Yuvraj had missed a lot of moments with his children in the past. He didn't regret going to prison for Suhani. But he sure did wish that things had been different. One of his best memories with the children was when he taught them (and Suhani) how to ride a bike. Maybe it was because they saw him as a hero, he would always save them before they got hurt or maybe it was to see his "sherni Suhani" cower and throw more tantrums than the kids. He chuckled at the thought.
So he had decided to take the family to the park. There weren't enough bicycles for everyone, but everyone took turns to ride them. Some willingly, others unwilling. Yuvaani used the "Oh please, this is so embarrassing" excuse until she was confident to ride a bike again. Her fear eventually faded with his help, and now she had basically claimed the bike as hers, much to Yuvaan's and Krishna's chagrin.
He took a step back, to take in the sight of everyone laughing, teasing and having fun. But someone was missing. Sayyam. To think of it now, Yuvraj hadn't seem him join in on the bike rides at all.
"Ab Sayyam kahan hain?" Yuvraaj asked to himself before finally spotting Sayyam at a park bench, looking wistfully at the rest.
Yuvraj sat next to Sayyam and followed his gaze, Krishna finally had taken the bicycle from Yuvaani. Looking back at Sayyam, he saw Sayyam let out a small smile. Anyone else would have missed it but he had been observing Sayyam for months now.
"Tum kyun nahi humare saath cycle chala rahe?"Yuvraj questioned Sayyam, breaking Sayyam out of his reverie.
It took a couple of seconds for Sayyam to realise what Yuvraj said, before he answered, "Yoo hee(just because...sorry don't know if I said it right)." His tone was soft, and his gaze fell right back upon his wife, and siblings.
Sayyam had been accepted by the family, other than by dadi of course. Even Rags had began to low key enjoy Sayyam's company. Sayyam had began to open up to the family too, but he would often retreat to the solitude of his own company.
"Tum bhi iss paarivar ka hisse ho chuke ho, Sayyam. Tumhe ye pata hain, na?" Yuvraj asked, not looking at Sayyam but the family. Krishna was waving over for Sayyam and himself to come, but Yuvraj and Sayyam both shook their heads and smiled in unison.
"Mujhe pata hain, lekin..." Sayyam began.
"Lekin kya, Sayyam? Theres something that seems to be holding you back? Jo saab bi tumne past main kiya ek galat phami thi, tumhari koyi nahi galti thi. In fact, kahi na kahi Suhani aur meri hi galti thi.Tum woh saab ko bhool jayo. Hum saab bhool chuke, tum bhi is parivaar ko accept kar lo," Yuvraj explained, with one hand on Sayyam's back.
"Mujhe ye saab pata hain. Lekin main yeh nahi kar sakta," Sayyam replied.
Defeated, Yuvraj stood up to go back when Sayyam grabbed Yuvraj's hand to stop him, before leaving it again.
"Um...mujhe...baat yeh... hai kee...mujhe cycle nahi chalani aati,"Sayyam stuttered. Yuvraj looked back at Sayyam, who was staring at his own lap. It was Yuvraj's turn to take a few seconds to register the other's words.
Suddenly, Yuvraaj began to laugh. Sayyam seemed disgruntled and embarrassed by the reaction, and got up to leave.
"Are, main tujh mein nahi hass rahe hoon. Don't go," Yuvraaj raced to put his arm Sayyam's shoulder, to stop him from leaving anywhere.
"Toh phir?" Sayyam sneered.
"Tum bilkul tumhari maa par jaye hon. Woh bhi cycle nahi chala sakti thi. In fact, maine toh usse bhi sikhayye," Yuvraj chuckled.
"Really?" Sayyam pouted, his anger disappearing.
"Really. Yuvaan and Yuvaani were also scared at first. Don't worry, main tujhe bhi sikkaye sakte hoon. Tumhari maa toh tumse bhi late sikhee thi," Yuvraj countered. Yuvraj began guiding Sayyam back to the group, arm still around his shoulder, when Sayyam stopped suddenly.
"Lekin, mein..yaha...saab mujh par hasse gai,"Sayyam retorted.
Hiding his chuckle from the young boy in front of him, Yuvraj answered, "Don't worry. We'll come tomorrow, just us two, so no one will know. Humari secret rahe gi."
Suhani came up to the two, "Kya baatein chal rahi hain tum dono ke beech?"
"Kuch nahi, yahi bata rahe tha, ki Sayyam bilkul tum phe gaya hein," Yuvraj smiled, at Sayyam's obvious awkwardness, before patting Sayyam's back as Sayyam struggled out of his arm and went to Krishna.
"Haan bhi, mere beta mujh pe hi jaaye ga na," Suhani laughed.
Yuvraj smiled back, secretly happy that he got the chance to teach another one of his kids how to ride a bike. Even though Sayyam was not his biological son, Yuvraj considered him one of his children now. He chuckled again, "I can't wait for tomorrow."
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The End
Disclaimer: I know Sayyam knows how to ride a motorbike, so cycle won't be so difficult but yea, I thought it would be cute to imagine Yuvraj teaching him how to ride a cycle like he did with the Suhani and the kids.😛
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Aami Daakini
