The Present - Chapter 9

           Sorrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyy... For this super late update! Frankly saying i don't even have a reason for being so late. I sat for hours opening the story but couldn't write anything! Finally came up with this. I don't know how it actually is. Late updates start with a Recap... So here it goes...

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...
              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.

         And so the story moves ahead...

                               Chapter 9

             A small red bulb was glowing on top of the closed door of the operation theatre... The door had been closed for a few hours now... Hours which felt like years to the team waiting outside.
             Abhijeet and Daya were standing leaning against the hospital wall looking lost in their own thoughts... Freddy was praying in the hospital temple for Arya. Pankaj had gone to bring some medicines that nurse asked them to bring while Tarika and Purvi stood silently in a corner looking tensed. Dai maa was busy praying to god seating on a chair nearby.
                 ACP sir was seated on cold metal chair outside the operation theatre... But even the cold chair wasn't as cold as his heart was. His face in his hands and tears in his eyes... His elbows rested on his knees. The buttons of his coat were open and his previously well ironed shirt looked a little crumbled now. His usually fearless determined eyes showed a different fear today... A helplessness that was a new guest in those eyes. An unwanted guest that didn't often trouble this brave heart. A tensed Dr. Salunkhe was sitting with his hand on ACP sir's shoulder. Pacifing him with a silent pat now and then. He had noticed his friend's tears but didn't say anything. ACP sir would not let his tears flow if he knew someone was seeing them and Dr. Salunkhe well understood the need of breaking down sometimes...
            A little while later ACP sir took a deep breath and releasing it attached his head on the wall behind... He closed his eyes and another silent tear slipped down from them. Dr. Salunkhe giving another pat on his friend's shoulder left in a corner to attend an important call that urgently needed his attention. While ACP sir soon drifted into an old happy memory...

                             *Flashback*
*11:00 pm*

            Little 4 year old Arya was impatiently waiting for her father to come back home from work. She was so excited and happy today. It was father's day and she had prepared a small gift for him... She had been waiting for him to return since what seemed like forever but there was no sign of him yet. Even at this tender age she not only understood her father's duty but was also proud of him. She wasn't complaining but was so excited she couldn't wait more. Dai maa had been trying to make her sleep since long but she was not ready to hear anything... All she knew was she wanted to surprise her father today! No matter if she had to wait the whole night for this, after actually waiting the whole day. Soon the clock struck 11:30 and the doorbell rang... Jumping Arya went to the door and with a huge smile dancing on her face she stretched on her toes and tried opening the door... But the lock was too high for her to reach and so smiling in dejection Dai maa came forward to help her. She opened the lock and soon ACP sir came inside looking tired and completely drained off... His coat was in his hand while his shirt was half outside and half tucked in... He had a bad day at office and had a severe headache... Little Arya hugged him or say hugged his legs like she did everyday as he returned from office... While ACP sir just kept a hand on her head and came inside unlike every other day when he used to pick her up in his arms and twirl her around while she used to chuckle enjoying... Making ACP sir forget all his worries and tiredness. But today nothing happened... He came and sat on the sofa with a thud and kept his head on the headrest while arya ran to her room to bring the gift that she had made.
               As she came back she saw ACP sir keeping the half empty glass of the water on the centre table. She came forward excitedly with the gift in her hand when she saw ACP sir take out his cellphone and again getting busy in it. She tried saying...

Arya - Papa...

ACP - (cutting her words in between) Beta please ruko... Abhi kaam hai thoda...

          Hearing him she again fell silent and waited patiently for him to finish his work and soon as he kept back the phone on table she said coming towards him...

Arya - Papa woh na...

             While doing so her hand accidentally touched the water glass spilling the water on the whole table... While ACP sir just in time picked up his phone saving it from from getting damaged... But this raised his anger bar! And angrily he said

ACP - Kya kar rahi ho tum! Dekh kar chalo na thoda... Abhi phone kharab ho jata. Aur waise bhi tum ab tak jaag kyu rahi ho? 12 bajne wale hai! Soyi kyu nahi abtak?

            While the little Arya got sacred of him and his anger... It wasn't often when he got angry on her... In a low voice she uttered...

Arya - Solly

ACP - Kya sorry? Jao apne room mai aur chup chap so jao! Phir kal subah uthne mai natak karogi!

             Saying he himself went into his room to sleep... He was so tired that he didn't even have dinner. While little Arya was still standing at her place with teary eyes, looking at his figure disappearing into his room. While Dai maa picked her up to console her...

Dai maa - Beta koi baat nahi... Ajj apke papa thak gaye the na bohot! App unko gift kal de dena... Kya fark padta hai. Father's day toh har roz hota hai! Ek din mai thodi na katham ho jata hai! Chalo ab hum bhi so jate hai...

           Dai maa switched off the lights and locking the main door went to Arya's room and put her to sleep. Who went to sleep unusually early today without even demanding to hear her bed time stories. Soon even Dai maa slept and as she slept Arya opened her one eye to check if she was asleep. When she was sure she got down from the bed silently and sneaking out of the room went to ACP sir's room. She opened the half closed door, picked up something from the rack and sat on her father's bed silently. ACP sir was deep asleep but wasn't exactly in a calm sleep. Arya slowly started pressing her father's forehead with her tiny palms... Taking out some balm from the bottle she had picked up she applied some of it to his forehead and continued pressing it. After a little while she saw his face showing expressions of calmness and now he was sleeping peacefully. But she continued pressing his forehead with all the little strength she possessed... And doing the same she slowly drifted off into sleep herself. In the same sitting position with her hand on his forehead.
             Soon ACP sir opened his eyes. You expect someone to sneak into ACP sir's room without him knowing it? Not possible! He was only pretending to be still sleeping cause he wanted to know what his daughter wanted to do. He looked at his little angel... Who cared so much for him and loved him so deep. His lovely daughter who understood about his unsaid headache! Getting up he picked her up and made her sleep besides him comfortably... Spreading his hand with love on her head he coverd her with a blanket. When he saw her holding something like a box in her hand... Slowly he took it out of her grip and opened the box. There was a small teddy bear inside it... As small as his thumb! The lid of the box had a note struck on its inner side. He opened it and it was written in broken handwriting of his 4 year old...

'Happy father's day,

To my papa who is cuter than this teddy... Love you papa'

             So she had troubled Dai maa a lot today! For helping her out with all of this! She couldn't do it alone as she was too small to do it! But that didn't make her love for him any less. ACP sir smiled with affection looking at that sweet gift. And then kissed her daughter's forehead whispering "Sorry" for scolding at her today. His headache suddenly disappeared or even if it hadn't he felt the pain leaving him.
                       *Flashback ends*

             The sweet memory made him smile even at this moment... He still wondered how his daughter even at such a small age used to understand him so easily...

              His thoughts being disturbed by the opening of the door of the operation theatre. He got up and so did the team come there. The doctor came out and they asked him worriedly...

Daya - Doctor kaisi hai Arya? Is she fine?

Doctor - Dekhiye fine toh nahi keh sakte lekin she is much better. She is stable and in a better state than we expected. She is currently out of danger!

Salunkhe - Doctor koi complications toh nahi hai na?

Doctor - Fhilal toh nahi! Aur baki unke hosh mai aane ke baad hi pata chalega. Actually unka head wound kafi deep tha. Above the Cerebrum... I hope koi issue create na kare. Internal injury toh nahi hai waise so it should be fine lekin confirm unke hosh mai aane ke baad hi hoga.

Abhijeet - Toh usse hosh kabtak aayega?

Doctor - Shaam tak aa jana chahiye. And yes! Kya unki koi medical history hai?

ACP - Ji haa! Uska ek operation hua tha spine ka... Kuch 4 saal pehle!

Doctor - Koi disease?

ACP - Nahi! Woh ek case ke silsile mai usko goli lagi thi back pe...

Doctor - Ok... So i need those reports please! Iske aage ki medication ke liye i will need them!

ACP - Ok doctor. Mai jald se jald apko reports deta hu

             And the doctor left soon instructing the nurses about the further treatment. While ACP sir turned to Dai maa...

ACP - Woh reports?

Dai maa - Sahab woh reports toh America mai hi hai! Uske office mai!

ACP - Toh phir reports doctor ko kaise denge?

Abhijeet - Sir apke paas koi copy nahi hai?

ACP - Nahi Abhijeet! Uska operation US mai hi hua tha... Mere paas koi reports nahi hai!

Daya - Aunty (to dai maa) koi toh hoga na jo hume woh reports bejh sake? Soft copy bhi chalegi!

Purvi - Haa aunty koi bhi! Arya ka koi assistant? Dost?

Dai maa - Ha! Rahul! Shayad Rahul bejh sakta hai!

ACP - Yeh Rahul kon hai?

Dai maa - Arya ka best friend! Dono ne saath mai law kiya tha... Usse kahege toh woh bejh dega!

Freedy - Apke uska number hai? Hum call karte hai usse

Dai maa - Number... Mai dekhti hu...

            She searched for the Rahul's number in her phone and lucky got it... While Daya called him...

Daya - Hello...

Rahul - Yes? Advocate Rahul Mehra! How can i help you?

Daya - Mr. Rahul this is Daya from Mumbai... You know Arya Prayduman, right?

Rahul - Ji haa... Bohot achi dost hai woh meri! App Daya, matlab, bhai hai na unke? Usne bataya tha! How can i help you?

Daya - Dekhiye Arya ka accident ho gaya hai!

Rahul - What!!! Is she fine?

Daya - Ji ha she is out of danger now...

Rahul - Thank god!

Daya - See actually hume uski previous medical reports chahiye... Jo uske US ke office mai hai... So can you please by any way...

Rahul - Ji ha bilkul... Give me 40 minutes... Mai apko reports mail kar dunga. Please apka mail ID mujhe bejh dijiyega.

Daya - Sure thank you so much for the help.

Rahul - My pleasure sir! Arya best friend hai meri! Uske liye kuch bhi. Infact am coming to Mumbai sir...

Daya - Nahi nahi! Apko Mumbai aane ki koi zarurat nahi hai. We will handle!

Rahul - Sir waise bhi India aana hai sir family se milne! Abhi aa jauga... Sir please sir! Bohot achi dost hai woh meri! Dosti ka kuch toh farz nibhane dijiye!

Daya - Ok fine then. If you wish...

Rahul - Thank you sir. I will send you the reports as soon as possible! Rakhta hu sir, bye...

Daya - Bye and thanks again for the help.
__________________________________________

*Evening*

             Arya had gained back her consciousness and doctor declared her all fit. All that she needed now was rest for a few days... She was lying in the hospital bed when team entered to meet her... Seeing them she sat up with the help of Purvi...

ACP - Arnu beta theek ho na?

         He asked spreading a hand on her head

Arya - Ji papa (she said lost in her own world)

Daya - Kya madam? Jis din Mumbai aayi thi hume thoka tha gadi se! Bada chilla rahi thi mujhpe! Ajj phir thok liya! Ab bolo galti kiski hai? Hence proved ki tumhe gadi chalani aati hi nahi hai

Arya - Manti hu ajj mera dhayan nahi tha galti meri hai! Lekin uss din apki hi galti thi!!!

Abhijeet - Lekin dhyan tha kyu nahi? Soch kya rahi thi itna deeply tum?

               Arya got shocked hearing the question and fell silent... She looked towards ACP sir who was already looking at her with a questioning gaze. His face still having remains of dried tears... Her father cried for her! She could see pain in his eyes of seeing her in this situation... She could clearly see care and love for her. How on earth could she question him? About his past? About her own past? Atleast now she couldn't... She decided not to!

Arya - Kuch nahi bhai... Bas aise hi kuch casual thoughts the!

              ACP sir who was actually waiting for the answer well knew that something was wrong! The talk that he had with Arya before she left the house, her unusual questions, her unsure gaze... Everything telling him something wasn't right! But if she would have wanted to tell him she would have said it already! And he couldn't force her now... So brushing his thoughts away he silently started enjoying the cute talks which going on between the team and Arya...

Arya - Purvi aisa kuch nahi hai yaar!

Tarika - Acha toh phir Rahul bhaga bhaga kyu aa raha hai tumhare liye?

Daya - Ha ha... Bada chupa rahi hai humse! Boyfriend hi hoga iska!

Arya - Apko toh bas bahana chahiye na mujhe chidane ka! Julia naam hi uski girlfriend ka! Mai nahi hu!

Pankaj - Acha matlab Rahul tumhe pyar (stressing on word 'pyar') se Julia bulata hai?

Arya - Abhijeet bhai! Dekho na sab mujhe pareshan kar rahe hai!

Abhijeet - Aree aise kaise pareshan karege yeh sab meri pyari behan ko! Abhi dekhta hu! (To the team) Kya chal raha hai haa? Koi meri behan ko pareshan nahi karega!

           While everyone fell silent thinking that he was actually angry when he turned to Arya and said in a serious tone...

Abhijeet - (to Arya) Kara diya sab ko chup! Ab kam se kam mere samne toh accept kar lo ki Rahul tumhara boyfriend hai! (Winking)

              Everyone burst in laughter hearing this while Arya threw a pillow towards Abhijeet which Abhijeet dodged in time

Salunkhe - Kya Arya! Kisse help maang rahi ho tum! Yeh Abhijeet toh ek mauka na chode kisi ko chidane ka...

Abhijeet - Ab sir umar hai meri masti mazak karne ki! Apke jaise senior citizen thodi na hu mai!

Salunkhe - Abhijeeeeetttttt!

              While ACP sir said dramatically, looking upwards...

ACP - Hey baghwan! Kya zamana aa gaya hai! Ek baap ke samne uski beti ko log uske boyfriend ke naam se chida rahe hai! Kal yug, ghor kal yug! (Shaking his head)

Arya - Ha na papa! Bachao mujhe! (After a second) Ek minute! Kya bola apne? Boyfriend!!! Papaaaaa!!! Boyfriend nahi hai woh mera!

               The whole room echoed with laughter of the team while Arya sat on the hospital bed with a grumpy face.

To be continued...

             Happy moments in between trouble!! They just stole away a moment of life from life... So who is Rahul Mehra? What twists will he bring in the story? Positive, gray or negative! Who is he? What will happen next? Will ACP sir find out the reason behind Arya's different behaviour? Will Arya be able to know the REAL past? What happened 22 years ago!? What will be its effects now!? Keep reading to know... And yes please do review.