T2: Ek Aur Zindagi..(Epilogue:page 130) - Page 21

PART 36:

It was evening when Sam walked to Arjun's cabin to inform about his sudden meeting with the head.

Arj: ek kaam karo Sam, tum meeting ke baad seedhe ghar jao. Mujhe kahi jaana hai.

Sam: kaha?

Arj: Raghu sir ke ghar.

Sam: kyu?

Arj: wo sab hai, I may be late. Tum seedhe ghar jaana. Aayi wait kar rahe hoge.

Sam: ok.

Sam went for these meeting and went straight to home with a packet of Adi's favourite chocolates. Aayi opened the door for him and welcomed him. Adi was already happy with the chocolate box.

Sam walked to the kitchen after a small chat with Adi. He had an open rapo with Aayi since a long time, though he was never close to Arjun's dad. And Adi was busy with his painting.

Ay: acha kiya aap jaldi agaye Sameer. Mujhe aapse bohot zaroori bath karni hai.

Sam: mujhe bhi... mujhe patha hai ke aap Arjun ke bare me sochke worried hai.. meine bhi usse bohot samjhane ke koshish kiya. Par wo kaha sunthe hai? Ab aapko hi kuch karna hoga. Aur mein isme aapke sath hu.

Aayi gave a soft smile and turned to him. He was confused by her reaction. "kya hua?"

Ay: haan ye sach hai ke mujhe Arjun ke parwah hai. Lekin mujha abhi unke bare me nahi, balke aapke bare me bath karna hai.

Sam: mere bare me?? Kya?

Ay: aapke aur Aisha ke bare me.

Sam: kya???

He gets it now. So thats why Arjun was eager to sent him home. "Ghar aaja beta... dikhatha hu mein tumhe..."he cursed in his mind.

Sam: aayi... aap jaise soch rahe ho... waise ... kuch nahi hai... Aisha... bas ek dost... mere colleague...

Ay: acha?? Tho fir aap aise stammer kyu kar rahe ho?

Sam: nai.. aise kuch nai...

Ay: Sameer, maana aap ek bade officer hai. Par aapke tharah ek beta mere bhi hai. Jab koi jhoot boltha hai, tho jhat se pakadna koi bade bath nahi hai. Ab bolo, ithne confused kyu ho?

Sam: lagtha hai, office ke sare bathein Arjun yaha report kartha hai.

Ay: nahi tho... kyu report karne wali koi incident thi kya?

Sam: nai... kuch nahi... par apko aise kyu lagtha hai ke mere aur Aisha ke...

Ay: kyunki wo apke ankhonme dikh raha hai. Aur aise jhoot bolne me thakleef... ye sab kyu? Saaf saaf ye kyu nahi kehthe ke tum usse pasand karthe ho? Kahi iss bath ka dar tho nahi ke wo na kahege..

Sam: nahi aise koi dar nahi hai.

Ay: kyu?

Sam: kyunki usne khud ye kaha ki...

He caught his slip. He looked up to her.

Ay: acha?? Tho kya kaha?

Sam: nahi aise kuch nahi kaha... shayad kuch... ishara...

Ay: aur aap firbhi kuch nahi kaha? Right?

He looked down.

Ay: bath kya hai Sameer? Arjun ne bathaya ke aap pehle Aisha ko Adi ke Maa banana chahthi thi. Kya aap sachmuch Aisha se pyaar karthe ho? Kahi ye koi mazaak tho nahio hai na?

Sam: nahi Aayi, koi mazaak nahi. Mujhe laga ke Aisha Adi ka ache se khayal rah payega. Isilye...

Ay: isiliye aap apne pyaar ko bhulane ki koshish ki?

He stood silent again.

Ay: mein aap sabko samajh nahi parahe hai Sameer. Ek side aap, jo khud Aisha ko Arjun keliye chod diya. Dusri side pe Arjun jo ye chahthe hai ke tum Aisha ke sath ek nayi zindagi shuru karu. Aur fir Aisha... jo shayad tumhare ek kadam ka intezaar kar rahi hai. Ye sab kya horaha hai?

He stood silent again.

Ay: apne aapse pucho Sameer. Aur kuch decide karo. Zindagi hamesha aise wait nahi karegi.

He knew what she was saying was true and nodded. Before she could say anything more, he was saved by a door bell. Adi opened the door for his dad.

Adi: hey dad, you are late.

Ar: patha hai baba, kisise milna tha. There uncle kaha hai?

Adi pulls him down to his level and whispers in his ears.

Adi: Dadi ki paas hai. Lagtha hai koi class chal raha hai. Mujhe yaha painting karne ko chodke kuch kutr putr kar raha hai...

Arjun smiled at it. "Acha... aap patha lagane ke koshish nahi kiya?"

Adi: no... mein kyu inn sabme fasu? Waise mujhe thode bohot patha hai ke case kya hai.

"kya horaha hai waha?"Arjun moved up from Adi's level when he heard Sam's voice. His face said it clear. "I'll get you soon for this..."

Ar: kuch nahi. Bas mere bete se bath kar raha tha. Kyu??

Adi took the icecream box that his dad had brought for him to the kitchen and Sam used that time.

Sam: tho ye plan tha? Mujhe aayi ke paas chodne ka plan bohot acha tha. You will pay for it Rawte.

Ar: koi plan nahi tha. Mujhe kahi jaana tha... isliye...

Sam: haan, bohot samajhtha hu mein tumhe. Tho rehne do...

They took the seat in the sofa facing each other.

Ar: aur agar kiya tho bhi galath kya hai? I should say, my Adi is smarter than you.

That caught Adi's attention, when he was coming out of the kitchen. He went to Arjun and leaned in between his legs.

Adi: mein?? Uncle se smart?? Kaise??

Sam gave a pathetic look to Arjun, who was in a complete fun mood.

Arj: kuch nahi beta. Aapke uncle ko kisise kuch kehna hai. Lekin confused hai...

Sam was already rolling his eyes and rubbing his temples. But the very next moment he was shocked to shell. Adi did put an atom bomb at the scene.

"kyu?? Aapko kisise "I love you" bolna hai?"

Arjun also didn't expect such a remark. But soon he recovered and pulled Adi to him and gave him a loud kiss on the cheeks. "Umma... (to Sam) I told you na? My son is smarter than you"

Sam(embarrassed) : Adi, ye aap kya keh rahe ho? Kisne bathaya ye sab?

Adi: Film me dekha. Usme hero ko bhi aise hi haal tha. Par ladki achi nahi thi. I hope apki ladki achi ho.

Arjun was keeping his lips tight to suppress his laughter.

Sam: hm.. Dadi ke aane ke baad aap kafi TV dekhna shuru kiya hai. Ab zyada ideas ane se pehle, wo thode kam kar dena.

Aayi saved the moment and called everyone for the dinner.

Sam(mind): kya khandan hai. Pure ke pure Rawte ek jaisa hi hai... uff...

After dinner Arjun could still see Sam as sober. He walked with him to a hall.

"meine kuch jaan bhuchke nahi kiya tha. Mujhe Raghu sir se milna tha. Unke wife, Sharmila Mam, Summerdale School ke trusty me se hai. Mujhe uss school ke bare me aur aage koi admission hai, uske bare me bath karna tha. Isiliye gaya tha."

"hm.. tho kuch hua? Adi ruk rahe hai na?"

"Admission test clear karu tho usse admission mil sakthe hai. There are still some vacant seats for 3^rd standard. Par usse pehle mujhe firse Aayi se bath karni hai. Kahi unke decision me koi change..."

"I don't think there is any change. Still puch lena..."

"ok..."

Sam left after some time. Aayi updated Arjun about her talk with Sam. He spoke again with Aayi about Adi's school. She was so happy and asked him to go ahead with it. He didn't ask anything but from her answers everything was clear.

Later Arjun was in bed with Adi. He wanted to know Adi's view about staying back.

Arj: Adi... ek bath puchu?

Ad: haan...

Arj: kya aap naye school jana chahoge?

Adi: matlab? Purane school ko kya hua?

Arj: kuch hua tho nahi. Par agar aap chahu tho yaha ek school me admission mil sakthe ho.

Adi:yani ab hostel me nahi rehna hoga??

Arj: nope. Agar admission test clear karke entry mili, tho no more hostel

Adi: yeah... exam kab hai?

Arj: relax beta. Kuch din aur baki hai. Lekin uskeliye apko prepare karna hoga.

Adi: done... dadi haina... hum kal se prepare kar lenge.

He could see Adi was so happy with the idea. He was also very happy. At last everything was coming into order. He wished it would remain as such forever.

He was on his bed with Adi on his chest.

***

Days from next Adi started preparing for the exams. Arjun had already spoken to the school were Adi used to go and told about the matter.

At last the day of exams came. As Arjun had duty, Dadi took all the responsibility. Arjun had arranged their travel.

Dadi and Adi were at school for the exams. After wishing him luck she sent him to the hall and walked balk to the corridor.

After a few steps, she stood in her way. "Aap...? yaha?"