FF: Ek Aur Zindagi.. Ch:29 page 137 - Page 18

Part 6:

It was Aisha. After drying his hair, she combs his hair with her hand and then pulls him to her and kisses the forehead.

It was a beautifull sight…still so painful.

He kept on looking at them, and then Aisha saw that he was awake. "sir… aap uth gaye?"

Adi runs to his Dad. "Dad you alright?"

He smiles at him and nods yes. Adi climbs up the bed and sits by him. Arjun tries to get up and Aisha moves ahead. But then she stops as Adi already was there to help his Dad. Arjun leans back on the pillow without hurting his shoulder.

"Aisha tum yaha kaise?"

She smiles. "sirf mien nahi, yaha sab thi. Adi ne bulaya tha Rathod Sir ko. Aur hum sab agaye."

Arjun looks at Adi. "nashta kiya?"

Adi: ha, Didi ne diya. Aapkeliye soup bhi banaya hai.

Arj: ok. Thank you Aisha. for everything.. again…

Ais: not a problem sir. Agar aap fresh hoke aayiye. Mien soup le athi hu.

Arj: tum jao Aisha. I'll help myself. Abhi kafi time se yahi ho.

Ais: its ok sir. Aur agar apke breakfast se pehle agar mien chali gayi, tho Rathod sir bhi gussa karega.

Arj: I'll talk to him. tum…

Ais: sir please its ok. Aap fresh hoke ayiye. Apke khane ke baad mien chali jathi hu.

Arjun lost his fight.

Adi: Dad… mein help karu?

Arjun ruffles Adi's hair. "nahi superman. I can do it myself. Ithna bhi kamzor nahi hu mien."

He gets up and moves with difficulty to the washroom and close the door.

Adi: ye Dad hamesha aise hi hai. kabhi mujhe help karne nahi dethe.

Ais: kyunki apke Dad apke zaise hi hai… strong…

Adi: hm… wo tho hai.

Aisha arranges the table after reheating the soup. Arjun comes out with Adi. He has his soup and in meanwhile Sam calls and enquires about him. Arjun makes Aisha go back. And she does it after making it sure with Adi that Arjun would have his medicine.

After Aisha left, Adi brings the whole bundle of Arjun's medicine. "Dad ye sab tablets se hi pet bhar jayega"

Arjun takes his medicine in front of Adi and again Adi checks if he had it by makng Arjun open his mouth wide open.

Adi: ok ab firse so jao.

Arj: Adi I'm fine beta. Ab nahi sona.

Adi: ok tho kya karu ab?

Arj: TV dekhthe hai.

They go through the channels. Arjun stops by the news channel and listen to it. But then he saw Adi getting bored. He goes to a cartoon channel. It was Adi's favorite character over there. They together watch the show. Arjun was happy to see his boy smiling at the silly jokes. After some time Arjun drifts to his sleep, keeping his head on the headrest of the sofa. Adi place his head on his father's lap and watch TV again.

After sometime Arjun gets up and saw Adi making some pictures in his drawing book. "kya bana rahe ho?"

Adi shows it to his dad. He was drawing the sketch of the same cartoon character.

Arj: are wah, that looks good.

Adi: thanks. How are you now?

Arj: much better.

Arjun saw Adi was good at drawing. He remembered Sree's words about the summer camp. "Adi zara mere phone lana"

He brings his phone and then resumes drawing.

Arjun calls Sree. "hello Sree. Yeah I'm fine. Suno… wo summer camp ke number zara bhejna. Leme see if there is any admission open over there. Have you checked its background…. Ok… that sounds good. Ok thanks Sree."

He cuts the call and dials another number that Sree forwarded. He spoke to the lady incharge and arranges a meeting soon.

Arjun turns to Adi. "hai champ… ek bath puchna tha"

Adi: pucho.

Arj: kya tum kisi summer camp jana chahoge? Waha tumhare tharah bohot sare bache hoge. Fun. Drawing. Craft. Jana chahoge?

Adi: firse hostel jana hoga??

Arj: are nahi baba, you can come back in evening. Camp sirf day time ko hai.

Adi: strict type hai?

Arj: nahi tho. if you wish… mien tumhe waha join karwa saktha hu. Only if you wish…

Adi: sounds good. Ok.

Arj: ok. Hum kal waha chalege.

Adi: ok… dad, mere sath ludo kheloge?

Arj: kyu nahi. Leke aao. Lets play.

The father son duo has a great time together. Arjun had mild pain but Adi's company was a great comfort. Sam came at noon bringing food for all 3 of them. After food again came Adi's nurse wala role. He made sure Arjun have his rest and also had some nice time with his Dad.

***

Sakshi calls her mom's mobile nmber. As usual she didn't take it. "My typical mom" she muttered.

She tries the landline of the camp house. Sofia, her mom's assistant takes the phone informing that she was busy. She decides to visit her mom.

Mamta Anand was busy with the kids. It was just the starting days of the camp. So she had a lot work regarding the registration and make sure that the kids mingled well.

Sakshi arrives at the sunshine camp and saw her mom in between abunch of kids all talking animatedly to her.she was happy to see her mom happy. But the idea of being surrounded by these many noisy kids…God…have mercy on me.

Mamta saw Sakshi at the door. She goes to her. "wow aaj journalist sahiba yaha. Koi crime hua hai kya?"

Sak: so funny Mom. Waise ithne sare bachonke beech aap tikthe kaise.

Mom: simple. Just smile to them. Listen to them. And then they will listen to you.

Sak: nice funda. Good for you. Ab wo sab chodo. Ek news hai. mere work boss ko behad pasand aya. Its going to hit the front page soon.

Mom: that's great news Sakshi. Ab koi naye project shuru karne wale ho?

Sak: kuch socha nahi. Lekin bohot jald yes.

Mom: ok… aur…

Before she could say a little girl comes and holds her hand. "Nani chalona… khel shuru hone wale hai"

Mom: abhi ayi Sanu… aap chalo.

The girl runs to her friend. Sakshi was having a weird face. "NANI?? Yani ye sab mere bache hai??"

Mamta was laughing out watching Sakshi's face. "ha ye sab tumhare bache hai. tumhe tho bachonse se dar hai. tho yahi ek rasta tha ke mien bhi ek nani banu."

Sak: good for you mom. Kyunki aap ithne jaldi Nani nahi banne wali. Jayiye. Jaake kheliye apne pothe-pothi ke saath. Mien tho chali, meri duniya mien.

She bids goodbye and leaves and Mamta goes back to her kids.

Next day:

Arjun was feeling much better. Thanks to Adi's nurse role. He gets ready. He was taking Adi to the camp and then needed to go to hospital to change his bandages.

Sree comes in to drive for them as Arjun still had a mild pain. They reach the camp and Sree waits outside. Both the Rawtes were watching the surrounding silently. Sree chuckled for himself. "Like father, like son"

They reached Mamta's cabin and knocked. "Yes come in"

They walked in. Mrs. Anand was a lady with mild figures and a loving face. Anyone would love her in the first look. She looked like a happy person and was so gentle with kids. "Welcome sir. Please be seated."

Arj: hello mam, I'm Arjun. And this is my son Aditya.

Mam: hi there. What should I call you? Adiya ya Adi.

Adi: Aditya please.

Mam: ok fine Aditya. Tell me kaunse class me ho aap? and in which school?

Adi: I'm from St. John's School and finished my 2^nd standard.

Mam: that's great Aditya. I should say Mr. Arjun, your son is really confident one. Well done.

Arj: thanks mam. Kafi suna tha is camp ke bare me. Socha Adi ko bhi pasand ayega.

Mam: why not. Aap befikar rahiye. We'll have a great time. Right Aditya?

He nods yes.

Mam: great. Kuch formalities hai. please complete this papers. Adi…apke Mom nahi aye?

Adi and Arjun are silent for a while. Adi looks at Arjun and then to Mam.

Adi: nahi.

Mam: kyu?

Adi: wo…

Arj: Mam, she is no more.

Mamta gets silent. "I'm sorry to hurt you. Sorry Mr. Arjun. Sorry beta."

Arj: its ok mam. Ye lijiye, I have filled the papers. Aur kuch?

Mam: please meet my assistant while you go out. Nothing else. Don't worry about your son. He'll be safe here.

Arj: there is something that I need to say. I'm a police officer. So hamare work time gets absurd. So if I get late…

Mam: not a problem sir. Mien yaha bohot der thak rukthi hu. This camp is my life. Till my girl at home comes back from her work, I usually stay here. So that won't be a problem for me.

Arj: thank you so much. So I'll take leave. (to Adi) mien jau? You will have fun right?

Adi nods yes.

Arj: agar koi problem hai tho Mam se kehna ok? Bye Adi take care.

Adi: bye Dad. Hospital jaana. Aur tablets bhi lena.

Arjun ruffles his hair. "ok I'll. Bye."

Arjun leaves form there. Mamta is amused at the maturity shown by the little boy to his Dad.

Mam: apke Dad ko kya hua tha?

Adi: chot laga tha. Case ke beech me.

Mam: ok, lets go and meet others.

Adi: ok mam.

Mam: Mam nahi. You can call me Nani. Sab mujhe yaha Nani bulathe hai.

Adi (smiling): ok Nani…

The day went with fun. Adi was enjoying his time with a bunch of new kids. Nani was looking at the boy silently. There was an instant bonding with the kid.

Adi seemed to be a silent kid. No lafda and all that. He was bright. He knew the trick to lure the kid out of the hiding in a hide and seek play. He was good in drawing. There was not a time when he came into fight with kids. He was silent and ever observant.

It was evening. The kids were going home. Arjun called Nani and informed that he would be late. It was not a trouble for her. Adi was helping her in arranging back the room. Now she was allowed to call him Adi instead of Aditya.

Sakshi was tired after work. She called her Mom and said that she was coming to pick her up. She reached the camp house. Nani was in the file rooms while Adi was sitting in her office with a new attraction. A rubix cube. Nani explained about it and now he was fully absorbed in it. Though there was no progress yet.

Sakshi walked to the cabin unaware of Adi's presence in the room. She was about to take a chair when someone pushed her from back. "WTH??"

She turned around and saw a kid was already sitting on that huge chair. She narrowed her eyes when she saw his face. "Tum??"

Adi: aunty???