Chapter 16

"Spruha..Nakul Pradyuman.." "wo tumhari poti hain Pradyuman.." "Spruha, Nakul aur Nilanjana ki beti hain.." "Boss, hume use sach batana hi hoga..usse yeh batana hoga ki tum usske dada ho..usse tumhare aur usske rishte ke baremain pata lagna hi chahiye.."

Acp Pradyuman opened his eyes in jerk as he remembered all those things. He once again rested his head on the back of the chair and closed his eyes but once again the result was same, the same things started playing in the back of his mind, all those memories which he tried to cleared out of his mind were once again getting deepened in him due to the sudden outburst of truth.

Two Days back, when Spruha and ABhir were both rescued by the CID team and after knowing the truth and capturing the real culprits, Abhir and Spruha were cleared from their respective charges. But at the same time the truth was revealed by Salunkhe about Spruha'as family. All were pretty shocked at first coz none of them knew that Nakul had a family, they were aware about Nilanjana but they didn't even have a slightest clue about his daughter, Spruha. If Acp had known about her, he would have certainly accepted her back then but now..Now Acp was still confused about the whole issue, his mind was disturbed by all those thoughts which were making him restless by each passing day.

The ACp Pradyuman, who had captured numerous dangerous criminals and the one who solved each case successfully failed to deduce this case. After nakul's death, Acp changed himself completely, he engrossed himself in his duties and work so that he could forget the guilt of killing his own son, though it was not easy to forgot that incident and he could never forgot that, how could he forget? After all he was his own blood, his son. Till date, he regretted his decision to kill his own son; he knew that for some extent he was responsible for Nakul's such behavior. If only he had given their "father and son" relation priority then may be Nakul would be alive today, leading a good life.

But then no-one can change the things once it has took place, he knew it. Regretting over the past issues is not worth today and it even wouldn't matter, rite now the only thing to be concerned was "Spruha!" How he will face her? How he will tell her that he, Acp Pradyuman is her grandfather and also the one who killed her father. How he is going to tell her that, her dad is dead long back ago and the person who is contacting her as her dad is just her mom's friend and her mom didn't died in accident but her dad killed her, how in the hell he is going to make her understand all those things? Will she accept all those things and forgive him for her loss? Or ..

Acp didn't even want to think the second possibility, may be it is better that they should hide things from her and should continue the way it was. But then, what if, she comes to know about these things in the distant future? Wouldn't she feel betrayed? Of course she would, anyone would be.

Acp took a deep sigh as he drew out certain conclusions, "may be Salunkhe is right, we should tell her about it.." he thought.

Acp was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't even noticed that someone was observing him from the last few minutes. After waiting for another minutes, the visitor entered inside the room without asking the permission, he sat on the edge of the bed as he looked at his long old friend. He could make out from his overall mannerisms that he was extremely tired and was in need of a long peaceful rest. He stared back at him for some more minutes as he didn't want him to get disturbed, acp must have felt some-one's presence so he opened his eyes sharply but soon got relaxed as he saw him.

Acp: salunkhe, tu yaha..itni raat gaye yaha kaise? (He asked him while relaxing in his rocking chair)

Salunkhe: kyu nhi aasakta kya?

Acp: maine aisa kab kaha? (acp said in surrendering tone, as he didn't wanted to fight with him, another few minutes passed in complete silence, both stayed still when salunkhe interrupted)

Salunkhe: chai piyoge?

Acp merely nodded. Salunkhe got up from his seat and was heading towards the kitchen when Acp called him once again.

Acp: adrak wali chai..

Salunkhe: janta huin..(salunkhe replied as a matter of fact)

Salunkhe moved towards the kitchen while acp continued to rest in his chair. After some minutes when salunkhe returned he didn't found him there so he called him but no-one replied. So salunkhe moved out from his room and was about to check the terrace when he heard his name from another room, he glanced at that direction. He knew that room, it was Nakul's room, salunkhe moved towards it, as he entered he noticed that Acp was standing near Nakul's desk and was holding a photo frame. Salunkhe glanced at the room, the room was in a good condition, there was not even a sign of a slightest dust particles, all things were rite in their place as they used to be, salunkhe smiled ruefully and headed towards Acp, he kept a soothing hand on his shoulder which made Acp snapped back to reality. He kept the frame on the table, it was a family photo. Acp smiled sadly as he remembered the happy days. He took few steps towards the bed and sat on it, shoulders slumped downwards, a bitter smile on the lips and eyes flashing mixed emotions of guiltiness as well as sadness.

Salunkhe took a seat next to him as he watched his friend mentally struggling with his thoughts, salunkhe knew that Acp was having a hard time accepting the truth but he also knew that he has to accept it, it was better for him and for her also, they both needed each other. Salunkhe observed him for another few minutes; he was not speaking anything so he decided to break the silence.

Salunkhe: kya huwa boss? Kya soch rahe ho?

Acp: Salunkhe, yeh sab kya ho raha hain yaar? Ye ..ye sab achanak joh kuch samne aaraha hain yeh sab..mere samajh ke bahar hain..

Salunkhe: main janta huin boss, yeh sab achanak tumhare samne aane se tumhe kaafi Dhaka pohchana hain par yeh socho agar yeh sabkuch samne na aata toh kya hota?

Acp remained silent for a moment and then stared back at the family photo on the desk.

Acp: Salunkhe, Nakul ko samjhne main mujhse koi galti hogai shayad..shaayad main use kabhi samajh hi nhi paya..( Acp let out a painful sigh as he looked at the frame)

Acp: Kash maine use thode samjhne ki koshish ki hoti toh yeh sab nhi huwa hota, kash maine aapne duty se jyada humare relation of priority di hoti toh yeh sab nhi hota..aur aaj Nakul bhi jinda hota..(tears swelled up in his eyes as he remembered the fateful day when he shot Nakul; salunkhe pressed his hand on his leg to soothe him but remained silent throughout the whole conversation as he didn't wanted to interfere now, he thought it would be good if Acp let out all the frustration, anger and pain which he is holding back from the last many years, so he decided to let him speak)

Acp: Nakul ke jane ke baad, maine aapne aaspas ek deewar bana di thi, jisse main tum sab ke seway kissiko bhi entry nhi thi, aapne aap ko kaam main laga diya taki Nakul ki yaad na aaye. Tum logon ke ilawa iss duniya main mere aur koi nhi yeh baat manse paki karke jeena laga. Par jab se pata chala hain ki mere se juda huwa, mere aapna khoon bhi koi hain toh..Spruha ke baremain jab se pata laga hain Salunkhe tab se ajeeb se bechaini mehsus ho rahi hain..Ek taraf khushi bhi ho rahi hain ki mere aapna iss duniya main hain toh dusri taraf ek darr bhi lag raha hain ki kahi yeh rishta bhi mujhse toot na jaye..Agar yeh baat Spruha ko pata chali ki maine Nakul ko maara hain toh..kya wo mujhe maaf akregi? Iss baat ki chinta sata rahi hain mujhe..Aagar usne mujhe accept nhi kiya toh..Spruha ke aane se joh ummed mann main jagi hain ab agar ..ab agar wo chali gayi toh pata nhi kya hoga..ab iss waqt aur rishte khone ki takad nhi mujh main Salunkhe..nhi hain..

(And a tear escaped from the corner of his eyes as he uttered those words. Salunkhe merely observed him, though he knew that Acp was lonely internally and was craving for his family, though he never made other realized about it but internally he was crumbling and was getting emotionally weakened by every passing day. Though he made sure that, his this emotional turmoil don't interfere with his duties but only he knew that how badly he was longing for his loved ones.

Even the rest of the CID team which was like a family to him was there at every step of his life but still the feeling of having some-one of his own blood relation was something different. )

Salunkhe: Pradyuman, main janta huin ki tumahre mann main ab kya chal raha hain..par yeh baat bhi utni hi sach hain ki Spruha ko yeh sab baatein batana jaruri hain, jara usske baremain bhi socho. Kab tak wo yuhi aisa jhuti asha main lagi rahegi ki usske pitah jinda hain jab ki Nakul ko mere kafi saal hoagyae hain, kab tak wo yeh sochkar jeti rahegi ki usska iss duniya main koi nhi, use jane ka haq hain ki tum ho uskeliye..

Acp: par salunkhe agar ussne yeh batein ko accept nhi kiya toh..agar use gussa aagaya aur usne kuch kar diya toh?

Salunkhe: usski phikar tum mat karo, hum use samjhne ki koshish puri akrenge, hum sab milkar use samjhayenge, use wo sab halat bhi hatayenge jissmain yeh sab huwa..I hope ki wo samjh le..

Acp: hope ( acp let out a sarcastic laugh)ab bas yeh Hope yeh ek ki word kehkar hum khud ko tasli de skate hain..

Salunkhe: Boss, main janta huin yeh ab utna asan nhi hain, par yeh sab namumkin bhi nhi hain..hmm

Acp: tujhe kya lagta hain salunkhe, Spruha manegi? Itne asani se..

Salunkhe: sach batao..Nhi..itne asani se manne walon main se nhi hain wo..aur wo jayaz bhi hain, aakhir tumahri hi poti hain, toh tumhari tarah hi hogi..

(A smile curved on his lips as he realized that salunkhe was right. Though they didn't knew Spruha much but Knowing who her father and grandfather was, they had a slight idea what would be her reaction as soon as the truth was out.)

Acp: haan, yeh tho sach hain..kaafi mehnat karni padegi use samjhne main..

Salunkhe: karni toh padegi..aakhir tumhara h khoon hain yani harkate bhi sab tumahri jaise hongi..(salunkhe smiled as he noticed some traces of happiness on Acp's face. Salunkhe got up from his seat as he realized that the tea from the cups has turned quite cold so in order to reheat once again, he was moving towards the kitchen when ACP called him once again.

Acp: Salunkhe. (salunkhe turned to face him) thanks..(salunkhe nodded his head as if saying "you're welcome" and left the room. Meanwhile Acp who was left alone in the room glanced at the frame, he smiled ruefully looking at the photograph, he quickly cleared the tears which were on the verge of spilling out. He stood up and smiled determinedly as he made up his mind to accept the newly discovered relation happily. Now after having a word with salunkhe he felt somewhat positive about it, no doubt he was worried about how she would react but the excitement of stepping shoes in the grandfather role was making him forget all the worries.

…

One of the Mumbai's Café

She stared back at him for the fifth time but no avail. He was seating there like a statue for nearly fifteen minutes, his expression was blank and the thick lines which were emitting on its forehead showed how tensed he was. Finally unable to bear the silence she spoke out.

"Sidharth.." but again there was no response, so she kept her one hand on his as she called her name for the second time "Sidharth"

"huh?" was here mere reply.

"kya huwa? Itne pareshan kyu ho?

"pareshani kit oh bat hain Antara.." Sidharth finally uttered.

"Spruha ke baremain?" Antara propsed. Sidharth nodded. "tum tension mat lo..sab theek hoga..wo samjh jayegi.."

"nhi, Antara, itna aasan nhi hain wo..Spruha ko samjhna itna asan nhi hoga..aur iss mamle ko lekar toh bilkul hi nhi...agar use yeh sab pata lag gaya toh pata nhi karise react akregi wo.."

"tum tension mat lo Sidharth, sab hain yeh, I'm sure salunkhe sir aur rajat sir use samjha sakhenge."

"I doubt..unkeliye yeh sab karan kaafi mushily hoga.."

"toh phir..?"

"ek rasta hain.."

"kausna?"

"Vedant"

"Vedant? Ab yeh kaun hain?"

"Vedant, SPruha ka Childhood friend, wo dono ek dosre ko kaafi pehle se jante hain, Spruha ki Mom, Nilanjana aur vedant ki Mom friends the, Spruha ke mom ki death ke baad Vedant ki family ne hi Spruha ko sambhala, aur agar aisi situations main Spruha ko koi samjhne ki risk le sakta hain toh wo sirf Vedant hain baki aur koi nhi,,"

"toh hum Vedant ko yaha bula lete hain, wo SPruha ko jarur samjha sakhega.."

"maine bhi yahi sochkar use call kiya tha, par pata laga ki wo kuch kaam ke silsile main bahar agya huwa hain, issiliye baat nhi ho pai. But maine use message send kar diya hain, I hope wo message jald se jald padhle aur yaha Mumbai aajaye..aur spruha ko samjha de toha cha hoga"

"Don't worry Sidharth, I'm sure wo samjha sakhega use..aur waise bhi mujhe lagta hain ki SPruha bhi shayad mann jayegi.." Antara tried to comfort him.

"Shayad?"

"haan..usske baremain confirmation dene kaafi mushkil hain.."

"hmm..now let's hope for the best.."

"yeah.."

…

Tarika's home

After a hectic day in the lab, Tarika was relaxing on the couch and was pampering herself with some cookies and hot tea when he cell buzzed; she glanced at the screen and answered the call.

"Bolo" she asked while reading some content from the magazine.

"Busy ho?" the caller asked with hesitation.

"nhi..bolo?" she replied.

"Agar busy ho toh main baad main call karta huin.." the caller was about to disconnect the call, when Tarika replied.

'Kya baat hain, Abhijeet? Jiss baat keliye call kiya wo toh batao.." As she replied, silence took place for next few seconds.

"Abhijeet?"

"ahm..wo..I'm Sorry Tarika.." he finally said.

"Sorry? Kyu?"

"Tum janti ho kyu..mujhe tumhare upar uss din chilana nhi chahhiye tha..I'm sorry for that.."

"It's okay!" she replied casually.

"Toh tumne mujhe maaf kardiya.." he asked hopefully.

"depends" she said mischievously.

"Depends? " he asked in confusion.

"haan..agar tum mujhe promise karte ho ki pure ek week tum mujhe bahar dinner par le jaonge, toh May be I would forgive you.." she replied in mischief.

"Ek week?" he asked shockingly.

"haan..kyu? kum hain..theek hain..2 weeks.." she smirked while imagining his worried face

"NHi..nhi.. 1 week hi theek hain.." Abhijeet hurriedly replied. Tarika let out a small laugh as she realized Abhijeet's situation, seeing her laugh made Abhijeet laugh too. After some good chat and wishing each other peaceful nights the end the call.