CHAPTER 4

The feeling of love was overpowering her. She did her job well but after going home she found herself thinking only about Daya and their wonderful future together. She wanted his presence. She wanted to spend time with him. But work constraints and deadlines were making it almost impossible for them. Tarika and Purvi who had become her best friends were very much excited for their relationship.

'Oh my god! Daya sir aur itne romantic! Yakeen nahi hota!' squealed Purvi in delight.

'Haan Shreya. I am so happy for both of you. Tum dono kitne cute lagte ho saath me', said Tarika.

Shreya smiled.

'Haan bikul tumhare aur Abhijeet sir ki tarah', said Shreya.

Now it was Tarika's turn to blush.

'Aur Purvi tera kya? Itne saalo se CID me hai. Koi toh pasand aaya hi hoga tujhe', said Shreya.

'Chup kar! Aisa kuch bhi nahi hai. Main single hoon', said Purvi shyly.

'Sirf hame batane ke liya. Chal aaj sach sach bata de.' said Tarika.

'Kyu piche pade ho yaar tum dono. Jab mujhe pyar ho jayega tab pehle tum dono ko bataungi pakka promise.' said Purvi.

Few days later -

It was Saturday evening. Everyone was leaving for home. 'Tarika! Kal Sunday hai. Bohot dino ke baad koi case bhi nahi hai. Hum shopping ke liye chale? Purvi kal busy hai thodi', said Shreya.

'Shreya actually me jaroor aati par main kal Abhijeet ke saath bahar jaa rahi hu. Usne abhi mujhe message kiya tha. Kuch surprise plan hai. Pata nahi but I am so excited.' said Tarika sounding overjoyed.

'Wow. Surprise haan! Thik hai tu jaa. Hum shopping baad me jayenge', said Shreya smiling.

'Hey ek bohot accha idea hai. Kyu na hum sab raat ko dinner saath me kare? Tum Daya se puch lo. Maja aayega', said Tarika.

'Boho accha idea hai Tarika. Main Daya se baat karlungi. Tu Abhijeet sir ko bata de', she said.

Tarika left. Shreya was waiting in the bureau for Daya. He came finally after half an hour.

'Daya kaha the aap? Kitne time se wait kar rahi thi aapka', said Shreya.

'Sorry. Main case ki kuch files dekh raha tha isliye late ho gaya.' said Daya.

'Accha wo chodiye. Kal kya hum dono Abhijeet sir aur Tarika ke saath dinner par chale? Tarika puch rahi thi mujhse', said Shreya.

'Kal nahi possible hoga mujhe Shreya. Mujhe khabri se milne jaana hai. Phir kabhi jayenge', said Daya.

She felt a bit sad but didn't show it.

'Okay. Phir kabhi jayenge. Main Tarika se bol dungi. Accha to ab chale ghar? Aap mere saath chaliye na ghar... Aapki favourite black coffee aur cookies khayenge.' said Shreya.

'Shreya nahi. Mera kaam khatam kaha hua hai? Aaj mujhe kam se kam 10 baj jayenge yaha par. Tum ghar jao. Hum phir kabhi plan karenge ok?' said Daya.

Shreya felt very angry now.

'Daya aap ke paas kabhi bhi waqt nahi hota mere liye!' she said.

'Shreya baat ko samjho. Mujhe sach me kaam hai. Aur maine kaha mana kiya hai tumhe kahi jane se? Tu, chali jao Tarika aur Abhijeet ke saath. Waise bhi akeli ghar par bore ho jaogi', he said.

'Daya aap samajh nahi rahe hai. Mujhe aapke saath time spend karna hai. Lekin aap kaam ke alava kuch nahi karte. Ek mahine pehle aapne mujhe propose kiya hai. Uss din se lekar aaj tak kitni baar humne ek saath waqt bitaya hai?' she said.

'Par main jaan bhujkar thodi na kar raha hu?'He said angrily.

'Maine aisa kab kaha Daya? Par aap koshish toh kijiye waqt nikalne ka! Kaam toh hamesha rehta hai sabko!' she said heateadly.

'Shreya bas bohot ho gaya. Ek din tumhe mana kar diya toh itna gussa kar rahi ho tum? Aur main aisa hi hoon Shreya. Tum kuch bhi bole jaa rahi ho', he said angrily.

'Thik hai. Aapko jo karna hai kijiye', she said and stormed out of the bureau.

Daya threw the files on the table and set off to work after sometime.

The following Monday Shreya ignored Daya completely. Daya noticed her anger but the day's events kept him busy and he didn't get any chance to talk to her. During lunchtime, Tarika recited her romantic gateway with Abhijeet to Shreya and Purvi.

'Wah! Maan gaye Abhijeet sir ko. Aur unki choice kaafi acchi hai', said Purvi admiring Tarika's dress which was gifted to her by Abhijeet.

'Sachme bohot lucky ho tum Tarika. Abhijeet sir bohot pyar karte hai tumse', said Shreya.

Tarika smiled.

'Waise Shreya aaj tu kyu udas hai itni? Daya ke saath koi jhagda hua kya? Ya tu ab bhi naraz hai usse dinner plan cancel karne ke liye?' said Tarika.

'Nahi aisa kuch nahi. Bas thoda mood off hai', said Shreya.

'Shreya mujhe kuch baat karni hai tumse', came Daya's voice.

'Tarika chal main chalti hu. Bohot kaam hai mujhe', said Shreya ignoring him completely.

Tarika shrugged her shoulders looking at Daya.

'Tarika, hum chalte hai', said Purvi.

She and Tarika left the cafeteria. Shreya got up to leave too but Daya held her wrist and pulled her into a secluded spot.

'Abhi naraz ho mujhse? Sorry Shreya. Iss sunday hum pakka bahar jayenge I promise', said Daya.

'Bas sorry bol diya toh ho gaya? Mujhe nahi baat karni aapse', said Shreya.

Daya smiled.

'Shreya tum bilkul bacchi ki tarah ho. Tum jo bhi punishment dogi wo mujhe manjur hai. Par aisa gussa mat karo mujhpar. I love you Shreya.' said Daya.

She had already melted by his words. She couldn't help smiling.

'Sorry Daya. Maine bohot gussa kiya kal aap par', she said.

'Ab ek sweet si smile de do aur mujhe meri gift bhi chahiye', said Daya.

She gave him a smile and kissed him on cheek blushing.

He cupped her face. 'That's my girl. Ye smile bohot miss karta hoon main. Gussa bilkul suit nahi karta tumhe. Hamesha aise hi rehna. Chalo der ho rahi hai', he said.

She hugged him tight.

'I love you Daya', she said.

Their relationship was full of romance but there were times of clashes as well.

Shreya always wanted more of Daya's time. Whereas he thought she was being too greedy.

She shared her thoughts with her best friends one evening when they had met for their usual gossip.

'Shreya itna mat soch. Har rishtey me jagde to hote hi rehte hai', said Tarika.

'Haan aur ladne jhagadne se hi toh pyar badhta hai', said Purvi.

'Nahi. Samajh nahi rahe ho tum dono. Unhe sirf apne kaam se pyar hai. Aaj tak kabhi bhi unhone khud initiative nahi liya mere saat time spend karne ka. Wo mujhse pyar hi nahi karte', said Shreya.

'Shreya kya bol rahi ho tum?' said Tarika.

'Sach keh rahi hu main', said Shreya.

'Shreya use thoda waqt thik ho jayega. Jaldbazi me decision mat lo. Trust me Daya bohot pyar karta hai tumse', said Tarika.

Shreya nodded silently and gave a short smile.

One day they heard that Anisha's mother was unable to bear the shock of her daughter's death. She fell ill and eventually passed away.

Shreya clutched her letter in her hand which Daya had discovered at the murder site, crying softly. How could anyone be so ruthless? Her lifeless corpse hovered in front of her eyes often. She would wake up in the night sometimes screaming. Anisha had confessed in her letter that she had been molested and she couldn't face the society and hence she was committing suicide. Shreya missed her friend so much.

'Shreya bas. Kitna roogi? Mujhe pata hai tumhe kya feel ho raha hai par hum kuch nahi kar sakte. Lekin jisne bhi ye sab kiya hai hum chodenge nahi use', said Daya in a soothing keeping a comforting arm around her.

It was women's Day. Shreya was sitting in Daya's room, flicking tv channels as he worked on his laptop. 'Shreya tum jamewali thi na Tarika ke saath bahar? Kya hua?' asked Daya.

'Use Abhijeet sir ke saath kahi jaana hai', said Shreya

'Finally ho gaya sab complete.' said Daya.

'Daya hum kahi bahar chale? Shopping par? Aaj waise bhi women's day hai.' asked Shreya.

'Shreya please aaj nahi main bohot thak gaya hoon.' he said.

'Thik hai. Par apko har waqt bahane acche mil jate hai', said Shreya icily.

'Shreya ab phirse chalu mat karo', said Daya irritated.

'Aap to aise bol rahe hai jaise saari duniya ka kaam aapke he sir pe hai. Abjijeet sir bhi ek Senior Officer hai. Unko kaise kabhi problem nahi hoti? Poori CID department ko time milta hai sivay aapko. ACP sir bhi bahar jaate hai unhe kaise time milta hai phir?' she retorted back.

'Stop this nonsense Shreya. Mujhe ye samajh me nahi aata ki tum hamesha kisi aur se compare kyu karti ho? Abhijeet aur Tarika dus bar bahar gaye iska matlab ye nahi ke hum bhi dus baar bahar jaye. Har insan alag hota hai', said Daya.

'Dus baar kaha bol rahi hu par ek baar expect kiya to kya galat kiya maine?', said Shreya on verge of tears.

'Tumhe mere saath waqt bitana hai na toh bahar jaane ki kya jaroorat hai? Yaha baithke baatein nahi ho sakti? Par hum jab bhi milte hai tab tumhe hamesha koi na koi problem hoti hai. Sirf ladti rehti ho.', said Daya.

'Daya maaf kar di jiye mujhe. Isse aage jaisa aap kahenge waise hi hoga. Happy? Chalti hu main. Rest kariye aap', she said and left.

'Tumhe bilkul bhi samajh nahi hai Shreya. Hamesha extreme sochti ho',thought Daya.

Next day Daya and Shreya were very angry at each other and didn't talk at all.

In the afternoon, the team got a call that the gang who had killed Officer Anisha in Brazil was spotted at a closed cement factory near Madh Island. Daya, Abhijeet, Sachin and Purvi reached the factory. They separated and searched the entire area. The gang became alert and they fired. A bullet got shot straight into Daya's left arm. He staggered in pain. 'Daya!' Abhijeet yelled in fear. Purvi and and Sachin followed the goons. 'Daya tu thik toh hai na?' said Abhijeet.

'Haan Abhijeet. Chinta mat karo main thik hu', said Daya tying a handkerchief around his arm to stem the blood flow. At that moment his cellphone rang. His blood boiled seeing the caller's name. 'Rajiv! Mujhe pata tha ye sab tera hi kaam hoga. Saamne aa mere! Aaj to zinda nahi bachega mere haath se', said Daya.

'Relax Daya. Itna gussa sehat ke liye thik nahi... Tumhare saamne ek black Honda city hai. Usme jaakar baitho. Waha tumhe ek address ki chit milegi. Waha aa jao. Aur akele aana.' said Rajiv.

'Thik hai.', said Daya and disconnected the call.

'Kya hua Daya?' said Abhijeet.

'Rajiv ne mujhe akele milne bulaya hai. Tum log dekho iss gang ko. Tab tak main aata hun', said Daya.

'Daya tum akele kaise jaoge? Already tumhe goli lagi. Main bhi chalta hu tumhare saath', said Daya.

'Nahi Abhijeet... Usne akele bulaya hai mujhe. Aaj hume use pakadna hi hoga. Aur meri chinta mat karo. Kuch nahi hoga mujhe', said Daya and walked towards the parked Honda City.

He got it and drove towards marine drive. He turned onto a deserted street as instructed. The road stretched out long and led towards the sea.

His cell phone rang again and he turned on the bluetooth. 'Daya! Kya baat hai! Toh marne ke liye tayar? Tum CID officers bohot jyada trust karte ho yaar logon pe', said Rajiv.

'Bakwaas band kar Rajiv. Aaj meri nahi teri maut hogi aur wo bhi mere haatho', said Daya.

'Daya jab gadi se zinda nikaloge tab ye sab kar paoge na! Tumhare paas sirf 1 minute hai Daya', said Rajiv laughing and the call got disconnected.

The next moment, his cell phone rang again.

'Daya kya tum abhi bhi drive kar rahe ho?' came Abhijeet's panicky voice.

'Haan. Woh main Marine drive ke yaha hoon.', Daya was saying.

'Daya abhi isi waqt bahar niklo gadi. Rajiv ne tumhari gadi me bomb plant kiya hai'

'Kya?!'

'Daya jaldi karo please.'

Daya fumbled with his seat belt while trying to control the speeding car.

The seat belt was stuck.

He swore under his breath. He pulled the belt roughly and finally it came off. He opened the door and jumped out. 'Bang!' At that exact moment, the blast took place. The damage was done. Daya got blinded by the sudden fire and he flew metres sideways and fell to the ground with a thud, unconscious. Abhijeet, Ourvi and Sachin who were following him arrived five minutes later.

'Oh no Daya sir!' Purvi screamed.

The car screeched to a halt and Abhijeet ran towards him.

'Dayaaaa! Oh no ye kya ho gaya!' said Abhijeet.

Sachin checked his pulse.

'Sir Pulse bohot weak hai. Daya sir khatre me hai', said Sachin.

'Sachin uthao Daya ko jaldi. Hospital le chalte hai', said Abjijeet.

The put Daya in the car and drove towards the hospital.