Yukti

"Ma'am the truck that was full of illegal weapons has been stolen."

"What!!! What the hell were you guys doing?"

"Somebody attacked us. Our head constables, who were in charge, are injured."

Why can't anyone do their job properly.

"Is there any casuality? Are they in a serious condition."

"No ma'am. Luckily there is no casuality. One has an injury on leg and other has on the arm. That's it. "

"Alright, Take them to the hospital and keep me updated."

"Sure."  I end the phone call.

"Shinde! "

"Yes ma'am." Shinde - our head constable comes in.

"Alert all the officers at checkpoint. Tell them to check all the vehicles and do not allow any car to go without verification."

I know the man behind all this.

The man who is a notorious criminal and a menace to police.

He is the same man who has a history with me.

We share a past together. Seems like he has not changed a bit. Still a headache. After all.

I never wanted to cross my paths with him again but here we are.

It's time to meet the temptation touched up with mischief. I had resisted him back then.I have to resist him now again.

I can't fall for his charming smile and fake promises after all he is a prominent criminal and my arch enemy.

I will put him behind the bars. I won't rest until he is punished for his crimes. With resolution settling into my bones.

"Mohit! Gadi nikalo. Shinde aur do constable mere saath jayege."

(Mohit start the car. Shinde, I need you and two more constables to come with me.)

I settled into the jeep along with three  constables.

We drive towards the Randhawa haveli, from where he rules.

How long has it been since I last saw him.

Five years ? Or Six years ?

I don't know.

I don't care.

He is just a ripped chapter off my book. Not at all important to me.

Yet... every page I flip, I find him staring right back at me with that stupid grin.

The jeep stops and I look at the luxurious old haveli. All the heinous crime that must be done to build it.

I take a deep breath.

Time to put You behind the bars.

With resilience, I enter through the doors into the haveli. The guard don't try to stop me.

As I enter, I see a big golden chandelier hanging right in the center of the living room. The golden intricate designs on the light grey walls adding a contrast with the luxurious crimson sofa. Every ornament kept here is made of gold, adding to grandeur of the house.

"Aur Madum ji !"

(Madam ji.)

His deep voice enters my ear before my eyes fall on him.

There he is standing with a full blown smile on his face. It's as if he expected me to be here.

Ignoring his remark, I walk and stand in front of him.

There are total five men in this room. Watching us. Especially me. They must be eagerly waiting for their boss's order.

One wrong move and they might kill me.

I don't care because I have been trained to handle people like these. I can take all of them down including their boss.

"You are under arrest, Mr Shankar Randhawa." I assert and take out the handcuffs.

All the guys sit straight attentively. There are Shocked - definitely. One guy, sitting at the corner puts his hands on the back of his jean. Of course he will be going for the gun if anything goes wrong. And he will be the one I take down first.

"Ek minute, bhaiya ne aisa kra kya h jo aap unhe arrest kr rahi ho." His little brother Ishan - the only guy with brain cells and probably the mediator of the group says.

(Hold on, what has my brother done? )

"Tumhe pata nahi hai tumhare bhai ne kya gunah kra h?"  I ask him inquisitively. (you don't know his crime?)

Shankar, who is oblivious to all the little activity happening behind his back as he is busy looking at me, says, "Gunhegar toh hu. Iss mohabbat ka jo shikaar hu." (Call me a criminal if loving you is a crime?)

How can someone be so relaxed?

I glare at him "You are arrested under the suspicion of stealing the seized truck carrying illegal weapon and shooting two on duty police officers. "

Shankar brings both of his hands in the front,

"Chalo issi bahane apke deedar toh gaye. Lo karlo arrest."

(Go ahead and arrest me, atleast I got to see you under this pretext.)

I continue glaring at him while tying the handcuffs. The guys wait for Shankar's orders. When none comes their body posture relaxes a little.

I motion for Shinde to take him out. Other constables are standing at the door and I walk in the front leading the way.

"Bhaiya, mein Abhimanyu ko phone krta hu. Wo apki bail kra dega." Ishan says desperately.

(Don't worry, bhaiya(brother). I'll call Abhimanyu. He will bail you out in no time.)

"Inti jaldi nahi Chote. Usko bolna.... Kam se kam two ghante baad aye." Everyone turns to look at him. It's so absurd.

(Not too soon Chote, tell him to come at least after two hours.)

He... is so absurd.

"Lekin kyu bhaiya ?" (But why?)

He continues looking at me and answers,

"6 saal 4 mahine ke baad aya h mera yaara. Unke deedar toh krlu. Jo cehera dekhe yeh ankhe taras gayi ho uske luft nazare se khudko phir se rubaru toh krlu."

("After 6 years and 4 months, my beloved has arrived. Let me gaze upon her face, for my eyes have yearned for her beautiful sight. Let me bask in her radiance once more.)

It's been six year and 4 months and he hasn't moved on?

But... why ???

Uhh!! Stop it Yukti.

Shankar frowns at little, "Are sab wah wah toh kro? He turns to my constable, "Shinde?"

(Com'on guys, where are your clappings and appreciations?)

Shinde smiles and adds "wah wah."

"Bakwas band kro." I tell him. (Shut the fuck up)

"Haye isi adah pe toh ghayal h yeh deewana." (This attitude is the reason why I am so madly in love with you.)

I roll my eyes and control my anger.

We take him out. Shinde settles with Shankar in the backseat along with  other constables while I sit in the front. The driver starts the engine.

As soon as we reach. Shinde puts Shankar behind the bars and I sit at the table to continue with my work.

"Nazar ke saamne. Jigar ke pass, tum rehti ho." He starts singing. (You reside before my eyes, so close to my heart.....)

"Kya kr rahe ho?" (What are you doing?)

"Tumhe dekh raha hu." (Watching you. Last I know, that it's not a crime.)

"Ek danda padega na toh sari hekdi bahar aa jayegi." I say irritated. (You see this stick, just one hit will make all these tantrums go away.)

"Ghayal toh phele hi hu madum ji. Ab dard kaha hota h." (I am already injured with this love, nothing works anymore.)

I wish I could beat the hell out of him. But I can't. Anyways I have to prepare arrest warrant otherwise he will be released soon.

And I, can't tolerate that.