Three years later,

ACP Pradyuman was happily talking to a girl over his cell phone in his cabin.

"Kaisi hai meri beti?"...He asked while smiling.

"Papa aap poore din mein ye sawal bees se jyada baar puchh chuke hain mujhse!"...The girl complained.

"Achchha baba ab ye sawal nahin puchhoonga"...ACP Pradyuman said while laughing.

The girl laughed too as she heard him.

"Achchha abhi kya kar rahi ho tum?"...ACP Pradyuman asked while smiling.

"Aapse baat kar rahi hoon aur kya!"...The girl replied and chuckled.

"Ragini!"...ACP Pradyuman frowned playfully.

Ragini laughed.

"Papa main hamare stage show mein busy hoon...Bas wish kijiye ki ye hit ho jaaye"...She replied with her fingers crossed.

"Are meri beti ka show hai...Kyun hit nahin hoga...Are main to kehta hoon hit nahin superhit hoga"...ACP Pradyuman said proudly.

"Oh! Thank you so much papa...You are the best"...Ragini replied joyfully.

ACP Pradyuman laughed at her antics.

"May I come in sir?"...A voice came in the mean time.

ACP Pradyuman looked in the direction of the voice with his cell phone still near his ears.

"Yes come in!"...He said while looking at the person.

The person came inside the cabin. ACP Pradyuman signalled him to sit. The person nodded and sat on a chair facing him.

"Ragini main tumse baad mein baat karta hoon"...ACP Pradyuman said to Ragini while looking at the person who was busy in some files.

"Ok papa...Bye"...Ragini said and hung up.

ACP Pradyuman smiled and kept his cell phone on his table. Then, he looked at the person.

"Haan Kavin kya hua?"...He asked him.

"Sir in files par aapke signatures chahiye the, aaj hi headquarters mein submit karwani hain"...Kavin said while showing him some files.

ACP Pradyuman nodded and took the files from him. He read the files and started signing them. Kavin looked at him and then at some other files which were lying on his table. He picked up one of the files and then only a photograph fell from that. He looked at the file and then moved his gaze from that towards the photo which was now lying on the floor. He sighed and bent down to pick up the photo.

ACP Pradyuman looked at him.

"Kya hua Kavin?"...He asked in confusion.

"Sir aapki file se ye photo gir gayi thi"...Kavin replied while showing him the photo. He hadn't seen the person in the photo yet.

ACP Pradyuman smiled and took the photo from him as it was Ragini's. He kept that on the table and resumed his work. Kavin looked at him and then at the photo. He could only see the eyes of Ragini because half of the photo was now covered under some files. He kept staring at the eyes of Ragini as if they were attracting him. He jerked his mind when he realised what he was doing. He sighed and moved his gaze from the photo towards ACP Pradyuman.

"Kavin ye lo files...Maine sign kar di hain, tum bas inhe headquarters mein submit karwa dena"...ACP Pradyuman said while handing over the files to him.

Kavin took the files and nodded. Within seconds he walked outside the cabin. Whereas ACP Pradyuman resumed his work.

Kavin walked out of the bureau into the parking lot. He sat inside his car and drove off for the headquarters. He was driving smoothly but suddenly he stopped in the way when his gaze fell on some handicapped children with a middle aged lady who were standing on the other side of the road to cross it. He came out of his car to help them but stopped when he saw a young girl going in their direction to help them.

The girl looked at the children and then at the lady.

"Kya hua aunty?"...She asked the lady.

"Beta main in bachchon ki teacher hoon...Main inhe museum dikhane layi hoon...Lekin humein road cross karne mein problem ho rahi hai, kuchh log red signal par bhi gaadi chala rahe hain...Hum kya karein?"...The lady replied.

The girl looked at the children and then at the traffic signal which was indicating red. She moved her sight from the traffic signal towards the road on which plenty of cars were passing by with a vast speed.

Kavin was looking at the scene silently. He was not able to see the girl's face as he was facing her back but he was able to hear her talking clearly. He became surprised when the girl stood in front of the road and raised her left hand to stop the cars. Many of the cars stopped with a jerk and the people who were driving came out of them. One of them looked at the girl.

"Ye aap kya kar rahi hain madam?"...He asked irritatedly.

"Red signal par car chalana galat hai...Pata hai na aapko?"...The girl asked him calmly.

Before the man could reply she looked at the children and the lady and signalled them to cross the road. The lady nodded and walked with the children to cross the road.

"Madam ye aap bahut galat kar rahi hain!...Aap nahin jaanti main koun hoon!"...The man said while looking at the girl.

"Koun hain aap?"...The girl asked while looking at him in anger.

"Main party ke ruling minister ka bhai hoon!"...The man replied proudly.

"Achchha!...Matlab iske alawa aapki koi apni pehchaan nahin hai?"...The girl asked him while laughing sarcastically.

The man became quiet as he heard her question.

"Mr. party ke ruling minister ka bhai...Main un logon se baat nahin karti jinki apni koi pehchaan na ho, jinhe khud ka astitva batane ke liye doosron ka sahara lena pade"...The girl said to him.

The man looked at her in embarrassment. Whereas she shifted her gaze from him and looked at the lady and the children. She smiled when they crossed the road successfully. She waved them and turned around to leave from there but was stopped by one of the policemen who came near her after observing the whole scene.

"Madam ye aapne bahut galat kiya...Ab aapko fine pay karna hoga kyunki aapne traffic rules ko toda hai"...The policeman said while blocking her way.

"Fine ya rishwat?"...The girl asked him while raising her eyebrows questioningly.

Policeman: Madam ek to aapne galati ki...

"Galati?...Kya galati ki maine inspector?...Un handicapped bachchon ki help karke?...Ya us ladke ko sahi baat samjha ke?...Ya aapko rishwat na deke?"...The girl asked after interrupting him and moving towards him in anger.

The policeman became quiet and lowered his gaze as he heard her.

"Sir galat main nahin aap hain kyunki jo sahi hota hai ya yun kahein jo sachcha hota hai wo aankh se aankh milakar baat karta hai...Aisa kehte hain jo nazrein churata hai uske dil mein chor hota hai"...The girl said to him.

The policeman heard her but still he didn't turn his gaze to look at her, maybe he realised his mistake. On the other hand, Kavin's lips stretched into a small smile after hearing the girl. He didn't know why but he was desperate to see her face, maybe he was attracted to her quick-witty nature and charming voice which he thought he had heard somewhere earlier.

"Ragini chalo yahan se!"...A boy said while dragging the girl with him.

"Ragini!"...Kavin murmured while thinking where he had heard this name earlier.

He looked at the boy who took Ragini with him but he was not able to see either of their faces as he was facing their back.

The boy made Ragini sit inside his car and drove off from there.

Kavin who was so much lost in his thoughts didn't notice that. When he came back to his senses he found that Ragini was already gone with the boy. He sighed and jerked his thoughts and then drove off for the headquarters.

Ragini was sitting silently while the boy was driving the car.

"Ragini ye kya kar rahi thi tum?"...The boy asked her while driving.

"Main to bas un bachchon ki help kar rahi thi Nakul"...Ragini replied innocently.

"Kisi ki help karna achchhi baat hai Ragini...Lekin ek policewale ke saath arguement karna galat hai"...Nakul said while looking at her.

"Nakul sirf wardi pehan'ne se koi policewala nahin ho jaata, ek asli policewala wahi hai jo sahi aur galat mein fark samjhe...Aur main Ragini yani ki ACP Pradyuman ki beti sahi ko sahi kehne se kyun katraye"...Ragini said while looking at him.

Nakul stopped the car and joined his palms in front of her.

"Ragini...Main haar gaya...Aur tumse jeetna mere bas ki baat nahin hai devi"...He uttered while looking at her.

Ragini laughed and hit him on his arms. Nakul smiled at her.

"Kabhi kabhi mujhe lagta hai tumhe lawyer hona chahiye tha, har baat ka jawab ready jo rehta hai tumhare paas"...He said and laughed slightly while driving again.

Ragini smiled and looked out of the window.

"Achchha ek baat batao tumne papa se jhooth kyun bola ki aaj hamara stage show hai?...Aaj to hum London se wapas aaye hain unse milne"...Nakul uttered confusedly.

"Tumhara kuchh nahin ho sakta Nakul!"...Ragini remarked and shook her head in disbelief.

"Kyun?"...Nakul asked innocently.

"Nakul...Mere bhai...Surprise naam ka shabd suna hai aapne?"...Ragini asked him.

Nakul nodded his head in yes.

"Hmmm...To ab batao...Agar main papa ko pehle hi bata doon ki hum dono wapas India aa rahe hain tab wo jyada khush honge ya tab jab hum dono unse bina bataye milenge?"...Ragini asked while looking at him.

"Jab hum dono unse bina bataye milenge tab"...Nakul replied while smiling.

Ragini smiled and nodded. Within seconds she again looked out of the window and started admiring the places through which they were passing by.

On the other hand, Kavin reached home after submitting the files in the headquarters. He directly went into his room and laid down on the bed without changing his clothes and even without removing his shoes. In the mean time, Kanchan came there and looked at him.

"Beta tum apne kapde badal lo...Main tumhare liye khaana laati hoon"...She said to him.

"Mujhe bhookh nahin hai maa"...Kavin said without looking at her.

Kanchan became irritated as she heard him as this has become his daily habit, he would always use to skip his meals.

"Bahut ho gaya Kavin!...Bhool jao Purvi ko!...Mar chuki hai wo!...Aur jo mar jaate hain wo kabhi wapas laut kar nahin aate!...Ye baat kyun nahin samajhte tum!"...She yelled at him in anger.

Kavin heard her but didn't say anything.

Kanchan: Beta teen saal ho gaye hain...

"Nahin maa...Teen saal...Saat mahine...Chaubis din"...Kavin said after interrupting her.

Kanchan looked at him in surprise while he went to washroom without speaking anything further. She felt bad for him, her eyes brimmed up with tears. Before they could race down to her cheeks she took them back.

Kanchan (Pov): Bhagwan kya bigada hai mere bete ne kisi ka jo aapne us se uski khushiyan chheen li...Pyaar karne laga tha wo Purvi se aur aapne usi ko chheen liya us se...Aaj teen saal se jyada ho gaye us haadse ko lekin ab tak wo us baat ko bhool nahin paaya hai.

She looked at Kavin's photograph with tear brimmed eyes.

"Kaash main use ek baar phir se muskurata hua dekh sakoon...Kaash uski zindagi mein Purvi wapas laut aaye"...She whispered while staring at his photo with tear brimmed eyes.

She jerked her mind when she realised that she wished Purvi back in Kavin's life which was not possible. She sighed and left the room in tears.

After sometime, Kavin came out of the washroom. He put on one of his shirts and suddenly his gaze fell on the pamphlet in his diary. He closed the diary in frustration.

Phir Le Aaya Dil Majboor Kya Keeje

Raas Na Aaya Rehna Door Kya Keeje

Dil Keh Raha Use Maqammal Kar Bhi Aao

Wo Jo Adhoori Si Baat Baaki Hai

Wo Jo Adhoori Si Yaad Baaki Hai...

"Purvi jab is zindagi mein tum hi nahin ho, to main tumhari tasveer dekhkar kya karoonga!"...He whispered before throwing the diary on his study table.

Karte Hain Hum Aaj Qabool Kya Keeje

Ho Gayi Thi Jo Humse Bhool Kya Keeje

Dil Keh Raha Use Mayassar Kar Bhi Aao

Wo Jo Dabi Si Aas Baaki Hai

Wo Jo Dabi Si Aanch Baaki Hai...

He laid on the bed and closed his eyes in disappointment. He could feel the warm sensation of tears racing down his cheeks.

Kismat Ko Hai Ye Manzoor Kya Keeje

Milte Rahe Hum Badastoor Kya Keeje

Dil Keh Raha Hai Use Musalsal Kar Bhi Aao

Wo Jo Ruki Si Raah Baaki Hai

Wo Jo Ruki Si Chaah Baaki Hai...

He opened his eyes and kept his head on the headrest of the bed. He didn't want to fall asleep. He had always thought that he had have to fight his sleep, his tears and every pain he had in these years.

To be continued...