Hai, I am back,
Thanks to all your reviews and I am really happy that you are liking this.
Mistic morning, to know the reason you have to wait little more; and yeah there is another suspense I am planning ( i hope you will feel it from this chapter itself) ;)
aditi, I thought many would guess Muskaan because of 'daada'. But you were the only one. Thank you for reading and reviewing.
Thanks gorgeous purvi :D
Guest1, Agar koi aur Dayuskaan pe likh rahe hote na, then I would have as excited as you are now. Thanks for reading and please stay with me..( Current track gives no space where I can add your idea, but I hope the suspense element I am trying would make you happy)
Shreya,
I am Anushka kumar from Trivandrum, Kerala. I've completed my Post Graduation in Malayalam Literature and waiting for results( fingers crossed).
Now to the story...
Muskaan ran out of bureau; she wanted to cry once, aloud. Keeping tears within she walked towards lift but it's door got opened unexpectedly and a five year old boy came out running. He collided with her and to keep him safe Muskaan had to sit on her knees. As she stoop towards him, her smooth hair fell over her face and the lady came behind that boy couldn't see her. She asked,
"Sorry, aap teak hain na? Aadi, I told you, now see"
Muskaan felt a pinch in her heart because she realised that voice. But she became delighted too, because she was having Aadi in her hands, the very same Aadi whom she adored the most.
"Aadi..." she murmered.
That woman too recognized the voice, she called,
" Muskaan?..."
Muskaan stood up and then slowly turned to face her best friend, Taarika.
Seeing muskaan, Taarika's eyes became wet and red too.
"Taaru.."
Muskaan walked to her, but suddenly Taarika turned aside. She needed time to hide her genuine emotions for Muskaan. She actually wanted to have Musi in a hug, but some blur images from past prevent her. Muskaan could understand what Taarika was feeling, she look back at Aadi, who was standing there with cute look, exactly like his father's. He was in his uniform and school bag. Muskaan touch his nose with her finger, and looked at him without even winking. Her eyes were having immense spark of happiness,
" Aadi, kaise ho?"
He smiled innocently and moved his head in 'yes'. Taarika came ahead and dragged Aadi behind. Muskaan in a rush told,
"Taarika, I joined here today...I am going to work here.."
Taarika show no expression to it, but she was shocked for sure.
"Taaru.."
This time, Taarika got provoked.
"No, never. Never ever call me so... 'taaru' is no more. I am Taarika. Call me Srivastav. 'Taaru' died, when her 'Musi' left her."
Taarika was saying that in a harsh tone, but when came to last sentence, a teardrop fell down. She wiped it soon and continued,
" If you are working here, behave like an officer miss. Muskaan Verma, there is no relation left here for you. It's all over. You were very much for us, but now we are used to live without you."
Muskaan closed her eyes tightly and then said,
"Taarika, meri baat tho suno...Please ek baar"
"Kya sunoon? Is there anything left to hear or say? You have already done what you wanted, now when we didn't want you around us, why?"
Saying this Taarika took Aadi's hand in her and walk inside the bureau. But before she could move far, Aadi turned back to see Muskaan and then asked Taarika,
"Mama, wo aunty kaun hein?"
Taarika sat near him, looked at Muskaan and then said,
"No Aadi, not aunty, 'madam'. Call her 'madam'."
Then they walked away leaving a broken heart behind.
Muskaan came home and when Sujaatha opened the door, she all of a sudden hugged her, cried and that too aloud. Sujaatha tap her on her shoulder to remind her something.
"Beta, dheere" Sujatha said after looking back at a room.
Muskaan place her hand on her mouth to keep her yelp within. Sujaatha took Muskaan upstairs and there in a room made her sit on a couch. She couldn't console Muskaan as she was seeing her like that for the very first time.
"Bas Muskaan, that's it. Don't cry.."
She said after a while, and it sound as an order. Muskaan brush it off, so wiped her tears but kept weeping.
"Tell me what happened?"
Muskaan told her everything and then again cried,
" They..they told me that they hate me...chaachi..there is nothing left for me...Aadi bhi nahi, mera bacha...You know they asked me to stay away from them.."
"And you came back crying?"
"Then what I should've done? They were not hearing me chaachi"
This time it was Sujaatha who raise voice,
"Then you should have shouted, should've made them here that.."
Muskaan got up and walk towards the window and stare out. Sujaatha came behind her and touch her.
"Muskaan, dekho beta, (she made muskaan face her) They can hate you, because you have done something like that. You never told me why, but you did hurt them. But you will have to say them"
Muskaan nodded in "no, I can't". Tears were constantly falling.
"you will have to Muskaan, if don't, it will be biggest ruse you are doing to Daya. Tum uss se ye haq nahi cheen sakti "
Muskaan turned to her and in a stern voice asked,
"How can I chaachi, he ..he don't even remember that, how can I make him believe?"
Sujaatha smiled scornfully,
"Is this a senior officer asking me?"
Muskaan asked again,
"If he didn't believe?"
"Leave it then, aaj tak kissi ke bhi zahaara nahi mila hame? Yet we lived. If he don't want then just give a damn."
Sujaatha left the room saying that and Muskaan was wondering if it was her 'Sujaatha chaachi' saying that. After a long time, Muskaan took a sigh, took a decision, and came downstairs. She opened the door of her room and looking inside she said,
"yeah, I can't take away this from you...I can't."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Here in the bureau;
When Muskaan too went out, Freddy, Vivek and Tasha were left there. ACP was still in his cabin. They didn't talk about what had happened. None of them wanted to make situation uncomfortable again. But it ended when Taarika came in with Aadi.
"What she is doing here?"
She asked as soon as she got in, but got no answer. She went near Vivek,
"Vivek, is she going to work here, with us?"
But it was Freddy who answer that,
"She is going to work here, but not with us"
Then he went out. Taarika followed him and Aadi was left with Vivesha.
Tasha went near him and asked,
"School nahi gaye mere janaab?"
He just nodded, actually he never saw his family like this confused and infuriated.
"papa kahaan hein?"
He asked and this time Vivek took him up.
"Wo kuch kaam se gaye hein Daya uncle ke saath.."
"Muskaan madam kyun ro rahi thi?"
This question made Vivek put him down. Both Vivek and Tasha were searching for an answer, but Taarika came and took Aadi with her.
By then Poorvi and Pankaj came back. ACP gave no time to them for any kind of discussion; he called four of them- Vivek, Tasha, Pankaj and Poorvi to his cabin.
"You have seen what happened here. Some know what it is, some may be confused. Whatever it is, I don't want this to be discussed with others who are completely unaware. Let it be what it is. You got it? I don't want Shreya, Nikhil, Rajat and Sachin know this."
He left the bureau; he didn't show but was really confused.
Pankaj couldn't control his anxiety, he asked,
"What is this?.. I mean wo kya naam tha unka, haan Muskaan, is she a criminal or something?"
Tasha was going to say 'no' but Vivek interrupted,
"In a way, she is."
Tasha who was silently watching all this asked,
"What Vivek, come on..She may have had some reason,"
"What? Aisa kya hua tha ki raaton raat..leave it Tasha, you guys don't know"
This time, Poorvi came ahead,
"Then let us know, I meant..ACP sir baaqi sab ko bataane se mana kiya tha na? So you just can tell us."
Vivek looked at all and then turned to Pankaj. Pankaj suddenly caught his throat to promise,
"I won't say anyone"
Vivek started to say about Muskaan...
She was a happy girl, one who always wanted to stay happy, and make others happy. Her scamps, gags, chit-chats all made us happy even if we were in pain. I don't know when she became an inseparable part of our life...
So, how was it?
Please read, review and take care...