His phone rang, waking him up from his sleep.
He glanced at the small clock placed on his side table, it strikes 1:10.
He picked up the phone. Sakshi's name was flashing on the screen.
Why is she calling me at this hour of night ?
A thought crossed his mind.
He answered the call.
"Arjun...."
Her voice seemed heavy.
Was she crying ? But why ? He became alert.
"What happened Sakshi ?"
"Are you okay ?"
He asked her concerned.
"Kya tum yahan a saktay ho ?"
She asked him hopefully.
"Kahan ?"
"I am sending you address"
"Ok then, I'm coming"
He said while wearing his pair of shoes.
Picking up the car keys and grabbing his jacket he stepped out of his apartment quickly.
As he sat within the car his phone buzzed.
It must be Sakshi's message.
He quickly checked his phone.
"City hospital."
Her message conveyed.
What is she doing there ? Is she okay ?
He was getting worried but then keeping his thoughts a side, he starts driving.
____________
He was standing at the reception and he didn't know what to ask.
He grabbed his phone to call her just then he saw her coming towards him.
She was fine.
He sighed in relief.
But what was she doing here ? The same question bothered him again.
He walked towards her.
"Tum yahan kya kar rhi ho ?"
Finally he asked her.
"My... father....., he is admitted here. I was...."
Her voice choked but she kept on speaking.
"I was alone so I just called you....may be I disturbed you at this time.... actually no body else was picking up my calls.... I know it's too late....but I.... "
She was trying to explain him her situation. She don't want him to misunderstood her.
"It's okay !"
He said by cutting her sentence.
"Hun ?" She looked at him.
"I said it's okay"
He repeated his words.
She just kept on looking at him.
"Chalen ?"
He asked as they were standing in the middle of the corridor.
She nodded and starts walking. He was beside her. She kept on glancing at him.
Sometimes a small gesture from a person overwhelmed you and here she was overwhelmed by his mere presence. He was there, besides her, on her one phone call, at this hour of night.
This matters... Yes this small gesture matters to her.
By realizing her gaze on him he looked back at her.
He raised his eyebrows as if asking 'what ?'
She shook her head in a no manner.
He nodded.
______________
The night passed and the rays of sun started appearing.
Whole night he was there with her and now her other team members had also arrived as soon as they came to know.
Her father had come out of coma a few days back. She was happy but his health was not fine that's why he was shifted into the hospital on commissioner's order.
"DIG Anand Verma is your father ?"
Ayesha had asked her a while ago and she just nodded.
She knew that everyone had a lot of questions to ask. They were confused but so was she. She herself didn't knew much only commissioner sir did. Only he can answer them but to her surprise Arjun didn't asked her anything. He didn't seem shocked, surprised or confused.
Was it because he didn't care.
Well that thought just hurts her.
She was too busy in her thoughts when a disposable glass of soft drink flashed in front of her eyes. She looked up at the source and there he was, standing just in front of her and his gaze was fixed on her.
He signals her through his eyes towards the glass. She grabbed it and he sat beside her.
"Can I ask you something ?"
She said.
He looked at her and nodded.
"You were not surprised by knowing about my father."
She narrowed her eyes while asking this question.
He was amused by her observation.
"Because I knew it already"
He said casually.
She looked at him shocked. She thought she was carrying a secret from everyone and here he is saying he knew it already.
"How ?"
She asked dumbstruck.
Before he said anything, his phone rang flashing Rathore's name.
He picked up the call.
"I am coming."
He said after listening to the other side.
"Ayesha is staying with you, if you need anything then...."
"Then....?" She asked as he stopped midway.
"I am just a call away."
He answered and left.
She kept on staring at the place from where he had gone.
If he knew, why didn't he ever mention to her ? Why didn't his eyes ever showed sympathy towards her like most of the people did ?
Why was he like that ? A mystery or a puzzle....what should she say ? He was just.....may be 'unique'..... She thought.
______________
"Commissioner sir wanted to reopen the case which was being lead by DIG Anand Verma 3 years back and he wanted ETF to handle that case"
Rathore told him.
He just nodded.
"Kya soch rahay ho ?"
Rathore asked him finding him lost somewhere.
"Nothing"
He said shrugging his shoulders.
"Have you done ?"
"Yes" Rathore replied.
"Okay" He said and just left Rathore's cabin.
What the.....,,, Rathore was annoyed by his sudden action but he was the great ACP Arjun Rawte, who really don't care.
After coming out of Rathore's cabin he dialed commissioner sir's number.
"Why do you want to reopen that case ? What's the point to dig that now ? Don't you think so you should have at least asked me once before taking that decision ?....."
Arjun bombarded him with questions as soon as he picked up the call.
"Why are you not answering me now ?"
Arjun asked annoyed.
"I will, if you allow me"
Commissioner sir said sarcastically.
He shut his eyes hardly and muttered a yes.
"It's necessary Arjun"
Commissioner sir said.
"But why ?"
He protested.
"Arjun that case will lead you towards your target, for which you stayed back"
He replied.
There was a silence on both sides for a few seconds.
"Actually you are right"
Arjun said determined and cut the call.
Now he had to clear this mess from where it started.
Yes, he needed to do this.
.......................
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