T2: Ek Aur Zindagi..(Epilogue:page 130) - Page 34

[Banner a bday gift from Bhavna. Thank you dear]

Part 40:

The dinner was set at the table. He was watching if she was enjoying the time or not. She was just loking around with a smile on her lips.

She knew he was watching her, the same reason for which she was looking everywhere but him.

The place chosen was just perfect. It was table in a corner, separated from others by a tinted glass partition. The light was mild yellow as if at the time of a sunset, with soft A.R Rahman melody in back ground. It was picture perfect for a first date... Yes it's a date for sure.

"Are you not comfortable?"

She met his eyes now. "ji... ya, sure. Kyu?"

"you don't look comfortable"

She lowered her eyes. "nothing like that Sir. Bas.. pehli bar aise unofficially mil rahe hai... tho..."

"hm... I get it"

He was feeling the same at the start. But now he was feeling comfortable, while she took his shades.

"Aisha... I know you are expecting me to something. But seriously do you think that you need to hear it loud?"

She just kept on looking at him.

"I know that you know what I feel for you. Par kehenne me thoda problem hai... its not like giving the usual orders, right?"

She smiled again at his loss of words. The ever so shoot-to-the-point man was finding it different to just say the three words.

"tho fir... aap mujhe pehle apse dur.. mere matlab..."

He knew well what she was speaking about.

"I know what you mean Aisha. I knew I felt something for you. But I didn't want to impose it on you. Socha wait karu. Baaadme mujhe patha chala ke tumhare man me aisa kuch bhi nahi hai..."

"uss waqt nahi tha... iske matlab ye tho nahi ke kabhi nahi hogi..."

She almost blurted out. He smiled at her slip of tongue which made her mumble more and lowering eyes with pushing the hair behind the ear.

"tho... abhi hai... right?" he liked to play this game now.

"apko kya lagtha hai? Mein unme se nahi hu, jinhe dil ke bath dil me hi chupana pasand ho"

"achaa...? Tho bolo dil ke bath. Waise bhi kisine kaha hai, ladies first"

"its always ladies first sir. Aur meine tho mere bath keh di hai. Hope you remember. Ab aapke bari"

She had that winner look.

"Acha so you want to hear it from me too..."

She nodded with a smile.

"ok tho sunlo... mein..." wrong timing, the waiter walks in.

"what will you have, sir?"

Sam was almost glaring at the man and Aisha was finding it hard to suppress her smile. The waiter knew that he was in for a wrong time.

"um... sorry to disturb you sir..."

"its ok..."Aisha said before Sam blasted him. "I think we will order something, right sir?"

"hm... give us a minute."

"sure.." the waiter was more than happy to run away. The moment he stepped out, she broke into laughter. Sam had never seen her so except when she was with her masti gang. He kept on looking and she stopped it. He pushed the menu card to her.

They took a while to decide the food and ordered it.

She was still waiting for him to continue his talk. When he didn't, she probed again. "Aap kuch kehne wale the..."

"hm... ab mood nahi hai. Baadme..."

She had an open mouth face which he loved. "ok... your wish sir."she acted as if it didn't matter.

He wanted that moment to be special, not to be ruined by another waiter. So he waited. He brought in some random topics to speak. Soon food came and they had it over a friendly chat.

After dinner they walked out. "ab kaha jarahe hai?"she was excited by this whole informal trip.

"if its ok, then beach..."

"sure"she loved to be by the beach at night. They travelled silent. She noticed him once looking at the watch and then a small change in facial expression. She didn't ask what brought the change.

The reached the beach and he was still silent. They stood watching the waves.

"kya hua Sir? Everything alright?"

He looked at her concerned face. He was mentally slamming his head for bringing in such a change in thoughts when she was with him.

"I am sorry. Mein... kuch sochne laga... I am sorry"

"Sorry math boliye sir. Aap kuch pareshan lag rahe the"

"hm... wo... Iss waqt Arjun ke baba unke ghar pe hone ka chance hai. I was wondering whats going on there. I am sorry to bring in that issue now"

"isme sorry bolne wali bath kya hai sir? Its natural. Aap aur Arjun sir bohot ache dost hai. Aur unke tension bhi janthe hai. Tho its ok to worry for him. I am happy you shared it with me."

He could see that she was sincere in her words. He turned to her. Maybe he needed someone to actually talk to.

"bohot kareeb se dekha hai meine usse. Jab wo ghar se bahar chala gaya tha, thab mein nahi tha. Hum training time pe mile hai. Aur uske baad uske har ek feeling ko mein jana hai. Chupane me mahir hai wo. Par mujhe patha chal hi jatha hai. He has always missed his home. Especially Aayi ko. Aur wo kahi na kahi wish kartha tha ke uske baba bhi usse samjhe. Par ek dusre ke samne rehne ka na waqt tha aur na himmath. Bas aise hi reh gaye. Fir Roshni ke aane se kafi badlaw hua. Usse bhi kisiko mila apne zindagi baatne keliye. Aur thab bhi baba unke samne nahi aya. Aur na thab, jab Adi hua. Aur fir Roshni ke death hua, thab wo Aayi ke sath chale gaye. Wo uss waqt tha, jab Arjun ko unke sahare ki zaroorath the. I have seen him struggling. Ek 2 saal ke bache ke sath wo kafi struggle kiya hai. Aur jab Adi hostel me jaane ke umr ka hua thab wo nahi chahtha tha ke usse bejhe. But he didn't have a choice. With a work schedule that we can't predict, he was helpless. Par Adi bhi sabkuch jald hi samajh liya. It was his dad who told him that his mom won't come back. Aur dheere dheere Adi usse accept kar hi liya. Najaane kithne baar meine Arjun se dubara shadi karne ko kaha hai. But he knew he was good enough to bring up Adi alone. And I think he was right"

She stood when he spoke out what he was hiding for a long time. He felt good to speak it loud too.

"aap ne sahi kaha hai sir. Adi ko Arjun sir akele hi paala hai. Mantha hu, ek Maa nahi thi. But from where I see, he was not lesser than any other mother."

"hm... aur jab Adi tumhare sath comfortable horaha tha, mujhe laga..."

"Adi aur mere relation deep hi hai sir. Aur mujhe patha hai ke Adi mujhe bohot zyada chahthi hai. Par uske liye hum Arjun sir ko compel nahi kar saktha tha na? koi bhi rishta koi complesion se shuru nahi honi chahiye"

"I agree. Now that part is clear for all. (he took a while) ab shayad tum samajh sakthe ho ke meine apne bath ithne der se kyu nahi kaha"

"janthi hu Sir. Aap Adi keliye hi mujhe apne apse dur kar rahe the. Aur meine kuch notice hi nahi kiya. I was far away from what you tried to show me. (he tried to interrupt) nahi sir... please... I don't mind if you take your time sir. After all, you waited this long"

"I know I have waited long, but now I want to clear it off. I want to start afresh. Mere sath desakthe ho?"

She stood silent. This might be one of the simplest proposals ever. She liked it this way. She nodded yes.

He smiled satisfied. "thanks... I will need you Aisha. Not directly as my better half. Lets restart with a friendship. Fir dheere aage chalege. Ab time liya tho bhi kya? We know what we feel for each other, right?"

"right" she lowered her face again. She looked beautifull in this night. She have transformed to to a lady that he knew would be his very soon.

"ek bath puchu sir?"

"hm..."

"Adi kis bath pe apke help karne wale the?"

"don't remind me that please. Rawte ka beta hai. Taang adana khandani bimari hai!"

"firbhi..."

"he wanted me to say I love you to the person whom I love"

She smiled again. He knew it. She wished to hear it too. She touched her fingers gently and that made her look at him. "you know it right? That I love you"

She nodded yes again.

"I still don't understand why we should say it loud when we know it."

"shayad yahi sab karthe hai... isliye..."

"tho thode hatke bane?"

"I don't mind... par..."

She stopped. He slowly chinned her face. "yes, I do love you."

She could feel her cheeks burning. His thumb graced her cheeks. The magical moment was stopped with a ringtone. She saw his frustrated face. He took the call and she turned away to catch back her breath.

He cut the call and turned back to her. "new case. We will have to go"

"Arjun Sir?"

"we will call him on the way"

They moved along to the car, in between Aisha call Sree and Chotu and asking them to inform Sakshi.

There was no time to catch up with their personal talks. After all they are the ETF. Soon they were transformed to the team.

***

Arjun had already lost sleep so it didn't matter when his mobile rang. He took it and saw it was Sam, so silenced it and placed back Adi to the bed.

He walked out to take the call and heard about the new case. He quickly got ready and knocked Aayi's door and informed that he is leaving.

The case was a bit rough one as it was a sudden raid issue. The whole night went for a chase.

***

Arjun was dead tired by the time he reached home for resting for a while. It was beyond 9 am. Adi was too excited. It was the day of his results. But dad was too tired. He just had a cup of tea and fell on to the bed.

Adi didn't poke. He waited for his dad's nap to be over. And once he got up, he rushed and waited for the results.

Arjun could see Adi bursting out of excitement. He was trying to be patient but was not successful. At last Arjun took the phone and dialed the school and Adi was having a crossed finger behind his back.

The call ended soon and his dad was not showing any excitement. That was not good sign.

"Dad..." he couldn't hold on to the suspense.

"I am sorry Adi..." he said in a sad tone. Adi's eyes almost started filling in, and face was dead pale.

"Aap apne friends ko bohot miss karenge na?"

"matlab?"

He gave a smile that explained it. Adi squealed in joy and hugged his Dad, while his dadi was equally happy too.

"Yes... apko school me admition mil gaya hai. Ab kuch formalities and you can start when the school reopens"

"yeah... yani ab no more hostel, right?"

"yes"

"tho aap, mein, dadi sab ek sath?" Arjun nodded yes.

"Aur dadaji?"

The smiled dimmed on Arjun's face.

"unhe wapas jaana hai"

"par kyu? Wo yahi kyu nahi rukthe?"

"nahi ruk sakthe Adi. Unhe kaam hai"

"par... aap keh dijiye na. wo zaroor manege"

"no"

"kyu dad?"

"Adi... mein takh gayi hu. Hum baadme bath kare?"

Adi slips down from his dad's lap.

"why? Aap hamesha dadaji ke bare me kuch bhi nahi kehthe? Bolna. Aise kyu?"

Aayi could see Arjun was getting irritated. A night long work, a nap for just few minutes, plus a wrong topic... she was getting worried for Adi.

"Adi, dad thak gaye hai na? unhe breakfast karne dijiye. Come..."

"no... aap bhi hamesha is mamle me Dad ke sath dethe ho. Kyu? Dadaji yaha kyu nahi ruk sakthe? Hum sab ek sath... achi lagegi na? hai na dad?"

"Adi... beta please... I am tired. Aur rahi apke dadaji ke bath, wo khud rukhna nahi chahthe"

"aur apne pucha bhi nahi. Please dad... Unse kaho na... please...please..."

Arjun was literally irritated.

"why don't you understand ADI?? Kaha na, aise kuch nahi hone wala"

That was the first time the little boy heard his dad raising voice. He literally moved back at the intensity. He fumbled on his fingers and looked shocked at Arjun. Aayi came forward and pulled him closer. When he didn't respond, she turned him to her and hugged. Adi held on to Aayi frightened.

"ye kya thareeka hai Arjun, bachon se bath karne ka? What did he do for all that?"

Arjun never in his dreams had wished to raise voice at Adi. It came at a weak note.

He could see Adi was weeping. He was frightened of his dad's words. Aayi pulled him up from the ground and took to her room. Arjun sat there frustrated and angry at his loss of control.

He sat for a while and freshed up and then went to Aayi's room. There he was. Adi was lying with his face hidden down in the pillow on the bed and Aayi by his side, patting his back.

Aayi looked at Arjun with a tint of anger, but she knew he didn't want all these to happen.

She stood and walked out.

Arjun sat by his side and touched his back. No response.

She could feel Adi was still sobbing.

He leaned on to his side and hugged Adi tight, pulling him closer. Adi could feel Arjun nuzzling his face on Adi's back shoulders and ears.

"Sorry..." he whispered in his ears. No response yet.

"I am sorry beta. Mujhe apse gussa nahi karna chahiye tha. I am sorry."

Still no response.

"ok... maaf kardo yaar. Apke dad se naraz math hona. Ab sorry bhi keh diya na? ab aap har roz yaha hoge. Hum ek sath jogging pe chalege, aur cycling bhi. Come on... maf kardo"

"katti"

"hey aise na kehthe... please. Apko patha nahi apke bina yaha mein kithne lonely feel kar rahi thi. Ab aap yaha rukhne wale ho... I am really happy."

Now Adi was all ears. He was mellowing down. He turned to his dad's side, peeking behind from the pillow.

"tho mujhse gussa kyu kiya?"

"by chance keh diya tha baba. I am sorry." He caught his ears.

"its ok..."he just whispered.

"then can I have a smile?". Adi nods no.

"ithna bada saza? Ok... manzoor hai. Firbhi.. thode tho smile kardo please."

He gets the smallest and the cutest smile.

Arjun pulls Adi to his chest and kiss his hair. "Sorry..."

"its ok... par dad...please aise gussa math karna"

"ok... tho aap bhi aise bathein nahi karega. Manzoor?"

"but dad... usme problem kya hai? Bolna..."

"I cant beta. Wo iss weekend ko wapas jaana chahthe hai. Isme hum kya kar sakthe hai?"

"hm..."Adi gets the point. He thinks a lot.

"ab ithne sochne wale kya bath hai?"

"sorry se kuch nahi hoga"

"tho kya chahiye?"

Adi gets up from the chest and sits on the bed. "you promised me something. Yaad hai?"

"haan yaad hai. Apke wishes pending hai na? bolo kya chahiye?"

"kuch nahi. Bas kahi jaana hai"

"firse trecking pe?"

"no... aapke ghar... le chaloge mujhe?"

SCROLL DOWN FOR AN IMPORTANT NOTE