FF: Ek Aur Zindagi.. Ch:29 page 137 - Page 12

Part 4:

Sam placed a hand on Arjun's shoulder. "tum kithna bhi use sambhaldo Arjun... he still needs a mom..."

Adi seemed to be ok after a while. Arjun waited for his son to be ok before opening the door. He walked towards the chair that had Adi and Aisha. She looked up at him. There was a lingering pain in his eyes. Something that she had seen before, but never knew the depth. She could feel the depth today. He was single father of a wonderful kid, who clearly showed how much he is missing his mom. Arjun walked towards them.

He placed his hands on Adi's hair. The little boy looked up feeling his Dad's hands. There was a tear drop still struck at the corner of the eyes. "Dad..." he whispered with pain.

Arjun lend his arms towards his son. Adi went in his arms leaving Aisha's lap, and hugged his Dad tightly. Another face of the Rawte for the team... he was hugging his son absorbing his pain...not only from the hit on the forehead but also from the little heart... or in other words he was trying to do it...

He caressed Adi's hair... the little boy still in his Dad's arms leaned back facing his father. Arjun looked at the red hit mark on the forehead and touched it gently. He winced in pain closing his eyes. "Dard horaha hai?"

He nods yes. Arjun leans forward kissing the forehead. He looks at Sam, "aaj mien aur Adi bahar jarahe hai...koi problem hai Rathod?"

Sam smiles at him. He knew that Arjun needed his long due leave. "meine kab mana kiya? Tum hi yaha ane ke zid kar rahe the..."

They have a smile. Sree tried to lighten the situation. "tho Adi, aaj ka kya plan hai?"

Adi: (smiling) patha nahi. Kaha ja raha hai Dad?

Arj: surprise hai. kisise math kehna. Warna sab hamare saath ajayege. Tho chale?

He knew what would distract Adi. The father-son duo smiles, forgetting all their pain.

Adi comes down from Arjun's arm and holds his hands.. Arjun looks at Asiha was a warm eyes. "thanks..."

She just smiles back and gives a slight nod. They were walking out of the hall, but Adi stops at the door. He turns back and sends a flying kiss at Aisha. She smiles and acts to capture it in her hands and placed it closer to her heart. All these were watched with a lot of love by the whole team. But somewhere inside Arjun was in pain. Adi getting closer to any one may create unknown feelings for the little boy. It would begin to make unknown hopes. He didn't know what to do...he had never faced it before...

They walk out hand in hand...

All turn to look at Aisha. There a smile on her lips, that lingered even when Adi had gone...

Sree come and pats Aisha's shoulder. "lovely Aisha... Adi loves you a lot...you are really comfortable with kids... tumhare bachonko koi problem nahi hoga..."

Ais: Shree!!! Stop it...

Sam: he's right Aisha. You would definitely be a great Mom...

She smiled with a slight blush. Was there any woman alive in the world that never had a dream of having her kids around her... the ones who were a part of her soul...

They resumed back to their work.

***

Arjun took Adi to the park first. There was an instant brightness in his eyes. He loved to play over there. And a day out with Dad, was truly heartwarming. The pain he had on the forehead was long forgotten now.

They parked the SUV and walked in. Arjun walked in as Adi ran into the park where there where many swings and all sorts of the play items. Arjun gave a push when Adi was on a swing that made him fly up the air. The air was so light. Even Arjun was enjoying every moment.

From swings he went to other areas and Arjun followed him everywhere.

At last Adi sat beside Arjun on the stone bench, evidently drained out, but still longing more to play around. Arjun wipes the sweat beads over Adi's forehead and hugs him sideways. Adi's eyes were struck in a direction. Arjun followed the line of sight... ice cream cart.

Arj: ice cream khaoge??

He nods yes. Ok lets go...

But then a call comes in. it was from Sam. Adi looks at his Dad narrowing his eyes. He was getting negative vibes from the call. Arjun smiled at his son. "aaj ke pure din apke saath hi hoga. I promise. Aap jakar ice cream lelijiye. Thab thak mien Sam uncle se baath kartha hu. Ye lo paisa..."

He takes the money. His first alone shopping... WOW... I'm grown up now...

The little heart couldn't resist being happy...

He walked with an air of pride, while Arjun walked a bi away, keeping an eye on Adi.

***

She was here to meet her bestie, and guess what... the so-called bestie backed off at the last moment. "gadhar kahinka... agar nahi ana tha, tho bulaya kyu??"

She decided to go out and then her eyes fell on the ice cream caert. "ab agar agayi hai tho ek ice cream tho lesakthe hai"

She walked to the ice cream cart.

***

Adi reached the ice cream cart. A lady was standing over there in a long black kurta and black jeans and a shawl. She was asking for the flavor available. Adi also listened patiently to it from the man. Before he could ask for the ice cream the lady began.

"bhaiya mujhe ek strawberry icecream...nahi vanilla.. aur kyu na mango flavor lu?? But chocolate is my favorite... with nuts and all that...I just love it.. ok chocolate hi dedo... stick... nahi corneto..."

Adi and the man were confused. In fact Adi, the junior Rawte was getting pissed off. The lady didn't have a mind to stop. At last he steps in.

"Excuse me Aunty..."

Sakshi is shocked!!! AUNTY???

He turns to the man. "bhaiya do chocolate cone icecream please..."

The man smiles at him and opens his carrier box. Sakshi was still fuming.

Man: aap bohot lucky ho beta, do hi chocolate cone ice creams the. Ye lo.

Adi pays him and takes them. he was about to turn when the lady calls back. "ye bahiya aur mien aunty kaise??"

Adi: tho aap bhabhi ho??

There was innocence and a slight touch of mocking in his tone. The man smiles and Sakshi's eyes widens. "hawww...mien aur bhabhi??"

Adi: tho kya bulau apko?

Sak: kuch bhi nahi. (to the man) aur ye apne kya kiya? Do hi chocolate cones the. Aur wo do isse dediya. Ab mien kya karu? Mujhe bhi chahiye. Mien yaha pehle ayi thi na...

Man: par apne tho kuch decide hi nahi kiya tha. Aur ye tho bacha hai. jane do. Aap kuch aur lijiye.

Sak: bache hai!! tho kuch bhi chalega?? Ye kaise? (to Adi) aur apko do ice creams kyu chahiye?

Adi: ek mere liye...ek Dad keliye...

Sak: Dad dusra khalenge

Adi: nahi ye Dad ke favorite hai.

Sak: par...

Adi: par kuch nahi... apko patha nahi dusro ko cheze nahi leni chahiye... its bad manners. Ye meri ice cream. Aap dusra lelijiye.

He pouts his face and walks away angrily. Sakshi was angrier now. "Dekha, aaj kal ke bache...uff"

Man: are Madam, aap dusra ice cream lijiye.

Sak: hm... ek starwberry icecream.

She takes it and walks off.

***

Adi reaches the stone bench. His Dad was still on call. After cutting the call Arjun turns to him. Adi's face was red. He looked so cute. "hm janab gusse me hai..."

He sat by him. "kya hua Adi?"

Adi: wo aunty... agar aunty ko aunty bulau tho problem kya hai? aur fir bhabhi bulau tho bhi problem. Unke ice creams ke ithne bade list the. Aur kuch bhi nahi liya. Jab meine 2 ice creams liya tho bhi problem. Akhir unke problem hai kya??

Arjun couldn't help his smile. Adi is really pissed now. "ab aap kyu smile kar rahe ho??"

Arjun controlling his smile. "ok baba sorry. Nahi smile karunga. Ab wo ice cream tho do. Apke gusse se ice cream jal jayega..."

Adi glares at his Dad...true copy of Rawte...

Arj: sorry baba...next time aap mujhe uss aunty ko dikhana...mien usse khoob suna dunga..

Adi: promise??

Arj: ha...pakka promise. Ab mere ice cream do...

Adi: nahi dunga. (adi licks both the ice cream heads)

Arj: haw??? That's so mean...ab mien kya karu? Baki ke ice cream apke 'aunty' ne khaliya hoga...

Adi: wo meri aunty nahi hai,,,

Arj: ok, apke nahi, kisike tho aunty hai. ab ice cream do...

Adi gets up, nods no and runs away. Arjun smiles at his son's antics and runs behind him, scoops him up and snatches the ice cream.

They have a great time there. After that they go for shopping, a movie and have fun together.

They were returning back home after the day out.

Arj: Adi...apko hamare office kaise lage?

Adi: bohot bade hai. maza aaya. Sree bhaiya ne bohot sare games bhi dikhaya.

Arj: acha!!

Adi: par ek problem hai.

Arj: kya?

Adi: sab mere baal gharab karthe hai. ya fir gal kheechthe hai.

Arjun smiles at him. He takes a hand off the steering and ruffles Adi's hair and pulls a cheek.

Adi:DAD!!! Aap bhi?? Ok aap jab karo tho problem nahi hai.. par sab kartha hai...

They talked again.

Adi: Dad...

Arj: hm?

Adi: wo didi bohot achi hai.

He knew to whom the reference was going. Aisha. "hm..."

Adi: dad, ek bath puchu? Aap mujhe hostel kyu bhej rahe ho? mien yaha ruk ke school jasakthe hai na?

Arj: ha wo tho hai . magar aap jiss school me pad rahe ho, waha aapko bohot ache future de sakthe hai. waha se padne wale sare students bohot bade ban jathe hai life main.

Adi: aap bhi hostel me the?

Arj: ha...mien bhi hostel me hi tha. Convent school mien.

Adi: oh...

Arj: aur waha se aap independent banna sikhoge...

Adi: indep...?

Arj: in..dep..ent..ent..matlab, apna kaam khud sambhalna... aur aisa sab kuch.

Adi: aur apko kaam bhi hai. thab hum dono ek saath hamesha nahi hoge right??

Arj: right!! Baath sirf kaam ke nahi hai Adi, apke life ke bhi hai...aap samjhe ya...

Adi loved his Dad's trademark line. Even he used it at times.

Adi: samajh gaye...

After some silence..."Dad, agar mumma ghar pe hothe...tho bhi hostel me hotha??"

Arjun was struck now. he knew he needed to handle this matter well.

Arj: ha Adi agar ake Mumma hothe tho bhi yahi karthe. Patha hai kyu? Kyunki apke Mumma bhi yahi chahthe the ke apke life bohot ache ho...isliye apko wahi school bhejtha. Aur ye school apke Mumma ne hi select kiya tha. Jab aap bohot chotte the..."

Adi was happy now. "sachi?? Mumma ne select kiya tha??"

Arj: ha... Sachi.

He could see Adi was happy now. there was no trace of pain in leaving home in his face. Even Arjun was happy now. by the time they reached home Adi was asleep. He takes and places him on bed. He moves the hair away from the face. "sorry Adi... I know you miss her. But mien apko kaise samjhau? Ke apke Mumma apse bohot pyaar karthe the... mujhse bhi zyada..."

Arj: nahi Roshni... hamara beta yahi rukegi...usse koi hostel nahi jana hoga...

Ros: are aap aise keh rahe ho jaise mujhe maza ayega. Lekin uss school ke bare me mien kafi sun chuki hu. It's a great school. Hamara beta bohot bada admi banega.

Arj: I have stayed in hostel Roshni. Aur mujhe patha hai, ke waha bache parents ko kithna miss karege. Hamare hothe hua aise kuch nahi hoga. And that's final.

He walks off to the hall. She smiles and touches her stomach. "suna jaan...aap yaha aye hi nahi, abhi se papa apko apne nazronse dur nahi bhejna chahthe... jaldi aao, aapko papa apka wait kar rahe hai...

He walks in and kisses her forehead. "sirf main nahi...hum... hum wait kar rahe hai apke..."

Me first !!!🥳