23. Chapter 23

Abhijeet looked towards Daya and asked in surprised tone as….

Abhijeet: Daya yeh to...

Daya grabbed his securely with a soft smile and said in same soft tone as...

Daya: haan Abhi... theek pehchana hain tumne... yeh Dr. Gupta hain... India ki one of the best plastic surgeon... Maine inse appointment liya hain, khaskar tumhare liye... maine inse baat bhi kar liya hain... ab woh tumhe dekhne aaye hain... philhal to tum zakhmi ho, ab Dr. Gupta tumhe recovery ke baad hi dekh payenge... phir woh tay karenge ki kya treatment dena chahiye tumhe?... lekin tab tak tum sirf araam karoge...

Abhijeet smiled sweetly while Dr. Gupta came forward to him and forwarded his hand towards him with a polite...

Dr. Gupta: Good Morning Abhijeetji... itne dino baad aapse milke waqai both accha laga... umeed karta hoon ki main is baar bhi aapke kaam aa paun...

Abhijeet(in same polite tone): thank you doctor... ab to bas yeh hi aakhri rasta bacha hain mere pass... agar aap mere chehre ko theek kar paye na to main zindagi bhar aapka ehsaanfarmaish rehne ke liye taiyar hoon...

Dr. Gupta(with a smile): is mein ehsaan ki koi baat nahin hain Abhijeetji... aap jaise kaabil aur deshbhakt cop ke madad karna to mere liye kismat ki baat hain... par ek baat main aapko shuru mein hi clear kar dena chahta hoon ki aapki chehra ab kabhi bhi pehle ki tarah nahin ban payega, I mean utna handsome... acid burn ek third degree burn hota hain aur is mein jala hua chehra ko reconstruct karna bohot hi mushkil hota hain...

Abhijeet(in low tone): to phir is surgery ka kya faida doctor?...

Daya(in tough tone): Abhi... nahin...

Dr. Gupta( with a smile): dil chota mat kijiye Abhijeetji... main bhale hi aapki chehra puri tarah maramat na kar paun lekin kafi had tak theek zaroor kar dunga... lekin philhal, jaisa mujhe Dr. Apurv aur Dayaji se pata laga, aap is bohot weak hain aur kafi blood loss bhi ho chuka hain aapka... to main is waqt surgery ki risk nahin le sakta... aap philhal kuch dino tak araam kijiye... hum phir milenge kuch dino baad... tab tak ke liye get well soon...

He left after shaking hands with Daya who now turned towards Abhijeet with...

Daya: ab to khush ho na tum?... main tumhare liye doctor bhi le aaya... kuch dino mein treatment bhi shuru ho jayega... ab to... (pointing towards Abhijeet's bandaged wrist)... koi aisa waisa kadam nahin uthaoge na?...

Abhijeet made himself comfortable on the bed with a soft...

Abhijeet: haan Daya aaj main bohot khush hoon... (Daya smiled with satisfaction)... par isliye nahin ki tum mere liye doctor bulaye ya phir jald hi mere treatment shuru honewala hain...

Daya(in amazed tone): to phir? Kyun khush ho tum?...

Abhijeet looked towards him and said in strong tone after putting his eyes on Daya's eyes as...

Abhijeet: main khush isliye hoon ki aaj ek baar phir tumhara aur mera rasta ek ho gaya... ab na mujhe akela ghut ghutke jeena hoga aur na hi tumhe tanhayi jakar lega... (with a smile)... main aaj waqai both khush hoon Daya... sach...

Daya looked towards him with moist eyes and then pulled him in a tight hug. Abhijeet too hugged him back with a smile and said in mind...

Abhijeet: I am sorry Daya... main in dino waqai mein bhool gaya tha ki main apni zindagi mein akela nahin hoon... mere is zindagi ke saath teri zindagi is kadar jud gaya hain ki tu ab shayad mere bina nahin jee payega... phir bhi maine in dino tujhe bohot dard diya... na chahte huye bhi usi ki aansooyon ki wajah ban baitha... par ab aur nahin... hargis nahin... main chahe khush rahu ya na rahu magar use khuush rakhna hi hoga... (with a smile)... arey main bhi kya pagal hoon... main khush rahunga to hi Daya ko bhi khush rakh paunga na?...

Next Morning...

At 7: 30 am...

Abhijeet opened his eyes and noticed a heavy gold bracelet was hanging beside his nose. He looked at his side to discover Daya was sitting beside him, with a newspaper, in his hand. There was a brightness over his face today which made Abhijeet smile sweetly.

Sensing a movement beside him, Daya looked towards Abhijeet and discovered him smiling towards him. He too smiled sweetly and said in soft tone...

Daya: arey boss... uth gaye yaar?... Good Morning.

Abhijeet tried to sit up with a low...

Abhijeet: good morning yaar... (looking towards him)... waise aaj ka morning waqai good hain yaar...

Daya: haan woh to hain... uthoge abhi?...

Abhijeet only nodded, still tried to sit up of his own. Daya sighed and helped him gently with a soft...

Daya: itna jaldi nahin Abhi... kuch waqt lagega hi...

Abhijeet(with a sigh): maloom hain... waqt to chahiye hi ab...

Daya: tab tak ke liye main hoon na tumhara saath...

Abhijeet(in deep tone): sirf tab tak ke liye hi nahin... puri zindagi ke liye...

Daya: hmmmmmmm woh to hain... par yaar mujhe tumse kuch poochna tha...

Abhijeet(in casual tone): haan poocho na kya poochna hain...

Daya: tum Dr. Gupta ko pehle se jante ho kya?...

Abhijeet: haan... darasal kuch mahine pehle ek case ke silsile mein unse mulakat hua tha...

Daya: hmmmmmmm ok... ab chalo fresh ho jaye tum... phir saath mein hi nashta karenge...

Abhijeet nodded and with Daya's support, went to washroom for freshening up session after putting on a pair of plastic gloves in his hands for protecting his hand wounds from water. After freshening session, duo sat with their breakfast when a voice came from threshold as...

Voice: kya baat hain?... mere bina hi khana khaya jaa raha hain yahan...

They looked towards the door and found ACP sir was smiling from there. Duo also smiled and Daya spoke up as...

Daya: arey sir... aap yahan?... aaiye na...

ACP sir came beside Abhijeet's bed and sat down on the another tool kept beside the bed. He had a tiffin carrier in his hand. He kept it on the table and said in casual tone...

ACP sir: main yahan tum dono ke ghar ladki dekhne nahin aaya hoon ki tum dono mujhse itna formally pesh aao... ab main bureau mein bhi nahin hoon to ab easy ho sakte ho... aur Abhijeet kaise ho ab tum?...

Abhijeet(with a sweet smile): theek hoon sir main ab... aur aage bhi rahunga itna yakeen bhi hain... (looking towards Daya)... haina?...

Daya: haan...

ACP sir(with a soft smile): aur rehna bhi chahiye... accha yeh dekho main tum dono ke liye sooji upma banake laya hoon... (pointing towards the tiffin carrier)... le lena...

Duo only nodded. After a while, ACP sir started in serious tone...

ACP sir: main yahan aane se pehle Apurv se mila tha... Abhijeet tumhare present condition ko dhyan mein rakhte huye Dr. Gupta ne decide kiya hain ki aaj se dedh mahine baad tumhari pehla surgery hoga... tab tak ke liye woh hi medicines continued hoga jo tum philhal le rahe ho...

Daya: par sir kya tab tak ke liye Abhi ko yahan, hospital mein hi rukna padega?...

ACP sir(with tease): bol to aise rahe ho jaise tum bologe aur woh yahan rukne ke liye taiyar ho jayega...

Abhijeet(in low tone): agar bola to raazi to hona padega hi na...

Both ACP sir and Daya felt bad for him and remained sitting with lowered face for sometimes. Abhijeet looked towards both of them and asked...

Abhijeet: kya hua?

ACP sir(with a sigh): kuch nahin... accha main tumhare liye Dr. Anurag se baat kar chuka hoon... woh bohot jald tumhe dekhne aayenge...

Abhijeet(in surprised tone): Dr. Anurag?... yeh kaun hain?

ACP sir remained silent for a while and then said in firm tone after keeping his eyes on Abhijeet's eyes...

ACP sir: psychiatrist... woh tumhare saath counselling session karna chahte hain...

Abhijeet(in shocked tone): psychiatrist? Aap... aapne mere liye psychiatrist se baat kiye?... kyun?... aapko lagta hain ki mera dimagi halat theek nahin hain?...

ACP sir(in firm tone): nahin Abhijeet... tum dimagi taur par bilkul sahi salamat ho... bad tumhare mann ki halat theek nahin hain... aur main tumhe aise nahin rehne dunga...

Abhijeet(in stubborn tone): kyun sir? Kya hua hain mujhe? Main bilkul theek hoon sir...

ACP sir: accha? Tum bilkul theek ho? Phir tumhe dar kyun lagta hain aandhere se? Kyun tumhe sharam aata hain khudke bare mein baat karte huye? Kyun chupake rakhna chahte ho tum apne aapko is duniya ki nazron se? Kyun samajhna nahin chahte ho ki tumhare saath jo kuch bhi hua hain woh tumhare galti nahin tha?...

Abhijeet(in anger): mujhe us doctor se nahin milna hain sir...

Daya grabbed his palm tightly with a calm yet firm...

Daya Abhi... (Abhijeet looked towards him)... ACP sir theek keh rahe haina?... accha batao tumhe aaj bhi dar lagta haina?... (Abhijeet nodded)... Ghabrahat bhi hota haina?... (Abhijeet nodded again)... Sharam bhi aata haina?... (Abhijeet lowered his eyes)... to phir? Tumhe theek hona haina? Bahar aana haina in sabse?... (Abhijeet nodded a bit)... phir kyun nahin jana Dr. Anurag ke pass?

ACP sir(in soft tone): Abhijeet dekho duniya kya kehta hain isse hume koi farq nahin padta... duniya wale to tumhe bohot pehle hi ek dimagi mariz hone ka naam de chuka hain... to phir kya tum sach mein dimagi mariz ban chuke ho?... nahin na?... tum us naam ke badaulaut bhi bees saal tak puri imandari aur kabiliyat ke saath CID mein senior inspector ke post pe kaam kar chuke ho... kitne sare cases solve kar chuke ho... kitne masoomo ko insaaf dilwaye ho... aur na jane kitne sare mujrimo ko phansi ke takht tak le chuke ho... duniya wale shayad tumhe is baar phir se ek dimagi mariz hone ka takma de de... par usse hume kya?... Hume bas tum wapas chahiye... mujhe mera kabil officer senior inspector Abhijeet wapas chahiye... aur Daya ko apne bhai Abhi ke saath saath apna colleague Abhijeet wapas chahiye jo uske liye apni seene pe goli khane ki saath saath apne khabri ki qatil hone ka ilzaam bhi laga sake... kyun Daya?...

Daya(with a sweet smile): haan sir... sach kahu to main bhi us Abhijeet ko miss kar raha hoon jo mere baaton se bewakoof banke gadi se utar to sakta hain... magar apni bewakoofi ka galti bhi mere sar dalega mujhe cheater kehke...

Daya made a sad face while ACP sir burst out into a loud laughter burst seeing Abhijeet's shocked expression. Abhijeet could only managed to utter...

Abhijeet: tumne mujhe bewakoof kaha?... (with a stress)... mujhe?

Daya: haan ji... maine aapko hi bewakoof kaha!

Abhijeet: main bewakoof hoon?... main?... main bewakoof ho ya tum cheater ho?... tumne hi mujhse kaha tha ki tyre mein kuch gadbad hain... isliye hi utra tha main neeche...

Daya(with a shrug): jo bhi ho... jeeta to main hi tha...

ACP sir suppressed his laughter burst forcefully while Abhijeet nodded his head in extreme disappointment and said...

Abhijeet: yeh kabhi nahin sudharne wala...

Twenty Five Days Later...

At 8:30 Pm

Daya climbed upstairs to the terrace and found Abhijeet there, sitting on the bench kept there, sunk in deep thoughts. He smiled and sat beside him while waving his hand before his eyes with...

Daya: Abhi... kya soch rahe ho itna?...

Abhijeet(with a sigh): kuch nahin yaar... bas kal ke bare mein soch raha tha... kya hoga kal?...

Daya grabbed his arm and pressed it lightly with a soft...

Daya: kuch nahin hoga yaar... jaise tum humesha se karte aaye ho waise hi kal bhi karoge... tum to humesha se field Investigation hi prefer karte aaye ho na?... to samajh lo ki yeh usi ka hi pehla stage hain... bas aur kuch nahin... aur yaad haina ki field Investigation ke waqt kiyne sare archano ka saamna karna padta tha hume? Yeh bhi to un mein se hi hoga na?

Abhijeet(in eager tone): par Daya...

Daya: kuch par var nahin boss... tumhe khud par bharosa nahin hain?... tum jo yeh itne dino se Dr. Anurag se counselling karwa rahe ho, us pe bharosa nahin hain?... kuch nahin hoga yaar... (rubbing his palm gently)... relax! Chill yaar!

Abhijeet: kyun kar rahe ho tum log yeh sab Daya? Koi faida nahin hain...

Daya(in firm tone): agar tum bakwas na karo, woh hi behtar hoga tumhare liye... tumhe kal subah bas apni himmat pe adhe rehna hoga... aur kya?

Abhijeet: Daya Dr. Anurag ke mutabik mujhe kal subah ek walk ke liye nikalne hoga... pure ek mahine baad... akela... sabke saamne... mujhse ho payega na yaar?...

Daya: zaroor ho payega Abhi!... tum to mere acche wale bhai hona?...

Abhijeet was about to say something when his mobile rang loudly. He picked up the mobile, which was lying on the table kept beside, and looked towards the screen but his face got paled in the very next moment seeing the number. He accepted the call and said in a broken tone...

Abhijeet: hello!...

Voice: umeed karta hoon ki mere is choti si gair hazri mein aap mujhko bhool nahin gaye... haina?... arey arey aapke chakkar mein main hi kitna bhoolakkar ho gaya hoon... main to bhool hi gaya tha ki aapko to bhoolne ki beemari hain... aap to kabhi bhi kuch bhi bhool sakte hain... haina?... theek hain... main hi aapko yaad dila deta hoon ki mera naam Surya hain... aur woh main hi hoon jisne aapka yeh halat kiya hain... yeh jo aap sheeshe mein khudko dekhke ghabra jate haina?... woh meri wajah se hi hain...kyun ki Maine hi aapke chehre mein tezaab dal diya tha... (in a smirking voice)... thoda thoda karke... ab aapka to pehchaan mit chuka hain... woh aapko yaad bhi hain ya nahin?... chaliye accha bataiye ki aap kaun hain?

Daya: tera baap! Pehchaan paya ya yaad dila doon?

Surya's face immediately got paled as he did not know that seeing Abhijeet's pale face, Daya had snatched the mobile from his hand and had put the call in speaker mode. He had been always afraid of this cop who had always loved and acted as a shield for his target. Hr could only managed to utter...

Surya: Daya tum?...

Daya: haan main... kya socha tha tu ne ki tu is tarah Abhijeet ko har waqt pareshan karta rahega aur main aise haath pe haath dhare chup baithunga?... main tujhe yeh pehla aur aakhri chetawani deta hoon Surya... is tarah Abhijeet ko pareshan karna aur ise har waqt nuksan pahuchane ki koshish karna chod de tu... warna mujhse bura koi nahin hoga... already tera gunaah itna hain ki main tujhe khatam kar doon... ab aur use badha mat...

Surya now shouted badly on Abhijeet as he was really feeling the need to hide his fear...

Surya: yeh tumne accha nahin kiya Abhijeet... tum jante ho ki tumhe iska kya keemat chukana pad sakta hain... ab agar Maine kuch aisa waisa kar diya to dosh mujhe nahin dena... meri beizzati ka badla main kaise leta hoon tumhe acchi tarah se maloom hain...

Daya(in anger): abey usse kya baat karta hain, mujhse baat kar... ek baar yaad rakh Surya, jis din tu mere haath lagega na... (with a smirking tone)... nahin main kuch nahin karnewala... tujhse is sab ka badla to Abhijeet hi lega... main bas side pe khada hokar dekhunga...

Surya(in desperate voice): Abhijeet main tujhe chodunga nahin... dekh lunga tujhe...

Daya: izzat se pesh aa Surya... mera bhai tera naukar nahin hain jo to useis tarah beizzat karta rahega... aur teri aukat hi kya hain mere bhai ke saamne?...

Surya(with smirk): meri aukat?... yeh poocho Daya ki tumhare bhai ka kya aukat hain mere saamne?... us raat to ek dum bheegi billi banke chilla raha tha... ab tum saath ho to bada chup baitha hain... warna to uske zuban se mere saamne sirf daya air taras hi mange phirta hain...

Daya looked towards Abhijeet with hope to speak something but he felt disappointed to see him still silent, sitting with closed eyes. He shook his head disappointedly and said in firm tone...

Daya: woh to waqt hi batayega Surya ki kiski zuban se kis ke liye kya nikalta hain... apne kiye ka anjaam bhugatne ke liye taiyar ho jao Surya... bohot jald tumhe pata chalega ki tumne kya kiya tha aur mera bhai ke saath zulm karnewale ke saath main kya suluk karta hoon...

The call disconnected immediately and Daya looked towards Abhijeet with a firm...

Daya: maine aaj tak us hadse ko lekar tumse kuch nahin poocha... magar aaj poochta hoon... tumne jab Headquarters mein DIG sir, DCP Chitrolle aur kayi logo ke saamne apna statement record karwaye the tab unlogo ne tumse ekbaar nahin balki kayi baar poocha ki tumhare saath yeh sab kisne kiya?... tumhe maloom tha ki is sab ke peeche ka mastermind ka naam Surya hain... tumne mujhe pehle bata bhi chuke the... magar tum is din chup rahe... kyun?

Abhijeet(in silent tone): mujhe mana kiya gaya tha... Surya ne mana kiya tha mujhe...

Daya(in surprised tone): aur tum maan gaye?

Abhijeet: nahin... usne mujhe dhamkaya tha... usne mujhe dhamkaya tha ki...

Daya(in firm tone): ki?...

Abhijeet: ki agar maine Headquarters ke saamne uska zikar kiya na, to woh tumhara bhi woh hi haal karega jo mera kiya hain...

Daya(in shock): kya?...

Abhijeet: haan... woh tumhare chehre pe bhi aise hi tezaab phenkwa dega Daya... (looking towards him)... Daya, main jis dard ko apne zindagi ka hissa banake jeene ki koshish kar raha hoon na, woh bohot takleef deta hain yaar... jab bhi sheeshe mein dekhta hoon tab ek behad sharamindagi mehsoos hota hain apni is badsoorat shakal ko dekhke... par main ise tumhare zindagi ki hissa kaise banne deta yaar?... jo is dard aur takleef se guzarta haina, woh kabhi bhi apni dushman ke liye bhi yeh dard nahin mangega... phir tum to mere bhai hona?... phir main kaise tumhare zindagi mein is dard ko dalne deta bolo?

Daya grabbed his palm tightly while closing his eyes tightly. Abhijeet put his another hand on that grip and took a deep breath while leaning against the back rest of the bench.

Next Morning...

At 7 Am...

Abhijeet, clad in a brown T shirt and a black track pant, was standing beside the window of the hall with a cup of tea in his hand. He was not having even a sip from the cup, rather he was staring towards the sky without even a blink also.

Daya was watching him silently from the kitchen while chopping vegetables. He was wondering what Abhijeet must be thinking and how would he bring him back of he was remembering that painful experience.

All of a sudden, the loud ringing of doorbell brought both of them back from their trance. Daya came out from the kitchen, threw a glance towards Abhijeet, who too had turned towards the door, and went to the door with...

Daya: tum baitho... main dekhta hoon...

Abhijeet did not say anything but he did not move from there also. Daya opened the door and saw Dr. Anurag was standing outside. Daya was about to greet him when he said in a firm serious tone...

Dr. Anurag: Daya mujhe Abhijeet se akele mein kuch baat karni hain... so may I?

Daya got a bit shocked but he did not say anything thinking that it must be any personal matter between a doctor and his patient. He did not have any question about Dr. Anurag's ability to counsel his patients as Abhijeet was in much better mental condition than before after attending several personal counselling sessions with him. He just nodded and turned towards his brother with a soft...

Daya: Abhijeet...

Abhijeet simply nodded and moved inside his bedroom with Dr. Anurag following him. Daya sat down on a chair and silently began to wait for the meeting session to come to an end. He was badly waiting for his brother to go outside and face the world all by himself for the first time after he had expelled out all of his agony and pain in front of him. Hr was feeling really happy because he had already crossed another step of the challenge successfully while persuading Abhijeet to go out alone, with his face uncovered. He now really did not care about the challenge which DCP Chitrolle had given him as for him, it was much more important to bring Abhijeet back than to save his job. Abhijeet had been always more important for him than senior inspector Abhijeet. Yes his job and post were important part of his life but not more dear and important than Abhijeet's life.

At that moment, the door of Abhijeet's bedroom got opened and both came out, Dr. Anurag with a firm face and Abhijeet with a devastated face. Daya stood up from his seat and came to him with a tensed face with a soft yet anxious...

Daya: kya hua Abhi?...

In response Abhijeet hugged him tightly with a soft whisper as "Daya". Daya, though being confused, hugged him back too while throwing a questioning gaze on Dr. Anurag who nodded with assurance. Daya tightened his grip over Abhijeet with a soft...

Daya: jaao... all the best.

After Ten Minutes...

Abhijeet was walking on the street with a shopping basket held in his hand. The passers-by were still looking towards him with extreme curiosity, but today he never pay any heed towards it and went towards the market with strong steps.

He could listen various humming sounds around him while people were watching him as if they were watching any super hit film. He smiled and shook his head with extreme disappointment. The angle of view of the society towards any victim never changed! What he need was to go to forward with strong steps... with confidence!...

But all of a sudden, a voice came from behin, which made him shell shocked...

Voice: kya baat hain Abhijeet? Aaj bade chamak rahe ho? Aakhir baat kya hain?

Abhijeet turned towards him and asked in shocked tone...

Abhijeet: tum?

END OF THE CHAPTER

So whom might have Abhijeet seen? And what did Dr. Anurag do with Abhijeet which made him that devastated? What will happen next? What decision will Headquarters take about Abhijeet? Can he join CID again? What is waiting in Duo's future? Stay tuned to know more.

Guest: No You will not have to wait anymore. Here is the update. Thank you for your reviews.

123: Actually mujhe severe depression ka problem hain, isliye mood shift bhi zyada hota hain... isliye kabhi kabhi main kuch likh hi nahin pati hoon, you know bad mood phase... main apni college ki psychiatrist se consult kar chuki hoon who had strictly forbidden me to remain in contact with something which made me depressed more. And that story... actually I had a friend of mine who used to love that story most. She is not with me now. I will never be able to meet her anymore. So my attempts to write that story used to made me more depressed. So my psychiatrist madam have forbidden me. I am sorry. And thank you for the review.

Krishti: no I am not active in any type of social media. And dear, you can not delete a fanfiction account. But you can easily log out from it and forget about it. It never makes any problem. By creating an account, you cam PM me, add me and my stories in your favourite list and can follow them too. Please read the reply I gave to 123. Thank you for the review. And most importantly, I love your call "didibhai". I will not feel bad if you criticize me. And something very emotional is waiting for you.

Guest: Yeah I am happy to give you a light chapter. Thanks for the review.

A very big surprise is waiting for you in the next chapter.

Next will be after 935 reviews.

Please read and review...

Thanks to each and every reviewers...

Stay Home Stay Safe From Coronavirus.

With Love And Regards...

Yours Nikita...

A\N: only two reviews have remained to complete 165 reviews in Lamhe. Please review friends.