Daya and Abhijeet, along with an interpreter named Pawan, were at the public hospital. The spirit of that cancer patient had told Daya that they would his wife in this particular hospital. Her name was Nallini. Abhijeet inquired at the reception about her and the doctor who was treating her, and if they could meet the doctor. The receptionist told them to wait and within thirty minutes, they were sitting infront of Dr. Mathur, the one treating Nallini.

"Kya mai puch sakta hun ki aap Nallini jee ke kaun lagte hai?" The doctor asked Abhijeet.

He cleared his voice before saying, "Jee voh, hum Nallini jee ke..umm.."

"Jee doctor, mera naam Daya Shetty hai. Mai Rahul Shetty ka bhai hun." Daya fended for him. "Humne suna hai ki yahan ek patient hai, Nallini jee."

"Jo NGO unki madat kar raha hai, unhone hume Nallini jee ke bache ke baremein bataya hai, but can you brief to us about her case?"

The doctor looked hesitant, so Daya said, "Aap chaho toh NGO mein phone karke pata kar sakte ho."

The doctor smiled, "Jee nahi, uski zarurat nahi. Rahul Shetty ko yahan kaun nahi jaanta?"

Daya smiled too. "Toh kya aap please hume bata sakte hai ki Nallini jee ko exactly hua kya hai?"

Dr. Mathur sighed, "Unhe last stage cancer hai. Chandresh jee ki tarah hi. Haan, Chandresh jee ki toh maut hogai aur Nallini jee ke paas bhi ab zyada waqt nahi bacha hai. Voh toh ab shayad sirf do yah teen hafton tak hi zinda reh paengi."

Daya nodded, slowly. Abhijeet glanced at him for once and then said, "Unka ek beta, doctor? Kya aap jaante hai voh kahan hai?"

The doctor nodded. "Jee, jabtak yeh yahan hai tabtak keliye unke bete ki zimmedari uske school ke principal ne li hai. Voh unhike saath reh raha hai. Nallini jee ne vaisi request hi ki thi school."

Abhijeet nodded.

"Kya hum unse mil sakte hai?" Daya asked and the doctor permitted.

"Sure, chaliye mai aapko unse milata hun."

...

The doctor showed Nallini's ward to the three of them and then left from there. When he saw her condition, Daya flinched and took a step back. Abhijeet saw that and so, kept a hand over Daya's shoulder.

"C'mon, be brave." Abhijeet whispered to him. "Hum yahan inki madat karne aae hai, hai na?"

Daya nodded, still dazed. The woman named Nallini was sleeping, or at least had her eyes closed, while several drips and life instruments were attached to her. The nurse present there called her name softly. When Nallini opened her eyes, the nurse said something in Tamil to her and motioned towards the three.

Nallini looked at them and said something in her meek voice which only Pawan understood.

Abhijeet cocked his eyebrow and looked at Pawan. He nodded and said, "Jee voh puch rahi hai aap log kaun hai."

"Unse vahi kaho joh humne doctor se kaha tha Pawan." Abhijeet said, since Daya was too overwhelmed to say anything. "Unse kaho ki hum unki madat karne aae hai."

Pawan did as per told, while Abhijeet glanced at Daya. "Yeh kaam tumhe hi karna hai, Daya. Unse baat karo. Mai hun yahinpe."

Daya sighed. "Inki aur inke pati ki halat mein zyada farak nahi hai Abhijeet." He didn't wait for Abhijeet to say anything, but went ahead and sat on the stool present beside the bed.

"Pawan jee", he said, "inse please puchiye ki kya inhone apne bache ke future ke baremein kuch socha hai yah nahi. Inke baad inke bache ka kya hoga?" He was clearly in dilemma and Abhijeet noticed it but didn't say anything.

Pawan asked her and all three of them saw as her face fell.

After she stopped speaking, Pawan said, "Sir, yeh keh rahi hai ki inhone koshish ki thi apne bache keliye ek pariwaar dhundne ki lekin yeh nahi dhund pai. Inko toh iss halat mein hospital ke bahar jaane se bhi mana kar diya gaya hai."

Daya bit his lip. "Please inse kaho ki hum inke bache keliye ek bahot hi acha parivaar dhund sakte hai, haan lekin, inki ijazat ho toh." As Daya was talking, Pawan was busy translating his words to Nallini.

"Hum inke bache keliye ek bahot hi acha parivaar dhundenge. Sab kuch legally hi hoga. Jabtak uske adoption keliye koi acha parivaar nahi milta tabtak voh uske foster family ke saath rahega. Par iss sabke liye inki ijazat hona bahot zaruri hai." He added, slowly.

When Pawan stopped speaking, they saw tears welling up in the women's eyes. She tried joining her hands infront of Daya but was too weak to do so. Shocked by the sudden action, Daya immediately stood up and said, "Yeh aap kya karrahi hai tai, please aap aaramse leti rahiye."

She uttered some words, making a smile form on Pawan's lips. He turned towards Daya. "Inhe yeh baat manzur keh rahi hai ki bhagwaan aapka humesha bhala karega."

A pure smile took place on Daya's face too. He joined his hands and bowed his head down in front of her as if taking her blessings. Seeing his happiness, Abhijeet too smiled genuinely.

When Daya caught his eyes across the room, Abhijeet nodded and stepped ahead. "Kal hi lawyer aakar inhe sabkuch samjha dega. Unke saath tum bhi aaoge Pawan, aur-"

"Aur bhaiyya ki assistant bhi." Daya interfered and Abhijeet nodded. "Haan, Rahul ki assistant bhi. Sirf inke bete ko kal yahan aana hoga. Uss sabke baremein hum doctor se baatchit karenge. Meeting ka time bhi vahi decide karenge. Please bata do inhe, Pawan."

...

The meeting time was decided as 12pm the next day. The doctor had agreed to inform Krishna, Nallini's son, to be present at the hospital tomorrow. When the three were finally leaving the hospital, Abhijeet asked Daya, "Kya Rahul ko iss sabke baremein pata hai Daya?"

Daya hesitated. "Nahi lekin, mai batadunga aaj bhaiya ko. Voh sabkuch arrange kardenge Abhijeet. Tension mat lijiye."

Abhijeet looked at him in surprise. "Mai kahan tension le raha hun, Daya?"

Daya turned his head down in awkwardness. "Maine bhaiya ki assistant se contact kiya tha Abhijeet. Unse kaha tha ki bhaiya ko iss baremein voh na batae, mai bata dunga. As a surprise. Toh sabkuch unhone hi manage kiya."

"Oh acha," Abhijeet smiled as a realisation struck him, "toh ab aapko iss baat ka tension hai ki aap bhaiya ko yeh sab kaise bataenga. Haan?"

Daya nodded, sheepishly. "Jee par, mai kehdunga. Koi bahana bana dunga. Waise bhi unke sar pe humesha ache karam karne ka bhoot sawar rehta hai." He added, shaking his head.

A laugh escaped Abhijeet's mouth while Daya grinned widely as they sat in their car, ready to head towards home. They had to go to Tumkur the next day. It was a two hours car journey from Daya's home to Tumkur. They had decided to go there the next day as the address was already given by that girl who seeked for Daya's help.

...

"Daya ne bata diya Rahul ko Nallini jee ke baremein?" Pradyuman sir asked, making Abhijeet grin. "Sir voh itna ghabra raha tha Rahul se baat karne keliye, magar phir samjhane ke baad usne shaam ko Rahul ko call ki thi. Aur sab batadiya."

Pradyuman sir smiled. "Bahot khush hogaya hoga na Rahul."

Abhijeet nodded. "Daya ne bahana banaya ki hospital ke visit ke waqt use Nallini jee ke baremein pata chala. Daya unki madat karna chah raha tha yeh sunkar Rahul ko toh khushi honi hi thi sir. Usne saare matters apne haath mein liye. Aage ke legal process toh uske lawyer aur uski assistant ne hi complete ki."

"Aur Chandresh bhi chala gaya?"

Abhijeet nodded. "Jee. Jaise hi Krishna ko uske foster parents ko saupa gaya, Daya ko Chandresh jee dikhna band hogae. Lekin usse pehle ek aur ladki thi jiski humne madat ki. Meera." His expressions stiffened. "Hum hospital se aane baad agle din usike ghar gae the. Tumkur mein."

A/N Four chaps to go! And as I had mentioned before, I'm gonna be consistent *fingerscrossed*. Since I have updated this story after a long period, the chapter's a bit short.

Healthy critisism is welcomed!

Take care,

Janhvi