Kismat Connection Part 6

Arjun stood on the sit out……he was still in the aftermaths of whatever happened a little while ago…….Why did he think about Roshni? Why did her face come to his mind at that point? He was in a self analyzing mode……

It wasn’t just attracton or lust that he felt for Riya and he was quite sure about it…it wasn’t a momentary attraction that made him get intimate with her…..but then why wasn’t he able to go ahead?? NO it wasn’t guilt or a feeling of betrayal towards Roshni…..He knew Roshni too well……Roshni would, herself wish that he moves ahead in life…Moving ahead with Riya would only double her joy….Whereever she was, she would be praying for his happiness as she always did…...…

So the feeling of betraying her wasn’t a concern for him……It that was the case, he wouldn’t have, in the first place, married Riya…..

Then what was it?? he didn’t know…..but he had to find out……

What mistake did poor Riya do to get entangled like this in his life??? She only wanted to help him….support him during the worst of times! He knew how hurt Riya would be by this one instance…….but talking about it would only mean poking into her wound further…….

All such random thoughts were running in his mind and he stood there for a long time before he decided to rest the matter for now….and yeah, he would get it all sorted out and get answers to his questions before speaking to Riya……he couldn’t let his stray thoughts confuse her……..

He came into the bedroom and saw her preparing to sleep on the couch…..He was worried by the sudden distance again……all his efforts to close the distance had gone for a toss and everything seemed to be back to square one……No, he wasn’t going to allow that…….or may be start afresh as if nothing ever happened…….

He concealed his inner turmoil and walked to her….”Riya, utto….utto aur bed mein jaakhe so jaao……”

Riya: nahi sir……main yahi teek hoom…….its very comfortable!!!

Arjun: couch kitna comfortable hai, yeh tum mujhe matth bathaao……jo kahaa hai, woh karo!

Riya: aap jaakhe aaraam se so jaahiye……don’t worry about me……

Arjun: ek hi blanket hai aur woh bed pe hai…….yahaan ke thandh tho tum dekh hi chukhae ho……phir bhi siddh, huh??? [when Riya stood expressionless, he decided to give up] well, in that case……okay!!

Arjun went to the bed……as if to show off, pulled the quilt to his side and made himself comfortable…….Riya stood there helplessly and half minded about it……She wanted to get in there too but then she was stubborn……her egoistic mind was taking a upper hand.….how could she go now??? Why didn’t he call her once more??? Why didn’t he force her??? Her stupid heart was aching while her logical side smirked at her heart “get a grip Ri…….tumhe kya lagaa, ke woh tumhe baahom mein uttaake le jaayega…..for god’s sake, wake up from ur dreams! Ussne tumhe ek baar bulaaya tha na??? kyun nahi gayi??? Ab bhi jaa sakthi ho…..chup chaap jaao, aur aaraam se so jaavo!! Warna kal subah tak freezer se nikhli hui lagogi…”

But she opted against it…….She pulled her jacket and shawl tightly and lay on the couch…….hugging herself and all curled up……the shawl was too short for her…..if she covered her head, her legs were out and the vice versa……..

Her restlessness was well noticed by him but he didn’t call her……he knew that if he called her, her adamance would top up…She would say NO just to disobey him….her, otherwise subtle stubborn attitude wasn’t hidden from him..…it was better to leave her alone for a while……he felt that she would come to the bed when it becomes totally unbearable……

He smiled at her once more and pulled the quilt over his head…….

But she wasn’t giving up so easily….she got up from there…she wrapped the shawl tightly……instead of the bed, she walked to the fireplace in the hall way…..to her relief, there was a small flame still….she just added few more logs and sat there head rested againt the rim…….Anyways, sleep was evading her……so she thought she will while away the time there……the flame, the fire brought with it memories of her passionate encounter with him……all the scenes came running into her mind and started playing in a loop…..suddenly a voice spoke up “bura laga na??”

It was Roshni……Lost in her thoughts, she said “bohat bura laga!” but then immediately she snapped out and added “tum, yahaan..”

Roshni: haan main…..kyun??....shaayad tum bhool rahi ho ke main sab jahaan aa sakthi hoom…..[she winks at her while Riya rolls her eyes……sensing her dilema] don’t worry…….main tumaare bed room mein nahi gussoongi!!

Riya: [a little frustrated with the whole evening’s events] haan haaan…..jaanthi hoom……wahaan kuch dekhne layak hoga toh hi aavogi na??

Roshni: ohhhh my baby……itne maayooz bhi matth ho……Arjun ne tumaari jagah mere naam bola, isiliye gussaa ho na??

Riya: aisa nahi hai……..i am not jealous or feeling insecure…….you know I can never feel that way for you and Arjun…….its just that…..[hesitantly]thoda low feel kar rahi hoom….I hope you understand!

Roshni: hmmmmm…….i understand…….thoda waqt dho usse…..woh sambhal jaayega……tumhaare paas zaroor aayega!

Riya: meri saari zindagi dhe sakthi hoom Roshni……par……[dragging it a bit] kuch nahi ho saktha……bohat pyar kartha hai tumse…[hesitantly]…You shouldn’t have left him………[tears brim in her eyes……Roshni has tears too]

Roshni: hmmmmm…..I am the most unfortunate wife in the whole world…….itna accha pati ko chodh kar jaana padaaa…….[brushing away that disappointed tone and sporting an encouraging smile] but as they say, everything happens for something good….there is a hidden cause for everything………shaayad, iss janam mein meraa aur Arjun ka saath yahi tak tha…….aur kismat se tum hi judi ho uske saat!!! Poore zindagi ke liye…….tum dono ke kismat connected hai baby……..nobody can change that…….not even Arjun!

Riya: [seeing her smile] tum itni khush kaise reh sakthi ho???

Roshni: main usse pyar karthi hoom Riya….aur apne pyar ko khush dekhna hi sabse badi baat hai…….aur main acche se jaanthi hoom ke Arjun tumhaare saath hi khush rahega……tum hi ho jo usse har uss khushi deh sakthi ho jo maine dena chaaha……..tum uske saath ho, toh main bhi khush hoom…….

Riya: [smiling at her logic and suddenly a strange question crops in her mind]  hey Roshni, tum toh sab kuch jaanthi ho na??? kaho na, kya Arjun mujhe pyar karega??? Ya phir main saari life uske intezaar mein rahoongi…..waise mujhe koyi problem nahi ha….par phir bhi……[smiles childishly at her]

Roshni: [sighing] novels ki last page pehle hi padhne ki aadat abhi tak hai na???? tum kabhi nahi badhlogi…….….abhi bhi waisi ki waisi hi ho…….Riya darling, yeh koyi novel ya book nahi hai…..zindagi hai…..aur zindagi ka asli mazaa uski unpredictability pe hi hai…….agar tum aane waale kal ke baare mein jaan gayi toh sab kuch boring lagega……

Riya: [laughing] tum bhi kabhi nahi badhlogi…..humesha aise philosophies keh kar mujhe advice karthi thi…..aaj bhi wahi haal hai…..[glaring at her like a child denied of chocolates]....jaao jaao mujhe aur pakaao matth…..

Kisse baat kar rahi ho???? That voice shook Riya up…….She saw that Roshni had left…….It was Arjun…..

Arjun had been checking every now and then if Riya slept……..After about an hour, when he lowered his blanket and raised his head lightly to check, he saw the couch empty……he wondered where she went………that’s when he heard her low voice coming from the hall…….He immediately walked there to check……He didn’t hear the conversation…..except for the last line she said……..” jaao jaao mujhe aur pakaao matth….” And then her cute laugh…..

Riya looked up to him and started replying “woh RO…….” Stopped midway realizing what she was about to say…….and then completed it as “ROHAN!” [Luckily her phone was in her jacket….she sliped her hand and picked it up before Arjun saw…..and posed as if she was on the phone talking to Rohan]

Arjun: [raising his eyebrow and scrutinizing his eyes on her as he does whenever he works on getting small clues for his cases] ROHAN kaun?? Aur itni raat ko?? [it was almost 12:30] sab teek hai na??

Riya: [by now she gets up and stands answering all his queries like a thief caught while stealing] haan haan sab teek hai…….Rohan meri friend hai…….i mean close friend hai…….woh London mein hai…..wahaan ab shaam hi hoga na???So…..[he snapped her]

Arjun: [angry] so what??? Yahaan toh raat hai na??? itni raat ko tumhe call karke kaise disturb kar saktha hai??? Tameez naam ke koyi cheez hoti hai na???

Riya: [slightly annoyed at his flaring up] Sir plz……woh mera bohat khaas dhost hai…..uske baare mein aisa bura matth boliye……we were talking with each other after a very very long gap……so it just happened that we didn’t realize the time……I mean, aksar dhoston se baat karthe karthe samay ke pathaa hi nahi chaltha na???…[when he remains silent and stares at her…she added] happens sometimes na??? [she grumbles in a low voice: koyi dhost hota, toh aap ko patha chaltha…..]

Arjun: kya??? Kya kahaa tumne???

Riya: kuch nahi…..aap jaahiye…….

Arjun was not in a mood to fight back….he walked back to his bed…all the while thinking about this new guy in their life……..Who was this Rohan?? Riya had never mentioned about this guy before?? The words “close friend”, “khaas dhost” were continuously echoing in his ears…it irked him too much…..the enthusiasm with which Riya was defending him was poking him deep somewhere…….it was not that he suspected her but somehow, he couldn’t bear her close bond with some other guy……even if it was just plain friendship, it hurt…….

Meanwhile, Riya was more upset now….upset with herself!……..ROHAN wasn’t a slip of her tongue or a name that just came out in place of Roshni……He existed……yes he was her best friend after Roshni……their friendship was different and unique…….Unique in the sense that they havent met so far……..yes, it was only through chats and emails and at times over phone, that they knew each other……Though she informed him about her closing down everything in the US and moving to Mumbai, she hadn’t contacted him in the last few months……..He would be definitely, desperately trying to contact her……..She also changed her phone number when she joined ETF…….and she totally forgot about Rohan……..She never sent him her latest details

More about Rohan……He was a few years senior to her in the same university……So they didn’t know personally…….…….After his PHD, he left US and settled in London to pursue his research work………through a common friend, she got introduced to him as she needed assistance in her projects…….the, initially formal interactions soon transformed to friendship and then even deeper one…….but it was just friendship…..nothing more atleast for Riya…….

Rohan’s point of view was slightly different…Riya had made her impact deeply in him…..at some point, he wished to take it to the next level and was contemplating a plan for that……He was keen on meeting her during the summer break and propose to her….she knew that he wanted to meet her but she was unaware of his hidden agenda…….So, she was excited to meet him as well……....

That was when Roshni’s death came shattering Riya totally……..She took days….almost a month to recover from the sudden shock………..after that she made up her mind to come back to Mumbai……..Somehow, she felt that it was her duty, her responsibility to help Arjun recover from Roshni’s death………she felt Roshni wanted her to do it………..she felt that Roshni wouldn’t rest in peace if Arjun was left alone….the initial sympathy she felt when she saw Arjun’s state gradually made way for respect for the brilliant cop in him, then for the good human being in him…….then very suddenly, she realized that she was in love with him deeply, madly…..it was shocking for her as well but then she had hopelessly fallen for him…it was too late to return back…..….So trudging through all the odds, she finally made it to this day when she was Mrs Riya Rawte……though she wasn’t fully so….atleast she was with him and deep down, she realized that Arjun was trying to come back to life…….She also knew that she was the reason for his smiles these days…….that thought was rewarding……for all the pains and sacrifices she endured,  she felt she was gradually getting the reward!

But now how do I explain to ROHAN? Rohan had been her punch bag….her personal diary, her what not….she used to tell him everything that happened in her life….though separated by distance, they were great friends and shared the same wavelength……..and she owed him an apology……an apology for disappearing just like that…..she knew that her fb account and her yahoo id must have been flooded with his mails and messages…….it had been ages since she checked all that……She was just too caught up with ETF and Arjun, that she almost forgot that world of her……she felt guilty……..…..she decided that she would try and contact him the very next day……..

She went back to the couch and tried to get some sleep ……

Next morning…….Arjun rose early……He saw Riya still on the couch all wrapped up like a bundle………He smiled weakly at her state……She was in a very uneasy posture but yet deep in sleep……..She didn’t even know when he reached near her, took her in his arms and lay her on to the bed……She just curled up again into the comfort of the soft bed and the big quilt……….He covered her up well……kissed her forehead lightly and then left for his morning jog……

As he jogged around the lawn, he heard a familiar voice calling out to him……”hello…..gud morning”

He turned and saw that it was the old woman who was in his adjacent seat…….he replied back with a warm smile “gud morning aunty”

“how is your wife???”

He replied as he jogged forward “ohh she is fine aunty…….sleeping!”

Ok ok……bye……bye….. [she bid bye and waved at him pleasantly]

He smiled at her concern and then jogged back to the room…his lime juice was ready on the table……….but his dutiful wife was missing……..he was surprised that she had woken up so soon……He had expected her to sleep till he pulled her out of the bed especially after such a disturbed sleep………This girl always proves my expectations wrong…..he smirked and took out his razor to shave……..while he was at it, he saw her coming from the front door……He was surprised again……he had assumed her to be in the washroom……he doesn’t ask anything….just looks at her enquiringly as if demanding a reply……She understands and replies “main shree ke room mein thi…….ek mail bejhna tha…”…..

when his look scrutinizes her for more explanation……she continues “Rohan ko”

Arjun: [stops the shave and looks at her] kal raat phone aur ab subah subah mail……[it was dripping in sarcasm……he didn’t look at her for any more replies……..she also sensed it and just walked into the wash room to get dressed……]

Riya’s mind voice: kitna sadu hai……ufffffffff aur attitude dekho!!! Ghar bhi ETF office jaisa banaa diya……orders dehtha hai…..dinner khaalo…..ab so jaao…….[thinking of more orders he gave] kapdhe badhlo………ab meri friends ko bhi uski permission lekhar milna hoga kya???

[but the very next second, her anger melted away…….”isi attitude ke wajeh se main tumaari deewani hoom Rawte……baakhiyon ko samjhaake phirthe ho…..par tum kab yeh simple baat samjhoge!!!”………]

She blushed and started writing on the mist formed on the mirror…….” I love you!” then all of a sudden rubbed it off when she heard him shout “Zaara din wahi rukhne ke iraadha hai kya????  Nikhlo baahar“

She turned to the door and muttered “another order….ufffffffffff….tum toh mujhe maar hi dhaaloge!” and then shouted back “bas paanch minute....” she came out after about 15 minutes and Arjun stares meaning “toh yeh tha tumaara paanch minute”  as she got out……..Arjun hurried in for his bath while Riya started dressing up…..She quickly changed to a light blue salwar suit…….it had a long flowing wavy top with beed work done all over……the long dupatta only added to its richness!

By the time, he came out wiping his hair, she was almost ready in her traditional get up…….With the sindoor, the chudas, the jhumkas…..she looked divine…….above all, adding to his misery, she looked utterly irresistible….He tried not to stare at her as much as possible…….She was standing before the mirror and doing some final touches to her already done make up……..she looked as if dressed to kill…….and she was already successful in it……He came near the mirror to take his comb……for a moment his cologne and her shower gel fragrance mingled and they refrained from moving away……their eyes locked for a moment……….”aitchoooooooooooo” she sneezed…….that shuddered both and they moved away not allowing their passions to take over……both say at the same time……”pehle aap”…..”pehle tum”………they stop and smile sheepishly…….She says….”I am ready……aap ready ho jaahiye……aitchoooooooo”……she sneezes again…..”tumhe zardi hogayi hai…….kal raat ke wajeh se hi hoga………meri baat maan li hoti toh aisi haalat nahi hoti!!!”

“zara si zardi hai……kuch medicine le loongi……teek ho jaayega!!!” saying this much she walks away into the hall leaving him behind…….He suddenly remembers something and his hands urge to drag her into his arms and give her the much needed relief from the cold….…….He snaps out of the look and smacks himself “abh abhi ek encounter se nikhle ho……usse sambaalne dho…aur khud bhi sambaal lo…”

He smirked and got ready…….

They both get out in style like husband and wife…hand in hand…..much to the surprise of the team……

Lafzon se jo tha pareh Khaali pann ko jo bhare
Kuch toh tha tere mere darmiyaan
Rishte ko kya modh doon Naata yeh ab todh doon
Ya phir yunhi chodh doon, darmiyaan
Benaam rishta woh…Benaam rishta woh, bechain karta jo
Ho na sake jo beyaan, darmiyaan, darmiyaan darmiyaan darmiyaan

Riya instantly hit off well with the ladies of the group…….before the bus arrived at the resort to pick up the guests, she was continuously chit-chatting with the group……Arjun clenched his jaws many times….his wife seemed to ignore his presence completely….though she looked at him a few times, she didn’t make any effort to ease the frown on his face….”humesha bak bak……kabhi takthi nahi!!!”.…

In between he also saw Shree walking up to her and both having a private animated talk……He didn’t understand what it was all about……Riya was having a tough time explaining something to Shree……but kya?? He wondered……

Then he saw Shree leaving her giving up the argument……..She joined the ladies group again……Left with no choice, Arjun decided to call her back…..”Riyaaaa…”  He had been doing this for a while now……She going away and ignoring him and he having to call her back like a despo husband…….He hated doing it but she left him with no choice……

Riya: abhi aayi ji….[she replied politely in the typical wife language….the last addition “ji” made 4 heads turn to that direction…….Rathod was the first to turn….then Shree and Chotu……Arjun was confused if he heard it right…..]

Riya smiled cutely as she walked back to his side….”kya hai Arjun ji…..aapne humhe kyun bulaaya???”

She herself was amused by it and found it very funny…..Arjun looked at her with “WTH” look “WHAT???” are you upto some new drama Riya?? Yeh ji ji kya lagaa rakha hai??

Riya: arrey nahi ji……unn aunties ko lagtha hai ke mujhe apne pati ko thodi aur respect dena chahiye…….[she blew her hair frills in anger and continued] bullshit!! But karna padega….warna meri image ka kya hoga???

Arjun: IMAGE??? For gods sake Riya, hum yahaan case solve karne aaye hai….[looking to the other side] tumaari image banaane nahi…..samjhi ya samjhaavum?

Riya: bohat hogaya aapka samjhaana……thodi main bhi samjhaavum……[he turned back glaring at her but she continued].aakadon ke isaab se aise cases mein, aam casual talk karna zaroori hota hai……choti si choti clue crucial ho jaatha hai…..

Arjun: [hands on his hips and in an interested tone] iska matlab tumhe kuch clue mili hai……bolo….kya hai??

Riya: [deciding to play with him a bit…..smiling sweetly] bathaathi hoom….par aise nahi… ek sweet smile ke saath poochiye…..

Arjun: blackmail, huh?? Tum ACP Arjun Rawte ko challenge kar rahe ho!!

Riya: arrey arrey, iss mein itna gussaa karne waali kya baat hai……ab hum pati patni ke roles kar rahe hai……tho aise akdu mooh banaakar baatein karthe rahe tho baaaki log kya sochenge……isiliye, ek pyari si smile ke saath baat keejiye na Arjun jiiiiiii

Arjun: [that brings a small smirk on his face] waise, Riya….hum pati patni ka roles nahi, sach mein pati patni hain…..

Riya: [sarcastically] aapko yaad hai??…..thank god……

Lafzon se jo tha pare
Khaalipan ko jo bhare
Kuchh tto tha tere mere darmiyaan
Rishte ko kya mod doon
Naata yeh abb tod doon
Ya phir yun hi chhod doon, darmiyaan
Benaam rishta woh...
Benaam rishta woh, bechain karta jo
Ho naa.. sake jo bayaan, darmiyaan
Darmiyaan Darmiyan Darmeyaan Darmeyan
Kuchh tto tha tere-mere darmiyaan
Haaye Darmiyaan Darmiyan Darmeyaan Darmeyan
Kuchh tto tha tere-mere darmiyaan
Oh its a special feeling
These moments between us
How will I live without you 

Both share a romantic moment and an eye lock before he snaps out…….

Arjun: [smiling] ab bolo….kya clue hai??

Riya: Sir, iss tour group mein almost saare members ek doosre ko acche se jaanthe hai…….dho logon ko chodh ke………..woh dho log, iss trip shuru hone ke 10 mins ke pehle hi register kiya……I mean, already bookings thaa, par last minute mein cancel hogaya…..aur usi tickets mein yeh dho naye log join hua hai……one Mr Raj Shikhawat and another Mr Salil…..

Arjun: [doubtfully but still with a smile plastered on his face]iss mein ajeeb kya hai?? I mean, last minute planning karli hogi…..

Riya: pathaa nahi, par kuch toh choot rahaa hai, Rawte…..[after saying this, she turns to him with a childish smile, he also looks at her astonished……She tries to escape from there]

Arjun: mera hi nakkal….huh?? [grabs her hand and pulls her to stop her from escaping…..She turns with a jerk, bounces onto him…..Shree who is witnessing all this, clicks a romantic picture of both….] the moment breaks when the bus horns as it nears them…..

They get into the bus and have a silent romantic trance…….all the cute moments running across both minds……Subconsciously, their hands entwine at some point during the bus journey…….”kyun? kab??kaise?” none of that bothered them at that moment…everything could wait!….they were together at that moment and that was just what mattered……….they just sit back leaving all other thoughts to rest…..

Aankhon mein tere saaye
Chahoon tto ho na paaye
Yaado'n se teri faasla haye
Jaake bhi tu na jaaye
Thehri tu dil mein haaye
Hasrat si banke kyun bhala
Kyun yaad karta hoon
Mit.ta hoon banta hoon
Mujhko tto laayi yeh kahaan
Benaam rishta woh...
Benaam rishta woh, bechain karta jo
Ho na sake jo bayaan darmiyaan
Darmiyaan Darmiyan Darmeyaan Darmeyan
Kuch toh tha tere mere darmiyaan
Haaye.. Darmeyaan Darmiyan Darmiyaan Darmeyan
Kuchh toh tha tere mere darmiyaan

Hard for us to say
It was so hard for us to say
Can't close a day by day
But Then the world's got me in way

The first stop for the bus is at botanical garden…….

As the investigative streak in him triggers off, he forgets the husband role and walks ahead of Riya trying to explore the place……Riya too pretends that she isn’t affected and gets busy clicking away pictures of the beautiful place……..Suddenly, a prank crawls up into her brain….”SHREEEEEEE…” she shouts out to shree………Arjun turns back to her and listens to what her demand is…….

“Shreee, click some photos of mine, na???? its such a beautiful place……iss trip ka ek badaa album banaavungi”

Shree jumps at the thought and agrees to take photos while Arjun fumes and comes to her instantly…….

Arjun: [annoyed] yeh photos ka shauk kab se lagaa??

Riya: aaj se……bal ke abhi se…….kya pathaa, hum yahaan phir kabhi aayenge ya nahi?? Isiliye inn saare yaadon ko samaet kar rakhna chahthi hoom……hmmmm ek aur wajeh hai….secret hai…[goes near his ears and in a hushed up tone] …photo click karne ke bahaane iss poori jagah cover kar sakthe hai…..kisi ko koyi shak nahi hoga……

[Shree is silent and watching the scene with interest trying to collect bit and pieces which has a scope for teasing RIya later]

Arjun: [her lips slightly brushes his face as she said that causing him to shy away suddenly] kabhi kabhi smart batein bhi kar lethi ho…… agar pictures lena tha toh mujhse keh sakthi thi……Shree ko kyun bulaaya??? Camera dho mujhe! [turning to Shree]Shree, tum jaao….

Riya: parr……

Arjun: par kya?? Mere wife ka photo koyi aur keechae toh woh ajeeb nahi lagega kya???

Riya: ek minute Shree, ab tum aayi gaye ho, mera aur Arjun ji ka kuch photos click kar ke jaana…..[grins widely at both the guys who look stunned at her sudden request]

Shree: [shrugging his shoulder] okay!!!

Arjun doesn’t protest as he knows Riya will win anyway….

Both pose together for the photos……Shree keeps clicking away their romantic moments…….Riya has strange ideas….she runs and climbs a bent down tree and wishes to be clicked……Arjun is annoyed on one side but also grins at her weird wish……..”tum kya pichelae janam mein bandhariya thi??? Uthro neechae……”

Riya: nahi….take a photo Shree…..[she stands there for a pose, Shree smiles at her before clicking……Arjun is still annoyed and keeps calling her down]

Arjun: sambaalke Riya….. gir jaavogi……

Riya: [grinning widely at him] aap bhi aa jaahiye…..saath mein ek photo ho jaaye…..

She starts insisting that she wont get down till he comes up and poses with her……

He climbs up and catches hold of her waist when she jerks backwards suddenly……their eyes lock for a few moments…..Shree gulps…….and rolls his eyes at their romantic gestures……he thinks to himself….”aaj tho chotu ke kaan pakh jaayega……arrey kitnaa kissae sunaanae hai!!!”

Shree: [mutters under his breath] waaaah kya scene hai!!! [clicks all the poses with a naughty smile on her face] Yeh special photo main tumhe frame kar ke gift karoonga Riya!!!

Arjun climbs down carefully and then helps her get down…..

After that, Arjun and Riya part from the rest of the group for their part of the investigation……..

An unidentified body was found almost a week back in the less crowded forest area….So Arjun sets out to explore that area further……

Again the tough cop in him is out on the prowl and Riya is having a great problem keeping up with him…… Her dress doesn’t give her the much needed freedom….the dupatta and the flowy top keeps getting caught onto every bush or thorn on the path……..And she spends most of the time trying to disentangle it……

He literally sprints through the densely forested area and every 5 minutes, turns back to check if Riya is behind him…….In some places, he literally drags her along……….

Arjun loses patience and sarcastically comments “insaan ko wahi pehnna chahiye jisme woh comfortable hai……” and he just pulls out the dupatta which almost tears into 2 pieces………with it, breaks Riya’s heart too….it was one of her favorite dresses……expensive too……She starts sobbing as she trodes along the path, following him closely……”mujhe kya patha tha ke aisa hoga humaara honeymoon!!” she just mutters out in her frustration…..but nothing escapes our hero’s ears…….he turns back furiously, pins her to the nearest tree and looks into her eyes “toh tum bolo kaise hona chahiye tha??”

She shivers at his sudden proximity and his unexpected behavior but then one look at his face and his deep eyes makes her blush…..which eventually snaps him out………He regrets his action and frees her……She tries to save the situation “mera matlab hai ke…maine socha……[she stammers and searches for words…..]

He retorted in a mellowed tone “Rehne dho….main samajh gaya...chalo, kuch kaam kar lethe hai!” he made up for the awkward moment and continued his search………

They get some clues from the place…….some blood spots on a nearby bush which seemed to have been ignored by the local police!

On the way back, Arjun gets an intuition that they are being followed and have to be extra cautious……He tries to act very normal and puts his hand around RIya’s shoulder and keeps her close to him just to make it look like 2 love birds having some romantic private time away from the maddening tourist spots…..When he grabs her closer, she doesn’t understand it but he then whispers into her ears making her tremble again….” ab aise hi mere saath saath chalna………[pausing] yahaan kuch toh gadbad hai!.......”

She is a bit scared and obeys as he says…..

They return back to the spot where they join the bus…….And then back to the resort….Its almost dinner time….so they directly have a quick dinner and then come back to their room…….

He calls Rathod and tells him about the new discoveries “hum kal subah milkhar detailed mein baat karenge Sameer…..nahi room mein nahi……iss resort ke gym kaaali hi rehtha hai….wahaan pe milthe hai…..haan…teek hai 6 baje…..” Riya heard him speaking to Rathod sir…..Tonight, she didn’t have the determination to spoil the night’s sleep….She was damn tired and the uncomfortable posture on the couch would take its toll on her……So she didn’t wait for anything…she just changed into her night dress and crashed onto her side of the bed pulling onto her a major portion of the quilt…..

He smirks as he sees her on the bed……She is all cuddled up and turns to the other side as soon as he takes his place on the bed……”kya baat hai Riya….aaj koyi nautanki nahi karogi???” he sarcastically commented as he pulled his share of the quilt……She chooses to remain quiet posing to have slept already……He turns around seeing her silent response.....He peeps over her to see her eyes shut tightly……He smiles at her cute innocent face and caresses her hair “good night Riya” …before returning back to his place……

As the night deepens, there is literally a tug of war…they toss restlessly on their sides of the bed, pulling the quilt more and more to each other’s side……At one point, both toss up and turn to each other almost onto each others arms…They remain locked in each others arms for a moment…….but her phone rings and ruin the moment…….she pulls back herself from his arms and gets up to pick the call ……he is embarrassed and moves away tooo……”damn!” he was cursing the caller within his mind and that actually surprised him…….

Riya walked to the hall with the phone…”hello…”  The very next moment she screamed “ROHANNNNNN”

That was enough reason to irk Arjun……he sharpened his ears to know it further…….from her replies, one could guess what were the questions from the other side……….

“how are you???? meeeee….i am fine…….u tell me….how are you????? hey I already said hundred sorries…………I know yaar, I hurted you……I kept you waiting………..but plzzzz……[then she was silently nodding to the phone]………yeah I have a surprise……no no…..thats not done……I cant break the suspense now…….[then she kept silent for a few moments and then screamed again] WHAT????? You are coming to India?????? Really???? I cant believe this yaar……WHEN???? Oh ok….. I will wait for your surprise too………..you break your surprise only when I break mine…. that’s a deal!!!....then tell me…..” but before he could say something, Riya found her phone being snatched away……and switched it off…….

“That’s enough for the day!…….chup chaap so jaavo”….having said that, Arjun walked away casually……

Though Riya was sad that she couldn’t continue her chit chat with her long time friend, somewhere deep down, she sensed jealousy in Arjun and that made her happy…….She smacked herself for being so crazily in love with Arjun……”ekdam Akdu hai….par phir bhi kitna cute hai!!!”

[To be continued]