Chapter 6
A/N: I know the update is really small but that's the best I could manage between my project work and classes. But the next update will be in a day or two. :D The story has just 3-4 chapters remaining.
But then again, the reviews have been steadily declining. I don't have enough motivation to do the updates regularly and the reviews are not helping either. I have so many views on the story and yet the reviews are a one in a hundred. If I am making a mistake somewhere please tell me. I have always been open to all sorts of opinions, so if there is something please tell me. Because somewhere along I feel that ever since I've changed my pen name, a lot of people who used to regularly review earlier have stopped too. My thinking is silly I know, but that's the only thing i can really think of. Also, then there are single worded reviews. Atleast for the trouble I'm taking, I expect a longer review than a string of words. Sorry if I've offended anyone, but I felt it was high time I brought this out, as I've been ignoring and keeping silent on this for way too long now.
I'm neither complaining nor begging for reviews, but you'll must understand that reviews are a crucial part in motivating a writer to write quickly. But thank you to all the reviewers who reviewed and to the viewers as well! :)
Now, Happy Reading! :D
The car stopped in front of ACP Pradyuman's house. He got off the car giving several bits of advice to Abhijeet and Daya, especially to Abhijeet, before he left their company. The two of them quickly reached the Bureau in another 10 minutes, where all the officers had hosted a small "Welcome Back" party. Moments turned into hours, before Abhijeet and Daya were back in the car once again, after the former took the case once again into his able hands and assigned everyone their duties for the next day. Kajal and Freddy were to go to the bank locker, while Vivek and Sachin were to re-investigate at the Research Center for any overlooked clues.
The two friends sat in a satiated silence when Daya stopped the car in front of Abhijeet's place.
"Arre Daya, hum log itni jaldi pohonch bhi gaye..m wakt ka pata bhi nahi chala." Smiling to himself, he got down from the car. However his steps were shaky and Daya came right by his side and held his arm.
"Aaram se..." Guiding Abhijeet to the main door, Daya opened the door and entered. The house looked a lot different since the last time he had been here. The haunting memory of his last visit flickered before his eyes as he had scanned the living room with so much apprehension.
Sighing, he looked towards Abhijeet, who was already looking at him, but he was lost. Snapping his fingers towards his direction brought Abhijeet out of his thoughts, and now he looked at Daya awkwardly before his eyes went towards the mini suitcase Daya had in his hand.
"Daya yeh suitcase?"
"Main aaj raat tumhaare saath reh raha hoon."
"Daya iski koi zaroorat nahi hai, main theek hoon." Abhijeet gritted out. He felt irked by being pampered like a baby. But Daya didn't stand down.
"ACP sir ne order diya hai mujhe aur toh aur doctor ne bhi..."
"Mujhe kuch nahi pata, par tum faltu mein itna pareshan ho rahe ho. Waise bhi teen din baad mujhe mere saare kaam ab khud hi karne padenge." At that moment Daya felt enraged. He had hoped that Abhijeet would see sense and realize that he was destroying his own life by trying to live and base his future on an episode of the past.
Pulling Abhijeet roughly by his arm so that Abhijeet was facing him, Daya stated coldly in a strangely controlled voice, "Toh tum apna faisla nahi badloge."
Abhijeet felt a very acute rage boil his nerves. Freeing his arm from Daya's grip, he exclaimed in an even colder tone, "Maine ek baar faisla le liya hai. Ab main isse nahi badalne wala."
"Abhijeet tum kyin nahi samajhna chahte ki tum apni zindagi apne haathon se khatam kar rahe ho. Tumhein kya lagta hai ki CID choddke tum hee paaoge? Kya khudko maaf kar paoge?"
Abhijeet looked at him with wide eyes. Daya realized what he let slip, but now Abhijeet turned his back at him. In a tired voice, that had hurt clearly evident, Abhijeet sighed, "Daya please, mujhe akela chhodo, mujhe iske baare mein koi baat nahi karni."
But this time, Daya had made up his mind. He would not close the topic until he had made Abhijeet see sense. He had had enough of his nonsense and stubbornness on the topic, but he would not take anymore of it.
"Nahi Abhijeet, aaj jab tak tum apne faisle se piche nahi hatoge, main peeche nahi hatne wala!" Abhijeet turned angrily towards him.
And for the first time that noght, Daya recoiled for a moment. He had never seen him this angry since the time of his accident phase. It was like he was all of a sudden a different person all together. It was the first time in so many years that even though Abhijeet had picked up the pieces of his life and moved on, he showed a side that was still as raw and emotionally disturbed as he was back then. And sure enough, when Abhijeet spoke, his voice was hoarse and his tone injured.
"Nahi Daya, main peeche nahi hatne wala. Jo karna hai karo."
Daya looked even angrier. "Tumhein kya lagta hai, Dilip tumhaare apne aap ko saza dene se waapas laut aayega? Itne saal pehle jo hua hoga, jiske baare mein tumhein kuch yaad bhi na ho, uss ka bhoj apne seene mein leke jee paoge? Tumhaari khud ki zindagi ko barbaad karke kya tumhein sach mein lagta hai ki tum insaaf kar rahe ho?"
"Toh kya karu main Daya, kya karu! Khud ko maar toh nahi sakta hai na!" His eyes had turned teary. Turning away with his finger now massaging his temple, he walked towards the inner part of the living room.
"Par iska matlab yeh toh nahi hai na ki tum zindagi se bhaag jao!" Daya too now followed Abhijeet and stood once again in front of him.
"Daya tum jaante ho ki yeh mere liye kitna mushkil hai... main pata nahi kya..."
"Abhijeet, uss baat ko bhul jaao ab tum. Woh baat tumhaare ateet ka ek hissa tha - ek aisa ateet jiske baare mein tumhein kuch nahi pata. Aur toh aur, tum yeh kyun nahi sochte ki tumhaare saath 17 saal pehle jo haadsa hua, isse badi sazaa aur kya ho sakti hai kisi ke liye. Abhijeet tum jis daur se guzar chuke ho, bhale hi main kabhi woh dard mehsoos na kar pau, par main jaanta hoon. Maine tumhein dono girte aur sambhalte hue dekha hai. Aur ab jabki zindagi tumhein woh khushiyaan de rahi hai jo tumse chhin chuki thi, tum use kyun thukraane pe lage hue ho? Bhul jaao uss sapne ko, uss sapne mein baaton ko. Zindagi mein kuch raaz aise hote hai, jisse na jaankar hi hum khush hai."
Abhijeet now finally turned towards Daya. Daya's heart pinched at the sight of his friend.
"Daya... woh... woh... main..." Abhijeet could not speak more than that. All of a sudden he felt the breath get knocked out of him. He tried drawing in breath, but he couldn't draw in enough. He never realized when he crashed on his knees on the floor, his eyes shut and his hands on the floor supporting his weight, as flashes of the same nightmare overpowered him. He could see the same thing flash through like a movie - his mocking tone, his angry punishment to Dilip, his wiping off the blood from the glass... until he felt someone shake him violently.
Snapping open his eyes, he saw Daya staring at him, his hands on his arms with a terrified expression on his face. Gently making him get up, Daya made Abhijeet sit on the sofa, while he rushed to the kitchen to bring a glass of water. Handing him the glass of water, Daya took a seat beside him. Even though Abhijeet accepted the glass, he was still far away in his mind, wandering in the remnants of the scene that he so wished to forget. It was the first time in days that he suffered a panic attack of that major a level. The last time he remembered having it, he was on the wrong medication. But this time...
He was shaken out of his thoughts as Daya spoke in a shaky tone, "Tum theek toh ho na?"
"Haan... woh bas panic attack aaya tha." Abhijeet turned towards Daya. Even though Daya had no clue about his friend suffering from panic attacks, the reason behind it was evident enough. Instead, he now changed his question to something which was much more relevant.
"Tumhein yeh panic attacks kabse hai?"
"Jab se mujhe galat dawaayia diye jaa rahe the. Doctor se baat kiya tha maine. Unka kehna hai ki kuch din mein theek ho jayega. Itne dino mein pehle baar yeh hua hai." Daya simply nodded. He felt offended. He claimed to be his best friend and yet he had no clue of what was happening inhis life. Was that all he was? A muse until he finally got over the trauma?
He hated himself for thinking so pessimistically at that moment, but he could not help himself. His anger must have clearly reflected in his voice as for the first time that night, Abhijeet didn't argue with him and simply did as was told.
"Yeh baat abhi khatam nahi hui hai, par filhaal tumhein aaram ki zaroorat hai. Jaakar room mein aaram karo, main khaane ke kuch banaake leke aata hoon."
As Abhijeet headed towards the room, Daya headed towards the kitchen, while the house fell into a eerie silence after the end of a heated shouting match that held a conflict of several emotions.
Here! :D I know this was a sort of filler chapter but this was always the main story. :D Anyways, please read and review, and constructive criticism will be more than welcome. :D