CHAPTER 5
Shreya reached Cid bureau in search of Daya. When she pushed the door and entered, she was panting slightly.
"Excuse me mam, kaun hain aap? What are you doing here?" A junior officer asked stopping her right on the entrance.
"Mujhe inspector Daya se milna hai. Where is he?" Shreya said.
"Daya se hi kyun milna hai? Humse mil leejiye madam. Bataiye na kya problem hai?" The officer said with a smirk.
Shreya shot him a look, "Main Daya ki dost hu. Aap mujhe batayenge kaha hai wo?"
The officer sighed, "Sorry! Main nahi bata sakta." He said and began to move.
"Arey... lekin kyun nahi bata sakte. Excuse me!" Shreya moved and blocked his way. "Aapko batana hoga. Dekhiye mujhe Daya ki bahut chinta ho rahi hai. Kal raat se unka phone band hai. Wo ghar nahi laute. Aap please mujhe bata deejiye wo kaha hai. Mera unse baat karna bahut important hai. Please!"
"Shreya ji aap ghar jaiye." He said trying to avoid her question.
"Kahi nahi jaungi main." Shreya yelled at him, "jab tak mujhe pata nahi chalta Daya kaha hain main yaha se nahi jaungi."
Hearing the noises Abhijeet came outside along with some senior officers.
"Kya problem hai? Kaun hai ye ladki? Itna shor kyun macha rakha hai yaha?" One of the senior officer asked.
"Sir ye Daya se milna chahti hain." The junior officer told.
"Daya se?" He uttered and moved to Shreya. "Daya is doing his duty. Aur uski duty aapse milne se jyada important hai."
Shreya calmed down. "I know officer but wo hai kaha?"
"Wo hum aapko nahi bata sakte. Aur phir Daya ko gaye huye to abhi 24 hours bhi nahi huye. Aap itni bechain kyun ho rahi hain. Ghar jaiye, kaam khatam karke Daya bhi wapas aa jayega." The officer said and moved from there.
Shreya was standing there not knowing what to do.
Abhijeet moved to her. "Hi Shreya!" He said with a smile, "Main Abhijeet hu. Daya ne shayad bataya ho tumhe mere bare me."
Shreya nodded, "han. Daya ke muh se aapka naam suna hai maine. Aap Daya ke dost hain na. Aapko to jaroor kuch pata hoga ki wo kaha hai. Please bataiye na."
Abhijeet lowered his head, "I am sorry Shreya. Mujhe bhi kuch pata nahi hai. Ye baat sirf senior officers ko hi pata hai. Mujhe sirf itna pata hai ki Daya ke sath 4-5 officers ki ek team ko kahi bheja gaya hai. I don't know kaha aur kyun."
"Oh!" Shreya sighed.
"Dekho isme ghabrane jaisa kuch nahi hai. Daya will be back soon. Ghar jao and relax!" Abhijeet said.
"Thank you!" Shreya said with a faint smile and with an unsatisfied heart moved from there.
Two more days passed like that and Daya didn't return. Shreya again reached bureau. Again the officers asked her to go and told her nothing about Daya. Shreya felt something fishy.
"Mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai ki aap log mujhse kuch chupa rahe hain. Aap log mujhe sach batana nahi chahte." Shreya said to the officers.
The senior officer was irritated. "Theek hai sach sunna chahti hain aap to suniye. Daya is DEAD. Ab ghar jaiye aur roj roj yaha aakar humara dimag kharab mat keejiye."
Shreya was frozen. "What?" She mumbled in a feeble voice.
She looked at Abhijeet tearfully. Abhijeet was looking helpless. He moved to his senior. "Sir aap aisa kyun keh rahe hain? Abhi tak kuch confirm nahi hai. Daya may be..."
"May be what?" The senior shouted. "Humare paas aur bhi kaam hain. Akele Daya ki hi jaan nahi gayi hai. Humare 4 aur officers bhi mare gaye hain. Unki families bhi hain. Wo log yaha roj roj aakar humara dimag kharab nahi karte jis terah se ye ladki kar rahi hai. Kaun hai ye uski girlfriend hi na. Itna drama to kisi ki wife bhi nahi karti. Ise bolo ki yaha se jaye." He yelled and marched off.
Shreya looked at Abhijeet.
"Dekho Shreya, jis gadi me humare officers the usme blast ho gaya. Lekin hume sirf 4 bodies mili hain. Daya ki body nahi mili hai. Isilye hum kuch keh nahi sakte ki..."
"Ki wo mar gaya ya jinda hai." Shreya said with a painful smirk. "Aur na hi aap log ye pata lagana chahte hain ki Daya kaha hain. Kyunki wo agar mar bhi gaya to kya fark padta hai. Uske liye rone wala hai hi kaun?" Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Abhijeet sighed, "Shreya mere hath me kuch bhi nahi hai. Phir bhi personally main jo bhi kar sakta hu main kar raha hu. Agar Daya jinda hai to..."
"Agar?" Shreya said angrily. "Wo jinda hai okay." She said confidently and turned to move. She stopped and looked at Abhijeet, "aur apne officer ko bol deejiye ki main Daya ki girlfriend nahi hu." She said and angrily left from there.
Abhijeet sighed feeling helpless.
Shreya's life had almost stopped. She was wondering what could she do to find Daya. His own team was not bothered to find him even they were assuming him to be dead.
6 days later
Shreya was sitting on the chair resting her head on the table. It was 2:30 of the night. But she was awake. Sleep was miles away from her eyes.
"Tum kaha ho Daya? Kaha chale gaye ho tum achanak se? Please jaha bhi ho aa jao." She mumbled crying in a muffled voice.
Suddenly the doorbell rang. Shreya raised her head and sat straight. She rubbed her tears.
"Iss waqt kaun hai?" She wondered and moved towards the door.
The doorbell rang again. Shreya screamed in shock as she opened the door, someone fell in her arms.
"Aaaaa..." Shreya screamed and somehow balanced herself on her feet with the weight of the person falling on her. She looked at him and she was again shocked.
"Daya!"
His shirt was drenched with blood stains and mud.
"Shreya..." He mumbled resting his head on her shoulder.
Shreya was happy but at the same time she was puzzled seeing him like that. "Daya I know tumhe kuch nahi hua hai. Tum wapas jaroor aaoge. ye kya halat bana rakhi hai. Kaha the tum itne dino se?" Shreya said supporting him by his shoulders.
"Pani" Daya uttered.
Shreya made him sit on the couch and poured a glass of water for him. Daya drank the water like he had not seen water for years. After drinking the water he felt well enough to open his eyes and look at Shreya.
She was crying seeing him like that.
"Thank you!" Daya said looking at her.
Shreya just moved and cupped his face. "Daya tum theek to ho na?''
"Main theek hu Shreya." Daya said. He stood up, "Mujhe bureau jakar apni team ko inform karna hoga ki main theek hu. Wo log bhi pareshan honge mere liye. Main apne baki sathiyon ko nahi bacha saka Shreya" He tried to walk but faltered as he took some steps. Shreya ran and held him.
"Koi pareshan nahi hai tumhare liye samjhe tum. Kisi ko tumhari koi parwah nahi hai. Tumhare jaise junior officers mare ya jiye isse koi fark nahi padta tumhari so called team ko. Kahi jane ki jarurat nahi hai. Halat dekhi hai apni? Khade nahi ho pa rahe ho chalna to door ki baat hai. Unhe main inform kar dungi. Tum andar chalo."
Daya said nothing. Shreya supported him and led him to her bedroom. She made him lie on the bed. Daya was closing and opening his eyes. He was even not able to see Shreya's face clearly. His vision was blurred. Shreya removed his muddy shoes. She moved near him. He had some wounds on his arms and chest.
Shreya took a glance at him and started unbuttoning his shirt with a bit hesitation. His shirt was completely soaked with his own blood and wet soil. It seemed like he had just returned from a mud wrestling match. She removed his shirt from his body and moved to bathroom. Throwing his shirt into the washing machine she went back to him with a first aid box.
She cleaned his wounds and did the dressing. Daya was lying still on the bed. Shreya sat near him and softly touched his face.
"Thank god Daya tum wapas aa gaye!" She bent and planted a kiss on his head. She stood up and turned to move when he caught her wrist.
"Shre...mujhe kuch kehna ...hai.." Daya mumbled holding her hand.
Shreya looked at him and a smile crept on her lips. She gently freed her hand and looked at him. "Abhi tum rest karo. Subeh baat karenge!"
She walked out. Daya wanted to stop her but he had no power.
Shreya came in the living room. She closed her eyes taking a deep breath and thanked God for sending Daya back to her.
She called Abhijeet and informed him about Daya.
"kya Daya wapas aa gaya? Kaisa hai wo?" Abhijeet asked.
"Don't worry. He is fine. Wo abhi mere ghar pe hai. He needs some rest so I thought it's better to let him stay here." Shreya said.
"Theek hai Shreya tum uska khayal rakhna. Koi problem ho to mujhe batana." Abhijeet said.
Shreya cut the call. She took a glance at Daya sleeping in her bedroom.
She slept in the living room. Finally she was able to have a peaceful sleep after so many days.
Daya woke up in the morning. Though he had still pain in his body but he was feeling refreshed. He came outside and found Shreya there. She was ironing his shirt after washing it. He moved to her.
"Shreya!" He called her.
Shreya looked at him. "Good morning."
"Good morning. Ye kya kar rahi ho tum?" Daya asked standing beside her.
"Ye tumhari hi shirt hai. Bahut gandi thi. Isilye maine wash kar diya." Shreya said folding his shirt and looked at him. "Itne din tum kaha the Daya? Kya hua tha tumhare sath?"
"Wo sab tumhe samajh me nahi aayega. Bas itna samajh lo ki maut ko bahut kareeb se dekh kar wapas aaya hu. Mujhe to ummid bhi nahi thi ki main jinda wapas laut paunga." Daya said.
"Aisa kya hua tha?" Shreya asked worriedly.
"Kuch nahi. Just leave it." Daya said shaking his head. "Main sirf tumse ek baar milna chahta tha isse pehle ki mujhe kuch ho jaye." He said staring at her and held her hand. "Agar tum nahi hoti to shayad main maut ke samne surrender kar deta. Tumhare hone ki wajeh se mujhe ehsaas hua ki koi hai...jiske liye mujhe wapas lautna hi hoga."
Shreya looked deep into his eyes, "kal raat tum kuch kehne wale the mujhse."
"Han wo ye ki..." Daya said moving closer to her.
Shreya blushed. "Ek minute! Tum pehle jakar naha lo. Pata nahi kitne dino se nahaya nahi hai. Main breakfast ready karti hu. Phir baat karte hain."
Daya gave her a look, "do I stink?"
Shreya giggled. "Yes! Mujhse door raho."
"Ok, naha kar aata hu phir batata hu tumhe." Daya murmured and moved to take a bath.
Shreya felt butterflies in her stomach by the way he looked at her.
Shreya was setting the breakfast on the table when Daya came back after taking a bath. Shreya smiled at him and moved to him with a towel. He was lost in her as she ruffled his wet hair with the towel.
"Shreya..." Daya said.
"Hmm?" Shreya responded.
"I am really sorry but actually maine tumhari diary padh li." Daya said sheepishly.
Shreya was shocked. She glared at him. "Kya? Tumhe aisa nahi karna chahiye tha." She said looking away in embarrassment.
Daya suppressed his smile. "I am so sorry but tum chaho to badle me tum bhi meri diary padh sakti ho." He said wrapping his arms around her waist. Shreya shivered as his chest pressed against her back. He rested his chin on her shoulder. "But koi fayda nahi...usme bhi wahi sab likha hai jo tumhari diary me tha." He whispered.
Shreya turned to him and looked into his eyes. "Tum sach me sirf mere liye wapas aaye ho?"
Daya shook his head, "Kya karu? Maine socha kahi tum phir se depression me chali gayi aur suicide ki koshish ki to kaun bachayega tumhe."
Shreya frowned. "Natak mat karo. Mujhe pata hai ki tumhe already sab kuch pata hai. Main koi depression ki patient nahi hu aur na hi mujhe suicide ka shauk hai."
"Oh!" Daya sighed, "Tumhari friends ke pet me koi baat digest nahi ho sakti."
Shreya chuckled. "Jab tumhe sach pata tha to bhi tum mujhse baat karne ke liye kyun taiyar ho gaye?"
"Because I love you!" Daya said simply.
Shreya's heart skipped a beat. She smiled looking downwards.
Daya pulled her in his arms. Shreya rested her head on his shoulder. Daya rubbed her back. "Shreya main tumhe zindagi bhar sath dene ka wada nahi kar sakta. Shayad next time main wapas hi na aau. Ye tumhari zindagi hai. Soch samajh kar faisla lena."
Shreya separated and looked at him. "hmm." She took a deep breath. "You know jab main tumhare bare me pata karne cid bureau gayi thi to tumhare senior officers ne mujhse bahut bura behave kiya. Main unke samne roti rahi aur wo meri insult karte rahe. Usne kaha, kaun hai ye ladki, Daya ki girlfriend, ise bolo jaye yaha se." Shreya mimicked them. She laughed and looked at Daya. She placed her one hand on his cheek. "Next time aisa ho to main nahi chahti ki wo phir se 'girlfriend' bol kar meri insult kare. Main chahti hu ki wo mujhse respect se baat kare aur kahe ki ...'ye Daya ki wife hain. Inhe baithne ko bolo, chai coffee pucho aur phir wo mujhse bole ki 'your husband is the best officer of our department. We are proud of him.' Tears fell out of her eyes as she said that in a chocked voice.
Daya was just staring at her. He rubbed her tears with his thumb and cupped her face. Shreya started crying. The way she was crying Daya had no other option to make her quiet except locking her lips with his.
oo- The End -oo