Hi Kaise ho? Kafi time se tension wali update hai na? How about a light update?
But with some heart aches too...
Samajh me nai aya? koi bath ni, read on,you will get...
Part 43:
Arjun dropped Aayi and Adi at home and didn't get down. He said he had some work, but Aayi could guess it well. He was not going to office. He needed some time alone.
Arjun drove away the SUV without looking where he was going to. He just kept on driving, hoping to cool his nerve. It was not the slap that hurt most, but it was the whole situation that made it. He was not sure when he stopped the SUV; he was in a deserted road with minimum traffic.
He sat insde the vehicle for a long time, thinking of matters from his childhood to the present time.
He lost the sense of time but the felt his mobile buzzing. He looked around, it was already dark, and he never knew it. The call was from home landline number. He took it. "Dad..."
"haan Adi. Bolo"
"Dad, kafi rath hogaye hai. dinner nai karoge?"
He looked time, ofcourse it was dinner time. "haan beta. Bas kuch kaam me tha. I am coming"
He cut the call. He sighed and wiped his tired face and started back home.
At home Adi cut the call and looked at Dadi. "abhi bhi upset hai. kya karu?"
"its ok beta. Dad athe hi hoge"
"mujhe zid nai karna chahiye the na?"
"its ok Adi. Dad apke wajah se upset nai hai."
"hm... ab kya karu?" he thinks for a while. "kal bahar chale? Parson school khul raha hai, usse pehle ek outing?"
"good idea. Thab Dad ka mood bhi teekh hoga"
"ok, tho kal hum 3 outing pe chalenge"
"aap dono jayiye Adi. Mien nahi. Dad aur aap khoob maza karlo."
"ok..."
Arjun comes in after some time. He almost gives a smile and apologizes for delay. They don't ask anything and tells him to fresh up and later have the dinner together.
"dad, kal bahar chale? Agle din school reopen horaha hai na? tho kahi ghoomke aye?"
Arjun thinks for a while and nods yes. Soon they go off to sleep.
Next day, Adi gets up early and pokes Arjun to wake up for the jogging and cycling. After some cute moments they go out for the daily routine and then reach home. Aayi decides to stay home while they exit home.
"tho, kaha jaana hai?"
"pehle office chalthe hai. sabse hi kehne ke baad trecking pe chalthe hai"
"lekin hum trecking keliye prepared nahi hai Adi."
"its ok, bas thode ghoomke athe hai"
He agrees and goes to office first. Adi have the usual chat with all, while Arjun goes to Sam's cabin. He had noticed Arjun's silence today. He enquired about it. He knew he had visited Rawte mansion.
"wahi hua jo nahi hona tha"
"matlab?"
"hum dono ke duri ab aur bad gaya hai Sam. Aur ye Adi keh rahe hai ke sab teekh hoga."
"hm... wo aaj wapas ja rahe hai na?"
"haan..."
"relax Arjun. zyada socho math. Aaj Adi ke sath bahar jao, thode fresh hojao."
"hm.."
"waise, ek news hai. Official tho nahi hua hai, par..."
Arjun looked up. "kya hua?"
"most probably ek-do hafte me engagement hoga"
"What??? Aur tum mujhe ab keh rahe ho?"
"relax Rawte... kuch pakka date nahi mila hai. Most probably next weekend ko hi. Maa aur Aisha ke Maa zidd kar rahe hai. Tho socha engagement yahi se karlu. Ek choti si party with just close members. Shaadi kuch mahine ke baad hi hoga. Koi kundali problems..."
"come on... kuch din pehle thak kisiko ko koi jaldi nahi tha. Ab ye sab ithne achanak kaise?"
"mujhe nahi patha. Sare family members zidd kar rahe hai. Aur mein aur Aisha ne bhi bath kiya. Ab bas engagement hi tho hai. Any way we know we will be doing it one day."
A genuine smile came on Arjun's face. "That's great. Kisiko patha hai iss bare me?"
"abhi thak kuch teekh se nai bathaya tha.par lagtha hai BBC ko patha chal gayi hai."
"BBC?? Yani Sakshi?"
Sam nods yes.
"done!! Thab tho shayad mien hi akhri member hu jisse ye bath patha chala hai"
Sam nervously rubbed his forehead. "aur there chote ko ab math bathana!! Mere band baja denge!!"
Arjun laughed at that comment and Adi knocked and entered. He was happy to see Arjun happy too.
"kya hua Dad?"
Sam nods no.
"kuch nai beta. Ab hum chale?"
"haan... bye uncle"
"acha... aya aur abhi hi bye."
"huh? Ok dad aap chaliye. Mien abhi aya"
Arjun leaves Sam's cabin. He saw the whole team near Sree's cabin.
"mere samajh me ye nahi araha hai ke Sameer Adi se ithna kyu darthe hai" all were having a good laugh at Sakshi's comment.
"kya hua? Mere bete ne ab kya kiya?"
Arjun walked in with a pleasant air. He looked at Aisha. She was trying not to meet his eyes. "Congrats Aisha. so at last chief ne qubool hai keh hi diya. Well done!"
She smiled and looked down.
"ye log bohot hi chupe rustam nikle hai, hai na Arjun?"
"hm... uthna bhi nahi..."
All looked a bit surprised at Arjun. "matlab?"
He nodded negative and by that time Adi reached him. They bid good bye and went out.
They had their small outing plan and went on with it. In between Sam's parents fix the engagement for the next weekend as it was an auspicious day. There was very little time to prepare and invite. He called Arjun's Aayi as she was a motherly figure for him too.
"sach? Bohot achi bath hai Sam! Hum apkeliye bohot khush hai. agle hafte? Yani bohot kam time hai. jaldi jaldi preparation shuru kardo."
"haan Aayi, jaldi fix hua hai. aur pehle apko hi invite kar raha hu. kal se mere family yaha pe hoge. Aur Aisha ke bhi. Bas office ke log, family ke kuch log aur kuch seniors ko hi invite kar raha hu."
"acha..."
They talked for a while and he could gather that she wanted to ask something.
"Sameer... Arjun kaisa hai? I mean aaj office me sab teekh tho the na?"
"haan. Kafi gloomy tha. Kya hua ye tho teekh se nahi bathaya. Fir bhi thode gloomy the. kya hua tha?"
"kuch teekh nahi hai Sameer. Mujhe bohot fikar horaha hai. Adi aur mere samne teekh hai. kaam karthe waqt bhi hoge. Par wo teekh nahi hai beta. Wo apne aapko firse akele kar raha hai. isiliye Adi ne usse aaj bahar jane ko kaha hai. Bache ko bhi samajh araha hai. bas Arjun maanne ko thaiyar nahi hai"
"aap fikar math kijiya. Kal se yaha hoge na... hum dekh lenge."
"teekh hai. Aisha se keh dena ke mien unke liye bohot khush hu. kyu na kal sab log yaha dinner pe aye?"
Sameer thinks for a while. "agar koi bade kaam nahi hai tho zaroor aunga."
"ok... ab rakhthi hu. khush rehna"
Later in the evening Adi and Arjun comes home. He didn't want Adi to be too tired because he had his class next day. But Aayi could see the air was lighter.
Next day:
Adi was up for the new start. After cycling, he was ready in his new uniform. Arjun was smiling watching him adjusting his new uniform in front of the mirror. "bas bas Adi... aap bohot ache lag rahe ho. aise hi khade hoge tho sham hojayega."
"dad, naye uniform hai, dekhna hoga na..."
He combed his hair well keeping every tuff in its position. Arjun watched everything and then walked to the kitchen alone.
"janab thaiyar hua?"
"nahi... lagtha hai school nahi... ledki dekhne jarahe hai"
"Arjun... chup... bacha hai wo..."
They were chuckling about the issue. They had the breakfast. Before going Aayi gave him the Prasad as it was a new start. For the day Arjun was dropping him and picking back. From next day he will have the school bus.
He dropped Adi at school and walked him to the entrance and met his teacher. After handing over and a brief hug they parted for the day.
Adi's new day was special. He was taken to his class. He another kid, Vishal was also the new kids in the class. Soon he made a few friends.
In the break all the new kids of the school were asked to assemble in a hall. He was seated in a chair and Vishal on side. Soon a new girl came and sat by his side. She was smaller than him. She looked at him and then smiled with the dimples.
All the new kid's names were called out. She was Parineeta Jain from first standard.
The kids were taken out to show the school, the rooms, halls, playground, computer labs and library. Soon Adi and his new friend Pari, started to talk.
After the intro, they went to their own class and the day ended soon.
Adi was waiting outside on a bench waiting for Dad. And so was Pari.
"hi..." he waved at her.
"hi" she was indeed cute.
"kisse wait kar rahe ho?"
"mumma ko. Mumma ne kaha hai ke aaj lene ayega. Kalse school bus me hogi. Aur tum?"
"mien,Dad ko wait kar raha hu. kalse school bus me. Kaunse bus me ho?"
"4th bus me"
"mien bhi. So, hum ek hi bus me hai." Adi beamed. She nodded yes. He heard a horn ahead. "dad agaya. See you tomorrow. Bye"
"bye"
They waved each other and Adi rushed to the SUV. Arjun was smiling. "hm... ithne jaldi girl friend bhi banaliya" he said in his mind.
Soon the trip to home was a recount of the whole day. About teachers, class, new friends in class. And then came a name, Pari.
At night, the whole team came for dinner. By now all knew about the function in the next weekend.
"Sameer, aayi aur sablog agaye?" Aayi asked him causally.
"nahi wo log kal arahe hai"
"kyu?" Adi didn't know yet. Sam looked at Arjun who was trying to hide his smirk.
"wo... wo..." Sam almost stammered.
"Adi..." Arjun got the attention. "next week there uncle ke engagement hai"
"KYA??" he squealed out starting a set of laughter all around. "engagement? (Sam nods yes) tho fir keh diya??"
Sam looked red now. "kya??"
"I love you?"
If earth could split into two and grab him down, Sam would have been the happiest. But no. Even Aisha was red now and all other had tears by laughing.
Aayi came to his rescue. "Adi... aise nahi kehthe"
"kyu?" he turns to Sam. "nahi keh sakthe?"
"nahi.. aise koi..."
"see Dadi? Koi problem nahi hai. (back to Sam, and smiling) so keh diya?"
He nods yes. "good" Adi congradulated with a smile. Sam looked helplessly at Arjun. He cleared his throat, "Adi, agle hafte party pe jaana hai na?"
"haan. Sab milke chalenge"
"wo tho teekh hai... par Aisha nahi hogi" Sakshi said with a sad tone.
"kyu Aunty?"
Sakshi wrinkled her face. "Are mere yaar, ab tho aunty kehna chod dijiye. Aisha Didi hai aur mien aunty?? Ye kyu? Didi, Di, ya fir Sakshi hi bulado. Aunty nai."
"dad ne kaha hai ke badon ko respect dena chahiye, so naam leke nai bula sakthe. Do-do didi me confuse hojayega. So aap aunty."
"par ab jab there Aisha didi'... there Sameer uncle' se shaadi karne wale hai, tho wo aunty banegi na?"
"KYA???" turning back to Sam. "Aisha didi se??"
Sam had to face palm now. He was indeed getting teased by the little kid and his notorious dad was having a great time.
Adi saw it and went to Sam's ears and whispered. "kya uncle?? Didi se kehne se dar rahe the?? aap bhi na..."
Sam plucked Adi's ear mildly. "Rawte... Aaj there bete ka khair nai..." he picked him up from ground and tickled his belly. "bade aye luctuer dene... ab bol... Bol..."
He was mercilessly tickling Adi, who was now in tears.
"bas kijiye... mar jayenge wo..." Aisha managed to speak up.
All cleared the throat for that making Sam and Aisha to glare at everyone. Aayi came to call for dinner. Adi was tired now and was with Arjun. Aisha just passed by Sam casualy. "aise kya keh diya Adi ne?"
He looked around to give a quick reply. "later"
Soon dinner turned out to another fun event. Another running commentary of the new school and friends and of course leg pulling session.
A week passed very soon. Daily Adi met Pari in school bus and were good friends.
It was the eve of the function. Arjun and Sam were at the entrance welcoming the guest along with Sam's dad. Aisha, clad in a beautiful lehenga was ready with Sakshi and Liza. Aayi was helping Sam's mom.
Today Adi was in a kurta pyjama, and was very happy. It was one of his first functions after a long time. He was Sree or Chotu or with the ladies.
"Sakshi, Rishab nahi aya?" Liza asked a bit teasingly.
"I called him. athe hi hoge"
"don't you think Aisha, ke ye just friends' kuch zyada hi hai"
"I think so, Liza."
"come on girls... tum janthe ho... he is juat a good friend"
"ya ya... Aur kafi ache good friend bhi. Its very clear he likes you. Aur wo tumhe time deraha hai. warna tum dono apne sare chote bade bath discuss kyu karthe ho?" Aisha wanted to ask this for a long time. "aur jaha se mien dekh rahi hu, I can see the changes in you Sakshi. Its time to rethink"
"chodo yaar... aaj tum enjoy karo. Zyada socho math"
Adi reaches them. "are wah mere yaar, kafi cool lag rahe ho"
"thanks aunty" Sakshi beats her forehead. "he bhagwaan... firse aunty!!"
Adi turned around. "oh no... Chipku aunty!!"
"kaun?" the ladies were amused. He points to Arjun who had Sheen by his side. Raghu sir and family had just arrived and Sheen went to hug Arjun.
"Chipku nahi, wo Sheen hai" Sakshi was giggling.
"patha hai... par chipku hi hai. hamesha dad ke paas chipak jathe hai"
They were trying best not to laugh aloud. Soon he said something else. "Pari??" he ran to his dad.
"ab ye kaun hai?" Sakshi looked ahead.
"are yaar... ithne chote umar me GF bhi?" Liza was surprised.
There after inviting Raghu sir and family, then Coehlo and family came in. they shook hands.
"Mubarak ho Sameer. Aur ye hai meri beti Natasha. Aur pothi Pari"
"I know Natasha. Apke husband, Arun Jain... right? Wo nahi aye?"
"nahi, wo ek business meet pe gaye hai."
"Pari?" came in Adi and smiled at the kid. He looked up at Arjun. "dad... Pari" he introduced the kid. "oh..."
Coehlo looked at the kid. "Rawte? Your son?"
"ji sir.Aditya."
"hello young man. How are you?" Coehlo shook hands with Adi. "I am good Sir, thank you"
"tho aap janthe ho Pari ko?"
"haan, school me mili thi"
Pari's mom ruffled his hair. "tho aap hai Adi, Pari ke naye friend. Bohot bath karthi hai apke bare me."
He smiled sheepishly. Sam was amused.
He invited everyone in. "Adi, Pari ko sabse milwado" Sam helped out Adi. This was his little chance. Arjun rolled his eyes. Adi called Pari to Aisha and others. They went in with Pari's mom.
Sam turned to Arjun with a smile. "What??" Arjun almost barked at him.
"hm... mubarak ho. apke hone wale bahu, kafi cute hai. aur wo bhi Coehlo sir ki pothi!! Double Mubarak ho"
"Shut up Sam!!"
He walked in to speak to Sam's parents. It was almost time to start the function.
Udne Ki Aasha
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