:: Imtehan..An identity crisis

A/N: hi everyone. You all shocked to see us back? Actually from past few months we felt that Pehchan the identity is like an unsolved story for the CID team...This shouldn't be. After all they should be able to bring justice to their team member. But as you know investigation genre and us don't go in hand & hand. So there will b lots of loopholes but at least this will bring the team all the answers. And this will show some shades of characters some too dark, some gray some too bright..! This will have guilt; have emotions, shikwa and shikayet. And friends we believe friendship is not only one important part of life, love too is important. So although there's no conventional romance but presence of love life is present...

CID team got the note "Daya news suna meine, bureau ja raha hu...tu kahin jana mat"

And it's still a riddle for them...

One year has already passed, the present second in command often thinks about the strange ending of the case which changed their lives...

Yes, now senior inspector Rajat is in charge of team in absence of ACP Pradyuman, now ACP sir don't doubt his officers easily, he always have their back.

The stone hearted ACP is now a bit fragile in his emotions. Rajat, the distant most cop now talks to everyone without restraint, trying to cover the losses. He doesn't have purpose to take anyone's place but tries to fulfill the gap as much as possible knowing it's not an easy job...

Freddy is now a somber inspector, Vivek the sub inspector not a prankster anymore...the others also have changed a lot some in outer demeanor, some totally as person

But still there's something missing...

And it's impossible to be fulfilled with the new senior inspector joining today...maybe the work load will be divided, maybe team balance will be restored but the void..

But this team is well known for their hospitality, and Rajat himself mentioned to others how inept he felt when joining as the new officer. He ensured that although others are still not ready to give their senior's place to an outsider, it's not his fault that he is joining...and others should cooperate.

Nowadays ACP sir tried to avoid ordering the team except for cases, so Rajat tried an affable approach and others agreed

After a warm welcome from team and ACP Pradyuman the new senior smiled sincerely with "aap logo ko sayed pata nahi, meine ek mission mey Abhijeet sir aur Daya sir ki saath kaam kiya tha, mein tab senior inspector nahi tha inspector tha aur wo dono hi mere senior they..Unke bareme sab kuch parah meine...although yea sare type baat humare department mey common hey per fir bhi humare branch ki koi bhi officer yea manne ko tayiar nahi they ki Abhijeet sir ne aisa kuch…wo kar sakte hey aise..."

Vivek nodded with "yakin to humne bhi nahi kiya sir..per HQ, unko to kabhie.."

ACP sir stopped him with "Vivek.." then turned to the new officer with "yea sun ke mujhe accha lag raha hey ki Ahmadabad mey bhi mere officers ki itni…" he stopped unable to complete

The new recruit nodded "sir serf humara branch nahi, har branch mey undono ke liye respect hey sir, they were living legends..; waise app logo ne kabhie (he looked at all the officers and continued) socha nahi ki wo Rajkumar bureau mey ake khud ko kyun pakrayega...mtlb it's kind of suicide"

ACP shook his head "pata nahi..."

Rajat said in heavy tone "kuch baton ka sayed kabhie pata chalta hi nahi hey?"

ACP sir moved to his cabin with wishing him good luck, others too moved to their seats.

After all he is still an outsider intruding in their lives.

Rajat looked at others, and remembered the line he heard from his senior on the first day "arey first day tumhe welcome feel karane ki jimma humara, fir tumhe ek bar iss family ki hissa bana ley fir bhao nahi dene wale...kyun boss?"

He looked towards the today's new one and gave a smile with "purane files etc ekbar study kr lo"

And he too moved to his desk, which he still refers in his mind as his senior's desk

During lunch break Freddy was the first one to notice Rajat and the new recruit having lunch together and having a lot to speak.

Rajat noticed him looking so called them to join and introduced as "Vikas aur mein college mey eksath parte they, police academy mey join bhi ek saath kiya tha...to tab se hi jan pehchan thi...waqt ki saath thora milna kam ho gaya tha, bas phone mey hi baatein..per aj fir mile to bas batein kr rahe they...tum log bhi baitho na..."

Vikas too smiled "ha is team ki har member ki bareme bahut suna tha meine Rajat se, perfect team manta hu mein isko, aaplogo se mulaqat ki khawish bhi thi...kash thora aur pehle mil pata...meine jinhe idol mana tha unse bhi..."

He stopped. Vivek and Freddy exchanged glances understanding well enough what he is talking about; Vivek pulled a chair and sat down with "ek baat puchu?"

Freddy too joined them and Vikas nodded

Vivek asked after a minute of reflection "aap ki baton se tab lag raha tha aap Rajkumar ki case mey kaafi interested hey..."

Vikas cut his words with "actually haan...mere pass uss case ko leke kaafi sare sawal hey, jo sulajh nahi rahe...sayed tum log bhi uss baat se agree karoge"

He bent forward and started in a calm but unwavering voice, making eye contact with other three in turns "ek to Rajkumar kyun ata khud bureau...kisiko to uski thikana pata nahi...fir ager aya bhi to court mey sab kuch man kyun liya...ager gunah kabool na krta to sayed use phansi na hoti, bas saja hoti, jaha taq mujhe pata hey utna koi thos sabut tha nahi uski khilaaf hey na?"

Rajat nods with "ha sayed kuch saal...7 saal... jyada se jyada utna hi sabut tha humare pas"

Other two nodded along

"akhir vagne ki bad aya hi kyun,, yea to mein bhi sochta hu" Freddy muttered

Vikas nods and says in straight tone "aur ek baat, meine yea case study ki hey...to mujhe Jo pata hey...Sarthak ne admit kiya ki usne Abhijeet sir ki mail id hack kiya, to ho sakta hey ki forensics mey bhi cheerkhani ki right...HQ mey virus bhi to?"

All three nods so he continues "to jab yea admit kiya usne tabtaq to..Abhijeet sir ki to...mera matlb antim sanskar..."

Rajat finished "haa kaafi pehle ho chuka tha"

Vikas nods "to uska kuch aur findings nahi ho sakta tha truthfully per..Kya Rajkumar ki DNA match kerwaya Gaya? Criminal records mey jo details hey usse?"

Rajat and Freddy exchanged glances but Vivek said "don't think so..Waise to tab hota hey Na jab lash KO leke confusion hey...postmortem hua, to heart attack tha, sure hue...bas"

Rajat said "Vikas tum exactly kehna kya cah rahe ho"

Vikas signaled him to calm down and said "ek criminal, yea keh sakta ki mein criminal nahi hu...gunah nahi ki...per achanaq se wo ek senior inspector hone ki dawa kyun krega...koi undercover cop ki nahi- jiski cehra anjan hey..but ek jane mane award winning senior inspector ki"

He stooped took a sip of his tea, and noticed confused faces of others so simplified "ab dekho koi bhi kehega na ki kaha ki senior inspector ho tum...to aise bekar ki ajeeb dawa kyun karega koi"

Rajat looked down avoiding eye contact and said "yea baat mujhe bhi ajeeb laga...aur Rajkumar ki postmortem mey purane aur severe brain injury ki bhi signs hey...DNA to khair match nahi kiya gaya kyuki koi waise to shaq tha nahi..jaisa Vivek ne kaha, per mein..mujhe"

He felt the stares of his juniors, bewildered confused and a bit hopeful.

He didn't look up but rubbed his hand over his face and continued, as if a flood of words has opened "meine bhi iss sab ke bareme bahut socha, ek bar DCP sir se baat bhi ki...per unhone bas suna kuch fir action nahi liya..ACP sir khud itne pareshan rehte hey ajkal ki.."

He now looked up then said "ab dekho wo gher jaha pey Rajkumar tha, hume wo pata chala Rajkumar ki death ki bad..wo kuch batane ko taiyari hi nahi tha..yeaha taq uske pass koi phone wagera kuch na mila hume..wo to huliya jari ki thi to der mahine bad ek admi ne kaha ki uss area mey usne isko ek bar dekha tha..fir dhunte dhunte wo gher mili"

He took a deep breath "woha pey criminals rehte hey uss area mey per Rajkumar ki team ki koi nishani woha pey nahi..fir Abhijeet sir Daya sir ki sare albums woha pey..wo"

Freddy cut him with "per sir aisa ho sakta na ki wo purih tarah Abhijeet sir banne ke liye wo photo leke gaya..dhoka dene ko.."

Vikas raised his eyebrow, Freddy explained "unn CDs ko photos ko study kr k wo Abhijeet sir ki style hawbhav nakal krke wo sab study krke Abhijeet sir banne ki study kr rahe honge"

Rajat shook his head "aur cehra nahi badla?aur Abhijeet sir ki kapre?books, music ki albums…aur sabse bari baat Daya sir ki fingerprints? HQ ki explanation hey Daya sir jab Abhijeet sir ki begunai ki sabut dhund rahe they tab wo woha gaye honge..per tab wo gloves parte na..hum jante hey unhe, wo emotional ho sakte hey per aise galti.."

Vivek says in a meek tone "sir, ek sawal mere dil mey bhi tha..per yea ek saal humne wo baat kabhie cheri nahi to..har koi hum dusre se baat ko avoid krte hey, sayed sochte hey isse dard kam ho jaye…"

he took a pause then continued after looking at others awkward expression "Daya sir akele mey uss bungalow number 101 kyun gaye.. sabut mila yea kuch bhi, to hum mese kisiko kuch kyun nahi bole? Rajat sir ko to bahut had taq pata tha fir unhe hi..ACP sir ko bhi nahi..aur fir woha pey..Kya….yea sawal press walo ne bhi kiya..HQ ne kuch bhi samjha diya public waqt ki sath vul gayi per.."

He looked around the cafeteria noticed few staffs looking at him due to his increased voices, so controlled the voice then said "aur jab Daya sir ki ..body.. laya gaya tab bureau mey, us waqt Rajkumar ki expression..wo distress, agony, wo anguish, wo emptiness…..pata mujhe yea koi sabut nahi, per wo uss pal ki cehra mein aj taq vul nahi paya..aur yea jo kaha jata hey to Daya sir ager Rajkumar ki gher gaye hue they, tab unhe sabut sayed na mila ho, gloves pehen ne mey galti hui ho..Rajkumar ki bareme kuch shaq hua ho tabhie to gaye honge na?"

Vikas nodded, Rajat frowned..Freddy looked confused...

Vivek continued "to unhe Rajkumar, matlb Abhijeet sir ki khooni kaha pey us bat ki andaja hua, wo use pakar na paye..tab bhi wo kisiko bataya nahi ki sayed yeaha hoga najar rakho..Abhijeet sir ki khooni ki bareme? yea manna mushkil hey.."

Freddy said "ek baat bolu?"

Vikas nods "sure.."

Freddy said bit hesitatingly "jis din wo ambulance se Rajkumar vaga tha, meine aur Sachin sir ne uska picha kiya aur goli chalai thi..tab uski ahh..jo ahh nikli uski, wo bilkul..wo ekdum.."

He stops but Rajat perked up with "wo kya.."

Freddy looked down with "wo na bilkul,..mein kya kahun mujhe khud samjh nahi araha..wo ahh bilkul Abhijeet sir jaise..kehte hey dard mey sab ko mother tongue yaad ati hey sab se apni asli pehchan nikal ati hey.."

He stops looking down

Vivek shook his head "nahi..aisa nahi,..Rajkumar ki lash ki cehra meine khud bahut dhyan se dekha tha, koi plastic surgery nahi kiya gaya tha..doctors ne bhi kaha tha aisa kuch..nahi sir..yea nahi ho sakta na?" he turned to Rajat for assurance

But before Rajat can reply

Vikas asked "uss ambulance driver se puchtach ki?"

"ha usko kisine dhamkaya tha ki woha gari kharab hone ki natak kerni hey..per rastey mey itni kilein bichi thi ki natak ki jarurat nahi pari, usne dhamki dene wale ki cehra nahi dekha, mask mey tha, short height ki hatte katte admi tha koi"

Vikas looked thoughtful, "koi gari bhi to mili thi na jungle ki pass usdin?"

"ha per koi lead nahi, ek number se British accent mey inform kiya gaya..koi fingerprint blood traces kuch nahi..dr Salunkhe ne kaha petrol se saaf kiya gaya gari"

Vikas was about to say something when they heard Sachin's voice "kya discuss kr rahe ho tum log?"

He had gone to attend a court hearing and just came back, saw the gathering and decided to join them

Rajat nodded tiredly "wohi tab jo sawal Vikas ne ki, kuch sawal newspapers ki, kuch hum sab ki.."

Sachin pulled a chair from nearby table and said "sawal to mera bhi hey, Rajkumar phansi ki order pey aise react ki jaise usko award mil gaya ho..use mano isika intejar tha..aisa kyun..jaise maut ke liye hi uski wait hey"

His voice turned dreamy "uss faisle ki waqt, usne jab Kabul kiya uss waqt uski hasi uski ankho ki chamak jaise wo jeet raha hey, aur hum sab bakehi sab har rahe..per hara to wo?"

He finished in question

Rajat said "pata nahi, us bungalow, us gher sab jagah ko mein team ki alawa akele bhi gaya..kuch sabut na mila..bas wo note.."

Sachin nodes "wo bhi ek pehli hey.."

Freddy nods "ha wo note, Daya sir ke liye..per Daya sir woha kyun jayenge..HQ ka yea kehna ki bad mey humare samne Daya sir ko gaddar sabit krne ki koshish thi yea..kahi na kahi yea logic khokla sa lagta hey.."

Vivek says confusingly "uss note ki handwriting, fingerprint sab kuch koshish to ki..per Sarthak ne to headquarters ki records mey ek virus ki entry kerwa di, aur humare to information hi badal di…to uspey bharosa nahi kiya ja sakta sahi hey, per hum mese koi bhi to wo handwriting pehchan na paye.."

Vikas gives a look to Vivek who flushes with "nahi matlab kahi na kahi hum to wohi janneki koshish kr rahe.."

Vikas goes back to main topic "ha meine suna HQ ki logic, per dekho ager use chal chalna hota to wo letter ko bureau vejta, Daya sir ki gher vejta..woha letter rakh khud bureau ake..use kisne guara\ntee diya ki team wo gher dhund legi?usne to khbr nahi diya.. waise tumlogo ko wo gher exactly mila kaise?"

Rajat leaned on the backrest of chair "humne bureau ki taraf ane wale har ek taxi auto bus ki driver helper jo bhi unlogo ko Rajkumar ki photo dikha k pucha..koi pehchan na paye..per do teen driver chutti mey they..to unki gher gaye, pata chala unmey ek taxi driver accident kr k behosh hey...to humne taxi union mey tasveer diya...lagvag 40 din bad usne contact ki bataya ki usne kaha se Rajkumar ko pick up kiya"

Sachin continued "uss area mey tasveer dikhayi, but kisiko nahi pata..fir bhi Rajat sir bar bar gaye, tab taq phansi ki order ho gaya..Rajkumar ki death..aur postmortem bhi, HQ ko fir bhi interest tha sayed, roka nahi unlogo ne..ek din ek bache ne kaha ki isko uss gher mey dekha, sath mey ek admi ata jata rehta tha, us gher ki malik se pata kiya..unhone kaha 6 mahine ke liye unse kisine kiraye pey gher liya.."

He shook his head "us area mey jaise log rehte hey woha address proof..identity proof ki baat sunke bhi log hastey hey..to bas cash diya chabi liya, yeahataq gher ki malik ko us admi ka cehra bhi nahi pata..per haan uski height below average thi, Rajkumar ,yea Abhijeet sir jitna to nahi hi..Daya sir to chor hi do…haa jo admi Rajkumar ki gher ata jata tha humne wo cehra banaya.."

Freddy found Vikas about to ask something stopped him "nahi sir, mujhe pata hey aap kya puchne wale hey wo cehra Daya sir se match nahi krta bilkul bhi..baalhatake, chasma..mooch hata k sab edit krke dekha hum logo ne.." he signals towards Vivek

Vivek nods "uski nose kaafi patli thi, chin ki pointedness flat tha, aur cehra diamond shape ki..yes height 6 foot ki kareeb per sir aise to bahut log"

Vikas smiled, Rajat gave him a questioning look

"ager man lo ek pal ke liye ki wo Daya sir hey, to unhe inn sab paintro ka pata hey na?"

Rajat sighed "ha ager sach kaha jaye to Abhijeet sir master in disguise they, makeup use krna,chikpad,nose pad sab ata tha unhe..sabko hi guidelines dete they wo..per Daya sir ko..unhe to haath pakar k sikhaya mano.."

Freddy smiled in a nostalgic way "yea dono to larkiya bhi ban jati thi.."

Vikas nods "exactly my point , ki ager wo Daya sir in disguise ho..tum sabse chupana cahte ho..to unko pakarna kya tum log kr sakte they?"

Sachin shook his head "no fir to serf Abhijeet sir hi, aur iss sketch se to humara koi chance hi nahi..waise usne apna nam bola tha logoko kancha..per humare best informer ko bhi aise koi admi na mila"

Rajat sighs "kabhie kabhie dil krta hey,inn sawalo ki khatir ek aur bar investigation karu.."

Vikas looks at him directly in his eyes "to fir ruke kyun ho?"

All eyes turned to him, so he shrugged "sawal hey to jabab hoga hi, wo dhundne se sayed ek bari pehli sulajh jaye, pata chal paye ki dono senior inspector aise kis baat pey uljhe jo dono milke na suljha paye..sayed ek bahut bari gutthi sulajh jaye hey na?"

Rajat looked a bit doubtful, Sachin hopefull..others confused

Rajat took the lead with "Vikas ager Rajkumar hi Abhijeet sir they, (all looked at him..he signaled them to pause) usi shaq ko leke hum investigate krne ki soch rahe na..to ager aisa tha to asli Rajkumar kaha gaya..kya wohi inn sab ka boss tha? Kya usise baat krne Daya sir us bungalow mey gaye they..per fir..wo lash..wo kiski.."

Vivek shook his head "sir ager yea man k chale to lash koi question nahi hey sir..wo ek lash kahi se bhi mil sakti hey..per yea sawal jarur hey ki fir asli Rajkumar kaha gaya.."

Sachin gave his input "Rajkumar pehle bhi crime kr chuka hey, uski records bhi hey humare pass..haa yea alag baat hey ki humne pakra nahi use isse pehle..Sarthak ne records asli ka delete kr ke fake records dal diya hoga, headquarters se bhi to sare records gayeb hua, HQ ki records mey virus ki input kr ke woha bhi sab delete kr diya .."

Vikas nodded "hmm,..Sarthak ne kaafi chalaki se game khela warna HQ ki naak ki niche se yea sab, aur HQ bhi to regular check nahi krte na..jarurat ho to tabhie..isliye pata bhi der se chala"

Sachin nods and continues "kash Salunkhe sir use headquarters na vejte, Daya sir ki death ki bad HQ ne letter veja 1990 se 2010..sare records delete ho gaye..Rajkumar ki records aur Abhijeet sir ki dono usi dauran…Salunkhe sir se hi wapas manga unlogo ne records ko...khair..per wo jita jagta insaan kaha gaya..?"

Vikas said "I think yea pata krne ko hume suru se suru krna cahiye"

Freddy asked "suru se matlb"

"Abhijeet sir ki mission..to Rajkumar death.. aur yea biswas ki sath ki Daya sir Abhijeet sir dono hi galat na they, tab sayed kuch ho..I know humare duty ki hisab se khud ko bhi shaq kro, sab ko shaq kro..per uss tarah to kuch mila nahi na?to issbar yakin ki sath..bina shaq kiye dekhe?ek family ki najariye se?"

A real smile lit up all the faces..they want to do it

But Sachin asked "per ACP sir ko kya?"

Rajat answered "filal hum unofficially krte hey aur sir ko..(with a stiff note) kuch nahi.."

They looked at him, just like Abhijeet sir he is taking a lead with his own type of personality..they admire it but still have few questions

Rajat got it said "unhone HQ ki explanation pey sawal nahi ki, janne ki koshish nahi kikya Rajkumar aur Abhijeet sir ki sachai..ek bar yakin kr ke dekhte,per wo…fir sayed dono sir hi aj…khair unhe filal kuch batane ki jarurat nahi..ager koi sabut hath aye to tab.."

Sachin and Vivek nods

Freddy said "wo sabut leke sir se kuch sawal puchna hey, bahut saalo se hey wo sawal..akhir hum logon ki kya yeahi ending hona cahiye?".

Others didn't say anything but they guessed well enough what they are talking about

end of chappy

meet you soon with the next chapter

till then take care

krittzz

aDITYA rAJAT fan