Manav was walking with Sachin towards the Taj Mahal. They both came there on Sachin's persistent. Manav was trying his best to hold the little boy as he kept running around seeing the fascinating structure and surroundings.
Sachin saw the garden and realeased his hand from Manav's grip when Manav was busy looking at the ceiling. He started to run outside when Manav caught him. He picked him up and started to scold.
Manav: Sachin, bhaago nahi! Maine kaha hai na app ghum ho jaogay. Phir akele roona mat!
Sachin: Sorry
Sachin made an innocent face and Manav ruffled his hair. Sachin was just like his brother. Very mischievous but he wud apologize in the same manner as Manav scolded him.
Manav put Sachin down as the six year old was not that light. They were roaming around when Sachin again yelled something. Manav looked at him and saw him pointing at someone.
Sachin: Kaki!
Manav looked at the slim lady standing with a few foreigners, with her back towards Manav, little bit far away from him. She was wearing black pants with a turquoise blouse. Her hair was tied up in a bun. He cud tell the lady had long hair as the bun was big. Sachin pulled Manav's hand and again spoke.
Sachin: Archu Kaki hain woh!
Manav looked at Sachin in shock and then back at the lady. That could not be Archana. Archana was not like this. How cud she b in Agra and that too like this. But it cud b possible that the lady was Archana. There were feelings of nervousness, happiness, and confusion inside him. He had not seen Archana since 6 years. She left Mumbai before his wedding with Shravani. She told him that she wanted to move on and it wud not b possible for her to move on in Mumbai. She was attached with so many people and places in Mumbai that it wud b hard for her to move on just in a day or two. She was only human and she knew wud have a very hard time moving on. Thus, she took the drastic decision. She didnt tell Manav where she was going as she told him that it didnt matter where she went bcoz he didnt need to know that now. She informed her family and left.
As Manav was busy remembering the past and looking at the woman, Sachin left Manav's hand and ran to the lady. Sachin knew it was Archana as he saw her when she turned around a bit earlier. He tugged her leg and said excitedly when Archana looked at him.
Sachin: Archu Kaki!
Archana: app kaun ho beta?
Manav recognized Archana immediately as she moved her face sideways towards him. He cud not believe he was seeing Archana after such a long time. He was surprised to see her in this new appearance.Happiness soon took over surprise and Manav smiled to see Archana so successful in life. She was speaking in English so confidently!
Archana looked at the kid and then back at the foreigners who were confused with this disturbance.
Archana: I m sorry. I dont know whose kid is this.
Manav quickly walked towards Archana as he cud tell that Sachin was disturbing Archana and her visitors.
Archana was looking around for the kid's parents when she saw Manav walking towards her. She was shocked to see him. She then realized that the kid was Sachin and Shravani's. She wondered how the boy knew her and y he called her 'Kaki'.
Manav picked up Sachin to make sure he doesnt run away anywhere this time and apologized to Archana.
Manav: Sorry woh....Yeh Sachin hai..Shravani ka beta.
Archana smiled and pulled the boy's cheeks who was smiling with his big eyes twinkling with happiness seeing Archana.
Archana: Its ok. Bauhat pyara hai.
Sachin: Kaki, app bhi hamare saath ghumo na.
Archana looked at the clients waiting and ended the converstaion with Manav quickly.
Archana: Sachin, main app k saath thodi der main ghoomti hun. Abhi main kisi aur k saath hun na.
Archana looked at Manav and gave him a weak smile. Manav knew Archana was busy with her clients and she probably didnt want to meet them so he smiled and left. He was content with seeing Archana so successful and happy.
After a while, Manav was sitting with Sachin on the bench when he received a text message on his cell phone. It was from Archana. He read it. It said 'App kahan hain? Archana' He smiled and replied her with his location. He was happy that he didnt change his old phone number.
Archana soon joined Manav and Sachin on the bench.
Archana: Woh clients aye hue the Switzerland se (Manav smiled as he remembered how Archana said Switzerland when he asked her where she wanted to go in the train. She pronounced it more correctly today) aur unhe Taj Mahal dekhna tha isliye yahan thi. Sachin se milne ka mann kiya to aa gayi. Sachin ki yaad aa gayi thi usay dekh ker. Apne baba ki tarah shararti lagta hai.
Manav: Haan. Bilkul Sachin jaisa hai. Uski kami poori ker daita hai.
Archana: Sachin, app kaise ho?
Sachin: Main theek hun. App? App mujhse milti kyun nahi ho?
Archana: Woh'meri job hai na yahan.
Sachin: Acha.
Archana: Manav app kaise hain?
Manav: Theek hun
Archana: app ki job kaisi chal rahi hai?
Manav: ab job thodi hai. mere khudh k teen garages hain ab!
Archana: Wow! Congrats! Sachin, app ne mujhe kaise pehchana?
Sachin: Manav Kaka ke paas hamesha app ki photo hoti hai aur woh app ke baray main mujhe hamesha batatay hain.
Archana: Manav 'kaka'?
Manav: Haan woh...abhi chodo....Sachin hai.
Manav whispered and Archana nodded confusingly. Sachin and Archana chatted a bit more and then Archana left.
Later at night, Archana was eating her dinner and remembered the events of the day. She was confused y Sachin called Manav 'kaka'. Y didnt he call him baba. She wanted to call Manav and inquire about it but she didnt know if she shud. She was a not a part of Manav's life so she had no right to interfere or question him. Plus, she had moved on so what was the point of going bak and asking Manav. She went to meet Sachin only and she was happy to see him. She put the dishes away and watched TV.
Manav put Sachin to sleep. He then went in the balcony. He remembered Archana. She was looking so beautiful even today. He knew she must have many questions but he didnt know if he shud call her. She was settled in her new life and he didnt want her to look bak now.
Manav remembered the day Archana left Mumbai. He was very depressed. He was sitting in his room when Shravani excitedly came in his room to show him her wedding attire. Manav looked at the red and orange saree. Shravani then gave him his shervani. It reminded him of his wedding with Archana. How both of them were dressed so royally and got married. He remembered how happy Archana was. He remembered her shy smile and her big eyes filled with dreams. He took that smile away from her and crushed her dreams. He knew he was very unfair with her. Maybe this is y he divorced her. He wanted her to b free of this unfair relation, free of an unfair husband. He looked at Shravani and knew he wud b unfair to her too. He wud never b able to love her. He wud always love Archana. He didnt want to b unfair again. He saw the same happiness and dreams emerging in Shravani's eyes as Archana when she got married. It was normal for any human to hav such dreams and expectations from their partner. But, he wud not b able to fulfill them he knew.
Manav didnt rely on Bappa this time and talked with Shravani. He knew Bappa gave him voice to talk, not to keep mum. He learned this the hard way. He told her he wud never b able to love her. He told her all his feelings. He didnt want to abandon her so he left the decision of marriage on Shravani. Shravani soon understood what Manav meant. She packed her bags and went to her dad's house. His aai was enraged when she saw Shravani leaving, which also meant the unborn child was leaving too. Manav calmed down his aai and told her everything.
Sachin was born after a few days. His whole family went to see him. They were all very happy and excited to see him. Shravani informed them in the hospital that she was going to America as soon as Sachin's visa arrived. As expected, Manav's aai created another scene at the hospital as she didnt want her Sachin to go away from her again. She fought with Shravani. Manav again tried to calm her down. They somehow got bak home and Manav got the blasting of his life for making Shravani leave their house. He quietly listened to everything. He told her only one thing, 'Aai, jab Sachin gaya tha to tujhe kaisa laga tha? Kya ab tu kisi maa se uska bacha durr karegi?' Manav knew his Aai cud not argue with him on this. They all knew it wud b too cruel to separate the mother and the child.
Shravani kept contact with Manav even after she went to America. She had sent him several pictures of Sachin. When she became a mother, she got to know how much the Deshmukh family loved Sachin, their son and their grandson. She didnt want to b cruel to another mother, Savita aai. She even visited India the last two summers. This time, she allowed Manav to take Sachin to some places. Sachin loved his Manav kaka a lot, which didnt surprise anyone. Manav shared a very special bond with Sachin. He treated him like his son, just like he treated his brother Sachin. He was the only happiness in his life and he wanted to treasure it. He also told her about Archana. He introduced her as his Kaki and shared all the happy moments he shared with her.
Manav looked at his phone and thought if he shud call Archana and let her know what happened in the past 6 years.
He whispered "I love you Archana"
He put the phone back in his pocket and went to sleep.
Nisha and Piya, I demand comments!!😈