FF: Precocious Rawte. chapter 26, p.67 - Page 11

Chapter 7 :

After three days, Arjun & the ETF team brought the new borne and Roshni to home. Arjun supported Roshni and Rathod held Addu in his arms when Aisha welcomed them home.

All were looking amusingly to Rathod who was holding Addu very carefully and keeping an eye on his movements.

Roshni : Addu ko aise dkhna bandh karo, Sam. Woh kuch nahi karega. Main usko samjha dia ke tum uska mamu ho & he's sorry for his deeds. Tum vi sorry bolke dosti karlo.

Rathod looked at the little man resting in his arms and staring at him with guilty eyes. In last two days Addu learned to make expressions on his face so he gave him a smile, caught his shirt and rubbed his head on it. As if he was saying sorry. Rathod returned him a smile and hugged him back. This little thing knew well how to steal someone's heart; just like his mom. But it startd wriggling in his hold & he parted from him.

Roshni : Lift him up,Sam. he wants to kiss you.

Rathod : Are you sure? What if he bites?

Roshni : He won't, trust me.

I looked that moustache man, fear is evident in his eyes. I remembered what mom said, "Addu, your uncle Sam is a good man at hart, he was just kidding with us. You did a terrible thing by kicking his nose. It's very bad. So next time go to him & apologize." I took a deep breath and tried to touch his shirt, at the same time I rubbed my temple on his shirt. He looked at me, little confused & then held me tight to his chest. I tried to reach his face when I heard mom ask him to lift me to his eye level.

He kissed my cheeks & it irritated me, uff that moustache !! But I didn't reacted because I've to patch with him up. I touched his face & he smiled. This man looks good when he smiles. I don't know why but he seems not -so-bad right now. May be mom was right.

Rathod : Hello baby. Aap avi tak chachu se naraj ho?

Chachu !!! But mum said he's my Mamu !?! Yahan sab itna confusing kyun hain !! Khaire, bade hote hote iss puzzle toh main solve karr lungi. Right now, I ought to concentrate on our patch up.

I gave him my sweetest smile, showing my gums and tried to say "It's Ok."

Rathod : Rosh, tere iss golu ne kitna cute smile deta hain yaar !! Just like you.

Arjun was about to say something but the doorbell rang at that time. Sakshi opened the door and a small mountain of gift-wrapped things & bags was standing in the doorstep.

Sakshi : Jee, aap.

Mountain : Yeh Arjun sir ke liye hain. May I...

Sakshi moved aside & let that in.

Everyone was staring at that moving mountain. It stopped at the middle of the room.

Mountain : Arjun sir, yeh sab cheezain kahan rakkhun?

Arjun : Yehi chordo, Makkhan Singh.

The mountain broke down at the next instance and a middle-aged man of average height was appeared. I looked at that man. He was the smallest of the men standing in the room, but he has large moustache. I assumed it was similar to my size.

Arjun : Tum yahan kyun aaye ho?

Makkhan : Maine nahi aaya...woh...woh aaye hain.

Roshni : (exited) Aayi has come !! Where??

Makkhan : No...not her...only...it's...

A firm, and commanding voice came from the entrance door.

"It's us. Makkhan Singh, go to the car."

Everyone looked at the door. An elderly couple was standing there. All except Rathod was wondering who they are. Roshni was about to get up and welcome them but looking at Arjun's expressionless eyes, she stopped.

Rathod moved his gaze around the room and felt the tension brewing up, then he looked at Addu. That little boy is hell confused & his facial expression would mad him giggle, if he saw it some other time.

Rathod : (in Addu's ear) Now it's fighting time. tere baap ka baap aa gaya. Don't panic buddy. I'm with you.

I couldn't understand completely his words. But I understood something terrible gonna happen & uncle Sam would be with me.

Rathod : (in Addu's ear) Sharif bachcho ki tarha pesh aana mere baap, aaj haath payer matt chalana. Thik hain.?

Before I understood what he meant. He spoke up.

Rathod : Namaste, Aayi. Hello Sir. Aane main takleef toh nahi hui?

Aayi : Nehi beta. Aap sab theek ho?

Rathod : Haan, come, have a seat.

Aged man(Sr. Rawte) : We didn't came here to sit. (to the lady) Tum jaldhi karo.

Aayi : (to Rathod) yehi hain woh?

Rathod : Hmm...

Aayi : Give him to me.

Rathod handed Addu to his Grandmother. She took him into his arms, & kissed his forehead, put a black tika behind his right ear and moved to Roshni. Roshni was about to bend down but she stopped her.

Aayi : No, you are not well. ( and huggd her). Thank you dear for giving us this bundle of joy.

Roshni : Achca laaga ke aap dono aaye...

I was quite, as uncle Sam told me. But my curiosity was increasing. I don't know that elderly lady but felt something familiar about her. & I couldn't hold my eagerness to know who she is, I tried to ask mom. So I started moving into her arms.

Aayi : arre, baby. What happened?

Roshni : Nothing aayi, he doesn't know you na. (touching Addu's hand). It's your daadi bachcha...your Dad's mom.

DAD's MOM !!! But mum's should be bigger than Childs, right !! But my dad is bigger than his mom!! How she manage dad holding into her arms?? This world is a strange place indeed. Then something else stucked my brain...When I would grow bigger, my mom will also become that short?? Phir main unki godh main kaise jaunga?? Nehi, main chota hi theek hoon, I don't wanna grow up at all.

Arjun & Sr. Rawte were standing still at their places. Others were staring at them curiously, & they were looking everywhere avoiding eye contact to anyone, especially each other. It's the first time they meet after Arjun left home or better say he threw his son out of his house. But today, it seemed they were not interested to admit that they even know each other.

On the other hand both Lady Rawte's were busy with Addu. Rathod gestured Aisha to make some space for the family.

Aisha : Guy's I think we should go and prepare baby's room. Come. ( She signaled everyone to go inside).

Roshni : Aisha, would you plz make some tea for...um...everyone?

Sr. Rawte : except us...(to aayi) are you done?

Aayi & Roshni exchanged a meaningful look and aayi moved to her husband with Addu in her arms.

Aayi : Don't wanna see him?

That Aged man stared at her. She extended her hands and gestured him to pick Addu into his arms. He took the baby without breaking eye contact with his wife...then he lowered his gaze to the towel wrapped baby into his arms.

That old lady..upps...my Dadi took me to the man came with her and standing at the middle of the room...& put me into his arms. Now, I saw his face properly. Grey hair, slight thick nose, emotionless face and wet eyes...eyes!!! his eyes are just like my father's. I was thinking who he is. He looks familiar.

Aayi : Look, his eyes are just like yours.

Sr. Rawte : hmm?! No his eyes are like him, remember he was this small & cute when you gave him first time into my arms. (he smiled & kissed the little boy) Welcome to the family...Khush raho beta. But I hope, tumhare dad ne mere saath jo kia who tum apne pitah ke saath nhi koroge. Be a good son. (to his wife) my left pocket...

Aayi brought out a small pouch from his pocket and gave it to Roshni.

Aayi : It's from us, for the new member.

Arjun : We don't need this, & all your gifts also.

Sr. Rawte : (to Roshni) Tell your husband... This things are not for him. It's for our grandson, the only hair of Rawte empire. It's his right & that man has no right to interfere.

Arjun : I know what's good for my son.

Sr. Rawte : (smirked little) Accha... you'd never been a good son, I'm afraid you'll fail to prove yourself a good father. ( to Aayi) let's go.

He put Addu down into Roshni's lap & placed his palm on her head to convey his blessings and gratefulness to his daughter in law. He looked at his adamant son for the last time before leaving Arjun's home. Roshni could bet both hard faced men had wetness in their eyes.

Roshni : Dekha Addu, aapka dad Kharoos & Dadu Maha Kharoos. In dono ka kuch nahi ho sakta. Come let's go and eat something.

After everyone left, Roshni was patting Addu for a slumber. Arjun came & sat near her. He took his son from her & put him on the cradle. Then he sat back beside her, took her hand and started rubbing his thumb on her knuckle.

Roshni : Jo kehna hain sidhe sidhe bolo.

Arjun : How can you say I want to say something?

Roshni : Yeh (pointing to her knuckle) special hand massage...aisa tum tab hi kart ho jab tumko kuch batana ya puchna hota hain, aur tumko pata nahi hota hain ke tum start kahan se karoge. Aab bolo, mujhe nind aa rahi hain..(yawned).

Arjun : Un dono ko kisne bataya tha, tumne?

Roshni : Well, Aayi called yesterday, I just said today we're coming home. Baki main nahi janti.

Arjun : Hmm...

Roshni : I noticed, You & Dad...

Arjun : He dosen't like me, Rosh. He is still angry...& he never bothered about us.

Roshni : He does, Arjun...

Arjun : He does?? How can you say that? You saw him today for the first time... He was never with us...in these years. Then why today he showed up? Just to make fun of me? You saw he didn't even looked at me once? Moreover, he said I'm nothing to him. You better not to take his side.

Roshni : Arre mere ketli, garam matt ho. He's your father. And a father never hates his son, he always cares. Naye naye baap bane ho, thore din baad yeh baat tum vi samajh jaoge. Samjhe ya Samjhaun?

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So how's today's bit of bakwaas ?? Let me know.