Part 11:
A perfect morning:
It's a rare event for the ETF to have a normal morning. A late call usually comes in when its least expected. Then no time for breakfast, no daily routines. Everything becomes secondary owing to just a phone call. But today it was a bit different.
He woke up early as usual. He was in his bed itself for a while. Later after fresh up he wore his track pants and T shirt and went out for his jogging. A perfect day starts for Sameer Rathod. He jogged to the beach with a cool air flowing through his hair. The surrounding was so fresh and fine. It's tough to imagine that a city that can have this face, also have another face. It just shows nothing is static around us.
After a long jog, he settled near a familiar chai wala and stood there ordering for a chai. He was looking around. The city was waking up; more joggers were coming in. "saab apke cutting chai…"
He took his cup and sat by a stone bench. A small cup of hot steaming tea had a lot of memory with it. There was a time when he and Arjun used to jog together racing along the beach. When duty and family came forward, he started missing his friend. And now he knew that his buddy would be snuggling along with his son, or else running behind him to get ready or else jogging along a park. Imagining Arjun along with Adi made a smile on his lips.
But would it have been different if Roshni was also there? May be yes…
Roshni was a great girl. Arjun had introduced her to Sam when their love was in air and instantly there was a friendly bonding between them. The day when Arjun announced him going to be a father… that day Arjun was so happy…. He was on top of the world… when little Adi came to the world… he took Adi as is a crystal doll that would break at a touch…
And when Sam too took Adi in his arms… he felt the proud feeling of being a father…
And then her death…
A pain crept in his mind… the look of Arjun… the cry of Adi… the way Arjun was in trance after her death…holding onto Adi as if he would also go away from him…
Those days were tough… very tough… Arjun would not say a word to anyone else other than Adi. The little baby was his life… Adi was just 2 years when Roshni died…
Events of past few days came up… the happy face of Adi. His talks, his pouted face… his tears… and her… Aisha…
She came in as a wind…no… a torronado…that began with a fight with Arjun… her accusations... her attitude at the beginning days… her melting down… a new Aisha… a matured one…
She is an integral member of the team now. But was she something more??
He had never given a serious thought to it before. But small tit bit from the ever merry team of Sree-Chotu-Liza-Sakshi, he happened to hear that she did miss him when he was away. He felt happy for no reason. And even he missed her when she was away. A sudden call from her place, her tensed look, a sudden decision was enough to get his attention. But then, he was a master in masking his emotions. Her coming back was even more happier for him.
But, from last few days, he has seen Adi growing fond of Aisha. Can't blame that kid. A kid, who had missed his mother even before he could remember her, can come in closer relation with a lady like Aisha. To imagine her in place of Adi's mother… he was happy… to be honest… but still…
He didn't know… an unknown feeling for her, or the love for Adi and his happiness… if ever it comes a tie… then he knew just one thing…
I will never be selfish!!!
Unknown to his thoughts she was in her balcony feeling herself calm and composed. And with very breath she was relaxing herself out. A long pending Suryanamaskar… a much needed revival of her soul…
Sree…. The specky Sen was dozing in his bed… with his specks on the laptop that was open on the bed… and the poor machine was also in its sleep mode.
Ruby the puppy… she was having a great time in licking goodmorning all over her huge master… but Chotu was no way in his mood to get up. "Ruby… sone do na please…"
Liza with her ear plugged in with her favorite music was moving about with her aerobics. Her curly hair was swaying along with her.
Mrs. Anand moved to Sakshi's room. She had slept off last night holding onto the cube. As a little kid she used to sleep with her pooh, and now she is with the cube!!! Hm… improvement tho hai.
Her mother stroked her hair… "Sakshi…utto…. Subah hogayi…"
Sa: mom sone dona please… 5 min… dekho meine ek color fix kiya…
She showed her cube up still eyes closed. The red colors were fixed well.
Mom: well done meri shona. Ab uth jao… get up...get up…
And there she gets up in her bed, close her eyes, says a small prayer… and sends a flying kiss to the one who is above all…
And there in our happy home…. The day began with a prickly beard that tickled him… he turns around mumbling "Dad….please…"
Arj: uth ja Adi… aaj cycling nahi karni??
Adi: na… aaj sothe hai…please…
Arj: kyu?? aaj holiday hai kya??
Adi: please Dad… chalo aur sothe hai… please…
Arj: ok bas thode time aur… ok?
"hm…" he snuggles to Arjun's neck and hugs her neck. He felt his dad's hand through his hair. "dad… aaj office jaana zaroori hai?"
Arj: kya hua Adi? Kahi jaana hai apko?
Adi: hum baahar chale?
Arj: aaj sabere com. Sir ke saath meeting hai. uske baad chale?
Adi: sachi?? (he jerks and sits up beside Arjun happily) kitne der ke meeting hai? mien office aau?
Arj: kitne der hoge ye tho nahi patha. Aur pure team ko ek saath milna hai. tho aap office nahi asakthe.tho apko camp me hi wait karna hoga.
Adi: no problem. Par aap aogena? Promise?
Arj: ok lemme confirm.
He takes his phone and call Sam. "morning Rathod."
Sam was back home after the jogging. "morning. Kya hua?"
Arj: aaj meeting ke baad chutti milega? Need some time with Adi.
Adi leans on to his dad and waits for the reply.
Sam: sure. Aaj koi case aye tho hum sambhal denge. Adi hai paas me?
Arj: ha hai. ek minute.
Adi gets the phone. "good morning uncle. Brush kiya?"
Sam chuckles at the other end. "are mien tho bhool hi gaye. Thanks for reminding me Adi"
Adi: aap bhi na uncle. Brush karne kaise bhool gaye? Ab breakfast kaise karoge?
Sam: ha wo tho hai. jaldi brush karthe hai. fir breakfast bhi banathe hai.
Adi: ok, breakfast me kya hai?
Sam: patha nahi. Kuch banana hai.
Adi: acha, tho yaha aajo. Aaj mien aur dad milke breakfast banathe hai. aap bhi ajao.
Arjun raises his eyebrows. "ab ye plan kaha se aya?"
Sam: beta, mujhe thode aur din jeena hai. Aapke papa ke hathonse nahi marna.
Arjun hears this. "Sam…"
Adi: dekha ab Dad bhi bulaya hai. aajao. hum saath saath breakfast karenge.
Sam: ok lemme see. Dad ko phone do.
Arj: mere khana uthna bhi buri nahi hai. aur ye bath tumhe yaad hoga shayad.
Sam: hm, thoda thoda yad hai. jale roti… bina shakkar ke chai… aur kuch kuch… patha nahi Adi kaise jeelethe hai there khane se.
Arj: ab hum dono ko aadat hai in sabke.
There was a lot of meaning in that one line.
Arj: ok ab invitation mila hai to ajao. Sath breakfast karthe hai.
Sam: ok. See you both.
Line goes off.
Arj: ab bulaya hai tho bathao kya banana hai?
Adi: aalu ke parathe.
Arj: hm not bad… par pehle brush karna hai. chalo champ.
Adi goes out and comes with his brush. Both of them brush together. "dad… shave karo. Apke thadi chubthi hai."
Arj: yes boss.
Adi makes Arjun to let him sit on the counter when Arjun goes for a shave. Adi watches Arjun's each move with lot of concentration. He also lathers himself with the brush.
Now Arjun used his razor. And Adi is watching it looking like a Cristmas Papa with a snowy beard. He makes faces when the razor moves along on his dad's face.
Adi: uff… cut hogaya… blood nikal rahe hai….jaldi wash karo.
Arj: kuch nahi Adi. Just a small cut. Ab dekho.
He finishes the shave. Still small bit of blood comes out.
Arj: shave karna chahoge?
Adi: na baba… khoon nikaltha hai.
Arj: tho ye sab kaise nikaloge? (showing the lather on his cheeks) ek rastha hai.
He swipes the lather with his finger posing like a razor. Adi is so much excited after his so-called first shave.
Arjun takes the aftershave. Both of them put it on their face. It's so cool. Adi is giggling at its feel.
Arj: hm.. ab shave tho hua. Chal khana banathe hai. warna there uncle ko bhoog lagega.
In the kitchen it was another gala time. Adi was again on the the slab mashing the potatos. Rolling the chapatti balls along with the jokes and fun at the camp. After with some help from each other, the parathas are ready.
The bell rings. "hm… your uncle in bang on time."
Adi goes to the door to open it for Sam. "good morning Adi. For you"
A big bar of chocolate. That's a great gift for the start of a good day. They walk into the kitchen. Arjun is finishing his work. "hm… something smells good. I hope apne khana banaya hai Adi. I don't trust your dad."
Adi: joint work hai. daro math.mein hu na??
They arrange the table together and have a talkative breakfast. The food was good. "not bad Arjun… you have improved."
Arj: tum bhi ye sab seekhlo. Kya patha theri wife ko tumhare hathonka khana pasand ho!!
Sam: sirf ek din ka pasand hoga. Fir zinda rahna hi uskeliye important hoga.
After food, they get ready to office and camp. They drop Adi at camp. "see you after meeting. And this time I won't be late. Ok? Nani se keh lena"
Adi: ok Dad. Bye. Bye uncle.
They drive off the office were the team was waiting for them.
At the office reception:
All were waiting for the seniors. Sakshi was unusaly silent.
Sr: Aisha, ye Sakshi silent mode me kyu hai?
Ais: shayad sudharne ka irada hai.
Liz: unbelievable.
Ch: isme hairan hone ka kya hai? ek samjhe samjhau kaafi hai sudharne keliye.
Ais: firbhi puchthe hai ke baath kya hai.
They move to her.
Ch: Sakshi kya hua? Kiske yadon me khoye ho?
Sa: are kiske bhi nahi. Mien kuch aur hi soch raha tha.
Sr: kya?
Sa: ya aaj kal ke bache bhi na?? kya kya karthe hai? hamare bachpan me aise thodi hothe the.
Ais: ab tum bachonke bare me research kab shuru kiya?
Sa: pucho math Aisha. ek bacha se mila. By God… kahi dekhi nahi hai uske tharah ek ko. Kya attitude hai boss. Bapre… lagtha hai future Samjhe Samjhau hai…
Liz: kaha mila usse?
Sa: wo…. (but the SUV comes in) lo…shaitan ka naam liya…lo hazir… chalo… ab ek aur attitude king ko nahi sambhalna mujhe.
She walks ahead leaving others confused.
Ch: lagtha hai ye pagal hogaye hai.
Sr: aise nahi Chotu… jo pehle tha… wo thode zyada hua. Ab chal…
They ride to the office and attend the meeting. It took almost 3 hours. After meeting Arjun looks at Sam as if leaving.
Sam: kuch papers sign karna hai office me. Uske baad jao.
Arjun and team reach the office. He is Sam's cabin when he hears a commotion outside. They look up and move out. The source is Sakshi's cabin. No wonder.
Sa: Chotu!!! Ya kya kiya tune?? Kithne mehnat kiya tha mien puri rath. Sab bigad diya.
A few minutes back:
Chotu and Sree walked to Sakshi's cabin to discuss something, which turned to be a bit masti time. In between talks, Chotu takes the cube that was on the table and absently rotates it. The whole corrected red part is gone now. Sakshi noticed it very late and by then the damage was made.
She was bursting out and that made Arjun and Sam along with other team mates to reach there.
Sam: kya horaha hai yaha?? Ye koi kintergarden hai kya?
Sa: Sameer dekho …
Sam: Sakshi. I saw it. aise bathon me yaha chilakke office atmosphere ko math bigado. Grow up. And don't repeat it.
He walks out. Arjun noticed her pouted face and upset look when Sam scolded her. Somewhere he felt like laughing aloud. The Rawte in him didn't allow it but the Dad in him was feeling it funny. He has noticed Adi working on the cube too. She looked at him, expecting a long lecture. But none came up. And the shocking part was that there was no glare too. It was just a look. And then he turned around and walked away.
Sa: OMG!!!
Sr: kya hua?
Sa: aaj samje samjhau nahi bola!!! Bapre…
Sr: you missed it huh?
Sa: I think I did. ( then coming out) Chotu… ye tune teekh nahi kiya. Kithne mehnath karni padi thi. Aur tum…
Ch: sorry yaar. Wo aise hi…
Sa: its ok… lagtha hai ye cube mere jaan leke hi jaoge.
Arjun after finishing his work goes out to the camp.
In the hall all were at work. One chai wala comes in.
Sam: aaj nahi chahiye. He is on leave.
Ais:Sir kaha gaye?
Sam: personal reasons.
Sa(in mind) : inke kya personal reason hoge. Koi criminal ko private tution dene gaya hoga.
But there at camp Adi was waiting for his dad. At last he came. Nani was happy that Arjun have given the 'aunty' matter rest.
They went out to some mall were Adi could play around. Many recognized him so kept a distance from him. Adi had a great time.
For the ones that recognized Arjun, it was a shock. The smile on his face was never seen before. But he didn't know that now Adi and his importance were exposed to many.
After play time and some shopping, they had food from Adi's favorite hangouts. Late evening was the beach time. Adi loved the waves at his feets. And Arjun made sure he enjoyed it too. After that he walked to the vehicle with Adi. The kid was in his seat. "dad… wo kya hai?"
A paper was sticking at the glass. He goes and read it.
"bohot pyaara bacha hai apke ACP Saab… sada khush raho…"
He looked around. But the beach was full. To know who did it was impossible. He looked at Adi who was watching him. he got into the driving seat. "kya hua dad?"
Arj: kuch nahi. Bas ek paper hai. add ke. Chale?
Adi: ha chalo…
Late night Arjun was back from his file works. Adi had slept off long back. He sat by him and ruffles his hair and place a blanket on him. the paper chit was still in his hair.
Is it just a joke? Or someone trying to warn him? or something bigger?
He looked at his sleeping boy's face. Its time to be more serious about Adi's safety.
Anupamaa
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