FF: Ek Aur Zindagi.. Ch:29 page 137 - Page 74

CHAPTER 23:

After settling matters at office, the team reached Arjun's home. They had heard about Adi's condition and they couldn't stop themselves from reaching there. When they went in, Adi was asleep in the bed, with a wet towel on the forehead. He looked pale.

Arjun sat on the couch and all could take it that he was so tired.

Sam: doc ne kya kaha?

Ar: injection diya hai. kal rath kafi stressed the. shayad isliye...

Sam: tum teekh ho na?

Ar(rubbing his temple): yeah I'm fine.

Sa: I can see that.

Sam sits by Adi's side and pats his hair. He knew how stressed each one of them was.

Sak: ek cup chai le aau, sabkeliye?

Sam: that sounds good.

Aisha and Sakshi moves to the kitchen.

Sam: Arjun thode aaram karlo.

Ar: its ok Sam. Vimal ka kya hua?

Sam: custody me hi hai. we will get everything out of him.

Ar: mujhe milna hai usse.

Sam: milenge. Par pehle Adi ko teekh hone do.

Sre: par Sir, aapko thode rest karna chahiye.

Ar: hm...

Aisha and Sakshi come in with a tray of tea cups.

Ai: sir, aap dono keliye breakfast banaya hai.

Ar: I will have it later. Rathod, sabko ghar jaana chahiye. You all were working all night. Sabko rest ke zaroorath hai.

Sam: yeah team. Sab wapas ghar jao. we will meet at noon.

They speak for a while and leave. Arjun stays back near Adi. Breakfast was completely out of mind. He was feeling lonely again. Till date he was with Adi, and now the kid was asleep by him. Adi looked so tired and weak.

He couldn't help but sympathise with the little boy. A young kid who should have had a happy life with his parents just like any normal kid, had to stay back in a hostel. If even that was acceptable, his homely life was in terror. He wished he could give his son the life that he deserved. But he didn't know how.

Was Adi really missing his real life? Did he have a choice to give a life for Adi?

His eyes went to the family pic.

"kya karu mien Roshni? Bathao mujhe"

A lonely tear dropped down from his eyes.

***

The team members had gone to their home for rest. The previous day was tiring. The sudden plans and action that extended a whole day had drained them.

Sameer reached his apartment and fell onto his bed. He knew he had great responsibility on his shoulder. The team depended on him. He was proud of each one of them. When time came, each one was ready to step up to do their duty.

But he was worried seeing Arjun's plight. He knew that Arjun was more worried now. The previous days had put him in a turmoil that would have hurt him more than ever.

It was time for stepping up again. He knew that Arjun would take his time to make decisions. But time was something everyone lacked. And before any decisions, he needed to know what was in her mind too. It was time to speak up.

Aisha on the other hand was in her apartment. She didn't know how Arjun was keeping up his steady mind. A simple question from Adi did shake her a lot.

"please aap mujhe chodke math jaana"

The innocent words for a small kid had broken her heart. She didn't know what made her to say no and hug him tight.

She sat on the couch hugging her knees tight. She could feel the kid's hands still clinging on to her. Her eyes were moist and she didn't know what hurt her more.

Sakshi knew only way to bust her stress was her mom. She went straight to the camp. Her mom was busy with the kids. She stood by the door watching her with the kids. A small girl was near to her. Her pouted face and words showed that she was complainng about someone. Maybe someone had given her a push. Sakshi smiled at the interactions. She could see her own little self in the kid. She used to go to her mom, complaining about every silly problem. Her mom had seen all her tantrums and fun.she was always her little princess.even now too.

Mom saw Sakshi by the door. One look at her, she knew her girl needed her. She let the kids at the caretaker's hands and went to Sakshi.

Mom: kya hua beta? Case solve hogaya?

She nodded yes and hugged her mom. Mom could feel all the tiredness in her hug. "kya hua Sakshi? Tired ho?"

Sakshi left her mom and looked down. "love you mom..."

Mom didn't know what made her say that now. There was a little drop stuck at her corner of eyes.

Mom: kya hua Sakshi?

Sa: kuch nahi Mom. Aap agar busy nahi hai tho, ghar chale?

Mom knew something was off.she asked Sofia to take care of the camp and left for home with Sakshi. Once home, mom was about to make breakfast for her.

Sa: nahi Maa. Just be with me.

She sat on the couch keeping her head in mom's lap. Her fingers through her hair were doing the magic.

Mom: bolo Sakshi. Kya hua? Adi kaise hai?

Sak: sab settle hua hai Mom. Case solved. Jo Adi ko pareshan kar rahe the, usse pakda gaya hai.

Mom: that's great news.

Sa: par Adi teekh nahi hai. usse bukhar hai.

Mom: oh,hospital me hai?

Sa:nahi. Ghar pe.

Mom: aur uske dad?

Sa: Arjun bhi uske saath hai. kafi upset hai. Patha nahi wo akele kaise sambhal rahe hai.

Mom was feeling something troubling her.

Mom: baath kya hai Sakshi?

Sa:kuch nahi Maa. Bas neend arahi hai.

Mom asked her to go to the bedroom. She sat by Sakshi, till she was asleep.

***

By noon everyone was present at the office. The interrogation started in full swing. There was much to confess from Vimal's side. With the help of seniors, Rathod had stopped the higher authority's attempt to let him out. He closed all the loop holes well.

Arjun was at home. He was asleep by Adi's side after the team had left. He was awake when Adi cuddled closer to him. He looked at Adi and saw him awake.

Ar: aap kab uth gaye?

Ad: abhi.

Adi hugged Arjun tight at his chest.

Ar: ab kaise feel kar rahe ho?

Ad: teekh hu dad. Sab kaha hai?

Ar: sab aye the yaha aapse milne. Fir ghar chale gaye.

Ad: yaha? Kyu?

Ad: apko bukhar tha na.

Adi found a wet towel on her forehead and took it off.

Ar: bhoog lagi hai?

He nods no.

Ar: are aise kaise? Kal sham se aap kuch khaye nahi hai. chalo, brush karke kuch khathe hai.

Ad: nahi dad.

Ar:please...

Adi saw dad's face closer to him. He nods yes.

Arjun kiss Adi's forehead and scoops him up from the bed and helps him to brush his teeth. He puts a sweater on him when he saw a little shiver on him.

He places Adi on the food slabs and checks the utensils. Aisha and Sakshi had made khichdi for them.

Ad: ye kisne banaya?

Ar: Aisha aur Sakshi.

Ad: didi thi yaha?

Ar: haan.

Ad: aapne breakfast kiya?

Ar:nahi beta.

Ad: kyu?

Ar: akele khane ka man nahi tha.

Ad:ok, saath khathe hai.

They take two plates of khichdi to the table. The sour taste was preventing Adi from eating.

Ar: aise nahi kehthe Adi. Khana hoga. Fir tablets bhi lene hai na.

Ad: par dad...

Ar: aao mien khilatha hu.

He feeds Adi slowly and makes him eat little bit.

Ad: ab aap khao.

Arjun also eat little bit. He too had lost his apetite. Then came the medicine time.

Sameer who was in office calls Arjun to ask about Adi. He says its getting better. Sameer also speaks to Adi for a while.

Arjun notices that Adi was getting dizzy due to the tablets. He helps him to bed and lay beside him. Caressing the hair, Adi slips to a sound sleep. Again Arjun was left alone.

***

It was almost night. The interrogation was over and Vimal was handed over to the authority. Arjun was not happy as he didn't get a chance to see him properly'.

Sameer assured him that the matter was taken care of. He called it a day for the team.

Sam: Aisha, I'll drop you home.

He said and walked away to the parking lot. She sensed that he wanted to say something. She was planning to go with Sakshi and Sree. But now she decided not to.

She walked to the parking lot where he was waiting. He drove off once she got in.

There was complete silence at the start of the drive. She was wondering whats going on. She though of giving him some time till he open up.

His state of mind was not different too. He knew what he was about speak will be troublesome. But someone needed to take step.

About the half way he thought of breaking the ice.

Sa:Aisha...

She looked at him, suddenly waking from her stream of thoughts.

Sa: kya hua?

Ai: kuch nahi sir.

Sa: kuch gahri soch me thi?

Ai: haan, bas kal ke bare me soch rahi thi.

Sa: kal?

Ai: haan... Adi...

He knew it was the apt time.

Ai: ek pal keliye bohot ajeeb lagi sir. aise lag rahi thi ke uss bache ko bohot takleef sehna pad raha hai...

Sa: hm..

Ai: kash koi kuch kar patha. Kash Arjun sir uske bare me sochtha...

He was about to reach her home. He turned his vehicle and stopped in front of her apartement.

Sa: aur agar me kahu ke wo aage bhadne ke bare me soch raha hai...

She was silent. It was difficult to sink the matter in.

Ai: kya?

Sa: Aisha, patha nahi tum kithni baar ye sun chuki hai ke tum ek achi Maa ban sakthi ho... and its true too...

There was a silence now. She was looking at his face trying to read his emotions. He let down his eyes and sighed deeply. Then as if taking courage in him, he looked up to her. Now his face was showing something else.

Sa: have you ever thought about it seriously?

She was not sure if she was getting what he meant correctly.

Ai: mien... mien kuch samjhi nahi ...sir...

He faintly smiled and looked ahead.

Sa:kisi aur ko samjha samjha ke thak gaya hu mien. I hope you will understand what I'm saying without my help.

She was completely lost now. She didn't know what to say or react.

He saw her lost expressions. He knew she needed her time to let the matter sink in and think.

Sa: good night Aisha.

He was relieving her from his SUV, but about to confine her in her own thoughts. She just nodded absently and got down of the SUV. She briefly looked at him and turned to walk away to her apartment.

He sat in his seat watching her retreating form. Once she was inside he leaned back to the headrest and sighed.

He didn't know what he did was right or wrong. Maybe one should try all the ways before understanding it. He drove off to his home; sleep was the last thing in his mind now.

***

Adi was awake. After a light dinner prepared by Arjun, he sat by dad. As he had slept off whole day, sleep was not coming in. Arjun tried to cheer him up.

Ar: pure din uss room me the. Ab thoda bahar bait the hai.

They sat in the hall. Adi was in Arjun's lap leaning on his chest.

Ar: bolo, kya karege ab?

Adi thinks for a while. "mere bag?"

He brings the bag. Adi opens it and saw the rubix cube.

Ad: saath teekh kare?

Ar: ok no problem. Hm.. you are doing well. Isse teekh karna asaan hai. try karo.

Adi tries to twist it.

Ar: are aise nahi. Aise tho ye line bigad jayege. Try this(he twist it) aise... aur aise... see ab red line teekh hogaya.

Adi smiles when he saw it. They try in for some more time. It was getting better. Arjun knew Adi was straining himself.

Ar: ab bas, baki kal karthe hai. ok?

Adi turns to face him. He sits around and places his face on dad's chest. Arjun hugs Adi gently and pats his back and hair.

Ad: dad...

Ar: hm...

Ad: ek baath puchu?

Ar: haan...

Ar: do you miss mom?

That did hurt. He was silent for a while. Adi looks up and face Arjun. Both were alike in hiding the emotions. But they couldn't hide it from each other.

Arjun knew Adi was waiting for him. He tried to push his voice.

Ar: hm...

Adi knew his dad's state. He moved forward and hugged his dad. The words ceased over there.

CHAPTER 23: