Am back! Finally... With the next chapter of 'The Present'. I know it was a long wait. But with all that was happening around CID i couldn't help it. Was busy in campaign and couldn't take out time to update this. And then came exams! So that took a lot of time. So sorry for the delay... I hope i will be forgiven at the end for giving this long long chapter as compensation. Go ahead and read...
Recap -
Arya Prayduman a well known defence lawyer of USA is now back in India after 22 years... With her father ACP Prayduman. She has bonded well with the whole team in so less time. But as she comes back she starts discovering truths of her own life... From notes leading to abandoned bungalow... To hospital and then police station... Where she finds that her biological parents were killed by her own father, ACP Prayduman. In her dilemma she decides to go to her father and ask him all that was going in her mind but in those thoughts she faces a dangerous accident... She is now out of danger but still in hospital. She has not revealed about the questions in her mind to anyone as of now. Rahul a friend of Arya is coming to India to meet her after he came to know of her accident.
ACP sir is carrying a secret in his heart only known to him and Dai maa... A secret that can create a havoc in many lives if revealed.
Chapter 10
*3 days later, hospital ward*
Arya was half lying on the bed with closed eyes while Abhijeet was sitting on a chair besides her... There was pindrop silence in the room. Arya being unusually silent even today... Abhijeet found it weird again and decided to finally ask her what was wrong with her that she was behaving so different since a few days now...
Abhijeet - Kya soch rahi ho?
She was still lost in her thoughts and didn't even hear him. When to bring her back, he kept a hand on her shoulder...
Arya - (startled) Ha bhai? Kuch kaha kya apne?
Abhijeet - Nahi... Bas yeh puch raha tha koi baat hai kya? Kafi dino se dekh raha hu tum pareshan lag rahi ho... Kuch problem ho toh share kar sakti ho mujhse...
Arya - Nahi bhai kuch bhi toh nahi... Mai toh normal hi hu...
Abhijeet - Hmm... (After a second) Janti ho na kisse jhoot bol rahi ho? Bade bade criminals chutki bajate hi muh kholte hai mere samne! Toh jhoot bolne ki koshish toh karna hi mat!
Arya - (with a small smile) Nahi bhai... Sachme kuch nahi hua... (Saying she turned her gaze out of the window of her ward. Staring at the trees outside. Lost in her thoughts)
Abhijeet - Chalo koi nahi... Nahi batana toh mat batao. Lekin agar koi bhi pareshani ho toh bol sakti ho tum mujhe. Bhale hi tumhara bhai bane bohot waqt nahi hua, lekin dil se behan mana hai tumhe. Tumhari rakhsa karna, tumhara saath dena farz hai mera!
Arya felt a new energy rising in herself hearing his words... Yes he was the one. One who could solve her confusion and help her come out of this mess. Taking a deep breath she gathered in herself energy and decided to tell him everything...
Arya - Bhai ek sach jisse apne kudh puri life dekha ho... Aur ek aisa sach jo app jante ho ki sach hai lekin jis par app vishwas nahi kar sakte... Agar ek dusre ke khilaf aakar khade ho jaye toh kiska saath dena chahiye? (She asked teary eyed)
And before she could say anything further the door of her ward opened and someone came inside. He was a young boy in his mid 20s... Was fair skinned and was taller than average. He had black hair, neatly combed and was wearing a brown leather jacket on a white T shirt with navy blue jeans. Glares enhancing his smart look. An expensive smart watch in hand and backpack hanging on one shoulder... While his other hand was supporting the handle of his travel bag. In short he was one handsome guy who could make anyone fall for his looks. As soon as he entered inside he said looking at Arya...
Boy - Yeh kaha thok liya tune kudh ko!?
Arya - Raste pe! Mai raste pe hi gadi chalati hu na! Unlike you...
Boy - What do you mean!? Mai bhi road pe hi gadi chalata hu!
Arya - Correction! Tu gadi chalata nahi... Udata hai!
Boy - Huh! Tu mera dimag khana nahi chodegi na (making a face). Ek toh itna travel karke thak ke aaya mai... Aur tu hai ki abhi bhi mujhe pareshan kar rahi hai! (with a fake sad face)
Arya - Chal chal natak band kar! Aur tu sidha hospital kyu aa gaya? Ghar jana tha na pehle!
Boy - Apki chinta mai din ka chain aur raat ki neend sab karam hai mohtarma!
Arya - Tu hindi ka postmortem karna kab chodega angreez! Its haram not karam!
Boy - Ha ha theek hai! Ho jati hai bache se galti kabhi kabhi! Bache ki kaan legi kya!
Arya - (Keeping hand on her head) Jaan it is!!!
Abhijeet who was busy attending a call from a while now came back still talking on phone to take out something from his wallet that was kept on the table beside Arya. While Arya getting an idea indicated the boy to see in the direction where Abhijeet was standing busy in his call once again and it was then that RAHUL noticed him and kept staring at him for a while with open mouth. And then burst on Arya in anger saying...
Rahul - Abhijeet sir!!! Teri wajh se i didn't even see him! Yaar Abhijeet sir! (Jumping like a kid in excitement) Finally am seeing him in front of my eyes! I can't believe this! Yaar tujhe pata hai na kitna bada fan hu mai unka! Unki investigation karne ka tarika... Unka style! Sharpness! And especially unka aim! Haye! Unko goli chalate dekhne ke liye toh mai kudh uss goli ka nishana banne tayar hu! Introduce kara na yaar mujhe unse (shaking Arya)
Until then Abhijeet was done talking on the phone and had seen Rahul jumping like a mad. With a shocked and wondering expression to as what happened to him, he came back and asked Arya in signs to as what happened as Rahul who was still busy jumping. When she said...
Arya - Kuch nahi bhai... Yeh pagal hai. Aur apko dekh kar aur bada pagal ho gaya hai!
Abhijeet - Hain?
By now Rahul had stopped jumping and finally Arya introduced both of them to each other...
Arya - So bhai he is Rahul... The most pagal insan you will ever meet (before Rahul could even protest, she continued) and i don't think i need to tell you (to Rahul) who he is. Jitni research tune inke upar ki hai am damn sure tujhe bhai ke bare mai kudh bhai se bhi zayada pata hoga!
Rahul - Chup reh tu! (To Abhijeet) Sir mai na apka bohot bada fan hu! (Hugging him) Sir app na mujhe goli maar do!
Abhijeet - Hain!
Rahul - Ha sir! Mujhe na apko goli chalate dekhna hai na isiliye!
Arya - Ha bhai maar do! Itna acha chance baar baar nahi milega. Ek hi baar mai picha choot jayega! Nahi toh lifetime pareshan karega apko!
Rahul - Tu 5 minute chup nahi kya reh sakti!
Abhijeet was just staring at him not knowing what to say. He looked at Arya for help who pulled Rahul to the other side while Abhijeet just smiled and said after a while...
Abhijeet - Daya ka call tha... Mujhe thoda kaam hai, beauro jana padega. So tum dono baate karo... Mai chalta hu...
Arya - Ok bhai... Bye take care. Iss bandar se baad mai baat kar lena. Tab tak yeh zara control mai bhi aa jayega! (She said looking at Rahul with a sarcastic smile. While Rahul maintained silence which he otherwise wouldn't had only cause he cared about his image in front of Abhijeet)
Soon Abhijeet left hurriedly cause he was already late but not without whispering in Arya's ear as...
Abhijeet - (whispering to Arya) Waise teri choice buri nahi hai (winking)... Don't worry shaadi ke liye mai baat kar lunga ACP sir se. Unko bhi pasand aa jana chahiye yeh waise!
And before Arya could hit him with the cushion she had already picked up, Abhijeet went away running to parking lot as he was in no mood to get scolded by ACP sir for coming late.
*A little while later*
Arya and Rahul were sitting in the room chatting about various topics. While Arya who was a little tired of sitting for long now, lied down in half sitting position. Rahul had washed his face had got himself a little comfortable as he had come from a long journey. They were talking about one of the recent case of Rahul's when suddenly he asked her...
Rahul - Chal ab jaldi se bata kya hua hai tujhe?
Arya - What?
Rahul - Ha... Bata na, kya hua hai tujhe? Kis baat se pareshan hai tu?
Arya - Nahi toh! Aisa toh kuch bhi nahi hai!
Rahul - Jhoot bolne ki coaching classes hoti hai kahi yaha pe? You badly need them! Jhoot bolna aata hi nahi hai tujhe!
Arya - (turning away her gaze) Am not lying yaar! Sach mai kuch nahi hua mujhe!
Rahul - Acha nahi hua bas! Yeh hi bata de ki apni woh real diamond jaisi smile ko bech yeh nakli plastic ki smile kaha se utha ke layi hai?
Arya looked at him in disbelief... And then finally smiled a real one after a really long time. Thats the effect friends have on you... They can see those tears which haven't even found the way to your eyes yet and then also find a way to stop any tear that tries to reach your eyes...
Rahul - Has liya ho toh bol kya hua hai!
Arya - Kaha se start karu? Tu hi bata mujhe! India aayi thi apni life khusi se spend karne... Apne papa ke saath. Kya pata tha ki i will get lost in the pages of my own past!
After a meaningful silence of about a minute Arya started telling him everything that had happened with her since she had come to India... About those mysterious notes... The abandoned bungalow... How it led her to hospital and then to the police station... And how she discovered the biggest truth of her life... That her father ACP sir was the one who has killed her biological parents in an encounter...
Arya - Mujhe mere sawalo ka jawab chahiye Rahul! Lekin kaise? Mai papa ko puch ke unhe hurt nahi karna chahti. Aur mai inn sawalo ke saath reh bhi toh nahi sakti! Its a sin yaar! Its a sin to think of him in a bad way! Lekin yeh thoughts mere dimag se jaa hi nahi rahe! Mai kya karu Rahul tu hi bata mujhe?
Rahul not having an answer was quite. He had seen Arya jumping and crying in happiness when she was about to come to India. The way she used to talk of her father... The proudest daughter of a honest man! Who leaves a successful career... A billion dollar and life of a queen behind to come back and live in a moderate bungalow... With hopes of starting career again!? This girl did it! Why? Everytime people asked this 'Why' she answered 'one hug of my father costs more than a billion dollars and my career combined!'. In a world where children leave their old parents in a old age home... She was one gem of a person who could leave everything for her father! And today she was forced to think against him!!! Against the man who ment the world to her!
Rahul breathed deep and leaned on the backrest of the chair. And a minute later he was done making a decision... Decision that 'I am going to help her out in finding her answers'... He said finally to Arya who was looking at him still expecting an answer to her questions...
Rahul - Let's investigate this! Tu sir se puch nahi sakti... Aur inn sawalo ke saath reh bhi nahi sakti... So let's find the answer to your questions ourselves...
Arya - How?
Rahul - Pata nahi! Abhi mujhe pata nahi... Lekin mai karta... ( Without even completing the sentence he sprang up from the chair and asked Arya hurriedly) Woh file kaha hai?
Arya - Konsi file?
Rahul - Aree wahi jo tu police record room se layi thi?
Arya - Woh! (Thinking) Ha... Woh toh mere room mai hai! Jis din mera accident hua tha maine wahi chod di woh...
Rahul - Tere ghar ka address de!
Arya - Lekin tu karne kya wala hai? (She asked confused)
Rahul - Tujhe jitna pucha utna bol na! Mai batata hu tujhe sab baad me!
Arya told him the address and Rahul instantly rushed out of the hospital. Telling Arya to take care of herself. She was fine enough to take care of herself now and with nurses being around her it wasn't a problem. So he left hurriedly picking up his luggage ignoring all the questions Arya kept asking him about what he was going to do!
__________________________________________
Rahul rushed out of the hospital... Went to his home... Met his family as he had just come from US after a long time and then freshening up quickly left for Arya's house... Politely answering the questions from his family as to where he was going again. He took his father's car and soon reached ACP sir's house. Ringing the bell he found Dai maa at the door and touching her feet he took her blessings. ACP sir was in beauro and hence it was not hard for him to go in Arya's room and take that file. Not waiting to read it then and there, he left after having halwa made by Dai maa for him. He sat on the backseat of his car reading the police record file of that case... He went closely through every minute detail... The day of encounter, the charges filed against the team that carried out the encounter, the forensic reports, details of the judge and the lawyers involved, statements from the officers and also ACP sir where he had admitted that he was the one who had fired on them, the witnesses and all the evidences about the case. Finding nothing useful he felt frustrated but then suddenly there came spark in his eyes as he was going through the file second time, just in case he had missed something...
Rahul - (talking to himself) Advocate Raghuveer Jagdishwar! Yes this man can help me!
He searched on the net for 'Advocate Raghuveer Jagdishwar's' office and as he found it he speed towards it.
Raghuveer Jagdishwar was Mr. Arun Malhotra's (Arya's biological father) lawyer. Mr. Arun Malhotra being a big business man obviously had a lawyer to handle the legal aspects of his business. Mr. Raghuveer was one of the few people who had come out to recognize and answer police enquiries regarding the case then. Hence his mention in the police record file. He was one person who came out recognise the dead bodies of Arya's parents... Also had answered various questions about them for the police when asked about. He had willfully helped in the investigation of that case. He was a close friend of Arun Malhotra... And hence must have had good amount of information regarding the case and its proceedings. And so he could prove helpful in answering the question 'What happened 27 years ago?'
Advocate Raghuveer's office was on 8th floor of a multistorey building. As the lift dropped him there he enquired on the reception about him. He was told to wait for a while but was lucky enough to be able to meet him without prior appointment. A little while later when he entered inside he was greeted by the old lawyer talking to his assistant about some case. Rahul took his chair in front of him and waited for him to finish his conversation...
Raghuveer - Yes young man? How can i help you? The receptionist told me you were desperate to meet me and didn't wish to wait till tomorrow?
Rahul - Yes sir... Sorry for the inconvenience that i caused. But i didn't have the time to wait till tomorrow...
Raghuveer - Hmm... Kya kar sakta hu mai apke liye? Waise may i know your good name?
Rahul - Sir am Rahul Mehra... Am a defence lawyer myself. I practice in US. Mai yaha par meri ek friend ke liye aaya hu. Mujhe apse ek incident ke bare mai baat karni thi. One incident that took place some 27 years ago!
Raghuveer - That's a pretty too much ago. I hope it isn't my doctor who has sent you to test my memory! That irritating person keeps on saying i have been forgetting things of late now. Huh! Jaise usse toh sab kuch yaad rehta hai na! (Joked the old lawyer)
Rahul - (smiling) Ji nahi sir! Actually meri friend ek problem mai phas gayi hai... Uss problem ko solve karne ke liye hume kuch sawalo ke jawab chahiye jo shayad sirf apke paas hai...
Raghuveer - May i know who is this friend of yours?
Rahul - Sir Arya is her name...
Raghuveer - Arya!
The lawyer repeated behind him in shock. The name did ring a bell in his brain... But he not being sure of his thoughts asked impatiently...
Raghuveer - Pura naam kya hai?
Rahul - Arya Prayduman...
Hearing the name Raghuveer's eyes got teary... Which shocked Rahul to as what happened to him suddenly, cause to as what Rahul had understood, Mr. Raghuveer was a pretty composed man!
Rahul - Sir are you ok?
Raghuveer - Yes yes. Am all fine (saying he picked up a glass of water kept on his table and gulped down a few sips to control his emotions) How is she? And where is she? I hope she is doing good!
Rahul - Yes sir. She is all fine.
Raghuveer - Happy to hear that! (Sighing) Kya madat kar sakta hu mai tumhari?
Rahul - Sir if am not wrong... App Mr. Arun Malhotra ke lawyer the? Am talking about Mr. Arun Malhotra who was a great business man. Jinki death...
Raghuveer - (cutting him in between) Ek encounter mai hui thi!
Rahul - Yes sir! You have got me right! Unki hi baat kar raha hu mai!
Raghuveer - Usse bhool bhi nahi sakta yaar mai! Dost tha woh mera... Bohot karibi dost tha. Ek kabil business man and even better as a human being! Apni mehnat se itna bada business empire khada kiya tha... Kushi se apni zindagi jee raha tha... Apni family aur ek kachori! Jisse khye bina uska din nahi nikalta! Bas issi mai simat kar uski zindagi katham ho jati thi! But destiny plays bad always! (He gritted his teeth in anger) Bas ek hatsa aur sab kuch tabah ho gaya! Sab kuch!
Rahul - App ussi hatse bhi baat kar rahe hai na? Wohi encounter jisme unn dono ki mout...
Raghuveer - Haa... Apni family ke saath lonavala jaa raha tha woh! Weekend spend karne! Usse kya pata tha uske saath kya hone wala hai!
Rahul - Sir mujhe bhi ussi case ke bare mai janna hai! Kya app bata sakte hai please?
Raghuveer - Waise toh mai apne kisi bhi client ki information kisi ko nahi deta... Lekin tum Arya ka naam lekar aaye ho toh mujhe ajj bolna hoga. Lekin pehle mujhe yeh batao ki ajj 27 saal baad kyu janna hai tumhe yeh sab?
Rahul - Arya ke liye sir! Usse kuch aisa sach pata chala hai jiske bare mai na woh apne papa ko puch sakti hai na unn sawalo ke saath reh sakti hai... Bas unhi sawalo ka jawab dhundne aaya hu!
Raghuveer - Kya pata chala hai usse? Yeh ki her father ACP Prayduman is the one who killed her real father and mother Arun and Gayatri?
Rahul - Ji haa sir! Lekin apko kaise pata chala?
Raghuveer - Ek bachi ke liye aur konsa aisa sawal ho sakta hai jiska jawab uske liye itna zaruri ho! Yeh sach ek na ek din toh usse pata chalna hi tha!
Rahul - Apne kaha yeh 'Sach'... Matlab yehi sach hai na ki ACP sir ne hi Arya ke biological parents ko goli mari thi?
Raghuveer - Ha, sach hai! (Leaning back on his chair he continued) Arun and Gayatri were a happy couple. Blessed with a baby daughter three years after their marriage. Arun ka business tab tak stable tha aur kafi aage pohach chuka tha. He was one of the most successful businessman in the country! Uss din as i said woh lonavala jaa raha tha. With his family. Tabhi pata nahi kaise uss encounter mai phas gaya. Neither of them survived! Bas Arya bach gayi! Mujhe nahi pata kaise! Lekin woh bach toh gayi lekin kuch 2/3 mahine tak gayab rahi... Jaise koi usse chupaye baitha raha, jab tak woh case chal raha tha. The case was hyped! Bohot enquiries hui... Bohot investigation hui. Lekin end mai on the basis of benefit of doubt Prayduman and his other team mates were cleared of all charges. Bohot gussa aaya tha mujhe uss par. Aata bhi kyu nahi usne do beguhano ki jaan leli thi. Galti se hi sahi lekin li toh thi na! Mai toh iss baat ko galti manne ko tayar hi nahi tha... Aise kaise pata nahi chala ki they were not gang members! I couldn't believe this until Prayduman met me one day. A month later after he was given clean chit by the court. I still remember that day... How he walked inside my office with Arya in his hand. I was so damn angry on him! I was fuming in anger to as what was Arya doing with him! But then he told me ki Arya abse unki beti hai. I was so shocked! Matlab he was the one who killed her parents and then he came to me with the missing child and told me that he was now the legal guardian of Arya!
Rahul - Just a second sir! What did you say? Legal guardian? He didn't adopt her?
Raghuveer - As far as i know he wasn't allowed by court to adopt Arya! Taking in regard the risk that his job came with...
Rahul - Hmm ok... Please go ahead sir.
Raghuveer - So where was I? Yes he came to me with Arya one day. He told me to not to disclose this to anyone that Arya was alive and with him. Unhone court se Arya ke legal guardian banne ki appeal bhi jitni secretly ho sake utne secretly ki thi! What a genius that man is... Kisi ko pata chalne nahi diya ki she is the same child that went missing at the time of encounter! Woh mere paas aaye the kyuki woh chahte the ki Arun ki will ke hisab se mai uski puri property apne paas sambhal ke rakhu aur usse trust mai na jane du jab tak Arya 18 nahi ho jati! I agreed to him... As it was for the welfare of the kid!
Rahul - Phir sir?
Raghuveer - Phir? Phir kuch nahi! Maine Arya ke 18 hone tak property ko trust mai jane nahi diya and as she turned 18 maine usse woh property sop di! Yes jab tak Arya 18 nahi hui tab tak uss property ki power of attorney court ne ACP ko hi di thi... He being the legal guardian of Arya!
Rahul - Iske baad uss property ka kya hua app bata sakte hai?
Raghuveer - Ji nahi... Iske baad mera kabhi koi lena dena hua hi nahi ACP sir yaa phir Arya se!
Rahul - Ok sir. Thank you so very much! App nahi jante apne meri kitni help ki hai! Thank you for your precious time! And once again sorry mai bina appointment ke aa gaya.
Raghuveer- Its completely ok young man! It was a pleasure meeting you. Mujhe Arya theek hai yeh bhi pata chal gaya tumhari wajh se! Its me who should be thanking you! Waise hum lawyers apni kursi sahi haato mai sop rahe hai iss baat ka vishwas zarur ho gaya mujhe! Achi investigation karte ho! Keep it up
Rahul - Oh! Thank you so much sir! Am honoured! If you permit i will take the leave now. Thank you sir!
Shaking hands with him and thanking him once again Rahul left the office... While going back he didn't care to take the lift and instead walked down the stairs. Lost deep in his thoughts...
Rahul - (thinking) Arya ki mostly sari property ke bare mai pata hai mujhe! Uski India mai toh koi property hai hi nahi! Toh phir Mr. Arun ka business, bungalow and everything else gaya toh gaya kaha? Advocate Raghuveer said ki unhone sari property Arya ke naam kardi thi as soon as she turned 18! Then where on earth did the property go now!? Mujhe nahi lagta ki Arya ko kudh ko iss property ke bare mai pata hai! Otherwise she would have told me someday...
By now he had already come down into the parking and whispering to himself 'i am gonna go till the bottom of this' he hurried in his car to his next destination... That was LRO (Land Reform Office - Department that keeps an eye and maintains a record of land deals and its transfers).
Reaching there he somehow tricked the officer there and got the file from him which contained the records of Mr. Arun Malhotra's property. It had all records of the property like who all were the owners of that property... In the order in which they owned it. The person who owned it first named first and then the next owner second and so on... He went through all the names and stopped at one... The chronology was Arun Malhotra to Arya Prayduman and within a span of few days after it was transferred to Arya it was then transferred to ACP sir!!! But why was the question! Why did he take the property on his name? Was all his love for Arya only for the sake of property? Rahul couldn't help thinking this.
Leaving the LRO office he drived straight to hospital... Where he saw Arya was impatiently trying to call someone... As soon as Rahul entered inside the ward Arya bombarded him with questions...
Arya - Kaha the tum? Tumhara phone bhi nahi laga raha! Kab se try kar rahi hu? Jaise nikale the mujhe tab se tension ho rahi hai pata hai! Kuch bata kar bhi nahi gaye! Gaye kaha the tum akhir? Kya karne gaye the?
When Rahul still didn't utter a word and was looking lost in his thoughts she asked him scared...
Arya - Rahul? Kya hua yaar? Kuch bol kyu nahi raha tu?
While Rahul was busy thinking how to tell her this?! He couldn't gather enough courage to tell her what her father had done. The circumstances showed that ACP sir had taken her responsibility only for her property. He had taken away the property on his name by cheating Arya... And if all this was true then fact that ACP sir had killed Arya's biological parents also somewhere indicated that it was not a mere case of mistaken identity but could be a conspiracy... Even the thought shook him to the core! He didn't know how Arya would react to this... She was too sensitive in case of ACP sir... She would not be able to tolerate this fact... In between his thoughts he again heard Arya say...
Arya - Rahul kuch bol na yaar?
Closing his eyes Rahul took a deep breath to calm himself down. Then picked up a glass of water and gave it to Arya. Told her to drink it and when she denied he forced her to drink it. All the while Arya kept repeating her questions but he seemed least interested in answering her. At last he settled on the chair and sat facing her. And holding her right hand in both his hands he started narrating her all that he came to know today. He knew it would break her but she had to know this truth... It was about her and she deserved to know this even if she wished to never know it. He kept on saying and she kept listening... While saying Rahul tried to judge it from her expressions to what was going on in her mind. But her expressions gave no hint of anything at all! And this scared Rahul like nothing else ever could...
To be continued...
What will Arya's reaction be? A billion dollar question that this is will be answered in the next chapter. The emotional ride starts the next chapter. So keep reading...
BTW this was the longest ever chapter that i have written... So i hope i deserve a long review for this? Positive or negative doesn't matter... But it should be the truth that you feel. Too much of the things were revealed in this one. I hope it wasn't confusing! If it was please let me know! Thank you. And waiting for the review.
Recap -
Arya Prayduman a well known defence lawyer of USA is now back in India after 22 years... With her father ACP Prayduman. She has bonded well with the whole team in so less time. But as she comes back she starts discovering truths of her own life... From notes leading to abandoned bungalow... To hospital and then police station... Where she finds that her biological parents were killed by her own father, ACP Prayduman. In her dilemma she decides to go to her father and ask him all that was going in her mind but in those thoughts she faces a dangerous accident... She is now out of danger but still in hospital. She has not revealed about the questions in her mind to anyone as of now. Rahul a friend of Arya is coming to India to meet her after he came to know of her accident.
ACP sir is carrying a secret in his heart only known to him and Dai maa... A secret that can create a havoc in many lives if revealed.
Chapter 10
*3 days later, hospital ward*
Arya was half lying on the bed with closed eyes while Abhijeet was sitting on a chair besides her... There was pindrop silence in the room. Arya being unusually silent even today... Abhijeet found it weird again and decided to finally ask her what was wrong with her that she was behaving so different since a few days now...
Abhijeet - Kya soch rahi ho?
She was still lost in her thoughts and didn't even hear him. When to bring her back, he kept a hand on her shoulder...
Arya - (startled) Ha bhai? Kuch kaha kya apne?
Abhijeet - Nahi... Bas yeh puch raha tha koi baat hai kya? Kafi dino se dekh raha hu tum pareshan lag rahi ho... Kuch problem ho toh share kar sakti ho mujhse...
Arya - Nahi bhai kuch bhi toh nahi... Mai toh normal hi hu...
Abhijeet - Hmm... (After a second) Janti ho na kisse jhoot bol rahi ho? Bade bade criminals chutki bajate hi muh kholte hai mere samne! Toh jhoot bolne ki koshish toh karna hi mat!
Arya - (with a small smile) Nahi bhai... Sachme kuch nahi hua... (Saying she turned her gaze out of the window of her ward. Staring at the trees outside. Lost in her thoughts)
Abhijeet - Chalo koi nahi... Nahi batana toh mat batao. Lekin agar koi bhi pareshani ho toh bol sakti ho tum mujhe. Bhale hi tumhara bhai bane bohot waqt nahi hua, lekin dil se behan mana hai tumhe. Tumhari rakhsa karna, tumhara saath dena farz hai mera!
Arya felt a new energy rising in herself hearing his words... Yes he was the one. One who could solve her confusion and help her come out of this mess. Taking a deep breath she gathered in herself energy and decided to tell him everything...
Arya - Bhai ek sach jisse apne kudh puri life dekha ho... Aur ek aisa sach jo app jante ho ki sach hai lekin jis par app vishwas nahi kar sakte... Agar ek dusre ke khilaf aakar khade ho jaye toh kiska saath dena chahiye? (She asked teary eyed)
And before she could say anything further the door of her ward opened and someone came inside. He was a young boy in his mid 20s... Was fair skinned and was taller than average. He had black hair, neatly combed and was wearing a brown leather jacket on a white T shirt with navy blue jeans. Glares enhancing his smart look. An expensive smart watch in hand and backpack hanging on one shoulder... While his other hand was supporting the handle of his travel bag. In short he was one handsome guy who could make anyone fall for his looks. As soon as he entered inside he said looking at Arya...
Boy - Yeh kaha thok liya tune kudh ko!?
Arya - Raste pe! Mai raste pe hi gadi chalati hu na! Unlike you...
Boy - What do you mean!? Mai bhi road pe hi gadi chalata hu!
Arya - Correction! Tu gadi chalata nahi... Udata hai!
Boy - Huh! Tu mera dimag khana nahi chodegi na (making a face). Ek toh itna travel karke thak ke aaya mai... Aur tu hai ki abhi bhi mujhe pareshan kar rahi hai! (with a fake sad face)
Arya - Chal chal natak band kar! Aur tu sidha hospital kyu aa gaya? Ghar jana tha na pehle!
Boy - Apki chinta mai din ka chain aur raat ki neend sab karam hai mohtarma!
Arya - Tu hindi ka postmortem karna kab chodega angreez! Its haram not karam!
Boy - Ha ha theek hai! Ho jati hai bache se galti kabhi kabhi! Bache ki kaan legi kya!
Arya - (Keeping hand on her head) Jaan it is!!!
Abhijeet who was busy attending a call from a while now came back still talking on phone to take out something from his wallet that was kept on the table beside Arya. While Arya getting an idea indicated the boy to see in the direction where Abhijeet was standing busy in his call once again and it was then that RAHUL noticed him and kept staring at him for a while with open mouth. And then burst on Arya in anger saying...
Rahul - Abhijeet sir!!! Teri wajh se i didn't even see him! Yaar Abhijeet sir! (Jumping like a kid in excitement) Finally am seeing him in front of my eyes! I can't believe this! Yaar tujhe pata hai na kitna bada fan hu mai unka! Unki investigation karne ka tarika... Unka style! Sharpness! And especially unka aim! Haye! Unko goli chalate dekhne ke liye toh mai kudh uss goli ka nishana banne tayar hu! Introduce kara na yaar mujhe unse (shaking Arya)
Until then Abhijeet was done talking on the phone and had seen Rahul jumping like a mad. With a shocked and wondering expression to as what happened to him, he came back and asked Arya in signs to as what happened as Rahul who was still busy jumping. When she said...
Arya - Kuch nahi bhai... Yeh pagal hai. Aur apko dekh kar aur bada pagal ho gaya hai!
Abhijeet - Hain?
By now Rahul had stopped jumping and finally Arya introduced both of them to each other...
Arya - So bhai he is Rahul... The most pagal insan you will ever meet (before Rahul could even protest, she continued) and i don't think i need to tell you (to Rahul) who he is. Jitni research tune inke upar ki hai am damn sure tujhe bhai ke bare mai kudh bhai se bhi zayada pata hoga!
Rahul - Chup reh tu! (To Abhijeet) Sir mai na apka bohot bada fan hu! (Hugging him) Sir app na mujhe goli maar do!
Abhijeet - Hain!
Rahul - Ha sir! Mujhe na apko goli chalate dekhna hai na isiliye!
Arya - Ha bhai maar do! Itna acha chance baar baar nahi milega. Ek hi baar mai picha choot jayega! Nahi toh lifetime pareshan karega apko!
Rahul - Tu 5 minute chup nahi kya reh sakti!
Abhijeet was just staring at him not knowing what to say. He looked at Arya for help who pulled Rahul to the other side while Abhijeet just smiled and said after a while...
Abhijeet - Daya ka call tha... Mujhe thoda kaam hai, beauro jana padega. So tum dono baate karo... Mai chalta hu...
Arya - Ok bhai... Bye take care. Iss bandar se baad mai baat kar lena. Tab tak yeh zara control mai bhi aa jayega! (She said looking at Rahul with a sarcastic smile. While Rahul maintained silence which he otherwise wouldn't had only cause he cared about his image in front of Abhijeet)
Soon Abhijeet left hurriedly cause he was already late but not without whispering in Arya's ear as...
Abhijeet - (whispering to Arya) Waise teri choice buri nahi hai (winking)... Don't worry shaadi ke liye mai baat kar lunga ACP sir se. Unko bhi pasand aa jana chahiye yeh waise!
And before Arya could hit him with the cushion she had already picked up, Abhijeet went away running to parking lot as he was in no mood to get scolded by ACP sir for coming late.
*A little while later*
Arya and Rahul were sitting in the room chatting about various topics. While Arya who was a little tired of sitting for long now, lied down in half sitting position. Rahul had washed his face had got himself a little comfortable as he had come from a long journey. They were talking about one of the recent case of Rahul's when suddenly he asked her...
Rahul - Chal ab jaldi se bata kya hua hai tujhe?
Arya - What?
Rahul - Ha... Bata na, kya hua hai tujhe? Kis baat se pareshan hai tu?
Arya - Nahi toh! Aisa toh kuch bhi nahi hai!
Rahul - Jhoot bolne ki coaching classes hoti hai kahi yaha pe? You badly need them! Jhoot bolna aata hi nahi hai tujhe!
Arya - (turning away her gaze) Am not lying yaar! Sach mai kuch nahi hua mujhe!
Rahul - Acha nahi hua bas! Yeh hi bata de ki apni woh real diamond jaisi smile ko bech yeh nakli plastic ki smile kaha se utha ke layi hai?
Arya looked at him in disbelief... And then finally smiled a real one after a really long time. Thats the effect friends have on you... They can see those tears which haven't even found the way to your eyes yet and then also find a way to stop any tear that tries to reach your eyes...
Rahul - Has liya ho toh bol kya hua hai!
Arya - Kaha se start karu? Tu hi bata mujhe! India aayi thi apni life khusi se spend karne... Apne papa ke saath. Kya pata tha ki i will get lost in the pages of my own past!
After a meaningful silence of about a minute Arya started telling him everything that had happened with her since she had come to India... About those mysterious notes... The abandoned bungalow... How it led her to hospital and then to the police station... And how she discovered the biggest truth of her life... That her father ACP sir was the one who has killed her biological parents in an encounter...
Arya - Mujhe mere sawalo ka jawab chahiye Rahul! Lekin kaise? Mai papa ko puch ke unhe hurt nahi karna chahti. Aur mai inn sawalo ke saath reh bhi toh nahi sakti! Its a sin yaar! Its a sin to think of him in a bad way! Lekin yeh thoughts mere dimag se jaa hi nahi rahe! Mai kya karu Rahul tu hi bata mujhe?
Rahul not having an answer was quite. He had seen Arya jumping and crying in happiness when she was about to come to India. The way she used to talk of her father... The proudest daughter of a honest man! Who leaves a successful career... A billion dollar and life of a queen behind to come back and live in a moderate bungalow... With hopes of starting career again!? This girl did it! Why? Everytime people asked this 'Why' she answered 'one hug of my father costs more than a billion dollars and my career combined!'. In a world where children leave their old parents in a old age home... She was one gem of a person who could leave everything for her father! And today she was forced to think against him!!! Against the man who ment the world to her!
Rahul breathed deep and leaned on the backrest of the chair. And a minute later he was done making a decision... Decision that 'I am going to help her out in finding her answers'... He said finally to Arya who was looking at him still expecting an answer to her questions...
Rahul - Let's investigate this! Tu sir se puch nahi sakti... Aur inn sawalo ke saath reh bhi nahi sakti... So let's find the answer to your questions ourselves...
Arya - How?
Rahul - Pata nahi! Abhi mujhe pata nahi... Lekin mai karta... ( Without even completing the sentence he sprang up from the chair and asked Arya hurriedly) Woh file kaha hai?
Arya - Konsi file?
Rahul - Aree wahi jo tu police record room se layi thi?
Arya - Woh! (Thinking) Ha... Woh toh mere room mai hai! Jis din mera accident hua tha maine wahi chod di woh...
Rahul - Tere ghar ka address de!
Arya - Lekin tu karne kya wala hai? (She asked confused)
Rahul - Tujhe jitna pucha utna bol na! Mai batata hu tujhe sab baad me!
Arya told him the address and Rahul instantly rushed out of the hospital. Telling Arya to take care of herself. She was fine enough to take care of herself now and with nurses being around her it wasn't a problem. So he left hurriedly picking up his luggage ignoring all the questions Arya kept asking him about what he was going to do!
__________________________________________
Rahul rushed out of the hospital... Went to his home... Met his family as he had just come from US after a long time and then freshening up quickly left for Arya's house... Politely answering the questions from his family as to where he was going again. He took his father's car and soon reached ACP sir's house. Ringing the bell he found Dai maa at the door and touching her feet he took her blessings. ACP sir was in beauro and hence it was not hard for him to go in Arya's room and take that file. Not waiting to read it then and there, he left after having halwa made by Dai maa for him. He sat on the backseat of his car reading the police record file of that case... He went closely through every minute detail... The day of encounter, the charges filed against the team that carried out the encounter, the forensic reports, details of the judge and the lawyers involved, statements from the officers and also ACP sir where he had admitted that he was the one who had fired on them, the witnesses and all the evidences about the case. Finding nothing useful he felt frustrated but then suddenly there came spark in his eyes as he was going through the file second time, just in case he had missed something...
Rahul - (talking to himself) Advocate Raghuveer Jagdishwar! Yes this man can help me!
He searched on the net for 'Advocate Raghuveer Jagdishwar's' office and as he found it he speed towards it.
Raghuveer Jagdishwar was Mr. Arun Malhotra's (Arya's biological father) lawyer. Mr. Arun Malhotra being a big business man obviously had a lawyer to handle the legal aspects of his business. Mr. Raghuveer was one of the few people who had come out to recognize and answer police enquiries regarding the case then. Hence his mention in the police record file. He was one person who came out recognise the dead bodies of Arya's parents... Also had answered various questions about them for the police when asked about. He had willfully helped in the investigation of that case. He was a close friend of Arun Malhotra... And hence must have had good amount of information regarding the case and its proceedings. And so he could prove helpful in answering the question 'What happened 27 years ago?'
Advocate Raghuveer's office was on 8th floor of a multistorey building. As the lift dropped him there he enquired on the reception about him. He was told to wait for a while but was lucky enough to be able to meet him without prior appointment. A little while later when he entered inside he was greeted by the old lawyer talking to his assistant about some case. Rahul took his chair in front of him and waited for him to finish his conversation...
Raghuveer - Yes young man? How can i help you? The receptionist told me you were desperate to meet me and didn't wish to wait till tomorrow?
Rahul - Yes sir... Sorry for the inconvenience that i caused. But i didn't have the time to wait till tomorrow...
Raghuveer - Hmm... Kya kar sakta hu mai apke liye? Waise may i know your good name?
Rahul - Sir am Rahul Mehra... Am a defence lawyer myself. I practice in US. Mai yaha par meri ek friend ke liye aaya hu. Mujhe apse ek incident ke bare mai baat karni thi. One incident that took place some 27 years ago!
Raghuveer - That's a pretty too much ago. I hope it isn't my doctor who has sent you to test my memory! That irritating person keeps on saying i have been forgetting things of late now. Huh! Jaise usse toh sab kuch yaad rehta hai na! (Joked the old lawyer)
Rahul - (smiling) Ji nahi sir! Actually meri friend ek problem mai phas gayi hai... Uss problem ko solve karne ke liye hume kuch sawalo ke jawab chahiye jo shayad sirf apke paas hai...
Raghuveer - May i know who is this friend of yours?
Rahul - Sir Arya is her name...
Raghuveer - Arya!
The lawyer repeated behind him in shock. The name did ring a bell in his brain... But he not being sure of his thoughts asked impatiently...
Raghuveer - Pura naam kya hai?
Rahul - Arya Prayduman...
Hearing the name Raghuveer's eyes got teary... Which shocked Rahul to as what happened to him suddenly, cause to as what Rahul had understood, Mr. Raghuveer was a pretty composed man!
Rahul - Sir are you ok?
Raghuveer - Yes yes. Am all fine (saying he picked up a glass of water kept on his table and gulped down a few sips to control his emotions) How is she? And where is she? I hope she is doing good!
Rahul - Yes sir. She is all fine.
Raghuveer - Happy to hear that! (Sighing) Kya madat kar sakta hu mai tumhari?
Rahul - Sir if am not wrong... App Mr. Arun Malhotra ke lawyer the? Am talking about Mr. Arun Malhotra who was a great business man. Jinki death...
Raghuveer - (cutting him in between) Ek encounter mai hui thi!
Rahul - Yes sir! You have got me right! Unki hi baat kar raha hu mai!
Raghuveer - Usse bhool bhi nahi sakta yaar mai! Dost tha woh mera... Bohot karibi dost tha. Ek kabil business man and even better as a human being! Apni mehnat se itna bada business empire khada kiya tha... Kushi se apni zindagi jee raha tha... Apni family aur ek kachori! Jisse khye bina uska din nahi nikalta! Bas issi mai simat kar uski zindagi katham ho jati thi! But destiny plays bad always! (He gritted his teeth in anger) Bas ek hatsa aur sab kuch tabah ho gaya! Sab kuch!
Rahul - App ussi hatse bhi baat kar rahe hai na? Wohi encounter jisme unn dono ki mout...
Raghuveer - Haa... Apni family ke saath lonavala jaa raha tha woh! Weekend spend karne! Usse kya pata tha uske saath kya hone wala hai!
Rahul - Sir mujhe bhi ussi case ke bare mai janna hai! Kya app bata sakte hai please?
Raghuveer - Waise toh mai apne kisi bhi client ki information kisi ko nahi deta... Lekin tum Arya ka naam lekar aaye ho toh mujhe ajj bolna hoga. Lekin pehle mujhe yeh batao ki ajj 27 saal baad kyu janna hai tumhe yeh sab?
Rahul - Arya ke liye sir! Usse kuch aisa sach pata chala hai jiske bare mai na woh apne papa ko puch sakti hai na unn sawalo ke saath reh sakti hai... Bas unhi sawalo ka jawab dhundne aaya hu!
Raghuveer - Kya pata chala hai usse? Yeh ki her father ACP Prayduman is the one who killed her real father and mother Arun and Gayatri?
Rahul - Ji haa sir! Lekin apko kaise pata chala?
Raghuveer - Ek bachi ke liye aur konsa aisa sawal ho sakta hai jiska jawab uske liye itna zaruri ho! Yeh sach ek na ek din toh usse pata chalna hi tha!
Rahul - Apne kaha yeh 'Sach'... Matlab yehi sach hai na ki ACP sir ne hi Arya ke biological parents ko goli mari thi?
Raghuveer - Ha, sach hai! (Leaning back on his chair he continued) Arun and Gayatri were a happy couple. Blessed with a baby daughter three years after their marriage. Arun ka business tab tak stable tha aur kafi aage pohach chuka tha. He was one of the most successful businessman in the country! Uss din as i said woh lonavala jaa raha tha. With his family. Tabhi pata nahi kaise uss encounter mai phas gaya. Neither of them survived! Bas Arya bach gayi! Mujhe nahi pata kaise! Lekin woh bach toh gayi lekin kuch 2/3 mahine tak gayab rahi... Jaise koi usse chupaye baitha raha, jab tak woh case chal raha tha. The case was hyped! Bohot enquiries hui... Bohot investigation hui. Lekin end mai on the basis of benefit of doubt Prayduman and his other team mates were cleared of all charges. Bohot gussa aaya tha mujhe uss par. Aata bhi kyu nahi usne do beguhano ki jaan leli thi. Galti se hi sahi lekin li toh thi na! Mai toh iss baat ko galti manne ko tayar hi nahi tha... Aise kaise pata nahi chala ki they were not gang members! I couldn't believe this until Prayduman met me one day. A month later after he was given clean chit by the court. I still remember that day... How he walked inside my office with Arya in his hand. I was so damn angry on him! I was fuming in anger to as what was Arya doing with him! But then he told me ki Arya abse unki beti hai. I was so shocked! Matlab he was the one who killed her parents and then he came to me with the missing child and told me that he was now the legal guardian of Arya!
Rahul - Just a second sir! What did you say? Legal guardian? He didn't adopt her?
Raghuveer - As far as i know he wasn't allowed by court to adopt Arya! Taking in regard the risk that his job came with...
Rahul - Hmm ok... Please go ahead sir.
Raghuveer - So where was I? Yes he came to me with Arya one day. He told me to not to disclose this to anyone that Arya was alive and with him. Unhone court se Arya ke legal guardian banne ki appeal bhi jitni secretly ho sake utne secretly ki thi! What a genius that man is... Kisi ko pata chalne nahi diya ki she is the same child that went missing at the time of encounter! Woh mere paas aaye the kyuki woh chahte the ki Arun ki will ke hisab se mai uski puri property apne paas sambhal ke rakhu aur usse trust mai na jane du jab tak Arya 18 nahi ho jati! I agreed to him... As it was for the welfare of the kid!
Rahul - Phir sir?
Raghuveer - Phir? Phir kuch nahi! Maine Arya ke 18 hone tak property ko trust mai jane nahi diya and as she turned 18 maine usse woh property sop di! Yes jab tak Arya 18 nahi hui tab tak uss property ki power of attorney court ne ACP ko hi di thi... He being the legal guardian of Arya!
Rahul - Iske baad uss property ka kya hua app bata sakte hai?
Raghuveer - Ji nahi... Iske baad mera kabhi koi lena dena hua hi nahi ACP sir yaa phir Arya se!
Rahul - Ok sir. Thank you so very much! App nahi jante apne meri kitni help ki hai! Thank you for your precious time! And once again sorry mai bina appointment ke aa gaya.
Raghuveer- Its completely ok young man! It was a pleasure meeting you. Mujhe Arya theek hai yeh bhi pata chal gaya tumhari wajh se! Its me who should be thanking you! Waise hum lawyers apni kursi sahi haato mai sop rahe hai iss baat ka vishwas zarur ho gaya mujhe! Achi investigation karte ho! Keep it up
Rahul - Oh! Thank you so much sir! Am honoured! If you permit i will take the leave now. Thank you sir!
Shaking hands with him and thanking him once again Rahul left the office... While going back he didn't care to take the lift and instead walked down the stairs. Lost deep in his thoughts...
Rahul - (thinking) Arya ki mostly sari property ke bare mai pata hai mujhe! Uski India mai toh koi property hai hi nahi! Toh phir Mr. Arun ka business, bungalow and everything else gaya toh gaya kaha? Advocate Raghuveer said ki unhone sari property Arya ke naam kardi thi as soon as she turned 18! Then where on earth did the property go now!? Mujhe nahi lagta ki Arya ko kudh ko iss property ke bare mai pata hai! Otherwise she would have told me someday...
By now he had already come down into the parking and whispering to himself 'i am gonna go till the bottom of this' he hurried in his car to his next destination... That was LRO (Land Reform Office - Department that keeps an eye and maintains a record of land deals and its transfers).
Reaching there he somehow tricked the officer there and got the file from him which contained the records of Mr. Arun Malhotra's property. It had all records of the property like who all were the owners of that property... In the order in which they owned it. The person who owned it first named first and then the next owner second and so on... He went through all the names and stopped at one... The chronology was Arun Malhotra to Arya Prayduman and within a span of few days after it was transferred to Arya it was then transferred to ACP sir!!! But why was the question! Why did he take the property on his name? Was all his love for Arya only for the sake of property? Rahul couldn't help thinking this.
Leaving the LRO office he drived straight to hospital... Where he saw Arya was impatiently trying to call someone... As soon as Rahul entered inside the ward Arya bombarded him with questions...
Arya - Kaha the tum? Tumhara phone bhi nahi laga raha! Kab se try kar rahi hu? Jaise nikale the mujhe tab se tension ho rahi hai pata hai! Kuch bata kar bhi nahi gaye! Gaye kaha the tum akhir? Kya karne gaye the?
When Rahul still didn't utter a word and was looking lost in his thoughts she asked him scared...
Arya - Rahul? Kya hua yaar? Kuch bol kyu nahi raha tu?
While Rahul was busy thinking how to tell her this?! He couldn't gather enough courage to tell her what her father had done. The circumstances showed that ACP sir had taken her responsibility only for her property. He had taken away the property on his name by cheating Arya... And if all this was true then fact that ACP sir had killed Arya's biological parents also somewhere indicated that it was not a mere case of mistaken identity but could be a conspiracy... Even the thought shook him to the core! He didn't know how Arya would react to this... She was too sensitive in case of ACP sir... She would not be able to tolerate this fact... In between his thoughts he again heard Arya say...
Arya - Rahul kuch bol na yaar?
Closing his eyes Rahul took a deep breath to calm himself down. Then picked up a glass of water and gave it to Arya. Told her to drink it and when she denied he forced her to drink it. All the while Arya kept repeating her questions but he seemed least interested in answering her. At last he settled on the chair and sat facing her. And holding her right hand in both his hands he started narrating her all that he came to know today. He knew it would break her but she had to know this truth... It was about her and she deserved to know this even if she wished to never know it. He kept on saying and she kept listening... While saying Rahul tried to judge it from her expressions to what was going on in her mind. But her expressions gave no hint of anything at all! And this scared Rahul like nothing else ever could...
To be continued...
What will Arya's reaction be? A billion dollar question that this is will be answered in the next chapter. The emotional ride starts the next chapter. So keep reading...
BTW this was the longest ever chapter that i have written... So i hope i deserve a long review for this? Positive or negative doesn't matter... But it should be the truth that you feel. Too much of the things were revealed in this one. I hope it wasn't confusing! If it was please let me know! Thank you. And waiting for the review.
