CID Bureau

ACP: Abhijeet tum Daya ka ghar check kiya tha?

Abhijeet(with a helpless face): haa sir check kiya tha...door locked hai sir...(a pause with contemplation) sir mujhe to lagta hai ki...daya ko kuchh bohut khas information mila hai...is liye hi woh uske pichhe gaya hai...nahi to...aise...achanak...he stopped listening to the known voice,:'good morning sir' daya entered into the cabin of ACP and kept his head down facing two pair of inquisitive eyes..

ACP stared at him a little angrily and then demanded authoritatively,:'kaha the tum Daya? na bureau me na ghar me? kya ho gaya tumhe?'

daya still cowering down, jabbered,:'ssorry ssir...magar...ek ja..jaroori kam ke liye...shahar se bahr jana para tha...inform karne ka bhi...time na mila tha..'

ACP nodded with a mixture of dissatisfaction and worry,:'thik hai...' he paused and then abruptly changing his tone of voice he ordered,:'abhi kam me lag jaao...woh diwali bombing case ka file ka ek ek inch check karo...dekho...kahi chhut gaya kya humara nazro se...' he contorted his face and goggled his eyes as usual imagining the criminals facing him...

:'yes sir," daya received the order with utmost servility and came out of the cabin..Though he picked the file out from the archive gallery and came to his table to concentrate but a thorn was pricking him just at the most centre of his chest..He sighed with a very weary smile and then rubbed his chest roughly with his one palm which Abhijeet noticed promptly as he stormed out of ACP sir's cabin..AS Daya started turning over the pages of the file, Abhijeet appeared at the edge of his desk...Daya felt the presence of Abhijeet but didn't look at him and pretended to be absorbed within the file...An affectionate smile hovered at the lips of Abhijeet as he kept his palm upon his right shoulder and cooed,:'itna naraz kyu ho yaar! aur agar naraz ho bhi...to sare narazgi utar do abhi mujh pe...I promise...main gussa nahi karunga...' Daya slowly raised his face to look at him, and instantly his eyes moistened.

:'kaisi baat...karte ho dost...' he spluttered in a trembling voice,:'tumse ...' he choked but continued with difficulty,:'kis...bat ka...narazgi...'

:'seene me dard ho raha hai...aur khud ka dard pe...khud hi...marham...laga rahe ho?'abhijeet's eyes swelled and though he sniffed and dabbed his eyes promptly, daya didn't skip to notice that...He raised his one hand towards Abhijeet's other hand and clenched tightly to repress the tears and then after about a minute, he implored,:'rat me mere ghar aaoge Abhijeet? tum se...tum se baat karna tha...'

Stark astonishment crossed the face of Abhijeet and at the same time a dark gloom covered his face,:'ye bhi...kehne ki baat hai Daya? haa? char din se pareshan ho ke pal pal me socha ki tum wapas ane se hi...tum se baat karunga...aur tum ho ke...' he stopped,sighed and sitting beside him,he flashed a forced smile to assure him,:'chalo yaar...jaldi kaam kar lete hain...'

On that night (at 10 p.m)

Abhijeet and daya were sitting in daya's sitting room with grim faces..

Abhijeet: kya mujhe bhi bata ke ja nahi paya tum? aisa kya majboori tha Daya?

daya:(with an embarrassed face and gesture) I am ssorry Abhijeet...agar mera khamoshi...tum ko dukh diya hai...to...to...mmain...mmaafi..chahta hun...mmagar...kya karta main? baat hi aisa sangeen laga...ki jaldi jana para aur...aur...jane ka taiyari me...sara ka sara intezam karne me...sara waqt chala gaya tha...

Abhijeet: abhi to bata sakte ho na...( a little teasing smile) aisa kya ho gaya ke mere pahlwan dost ka seene me dard hone laga hai...akho me ansu ane laga hai...haa haa? ( Abhijeet deliberately was trying to be cheerful as he sensed that something very serious had been disturbing his friend)

Daya temporized for a little in order to muster his thoughts and then replied with a grim expression,:'ek personal kam tha Abhijeet...' he stopped and though endeavoured but couldn't let out any more until Abhijeet asked astoundingly,:'aisa...aisa...kaisa personal kaam Daya? kkya woh...mujhe bhi...bataya nahi ja sakta hai?'

Daya immediately answered with an abashed smile, repudiating,:'agar aisa hi hota...to tumhe yaha kyu bulata?' a little pause,:'aisa keh ke mujhe...aur dukh na do yaar...'

Abhijeet:(trying to conceal the worry) achchha baba thik hai...na keh raha hun aisa...mmagar...personal kaam...let me guess( he tried to be playful keeping his patience intact) kisi jaan pehchan ka shaadi?

daya startled and looked at Abhijeet with a scared face while Abhijeet's amusing face turned pale and tensed watching daya's unexpected expression...Daya averted his glance quickly and stammered,:'woh...hha...mmatlab...shaadi...' he paused,trying to appease the torrid wave of inconvenience and then came back stoutly,:'shaadi...fix karne ke liye...'

:'fix karne ke liye?' Abhijeet's brows puckered,:'kkya kkya baat kar rahe ho Daya? kkaun hai woh...woh...khush naseeb...jiska ...shaadi fix karne ke waqt...tum...' he stopped being staggered to listen to daya as he chimmed in without lingering the suspense,:'mera ...'

Abhijeet gazed at the tightened face of daya with sheer stupefaction..Daya didn't look at Abhijeet and took deep breath to keep himself active in this queer battle with his own heart..After about a minute, when the silence was perceivable, daya hesitantly glanced at Abhijeet while Abhijeet was on the edge of asking uncountable question but he restrained himself and could only bumble,:'ttum...ttum...ye..sab...soch ...samajh ke...'

daya interrupted with furore,:'kya sochna samajhna hai Abhijeet? kya is ka koi guarantee hai ki jo hum soch ke samajh ke karte hain...uska asar achcha hota hai?haa?' the fury slowly converted into his frailty to bear the pain inside him..His crimson angry face turned into a crestfallen one wreathing with a wan smile as he further added,:'yakeen mano Abhijeet...is se...is se...sab ka...bhala ...honewala hai...'

:'sab ka? matlab?' asked Abhijeet promptly and resumed,:'main kuchh samjha nahi Daya...sab ka matlab...Shreya ka?' he couldn't put it evasively any more and then perhaps drawing some inferences from daya's silence hissed in despair and resurrected,emphatically,:'daya...daya...tum..ttum bohut bada galati kar rahe ho...is me na to ttum khush ho sakte ho...aur..na...naaa... Shreya...'

A glumness covered daya's face as he drawled,wearily,:'nnahi Abhijeet...is me...char log...khush ho sakte hain...char log Abhijeet...mera akela ka khush hone se bohut zada hai char logo ka khushi...'

Abhijeet now, being impatient snapped, :'kkya keh rahe ho daya? mujhe to kuchh bhi samajh me nahi araha hai...tumhara aur shreya ke beech do log ghus rahe hain...to kaise honge sab khush? ye sab anab shanab ttum soch bhi kaise liya? haa? kkya chakkar hai ye sab?' Daya heaved and then put it trying to maintain poise,:'dekho Abhijeet...ttum...jaroor ye soch rahe ho ki...kkya daya pagal ho gaya hai...barna...achanak...aise kaise...kisi ke sath...shaadi karne ka faisla kar liya...hai na?

Abhijeet wished to say something but he remained silent for giving the opportunity to daya while daya continued,seeming to be in a calm manner,:'ai..aisa na socho ki...' he paused, breathed and then came back,:'ke...bas shreya ki faisla mujhe ...ye faisla lene ke liye majboor kiya...'

:'to baat kya hai daya? kis baat se majboor ho ke tum apna jeevan ka itna bada faisla le liya?' asked Abhijeet with haggard face which reflected concern for daya..

daya with a rueful smile, reappeared,:'shaawad...main zindegi bhar...kabhi...shaadi ka na sochta Abhijeet...kyuki sach kahu...Shreya ka Siddharth ke sath shaadi ka faisla...mujhe ...mmujhe aisa bana diya tha...ki...kabhi shaadi shabd se bhi...main...pareshan ho jata tha...mmagar...jab...ye pata chala ki...jaise...main ' his eyes moistened, voice trembled and choked,:'jaise main...saza pa raha hun...waise hi...koi mere liye saza bhugat rahi hai..to phir...mujh se...raha na gaya...kyuki Abhijeet...' he stammered for a little and then muttered,:'dil tutne ka dard main janta hun..' a tear drop streaked down his cheek,:'aur...agar...kisi ka dard kam karna ...mere bas me ho...to mujhe laga ki...mujhe woh karna chaiye...age peechhe sab bhul ke mujhe woh kam karna chaiye Abhijeet...'

Astonishment crossed Abhijeet's face as he spluttered worriedly,:'kkaun? kis ki baat kar rahe ho tum Daya?'

Daya prepared himself with a long sigh and replied promptly,:'us din jab...uski bhabi ki letter aya ...tab se hi...ladai shuru huya Abhijeet...mere mann ke sath mera...aur us ladai...shawad mujhe...bohut kuchh sikha raha hai...' his face turned reflective,:'bohut kuchh sikha raha hai Abhijeet..' he emphasized and repeated and added later,:' khud ko...akela sochta raha aur...udhar...mujhe koi pati samajh ke...duniya ki tamam pareshani akeli samhalti rahi...'

:'pati samajh ke? kahi...' Abhijeet casted a glance at daya with beady eyes now,:'kahi...ttum...Anila ki baat to...na kar rahe ho?'

daya turned his face towards Abhijeet instantly with a bemused expression and muttered after half minute,:' ha Abhijeet...magar ttum...' he paused still being wreathed with shock,:'ttumhe kaise pata chala?' Abhijeet asked him, instead of answering daya,:'to tum...Anila ko shaadi kar rahe ho?'

Daya nodded gravely,:'haa...'

Both remained within a stifling silence until Abhijeet asked further,:'Anila se baat huya tumhara? kya woh sach me tumhe pyar karti hai?' Daya nodded and after some seconds he remarked a little sardonically,:' jitna pyar main is teen char din me paya...woh...pichhle tees saalo me bhi na paaya Abhijeet...' he shook his head and then leaned back stretching his head with visible tiredness...Abhijeet stared at him with sympathy as it wasn't hidden to him, that daya was trying to repress a deep insecurity and peevishness..The wound that he received from Shreya would perhaps be indellible but in the mean time if he had chosen someone for his bride who were insanely in love with him, there shouldn't be any reason to forestall him...She might erase the scar of the wound in future and who could predict that daya too reciprocated her feelings in the long run...Daya should deserve love-pure and sacred one...and if...if...it would be written with Anila...then...then...why not? He should give him every kind of support at this juncture of his life...Abhijeet decided and ventured to be a joyful friend,:'It's a very good news yaar...damn good news...'

Daya glanced at him again astoundingly and asked,:'tum khush ho Abhijeet? kya...mera ye faisla sahi hai?'

:'Arey ekdam sahi hai boss...tumhara faisla galat ho hi nahi sakta hai...' abhijeet suggested with boisterous chirp...Daya gazed at him with beady eyes and let out,:'achcha? kkyu? kkyu tumhe lag raha hai ki ye faisla sahi hai?' Abhijeet was staggered initially but then he managed it, as it was clear to him that daya was desirous to listen to some explanation of his own deed..., he wished to listen to some words which would satisfy him and at the same time, guide him whether he had taken a right decision or not...

:'arrey yaar...' jabbered Abhijeet...:'mmain...bas itna janta hun...ke...ke...tumhara shaadi honewala hai...aur meri ek bhabi anewali hain...jo tumhe bohut bohut pyar karegi...' he smiled a little fatuously and then commented,:'mujhe tum ko khush dekhna hai bas...aur ye dekhna hai...ke koi...' his face was turning grim as he continued,:'koi...tumhara unkahee...batein bhi...samajh ke...tumhe...tumhe khush rakh rahi hai...'

Daya stared at Abhijeet as his words seeped a faint anger...Abhijeet curbed his emotion and then gave him a throaty laugh,:'arrey yaar...mujhe bohut sara taiyari karna parega sab cheezo ka...main yaha pe kyu baitha hun...oh by the way...shaadi ka date fix ho gaya na?'

Daya, perhaps getting a little revivified by Abhijeet's emphatic words, flashed him a coy smile and nodded...

:'arrey na sharma ke batao phir?' Abhijeet exclaimed with a smile...Daya raised his glance and kept it over the seeming to be beaming face of Abhijeet and heaved a sigh of relief...while Abhijeet hastened,:'arrey kya huya...batao to sahi...kitne din hoga mere pas sab taiyari ke liye...?' Daya with a placid smile over his lips, murmured, clenching one palm of Abhijeet,:' thanks yaar...ttum ...ttum nahi jante ho...ki...mere dil pe se kitna bada bojh ...utar gaya...tum se baatein karke...' Abhijeet though felt a sharp pang of agony in his chest but repressing it he forced a smile, trying to be animated,:'haien? daya? is ke baad meri bhabi tumhare dil pe koi bojh hi ane nahi denge...haa tum dekh lena...' the next one moment he remained silent imagining a happy scenario of daya's household and his eyes moistened with intense bliss...His trance was broken as daya finally revealed,:'it's 2nd October Abhijeet...'

:'2nd?' Abhijeet was staggered,:'my God...aur abhi bol rahe ho mujhe?'

daya explained in detail now,:'woh...Anila ki bhabi bhaiya se...baat huya tha mera...woh log...jald se jald hi...' he paused perhaps with a natural reticense to discuss about his own marriage while Abhijeet caught his half spoken speech,:' ha ha kyu nahi...shubh kam me kis baat ka der?' he laughed and teased daya once more,:'dekho yaar...yehi mauka hai mera...tumhara shaadi ka kapre main chun chun ke kharidunga...is ke baad mere Anila bhabi sab samhal lenge...hai na? haa? haaien?' Abhijeet's child like efforts to alleviate the discomfort of him, couldn't be concealed from daya and he smiled this time ingenuously,:' bas bhi karo yaar...tum to...aise...nach rahe ho...jaise ki...jaise ki...' the smile ebbed away slowly and instead of that a bleak titter hovered at his lips and he stopped abruptly...

Abhjeet though was quick in reply,:'kyu na nachu Daya? jab shaadi kar rahe ho...dhum dham se karo...bohut sara dhamal machega...bohut sara pataka jalega...itna ke...sab ko...' his jaws tightened,:'sab ko...pata chale...ki tum kitna keemti ho...'

The meaning that had been hidden within his words, was conceivable to Daya...and a wan smile came to his face as he commented,:'kisi ka keemat dhum dham ya dhamal se pata hota hai kya Abhijeet?'

Abhijeet looked at him with a smiling face while daya added more,:'agar yehi duniya hai...yehi samaj hai...to main isse bohut door ja ke jeena chahta hun...jaha pe shor na hai...ye dikhawa nahi hai...aur...' crimson colour stole into his cheeks,:'aur...duniya ki aisa karwa roop bhi nahi hai...' he dabbed his eyes thereafter and then forcing a smile he came back,:'abhi mujhe samajh me araha hai...ke...kyu Anila...sab chhor ke...kundai chali gayi thi...'

Abhijeet with a bustle returned back jauntily,:'aisa kaise chalega haa? jaao to mujhe chhor ke...main bhabi ko complain kar dunga phir tumhare khilaf...'

daya looked at abhijeet's amusing face and now burst into a peal of laughter..