CHAPTER 2
Daya was driving through the road flooding with rain water and it almost felt like swimming without goggles. He was checking the time again and again. It was a torrential downpour and he was completely soaked. Water was trickling down his nose and his chin. The cold rain drops were striking against his face almost like an arrow. He had not taken his helmet which could at least protect his head. The wind flow was in opposite direction and it was making Daya to face more difficulties in driving. His vision was also not clear because of the dense rain. But he was determined to reach up to Shreya and make sure that she is alright though he knew very well that he is actually taking risks of accident while the road was slippery and puddly. He started shivering within next 15 minutes of driving in the heavy rain.
Somehow he managed to cover the distance in 25 minutes and he was standing in front of Shreya's building. He stopped the bike and ran inside. Shreya's flat was on 4th floor. Unfortunately the lift was not working and Daya had to take the stairs. He was out of his breaths when he found Shreya's flat no. He rang the bell and started shouting her name. "Miss Shreya open the door!"
He got no response and he checked the time again. He was on time so there shouldn't be any chance for Shreya committing suicide according to her own words. "Wo darwaja kyun nahi khol rahi?" Daya said wiping his face. He was completely drenched. "Main bhi na, jo ladki suicide karne ja rahi ho wo darwaja kyun kholegi?" He shook his head stepping backwards. He ran and forcefully kicked the door but it was too strong for him. He continued his efforts to break the door. Soon he broke the door and he was thrown inside with a force.
He stood up breathing unevenly. His eyes widened in shock when he saw her lying on the floor with a knife in her one hand and blood dripping down her another hand. She had slit her wrist.
"Shreya!" Daya uttered in a low voice.
She looked at him with a smile. "Inspector Daya! You are late officer. You are late!" She mumbled.
"No!" Daya screeched. "I am on time!" He rushed to her and held her in his arms. "Ye kya kiya tumne?"
Shreya just stared at him. Some water droplets trickled down Daya's face and fell on Shreya's cheeks mixing with her tears. Daya caught her bleeding wrist. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and tied it on her wrist as an effort to stop the blood flow.
She was closing and opening her eyes. Some tears fell out of her eyes. Daya patted her cheeks. "Look at me! Aankhe kholo." He took her in his lap patting her cheeks.
"You are late!" She mumbled one last time looking into his eyes and her head fell on his shoulder after a brief eyelock with him. She became unconscious in his arms.
40 minutes earlier
Shreya was watching TV with her two friends Charu and Naina. It was raining outside and they were enjoying tea and 'pakodas'.
Suddenly Shreya changed the channel and it was showing the repeat telecast of Daya's interview. Shreya stopped and started watching him.
"Ye cid officer hai? Wow! Kitna handsome hai na Shreya!" Charu said.
"TV pe to sab achhe hi lagte hain." Shreya said shrugging off. "Dekho to jara kaise badi badi baate kar raha hai. TV pe hai na. Popular hona chahta hai."
Just then Daya started speaking his number.
"Is number pe call karke aap mujhe help ke liye bula sakte hain. I promise...din ho ya raat...dhoop ho ya chaw, andhi-toofan, barsaat kuch bhi ho...main aapki help ke liye jaroor aaunga. I am just one call away!"
Shreya chuckled. "Are ye to bada chalu hai. Apna personal number de raha hai. Superman banna chahta hai." She laughed.
"To isme galat kya hai agar wo public ki help karna chahta hai to." Naina said.
Shreya shook her head, "sab sirf TV par bolne ke liye. Public ko bewkoof banne ke liye. Aaj kal kisi ke paas itna time kaha hai ki dhoop chaw, aandhi toofan me koi kisi ke sirf ek phone call pe uski madad ke liye pahuch jaye? Mamuli sa inspector hai. Footage kha raha hai bas. Ye kisi ki help ke liye nahi jane wala. Shayad phone number bhi galat ho...who knows!" She laughed again.
"I don't think so. Mujhe to lagta hai sach bol raha hai. He looks honest." Charu said.
"Achha!" Shreya said, "ek minute ruko. Abhi pata chal jayega. Kitna honest hai." She took out her cellphone.
"Kya karne ja rahi ho tum Shreya?" Naina asked glaring at Shreya.
"Shhh!" Shreya made her silent and winked dialing Daya's number which she had just taken from the scroll bar.
It was connected easily. "Oh number to asli hai." Shreya said surprisingly.
Charu and Naina exchanged a look.
"Shreya tum kya karne ki soch rahi ho. Wo ek cid officer hai. Uske sath koi shararat mat karo please!" Naina warned Shreya.
But Daya had received the call by then and Shreya started speaking to him.
Charu and Naina were shockingly looking at Shreya.
"Suicide karna bhi to ek crime hai na. Let's see aap ye crime hone se rok pate hain ya nahi. You have 29 minutes left now." Shreya said and cut the call.
She turned to her friends after disconnecting the call.
"Tum pagal ho gayi ho Shreya? Ye kya kiya tumne?" Naina shouted, "wo ek cid officer hai. Uske sath iss terah ka majak nahi karna chahiye tha. Tum fasogi aur sath me hume bhi fasaogi."
Shreya smiled. "Chill baby. Fasenge to tab na jab wo aayega. Maine use 30 minutes ka time diya hai aur kaha hai ki agar 30 minutes me wo nahi aaya to main suicide kar lungi." She giggled, "Mausam dekha hai bahar. Is barish aur toofan me wo meri jaan bachane kyun aayega jise wo janta tak nahi."
"Par usne kaha tha ki aandhi-toofan me bhi wo help ke liye jaroor aayega." Charu said.
"Wo sirf kehne ke liye tha. Kehne aur karne me bahut fark hota hai. Wo soch raha hoga ki koi bewkoof ladki hai jo suicide karne ja rahi hai. Marne do mujhe kya!" She laughed, "I am sure wo nahi aayega!"
"Aur agar wo aa gaya to?" Charu asked.
Shreya looked at her. "Let's see...chalo wait karte hain!"
They started waiting for Daya. Exactly after 30 minutes Shreya's doorbell rang.
"Miss Shreya open the door."
Shreya and her friends were shocked. They looked at each other and moved towards the door.
Naina peeped in the door eye. She was shocked. She turned to Shreya.
"Wo to darwaje pe khada hai Shreya!"
Shreya was stunned. "Mujhe dekhne do!" She said and peeped in through the door eye. She saw Daya was standing there all drenched. He was breathing heavily. His condition was really bad.
"Shreya open the door!" Daya shouted rapping on the door.
Shreya almost jumped and backed off hearing her name.
"Shreya ye tumne theek nahi kiya. Cid officers din raat ek karke apni duty karte hain. Aur tumhare ek stupid prank call ki wajeh se use itne kharab mausam me yaha tak aana pada. Itna pareshan hona pada taki wo tumhari jaan bacha sake. Ab jab use pata chalega ki ye sirf ek ghatiya majak tha to use kaisa lagega." Naina said.
"This is inspector Daya. Please open the door." Daya shouted.
Shreya felt a pinch in her heart. She was really ashamed of herself. He came all the way running in this weather just to ensure her safety. A few minutes ago she was making fun of him.
"Ab aise khadi kya ho? Kuch bolo ab kya karna hai. Wo hume chodega nahi agar use pata chala ki humne iss mausam me use pareshan kiya." Charu said.
Shreya came out of her thoughts.
"Relax. Use main handle kar lungi. Tum dono is matter se door raho. Ye sab meri galti hai to iski saza bhi mujhe milni chahiye."
Daya started breaking the door now as Shreya was not responding.
"Oh my god! Wo to darwaja tod raha hai. Ab kya hoga. Mujhe dar lag raha hai." Charu said.
"Kuch nahi hoga. Tum dono ki koi galti nahi hai. Jo bhi hoga use sirf main face karungi. Tum dono andar jao aur kuch bhi ho jaye bahar mat aana. Go!" Shreya said and sent her friends inside.
Daya was still trying to break the door.
Charu and Naina hid themselves somewhere but they could see Shreya from there.
Shreya was standing blank. Not knowing what to do. She had no idea how she is going to face Daya once he comes inside breaking the door. She was feeling guilty for troubling him unnecessarily.
"Aaj logo ke paas apno ke liye bhi waqt nahi hota aur wo mere sirf ek phone call pe bhaga chala aaya sirf isilye ki mujhe kuch ho na jaye. Ek anjaan ladki ke liye jise wo janta bhi nahi. Is bhayanak mausam me sar se paav tak bheeg kar wo sirf mere liye aaya. Wo ek sachha cid officer hai aur maine uske sath..." She cried and tears came into her eyes. She looked at the door. He will be in front of her anytime.
"Jo insaan kisi ajanabi ke liye itni parwaah kar sakta hai wo kisi apne ke liye to jaan bhi de dega. Har kisi ke paas itna bada dil nahi hota. Aur use ye bata kar ki ye sab sirf ek majak tha, main uska dil nahi dukha sakti."
She looked around and without thinking much moved to grab the knife kept in the fruit basket. She closed her eyes and slit across her wrist.
Naina and Charu were taken aback seeing Shreya's act but they couldn't scream as Daya broke the door and came inside.
Shreya was collapsed on the floor holding the knife and her wrist was bleeding profusely. Daya looked at her.
"Shreya!" He uttered in a low voice.
She looked at him with a smile. "Inspector Daya! You are late officer. You are late!" She mumbled.
Present
Daya was holding her in his arms. She was unconscious. Her clothes were getting wet because of Daya was holding her so close. Daya without delay picked her up in his arms and rushed to hospital.
Charu and Naina looked at each other.
"Ye kya kiya Shreya ne? It was just a prank. Usne sach me hath kyun kaat liya?" Charu said.
"Wahi to mujhe bhi samajh me nahi aa raha. Ye ladki har kaam bina soche samjhe karti hai. Use kuch ho gaya to?" Naina said worriedly.
"Chal hum bhi uske peeche hospital chalte hain! Hosh me aayegi to puchenge ki usne aisa kyun kiya." Charu said and they both followed Daya and Shreya on their way to hospital.
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...to be continued