The Present - Chapter 12

              Hellooooo everyone... Am back... With bohot sara duo and trio this time. And from now onwards the story will be more of them... So go on and read. See you at the end...

                               Chapter 12

              It took ACP sir a while to realize that Arya was gone and he didn't know where! In this climate and in her condition he had to find her somehow! But where? And how? He didn't know... He was not able to think logically and at the moment only names that came to his mind were Abhijeet and Daya. He dragged himself inside... Picked up the receiver of the telephone and dialled Abhijeet's number... Abhijeet picked up the call real fast... As if he was waiting for it!

Abhijeet - Hello sir? App theek hai na? App jaise beauro se nikle the... Hume tension ho gayi thi! Sir sab theek hai na sir?

              When Abhijeet didn't receive any answer from the other side he tried again...

Abhijeet - Sir apko meri aawaz aa rahi hai na? Sir? Hello?

                 ACP sir finally found his voice and said...

ACP - Usse... Usse dhundo...

Abhijeet - Kisse dhundu sir? Sir apki awaz... Sir are you ok?

               And again all that he received in reply was silence... Tensed he asked again...

Abhijeet - Sir? Sir? Aap kuch bol kyu nahi rahe?

               And once again silence from the other side of the phone... Abhijeet understanding that something wasn't right, immediately called Daya near him and kept the phone on speaker... And asked again...

Abhijeet - Sir? Kisse dhundu?

                     Silence of a minute and then ACP sir replied him in a broken voice...

ACP - Ar... Arya...

Abhijeet - Arya? Kyu sir? Kya hua usse? Kaha gayi woh? Woh... Woh toh hospital mai thi na!

                   And ACP sir fell silent once again. This time Daya tried talking...

Daya - Sir kya hua Arya ko? Usse toh Abhijeet ajj subah hospital mai hi chod ke aaya tha na! Rahul tha uske saath. Sir kahi gayi hai kya woh?

                   This time they did get a reply but it was the same one...

ACP - Dhundo... Usse... Usse dhundo...

               The way he was talking and reacting... It scared duo... 20 years and more... They had never seen him sound so helpless and weak! The man they had always heard so determined and strong... The voice that made criminals shiver was itself shivering today. And duo could see anything but not this!

               Keeping a hand on Abhijeet's shoulder Daya sir said...

Daya - Sir? Aap ghar par hai na abhi? (As he had called from the landline) Sir baat kya hai? Aap kuch pareshan...

ACP - Arya ko... Dhundo...

             Abhijeet left a sigh, dejected... He moved a hand through his hair in tension while Daya taking support of the table in front of him leaned over it. Duo by now had well understood that something was terribly wrong and the fact that ACP sir was continuously saying 'Arya ko dhundo' ment she was somewhere he didn't know. And they had to find her anyhow! But then what about ACP sir? They had to look after him too... He was definitely not fine.

               Trying their luck one last time, Abhijeet asked...

Abhijeet - Sir? Aap theek hai na sir?

                 But when he didn't receive any reply he cut the call and looked at Daya asking him by eyes 'What to do now?'... Thinking for a moment Daya said...

Daya - Dekho Abhijeet... ACP sir bol rahe the Arya ko dhundo... Matlab woh kahi chali gayi hai aur yeh sir ko nahi pata ki kaha!

Abhijeet - Yaar mai toh usse hospital mai hi chod kar aaya tha! Pata nahi kaha gayi yeh! Aur ACP sir? Yaar unki aawaz! Jaise woh baat kar rahe the! Mujhe toh bohot tension ho rahi hai!

Daya - Lekin hum sir ke paas jaa bhi toh nahi sakte na! Arya ko kon dhundega!

Abhijeet - Acha ruko... Mai Rahul ko call karke puchta hu Arya ke bare mai! Usse kuch pata hoga...

Daya - Ha karo...

*On call*

Abhijeet - Rahul... Akhir hua kya hai? Arya kaha gayi? Abhi ACP sir ka call aaya tha mujhe ki Arya ko dhundo!

Rahul - Sir woh... Actually Arya hospital se chali gayi thi...

Abhijeet - Aree aise kaise chali gayi thi? She was not well! Aur phir ACP sir ghar se call kar rahe hai... Yaar akhir chal kya raha hai?

                Looking for Arya was very important but if Rahul would have revealed the reason of Arya's going away from the hospital it would have created a fight and nothing else. So Rahul decided to hide that part and tell everything else so that they could first find her!

Abhijeet - Kuch bologe?

Rahul - Aa... Sir... Woh hua yeh ki... Arya hospital se chali gayi thi. Uska phone bhi tut gaya tha hospital mai hi. Hospital authority ne ACP sir ko yeh inform kiya... Phir ACP sir aaye the hospital. Aur phir usse dhundne chale gaye. He told me ki mai hospital mai hi rahu! Isiliye am waiting here only... Iske baad kya hua mujhe nahi pata sir...

Abhijeet - Aise kon jata hai yaar hospital se! Aur tum kya kar rahe the uss waqt? (After a pause)... Acha theek hai ek kaam karo. Tum hume Sawarkar road par signal pe milo. There's no use coming to hospital now! Mai aur Daya aa rahe hai waha. Phir jate hai Arya ko dhundne!

Rahul - Ok sir... Mai taxi leke aata hu waha.

               Cutting the call Abhijeet told Daya what Rahul told him. Informing the team they left for the Sawarkar road...

*In car*

Daya - Yaar Abhijeet... Mujhe sir ki bohot chinta ho rahi hai yaar! Maine unhe itna weak sound karte hue kabhi nahi suna!

Abhijeet - Mujhe toh yeh samjh nahi aa raha ki sir iss tarike se kis baat par react kar rahe hai? Arya ke liye worried hai i understand... Lekin sirf iss reason se woh aisa react nahi karege yaar!

Daya - I know! Bas ek baar Arya mil jaye... Hum jate hai sir ke paas...

Abhijeet - Lekin jab tak Arya mil nahi jati, sir ko akele chodna galat nahi hoga? Pata nahi kaise hai woh... Kya kar rahe hai!?

Daya - Hmm... (After a second) Ek kaam karte hai... Salunkhe sir ko bolte hai ACP sir ke ghar jane... Wo dekh bhi lenge ki hua kya hai aur sir ko sambhal bhi lenge!

Abhijeet - Great idea! Mai call karta hu unko... Aur tum gaadi bhagao! Pata nahi yeh Arya kaha jakar baithi hai!

*On call*

Abhijeet - Hello Dr. Sahab...

Salunkhe - Dekho Abhijeet tumhe pata hai itne jaldi DNA test ki reports nahi aati! Tum mujhe unn reports ka puchna band karoge?

Abhijeet - Aree sir! Sun toh lijiye mai bol kya raha hu! Pehle hi shuru ho gaye app!

Salunkhe - Huh! Tum aur tumhara woh ACP... Meri jaan khane ke alawa karte kya ho jo kisi aur kaam se call karoge!

Abhijeet - App meri sunege ki mai phone rakhu?

Salunkhe - Aree bhadak kyu rahe ho? Bolo bolo kya hua?

Abhijeet - Sir ek problem ho gayi hai. Woh Arya kahi chali gayi hai hospital se... Kisi ko nahi pata kaha. Sir usse dhundne gaye the lekin abhi kuch der pehle unhone mujhe unke ghar se call kiya tha... Bas ek hi baat bole jaa rahe the... Ki Arya ko dhundo... Arya ko dhundo! Sir woh ajeeb sound kar rahe the sir! Itna weak sound karte maine unhe kabhi nahi dekha. App please unke ghar jake dekhiye na... Ki baat kya hai? Aur woh theek toh hai na?

Salunkhe - Acha theek hai... Mai jata hu uske ghar. Tum log khayal rakhna ha. Usse dhund ke lao! Pata nahi kaha gayi yeh bachchi! Dono baap beti ek jaise hai! Hospital mai raha hi nahi jata dono se!

Abhijeet - Ha sir... App please jaldi pochaho sir ke ghar. Aur hume inform kar dijiyega sir ke bare mai!

Salunkhe - Ha ok. Arya ke bare mai bhi batate rehna tum log jaise hi koi update milti hai.

Abhijeet - Ji sir

                A little while later duo reached the signal on Sawarkar road where they had decided to call Rahul. Rahul was already present there waiting for them. Fidgeting with his fingers he was looking at the busy traffic thinking something deeply. So many happenings in one single day! So much changed in a span of few hours!

Daya - (while stopping the car in front of him) Baitho gadi mai!

                Opening the door Rahul sat back silently on the backseat of the car... And after they crossed the signal Daya asked Rahul...

Daya - Koi idea hai kaha gayi hogi woh?

Rahul - Nahi sir... Mai toh kudh Mumbai mai zayada jagah nahi janta. Mai kaise bata sakta hu ki Arya kaha jaa sakti hai!

Abhijeet - Hmm... Lekin tumhare hi jaise Arya bhi toh iss shehar mai nayi hai! Woh bhi zayada jagah nahi janti. Gayi toh kisi na ki jaan pehchan ki jagah pe hi hogi na!

Daya - Ha... Aur waise bhi abhi raat ke 11 baj rahe hai... Iss waqt toh waise hi aadhi jagah band ho chuki hongi!

Abhijeet - Toh jaa kaha sakti hai woh?

Daya - Acha ek baar Dai maa ko call karke pucho... Ha woh shehar se bahar gayi hai lekin ho sakta hai ki unki Arya se koi baat hui ho?

Abhijeet - Ha mai karta hu try!

               He called Dai maa but she replied negative. She had no idea where Arya was.

Abhijeet - Uhun... Unki Arya se koi baat nahi hui. Unhe nahi pata kuch iske bare mai. Ulta woh toh kudh hi tension mai aa gayi yeh sunke ki Arya kahi chali gayi hai. Ab woh kal hi shaam ko wapis aa rahi hai!

Daya - Hmm... Lekin sawal toh wahi ka wahi hai na. Ki Arya ko dhunde kaha?

Abhijeet - (After a while) Marine drives?

Daya - Aree haa! Jabse Mumbai aayi hai marine drives, marine drives karti rehti hai! Ho sakta hai wahi gayi ho!

Abhijeet - Toh chalo phir! Wahi dekhte hai pehle!

                 They turned towards marine drives as they speed away silently... Duo thinking and worried for Arya while they couldn't stop thinking about their deary ACP sir while Rahul still maintaining silence was thinking about what his friend would do next!

*ACP sir's house*

                  Through the open gate of his house Dr. Salunkhe came inside and parking his car came out quick... Keeping a hand on his head to protect himself against the ongoing heavy rains he came running towards the main door... He was welcomed by darkness spread all around the house. Except for silence and the voice of rain nothing could be heard. He peeped inside still standing on the open main door... With careful steps he entered the house while he tried to see through the darkness. He moved a little ahead and bumped into the centre table and as he was holding his hurt feet he moved away from infront the main door the little light from the lawn made things in the drawing room visible. But what gained Dr. Salunkhe's attention was a tired figure sitting on the ground near the sofa... He was leaning back on the sofa while his left leg was fully stretched on the ground. Right one bent from knee... And his right hand rested on his right knee while his left hand was kept on the cold ground... Besides it was lying the telephone receiver. There he was... Sitting on the cold ground in his completely wet clothes. Dr. Salunkhe kept staring him for a while... ACP sir still didn't seem to notice his presence.
                  Dr. Salunkhe shivered at the sight... This man... This very man used to make criminals bend on knees. One glare and it was enough to shut anyone blabbering nonsense. Tortures... Bullet wounds... Suspension... Jail... Being called a gaddar, bhagoda and a bad father! Name one thing, enough to break a man and this man had gone through it... And not only gone through but also had came out of it... Even more stronger everytime! The braveheart the whole country saluted... One of the best cops in the town! The man who changed the meaning of police department for many... The warrior who made an invincible team! Was just lying like a lifeless body in front of him... And Dr. Salunkhe didn't know what was so strong that it could break his strongest friend!
                 Coming out of the shock Dr. Salunkhe came towards ACP sir and sat down on his knees coming upto his level and kept a hand on his shoulder. ACP sir turned his gaze towards Dr. Salunkhe slowly... And it was then that Salunkhe sir noticed his teary empty eyes. Staring into his eyes for a moment he asked him slowly with care, concern and a best friend's love clearly evident in his voice...

Salunkhe - Kya hua boss?

             He was replied with silence and the same no expression look... Waiting for a minute, Salunkhe sir sat down besides him. Himself leaning against the couch just like ACP sir... Then he put a hand around his shoulder and asked him again who was now staring the floor with all his concentration... Or maybe he wasn't even aware of it!

Salunkhe - Yaar bata na kya hua? Yeh kya haal bana rakha hai apna tune ha?

                 This time ACP sir didn't even look towards him... He continued staring the floor...

Salunkhe - Arya ke liye pareshan hai? Kuch nahi hoga usse! Abhijeet Daya gaye hai na usse dhundne... Woh dhund lenge usse!

              Hearing the name Arya or maybe Abhijeet and Daya a spark came up in ACP sir's eyes. And that spark flew down his eyes in form of a tear... ACP sir then looked towards Salunkhe sir and asked him like a year old innocent kid who knows nothing and understands nothing. Only believes what the other person tells him...

ACP - Ar... Ar... Arya... Theek... Hai na?

                 Salunkhe sir didn't know the answer to this question... Infact he didn't even know what had happened to Arya in first place. But he had to reply something to ACP sir. And if the answer would have been negative... God knows how ACP sir would have reacted... So he decided to say 'that she was fine'...

Salunkhe - Ha... Woh... Woh theek hai boss. Abhijeet, Daya gaye hai na dhundne usse!

ACP - Ha... Ha... Mere Abhijeet, Daya... Dhund... Dhund lenge usse.

Salunkhe - Ha boss. Dekhna abhi thodi der mai dhund ke le aayege woh Arya ko!

ACP - Le... Le aayege? Na... Nahi... Woh yaha... Nahi aayegi wapis. Kabhi... Bhi

                 Saying this ACP sir rested his head back on the couch sitting in the same position. While Salunkhe sir asked him...

Salunkhe - Kyu?

                   No answer was the only answer he received... And sighing he said again...

Salunkhe - Acha Prayduman tum na pehle kapde badal lo theek hai? Nahi toh thand baith jayegi!

              He wasn't answered even now. ACP sir still sitting in his previous position... Unmoved... Unaffected. As if he hadn't even heard him!

                Salunkhe sir closed his eyes for a second and as he opened them he was ready with a decision... He went up to the kitchen and mixing something in a glass of water made ACP sir drink it forcefully even after his denial.
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*Marine drives*

                In the heavy rains a car was moving swiftly along the road of marine drives... While the beautiful lights of queens necklace glowed in all its glory. The road was considerably silent at this moment... It was about midnight and the city was deep asleep. The three people in the moving car were looking around keenly to find someone... When Abhijeet suddenly said...

Abhijeet - Daya gadi roko! Woh dekho... Waha koi baitha hai!

                 Abhijeet said indicating towards a direction... Seeing there Daya saw a girl sitting on the boundary between the ocean and the city...  She was wearing light blue clothes... What somehow seemed like hospital dress... The heavy rains which had forced 'The city that never sleep' to go silent didn't seem to affect her even a little. A small white coloured cloth like thing was tied to the girl's head... And as she stared into the depts of ocean she didn't seem to make a single movement.
                  After looking at her from distance for a few minutes, Daya said...

Daya - Chalo dekhte hai.

            Duo along with Rahul came out from the car and headed towards the girl. They didn't care to pick up the umbrella lying behind. Reaching near the girl they saw that she was indeed Arya.

Daya - Arya? Yaha kya kar rahi ho tum? Aise kon jata hai yaar hospital se! Pata hai kitna pareshan hai sab log tab se? Aur yaha aakar aise barish mai baithi ho!

              Arya didn't even look back at him as if she hadn't heard him.

Daya - O madam... Apse baat kar raha hu mai! Yaha hum sab ki jaan nikal gayi aur tum aise aaram se baithi ho yaha!

               Noticing her silence Abhijeet held Daya's hand to stop him and at the same time kept a hand on Arya's shoulder breaking her trance. He noticed she had high fever... Maybe due to getting wet in the rains.
                She looked back at him sensing someone's presence while Rahul helped her get down from the boundary wall. This time it was Abhijeet who broke the silence...

Abhijeet - Yeh kya bachpana hai? Kyu bhagi thi tum hospital se? Halat dekhi hai kudh ki? Itna bhigne ki wajh se fever ho gaya hai! Are you mad? Waha ACP sir kitne tension mai hai pata bhi hai tumhe? Call kiya tha unhone hume! Kitna weak aur sad sound kar rahe the! Aisa unhe kabhi nahi dekha maine pehle! (Remembering his voice on phone) Kudh ke bare mai nahi toh unke bare mai toh sochti!

               Once again silence spread around as Abhijeet stopped talking. Duo were looking at her expecting an answer... While she was busy staring the ground. When frustrated Daya spoke up...

Daya - Kuch bologi bhi ki nahi?

              And now it had been enough for Rahul... He was silent until now out of respect for duo but Arya's teary eyes broke his patience. He spoke up in a loud voice...

Rahul - Kya bolegi woh? Ha kya bolegi? Aree uski puri jindagi idhar ki udhar ho gayi aur app log usse puch rahe hai ki yeh kya bachpana hai? Aree jake apke ACP sir se puchiye na ki unhone kya kiya hai! Apni hi beti ke saath akhir kar kaise sakta hai koi aisa? Call kiya tha unhone apko? Arya ko dhunde bola tha? Kyu? Taki aur ek jhoot bol sake isse? Yaa phir itne zakham dena kafi nahi tha unke liye toh aur zakham dene the unhe? Aree sharam nahi kya aati unhe itna kuch karne ke baad humdardi batorte hue!?

Daya - (loosing his cool, he shouted at top of his voice) Stop it Rahul! How dare did you talk this way about ACP sir! Himmat kaise hui tumhari unke against itna kuch bolne ki?

Rahul - Ha sir... App log toh unka hi saath denge na! Arya apki lagti kya hai? Lekin woh toh pita saman hai apke!

Abhijeet - Rahul iske pehle ki mai kuch kar baithu... Shut up (he said gritting his teeth)... Ha woh hai humare pita saman... Aree pita samam kya pita hi hai woh humare! Aur ek lafz... Ek lafz nahi sunege hum unke khilaf! (Pointing his finger to him) (to Arya) Aur tum? Yeh tumhara dost ACP sir ke khilaf na jane kya kya bole jaa raha hai... Aur tum kuch bol bhi nahi rahi?

                He asked holding her hand while she looked at him with teary eyes... Meanwhile Rahul spoke up again...

Rahul - Bohot izzat karta hu mai apki sir... Humesha se apko apna idol mana hai! Apke nishane... Sharpness ke saath saath apki sachayi ka saath dene ka bhi fan hu. Ummed karta hu iss baar bhi app sach ka hi saath denge...

Daya - Konsa sach aur kaisa sach? Yeh bhi batayege app zara Mr. Rahul

           Daya said in anger to Rahul while his gaze was continuously fixed on Arya who was again looking at the ground... And now Rahul spoke up... He told them everything that Arya came to know since she came back to India upto what Rahul came to know from the LRO office... At the end he spoke sarcastically...

Rahul - Toh bataiye ab? Apki sachayi ki murat ACP sir begunah hai?

Abhijeet - Bilkul hai! Aadhi baate jankar unpar shak kar rahe ho na tum dono... Pura sach jaan kar utna hi pachtaoge! (To Arya) Yehi baat thi na woh jo tum mujhe subah batane wali thi? Kash bata di hoti... Ajj apne hi pita ke khilaf na khadi hoti! However ab ghar jao dono! (Taunting Rahul) Hume humare pita saman ACP sir ke ghar jana hai. Tumahri pyari dost na jane kitna hurt karke aayi hai unhe!

               Arya spoke up for the first time now... Still as she looked at the ground

Arya - Mai... Mai pa... (Stopping in between saying 'papa') ACP Prayduman ke ghar nahi jaugi...

Daya - (with a painful smile) 27 saal jinhone apni jaan se zayada pyar kiya tumhe unhe papa bhi nahi bol sakti tum! Jao... Iss Rahul ke ghar jao! Waha toh jaogi na?

              Calling a taxi Arya left with Rahul towards his house... While duo waited in silence until they left. To make sure they get a taxi safely as it was pretty late. And as soon as they left they sat back in their car and left for ACP sir's house.
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*ACP sir's house*

               A dim light was now on the drawing room of the house... While Dr. Salunkhe was sitting on the couch... His hands rested on his knees while he was lost in his thoughts. Just then a bell rang gaining his attention and he came to open the door to see duo waiting outside with tensed face...

Abhijeet - Sir ACP sir theek hai na? Apko call karne kaha tha maine? Apne call bhi nahi kiya!

Salunkhe - Aree ha... Woh... Sorry bhul gaya mai!

Daya - Sir lekin ACP sir theek toh hai na?

Salunkhe - Ha abhi theek hai woh... Pehle andar aao tum dono!

               Duo came inside while Dr. Salunkhe closed the door... All three of them settled on the couch when noticing their wet clothes Dr. Salunkhe asked them...

Salunkhe - Yeh tum dono bheeg kyu gaye?

Daya - Sir woh chodiye na! Waise ACP sir hai kaha? Dikh nahi rahe?

Salunkhe - Woh apne kamre mai so raha hai. Aree ha Arya mili tum logo ko? Theek toh hai na woh bachchi?

Abhijeet - Ha sir... Mili na (greeting his teeth)... Aur theek bhi hai!

Salunkhe - Aree toh hai kaha woh? Ghar nahi laye usse? Hospital chod diya kya?

Abhijeet - Nahi sir... Woh Rahul ke saath gayi hai... Uske ghar

Salunkhe - Kyu? Yaha kyu nahi aayi? Aur bhaagi kyu thi woh hospital se? Prayduman kitna pareshan tha uske liye!

Daya - Jaise usse iss baat se koi fark padta hai na (grumbling)

Salunkhe - Hain? Yaar kya bol rahe ho tum dono? Akhir hua kya hai?

Abhijeet - Sir woh hum batate hai thodi der mai. Pehle ACP sir se milke aate hai...

Salunkhe - Lekin so raha hai woh abhi. Pani mai mila kar dhoke se neend ki goli de kar bohot mushkil se sulaya hai usse!

Abhijeet - Neend ki goli?

Daya - Ha sir... Uski kya zarurat pad gayi?

Salunkhe - Kya batau yaar mai tum dono ko... Abhijeet jab tumne mujhe call kiya tha mai turant yaha aaya... Maine dekha bahar ka gate aur main door dono khule hai. Ek bhi light chalu nahi thi ghar mai. Mai sambhal kar andar aaya toh dekha Prayduman yaha jamin par baitha tha. He was completely wet. He didn't even see me coming! Uski aakhe bilkul khali thi... Mano na kuch soch raha hai na kuch samjh raha hai. Usse yu dekhkar kitna dar gaya tha mai! Woh na kuch sun raha tha na hi react kar raha tha kisi chiz par. Agar aise hi rehta toh uski tabiyat karab ho jati! Isiliye maine usse ek glass pani mai neend ki dawai mila kar sula diya. Taki woh pehle toh shant ho jaye. Ab kal hi uthega woh!

Daya - Iss Arya ki toh! Koi apne hi papa ke saath aisa kaise kar sakta hai yaar!

Abhijeet - Kya bolu mai? Beti hai woh sir ki... Aur sir par hi itna sa bhi vishwas nahi!

Salunkhe - Aree lekin kiya kya hai usne? Kyu itna naraz ho tum dono usse? Aur Prayduman? Woh kis baat par aisa react kar raha tha?

Daya - Sir hum bas ek baar sir se mille... Ek baar unhe dekh kar hi dil ko tassali ho jayegi. Hum aake batate hai apko sab kuch.

Salunkhe - Acha theek hai. Chalo. Apne kamre mai hai woh...

             Abhijeet, Daya and Dr. Salunkhe came to ACP sir's room... Slowly opening the door Salunkhe sir switched on the night lamp in the room lightly illuminating it. Duo silently entered inside while Dr. Salunkhe kept waiting at the door.
                 Standing near the bed duo stared at him for a moment with eyes brimming with tears... Tears which showed their love and respect for him... Abhijeet kept his hand on sir's shoulder while Daya held his hand securing it in his own. Their heart pinched as they saw, the traces of dried tears still present on his face. They were guilty... Of not being on his side when he needed them the most.
              Daya's hand tightened into a fist as he remembered Rahul's words about ACP sir and Arya's silence when he was saying it all. 'How could they even think of him that way?'... And a tear fell down, his eye on ACP sir's hand which was still in his grip.
               On the other side Abhijeet spread his another hand on sir's head. And said in low but determined voice...

Abhijeet - Mai apse wada karta hu sir... Apki begunahi sabit karke rahuga. Har uss insan ko jisne app par shak kiya... Har uss insan ko jisne apko dard diya! Chahe woh Arya hi kyu na ho!

              While Daya added in a teary voice...

Daya - Yes sir... Hum sabit karke rahege. Kisi ke pass koi wajh... Koi ilzam nahi chodege app par lagane ke liye. Anyone who dared to utter even a word against you... I will make them regret it!

             From the door Dr. Salunkhe was smiling with tears... He still didn't know what exactly had happened... But he already knew that these two gems of his friend would not let anything wrong happen to him. He was silently leaning on the door with a content smile... Through the tears that made his vision blurry he captured in his eyes the most beautiful relation of the world. Relation which had no expectation but only promises... No compulsion but only trust... And no demands but only love.
                 When he was just thinking of all this Daya spoke up again...

Daya - We are sorry sir... Hum apke saath tab nahi reh sake... Jab apko humari sabse zayada zarurat thi. Lekin haa sir, ab hum dono humesha apke saath rahege.

              Abhijeet getting up just turned to the other side to hide his tears. And wiping them just left the room... He was soon followed by Daya who after patting sir's hand left behind his friend who he knew was trying really hard to control his tears.
              As they left Salunkhe sir came some steps ahead towards ACP sir and said slowly wiping his own teary eyes...

Salunkhe - Am so jealous of you boss! So jealous of you! Yaar itna pyar karne wale bete bhi kahi hote hai kya? Kaha se dhund ke laye tum inhe! Yeh bolo kamse kam mujhe hi pareshan kar lene dete hai tumhe! Nahi toh mera hi gala daba de... Ki apki himmat kaise hui humare sir ko pareshan karne ki!

              Smiling at him Dr. Salunkhe covered him properly in the blanket and then switching off the light left the room closing the door. He came downstairs to see duo sitting silently when after waiting for a moment he said...

Salunkhe - Ab Abhijeet ji agar apka aasu chupao mission accomplish ho gaya ho toh batayege ki hua kya hai?

               Daya lightly smiling at his comment said to Abhijeet by eyes 'Dekh sir ko bhi pata hai tum aasu chupane ki koshish kar rahe the!'... While Abhijeet first shot Daya a glare and then one to Dr. Salunkhe. Although he knew it would be of no use as these two already knew the truth!
               Taking a deep breath duo started narrating Dr. Salunkhe everything of what had happened and what Rahul told them... Even Dr. Salunkhe got angry on Rahul and Arya. How could they think of ACP sir in that way! Only for money ACP sir would kill two people? And betray his own daughter? Even if this was the last truth on this planet he wouldn't believe it!
                    They talked about it for a while and then decided to go to sleep as it was already very late. All three of them slept in ACP sir's house itself for the night and making a note to think of a way out of this the next morning.

*Next morning, ACP sir's house*

             It was a silent morning today and getting up duo made call to Freddy to tell him to handle the on going case and informed him that duo would be late to beauro today while ACP sir wouldn't be coming. Freddy from this, very well understood that something was wrong and on his continues pressurising duo revealed to him and the team about the previous night's happenings. The team got angry on them for not telling them about this earlier but as duo apologized they told them not to worry about beauro and take a leave today and take care of ACP sir. Duo agreed as it was important and promising them that they will keep them updated with the happenings, cut the call.
              Soon duo freshened up and went downstairs to find Dr. Salunkhe already busy in kitchen making breakfast.

Abhijeet - Aree Dr. Sahab! Yeh kya kar rahe hai?

Salunkhe - Kya?

             Dr. Salunkhe asked him confused looking at his hand in which he was holding a jug of water to pour it into the pot for making tea...

Salunkhe - Kya kar raha hu? Pani daal raha hu chai banane ke liye!

Abhijeet - Aree sir yeh H2O hai! Its a chemical! Isse piyege kya hum? Apko yeh bhi nahi pata? Kaise doctor hai app? (With a naughty grin)

              Daya who was until now struggling hard to control his laughter started laughing looking at Dr. Salunkhe's expressions! While Dr. Salunkhe grabbed a knife kept on the kitchen slab and pointing it to Abhijeet said...

Salunkhe - Apke liye behtar yehi hoga ki app chup rahe!

Abhijeet - Aree sir! Ab bachche ki jaan loge kya!

Salunkhe - Huh! Bada aaya bachcha! Buddhe ho gaye ho!

Abhijeet - Mai buddha? Toh app kya hai phir?

              Before Salunkhe sir could again burst in anger Daya to control the situation jumped in between saying...

Daya - Aree sir chodo na isko! Yeh toh pagal hai! App nashta dijiye na! Bohot bhook lagi hai!

Salunkhe - Pehle apne iss dost ko bolo chup rahe! Mere baal aur meri umar ke bare mai kuch nahi sun sakta mai!

Abhijeet - Acha toh apki non existent girlfriend ke bare mai bolu?

Salunkhe - Abhijeet!!!

Daya - Aree sir chodo na! App app chai banao! Mai tab tak plates rakh deta hu! Chalo Abhijeet!

Salunkhe - Nahi! Ab chai yeh Abhijeet hi banayega! Mai nahi banane wala! Mai jaa raha hu dining table pe baithne!

                Once again Abhijeet said hiding himself behind Daya...

Abhijeet - Sir chair par bathiyega! Dining table pe nahi! Nahi toh ACP sir ki dining table tut jayegi aur phir woh apko chodne nahi wale!

Daya - (giving Abhijeet a glare) Sir sir... Apko jaha baithna hai app baithiye! (To Abhijeet) Aur tum chai banao na!

             And grumbling under his teeth Dr. Salunkhe went and sat on the chair and was joined by duo who came with tea and the already cooked breakfast. When between the breakfast Abhijeet asked...

Abhijeet - Sir woh ACP sir kab tak uthege?

Salunkhe - Goli ka dose kafi high tha... Aur maine usse di bhi late thi... Kamse kam sade bara - ek ke pehle toh nahi uthega

Abhijeet - Acha theek hai. Unke liye rest zaruri bhi hai

                 Chatting about various topics they finished their breakfast... Accompanied by their leg pulling and everything else. But somewhere in their heart all three of them were thinking about what next? Also being worried about ACP sir.
                 As they finished their breakfast duo got busy with some beauro work that they could do from home on their laptops as they brought it from their car. While Dr. Salunkhe got busy studying some test reports of their ongoing case.

*1:30 pm*

Daya - Sir...

Salunkhe - Ha Daya?

Daya - Sir 1:30 ho gaye hai... Ab tak ACP sir uthe nahi?

Salunkhe - Ha... Ab tak toh uth jana chahiye tha... Ruko mai dekhta hu.

              Saying he kept away his file and as he got up to go to ACP sir's room, the door of ACP sir's room opened and he came out rubbing his eyes. He was still in his last night's clothes which looked really messy now. Duo kept aside their laptops and stood up when the door bell rang.
              Daya went to open the door and as he opened it he saw Rahul standing outside...

Daya - Kya hai?

              Without saying anything Rahul forwarded him a letter which Daya took with questioning eyes...

Rahul - ACP sir ke liye hai... Chalta hu.

                And without waiting for an answer he walked out and Daya kept looking at him until he sat in his car and left completely.
                Closing the door he came inside and went upstairs to ACP sir... While Abhijeet and Dr. Salunkhe followed him up. Hesitantly Daya forwarded the letter to ACP sir when he said...

ACP - Pado...

             Daya opened the letter and then read it... It shocked him to core and the letter slipped out of his hand and now Abhijeet picked it up and read it and was equally shocked to see it. When Salunkhe asked him impatiently...

Salunkhe - Kya hai letter mai?

Abhijeet - Arya ne sir ke against writ petition file ki hai... She wants to reopen that 27 year old case of that police encounter in which Mr. Arun and Gayatri Malhotra died. Court ne uski petition accept kar li hai aur ACP sir ko court ne summon kiya hai teen din baad...

To be continued...

             Ab aage kya hoga??? Arya ne toh sir pe sidha case kar diya! Review and wait to know further! The only hint that i can give for now is that you all will see Abhijeet sir in a completely different form now... In what form and why? Reviewwwwwwww to know!