The silence was broken by Abhijeet's calm voice as...
Abhijeet: tum yahan? Kuch kaam tha?
Daya(in sarcastic tone): kyun? Kaam ke bina main tumhare pass nahin aa sakta? Ya phir tum kisi aur ko expect karte ho aaj kal, meri jagah?
Something inside Abhijeet's heart got a crack with that tone but he managed to maintain his calmness. He just asked in a firm tone...
Abhijeet: tum kehna kya chahte ho saaf saaf bolo... directly... yunh ghuma fira ke baat karne ki koi zaroorat nahin hain...
Now Daya replied in same firm tone, with his eyes directly placed over Abhijeet's deep brown eyes...
Daya: Purvi ke saath kya chakkar chal raha hain tumhara? Aaj kal saath mein bureau se nikalte ho, kabhi kabhi restaurant mein bhi jate ho... chal kya raha hain yeh sab? Nahin, main tum par nazar nahin rakh raha hoon... utna waqt ya phir aisi koi khwaish, dono hi nahin hain mere pass... mujhe Abhiansh ne sab bataya hain... aur sirf woh hi kyun? Puri bureau mein tum dono ki relationship lekar baatein ho rahi hain... Listen Abhijeet, main tumhe ek baat saaf saaf keh dena chahta hoon... Tarika ki gairmaujoodgi mein agar tumne use dhokha dene ki koshish ki na, to mujhse bura koi nahin hoga... main Tarika ka bhi dost hoon aur mujhe... mujhe dosti nibhana bohot acche se aata hain...
For next some moments, Abhijeet had become stunned listening all these from Daya. Actually he was doubtful! He was doubting whether it was Daya himself standing in front of him or it was his doppelganger! Was he really Daya? Daya was blaming him? He took some more moments to compose himself and then said in a firm tone...
Abhijeet: itne saalon se ek saath rehne ke bawajood agar ek bahar wale ki kuch baatein sun kar tumhe mujh par, apni Abhi par, yeh shaq hone lage ki main kisi ko dhokha dekar kisi aur ke relationship par involved hoon, to mujhe aur kuch nahin kehna Daya...
Daya was looking towards him wide open eyes in shock. Abhijeet did not say even once what he was thinking was wrong. Had his relationship with Purvi became more precious for Abhijeet than their friendship? Did it mean that he could afford Daya's absence in his life, but not Purvi's? He said in a tough tone...
Daya: agar tum mujhe zara sa bhi important mante ho khud ki zindagi mein, agar tumhar life mein humari dosti ki zara bhi value hain, to tum kal se Purvi se kaam ke alawa ek bhi baat nahin karoge... ek bhi word exchange nahin karoge usse... agar humari dosti zara si bhi keemati hain tumhare life mein, to tumhe meri baat manna hi hoga...
Saying this he turned to leave the room but stopped immediately as Abhijeet spoke up in firm tone...
Abhijeet: itne din saath rehne ki bawajood bhi agar main yeh saabit nahin kar paya ki humare dosti ya phir tum khud mere zindagi mein kya mayne rakhte ho, to sorry... phir shayad main kabhi tumhe yakeen nahin dila paunga... aur haan, main Purvi se baat zaroor karunga... jaise pehle karta tha waise hi karunga... tumhare liye shayad hum ajnabi nahin hain... tum mujhe bhi bohot saalon se jante ho aur Purvi ko bhi... ab faisla tumhara hain ki tum kis par yakeen karoge... jise tum peechle kuch dino se jante ho ya phir jinhe tum saalon se dekhte aa rahe ho...
He stopped saying all these within a single breath. He was too hurt today. Was a business transaction going on between relationships, so that terms and conditions were being given? Had not he spoken today, his self esteem and self respect would be at level zero, he felt.
Daya had nothing to speak anymore. Abhijeet's reply had made him reach at a numb state. Abhijeet had said "no" over his face for the first time. That also for that Purvi! He made him realize who was more precious for him! He left the room silently. But Abhijeet remain there in total silent state. He could not go forward. He could understand that something was breaking inside him. He could listen the glass breaking sound and could easily discover himself standing in midst of many glass pieces, with bloodied body. He was helpless. He had to watch the destruction of a years old relationship with his open eyes.
He looked towards the clock. It was half past twelve. He just sighed. He was wrong, he admitted. He should not have expected. If it had to come, it would have come till now! He could not never deny that it was really embarrassing for a man of his age, but till now he was waiting silently for A BIRTHDAY WISH, which he realized now was never going to come!
On the other hand, Daya was seemed to be sitting on his bed silently. Abhijeet's today's behaviour had hurt him very much, he admitted. But he could not forget the fact also that he himself too had some responsibilities of this mess. He had ignored Abhijeet, he could not deny! He had ignored Abhijeet since he had met Abhiansh, but was it a sufficient reason for Abhijeet to select someone else in his place? Had Abhijeet really become fed up with him? Was he searching for an option of get rid of him which he got now?
An uncontrollable sob climbed up through his throat with a drop of tear from his eyes. He could not afford to lose his best friend, his brother. Who else he had had in his life except him? He just wanted that Abhijeet should stay away from Purvi... but he denied. Could not he fulfil his little desire? He always felt a rage inside his heart whenever he saw them together, why did not Abhijeet understand this?
He came out from his trance with the ringtone of his mobile. Yes, Abhiansh was calling! He took some moments to compose himself and then accepted the call with a calm...
Daya: haan Abhi, batao...
Abhiansh: bataoge to tum Daya... baat ki Abhijeet se? Kya nateeja aaya?
Daya(after a moment of silence): woh...
Abhiansh: samjha... usne saaf inkar kar diya... haina?
Daya(in pain): hmmmm...
Abhiansh(in calm tone) tumhe ab bhi kuch samjhana padega Daya?
Daya: par Abhi yaar... main nahin reh sakta Abhijeet ke bina... mujhe mera dost chahiye yaar... woh hi meri duniya hain... mujhe humari beech ki jo dooriyan hain woh kam karna hain... mujhe sab pehle jaisa chahiye... yaar please kuch karna... mujhe ab aur accha nahin lag raha hain... main Abhijeet ko miss kar raha hoon yaar...
Abhiansh: okay okay Daya... tum shant ho jaao please... aur ek baar thande dimag se socho... kya tum waqai yeh hi chahte ho?
Daya(in firm tone): haan Abhi... mujhe mera Abhijeet wapas chahiye...
Abhiansh; lekin Daya... woh ab tumhe nahin balki Purvi ko apni best friend manta hain... dekha na tumne?
Daya(with hatred): yeh sab us Purvi ka hi chal hoga... woh hi behka rahi hain Abhijeet ko... warna mera Abhijeet aisa nahin hain...
Abhiansh: really Daya? Tumhe aisa lagta hain? Abhijeet koi doodh peeta baccha nahin hain jo use itni asaani se koi behla fusla lega... mujhe to lagta hain ki yeh jo kuch bhi chal raha hain us mein Abhijeet ka bhi sehmati hain...
Daya(in anger): tum meri madad nahin karna chahte saaf saaf kyun nahin keh dete?
Abhiansh: shant bhai shant... accha batao kya karna chahte ho tum? Main tumhare saath hi hoon...
Daya: haan to suno... mere pass ek plan hain...
They discussed something for some time and then went to bed whereas the other person of the house was still awaken, unknowingly waiting for someone to come, carrying a childish hope in his heart. Had Daya really forgotten this day?
Finally he slept after long efforts and he opened his eyes on the next morning, a sudden realization stuck him badly! What then if Daya had planned some surprise for him? Yes, certainly this would be the reason! He could never forget his birthday. He perhaps just wanted to give him a surprise, pretending to be forgetting his birthday. For this reason only he had not wished him at 12 AM as every year!
Next morning both of them, as usual, finished their breakfast and went to bureau. Shreya had wished him already, but Daya had not done it yet. But today Abhijeet was not sad, rather than he was feeling both happy and excited. An unknown pleasure had kept him engulfed in its embrace for the whole day. In the bureau also, everybody wished him happy birthday, excluding Daya and Abhiansh. Both of them were in the record room when the others wished him.
Today, whenever, he had looked towards Daya, a soft smile had appeared over his lips. His brother must he planning something for his birthday, and was thinking that he would not be able to understand! "Needless Attempt Daya", he thought. Daya did not know the fact that Abhijeet knew him better than anybody, perhaps even more than Daya himself!
He left the bureau early today, around 7 PM. No, not with Daya! He was alone, Daya already had left bureau around 5 PM, with Abhiansh, which made Abhijeet confirmed about his guess. Daya must have arranged something special for him! Oh dear! He just wanted to reach home as soon as possible.
While sitting in the running cab, as Daya had taken the qualis with him, he was trying to guess what surprises must be waiting for him at home. He could remember about the happenings of last night, and felt a little sorry about it. Was he much rude? But it was Daya who was having inappropriate demand. What it might be, he must have a open talk with him tonight. He could not let everything slip away from his hands like this! He had lost everyone, he could not afford to lose Daya at least!
He reached home while thinking all these and almost rushed to ring the doorbell. He knew there much gathering of many known faces at the opposite side. And before all, Daya must be waiting for him with his copyrighted big cure smile playing over his face!
He was thinking all these when he heard a door unlocking sound from the other side and after a moment the door got opened but... not by Daya.
It was Shreya on the other side!
Abhijeet looked towards the interior of the house. It was not dark, but not also decorated. It was just like the other ordinary day. He was spell bound to discover the empty, silent house, where nobody except his daughter was waiting for him. This meant that Daya really had forgotten the day. No doubt he had. No excuses, no false consolations were applicable anymore.
He could again hear a glass breaking sound inside him! But this time the broken glass pieces were hurting him! He could he? He remained silent. What had left to said anymore? About whom? To whom? Better to leave it as it was!
He was sitting in his room silently, feeling a extreme pain inside his heart. It was not due to Daya's forgetfulness, rather it was due to a realization that nothing was there like earlier. He could understand that someone very close to him, was getting far away.
At that moment, a small bowl appeared in his front of his nose which made him jerk a bit in shock. He looked upwards and found his daughter was standing there with lowered face. He looked down, towards the bowl, only to find that it contained ice cream, butterscotch ice cream! He looked up towards Shreya with curious eyes which made her answer in low, embarrassed voice...
Shreya: woh papa birthday par to kheer banate haina, aur mujhe na ab tak theek se kheer banana aata nahin hain, isliye ice cream hi bana li...
Abhijeet was looking towards her with an unknown expression present over his face. He did not know how to react. Only what he could understand was his little angle had grown up much. She had matured so much that she could easily understand about his grief or hurt and could take steps to remove that grief also. Who the hell on the earth had ever said that daughters were burden over their parents? If they were provided with right education, love and care, they could be the best friends of parents.
Seeing Abhijeet starring towards her without a single blink, Shreya stopped a bit. She tried to read his eyes but failed miserably as they were containing an unknown reaction in them. Being unable to understand what was going on inside him, she again tried...
Shreya: dinner bhi maine hi banaya hain... aapki pasand ki... mixed fried rice hain, chicken bhi hain... (in low tone)... dinner to karenge na aap?
She stopped again, but now Abhijeet was unable to control himself due to this love filled concerned tone. He felt that his eyes were getting moist. If it was a normal other day, he could have controlled his tears but not today! All of a sudden, he hugged her tightly and burst into tears. The stored, hidden pain of his heart came out from his eyes, in the form of tears, in front of his only daughter. And while expelling that pain, he was hugging her more close to his bosom. He was feeling that in the whole world, she was the only person who thought about him, loved him, cared about his feelings. Perhaps it was only she for whom he was still precious!
Perhaps she had understood about his pain. Actually since morning her uncle's behaviour towards her father was appearing strange to her. She knew that every year, they celebrated much on this occasion. And she knew her father too well. Her father had never demanded of any grand celebrations on this occasion. He just wanted a hearty Birthday Wish, which would make him feel special! He was never in favour of that grand celebration, for him it was just an opportunity to spend free and merry making time with his family, nor he wanted any valuable gifts. He just wanted something more valuable. A place of himself in everyone's heart!
She too hugged him back tightly and said in a soothing tone while rubbing her hands over his back...
Shreya: main samajhti hoon aapko kyun bura lag raha hain... lekin unhone yeh jaan bujhke nahin kiya hain... shayad kisi kaam mein phans gaye honge... unhone yeh jaan bujhke nahin kiya hoga... hmmm?
Abhijeet did not reply to her words. He had understood what it was supposed to be, and his thoughts was not going to change anymore, not even with Shreya's consoling words also. He had not wished for any valuable gifts or any grand celebration party from Daya today, what he had wished for was a small birthday wish, for which he was waiting his last night. But he was unable to achieve that!
But destiny, or better to say the Daya- Abhiansh duo, really had planned for an wonderful surprise for him on this occasion!
It was nearly 12 AM, when Abhijeet heard the sound of the doorbell. He frowned a bit as he knew who the visitor might be and he also knew that he had another pair of key with him. He did not get up at first and continued to read the book when he heard the second time ringing of the doorbell.
He opened the door and the scenario waiting for him outside was more than enough to make him hell shocked!
END OF THE CHAPTER
So what did Abhijeet see outside? Did Daya really forget Abhijeet's birthday? Or it was some plan of Abhiansh? Where had Daya and Abhiansh gone? About what plan Daya and Abhiansh was talking? Now Abhijeet is too much hurt, what will be it's consequences? Why Abhiansh hates Abhijeet? What is his plan? How will he get exposed? Will Daya and Abhijeet reunite again? Stay tuned to know more
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A Abhijeet- Abhiansh confrontation scene is waiting for you.
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Your Nikita
A\N: only eight reviews have left to complete 145 reviews in Ghum Hain Kisikey Pyaar Mein. Please review friends.