A day later, after breakfast Abhijeet went in Daya's room. He knocked the door and only after Daya permitted, he entered.

"Kya aapko mujhse koi kaam tha?" Daya asked him but Abhijeet shook his head negatively.

"Nahi. Mai toh bas tumhe kuch batane aaya tha."

Daya looked at him in confusion, "Kya?"

"Daya", Abhijeet said in a low tone, "Kya tum jaante ho mai kaun hun?"

Daya nodded with same expressions. "Haan. Bhaiya ke dost."

Abhijeet smiled, "Haan, voh toh mai hun lekin..kya tum mere baremein kuch aur bhi jaante hun?"

Daya kept staring at him for a while and then sighed. "Jaanta hun." Abhijeet narrowed his eyes at him. "Aap ek psychiatrist hai, hai na?"

Abhijeet nodded, slowly. Daya added, "Bhaiya ko lagta hai mujhe ek psychiatrist ki zarurat hai. Shayad voh sahi bhi hai lekin", he looked at Abhijeet, "mai nahi jaanta ki aap meri madat kiss tarah kar paenge"

Abhijeet smiled shaking his head, "Wanna play a game?"

"Kya?!"
"Game!" He said again.

Daya shrugged in confusion, "Kaisa game? Truth and dare? Kya aap psychiatrists aise hi boring, baby games khelte ho?"

Abhijeet shook his head not at all offended. "Uhun..Mind-reading. Listen, I'll read your mind aur agar mai sahi hun toh tum darwaze ke taraf ek kadam badhaoge aur agar mai galat hun toh mai darwaze ke taraf ek kadam badhaunga. Jo pehle darwaze ke paas pohochega voh dusre keliye uski man-pasand dish banaega. Done?"

Daya nodded but with a confused face. So Abhijeet asked,
"Kya hua? Koi problem?"

Daya shrugged, "Was the breakfast not enough for you?"

Abhijeet raised his eyebrow and then laughed. "Its just a game. Hosakta hai mai koi beverage banane keliye kahun."

"Jaise tum chaho."

"Fine. Shuru kare?"

Daya nodded so they both stood up and Abhijeet said, "Jab tumhare grandmother ki death hui thi, tab tumhari maa mere jaise hi ek doctor ke paas gai thi but uss doctor ne aunty-jee ki koi madat nahi ki. Isliye tumhe bhi lagta hai ki mai tumhari koi madat nahi karunga."

Daya glanced at Abhijeet for a while and then took a step towards the door. Abhijeet smiled, forming the next query.

"Tumhe dar lagta hai ki tumhari maa ne uss doctor ko apne kuch secrets batae the..aise secrets jo voh kisi ke saath share nahi kar sakti thi."

A look of surprise covered Daya's face and he walked a step towards the door.
"Tumhara bhi koi secret hai jo tum mujhe batana nahi chahte."

Daya sighs, walking one more step ahead. Abhijeet looked at the watch Daya was wearing and said, "Yeh watch tumhe tumhare papa ne di hai."

Daya shakes his head negatively and Abhijeet walks a step further.
"Voh yeh watch cupboard mein bhul gae the."

Abhijeet nodded, saying further. "Tum school mein bahot shant rehte the aur kabhi kisi problem mein nahi fase."

Daya smirked and signalled Abhijeet to walk a step further, who did it wearing a confused expression.

"7th grade mein maine school competition mein ek drawing banai thi." Daya spoke, "Maine banaya tha ki ek aadmi ki gardan mein dusre aadmi ne chaku ghusaya hai."

Abhijeet narrowed his eyes at him, "Kya tumne yeh TV par dekha tha, Daya?"

Daya again signaled him to walk a step further, then continued, "School ne mumma ko bulaya tha. They had a meeting. Mumma ro rahi thi, bhaiya ne bhi kaha ke maine galati ki. Fir maine kabhi school mein vaisi drawing nahi banai."

"Toh fir kaisi banai?"

"Rainbows, nadiya, haste hue log, suraj..", he took a small pause and then looked at Abhijeet, "They don't have meetings for rainbows.."

Abhijeet sighed, "They don't."

Daya nodded and asked him, "Ab mai kya soch raha hun?"

Abhijeet smiled and walked a step further, answering "Mujhe nahi pata ki tum ab kya soch rahe ho."

"Mai soch raha tha ki tum ek ache insaan ho", Daya smiled at him, "par tum meri madat nahi kar sakte."

Abhijeet was going to say something when Daya interrupted him, "Bring me a 'Long Black', will do for me." And he went towards his desk to switch on his laptop.

...

"Lekin tumhe uske baremein itni information mili kahanse?" Pradyuman sir asked in curiosity.

"Rahul se pucha tha maine, sir" Abhijeet answered. "Aur mujhe thoda bahot pata chal gaya tha ki Daya ke saath aakhir kya ho raha hai. Par mujhe laga nahi tha ke Daya khud aakar mujhe sabkuch bata dega."

Pradyuman sir looked at him in shock, "Usne khud aakar tumhe sab kuch bata diya?"

Abhijeet nodded.

...

The next day, Rahul called Abhijeet in the evening to inform him that he'll come late at home due to some official work. He requested Abhijeet to take care of Daya till then and Abhijeet agreed willingly.

At night when he went to check on Daya, he didn't knock the door thinking the other guy would be asleep by now. But to his surprise Daya was justlying on the bed. He had pulled up his blanket and when Abhijeet entered, he flinched.

Abhijeet stood in front of him in concern, " Hey, don't worry. Mai hi hun."

"Aap wapas yahan? Knock karke aana chahiye na?" Daya said, a hint of anger in his tone.

Abhijeet glanced at the clock. "Haan par maine socha nahi tha ki tum iss waqt bhi jaag rahe honge. Kher, Rahul der se aane wala hai toh tum soo sakte ho."

Daya shook his head negatively, "Mai unke liye nahi jaag raha. Unhe toh kai baar der ho jaati hai."

Abhijeet frowned, "Toh fir?"

Daya bowed his head and started fidgeting with his fingers. Abhijeet tilted his neck, "Agar nahi batana chahte ho toh thik hai. Kya mai jau?"

"Nahi!", Daya exclaimed, "Aap ruk jaiye. Voh khursi hai na vahan..voh yahan lakar aap uspar baith jaiye."

Abhijeet looked at him in confusion. He pulled the chair beside the bed and sat on it. "Bolo."

"Aapne mujhse kaha tha na ki..mai aapko mera..secret batana nahi chahta?" He asked, hesitant. Abhijeet nodded, so he continued. "Well, mai ab aapko voh batane keliye taiyar hun."

Abhijeet looked at him in surprise when heard further.

"Lekin uske badlemein aapko bhi mujhe apna secret batana hoga."

"Mera secret?" Abhijeet scowled, "Mere paas toh koi bhi secret nahi hai."

Daya said in a low tone, "Bhaiya ne bataya tha mujhe ke tum aise nahi the pehle. Bahot masti kiya karte the na tum? Itne shaant nahi the."

Abhijeet's face fell, "Acha voh..kya tum sachmein.." he paused, "par agar maine tumhe bata diya toh.."

"Mai bhi kisiko nahi bataunga, promise." Daya interrupted. Abhijeet shook his head, "Baat voh nahi hai..acha theek hai, agar tum wada karte ho ke tum bhi mujhe sabkuch bata doge."

Daya nodded. "Wada."

...

"Abhijeet? Tumne use sabkuch..?!" Pradyuman sir exclaimed in astonishment.

Abhijeet nodded lowering his gaze, "Jee sir. Maine bata diya..Mai tab sirf yahi soch raha tha ke shayad usse voh mujhpar bharosa karne lagjae."

...

"Mai tera saal ka tha tab meri maa mujhe Pradyuman sir ke paas leke gai the. I used to get night terrors. Nightmares aur night terrors mein bahot farq hai. Nightmares mein aap khud jaag sakte ho aur bahot se cases mein voh yaad bhi rehte hai..but night terrors..usmein aapko yaad nahi rehta ki aapne kya sapna dekha tha, infact kuch bhi yaad nahi rehta aur agar aapko kisine jagane ki koshish ki toh aapki maut bhi ho sakti hai.." he explained, "Kabhi kabhi toh aapki aankhein khuli hui hoti hai aur aap chilla bhi rahe hote ho lekin aap jage hue nahi hote. It's that terrifying!"

Daya's mouth parted.

"But meri treatment hone se pehle hi maa ka dehant hua, she was suffering from lukemia aur mai anat ho gaya. Bahot mushkil tha mereliye woh sab digest karna par", he smiled, "Pradyuman sir ne mujhe adopt karliya. Meri treatment baaki thi aur voh bhi akele the na, issliye. Unki hi wajah se mai apni zindagi mein aage bad paya. Mai bahot khush rehne lag gaya tha."

He bit his lip, "Mai psychiatrist ban gaya. Mai apne profession se sabse zyada pyaar karta tha. Magar ek raat.." Daya noticed that his voice had become heavy suddenly, "ek raat mujhe ehsaas hua ke maine ek bahot badi galti kardi." he pressed his lips tightly, "Mere paas aae hue logon meinse ek ki mai koi madat nahi kar paya. Aur usne mere samne hi.." He closed his eyes tightly, a tear drop fell from his right eye. He took a deep breath to calm down his nerves. Then continued again, looking at Daya.

"Jab mai aur Pradyuman sir hospital se ghar wapas aae tab voh aadmi humare ghar mein tha. Usne humare..mere saamne hi apne aapko..go..goli mar di."

Daya lowered his gaze.

"Issliye mai badal gaya. Ab mai vaisa nahi hun jaise hua karta tha aur mere dost, colleagues.." in a low tone, "Pradyuman sir..They don't like the man that I am now, but I don't know how to become the man that I was."

The air fell silent. Abhijeet had stopped completely. He ran a hand through his hair, trying calm his breathes. Daya kept looking at him with moist eyes.

"Mujhe mare hue log nazar aate hai."

Abhijeet snapped his head up, "Kya?"

"Haan"

"Kahan?"

"Har jagah." Daya said, looking a bit scared, "voh nahi jaante ki voh mar chuke hai..voh ek dusre ko bhi dekh nahi paate. Voh bas vahi dekhte hai jo voh dekhna chahte hai."

Abhijeet nodded, looking extremely serious. "Kya voh tumhe maarna chahte hai?"

Daya shook his head negatively, "Nahi. Voh log..voh log mujhse baatein karte hai. Voh sab chahte hai ki mai unka kaam karu. Voh chahte hai ki mai unki saari baatein sunu."

"Aur tum kya chahte ho?" Abhijeet asked, knowing if Daya wanted to listen to them or not.

"Iske bajae ke mai kya chahta hun," Daya said, "kya yeh kuch aisa ho sakta hai jo mai nahi chahta?"

Abhijeet gave him an affirmative nod.

Daya said in a moist tone, "Mai aur dar-dar ke jeena nahi chahta."

Abhijeet suspired.

"Kya vo log abhi bhi yahan hai? Iss kamre mein?"

"Haan. Ek mere pair ke paas baithi hui hai, ek darwaze ke paas khada hai aur do jan khidki ke paas."

Abhijeet nodded, "Kya koi aur bhi hai?"

"Ek toh aapke piche hi khada hai, Abhijeet."

Abhijeet looked at him in surprise but didn't turn back.

"Kya keh rahe hai voh tumse?"

Daya started in a low tone, "Mere pair ke paas jo ladki baithi hai voh chahti hai ki mai uske ghar jau. Darwaze ke paas ka aadmi keh raha hai ki mai ek khat likhu. Khidki ke paas jo log hai," he glanced at the window, "mai nahi jaanta voh dono kya chahte hai. Mai unki bhaasha nahi samaj pata."

Abhijeet shook his head, "Yeh sab tumse madat maang rahe hai, na Daya? Kya tum inki madat karna chahte ho?"

"Mujhe..nahi pata." Daya said unsure.

"Kya matlab?"

Daya pressed his lips. "Matlab..mai chahta hun ke yeh log mera picha chhod de magar mai nahi chahta ke..ke mai kisiko hurt karu."

"Kya yeh log tumhe kisiko hurt karne keliye keh rahe hai?" Abhijeet asked, immediately.

Daya shook his head. "Nahi par..what if that's all they want?..Hosakta hai ki yeh log kisiko nuksaan pohochana chahte hai aur mai inka zariya hun?"

Abhijeet sighed. "Daya, tumhe kya lagta hai? Inn logonko kya chahiye?"

Daya bit his lip, "Madat..Unhe sirf meri madat chahiye."

Abhijeet smiled and gave him a nod. "Toh karo unki madat."

"Par," Daya said irritated, "agar unhone mujhse kuch aisa karne ko kaha jisse mujhe yah kisiko chot pohoche toh?"

Abhijeet, in displeasure. "Mujhe nahi lagta ki voh log yeh chahte hai."

"Aapko kaise pata?"

Abhijeet paused before saying, "Ek baar koshish toh karo. Kuch hogaya toh mai hun."

Daya nodded but snuggled under the blanket. Abhijeet sighed, taking it as his cue to leave. He stood up and was going to move out when heard,

"Yug aapse maafi mangna chahta hai, Abhijeet."

Abhijeet's feet stopped. He turned around in shock to face Daya who already had his gaze over Abhijeet.

"Tum Yug ko..kaise..?" Abhijeet uttered, "Kya Rahul ne.."

Daya shook his head negatively. "Nahi. Usne nahi, mujhe Yug ne bataya. Yug Gupta."

"Impossible." Abhijeet gulped. "Kya voh..voh bhi yahan hai?"

Daya signalled towards Abhijeet's left. "Vahan khada hai."

Abhijeet looked in that direction but didn't see anyone.

"Vo keh raha hai ki tumhe itna guilty hone ki koi zarurat nahi hai. Uske saath jo hua usmein tumhari koi galti nahi hai."

Abhijeet glanced at Daya,"Kya voh sachmein..yahan hai?" Abhijeet's voice choked.

Daya nodded. "Agar tumhe mujhpar yakin nahi hai toh mai tumhe bata sakta hun ke usne kya pehna hai..Usne Yello t-shirt pehna hai aur black jeans. Aur uske sir ke right taraf bullet ka nishan hai."

Abhijeet's mouth agape because those were the exact same clothes Yug was wearing when he shot himself.

"Usne kaha ki tumhari koi galti nahi thi. Uski bimaari tum chah kar bhi theek nahi kar sakte the, issliye tumhe pachtane ki koi zarurat nahi hai."

"Mai use theek nahi kar sakta tha?" Abhijeet cocked his eyebrow, "Kya matlab?"

Daya again looked at Abhijeet's left side and said in a low tone, "He wasn't ill Abhijeet, he was cursed." Abhijeet nodded, biting his lower lip, Daya continued in the same tone. "Vo keh raha hai ki tum ache ho aur meri madat zarur kar sakte ho. Vo galat tha, aur tum sahi. Bas tum use maaf kardo, voh yahi chahta hai."

A tear fell down from Abhijeet's eye, "Uski jab koi galti hi nahi thi toh..mai use maaf kaise.."

Daya didn't say anything.

"Kya voh..kya voh mujhe sun sakta hai Daya?"

Daya looked at a fixed point beside Abhijeet, "Kya tum Abhijeet ko sun sakte ho Yug?" He paused, then turned towards Abhijeet, "Jee. Voh aapko sun sakta hai."

Abhijeet nodded and completely turned towards his left. He fisted his hands and closed his eyes tightly. "Mujhe maaf karna Yug, mujhe tumpar usswaqt bharosa karna chahiye tha. Par mai tumse wada karta hun ke mai fir kabhi vaisi galti nahi karunga." Some tears slid down his cheeks. "I'll be a better doctor.. I'll be a better person Yug. Aur.."

He opened his eyes, smiling a bit, "shukriya.. yahan aane keliye. Babot, bahot shukriya Yug. Thank you so much.."

He snapped his head at Daya when he heard him gasp loudly. Daya instantly sat up throwing away the blanket.

"Abhijeet, Yug.. voh..voh chala gaya Abhijeet..Voh chala gaya!"

Abhijeet's mouth parted in confusion. "Chala gaya? Kahan?"

"Voh gayab hogaya! Mai ab use dekh nahi paa raha! He's gone!" Daya exclaimed loudly. Abhijeet took a step backwards. "Kya iska matlab uska kaam hogaya?"

Daya smiled with teary eyes, "Voh itne dino se mere piche tha. Voh chala gaya, mai.."

"Daya?"

Daya stopped his blabbering.

"Kya Yug yahan tabse tha jabse mai yahan aaya?" He asked, keenly.

Daya shook his head negatively, "Nahi..voh toh yahan pichle teen saalon se tha."

...
"Aisa kaise hosakta hai Abhijeet. Yug toh humare saamne hi.."

"Jaanta hun sir." Abhijeet interrupted him, "issliye maine voh topic zyada kheecha nahi. Maine sochliya tha ki mai dusre din Rahul se puch lunga ke kahi usne toh Daya ko nahi bataya yeh sab."

"Toh?" Pradyuman sir asked, "Kya kaha Rahul ne?"
Abhijeet shook his head.

...

"Yug? Yug Gupta? Uske baremein mai Daya ko kyun bataunga Abhijeet?!" Rahul said, irritated.

Abhijeet nodded, "Haan Rahul..par kabhi galti se-"

"Nahi yaar." Rahul cut him off. "Mai jaanta hun ki yeh topic tumhare liye kitna sensitive hai. Mai kyun uss baremein kisi aur se baat karu..aur voh bhi Daya se?" Rahul shook his head, disappointed. "Uska saath toh aam subjects par bhi baat karna mushkil hai. Mai kisike maut ki khabar kyun dunga?!"

Abhijeet sighed. He patted Rahul's shoulder and left his room.

"Toh kya Daya ko sachmein..?!"

A/N Interested ya bored?

Please do review.

Thanks a lot.

Take care,

Janhvi.