8. Moments

A/N: An update! Finally! Hope ya guys like this too.

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Laal Paraanda

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Chapter 8

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Ishita reaches home, a huge smile etched on her face. Her dad & mom notice this but they take it as her usual cheerful smile. After dinner, she's smiling while glancing out of her window…

Preet: (Ishita's sister) : 'wow dii.. full moon ko dekhna, yuhi muskuraana.. filmy hai but I know kuch tho baat hai. jaldi daso kii gal hai!"

Ishu: "kuch nahi shaitaan.."

Preet: "didii aapko bolna hi padega.."

Ishu: "tum guess karo.."

Preet: "umm srk ne tumhara tweet ka reply diya.."

Ishu: "nahi baba.."

Preet: "hmm aapk fav show mei hero jo hai woh margaya!"

Ishu: "kya.. woh kyu marega! Ussey villain ko maarna hai yar."

Preet: "accha tho aapko chutti mili?"

Ishu: "arey ussey bhi zyada khushi ki baat hai"

Preet: "dii main fail hogai.. aap hi bolo.."

Ishu: "preetho.. preetho kya dasuu.. kya boluu kya main! bhaalu…" (smiles)

Preet: "woh aapka jigraa dost jo bichad gaya; kya hua ussey?

Ishu: "woh milgaya.."

Preet: "oh.. KYAAAAA hayo rabba! dii kab? Kaise? kahaa..? kya kaha ussne.. ? kaisa dikhta hai? handsome hai kya? I love you boldiya kya aapne" (jumps like crazy)

Ishu: "isshh isshhh zara saans tho le yar paglii… woh sirf mujhe mila hai.. bus abhi baat nahi hui.."

Preet: "kya matlub Di.. woh mila aur aap chup bait gayi? Aapko keh denaa chahiye I love you!"

Ishu: "chupkar kuch bhi bolti hai.. koi pyar-vyar nahi karti uske naal."

Preet: " Accha-" (teasing)

Ishu: "haan.." (looks down)

Preet: "offo Dii! fir woh kya tha? Kyu ithne saalon se dhoondh rahi thi unhe.. kyu taras rahi thi unse milne, kyu dua kar rahi thi ki woh miljaye aapko? Aur ek minute di.. aur bhi bohot dost honge na aapke. Tho kyu aap 24 x 7 bhaalu k chakkar mei kyu padi rehti hai…"

Ishu: "kyu ki woh mera accha dost hai! sab se khaas aur tu- tu chupkar. bachhi hai. tho bacchii banke raho samjhi!" (warning)

Preet: "aww naraz mat hona di.. waise mujhe yeh jaanna hai ki woh ab kaisa dikhta hai, kya kar raha hai! koi photo hai aap k paas?"

Ishu: "arey… nahi photo.. umm.." (frowns)

Preet: "kya Di.. ithne saal baad aapko bhaalu mila aur aapko nahi lagaa ki uss k pic click karna chahiye huh?"

Ishu: "arey yar woh- "

Preet: "ab yeh bataayiye ki aapne unn se baat ki kyu nahi.."

Ishu: "kyu ki woh mere senior hai!"

Preet: "KYA? CID mei.."

Ishu: "haan…"

Preet: "OMG.. kahi yeh woh- woh cool dude tho nahi!"

Ishu: "cool dude?"

Preet: "arey kya naam hai unka- kapin!"

Ishu: "haha Kavin sir? Nahi. Waise chutki tum na.. bohot badi-badi batein kar rahi hai huh-"

Preet: "bataao bhai.. tension tho door karaao.." (puppy eyes)

Ishu: "aur kaun woh Dusht-danav hi hai… mera bachpan ka dost Bhaalu!"

Preet: "kya! Sach mei?" (shocked)

Ishu: "haan yar.."

Preet: "Di yeh dust-danav! Sadoo hai kya?"

Ishu: "nahi re. main tho aise hi bulaati thi. Unko kaam k alaawa kuch soojta hi nahi. Aur har waqt mujhse kaam k bare mei baat karte the.. tho aise hi unko woh naam dediyaa.." (smiles)

Preet: "ohh…"

Ishu: "sach kahuu tho- woh bohot hi sweet aur awesome hai.. pehle se hi lagata ki kuch tho hai raabta.. aur aaj wohi sach hua.."

Preet suddenly squeals n hugs her Di.

Preet: "Congrats Di! Aapko aapka bhaalu mil hi gaya! Wow Di ab aapko unka pic click karna hi padega… aur aap kab unse keh rahi hai ki aap hi unke dost hai..

Ishu: " hmm photo tho thik hai. lekin sach bataana… abhi kya jaldi hai. Uss k liye bohot time hai sweety.. thoda pareshaan hone dete hai Bhaalu ko"

Preet: "Di aap na mujhse bhi badi shaitaan ho!"

Ishu: "woh tho hai.. hu tho tumhari badi behen na?"

Preet: "Dii aap shaitaan bhi ho aur duniya ki best Didi.."

Ishu: "Aww love you Preetz"

Preet: "love you too Di.. Di woh pic dikhaana kal huh. Don't forget…"

Ishu: "OK sure! Ab chal so jaate hai.."

Preet: "haan OK Di good night!"

Ishu: "Good night sweety…"

Both hug n they go to sleep.

. . / \ . . .

Bureau same night, 1AM-

There in bureau Dushyant is doing overtime duty…

He completes a file (he has successfully finished naming the criminals who had gone underground and whose records had been deleted from police records)

Dushyant: "aur isee k saat ek task khatm… I cant believe ki yeh saare log zinda hai. aur unhe spot kia gaya hai.."

Kavin: "sach mei Dushyant inki waje se crime rate badh raha hai.. aur police ko lag raha tha ithne din se, ki yeh margaye…"

Dushyant: "I hope ACP sir ko humare kaam se koi shikaayat na ho…"

Kavin: "hogi bhi nahi dost! Lekin Ab tho ek break banta hai… main chala coffee peene."

Dushyant: "coffee ithni raat ko kaha milega yar?"

Kavin: "chai se kaam chalaalenge bhai."

Dushyant: "hmm.."

Kavin: "tu yahi ruko. Main tereliye bhi lekar aata hu…"

Dushyant: "aw but no thanks yar.."

Kavin: "Duffer! I knw tu bhi thak gaya hai. aur yeh koi ehsaan nahi hai tere uuper…"

And Kavin walks off to get tea as Cafeteria was closed long ago…

And so Dushyant sits in his chair… takes a breath, trying to relax… then opens his drawer and picks up his favourite photo from childhood.

Dushyant: "hey Billi.. kaisi ho? I know tum sogayi hogi.. nahi? Kitni khushi ho rahi hai mujhe yeh jaanke ki tum kahi so rahi ho, ki tum zinda ho.. (smiles) sach mei yar; jab woh officer ne uss din bataaya ki tum… ek pal k liye tho meri duniya ujhad gayi.. ek pal nahi actually ek hafta yes! Fir pata chala ki tu thik-thak hai. tab jaake chain milaa khaleje ko.. *sigh*"

Dushyant: "ab yeh mat sochna ki ithni raat ko fursat mili tumhe yaad karne. Jinhe bhoolte nahi na, unhe yaad karne ki kya zarurat…"

Dushyant: "Aaj overtime karna pad raha hai.. CID ki duty hi aisi hai. overtime- mujhe aur Kavin ko bhi. Kavin.. mera bestie! Paagal hai woh! Aur ussey lagta hai ki main tumse pyar karta hu. Tabhi tho yeh tasweer rakha hai iss drawer mei… honestly! Usey kya pata ki humari dosti kitni gehri hai. aur tu mere liye kitni special hai. but.. seriously pyar! Tujhe pata hai na, mujhe pyar-vyar k bare mei kuch bhi nahi pata… ab aur kya kehnaa.. tu bas jaldi se milo yarrr! Jaldi se! Ahh ok Kavin aaraha hoga. Woh aagaya tho mujhe fir se tease karega. So good night!"

And he places the photo inside just as Kavin comes. They share tea and get back to work.

. . / . . . \ . .

Next day- 8 AM

Ishita reaches bureau early. The smile on her lips only widening with her lips…

The scene inside makes her smile, turn into a grin…

Across the room she sees someone fast asleep sitting in a chair..

Dushyant! Isn't he adorable… with some of his hair falling onto his forehead, sleeping while hugging the file, looking like an innocent kid hugging his teddy?

Ishu: "Dush-Danav-Daku so raha hai…" (smiles big)

Ishu: "ithni jaldi bureau aagaya. Koi aur bhi tho nahi hai yaha! Lagta hai.. yahi sogaya. Mera Bhaalu.."

She goes near to him.. she reluctantly brushes some hair away from his face… carefully so that she doesn't wake him up!

Ishu: "Oye yar Bhaalu! Tum yaha mere saamne the! Aur maine kaha-kaha nahi dhuunda tujhe! isey kehte hai kismet connection? Ya fir woh proverb jo hindi mei hai.. bagal mei chora.. aur sheher mei dhidhora!" (laughs in a low voice)

Ishu: "so hmm… bade hogaye ho yar! Kisi hero se kum nahi dikhte ho! Aur yeh baal aise chehre pe aagaye tho aur cute lag rahe ho…"

She adores seeing her best friend from up close. For the first time she's staring at him from such a small distance, bending over his chair a little… she refrains herself from pulling his cheeks and clicks a photo.

Ishu: (murmurs adoring his pic) "tum ithne cute aur sweet ho! pata nahi ab Bhaalu keh k kaise bulaangi tujhe!"

She says it a bit aloud and he stirs… she backs off as he wakes up with a jerk…

Ishu smiles…

Ishu: "ab dekho bhaalu ki main tumhe kaise pareshaan karti hu. Ab ithne saal baad mile tho masti tho banta hai boss!" (smiles)

He smears his eyes..

Dushyant: "hmm Ishita? Tum yaha… itni jaldi subah hogayi.."

Ishu: "Good morning sleepy-head!" (smiles)

Dushyant: "sleepy-head? Tumne mujhe sleepy head kaha.." (shocked)

Ishu: "haw! Kya sir! Koi apne senior se aise baat karte hai kya? Maine tho kaha good morning sir! Wake up! And thik se suniye.."

Dushyant: "right oh-"

He gets up wondering where Kavin is… and goes to look out for him.

Ishita laughs at the joke that she played. This is just beginning..

Kavin: arey Ishita.. itni jaldi aagayi?Ishu: good morning sir.. woh bas aise hi aagayi main. Aap yaha-

Kavin- overtime! Yeh mera dost kahaa gaya…

Ishu- aapko dhunndhne gaye honge shayad..

Kavin- mera yar bhi na baccha hai bilkul! Idher-udher ghoomta rehta hai..

Ishu- umm sir.. tho kya unko unki dost mili?

Kavin: kaun billi? Arey woh kahaa hai kisko pata! But ek baat tho pata chal gaya ki woh zinda hai..

Ishu- zinda hai mutlab.. (confused)

Kavin: kisi ne bataaya ki billi aur unke family sab Punjab mei maare gaye.. tho bas rota bait gaya baarish mei mera yaar..

Ishu- rothe bait gaye.. uss din.. baarish mei..

Kavin: haan! Aur Punjab gaye tho maine hi pata lagaaya ki Billi ki family actually zinda hai. kahi underground chale gaye woh log…

Ishu grimaces, she remembers that attack on their car.. how they survived and how they fled from Punjab..

But Dushyant.. bhaalu was crying that day.. becoz of that news!? How sweet… she smiles as she remembers his upset face and because of the fact that she could cheer him up that day.

Kavin goes on.

Kavin: fir pata hai.. ussne kya kia.. khushi se paagal hoke gale lag gaya.. baccha hai na Ishita! Bilkul baccha hai Dushyant!

Ishu laughs while Dushyant enters scolding Kavin…

Dushyant: sabse badaa bachha tho tu hai… kuch bhi bolte ho yar.. chal.. ab thoda fresh hoke aate hai. Ishita.. take care of the files..

Ishu- (smiles) yes sir!

And she watches them leave with a smile.

Ishu (self-talk) - sach mei Bhalu kitna sweet hai. Haha.. iss ruka-chupi khel mei bohot mazaa aaraha hai…

She shakes her head and tries to focus on work.

/ . . . /

One hour later-

The whole cid team is busily working on a new case. Ishu is with Dushyant in the garden while Sachin & others are scanning each and every corner of some house. Dushu is examining the garden for clues when she notices he's wearing sky colour shirt and those goggles…

Ishu: "Blue shirt, Goggles.. Dashing lag rahe hai…"

He suddenly turns to stare at her and she bites her lip.

Dushyant: "kya kaha.."

Ishu: "maine kuch kaha? Nahi tho…"

Dushyant: (folds his arms and stares) "Blue shirt, Goggles.. dashing huh?"

Oops! Bhaalu kaheeka! Sunn liya sab kuch…

Ishu: (nervous smile) "kya! Aapko kya lagta hai.. aap shahrukh khan hai jo main aap pe fidaa hojaungi…"

Dushyant: "what?"

Ishu: "Maine kuch nahi kaha yeh sab- yeh sab… aapko shayad lagta hoga ki aap se handsome koi hai nahi, tabhi tho aisa sunayi diya.."

He blinks... how could he hear something which she didn't say? They have a case to solve!

Dushyant: "Ishita… please mujhe disturb mat karna. Look for clues.."

With that he resumes his work and moves along to look for clues.

Ishu is standing with a smile on her face…

Ishu: (low-voice) "that's it! Ishita.. please mujhe disturb mat karna.. how sweet! Isey kabhi gussa nahi aata hai kya? Bachpan mei bohot aata tha. Dekhti hu kab tak nahi karega gussa. Hmm gussa tho tumhe karna hi padega Bhaalu, warna main bataaungi nahi ki main kaun hu.."

. . / \ . .

Few minutes later, bureau-

They find a laptop that is locked. No expert is available to unlock so Ishu volunteers as she is a former computer engineer.

Acp sir- jaldi karo Ishita, puri jaan lagaadena usspe..

She works on it but it's a tough task. Dushyant comes to check on her…

Dushyant: Kaam hogaya?

Ishu: Nahi sir. Bas ho raha hai…

Dushyant: Hmm. Aaj kuch bhi karo. Tum isey unlock karogi. Uss k baad hi ghar jaaogi..

Ishu: Ok Dushyant sir..

And she resumes her work. 2hrs later-

Dushyant: "kaafi samay se kaam kar rahi ho. iss kaam mei Pankaj bhi haat bataayega.. lunch time hogaya kuch khaalena.."

Ishu: "yes sir"

Dushyant: "jaldi wapis aana.. wahi gappe mat shuru karna.."

Ishu: "yes sir.."

Dushyant: "good"

Ishu: "aur Dushyant sir.."

Dushyant: "hmm"

Ishu: "thanks for giving this much needed break!"

She walks off giving him a smile. He's shocked.

Dushyant: "isey kya hogaya hai. ithni jaldi raazi ho rahi hai. aur Dushyant sir… dust-danav nahi wow!"

Smiling a little he resumes his work.

. . . / \ . . .

That evening- the team is in a jungle close to Mumbai. The team splits up in pairs. Dushyant & Ishita are together. Kismat connection again!

He runs as fast as he could; following some clues. And she rues…

Ishu: "rukiye sir! Maine koi Olympic medal nahi jeeta hai running mei… oh- g-god!"

She pants and he pauses to look at her. They wait for a minute before resuming their run.

There's a stream to cross this time..

Dushyant: Damn it! Paani tezi se neeche ki taraf jaaraha hai…

He curses their luck. Its impossible to trace further, the traces of charcoal leading them end there.

Dushyant: "shayad koi hume ghumraa karne ki koshish kar raha hai.. ACP sir aur baaki sab se milna hoga chalo.."

He begins to cross the stream while she stands there eyeing the stream..

Dushyant: "Kya hua? Wohi khadi rahogi kya?"

Ishu: "Aap ko kya lagta hai. jo aap kar sakte hai. woh sab main kar sakti hu? Yeh main akele cross nahi kar sakti-"

Dushyant: "Ishita.. aise- aise kaise chalega… lets get going. Sab humare wait kar rahe honge aur-"

Ishu: "Thik hai. main iss nadii mei beh jaaun tho bhi aapko kya.. aap jayiye!"

He comes back to give her company…

Ishu: " zara Haat dijiye na sir!"

Dushyant: "Haat?"Ishu: "haan… haat hi tho hai, jaan dene ko keh rahi hu kya"

Dushyant: "Umm.".

He reluctantly offers his hand… she holds his hand and they start crossing the stream. Ishu is smiling internally while Dushyant is just confused.

Ishu: Ahh sir. Yeh tho sach mei tez hai… hum beh tho nahi jayenge.

Dushyant: No relax Ishita. Main hu na.. tumhe kuch nahi hoga…

She smiles… he has always been her support.

Ishu: (self-talk) Bachpan mei school mei, playground mei, har jagah tum hi mere sahaare the. Aur ab tum mujhe fir se milgaye… ahh- I think main khushi se paagal hojaungi!"

Ishu: (self-talk) "mera tho bohot mann kar raha hai ki tumhe sach bataadoon! Lekin nahi.. iss feeling ka thoda aur maze lete hai! its great feeling jab aapko sab kuch pata ho. Aur saamne waale ko kuch nahi.." (smiles)

Dushyant: "Muskuraana hogaya tho chalo stream k beecho-beech hai hum!" (gives her a look)

He seems irritated while she enjoys this.

Kavin reaches there with Divya.

Kavin: "arey tum log abhi tak yahi ho.. waha sab pareshaan ho rahe the.."

Dushyant: "haan yar woh thodi der hogayi.. but we are fine..'

Kavin's sharp eyes quickly notice they're holding hands.

Kavin: "yeh- yeh kya haat kyu pakad k rakha hai Ishita ka.."

Dushyant: "uh- woh.. hum- hum cross kar rahe the.." (lets go of her hand)

Kavin grins but doesn't press the matter while Ishu enjoys his discomfort.

Kavin, Dushyant, Divya, Ishu walk along…

They need to cross another stream… its not that deep this time. Ishu is still hesitating.. Kavin, Divya are ahead. Dushyant comes back to grab her hand..

Dushyant: "Don't tell me iss baar bhi dar lag raha hai… hurry up!"

He begins to walk fast tagging her along, taking quick steps across the stream.

Dushyant: "baar-baar haat pakadna pad raha hai.."

She smiles as she hears him mumbling something under his breath. She adores him and that's when her wicked brain works-

Ishita places her foot on a slippery rock, loses her footing. She shrieks and falls into the stream pulling him along.. she laughs as she eyes Dushyant who's lying beside her in a pool of water. Kavin, Divya burst out laughing seeing this.

Dushyant: "gosh! Kya tha woh-"

Ishu: "sorry sir! I slipped.."

Dushyant: "kya sorry! Eee- geela kardiya tumne mere kapdon ko!"

Ishu: "tho mere kya dry hai?"

He looks at her and sees that she's drenched fully. She thinks he'd be mad at her… But no, he's gotto be sweet!

Dushyant: "woh tho shukar hai ki zyada deep nahi tha. Aur paani ka dhaar kum hai.. warna beh jaate hum.. chalo jaldi ACP sir wait kar rahe hai.."

He takes hold of her hand again and they walk hand-in-hand. She smiles noting that its him who held her hand now!

The journey just began…

. . . . . . . . . . .

Next chapter-

Dushyant comes to Ishu's help again. Some more cutee moments...

Later He gets a phone call.

"Hello.. Haan ji! Sasriyakaal boliye!"

"Puttar ji.. Woh Dalbir se meri baat hui. Woh log Mumbai mei hai.. aur bitiya har raviwaar gurudwara mei khaana baantne aatii hai bacchon mei waha jaake milegi aapki dost.."

"Kya? Gurudwara! I mean Billi ki family.. Mumbai mei.. Aur shanti nagar ka Gurudwara?"

"ji haan puttar.."

An excited Dushyant reaches there… Ishita too reaches the same place. Will Dushu find out truth?

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AS-DS : haha pleasure is mine! Love you yar mmuuaah XD

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