Criminal Hearts

Chapter 16

Radhika: 'Mr. Mehra... I'm damm sure ki Rajan aur Ghanshyam ko yahan se bhagane main dean ka hi haanth hai...'

Krish: 'Hmmm.... ho sakta hai ki use shak ho gaya ho ki tumne uska tattoo dekh liya hai isiliye usne ye sab kiya ho...'

Radhika: 'Matlab...'

Krish: 'Matlab hum jitna use samajh rahe hain vo utna hai nahi....Vo humse do kadam aage ki soch raha hai...'

Radhika: Hmmm....usne hume pehchan liya tha jab hum chor bazaar, disguised look main gaye the... pakka khiladi lagta hai yeh...'

Krish: 'Koi baat nahi...agar voh sher hai to hum bhi sava sher hain.... kab tak bachega...'

Everyone was again present in the bureau.

Krish: 'Guys finally hume un do logon ka pata lag gaya hai jo is type ka tattoo bana sakte hai... aur hume yakeen bhi hai ki us dean ne bhi in dono mein se kisi se banvaya hai...'

Avinash: 'Tum itne sure kaise ho...?'

Radhika: 'Kyunki bhai...un dono ko ek maheene pehle dhamki mili thi ghar khali karke kahin chale jane ki...Aur problem ab yahi hai ki voh dono sach main kahin chale gaye hai...'

Rhea: 'Toh ab hum unhe pakdenge kaise.... kyunki vahi dono hain jo hame dean ke baare main koi information de sakte hai...'

Krish: 'Photos to humne nikalva li hai vahan ke residents se un dono ki... toh hum pure sheher ke police stations mein unki photos send kar dete hain aur borders bhi seal karva dete hai...'

Ajay: 'Great...'

Everyone left for their cabins for doing research on their own level.

15 days passed, but there were no news about both Rajan and Ghanshyam.

One day Krish and Radhika were returning home after a very hectic day in the bureau.

Radhika was completely quite the whole time. She was not feeling well but she didn't tell about this to anyone.

Krish: (In mind) 'Isse kya ho gaya... Itni chup to yeh ajtak kabhi bhi nahi hui... tabiyat to theek hai na...'

Krish: 'Umm... Radhika...?'

Radhika simply looked at him.

Krish: 'Tum theek toh ho...Mera matlab tabiyat to theek haina tumhari...?'

She just nodded and continued to look out of the window.

Krish: (In mind) 'Kya ho gaya isko... kuch toh gadbad hai...Kher jab batana hi nahi chahti to mein force kyu karu...'

Upon arriving home, Radhika noticed a new face when the door swung open. Sitting among the family members was Krish's paternal aunt, known for her stern and assertive demeanor.

Krish approached her and touched her feet, and she warmly embraced him, displaying a touch of affection.

Bua: 'Kaise ho beta...?'

Krish: 'Theek hun bua...'

Radhika was totally clueless about who was in front of her...

Mom: Radhika beta yahan aao...inse milo ye hain Krish ki bua...'

Radhika : Jai Shree Krishna bua...(She went and touched her feet)

Bua: 'Jai Shree Krishna...sada khush raho...'

Everyone were sitting there and so Krish and  Radhika also sat there to take rest.

Mom: 'Aap sab baitho....mein chai bana ke laati hoon...'

Bua: 'Tum kyun jaa rahi ho....Radhika banke layegi....bahu ke hote tum kaam karogi to fir bete ki shadi karne ka fayda hi kya....?'

Radhika glanced at Krish, who was looking at her at the same moment. Before, he could respond, 

Mom: 'Aisa nahi hai didi... vo abhi office se thak ke aayi hai...toh agar mein bana dungi to kya ho jayega...' (Radhika intervenes)

Radhika: 'Koi baat nahi mumma... mein bana ke le aati hun app baitho...'

(She said in a lowered voice, which Krish instantly noticed)

She went to the kitchen.

Here in living room,

Bua: 'Yeh aaj kal ki ladkion ko jab tak bolo nahi... tab tak koi kaam nahi karti hain...'

Dadi: Aisa nahi hai...Radhika bohot acchi hai.... tera dimaag hi kharab hai aur uska mein kuch nahi kar sakti...'

Bua: 'Aree waah kya jadu kiya hai.. abhi do din hue nahi ghar mein aaye hue aur sab uski taraf mein hi bol rahe hai...'

Despite Krish's discontentment with his aunt's remarks about Radhika, he opted to maintain his composure and remain quite.

After sometime Radhika came back with a tray in her hand and served tea to everyone and then quietly left for her room.

Seated on the bed, Radhika hugged her knees tightly, tears streaming down her face in silence. She remained in that position for an indeterminate amount of time, lost in her thoughts, until a knock on the door snapped her out of her reverie.

Hastily wiping away her tears, she composed herself and opened the door to find Krish standing on the other side. As he glanced at her face, he couldn't help but notice the telltale signs of swollen eyes. 

Krish: (In mind) 'She was crying... But kyu . . Kuch to baat hai...par mein pata kaise lagaun. . .?'

Radhika changed her attire and was going towards the door but Krish stopped her.

Krish: 'Ek minute Radhika...'

Radhika: 'Haan...bolo...'

Krish: 'Dekho agar koi problem hai toh you can share it with me... mein kabse notice kar raha hoon you are quite and if I'm not wrong mere room mein aane se pehle tum ro rahi thi...haina...?'

Radhika: 'Nahi....nahi to mein kahan ro rahi thi...aap zyada soch rahe hai Mr Mehra... (saying this she left downstairs)