CHAPTER 3
He was driving the car towards Mumbai. The rain was becoming heavier by the minute. It was pitch dark and there was no source of illumination. He glanced sideways at her. She was sleeping peacefully in her seat. He touched her cheek softly and smiled. How lucky he was to have her in his life! He squinted his eyes. It was difficult to see. The lightning flashes spookily illuminated the stark leafless trees swaying wildly in the wind. Fog had accumulated on the inside of windows of the car.
'Thodi der rukna padega. kuch dikhai nahi de raha', he thought and turned his car towards left and stopped. The indicators were flashing. Before he could turn off the ignition, without warning something heavy rammed into his car and the car got pushed over the cliff. It was just like a toy car thrown from above. It kept rolling downward, hitting everything that came in its path. He and Shreya screamed and attempted to hold on to anything they could find.
The car struck a huge boulder and stopped due to its impact at the bottom of the valley surrounded by a dense forest. Daya experienced excruciating pain in his head. He could feel blood trickling over his face.
He looked sideways and saw a blood covered face of Shreya. She wasn't moving. 'Shreyaaaaaaa...' he screamed but then he felt giddy and collapsed on the car floor unconscious.
Daya woke up suddenly from his sleep. His shirt was drenched with sweat. His breathing was uneven. With shaking hands he poured himself a glass of water and drank it in one go trying to calm himself. He wiped his face. He just had seen that gruesome accident all over again in his dream which had robbed him of his happiness forever. He had lost his wife Shreya and their unborn child in that accident. He had survived with major injuries. The news of her death was unbearable. The pain was beyond explanation. Since that day he had shut himself from the outside world. Just a month ago Abhijeet had convinced him to join bureau again. He had refused to speak to anyone about that accident. He had buried himself in work to such extent so that he wouldn't get time to think about her. Nights had been worst for him so far. He was scared to sleep as he knew he would witness the same dream all over again.
'Mujhe pata hai Shreya tum yahi kahi ho. Maine tumhe dekha hai aaj. Mujhe nahi pata kaise par tum wapas aa gayi ho. Shayad hamara pyar tumhe wapas ke aaya. Kaha ho tum Shreya?' he spoke aloud.
There was a pin drop silence for two minutes. Then he felt some movement behind the window curtain. Slowly she emerged and stood before him. He didn't know how to react. Words failed him. He didn't know whether he was feeling happy or sad. Mixed emotions filled his heart.
They stared at each other for a few minutes. Shreya moved slowly towards him in a graceful gait and her ruby red lips parted into a smile.
'Shreya' he said softly.
Tears were flowing down her eyes. She approached him and softly brushed her hand into his hair. He closed his eyes at her touch hoping she won't disappear this time.
'Daya aakhein kholiye. Main yahi hu aapke paas', she said guessing his thoughts correctly.
He opened his eyes and stretched out his hand to touch her. His hand was shaking badly. She held his hand tightly and put it on her cheek. He cupped her face. She shivered exactly as she had done when he had been intimate with her for the first time.
'Tum yaha kaise? Tum to...' he said without taking his eyes off her.
'Aana pada mujhe. Bohot saari baatein adhoori reh gayi hamare beech. Aur aapko pata hai main aapse dur nahi reh sakti', she said.
He made her sit on his bed.
'I miss you', he said.
Now she could stand it no more. Moving closer, she embraced him. He felt so calm and comfortable in her arms. How he missed her hug! He felt he could die right there in her arms.
'Kaha chali gayi thi tum? Kyu itni takleef di mujhe? Tumne mujhe kabhi na chodne ka wada kiya tha. Phir kyu kiya tumne aisa? Aur hamara baccha? Use bhi saath le gayi tum! Mujhe akela chodkar' he said.
'Daya I am so sorry. Mujhe aaj bhi bohot takleef hoti hai aapse dur rehkar. Aur hamara baccha bikul thik hai Daya.' she said holding him tightly.
'Dekhiye wo apne papa se milkar kitna khush hua hai. Aap hamari chinta mat kijiye. Mujhe toh aap ki fikr ho rahi hai. Isliye main wapis aayi hoon.' she said.
'Tumhare pyar ki aadat ho gayi thi mujhe. Aur tum achanak ek din chali gayi. Kaash main wo accident rok pata. Sab meri galti hai agar main waha car nahi rokta to aaj tum mere saath hoti aur hamara baccha bhi. Main apne aap ko kabhi maaf nahi karunga. Main - he said.
'Daya sshhh... Aap please shant ho jayiye. Jo bhi hua usme aap ki koi galti nahi thi.' she said.
'Nahi sirf main jimmedar hu iss hadse ke liye.' he said.
'Daya ab aap kuch mat boliye. Just listen to me. She made him lie on her lap and he willingly obliged. She moved her fingers into his hair. Aapko yaad hai jab aapne mujhe propose kiya tha tab main kitni nervous thi. Yaad hai na uss shaadi ka din. He smiled at her words.
**FLASHBACK**
The occasion was wedding of an Ex CID officer. The entire CID team had gone to Shimla to attend the wedding.
On the day of the wedding, everybody was busy with the arrangements. Shreya was up in her room getting ready. Her room did not have a mirror. She was having trouble tying her blouse knot. Someone entered her room and shut the door. Thinking it to be Tarika who was sharing room with her, Shreya said,' Tarika meri knot tie kar dena please.
Daya smiled and tied her knot. Then he planted a kiss on nape of her neck and wrapped his hands tightly around her waist. 'Tarika nahi Daya naam hai mera.' he said.
'Sir ye kya kar rahe hai? Chodiye mujhe.' she said nervously.
He rested his chin on her shoulder. 'Shreya main mujrimo ko itni aasani se nahi chodta', he said with a mischievous smile.
"Maine kya kiya hai sir?' she asked still fighting to free from his grasp.
He hugged her more tightly and inhaled her scent deeply. She shivered and hairs on her neck stood on their end.
'Mera dil churaya hai tumne Shreya. Aur iss jurm me main tumhe hamesha ke liye meri zindagi me band karna chahta hoon', he said.
'Kya matlab hai aapka', she asked him.
He turned her to face him. 'Kya tum mujse shaadi karogi? Main bohot pyar karta hu tumse', he said.
She didn't know what to say. Her heart danced on its own rhythm.
'Mera jawab haan hai. I love you too aur main aapse shaadi karungi', she said shyly.
After next three months they were happily married.
** FLASHBACK OVER**
When she finished talking, she saw he was fast asleep. She made him sleep on the pillow and covered him with a warm blanket. She sat next to him watching him sleep. Hot tears came down her cheeks. She cried the whole night easing out her pain.