5

It was a pleasant morning in Mumbai. Everyone has come except for one. Someone's eyes were stuck to the door, eagerly waiting for his special one. The man went to his friend.

Man (whispering worriedly): Abhijeet, yaar abhi tak Shreya aayi nhi aise toh sabse pehle aati hai.

Abhijeet looked at his friend's worried face and smiled.

Abhijeet (smiled): Yaar Daya, itni chinta hai toh usko bta kyun nhi dete?

Daya (glare): Abhijeet.

Abhijeet (correcting himself): Achha sorry, who actually Shreya ko ACP sir ne head quarters ek file submit karne bheja hai. Bus aati hi hogi.

At the same time, the door opened and all eyes went towards it. A beautiful and tall lady came inside with her prettiest smile. Her big beautiful eyes were looking at everyone and her red lips were wishing 'Good Morning'. Seeing her happy face, everyone smiled.

She went to the duo.

Shreya (smiled): Good morning sir.

Duo (smiled): Good morning.

Daya (smiled): Shreya, kaisi ho?

Shreya (smiled): Sir, main thik hoon aur aaplog?

Abhijeet: Hum thik hai (naughtily glancing at Daya): chalo kissi ko toh humaari yaad aayi.

Daya felt embarrassed and then engaged himself in the file while Shreya shyly moved to her desk. Meanwhile, ACP came from his cabin and called Shreya inside. She went with him.

A tall and man entered the bureau. Daya saw him and went to him.

Daya: Ji, Aapko koi kaam hai? Main Senior Inspector Daya Kya hum aapki madad kar sakte hai?

Man (Foreign Accent): Yes, I want your help. I am Joseph. (They shook hands) May I meet The ACP?

Daya: Sure, I will be glad to call him.

They exchanged a smile and Daya went inside the cabin, where he saw ACP and Shreya discussing something. He cleared his throat to get the attention and the other two looked at him.

ACP: Daya, koi kaam tha?

Daya (glanced at Shreya): Haan, sir, voh bahar koi aaya hai bol rha hai ki aapse milna hai?

ACP (to Daya): Achha use bhejdo (to Shreya with a smile) Thank you, Shreya, tumhaare karan hi voh gang pakdapai, Ab tum jaa sakti ho.

Shreya (smiled): sir isme thank you kahan se aa gya, main bhi toh ek officer hoon, yeh toh mera farz tha.

They smiled and Dareya went outside the cabin. Daya told Joseph to go inside the cabin and Joseph did so. After an hour, Joseph and ACP came out and Joseph left after exchanging some last words from him.

ACP (ordering tone): Everyone to the conference room right now.

All exchanged glances as ACP left.

After 5 minutes, in the conference room, all were seated around a large table with ACP in the middle.

ACP (informative): Kucch der pehle ek aadmi aya tha (Daya nodded as ACP looked at everyone) Voh JOseph hai, Head of security for the Queen of Galevia.

All eyes were widened. Everyone exchanged glances.

Shreya (confused): But sir, woh yahan kyun aaye the?

ACP (sighed): Queen ki granddaughter ko dhundne.

Shreya (shocked): Sir, Queen Claire ki granddaughter! Sir, it's impossible.

Before ACP could say anything, Daya interrupted him.

Daya (confused): Impossible kyun Shreya?

Shreya (still shocked): Sir, Queen Claire ke dono beton ki shaadi hi nhi huyi thi! Unke badhe bete ne church join kar liya tha. He left everything to attain salvation. Aur unke chhote bete, Prince David bhi shaadi shuda nhi the jab pichle saal unki maut ho gyi, ek car accident mein. Aur King Steve, Claire ke pati ki bhi maut ho gyi ek bimaari se.

ACP (surprised): Lagta hai ki tumne is par kaafi research ki hai, Shreya. I am impressed.

Shreya (smiled): Sir, voh mujhe pta nhi kyun Galevia ke baare mein janna bahut accha lagta hai. I don't know why I'm attracted to its history.

ACP (nodded): Hmmm. Yeh jo abhi Shreya ne kaha voh mujhe Joseph ne bhi btaya. Actually, Prince David was married to an Indian girl, Sumitra. They had a love marraige. Unki secret marraige ke baare mein sirf Queen and King ko pta tha. Prince David aur Sumitra ki ek beti huyi thi 25 saal pehle. (Looking at Shreya) Uska naam Shreyana tha. Aur coincidently dono ki birth date bhi exactly match kata hai.

Everyone was shocked. They looked at Shreya, who two had wide eyes.

Shreya (murmered): Mere coincidence.

ACP (continued): David ko aisa lga ki jitne bhi Royal Throne ke successor hai, unki jaan ko khatra hai toh unhone Shreyana ko Mumbai bhej diya. Uske baat unke do twin sons huye, jo Sumitra ke saath rehne lge. Jis din Prince ka accident huya, voh apni puri family ke saath car se Royal Palace aa rhe the, unko introduce karane.

Shreya was listening this very keenly.

ACP (continued): Aur jab saare royal successors and even King ki maut ho gyi toh Galevia ko apna astitva bchane ke liya Shreyana ki zaroorat hai.

Shreya (thoughtfully): Par sir, hum use dhondhenge kaise?

ACP took out a picture. Everyone looked at it. At last, Shreya observed it keenly and was shocked. But, she was successful in hiding her emotions.

ACP (informatively): Yeh hai, Shreyana aur David ki last picture. Shreyana ke kandhe par ek royal symbol hai, which is her birth mark.

Shreya was getting restless now. It was well noticed by Daya but he found it wise to ask her later.

ACP (to everyone): So, who will take the responsibility? Is case ko koi ek hi handle karega. Agar backup ki zaroorat padi toh we'll provide it later.

Shreya (immediately): Sir, I want to handle this case.

All looked at her suspiciously as she looked like 'uh oh'.

ACP (questioningly): Any special reason?

Shreya (confidently lying): No sir, bas main is case ko akele handle kar ke apne aapko prove karna cahti hoon.

ACP (satisfied by her answer): Hmmm… so, hume tumhe incharge kyu bnana chahiye?

Shreya (confidently): Sir, Galevia ke Royal History ke bare mein mujhe sabse zyaada pta hai. And honestly, toh main Shreyana se milne ke liye bahut excited hoon. You can count on me sir.

Her nervousness was very well hidden. She really wanted to know the truth.

ACP (nodded): Okay, the case is yours, ek ghante mein aa kar is case ki file mujhse se le lena. (to everyone) meeting dismissed.

Everyone dispersed. But Shreya was still seated, lost in her thoughts. Daya saw that and came to her. He called her many times but she wasn't listening. So, he hesitantly kept his hand on her shoulder.

Daya (softly): Shreya.

She came out of the thoughts with a jerk. She found Daya looking at her suspiciously.

Daya (suspiciously): Shreya aaj huya kya hai tumhe? Meeting ke time bhi bechain ho gyi, aur abhi bhi khoi huyi ho.

Shreya (nervously): Sir, aisi koi baat nhi hai, bas thodi tabyat kharab hai.

Daya looked at her, his eyes were full of concern. He touched her forehead then cheeks with back of his hand to check the temperature. It made her shiver, but she covered up.

Daya (concern): Kaha Shreya, Shareer toh garam nhi hai. Par agar tumhe tab bhi lag rha hai toh chalo hum doctor ke paas chalte hai.

She smiled at his concern.

Daya (irritated): Tabyat kharab hai aur muskura rhi ho.

Shreya (smiled); Aap aise meri fikar karenge toh muskuraungi hi na.

Daya felt embarrassed and turned red while Shreya went from there smiling. Daya smiled to himself while rufling his hair and followed her.