CUFFLINKED FOREVER

Diksha:

Our boss walked, circling the pale woman.
"Aap sach batayenge, ya main koshish karun?" his dominating voice echoed through the area.

The woman broke down.

"Gayatri Padhiyar..am I correct? Of course I am. Gayatri ji aur Nitish ji ka rishta kaafi complicated hai..I mean..wo pati patni bhi hai, aur bhai behen bhi.. kyun?"

The woman was silent.

"Gayatri ji ne apne bhai se shaadi ki, kuchh saal pehle, jabki woh janti thi ki unki ek beti hai..Khushi Padhiyar. Khushi ko bohot chhoti umr se hi hostel mein rakhha gaya, taaki usse kabhi ye sach pata naa chal sake..par qismat..qismat badi ajeeb cheez hoti hai.. Nitish ji ne apni beti ko kisi dusri se pareshaan hote huye dekha, toh unhone decide kar liya ki uss ladki ko dhamkana chahiye..par afsos..uss ladki ne Gayatri ji aur Nitish ji ko ek saath dekh liya.. aur usne ulta ye baat bola, k woh sab kuchh Khushi ko bata degi.. Nitish ji darr gaye, par unhe apne beti ko help bhi karna tha.. isliye unhone apni doori banani shuru kii, Gayatri ji ke saath.. aur ye baat Gayatri ji ko bilkul pasand nhi aayi.. isliye unhone.. unhone Khushi ko raasta se hata diya.

Jab police investigate karne lagi, toh kisi random bande ko use karke Savi ko kidnap karwaya, aur humein gumrah karne ke liye, Asif wala clue aur wo 7 ladkiyon ki baat kii gayi.. taaki jab tak hum usmein uljhe rahe, tab tak ye dono nikal sake..

Gayatri ji k iss harkat ke baare mein aur kisiko naa sahi, par Rashi ko pata lag gaya..aur ab, gayatri ji ko use bhi mitana tha.. Par ye ho nahi paya uss din, aur jisdin Khushi ka khoon hua, usi din hathapai mein Rashi ki nakhoon tooti..aur usey use karne k liye, Gayatri ji ne apne paas rakh lii, aur Savi ke kidnapping spot pe badi hi khoobsurati se mere saamne pesh kiya gaya ye saboot..ya main kahun..gumrah karne wala evidence.."

With her gaze lowered, the woman nodded.

"Le jaao inn dono ko!" he literally spat those words on her face..

And we watched the injured man and woman being staggered to the police van and taken away.

At that moment, the three of us stood: Savi, I and Mr.Thakkar.

I walked up to Savi and felt him hesitantly follow, as I hugged my bestie tightly. "Tu  theek hai na? Haan?" She simply nodded, her eyes focused on the man behind me.

"Th-thank you Savi..tumhare vajah se--"

"Koi zaroorat nahi hai." she snapped.

"Maine ye sab kuchh sirf isliye kiya, kyunki main aapko ye dikhana chahti thi, k main irresponsible NAHI HOON. Jo kuchh bhi Langoor ne aapko mere bare mein bataya, uske peeche bass ye vajah hai ki maine do teen jagah se rishwat lete huye pakad liya tha.."

"Savi dekho main--"

"Listen to me very carefully Mr.Thakkar. Ho skta hai ki aap humse zyada qualified hai, humare boss hai, lekin aapka koi haq nahi banta ki aap humein sab ke samne neecha dikhaye, beizzat karein..aur agli baar aapne mujhe ya mere colleagues ko apne frustration ka shikaar banaya na, toh yaad rakhiyega, report hum bhi kar sakte hain."

With that, she stormed off.

I looked sideways to see him hanging his head low, as if he felt defeated.

A slight pang of concern stung me, as I gently touched his arm, to which he stepped back instantly,looking up.

"Wo..bass naraz hai..theek ho jayegi do din mein..par haan..aapne wo theek nahi kiya Sir."

He briefly nodded and let out a breath.

"Main tumhe ghar chhod dun?"

I was surprised at the offer, but the silent wish of being in his proximity made me nod my head in approval.

I climbed up the van and we left for the police quarters, where Savi and I shared a room.

An awkward silence prevailed inside the van, so much so, that it began suffocating me. To break the ice, I said, "Sir, isse pehle aapne Kahan kaam kiya hai?"

He looked at me with an odd expression and after a while, replied," Punjab."

But his tone was so cold and reserved, that I didn't dare to take the conversation any further.

When we finally reached, I spotted our building and he raised his eyebrows,

"Tum yahan rehti ho?"

"Haan..kyun?"

"Kuchh nahi."

As I got down of the car at my location, he cleared his throat.

"Uh..umm..Diksha"

His voice sent butterflies inside me.

"Ji?"

"Woh..tumhari dost..S-Savi..woh kahan rehti hai?"

The question extinguished all my hopes.

"Mere saath hi rehti hai wo Sir."

"Oh, I see.." and then he left.

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The following morning, Savi and I were ready in our track suits, she looking fresh and beautiful as always.

Laughing and giggling all the way down the stairs, we came down the stairs and the scene in front of us, startled us.

There was Mr.Rajat Thakkar, watering the small plants, and occasionally stealing glances at our building, trying to figure out the exact location of our room.

He briefly looked down and their eyes met.

She was looking at him with a disgusted face, while his eyes clearly wanted her to forgive him..

I cleared my throat, and their moment broke.

As we reach the road, he slightly jogged towards us and looking at Savi, said, "May I join you?"

Savi looked up and said, bluntly," Kyun? Kis naate se?"

"Padhosi. Tumhare padosi hone k naate toh..join kar sakta hun na.."

Savi looked down and without a reply, started jogging...

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