replied to everyone in the post above..do check if you please..😳
now the first part of the next update...but before that there in the next post after the update do read...its important..😊
Chapter
35A
Annu again
looked at her mother curiously. She had witnessed such scenes many a times, but
today there was a difference. The difference was Ayesha was extremely quiet.
In earlier
occasions when Ayesha had to leave at the dead of the night or extremely early
morning, she would whisper instructions to 'nanni' and when Annu would wake up
with the soft murmurs, she would even bark instructions at her.
But today in the
early morning hours Ayesha was silently dressing in front of the mirror without
even waking up her sleeping 'nanni'.
Annu had heard
the phone ring sometime back which woke her up too. Annu quietly heard her mother
speak to the caller in shock and disappointment. She heard the conversation
from her mother's end and understood there was something happened with her
dost'.
Her intuitions
gave in and she was now hell bend to know what had suddenly happened to her
dost which had disturbed her mother too.
Annu sat up on
the bed and crossed her legs below the blanket. She could very well guess her
mother was impatient and worried. So, annu didn't disturb her and waited
patiently for her mother to disclose the sudden hurry.
But to her dismay,
Ayesha did none and picked up her wallet and started searching for the car
keys. The car keys were kept on the side table beside the bed, but her
disturbed mind made it unnoticed.
Ayesha looked
around cursing herself, when Annu reached to the keys and held out to her,
'ye lo mumma,
keyyss,' she called her,
Annu's voice
alerted Ayesha and she turned to her. Taking the keys from her she patted her
cheeks,
'Sorry, tum so
jao, mumma thori bahar ja rahi hai, jaldi aa jayegi,' Ayesha said cupping her
face,
'mujhe pata hai,
apko phone aya tha, Dost ko kya hua mumma?' annu asked innocently, showing her
concern in her voice,
Ayesha felt miserable
at the innocent and scared face. Annu shared a special relation with her dost
and she couldn't avoid her completely. Ayesha sat down beside her and cupped
her face,
'tumhare dost ki
tabiyat thik nehi hai annu, main unse hi milne...' she started but Annu shot up,
cutting her in between,
'mein bhi chalu
please? Please mumma,' she exclaimed with a pleading face,
Ayesha wasn't in
any mood to take her with her. The situation was much more complicated than her
small heart could understand. But there wasn't time to waste in comprehending
the situation and annu was pleading her continuously. She agreed and asked her
to dress quickly.
Annu jumped down
from the bed and within next few minutes the mother daughter duo were driving
towards Healing Hand Nursing Home in perfect silence.
************
Ayesha walked into
the corridor towards the OT and found Sakshi, sitting on the bench quietly. Arjun
stood leaning on the wall, facing the OT door. Arjun was clad in a vest which was
completely smudged in blood. Ayesha walked to them, holding onto Annu, who ran
to keep pace with her mother's fast, long steps.
Ayesha sat next
to Sakshi and kept a hand on her shoulder.
'Sakshi, Sir
kaise hai?' Ayesha asked, giving a look at the lone figure leaning on the wall
at a distance from them,
'critical hain, Doctors
operate kar rahe hai,' sakshi replied, giving her a worried look and then looked
towards the OT.
Ayesha nodded
her head and squeezed her shoulder. Both were trying to compose themselves. As
if understanding everything, Annu looked towards the OT door and sent a silent prayer
for her Dost'.
The door opened
and a nurse walked out with hurried steps. Arjun straightened but the nurse had
already left, instructing the ward boy about something. Sakshi and Ayesha had
stood up too, looking into the peeping glass on the ICU door, but nothing could
be seen. Few doctors and some nurses had covered the bed, blocking the view.
The nurse came
back in sometime and walked towards Arjun with a form.
The Patient Consent
Form.
Sakshi and
Ayesha walked to him, leaving Annu on the bench. Ayesha could very well notice,
Arjun had shaking hands, while signing the paper. Fear and worry was visible in
the deep frowns on his forehead. The nurse went inside with the papers
instantly, without another word to their worried questions.
The red bulb above
the OT room was still glowing. Arjun walked back to the wall and leaned with
his shoulder and head resting on the wall. Sakshi slumped back on the bench,
while Ayesha sat down beside Annu, holding her in her arms. Annu was hell
scared with the surrounding situation and kept unusually quiet.
Ayesha knew
well, Annu was too worried and in a verge of crying. She patted her shoulders
lightly, pulling her close to her. She looked at Sakshi beside and held on her
drooping shoulder,
'Sakshi ye saab
kaise hua?' Ayesha asked her,
'mujhe nehi pata
Ayesha,' Sakshi replied and looked at Arjun,
Ayesha followed
her gaze and held her hand, gaining her attention back,
'kya hua
sakshi?' Ayesha asked again,
'mein sameer ko
call kar rahi thi, per usne phone nehi uthaya. To maine Arjun ko phone karke
pucha. Usne as usual akdu ki tarah kaha ki usse nehi pata aur phone rakh diya. Sameer
ko firse call kiya but phone switch off aa raha tha to mein jake so gayi.
Fir 1 hour back achanak
Arjun ne call kiya aur yaha ane ko kaha, mein yaha ayi to dekha Sameer ko OT
mein shift kar rahe hai. His body was smudged in blood. Meine Arjun se pucha,
but Arjun mujhe yaha akele chor ke kahi chala gaya.
Doctor se pucha
to pata chala Sameer bohot critical hai, blood chahiye, wahi arrange karne
Arjun gaya hai. Jab se blood leke wapas aya hai, aise hi khara hai, kuch nehi
bolta. Kya hua, kaise hua, mujhe kuch nehi pata Ayesha. mujhe daar lag raha
tha, isliye tumhe bula liya.'
Sakshi had her
eyes moist. Ayesha pressed her palm to assure but Sakshi was too much worried
to compose herself easily. Ayesha looked up at Arjun and found him running his
fingers in his hair. Arjun was terribly frustrated and worried.
**********
Arjun was
feeling nervous and restless to even sit down. He had witnessed this heart wrenching
scene earlier in his life. It had been years but still the memories had not
faded a bit. The haunting images of Roshni lying in her own blood, with a knife
stabbed into her stomach, came fresh every time he closed his eyelids. He could
never forget her eyes, they held fear and pain. The fear of losing him forever,
the pain of leaving him alone.
Arjun hadn't recovered
from those wounds when he had to witness the scene again. This time it was the
man who had stood by him in all his ups and down. Sometimes visible, sometimes
hidden, but his support always remained with him.
Though they had
drifted apart years back, but there was something which still remained between
them. Their unconditional support to each other. Deep inside their heart they
knew none of them had recovered from the severe wound of losing someone they
loved.
Somewhere they
still found solace in their bruised hearts, when they were together, supporting
or quarreling; they knew the other was there, like a concealed spirit.
Today the mere
thought of losing him has left him in a devastated state. The dreaded memories
of his wife's death resurfaced and he again returned back to the composite
corner of his soul, praying silently for his once best friend's revival.
He hadn't missed
the presence and concern of the ladies though but he preferred to avoid them as
of now. He was afraid, he might show his concern for his friend in front of his
juniors.
He looked up at
the OT light. It was still glowing. He wiped the sweat beads around his lips
and looked down at the blood stained vest. Only if he had realized earlier, Sam
would have been safe now.
Few hours back in the ETF office.
Arjun was still
engrossed in the evidences accumulated in the case. He had just stood up to get
the flask which contained his tea for the night when sakshi called him. He
received the call instantly,
'bolo,' he
greeted her,
'Arjun, tum
kabhi bhi pyar se baat nehi kar sakte? Hamesha aise sadu banne rehete ho..,' sakshi
smirked,
'Sakshi adhi
raat ko bakwas karne ke liye call kiya tha?' arjun asked irritated,
'haan...tumhe to
meri bakwas pasand haina,'
'sakshi..'
'Bakwas band karo Arjun, kitna bolte ho..Batao Sameer kaha
hai, phone nehi utha raha hai wo,' she asked,
'Rathore ghar
gaya hai, so gaya hoga, itni raat ko kya zaroorat hai usse phone karne ki?'
arjun replied,
'tumse matlab?
Tumhe to meri haar baat bakwas lagti hai, mein nehi bataungi tumhe,' sakshi exclaimed
and disconnected the call.
Arjun signed and
disconnected the call.
'ye larki kab
sudhregi?' he muttered and kept the phone aside. Pouring a glass of tea he sat
down on his chair again, picking up the pen from the table.
He was again
back to the evidences and files, everything playing again and again at the back
of his mind.
It was sometime
when again a call alerted him. He straightened up in his chair. He had
unknowingly slept on the chair. He looked around the conference room and then
his watch, it was 3.40 in the night. He yawned and rubbed his eyes when the
phone started ringing again. He leaned forward and picked up the phone. The
call was from Chotu.
Arjun picked up
the call, Chotu had news from his informer. The informer who was keeping a
watch on natya had informed that natya was at the Ever Green Country Pub
tonight. The informer had waited for him outside, coz he suspects natya could
get alerted.
The informer was
sitting on the pavement when a lady, strangely dressed came out and walked
towards the side of the road. Natya came out next and walked towards the other
direction. Within next few seconds another man came behind her and looked around.
That's when the informer noticed the lady had disappeared. The man started
searching around and walked ahead.
Chotu's informer
stood up and took the road which Natya had taken. He had walked for a few
minutes and crossed a lane, when he heard a loud thrash and a truck zoomed away
beside him. He turned back and found the
other man, lay on the road. He walked to him scared.
People had
already started accumulating. He peeped through them. The sight was disastrous.
The man was lying dead, in his own blood. He looked around for Natya but he
wasn't anywhere found.
He instantly
moved out and called chotu. Chotu instantly called Arjun and informed about the
same. Arjun ordered Chotu to reach the crime spot along with Shree and start
the investigation. He would inform Rathore and others and reach there.
Arjun was
calling rathore all the time during his drive towards the crime scene. But the
phone was switched off. It was so strange.
The man, who
never kept his phone on silent mode, had suddenly switched it off. It was so
abnormal. Had arjun not known him for such a long time, he might have come up
with a reason for switching off the phone, but the Sam he knew, would never do
such a thing.
His instincts gave
in and he stopped the car. He tried a few more times but finally gave up. The
phone was switched off. There was surely something fishy about it. He started
the car and took the road towards rathore's house.
He reached the house
and parked the car. There wasn't anything unusual there. The door was locked.
He pressed the bell but no one opened the door. Rathore never slept so deep. Arjun
rang the bell repeatedly. The door didn't even move.
Finally he went
towards the backward and broke through the kitchen window. The house was in
complete darkness, except for the street lights which illuminated some portions
of the house. Arjun was feeling awkward. There was an uncomfortable silence. He
took his gun from his back and moved ahead.
He walked out of
the Kitchen and stepped into the hall. Carefully checking around, he switched
on the lights. There wasn't anything disturbed again. Sameer's shoes remained by
the side of the main door. He had surely come in.
Arjun checked
around the rooms clutching onto his gun. He checked the windows, the doors, but
all were fine. Not even a piece of glass broken.
Finally he made
his way towards the bedroom. The door wasn't locked. Again its so obvious. Sameer
never locked the door. Arjun pushed the door open and walked in.
The room was
completely dark. The curtains were drawn. He looked around, Sameer wasn't
anywhere. He called him, but none responded back. He moved towards the bedside
table and switched the light on. It illuminated some parts on the room.
Arjun kept the
gun away and looked around. The room was messed up completely. The bed sheet
had recent creases. Sameer had surely slept on it. But where is he?
He checked the
washroom, it was empty.
Arjun moved
towards the curtains and look outside the open window. He felt someone's
presence and turned back. There wasn't anyone. He looked carefully, there were
blood stains on the wall and on the bedsheet. He moved towards the bed to check
and flipped onto something on the ground and fell on his face. He sat up holding
his nose, which was paining now. He turned at the object and his face lost its
color.
'Sam,' he
muttered to himself.
Sameer was lying
in a pool of his own blood.
Arjun gasped at
the sight. He had already witnessed a sight long back, when he had seen roshni breathe
her last. He felt numb again. For a few moments he couldn't even move a finger.
He never wanted to lose Sameer like this. He fisted his palms gaining strength
and sat up.
Arjun moved to
Sameer's immobile body and picked him up in his arms. Sameer had been shot
twice in his ribs and there was a deep cut across his chest. His shirt was
completely soaked in blood. Arjun called
him, but there wasn't any movement from his end.
Arjun checked
his pulse, it was feeble. He jerked him but Sameer again didn't move. He was
unconscious. Arjun removed his shirt and tied it around the wound on his chest.
He picked him up and carrying him in his arms, he walked downstairs.
In the next few
minutes he was driving like a maniac looking around for a hospital, with Sameer
lying in the back seat, still unconscious.
He called shree
and asked him to locate the nearest hospital. Shree gave him the address of The
Healing Hand nursing Home and he drove quickly towards it. In between he called
sakshi to reach the hospital for any need.
He reached the
hospital and took Sameer's body inside, cuddling in his arms. The doctors
instantly looked into him. Sameer had lost loads of blood and needed instant
medical aid.
The Doctors took
Sameer inside the OT. Sakshi reached then and Arjun left her in the hospital to
arrange for the blood. Sakshi was feeling scared and helpless, so she called Ayesha.
**************
It was a long half
an hour more when finally the red light switched off. Within minutes the door
opened and the doctor came out along with a nurse, whom he was instructing something.
Arjun heard the door open and straighten up. He reached to the doctor and
waited while he finished speaking to the nurse.
Sakshi too stood
up and walked ahead. Annu straightened in Ayesha's arms but Ayesha nudged her
to stay on the bench. She nodded her head silently looking at the people
gathering around the doctor.
The nurse went
away and the doctor turned to them.
'Sameer kaisa
hai doctor?' Sakshi asked him,
Doctor looked at
the worried faces and started speaking.
He is stable
now. Heart beat count was extremely low, if you had brought him some more
minutes late, we would not have been able to save him ACP Rawte. But don't
worry, he is fine now,' the doctor assured, patting arjun on his forearm,
'kya hum unse
mil sakte hai?' Ayesha asked,
'Yes, but wo anesthetic
effect mein hai, he might not be able to recognize or speak. A couple of more
hours and he would gain conscious completely. Hum unhe kuch der mein ICU shift kar denge, you
need to wait till then,' the doctor informed,
Everyone nodded
and the doctor turned to leave but stopped and looked back at Arjun.
'ACP Rawte, the
wounds were deep, kafi der se blood loss ho raha hoga, infections the, he would
recover but he will be weak. He needs rest, I hope you understand,' the doctor
informed,
Arjun signed and
nodded his head. A tough job was into making. In matters of taking rest, Sam
was his counterpart. He was lost in his thoughts when a voice alerted him,
'dost kaha hai?'
annu had finally managed to ask something after the long wait.
Arjun looked
back and found Annu standing behind him, while Ayesha and Sakshi leaned on the
wall speaking among themselves.
Annu watched the
doctor speak to them and couldn't keep holding herself anymore. She walked to Ayesha,
but she was busy speaking to Sakshi. So she finally landed near Arjun.
Arjun patted her
cheeks fondly and smiled.
'Andar hai, milogi?'
he asked,
'haan,' she
replied cheerfully jumping up,
'bas kuch der
aur, fir hum saab usse milne jayenge, thik hai?' arjun consoled her,
Annu was happy
to know that and held onto his hand. She was now eagerly waiting for the time to flee. Arjun was in contact
with Chotu and Shree, who had still working at the crimes scene but kept asking
about Sameer.
It was an hour, Sameer
was shifted to the ICU. Chotu and Shree had arrived too and all of them went
inside to meet him. Annu too went inside holding onto Ayesha.
Sameer was still
in a drowsy state and couldn't open his eyes. He felt a tug in his arm and
turned to look at it. He slowly opened his eyes to look towards the source. It
was all blur for him. But still he could make out the curly lock falling on her
cheerful face.
He felt tired
and again closed his eyes. He heard someone call his name and again tried to
open the heavy eye lids. He again saw her. The curly hair, the beautiful smile,
everything was just the same. He breathed in and opened his lips to call her,
but he hardly could speak. After trying for sometime, he finally could only whisper
her name,
'Roshni,' he
whispered and slept again.
************
Annu had accidentally
placed her hand on his limp arm. She instantly took it away and looked at the
sleeping figure with wide eyes. She was feeling so scared and held onto her
mother's hand tight. She had never seen anyone bandaged liked this, it was all
new for her. She looked on while Sameer slowly moved his head and looked at
her.
Now she was
happy. She felt he had recognized her. She smiled wide with sparkling eyes and looked
at him. He again closed his eyes. She heard Ayesha gasp. Everyone panicked and Sakshi
called him. She kept her eyes fixed at his pale face.
He again moved
his head towards her and smiled slightly. Annu looked at Sakshi and gave a
proud smile. She looked back at her dost, he had opened his mouth to speak. She
stopped smiling and waited for him to say.
Finally he
spoke, but he didn't call her, it was something else. She felt disappointed, he
had not recognized her.
She looked
around at the others and found them staring at someone at her back. She turned around
and found a visible shocked Arjun. She looked at him confused. Arjun gave a
brief look at the sleeping figure and walked out. His face showed regret and
embarrassment.
Annu looked at
his retreating figure walk out of the door, when Ayesha nudged her to leave the
room. She bid her sleeping dost silently and walked out, holding onto her
mother's hand.
**************
Done for today...felt it a filler..well it was needed..leave your feedbacks and before that check the note in the next post...😳
Edited by rimi_invisible - 9 years ago
comment:
p_commentcount