FF: Ek Aur Zindagi.. Ch:29 page 137 - Page 33

Part 10:

Sakshi was concentrating on her cube. It was not an easy task. The usual dare devil was finding it difficult to solve the cube. And the most important matter that hit her ego was that it was a 'kid' who had challenged her.

Sameer and Arjun walks to the hall. There was no new case since evening. So they were a bit free, much different to the routine.

Sam: how about a dinner together?

Sr: great idea sir. Aise free time thodi na milthe hai.

Sam: ok then let's go for dinner together. Rawte lets pick up Adi on the way too.

Ai: mien Sakshi aur Liza ko bhi inform kar dethi hu.

She walks out. After a while the team meets up at the office.

Sa: sorry Sameer, I wont be able to come for the dinner. Aaj mom ko promise kiya tha ke aj dinner pe chalega. Hope you don't mid.

Sam: it's ok. You carry on.

She goes out first to pick up her mom. The team stays behind to wrap up the day.

In the camp, Adi was waiting for his dad. He was in nani's room keeping his head on the table and waiting, while nani was busy in a file.

Na: bore hogaye ho aap?

Ad: ha… ye Dad kaha gaye? Aaj firse koi case me hoge.

Na: (smiling) aaj bohot ache task dediya aapne apke aunty ko.

Ad: wo yaha kyu aye hai? aap janthe ho usse?

Na: ha. Beti hai wo meri.

Ad: kya?? Sachi??

Na: ha. Kya hua? Aap ithne shocked kyu hai?

Ad: bilkul apke tharah nahi hai.

"Matlab??" Came Sakshi's voice from behind. "mien meri mom ke tharah kyu nahi hai?"

Ad: nani bohot ache hai. aur aap…

Sa: mien achi nahi hu?

Ad: meine aise tho nahi kaha. Aap bohot bathein karthe hai.

Sa: hawww…. That was a bit rude, Adi.

Ad: sorry.

Sofia come in. "Adi apke papa aye hai."

Sakshi wished to see this Adi's notorious father. Her mom had said 100 words about him now.

Sa: chalo aapke dad se bhi milthe hai.

Na: nahi Sakshi. Tum yahi rukho. Sofia, Adi ko lejao.

Sa: par kyu? mien usse kyu nahi dekh sakthe hai?

Ad: apne wo cube complete kiya?

Sa: ab beech me ye cube kaha se aya?

Ad: apne complete kiya?

Sa: nahi…I'm on it.

Ad: ok then, aap wo complete karo. Fir sorry. Fir friends. Aur fir mere dad se bhi milna. Beech me cheating math karna. Good night Nani.

Na: good night beta.

He just gives a look at her and goes out taking his bag.

Sa: iska looks tho dekho. Bilkul wo akdu ACP ke tharah. Aur aap mujhe kyu rokh rahe the?

Na: kyunki aaj sabere bhi wo tumhare bare me puch raha tha. Give him some time to settle. Uske baad mil lena. Aur ab Adi ne bhi keh diya hai.

Sa: God… ye aajkal mere saath kya horaha hai? khair wo sab chodo. Bohot zor se bhoog lagi hai. dinner pe chalne ka plan hai na?

Na: ha bas 2 min. tum baito.

She settles and hears a vehicle zooming out.

***

Arjun and team were waiting at the camp when Sofia came through the way. She went inside to get Adi. In a few minutes he was running with his bag on his back towards them. The smile on the so-called Akdu ACP's face… It was pure bliss. He scooped him up. "kaise ho champ?"

Ad: great. Aaj wo aunty fir ayi thi.

Arj: kya?? Firse?? I told nani not to let her in.

Ad: are dad, wo nani ki beti hai. ab wo sab chodo… wo mujhse sorry kaha. Aur meine usse ek task diya. Uske baad hi sorry milegi.

Arj: kaise task?

Ad: wo sab hai. Ab ye bathao, aaj sab yaha kyu aye hai?

Sam: kyunki hum dinner pe jarahe hai. chaloge?

Adi: such?? Ha chalo…

All gets in the SUV. Sam takes the driving seat. Arjun next to him, with Adi in his lap, facing Arjun, so that he can see everyone. All others at back.

Adi: Sree bhaiya, wo game ke kya hua? Aap jeeth gaye?

Sr: not yet champ. Abhi bhi bohot sare levels baki hai.

Ad: Chotu bhai ko bolo ke sab ko zor se marne ko. Thab next level pohonch jayega.

Ais: Adi camp me sab kaisa chal rahe hai? naye friends mila?

Adi: ha mila. Ache hai. sab yaha ke hai. (looking at Arjun) koi hostel me nahi rahthe.

Arjun brushes Adi's hair from the forehead. "hm…."

They reach the hotel. As the walked in many of the hotel staffs recognized them. They were taken care well.

Adi helps himself beside Arjun. He was in between Arjun and Aisha. Sam sat opposite Aisha and Chotu opposite Arjun. Sree sat beside Arjun and Liza opposite him.

Adi was amused. "uncle yaha sab hume aise kyu dekh rahe hai? jaise hum ye hotel hi khane aye hai?"

Li: shayad Chotu ko dekh ke dar gaya hoga.

Ch: Liza…

Adi and team have a hearty laugh. Food came. In between talks Adi chokes his food. He starts to cough badly. Arjun and Aisha come to help soon. All looked a bit worried.

Arj: (patting Adi's back) Adi… you alright? Lo pani peelo.

Ais: sir ek minute. Let him take his breath. Adi utho beta.

She tries to get Adi to her lap and massages his back. Arjun justs sits back silent…

Aisha was massaging Adi's back, while he leaned to her shoulder. "aap teekh tho hai na Adi?"

He slowly nods yes. "lo…ab pani peelo… dheere..that's a good boy…ab aram se baito…"

She looks at Arjun. He looked worried. "Relax sir. He is fine."

He nods absently and then looks at Adi. Little boy looked tired after all those coughing session. He pats his hair.

Ad: I'm fine dad.

He smiles. "ab dheere dheere khana khao. Ok…"

Adi resumes his food but not fully. He was a bit off.

Ar: kya hua?

Adi: bas dad. Ab aur nahi.

Ar: par abhi thak kuch khaye hi nahi. Thode aur khalo. Please…

Adi nods no. A hand with food comes in front of him. He turns to Aisha. She smiled at him. "Thode aur khalo."

Adi felt something different. He didn't actually need that food, but as if a trance he opened his mouth. Aisha helps him with a few morsel of food. Arjun looks at it. He looks away. Sam could see the pain and again the helplessness in Arjun's eyes. Infact anyone could see it. After food Adi goes with Arjun to get fresh up and then leaves shortly. Adi was back in his Dad's lap. He was tired and sleep was slowly coming in. he was leaning onto Arjun's chest hands wound around the waist.

Aisha was noticing the little boy. But more than one pair of eyes was watching her.

***

Sakshi and mom have their dinner. They were riding back on Sakshi's scooty. But she stopped abruptly at a side.

Mom: ab kya hua?

Sa: (with a cheeky smile) Kulfi…

Mom: ithne raath ko? Pagal hai kya?

Sa: come on mom... khulfi ke samne tho aise math bol… come lets have one.

She drags mom and buys one for each of them. They walk by the footpath for a while.

Mom: Sakshi… aaj kal tumhe ho kya gaya hai? jis Sakshi ko bachonse nafrat thi, ab kaha gaye? Uske ek mafi keliye ithne thadasthi hai?

Sa: mom… you got me wrong. Me ithne badi despo nahi hu. Ha… meine ye sab kiya hai. kyunki wo mujhe challenge kiya hai. Sakshi Anand ko ek bache ne chalenge kiya?? Ab uske bad hath jodke thone na bait sakthe hai.

Mom: wo tho hai. lekin wo challenge isliye kiya kyunki apne usse majboor kiya. Right?

Sa: wo sab mujhe nahi patha. Aap bas khulfi khao.

Mom: sach bol. Did you feel something special about him?

Sa: (thinking a bit) ha thode bohot. Sabke tharah shor nahi karthe. Lekin bathein karna koi usse seekhe. Attitude..bapre… fir bhi kuch hai usme.. dekhna bade hoke… koi attitude king hi banega wo…

Mom smiles at her daughter's antics. (in mind) patha nahi kyu mujhe aise lagtha hai ke, Adi tumhare zindagi me kaafi changes le ayegi. Aur jis attitude king ke bare me tum keh rahe ho… shayad tum hi uske sabse ache dost bhi banoge…

Sa: mom… kaha kho gayi ho aap? Ab jaldi khao. Ghar jaana nahi hai kya?

Mom: ha. Chalo. Raath kafi hochuke hai.

***

Sam drives Arjun and Adi to their home. Adi was asleep now. Arjun takes Adi to his shoulders. Adi mumbles in his sleep and then settles on his Dad's shoulder. Arjun bids a quick goodbye and turns. But then he turns to Aisha.

"thanks. Once again"

She nods as her response and Arjun walks away. There was a silence that prevailing inside the SUV. Sam takes his vehicle out of the lane.

Li: Aisha, you again proved it yaar. You will be a great mom.

Ai: Liza please…stop… meine wahi kiya jo koi bhi karthe hai.

Sr: but ek bath tho hai Aisha. kaash Adi ko tumhari tharah ek mom miljathe… he really needs a mom. Aur Arjun sir ye baath kyu nahi samajh rahe?

Sam: Sree???

Sr: sorry sir... wo mien bas aise hi..

Sree stamers. Chotu and Liza give him an evil grin. Sree glares at them.

Though Sam had stopped them, he never was opposing them. Even he knew how much Adi needed a mom.

***

Arjun placed Adi on his bed. Adi turns around a bit awake. "dad hum ghar agaye?"

Arjun sits by him and ruffles his hair. "ha.. agaye. Aap so gaye the na?"

Ad: chalo sothe hai.

Arj: mien abhi fresh hoke aya.

Ad: nahi… abhi aao please…

Arjun smiles and then removes his wallet, gun and socks and slides beside Adi. The son turns to his side and hugs Arjun by waist and keeps his head on the chest.

Ar: Adi… aap kuch bhool gaye hai.

Ad: kya?

Arjun brings up a rubix cube. Adi smiles happily holding it. "Wow, apko yaad tha? Thanks Dad…" he kisses his Dad's cheeks and stays back on the chest, holding the cube.

Arjun pats Adi to sleep and kiss the hair. He takes off the cube from his hand and places Adi gently on to the bed and covers him with a blanket. After fresh up, he too slides into the blanket.

The evening matters were coming in front of him. How Aisha was taking care of Adi. How she fed him. The care in her eyes.

He closed his eyes. "kaash uske jagah tum hothe… Roshni…"

***

Sakshi and mom reached back home. After fresh up they went to sleep. Late night, mom went to kitchen to have some water. She saw a light from Sakshi's room. Her work usually keeps her awake at night. Mom went to her room.

Sakshi was in her bed, with a table lamp on.

She was trying to fix the cube…

***

Sam was tired too. After making a coffee, he went to the balcony.

He too was remembering the evening. Arjun looked so vulnerable when anything related to Adi comes up. He wished there was some cure for it. Aisha helping Adi might have hurt Arjun a lot.

He remembered Sree's words…

"kaash Adi ko tumhari tharah ek mom miljathe…"

Yeah she would be a great mom… Adi's mom…

It hurt him…