CUFFLINKED FOREVER

Rajat:

The next morning, Savi and Diksha came to meet me before heading off to the P.S.

"Apna khayal rakhna.." Savi said, avoiding eye contact with me. "Kuchh bhi chahiye ho, toh call kar dena..hum dono mein se koi bhi free ho, aa jayenge.." Diksha said, reassuringly.

"Thank you so much. But tum log fikr mat karo, main khud ko sambhal sakta hoon.."

"Overconfident hone ki zarurat nahi hai, " Savi's sharp tone surprised me, "Chot lagi hai tumhe, zaroorat ho toh bula lena.."

"Hmm.." and for a brief moment she looked up at me, and turned away, her cheeks turning pink..

They left, and I patiently waited for Savi to return.

.........

The day came to a gradual end, as I idled away, flipping the pages of my favourite book, my mind constantly drifting towards her..

Was I missing her? Maybe, but why?

If not anything else, I was sure of one fact following the previous incidents... I was addicted to Savi..

Her presence anchored my sailing mind on a stormy night, pulling me out of my irrelevant, self-doubting thoughts..she instilled confidence, the way she blushed around me; arousing a fire every time she fixated her gorgeous eyes upon mine..

Everything about her was slowly pulling me in..into an unknown world which revolved only and only around her, and to orient my thoughts, I decided to talk with the only sensible person that came to my mind: Diksha.

..........

9:30 by the clock, when I heard a pair of boots approaching my room. Something was wrong with my heart--it started thudding beneath my ribs..

"Theek ho?" Diksha asked, as soon as she entered the room and I nodded.

"Aj ka din kaisa gaya, kuchh.. noteworthy hua kya?"

"Nahi..kuchh khaas nahi. Bass wo Mr.Batra ke ghar pe security badha dii hai..kal raat ko firse threats mile the unhe.." Savi replied.

"Notes se kuchh pata chala? Koi pattern, koi clue?"

"Handwritten notes nahi hai..cut out pieces chipka ke words ko arrange kiya hai.." Diksha said.

"Ek pattern hai, " Savi said, thoughtfully, "Har chit me third word Times Of India se cut out kiya hai.."

"Good. Aur baki? Bakiyon mein kuchh pattern?"

"Nahi. Filhal toh kuchh bhi nahi.." Diksha replied.

Adjusting themselves on the chairs, our conversation flowed-- past cases, their patterns, murders, mysteries..to light hearted jokes and teasing each other...

Occasionally, my eyes glanced at Savi, her carefree laugh bubbling out of her as her eyes twinkled and her nose crunched.. every time she bent down, covering her face while laughing, the strands of her hair which escaped from her bun, fell across her face..turning it into an abstract painting of a skilled painter...

My reverie was broken, Diksha waved her hands before my face.

"Oh Mr.? Kahan ghum ho?"

"Kisi ke pyaar mein.." the words escaped my lips..

I looked at her and found her staring at me, her eyes widened with excitement.

"Are you serious!!?" she pressed on my arm happily, her voice dipping down to an excited whisper, making sure Savi didn't hear; she was busy refilling our cups.