Early morning in the balcony of DaReya's room:

Shreya was standing there all alone. She had a blissful smile on her face. She was looking towards the sky. It seemed that her mind was not here, it was somewhere far away. Inside the room Daya's hand suddenly fell on the empty left side of the bed.

Daya: (in sleepy tone) Yeh Shreya kahan chali gayi? itni jaldi subah ho gaya kya? (trying to look at his watch) Kya yaar! abhi to bahar almost andhera hai, kahan gayi itni jaldi? (suddenly he jerked from his sleep) Are, Shreya theek to hai na? koi problem to nahi hua uski saath? (In a fearful tone) S-H-R-E-Y-A-A-A?

Shreya suddenly woke up from her trance. She came hurriedly into the room.

Shreya: Shhhhh... kuch nahi hua hai mujhe!

Daya: Tum itni jaldi jaldi bahar kya kar rahi thi, haan? pata hai tumhe main kitna dar gaya tha?

Shreya sat beside him and took his hands in her hand.

Shreya: Sorry Daya... Please... woh actually achanak neend khul gayi, phir se sone ka man nahi kiya, to bahar chali gayi...

Daya: Thik hai, main gussa nahi hun tum se, bas achanak dar gaya tha thoda... waise tum soch kya rahi thi?

Shreya: kuch nahi... kabhi kabhi apni kismat par yakeen nahi hota

Daya: matlab?

Shreya: kabhi kabhi sochti hun koi itni khush kismat kaise ho sakti hai? Aap jaise pati mila mujhe, jaise ki meri zindegi sawar gayi, phir Di... Mummy ke jane ki baad bhi kabhi mujhe woh akelapan mehsus hi nahi hone di, aur jeej! Pata nahi bhagwan kaun si mitti se banaya tha unhe? kisiki dil mein itna pyar kaise ho sakta hai?

Daya smiled lovingly hearing this.

Daya: Mera bhai duniya mein ek hi hai. Unke jaisa kabhi koi ho hi nahi sakta. Tumhe to pata hi hai Shreya, is duniya mein mera apna koi nahi tha. Pehle jab kisiko apni family ke saath hasta khelta dekhta, to bahut dard hota tha. Kabhi kisi se kuch keh nahi pata, koi tha bhi to maine CID join kiya. Woh akelapan kaam ke beech kahin chhup gaya,phir bhi tha kahin dil ki gehrein mein. lekin dheere dheere abhijeet mila mujhe. Woh ek senior tha sirf, lekin kab woh ek senior se mera bhai ban gaya pata hi nahi chala. Mera ek bhi ansu woh seh nahi pata. Woh akela hi mera maa, baap aur bhai ki kami dur kar diya...(tear came to his eyes.)

Shreya was hearing all these silently. Her eyes were also filled with tear now.

Shreya: (in a very low but deep tone) Thank you Daya mujhe itni achchi family dene ke liye, Diya aur Adi ke liye...

Daya: 'Thank you' mat bolo please. (in a light naughty tone) Adi ke liye bhi mujhe hi Thanks bologi kya? (winked)

Shreya understood what she said. She blushed and hid her face in his chest. Daya just stroke her hair lovingly and lightly kissed on her head.

Shreya: Arre, late ho gaya, dekho baat karte karte! Di ab tak uth bhi gaye honge, aur Adi ka school hai... Mujhe jana hoga, jaun? (she asked him sweetly)

Daya: Adi ko school jana hai aj?

Shreya: haan, kyun? aaj monday hai, school to hoga hi.

Daya: Mera off hai, ek din chutti lene se kya hoga? rehne do na, woh rahega to kitna maza ayega

Shreya: Daya! aap bachcha ho kya? Chodiye mujhe, ab jane dijiye, please?

Daya left her making face, and turned back. Shreya smiled at him and then went out of the room.

In Adi-Diya's room

Diya was in deep sleep in her cot. Shreya looked at her, and smiled. She tucked her in the blanket properly and kissed her on her forehead. Diya changed side in her sleep. Shreya patted her a little on her back and then quietly went towards Adi's bed. He was also in deep sleep.

Shreya in her thought: pata nahi bachcho ko jagana kyun padhta hai itni jaldi! kitni sakoon se so raha hai, koi patthar dil hi aise sote huye baby ko utha sakte hai. Yeh schools bhi na! thode der se shuru hone mein harz hi kya? Nahi, adhe raat se hi start karna hai inhe! Hmph!(she sighed)

Shreya: (in very low voice, almost whispering beside Adi) Adi beta, uth jao please. Subah ho gaya...

Adi: (murmuring) please choti maa, aur 5 min... please, abhi nahi uthna

Shreya: Beta late ho jayega, utho please... aaj aap ke liye special breakfast hai, pata hai?

But that did not seem to be interesting to sleeping Adi. Then suddenly Shreya remebered something and her face glowed.

Shreya: (excited tone) Adi, jaldi utho, pata hai, kal Purvi ne tum dono ke liye gifts rakh ke gaye the, chalo utho jaldi. Dekhte hai, kya gifts hai, ok?

This trick worked like magic. Adi jumped on his bed with a broad smile on his face.

Adi: Choti maa, kahan hai gift?jaldi batao na please

Shreya: Achcha! to ab neend nahi aa raha! Bichchhu kaha ka!

She smiled and took him in her lap immediately. Adi hugged her tightly. Then they took the gift box which was wrapped beautifully and Adi's name was written over it. Adi was super excited seeing that. He was about to open that, Shreya stopped him

Shreya: Abhi nahi, chal, neeche jake kholte hai, sab ke samne. Maa, papa aur chachu ko bhi to dikhana hai, hai na? chal abhi, niche chalte hai

At dining hall, all three were having their morning tea.

Adi: (to all) Maa, papa, chachu - dekho, mausi ne gift diya...

Daya: are haan! kholke dekhein?

Adi tore the wrap and opened the box. He was on cloud 9 when he saw it! It was a very nicely made "spider-man" costume and the latest Spider-man movie and game CD! Adi could not imagine anything better than this!

Adi: (almost screaming in joy) Chachu! Spider-man! aaj hum spider-man spider-man khelenge, OK?

Everybody was happy seeing him like this.

Tarika: Purvi hamesha se hi pata nahi kaise sab ke man pasand gifts late hai, hai na?

Shreya: woh to hai

Daya: (in a low tone so that Adi could not hear him, but the rest could) Aaj Adi ko chutti de do na, please? aaj hum dono pure din masti karenge, aur game bhi khelenge... (he was looking at Tarika now)please bhabi?

Abhijeet: Daya, tujhe abhi yehgame khelna hai! (he patted his own forehead) Hey bhagwan!

Tarika: (trying to console Daya) aaj Adi ke school mein kuch program hai, isi liye jaldi chutti ho jayega Daya, woh 12 baje tak aa bhi jayenge. Tab khel lena jitna jee chahe, theek hai?

Daya was happy hearing this. Shreya made Adi ready for school, and Adi was super duper excited, as he would play his new game with his 'Chachu' after returning home. And the trio were also getting ready for bureau.