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Chapter 7
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The TIME Café and restaurant, Mumbai.
She entered the restaurant and found him waiting with a sweet smile on his face. By looks of him, Tarika was sure that he was tired but the excited smile that shone his face brighter, was enough to escape a chuckle from her lips. She did try to postpone this lunch plan but God knows why he has to be so stubborn.
"What's funny?" Abhijeet asked raising his eyebrows, trynna act cute and trust me, she literally melt in front of that innocent face.
"Nothing.." She shrugged to tease him more. He pouted the 'not fair' and both shared a laugh together.
"So.. how are you?" He asked softly remembering the last meet at her place.
"Yeh mujhe tumse puchna chahiye! Yeh.. chot kaise lagi tumhe?" She pointed at the aided finger.
"Ah.. yeh.." he scratched the back of his neck and resumed in embarrassment, "voh.. drawer mei file rakh rha tha.. toh-"
"Tum ek file bhi sahi se nhi rkh skte? Krte kuch ho aur dhyaan kahi aur hota h. Kitne careless-"
And she stopped abruptly. The realisation that the words were same but the man sitting in front was different, hit her with immense guilt. The thoughts of yesterday and past few months came back overwhelming and she again engaged herself in rivaling her feelings.
"Arey voh aaj Daya aaya tha bureau." She looked at him with a jerk, "Tum janti ho na Daya ko? Acp sir ka-"
"Haan janti hu mai." She spoke interrupting him which felt a little weird.
"Pta nhi bada ajeeb din tha aaj ka. Daya bhi ajeeb behave kr rha tha. Jaise hi hum aaye vaise hi voh jaane laga. Weird nhi h?" He looked at her who just nodded pretending to not be interested, "Freddy ne rok liya usse kehke ki sb sath mei hi lunch karenge but phir mujhe yeh chot lg gyi aur sir ne puri meeting ka gussa mujhpr nikal diya." He spoke a little embarrassed.
"Voh care bhi toh krte h na tumhari." Tarika spoke in an attempt to change the direction of the talk but she failed badly looking at Abhijeet who seemed a little lost and low.
"Utni hi der mei pta nhi voh kb chala gya bureau se. Bina kuch kahe bs yunhi.."
"Abhijeet ho.. ho skta h use koi kaam aagya ho yah kuch aur." She tried to finish the topic as it was really awkward for her to talk about him in front of Abhijeet who could catch her uneasiness any moment.
"Haan lekin atleast btake toh jana chahiye.."
"Come on Abhijeet. You are just overthinking about it." She played her last card in irritation.
"Haan haan shyd tum theek keh rhi ho. Khair.. itni der se mai hi bole ja rha hu. Tum bhi toh btao tumhara din kaisa rha?"
"Tum bolne kaha de rhe ho mujhe?" She spoke in a single breath.
"Achha sorry sorry! Ab batao.. how was your day Tarika ji?" And the smirk on his face was again a mood changer for her.
She released the long breath with relief and started sharing her day's happenings and they both enjoyed their lunch laughing and chatting just like they used to do before.
Queen's necklace, Marine drive.
It was getting darker and he haven't eaten anything. He was soo raged up that he just kept running the wheels of his car around the city in a hope to find a suitable place to unveil his emotions.
The small platform running along the footpath around the Queen's necklace was his final destination. He got down from his car and sat on the platform with his eyes constantly searching for some peace. The traffic behind was terrible but the waves crashing the shore in front of him had its own soothing effect.
He couldn't control anymore he sat there thinking about the morning's incident that trailed up to the memories of his lonely childhood, leaving him all broken.
"Hello?" The sadness in his tone was well hidden from the caller.
"Dinner kiya?"
"Ha.. haan kr liya Kaku!" He lied controlling the heaviness in his voice.
"Aur tum chahte ho ki mai maan lu!"
He sighed loudly and surrendered, "Fine! Kha lunga mai kuch! Sorry!"
He didn't put efforts to cut the call just wiped away the traces of sadness from his face and looked around for some restaurant or cafe. He didn't think for another second after finding a cafe couple of steps away from him.
He left his car as it is and thought to take walk to it.
"Change your mind. Bekar taste h yaha ka!"
"Wait.. what?" He stopped abruptly at the very entrance of the cafe after hearing this.
"Yeah. Free advice de rhi hu!" The girl with a mask on her face spoke again and waited for him to reply.
"Thanks but.. I don't eat for taste!" He spoke rude enough that she made a face while whispering.
"What a boring buff!"
"Sorry?" He turned back as he heard some faint mumbles.
"No! Nothing! Enjoy then.. and yes Thank me later!" She bit her tongue and ran away instantly.
He took a moment to stare at her going silhouette. He was sure she didn't seem familiar in anyway but that interference wasn't something a man like him would appreciate; someone who "doesn't eat for taste!?"
He saw her leaving by a car that was parked next to his. Shrugging away that stupid staring thought, he entered inside the cafe to eat something light and save himself from his uncle's scolding.
Next Day, Abhijeet's place.
Next morning arrived just like that. Abhijeet being an early bird, was as usual sitting on the breakfast table already dressed in his formals. The blue shirt that he matched with dark colored pants and complimenting it with dark brown colored coat were simply and effortlessly adding best to his looks and that crimson blushed smile that appeared with the thought of calling someone.
"Hello Tarika ji!"
"Voh mai nikal hi raha tha bureau ke liye toh socha aapko pick krte chalu.." The flushed smile never leaving his face.
"Arey.. lekin tum toh aaj se hi join kr rhi thi na?" He got a little confused and so did the teasing, joking mood.
"Are you okay? Sab theek hai na?" He got concerned after hearing say that she wasn't feeling like coming today.
"Nhi nhi.. it's okay. Take care! Bye!"
His face fell a little with the smile now converted into a frown. He wanted to see her today.. somehow he had planned to pick her up and start his day with her but she wasn't coming and that was little bothering for him. He thought to go check her if she needs his help or simply his presence but the call from his boss didn't let him even finish what was on his plate.
He immediately grabbed the half cut apple and ran to grab his keys and rush to the bureau. His idol, his father figure, wasn't in a good mood as he sensed from the call already and so left everything to reach to him as soon as possible.
"Abhijeet, in my cabin!"
He has hardly stepped in when he heard the call from his boss. He gave a look around at the juniors who wished him mornin', and directly left to the cabin.
"Good morning sir!"
"Haan, morning! Case se related koi update? Uss criminal ke bare mei kuch?" Acp was straight to his point.
"Yes sir. Ek khabri ne btaya h ki shyd usko koi beemari thi." He updated with whatever he dug about the criminal.
"Toh yeh tumne mujhe phle kyu nhi btaya?" Abhijeet was kinda shocked, "khair, lekin iss baremei uske gang members ne toh kuch nhi btaya?"
"Yahi toh baat smjh nhi aa rhi h Sir. Ek toh itni young age h uski. Upar se iss baat ko leak nhi hone de skte."
"Haan aur phir yeh deadline! Court hearing se phle use har haal mei dhundna padega! Nhi toh yeh DCP pta nhi kya kya.." Disgust with a tint of worry was evident from the lines on his forehead.
"Sir is beemari se shyd thori help ho jaye?" He gave words to the smallest hope that could be seen.
"Haan dekho kuch aur pta chalta h kya. Agar iski photo har police station tk bhej dete toh sahi rehta lekin.. is case k bahar aane se hadkamp mach jayega city mei.. bina leak kiye pakda jaye toh hi achha."
He stared his boss for a moment. He didn't know if he was overthinking or something, "Sir.. Koi baat h kya? Aa.. aap thore pareshaan lag rahe hai.." And his voice trailed off in hesitation remembering the last time he asked like that.
Acp gave him a glance and sighed before attaching his head with the headrest, "Haan.. voh Daya ko leke thora pareshan hu."
"Kyu Sir? Voh theek toh h na?" Everytime he had to suffer to ask a question like that. But anyways, for his mentor he would do that too.
"Haan shyd.." ACP sighed again, "Sach kahu toh mujhe khud nhi pta voh kaisa h Abhijeet. Voh.. voh kuch kehta hi nhi h! Mai-" and he lost in finding words to convey his feelings again.
"Kal bureau se yun bina kuch kahe nikal gya, phir seedha raat mei der se ghar aya. Aur dinner bhi bahar se karke aya esa keh rha tha. Itni chot aayi h lekin usse koi fikr hi nhi h khudki?! Mujhe kuch theek nhi lag rhi uski haalat. Bhot weak lgne lga h mujhe voh."
"Aap usse baat kijiye na. Ho skta h koi baat usko pareshan kr rhi ho.. aap koshish toh kijiye!" He tried to convince him hopefully.
"Voh kabhi smjh nhi paayega Abhijeet. Voh samjhna hi nhi chahta h! Usse lgta h mujhe uski zara si bhi fikr nhi h."
"Toh sir usse bataiye na ki uski fikr h apko. Uske zakhm dekh kr aapki aankhon mein aansoo the Sir, maine dekha tha!"
"Lekin voh nhi dekhna chahta Abhijeet! Voh nhi dekhna.. chahta.."
Abhijeet was quite now. That was enough he could fake about his concern for Daya.. but he was still feeling bad for ACP, his idol and apparantly, his only relation.
Acp sighed again and closed the topic right there with, "Tum jao dekho us Mangesh ki beemari ka kuch pta chalta h kya."
"Jee Sir. Lekin.." Abhijeet stopped and turned back, "Breakfast kr lijiye sir please! Mere liye!" And he left the cabin instantly.
Acp took a moment to process what he meant. A smile appeared on his face with a relieving chuckle that someone is there to care for him. What if not his own son, but from the one he'd always wanted to be his blood. His vision blurred up slightly as the guilt of the past came back to him with the reverie he was in.
A knock on the door jerked him back to the reality. He wiped away his eyes that were moistened by now before Freddy could see him, who was entering with the food package, probably ordered by Abhijeet.
A/N:- So here was a longg chapter with some Abhijeet and ACP moment.
Hope y'all liked it.
Next chapter after 65 reviews ;)
Bye bye!
+S+