Silently...

Part: 24

It was 4 in the morning and as usual Arjun was wide awake. Last night after reading Riya's diary, he did sleep for sometimes but after successfully sleeping for three hours, now he is awake. He was surfing information about Sahil and Raj Singhania online. He was very much engrossed in his work that when he heard Naina's scream, his heartbeat rose a bit for a moment. 

Naina: Arjuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Arjun ran to her. She never looked her door of the room. She closed it but never looked. When Arjun entered inside, he found her sitting on bed. She was holding the mattress of the bed with both hands sideways. Her face was covered with sweats and she was taking long breathes. Arjun went close to her and lightly touched her arm.

Arjun: Naina?

As soon as his hand touched her arm, she without thinking anything hugged him. Arjun didn't understand anything. He wanted to ask but seeing her trembling in fear, could not voice out his thoughts. He lightly hugged her back to calm her down. Naina nudged herself closer to his arms. She held him tightly. Her eyes were closed. Slowly she calmed down as if Arjun's embrace showered her peace. She got lost in his arms. Arjun on the other hand also found some kind of peace after holding Naina in his arms. His eyes also got closed automatically. Both were feeling the peace. Suddenly Arjun remembered the day when Riya had shot somebody to save him and when she was crying under the shower and when Arjun came inside, and then she hugged him. This past memory flashed all of a sudden and the same feeling which he had felt for a mini second again rose in his heart. His heart started beating suddenly in a different tune. He separated himself from Naina. Naina also came back to reality.

Naina: Sorry.

Arjun just nodded his head but didn't say anything for few seconds. Something else was going on in those seconds. After few moments, he asked.

Arjun: Are you okay? Why did you shout? Any bad dream again?

Naina nodded her head.

Arjun: Don't worry. Sahil must be fine. Don't take tension. He will call you.

When he finished speaking, he found that Naina was staring at him. He raised his one eyebrow as if asking what and she said something which made Arjun confused.

Naina: Today's dream was not about Sahil. I saw that you are hurt.

Tears dropped from her eyes.

Naina: Are you okay Arjun?

Arjun: Ya I'm fine. Standing in front of you. See, nothing is wrong.

Naina: I was so scared. Till now my heartbeat is not normal. By thinking that you're hurt, I'm feeling like I can't breathe.

Hearing this Arjun got confused. Both have met 2 months back. Yes, they are friend but according to Arjun, it could not be this much deep that he could be in her dream and thought of him hurting could raise her heartbeat. He could not understand this. Actually, both could not understand. Naina was also thinking why this dream is bothering her so much. After few minutes, Arjun told her to freshen up and come for breakfast. He himself went to freshen up and then went to cook breakfast. Naina slowly took bath and then came to the dining room. Both ate in silence. After breakfast when Arjun was about to leave the room, Naina held his hand. Arjun looked at her face. Care and concern were clearly written there.

Naina: Please take care of yourself. I don't know why but after today's dream, I feel like I won't be able to live peacefully, if anything happens to you.

Arjun touched with her care. He smiled.

Arjun: Don't worry. I will take care of myself. Bye. See you in the evening.

Arjun locked his house from outside and rode his bike towards the office. ________________________________________________________________________________

ETF Office

When cleaning staffs came, they found Sameer in his cabin sleeping on the couch. Sameer also got up hearing the sound of their foot. After arranging all his files in ordered, he made himself a coffee and waiting for Arjun's arrival. He really wanted to talk to him about the incident. But what blunder he had done yesterday, made him little coward to talk to him. He had also realised that his words had hurt him badly and he shouldn't have uttered those things. When Arjun came, he started avoiding him. He himself was busy in collecting information about Sahil but he did notice that Sameer was worried for something. Others were busy in their works. Sakshi was absent today. She made an excuse of ill health. She was so afraid to face him. She thought her scared face would speak the truth so it's better to stay at home for one day. After lunch when Arjun could not hold back his curiosity, he entered into Sameer's cabin.

Arjun: Is everything alright?

Sameer's 'How did you know that something is wrong' face made Arjun to speak further.

Arjun: I can read your face. It clearly saying that something is wrong. So what happened?

Sameer told him everything about last night. Arjun listened carefully and assured him that he would help him to catch the traitor. After this discussion, when Sameer tried to talk about his yesterday's behaviour, Arjun left from there. Why would he be there? Till now he was talking to him was because of his duty other than that he didn't want to hear anything from a man who insulted his late wife's love and his parents' upbringing. 

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Sikandar's place

Sahil was still in Sikandar's mansion's basement, tied on a chair. His body was covered in blood. Many bruises were present on his body. He was very weak. Sikandar's men tortured him very much for their own fun. Seeing his current state, for one moment, Sahil's mind used to fill with this thought that he deserved this kind of tortured. His karma was chasing him. He killed the girl who loved her with all her heart and what did he do? He killed her so, he needed to die like this but in another moment, he used to think to find a way to run from here, so that he could save the girl whom he started to love now. Yes, he loves her now but will she love him back after knowing his truth?

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Arjun's house....

Naina was bored like hell. She did watch movie, read few pages of her current novel and now what to do? She can't call anybody, can't search anything online in internet because of security reason. She cleaned the house two times already, now what? She needed something to do. After thinking much, she went to Arjun's study room where now how he sleeps. She picked up the file from the table. It was a case file. She read it then kept it back carefully. Then she sat on the chair and without thinking much pulled the drawer which luckily opened today. Some files and few notepads and diaries were kept. She was about to close it back, but something drew her attention and blew her mind. It was Riya's red hairclip. Same colour, same design and at the same person's place. How did this same hair clip came to her dream? Why was Arjun having this clip? Whose clip, was it? Was it of Roshni or of Riya? And most importantly, why did it come to her dream. Frustrated with the questions in her mind, she came in the hall.

Naina: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh What's going on?

Outside Arjun's house inside a van, one man was sitting talking over phone.

Man: Yes, there is someone in ACP Arjun Suryakant Rawte's place

Note: Next part on 14.03.2025.