The Wait

Part-16

"Chhotu, Ayesha asked in union.

Sakshi shifted her focus to Shree, hoping he would know the answer but he simply shrugged his shoulders.

"Guys kal Ganesh Utsav hai. Hum puja ni karenge.?"

Sakshi squealed in excitement.

"arey haan hum toh bhul hi gaye the.Planning karni padegi. Toh batao kaun Kya karega? "

Ayesha looked at her friends questioningly.

"umm..mai puja ka saman leke aaungi. "

Sakshi announced.

"mai phool le aaunga. "

Shree added.

"aur Ri Prasad leke aaye...*pause* ek min Ri kahan hai.? "

Shree looked around to find a trace of her, but she wasn't there.

"vo Riya Kuch report bana rahi thi. Usne kaha tha report khatam hone ke baad aajayegi. "

Came Ayesha's quick reply.

"arey ye ladki bhi.Mai leke aata hun usse. "

Chhotu quickly walked out of the cafeteria towards the conference hall en entered in silently, where Riya was seated on her chair.

On a close look Chhotu noticed her focus wasn't on the notepad laying in front of her eyes, instead she seemed lost with a faint smile on her lips.

"Riya.? "

"Riya.? "

"uh.. Haan. "

She looked up to him, aware of his presence.

"Kya soch rahi ho.? "

"vo... "

"ab ye mat kehna ki Kuch nahi.Maine dekha tumhari smile. Ab batao. "

"um... Chhotu mai bas aaj jo hua uss ke baare me soch rahi thi."

Riya replied thoughtfully.

"kiske ? arjun sir ke bare me.?"

Chhotu raised his brow,to which she nodded her head.

"sach kahun toh mujhe bhi yakeen ni hua ,mujhe kya puri ETF ko yakeen ni hua ki Arjun sir dance kar rahe the,aur vo bhi itne ache se.Per unka reason pata hote hi samajhme aagaya ki vo apne duty kee liye kuch bhi kar sakte hain."

Chhotu said,chuckling to himself.

"vo toh hai Chhotu per maine unhe aaj pehli baar itna khush dekha .case ke liye dance thik hai,per pata ni kyun mujhe aesa kyun laga ki vo sach me bahut khush the."

Riya explained .

"kya lagta hai kis baat pe itna khush honge.?"

"pata nahi.ab Arjun sir ki baatein toh Arjun sir hi jaane.per achha laga unhe aese dekh ke."

"Riya.?"

"haan.?"

"tu bol kyun ni deti Arjun sir ko.?"

"kya bolun.?"

"tujhe pata hai mai kya bolne ke liye keh raha hun."

Chhotu answered in a duh tone.

"boldun.taakki vo phir se kabhi meri shakal na dekhein? No thanks."

Riya joked.

"nahi seriously.Arjun sir bahut lucky hain,aur unhe ye baat pata chalni chahiye."

"chhotu vo bas hame apni teammates maante hain.vo jo pehle iss tima ka hissa banna bhi ni chahte the aaj vo team ke sath cooperate kar rahe hain,aur mai ussi me khush hun.unnecccessarily apni feelings unpe daalke mai jo hai usse khona ni chahti."

"per Ri...""

"chhodo uss baat ko.tum kuch kehne aaye the sayad,baatao.?"

Chhotu sighed at her attempt to change the topic ,but nevertheless dropped the subject smiling at her.

"mai ye kehne aya tha kal office me Bappa ki puja karne ke liye sab planning kar rahe hain aur tujhe dhund rahe hain."

"haan toh chalo.kal puja shandaar tarikee se karenge."

She smiled back and accompanied chhotu towards the cafeteria.

There Ayesha who was standing near the door of the conference room earlier was now hiding near a corner seeing Chhotu & Riya taking an exit ,not to make them aware that she heard their entire conversation .

Once chhotu,riya were gone for the cafeteria Ayesha came out of the corner en recalled their convo.

"Arjun sir aur Riya.?"

There Rathore was driving the SUV after returning from the commissionrate office ,while Arjun was seated on the passenger seat staring out of the window aimlessly.Rathore took a glance at him ,then to the front focusing on the road when Arjun decided to break the silence between them.

"kuch kehna chahte ho rathore.?"

"Nahi.actually haan aaj jo bhi hua vo dubara ni hona chahiye.ETF ki second in command chief ho tum,koi teenager nahi."

Rathore chirped sternly.

"vo case ke liye tha Rathore."

"sure."

By the tone of Rathore arjun knew he didn't believe him,but then he doesn't feel like explaining him.

"wese achhi baat hai ki commissioner sir Riya ko uski bravery ke liye Reward dena chahte hain,jo vo pichle saal lene ke liye nahi thi.vo iss bare me Riya se baat bhi karne wale hain.

isse usse aur encouragement milega."

Rathore started.

"mujhe ni lagta Riya ye reward ke liye haan kahegi."

Arjun said thoughtfully,hence Rathore turned to look at him confusingly.

"kyun.?"

"kyunki hum officers ko duty ke liye reward ki jarurat ni hai Rathore .uss jagah pe mai ,tum ya koi aur ETF officer hota toh mana karta ,aur riya bhi wohi karegi."

Rathore nodded in understanding even though he wanted to say something else to Arjun but refrained himself .This guy beside him was changing...Changing for good and probably he himself didn't know.

.tbc.