Hey there everybody! Sorry for showing up late. Anyways, here's your update and I'll try my best updating once in 15 days.
Actually, I've been a little sick lately and it's been tough getting time to write fresh due to studies and some things.
I hope you guys understand.
Anyways, I'll try to update twice or thrice a month or so I get time.. please stick to it and forgive me!
Another chapter target- 250?
Happy reading!
The day continued...
Abhijeet dropped his event planner friend to the requested store and headed to bureau. 3 hours has passed and now he needs to reach bureau very fast. The car ride alone was silent so he lost himself in his head.
'Tarika would be happy right?' He didn't know why he wasn't sure taking this big step. Though her parents were totally supportive of this relationship but still something kept bugging him. Maybe, he was simply nervous to take this big step, but considering the past Mission and ongoing case he realised the need to take this forward. It's been a long time now, and he wants to commit to this relationship just like they've planned that day.
Flashback
He cuddled her close to his heart as they both enjoyed a movie playing in front. She was fairly engrossed in the movie but he? He kept staring her with many thoughts going on in his mind.
"Abhi!"
"Hmm?" He pulled her closer and replied still lost in his head.
"Movie!" She didn't look at him but pointed to the TV screen.
"Hmm?" He hummed again now trying to focus what she was pointing at.
She chuckled before turning to face him, "Movie udhar chal rhi h Abhijeet!" She pointed at the TV screen again.
He smiled as she giggled, "Nhi. Movie yahan chal rhi h!" He spoke with a reluctant smile and pressed a kiss to her temple. He wanted to keep his arm around her forever and wished could trap her smile in his eyes.
Tarika understood what he meant. The movie was going on in his heart. A scary movie, to which he couldn't quit away. She turned to face him and spoke affirmative, "I'll be okay I promise!" She read the worries and questions that he was masking with silence and hugged him tightly.
"Hmm!" He hugged her tightly to reduce the fear he was tackling since a couple of days.
"I love you!" She cuddled closer to his heart which was confessing a little too loud today.
"Love you too!" He whispered trying to smile a little.
She knew he was scared.
"I'll try my best to finish this mission fast and.." She looked straight in his eyes and a smile spread on her lips, "I think.. I'm ready now!"
"Hmm?" He was too lost to figure out what she actually said. He blinked a couple of times and heard her chuckle a little, "You mean-?" He couldn't believe what he just heard but looking at her all giggly he knew it was real and she did mean it. A wide smile travelled on his face before he locked his lips with her's.
"Tarika.. I.. I'm so happy.. I can't-" He seperated and embraced her tightly. The happiness of the moment was too much to think straight.
"I don't wanna wait anymore Abhijeet. I want to take this forward. And obviously tumhe is ghar ke liye koi na koi toh chahiye hi." He laughed as she rolled her eyes looking at the mess of his house. She was trying her best to distract him from the Mission thing and everything.
"Haan but.. a house keeper would do-?" He teased her a little cz he loved to see this annoyed-angry-Tarika looking even more cute!
"Shut up!" She snubbed and hit him lightly but then a smile appeared back with a shine in both pair of eyes.
"Mujhe koi bhi nhi chahiye Tarika. I want you! Only you!" He embraced her again.
"Abhijeet, Once I get back, we'll throw a huge engagement party and would soon plan our marriage."
"Yes! We will." He could see the moisture in her eyes and excitement as she spoke to what he've been dreaming since long. He just wanted time to skip directly to the engagement day coz he knew till then, she would be far away and wouldn't be able to keep contact, with her first mission commencing.
Present.
He parked his car and walked in the bureau.
"Sir!" Sachin called him as soon as he spotted him entering. He gave a glance at the empty cabin of his mentor and felt weird, but shrugged and walked towards the big screen, "Pragati ke mobile se yeh road track bna h sir. Lekin phone bich mei hi band ho gya.. toh humne CCTV and tolls ke according aage ka route trace krne ki koshish ki h."
"Yeh?" He was shocked looking at it, "Yeh toh main highway nhi hai?"
"Hn Sir.. yeh route long padta hai. Jyda log jate nhi yaha se. Aur sir.. vo Goa pohunchi yah nhi.. yeh confirm nhi ho pa rha h..."
"Ese kese nhi ho rha? City ke saare main squares and highways ke CCTVs check kro.. kahi na kahi toh-"
"Sir bht.. bht time lag jayega isme.." Sachin spoke with hesitancy.
"Hn.. aur agar voh Goa mei hogi hi nhi toh kese milegi." ACP pradyuman entered and everyone turned to wish him.
"Lekin sir possibility toh hai ki voh-"
"Hn Abhijeet! Possibility toh hai.. lekin isme vaqt aur mehnat dono zaya ho jayegi." ACP made his senior officer understand observing him stressed about something.
"Sir! Ek aur CCTV footage aayi hai! Isme shyd kuch mil jaye." Sachin announced a little hopeful and played it straight away.
The video played of a petrol pump where they could see a women exit her car for a while. She was wearing black mask and a cap as if wanted to hide her identity.
"Sir mujhe lgta nhi hai yeh kisi conference mein ja rhi thi. Shyd yeh kisi case yah Mission ki vjh se.." Abhijeet said with his eye's still stuck at the screen.
"Hn.. bilkul ho skta hai.." He asked Sachin to replay the video clip again and then noticed something weird, "Ek.. ek min! Yeh.. car pr sticker hai kya?" He caught a weird sticker like thing on the car.
"Sticker?"
"Hn zara dekho zoom krke!"
Sachin tapped a few keys on the keyboard and that particular frame zoomed in.
"Hn sir.. sticker hi hai.. kuch.. ajeeb sa.."
Everyone stared at it for a moment in case anything comes up, but the sticker was weird and kinda scratched off. All thanks to the weak pixelated camera film.
"Ese kisi sticker ke baremei.. Pragati ke bete ne bataya tha kya?" Abhijeet looked affirmative of something that was cooking up in his brain.
"Nahi sir. Ayan se car ka description pucha tha, ese kisi sticker ki baat nhi ki usne! Aur.. mujhe nhi lagta ki yeh Pragati ki car h." Rajat entered with some files in his hand. He then glanced at the screen and then turned to everyone.
"Aur tum itne sure kese ho skte ho?" Sachin asked.
"Sure nhi hu mai Sachin. Bs ek possibility thi.. Toh keh diya.." Rajat answered still lost with the points, "Khair.. Sir ek achi aur ek buri khabar dono sath laya hu mai."
"Aur voh kya hai?"
"Sir evidence room se aa rha hu. Kal vaha joh evidence pohunche the.. voh galat the sir! Sabkuch.. DNA samples, fingerprints vagehra, sab mei gadbad hai."
"Kya? Yeh kese ho skta h?" ACP and Abhijeet jerked alert immediately.
"Hn sir.. evidences ke sath sath even kuch police records and files ke sath chhed chaad ki gyi h."
"Lekin itni security ke baad kese?" ACP fumed in anger.
"A.. attender ne bataya kisi naye technician ko rkha tha ek hafte phle. Voh 2 din se gayab hai."
"Cctv mei kuch mila?"
"Check kiya sir.. sab clear hai. Bht soch smjhkr plant kiya tha shyd usey.. kaam krte hi bhaag gya." Rajat gazed away slightly angered about the turn of events.
"Samples agar glt the mtlb.. yeh bhi ho skta hai ki voh laash Pragati ki ho hi na?" Sachin asked.
"Hn yehi achhi kharab hai Sachin!" Rajat was already hoping the unsaid, "But it's again, a possibility!"
"Sir ab yeh kese confirm karenge?"
"DNA se purvi!" Abhijeet thought something and then asked Rajat, "Rajat! Ayan ke DNA ko Pragati ke DNA se match krne ko kaho salunkhe sahab ko. Aur.. ek baar phir Ayan se confirm kro ki Pragati ki car pr koi sticker vagehra laga tha kya! Yeh video dikhao usey.. dekho kuch btaye toh."
"Jee sir!"
"Aur Sachin. Record room ki security badha do. Esi laparwahi mai hargiz bardasht nhi krunga!" ACP roared and everyone was back to work.
"Yes sir!"
Flashback
He opened the door and finally let the anxious person enter inside. He was already having a small knife hidden in his sleeve as it was highly unlikely for someone to be at his doorstep at this late hour.
But rather, he saw a shivering Isha standing at his door, all wet. He was shocked finding her there and pulled her in almost instantly, "Isha?"
"Dev! Bht sahi barish ho rhi h.. let's have some funn!" She pushed him away and swayed by the stairs to the roof.
"Wait Isha! You kidding me?" He tried to call her but she was already on the stairs sticking tongue at him.
He shook his head in disappointment and went to the kitchen to put away the knife first and then followed her up. It was raining cats and dogs of the mid monsoon. He opened the door and found her all excited and dancing.
"Pagal hai yeh ladki puri!" He chuckled lightly in disappointment and joined her in. The water was indeed cold but refreshing.
"Bimar ho jaogi tum!"
She pounced on him as soon as he stood in front of her. He hugged her back.
"I don't care!" She yelled between the loud pitter-patter of the rain and he laughed at her kiddish tantrums.
"I am just soo soo happy!" She jumped in the hug. She was too happy to finally be with him and now after her family's all agreed and everything, she was on the ninth cloud.
"And you're drunk too! Ander chale?" Daya smiled lightly and tried to take her inside the shade. She kept rejecting and so he had to drag her in the shade.
"I am not drunk.. let me be!" She tried to struggle out from his grip and go back but..
"No!" He pulled her back and embraced her tightly.
"Arey yr. You're so boring!" She whispered.
"I know! And you're not going back in the rain." He hugged her even more tightly so she could finally stop struggling, "It's too cold outside.. look at you all wet!"
He separated her and forced her to walk back downstairs as he could feel her shivering slim body in his tough arms. She pouted but didn't deny coz who on earth could deny this stubborn guy?
"Sit here quietly! What the hell were you thinking?" He pushed her lightly and made her sit on the couch in front of the heater and went inside to grab a towel and comforter for her.
"I was.. celebrating!" She slurred with that characteristic pout of hers' trying to put an explanation for her.
He masked his smile with fake anger and passed her a dry towel while covered her properly with the comforter. He got one for himself which was dangling around his neck as he sat beside her.
"What's this way of celebrating Isha? You clothes are all wet and-"
She threw him a complaining look to stop him. He narrowed his brows but she suddenly switched with a smirk on her lips, "It's your fault! Because I'm always.. always.." she closed the distance between them and grabbed the collar of his tshirt.
"Always?" He tried to back off little but she didn't stop until he was stuck between the side rest of the couch and her body, hovering over him.
"I'm always.. wet for you!" She spoke seductively and shifted from the couch to his lap, without leaving that lusty stare she had in her eyes.
Daya gulped awkwardly and tried to separate away as he was shocked with her sudden bold move. Though it was normal for them, but everytime when she used to come close to him, he'd feel more guilty. It was a part of his mission afterall but he tried his best to keep distance as much as possible.
"Dev? Where'd I lose you?" She jerked him finding him lost somewhere.
"Uh.. nothing. You're drunk. You should go home!"
"Nooo! I sneaked to be with you! And don't worry.. no one's at home anyway!"
His cop mode switched suddenly and he tried to dig in the unusual absence of his Target, "Why? Where are they?"
"I don't know. Dad had some business meeting or something.." She shrugged and spoke annoyingly, "Why do you seem more interested in my family then me?"
"I.. I was just asking Isha. Tum ghar pr akeli hogi na isliye.."
"Hn aur isiliye toh yaha aayi hu.." She folded her legs at side of his and curled her arms around his neck, "To be with you..!"
"You.. you should go Isha. It's too late and you're.. wasted!" He tried to get up and struggle her arms away but she was too irritated by now.
"What's the matter with you? Why are you always so awkward around m-" She stood up but the as if the alcohol hit harder now and she wiggled dizzy down on him. He tried to stand and grab her arms to save her, instead the floor beneath them slipped and he awkwardly landed with his back on the couch and a high Isha fell over him.
Being in love, Isha was lost in his eyes. Because for her, this was the first time someone was actually concerned for her and not after her family's wealth. She was very much in love with him and that was exactly why Daya was worried. He looked around awkwardly and tried to get up but suddenly she blocked his lips in a rough and hungry kiss and to his horror, he found himself responding.
Present
He woke up with a jerk and found himself all sweaty. He glanced around in panick but relieved to find himself in his room and no Isha around him. He took the glass of water from the side table and almost coughed over it.
"Fuck!" He took some deep breaths to gain control over his burning sinuses and aching heart.
After a few minutes of cursing himself and recovering from the horrifying incident, he finally glanced around to find himself in the middle of something.
He found the laptop around him, and recalled what exactly he was doing. After recalling all the events from the morning, he sat back on his desk, took the laptop and tried his best to rule out every possibility that would lead him to pay for it.
Hiding any small detail behind wasn't appreciable as any stupid thing happens and.. he's screwed.
He's the worst when it comes to hiding things or lie about something. Even the nature never supported his lie and every time things came out, he regretted doing them.
'Kya sachmei yeh sahi rhega?'
He started thinking the other option now. It was almost evening by now, but still he kept swinging between both choices. This choice was like the god throwing him again in the worst possible situation.
'Choice!?' This reminded him of Shanaya. Her thoughts about the choice and all was truly helpful last time but..
'This choice is different!'
Just in the middle of his debate, he jerked up hearing the loud ringtone of his phone.
"Shit!"
It was Tarika. Now what's he gonna do? How's he gonna held this discussion and convince her about it? Well, something has to be done. And if the bad was already written in their fate so why not delay it a little?
"Hello?"
"Maine socha bht iss baremei.." Tarika sounded a little low, "I think tum sahi bol rhe the. Sach ko samne le aate h. Aur chupane se koi fayda nhi hoga!"
"Nhi nhi." He almost jumped on his feet, "I think yeh samne na aaye toh hi achha h. I mean.. no-one knows after us so.. maybe..." He expelled in one breath.
"Itne bada decision itne jldi badal diya tumne? Kyu?"
He begged she didn't suspect him for anything. He took a deep breath to control his tone and answered blankly revealing only what felt necessary for her knowledge.
"Nhi voh bs.. situation bhi toh badal gyi na ab!"
"Situation?"
"Haan voh.. actually I.. kinda.. picked another fight with Him!" He tried to sound ashame and he bet she got the person to be his father.
"Daya are you okay? You sound weird today." She caught him, didn't she? He gulped and chose to lie further.
"Yeah. I'm good!"
"Okay.. and.. you ARE sure about doing this?"
"Yeah.. maybe I am this time!"
The end of conversation. After bidding bye, he cut the call to actually breath. What did he do? He lied and above that.. he made the wrong choice to save her relations from getting ruined.
Had he ever been this selfless?
"Finally I made this decision and I won't change my mind." The stress felt relieved now as he walked down to have his late afternoon-evening dinner.
Two days after.
Two days passed away soon for everybody else but for the duo, Abhijeet and Daya. Daya with a tough heart submitted all the mission details, obviously hiding the required as planned and was trying every fuckin' way to calm his mind down. On the other hand, Abhijeet was fairly excited and engrossed with all the surprise thing, masking every bit of worry and fear with excitement and.. also, he was nervous enough to literally shiver.
So as planned, today was going to be their engagement day which was a big surprise for her. Being totally unaware what's coming in her way, she jerked her eyes open on finding the car moving towards some unknown direction.
"Yeh.. yeh hum kahan ja rahe h Rahul?" Rahul, the driver turned back and gave an explanation.
"Ma'am voh.. apke ghar se phone aaya tha. Unhone apko Ghar nhi kahi aur drop krne bola h." Being honest, he was tricked into this by Abhijeet hiding the surprise as much as possible.
"Mere ghar se?" She checked her phone if she missed any message or call from but there was nothing.
"Yes ma'am. Sir ka phone aaya tha!"
She got a little confused and also scared because all the worse possibilities clouded her head. Pulling her phone out, she called her dad to confirm the driver's words.
She sighed a relief as her dad told her about one of his friend's function and she gotta reach there directly.
Stepping in front of the beautifully decorated event garden, her lips automatically curled up in a smile and her eyes mesmerized looking at the awesome ambience all around it. Setting her little messed hairs she walked close to the entrance and got shocked.
The entirely lit garden suddenly turned dark. The lights were, as if, intentionally switched off. She stopped in her way and blinked her eyes to adjust to the darkness and saw a man standing just inside the main gate.
Knitting her eyebrows, she called the person who was standing alone and weird enough to seed fear in her heart.
"Excuse me?"
The man didn't move an inch just kept standing.
"Hello?"
The man still didn't turn.
She thought for a second and walked to the deaf man who was intentionally ignoring her. Isn't it weird that the silhouette of his' looked familiar?
"Excuse me yaha ek function -" She tapped his shoulder and the instant he turned, the smile on his face and the chain of events held her hypnotized!
He was no other than the senior inspector she'd fallen for. He was dressed into a beautiful suit and was looking just like she'd imagined in her dream. She kept staring him and gasped a little and laughed unbelievably to the beautiful turn of events.
"Tarika!" Abhijeet called her softly to bring her back from the shock.
She parted her lips a couple of times but didn't hear anything coming out of them. A few seconds of processing the events, eventually a smile travelled her lips with some small salty drops blurring her vision as she saw him kneeling down with a beautiful ring in his hand.
"Will you marry me Tarika?"
Tears started blurring her vision so she let them flow loose. The smile widened on her lips, and Abhijeet relieved a little as he could see an overwhelmed Tarika who felt her throat blocked with many emotions, restraining her from saying anything.
"Tarika?" He called her still sitting on one knee, "Say.. something!"
"Hn.. haan?" She jerked and chuckled in tears that rolled down her cheeks.
"Will you be my life partner Tarika?" He asked again, holding both of her palms and standing up slowly.
"I.. I will Abhijeet!" She almost whispered that only he was able to hear it.
The worry and nervousness in his heart instantly switched to happiness as he slid the ring in her finger and she hugged him tightly crying tears of happiness.
A/N:- so how was it? Did I give justice to Abhijeet's proposal? Lemme see if I can think anything better.. so I'll edit it.
Drop your reviews and opinions down there..
And.. Have a very happy Sunday!
+S+