10

                                    

                                          
" Are you living in this planet or what?"
Sipping hot coffee from his coffee mug Gautam asked Ananya who is sitting in front of him with an anxious face.
"What do you mean?" Asked Ananya.
Gautam: You didn't know who is the prime investor in our channel? Mr. Anand Verma! Do you think he will allow to air any exclusive which can destroy his alliances?
A shocked Ananya looked Gautam with wide eyes:" Are you saying he is a silent partner in this .... oh my God.. 
Gautam: your enthausiasm and smartness in finding exclusive is really appreciative but, be practical. We can't even touch them. After all we are silly journalists. Hum kuch nahi kar sakte. To tum ye sab yahi khatam karo. 
Ananya stared the coffee in front her silently.
***
"Neil, kal teri engagement h juhi k sath"
Those words stopped Neil in mid way to his room. It was his father : Mr. Prakash Khanna. He was sitting in the couch with a file in his hand. He said these words so casually without glancing his son who just came after work or his wife Swetha, who came to give tea. " Kal? Itni jaldi kyu?" It was Swetha who reacted first.
" First obey then comment" Prakash glared his wife to make her retreat.
Neil: Papa, Itni jaldi itna bada function ka intezam kaise ho jayega? We need to invite guests no?
Prakash: so you are ready for the engagement? Then leave the rest to me. Everything will be perfectly arranged. Tumhari sagayi kal hi hogi. 
Neil: achanak kya hogaya ki hame kal hi sagayi karni pad rahi h?
Prakash: Mein aur Shekhar ki decision h ye. Before merging our companies both of you should get engaged. Aur tu ye sab ke peeche mein mat pado. Just get ready for the function.
"Papa ye koi normal function nahi h. Engagement h meri. Why are you taking decisions on my life without asking me" Neil said with exasperation.
Prakash put the file he was reading on the table and stood up. " We have fixed this marriage months ago and you had no problem then. Both of you were dating. Then what's the problem with engagement?"
Neil lost his tongue for a second. " I can't get engaged now" he declared. Prakash with a dangerously calm look approached Neil. They faced eachother.
Prakash: Now or forever?
***
Phir kahi dil ne mehsoos kiya tha
Ek dafa phir se zinda ye hua tha
Nazar jo aya tu to jeena aya
Nazar se phir kyu tu ghum hogaya... pal mei hi...
Ananya aka Avni was almost lost in the caller tune that heard when she dialled Neil's personal mobile no. She wanted to hand over the proofs she had to Neil. Ofcourse she had no other option. Gautam is right, after all I am a journalist. If I were alone in this world, I could have thought of risking her life. But...
Her chain of thoughts was broken by a happy hello. "Hello"
Neil was facing his father's question: now or forever? Suddenly his phone vibrated in his pocket. He instictively picked it up without answering his father which made Prakash gnush his teeth.
Neil: Hello.. (he replied with joy)
.....
Neil: Is it? Ok wait there I am coming right now.
Neil cut the call and quickly walked towards the door making both Prakash and Swetha stunned. 
Before Neil could cross the door Prakash raised his voice: Neil... answer me... how can you ignore your father like this?
Neil turned back and said: As you wish papa. 
Prakash: which means you are ready for the engagement?
Neil:yes. I have no time to argue with you. See you.
Prakash: Fine. Good. He flexed his shoulder and went to his room. Swetha ran behind her son. Neil has already left in his car. She just stared at the gate with agony.
***
"So you are saying you have evidences against Mr. Anand Verma? "Asked Neil. They were in the outskirts of city
Ananya: Not direct evidence to him. But I have evidences against that human trafiking gang. 
Neil: and Mr. Verma already knows it. Are you in sane? Why cant you approach me before you presented them to channel
Ananya: I know my life can be in danger. But ...
Neil: you are already in danger. You better shift to some safe place.
Ananya: tillu.. sorry, aap mera fikr mat karo. Mene ye evidence isliye diya thaki aap kuch kare. I will take care of my self.
Saying this Ananya walked to her bike crossing the door. Neil who was surprised hearing tillu from ananya's mouth was watching Ananya. Suddenly, Neil eyes got struck on a van over speeding towards Ananya.
Ananya..... Neil shouted and ran behind Ananya. He pushed her away from the road and both fell down. The van didnot stop. Neil stood up and helped Ananya too. The number plate of the vehicle was covered. 
***
Neil in phone:... yes. Try to find the van as soon as possible...ok 
Neil disconnected the phone and looked at Ananya who is lying unconciously on hospital bed. He has taken her to hospital as she was unconcious. Neil shouted and ran behind Ananya. He pushed her away from the road and both fell down. The van didnot stop. Ananya was unconcious. He tried to wake her up but she didnt wake up. So, Neil carried her in his arms and placed her carefully in the car and drove to hospital.
Neil's eyes were fixed on Ananya's face. " Why I always get attracted to her? Is this a conspiracy of God? Am I falling for her? Then What about Juhi? One thing is clear. I have never felt the connection I m feeling for Ananya for anyone else. Not even Juhi who is my fiancee." The thought of engagement shook him inwardly. I never loved Juhi, but... am I in love with Ananya? If not why I got so scared when she fell unconcious? He remembered how he hugged her tightly when she was unconcious.
"Sir"
It was DD who broke Neil's trance. 
Neil : yes, DD 
Both of them went outside the room and instantly Ananya opened her eyes. 
Ananya: Thank you Neil for saving me. I always try to run away from you but always end up with you and saved by you. You don't know who I m. Still you care for me. Tum bahut ache ho. Suddenly Neil entered the room with DD.
Neil: you are up? How do you feel now? 
He asking siting near her bed which surprised DD. 
Ananya: ferling better.
Neil continued: police has arrested them. Dont worry. You have to give statement to DD. 
He pointed to DD. DD smiled at Ananya.
To be continued.