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already started creating a bang! …God… I am
seeing you after … ummm…seven years!”
    “Arjun, have you had anything
to eat?” Shanti enquires. Arjun shakes his head gently, “Oh, come on then. Have
you seen Kamla?”
    “Not yet. I’ve come straight
from headquarters. I wanted to apologize to Riya for my harsh behavior last
night. I suppose all of you might have been upset as well with me after last
night.”
    “Oh my dear! No, not at all
my son. Come on, just forget everything. Come, I’ll prepare a nice breakfast
for you. Come, Riya; you didn’t eat anything either.” 
    “Mama, I am not hungry, and
anyway, I am getting late for school.”
    “Uff, my little school girl! 
If you go late one day, no one will scold you… Arjun you tell her; she should
eat her food properly!”
    Arjun spots an opportunity to
get even with Riya. He mischievously scans Riya from her toe to head, “Aunty!
What can I say… these girls nowadays! Dieting and fashion is all they care
about. If they can spare some time from this, only then can they focus on
health and food. … But Riya, what’s the use of all this … I mean no guy in
school gives you a lift anyway!”
    “Hey! Listen!” Riya snaps her
finger at Arjun, eager to respond to Arjun’s banter. Shanti rightly intervenes.
    “OK kids! Will you please
stop fighting and sit down?! Come beta.” She takes Arjun’s head on her
shoulders tapping his cheeks. “Come!”
    Everyone goes down to the
dining room. Both the families have decided subconsciously to leave all their
questions for another day. Shanti stuffs a full poori as Arjun gobbles it in
one lot from her hand! The two families wholeheartedly express their solidarity
towards Arjun for his just cause. A status quo has been restored… for now!
     

A Walk in The Park
     
    A few weeks later, life
gradually settles down. Arjun gets some time to catch up on his classes, as the
investigation slows down to a routine pace. After their MBA class, Arjun and
Riya are walking to a park close to their home. The beautiful flowers and lush
green trees made it a pleasant picturesque stroll. Riya is wearing a lovely
summer floral skirt, looking stunning in it. They walk down in a leisurely
manner, discussing their studies, the classes they share and also catching up
on childhood memories.
    Arjun points to the places he
used to visit in this park as a kid. It pains him to see that the same ground
that used to be full of kids, and where he spent most of his childhood days
playing cricket with his gang of friends, is now completely deserted, with
portions of the ground full of long, overgrown grass and shrubs. Kids nowadays
prefer to spend their time indoors on electronic gadgets and video games. Riya
and Arjun pass by a road next to a bench where a group of guys are seated
eating peanuts. Their appearance befits that of roadside ruffians as they have
left a long trail of garbage around them. The guys notice Riya and can’t help
commenting about her.
    “ Hey
check out man! Lovely flowers in the park today!”
    “Right buddy! Wow! If I had
such a flowery girlfriend, then it will be one joyous ride!” he gestures
obscenely, as all the others laugh.
    Arjun is offended and is
about to respond violently, but Riya holds him back.
    “ Arjun
please let’s leave this place!” She grabs his hand, and pulls him away, shaking
her head to gesture “no” when Arjun tries to break free.
    “Where are you off to
sweetheart?! Oh! Why don’t you take us with you as well, so lovingly?” one of
them continues to banter on.
    Riya stops this time and
turns back to respond.
    “ I’m
going to the police station. Do you want to come? … Don’t act smart with me,
else all of you will be inside the jail, mind it!”
    “ We
are also eager to go inside and outside my love,” the guy moves his waist in an
obscene gesture as all the others laugh. Arjun is absolutely furious and turns
around, forcefully pushing the guy so that he falls on the