A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you guys!

I Wish that the end of the year takes all your worries, your hardships with it and the 2018 brings be full of love, happiness, success and health for you. I wish all your dreams get fulfilled and your hopes come true and you are able to achieve all your goals. I hope you make resolutions which you are able to abide by and lastly i just wish you to be healthy and happy always.

So, I am here with the next chapter on the last day of the year. It's actually really nice because i get to wish all you my dear friends and readers and partners in crime.. ;) a happy new year!

Hope you all have fun reading guys!

CHAPTER - 7 : When it began

19th March 1999

City Hospital : Mumbai

The man softly opened his eyes, feeling a blinding headache and a throbbing pain in his right ANKLE as far as he could register against the pain almost in his whole body, the bright light made him squint his eyes and turn his head away in frustration. After few seconds of blinking and adjusting his eyes to the bright light, he opened his eyes again, this time able to focus more but still feeling the light as much bright. He heard a soft call from his side so turned his head towards the person, he heard again...

" ABHIJEET SIR...aap...aap theek hain? Sir main Daya..."

He heard some voices, some commotion, some shuffling from around himself and heard something more... " Officer please...main inka check up karlun pehle..."

This time he heard another tone and sound, more strict yet soft asking him something... " SIR...can you hear me?"

He nodded slightly, his head throbbing badly and the bright light wasn't helping. He opened his eyes this time more effectively, he took in the man's white coat, a stethoscope around his neck. A doctor. He heard again... " sir aap mujhe bata sakte hain aapka naam kya hai?"

The man looked around, unable to focus, he couldn't remember his name though, not even the date or year too or answers to any of the next questions apparently, that was when he heard an angry voice from behind...

" He was tortured, kept in an isolated place for many days and you are asking him whether he kept the notice of TIME and President and GOVt.?" the voice snapped at the doctor apparently.

The man. The doctor sighed and bent forward, shining bright light directly in his eyes. He squinted, and with his hand pushed away the light unable to take it anymore. He wanted to say something but his energy was already draining. The last thing he remembered before drifting off to sleep once more was the throbbing pain and the continuous noise in his background.

And these were the same things he woke up to once again. The pain was less throbbing however. He glanced around, his vision much clearer than before and the light seemed much less bright. Again he saw same figures he had seen earlier, the man with soft caring voice standing in same clothes and the doctor, they were joined by another man however, older but he couldn't recognize any of them yet. He heard the doctor say again...

" ...concussion was of first grade sir...we have already given him pain medication, he should regain consciousness anytime now, the memory loss at that time could have been due to concussion or amnesia due to any of the injuries he suffered or there are numerous other possibilities...we...

" ABHIJEET...

The man still wasn't able to remember his name, he still didn't know any Abhijeet and yet these men, still he focused his eyes on the older man as got the call coming from his side. All three moved ahead towards him while doctor moving ahead first and again performing the same tests he had performed earlier although asking something else this time after a frown and deep concern appears on his face when still getting NO for all questions...

" Sir aapko headache hai?"

Abhijeet nodded softly although replying in raspy voice due to his dry throat... " pehle se kam...(asking again in tension) ...mujhe kuch yaad kyun nahi aa raha hai doctor?"

The same concerned expressions appearing on Doctor Face who straightened after feeling all eyes on him and replied while patting Abhijeet shoulder softly... " no need to worry sir...it can be a temporary condition...you have a concussion and you are tried and exhausted...head injuries are not that easy...(to other two people in room) hum log inhe monitor karenge ek do din aur..."

He nodded towards ACP sir and DAYA and Abhijeet got they shared a small agreement upon something. The doctor adjusted his bed and pillows so that he could sit and left the room. HE was feeling highly confused, his headache though minimal was really irritating him and now all this. He heard the old man say softly again...

" ABHIJEET...main ACP pradyuman hun aur yeh...

But he couldn't help but snap, how many times did they needed to hear that he didn't remember ANYTHING! " aur aap log mere saath kaam karte hain...sun chuka hun main yeh sabh...please...aap jo koi bhi hain...mujhe kuch yaad nahi hai...main nahi janta main aapke saath kaam karta tha ya nahi..main kuch nahi janta please..."

The older man calling himself as ACP pradyuman glanced towards the young lad and both shared a soft nod. Abhijeet noticed the slightly sad expressions on the hurt man's face but obviously for now he had himself to worry about and not these strangers claiming to be his own. How can they even think he would be able to trust them in this condition?

The older man produced a small black leather cloth having something embroidered on it with golden marks, he read carefully and got the words as CID. The older man smiled towards him making him confused and said in a rather formal yet soft tone now he figured was being used because of his headache though...

" Hum log CID se hain...aur hum jante hain tumhe kuch yaad nahi hai magar ABHIJEET hum log sabh saath mein kaam karte the aur tum ek case ki investigation ke dauran gayab hogaye the...(Abhijeet felt the younger lad flinch slightly at that part and wondered whether the young man had something to do with it or whether he was there at that time?) tum iss waqt MUMBAI mein ho, 1999 year, 20th july. Jyada socho nahi...yeh bas kuch obvious baatein thi...kuch dino mein tumhari memory bhi wapas aajayegi...(ACP sir voice again turned soft and he softly patted abhijeet on shoulder who was sitting with help of pillows) Don't worry...(looking towards daya and then again) abh hum log chalte hain...bas tumhe dekhne aaye the...take care.."

The younger lad nodded in agreement not saying a word of his own.

Abhijeet nodded though stayed silent too. The calm and composed behavior of the older man obviously giving him nothing to suspect and so he gave up trying and closed his eyes as the two officers left the room. His head although not giving him any peace as he tried to regain anything about himself, about these people, about his life but everything was coming just blank and he drifted to a restless slumber yet again.

He was seeing some scenes, hearing some voices, there was some talking in background, some shouting, screaming but he can't get anything clearly and at last a bang...

He opened his eyes and sat up too hurriedly, resulting in him feeling dazed due to his still concussed brain. He steadied himself, trying to take a deep breath when two soft hands gripped his shoulder and asking in soft tone... " ABHIJEET sir...aap theek hain? koi sapna...

Abhijeet however didn't reply waiting for the dizziness to pass as he decided whether to answer the question or tell about his dreams to the young lad or not. After calming a little he said slowly... " haan...(tightly) nightmare...(asking straightly as can't get why the man here even?) tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?"

The young lad helped him in settling again without saying another word although also offering a glass of water. Abhijeet took it with a nod of thanks and after taking few sips kept the glass back at it's place. He heard now...

" aapko dekhne aaya tha...nurse ko kahi jana tha toh main ruk gaya aur phir aap restless hogaye...phir

Abhijeet really wasn't able to stand that AAP at this moment when he didn't remember what position he shared with the guy and specially the age difference between him and guy not much so he was feeling more awkward so said... " call me tum...or that...ABHIJEET...tum aur main same age ke hi honge..."

Daya however didn't said or did nothing which confused abhijeet allot who shook his head and asking the question or rather confirming his own observation about the young lad..." You were there...(the young lad looked up at him with his eyes filled with confusion, Abhijeet clarified) tum wahan the, jabh main kidnap hua tha...haina?"

Daya's eyes widened with shock and he asked in extremely low tone... " aapko...aapko sabh kuch yaad aagaya? (hurriedly stand up) main abhi doctor ko...

But Abhijeet stopped him instantly with... " nahi...(silently) kuch yaad nahi aaya hai magar...tumne flinch kiya tha jabh...(remembering and then say) Acp sir right? (daya nodded for confirmation) Acp sir ne mere kidnap hone ka bataya tha mujhe...toh mujhe laga shayad tum wahi hoge...ya kuch jante hoge...

Daya closed his eyes and silently sat down after a moment, he began in same silent tone... " main waheen tha...(regretfully and in a tone filled with pain, abhijeet realized feeling amazed) magar main kuch kar nahi paya...kuch bhi nahi...sabh kuch meri galti..."

Abhijeet wanted to say something but he didn't knew what relation he and this guy had shared? Had they been friends earlier? The guy seemed quite and innocent enough and Abhijeet wondered whether he should comfort him? But he was feeling angry, a slight suppressed anger, he didn't knew the whole truth, but he felt angry for if this guy had saved him, he wouldn't have to be looking for answers like this. He sighed and shook his head this time more cautiously and said taking a deep sigh after seeing still down head of the man...

" Daya naam haina tumhara? (the guy looked up shocked with a happy innocence in his eyes, abhijeet continued after his soft nod) Dekho main poori baat nahi janta magar mujhe lagta hai tumne apni poori koshish ki hogi...(sadly) meri hi kismat saath nahi hogi..."

Daya nodded slightly and when he had began wondering where the nurse had gone, she entered inside the room with a hurried apology and after seeing Abhijeet awake started with her regular instructions from the doctor.

Daya waited there till the doctor had himself checked abhijeet, who seemed disappointed that abhijeet still not had gained his memories back and decided for some more tests and waiting. Daya nodded grimly, feeling himself the culprit behind this all even if he had not been the one to torture his senior, he hadn't even been able to save him too when he had had the chance. At that time, his phone started ringing and after telling ACP sir about his arrival in few minutes he left the hospital after meeting and informing him about his leaving.

From the CT scans of Abhijeet's brain the Doctor informed Acp sir and Daya regarding chances of Abhijeet regaining his memory when the slight swelling around his memory centres would subside although he was not 100% sure which scared both allot specially Daya.

Abhijeet still hadn't told anyone about his dreams or hallucinations or may be some incidents he still could remember of past in fear of something he didn't knew exactly what. It was, he thought was time to follow his gut feeling for once rather taking a risk and he wondered whether when he had been kidnapped, it was the risk he had taken that had been the cause? He sighed trying not to think what would happen if he never regained his memory again?

The next few days passed in the same routine when he would experience visions or some memories, still not informing anyone about those while the doctor every time after asking him the same questions would look disappointing and worried and would call Acp sir and Daya in his cabin. Abhijeet himself was starting to get fidgety, he was feeling angry and irritated over the same questions each and every day and the slight prospect of never regaining his memory back pinched him in heart every time Acp sir or daya would visit him.

It was not like he didn't like their company but it was just that they reminded him of a life he had forgotten and had chances of never knowing again. It reminded him of being incompetent to even remember his own life, it disappointed him, made him feel helpless and dependent which he felt really making him angrier day by day. But the company also gave him a slight comfort to know that he had been important enough for someone to visit and talk regularly to a man who didn't remember them. For daya however he wondered was it because he was a person of that sort nature wise or was it just his guilty or a combination of both?

After 3 days of his stay in hospital he started wondering whether he had any family or not? Parents, siblings anyone? Because expect these two men who belonged from somewhere he had worked he hadn't met anyone else yet. He asked this to Daya who had come to visit him one evening after getting freed from bureau as he explained it...

" Daya...(daya looked towards him attentively as still feeling nervous around Abhijeet) Yeh meri koi family hai kya? (he explained hesitantly) mera matlab tumhare aur Acp sir ke alawa koi aur milne nahi aata na...i can understand agar safety protocols ki wajah..

Daya too seemed confused to Abhijeet somehow but still he replied softly... " Sir hum logon ko saath kaam karte kam hi waqt huya tha...mujhe kuch maloom nahi khaas...main ACP sir se pooch kar bataunga aapko...(silently) sorry sir..."

Abhijeet nodded slightly feeling suspicious of the statement as he can't believe that even in these many months his supposed team never contacted his family if any existed even. He could understand he belonged to police force and there are safety protocols associated but at least these people should have said something? He didn't knew these people that much, not now when he didn't knew even himself but he still could read their eyes, body language and expressions which had easily told him about Daya presence during his kidnapping, Doctor's confusion and hopelessness about him not regaining his memory and he knew, ACP sir was hiding something he would want to talk about, ask about otherwise, may be some case, some information he wanted, because according to Daya he had been underhandedly dealing a case in those days.

He sighed and rested his head back on pillow as his bed was moved into a sitting position. He rubbed his forehead lightly, feeling the slight headache emerging that always did when he was with Daya or ACP sir or was trying to remember something and he knew this was not due to the concussion. Daya who was still sitting on the uncomfortable chair beside his bed asked in hesitated tone... " SIR..AAP..AAP theek haina? main doctor ko...

Abhijeet interrupted him irritatingly as he didn't liked to remind himself from that incompetent doctor's expressions of pity and sympathy that he may have lost his past forever... " NAHI DAYA...(irritatingly) aur tumhe aur kuch kaam nahi hai kya? jabh dekho yaheen aaye baithe rehte ho haan...jaao jaake kuch kaam karo...(closing his eyes tightly) tumhare yahan baithke mujhe sympathy dikhane se meri yadasht nahi wapas aajayegi..."

Daya looked down once and then nodded and said after standing up... " Sympathy nahi SIR...care karte hain hum log issliye aate hain...aur kyunki doctor ne kaha haiki familiar faces dekhne se shayad madad mile yadasht wapas aane mein issliye...(slightly angry tone) toh haan...shayad aajaye..."

He turned around and then left the room completely leaving his irritated senior shocked and in guilt in his wake for having talked like that with someone who only cared for him and was not even required to do so. He jerked his head and closed his tired eyes again letting himself drift into another restless sleep.

"ABHIJEET!"

His body jerked badly hearing the loud call from a familiar voice and he blinked his eyes and looked around. He saw Daya standing beside him in the hospital corridor beside the hospital room where he had actually been according to Abhijeet only a few minutes ago.

He blinked again as felt the soft grip on his arm and when focused on it felt it loosen more and then gone completely before hearing again...

" Yahan kya kar rahe ho tum?"

Abhijeet looked up again to Daya's face and saw his expressions turning from stern to concern and back to stern yet again before shaking his head and answering in low tone as felt he already lost the strength to do anything more...

" woh main...main...tum bahot naraaz toh main...piche..." His badly throbbing head, he blamed made him unable to process or think very clearly about the change in Daya's attitude even this bit. He tried again, little more carefully and thought out this time...

" maine Rajat se address le liya tha...mujhe laga tum yahan hi..." he gulped softly.

There was silence for a few moments before he again felt that strong grip over his arm providing him the strength to stand straight as he heard... " haan sahi samjha...(after few seconds silence again) milna chahoge? (softly concerned tone) ya ghar jana hai Abhi, haan? Kaafi thake hua lag rahe ho Abhijeet tum..."

Abhijeet blinked again as he really can't get what changed in these hours either suspected that Daya must completely Angry with him now, even breaking...

"Abhijeet?" That soft concerned voice asked again and Abhijeet finally shook himself enough to answer softly...

" Daya...I am...I am really sorry...Daya main..."

"ABHIJEET..." That gentle voice stopped him completely and he heard attentively as it continued further, after a break of few seconds which Abhijeet didn't realize signified what, as he could only sense the grip on his arm tighten and the unwavering focus on himself increase "...ABHI...i am really sorry...mujhe tumse aise baat nahi karni thi...bina kuch jane aise hi ilzaam nahi...(laughing self deprecatingly) aise conclusions nikal liye ki bas...

The grip on his arm tightened and he felt himself being encased in a soft hug. Abhijeet felt all his energy drained from his body but that resulted in only coiling his body in a more stiffened posture. He wanted to say something, wanted to apologize again as felt may be DAYA hurt so much that he behaving like this but heard further...

" Really Sorry Abhijeet...but tumne bhi kuch kaha hi nahi...bas maan liya sabh...Yaar..(concerned tone as feeling Abhijeet stiff posture and shallow breathing)...ABHI..."

Abhijeet closed his eyes and never knew how and when his body collapsed completely and pure blackness surrounded him although just hearing that one word in two different voices changing his life at two different points, two different decades, two different eras and by two different relations... "ABHIJEET!"

So i hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Really sorry but no individual replies this time guys. I am a little busy today so please a little mafi at the year end.

But thanks allot to all the reviewers for reviewing and reading and liking the last chapter. And also thanks to everyone who reviewed for MINDLESS HEART as well! Thanks a ton guys.

Once again happy new year guys! Have fun and enjoy!

and yes, unfortunately the next update would only be next year now... ;) :P :P . Okay, i had to do that...hehehehe. But yes unfortunately it'll be on wednesday instead of on Tuesday as i have a test on wednesday. Sorry. And then next on friday as usual.

But don't forget to review guys.

take care everyone.

Meet you all in the next year now. ;)