They came out of the hotel and went into different direction...daya checked minutely each and every shrub while shreya checked the road on which the people walked...

shreya: sssirrr...

daya: haa shreya...

shreya: ye dekhiye sir... yaha pe ek chhota sa shoe ka nishan... magar sir... ye to yaha tak ake gayab ho gaya...

daya: haa... pakka road tak hai woh nishan... chalo ye to pata chala ke woh pakka road me aya tha... yaha se do taraf koi ja sakte hain...ek to ghane jungle me aur dusra us taraf jaha pe kuchh houses dikh raha hai...

shreya: sir... aap us houses ki taraf dekh lijiye... main...jungle me...

daya: nahiii...( daya was very much prompt and his hurry to say so couldn't stem the worry he had for shreya...he was himself embarrassed listening to his own voice and then after an effort to be poised he sighed ) woh...tum ek kam karo... ye juhi ko phone karke poochh lo...

shreya:( feeling the care of daya she was enamoured, she was mesmerised, but held her emotion in check carefully,dutifully) yes sir...

shreya called juhi and juhi told her that she did see gublu and she had thought at that time that he would go just for a casual walk near the hotel and thus she hadn't stopped him...shreya reprimanded her for her deed and then came back to daya,:' sir.. ye juhi to koi kam me nahi ayegi humara.. woh gublu ko dekhi thi..ye to admit kar liya... uski duty me negligency to hai.. magar sir...kya woh humara investigation me further koi kam me ayegi?

daya:(reflective)...hmmm...ha shreya... hume dusre angle se hi shuru karna parega... chalo lash ke pas...

shreya:yes sir...

but before they stepped ahead, daya's cell rang...it was Nikhil..

nikhil: sir...us aurat ka photo kuch shop ke log pehchan liya...sir woh log kaha ke us aurat idhar hi rehti thi...ek stranded house me sir...

daya: achcha? kis taraf tha woh house woh log bata paye hain?

nikhil: sir.. ye moor cross karke... paharh ke taraf...

daya: thik hai... phir ek kam karo... tum aur sachin paharh ke niche ka houses ko dekho... hum upar ka dekhte hain.. aur pankaj aur purvi ko kehna lash ke pas rehne ke liye...

nikhil: yes sir...

daya cut the line and said:' chalo.. us houses ko check karte hain... mujhe lagta hai..aspas hi kuch milega... kyuki aat saal ka ek bachcha zada door tak to ja nahi sakta hai..

shreya: haa sir... aur to aur.. woh gaya kaha? in logo ne jaroor aspas dhoonda hoga... jab nahi mila is ka to...ek hi matlab ho sakta hai sir...

daya: kya matlab?

shreya: mujhe to lagta hai ke... kisi ne gublu ko kidnap kar liya hai...

daya: (worried) samhal ke shreya... yaad rakhna...is waqt humare pas guns bhi nahi hai...

shreya: yes sir...

they walked hurriedly though with a pretence as if their intention was fastened within the limit of watching the beauty of the place...when they reached nearer a bunch of houses, a local lady nudged her female friend,:'look look...they must have been come from the city..'

friend: honeymoon couple...

lady: made for each other...will you want to offer them shelter?

friend: i am getting jealous.. why doesn't I get such a caring and handsome husband?

they both burst into laughter...

shreya was shrunk in shyness not fully for the misconception of the local ladies.. but for her fantasy which they fanned vigorously in which she wished to look at daya sir with almost dimmed fervent vision as the driver of her life...

daya coming a little far from the houses whispered, carefully,:'mujhe nahi lagta hai shreya...ki yaha pe us aurat ki ghar hai...kyuki agar yaha pe ghar hota to in logo ko pata kaise na chalta kuchh?

they now strolled through a dense moor leaving the bunch of houses back...

shreya: sir...phir hum dhoonde kaise?

daya peering here and there said unmindfully,:'hmmmm...koi na koi rasta to nikalna hi parega...ek itna sangeen jurm ho gaya yaha pe... aur bina pata karke hum kaise ja sakte hain yaha se?

shreya: sir...ACP sir ko ...khabar kare?

daya looked at shreya and then said,:'abhi nahi...humare pas pure teen din abhi bhi bacha huya hai... in teen din me hume is quatil ka pata lagana parega..aur phir...' he paused abruptly and then exclaimed,:'aree...woh kya?'

shreya: kya sir?

daya: udhar dekho...ek stone ka bana huya house lag raha hai...chalo udhar chalke dekhe...magar samhal ke... andar koi reh sakta hai...

both tiptoed towards the house with care and when they reached it seemed as if a freaky silence descended upon the house..

shreya:(whisper) sir... lagta hai yaha pe koi rehte nahi ..

daya: tab to yehi shawad us aurat ka ghar hai... Nikhil bhi to kaha tha ke woh aurat ek sunsan ghar me rehti thi...

they entered into the dark room, gingerly and a noisome smell was coming from somewhere.. daya and shreya covered their noses with their handkerchiefs and silently checking the rooms...shreya entered in a room where there was a moderate sized bed which was slept in and beside that on the floor there was an injection syrynge splintered into pieces along with a smelly liquid..A tiny bottle probably of the medicine too had been placed over the table...Daya picked up the bottle and syrynge in a packet and then stated in undertone,:' shawad ye ek poison hai... aur us aurat ko is poison ko inject karke mara gaya hai...'

shreya: magar sir...us aurat ko koi mara hi kyu? aur sir... kya gublu ke sath is case ka connection hai.. to phir gublu ko leke woh log gaye to gaye kaha?

daya: woh log? kya tumhe lagta hai ke isme ek se zada log hain?

shreya: nahi... matlab...(stammered a little) mujhe to lag raha hai...ke zabardosti karke aurat ko injection lagaya gaya hai.. shawad hathafai me hi ye injection gir gaya tha...to dusra lagaya phir kisi ne...to is me ek se zada logo ka hona mumkin hai sir...

daya: hmmmm...agar us aurat ek injection ko gira diya.. to iska matlab dusra injection bhi uske liye taiyar tha...matlab jo bhi the desperate the aurat ko marne ke liye..(his face became reflective and after some seconds his expression changed from a thoughtful to gentle one) good thought shreya... wake hi isme ek se zada murderer hone ka chance hai.. very good thought...( he flashed an endearing smile at shreya)

shreya:(absorbed the praise of daya with her whole heart which made her a little shy) thank you sir...(she said but she wished to cower down before the man who was scolding, teaching and praising her for her well being..)

they searched everything and gathered the identity card of the woman..her name was Vinita Sahoo; she was divorced. Daya and shreya came out of the darkened house and going back towards the moor..

daya called ..

salunkhe: haa dayaaa.. kaise ho mere bachcha? achcha ye kaho ke tumhe utni sundar jagah me baithe baithe mere yaad kyu agaya?

daya: :) sir.. isi liye hi to yaad agaya.. kuchh bhi sundar ho aur aap ka yaad na aye ye kaise ho sakta hai?

salunkhe: mujhe kuchh samajh me nahi aya... are kahi tum Pradyuman ki tarha mere tang to na kheech rahe ho?

daya: kya baat karte hain aap sir... main aur aapka tang...

shreya chuckled listening to the words of daya...

daya: sir... sundar jagah mann ko romantic bana deta hai na.. aur sir.. aap se zada romantic kaun hain CID me? (chuckling)

salunkhe: oye mera bachcha... jug jug jiyo tum daya.. chalo koi to tarif karta hai mera...

daya: nahi sir... ye tarif Mumbai wapas ake main to na karunga... kyuki sir... (laugh) garbar hoga us me...bas abhi door se ACP sir ke akho ke bahar ho ke hi keh pa raha hun(continued laughing)

shreya had having a serene happiness inside seeing daya in a jocose mood ..

salunkhe: waise daya... mujhe to lagta hai... CID ka sab se romantic member ka crown kisi aur ko jana chaiye...

daya: kis ko sir?( with a little fear)

salunkhe: oye Shreya ko aur kise?

daya jolted inside...as if his heart jumped suddenly without giving him any prior notice and kept beating fast listening to the words of Salunkhe sir...

salunkhe: Mauripur ki sundarta ka baatein sun ke sab se zada khush to shreya hi ho gayi thi...aur mujhe poochh bhi rahi thi.. ki kaise hain sara beaches...are sab thik hain na? beach me ghum rahe ho na bohut?

daya combating with an unknown emotion of shyness and bliss, came back jabbering out..:' hha hhhaaaaaaa sir... ghum rahe hain... woh sir... sapno ki desh se wapas ake ab main aap ko ek practical baat poochhunga...

salunkhe:(laughing) poochho... tumhare liye koi bhi sawal ka jawab dunga main..

daya:( looking at the label of the bottle) sir.. sarcopetax nam ka dawai kiske liye use hota hai?

salunkhe: ye to ek poison hai...kisi ke sharir me poison chala jaye to anti dote ka kam karta hai ye...

daya: aur sir agar koi susth insan ko diya jaye?

salunkhe: sidhe maut Dayaa...dus minute ki andar maut ho jayega use... ye khatarnak poison hai..

daya: aur sir...is poison ki asar pe kya akho ke niche ka ansh violet ho jata hai?

salunkhe: haaaa...are tumhe kaise pata chala ye?

daya: woohhh... bas... achcha thik hai sir... baad me baatein karenge aap se...

salunkhe: are dayaa... ye to bataya hi nahi ke Sachin Poorvi Shreya sab kaise hain?

daya: sab thik hain sir... wapas ake baat karenge...thik hai...

salunkhe: okay my child..

daya: okay...

daya cut the line and then said gravely,:' poison se hi mara gaya hai us aurat ko..,chalo.. lash ke pas wapas chalte hain...'

shreya: aur sir gublu?

daya: gublu ka pata lagane ki clue ke liye hi to hum ye sab kar rahe hain...

shreya:( being a little emotional) sir... jaise gublu ki ma ro rahi thi... unko dekh ke...I mean(trying to check back herself)...bura lag raha tha sir...

daya looked at shreya with affection and shook his head and then said sympathetically,:' main samajhta hun Shreya... magar jajbat me behk jau to kam kaise karenge?'

shreya: sir.. humare liye kehna to asan hota hai.. magar jo log jhelte hain.. unko samajh me ata hai asli taqleef...( her voice sounded a little sulky)

daya smiled dolorously and then sighed to say,:' pata hai Shreya...tab main naya naya CID join kiya tha... ' his glance deepened as he sank into the past,:' ek barsat ka raat tha woh... ek admi ka maut ho gaya tha... aur mujhe aur viren sir ko jana para uska family ko inform karne ke liye... us mara huya admi ki ma ki woh dard bhara cheekh...rona...mujhe bardast nahi ho raha tha... main bahr ake khara tha... barish me...baad me viren sir mujhe kaha ke " tum bahr kyu khare ho? bheekh ke to kawa ban gaye ho..." to main bas ye kaha tha ki... mujhe ghar ki mahaul stiffling lag raha tha...'

shreya kept beholding at daya with feverish eyes while daya kept saying,:' tab se kuchh raat main thik se so nahi paya us cheekh ko yaad karke... magar phir dekha har roz hi ye khoon har roz hi kidnapping... har roz hi...' he stopped and then took a long deep breath ...and then resurrected,:' ye sab dekhte dekhte... shawad humara sensitivity hi dull ho gaya...' a rueful smile further crossed his face..

shreya:(promptly and fervently) nahi huya sir...agar sach me hi... aap ka sensitivity dull ho jata ...to sir aap ko ye ghatna yaad bhi na rehta...

daya stared at her for some seconds and then just flashed a coy smile in reply, though within himself he was murmuring impassionedly,:' ye to tumhara asar hai Shreya...tumhara nazre, tumhara diya huya shraddha se mera jee chahta hai phir se... woh daya ban jau... jise violence se repulsion hota tha... jise dusro ke ansu dekh ke ansu ata tha...jo sab insan ko vishwas karna janta tha...jo galti me bhi kisi ko chot pauchane ka soch bhi na sakta tha...' his trance was broken as a hawk screamed loud...Pulling himself together he spluttered,:'chalo...wapas chalte hain'

shreya too breaking her gaze cringed down for hiding her shy face and for concentrating on her way...After the magical silence of about one minute, shreya stated,:'sir...yaha ka ghas itna bara bara hai...yaha pe bhi koi chhup ke us ghar ke upar nazar rakh sakte hain..'

daya:haa...ek normal insan aram se chhup sakta hai ghas me...

darkness had become impenetrable and with much difficulty daya and shreya were stepping ahead towards the beach..moon was gleaming more brightly,showing them the way..cricket started sounding by then...After about five minute...shreya suddenly fell with a grunt...Daya hastened worriedly to grasp her in his arms and accidentally came very closer of each other...In the stark darkness daya saw that the eyes of shreya were glistening abnormally...something inexplicable was there within her glance... something akin to profound reverence and adoration... something.. which couldn't be defined in one words... it seemed as if shreya could devote herself for him...as if she could fight with the whole world for him...He wished to rumple her loose hair at that moment.. he craved to lull her within his arms with every drop of care..

'tumhe... tumhe... chot to na laga?' stammered daya...

'nahi sir,' sursurrated shreya...

'chalo' daya clipped quietly...

An unspoken tension sprang out between them... a tension that perhaps they themselves couldn't cope with ease...they started again...trying to appease the the surging emotion of their hearts...Rest of the way they hadn't spoken to each other...and after reaching the beach they heard that police would be reaching Mauripur in fifteen minutes...

sachin: sir mere sath abhi hi baat huya... woh log bas pauch hi rahe hain...aur sir paharh ki niche to us aurat ka ghar ka koi trace na mila hume...

daya: hmmm... lash ko check kiya tha?

poorvi: haa sir...hatho me kuch scratches hai...aur gale ko dekh ke lagta hai... koi chain ko kheech ke liya gaya...

daya: hmmmm...hathafai ka scratches shawad...thik hai.. tum log resort me wapas chale jao... main aur sachin yaha ka samhal lete hain...

poorvi: magar sir... aisa kaise ho sakta hai... ke aap log kam karte rahenge aur hum wapas chale jaye?

pankaj: aur sir.. kam karenge to kaise? poore area me to electricity nahi hai... andhera hi andhera hai...

daya: chahe andhera ho ya ujala... murderers ka pata to lagana hi parega...

pankaj: kaise sir? andhera me kuchh na dikhai de raha hai...aur sir bohut machchhar bhi kat raha hai..

daya:(with a smile) aj se sau der sau sal pehle to kahi pe bhi electricity nahi tha... magar detectives apna kaam to bakhubi se karte the...jaise ke sherlock holmes...

pankaj: magar sir...

daya: pankaaaj...waise bhi tumhe kam karna na parega... tum log wapas chale jao...

shreya: ssir...

daya: please shreya...zid maat karo... tum log resort me chale jao...

except daya and sachin everyone turned back reluctantly and returned to the resort with sluggish steps.