The Present - Chapter 22

               Mai aa gayi!!! Exam katham and am here! Iss chapter mai no recap cause am lazy to type *faceplam* but sach bolu toh zarurat bhi nahi hai iss chapter mai recap ki. Recap next chapter mai mil jayega! Tab tak enjoy!!! Mai last mai aaugi. Aur intezar karne ki zarurat nahi hai!

                              Chapter 22

Voice - Koi chalaki karne ki karne ki koshish mat karna

               Slowly Purvi raised her hands up when she heard again...

Voice - Mudo piche!

               And as she turned back slowly completely ready for any action that she might need to take she saw Insp Dev standing there along with his team who was himself shocked seeing her here and said still aiming his gun at her...

Dev - Sub Insp Purvi? App yaha kya kar rahi hai?

Purvi - Woh... Woh actually mai...

Dev - Nahi nahi. Rehne dijiye. Iss sawal ka jawab ab app sidha Shrikant sir (IG) ko hi dijiyega! Aur ha apke Abhijeet sir aur Daya sir ko bhi bula lijiye. Iske pehle ki mai apko contempt of court ke jurm mai arrest karu!

Purvi - Mai yaha koi investigation karne nahi aayi thi...

Dev - (cutting her in between) Toh kya karne aayi thi app? Iss bungalow ko humne seal kiya hai. Seal toh apne door pe dekhi hi hogi! Aur dekhi thi tabhi toh yu khidki se andar aayi app? (Little loudly) Court ka order tha na ki CID mai se koi bhi iss case ko investigate nahi karega. Aur na hi humari investigation mai dakhal dega! Toh phir?

Purvi - Mai yaha kisi ka picha karte hue aayi thi.

Dev - Par mujhe toh yaha aur koi nahi dikh raha! Kisi ka picha karte hue aayi thi app ki apke ACP sir ke khilaf milne wale sabuto ko mitane?

Purvi - Dekhiye...

Dev - (cutting in between) Ab jo bhi dekhna hai IG sir dekhege. App ke liye behtar yehi hoga ki app apke Abhijeet sir aur Daya sir ko phone karke bula le unke office mai.

*Mumbai, 3 hours later*

              Abhijeet, Daya and Purvi were standing in IG Shrikant Pandit's office while he stared at them with a burning glare... He first turned to Purvi and said...

IG Pandit - Kyu gayi thi tum waha?

               Not knowing what to say she maintained silence while IG Pandit roared again as...

IG Pandit - Am asking something Miss Purvi! Answer me!

Purvi - Sir... Woh...

               But before she could say anything Abhijeet cut in between and said...

Abhijeet - Sir humare kehne pe gayi thi yeh. Purvi ki isme koi galti nahi hai.

IG Pandit - (turning to him) Aur kyu bejha tha tumne isse?

Abhijeet - Kisi ka picha kar rahi thi...

IG Pandit - Picha kar rahi thi ki saboot mitane gayi thi?

Purvi - Nahi sir... Mai toh bas...

IG Pandit - (loudly) Am not talking to you Insp Purvi! Tumhare seniors ko tumhe bachane ka bohot shok hai na. So let them answer me! You may leave!

              Purvi for once glanced at Abhijeet and Daya and seeing them standing there with determination she turned to IG Pandit and said...

Purvi - No sir... Am fine

              But this time it was Daya who stopped her in between without looking at her...

Daya - Purvi leave!

Purvi - Par sir?

Daya - (now looking at her) I said, leave!

               Having no other option Purvi left the cabin making a silent prayer in her heart for her seniors.
               Here as she left IG Pandit once again turned to duo with...

IG Pandit - Mai akhiri baar puch raha hu kyu bejha tha usse Mr. Arun ke ghar pe?

Daya - Humne usse waha bejha nahi tha sir. Purvi kisi ka picha kar rahi thi. Picha karte karte waha pohch gayi! Isme uski kya galti hai?

IG Pandit - Kiska picha kar rahi thi? Aur kyu?

Abhijeet - Sir am sorry lekin yeh hum apko nahi bata sakte.

IG Pandit - (angrily) Abhijeet tum...

Abhijeet - Sir yeh case court mai chal raha hai. Defense lawyer mai hu! And this very thing gives me the right to investigate this case.

IG Pandit - Beshak tum iss case ko investigate kar sakte ho! Par jis jagah ko SIT ne seal kiya tha waha tumhe jane ki izazat kisne di? If you are forgetting Sr. Insp Abhijeet or if i should say Advocate Abhijeet, court ka order tha ki CID iss case mai dakhal nahi degi. Agar Insp Purvi Mr. Arun ke ghar mai gayi thi yeh baat court mai keh di na maine toh tum logo ke saath kya hoga shayad mujhe yeh tum logo ko batane ki zarurat nahi hai!

Daya - Sir as a CID officer hum waha jaa nahi sakte aur as defence hume iss case ko investigate karna hi hoga. Hum kare toh kare kya sir?

IG Pandit - Kyu karna padega? SIT kar rahi hai na investigate? Phir tum logo ko kya zarurat hai?

              Abhijeet angrily whispered to himself as...

Abhijeet - Woh toh dikh hi raha hai kaise kar rahi hai investigate...

             But to his bad luck IG Pandit heard him and asked sternly as...

IG Pandit - Kya dikh raha hai bhai? Hume bhi toh batao?

             Daya now tried to interrupt being worried for Abhijeet as he knew what was to follow as he saw the fire in IG Pandit's eyes and he already knew Abhijeet won't stop now...

Daya - Kuch nahi sir... Woh Abhijeet bas...

Abhijeet - Nahi Daya... Bolne de mujhe! (To IG Pandit) Toh app hi batayiye sir SIT kar rahi hai kya unbaised investigation? Maan kar hi baith gaye hai mano ki ACP sir gunhegar hai! Unke ghar se leke CID beauro mai unke cabin ki bhi talashi li jaa chuki hai aur hum chahe toh Mr. Arun ke ghar kisi ka picha karte bhi chale jaye toh woh galat ho gaya? Vishwas nahi hai humpar? Mat karo! Par hume humari baat sabit karne ka mauka toh do! Pakad kar daal diya hume samundar mai tairne ko aur phir haat pair bandh kar aur bolte ho ki aa jao tair ke bahar, apni jaan bachane ka pura hak hai tumhe!

IG Pandit - Court ka order hai! Judge sahab se puchna tum yeh baat. Mujhse kehkar kuch fayeda nahi hoga! Mera kaam court ka order follow karna hai! Mai woh karuga. Aur rahi baat aajki, toh tum dono ka aur sub insp Purvi ka past record dekh kar mai abhi tum logo par koi action nahi le raha hu. Believing what you said ki woh waha investigation ke liye nahi gayi thi picha kar rahi thi. Lekin agar mujhe pata chala ki this was not the case phir toh tum logo ka faisla court karega! Also make sure nothing of this sort happens again! Nahi toh suspension is the minimum thing that you both will face! (After a moment) You may leave now!

                Whispering a low but confident 'sir' duo left the cabin and just as they came out they saw purvi looking at them with worried expressions...

Purvi - Sir kya kaha Shrikant sir ne?

Daya - Kuch nahi... Bas normal baate...

                He said smiling lightly to relax a too nervous Purvi while Purvi knowing that 'normal baate' was definitely not what IG would have said...

Purvi - Sir please batayiye na!

Daya - Kuch nahi Purvi sach mai. Bas humara previous record dekhkar chod diya. Aur warning di hai ki aisa kuch wapis nahi hona chahiye. Nothing much. Tum tension mat lo. Relax!

Purvi - Sir kaise tension na lu sir! Sab meri hi galti thi. Am really really sorry sir! Mujhe bungalow mai jana hi nahi chahiye tha. Aur gayi bhi toh dekhke nahi gayi ki Insp Dev andar hai. Sab meri wajh se hua sir. Itna sunna pada app logo ko aur toh aur warning bhi! Am sorry sir...

Abhijeet - Aree aree bas! Kuch nahi hua hai. Itna toh normal hai yaar. Jaise jaise kaam humne kiye hai na yeh sab toh kuch bhi nahi hai! Dar toh tab lagta tha jab ACP sir bulate the humare aisa kuch karne ke baad. Baki sab toh theek hai! Chalo chalte hai. Beauro bhi jana hai!

               Giving a sweet smile Abhijeet started walking with Purvi and as took only two steps ahead Daya called him as...

Daya - Abhi? Tumhare pair ko kya hua hai?

Abhijeet - Aree nahi Daya... Kuch nahi. Bas woh seedhi se pair slip ho gaya tha

Daya - Aise kaise pair slip ho gaya tha? Aur kaha hua?

Abhijeet - Suabh ghar pe hi ho gaya tha yaar. Kuch nahi mamuli si moch hai! Tu tension mat le

Daya - Chal nahi paa rahe ho theek se aur mamuli si moch hai! Aur subah ki baat tum mujhe abhi bata rahe ho!

Abhijeet - (looking at his watch, innocently) 1 hi toh baje hai Daya... Abhi bhi toh almost subah hi hai na!

Daya - Abhijeet tum!

Abhijeet - Acha acha sorry mere bhai. Ab toh pata chal gaya na tujhe! Aur waise bhi mamuli moch hai yaar! 1/2 din mai theek ho jayegi. Chalo ab! Beauro mai Freddy aur Pankaj kab se akele hai.

                Smiling lightly at the cute friendship of her seniors Purvi walked ahead leaving Abhijeet and Daya behind and as Daya held Abhijeet's hand to support him even though Abhijeet didn't need any help Daya remembered ACP sir's words in the morning as 'Abhijeet ki jaan kathre mai hai' he asked Abhijeet as...

Daya - Waise pair slip hua kaise tumhara?

Abhijeet - Yaar theek hu na mai!

Daya - Yeh mere sawal ka jawab nahi tha...

Abhijeet - Aree yaar... Pata nahi kaha se seedhi pe pani gir gaya tha. Mai phone pe baat kar raha tha toh dhayan nahi tha. Toh ho gaya pair slip.

Daya - Jab pani gira tha tab pocha kyu nahi? (Little angrily)

Abhijeet - Mujhe pata hi nahi chala ki kab gira. Infact mai toh kudh soch raha tha ki waha pani aaya kaha se! (Looking at Daya's worried expressions) Baat kya hai Daya? Kuch problem hai? Tum pareshan lag rahe ho? Ajj jab subah phone kiya tha tab bhi pareshan lag rahe the!

Daya - Nahi toh! Mujhe kya problem hogi? Kuch bhi toh nahi hai!!

Abhijeet - Sach mai?

Daya - Ha yaar Abhi. Tum kuch zayada hi soch rahe ho. Kuch nahi hai.

              By now they had already reached the car and hence keeping the topic aside they settled inside and drove off to beauro.

*Veer's office, lunch break*

             Daya entered inside and silently sat on the chair waiting for Veer to finish his talk with his assistant... And soon wrapping it up Veer while removing his lawyer's coat as asked him as...

Veer - Kya baat hai Daya? Achanak milna tha tumhe? Sab theek hai na?

Daya - Ha ha. Sab theek hai. Yaar mujhe bas itna puchna tha ki kya kisi tarah se hum parso jo court ki hearing hai usse aage nahi badwa sakte kya?

Veer - Kyu? Tumhe date aage badwani kyu hai?

Daya - Aree yaar woh... (Thinking of a reason) Ha woh court mai judge sahab ne order jo diya tha ki agli hearing mai koi pukhta saboot pesh karna hai! Hum toh ab tak kuch dhoond hi nahi paye na! Kya karege?

Veer - Ha par theek hai na. Uske liye abhi se appeal karne ki kya zarurat hai? Court mai hi request kar lenge. Waise bhi mujhe lagta nahi hai ki SIT yaa Arya ko bhi koi saboot mila hai. So judge sahab waise hi date aage badha denge!

Daya - Ha par phir bhi! Risk lena hi kyu hai? Agar unko kuch mil gaya hoga toh? Hum pehle se hi date le lete hai na aage ki!

Veer - Dekho mere hisab se toh isme koi risk hai nahi! Par phir bhi agar aisa karna hai toh hume Abhijeet ke through karna hoga. Woh lawyer hai na!

Daya - Nahi nahi! Abhijeet ke through nahi! Aur koi rasta nahi hai kya?

Veer - Aur koi rasta toh nahi hai... Par tum Abhijeet ke through kyu nahi karna chahte? Baat kya hai yaar?

Daya - Nahi woh mujhe pata hai ki woh manega nahi!

Veer - Kyu nahi manega?

Daya - Mujhe pata hai na bas ki nahi manega woh!

              Veer was very confused with Daya's behaviour while Daya was very worried now. Time was running out! He was pretty sure that the water on the staircase of Abhijeet's house didn't come out of the blue. It was planned! And Daya knew how dangerous this could be if it was intended to be that way! Someone who had the access to Abhijeet's house and someone who made ACP sir want to give up on investigation of this case... He knew how dangerous this someone could be! And on top of it ACP sir had already decided to accept himself guilty of all the allegations on him in the hearing that was scheduled the day after tomorrow! He was now struck from all sides!
              Veer kept a hand on Daya's hand that was kept on the table to gain his attention and asked him...

Veer - Baat kya hai Daya? Akhir hua kya hai?

               Leaving a sigh Daya brushed away the topic with...

Daya - Tera phone dena...

Veer - (confusedly forwarding his phone) Tere phone ko kya hua?

Daya - Kuch nahi. Woh ek khabri ko call karna hai. Woh abhi ek gang mai ghusa hai toh mere number se karna risky hai. Sab khabar hoti hai uske paas. Ho sakta hai iss case mai bhi help karde!

Veer - Oh acha. Toh landline se karle! Pata nahi phone mai kuch problem ho gayi hai. Virus hai shayad. Pata nahi kya kya gadbad hoti rehti hai ajjkal

Daya - Abhi toh naya liya tha na tune? Iphone X bhi kharab ho gaya?

Veer - Aree yaar. Pata nahi... Jab liya tha theek hi chal raha tha. Abhi 1/2 hafto se pareshan kar raha hai! Time bhi nahi mil raha ki jake dikhalu service center mai!

              Daya who was already holding Veer's phone in his hand did something in it for 5 minutes and his expression from that of worry changed to a shocked one! Seeing this Veer asked him...

Veer - Kya hua? Kuch mila kya?

Daya - Tumhara phone hacked hai Veer!

Veer - What? Par kisi ko mere phone ko hack karke kya milega?

Daya - Ab woh toh tumhe hi pata... Ek minute! Tum ajj bhi apne sare cases ke personal notes apne phone mai banate ho?

Veer - Ha! Har jagah pen aur paper lekar nahi jaa sakte na. Toh mai kuch details bhool na jau isilye phone ke notes mai likh ke rakhta hu!

Daya - Yeh Arya wale case ki details bhi likh rahe ho?

Veer - Ha! (After a second when Daya didn't say anything) Par baat kya hai? Iss case ki details ke liye hack kiya gaya hai kya mera phone?

Daya - Ha

Veer - Par tum yeh itne sure kaise ho?

Daya - Woh sab chod tu. Bas itna samjh le ki apna phone abhi kisi expert ko mat dikhana! Koi hai jo humpe nazar rakhna chahta hai. Directly rakhta toh hume pata chal jata isilye usne yeh tarika chuna jisse usse bina kisi mehnat ke sari information mil gayi!

Veer - Par mai kisi expert ko dikhau kyu nahi?

Daya - Kyuki mai nahi chahta ki usse pata chale ki hume pata hai ki tera phone hack kiya gaya hai! Hum yeh rasta uske liye band karnge toh woh dusra dhund lega! Tu ab bhi iss case ki aur tere baki cases ki bhi sab information isme note karna... Except the important parts! Usse shak nahi hona chahiye!

Veer - Lekin hum kisi expert ke zariye trace bhi toh karwa sakte hai ki phone hack kiya kisne hai aur kaha se! Hume isse bohot clues mil sakti hai!

Daya - Mushkil hai. Yeh jaise tera phone hack hua hai na woh trace nahi ho sakta. Ek case mai we have already seen this kind of hacking. Trace nahi ho sakti yeh! Aur ek baat! Abhijeet yaa team mai se kisi ko kuch nahi batayega tu! Yeh bhi nahi ke ajj hum mile the!

Veer - Kyu?

Daya - Maine bola isilye!

Veer - Aree par...

Daya - Veer please! Kuch wajh hai tabhi toh bol raha hu na!

Veer - Acha ok... Nahi batauga par yaar am really really sorry! Meri wajh se humari puri investigation leak hoti gayi! Pata nahi kon humpar nazar rakh raha hai. Sab meri wajh se! Am... Am really sorry yaar! Mujhe pata hota toh mai kabhi aisa kuch...

Daya - Its ok yaar. Koi baat nahi. Waqt par pata chal gaya. Kafi hai. Isme teri koi galti hai hi nahi! Tu tension mat le mai dekh lunga.

Veer - Par phir bhi yaar. Am sorry!

Daya - Koi galti nahi hai teri. You need not feel guilty! Samjha? Chal ab lunch time ho gaya hai tu lunch kar. Mai bhi chalta hu! Waise hi late ho gaya. Chal bye. Aur zayada sochna mat. Bas jitna bola hai utna hi karna!

Veer - Hmm...

                Leaving his office Daya sat back in his car and drove off to beauro. Hence finding ACP sir's words of 'Tum logo par nazar rakhi jaa rahi hai' true... The remaining day went off being busy in other cases.

*Night, Abhijeet's house*

               Abhijeet was busy cooking dinner for himself when the doorbell rang gaining his attention. Limping a little as his leg still hurt he wiped his hands and opened the door to find Daya standing on his door with a small bag in his hand. Before he could say anything Daya said while entering inside...

Daya - Khana bana rahe the? Tum baitho mai banata hu...

Abhijeet - Tu khana banayega?

Daya - Kyu? Roz toh banata hu na mai ghar pe!

Abhijeet - Ha hafte ke 4 din mere ghar pe khane ke baad tu konsa khana banata hai bhai 'roz' ghar pe?

Daya - Huh! Toh tumhe kya problem hai mere yaha khane se! Mere Abhi ka ghar hai na! Mera Abhi banake khilata hai mujhe! Tumhe kyu itni jalan ho rahi hai? Aur waise bhi mai tumse acha khana banata hu!

Abhijeet - Mujhe problem kuch nahi hai mahan Chef Sr. Insp Daya ji. Lekin app mujhe batane ka kasht karege ki ajj apko achanak mujh bichare pe daya kaha se aa gayi ki app mere liye khana banane aa gaye?

Daya - Woh kya hai na tumhe toh pata hi hai mera naam Daya hai! Toh apne naam ki hi tarah mai bohot dayalu hu! So maine socha ki pair tute hue bichare Abhijeet pe thodi si krupa kar hi dete hai unke liye dinner banake. And don't worry yeh Daya ab kuch aur din tak aap pe daya barsata reahega! (With a baba like expression)

Abhijeet - Abe nautanki! Bol chup chap kya hua hai? Tu bhi janta hai ki yeh mamuli si moch hai. Itna tension kyu le raha hai tu subah se? Yaha tak ki saman leke mere ghar aa gaya bas iss moch ke chakkar mai!

Daya - Mai kaha koi tension le raha hu!

Abhijeet - Dayaaa (glaring at him)

             Daya turning his eyes away from Abhijeet simply said...

Daya - Tum baitho mai khana banata hu

             And without waiting for a reply he walked away while Abhijeet kept staring at the way Daya had gone wondering what it was that was troubling Daya so much.
             Soon dinner was done mostly in silence... As Daya tried to ignore all conversations knowing it would once again lead to the same topic while Abhijeet thought of not dragging the topic thinking whenever Daya would want to say he would say it himself. Cleaning up the mess both of them left for their respective rooms where Abhijeet made himself busy in preparing himself for the day after tomorrow's court session while Daya was simply sitting on the study table staring blankly at the white notepad lying in front of him. After a minute taking a deep breath he said to himself...

Daya - Chalo bhai Daya... 32 ghante hai tumhare paas... 32 ghanto baad court ki hearing hai... Jaha ACP sir apna na kiya hua gunah bhi kabool kar lenge. Aur investigation bhi akele hi karni padegi woh bhi chup ke! Hmm... Shurwat se shurwat karte hai!

                And closing his eyes Daya rewinded back his memory lane to the day when ACP sir called them for the dinner and for the first time told them about his daughter Arya...

To be continued...

              Hmm... 32 hours Daya sir has! What is he going to do in these 32 hours? How will save ACP sir and Abhijeet both? Especially when Abhijeet is determined to save ACP sir from all blames and ACP is determined to save Abhijeet from life threat no matter it means spoiling his own! And then comes Arya who herself is in danger! Not to forget the warning of IG Shrikant Pandit! Hands tied, time running out and too much of risk! How is Daya sir going to save all his relations?