Mish' Fiction

By the next meeting the real business of RG Pharma was clear to them.

“Tinu ne kuchh samples Ananya ko diye the, pain-killer ke jo ki drug dealers circulate karte hain. Without fear kyonki ye OTC pain-killer brand hai,” Ronnie informed them, “Sunny ka ek dost ek chemical lab mein kaam karta hai. Usne hamare liye informally tests kiye. Morphine percentage is too high, obviously meant for recreational use and not subduing pain. Bachchon ke liye ye dose definitely fatal ho sakti hai.”

“Dr. Sinha ne mujhe bataya ki doctors RG pharma ke brand ko prefer nahin karte hain prescribe karna. It is likely ki unmein se kaiyon ko pata hai ki there is foul play involved. Unki quality bahut vary karti hai, and he was surprised ki aise drugs ko approval kaise mil jaati hai,” Ananya added.

“Tum log ye do audio clips suno-” Kabir said.

One of them was “Agar apne bheteeje ko bachana hai”.

The other was “Agar apne market position ko bachana hai”.

He played it repeatedly. The first one was not as clear as the second one. But there was no mistaking the accent and style of speech. They were from the same person.

“Iska kya matlab hai?” Richa asked even as she understood.

“Main bhi surprised tha,” Kabir said, “Aath saal pahle jab mujhe woh threatening call aaya tha, to woh record hua tha. Main apne saare calls record karta hoon shuru se hi. But maine ye sapne mein bhi nahin socha tha ki RG ne khud woh call kiya hoga.”

“Actually Sir,” Ronnie said, “Maine thoda aur bhi pata kiya hai ye RG ke baare mein. Iski antecedents respectable nahin hai. Poori family hi gundagardi mein involved hai. Jinke paas black money hoti hain, generic drugs banane ki company kholna unke liye ek front ho sakta hai apni illegal activities handle karne ka. Mujhe to ye wahi case lagta hai.”

“Papa ko idea bhi nahin hoga ki woh kaise logon ke beech phanse hue the,” Ananya felt depressed and buried her face in her hands.

“Lekin hamein pata hai, Ananya,” Kabir said in a determined voice, “Hamein pata hai, aur hum unhein unke game mein beat karenge.”

“Hamara next step kya hoga?” Richa asked.

“We have to approach RG himself,” Kabir replied.

“Main karoongi,” Ananya announced.

“Nahin Ananya. Main ya tum nahin karenge. Mera involvement to woh jaanta hi hai, tumhari identity pata lagane mein use zyada waqt nahin lagega. Phir woh suspicious ho jayega.”

“To main ya Richa…” Ronnie said, hesitantly.

“Tum logon ko reporting ka experience nahin hai.”

“To kya Sunny akela jayega?” Ananya asked, irritated.

Kabir smiled, “RG ko lure karna hai. Ek bada naam chahiye.”

“Kaun? Malvika? Khalid Sir?”

“Manav Gupta!”

“What!” Everyone exclaimed in chorus.

“Aap Manav Sir ko ismein involve karna chahte hain?” Ananya was incredulous.

“Unhein aapke against political plotting se fursat milegi tab to–” Richa said, but was interrupted by Kabir.

“Aur woh mere against plot kyon karta rahta hai?”

“Editor-in-chief banna tha use, aur kya?” Ronnie said.

“Aur wahi main use offer kar sakta hoon.”

“What!” Another combined exclamation went up.

“Aap kya bol rahe hain? Aap KKN chhodne waale hain kya?” Ananya asked.

“Calm down. Main KKN nahin chhod raha. Lekin meri Khalid aur KL se baat hui hai. Kuchh strategic changes ke baare mein.”

As editor-in-chief, a lot of Kabir’s time was going in administrative and regular work. He wanted to focus on investigative reporting, which was what would bring real, solid viewership to the channel. So, he would lead a team to do that, while nominally also being the boss of the next editor-in-chief.

“Agar ye sab decided hi hai, aur unhein editor-in-chief banna hi hai, to woh hamari madad kyon karenge.”

“Doosra editor-in-chief laana decided hai, woh kaun hoga ye decided nahin hai. Aur us decision mein mera major say hoga,” Kabir flashed a triumphant smile at them.

—

“Mujhe bharosa nahin hota,” Ananya told him at home that evening, “Ki aap itne saalon se celebrity interviews le rahe the. Reporting ka itna passion hai aapko.”

He smiled indulgently. “Mere baare mein ab bhi bahut kuchh hai jo tum nahin jaanti ho.”

“Aap apni autobiography kyon nahin likhte? Aur mujhe apna scribe bana lijiye. To mujhe bhi sab pata chal jayega.”

He laughed. “Nahin. Itna narcissist nahin hoon main. Autobiography likhne jaisa kuchh bhi nahin kiya hai maine life mein.”

“Achchha. Phir to aise hi batana hoga aapko. Kya nahin jaanti hoon main aapke baare mein.”

“Tumhein yaad hai jo footage tumne mujhe diya tha, office mein jab mera pahla din tha.”

“Haan. Yaad hai,” she pouted and mimicked him, “News stale ho chuki hai, Ms. Kashyap.”

He laughed, “Kisne stale ki thi woh news.”

“Delhi Kranti–”

“Kisne?”

Her eye widened in surprise.

“Aap?”

“Technically maine is maamle mein tumse jhoothi nahin bola tha, Ananya. Main Delhi Kranti mein kaam karta tha nahin, kaam karta hoon. Hamesha karta raha hoon.”

“Oh my God! Lekin… maine kitna pata lagane ki koshish ki thi, kabhi aapke baare mein wahan se kuchh pata nahin chala.”

“Maine Pandit ji ke saamne shart  rakhi thi ki kissi ko pata nahin chalna chahiye ki main unke liye kuchh bhi kar raha hoon. So he was faithfully keeping his side of the bargain. I am sorry!”

“Lekin aise kyon?”

“Mr. Kashyap ka incident, aur thode hi dinon ke baad mere messy divorce se main bahut disillusioned ho gaya tha. I felt like a failure. Na to main sach ki ladai lad pa raha tha, na hi apni life mein koi financial progress kar raha tha. Phir Tarini aur Anurag ki zimmedaari bhi main lena chahta tha. Isliye maine decide kiya ki main apna career aise direction mein le jaunga jahan mujhe financial stability mile. Isliye, kaafi struggle kar ke, main print se TV mein aaya. Aur yahan par safest, best-paying opportunities gritty journalism mein nahin thi. To mujhe jo bhi karna tha maine kiya. Lekin–”

“Reporting ka keeda nahin mara aapke andar.”

He nodded with a smile, “Maine Delhi Kranti ke liye kaam karna kabhi band nahin kiya. Bas pseudonym se likhta raha.”

“Aap bahut achchi Hindi likh lete hain phir to,” she teased him.

“Yes Madam. Main Hindi medium schools mein padha hoon.”

“Kissi ko nahin pata hai is baare mein?”

“Kuchh logon ko pata hai,” he smiled enigmatically, “Khalid aur KL mujhe yahan mere T News ke kaam ki wajah se nahin laye the.”

“Unhein kaise pata hai?”

“Khalid ke silly external persona par mat jao. Woh industry ka manjaa hua khilaadi hai. Pandit Ji, Khalid, KL ye sab log ek hi time ki paidaish hain. Baad mein alag-alag raaste le liye unhone. Lekin hain to ek hi mitti ke bane hue.”

“Waise agar aap full time investigative journalism mein involve ho jayenge KKN mein, to kya Delhi Kranti ke liye likhna chhod denge?”

“KKN Delhi Kranti mein invest karne ki soch raha hai. Halanki main sure nahin hoon ki Pandit ji maanenge. Unke apne kia kaayde hain. Arre, Ananya!”

—

To be continued

She fell silent and spoke after a long pause.

“Kal aapne ek ajeeb si baat kahi thi. Kabhi kissi ghar mein zaroorat na hone ki… Aapke parents?”

“Meri Ma ki death bahut pahle ho gayi thi. Main chhota tha, zyada yaad bhi nahin hai. Babuji purani Hindi filmon ke type ke school-teacher the,” he tried to smile, but his lips pressed together at some painful memories, “Idealist Gandhian. Shahar mein communal riots ke aasaar the. Aur woh ghar par baithne ko taiyaar nahin the. Kyonki unhein pata tha ki jo mari hui gai mandir mein mili thi, woh Muslim logon ne wahan nahin daali thi. Ek local Hindu neta ne dalwai thi. Woh sabko ye batane gaye. Na Hinduon ne unki baat suni, na mussalmaanon ne. Hamein nahin pata chala ki jis laathi se unhein woh fatal chot sar par lagi, woh ek Hindu ki thi, ya Muslim ki…”

She shifted on the bed to get closer to him planted a kiss on his cheek, “I’m sorry.”

“Thodi si unki idealism shayad mere andar bhi aa gayi thi,” he rued.

“Ab bhi hai!”

He shook his head, “Nahin. Woh unadulterated idealism nahin raha, Ananya. Ab main games khelta hoon. Achchhe kaam ke liye bhi khelta hoon, tab bhi games khelta hoon. Risk calculate kar ke, nafe-nuksaan ka hisaab kar ke. Woh idealism hoti to seedhe RG ke paas jaata aur seena thok kar kahta ki mujhe uska sach pata hai aur main woh duniya ke saamne bolunga. Lekin main woh nahin kar raha.”

“Matlab aap woh bewkoofi nahin kar rahe, jo main karti,” she smiled.

“Tumhare andar jo ye self-righteous gussa hai na, Ananya, tumhare liye problems create karta hai, lekin mujhe isse bahut hope bhi milti hai, aur life mein ek purpose bhi.”

“Purpose?”

“Main chahta hoon ki tumhara ye gussa kabhi tumhein kill na karna pade.”

“Aap saath denge to nahin kill karna padega. Ye sahi jagah channel ho jayega.”

“I hope so. Lekin ek baat batao, Ananya. Ye gussa – tumhare Papa ke saath jo hua uska to hai hi – lekin usse bhi zyada kuchh hai na? Subah tum batate-batate rah gayin.”

“Rahen dijiye, Kabir. Purani baatein hai. Bachchi thi main. Unhein dohrane ke kya fayda?”

“Ek baar bata do,” he pleaded, “Apne man se bahar nikaal do un baaton ko. Phir bhool jaana zindagi bhar ke liye.”

She took a deep breath and leaned back against the headboard. Kabir got out of the chair and sat down beside her on the bed. He held her hands and looked straight in her eyes.

“Aap jaante hain na ki log vicious ho sakte hain. Aur jab woh log teenagers ho to unki meanness ki koi boundaries nahin rah jaati. Armaan chhota tha, jab Papa ko arrest kar ke police le gayi thi. Use to humne school bheja hi nahin kuchh dinon ke liye, aur phir uska admission doosre school mein karwa diya. Lekin main 12^th class mein thi. Na to school bunk karna possible tha, na hi board exams se pahle chhodna. Aur… Jo log pahle se hi mere friends nahin the, unki to aur baat hai, lekin mere sabse kareebi dost bhi… Ek Richa ko chhod kar… Aur phir relatives, neighbors. Pata hai unmein se kuchh log mujhse mean sawaal poochhna kaise justify karte the? Woh kahte the ki meri Ma ki halat to already itni kharaab hai. To unse pochhna sahi nahin lagta. Isliye woh mujhse poochh rahe hain jo sawaal unke man mein hai. As if main chhoti thi to meri koi feelings thi hi nahin. Main… Main Ma ko bhi kuchh nahin bol sakti thi aur…”

She started crying, but Kabir gently wiped her tears.

“Ro mat, Ananya. Woh din ab chale gaye hain. Aur jo kuchh bhi bacha khucha jhooth hai hawa mein, woh bhi clear ho jayega.”

“Ek aapka woh article tha, aur uske baad, shayad uske asar se, Papa ko bail milna – ye do mere savior the. Papa ghar wapas nahi bhi aaye tab bhi main in donon ke sahare…”

He embraced her gently and held her for a long time.

When she grew calmer, she got out of the bed and walked to the window sill. Kabir followed him.

“Papa is ghar mein kabhi nahin rahe. Humne ghar change kar liya, purane neighbors ko avoid karne ke liye. Lekin main aksar yahan baith kar Papa ko apne saath mahsoos karti hoon. Kai baar baatein karti hoon unse,” she suddenly chuckled in embarrassment, “Aap mujhe kabhi aise dekhnege to shayad pagal samjhenge. Lekin aisa nahin hai. Main bas…”

He pressed his hand against her lips.

“Explain karne ki zaroorat nahin hai, Ananya.”

—

They met over breakfast again the next day.

“Sir, maine Pravin aur Shehnaaz ke saath kaam kya kar RG Pharma par. I don’t know ki hum kya dhoondh rahe hain. But ye kuchh general numbers hain, aur kuchh observations,” Richa handed Kabir a bunch of stapled sheets. Ananya took it from him.

“Saare clips bhi RG ke jama ho gaye hain. Zyada nahin hain, jaise ki aapne predict kiya tha. Aapko jab bhi time ho hum use dekh sakte hain.”

“Aaj office mein hi dekhenge.”

“Unka sabse bada revenue-generator,” Ananya mumbled poring over Richa’s papers, “ye pain-killer hai.”

“So?”

“Isi dawai mein problem thi, jinse un pachaas bachchon ki death hui thi. Morphine ka percentage high tha.” She handed him some old news clips.

“Ye sab tumne kab jama kiye?” Kabir asked.

“Pichhle kuchh dinon mein.”

Kabir shook his head, smiling. She had been at work!

“Us incident ke baad,” Richa added, “Unhein ye medicine kuchh dinon ke liye withdraw karni padi thi. Us saal their revenue took a big hit and share prices bhi bahut gir gaye the. Lekin later they reintroduced it and since then they haven’t looked back.”

“OTC medicine hai?”

“Ji.”

“Unhone same medicine ko reintroduce kyon kiya? Itni bad PR ke baad? Rebrand kar sakte the?” Kabir wonered aloud.

Ronnied who had been listening thoughtfully until then said,“Ananya, tune kaha ki usmein morphine ka percentage high tha, right?”

“Haan.”

“Aur Kabir Sir, aapko jo papers Sudhir Uncle ne diye the, usse ye clear tha ki unhone apni report mein ye mention kiya tha. Phir bhi woh batch market mein gaya.”

Kabir nodded in understanding, “Somebody knew what they were doing.”

“Kya matlab?” Richa asked.

“Morphine recreational drug ki tarah use hoti hai,” Ananya said and flopped back on the chair, a sudden understanding dawning on her.

“Ananya, apna laptop dena,” Richa asked.

She searched for a while, then said, “Pain-killers ka market bahut fragmented hai. Har chhoti-moti pharma company pain-killer banati hai. Lekin agar RG Pharma ke revenue numbers aur market size ko compare karein, to RG pharma supposedly has ten percent of the entire market. That’s huge for such a fragmented market. Nobody else comes close. That’s odd, isn’t it?”

“Kyonki unka market share pain-killers ka hai hi nahin,” Kabir said growing thoughtful. Then he turned to Ananya, “Tum Dr. Sinha se aur Tinu se baat karo. Tinu se poochho ki use morphine ki illegal trade ke baare mein kuchh pata hai kya, ya pata laga sakta hai kya. Dr. Sinha se pain-killers ke baare mein poochho. Specifically RG pharma ka brand.”

“Ji.”

—

To be continued

She fell silent and asked after a long pause, “Kya aap mujhe maaf kar sakenge? Aap par bharosa na karne ke liye?”

“Tumhara bharosa na karna to jayaz tha, Ananya. Maine tumse jhooth bola tha. Kya tum uske liye mujhe maaf kar sakogi?”

“Kyon jhooth bola tha aapne?”

“Tumhare pyaar mein kamzor ho gaya tha main. Jab ek baar apni feelings tumhare saamne rakh di, to phir aar ya paar ka maamla ho gaya tha. Mujhe dar tha ki tumhein ye pata chalega ki main chiu rah gaya tumhare Papa ke murder ke baare mein, to main tumhein kho doonga. Main selfish aur kamzor pad gaya tha Ananya.”

“Meri help kijiye uth kar baithne mein,” she demanded.

He obliged her and helped her sit up. She sat sprawled, resting against the head board.

“Mere paas baithiye.”

She waited until he sat next to her on the bed. Then she clasped his hands. “I promise ki main ab kabhi bhi aapse door nahin jaungi. Kuchh bhi ho jaye. Chahe meri bachpan ki dost aapke khilaaf kuchh bole, chahe meri Ma ko aap pasand na ho, chahe mera khud ka dimaag aap par shaq kare, ya phir mera best friend mujhe aapke baare mein kuchh shocking bataye. Gussa aaya to apni jaan de doongi, saath mein aapki jaan le bhi loongi, lekin aapse door nahin jaungi.”

He disengaged his hands from her and cupped her face, then he planted her a soft kiss on her forehead.

“Ab tum aaraam karo,” he said, “aur kal subah tak apne do pairon par khadi ho jao. Ya phir apna weight thoda kam kar lo. Pata hai tumhein car se yahan tak utha kar laane mein meri saari heropanthi nikal gayi.”

“Kabir!” she pummelled at him in mock annoyance and he laughed.

—

“Sachchai saamne laana, aur sachchai court mein prove karna, do alag tasks hain,” Kabir told Ananya, while they waited for Richa, Ronnie and Sunny to join them, “Hamare sting operations se kai baar sachchai saamne aa jaati hai. Jinko maanna hota hai, woh maan bhi lete hain. Lekin courts are a different beast. Wahan bahut technicalities hoti hain–”

“Papa ki hamein bas sachchai hi saamne laani hai, Kabir. Court se bail to Papa ko bhi mil hi gayi thi. Shayad case chalta to woh chhoot bhi jaate. Lekin jo harm hona tha woh to media trial aur public perception se ho gaya. Jab tak humne ghar change nahin kiya aur maine school complete nahin kiya –” she fell silent all of a sudden.

“Ananya?”

“Kuchh nahin. Baaki log bhi aa gaye. Main dekhti hoon, naashta bhi ban gaya hoga.”

Mrs. Kashyap got breakfast and tea for everyone, and they started discussing how to take RG Pharma to task.

“We need to tread cautiously,” Kabir said, “Hamein Mr. Kashyap waale case ko lekar unpar direct attack nahin karna chahiye. RG Pharma jaisi company koi ek baar galti kar ke sudhar nahin gayi hogi. I’m sure unki aaj bhi illegal dealings hain. Hamein koi aur issue dhoondh kar unpar waar karne ki zaroorat hai.”

“Lekin kissi aur issue se Papa ka naam kaise clear hoga?” Ananya objected.

“Mere paas abhi fool-proof plan nahin hai, Ananya,” Kabir admitted, “Lekin hamein khud RG se uska gunaah qubool karwana hai. Kyonki I don’t think ki us case se related koi bhi record unhone bachne diya hoga. Aur agar gunaah qubool karwana hai to kissi aur tareeke se uske paas pahunchna hoga.”

Ananya looked unconvinced.

Kabir smiled at her and said, “Maine kai baar tumse kaha hai na ki tumhein patience ki zaroorat hai.”

She grew embarrassed at that and nodded.

“Richa. Tumhein hamare business reporters ki madad leni hogi, bina ye reveal kiye ki hum kya karne ki koshish kar rahe hain. Jitne kam logon ko hamare is investigation ke baare mein directly pata ho, utna hi achchha hoga.”

“Ji. Lekin hum kya dekhne ki koshish kar rahe hain.”

“Koi bhi irregularity. Koi legal issues, kissi product ka sudden withdrawal ya suspicious performance, anything unexpected in their financial statements, kuchh bhi. Anything that hints at something potentially wrong. Tum meri authority use karo aur Pravin aur Shehnaaz ko is project par lagao. They are the best at sniffing out the corporate rut. Tum unhein kah sakti ho ki hamein kuchh tip mili hai ki RG pharma ke andar koi badi story brew ho rahi hai.”

“Theek hai, Sir.”

“Ronnie. Tumhein Sunny ki help se hamare video archives mein se RG ki saari clips nikalni hain. Zyada woh banda aata nahin media ke saamne. Lekin jo kuchh bhi hai, woh hamein jama karne hain. I don’t know right now ki main kya dhoondh raha hoon unmein. Lekin once you have the entire collection, main unhein khud dekhoonga.”

“Ji.”

“Aur main kya karoongi?” Ananya asked, sounding irked.

“Tum aaj to aaraam karogi, properly recover karogi, aur apna dimaag thandha rakhogi.”

“Main recover ho chuki hoon. Aapko mujhe uthane ki zaroorat nahin padegi ab,” she retorted.

“Oh really? Thank you, so much,” he grinned at her infuriating her even further.

“Kabir! Aap kya karne ki koshish kar rahe hain? Aapko sach mein lagta hai ki main is sab se alag baithi rah sakti hoon?”

“Nahin, Ananya. But I mean it when I say ki tumhein aaj aaraam karna hai. Main khud bhi aaj kuchh nahin kar raha. Sirf raat mein apna bulletin padhne jaunga office. Hum time lose nahin kar sakte, isliye main Ronnie, Richa aur Sunny ko kaam par laga raha hoon. Lekin hum dono ko kal ke ordeal ke baad ek break ki zaroorat hai. Can you please not fight with me over this?”

Although reluctant, Ananya nodded.

“Ronnie, Richa, Sunny. I am afraid ki abhi tumhein ye saara kaam, apne regular kaam ke alawa karna padega. I don’t mean to make it an official KKN investigation, not right now.”

“Don’t worry, Sir. Ho jayega,” Ronnie assured him, and then the three of them left.

Kabir turned his attention to Ananya.

“Ananya! Please jhagda mat karo mujhse?”

“Aapse door nahin jaane ka promise kiya hai, jhagda na karne ka nahin,” she pouted.

“Achchha, jhagda kar ke hi sahi, meri baat maan lo. Apne kamre mein chalo. Aaj aaraam kar lo.”

“Aap mere saath ruk rahe hain.”

“Mrs. Kashyap bahut achchha khaana banati hain. Rukne ka to mujhe bas bahana chahiye.”

“Haan to meri chowkidaari karna hai na bahana aapke liye.”

“Bahut khoobsoorat bahana hai. Ye to banana hi padega. Chalo andar ab.”

Despite her protests, he settled her on her bed.

“Aur aap?”

“Yahan,” he  flopped into a armchair beside her bed.

“Aap yahan comfortable nahin rahenge. Aap ghar chale jaiye aur aaraam kar lijiye,” she said.

“Tum jahan ho, Ananya, main wahan comfortable hoon.”

—

To be continued

He made another call from the mobile and quickly appraised police of the situation. “Mall ki security waale log pata nahin kaha hain, aur kya kar rahe hain, Khurana. Chaos hai yahan.”

“Hum pahunch gaye, Kabir. Tum baaki logon ki chinta mat karo. Ananya kahan hai?”

“Ground floor, well ke paas. Sirf paanch minute bache hain Khurana…”

He saw policemen coming up the stairs from the basements and directing the evacuation.

“Ananya!” They heard Mrs. Kashyap scream.

“Ma!”

“Ronnie. Kya kar rahe ho tum? Le jao inhein bahar. Time nahin hai.”

He left Ananya’s side for a second and physically dragged Mrs. Kashyap for some distance. “Armaan. Ronnie. Dimaag se kaam lo. Kissie ke bhi yahan rahne se bomb squad ko kaam karne mein problem hi hogi. Aur… khatra bhi hai. Please le jao inhein.”

When he came back, the bomb squad had reached there and were examining the wiring.

“You should leave, Mr. Sharma,” one of the officers told him.

“Aap please mere oopar time barbaad na karein. Main kahin nahin ja raha,” he replied.

“Kitna time hai, Kabir?” she asked when he stood by his side and clasped her hand again.

“Kaafi hai.”

“Mujhe aapse kuchh kahna hai.”

“Bolo, Ananya.”

“Maine aapko bahut pareshaan kiya hai. Kabhi aapki baat suni nahin, kabhi maani nahin, kabhi bekaar ka gussa kiya. Lekin maine aapko pyaar bhi bahut kiya hai. Aapko pareshaan karte waqt ye nahin socha tha ki zindagi itni chhoti hogi. Warna gussa karne mein, door rahne mein itna samay barbaad nahin karti.”

“Hum kuchh hi der mein yahan se sahi salaamat bahar niklenge, Ananya.”

“Kitna time bacha hai, Kabir? Please bataiye mujhe.”

The bomb squad members had moved behind her and were trying to figure something out at the back of the vest.

He stood facing her and the timer made him gulp. But he replied truthfully, “Ek minute.”

She pushed him away and screamed, “Jaiye aap yahan se.”

“Ms. Kahsyap!” The person cutting the wire admonished her against moving.

“Itna hi saath tha, Kabir. Shayad agle jann mein…”

Kabir came back, held her face tight and hissed, “Saat janmon mein main vishwaas nahin karta. Yahi ek janm hai hamare paas. Agar ji nahin sakte to saath hi marenge.” And he kissed her hard.

A cap popped out from the vest and suddenly the clock stopped ticking.

Kabir stepped back.

“We are safe now, but let me take the vest off,” declared the lead of the bomb squad and they carefully freed Ananya of the vest.

As soon as the vest was off, Ananya’s knees buckled. She would have collapsed on the floor if Kabir had not held her in time.

“Ananya!” he screamed.

“Shock mein chali gayi hain. Main medical team ko andar bhejta hoon,” said one of the officers.

Kabir laid her down on the floor. She opened her eyes after a few moments.

“Tum theek ho?”

“Ma?”

“Main bulata hoon unko.”

“Nahin. Mujhe theek hone dijiye. Woh ghabra jayengi. Aap unhein bas bata dijiye ki main theek hoon.”

He nodded and called Ronnie. “Ananya theek hai,” he informed them, “Bomb diffuse ho gaya hai. Tum please sabko lekar uske ghar jao. Hum log thodi der mein pahunch rahe hain.”

—

After settling her in her bed, Kabir went out of the room and left her friends and family with her.

“Main bahut galat thi, Ananya, Kabir Sir ke baare mein. Jo insaan aapke saath marne ko taiyaar ho, usse behtar aapke liye aur kaun ho sakta hai? Woh best hain tere liye.”

“Haan Ananya,” her mother added, “I’m sorry ki maine teri choice par bhrosa nahin kiya. Main bhi Armaan ka soch kar tujhe wahan chhod kar chali aayi. Lekin usne kissi ka nahin socha.”

“Ma. Aise mat bolo. Tumne bilkul sahi kiya.”

“Main credit le sakta hoon kya? Hamesha Kabir ki side lene ke liye?” Ronnie said and made everyone laugh.

“Ab tu aaraam kar, Ananya,” he added more somberly, “Hum phir aayenge tujhe dekhne. Tab tak KKN bhi chala lenge. Tu chinta mat karna.” Everyone laughed again.

Mrs. Kashyap also left the room with Richa and Ronnie. Armaan stayed behind.

—

“Ananya theek hai?” Kabir asked.

Richa nodded at him.

“Main chalta hoon, Mrs. Kashyap. Koi zaroorat ho to–”

“Sir,” Ronnie interjected, “Aap Ananya se mil lijiye ek baar jaane se pahle.”

Happy to be given a chance he nodded and went in immediately.

—

“Didi,” Armaan was overwhelmed, “Tum ye itne khatre waale kaam mat kiya karo. Tumhein kuchh ho jaata to?”

“Main theek hoon na, Armaan? Aise ghabrate nahin hai, mere bhai.”

“Haan. Waise to jiju – I am sorry – Kabir Sir – tumhare saath rahte hi hain. To bas isi se bharosa bana rahta hai.”

Ananya smiled weakly.

“Ek baat confess karni thi, Didi.”

“Kya?”

“Jab tum Kabir Sir se naaraaz thi, tab Ronnie Bhaiya aur unhone mujhe call kiya tha.”

“Aur tu mere plans ke baare mein unhein bata raha tha.”

“Bas utna hi jitna Ronnie Bhaiya ko already pata nahin tha.”

“Ma ke zevar…”

“Tum mujhse gussa to nahin ho, Didi?”

“Nahin, Armaan.”

“Badi jaldi confess kar diya, Armaan. Ab agar mujhe dubara zaroorat hui to?” Kabir entered the room.

“Ab Didi aap se kabhi gussa nahi hongi Jiju – I mean, Kabir Sir.”

Ananya flushed at Armaan’s use of ‘Jiju’ in front of Kabir, but Kabir didn’t even bat an eyelid.

“Main ja kar dekhta hoon ki Ronnie Bhaiya aur Richa Didi hain ya chale gaye,” Armaan made an excuse and left them alone, remembering to shut the door behind him.

—

“Ananya. Tum resign kar do.”

“Ji?” she was alarmed.

“Khatre to tumhara peechha sa karte hain. Aur mujhe do-chaar baar aur tumhein aise khatron mein dekhan pada to mera dum nikal jayega. Sach mein!” he had started smiling by then and she was relieved.

“Maine resign kar diya to aapka mujhe rescue karne ka shauq kaise poora hoga.”

“Aaj ke rescue ka credit to police aur bomb squad ko do. Mujhe bomb diffuse karna nahin aata.”

“Isliye aap mere saath marne ko taiyaar the?”

“Main koi bahaduri ka kaam nahin kar raha tha. Agar tumhein kuchh ho jaata to kya main bomb se bach kar bhi zinda rah paata?”

A knock was heard at the door and Ananya blinked back the tears that threatened to brim over. Her mother came in with a cup of tea for Kabir.

“Iski zaroorat nahin thi, Mrs. Kashyap. Aap kyon taqleef le rahi hain? Main bas nikalne ke waala tha.”

“Kabir, ek request karoon?”

“Ji?”

“Kya aaj tum yahan ruk sakte ho? Hum sab – ya shayad sirf main – bahut ghabraye hue hain.”

Kabir’s mouth opened in astonishment. He looked at Ananya and then back at her mother.

“Ji,” he said finally, “Main rukoonga.”

“Ma. Kabir ke paas raat mein change karne ke liye kapde nahin hain,” she told her mother.

“Tumhare Papa ke kapde hain. Usmein se kuchh aa jayega. Main dekhti hoon.”

“Aapki aankhon mein aansoon?” she asked after her mother left.

“Kabhi kissi ghar ko meri zaroorat nahin rahi hai, Ananya. Aaj se pahle kabhi nahin.”

—

To be continued

“Sorry Vinod, Ananya. Tum logon ko itni short notice par weekend par bulana pada. Lekin mujhe tip mili hai ki unke do log yahan milne waale hain.”

“Sir. Last message jo mila tha hamein, uska kya matlab nikala hai police ne?”

“Most likely koi attack. Lekin usse zyada clarity agar police ke paas hai to woh humse share nahin kar rahe. Vinod tum woh corner waali table le lo. Main entrance ke paas rahunga aur Ananya you hang out near that shop pretending to window shop.”

“Ji.” Vinod left and Kabir stopped Ananya for a moment to tell her, “Dada aaj shaam nikal rahe hain. Kal se hamara kaam RG Pharma par bhi shuru ho jayega.”

“Ji,” she made to leave, but Kabir stopped her again, “Ek minute. Ye rakho. Aaj ghar wapas ja kar sun lena.”

“Kya hai ismein?”

“Khud sun lena.”

He had given her a small music player.

“Ananya. Hum log oopar food-court mein hain,” her mother and brother came there just then.

“Haan. Ma. Main kaam khatam hone par tumhein dhoondh loongi.” She explaied to Kabir when they left, “Ma shopping ke liye jaana chahti thi. Achanak aapka call aaya yahan aane ke liye to main unhein bhi yahin le aayi.”

“Okay. Aaj to lagta hai poori duniya isi mall mein aayi hui hai. Woh Ronnie aur Richa hain na?”

“Woh log bhi bahar jaana chahte the–”

“To tumne unhein yahin bula liya.”

“Ji.”

“Hum yahan lead follow karte hue aaye hain, Anaya.”

“Hamare saath aur log rahenge to hum kam hi conspicuous lagenge.”

“Ye bhi theek hai. Main apni position par jaata hoon.”

“Ji.”

—

A little girl was following her mother out of the shop, but she spotted some bangles and stopped. Ananya smiled fondly at her while keeping a watch on the surroundings from the corner of her eyes. Something about the young couple still inside the shop caught her eyes. Even before she had processed the information, she sensed the danger, picked up the girl and held her out to her mother. “Go!” she screamed at them. They escaped, but Ananya found herself at a gun point.

Kabir noticed immediately and ran in her direction, but stopped short when one of her captors fired a shot in the air. The shot also got the attention of everyone in the mall and few cries of fear went up, while everyone else tried to figure out what was happening.

“Hamare log chaaron taraf faile hue hain,” Ananya’s female captor yelled, “Everybody down on the floor. Sar neeche kar ke let jao sab log. Now.”

“Use jaane do,” Kabir said, his voice cold and steady, but Ananya could read the fear in the depth of his eyes.

“On the floor.” The man grumbled.

“Use jaane do. Main uski jagah lene ke liye taiyaar hoon.”

Seeing the man turn his gun towards Kabir, Ananya screamed, “Aap sun nahin rahe hain woh kya kah rahe hain. Sar neeche kijiye. Zidd karne se kuchh nahi hoga.”

He had himself seen the  wisdom of her advice by then.

“Ananya!”she heard her mother scream from a floor above. She could see her through the central well of the mall. Ronnie, Richa and Armaan were by her side.

Another shot went up in the air and Ananya screamed at her mother to obey her captors too.

“Andar chalo,” the woman ordered her. Trembling with fear she followed them inside the shop.

As they retreated behind the glass walls, Kabir looked up. He saw them using stoles from the shop to tie Ananya’s hands. Without standing up, he shot an SMS to Khurana. The reply he received chilled his bones. Apparently police had already received information about the plans of the terrorists. There was a plot to bomb the mall, though exact details were not clear. Police and bomb squad were on their way. All around him was restlessness. Children were squaling. Some adults were also sobbing. He heard multitudes of prayers. He surreptiously glanced around and wondered where the the teammates of Ananya’s captors were.

—

The man stood at the door of the shop and guarded it from outside, while the woman, after tying her hands at her back and then tethering her to a hook in the wall, disappeared behind a wall within the shop.

Ananya cried silently. Then she remembered the little music player pressed deep in her hands. Could she listen to what was in it without a headphone? Without much hope she felt around it with her hand and pressed at the first place she guessed there could be a button. Through its weak, but funcitonal in-built speaker, a song wafted through.

“Mujhse naaraaz ho to ho jao, khud se lekin khafa, khafa na raho…”

Her silent weeping turned into sobs and the woman returned. She tried to snatch the music player from Ananya, but met with resistance.

“Ise mujhse lene ke liye tumhein mujhe maarna padega. Aur agar mujhe maar dogi to tumhara jo bhi plan hai woh fail ho jayega.”

The woman smirked, having decided that the music player was harmless, she let Ananya have it.

“Mujhpe chahe yakeen karo na karo, tumko khud par magar yakeen rahe,” sang the little device in her helpless, tied hands, when the woman produced an explosive vest.

“I’m sorry, Kabir,” she sobbed as the woman fitted the jacket on her. The song died out after exhorting her

“Mujhse tum door jao, to jao, aap apne se tum juda na raho…”

—

“Kabir!”

Kabir sprang up on hearing her voice and his mouth went dry on on seeing ticker on the time bomb fitted on her.

“Unke aur log nahin hain yahan. Sabko yahan se nikaliye. Ma aur Armaan…” she started crying.

Some other people around them had started stirring by then. Kabir looked around and picked on some young men and women who seemed to still have their wits about them and put them to the task of evacuating the mall.

It wasn’t possible to avoid the chaos, but he left them to manage as best as they could hoping that mall’s security would wake up and take charge of the situation. Then he called Ronnie and asked him to ensure Mrs. Kashyap’s, Armaan’s and Richa’s safety.

“Kitna time hai, Kabir?”

“Bomb squad aa raha hai, Ananya,” he said and held her tight taking care not to press anything on the vest.

“Kitna time hai?”

Although reluctant, he replied, “Aath minute.”

—

To be continued

“Kabir. Kaisa hai, bhai?”

“Dada. Mujhe aapki madad chahiye.”

“Kaisi madad?”

“Aap aaj-kal mein Delhi aa sakte hain, please?”

“Kya baat hai, Kabir?”

“Dada. Ghabrane ki koi baat nahin hai. Lekin bahut zaroori kaam hai aur sirf aap hi meri madad kar sakte hain.”

“Theek hai. Main aaj hi aata hoon.”

—

“Sudhir Kashyap ki beti?” Rajvir Sharma was aghast, “Tujhe poori duniya mein koi aur ladki nahin mili, Kabir?”

“Dada. Main aapse apni relationship problem solve karne ko nahin kah raha. Lekin woh ladki apni jaan khatre mein daal rahi hai. Aur agar use kuchh ho gaya to—Is baar main apne aap ko maaf nahin kar paunga. Meri baat woh sun nahin rahi hai. Aap achanak usse milenge to kam-se-kam sun legi. Shayad vishwaas bhi kar le.”

“Ab tu apne sting operatinos mujhse karwana chahta hai?”

“Dada! Main ghar ko bahut miss karta hoon. Aap logon ko bhi. Lekin aap logon ki safety ki wajah se hi itne dinon se ghar nahin gaya hoon. Ananya ke saath mujhe saalon baad–”

“I’m sorry, Kabir. Humne tumhare saath sahi nahi kiya–”

“Nahin Dada. Aap logon ki jaan khatre mein daal kar, main kaise shanti se rah sakta tha. Ghar chhodna mera bhi decision tha. Main shikayat nahin kar raha. Bas ye kah raha hoon ki Manu ki tarah hi aaj mere ek kareebi ki jaan khatre mein hai. Aur aap uski jaan bacha sakte hain.”

“Theek hai. Kaise miloon main usse? Kab?”

Kabir’s phone rang just then. It was Ronnie.

“Sir,” Ronnie informed him, “Usne apne Ma ke zevar mortgage kar ke, aur apni saari investments nikaal kar kuchh teen lakh rupyon ka intezaam kiya hai. Aaj shaam mein kisi se milne ja rahi hai jisne use RG Pharma ke record room kas access dene ka promise kiya hai.”

“Thanks Ronnie!” he disconnected the call. “Dada! Aapko usse aaj hi milna hoga. Office mein. Ye hai uski tasveer, aur main batata hoon aapko kya karna hai.”

—

“Ananya Ma’am. Aapse koi milne aaya hai.” Ananya got a call from the reception.

“Kaun?”

“Woh insist kar rahe hain ki aapko hi batayenge.”

“Okay. Aati hoon.”

She came out to find a tall, fair man waiting for him, whose face made her uncomfortable with its familiar features.

“Ji?”

“Ms. Ananya Kashyap?”

“Ji. Aap?”

“Mujhe aapse RG Pharma ke baare mein kuchh baat karni hai. Kya hum kahin privately baat kar sakte hain?”

“Hum neeche coffee shop mein ja sakte hain.”

“Nahin. Bahar nahin. Aapke office mein? Conference room?”

His manners were strange. As if he had rehearsed what he wanted to say. But Ananya acquisced and escorted him in, unaware of Kabir’s eyes following them from his cabin.

“Chai, coffee kuchh lenge aap?” she asked once they were in the conference room.

“Nahin. Aap please baithiye.”

“Aap kya batana chah rahe the mujhe?”

“Chhoti si baat. Lekin utni chhoti bhi nahin hai shayad. Aath saal pahle mera beta kidnap ho gaya tha. Tab woh paanch saal ka tha. Kidnappers ne phone kar ke paison ki demand nahin ki.”

He paused and she asked, “Phir?”

“Woh RG pharma ke woh papers wapas chahte the jisse ki aapke Papa ki begunaahi aur us company ke senior management, inclduing the owner, ki galti saabit hoti, nakli dawaiyon aur pachaas bachchon ke death ke case mein.”

“Woh paper…”

“Mere bhai ke paas the.”

“Aap?”

“Rajvir Sharma. Kabir ka bhai. Humne use pressurize kiya, na sirf woh papers wapas karne ke liye, balki is investigation ko dubara kabhi touch na karne ke liye, aur… aur ghar chhodne ke liye.”

She looked away, overwhelmed. Too much had been revealed to her in a matter of moments.

“Ye sach nahin hai,” Kabir appeared at the conference room’s door, “Maine papers Dada ke pressure mein wapas nahin kiye the. Agar woh kuchh nahin kahte to bhi main woh papers wapas karta. Tumhare papa ki death ke baad bhi unki begunaahi mere liye bahut important thi, Ananya. Lekin mera bhateeja zinda tha. Uski life ke saamne maine zaroor ek dead insaan ki begunaahi ko deprioritize kar diya.”

Ananya spoke after a long time. “Aapki majboori genuine thi. Ab bhi genuine hai. I’m sorry ki maine aapki baat nahin suni. Lekin aur kuchh isse nahin badalta hai.”

“Maine tumse jhooth bola tha. Ye nahin badalta, I admit.”

“Aur ye bhi nahin badalta ki mujhe apni Papa ki begunaahi duniya ke saamne laani hai, aur jo gunehgaar hai unhein sazaa dilani hai. Un pachas bachchon ki khatir. Main woh karne ja rahi hoon.”

“Ananya, RG ek different category ka khatarnaak banda hai. Woh sophisticated industrialists ki tarah nahin hai ki last resort ke tarah subtle threats ka sahara lega. Woh seedhe marne-maarne ki baatein karta hai.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

“Ananya. Thoda sochne do mujhe. Koi aur tareeka hoga. Pleae apni jaan ko khatre mein mat daalo.”

“Thanks for the concern. Ab mujhe jaana hai.”

“Ananya,” Rajvir spoke this time, “Ek minute ruko.” He turned to his younger brother then, “Maine Sandhya se bhi baat ki hai. Garmi ki chhuttiyan hain Manu ki. Tu kuchh dinon ke liye hamara ek holiday to sponsor kar sakta hai na. India ke bahar kahin.”

“Dada?”

“Phir hum safe rahenge, Kabir. Aur tere haath nahin baandhenge. Tu apna aath saal purana mission poora kar lena. Mere ya apne liye nahin to Babuji ke liye. Unka asli beta to tu hi ho. Main to bas dar-dar ke zindagi bitata raha.”

“Dada, are you sure?”

“Yes, Kabir.”

Kabir hugged his brother. “Thank you, Dada. Aapko idea nahin hai ki aapne mere oopar kitna bada ehsaan kiya hai.”

“Ehsaan nahin kiya hai, pagal. Bas tere us raaste se hat gaya hoon jis par mujhe kabhi aana hi nahin chahiye tha. Main chalta hoon.”

“Main aapko bahar tak chhod aata hoon.”

“Nahin. Tera yahan rahna zaroori hai. Mujhe raasta maaloon hai.”

He turned to Ananya after his brother left.

“Mujhe pata hai, Ananya, ki tum mujhe mere jhooth ke liye maaf nahin karogi. Lekin professionally to mera experience tumse zyada hai na? Aur ab mere haath nahin bandhe hue hain. To please mujhe part bana lo apni investigation ka.”

She spoke after thinking for a moment, “Main abhi RG Pharma ka record room access karne ja rahi hoon, jahan unki saari lab testing ki reports rahti hain.”

“And I assure you ki woh reports wahan nahin hain. Ho hi nahin sakte. Tum please paise wapas bank mein daal do. Apni Ma ke zevar bhi wapas le aao. Aur mujhe do dinon ka samay do. Main Dada aur unki family ko bahar bhej doon, phir hum ise scratch se plan karenge. Please?”

“Aapko kaise pata zevar aur paison ke baare mein? Aap mujhe follow karwa rahe the?”

“Option nahin chhodti na koi tum? Baat nahi sunti. I am sorry. But please? Do din?”

She took a long time in deciding, and finally said, “Theek hai.”

—

To be continued

“Ronnie. Main sure nahin hoon ki mere bulletin mein ye clip chalani chahiye,” Richa said.

“Kabir se discuss kar lein?”

“Haan wahi best hai.”

They hesitated when they saw that Tarini was in Kabir’s cabin.

“Ananya ko pata bhi nahin hai, Tarini, ki aaj uske Papa ki death anniversary hai. Kaise bataun main use ki uske Papa ka murder hua tha, meri aankhon ke saamne, aur maine kuchh nahin kiya?”

The retreated in shocked silence at the revealation.

“Main ‘I told you so’ nahin kahna chahti, Ronnie. But kuchh to gadbad hai is bande mein. Woh Ananya ko aise hi nahin phansaye hue hain. Shayad woh jitna batata hai usse zyada involved hai Ananya ke Papa ke case mein, aur khud ko bachane ke liye Ananya ka istemaal kar raha hai.”

“Mujhe nahin pata ki tera conjencture sahi hai ki nahin, lekin hamein Ananya ko batana hoga.”

“Woh meri baat nahin sunegi, Ronnie.”

“Meri to sunegi.”

They found Ananya in the canteen with a boy on wheelchair.

“Ye kaun hai, Ananya?” Ronnie asked.

“Anurag. Tarini ka bhai,” she looked at Richa definatly as she said that, “Tarini ko shahar se bahar jaana hai. To ye kuchh dinon ke liye Kabir ke saath rahega.”

“Aur Ananya Didi mere liye badhiya-badhiya khaana banwa kar layengi.”

“Bilkul!”

“Ananya tujhse kuchh baat karni thi, yaar.”

“Main Anurag ko wapas chhod aati hoon Tarini ke paas. Phir baat karte hain?”

Ronnie nodded, while Richa stood stiffly next to him.

Ananya took Anurag back to Kabir’s cabin, where he informed her that he was stepping out with Tarini and Anurag and would meet her in the evening.

“Mere stinger ka phone aaya tha,” he said, “Hamein ek bande ko follow karna hai.”

“Theek hai.”

She found Ronnie and Richa sitting morosely when she came back to the canteen.

“Batao tum log. Aur lecture dena hai mujhe Kabir ke baare mein?”

“Dekh Ananya. Mujhe pata hai ki tu meri baat ka bharosa nahin karegi,” Richa spoke, “Lekin abhi jo hum tujhe batane ja rahe hain woh hum dono ne suna hai. To please dhyaan se sunna.”

“Bata.”

“Ananya,” Ronnie spoke now, “Hum log Kabir se Richa ke bulletin ke baare mein kuchh discuss karne ja rahe the, tabhi…” He repeated the exact words of Kabir as they had heard it.

The expression on Ananya’s face changed from skepticism to horror.

“Tu sach kah raha hai, Ronnie?” her voice trembled.

“Dekh Ananya. Ho sakta hai ki iska kuchh explanation ho, lekin haan –  humne exactly yahi suna hai. Aur ye bhi clear tha ki Kabir tujhse jaan-boojh kar kuchh chhipa raha hai.”

“Excuse me,” she said and walked away.

Ronnie tried his best to talk to her and offered to drop her when she insisted on going home. But she would hear none of it.

“Mujhe akela chhod de, Ronnie.”

—

She met Kabir in the evening at the appointed time.

They got into a minor scuffle with some local goons while following their lead. While Kabir and another reporter were subduing one of the particularly vicious one, Kabir saw another one approaching Ananya. He was about to go to her aid, when he saw her hitting the goon in the crotch. She had hit him with unusual violence and he was caught completely unprepared. In the next moment he was lying on the ground and writhing in agony. Kabir grinned even while struggling wih his captive and decided to follow her example to be rid of his charge as well.

“Tumhara to ye signature move hai, Ananya. Bada hi khatarnaak hai. Tumse dar kar rahna padega,” he whispered to her as they left the goons behind and caught up with their actual target.

“Kya matlab?”

“Raat ke Romeo waala move.”

He had expected her to either rebuff him or laugh with him. But she just looked away.

With others around he could not persuade her to talk. But after they were done with their spying task, he managed to get her alone.

“Kya baat hai, Ananya?”

She squinted her eyes at him for a moment, as if trying to read him. Then asked suddenly, “Kya mere Papa ka murder hua tha? Aapke saamne? Kya aaj unki death anniversary hai?”

His mouth opened wide in shock.

“Tumhein… kisne… bataya?”

“Aap batate to behtar hota. Lekin I am sure aapki majbooriyan rahi hongi. Isliye na iske baare mein kabhi likha, na mujhe batana zaroori nahin samjha.”

“Ananya. I can explain.”

“Nahin. It’s okay, Kabir. Mujhe aapse explanations nahin chahiye. Main samajhti hoon. Apni socialite wife ke saath keep up karna aapke liye aasaan nahin raha hoga. Ek dead bande ki begunaahi se kissi ko kya farq padta. It’s okay agar aap succumb kar gaye. Bas agar ho sake to itna bata dijiye. Kya iska matlab ye hai ki mere Papa begunaah the, aur jo asli gunahgaar the unhone unka munh band karwane ke liye unka murder karwa diya.”

“Haan. Lekin tum… tum kya karna chahti ho, Ananya?”

“Aapse door rahna chahti hoon. Lekin ghabraiye nahin. Main resign nahin kar rahi. Lekin aapko inform kar doon ki main is case ko investigate kar rahi hoon. Main aapse kuchh nahin poochhongi. Aapka munh kholna aapki integrity ke against hoga. Jo bhi deal aapne ki thi tab, uske khilaaf hoga. Lekin mere investigation mein interfere bhi mat kijiyega. Na hi mujhe influence karne ki koshish kijiyega.”

“Tumhein mujhse jo bhi shikayat ho, Ananya, khud ko khatre mein mat daalo, please.”

“Meri adrenaline rush ke bare mein to aap jaante hi hain. No interference, Sir. Please.”

She left, ignoring his pleas to hear him out.

—

“Ronnie! I need you help,” Kabir called him immediately after Ananya left, “Tum abhi bhi office mein ho? Main mil sakta hoon tumse wahan?”

He explained to Ronnie what had happened.

“Ronnie. Maine tumse hamara make-up karwane ke liye help nahin maang raha. Main shayad Anaya ko deserve nahin karta hoon. Main sach chhipaya tha usse. Lekin problem ye hai ki ab woh meri baat nahin sunegi. Jin logon ke peechhe woh ja rahi ahi woh log – ek different level ke khatarnaak hain.”

“Ye sab meri wajah se hua hai. Main baat karta hoon usse.”

“Sunegi?”

“Shayad nahin.”

“To usse behtar hai ki tum uske plan mein shaamil ho jao, aur mujhe updated rakho. Main kam-se-kam jaanta hoon ki hum kis cheez se deal kar rahe hain. Shayad main use khatron se door rakh sakoon.”

“Ji. Aur mujhe pata hai ki hamari help kaun kar sakta hai.”

Kabir sat brooding in his cabin for a long time  after Ronnie left. When he came to, it was four in the morning. He had made up his mind, but he would have to wait for a few hours before making the call.

—

To be continued

“Ma? Ye scooter?”

“Armaan ko dikha tha, shopping complex mein. Woh le aaya, doosri chabhi use kar ke.”

Ananya and Kabir, who was following her, stopped in their tracks. Just then she noticed Ronnie and Richa and was even more shocked.

“Hum chalte hain,” Ronnie said and they left leaving Ananya and Kabir with Mrs. Kashyap. Anaya saw Armaan standing at his bedroom door, wringing his hands nevously.

“Ma. Main…” Ananya tried to break the awkward silence, but words failed her.

“Agar tujhe mujhse chhipaane ki, jhooth bolne ki zaroorat padi, to tujhe nahin lagta ki tu kuchh galat kar rahi thi?”

“Aap sahi kah rahi hain, Mrs. Kashyap,” Kabir came forward, “Humne galat kiya. Lekin yakeen maaniye. Ye galti bachkanepan ki wajah se thi. Aapko dhokha dene ke iraade se nahin.”

“Bachkanapan? Bachchha tum dono mein se kaun hai? Tum to nahin to, Kabir? Aur ye – jab bachchi thi to aasaan tha. Ab to badi ho gayi hai. Itni badi ki–”

“Ma. Please. Ek baar meri baat to sun lo.”

“Theek hai, Kabir. Main apni beti se baat karna chahti hoon.”

A silent look passed between Ananya and Kabir.

“Ji. Aur main aapse waada karta hoon ku main aapke beech mein kabhi nahin aaunga. Aapse ab tak chhipaane ki galti ke liye main aapse maafi maangta hoon aur bharosa kijiye ki jismein aapki khushi nahin hogi, waisa kuchh bhi karne ko main Ananya ko kabhi nahin kahoonga. Main chalta hoon.”

Ananya waited for his to leave before speaking, “Ma. Tumne Richa aur Ronnie ko ye discuss karne ke liye bulaya tha?”

“Main kya karti, Ananya? Tu to apna bhala-bura sochne mein kissi ki salaah le nahin rahi hai. Mujhe hi poochhna pada.”

“Ma. Kabir bahut achche insaan hain. Aap ek baar unhein jaan logi to–”

“Jitna jaana hai, suna hai, tere hi doston se, usse to mujhe yahi lagta hai Ananya ki woh kissi ko bhi impress kar sakta hai. Aur ye khatarnaak hai.”

“Ma!”

“Ananya. Aisi kya jaldi padi hai tujhe. Kya tujhe ek achchha jeevansaathi nahin milega? Itna oob gayi hai humse ki bas mauka milte hi–”

“Kaisi baatein kar rahi ho, Ma? Main kya tum logon ko chhod kar kahin ja rahi hoon?”

“Ye woh zamana to nahin raha, Ananya, ki main tujhse zabardasti karoon. Ghar bitha doon tujhe. Lekin main apni sahmati nahin de sakti is rishte ke liye.”

“Ma tumhari acceptance ke bina main kuchh bhi nahin–”

“To phir teri choice clear honi chahiye.”

“Tum mujhe apne aur Kabir ke beech chunne ke liye kah rahi ho?”

“Aisa hi samajh le.”

“Tum jaanti ho ki main tumhare oopar kissi ko nahin chun sakti. To theek hai, agar tumhari yahi zidd hai. Lekin main bhi tumhari beti hoon. Meri bhi zidd hai. Aur main abhi hi tumhein bata doon. Ki agar Kabir nahin rahenge meri zindagi mein, to koi aur bhi nahin aayega. I hope tum khush ho.”

She walked listlessly to her room.

“Khaana bana hua hai,” her mother called.

“Bhookh nahin hai, Ma!”

—

“Didi!”

“Armaan?”

“I am really sorry, Didi.”

“Sorry kyon bol raha hai?”

“Ye sab meri wajah se hua. Mujhe bilkul pata nahin tha ki tumhara scooter wahan kyon tha. Main ghabra gaya aur Ma ko phone kar diya.”

“Teri galti nahin hai, Armaan. Main hi bewkoofi kar rahi thi. Aaj nahin to kal, ye hona to tha hi.”

“Lekin Didi. Tum apna relation khatam to nahi kar dogi na. Ma aur Richa Didi chahe jo sochein, mujhe bharosa hai ki Kabir Sir bahut achchhe insaan hain.”

“Thanks, Armaan. Richa Ma ke kaan bhar rahi thi?”

“Woh Kabir Sir ko bilkul pasand nahin karti.”

“Aur Ronnie?”

“Woh Kabir Sir ko defend kar rahe the. Lekin he was alone.”

“Theek hai, Armaan. Tu so ja. Tujhe guilty feel karne ki zaroorat nahin hai. Dekhenge. Kuchh na kuchh ho jayega.”

“Good night, Didi.”

“Good night.”

—

“Kya hua?” Kabir picked up her call imediately.

“Ma gusse mein hain. Pata nahin Richa ne unhein kya-kya bol diya hai?”

“Richa?”

“Richa. Kya kiya hai aapne uske saath, Kabir? Kyon woh aapko itna napasand karti hai.”

“Ananya!”

“Mazaak kar rahi hoon. Kis-kis ke liye roti rahoon. Ma ne bola hai ki unke aur aapke beech mujhe choose karna hoga. Maine bola ki unhein nahin chhod sakti. Lekin meri zindagi mein koi aur bhi nahin aayega.”

“Sab theek ho jayega, Ananya. Hamine patience rakhne ki zaroorat hai.”

“Mujhe to rakhna hi hai. Aap bhi rakhenge?”

“Poori zindagi, agar zaroorat padi to.”

“I hope uski zaroorat nahin pade.”

“I hope so too. So jao, Ananya. Apni neend mat kharaab karna.”

“Good night, Kabir.”

“Good night, sweetheart!”

—

“Ananya!” her mother said while she was picking up her scooter keys, “Tujhe ek car le leni chahiye. Woh jo FD agle mahine mature ho rahi hai–”

“Nahin, Ma. Use wapas invest kar do, short-term ke liye. Armaan ke college ke kharche ke kaam aayega. Mujhe car nahin chahiye.”

“Lekin–”

“Nahin, Ma. Aur main raat mein der se aaungi. Tum mera wait mat karna. So jaana.”

“Kabir ke saath ja rahi hai?”

“Ma!” she turned to face her mother, “Aise treat mat karo mujhe. Haan woh bhi rahenge. Lekin hum kaam se ja rahe hain, date par nahin. Aur bhi log rahenge.”

“Ananya. Mera dil ghabra raha hai. Koi risky operation hai kya?”

“Kabir hain, Ma. Tumhein chinta karne ki zaroorat nahin hai. Professionally to unhein trust karti ho na?”

—

“Ananya!”

“Ronnie. Hi!”

“Auntie gussa hain?”

“Richa ne ensure kar diya woh to. But Kabir ki side lene ke liye thanks.”

“Richa ki baat nahin hai sirf, Ananya. Auntie khud bhi convinced thi. Isliye to unhone Richa ki baat suni aur meri nahin. Teri bhi nahin sun rahi.”

“Lekin Richa to meri bachpan ki dost hai na, Ronnie. Use to meri madad karni chahiye thi.”

“Bachpan ki dost hoon,” Richa appreared behind them, “Isliye tujhe gaddhe mein koodte nahin dekh sakti.”

“Richa. Tu unke baare mein kuchh nahin jaanti hai. Aur ab main batane ki koshish bhi nahin karoongi. Kyonki mujhe nahin lagta tujhe sach jaanne mein koi interest hai. So thank you! Tu meri life mein dakhal mat de. Main sambhaal loongi jo jaise bhi sambhaalna hoga.”

She left in a huff.

“Ronnie, woh kuchh samajh nahin rahi hai.”

“Tu bhi uski life aasaan nahin bana rahi, Richa.”

“Tu to uske pyaar mein aisa pagal hai ki uske bhale ke liye bhi use contradict nahin karega.”

“Shayad main teri tarah convinced nahin hoon ki Kabir itna bura insaan hai.”

“Too bad! Ananya ko jab tak pata chalega, tab tak kaafi der ho chuki hogi.”

“Achchha sun. Abhi hum log jhagda nahin karte hain, please?”

“Maine kyon jhagda karoongi tere se yaar? Mera Ananya se bhi koi jhagda nahin hai.”

“I know. Chal ab.”

—

To be continued

“Tarini se milogi?”

“Zaroor.”

“Main use call karta hoon. Abhi hi mil sakte hain.”

They went to a coffee shop. Tarini was already there. She smiled and extended her hands to Ananya. But Ananya felt overwhelmed and hugged her instead. Tarini was taken aback, at first. Then she smiled.

“Sorry!” Ananya stepped back, embarrased at her over-reaction, “Main, pata nahin–”

“No!” Tarini smiled and pressed her hands, “Thank you, Ananya. Sab kuchh samajhne ke liye.”

Later that night Tarini called Kabir, “Tumne use sab kuchh bata diya?”

“Tumhare baare mein? Haan.”

“Aur?”

“Shreya ke baare mein thoda-bahut. Baaki bhi bata doonga.”

“Aur?”

“Aur kuchh batane ke liye der ho gayi hai, Tarini. Jis moment par maine bina soche samjhe use propose kar diya tha, tabhi maine us sach par hamesha ke liye taala daal diya tha.”

“Agar woh mera aur Shreya ka sach samajh sakti hai, to poora sach bataoge to woh bhi samjhegi, Kabir.”

“Ho sakta hai. Lekin ab main use khone se bahut darta hoon. Main risk nahin le sakta.”

—

“Ma. Kabir Sir,” Ananya introduced him to her mother when he went to pick her up the next morning.

“Hello, Mrs. Kashyap.”

“Hello, Mr. Sharma,” she greeted him and shot a puzzled glance at her daughter.

“Woh kal mujhe Tinu drop kar ke gaya tha na. To mere paas scooter nahin tha. Isliye Kabir Sir mujhe pick up karne… aa… gaye…” she faltered towards the end on realizing that it was a lame excuse for an editor-in-chief to pick up a junior reporter.

“Bahut achchha hua ki aap ghar aaye. Please baithiye. Lekin Ananya. Tu cab kar leti. Inhein pareshaan karne ki kya zaroorat thi?”

“Koi baat nahin, Mrs. Kashyap. Actually hamein waise bhi field mein hi jaana tha office se. To hum yahin se chale jayenge. Isliye main idhar hi aa gaya. Main baithoonga nahin abhi–”

“Pahli baar ghar aaye hain–”

“Formality ki koi zaroorat nahin hai, Mrs. Kashyap. Agar Ananya ready hai to hum nikalte hain. Der ho rahi hai. Main phir aa jaunga. Please don’t worry,” he noticed her brows knitting and added, “Kya hua, Mrs. Kashyap?”

“Abhi aapki aawaaz sun ke achanak laga jaise ki bilkul yahi cheez main kabhi pahle suni hai. I think TV par aapki aawaaz sunne ki aadat hai.”

“Déjà vu hoga, Ma? Hum chalein?”

—

“Tinu! Seriously? Tinu ne drop kiya tha ghar tumhein?” Kabir was having a laugh riot at Ananya’s expense.

“Ab main kiska naam leti? Ronnie ka leti to turat hi pakdi jaati.”

“Jooth aisa bolo ki koi bharosa kare.”

“Ma ne bharosa kar liya. Abhi ke liye, at least,” she sighed and leaned back.

“Kya hua, Ananya?”

“Mujhe nahin pata Ma kaise react karengi jab unhein pata chalega to.”

“Kya main kuchh nahin kar sakta unhein convince karne ke liye?”

“Logon ke prejudices hote hain, Kabir. Khair. Dekha jayega.”

“Rest assured, Ananya. Mujhe jo bhi karne ki zaroorat hogi main karoonga.”

“I know,” she smiled.

“Lekin ye pickup aur drop ka tumhein kuchh karna hoga, Ananya. Tumhara scooter hamesha hamare beech nahin aata rah sakta.”

“Aaj main ghar par le aaungi. Kal se main ghar se nikal kar use paas waale shopping complex mein park kar doongi. Aap mujhe wahan se pick kar lijiyega.”

“Teenagers waale kaam kara rahi ho, Ananya. Aise bahane maar-maar ke, chhup-chhup ke milna.”

“Sorry!” she made a baby face at him.

“Ab aise shakal banaogi to maine teenagers kya babies waali harquantein bhi karne ko taiyaar ho jaunga.”

—

“Mujhe to lagta hai na,” Ronnie said in the canteen, “Ki Ananya ka chakkar Tinu ke saath chal raha hai.”

“Kya?”

“Tinu tujhe aaj kal kuchh zyda hi ghar drop nahin karta.”

“Sach mein?” Richa grinned.

“Haan. Aaj kal to hardly kabhi apna scooter laati hai ye. Kyon Ananya?”

“Ronnie, tu pagal ho gaya hai.”

“Achchha. Tinu se nahin chal raha tera chakkar. To kya Kabir se chal raha hai?”

Ananya paled.

Richa stared at her. “Kabir Sir? Ananya, kya ye sach hai?”

“Tu humse kyon chhipa rahi hai, Ananya?” Ronnie asked seriously.

“Chhipa nahin rahi, Ronnie, yaar. Bas ye soch rahi thi ki kab aur kaise bataun? Ye sab itna–”

“Isliye tune resign nahin kiya?” Richa asked.

“Well – partly – yes–”

“Aur jab woh tujhe dhokha dega, tab kya karegi? Phir se resign karne ki sochegi?”

“Richa. Aise kyon bol rahi hai tu, yaar? Tu jaanti kitna hai unke baare mein?”

“At least main andhi nahin hoon teri tarah.”

“Calm down girls,” Ronnie tried to intervene.

“Ronnie yaar. Tu samjha ise.”

“Tu over-react kar rahi hai, Richa.”

“Main? Main bas ise iske dreamland se utaarne ki koshish kar rahi hoon–”

“Guys!” Vinod peeked in, “Meeting time. Kabir, Malvika aur Khalid already meeting room mein hain.”

Their conversation, therefore, ended on that uncomfortable note.

—

“Hello Auntie!”

Ananya’s mother had called Ronnie and Richa home. She had asked them to come when Ananya was not around.

“Hello Ronnie, Richa. Aao baitho. Main paani laati hoon.”

“Auntie. Aapne hamein aise kyon bulaya?”

“Batati hoon.”

She brought water for them and then sat down.

“Tum log uske dost ho aur uska bhala chahte ho. Isliye please mujhse jhooth mat bolna. Ananya aur Kabir – kya chal raha hai unke beech?”

Ronnie and Richa were stumped for a moment. Then Ronnie broke the silence.

“Auntie. I think aapko chinta karne ki zaroorat nahin hai. I’m sure Ananya jaanti hai ki woh kya kar rahi hai.”

“I don’t think so, Ronnie,” Richa objected, “I don’t think Kabir Sir uske liye sahi insaan hain. Woh andhi ho gayi hai pyaar mein. Us bande ki poori history hai…”

“Mujhe bhi yahi dar hai,” Mrs. Kahsyap concurred, “He is a divorcee, isn’t he?”

“And a womanizer and a flirt. Ananya bhi jaanti hai.”

“I think aap log zyada judgemental ho rahe hain,” Ronnie objected.

“Ronnie!” Mrs. Kashyap addressed him, “Woh apne Papa ko bahut miss karti hai. Shayad use ek father figure ki zaroorat hai. Kabir is older, experienced. Professional mentor hai uska. Almost hero-worship karti hai woh uski. Aur profesionally he is capable. Lekin iska ye matlab nahin hai ki uski persoanl life clean hai. Mujhe Ananya ki fikr hai.”

Ronnie fell silent after that. How far could he defend Kabir? Despite his own heartbreak, he did think that Kabir genuinely loved Ananya. But he didn’t know him well enough to stand up for him against such skepticism.

Just then they heard a click at the door and Ananya entered opening it with her own key.

—

To be continued

“Scooter?” Kabir caught up with her in the canteen while she poured herself a glass of water.

“Scooter,” she replied.

“Aaj chhod do office mein.”

“Kal kaise aaungi?”

“Agar main tumhein drop kar sakta hoon to tumhein pick bhi kar sakta hoon.”

“Aapko aur koi kaam nahin hai?”

“Kal to nahin hai. Ghar se seedha office aana hai. To tumhein pick karte hue aa sakta hoon.”

“Sab log notice karenge.”

“Lekin tumhari shakal dekh kar mujhe lag raha hai ki you know a way around it”

She blushed.

“Mera scooter bahar parked hai. Main use andar kar deti hoon. Phir main aapse woh mall waale mod par milti hoon.”

“Fifteen minutes?”

“Okay.”

—

“Ananya?”

“Ronnie!” Ananya gulped hard and then plastered a smile on her face.

“Tu scooter andar kyon le ja rahi hai?”

“Woh bahar itni dhool ja jaati hai na?”

“To ab ghar nahin jaana hai?”

“Haan. Bas nikalti hoon.”

“Scooter andar le ja kar?”

“Nahin woh Tinu…”

“Tinu?”

“Tinu mujhe yahan milne waala hai. Ek banda hai, usse mujhe milwayega. Ek lead hai. To main uske saath hi jaungi. Phir late ho jayega to woh mujhe ghar drop kar dega.”

“Tinu tujhe ghar drop karega?”

“Haan. Kyon?”

“Nahin. Aise hi. Chal maine tere saath yahan wait kar leta hoon, jab tak Tinu nahin aata hai.”

“Nahin! Nahin Ronnie. Pata nahin Tinu kitna time lega. Tu ghar ja. Der lagi to main wapas office mein ja kar wait kar loongi.”

“Achchha, achchha! Waise Kabir nikal gaya hai?”

“Pata nahin. Kyon?”

“Aise hi. Chal Good night. Aur Tinu na aaye to scooter le kar ghar chali jaana.”

“Haan. Okay. Bye.”

—

“Oh God!” Ananya exclaimed as she slumped on the passenger seat, “Lagta hai Ronnie ne kuchh guess kar liya hai. Aaj meri itni taang kheench raha tha parking mein. Mujhe laga ki main aa hi nahin paungi.”

“Are – Ananya!” Kabir displayed an exaggerated shock.

“Kya?”

“Tumne Ronnie ko nahin bataya? Woh tumhara best friend hai. Kitna bura lagega use?”

“Haan. To bata doongi main. Ab thoda to sochna padega na. Kissi stage par chadh kar announce thode hi na kar doongi–” she noticed him smirking, “Aap taang kheench rahe hain meri?”

“Taang kheench raha hoon. Lekin doston se chhipana bhi to theek nahin hai.”

“Haan. Main bata doongi. Pahle khud ko to aadat aur bharosa ho jaye.”

“Okay. Take your time. Lekin Ananya. Meri ek dost hai jise sab pata hai. Main tumhein usse milwana chahta hoon. I think tumhara milna zaroori hai. Professionally as well as personally. Woh hamare sting operations mein hamari madad karegi. Aur shayad tumne kuchh suna ho uske baare mein jo–”

“Tarini?” Anaya asked looking nervous and scared.

“Tarini.”

She leaned back in her seat with a sigh and stared ahead.

“Agar past mein kuchh aisa hai jiski wajah se aapke oopar zimmedaariya hain, to main unke raaste mein nahin aaungi–”

“Kuchh nahin hai past mein. Yahi samajhna zaroori hai tumhare liye. Aur zimmedaariyan zaroor hain meri. Lekin isliye nahin ki meri koi majboori hai. Isliye ki maine woh zimmedaariyan uthai hain.”

“Anurag kaun hai?”

“Tarini ki bhai.”

That made Ananya sit up and look at Kabir curiously.

It was his turn to lean back. He spoke slowly.

“Mere divorce ki wajah, prima-facie, mera Tarini ke saath affair tha. Lekin sach ye hai ki divorce ka mere affair se koi lena-dena nahin tha. Divorce to hona hi tha, hamari shaadi itni dysfunctional thi. Woh sab kabhi aur bataunga. Important baat ye hai ki mera Tarini ke saath koi affair nahin tha.”

“Phir?”

“It was somebody else. Mujhe zyada kuchh yaad bhi nahin hai uske baare mein. We both knew what it was. Affair bhi nahin tha. One-night stand tha. Maine khud hi confess kiya tha, Shreya – meri ex-wife –  ke saamne. Kyonki uske liye nahin, lekin shaadi ki maryada ke liye main guilty feel kar raha tha. I have no idea why she took it in her head that it was Tarini. Woh bhi ye jaanti thi ki hamari relationship waise bhi apne breaking point par pahunch chuki thi. Lekin publicly use ek villain chahiye tha apne ego ko intact rakhne ke liye. So, she went with the story of my affair with Tarini to anybody who would listen. It was too juicy a story for anyone to drop. Meri wajah se nahin. I was a nobody then. But Shreya was a well-known socialite. Us dauraan mujhe pahli baar do cheezein realize hui,” Kabir looked at her with a sad smile, “Ek to ye ki industry mein kitne log hain jo ki relish kar-kar ke gossip tabloids padhte hain. Aur log bina wajah kitne vicious ho sakte hain.” He stopped, his face contorted as if in pain.

Ananya reached out and squeezed his arm. He clasped her hands and spoke again, “Agar mera Tarini ke saath affair tha bhi, to usse kissi aur ko kya farq pad raha tha. Mera divorce hua, meri life mein problem thi. Lekin friends, colleagues sab log directly aur indirectly taane maar kar Tarini ka jeena haraam kar rahe the. Sachchai pata karne ki kise padi thi. Aur jo ek kaam main nahin karna chahta tha woh kissi ka bhi naam publicly lena. Jiske baare mein poori story thi uska bhi nahin. Kyonki Tarini ko bachane ke liye kissi aur ki life ko aise pubicly uchhalna bhi to sahi nahin hota. What had made it even worse was ki Tarini ki khud ki life mein tab bahut problems thi.”

“Kaisi problems?”

“She had just come out of an abusive marriage. Usne apne husband ko chhoda tha, ye baat to maano logon ke liye aur bhi bada saboot ban gayi ki woh guilty thi. Usi samay uske parents ki bhi death ho gayi thi. To uske oopar Anurag ki responsibility bhi thi. Woh tab kitna chhota tha. Apne husband ko chhodne ke baad usne tabhi-tabhi nayi job shuru ki thi. Anurag ke ilaaj ke kharche ki wajah se financial crisis bhi face kar rahi thi.”

“Isliye aapne Anurag ki responsibility li?”

“Dono ki. Main khud hi financially bahut secure nahin tha tab. Lekin usse behtar kar sakta tha. Maine tab ye kiya to apni guilt ki wajah se tha. Lekin aaj Tarini meri bahut achchhi dost hai. Sach ye hai ki jitna maine uske liye nahin kiya, usse kahin zyada usne mere liye kiya hai. Meri life ke lowest moments mein usne mujhe sambhaala hai. Agar tum Tarini aur Anurag ko accept karogi to mujhe khushi hogi, Ananya. Ab to Tarini bhi achchha kar rahi hai. Meri financial commitment ab bhi hai, lekin itna to ab hai mere paas ki uski wajah se mujhe kabhi meri life mein compromises nahin karne padenge–”

“Kabir. Mere oopar bhi to Ma aur Armaan ki responsibility hai. Maine to kabhi aapse permission nahin maangi?”

He clasped both her hands and brought them to his lips. “Thank you,” he said.

“Aap bahut achchhe insaan hain. I am proud of you.”

—

To be continued