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And now... this chapter is little long than usual. So be ready!

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A sudden sound startled me. The darkness didn't help me spot anything. I stood up from the couch, and walked towards the sound. Soon I realized that the sound was a voice, and it lead me to the kitchen.

Lag Ja Gale Ki Phir Ye Hassin Raat Ho Na Ho

Shaayad Phir Is Janam Men Mulaaqaat Ho Na Ho

Lag Jaa Gale …

It was Aditi fidgeting with the lid of a container. She struggled too much. I was about to call her, but she popped opened it. "Aditi.." my voice scarred her, she threw the lid in the air in fear and failed to catch it. I partially closed my eyes in reflex to sustain the metal lid hitting the ground and giving me headache.

"Fuck!" Her muffled voice reached me, as she closed her mouth with her palm. She turned furiously, "Officer! Why would you do this!?" Her hands were now on her heaving chest as she breathed hard. "What did I do?" I asked hiding my smile. "This! Popping out of nowhere and scaring!... " she turned back to the container and munched a cookie from it. I chuckled inwardly, "Sorry... just heard a sound from here... that's why I came to check..." I said to her, and neared to grab a cookie.

"It's Ok!.." she dragged and looked at me in question. "Where's that clown friend of yours?" She asked with a raised brow, chewing uninterestedly. "Ok now... don't dare call my friend that...." Unknowingly I gritted my teeth. "Why are you tensed for that? I'm sorry! I was just casually asking, since he IS a dou......" She looked petrified and paused midway in her sentence as my glare got a little hard. "Sorry... where is he?" She bent down and picked up the lid. "He is off to a relative's house... so yeah... you don't have to make dinner for him!" I conveyed as I remembered the fact he'll be back late.

"I didn't make dinner for any one... no worries!" She said casually and shrugged. I too smiled, but was confused and left the kitchen. Why wouldn't she make dinner when there are three people at home? But that didn't bother me as soon as I spotted a small photo frame of Dhruv, Nethra and Aditi standing in some waterfalls kept under the TV. The light reflecting from the kitchen made me spot it. Suddenly the hall was bright.

Aditi stood near the switch board and looked at me dubiously. "What happened Officer? You seem troubled? Anything too serious?" She asked, her fisted right palm running up and down the long strap of her handbag hanging down her shoulder. I just stood bluntly drowned in my own thoughts of Dhruv. "Officer... is there a problem?" It was Aditi again, but now she was near me shaking me by sturdy shoulders.

I jerked but failed to react to her. "Is there something too serious?" She asked me again. I just nodded. "Do you know to ride a bike?" She shot her next question. What? How is this question even related to the scenario?

I looked at her with my furrowed eyebrows. "You know to drive or not?" She asked me sternly. "Of course I know" I replied hesitantly. "Then come.." she dragged me by my hand to the door. She took a key and banged the door behind. She threw the key to me and walked towards a covered figure. She opened the sheets to reveal a marvel. A stunning black Harley Davidson Roadster standing all in its majestic glory.

"Whaaaat!?" I shrieked looking at her in wonder. She smiled widely. "Not ours. Our neighbour's. They're off on a world tour... left only 4 days ago! We're taking care of the beauty" She winked and took a helmet for herself.

"Now can you drive?" She asked me folding her arms. "But to where?" I asked her desperately, I can't leave a chance to drive this beauty. The love for wheels is imbibed in my blood.

"That I'll tell, officer... you can accompany me, right? Now bring the beast to life!" She said. I dorned the helmet which was just placed on the seat. I sat and held the handbar. The amount of power it transferred was not accountable in words. I turned on with the key and revved the engine, closing my eyes and feeling the rage.

I heard low chuckles from my side. "Wheels-crazy! Aren't you?" She asked me. I smiled widely. "Awww! The officer looks so good!" She pinched my cheeks. I frowned at the sudden behavior. Her eyes widened in fear. "Sorry sorry sorry.... shall we leave!?" She asked me.

"But where, Aditi?" I asked her for the one last time. "That I'll instruct you, captain. Now from the house turn to the first left." She said sitting at the back. I started driving, and a honourable mention for Aditi's cautious seating and leaving inches gap between us. Throughout, she instructed me the route and the night life of Zurich is so beautiful. It was so active and lively.

After a 25 minutes drive we reached a palace like bungalow with it's lawn (literally a stadium) recreated as some mela. It looked so grand. It was all in an yellow theme and looked absolutely Indian!

"What is this place?" I asked her getting off the bike and placing back the helmet. "This is the annual get together held by the Indian Association. It always happens grand but not this supergrand! I heard that this year, the sponsor is some billionaire!" She sighed and looked at me sideways. "And what are we doing here?" I asked her, maintaining a smile.

"We're here for Free Food!" She exclaimed and laughed. What!? "Actually, my restaurant bagged the catering tonight. So I came here to check if everything is fine. After checking and having some food, we'll leave... okay?" She looked at Me, hoping to agree. "It's been a long time since I'm attending gatherings." I told her. "Don't worry... we'll have fun..." she said and we walked into the party.

We entered the party and our jaws literally dropped to the floor. "Are we sure at the right place?" I asked her doubtfully. I waited for an answer, but didn't get one. "Aditi!" I tapped her. She jerked in the force and looked at me bewildered. "I don't know!" She whispered. She immediately got hold of a waiter and inquired. She then tapped him and sent him.

"What?" I asked her. "We're at the right place only! Seems like that sponsor's daughter got engaged in this event, and the couple just left." She whiffed in relief, but then her face bloomed serious. "Shit! We are SO underdressed!" She exclaimed and looked at ourselves. She was on white shirt with a denim skirt and a denim jacket and I was in a green t shirt with a brown jacket and pants.

"It's fine, we'll leave soon anyways!" I said, and we heard some gunshots in a distance. She was startled but none of the people there seemed to react. "You wait here... I'll go check." I was about to leave. She stopped me quickly. "Where are you going? That's not our job here. We'll check the food and leave." Fear was evident in her eyes. "No... it doesn't seem serious. Lemme go check!" I insisted. "Then I'm coming with you too!" Her tone reflected some arrogance. I agreed and followed the gunshots, which lead to some underground like place beside the gigantic garage of the bungalow

It also seemed like some mini party going on there. Simple Wooden Tables were arranged, and it was only men singing to old school songs, surrounded by luscious wine of all sorts. And those men wore simple clothes, like us! "Seems like it's a party here too!" I was quite excited and rubbed my palms, as it reminded me of my batchmates. "Come!" She too was excited and we soon merged with the group there.

We came to know that they were the security crew of the party's sponsor, Aruna Mahendran, one of Switzerland's richest entrepreneurs. They were granted the permission to party and hence here. Soon my mood was all lightened, and that's when the obsessive party animal Aditi couldn't keep silent and agitated the men to dance.

It was all fun and good until everything started to strikingly remind me of my cadet days which I till date can't confirm whether that part was a boon or curse.

I could no longer stand that place. The surroundings, the happenings everything fogged my mind and suffocated me. The pictures running through my mind killed me.

I literally struggled for breath and that's when reality jerked me. "Arjun!" It was Aditi's call bringing me back to reality. She was kinda shocked seeing my wet eyes. "Are you alright!?" She was hesitant to ask. I looked back at the floor, not able to answer her. "You need some air! Come." She took me out of the party but only bidding bye to all of them there.

We walked a little far from all the party mess. It was all silent. It was probably the garden of the bungalow. I walked further and she had already stopped in her tracks.

My hands were involuntarily into my pocket. My eyes closed tightly. But I opened it with the start as she still haunts me.

I felt like I was burning alive. I felt like I was being electrocuted to death. I closed my eyes and threw my head back in frustration. I yelled in agony. I could feel my veins fighting against my skin to pop out. I looked down at the grass in despair and knelt down.

Soon I felt someone's presence close to me. "Ennachu?" (What Happened?) She asked me slowly, her hand slowly pressing my right shoulder. I still didn't reply. After some moments of silence, I took out my phone and passed it to her after clicking the power button.

With doubt, she received it. The expected reaction was received. She gasped loudly and looked at me shockingly. The lock screen has apparently stunned her. She swiped to unlock and I heard an even more louder gasp. "OH MY GOD OFFICER! YOU'VE MADE A FUNNY FACE!!! WHO'S THIS WOMAN!!!?? I WANNA SEE HER!" She shrieked.

(A/N Technically that's my phone, and yes it's 3 a.m. and I am typing, and my phone turned off as I was still typing)

"Ava ennoda Anu...Ankita...(She's my Anu... Ankita)" with a smile stimulated by cherishing memories, I said her name. "Your wife?" There was budding excitement in her voice. I nodded negative. "Oh.... Girlfriend ah?" Now it was naughtiness brimming in her voice. "My Soul...." I replied with a smile looking at her.

"Your soul!? And you've come to Zurich to help your friend instead of meeting your soul?" She questioned me. I chuckled and looked in front. "Why should I go to India, when my soul is always with and within Me?" I questioned her back, as I plucked some grass and looked at it. There was silence once again. Playing with the grass, I looked at Aditi, whose eyeballs moved to and fro in confusion.

"Tumour consumed her six years ago." I clarified her doubt, and blew the grass off my palm. Aditi's hands immediately rushed to her mouth and her eyes were glossy. "Six years ago!?" She uttered in disbelief. With a sad smile, I nodded. "And you still love her?" Her words were choked. "Hey..... are you crying!?" I looked at her with surprise. "Azhalaye.... just...konjam emotional aagiten...(I didn't cry... just... got a little emotional)" she turned away from me and wiped her tears.

"Oh come on ya... I am trying to stop being sentimental... and now you?" I asked her, just to ease the scenario. "Ada po, man... unakku six years ah pazhagiduchu...(Get lost, man... you are habituated to this for six years) this is my first time hearing it la?..." She dragged, still whimpering at the minimum. "Where's my bloody tissues? Iniku thaan kaanama pogum(It has to disappear only when needded)..." She mumbled to herself and grunted as searched for tissues in her handbag.

I sighed. Six years ago, I was almost like Aditi, I used to cry whenever I remembered Anu or when something related to her happened. But now, I'm slowly growing the tendency to act matured and cry inside. "You know what... Anu was a writer. It was so against her father's wishes. He wanted her to show up for Public Services exams. Unwillingly she wrote and even scored well. Her bad luck... her mother somehow convinced her father. She started to edit the first book she had written. Even she got the publishers ready. But unexpectedly......" I was interrupted mid sentence by Aditi.

"You're going to have the BEST love life, I swear.... Your partner is going to shower you with more love than I'm going to shower on my partner. And this.. you'll tell me very soon, how true my words are. Now if I'm gonna talk for one more minute, I'm gonna break down completely!" She said and stood up, dusting the particles from her dress.

"Now get up!" She forwarded her hand for support. I got up and we walked together back to the party. It looked even more clustered now, especially at the food counters. "Oh My God! I think so the food feels amazing! I'm so happy! You wait here, I'll check the stock and be back." She tapped my shoulder and went away. I stopped a waiter and had a drink.

My eyes were skimming through the party. It was like the women wore all their jewellery from their safe and men had tried their maximum to look very elegant. It didn't seem like an ordinary get together. Rather some board members party. But then my focus suddenly completely stuck on a woman, who was somewhere in her 50s, talking to everybody and they sort of had a massive respect for her.

But her appearance had something fishy. My mind kept on thinking randomly. I couldn't keep quiet. I felt restless.

The woman had some vibe round her which made me little inquisitive about her.

I once again got hold of a waiter and asked who she was. He said it was Anaamika Vaidyanath, one of the most powerful woman, just like Aruna, actually a little more powerful and rich than Aruna.

And soon it didn't feel like a party but some mess, where I got stuck with my suspicions, which might just be true.

•••

Signingoff

~shubhzz_luv

~sadhubhai