On The Road:
Abhimanyu had been waiting patiently for the past 15 minutes but neither the police personnel conceded to Neil's demands nor Neil was giving in to his orders. Neil wanted a way out of there even if it was through a police jeep, but the police official was more interested in getting some cash and to go home, a happy man.
Abhimanyu had enough and he marched towards both the men who were at loggerheads. The moment Neil saw Abhimanyu walking towards him, he tried to take cover behind the police man who looked startled by the sudden move.
Abhimanyu reached them and gave a look to Neil who was occasionally peaking from behind the police personnel.
"Excuse me Sir! Kya aap inhe jaante hain?" The police asked Abhimanyu while pointing at Neil.
"Ji! Mera Bhai hain. Aur bike meri hi naam pe registered hain. Aap chahe toh check karsakte hain." Abhimanyu replied respectfully.
The police man looked at the brothers and said, "Aapka Bhai signal tod raha tha. Pakda gaya toh..."
Neil interjected and spoke, "Maine kaha tha mujhe arrest karlo. Mujhe apni galti ka ehsaas hain. Mujhe guilty feel ho raha hain. Maan hi nahi rahe. Arrest karne se mana kardiya." Neil complained.
"Aapne arrest kyun nahi kiya Sir?" Abhimanyu asked and the inspector looked at him bewildered.
What kind of elder brother asks such questions instead of trying to plead to let his brother go? What cartoon was Neil to fight to be put in jail? He was very amused.
"Itni si baat keliye station jana kisi keliye bhi sahi nahi hain. Toh bas mein..." He was again cut off,
"Aap bribe expect kar rahe the. Am I right Sir?" Abhimanyu asked with a dangerous edge to his voice.
Abhimanyu hated such unethical means and Neil immediately chipped in,
"Are Bhai! Sir ko yeh bribe and all bilkul pasand nahi hain. Isliye toh abhi tak nahin liya mujhse.
Woh toh meri masoom shakal dekhke unko arrest karne ka man nahi kar raha tha. So we are at a dead lock."
Neil's reply took the police man by surprise. Why was this guy lying? Why was he trying to change the narrative? Should he play along or just demand the money from the brother instead?
He was in his thoughts when Abhimanyu's voice had his attention.
"Sir! Aap batadijiye fine kitna bharna hain. Main pay kardunga and I guarantee you ki aisa dubara nahi hoga. Aap mere details lelijiye for a safer side."
The earnestness in Abhimanyu's voice got to the police man. He didn't have it in him to ask for the bribe from someone who looked too righteous and responsible as a citizen.
Something about the man screamed respect and the police man wasn't one of those who disregarded his instincts.
He told the official fine amount that needs to be paid to the government for RASH DRIVING, OVER SPEEDING and JUMPING SIGNALS.
Abhimanyu glared at Neil all through out as he paid the FINE.
When the police personnel were taking the details, he realized why he felt like respecting the man. He is none other than Dr.Abhimanyu Birla, the famous Heart Surgeon and owner of Birla Hospitals.
He is Udaipur's one of the most popular celebrities who doesn't belong to Politics or glamour industry.
The darkness and his hurry to go home didn't let him recognize him earlier but now that he did, he couldn't help striking a conversation with him.
"Sir! Aap? Aap kehdete na ki aapka Bhai hain. Hum maan lete turant. Aapki baat pe toh poora Udaipur ko bharosa hain Sir." The police official spoke admiringly.
"Nahi Sir. Agar hum Doctors ko apne kaam mein interference nahi pasand hain toh humein bhi aapki vardi aur aapki profession ki respect karni chahiye.
Agar aapko yeh dubara aisi harqat karta hua milgaya toh aap ise bejijak arrest karlijiyega.
Yeh mat sochna ki yeh Neil Birla hain ya Abhimanyu Birla ka Bhai. Aap apna duty kijiye. Duty se badhkar kuch nhi hota hain Sir."
Abhimanyu's tone was even and had a sense of respect for the police profession. That moved the police official as it was so rare to see people like him who are famous yet very grounded and that struck a chord within him.
Once he was over his emotional moment, he realized that the man he caught was actually Neil Birla. He didn't know much about him but knew that he was a well-known businessman.
What shocked him was Neil's personality. He didn't look like a thorough businessman from any angle. Especially, since Abhimanyu's arrival, his antics were like those of teenagers.
Neil's behaviour actually baffled him.
"Thank you Sir. Aap jaise bahut kam hote hain jinhe hamari profession ki itni izzat hoti hain. Kuch log darte hain aur kafi log kafi chota samajhte hain humein.
Aksar unki pehredari mein lage rehte hain na. Isliye. Aaj bhi ek aisi hi kaam se relieve hoke aaya hoon. Dil mein bahut nirasha thi aur aisa laga ki imandaari ki kisiko padi nahi hain.
Izzat milne ki gunjaish baki nahi reh gayi thi. Isliye maine rishwat lene ki soch se hi unko roka. Mujhe laga tha bike dekh kar ki bade baap ki bigadi aulaad honge.
Paise muh pe marenge aur chaldenge. Inki jo bhi wajah rahi ho rishwat na dene ki but mera toh thanks lete jayiye.
Kyunki aaj main rishwat leleta toh kal khud se nazarein nahi mila pata."
Abhimanyu and Neil both shared a look. They didn't know that they were actually dealing with an honest, troubled officer. They took him to be one of those who fish for bribes. He did that initially. So, they weren't entirely wrong, but the back story earned him respect in their eyes.
"Aapne jo izzat di hain abhi, woh unsab beizzatiyon pe bhari padgaya jo pichle kuch dinon mein maine jhele. Aap jaise bade aur izzatdaar admi ne itni izzat di, yeh kafi hain chain se sone keliye.
Paisa woh sukoon kabhi nahi khareed payega mereliye. Shukriya."
The police official spoke and his tone was dripping with honesty and gratitude. Abhimanyu gave Neil a look and he immediately apologized,
"Nahi Sir. Sorry. Main itni der se jaise aapse bartaav kiya. Mujhe laga ki aap bribe keliye hi kar rahe ho sab toh maine bhi thoda sa mazaak..."
The policeman cut off Neil by saying, "Yahan hum donon hi galat the. Toh aap mafi mat maangiye.
Bas thoda dhyaan rakhiye. Jaisi aapki driving thi, accidents hone ki bahut scope thi.
Apni experience se keh raha hoon, aaj aapki kismat waqai mein achi hain kyunki aaj aap sahi salamat sirf usi wajah se khade ho.
Be careful from next time. Repeated offenders ko hawaalat ki hawaa khani hi padti hain young man. But good job with the helmet."
He patted Neil's shoulder and Neil didn't even dare to look at his brother who must be bubbling in anger.
"Officer Sir! Yeh mera pehla offence nahi hain. Aap please mujhe arrest karlijiye. Mujhe sabak mil jayegi."
Neil requested and the officer smilingly shook his head. He could now clearly see why Neil was doing that. His brother's intimidating aura was looming over him and he needed an escape.
Abhimanyu just grabbed Neil's wrist and was trying to drag him from there. Neil again requested the officer,
"Sir! Aap aise ek mujrim ko kaise chod sakte hain? Mujhe sach mein jail bhejna chahiye aapko. Main bata raha hoon. Meri sahi jagah wahi hain. Aise nahi sudharoonga main." Neil whined.
"Koi baat nahi. Agli bar aise pakde jaoge toh wahi hoga.
Rahi baat aapki sudharneki, toh sahi jagah jaa rahe hain aap. Aapki achi khatirdari hogi. Mujhe yakeen hain. Hosake toh agli baar aise mat miliyega."
The police personnel responded sassily to Neil making him sulk more. He turned to Abhimanyu and said, "Jai Hind sir! Aap se milkar bahut acha laga."
Abhimanyu smiled and placed his free hand on his heart and expressed his gratitude, "Mujhe bhi Sir! Jai Hind."
Just like that Abhimanyu dragged Neil from there and shoved him into the front seat of the car. He tossed the bike keys to the driver who tagged along in case of an emergency and asked him to park it in the house before going home. Abhimanyu sat in the car and eyed Neil to wear his seat belt which Neil wore in a heartbeat.
Neil hated his timing like never before. He was the one who was angry at his Bhaiyya's attitude and instead of sitting and discussing it, he pulled this stunt.
Now the tables have turned. He will have to face the music and grovel a lot before he even can think of having that conversation. He would hate the delay but knowing his Bhaiyya, it wouldn't be easy. Now that he was back in his full glory, he will have it good from him.
Disregarding personal safety and endangering your own self for cheap thrills is something Abhimanyu loathed.
Neil had done that and dealt with the consequences all his teenage and student life. He hated that he was stupid enough to repeat a mistake and idiotic enough to get caught red handed.
He was warned a thousand times in his lifetime to drive safely and not to break rules but he didn't keep that in mind.
To be fair to him, he hasn't been irresponsible like this on road from a long time. It's just that the conversation triggered him too much and his anguish lead him down the wrong path.
No excuse can bail him out of this, but he genuinely understood how wrong he was and also that it was his duty to convince his father to trust him.
To make him believe again that he will not be irresponsible like this ever again.
But it's easier said than done. All he could think now was how angry his Bhaiyya looked, where they were actually heading because the route won't lead them home and how on earth will he survive the predicament. He already pitied himself for inviting trouble for no good reason.
Neil also regretted worrying his Bhaiyya at this odd time when he could have at least gotten some sleep for himself. He looked like he needed it after all the chaos and he is now here with him, because of his reckless act. He was a priced idiot, and he never hated that fact so much before.
If pacifying was ever a subject, he would have been the one with most interest in it.
The car stopped in a secluded but well-lit place. He knew the place very well. It used to be one of his Bhaiyya's hang out places when he needed some mental peace. But he knew for a fact that they weren't here for that. His Bhaiyya looked like he meant business and he was sure that he will regret every second of the thrill he experienced.
At Birla House:
Abhir woke up from his sleep suddenly. He happened to see a terrible dream about Roohi getting attacked by a group of hooligans and she had no one to rescue her. She was giving a fight, but she was outnumbered. She kept shouting for help, but no one stopped by.
He woke up yelling out "Di".
He was all sweaty and worried. Anahita moved a bit in sleep because of his yelling but she didn't wake up. Even Abhir didn't wake her up. He just wanted to see his Di once after seeing that terrible dream.
He silently scurried away and went straight into her room. He didn't find her there. So, he checked in Neil's room to see if she was bunking with him, now that he was pacified. She wasn't there. He was sure he would find her in their father's room and sprinted towards it.
When he entered there, he saw her sleeping peacefully with a pleasant smile on her face. His heart warmed at the sight.
The fear was slipping away slowly, and he couldn't resist caressing her face.
He had put her at a distance in anger and hurt even after knowing that she hated silence the most.
There was a reason their father never fell silent in anger with both of them. He was aware of the fact that their Chachu was ignoring her already, but his hurt didn't let him forgive her.
Losing someone you loved with all your heart is very difficult and he knew it by experience. He didn't have it in him to go through it again and the fear dictated his actions.
He could have easily made her repent, but he chose to keep the distance. He was ready to go to extreme lengths to make sure she doesn't repeat the stunt, but he discounted the fact that too many people were hell bent on doing the same.
He could have yelled at her, argued with her, made her dance to his tunes as much as he wanted to but he didn't. He didn't think he was wrong on his part but he did feel that he could have resorted to a different approach.
His sister had enough elders to guide her and chide her.
Roohi needed him to be the BROTHER!!!
To be Continued........