I am late but this network sucks at times. Aur mujhe poore din mein av fursat mili.
Likhne ke pehle happy birthday herooo.
Have a good read
Love
******
MUMBAI
6 AM
BIRDS CHIRPING LOUDLY. A Loud alarm rang
A man woke up from his slumber and opened his windows to let the brightness of the sun inside as his place was now consumed by darkness. He just looked at his phone. He looked at the message box, unlike any other day his message box was filled with huge pile of messages. It was his birthday, so he just went through them. He then opened his WhatsApp and found messages playing up and down in his very very professional group created for work place, he has a message personally from all the team mates, his friends. He smiled at the mobile but he deep down knew these wishes aren't going to change the fact that he is empty soul and that void can't be filled anytime sooner, may be forever. He just brushed his thoughts away and headed towards the rest room. He then came out with his dashing officer looks. He just had a final look in mirror and smiled at himself thinking about crazy things they are going to do for him. After his deceased wife, his team is the only family he have right now. Though he never acknowledged Infront of them, they always meant alot. He just combed his hair and locked his lodge room and left the keys in reception and headed towards etf headquarters.
ETF HEAD QUARTERS:
Sakshi: pehle mein wish karungi.
Shree: nahi mein
Chotu : nahi mein.
Riya was watching this with smile. She then suddenly remembered something and called shree. Shree moved towards riya making an excuse.
Shree : apne woh ke liye taras rahi hoo
Riya : chup raho. (hits him on his hand)
Shree : (shouting) mein jhoot nahi bola? (riya kept her hands on his mouth)
Arjun and sameer entered the premises. Sakshi ayesha and liza got up,while shree and riya were still fighting shree directly went and hit arjun making both of them fall. Riya was giggling looking at shree's flushed face. Sam looked iriitated and glances at arjun who just got up and was adjusting his shirt.
Sameer : happy birthday rawthe.
Arjun : thanks rathore.
Sakshi : happy birthday arjun. Iss white shirt mein na Tum ek dum hero lag rahi ho.
Arjun : thank you
Everyone wished him and finally riya came there with shree's coffe. She then moved near him and smiled
Riya: good morning sir.
Arjun nods in silence and moves away from there, shree banged his head.
Shree: oo meri riya... Tumne satyanash kiya.
Riya: mein kya karun mujhe awkward lag rahi hain
Chotu: arere tum kabhi nahi sudharoge.
The day moved like this shree trying to make arjun close to riya so that she can wish but she is just running away. Evening everyone arranged a grand surprise party for arjun.
Sameer and ayesha arranged everything while sakshi took care of cake and food. Shree chotu went to decorate the place.
Arjun : mujhe yeh sab acha nahi lagtha hai.
Sakshi : tumhare khadoos face bhi hame acha nahi lagtha hain hamne kabhi complaint kiya?
Arjun gave up the idea of stopping instead he chose to stand calm and cherish this in list of his memories which are actually very few. Every one went and handed over the gifts but riya was still in her place doing her work and giving awkward expressions. They've not even conversed good enough the only time they talked was Riya asked him to hand the pen from the pen stand.
The day went smooth, evening shree and chotu were discussing a day out they were planning with the girls
Shree : marine drive chale.
Sakshi : i will join you.
Ayesha: i am in
Liza: tum waha treat dena hain
Shree : ha sure.
Riya: koi kaha nahi jayega. (irritated) i am not coming aap jayiye.
Shree :kyun you were ready na? (worried)
Riya : mujhe abhi yaad aaya kuch important kaam hain.. tum mujhe mount Mary leke jaogi..
Shree: (sighs making a boring face) theek hain
Riya: itna boring face... Mein khud jaungi. Tumhari ehsaan nahi chahiye
Shree : aisa nahi yaar chalo. (whispers to her) tumhare woh ke liye birthday wishes karni hain na
Riya: aisa kuch nahi.
While moving downwards shree attends a call
Shree : riya mujhe urgent jaana hai yaar mere kuch relatives aaya tha aaj dinner pe Jaana hain. I am so sorry.
Riya: theek hain.
Riya sighs and curses herself and moves to an isolated road to hire a taxi. Arjun got into his suv and started to drive to his place.
**
Riya was waiting in an estranged road for a taxi. Arjun, who was passing through that place saw her. He stopped his suv and opened the door and got down. She slightly smiled at him and looked for a taxi.
Arjun: tum toh shree ke saath jaane wali thi na?
Riya : yes sir, lekin maine mount Mary jaane ke liye socha and wo aaj unke family ke saath dinner pe jaa raha hai so i am all alone.
Arjun : itni raat mount mary?
Riya: ha sir waha jaake bhagwan ji ka thoda buttering karna hai. Waise bhi bahuth powerful hai waha jo bhi wish mangu (snaps her fingers) bas aise hi poora hojathi hai.
Arjun : mein drop karunga chalo. (she adjusted herself in co-driver seat) lekin achanak mount Mary kyun?
Riya: mere wishes ka affidavit badthe jaa rahi hain sir isliye.
Arjun: riya don't be superstitious.
Riya: yeh bas belief nahi hai sir. Actually ek do baar mera wishes poori hui sir.
Arjun : kuch bhi.
Riya: sir aap bhagwan kyu belive nahi karthe?
Arjun: tumhara bhagwan na kabhi believe karne ka mauka hi nahi choda.
Riya: sir aap mein na bahuth darkness hai, uss darkness aapko absorb karne ke pehle aap jaayiye roshini ke paas. (arjun looks at her straight) mera Matlab har ek life mein darkness ke sath sath light ka bhi jarurath hai sir. (to make the mood lighter) isliye toh Edison ne light invent kiya.
Arjun was still silent and then just concentrates on his driving. Further driving was calm and slow while riya slowly drowned into slumber. The destination had arrived after 20 min ride. Arjun just patted Riya's shoulder to get her back. She suddenly woke up with a start.
Riya : sorry sir, bas kaam ki thakan ke wajhe se bas aankh lag gayi.
Arjun: koi baath nahi.
Riya slowly got down from the car. She smiles at him and when he was about to bid a bye she stops him.
Riya : aap bhi mere saath Chaliye na?
Arjun : mein kyun?
Riya: aaj aapka birthday hai aur birthday ke din bhagwan ji ka aashirwad lena mandatory hai sir.
Arjun : toh tumhe patha hai aaj mera birthday hai.
Riya: ha patha hai. Aap aayiye na.
Arjun : riya tumhe patha hai mein yeh sab mein belive nahi kartha hun.
Riya : sir mein aapko bhagwan ji ko pray karne ke liye nahi bhulaya bas aap mujhe company dijiye.
After few rounds of arguments finally Arjun gave up, and decided to stay.
Arjun : tum yahi ruko mein Park karke aatha hun.
Riya (with all the happiness reflecting in her face) : okay sir..
Arjun returns after some five minutes and saw riya bargaining with a shopkeeper. He moved towards her.
Riya : sir aapko koi wish hai, yaha se wo lejao aur andar chod do sab sach hogi.
Arjun: muje kuch jarurath nahi. Waise bhi
Riya: (competing his sentence) aap yeh sab mein belive nahi karthe (sighing defeated) aap sir meri maths sir ki tarah ek hi baath baar baar bolthe ho.
Arjun : agar baath hui toh, chale.
Riya : sure.
She hands over the money to shopkeeper. They both moved towards the church. Riya prayed for sometime, while arjun was sitting on the chairs present there. After 15 minutes she returned back to him and they both left the place. They started their journey back home.
Arjun : toh..tum ab free ho?
Riya: yess sir.
Arjun : toh mere saath chai peogi.
Riya(shouted) : sirr (with her eyes wide open)
Arjun: kyaa hua?
Riya : aap mujhe date ke liye pooch rahe hai? (with a naughty grin) theek hai, lekin ek shart hai.
Arjun : bolo
Riya : mujhe tea ke saath maska bun chahiye.
Arjun : theek hai chalo.
Arjun drove to his favorite chai stall near with a beach view. Riya was excited and overwhelmed by his sudden act of comfort with her. She slightly slided her window and closed her eyes.
Riya : aapko ek baat bolu?
Arjun : ha
Riya: aap na bilcul mumbai ki weather ki tarah
Arjun : what? (surprised)
Riya : unpredictable
Arjun and riya reached the place and they moved towards the stall.
Arjun: tumhari hygiene?
Riya: wo aaj picnic par gayi
They both have a good laugh. Then riya slowly slipped her hand inside her bag and took a hand sanitizer. Arjun looked at her and a naughty smirk played on his face.
Arjun : toh khatam hogayi tumhari hygiene ka picnic.
Riya: sir jaise people may go by leaving traces mere hygiene bhi waise hi hai.
Arjun: mujhe nahi laga ki tu itni bolthi ho?
Riya: muh toh bolne ke liye hi hain na? Sirrr..
Arjun : ab kya?
Riya : happy birthday sir..
Arjun: poore din mein ab fursat mili.
Riya : mujhe laga ki aapko acha jagi lagega, isliye
Arjun : chalo, chai bhi agayi
Riya: sir aap mujhe party dena chahiye. Bahuth specially wish kiya maine.
Arjun : ab toh itni raat hain sab hotels stalls bhi band hai.
Riya: sir aapne wake up sid nahi dekha... Bas do cup chai, aur acha conversation is the best way to celebrate, (arjun nods) hamare paas toh ab maska bun bhi hai
Arjun : tum bhi kabhi kabhi sakshi ki tarah filmy filmy behave karthi ho.
Riya: aisa kuch nahi.
Arjun : tum toh sabke saath you will be great, par tumhare aur sakshi ke beech kuch tension hain.
Riya : aisa kuch nahi hain sir.
Arjun : mein acp arjun hun riya.
Riya : (sighs defeated) wo kya hain na mujhe usko dekhkar thoda insecurity hotha hai.
Arjun : (chuckles) insecurity kyun?
Riya : wo shree aur chotu ko mujhse cheen liya toh...uski tarah yaha mumbai mein bahuth dosth nahi hai sir. Mera friends ki circle hamesha limited hain aur mein apne friends ko leke thoda possessive hun.
Arjun : yeh bachon jaise insecurities hain riya.
Riya: agar pyaar aur dosthi mein bina insecurities hain toh woh normal nahi hain
Arjun : waise bhi mujhe donon mein ab bharosa nahi hain
Riya : dosthi se problem its okay par aapko pyaar se problem kyun hain? (arjun stiffens) woh woh mera Matlab
Arjun: chodo wo pyaar ke baare mein bhashan de rahi ho, to bolo tumhe kabhi pyaar hua?
Riya: hua na, aapse nahi mera (fumbles) Matlab aapko patha nahi na mere crush list har mahina update hothi hai kabhi ayushman khurana toh kabhi ranbir kapoor.
Arjun chuckles at her answer, riya looks at him brightly and suddenly she turns back.
Riya : sir aapke birthday gifts kaha hain.
Arjun : car mein.
Riya: ham open karenge?
Arjun and riya take their respective cups and move towards his Suv. She excitedly opens shree's gift which is a new watch. And then chotu' s gift which contained some choclates and goodies. She took one with his permission. Then she opened ayesha's gift which is some good book and liza's gift which contained a perfume. She then took sakshi's gift. She slowly unwrapped it, it contained a beautiful heart with a message on it and another set of perfumed candles with message cards on each of it.
Riya: mujhe sakshi ka gift bahuth pasand aaya.
Arjun : mujhe gifts acha nahi lagtha hai riya. Tumhare bhagwan ne mujhe iss se zyaada surprising thofa diya tha past mein.
Riya: sir aap na mere bhagwan ji ko blame karna bandh kijiye na.
Arjun : toh kisko blame karu?
Riya : sir aap yeh poker face dalna bandh karke sach ko accept karna aur move on karna seekhiye. Aapne insaaf dilaya tha ab aapki dil par uski happy moments hona chahiye.
Arjun : bolna jaise easy nahi hain wo.
Riya : sir aap apne aapko chupane ke khel mein kabhi kahi apne aapko kho jayega. Be careful.
Arjun just nods, riya also sits silent. They just enjoy the silence for sometime,then they paid for the chai and moved towards Riya's apartment.
Riya : hey raam mein toh bhul hi gaya.
Saying this she fished something out of her bag and handed him over a box covered with gelatin paper.
Riya : aapki thofa
Arjun : yeh kyun?
Riya : open kariye na.
Arjun : theek hain.
Arjun opens it an finds a box and then looks at her with a questioning gaze. She then smiled.
Riya : yeh white noise generator hai. Aapko sone mein thoda problem hain na, isliye socha ki mein kharid kar aapko doon. Acha nahi laga?
Arjun : thank you.
Riya : good night sir.
Arjun : ek advice doon
Riya: jii
Arjun : hamari hothi hai na woh kabhi hame chodthe nahi agar chod diya tho wo hamari thi hi nahi.
She then drops a meaning ful glance at him and wished him a good night. She then moved to her room and messaged sakshi about her outing, sakshi though taken back at the start had a good heartful conversation gossiping chitchatting and laughing.
NIGHT 11.59 PM:
Arjun was standing in the balcony with his wife's photo in his hand and remembering the events happened since morning, the party, the gifts, the church visit, the chai talk and the concern Riya has for him. He then looked at the stars and passed a bright smile and went inside his room. He just thanked his non-existing god for giving such a wonderful people and moved to his bed to have a good sleep with that white noise box in his hand.
THANK YOU....
SO HOW WAS IT?
WISHING YOU ALL A HEALTHY AND SAFE QUARANTINE.
STAY HOME STAY SAFE
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Tum Se Tum Tak
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Vasudha
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