The first slither of the sun peeked over the skyline in a radiant white form. It marks the journey of the sun in the sky. Gradually, it goes on increasing in size and shine, formed a defined circle in a vibrant backdrop. Sunlight filled the sky, pure scattered light, its hue ambitiously illuminating each crevice of the land. Birds chirped an explicit background melody. Arjun’s eyes sparkled standing at the balcony. A gentle breeze caressed his skin & the air felt fresh & new.
“Coffee Samaira’s voice broke his trance. He took the mug from her hand. Samaira also stood beside him with her coffee mug & looked at the sky. After some minutes of silence, Arjun mumbled “Thanks.
Samaira did not say anything, only passed a small bright smile looking at him. She placed her hand on His, which was resting on the railing of the balcony.
Arjun- Honestly speaking, first time, in my life, I am feeling nervous. Papa left in his sleep, I did not even get the chance to take him to the hospital, to think about his health. I was well prepared, so, not a bit nervous when I appeared in UPSC Exam. But now, I am apprehensive. What if I failed? I will lose your trust on me, my career will be ruined.
Samaira- Don’t think negative. Just be confident on your capability & I promise Arjun, I will forever be with you, till my last breath. But don’t expect me to love you in heaven because someone said me there will be many good looking angels.
Arjun reminisced he jokingly said the same words to her at the restaurant, the day before his birthday. He started laughing.
Arjun- I love you.
Samaira- I know. By the way, how are you feeling now? your wound?
Arjun- I am feeling much better.
Samaira- Take care of yourself & don’t you dare to skip any medicine.
Arjun- Relax dear, I also want the wound to heal soon. Thankfully, the pain has lessened. So, don’t worry. I will be fine soon.
Samaira- Good. Now, give me your home key. I will go & cook food for you. I know, you will surely going to skip your meals. Taking medicine in empty stomach is harmful.
Arjun- I am not a child.
Samaira- Now, who said you are a child? You are very much adult. (with a wink). Arre, promise, I am not going to touch any of your official things. Trust me.
Arjun- It’s not about trust Samaira. It’s all about security issue. I don’t want to put you in any danger & also I may not return home at each night.
Samaira (sighed)- As you say. But don’t forget to call me everyday.
Arjun- Yes sure & thanks for understanding.
Samaira nodded her head.
Arjun- I have to go now, can’t waste any more time. Stay safe.
Samaira- You freshen up. I am preparing breakfast. Eat that, then only you can go.
Arjun- Okay.
He smiled, took the towel & went inside washroom. Samaira went towards kitchen. She is silently praying for his safety & success.
Arjun sat on his bed, spreading his legs. He took a deep breath & closed his eyes to relax his mind. He switched on his laptop & took out the spy camera which was in Parmeet’s hand at the time of his death. He played the chip in his laptop. There were only three still photographs. In first photo, Rana was entering a hotel. Arjun carefully looked at the photo, it’s a 5 star hotel, named “Everest, located in Airport Road. Arjun zoomed the picture & tried to find Nandini, but he did not trace her in the photograph. He scrolled to the second picture. Rana with a man whose back was towards camera. After carefully looking at the picture, Arjun got the fact, that it was taken in that under construction building where they found Parmeet’s dead body. He moved towards the next photo, there the unknown man was holding a packet in his hand & his face is slightly visible, as the photo was taken from different angle. The man face was covered with beard & wearing a sunglass. Definitely, it’s a trick to hide his identity & the packet, it was not there in the second picture. So, may be, it was Rana, who handed him the packet.
Arjun furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. What was in that packet? Who was that man? Arjun bites his nails. Rana is the man who offered Ravi Desai the task of coordinator in RDX Smuggling. Rana ordered Ravi to send Sarika in Dev’s flat & collect his laptop. The same Rana handed her the key of Dev’s flat & left with the laptop. If Arjun carefully go through circumstantial evidence, then there is no doubt that he is the killer of Anil & Rajen. He is also Nandini’s driver. So, now at any cost, Arjun thought he has to find out Rana. But how?? That too in four days! If he activated all his network, then also… Shit, Rana will definitely not going to take the risk to roam around openly. He is surely hiding somewhere. It will going to be a tough job to track him, but wait, not impossible.
Arjun lit a cigarette. He is feeling restless & his mind completely blank. He crushed the remaining cigarette in the ashtray & held his head. He can feel his wound also started aching. He tightly closed his eyes. He is taking too much stress which not only affecting his health, but also his thought process. After sometimes, he sighed & took out his mobile & dialed the number of Vishal. Vishal Salve, a technical Expert of IB. He is posted in the IB Headquarter, Delhi. He is Arjun’s friend. After four rings, Arjun heard Vishal voice from the other side of the line.
Arjun- Hello Vishal, need your help yaar.
Vishal- Hmm, I was expecting your call. Already copied that mail in my system. Wait, I am sending you the details & sorry also, that’s all I can do for you.
Arjun- It’s enough for me. Thanks yaar for taking so much risk for me.
Vishal- Keep that Thanks in your pocket & tell me who is Samaira Khanna?
Arjun- I love her. & she is an innocent girl, whatever you saw in the mail is fake.
Vishal- Did I ask any explanation kaminey? Why you did not inform me about her?
Arjun- Then, what will you do?
Vishal- Saale, Kaminey, you literally robbed my money in the name of treat when I first introduced my girlfriend to you. Now, you can’t escape.
Arjun laughed. ” So, tell me, how is she?? ”
Vishal- Well, she is fine & eating my head for marriage. I don’t know how to make her understand that I still need time. Anyway, All the Best Arjun. Just prove yourself innocent. We all want you to be back in your position.
Arjun- Thanks for trusting me.
Both remained silent for sometimes.
Vishal- Is there any tension between you & Sashank Bhargav?
Arjun ( confused)- No. Why you feel so?
Vishal- See, after receiving that complaint mail against you, our seniors had a confidential high profile meeting. Though I don’t know what happened exactly, but heard Sashank Sir was hell bent to suspend you. But you see, other officers favored , so you get the time.
Vishal did not get any response from Arjun.
Vishal- Hello Arjun. Are you listening?
Arjun- Yes. I am. Do you have any idea Vishal, if by any chance, I failed to prove myself innocence, who is going to be the next In charge of Mission Chaturanga?
Vishal- I don’t know that.
Arjun ( smiled)- Will talk with you later. Bye Vishal & thanks again.
Arjun cut the call. Everything is getting really confusing for him. He checked his mail. Vishal sent him the mail from a new account. He got the fact that Vishal is helping him by hiding his own identity. Is there some people plotting against him from his own Department? Vishal hinted him. But, it’s not that important matter now. First, he has to be back in his position. Arjun read the mail & check the attachments. Now, he has no doubt that someone leaked the documents from his team. He checked the IP Address, it’s indeed Parmeet’s, but his eyes got struck at the sent timings of the mail. Arjun clearly remembered, he assigned Parmeet the task to follow Nandini & Rana in the morning & Parmeet left the office after that, but the mail was sent in the evening. Arjun closed his eyes. Yes, that time he was with Samaira, questioning her about the account, the money used in terror funding. So, at that time, Parmeet again came back in office? He quickly inserted the pen drive which contains Parmeet’s cell details, but according to the cell locations, that day, that time, Parmeet was in Khanna Industries. Then, how can he send the mail from Office computer? Arjun smiled a little. It’s his first success. Now, he has strong evidence that Parmeet did not send the mail, but he need more proof.
Hold on! Hold on! Arjun felt like banging his own head in the wall. How can he be so dumb? Rana’s cell number was active till the day on the second attack on Samaira. There is high chances that he may get clue if he scan each & every number under microscopic scanner. Arjun took his laptop. He opened the file which contains Rana’s cell details in a data sorting software. He made three different columns, Dialed numbers, Received numbers & missed calls & started arranging the numbers in respective columns. After completing the task, he highlighted the numbers of Nandini, Ravi & Rajen & deleted them. Now, he concentrated on the remaining numbers. He put the laptop on the bed & stood up. He opened the drawer & took out another cell phone. Now, he started dialing the numbers from Rana’s call list. Almost all numbers are switched off & not reachable, but calmly he kept trying. After dialing a LAN phone number, he heard the ringing sound. ” Hello, S.D Mental Hospital came a female voice from other side. Arjun cut the call. Mental hospital number? That too in dialed number list. In fact, Rana called in this number three four times. He highlighted the number. He again started trying the left over numbers, after some unsuccessful efforts, he again heard ringing sound. This time a male voice responded. “Hello. Who is this? ” ” If you don’t want to talk why the hell you called? Disgusting . The man cut the line. Arjun checked the number. It was in missed call list. The man, whoever he is, himself dialed Rana’s number, but only one time. Mistakenly?? Still can’t ignore. Arjun took his mobile & started sending a message to Rajat to find out the details of the number & the man. He typed the number in his cell, but his eyes grew wide with shock. The number is saved in his own contact list. Zubin???? Oh My God! Oh My God!, Now, this is appalling. Arjun threw his mobile on the bed & lit another cigarette. Now, he is looking confident. He went towards kitchen to prepare something to eat.
In a dark room,
A man shrewdly looking at the picture of Arjun. “Your track record really impressed me. But it’s not easy to defeat me. You can’t destroy my years of hard work & now the main question is how much you know? Anyway, the real game begins now & I am going to give you the first check IPS Mehra.
The man took his phone & dialed a number. “At any cost, cancel the suspension of Bonnie. I want Sub Inspector Bonnie Ray to be back in IPS Arjun Mehra’s team & don’t do anything to IPS Arjun. I just want to see how much he knows. Do he able to get back in his position or not.
Rajat is standing at the funeral ground. Parmeet’s father lighted the pyre. His son died the death of a Hero, but how to convince the parents? Mr Kaur was crying. Rajat past the pyre, it’s disturbing to stand there. Suddenly he saw on the other side of the fire stood Arjun, in his uniform. His eyes full of tears. He saluted the pyre & started walking off. Rajat went in that direction.
That’s all for today. Waiting for responses.