A Few Days Later...
Daya was much better now. Somehow Abhijeet's sudden illness improved his mental condition. Daya's behaviour was more organised now. Moreover there was a concern for Abhijeet, that made him care for him.
Everything was going fine, Abhijeet was also happy, finally Daya was recovering - he started behaving normally in situations...
The day when he came here leaving his past behind, there was nothing but hope with him! A hope that he would get back his brother again - he survived through those painful days only because of this hope. Now he could believe that the day won't be far away!
The only thing that was troubling him was Daya's dream... It was that part of his memory which caused this condition of him! Now Daya was getting that dream again and again, and every time he saw it - he became restless. Abhijeet had a talk with his doctor yesterday. According to him, as Daya was recovering now, his brain was also trying to get back his hidden memories. But every time it tried to do so, it was hindered by that block of memory - Abhijeet's "death" scene, and his brain for now could not see beyond that...
As Abhijeet was thinking all these while siting beside Daya, he forgot that he was reading a book to him. He was lost in his thoughts. Suddenly he was dragged back to the reality with a voice, "Phir kya hua? Batao na Abhi -"
Abhijeet looked at Daya smilingly who was sittin beside him with a keen look on his face.
"Thik se padho na Abhi - aise beech me ruk kyun gaye?" Daya told in an annoyed tone. Abhijeet looked at his annoyed face and laughed.
"Hadh hai - haas kyu rahe ho tum?" Now his tone change from annoyed to angry!
"Arre - Daya - aise gussa mat ho - woh to main bas yun hi - kuch soch raha tha - iss liye - bata - kaha they hum?" Abhijeet asked him softly.
Daya calmed down a little bit.
"woh uss story me phir woh Vijay ne kisi ko bahar jate huye dekha - aur phir usne kamre ke andar dekha -" he continued...
Abhijeet was staring at him surprisingly! Daya was describing every minute details of the story. He never understood that Daya was listening to this with that much of concentration, as he was continuously playing with Abhijeet's mobile throughout!
Jo bhi ho jaye, deemag to abhi bhi wohi Senior Inspector Daya ka hi hai na! Crime scene se kabhi koi clue chhut nahi paye, to yeh to sirf ek crime thriller hai! Mera Daya ka deemag to abhi bhi iss writer se tez hai.
A smile crept on his face with this thought and he adorably ruffled Daya's hair. Daya again tried to remove his hand and rearrange his hair - "Uffff - chhoro na Abhi - mera baal mat bigaro - ", then he smiled at Abhijeet, "Main aise acha lagta hun na? dekho?"
Abhijeet: (dreamily) Tu to mujhe har soorat mein achcha lagta hai Daya - bas tera ek smile hi kaafi hai duniya ki saare dard bhulane ke liye -
Daya looked at him with a confused look. But then he suddenly spoke as, "Tumhe dard hai Abhi? tumne bataya nahi mujhe - Kaha dard ho raha hai? dikhao mujhe -"
"Arre nahi nahi Daya", Abhijeet stopped him hurriedly, "main bilkul thik hun, main to bas yun hi keh raha tha - woh sab chor, chal kahani sunata hun tujhe, yahan chup chap baith - aur woh mobile paas me rakh ab - "
Daya obeyed him quietly! He loved listening to the thriller stories...
After sometime Abhijeet finished reading the story. Daya was still in thoughts.
"Kya hua Daya? Kaha khoye huye ho?" Abhijeet asked him surprised!
"Hmmm - nahi Abhi - kuch nahi - bas kuch ajeeb sa lagta hai - yeh stories jb main sunta hu na, to lagta hai - yeh sab maine pehle kahi suna hai - yeh murder - criminal - fingerprints - sab bohot jana pehchana sa lagta hai - pata nahi kyun -", Daya said in a confused tone, "maine pehle bhi yeh story suna hai, hai na?"
Abhijeet was keenly looking at his face. His eyes were glowing...
"Haan Daya - yeh tu pehle bhi suna hai", he replied to him.
Daya just nodded and again lost into his thoughts.
Abhijeet wanted to divert his mind, as continuous stress on his brain could affect him adversely.
"Daya -", he asked softly, "bahar chalega? Chal, chaye peete hai - Raju se baat ho jayega -"
Daya's face glowed like a 1000 watts bulb instantly!
"Bahar!", He said excitedly, "haan, chalo Abhi chalte hai - abhi jana hai mujhe -"
Abhijeet and Daya were sitting on the wooden bench in front of Raju's tea stall. Raju placed two glasses in front them without saying a single word! That was kind of new! He never gave them tea without even a greeting! Abhijeet looked at him, he was about to ask something but before he could, Raju moved inside.
Daya: (surprised tone) Raju ko kya hua? Baat tak nahi kiya!
Abhijeet: Kuch pareshaan sa lag raha tha!
Daya: Usse pucho na...
Abhijeet stood up and went near Raju, who was hiding his face into his knees, sitting beside the stove. His face was red. Abhijeet sensed something wrong - something very wrong with him. Abhijeet softly placed his hand on his head. Daya also came there and bent down beside Abhijeet.
Abhijeet: (softly)Raju - kya baat hai?
Daya: Tum aise kyun baithe ho? Please hume batao, hua kya hai?
Now with the affectionate voice of these two would break the control of the boy. He started crying and sobbing loudly! Abhijeet and Daya exchanged a look.
Daya also started patting Raju's back.
After one or two minutes, Raju started, "Sahab - mera baba ke elawa iss duniya me aur koi nahi hai sahab - kaal raat ko woh bahar gaye the chawal kharidne - phir barish shuru hua... maine socha ke woh shayad barish me kahi atak gaye honge sahab - par puri raat beet gayi - abhi tak uska koi pata nahi, subah main sara jagah dekha - par baba kahi nahi ..." he could not complete his words, and sobbed harder. Abhijeet just patted his head and stood up.
Abhijeet: (determined) Tum fikr mat karo, hum dono dhundege tumhara baba ko! Kuch nahi hoga unhe -