Chapter 7

A/N: Hi guys. Jaldi update di ahi cuz you guys were super-duper in response.

Tysm for the reviews and silent readers.

Love you guys a lot… Now have a happy reading.

Pradyuman was sitting at the corner of the bed. His eyes were filled with tears, he turned towards little Abhijeet sleeping deeply with a bandaged hand, tucked inside his blanket. Thinking about something the tears that were dangling on his lashes, fell on his face. Divya came back with two cups of tea. Looking at her he immediately tried to hide his eyes but Divya was quick to notice them.

Pradyuman: Aise nahi chal sakta. Main tum logon ko is tarah takleef mein nahi dekh sakta.

Divya: Kabhi kabahr insaan ko khud ko halat par chor dena chahiye. Woh aap ko khud hi kisi Sahil par chor deti hai.

Pradyuman: Acha tumhien kiya mila sahil parr.

Divya: Aap, aur abhi…

Pradyuman: Lekin main tum logon ke liye bahut kuch karna chahta hoon.

Divya:( smiling) Kiya karna chahte hain aap.

Pradyuman: Maine bahut socha hai aur (hesitantly) Main soch raha hoon ke bahar chala jaon. Wahan jobs bahut achi milti hain foreigners ko.

Divya was shocked with his decision.

Divya: Aap aise kaise, mera matlab aap jane hain na ke aap ke illawa mujhe yahan koi pasand nahi karta. Kaise rahoon gi main or abhi aap ke baghair.

Pradyuman: (sadly) Kuch tu qurbani deni parti ahin na.

Divya: mere liye ye kuch nahi…. sab kuch Hai.

Pradyuman: Dekho sirf 5 saal ki baad hai, us ke baad sab theek ho jaye ga. Koi musibat nahi koi takleef nah.

Divya: (crying) Sirf 5 saal. 5 saal main aap jante hain kiya kiya ho jaye ga. Abhi school jane lage ga. Bara ho jaye ga. Sab kuch badal jaye ga. Bas aap nahi jayien ge.

And she went from there, wiping her tears.

…

AT UNIVERSITY

Abhijeet thought he should have written his report but he didn't. Mr. Ankit made such a big deal of it. He made him feel like a criminal. He called him to his office for a "chat". But Abhijeet never understands how can you call it a chat, if that's just one person giving others a hard time.

"Abhijeet, you should have done your assignment?" That's how Mr. Ankit started the chat.

"I know". Abhijeet replied trying not to yawn in his face.

Mr. Ankit waved a chubby hand, trying to get rid of the fly that kept circling him.

"Why didn't you write it?" He demanded. He spoke in a soft, gentle voice that got softer the angrier he became.

"I don't know" Abhijeet shrugged.

He knew the absolute reason for not doing his work. He had planned to write it. He even did most of the research. But the thing escaped from his mind, as he remembers that he got angry after the conversation between him and his father.

"You have to have some kind of excuse since I already gave you two extra days." Mr. Ankit said, his voice growing even quieter.

Abhijeet glanced out the window. The guys on the football were doing warm-up drills on the practice field. Clouds lifted away from the sun, and the room filled with light.

"I really don't have an excuse," He lied.

They were both standing. Mr. Ankit leaned his back against the projector display behind his desk. Abhijeet stood on the other side of the desk, his arms crossed. He was wearing a black hoodie and black jeans. Black to match his mood.

"Am I going to fail in that assignment," Abhijeet whispered quietly.

"Detention." Mr. Ankit said with a straight face.

That word woke Abhijeet up.

"Uh…detention…and you are also going to fail me, right?" Abhijeet asked.

"My office, at 2 pm. I think you won't be having any classes after that. Right." With that, he sat down on his chair and buried his face in a book. Abhijeet took this as a sign that the "chat" has ended.

He muttered a low "okay sir" and then went to Karan who was waiting for him outside. His one and only friend, who has been listening to him since he was in middle school. Their friendship grew up with them. They even had some fights, but they were still together.

"Kiya hua? Fail kardiya kiya?"

"Shayad, aur sath mein detention bhi di hai." Abhijeet replied. "Pata nahi kiya musibat hai. Maine tu sab kaam kiya hua tha phir bhi." He said irritatingly.

"Tu mere bhai jab sara kaam kiya tha tu phir pura hi kar lete."

"Are pura hi kar raha tha. Par. He suddenly remembered about that night and the expressions o his face changed. Karan saw the change.

'Acha chalo canteen chalte hain, kuch khate hain aur tum tu thora zyada khana (jokingly) Tumhien detention mein bhi tu jana hai.

Unwillingly Abhijeet smiled and they headed toward the canteen.

At 2 pm Karan bid him good luck and gestured him to text him about what happened. Abhijeet entered Mr. Ankit's office. He was sitting on his chair waiting for him. Before Abhijeet could ask anything, he signaled him to sit. Abhijeet picked a seat not too close to him, not so far. He came to him and said

"Main tumhien fail nahi karna chahta. (Turning around) isi liye tum who assignment abhi karo ge. Aur who bhi do ghante mein.

Abhijeet was shocked by this. He didn't even have any of his research work with him or anything else.

"Par do ghante mein kaise.?" Abhijeet asked.

"Mr. Ankit came to him with a pile of books and empty notes paper.

"In books mein se dhoond kar aur handwritten. That is your punishment. (He announced) You have to do this by hand, no typed papers. No searching on the internet. (He saw Abhijeet face which has fallen) I am staying here with you till 4. Maybe that is how you will understand the importance of time, the internet, and punctuality. Your time starts now.

Abhijeet was staring at him angrily. And if looks could kill, Mr. Ankit would have been killed.

He picked up a book and started his work. He worked nonstop until 4 pm. Some of his assignment was still left but the time was up. He thought at least he won't fail. He handed over the assignment to him. Mr. Ankit was satisfied and he passed him a smile. Abhijeet hurried out of here pressing his right hand as it was paining like hell with all the writing. When he came out, he was surprised Karan was still waiting for him. Karan frowned at him.

"Abe, tujhe kiya bola tah ke msg kar dena ke andar kiya hua. Aur bhai sahab tu dead hi ho gaye."

"Abe yaar, sara assignment karaya hai us ne, who bhi (imitating him) handwritten chahiye. Dimaagh kharab kar diya. Hath mein dar ho gaya."

"Chal kam se kam kaam ho tu gaya na. Ab at least tujhe fail tu nahi karien ge. (Folding his hand around his neck.) Chal aaj tujhe isi khushi mein party deta hoon. Jo kahan ho kha lena. (jokingly) bas akhir mein paise bhi de dena.

The both shared a beautiful laugh together. Karan was the only person who had seen him laughing. None other could say that.

"Yaar, I have to go office. I am late." Abhijeet whined.

"Abe bhai tension kyun leta hai, ab tu tu late ho hi chuka hai, voh bhi pura aik ghante, tu aaram se chalte

nahi tu (Karan nearly shouted) leave le le na aaj. Waise bhi tu ne bataya tha ke tere boss tera bahut khayal rakhte hain. (Winking at him) tu pareshan mat ho. maine sab check kar liya hai, un ki koi beti nahi hai. tu woh tension tu khatam."

Abhijeet punched him oh him arm while grunting his teeth " Main yahan kiya bakwas kar raha hoon, aur tum pata nahi kiya kiya soche jaa rahe ho."

"Acha na chalo warna aur lambi late lage gi.

...