Chapter 4:

Daya's eyes fluttered open, the world a blurry mess of colors and shapes. A familiar hand was gently tapping his cheek, a persistent rhythm that slowly brought the world into focus. Abhijeet's concerned face emerged, his eyes wide and filled with relief.

Abhijeet:(concerned): Daya.. Daya! Tu theek hain?

He wrapped Daya in a tight hug, his body shaking slightly. Daya, still dazed and confused, instinctively patted Abhijeet's back, trying to return the gesture.

There was a tightness in his chest, a feeling of disorientation, a nagging sense of something being... off. He felt something hard and rectangular in his hand, clutched tightly. As his fingers traced the smooth surface, recognition dawned. A Walkman,the familiar object rested in his hand. Panic began to claw at his throat. It couldn't be. Could it? He looked around the room, his eyes scanning the familiar yet strangely different setting. The sleek, minimalist furniture, the large flat-screen on the wall, the lack of bulky Bluetooth speaker... it all screamed 2020.

A wave of nausea washed over him. He was back. Back in 2020. He had thought he would be able to spend more time in 2013, spending some more time with Shreya, but yet he was back in few hours better than last time but he is still back this time.

Daya :(whispered with trembling hands): Boss, kaunsa saal hain ye?

Abhijeet still clinging to him, looked at him with concern as his mind wrapped around a thousand thoughts.

Abhi :(whispered with low voice)Ye 2020 hain, tujhe yaha se gaaye hue pure 5 din hogaya hain.

Daya :(clenched Abhi's coat sleeves): Shreya??

Abhijeet lowered his gaze nodding his head in no, indicating that nothing had changed, Shreya was still dead. Daya's heart sank hearing 5 days? He was for nearly 48 Hours in 2013 but the days count in 2020 was different from 2013.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside him. He was back and now he knew the way to go back. His gaze landed on the Walkman in his hand. He clutched it tighter, a newfound resolve hardening his gaze and was ready to click on play button when Abhijeet stopped him holding his hand.

Abhi : Waqt mein aage peeche karta rahega to kahi waqt ki paheliyo mein na phas jaaye.

Abhi cautioned while Daya looked at him with a confused expression, Abhi slowly held the walkman from Daya hand and looked at him with taking a sigh.

Abhi : Wapas jaane ka sochne se phele tujhe kuch batana hain,iss waqt chal yaha se.

Daya looked at him, they were the only ones at the bureau. Abhi glanced at the walkman and put it back in his pocket while daya confusingly looked at Abhi back then followed him with hurried expressions.

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Daya and Abhijeet were sitting in hotel late at night 12 AM in the night, Daya was eating and Abhi sat across him looking at him with a file in his hand. Daya was lopping back and foth in time that he forgot to have food but he did not felt hungry. Abhi was worried for his friend, worried and concern with reference he found out.

Daya half heartedly munched the food barely with feeling guilty that his actions did not change anything, he still lost shreya. Is the fate playing a joke on him, he is able to save her but only in the past but the present is still the same, she still died and there were no link to past changes getting effected by present.

Abhi:( muttered) Daya ko kaise kahu.. kehna hoga Abhijeet warna sab nahi badlega.

Abhijeet looked at Daya with concern while Daya eyes were lost in the moments he spend with Shreya in past.

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Daya: (Staring at Abhijeet with wide-eyed in shock, his hands trembling) Tumhara matlabh ye sab Siddharth ne kiya ?

Abhijeet: Mere pass pure saboot nahi hain lekin haa wo eye gang ke saath mila hua tha aur unka target hamesha se shreya thi. Siddharth ka shreya se shaadi karna usse cid se hata ke IB mein jaane dena ye sab ek plan tha.

Daya: (Clutching the file in his hands) Siddharth shreya se iss baar 2013 mein hi mila halki pheli baar wo 2014 mein mila tha (naroowing his eyebrows)matlabh uska milna coincident nahi par samjhi hui sajish hain?

Abhijeet: Daya, (ruffling his hair) sun iss baar jab tak tu yaha pahuncha tab tak maine bohut try kiya ki wo shreya se dur rahe lekin akhir mein wo jeet gaaya aur yaha kuch nahi badla balki humne shreya ko khodiya.

Daya: (Rubbing his head) Iska matlabh mujhe uss waqt wapas jaana hoga jab shreya aur Siddharth ki shaadi ho rahi thi.

Abhijeet: Lekin uss waqt tu mission pe tha sachin aur mere saath, isliye hum shaadi mein gaaye nahi the.

Daya: Phir kaise roku, main waqt mein peeche jaa bhi raha hu tab jab shreya pe khatra ho aur main uss waqt uske aas pass raha hu.

Abhijeet: (Nodding) Daya, maine kuch reserach ki hain practically ye time travel possible nahi hain(Daya stare at Abhi as he bite his lips with taking a sigh)lekin haa ek blog pe maine padha tha ki butterfly effect, timeline effect hota hain. Aur tere saath aise kuch nahi ho raha hain.

Daya : Tum Dr.Salunke ki nahi Tarika ki language mein samjho.

Abhi smile slightly as he pull out his phone and show a article to Daya as he reads it.

"Most physicists agree that you cannot change the present by going back to the past. The Novikov self-consistency principle is a formal statement of this assertion. If we are able to go back to the past, and make changes, the universe will simply rearrange events so that the present stays the same."

Daya : Matlabh.. past ko badla nahi jaa sakta?

Abhi : (nodding) Haa matlabh, past ko badlne se present nahi badalne wala.

Daya : Bakwas hain ye boss(he threw the phone on the table)Iss article ke hisab se main shreya kho dunga. 

Daya held his forehead with frustration feeling guily and helpless while Abhi watch his friend in stress and worry.

Abhi : Maine kuch aur bhi dhunda hain.

Daya :(slowly meet his gaze)Marvel movies dekhi hain na..

Daya :(glaring at him)Mujhe shreya ko bachana hain aur tum hoki mujhe Hollywood ke marvel movie ki reference de rahe ho?

Abhi shakes his head with holding Daya hand and looks at him pulling out a paper infront of him, Daya was confused at first as they discuss something with some outcomes and Daya watched him in stunned expressions.

 Abhi : Daya.. inn sab mein ek baat ache se yaad rakhna, ye sab ho lekin ismein aapne aapko maat khona .

Daya: (nods smiling)Boss, ye mere liye chakravuy mein gusne ka tarika hain(pats his hand)Aur tum bilkul phir maat karna, mujhe kuch nahi hoga.

Abhi smiles as Daya looked at the paper mummering.

Daya: Magar mujhe ye karne ke liye mujhe already pata rehna chaiye ki main waqt mein piche kab jaa raha hu.

Abhi : (bitting his lower lip)Soch kis case mein Shreya ki jaan khatre mein thi?

Daya ruffle his hair with trying to find a solution when both of them recollect a incident and looks at eachother. 

Abhi / Daya : Ahemdabad ka case...

Abhi : (calmly)Shreya pe khatra abh wahi case mein tha.

Daya : Haa aur Boss, Mujhe waha zyada se zyada waqt rehna hoga.

Abhi : Lekin Daya ye baat ka control to tumhare haath mein nahi hain .

Daya : To mujhe pata lagana hoga, ye kaise ho raha hain(glance at the walkman)Aur ye bhi pata lagana hoga ki iss Walkman mein kitne gaane hain aur mere pass kitne mauke. Abh tak do gaane khatam hua hain.

Abhi :(analyzing the walkman)iss model ki baat kare to 90's ke zamane ka hain to hone to 400 se zyade lekin, agar hum cassette system follow karenge aur time travel ke chances dekhenge to shayad 7- 8 gaane to honge ismein.

Daya : Matlabh aur 6- 5 mauke hain mere pass....

Abhi : (clench Daya's hand)Daya, wapas kehraha hu.. shreya ko bachane mein apne aap ko maat bhuljaana.

Daya nodes while Abhijeet slowly releases his grip on Daya's hand and they again discuss something for awhile. 

Few minutes later, Daya hesitantly take a sigh, glance at look at Abhi and slowly presses the play button as the song starts playing. Abhijeet smiles with concern and swallows his worries, staring at Daya while the song fills the air around them. Daya holds the Walkman close with a gut feeling of saving shreya, his face filled with a mix of determination and trepidation.

"Chaahe tum kuch na kaho, Maine sun liyaâ..ke saathi pyaar kaâ...Mujhe chun liyaâ...Chun liyaaaa..maine sun liyaa..."

Daya smile hearing the song when suddenly, bright lights flash circling  around Daya, forcing Abhijeet to close his eyes. The music gradually fades away, leaving everything back to normal. Abhijeet opens his eyes to find Daya gone as he held the paper in hand praying for Dareya.

Abhijeet: ye bhagwan agar aap sach mein ho to please Daya ko 2014 mein hi bhejhna  aur iss baar sab badal jaaye.

"Pehla nashaâ...pehla hummar... Naya pyaar haiâ...naya intezaar...Karloo mein kya apna haalâ... Mere dile bekaraarâ, tu hi bata..Pehla nasha..pehla hummar....."

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In 2014: 

Daya slowly opens his eyes and finds himself sitting in a café as he roam his gaze around, the same song was playing in the background. He was confusion with listening to the song lyrics and his eyes landed on a live band performing the same song. He quickly with desperate search for the Walkman, which he finally finds beside his chair. He clutches it, trying to listen, but it wasn't playing.

Daya: Gaana nahi bhaj raha hain matalbh main waqt mein piche to aaya hu lekin kis saal mein, (looks around for some sing)ye 2014 hain ya nahi??? mera phone...

He searches his pockets for his phone when the ringing on the table catches his attention. He quickly grabs it and looks at the caller ID. "Shreya." He smiles and whispers, "Yes."

Everyone in the café turns to look at him. The band stops playing in surprise as Daya stands up, lost in his own world of relief. The phone stops ringing and Daya brings it down, his face falling.

He tries to unlock the phone, but it asks for a password. He keeps trying, but it keeps saying, "Incorrect password." He bangs his head in frustration, trying to remember the password. A waiter approaches him to check on him and at the same time, the phone rings again. He stops the waiter and answers the phone.

Daya : Hello??? Hello shreya??? shreya tumhe sunai de raha hain..

He struggles to hear anything and moves around, trying to get a signal.

waiter: Sir, signal andar nahi aata hain.

Daya looks at the waiter and grabs his keys and Walkman urgently walking out of the café.

Shreya: Sir... (Daya closes his eyes, hearing her voice and feeling her presence) Sir... aapko sunai de raha hain?

Daya: (Whispering softly) Shreyaaaaa...

Shreya falls silent at his whisper, Daya opens his eyes with a concerned expression.

Daya : Shreya tum theek ho?? hello???

Shreya : Sir, main theek hu, wo aap...

She hesitates while Daya interrupts as she becomes silent with his worried trembling voice.

Daya : Shreya, suno meri baat ye sab Ashish kar raha hain, wo mera dost hain aur private detective bhi lekin tum usse dur rehna. Ahmedabad mein tumhari aur tumare grand parents ki jana ko khatra hain isliye please kisi pe bharosa maat karna, Main waha khud aara hu aur ACP Ranchod Rana ka number bhejta hu unhe call karo aur mujhe inform karna ki kya baat hui.

Shreya remains silent for a moment while Daya checks his phone to see if the line is still connected. He speaks over the phone, worry etched in his voice.

Daya : Shreya???Shreya???

Shreya: Sir, aapko kaise pata maine call kyu kiya?(Daya pause at his place for a minute ruffling his hair and shut his eyes)Aapko kaise pata meri aur Dada-Dadi ki jaan khatre mein hain?

Daya's voice caught in his throat as he struggled to find the words. In the dim light outside the cafe, Daya stared at his phone, his heart pounding with dread. Shreya's silence hung heavy in the air and with each passing moment, his anxiety deepened. Unable to contain his worry, he spoke into the device, his voice trembling with trepidation.

Daya: Sach kahunga to tum samjhogi nahi...(sighing)isliye please meri baat pe bharosa karo, main tumhe iss baar kuch nahi hone de sakta please. Bas jaise kaha hain waise karo..

A long pause ensued, filled with a deafening silence.

Shreya : Theek hain sir jaise aap kahe, thankyou so much.

Daya : Shreya thankyou ki zarurath nahi hain bas apna dhayan rakhna wahi mere liye kafi hain.

Shreya was silent on the phone as Daya rest his head on the cafe wall fighting with himself to disconnect the phone. He slowly clenches his hand into fist and whispers.

Daya: Mujhe call disconnect nahi hoga isliye tumhi hi ye karna hoga please.

Moments dragged into an eternity as Shreya remained silent. The unspoken words, the silence over phone, the worry and concern were clearly reflecting heart by Dareya for eachother. Finally, the line went dead. Daya stared at the screen the name "Shreya" mocking him. He fumbled with the phone, trying to unlock it with trembling fingers but its secrets remained hidden behind an unknown password.

With a frustrated grunt, Daya moved and leaned against the car seat, his head spinning. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was running out of time. He started the car and sped towards Abhijeet's house weaving through Mumbai's relentless traffic. His mind raced with a torrent of emotions threatening to consume him.

As he arrived at Abhijeet's doorstep, his sleeping officer and bestfriend was startled awake by the incessant ringing of the doorbell. Abhijeet opened the door to find Daya standing before him and his face etched with worry.

Abhi : Daya kya hua tu yaha kya kar raha hain.

Daya : Boss, Ahmedabad ke Acp Ranchod Rana ka number pata karo.

Daya blurted out his voice urgent leaving Abhijeet confused and shocked.

Abhi :(confused)Kya bol rahe ho yaar??

Daya : Boss... please shreya ki jaan khatre mein hain.

Abhijeet's eyes widened in surprise as he took in Daya's ragged appearance. He placed a comforting hand on Daya's shoulder hugging him.

Abhi : Tu wapas aaya hain.

Daya : Boss, please meri baat suno phele.. Acp Rana ka number pata karo, usse shreya ko bhejho please jaldi.

Abhi breaks the hug and nodes with grabbing his phone and dialing a number, as Abhijeet dialed the number, Daya paced anxiously praying for Shreya's safety. When the call ended, Abhijeet turned to Daya with a heavy expression.

Abhi : Maine baat karli hain Acp Ranchod Rana se aur shreya ko bhi number bhej diya hain lekin wo messages read nahi kari hain.

Daya:(worried) Ohh god, kahi usse kuch ho na gaaya ho.

Abhi : (looking at Daya) Iss baar kya hone wala hain Daya?

Daya looks at Abhi with explaining him everything quickly while Abhi was tensed and looks back at him with concern.

Abhi : To hume Ashish ko pakada hoga.

Daya : Boss, mujhe Ahmedabad jaana hain tum yaha dekhos sab..

Abhi :(hold him by shoulder) Main bhi chalta hu na yaar.. saath honge to jaldi sab solve hojayega.

Daya : (nodding)haa to tum tickets book karo jaldi.

Abhi: Tickets milna to muskil hain yaar.

Daya :(Worried)To abh??

Abhi stare at him smirking as together, they rushed to the airport, Daya still wrestling with the locked phone.

Abhi : (stealing glance at him while driving)Kya hua?Kya kar rahe ho tab se?

Daya: Ye phone ka password kya hain aur kisne lock kiya?

Abhi :(smiles a little)2014 ke Daya ne kiya hain aur password shreya ka birthday hain.

Daya was stunned as he looks at Abhijeet, Abhi was driving through the traffic and steal a glance at him.

Abhi : Kya hua bhai? tujhe yaad nahi uska birthday date?

Daya : Maine phele kabhi bhi shreya birthday date password nahi lagaya tha phir ye kaise hua?

Abhi looks at him and clear his throat clenching his hand on the steering wheel.

Abhi : Well abh hogaya hain,(daya passed a confused glare at Abhi as he clear his throat)2014 ke Daya ko shreya se pyaar hogaya hain.

Daya's hand tightened around the phone, a surge of emotion coursing through him.

Daya :(whispered) Kya? ye sab kab kaise?? lekin...

Abhi : Mujhe nahi pata tujhe kab hua tha lekin haa iss 2014 ke Daya ne abhi tak kuch kaha nahi hain shreya se.. aur haa ye Daya ka pyaar jo hain wo ek dafa hain, kyu ki shreya aur Siddharth ki koi baat chal rahi hain.

Daya : (hitting his head hardly)Siddharth (clenched his hairs into fist)Main thak chuka hu iss ek dafa pyaar se aur iss Siddharth se.

Abhi : (worried and concerned)Daya kya kar rahe ho.. dhayan rakho apna aur baat rahi baki sabki to abh tum aagaye ho, hum kuch na kuch kar hi lenge.

Daya :(clenching the phone)Haa iss baar kuch karna hi hoga.

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They reach the airport and quickly using their identity as CID officer onboard a flight which was about to take off. Abhijeet glup his breathe thinking about Acp sir reaction if he get to know about the situation while Daya was dropping messages to shreya but they all were still unread.

As the plane took off, Daya stared out the window, his mind racing placing the phone on airplane mode. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were in a race against time but this time he was determined to save the woman he loved no matter the cost.

Daya : Sab kuch ek sapna jaise lagta hain, jaise hi main uthunga ye sapna khatam hojayega aur ek baar phir se main shreya ko kho dunga.

Abhi :(pats his shoulder)Iss baar aise nahi hoga, hum milke shreya ko bacha bhi lenge aur usse tumhari zindagi mein leke bhi aayenge.

Daya nodes his head looking at Abhijeet as the plane make it way in the air.

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Daya and Abhijeet stepped off the late-night plane in Ahmedabad, Abhijeet hurriedly dialed ACP Rana's number while Daya frantically attempted to reach Shreya but her phone remained unanswered. A gnawing sense of worry and dread filled him as they finally approached Shreya's residence only to find it in disarray.

Daya :( muttered)Maine wapas der kardi.. mujhe jaldi aana chaiye tha.

Daya voice was heavy with self-reproach with his mind raced, recalling the countless moments he had spent with Shreya her unwavering determination during the case her courageous defiance even after being shot and her ordeal as a captive. A wave of helplessness washed over him, his thoughts spiraling into a vortex of regret and despair.

Daya : Jab main Shreya ko bacha hi nahi sakta to main aaya hi kyun? Kyon main yaha tak pahuncha... kyon??

He cried out in anguish collapsing to his knees. Suddenly, Abhijeet emerged from one of the room and rushed towards Daya shaking him by the shoulders.

Abhi: Daya, apne aapko sambhal, please shambhal... aise haar nahi sakta tu... hume dhunda na Shreya ko jaldse jaldh taki wo sab na ho jo hua hain. ACP Rana Ashish ko dhund rahe hain tu bas yaad kar tune pichli baar Shreya ko kaha dhunda tha.

Daya looked up at Abhijeet, his eyes glazed with desperation and a memory flashing in his mind.

Daya : Yaha ek purani haveli hain Dodhia Haveli ke peeche ke raste pe... wahi pe the Dada-Dadi aur Shreya.

Abhi : (nodding)To Chal, abhi waha jaate hain.

Daya : Boss, tum ACP Rana se milo aur main Shreya ko dekhta hu.

Abhi : Lekin Daya, tu akele..

Daya : (pleaded) Waqt nahi hain Abhijeet... jaldse jaldh Shreya ko dhunda hoga... please meri baat ka yakeen karo.

Abhijeet nodded in agreement and the two parted ways. Moments later, Daya reached the dilapidated building the grip on his gun tightening as he cautiously stepped inside. He ventured deeper into the shadowy corridors overhearing a group of goons laughing and carousing in a nearby room.

Daya stealthily approached his eyes scanning the surroundings. Through a window he spotted Shreya and her grandparents lying unconscious. Just as he was about to enter he noticed a goon walking past with a smirk on his face as he snapped a picture of Shreya.

An inferno of rage ignited within Daya. He silently crept up behind the goon covering his mouth and twisting his neck until he slumped unconscious to the floor. Grabbing the phone, Daya quickly deleted the compromising photograph and examined the recent call list. A single unfamiliar number caught his attention. He dialed the number anticipating the worst. The phone rang briefly before a bold voice answered, filled with a mixture of rage and contempt.

Person: Maine kaha tha na tujhse mujhe call maat karna... main karunga tujhe call tab tak Shreya aur Dada-Dadi ko kuch nahi hona chaiye... samjhe?

The line went dead leaving Daya with an enigmatic puzzle. He gazed upon Shreya's unconscious form as he felt an overwhelming surge of protectiveness.

Daya : (whispered, his voice crackling with emotion) Main aagaya hu Shreya,Iss baar tumhe uss dard se nahi jaane dunga jisse tum guzri ho. I promise you that.

He searched for any sign of water and discovered a small bottle nearby. Gently, he sprinkled a few drops onto Shreya's face, his touch feather-light. Her eyelids fluttered open slowly as she focused on Daya, a flicker of recognition crossed her gaze.

Daya : Shreya??You ok????Shreya???

Shreya:Dayaaa?(murmured weakly)Sir...

Daya quickly untied her hands but she stumbled forward and collapsed into his arms. For a moment time seemed to stand still as Daya froze, his heart pounding in his chest. Gently, he rested his hand on her back and his breath catching in his throat.

Daya : (whispered softly)I love you shreya...I love you so much..

He whispered into her ear his voice trembling with emotion and a tear drop falling over her shoulder. Shreya closed her eyes with his words echoing in her mind as she sank unconscious once more, Daya tightened his embrace on her vowing to protect her with his very life this time.

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Here i end the 4th chapter, Hope you liked the 4th chapter of Playlist (A time travel story)

Thanks to each one of you for showering your love over Dareya and story. Blessed to not only have you all as my readers but as my friends. From bottom of my hearts, "Thankyou"

Now stay tune to know to how the story will unfold and drop in your views and comments and what do you think about  about the story.

Lots of love.

Dareians rocks!