A/N: I am posting this short chapter today! I am hoping to post a long one two weeks later. I want to dedicate this chapter to my brave sister Navya. Navya, this is for you Dear. Rest of the readers - please read and enjoy! another moment with the family!
At night in AbhiRika Room:
Abhijeet was sitting on the bed with his ipad. Basically he was just waiting for her. There she comes. she entered the room with a really sweet smile on her face. Abhijeet looked at his watch. Yah, it's really early!
Abhijeet: (joking tone)Kya baat hai Tarika Ji, aaj itni jaldi hume kaise yaad kiya?
Still today, due to some unknown reason Tarika blushes hard when she hears "Tarika Ji" from him! Even after so many years of their marriage. Abhijeet enjoyed her blushing. He smiled looking at her. He moved a little bit to make place for her to sit beside him. She came immediately and took the place just beside him - her place! She sat there - and she noticed the smile on his face. She felt something deep in her heart. She looked into his eyes. Every time she she looks into them, she just felt lost!
Abhijeet: Arre! Kya hua?
Tarika: Kuch nahi Abhi... (lowered her gaze) Bas aise hi tumhe dekh rahi thi -
Abhijeet: Acha?
Tarika smiled. Abhijeet softly took her into his arms. She found her place.
Abhijeet: Bachcho aaj jaldi so gaye! Kya baat hai!
Tarika: (lifted her head slightly) Arre, nahi Abhi! Soye nahi -
Abhijeet: (confused) To tum yaha chali ayi?
Tarika: Woh dono aaj uss kamre me chale gaye! Shreya ke paas. Yeh dono bhi na!
Abhijeet: (smiled mischievously) bas! Phir to ho gaya aaj Daya ka!
Tarika hit him lightly on his chest!
Tarika: Pata nahi kya kar rahe honge! Waise bhi kal se Diya ka bhi school hai. (remembering something) Arre haan, Abhijeet, tumne driver se baat kar li na?
Abhijeet: Haan baba. Kal se woh dono school ke baad seedha bureau ya phir FL me jayenge.
Tarika sighed with relief.
Tarika: Chalo, kal se ek aur naya life! Pata nahi kaisa rahega Diya ke first day! Par Adi bhi to saath honge, hai na?
Abhijeet: Tarika! Tum bhi na kabhi kabhi bilkul bachcho jaisa baatein karti ho. Ab woh school jayegi, tum isko lekar bhi tension karogi kya! Come on yaar! School hi ja rahi hai! Tum itna kyu soch rahi ho?
Tarika: (a little embarrassed) Par Abhi, woh abhi bachchi hai, usse to thik se khana bhi nahi ata - agar usse kisi student ne mara to? aur ya phir kisi ne uski tiffin chhin li to? School me aj kal bachche kitne shaitani karte hai pata hai na tumhe? kisi ne usko dhakka de sakta hai - (now she is really tensed imagining so many horrible things)
Abhijjet was just looking at her and was hearing her all those childlike fears with a sweet smile on his lips!
Tarika: (shocked) Abhijeet! Tum has rahe ho! Yaha main tension ke mare mar rahi hu, aur tum ho ki has rahe ho! Hadh hai!
Abhijeet: Tsch! Tsch! Tarika, main kaha has raha hun? waise Tarika, to hum kya Diya ko school nahi bhejte?
Tarika: 1 saal baad nahi bhej sakte the? abhi sifr dhai saal ke hi to hai! itni bhi kya jaldi thi!
Abhijeet: Acha, to ek saal baad jo tum abhi bol rahe the, woh sab nahi hota, haan? aur Diya bhi ek saal me badi ho jati, nahi?
Tarika was sitting lowering her head. Abhijeet pulled her into a comforting hug. He kissed her head. She shyly hid her face into his chest. The sound of his heartbeat somehow always soothes her.
...
When they were almost drifted into a deep sleep into each other's arm -
Tarika: (very very low tone) Abhiii-
Abhijeet: Ummm -
Tarika did not reply just placed a soft kiss on his lips and again found her place into his chest. While dozing off a beautiful smile crept on his face.
In DaReya Room at the same time:
Shreya entered the room holdin Diya and Adi in her hands. As soon as she entered the room the babies left her hands and ran towards the bed where Daya was half lying with a book in his hand. Adi jumped on to the bed and flung his hands around his neck.
Daya: (Trying to keep the book aside) E- ek minute beta - yeh book to rakhne do pehle!
Adi: Chachu, aaj hum yehi sonewale hai, aur pata hai, choti maa se kahani bhi sunna hai, chachu, tumhe bhi kahani ati hai?
Now Diya seemed interested with this conversation. She came near her Papa, and stood beside him. She was looking curiously to him.
Diya: Pappa - aap ko bi kahani ati hai? Bale Pappa ke talah?
Daya: (murmurs) Boss, ab mujhe marwaogey! Ab tumhe kahani sunana bhi ata hai! mai to mar hi gaya aaj! (to Diya) Mujhe kahani zyada to yaad nahi hai beta!
Adi: Par chachu, aap to books me padhte ho!
Daya: (most troubled) Beta woh sab story bachcho ke liye nahi hai - woh toh -
Diya: (cutting him and making a seat into his lap properly) Pappa - aap ko pata nahi - hum aaj bale ho gaye!
Daya was shocked hearing his daughter. Shreya, who was drinking water right at that moment, started coughing furiously.
Daya: Arre - Shreya - sambhal ke!
After a few seconds,
Shreya: (confusingly)Diya, yeh tu kya keh rahi thi? bade ho gayi hai, woh bhi aaj? (taking Adi into her lap)kya matlab?
Diya: (pat her own forehead making DareYa laugh) Uffo! Mamma, aap ko to kuch bi nai pata- kal muje shkoool jana hai na? aul Di ne kaha hai, aaj se main bi baiya ke jaise bali ho gayi, issi liye kal se shkool bi jaungi, aur phil hum dono bulow (bureau) bi jayenge, phil Nanu ke lab me bhi jayenge - to hum log bale ho gaye na?
Daya and Shreya looked at each other and burst into laughter! But Adi made a serious face.
Adi: Chachu, ab aap hume woh book wali story hi sunao. ab hum sach me bade ho gaye!
Daya looked helplessly at Shreya. Shreya assured him with eyes.
Shreya: (kissing Adi softly on his forehead) Ab aur kuch nahi, OK? Abhi dono ko sona hai. Chalo, ankhe bandh. Ab dono bade ho gaye ho na, to bade log kahaniya nahi sunte. Woh to apne aap so jate hai, chalo so jao, main sula deti hun.
She started caressing Adi's hair and Daya was doing the same with Diya. After a few minutes, the both children drifted into sleep. They were looking at their sleeping angels, a peaceful smile came to their lips. They looked at each other and smiled.
Daya: (whisper) Abhi bhi ek ko sulana baki hai
Shreya: Koi baat nahi, usse bhi sula deti hun -
She smiled sweetly when Daya placed his head near her and she started caressing him like a child. He closed his eyes. She lowered her face and placed a kiss on his forehead!
A new morning was waiting for them...
