Anvi looked on at Ruhana and waited for an answer from her but in return she received her silence.
Anvi asked her again "bolo na mumma.. Khushi aur AM ko saath dekhti hoon to papa yaad aate hai.. Phone pe baat karti hoon to acha lagta hai par wo mere saath nhi hai.. Unka mere birthday par aana kafi nhi lagta mujhe.. Saal bhar ki baatein ek din karti hun.. Kya papa hamare saath nhi reh sakte?"
Ruhana gets up from the bed and moves towards the window. She had no answer to her questions. Anvi moved to her and held her hand...
" Bolo na Mumma... Papa hamare sath kyun nahi rehte? Wo ghar bhi nahi aate... Aisa kyun mumma??"she asked.
Ruhana was still silent... Anvi held her hand...
" Mumma... Bolo na... Aap bhi papa se baat nahi karte... Anvi ko acha nahi lagta. Anvi ko mumma papa dono ke sath rehna hai. "she said sadly and Sat down on the bed. The girl was teary eyed. Ruhana turned to her daughter and sat beside her...Anvi looked at her...
" Mumma...Say something... Bolo na... Kyun papa humare sath ni aate? Kyun wo ghar ni aate... Aapko jawab dena hoga"
"kyunki main nahi chahti ki wo yahan rahe." Ruhana replied.
"lekin kyun mumma! Anvi ko bhi papa ke sath rehna hai... Wo ek din ke liye aate hain... Thik se Baatein bhi nahi hoti."she said.
Ruhana looked at her while she continued...
"Aapko pata hai, humesha jaane se pehle papa mujhe kya bolte hai... Wo bolte hain apna aur mumma ka dhyan rakhna... Maasi ka bhi... Main unhe sab bata skti hu lekin unhe hug nahi kar sakti...zidd nahi kr sakti... Ghumne nahi ja sakti... Mere papa hote hue bhi mujhse door hain. "she said as tears escaped her eyes.
Ruhana's heart pinched as she remembered his words that she can't stop him from meeting her. He still cares... For her... For his daughter. She loved him too... But she hated him too, for what he did with her. She couldn't deny the fact that Anvi really deserved him and she should be with him but she didn't know what to answer. Anvi turned her face towards her...
"Mumma... Mujhe pata hai... Aap bhi papa ko miss karte ho na... Fir kyun ni unse baat karte... Papa toh humse bahut pyar karte hai na... Aap anvi ke liye unse baat ni kar sakte??" she asked.
Ruhana turned her face other side... "mujhe kisi se koi baat nahi karni."she said.
" Aap anvi ki baat nahi maanoge?"she asked innocently.
Ruhana didn't reply, nor did Anvi. Both of them were right at their place. Ruhana calmed herself and turned to Anvi cupping her face...
" mujhe pata hai tum kya soch rahi ho... Yahi na ki main kuch jawab kyun nahi de rahi... "
Anvi looks at her...
"beta... Tumhare sawalo ka jawab nahi hai mumma ke paas... Kyunki beta kuch zakhm itne gehre hote hai ki bhulaye nahi bhulte... Kuch aisi baat hi hai mumma papa ke beech... Lekin agar aap chaho toh papa ke paas ja sakte ho..." she said.
Anvi looked at her and asked "matlab"
"matlab agar aap apne papa ke pass Mumbai rehna chahti ho to ja sakti ho main aapko nhi rokungi"
Anvi gets angry at her and replied "baat to wahi hogi na.. Mujhe ek ke saath rehne ko milega"
Ruhana nodes "Haan.."
Anvi comforts her further "acha to aap ab mujhse khudse door jane ko keh rahe ho..."
Ruhana nodes in no.. "nahi aapko agar papa..." but she was paused by Anvi
"nhi jaana mujhe kahi.. Aapko pata hai na main aapke bina nhi rah sakti"
Ruhana nodes in yes.. "par ek baat aap bhi samajh lo main aur aapke papa saath nhi rah sakte"
Anvi looked on at her and asked her "par kyun?? Aap dono itne door kyun ho?"
Ruhana replied "tum abhi choti ho samajhne ke liye.."
Anvi signed in disappointment.. "aap Anvi ko kuch nhi batate aur na uski baat sunte"
Ruhana looks at her and says sadly "Anvi.. Please tum bhi ruth gayi to main kahan jaungi palle, khushi dono chale gaye.." Anvi looked on at her.. Ruhana gets up and stands at the window.. Anvi comes and hugs her from behind.
"sorry mumma.. Anvi hai na aapke saath nhi jayegi kahi aur na naraz hogi" she further speaks up.
Ruhana smiles a bit..
"vaise I am also missing my Khu" Anvi shared with Ruhana..
Ruhana turned to her "acha.. School mei to tum usse mil hi logi na?? Lekin main kaise milungi??"
Anvi thinks and replies" simple hai dono ko ghar bulake"
Ruhana smiles and pats her head lightly.. "ab bahut raat ho gayi hai soja"
Anvi nodes and goes to her room to sleep. Ruhana sits back on the bed and takes the picture of Palak. She looks at it and complains "tu phir chali gayi.. Aur Anvi ne dekh aaj mujhse kya sawal kiye.. ab kaise use sab samjau.."
Mehra House
The car stopped in front of the house, Palak and Akshay came out of the car. Khushi was sleeping in his arms, he said to Palak" wait for few minutes main khushi ko letake aata hoon"
Palak nodes.. Akshay takes khushi inside the house. Palak took few steps towards the entrance of the house.. she was about to step in but stopped as she heard a voice.. "kaha tha na ruko" it was Akshay.
Palak was confused "lekin kyun?"
Akshay signs "bahut sawal karti ho tum.. just stand there for while" he quickly goes towards the kitchen to get something. After 5 minutes he comes with few things in his hand. He smiled at Palak.. "dekho zyada kuch mujhe maloom nhi hai.." he placed the kalash in front of her feet which was filled with rice.
"ab andar aao"
Palak smiled.. She did the grah pravesh and entered in..
He took her into the bedroom, the driver brings in the suitcase and leaves..
Akshay says "tum change karlo I will just attend a call and come back" and leaves the room.
Palak was not willing to open the suitcase as she was tired.. She moved towards the dressing to remove the jewellery and gets surprised with a box placed there. A note was there
"must be tired because of long day wear this" a smile appeared on her face. She opened it and found a gown. She changed the clothes after removing the jewellery.
Akshay came back into the room after attending the call. Palak was setting the bed properly. Akshay said "right side meri hai"
Palak looked at him "kyun aisa kya khaas hai yahan"
Akshay replied "mujhe achi neend aati hai"
Palak noded... She settled on the left side of the bed.. She asked him "khushi kahan hai??"
Akshay assured her "don't worry she is next door uske pasand ke room mei"
Palak was confused "usne kab pasand kiya?"
Akshay looked at her and said "wo khushi ko jab main bin bataye le gaya tha to wo yahan aayi thi"
Palak replied "acha.." she seemed to be upset over something.
Akshay asked her "any problem??"
Palak nodes in no "nhi bas di aur Anvi ko miss kar rahi hoon"
Akshay tells her "to call karlo na"
Palak looks at him and says "time dekho 3 baje hai they must have slept"
Akshay nodes "we should also sleep.."
He turns off the lights but Palak turns back it on from other side.
Akshay looked at her "ab kya hua?"
"it's too dark.." Palak told him.
"tumhe andhere se darr lagta hai??" he asked her
Palak recalled... the dark room of the Viraj capture and nodes in yes..
"wo.. Jabse.. Main.."
Akshay takes her hand and says "hey.. I am here na.." he turns off the light.
Palak wanted to say but he makes her silent.. "relax.. I am here".
After sometime Palak was feeling so smooth and not afraid because he was with her. She fell asleep within no time.
The next morning Palak opened her eyes and she found herself sleeping on top of his chest. She got and smiled seeing his face he looked cute while sleeping.
Akshay uttered "aise mat dekho pyar ho jayega"
Palak hide her smile and said "tum jage ho??"
Akshay opened his eyes "yup.. Good morning Mrs. Mehra"
"good morning" she got up from bed and went to fresh up.
After sometime, Palak comes out and sees Akshay gone. She moves out of the room and searches for the room where Khushi was then she hears her voice. She follows the voice direction. She enters inside the room and finds akshay and Khushi arguing over something.
"are nhi na papa.. Khushi ko ye dressing idhar chahiye"
Akshay replies "lekin ye aapko lag sakta hai na idhar rakhne pe"
Khushi nodes in no.. "nhi lagega"
Akshay signs as it is no point of arguing further "thik hai baad mein mat kehna papa ne bataya nhi" he adjusts the room according to Khushi.
Palak finally says "aap dono ka ho gaya ho to kuch nasta karle??"
Akshay and Anvi nodes and left towards the dining area.
Khushi seemed to be upset over something.. Akshay asked her "kya hua?"
Khushi replies "Vi... Ki yaad aa rahi hai.."
Akshay smiles at her "to aaj Vi ke ghar chalenge"
Khushi gets happy and continues with the breakfast.
The days passed but Khushi was missing Anvi alot and there Ruhana and Anvi were also missing the two. The house seemed to be so empty..Khushi and Anvi meet at school but hardly for 15 minutes..
One evening Akshay came back from office and went inside the room..
"Palak main keh raha tha ki kyu na hum Anvi aur tumhari di ko yahi bula le hamare sath rehne ke liye" he shared his thought with Palak.
Palak smiled at this and said "main bhi to yahi kehne wali thi tumse.."
Akshay nodes "khushi upset rehti hai anvi ke bina and tum bhi apni di ko miss karti ho aur waise bhi is bade ghar mei 3 log ache nhi lagte"
Palak hugs him and says "thank you so much.. main kal hi di ko jake leke aaungi"
To be continued.. So will Ruhana agree to stay with them??