There was
laughter everywhere. The air around was fresh and crisp.
weee' shouted a child down the slide with happiness etched across his face.
mama ,mujhe dekhiye..' he screamed at the top of his lungs.
Betadekhkar' responded a voice with concern.
Tho aap yahan roz aathi hain?'
the woman had her back facing the slides and seemed to be talking to another person.
ji' replied the voice
mama mujhe dekhiye' shouted the boy again
han vivek , dekh rahi hun' she said with a hint of frustration
She was more interested in the young woman besides her.
aap yahan nayi aayi lagthi hain' she asked curiously.
ji' replied the woman
aapka bacha nazar nahi aa raha hai'
The young woman looked around worriedly. You could see her light brown eyes narrowing
with worry.
Ridha .. Ridha.' She said raising her voice steadily
just then a small girl came running towards her and grasped her leg tightly.
Ridha...kithni baar thumhay samjhaya hai ki yahan wahan bhago math' she said sternly
sowwy...aai'
bohot pyari hai aapki bachi' continued the woman. Waise mera naam Mrs. Shanti Mehra
hai aur main yahan C block main rehthi hun' she said pointing towards a nearby
complex that had 4 huge apartment buildings.
ji main Aastha'
aai ..mujhe waan jala hai' said Ridha
She spoke with a slight lisp in her voice but they almost always put a smile on Aastha's
face.
teekh hai. Chalo' she said enthusiastically carrying Ridha in her arms.
Gaul maasi Gauli maasi' shouted Ridha suddenly
Hey baby doll kya haal hai meray betay ka' said gauri as she ran towards Ridha and gave
her a hug.
Maasi meri gift' asked Ridha raising her small hands forward
awww sorry mera golu. Next time pakka huh! Said gauri apologetically
Ridha , mana kiya hai na maine. Aise nahi puchthay' said Aastha sternly but with a hint
of softness in her voice
Ridha got off Gauri in a fraction of a second
lekin Maasi nay kahan tha leker aayengi. Baad maasi. Jhooti' she said pouting her lips and
her face red with anger
baap re. Kithna gussa kerthi hai yeh, bilkul.. ...'said Gauri without thinking only to
glance at the now red face of aastha.
acha ridhu, chalo meray saath. Khelthay hain' said gauri trying to stir away from
the troubled waters.
Precap: Aapnay birth certificate main baap ka naam khali choda hai.
'Shlokh Agnihothri' came a thick voice. Aastha turned around to see where the principal had been staring and there stood the man at the door, whom she had vowed never to meet in her life ever again.
Edited by Suchi- - 12 years ago
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