It was close to seven in the evening. Most of the juniors had left for the day and so had Daya. Abhijeet sat at his desk with the ACP and Rajat discussing an old case that was due for hearing at the high court, the next day. The lower court had given a verdict in their favour, but Jagaa, the criminal and his lawyer had challenged the verdict and had filed a petition in the high court – the hearing of which was scheduled for the next day. Someone had to go to court to represent the team – just for formality sake. There really wasn't a need. No questions to be asked or witnesses to be testified. But someone had to be there from the team and no one wanted to go – atleast none of the seniors did. 'We'll think about whom to send tomorrow' said the ACP as he got up from his chair. They were all about to leave when Dr. Salunkhe came down and asked to speak to Abhijeet – alone.
Both the ACP and Rajat were a bit surprised; nevertheless they since they had finished their meeting, left the table, without another word. Although the doctor's request surprised Abhijeet as well, he took care to hide it from the others. He had first assumed it to be the usual 'Why are you behind Tarika all the time? – Who me? No I'm not!' conversation. But as he listened to what the doctor had to say, his expression turned more sober. 'How dare he play a trick on Tarika-ji?' he roared angrily.
'Can we please leave Tarika-ji out of this?' asked Dr. Salunkhe, clearly irritated. 'It is Pankaj that I am talking about. He is playing a joke, I'm sure and I want to catch him so that we can play a bigger joke on him – not punish him as if he were a criminal. I chose you because I thought you were smarter than the whole lot. Now don't let your actions make me think otherwise.' he added.
Abhijeet gave him a sheepish grin when he realized that had gotten a bit carried away by the 'lunch room affair', as they called it, and nodded in agreement. 'What can we do? Should we will shadow him and eavesdrop on his conversations with his friends outside the bureau?' he asked, rather confused. 'But that would be a bit too cheap on our part' he added almost immediately.
'I have a better idea sir' said Rajat joining the conversation. Dr. Salunkhe was taken aback by Rajat's sudden interruption. For one, he only knew Rajat as someone who was very focused and dedicated to his job, so much so that he never – never ever allowed himself to be distracted. Secondly, Rajat just didn't seem like a person who enjoyed playing pranks or seeing a fellow colleague in distress. Nevertheless he decided to hear him out. 'Yes Rajat. What is your plan?' he asked.
'Well, I was just wondering..', he began, addressing Abhijeet 'if we can send Pankaj for the hearing. I mean, since none of us are very keen on going, and it involves no danger, we could perhaps send Pankaj' he concluded.
Both Abhijeet and the doctor received the idea with mixed feelings. On one hand it seemed like a good idea for a work that no one else wanted to do could be pushed onto Pankaj, but on a more serious note, it could be dangerous as well. 'That my boy, is a very novel idea', began Dr. Salunkhe 'And since Pankaj has never been to a hearing before, it would be a good exposure for him. But what if the opposition lawyer decides to cross-question Pankaj? He knows nothing about the case' he concluded. That made Abhijeet and Rajat think. 'Yes, that is true… and dangerous' said Rajat, nodding his head in agreement.
'What if we go to his house tonight pretending to be aatmas?' asked Freddy from the doorway. 'Freddy?' screamed the three of them together, quite surprised. He had left for home almost an hour ago citing a dentist's appointment and with no important work at the bureau, it was indeed surprising to see him back. 'We all decided to meet here to discuss plans for Pankaj's birthday party' he said 'Sachin and Vineet will be here soon. Nikhil has gone over to pick the girls up. We kind of had an idea you others were having a meet and so we thought of dropping by before you left for the day' he concluded.
'Where is ACP sir and what about Daya sir?' asked Sachin walking in just then. 'And what's this discussion about?'
'Daya has gone home. He has a headache. But I am very much here' said the assistant commissioner walking in from behind. 'Even I am curious. What is this discussion about', he put in, his face, clearly displaying his curiosity. 'Oh well, since everyone is going to be here in a few minutes, I might as well tell you all the story' replied Dr. Salunkhe, to no one in particular.
Abhijeet called Daya and asked him if he wanted to join them in their discussion and Daya, who was more than keen, readily agreed. He had left for the day complaining of a headache, but the truth was that he wanted to get out of going to court, for the hearing. Solving a crime, catching a criminal and bashing them up was one thing, but he always loathed the procedures that followed the capture of the criminal.
Dr. Salunkhe, in the meanwhile, rushed upstairs to get Tarika. She was one of the 'affected' ones – all thanks to Pankaj's deafness, and there was no reason as to why she should be left out of the discussion. Once at the lab, he helped wrap up the report she was typing and the two rushed down to the bureau. The others, all but Pankaj, were in by then and the discussion began.
'We have gathered here to discuss the…..' began Freddy mockingly and the others cheered loudly for him. 'Lets not waste time. I'll get to the point' put in Dr. Salunkhe, who still couldn't come to terms with the fact that he had been outsmarted by Pankaj. 'Arre doctor sir, we have to discuss Pankaj's birthday plans also. That's our main agenda right?' added Freddy. He had a soft corner for the roly-poly Pankaj and did not want this discussion to be only about his prank.
'Yes.. Yes.. We will discuss both. Lets first hear Salunkhe sir's story' said Rajat taking on the leadership, for he knew that any argument that began in the bureau could take up to hours to sort. There was something in the brisk manner in which he handled things that made the others, immediately sit up straight and brace themselves for the Doctor's version of the story with rapt attention.
Dr. Salunkhe explained his points slowly and clearly. His observation at every point was so apt that, all the listeners could do, was gape at the older man with a sort of new respect. 'Mind-blowing Salunkhe! The way you though it all out was awesome. You will make a good investigator' admitted the ACP soon after the doctor was done with his explanation.
'That little creep! He tricked us into believing that he was sick' hissed Abhijeet half angry that someone succeeded in tricking him. 'Oh come on Abhijeet' said Tarika putting her hands on his shoulders to calm him down 'It was just a joke.' 'I guess he was too tired of all the serious work here that he decided to have some fun' put in Shreya and the others nodded in agreement.
'But it was sort of funny. The way he sang the rhyme, I almost exploded' chuckled Rajat remembering the earlier events of the day. And soon everyone, including Abhijeet began relating their own thoughts about the prank and seeing the funny side of the incident, started laughing merrily until their stomachs hurt. 'Enough.. Enough.. Please.. Lets think of what to do' said Daya holding on to his sides, which had by now, begun to hurt, after all that laughing.
'What about my aatma idea sir? I was thinking….' Began Freddy only to be stopped short by the ACP. 'I have told you many a times to not speak of aatmas in my presence Freddy' he almost bellowed into the poor man's ears. 'Sss… sa.. sorry sir' replied Freddy meekly, rubbing his ears.
'What if we will eat up all his lunch?' asked Nikhil, beaming around, proud of his own idea. 'Nikhil, we are not here for an eating competition, nor are we here to sample his food' put in Daya sarcastically.
'What about confronting him?' It was Vineet this time. 'Nah. There is no fun in that. I want to turn tables on him. Yes. That's what I want to do. Anyone has any sensible ideas?' asked the doctor, who had by now, almost lost all hopes of getting a decent idea from the team.
'They may be good investigators, alright. And may have the courage to fight an army of foes, but when it came to testing their sense of humor, all stood at zero – that is everyone, barring Freddy. But Freddy was far too simple and innocent to think of pranks' thought he, to himself.
'Pankaj is very fond of eating. So the prank has to be with his food' suggested Sachin. 'That's not a bad idea. With food… with food.. can someone think of something? 'asked Rajat, taking charge of the situation again.
'Sir, can I say something?' asked Purvi from the corner, and all eyes, immediately turned to her. 'Of course, Purvi. Out with it' said Abhijeet encouragingly.
'It is his birthday tomorrow. We all know that. And he knows that we know it. I'm sure he is expecting that we give him a surprise and celebrate it' she began. 'Ok. But where is the idea for the prank in it Purvi?' interrupted ACP Pradyuman. 'Can we just listen her out? Before we come to a conclusion?' asked Dr. Salunkhe irritated. He could tell it from her eyes that she had a nice idea and he was just waiting for it when Pradyuman, in his usual self, had interrupted.
'Yeah.. Well.. He also thinks we fell for his 'deafness' story. So why don't we just pretend to do that?' she asked, looking hopefully at the others around. 'How? I mean… How exactly will that help?' asked Daya, rather confused. 'See Daya sir, its like this' Purvi went on to explain as the others listened with bated breadth.
'Pankaj assumes that we believe he is deaf. He will therefore use every opportunity to spy on us, for he knows that we will not bother lowering our volumes when we talk of him. So tomorrow, if we plan his surprise birthday party in the bureau, he is sure to listen and get excited' she said with a twinkle in her eye. 'And at the end of the day, we do just the opposite of everything that we had planned. Pankaj, who would be eagerly waiting for the party would be driven to wonder why!' concluded Vineet.
For a minute, it didn't seem like anyone else understood the plan at all. They just stood still, staring at Purvi and Vineet. 'That's it.. that's it! Good work Purvi' yelled Dr. Salunkhe and the girls came running and thumped her on her back. The boys smiled at each other and the ACP nodded in approval. There was no stopping them then.
The bureau was soon in chaos, with each officer rehearsing his or her part. Even the doctors had parts to play and Tarika was very excited about it. She kept rehearsing her lines until she was word-perfect, much to the amusement of the other girls.
'Oh you don't really have to learn every word by-heart Tarika. Just stick to the basic script and that should do' Shreya had tried tell her. But no. That wouldn't really do. Pankaj had eaten her parathas and now that she had a chance, she was determined to retort. By about midnight, the team was ready to call it quits.
They wished each other a happy night and went to their respective homes smiling all the way, for they each knew how exciting the next day was going to be.