Chapter 6
The next few days were very difficult for both of them. Daya behaved as if Shreya was a mere colleague. He showed no emotion and just kept to his work. Meanwhile he and Aditi came quite close.
She was very different from Shreya. Matured and reserved yet a bit naughty. She would often stay with Daya. They enjoyed going out and spending time with one another. Aditi would do whatever Daya wished. She would never throw a tantrum like a kid.
Now almost everyone had noticed their blooming friendship. Daya would make it a point to talk to her every now and then, join her at the cafeteria and drop her home. Their closeness angered Shreya and brought tears to her eyes. She wasn't being her own bubbly self. She would come to bureau, do her work quietly and leave.
Tarika and Purvi knew what had happened. When they tried to talk to Shreya, she became really sad.
'Dekh rahi ho na roz kaise uss Aditi ke saath waqt bitate hai. Mujhe bhi toh yahi chahiye tha. Lagta hai breakup karne ke liye wajah hi dhoond rahe the wo.' said Shreya.
'Daya aisa nahi hai Shreya. Main acchi tarah se janti hu use.', said Tarika.
'Chodo na Tarika. Main aur Daya ek dusre ke liye bane hi nahi hai' said Shreya and left in a hurry.
'Kuch jyada hi pareshan hai. Par Daya sir kyu aise behave kar rahe hai. Yakeen hi nahi hota', said Purvi.
'Hmmm. Shayad mujhe pata hai. Abhijeet se baat karni hogi mujhe. Chal nikalte hai. Already bohot late ho gaya hai', said Tarika.
The following day Tarika and Abhijeet had met for lunch.
'Kya baat hai Tarika? Kuch pareshan lag rahi ho', said Abhijeet.
'Meri pareshani ki wajah Daya hai Abhijeet', said Tarika
'Daya? Ab kya kiya usne?' asked Abhijeet.
'Daya jaan bhujkar uss Aditi ke saath dosti badha raha hai. Shreya jab bhi saamne hoti tabhi Aditi ke kareeb jane ki koshish karta hai. Shreya ko jealous karne ke liye. Shreya bohot pareshan hai Abhijeet. Daya agar ye rishta nahi chahta to use Shreya se baat karni chahiye.', said Tarika.
'Haan maine bhi observe kiya. Aaj jaa raha hu uske ghar. Aaj hi baat kar lunga use', said Abhijeet.
Daya's Home, Evening -
Abhijeet watched Daya as he squirmed restlessly in his seat. They were sitting in his living room.
'Daya ye kya chal raha hai? Jis wajah se itne restless ho rahe ho uska solution nikalo na! Sirf sochne se kuch nahi hoga', said Abhijeet.
'Yaar aisa kuch bhi nahi hai!' said Daya.
'Mujhe pata hai tum Shreya se bohot pyar karte ho. Phir problem kya hai?', said Abhijeet.
'Abhijeet ye sach hai ki main Shreya se pyar karta hoon. Par hamare beech age difference bohot jyada hai. Shayad is wajah se hum ek dusre ko samajh nahi pa rahe. Aur ye ladhai jagde mujhse bardaash nahi hote. Main use dukhi nahi dekh sakta. Shayad hamara alag hona hi thik hai.' said Daya.
'Aisa kuch nahi hota Daya. Rishte me pyar aur understanding ho to age nahi matter nahi karta. Aur Shreya bohot samajhdar hai. Aur thodi adjustment sabko karni padti hai', said Abhijeet.
'Wo bohot bubbly type ki hai. Lekin har baat pe hasi majak mujhe nahi pasand. Ab uss din ka hi dekh lo. Main uske saath shopping nahi gaya iss liye naraz ho gayi!' said Daya.
'Yaar tum kab sudhroge Daya? Kya galat kiya usne? Main bhi to tarika ke saath gaya tha bahar. Aur wo ladki hai Daya. Unhe ye choti choti romantic cheeje pasand hoti hai.' said Abhijeet.
'Lekin jaroori nahi hai na ki mujhe bhi ye sab pasand ho! Har insaan alag hota hai Abhijeet', said Daya.
'Tujhe kaam ke alava aur kuch bhi pasand nahi! Shreya ka birthday chodke kitne gifts diye hai tune use aaj tak? Usne kabhi shikayat nahi ki tumse. Kitni bar tum dono dinner pe gaye ho saath me? Movie ke liye? Khud hi soch lo Daya', said Abhijeet.
'Lekin ye sab karne ki kya jaroorat hai? Ek dusre ko acchi tarah se jaana aur hamesha ek dusre ka saath dena yahi sabse important hota hai', said Daya.
'Haan ye sabse pehli priority hai. Aur waise dekha jaye toh Shreya bohot care karti hai tumhari aur samjhti bhi hai tumhe. Jab tum hospital me behosh the tab puri raat baithi rehti thi tumhare paas. Phir usne tumse baki cheeje expect ki toh kya galat kiya usne?' asked Abhijeet.
'Yaar mujhe nahi samajh me ata ye sab', said Daya.
'Toh samajhne ki koshish karo na. Aur Daya aage jake tum dono jab yahi pal yaad karoge na tab bohot accha lagega tumhe' said Abhijeet.
'Pata nahi main kar paunga ki nahi. Aise lagta hai jaise wo mere saath khush nahi rahegi kabhi', said Daya.
'Daya aisa kuch nahi hai. Dekho Shreya se kuch bhi bolne se pehle soch lo ek baar yahi keh sakta hoon main tumse. Haan lekin emotional hokar koi bhi decision mat lena. Ye tum dono ki zindagi ka sawal hai. Aur ye Aditi ke saath tum kuch jyada hi ghul mil rahe ho! Matlab acchi baat hai par tum log ye Shreya ke saamne... Tumne use officially kuch bataya nahi hai Daya. Wo abhi bhi sochti hai tum dono ke beech sab thik ho jayega. Bohot upset hai wo. Tumhara jo koi bhi decision hai use bata do. Kitni der rukegi wo tumhare liye.' said Abhijeet
'Tum thik keh rahe ho. Main jald hi bol dunga use. Lekin mujhe sochne ke liye thoda waqt chahiye', said Daya.
2 Days later, CID bureau, Morning -
Pankaj and Abhijeet were working on thier desks. Nobody else was present. ACP Pradyuman arrived wiping his face with a handkerchief. 'Sir aaj Daya nahi aanewala bureau. Use kal raat se thoda bukhar hai.' said Abhijeet.
'Achanak kya ho gaya? Ab kaisa hai wo?' said ACP.
'Ab thik hai. Viral infection hai aur kuch nahi. Thoda sir dard bhi tha isliye aaj nahi aanewala', said Abhijeet.
'Use kaho rest karne ke kiye. Main baad me call karunga usse', said ACP.
Later that evening Shreya decided to go to meet Daya. She was not aware of his illness. After the bureau she went to his home. She rang the doorbell. Aditi opened the door.
'Aditi tum?! Yaha kya kar rahi ho?' asked Shreya surprised.
'Main Daya se milne aayi thi. Uski tabiyat thik nahi hai na.' said Aditi.
'Kya hua hai? Mujhe to kuch pata nahi tha!' said Shreya.
'Jyada kuch nahi. Bas thoda bukhar tha. Par ab wo thik hai', said Aditi.
'Ab main aa gayi hoon na. Ab tum jao. Main manage kar loongi', said Shreya in a rather rude voice.
Shreya highly disapproved of Daya's closeness with Aditi. Especially since their relationship was going through a rather rough patch.
Daya entered the living room. 'Shreya tum yaha?'
'Kyu kar rahe hai aap aise? Kya aap mujhse itni nafrat karte hai ki mujhe aap ki tabiyat theek nahi ye batana jaoori nahi samjha?' said Shreya.
'Shreya aisa kuch nahi hai. Bas main tumhe takleef nahi dena chahta tha main. Aur mujhe sirf thoda bukhar tha aur kuch nahi', said Daya.
'Aditi ko to bata diya na apne? Use takleef nahi hui hogi kya? Bata dijiye Daya aap aakhir chahte kya hai. Main aapko force nahi karungi. Par aapka jo bhi decision ho aap bata dijiye. Kyuki ab main ye sab nahi seh sakti', said Shreya.
Aditi stood silently trying to fathom their conversation. Her heart ached. She had always loved Daya since their college days. But she was aware that he had never felt that way for her. So, all these years she had refrained from confessing her love. But since last few days they had come closer again. Daya had opened his heart to her. He had told her about his relationship with a girl. The problems he had faced. But he had never revealed her name. But now Aditi knew that the girl was none other than Shreya. Aditi never wanted to get him forcefully. But since last few days an unbreakable bond of understanding had developed between them.
Aditi had hoped Daya would eventually get over Shreya and be hers forever. But now Shreya stood in front of him and once again she faced the danger of losing him forever.
'Jawab dijiye Daya. Main aapke muh se sach sunna chahti hoon. Abhi isi waqt.' said Shreya.
Daya glanced at Aditi. After his decision to give more time and space to his relationship with Shreya, Aditi had been his companion other than Abhijeet. She was just like him. Calm and composed. She understood him really well. Maybe, better than Shreya. He also had a strong intuition that Aditi loved him. Daya was sure Aditi would care for him, love him and would be a more suitable match for him considering their personalities.
He was in a dilemma.
Both Shreya and Aditi loved him madly. Shreya was right. He couldn't keep her hanging like this. This was the moment of truth. His decision was going to affect all three of them. He closed his eyes. 'God help me', he whispered.
He remained like that for a few more minutes and opened his eyes. He had got his answer. He knew it would hurt her a lot. But he couldn't afford to see her sad and hurt for the entire life. She would have to accept the fact however harsh it sounded.
'Shreya. Maine decide kar liya hai ki...' Daya said