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

Part 9:

Arjun was driving home. Adi was too silent today. Not a word about the update at the camp. It showed that he was too upset. "Adi…"

He turned at his Dad. "kuch tho bolo… kaho kya khaoge aaj? Hum kahi ghoomne chale?"

Adi: nahi Dad. Aaj nahi.

Arj: kyu? aaj kyu nahi?

Adi: nahi… aaj nahi.

Arj: ok. No problem.

He reached a lesser rush region. "Drive karna chahoge? Mien thak gaya hu?"

A small smile on the little lips. God… that was cute.

He nodded yes. Arjun parked the SUV on a side and pulled Adi to his lap. They drove together.

"Adi horn lagana… ok turn right… great…"

Though the wheel was under Arjun's control, Adi had a feel of driving himself. It brought back him a bit. Arjun was relaxing now. "Adi… bhoog lage hai. kisi hotel ke aur drive karna please…"

Adi: kaha jaana hai apko?

Adi: jaha aap lechaloge…

Adi gives the name of one of his favorite restaurant. They drive together and had a dinner. One more mission accomplished for Arjun.

Arj: ab chale? Bade neend arahe hai.

Adi: koi baath nahi, mien drive kartha hu. Aap aram kijiye.

Arj: thank you Mr. Aditya Rawte.

Adi: you are welcome Mr. Arjun Rawte. Chale?

He was on Arjun's lap again and drove together back home. Now Adi was completely out of his gloominess.

After fresh up, they were ready for bed. Arjun's mobile rang. Adi climbed up Arjun's bed and was waiting for him. Arjun mentioned he would be back and walked out. It was call from Sam.

Sam: hello, Arjun! Adi kaise hai?

Arj: much better now. camp me ek problem hua tha.

Sam: kya?

He mentions the matter. Arjun was silent after that. Sam sensed it.

Sam: tum teekh tho hai na Arjun?

Arj: mujhe kya hua hai Sam? Usse ye sab sunna pada na... dard usse hua hai.

Sam: bano math Arjun. I know you well enough. Ab Adi kaha hai?

Arj: room me hai. We had a drive, dinner. Ab he is fine.

Sam: aur tum?

Arj: mien bhi…

Sam: Adi ne drive kiya hoga right? He loves to drive.

Arj(smiling): ha aaj bohot drive kiya. It was the only way to bring him back.

Sam: hm… wo wapas ja rahe hai kal?

Arj: patha nahi. Kal puchunga. Agar jana chahthe hai, tho fine. no problem. Nahi tho… I wont force him.

Sam: good. Kal puch lena. Agar wo tumhare sath time bithana chahthe hai, then take leave tomorrow. Yaha mien sambhaltha hu.

Arj: ok bye. Good night.

Sam: good night. Adi se bhi keh dena mere tharaf se.

Arj: ok.

Line goes off. He takes a breath and walks in. Adi was waiting for him, half asleep. He caresses Adi's hair. "kiska call tha dad?"

Arj:Sam uncle ka. Tumse good night kaha hai.

Adi: mere bhi keh dena.

Arj: ok.

Adi rolls onto his Dad and climbs up on his chest. That's his best bed. On the top of Arjun.

"Good night Dad."

"good night beta."

He was fast asleep. But not Arjun. He was feeling very upset. He kept stroking Adi's back. His eyes were full and looking at the photo.

"Sorry Roshni. I promised you ke kabhi bhi Adi ko tumhari kami mehsoos karne nahi dege… I failed today. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry…"

Tears lost its control and glided down from his eyes.

He could see himself in a white corridor. All were moving around. But he was lost looking at the red light high above him. His hands and shirt was soaked in blood. He waited like ages...

At last the light was off. A doctor came out. "I'm sorry sir… we couldn't save her"

The world stopped over there…

"Dad…" he mumbled in his sleep turning his head. It brought him back.

"hm…" he waited for his son. But he was in his dreamland… with his dad as always…

***

Aisha was walking out of her cabin when she noticed light in Rathod's cabin. She walked in and knocked. With permission she walked in.

Sam: Aisha tum gaye nahi.

Ais: bas nikal raha tha sir. Aap abhi thak gaye kyu nahi?

Sam: nahi, kuch khas nahi. Khair chalo, I'll drop you.

They walked out. Sam was unusually silent today.

Ais: sir any problem?

Sam: nahi wo bas…

He hesitated.

Ais: sorry sir. Mien interfere karna nahi chahthi thi.

Sam: aise bath nahi hai. wo… Rawte thode tensed the Adi ko leke.

Ais: Adi teekh tho hai na sir?

Sam: ha ab teekh hai. camp me kisi ne Adi ko hurt kiya. Uske mom ke naam leke.

Ais: oh God… wo bichare tho toot gaye hoge.

Sam: ha wo bhi… aur Arjun bhi…

Ais: patha nahi Arjun sir akele kaise manage karthe hai. ek bache ko palne uthna asan kaam nahi hai. wo bhi maa ke bina.

Sam:yeah I know. Magar wo kisi aur ko apne life me ane bhi nahi dethe. I spoke to him many times. But you know how he is.

Ais: yeah… ab Adi kaise hai? baath hua usse.

Sam: nahi, lekin Arjun said he is fine.

Ais: bache aise hi hai sir. Bohot jald tuut jathe hai, aut aise hi teekh bhi hothe hai.

Sam: hm…

Ais: mere mom kehthe the ke mien kafi ziddi thi. Bechari kaafi thak gaye the mujhe palne me.

Sam smiles. For the first time a non-case talk was coming up.

Sam: wo tho mien samajh saktha hu. I mean tum abhi bhi kuch kam nahi ho.

Ais: that was so mean sir. Mien ithne bhi ziddi nahi hu.

Sam: sorry it was just a joke.

Ais: its ok sir. Well sir, I really know mien kafi bhayanak type kid thi. Mom ek working lady thi. Unke bhi time schedule mere sath match nahi karthe the. Aur dad ne kafi saal pehle hi divorce kar diya tha mom ko. So it was just me and my mom. Aur hamari duniya. Har roz uthna time tho nahi milthe the hum dono ko ek sath. Magar jo time milthe the, usme hum khush the. Even now… wo waha Delhi me, aur mien yaha… sorry did I bore you?

Sam: not at all. Mere story kuch different the. Mere family tho Jaipur me the. Mom ek typical house wife thi. Aur unki life mission thi unke husband aur mere khayal rakhna. Aur kuch bhi nahi. Kabhi bhi babasa ke samne awaz uthake nahi dekha meine. Lekin mien kafi bar sun chukka hu. As you termed it, mien bhi kafi bhayanak type bacha tha. Kya maar kathe the kabhi kabhi… my God…

She laughed at it. "wow… kafi badmash the aap? Mien tho kabhi mar nahi khayi… ha kabhi kabhi khayi hai…lekin uthna zyada tho nahi…"

He laughed too.

Ais (in serious tone): alag alag chehra… alag alag roop…. Magar dil me wahi pyaar… right sir?

Sam: well said again.

They reached her home. "lo ghar agaya."

Ais: thanks sir. Aaj bohot acha lagi apse baath karke.

Sam: me too. Waise uss din Sree ne teekh hi kaha tha… the way you interact with Adi… it shows you will be a great Mom too one day.

Ais: thanks sir. I really mean it. any way Good night sir.

Sam: good night Aisha.

She walks in with a smile. He looks at the retreating figure and the drives away.

He reached home. He was feeling better now.

After the call to Arjun he was disturbed a lot.

He could remember the lost Arjun who was sitting with a heavy heart that day. Not even his call could reach his ears. It was Adi's cry that woke him up… he held Adi tight in his arms... there was no tear to shed…he just held the infant in his arm… saying sweet nothing in his ears…

He felt his eyes burning. A lump in his throat. He needed to speak. He dialed a number. Someone took it in the second ring…

"hello Sameer beta… soye nahi ab thak?"

He smiled at the voice. It was the most soothing voice he could wish for. "maasa… apko kaise patha chala ke mien hu?"

"hat… Maa hu thera… mujhe nahi patha kya? Khair…. Kya hua? Awaz aise kyu hai? tum teekh tho hai na? khana khaya?"

He smiled again. For the world he may be the chief of ETF… for her he was still a kid.

Before he could stop himself he was opening his heart to her. And she stood there listening to his each word… each sigh…

***

She sat on the sofa for a long time. Her mom didn't come out for dinner. After a while the light in her bedroom goes off. She waits for a while and walks in without knocking. Mom knew her presence but kept quite. She felt her blanket moving a bit away and then a hand along her waist. Though she was angry, she couldn't help a small smile.

Sakshi placed her face on her mom's shoulder, keeping it close to the chest. She hugged her tight.

"Mom… I'm sorry… really really sorry…please maaf kardo"

No response.

"I know mien duniya ke sabse bada stupid hu… idiot kahinki… please I promise I wont repeat it again… please…"

Still no response.

"mujhe aaj office me bohot gussa aya. Mere boss ne mere dimag khaya. Kehthe hai ke mujhe mature banna hoga. Aur…"

Mom: tumhare sir ne teekh hi tho kaha hai.

She raises her face and looks at her mom. "that's so rude. Aap unke side me ho?"

Mom: mien kisike side pe nahi hu. I don't even know him. par ye sach hai ke tumhe aur matured behave karni hai. masti mazak hamesha nahi chalegi Sakshi. Aaj hi deklo… tumhara gussa uss insaan pe... aur nikala uss bichare pe. Kyu? uske kya galthi thi?"

She pleace her face down and tights her hold. "I know, I did a wrong thing. And seriously I'm sorry. Please mujhse naraz math hona… please…"

Mom: ok… lekin ek sharth par.

Sak: (excited) I know…. Mujhe Adi se sorry kehna hai na… I will say sorry tomorrow. Promise.

Mom: nahi, wo nahi hai. pehle tumhe tumhare sir se sorry kehna hoga.

Sak: KYA?? Uss khadoos ko?? No way.

Mom: then go away.

Sak: mom… ok fine…I'll say it. lekin pehle Adi se.

Mom: nahi, pehle boss, fir Adi.

Sak: hm… not fair…ok… teekh hai. koshish karungi. Agar sorry bolne ke baad zinda bachungi, tho Adi se bhi sorry keh dungi… par chance thode kam hai…

Mom smiles.

Sak: mom… meine pudding banayi thi. Fridge me hai. aap kal khaogi na?

Mom: hm…

Sak: kal mien camp asakthi hu?

Mom: hm…

Sak: kya mien…

Mom: Sakshi… mujhe bohot neend arahi hai, hum kal bah kare?

Sak: yeah sure… no problem. Good night mom.

Mom: good night Sakhi…

She hugs mom tight. But sleep was not coming in. "Mom…"

No reply. She looks up her mom's face. "sorry mom… really sorry…" she keeps her head down to sleep. Mom smiles a bit and hugs Sakshi too.

***

Adi gets up and rubs his dad's cheeks. Arjun was already awake but was acting to be asleep. "Dad utho… jogging pe jana hai…Dad… uthna… dad??"

No response. He gives a wicked smile and was about to tickle dad, that he feels himself rolling on the bed with his dad tickling him mercilessly. "Dad…chodo…please… Dad…"

They fall back laughing on the bed tired. "chale champ?"

Adi: chalo…

He runs out to get dressed before his dad comes in.

Arj: are dressing bhi karliya? Mere ane se pehle?

Adi: aap bohot naughty ho. isliye jaldi change kar liya.

Arj: acha mien aur naughty??

He scoops him up and starts his next session of his tickiling till he put him down in SUV.

He jogs, while Adi enjoys his cycling. Afterwards they were coming back.

Arj: Adi aaj ka kya plan hai?

Adi: plan?? Camp jana hai… aur kya?

Arj: tum wapas jana chahthe ho?

Adi: ha kyu??

Arj: kuch nahi… bas…

Adi: dad, I'm fine. ab jaldi karo… bhoog lagi hai. mien jaldi jaldi drive karu?

Arj: nahi ab mien hi drive kartha hu.

They reach home, after dailt routine Arjun drops Adi at camp. Nani was happy to see him back fresh. Arjun moves in to speak to Nani, while he goes to meet his friends.

Arj: good morning mam. Kya uske bare me patha chala?

Nani: ha… magar… I hope you will forgive her.

Arj: wo bath mujhpe chod dijiye. Pehle bathayiye tho sahi kaun hai wo.

Nani: (a bit worried) mien usse janthi hu. Wo thode upset thi, isliye ye sab hua. I promise ab kabhi nahi hoga.

Arj :magar…

Adi comes in to him. "dad, aap gaye nahi?"

Arj: nahi bas nikal raha tha.

Adi: dad kya aap aise ek laoge mere liye?

He shows him the rubix cube.

Arj: sure. Aaj rath ko milega.

Adi: good. Bye dad. Sab bula rahe hai

Arj: bye Adi. Take care.

Adi runs away.

Nani turns to him. "sir….hum hamesha bachonse kehthe hai ke wo hame dekh ke padhe. Lekin hume bhi bachonse kafi kuch seekhna hai. dekhiye, kal thak ke Adi nahi hai aaj.. wo bohot jald sabko maaf karthe hai. They give everyone a second chance. Please aap bhi dijiye…"

Arjun wished to enquire more, but left it for the time being. "ok, ab keliye chodtha hu. Lekin not for the next time."

Nani: there won't be a next time.

Arjun walks away. He was not pushing this matter aside. He made a mental note to speak 'well' to that person when time comes.

***

Sakshi was really worried. She was biting her nails. Aisha, Sree, Chotu and Liza were watching this.

Ch: kya hua? Koi exam hai kya?

Sak: aisa hi samajhlo. Aaj samjhe ya samjhau ke samne mere agni pariksha hai.

Li: kya?

Sak: kya...kyu sab chodo… please pray for me ke mien zinda bachu.

Sr: expect the unexected Sakshi.

Sak: unexpected kya hai? mere bachna ya na bachna…

Ch: wo tho samay hi bathayega. Abhi samay hai Arjun sir ke entry ke.

Sak: unke cutting chai ke entry kab hai?

Ais: unke aane ke 10 min baad.

Sak: tho wo hi rahu kaal hai…

She walks in with a glass of cutting chair to his room. He was in his chair twisting a pen.

He looked up when she placed the cup. He didn't say anything. She didn't go out too.

Arj: kuch kehna chathe ho? ya iss glass ko bhi thodna chahthe ho?

She was getting all the answers in her mind, but then she took a deep breath.

Sak: nahi… wo... mien… apse sorry kehne ayi thi…kal ke liya… aur uske pehle din keliye… in fact har din keliye…

He looked amused. "ab ye kya drama hai?"

Sak: aap mujhe maaf kardoge na? I'll behave properly form now. please… sorry…

Arj: you may go.

Sak: maaf kiya?? Ya nahi?

Arj: you may go now Sakshi.

Sak: ek yes or no bolo na Arjun… kyu ithna attitude dikha rahe ho?

Arj: tum sorry kehne aye the ya gaali dene?

Sak: ok sorry, sorry. Bas ek bar bolo maaf kiya.please…

Arj: (frustrated) ok fine. Now go.

Sak(excited) thanks thanks…ab mien unse mil sakthi hu..

Arj: kisse??

Sak: hai koi…. Khiar… thanks . bye…

She runs out. "pagal ladki… ab kiske dimaag khane ja rahi hai… I pity on that person"

***

Its lunch break. no new case. She calls mom. "Mom, meine unse sorry keh diya. Ab mien Adi se mil sakthi hu?"

Mom: Sakshi, patha nahi wo tumhe dekh ke kaise react karege. I promised his father ke ab koi problem nahi hogi. So please don't come.

Sak: mom I promise koi problem nahi hogi. Just ek sorry kehke aungi… ok then see you soon.

Before mom could say anything, line goes off. "ab kya hoga bhagwan…"

***

She reached the camp. Mom was chanting… "behave ok… aaj koi problem nahi honi chahiye.. warna iske dad…"

Sak: mom, chill. Iske dad se bhi khadoos insane ko mien office me dekhtha hu. Ab fikar math karo. Trust me.

Mom: sorry beta… but I don't trust you…. That too with Adi.

She walks in, and mom waits at the door, excepting the worst. Adi was with his friends, then he saw her and moved away to his seat. He was looking everywhere but not at her. To keep him busy, he took his cube. She sat by him.

Sak: hai…

He didn't look up.

Sak: wapas hi na kehna bad manners hai.

"hi…" he says without looking at her.

Sak: naraz ho? (no answer) I know aap naraz hoge. I hurt you na… but I'm sorry. Kal mere mood kharab thi… isliye… I'm sorry.

He looks at her. "uss din park me bhi apke mood kharab the?"

More than a question, it was an accusation. She felt it.

Sak: ha kuch kuch… magar uskeliye bhi sorry. Mafi milega?

No reply.

Sak: dekho mafi karne se god bohot khush hothe hai. (no reply) ok, then tell me what should I do? Jo bhi kahega mien karungi. Bas aap mujhe maaf kar dena.

He looks at her. Now ball was in his court.

Adi: kuch bhi karoge?

Sak: ha kyu nahi. Ab hum dost jo hai.

Adi: ji nahi. Aap mere dost nahi hai. agar banna chahoge tho kuch karni hogi.

Sak: bolo.

Adi shows her the cube. "patha hai ye kya hai? (she nods) isse teekh karna athi hai? (she nods slowly) ok…

He twists and turns the cube many times. And then gives to her. "jab aap ye teekh karoge, uss din mien apko maaf karunga. Aur hum friends bhi hoge"

Her eyes pop out. Nani was ready to bang her her head on the door now.

Sak: ye… ya kaisa kaam hai?

Adi: agar karni hai tho karo. Nahi hai tho jao…

Sakshi didn't have a choice now. she takes it. "ok… karungi…ab mien chalu?"

He nods yes. He was too happy now.

Adi: aunty…

He calls her back when she was near the door.

Sak:aunty nahi Sakshi.

Adi: ye kaise naam hai? nahi aunty hi teekh hai. yaad rakhna..koi cheating nahi. Apko akele karni hai. samjhe??

She nods yes. She was so lost that she missed the tone of another Rawte in front of her…

She goes to her cabin in ETF. Arjun was passing by the hall. It was silent. "aaj ithna sannata kyu hai?"

He saw her in her cabin, for the first time, she was silent. "ab patha chala ke ithna shanti kyu hai"

He saw her face in real concentration. She was twisting a rubix cube.

"ye cube aaj kal trend me hai kya?"

He remembers Adi that he needed one too. He made a note to buy it while going back.

Raisha convo was cute!

i loved Adi...and tha cube thing was cute! 😉

thanks for the dedication btw..