Continued...

At 1:30 am

Anubhav was lying wide awake in his bed blankly starring at the ceiling while Haseena slept in sitting position with her hand holding the cold-water strip which was still placed on Anubhav's forehead.... Her head was supported by the head rest....

The words of his friend and ex-colleague from today's afternoon phone call were still ringing in his ears....

Man: Anubhav tumhare pita mission mein galti ki wajah se nahi maare gaye the.... There was a and in fact there still is a mole in your system.... Aur Mere paas iss baat ka pukhta sabot hai..... Baaki ki baate hum kal milke karenge..... Jai Hind

And then in the evening when he received his ringing phone not aware of the storm that is waiting for him....

Person: Jai Hind sir.... Sir.... Avinash sir is no more.... He.... He was brutally murdered....

Those few lines were creating a havoc in his mind..... The only person who knew anything about his father's death was killed brutally and there was not a single evidence against the killer....

Before his emotions could betray him, Anubhav felt Haseena's hand shivering.... Anubhav looked up and through his peripheral vision he saw Haseena's restless face.... Perhaps she's again having a bad dream, his inner voice said....

Haseena (in sleep, murmuring): Ammi.... Nahi..... please unhe chod do......

The rest of her words were unclear but before Anubhav could do anything Haseena's eyes opened abruptly.... She looked around and took in her surroundings.... Haseena then looked over Anubhav's concerned face.....

Haseena: Hum.... Hum thik hai.... Bas bura sapna tha

Anubhav nodded and gave Haseena a minute to compose herself....

Haseena: Anubhav.... Aap soye nahi.... (Checked his temperature) Bhukhar bhi uttar gaya hai....

Anubhav (still looking at the ceiling): Hume neend nahi aa rahi....

Haseena kept the strip of cloth on nightstand and climbed up on Anubhav's bed.... Anubhav was about to get up when Haseena held his hand and asked him to keep lying.... She too lied down keeping a considerable distance between them and starred at the ceiling.....

She gently caressed Anubhav's palm with her thumb, but what happened next shocked her to the core, Anubhav Singh, the man who always keeps his emotions in check hugged her tightly burying his face in her shoulder....

Anubhav's emotions betrayed him.... He felt a lump form in his throat, and before he knew it, tears streamed down his face...

Haseena: Anubhav, Kya hua???

Haseena asked, concern etched on her face...... Anubhav tried to speak, but his voice cracked..... He buried his face more in Haseena's shoulder, and she held him close, stroking his hair.....

Haseena: Anubhav.... (Anubhav sobbed.... Haseena understood that he won't tell her anything...)

Haseena didn't know what to do... Nobody in her situation could.... seeing the strongest person in your life going weak and vulnerable like this....

Haseena has seen him sad, disappointed, betrayed, but today it seemed as if he was broken from inside.... Shattered from within....

Haseena: Anubhav, Sab thik ho jayega.... Hum dono milke sab thik kar denge.... (Anubhav cried even more while Haseena held him tightly in her arms whispering soft words of comfort even if she didn't know what exactly the situation is)

Anubhav's body shook with sobs, releasing pent-up emotions he'd held back for so long..... But he didn't tell Haseena the truth - that his tears weren't just about his physical pain, but about the emotional turmoil he'd carried since his father's death..... He didn't reveal that he'd recently discovered his father's death wasn't due to carelessness in a mission, but because of a mole within their own organization.... And the only person who knew who this mole is, was murdered brutally....

Haseena didn't know, and Anubhav couldn't bring himself to share the burden.... Not yet....

As his tears subsided, Haseena handed Anubhav a glass of water..... Anubhav drank, his eyes avoiding hers....

Anubhav: Dhanyawaad

Anubhav whispered, his voice still shaky.... Haseena smiled softly but was worried deep inside 

Haseena: Shukriya kehene ki koi zarurat nahi hai Anubhav.... Hume yeh toh pata nahi ki hum aapki kuch madad kar sakte hai ya nahi par ha itna zarur pata hai ki aapke har mushkil samay mein hum aapke saath hai....

Anubhav who was not looking at her now shared an eyelock with her.... But soon it was broken by Haseena.....

Haseena: Kaafi raat ho gayi hai.... Aapko so jana chahiye....

Saying this she got up and was about to leave as she sensed Anubhav was awkward and uncomfortable around her after crying in front of her.... But Anubhav held her hand and made her sit on the bed.... Anubhav then silently placed his head in Haseena's lap while Haseena caressed his hairs....

Anubhav's gaze met hers, and for a moment, he saw a glimmer of hope...... Maybe, just maybe, he could learn to trust her again.... But the secret he kept hidden threatened to tear them apart once more....

**********

Next morning in MPT

Haseena entered the thaana and was not surprised to see the usual scenario.... Pushpa ji was fighting with Karishma Singh, Santu was posing and Cheetah was clicking her photographs.... And Billu was nowhere to be seen...

Haseena fake coughed

Everyone: Jai Hind madam sir....

Haseena: Jai Hind.... Santosh Sharma any update....

Santosh: Yes madam sir.... Mere quarter ke nal mein se achanak paani tapakna band ho gaya.....

Haseena: Case se related....

Santosh: Oh.... Karishma madam ke haath koi pukhta saboot nahi laga hai aur Billu ji abhi bhi vahi hai.... Parivaar ka background bhi clear hai.... Inki Kilono ki dukaan hai.... Aur business bhi normal chalta hai.... Mariyam ke job karne se uske pita nakush the aisa Cheeteh ko aas paas ke dukaan valo se pata chala hai....

Haseena: Hmm.... Aur Mariyam ke mangetar ke baare mein kuch pata chala???

Santosh: Madam sir uska naam Alok Gandhi hai.... Alok ki behan Kanika aur Mariyam saath mein college jaate the aur kaafi acche dost bhi hai.... Infact Alok shehar chod ke chala gaya aisi khabar bhi Kanika ne hi Mariyam ko di thi....

Karishma: Madam sir Hume toh lag raha hai Amar sir sahi keh rahe the.... Ab taq Mariyam ke parivaar ke khilaaf koi saboot haath nahi laga hai....

Amar entered....

Amar: Par ab hume nahi lagta....

Everyone: Jai Hind sir

Amar: Jai hind

Haseena: Aapke kehene ka matlab kya hai???

Amar: Hum kal shyaam ko Mariyam ke pita ki dukaan pe gaye the.... Aur tajub ki baat yeh hai ki voh aadmi apni beti ki sagaai tutne se bilkul dukhi nahi tha.... Infact voh toh bahut kush tha.... Keh raha tha ki uparwale ne uski beti ko bacha liya.... Jab humne pucha ki ab uski beti kya karna chahati hai toh bola ki voh Mumbai gayi hai apni dream job ke liye

Karishma: Ka.... Par kal uski ammi ne humse kaha ki voh ghar pe hai....

Haseena: Iska matlab Mariyam ke pita jhoot bol rahe hai....

Billu came inside....

Billu: Jiske piche pad jaye uske muh se nikle haye haye.... I'm Billu the spy....

Everybody gave him a look

Cheetah: Ho gaya bejatti ab bologe ki kya baat hai....

Billu: Ae Cheete ijjat se baat kar.... Jo kaam Amar Sir aur Karishma madam nahi kar paye voh maine kar diya hai.... Puri raat... Puri raat jaag kar maine Mariyam ke ghar par nazar rakhi.... Ik pal ke liye bhi nahi soya.... Meri aakhon ke neeche yeh dark circles iss baat ka saboot hai....   

Pushpa ji: Amma billu baketi karna band karo aur mudde ki baat batao....

Billu: Mariyam ke parivaar vale usski shaadi karke usse bechne vale hai.... Voh log aaj hi subah apne gaav Chandranagar (Fictional) ke liye nikle hai.... Mariyam vahi pe hai.... 

Haseena: Hume kissi bhi kimat par yeh shaadi hone se rokni hogi.... Billu kya tumhe pata hai ki yeh log Mariyam ki iss se shaadi karwana chahate hai??

Billu: Yes madam sir.... Ladke ka naam Ayyan Khan bahut hi gatiya reputation hai 4-5 baar tej gaadi chalane ke liye jail bhi ja chuka hai .... Uska bada bhai, Imraan toh usse bhi gaya gujra hai.... Kayi ameer ladkiyo ke saath chakar chalata hai, unke paise lootta hai phir unhe blackmail bhi karta hai.... Par inke baap apne gaav ki bahut jaani maani hasti hai, Rashid Khan, bahut bada real state (estate) ka karobar hai jis wajah se yeh log bach jate hai.... Inko toh mai apne Billu Niwas mein ghusne bi nahi dunga

Haseena with her signature smile....

Haseena: Well done Billu....

Haseena: Unn logo ne Mr. Vidrohi, Cheetah aur Karishma Singh ke chehere dekh liye hai toh ab hum, Pushpa ji aur Santosh Chandranagar jayenge.... 

Amar: Aur hum teeno kissi bhi tarah se Mariyam ke mangetar ka pata karte hai.... Aur usse mariyam ke saame leke aate hai tabhi voh shaadi se backout karegi.... 

Billu: Aur mai.... mai kya karu???

Cheetah: Tum apna beauty sleep pura karo babu.... jao....

Billu went to billu niwas murmuring something....

Karishma: Madam sir hum bhi aapke saath chalenge.... 

Haseena: Nahi Karishma Singh.... Yeh possible nahi hai.... Unn logo ne aapka chera dekh liya hoga....   

Karishma: Bhes badal ke, muh chupa ke hume nahi pata kaise par hum aapke saath aayenge.... Bas

Haseena: Aap kaise bachon jaise jidd kar rahi hai.... Humne kaha na.... Aap nahi jayengi toh nahi jayengi (Karishma was about to speak) That's an order Karishma Singh.... 

Haseena left the thaana....

**********

In jeep

Haseena was wearing casual clothes, black shirt and blue jeans and navy blue coat, while Pushpa ji and Santu too wore casuals....

Haseena was trying to call someone but the number was unreachable.... 

Haseena (in mind): Kaha hai aap Anubhav.... Subah bhi bina bataye chale gaye aur ab na call utha rahe hai na text dekh rahe hai.... Ya Allah sab khariyat rakhna....

Her chain of thoughts were broken by the sudden brakes applied by Santosh....

Santosh: Madam sir aa gayi voh jagah....

Haseena: Good.... Sabko plan yaad hai???  

Santosh: Yes madam sir.... Aap ik bahut rich bisuness woman ho... Mai aaki assistant Sara aur yeh aapki nanny Jyoti Ji..... Aapki gaadi band pad gayi hai aur hum log Rahul ke bhai jo ki yaha 10 minute mein aayega uss se help mangenge.... And then usse baato mein uljah kar uske gaav mein  entry lenge..... 

Pushpa ji: Arre vah Santu tume toh sab yaad hai.... Chalo ab phata phat yeh rui kaan mein daal lo taaki tumhara pet nahi dukhe....

Haseena smiled a little and then took a deep breath to get herself ready for upcoming drama....

***********

Chandranagar, Uttar Pradesh

A men clad in simple white kurta was walking with another person in a corridor 

Man: Aapka bahut bahut shukriya Anubhav ji aap time nikal ke humare bete ke nikaah mein aaye...

Person: Iss mein dhanyawad kehene ki koi avasyakta nahi hai....Ayaan humare bhai jaisa hai aur apno ke liye toh smay iss vishva ke pratyek vakti ko nikalna chahiye.... Kyu Rashid Mia

Rashid: Ji bilkul.... Aaj abhi thodi der mein mehendi hai, phir raat ko sangeet.... Aur phir kal nikaah hai....

Anubhav: Atti uttam....

Rashid: Ik baat kahe aapse

Anubhav: Avashya....

Rashid: Aapki bhi nikaah ki umar ho gayi hai.... Kya socha hai aapne iss baare mein.... Kab karenge nikaah???

Anubhav: Abhi toh humne iss vishay pe adhik vichar nahi kiya parantu jaise hi koi kanya hume pasand aayegi hum avashya vivaah kar lenge....

Rashid: Aaj kayi saari ladkiya bahar se aane vali hai.... Agar koi acchi lage toh humse kahiyega aapki baat paaki kar denge....

Anubhav nodded in awkwardly....

Rashid: Aap kuch der apne kamre mein aaram kar lijiye bas Imraan aata hi hoga phir hum sab mehendi ki rasam chalu kar denge....

Anubhav nodded....

**********

After 1 hour

Anubhav was sitting on the Nivar ki chaar payi (I don't know it is called in English... kissi ko pata ho toh bata dena) 

Ayaan: Yeh lijiye bhaijaan yeh sharbat pijiye.... Humare gaav ka khaas hai....

Anubhav gratefully received the glass and took a sip but before he could drink it he saw Haseena, Santosh and Pushpa ji coming towards them with a well built man beside them.... This shock was enough for him to start coughing.... 

Ayaan: Aap thik toh hai

Anubhav nodded.... He then got up and went in Haseena's direction followed by Ayaan....

Ayaan (to Anubhav): Yeh hai humare bade bhaijaan.... Imran Khan.... (To Imran) Aur yeh hai Anubhav ji jinke baare mein abbu baata rahe the.... 

Imran and Anubhav exchanged a friendly hug while MPT members were shocked to see Anubhav there.... 

Imran : Yeh hai Malika hai (Pointed towards Haseena) (Not mallika dear readers.... Malika urdu meaning is rani) Delhi ki mashoor business woman aur yeh  inki secratary Sara (Santosh) aur yeh inki nanny Jyoti ji (Pushpa ji)

Anubhav greeted the trio through eyes....

Imran: SALEEM.... (A man came running) Madam ko humare guest room mein le jao.... Bas aadhe ghante mein hum log mehendi ki rasm chalu kar denge

Saleem led trio to their respective rooms while Anubhav was not liking Imran's presence and the way in which he was looking at Haseena.....  

In Haseena's room

Haseena sat on the the bed, removed her coat and huffed loudly..... Suddenly her phone rang.... It was Santosh....

Santosh and Pushpa ji: Jai Hind madam sir

Haseena (whispered): Jai Hind.... Aap log please thoda dheere boliye.... Kissi ko bhi shaq nahi hona chahiye....

Santosh (whispered): Madam sir ka toh DSP humare plan mein koi role nahi tha toh voh-

Haseena: Hume bhi nahi pataa Santosh Sharma ki voh yaha kya kar rahe hai.... Hum pata karne ki koshish karte hai.... Tab taq aap dono yaha ke routes samajh lijiye ar yeh pata karne ki koshish kijiye ki Mariyam kahan hai.... Humara uss se milna bahut zaruri hai.... 

 Santosh and Pushpa ji: Ji madam sir.... Jai Hind...

Haseena (whispered): Jai Hind....

As soon as Haseena hanged up she felt a presence behind her.... She immediately turned around aiming her fist at the person's face but a large hand held hers in order to stop her....

Haseena (whispered): Aap??? Aap yaha kya kar rahe hai??

Anubhav: Yehi prashn hum aapse puch rahe hai

Haseena: Hum toh yaha ik case solve karne aaye hai.... Mariyam ka jo kal hi thaane mein register hua tha.... Voh hi dhulan hai.....

Anubhav heard some footsteps.... He tried to move but his bracelet was entangled with Haseena's so Anubhav held Haseena's hand and rushed towards the bathroom 

Before Anubhav could close the door two girls along with a man entered Haseena's room.... Anubhav and Haseena stood behind the half opened door....

Haseena (Through eyes): Ab kya kare???

Anubhav pulled Haseena closer so that she is not visible.... 

Girl 1: Bhaijaan hum sach keh rahe hai koi aadmi yaha aaya tha.... Humne khud apni aapkon se dekha hai....

Haseena's eyes shone and her signature smile came up on her lips.... 

Haseena (through eyes): Baal

Anubhav helped her to open her pony tale.... Haseena then opened the buttons of her shirt and took a towel,  wrapped it around her shoulders so that her shirt was not visible.... She then assured Anubhav through eyes and peeked out of the bathroom door....

Haseena: Yeh kya ho raha hai.... Kaun ho tum log aur iss tarah humare kamre mein kya kar rahe ho... 

Man: Iss kamre mein aapke alawa koi aur hai???

Haseena: Ha... Teen bin bulaye log...

Anubhav laughed internally

Haseena: Hume nahi pata tha ki Imran miya apne mehmano ke saath aisa sulook karwate hai.... Pata hota toh hum kabhi nahi aate... 

Man: Maaf.... Maaf kar dijiye mohtarma.... Shayad kuch galat femi ho gayi thi.....

Haseena rolled her eyes with attitude and the man along with the girls left the room closing the door behind them....

Haseena came behind the door....

Haseena: Haash.....

Anubhav started to untangle their bracelets and after a minute was successful in his effort.... But due to his movements Haseena's towel slipped off from her left shoulder showing her bare shoulder....

As soon as Haseena realized this her body grew stiff and her mind stopped working.... She wanted Anubhav to come closer, to do things to her but still she felt nervous, scared even..... Maybe because all this is so new to her.... Standing in front of a man with bare shoulder and a glimpse of your cleavage and bare neck inviting..... She looked at Anubhav and saw that he was only looking at her eyes.... 

Anubhav gently grabbed the towel and covered Haseena's shoulder with it.... Patted her head and went out.... Not for a single second did he look anywhere other than Haseena's eyes..... A smile crept on Haseena's lips, he was a gem indeed....

***********

Bas aaj ke liye itna hi.... Soca toh tha 5th ko de du par then I thought ki madam sir show ke jaise yaha bhi cases hone chahiye toh bas likh diye

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