It was 10:45 pm in her watch. Rains had played havoc in the city of dreams. Somehow, Kiran managed to reach the airport before time. She got out of the taxi and paid the cabbie with a smelly beard 80 bucks. Bustling with people all around and lights that seemed to defeat the purpose of darkness, she was rejuvenated to see the renovated terminal 4 of the airport. She bought a coffee, paid the bill, cursed the stall-owner for the sky-reaching prices, went and sat in the waiting lounge. Suddenly, she felt her phone vibrating in her purse..It was a message from Nikhil.

Kiran Shergill, the heroine in our story, a 25 year old girl working in a financial firm in Mumbai. Born and brought up in Pune, and a C.A by profession, she came to Mumbai 3 years back and since then fell in love with the city. Even today, as usual, she finished her work by 6 pm and came to the airport to receive her fiance, Mr. Kaushik. Kaushik Rajput, her childhood friend from Pune. Their parents were family friends and they decided to convert this friendship into an alliance in a typical Bollywood fashion. Boy and girl, both agreed, and their engagement was done. Next day he had to leave for Singapore. His company was sending him onsite for 2 years . Kiran still remembered the day, when he left her, but with a promise to come back soon, very soon. This was that day. This was the moment she was waiting for since almost an year.

“Air India AI-100- Arrived”. She was relieved to see this on the board. But she knew a lot of time was left before she could actually experience what she was waiting for. She was sitting comfortable on the sofa in the waiting lounge. Finally with nothing else to do, she took a magazine and started flipping the pages as fast as possible. She stopped in between as the story read: Actor and Director, Ashfaque Khan, arrested for carrying 5 kg of cocaine. Glancing through the story, she went ahead when she saw policemen running around with the Anti-Narcotics Department men. She sensed something fishy, but didn’t give it a second thought. Suddenly a policeman came shouting, “a young man in AI-100 has been caught with drugs”. She tried to remain calm, in fact she tried very hard. Mustering up some courage, she took out her phone and opened her contacts list. K..Kaushik…She pressed the green button and waited for a minute only to find his phone switched off. She controlled her emotions, although it was very difficult for her, and tried to catch hold of a policeman who would tell her the name. But she couldn’t find any. Suddenly, she again searched her contact list, and called up Kaushik’s parents.

Kiran: Uncle, Did Kaushik call you?

Uncle: No beta, i thought he must have spoken to you, did his flight land?

Kiran: Yes Uncle, but Kaushik is not answering my call. His phone is switched off.

Uncle: Dont worry Kiran beta, customs will take a lot of time, so don’t worry, wait for sometime, and don’t forget to call me when u meet him. Do take a photo, we don’t want to miss your expression when u see him after such a long time.

Kiran: Ok uncle, i’l let you know. Bye

Uncle: Bye dear.

Once again she tried calling Kaushik, but again the same response from the other side, switched off. She sat down, not knowing what to do and whom to approach. As she waited with a perplexed mind, she suddenly heard a news reporter breaking a news on the TV in that lounge. The news reporter said.

“A 27 year old man caught with 2 kg drugs. He was travelling from Singapore. He was carrying drugs in his cabin bag. Police are unable to understand how he managed to get through the Singapore Police. We have ACP Prabhu with us. Mr Prabhu, can u tell us what exactly happened?” The policeman then repeated the entire thing. The reporter then asked the culprit’s name. Kiran was speechless, there was no emotion, there were no tears, she stood still, when she heard Mr Prabhu saying, “His name is Mr. Kaushik Rajput.”

She did not know what to do. Everything went blank in front of her. She heard the report once again which again mentioned the same name. Mr. Kaushik arrested with 2 kg drugs. As she was thinking she saw policemen taking a masked man, along with them. They put him in the car, and took him along with them. Kiran came to receive him but he was actually received by a fleet of policemen. When the cars were gone and everything became normal, she took out her phone and dialed a number. The call was made to a person called Nikhil…

Nikhil: Hello

Kiran: Police have arrested Kaushik, he was found with drugs. They took him away to the Police station few minutes back.

Nikhil: Are u sure?

Kiran: Yes….i m sure. Finally the day has come. It took one long year but finally plan successful. Now there is no hindrance to our love. Our France flight is in two hours baby. Come soon. I love u Nikhil….

Nikhil: Yeah….Love u too……..

P.S- Nikhil and Kiran worked in the same office. they were great friends and eventually fell in love with each other. Kiran never really loved Kaushik. It was an arranged marriage where she liked Kaushik. But when she tried to explain it to him, that she loved someone else, he was not ready to listen to her. Finally she and Nikhil decided to take this step. A detailed plan was made. Nikhil’s friend in Singapore was in customs department. He planted that drugs packet in his bag, which was detected in the Mumbai Airport. A perfect plan was perfectly executed.
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