Chapter 9

'Toh batao! Kab se chal raha hai ye tum dono ka affair?' barked ACP Pradyuman.

'Kya? Ye aap kya bol rahe hai? Kiske affair ki baat ho tahi hai? Main-'

'Zhooth mat bolo mujhse Daya!' ACP Pradyuman shouted.

'Par main- '

'Daya... ab jhooth bolne se koi fayda nahi. Hume ACP sir se sab kuch sach sach bata dena chahiye' said Abhijeet.

'Kya?' said Daya.

'Haan Daya hume sir ko sab sach batana hoga.' said Abhijeet.

'Kaun Daya? K - kaun ho tum sab log?' said Daya looking blank.

'Dayaaaaa... ye drama band karo!' ACP Pradyuman said in outrage.

'Daya please yaar ye natak band kar... isse kuch nahi honewala... hum already itni musibat me hai' Abhijeet whispered.

'Kaun hai aap? Kya main aapko jaanta hu?' questioned Daya looking genuinely confused.

Jaywanti and Shreya stared at him while Tarika was trying hard to control her laughter.

'Abhijeet ye sab kya chal raha hai?' asked ACP Pradyuman.

'Sir mujhe kuch nahi pata... memory loss ka problem toh mujhe tha ye Daya ko kabse hone laga pata nahi' said Abhijeet trying to keep a straight face.

'Shut up! Tumhe majak soojh raha hai?' said ACP Pradyuman in outrage.

'Sir -'

'Chup raho tum! Kyun Daya, tumhe yaad nahi aa raha main kaun hu?' asked ACP Pradyuman

'Kaun ho tum? Mere ghar me kya kar rahe ho? Agae chori karne aaye ho toh abhi nikal jao. Warna main CID ko bulaunga!' said Daya.

'Abhijeet! Ise abhi ke abhi bureau le chalo' said ACP Pradyuman in a steely voice.

'Sir aap meri baat suniye -'

'TUM SAB LOG ABHI BUREAU CHALO MERE SAATH.' yelled ACP Pradyuman.

'Yes sir' Abhijeet mumbled.

'Jaldi karo. Main bahar intezar kar raha hu' said ACP Pradyuman.

After ACP Pradyuman and Jaywanti left, Abhijeet said, 'Ye kya tha Daya? Pagal ho kya tum? ACP sir already itne gussa hai humpar aur tumne to baat ko aur bhi bigaad diya. Kya zaroorat thi tumhe ye natak karne ki?'

'Kya bol rahe ho tum? Kaun ho tum bhai?' said Daya.

Tarika could control it no longer. She burst out laughing. Abhijeet flopped down on the couch looking exasperated while Shreya looked a little worried.

'Daya ko sach me kuch ho toh nahi gaya na?' she asked in a concerned voice.

'Kuch nahi hua hai usse. Daya ab bas bhi karo yaar. Main bohot tension me hu' said Abhijeet.

Everyone stared at him. Daya looked blank for another minute and then his face broke into a wide smile.

'You! Tumne toh dara hi diya tha mujhe!' said Shreya.

'Dekha? Kaha tha maine' said Abhijeet.

'Daya tum sach me pagal ho. Agar tumhari ye acting ek minute aur chalti na toh main shayad ACP sir ke saamne hi hasna chalu kar deti' said Tarika.

'Abhijeet tum itna tension kyun le rahe ho yaar? Main bas thoda sa majak kar raha tha. Dekho hum ACP sir ko sab sach sach bata denge aur unhe convince karenge. I am sure ki wo banaye hue tules change kar denge' said Daya.

'Mujhe aisa-'

'Guys, mujhe ACP sir ka call aa raha hai' said Tarika.

'Unse kaho ki hum paanch minute me bahar aa rahe hai' said Daya. 'Ab meri baat acche se suno. Shreya tum sir ko batana ki maine tumhe sach bolne se mana kiya tha'

'Par Daya main zhooth -'

'Dekho iss waqt zhooth ya sach se koi fark nahi padta. Dekho tum CID me nayi aayi ho. Aur tumne sir se jhooth bola ye baat wo kabhi bhi bardaasht nahi karenge. Toh tum sab ilzam mere upar daal do. Aur ab problem raha hum teeno ka toh sir jaante hai se hum bohot acche dost hai isliye humne ye sab secret rakha' said Daya.

'Ye sab kahi uss photo bhejne wale ki wajah se toh nahi hua? Kaun hoga wo mujhe koi idea nahi hai' said Abhijeet.

'Nahi mujhe nahi lagta ki iss photo bhejne wale ka koi haath hoga isme. Jaywanti ne iss kaam me ACP sir ki help ki hai' said Tarika.

'Iss Jaywanti ko toh iska jawab dena padega! ACP sir ki chamchi!' said Abhijeet.

'Abhijeet isme uski kya galti hai? Wo toh bas apna kaam kar rahi thi. Agar usne ye nahi kiya hota toh uski job bhi jaa sakti thi. Woh toh hume jaanti bhi nahi hai' said Tarika.

'Par do - do senior inspector ko follow karne me usse jara bhi dar nahi laga!' said Abhijeet.

'Bas bas chalo ab. Jyada time waste mat karo yaha tum log' said Daya.

'Haan chalo' said Tarika.

'Aur tumne jo ye natak kiya tha abhi? Uska kya?' asked Abhijeet.

'Wo bhi maine soch liya hai... sir se kaho ki Tarika ne mujhe ek jor ka thappad lagaya aur meri yaadash wapas aa gayi' said Daya.

'Accha? Par agar mera naam lene wale ho toh kam se kam mujhe thappad marne ka mauka toh do!' said Tarika.

'You dare?' said Daya.

'Of course I dare! Main tumse nahi darti. Haan bhale hi tum size me bohot bade ho par -'

'Ouch!' Tarika yelled as Daya hit her shoulder lightly.

'Chalo yaar ab' said Abhijeet almost dragging both of them outside followed by a very frightened looking Shreya.

O-o-o-o

An hour later -

ACP Pradyuman was so angry that he was at loss for words. The fact that his officers had been breaking the rules laid down by him right under his nose without him knowing was unbearable for him.

'Sir sorry sir. Humne gunha thodi na kiya hai bas -'

'CHUP!' ACP Pradyuman shouted. 'Mujhe tum logo se ye umeed kabhi nahi thi. Jhooth bolna toh gunah karne se bhi Tum dono ne mujhe sach chupaya ye main kabhi bhool nahi sakta. Main tum dono se gussa nahi hu par aaj mujhe itna dukh hua hai jo pehle kabhi nahi hua tha'

'Sir ye aap kya bol rahe hai? Aap hume saza dijiye par aisa mat kahiye please' said Daya.

'Huh... saza toh tumhe milegi hi... par mere dil ko jo tumne dard diya hai uska kya? Uska koi ilaj nahi hai Daya' said ACP Pradyuman.

'Sir, please aisa mat kahiye' said Shreya sobbing softly.

'TUM? Tumne himmat bhi kaise ki mujhse baat karne ki? Sharam nahi aati tumhe? Mujhse itne dino se jhooth bolti aa rahi ho!' said ACP Pradyuman angrily.

'Sir par m - mujhe Daya sir ne kaha tha k - ki main aapse sach na kahu' said Shreya stammering.

'Wah... khud ki galtiyo ka ilzam tum Daya pe daal rahi ho! Tum toh CID me kaam karne ke layak nahi ho Shreya... Tum -'

'Sir bas!' Daya yelled. 'Aap Shreya ki insult kar rahe hai. Usne aisa koi kaam nahi kiya jisse wo CID me kaam karne ke layak nahi hai' said Daya.

'KIYA HAI USNE AISA KAAM! JAROOR KIYA HAI! JHOOTH BOLA HAI USNE' yelled ACP Pradyuman.

'Usne mere kehne par aisa kiya hai sir. Please aap usse aise baatein nahi kar sakte' said Daya.

'Toh ab tum mujhe sikhaoge ki baat kaise karte hai? Is kal aayu hui ladki ke liye tum mujhse aisi baatein kar rahe ho? Wo bhi saabke saamne?' said ACP Pradyuman.

'Sir aap mujhe galat samajh rahe hai. Main sirf ye kehne ki koshish kar raha hu ke -'

'Bas Daya bas. Mujhe Shreya ke baare me kuch bhi nahi sunna hai tumse. Maine faisla kar liya hai ki Shreya ab CID me kaam nahi karegi. Atleast CID mumbai me. Main usse abhi nikal raha hu' said ACP Pradyuman.

Shreya's jaw dropped. She felt close to fainting. 'He was firing her? This can't be happeneing' she thought.

'Sir -' said Daya.

'Sir ye kya keh rahe hai aap? Ye galat baat hui sir!' said Abhijeet.

'Mera faisla ho gaya hai. Aur ab isme koi change nahi hoga. Shreya tum apna ID aur apni gun mere paas dedo abhi' said ACP Pradyuman.

'Sir please, aap meri baat suniye please... main aapko sab sach batati hu. Aap -'

'Shreya, mujhe kuch bhi nahi sunna' said ACP Pradyuman.

'Sir par -'

'AGAR TUM KHUD SE NAHI GAYI TOH MUJHE LADY GUARDS KO BULAKAR TUMHE YAHA SE BAHAR NIKALNA PADEGA' ACP Pradyuman yelled.

'Sir lekin ye saza sirf Shreya ko hi kyu? Aap ke rules toh hum sab ne tode hai' said Tarika.

'Haan... Shreya toh nai aayi hai... usse toh kuch malum bhi nahi. Par humne bhi aapse ye sab baat chupayi hai' said Daya.

'Toh kya tum ye chahte ho ki main tumhe bhi naukri se nikal du Daya? Dekha! Dekha tumne? Aaj Shreya ki wajah se tum apni naukri bhi chodne ke liye tayar ho gaye ho! Kal wo kahegi ki tum kisika khoon karo toh tum wo bhi karne ke liye tayar ho jaoge.' said ACP Pradyuman.

Daya could control himself no longer. He was sure ACP Pradyuman had completely lost his mind. Abhijeet knew if Daya opened his mouth now to speak, he would surely insult ACP sir.

'Sir -'

'Daya tum kuch nahi bologe' Abhijeet warned.

'Mujhe koi parwa nahi hai Abhijeet. Ab main aur nahi seh sakta' said Daya.

'Toh dar kyu rahe ho? Galiya dena chahte ho mujhe? Bolo jo tumhare mann me hai wo bolo! Mujhe bhi toh jara pata chale ki tumhare mann me chal kya raha hai' said ACP Pradyuman.

'Sir aap kaha ki baat kaha le jaa rahe hai' said Abhijeet.

'Nahi Abhijeet main sahi disha me jaa raha hu. Bolo Daya... main sunne ko tayar hu' said ACP Pradyuman.

'Sir main itne saalo se aapke saath kaam kar raha hu par aaj mujhe afoos ke saath ye kehna pad raha hai ke aap hume bilkul bhi nahi jaante. Main aapki kabhi insult nahi karna chahta. Main aapko koi gaaliya nahi dena chahta. Maine sirf aapko ye pucha ki agar galati hum sab ne ki hai toh aap sirf Shreya ko kyu saza de rahe hai?' said Daya.

'Thik hai. Agar tum yahi chahte ho to phir thik hai. Mere paas aur koi raasta nahi hai. Main Tumhe, Tarika aur Abhijeet ko bhi CID se suspend karta hu.' said ACP Pradyuman.

'Sir, ye - ye kya-' said Abhijeet.

'Haan toh tum yahi chahte ho na? Ki saza tum sabko mile?' said ACP Pradyuman.

'Toh aap sirf ye do options de rahe hai? Shreya akeli jayegi ya hum sab jayegnge' said Daya.

'Ye doosra option tumne chuna hai Daya apne aap ke liye.' said ACP Pradyuman.

'Sir, itni si baat ke liye apa hume CID se nikal rahe hai? Sirf itni si baat ki Daya aur Shreya ya main aur Abhijeet ek dusre ko pasand karte hai aur ye baat humne aapse chupayi kyuki wo aapke rules ke khilaf hai? Kya aap iss baat ke liye hume kabhi maaf nahi karenge?' said Tarika.

'Maine ye rules kyu banaye hai wo dekh rahi na tum Tarika? Dekho tumahri aankhon ke saamne proof hai. Kitna drama ho gaya yaha par' said ACP Pradyuman.

'Sir drama aap create kar rahe hai hum nahi!' said Daya.

'DAYA!'

'Sir shayad meri baatose aapko hurt ho sakta hai par aaj aapko meri baat sunni padegi. Sir Freddy ki shaadi hui hai. Usse toh kabhi problem nahi aaya CID me kaam karte hue. Aapne bhi shaadi ki thi -'

'Kya tum nahi jaante ki Nakul ke saath kya hua?' said ACP Pradyuman angrily.

'Sir, kya pata shayad uss waqt bhi aapne Nakuk ki koi baat nahi suni hogi! Shayad bina kuch sune aur samjhe aapne usse jaan se marne ka faisla kiya hoga! Exactly jaise aap abhi kar rahe hai.' said Daya

'Daya please' said Abhijeet watching ACP Pradyuman's face contorting in fury. But he knew the damage was already done.

'kya kaha tumne? Tum mujhe galat saabit karne ki koshish kar rahe ho?' said ACP Pradyuman in a steely voice.

'Sir maine aapko dekha hai, Nakul ki yaad aapko aaj bhi aati hai aur aaj bhi aapki aankhon me paani aata hai jab aap usse yaad karte hai. Agar wo itna bura insan hota toh aap aaj usse yaad kyu karte?' said Daya.

'WO EK CRIMINAL THA! EK CRIMINAL! AUR AAJ BHI MAIN YAHI MAANTA HU KI USSE SHOOT KARNE KA MERA DECISION SAHI THA. AUR TUM MERI PERSONAL MAMLO ME DAKHAL MAT DO DAYA. TUMNE WO HAQ KHO DIYA HAI' shouted ACP Pradyuman.

'Aap baat ko tal rahe hai sir' said Daya.

'Shut up! Nikal jaao abhi yaha se. Tum sab ke sab. Abhi!' said ACP Pradyuman.

'Thik hai. Jaa rahe hai hum sab. Thank you sir aapne itne saalo se hame itna pyar diya, hume ek family ki tarah treat kiya... huh... aap sahi me hume family maante the ya nahi wo mujhe pata nahi... par phir bhi' said Daya.

'Family members ek dusre se baatein chupate nahi, aur jhooth bhi nahi bolte' said ACP Pradyuman.

'Aur family members agar galati hui toh ek dusre ko maaf bhi karte hai!' said Daya.

'Mujhe afsoos hai Daya ki main unn family members me se ek nahi hu' said ACP Pradyuman.

Daya stared at his boss who stared back unblinkingly. He felt drained and pathetic. Never in his dreams had he thought he would leave to see this day.

Finally Daya looked away and turned to leave. Abhijeet, Tarika and Shreya followed him closely behind.

When they were at the door, ACP Pradyuman's voice rang out sharp and clear, 'Daya, tum apni gun aur badge surrender karna bhool gaye'