A/N: An update finally. Hope ya will like. This is an investigative story so naturally it takes time for lazy bugs like me to think and write! So isliye der hua. Anyways. Many thanks and apologies to all those who rvwd. Sorry for keeping u guys wait! Ok now on with the chapter-
Chapter 8
. . .
The next morning, Tarika wakes up and spots Abhijeet sitting on the floor with his back touching the wall for support, his fingers entwined in hers. He's sleeping with his mouth slightly open and she finds it adorable.
He stirs as she tries to sit, jumping to help her-
Abhi- "Tarika… tum kab uthi.. tum.. tum thik ho na?"
She smiles…
Tarika- "haan Abhijeet main thik hu."
Abhi- "shukr hai uff! Kal raat ko.. main bohot darr gaya tha Tarika."
He heaves a sigh of relief and continues-
Abhi- "Jisne bhi ye kia na.. usko chodunga nhi main…"
He joins her on the bed, sitting beside her and takes her hand in his…
Tarika- "Lekin Abhijeet tum sach mei yaha? Or puri team? Mujhe laga jo kuch kal raat hua wo sapna tha."
Abhi- "nhi Tarika… wo sapna nhi tha…"
Tarika- "main samjhi nhi. Tum yaha kaise?"
There's a knock & the room's door flings open…
Daya- "main bataau Tarika.. Abhijeet tho yahi pe hai.. bohot dino se…"
Tarika- "kya.."
Daya- "aur Freddy bhi.."
Tarika- "Daya ye tum kya keh rahe ho?"
Daya- "Tarika.. tumhari tabiyat-"
Tarika- "main thik hu… tum bataao…"
Daya- "bataaunga nhi.. dikhaunga… dadaji Freddy se milo pehle…"
Tarika- "Dadaji freddy.. freddy sir kab dadaji bane.."
She laughs but her laughter stops as she watches one of Naina's dadaji(s) taking off his fake beard & moustache to reveal himself as Freddy.
Tarika- "yeh tho… Freddy sir! Aap yaha Naina k dadaji ka dost banke?"
Daya- "aur mere dost yani Naina k dadaji tho aapke paas baithe hai.."
Tarika turns to Abhi who has his head buried in his hands-
Tarika- "Abhijeet! Tum.. wo jo log aaye the US se wo tum log the! Tum aur.. aur freddy sir!"
Abhi jumps into standing position-
Abhi- "Tarika plz.. I'm sorry let me explain.."
Tarika- "main tumhe roz phone kar rahi hu.. sab ko phone nhi lag raha iss waje se pareshan ho rahi hu.. aur tum mere saamne the! Aur aur dadaji banke bhi mere saat flirt kar rahe the.. huh.. "
Abhi- "Tarika I'm sorry… yar Daya Freddy bhai ka ghar barbaad karke kya milega tumko. Huh.. arey baapre!"
Tarika throws a pillow at him and then the lamp.. he dodges both of them and tries to run. She jumps down to chase him but stops as she feels dizzy…
Daya, Freddy panic.. but she steadies herself and smiles…
Tarika- "main thik hu.."
Abhi rushes to her… Daya asks her to rest.
Daya- "kaha thik ho. Rest karo tum. I will get breakfast for u…"
Daya and Freddy leave… Abhi scolds her and makes her sit on her bed
Abhi- "khayal rakhiye Tarika ji."
Tarika- "main thik hu.. but haan gussa hu tumse…"
Abhi- " Arey plz.. mujhe maaf kardijiye na.. aapko kya lagta hai.. main aapse duur reh sakta hu. Huh? Aap tho mere saamne thi. Pehle se bohot zyada khubsurat lag rahi thi aur main, mujhe binaa aapke tareef kiye dadaji banke ghoomna pada. Pata hai kitna mushkil tha mereliye ye sab…"
Her glare softens and he takes her hand in his again..
Tarika- "I'm sorry… main over react kardeti hu kabhi kabhi.. par ye bataao ki tum log yaha? Wo bhi bhes badal ke?"
Abhi- "haan Tarika.. wo ek case ne mujhe yaha le aaya. Aur dekhiye na.. aate hi mujhe aap milgayi…"
Both smile at each other and Abhi explains the case at hand.
Then Daya, Freddy get her breakfast. Tarika freshens up and haves it.
. . .
The team soon rushes in to inquire about her health. Salunkhe appears super happy to see her up and moving and she too can't hide her happiness as she meets her father figure. Naina & Avi meet their friend and are happy too.
Soon the team begins questioning about how she got saved.
Tarika explains- "kal raat ko mujhe yad nhi sir. Ki main kaise gayab hogayi. Wo main aur Avi uss aadmi k peeche daud rahe the. Peeche se kisi ne mera moo band kardiya. Aur.. shayad main behosh hogayi uske baad… jab main uthi tho main ek kamre mei thi. Waha sab andhera tha. Aur itni badboo thi waha. Ki mere tho hosh hi udd gaye. Aur main saans bhi nhi lepaayi sir. Andhere mei maine darwaza dhoondhne ki koshish ki tho mujhe.. main kisi se takraa gayi aur girgayi. Wo aadmi ka laash laga mujhe.. aur aise bohot saare the sir.. unpe chalke hi main kamre ki dusre taraf gayi. Mera pair kisi cheez se dobara takraagaya aur luckily darwaaza khula. Main bahar aake saans liya aur wo darwaza band hogaya. Maine usko kholne ki koshish ki thodi der. Fir mujhe laga ki isse pehle main behosh hojau main.. ya koi mujhpe dobara attack karei.. mujhe Avi se milna chahiye. Aur mujhe kuch yaad nhi sir…"
Acp sir- "yaad karne ki koshish karo Tarika wo karma kaha hai?"
Tarika- "yaad nhi sir… main.."
She thinks but then shakes her head.
Tarika- "nhi sir.. kuch yaad nhi… lekin sir.. haan mujhe kuch mila hai waha se aur usey main saat lekar aayi thi.."
She pulls out a badge from her pocket… half burnt badge…
Sachin- "sir ye tho… kisi waiter ka badge lagta hai…"
Abhi- "ye waha mila jaha laashei hai. iska matlub wo sab waiters ho sakte hai… jo yaha pe kaam karte the… aur gayab hogae.."
Freddy- "sir ye case meri hosh udaa rahi hai.. ab hum kya karei?"
Naina- "sir aaj tho meri sangeet hai.. sangeet k din aisa kuch hua Tarika k saat. Ab pata nhi iss palace mei meri shaadi hogi tho mera aur Avi ka kya hoga!"
Avi- "kuch nhi hoga Naina. Hum ye case solve karenge. Ab tho CID bhi hai yaha. Hai na?"
Acp sir- "sahii kaha Avinash. Tum log sangeet ki tayyari karo. Hum iss mystery ko solve karne ki tayyari karte hai"
Naina and Avi take leave from Tarika and the team. The team discusses about the case again.
Abhi- "kya karei sir?"
Acp sir- "Avinash k papa ne apne bhai k bare mei bataaya na. usko dhoondte hai. kisi ko bhes badalne ki zarurat nhi. Mujhe aisa lagta hai ki ye case ab jaldi solve hoga…"
So Abhi, vineet, sachin leave to find out Kamal, Avinash's uncle. ACP turns to his other officers-
Acp sir- "chalo sab log.. baaki ka plan Daya, Shreya, Freddy, Rajat, Nikhil, Purvi… chalo tumhe bataata hu.."
. . . / \ . . .
In the palace, That afternoon-
Rajat is sitting in his room, checking his mobile and is looking sad…
Someone comes in looking for him-
Purvi- "Rajat sir aap yaha? Chaliye na wahaa pe sab aapka intezaar kar rahe hai… gaana jo gaana hai aaj sham aapko sangeet mei. Bhool gaye?"
Rajat- "nhi Bhula Purvi.."
Purvi- "sir… aap thik tho hai na…'
She asks getting concerned as she didn't get the usual cute smile from him.
Rajat- "haan.. main.. bus wo.. I'm fine…"
He smiles looking at her and she knows it's a fake one.
Purvi- "kya hua sir? Plz aap mujhse share kar sakte hai. hum dost hai right?"
He sighs..
Rajat- "haan Purvi… hum dost hai."
Purvi- "tho boliye na kyu pareshan hai.."
Rajat- "wo papa…"
Purvi- "papa ki tabiyat ko leke huh? "
He's silent…
Purvi- "cousin hai na wahaa.. unki dekhbhal karne…"
He just doesn't know how she understands him so well…
Purvi- "sir plz… jus relax. Sab thik hoga. Case jaldi solve hojayega tab jaake unse mil lena. Kuch nhi hoga sir unhe."
Rajat- "I know Purvi wo.. wo behtar hai. par mujhe aisa lagta hai ki… agar main unke saat hota aur shayad aur behtar mehsus karte wo… matlub… aise… main ahem waqt pe unka saat nhi depaaraha."
Purvi- "nhi sir.. bilkul saat derahe hai… aap unke saat nhi hai tho kya hua.. aapki duwayei tho hai unke saat… aur uuperwale ka aashirwaad bhi…"
That makes him smile big… he loves how she tries to cheer him up whenever he's low… and this isn't the first time…
Rajat- "thank you Purvi…"
Purvi- "dosti mei no sorry and no thanks… aap hi ne tho kaha hai. remember?"
He nods…
Purvi- "tho rehearsal k liye chale… bichari Tarika bhi waha wait kar rahi hai.."
Rajat- "Tarika bhi gayegi?"
Purvi- "haan… wohi hai aapki co-singer!"
Rajat- "really?"
Purvi- "haan wobhi bohot acche se gaati hai! aapko nhi pata.."
Rajat- "naa.."
Purvi- "tho chaliye.. khud dekh lijjiye…"
So Rajat joins Tarika, Nikhil and other band of singers and together they practise singing a song…
Jeene Laga Hoon Pehle Se Zyada
Pehle Se Zyada Tum Pe Marne Laga Hoon...
Main Mera Dil Aur Tum Ho Yahaan...
Fir Kyun Ho Palkein Jhukaye Waha...
Tum Saahasee Pehle Dekha Nahin...
Tum Isse Pehle The Jane Kahaan...
Jeene Laga Hoon Pehle Se Zyada.
Pehle Se Zyada Tum Pe Marne Laga...
.
As he signs that song Rajat can't help but stare at Purvi who's listening to it… he remembers all their moments together and smiles…
Rajat sings… Rehte Ho Aake Jo Tum Paas Mere.
Tham Jaaye Pal Ye Vahi Bas Main Ye Sochu...
Tarika sings… Purvi watches….
Sochu Main Tham Jaaye Pal Yeh Paas Mere Jab Ho Tum... Sochu Main Tham Jaaye Pal Yeh Paas Mere Jab Ho Tum...
Chalti Hai Saansein Pehle Se Zyada
Pehle Se Zyada Dil Theherne Laga Hai...
On the other hand she too is smiling recollecting the same… their eyes lock as the song ends…
Rajat sighs looking at Purvi… Tanhaiyo mein tujhe dhoonde mera dil.
Har pal ye tujhko hi soche bhala kyun.
[ Tarika sings thinking of her Abhi ;) ]
Tanhai mein dhoonde tujhe dil,
Har pal tujhko soche.
Rajat sings final line… Milne lage dil, pehle se zyada. Pehle se zyada ishq hone laga
She suddenly feels shy and runs off to her room while Rajat wonders what just happened with a goofy smile etched on his face.
. . . / \ . .
In her room…
Purvi pulls open a drawer and picks up a dry rose…
The same one he had given her while enacting for the tv program…
Purvi thinks- "kyu aisa mehsus horaha hai jaise pehle kabhi nhi hua… kyu tum mereliye itne khas ho huh? Tum sirf gulab ho. Jo ek din mei sookh jaate ho. Lekin Rajat sir ne diya tho tumhara value itna kyu badgaya hai?kya hai Rajat sir mereliye. Mere acche dost? Haan wo tho hai. aur bohot cute and sweet insaan hai. itne acche lagte hai woh mujhe ki, unko dekhte hi khush hojaati hu main. Aur unke saat ho tho darr nhi lagta. Sab accha lagta hai. aur woh kuch der pehle jab wo gaarahe the… tho aisa laga jaise wo gaana mereliye tha… aakhir kyu aisa lagta hai mujhe… shayad mujhe pehle se hi andaaza tha ki ye kya hai… kya yahi… yahi pyar hai?"
She wonders for a bit and…
Purvi- "haan shayad yahi pyar hai.. yes… Mr. Akduu Kumar… I love you! Sunaa tumne. I love you Rajat sir. Nhi nhi sirf Rajat… so umm… do you love me too? I think yes. Tabhi tho mujhe dekhe jaarahe the gaate waqt…" *blushes n smiles* "lekin haan ye baat aapko mujhse kehna hoga ok? Main nhi kehne waali"
And she secures the rose back in the drawer and takes a deep breath. Time to focus on case!
. . .
Later that day…
By the end of the day team Abhi & are happy to trace Avinash's uncle-
Avi's uncle (kamal)- "laalchi main nhi hu saab… laalchi mera bhai hai. jisne humare aashiya marriot palace ko function hall banaadiya. Haan main bhai se duur tha. Kyu ki usko mujhse nhi paison se pyar hai. sir main uss palace ko haasil karne k liye, ye sab apwah kyu failaaunga.. wo palace mere dil k bohot kareeb hai sir. Bohot si yaadei judi hai mere bachpan ka. aur nhi saab.. main bohot nek aadmi hu. Chai bechke jee sakta hu lekin daulat paane k liye aisi gandi haqatei nhi kar sakta… lekin haan.. mera bhai.. wohi aisa kar sakta hai.. main kehta hu saab wo bohot laalchi.. aur gira hua insaan hai"
The team is helpless but to believe that Kamal is innocent. They thank him for the info and leave-
Sachin- "sir ye kamal keh raha hai ki wo maasoom hai. aur saara ilzaam Avi k papa pe daal diya?"
Vineet- "sir Avinash ka pita, Rajiv apne hi palace ko yun badnaam kyu karega.. aisa karne se kya faaida hoga usko.."
Abhi- "shayad kuch tho faaida hoga.. warna wo kyu karega…"
they head towards marriot palace informing ACP sir about their findings.
. . .
There in marriot palace-
ACP sir, Daya, Rajat have a word in one of the rooms…
Rajat- "sir… jis jagaa k bare mei Tarika ne bataaya.. humare officers usko dhoondhne mei lagey hai sir.."
Daya- "sir Tarika ki halat ab bhi nazuk hai.. ab wo function mei kaise gaayegi…"
Acp sir- "wo thik hai Daya thodi weak hai maalum hai mujhe. Par hume uski madad chahiye…"
Daya- "sir aapko kya lagta hai. wo dobara Tarika pe humla karega.. aur kya hum uss insaan ko pakad paayenge?"
Acp sir- "Daya Avinash ne bataaya ki uss insan ne Tarika ka chehra dekha hai. aur yeh bhi pata hai ki Tarika uss kamre se bhaag gayi hai jaha usne usko band kia. Tho wo zarur Tarika ko chot pohchaane ki koshish karega kyu ki Tarika usskliye khatra hai,,"
Daya- "sir maaf kijiye par hum.. hum Tarika ka istemaal nhi kar sakte.."
Rajat- "haa sir. Ye humara tareeka nhi…"
Acp sir- "Rajat Daya.. tumhe kya lagta hai? main Tarika ko kuch hone de sakta hu?"
Acp sir- "humara ye plan kaamyab hoga. jaldi case solve hoga.. sab thik hoga Daya.."
Rajat & Daya- "hope so sir.."
. . . .
Nxt chapter-
Sangeet ceremony, someone aims at Abhijeet.. but someone else takes the bullet! Who is it? Tarika? Will the guy be caught? Will CID be able to solve the case? Stay tuned!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A/N:
So how was this chap? From now on there will be little to no romance, coz well… case solve karna hai :P
Like I said I updated for vry fw ppl who still read this fic. Thanks plz do rvw n lemme know how it is..
Marverickz, aditi… thank you so much! And so sorry for keeping ya guys wait. Nxt chapter will come soon hopefully…
Tc.. love ya all guys :D