looking at him.
"Shreya, don't be so difficult. I am sorry, maaf kar do mujhe. Itna bhi kya gussa. I know tum abhi bhi mujhse pyar...
"Will you stop it please?" Shreya said looking at him with fury. "Mujhe kaam karne deejiye. Faltu ki baate karne ka waqt nahi hai mere paas!" Shreya said engrossing herself in a file.
Daya watched her for a moment. "Tum mujhse itni nafrat karne lagi ho Shreya? Ab tum mujhse baat bhi nahi Karna chahti?"
Shreya turned to him, "Maine kab kaha ki main aapse baat nahi Karna chahti? Main bas ye keh rahi hu ki faltu ki bakwas mat ...
"Bakwas?" Daya shouted, " Main bakwas kar raha hu?"
Meanwhile Acp sir came there and witnessed Daya shouting at Shreya.
"Kya problem hai Daya? Aram se baat karo. Aise kyun cheekh rahe ho Shreya pe? Kuch galti kar di usne?"
Shreya looked away. Daya turned to respond acp sir, "sorry sir, koi baat nahi hai. All okay!"
As acp sir moved Daya murmured looking at Shreya, "Shreya kaise galti kar sakti hai sir? Galti to maine ki hai."
Shreya turned her head to look at him but he left from there looking frustrated. Shreya watched him going silently then made a face like she doesn't care.
At the end of the day when everyone was leaving. Tarika came to ask Shreya and Purvi for a company.
"Sorry yaar! Aaj tum dono nikal jao. Mujhe na kahi jana hai." Shreya said collecting her stuffs.
Daya narrowed his eyebrows and glanced at Shreya.
"Kaha ja rahi ho akele akele?" Tarika asked.
Shreya flashed a smile, "kuch nahi bas parlor ja rahi thi. Uske baad ek party me jana hai."
"Kaisi Party?" Purvi asked.
Shreya knew Daya is listening to her. "Kuch khas nahi wo bas kya hai na kal college ke kuch purane dost mil gaye. To sabne party ka plan bana liya. Itne dino baad jo mile. Aur waise bhi engagement tootne ke baad se na main bahut khush hu. Dance karne ka man kar raha hai, party karne ka man kar raha hai, celebrate karne ka man kar raha hai." Shreya said chirping like a bird, "Ok ok guys, main chalti hu, nahi to late ho jaungi. Bye, see you!" She said and hurriedly left the bureau.
Purvi and Tarika exchanged looks and shrugged.
Daya and Abhijeet were stunned with Shreya's behavior.
"She has really gone mad!" Abhijeet whispered to Daya.
Daya heaved a sigh looking at the door, "Khud pagal ho gayi hai aur mujhe bhi pagal kar ke manegi."
Daya turned to Abhijeet, "Abhijeet main soch raha tha ki kyun na Shreya ke parents se baat karu, shayad unke samjhane se wo maan jaye."
Abhijeet gave him a surprised look, "Kya baat hai bhai? Kal tak tumhare andar Shreya se bhi baat karne ki himmat nahi thi aur aaj tum direct uske ghar jakar uske parents se baat karne ki baat kar rahe ho?"
"Toh kya karu? Ek wahi log hain jo shayad use samjha sakte hain!" Daya said tiredly.
"Wo log to use tab samjhayenge na jab wo pehle khud tumhari baat samjhege. Shreya to tumhara proposal reject kar hi chuki hai, aise me uske parents bhala tumhe kaise accept kar lenge? Phir bhi tum try Karo, kya pata baat ban jaye. Waise mujhe lagta nahi ki ab Shreya kisi ke baap ki bhi baat sunegi" Abhijeet said patting his shoulder.
"Kisi aur ki nahi lekin apne baap ki to sunegi na!" Daya said.
o-o-o
Daya reached at Shreya's home and talked to her parents.
"Oh my God! Beta tum ab tak kaha the? Pehle kyun nahi aaye? Hume to pata hi nahi tha ki Shreya tumse pyar karti hai aur tum bhi usse pyar karte ho? Agar tum pehle aa gaye hote to hume Shreya ki engagement siddharth se nahi karni padti. Khair wo to ab toot chuki hai." Shreya's mother said looking sad.
Shreya's dad turned to Daya, "Beta hum to bas apni beti ki khushi chahte hain. Ek aisa ladka jo usse pyar karta ho aur use humesha khush rakh sake, bas usse jyada hume kya chahiye?"
Daya nodded her head, "Sir, main Shreya se bahut pyar karta hu, lekin ab wo mujhse itni naraj hai, mujhe maaf hi nahi Karna chahti. Main janta hu maine confession me der karke use bahut hurt kiya hai, lekin ab wo sab bhoolkar Shreya ke sath ek nayi zindagi ki shuruaat Karna chahta hu. Par wo purani baate bhulna hi nahi chahti. Aap log please use samjhaiye na ki wo apni zid chod de."
"Hum use samjhayenge lekin beta bachpan se hi bahut ziddi hai wo. Uske decisions ko badal pana bahut mushkil hai. Ek baar jo than leti hai wahi karti hai." Shreya's mother said disappointedly, "Abhi to wo Party kar rahi hai apne dosto ke sath. Wapas aa jaye to main usse baat karti hu."
"Theek hai tab tak main yahi wait karunga!" Daya said.
He grabbed a chair and started waiting for Shreya. She returned home after half past twelve of the night.
Shreya's mother opened the door for her.
"Are mummy aap log abhi tak jaag rahe ho? Maine kaha tha na khana khake so jana. Late ho jaungi main. Oh god, pata hai mummy kitna maja aaya party me? Aaj itne dino baad maine itna enjoy kiya. Itna dance kiya itna dance kiya ki ab to mere pairo..me...dard... She stopped her nonstop talks abruptly as Daya appeared in front of her.
"Aap yaha?" She exclaimed in amazement.
"Beta wo kabse tumhara intejar kar raha hai. Tumse baat Karna chahta hai." Shreya's mother said.
Shreya looked at her mother, "inse boliye, jo baat karni hai subeh karenge, abhi main bahut thak gayi hu. Mujhe sona hai!" She said sourly.
Daya moved and caught her arm, "Pehle tum meri baat suno Shreya. Jab tak tum mujhe maaf kar ke meri ring nahi pehan leti main yaha se nahi jaunga aur na hi tumhe sone dunga!"
Shreya gave him a look, "Really?" She freed her arm from his grip, "Sir aap jo bhi kar rahe hain na, mujhe bilkul achha nahi lag raha hai. It's really hard to believe ki aap mere ghar me jabardasti ghus kar is terah se behave karenge. Aise karta hai kya koi? Forcefully ring pehnayenge aap mujhe? Jabardasti han bulwayenge mujhse? Aap samajh kyun nahi rahe, main apna faisla nahi badal sakti. Aap please jaiye yaha se."
"Main nahi jaunga Shreya. Main yahi tumhare ghar ke bahar khada rahunga jab tak tum han nahi kehti." Daya warned looking into her eyes .
"Kya?" Shreya exclaimed, "Seriously!" She turned to her mom and dad, "Ye dekhiye aap log inspector Daya hain ye!" She said in a sarcastic manner and laughed, "Sir maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki aap ko ye sab karte huye dekhugi. Ye sab Romeo wali harkate aapko bilkul suit nahi karti. It's not going with your image, you know? Log kya sochenge? Itna bada cid officer ek ladki ke peeche deewano ki terah ghumta hua achha nahi lagta na? Yahi sab sochkar to aap chup baithe the aur mujhe kisi aur ki hote huye dekhte rehe, hai na? Ab ye sab karne ka koi matlab nahi hai. It's too late!"
"Shreya beta..." Her mother tried to say something but Shreya didn't give her a chance.
"Mummy aapko yaad hai? Main jab school me thi to mere class ka ek ladka mere peeche pada hua tha. " she turned to Daya, "Sir pata hai ek din aise wo bhi ghar aa gaya aur kehne laga ki jab tak han nahi bologi yaha se nahi jaunga." Shreya told and started laughing.
Daya was watching her silently. Shreya stopped laughing.
"Sir dekhiye aaj aap bhi wahi kar rahe hain. Achha lagta hai kya ye sab bachho wali harkate karna? Bahut childish aur funny lag raha hai ye. Teenagers karte hain aisa. Aap sochiye jara apne bare me, Senior inspector Daya, iss terah ki harkate karte huye achhe lagte hain kya? Nahi...bilkul nahi. Mat kariye aisa please, don't do that"
Daya was just staring at her.
"Yaad kariye, jab Siddharth se meri engagement hui thi tab aap kitne carefree the. Tab main apni pillows me muh chupakar roti thi aur aap aram se sote the. Aapko kaha koi fark pad raha tha? Hai na?" Shreya said tauntingly, "Tab aapne aisa kuch bhi nahi kiya to ab karne ka kya fayda. Yahi samajh leejiye ki meri shadi siddharth se ho chuki hai. Toh ye zid chodiye, ghar jakar aram se so jaiye aur mujhe bhi sone deejiye, good night!" Shreya said serenely and moved upstairs to her room.
Daya was stood there on the verge of tears. What does she know what he had gone through. Still those horrible sleepless nights haunt him but she is never going to believe that he had also cried.
Shreya's mom kept her hand on his shoulder, "Beta ghar jao, main usse subeh baat karungi."
"Nahi auntie, aapki beti ziddi hai to main bhi kam nahi hu. Main yahi gate pe khada rahuga sari raat. Dekhta hu wo bhi kaise chain se so pati hai." Daya said obstinately, "Darwaja band karke aap log jakar so jaiye. Main yahi bahar hu!"
"Beta bahar thand hai.." Shreya's dad protested.
"Hone deejiye, aap log jaiye. Main yahi khada rahuga sari raat." Daya said raising his voice making sure Shreya hears him.
Shreya's parents ultimately left Daya in his situation. They closed the door leaving Daya outside in the chilly night and moved to sleep.
Daya pushed his hands inside the pockets of his blazer and stood their straight like a pillar.
Here Shreya was pacing up and down in her room restlessly.
"Pata nahi kisne bola inhe ye sab karne ko? Had ho gayi hai." She murmured.
She went to the window and peeped outside. Daya looked up at the window. Their eyes met but Shreya quickly closed the window.
"Main apna faisla nahi badalne wali. Samajh kya rakha hai mujhe? Khade rehne do sari raat thand me. Subeh tak apne aap dimag theek ho jayega."She muttered and moved to her bed. She covered herself with the blanket and closed her eyes trying hard to not to think about him and sleep peacefully.
.
.
...To be continued
A/N: So kya lagta hai, will this not-so-unconventional idea of standing all night long outside of the girl's house to make her say yes, work for Daya?