Morning at Duo's House

Everything was as usual, but still today is different, their little Diya is not at home, her new life has started. Shreya was having her tea sitting with Abhijeet, having regular chit-chat.

Shreya: Maine socha nahi tha, Diya itni asani se subah uth jayegi, pata hai jeej, usne to bilkul bhi drama nahi kiya -

Abhijeet: Waise to drama karne me bilkul apna papa pe gaye hai, par abhi shayad woh school ko le kar zyada excited hai -

Shreya grinned mischievously! They again got busy discussing a case - like every other day -

Abhijeet: Shreya, tujhe woh Kaliya yaad hai?

Shreya: Wohi na, jisko hum 5 saal pehle drugs ke chakkar mei pakre the? Kya hua usse?

...

and they continued. But they had to stop because Tarika stormed in -

Tarika: (angry) Yeh aap dono kya yahi baithe rahenge? Bureau jana nahi hai aaj?

Shreya looked at Abhijeet confusingly. Abhijeet nodded assuringly with his beautiful smile.

Tarika: (more angrily) Mujhe 20 minute me aap dono taiyar chahiye table pe!

She stormed out again like she came leaving Shreya dumbstruck!

Shreya: (confusingly murmur) Isse achanak se kya ho gaya? (looked at Abhijeet) Aap se jhagra hua kya Di ka?

Abhijeet: Arre nahi Shreya, kaisi baat kar rahi hai? Main kabhi ladta hun!

Shreya: (giggling) Haan haan pata hai! (thoughtful) par hua kya Di ko? Pareshaan hai kisi baat ko le kar?

Abhijeet: (smiling) Nahi, zyada kuch nahi, bas thoda tensed hai

Shreya: (anxious) Tension! Kyun? kya hua? Di to asani se ghabranewalo me se nahi hai! (fear) Kuch hua to nahi, na? Jeej please sach boliye -

Abhijeet: (cutting her) Shhh - shhh... sun to sahi pehle! Woh Diya ko lekar tensed hai!

Shreya: (her jaw dropped) Diya ko lekar! Usse kya hua!

Abhijeet: (mock serious) Arre bhai, aaj pehla din hai school ka, agar kisi ne usse kuch kia to - mara to - yehi sab! Pata nahi kya kya sochti hai - janti hai na tu teri Di ko -

Shreya and Abhijeet together: Kabhi kabhi bilkul bachchi ban jati hai!

They both laughed.

While moving towards his room Abhijeet heard his Love talking with his dear brother -

Daya: (annoyed)Bhabii - bola na - nahi chahiye yeh sab -

Tarika: (angrily) Aur maine bhi bola na, tumhe yehi milega - bas! Ab behes mat karo -

Daya: (like irritated kid) Par main to ab thik ho gaya hun bilkul - fit hun -

Tarika: Dekho, doctor kaun hai? tum ya main? Jaundice ke baad aisa hi khana milega - chup chap kha lo - warna -

Daya shut his mouth and started eating like a obedient child.

A smile made its way to Abhijeet's face unknowingly. A scene came to his mind. It was just after his marriage -

Flashback starts...

Abhijeet was married only a few weeks ago. After his marriage Daya proposed to leave the house for sake of his privacy, but both Abhijeet and Tarika opposed strongly. So finally they were living together. Abhijeet was happy beyond imagination, the two most important persons of his life were with him. Though he knew Tarika very well, he had a fear (or better to say a doubt) with the fact that how she would take their relationship - but to his surprise she did not even made him feel the need of discussion about it - she understood them so well!

Daya was injured badly during a mission. He had bullet injuries along with a fracture in his hand. Abhijeet was there for him for last 2 days. It was morning time. Abhijeet was standing in front of the window with a very serious face. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder and the most loving voice in the world -

Tarika: Abhi -

Abhijeet : (turning around) Hmm Tarika -

Tarika: (assuring tone)Tum chinta mat karo, tum bureau befikr hoke jao, main sambhal lungi

Abhijeet: (nodded) Nahi Tarika, baat sambhalne ka nahi, mujhe yakeen hai tum par - waise bhi Daya ka jo bhi nakhra drama woh sirf mere liye hi! Aur wohi soch raha tha main - woh aur kisi ke bhi samne kuch nahi kehta - chahe kuch bhi ho jaye - jitna bhi problem kyu na ho - woh chup chap sehta hai - (tear was about to drop) pata nahi kya karega woh - apne taqleef to kabhi kisi aur se kahega nahi

Tarika: Mujhe pata hai Abhi - uska iss dard chupane ki adat -

Abhijeet could read the pain in her eyes. For the first time he felt so secured about Daya with someone else. An unknown soothe suddenly filled his heart. He looked into her eyes. Her eyes gave him the assurance - the support -

Tarika: (low tone) Maine tumhari aankho se usse pehchana hai Abhi - aur woh kaise ghalat ho sakta hai? Mujhe pata hai - (suppressing pain) Main uski khamoshi samjhne ki puri koshish karungi Abhi -

Abhijeet felt lucky to have her. He took her into his arms. After a few minutes,

in Daya's room

Daya was lying on the bed, looking blankly towards the door. May be he was waiting for his Abhi - Abhijeet entered with a sweet smile.

Abhijeet: Daya -

Daya: Bolo kya hai?

Abhijeet: Mujhe aaj bureau jana hai, tujhe pata hai na, kitna pressure hota hai -

Daya: (not looking at him) to jao na - maine kuch bola kya?

Abhijeet could easily sensed Daya's feelings. He caressed his hair a little bit.

Abhijeet: (softly) Tarika hai na aaj ghar pe - kuch bhi zaroorat hai to usse kehna, thik hai?

Daya turned his face another side.

Abhijeet: (trying to move his face towards him) Please Daya - mere liye -

Daya did not say anything, just gave him a nod. Abhijeet made his way towards the door. He felt pain to leave his brother like this - but it was his duty. He found Tarika near the door. She nodded him assuringly and entered Daya's room with breakfast tray.

Tarika placed the tray on the bedside table and then tried to move it a bit. Daya looked at her.

Daya: (softly) Aap yeh rakh dijiye, main le lunga. Aap ko kaam hoga

Tarika: (with smile) abhi tak to kuch kaam nahi hai... bore ho rahi thi, socha tumse thoda baat kar loon - waise tum busy to nahi ho na?

Daya did not want to spend time with her now, he was missing his brother. But right at that moment he could not able to reply her. Instead of saying anything, he kept the book aside and looked at her. Tarika started to talk about some cases, and then slowly about their colleagues... Salunkhe Sir, Freddy, ACP Sir... there were so many funny incidents... After few minutes Daya was totally enjoying these chit chat. He forgot his pain with this casual talks. The room was filled with their laughter.

Daya: (laughing) Aur pata hai, uss din Freddy ne kya kia?

Tarika: (curious) Kya?

Daya: Ussne na darwaza todne gaya tha - (laughing badly) aur bas ussi waqt uss admi ne darwaza khol di - aur -

before completing, both of them burst into laughter imagining the scene. Thus they continued. After few moments -

Tarika: Daya, main bas 2 minute me ati hun, yeh plate kitchen me rakh ke -

Daya was shocked to see the empty plate!

Daya: (embarrassed and shocked) Yeh - yeh maine kab -

Tarika grinned mischievously and lightly ruffled his hair while going towards the door leaving him completely puzzled! After she left, a cute smile slowly crept on his lips.

Daya: (unknowingly murmur) Yeh Bhabi bhi na...

That day evening when Abhijeet entered the house, he heard,

Daya: (cutely)Nahi Bhabi, aap subah se apni manmani kar rahi hai - ab nahi hoga -

Tarika: Acha? Maine daanta tumhe? kuch kaha? tumne khud hi kha liya na! To phir? maine kab apni manmani ki batao?

Daya: Arre, woh to aap cheating se - mujhe pata nahi chala na - bas isi liye -

Tarika: (cute tone) ab yeh bhi pata nahi chalega - chalo le lo please -

Daya: (after gulping the medicine) (like a kid)Aap na bahot bure ho!

Abhijeet never felt so much comfort before. He smiled and made his way towards room.

Flashback ends...

Abhijeet remembered that day looking at both of them quarreling over the food!

Thank you Tarika, for making my life so beautiful, so complete...

A/N: I am sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings though this chapter. and thank you to all of you for reviewing and loving this. Be happy - keep smiling.

"If you want to be Happy, be." - Leo Tolstoy