It is nearthe sunset time. Daya is finally back on his feet. He has those damned walking sticks though and a crape bandage still wrapped around his ankles. He is leaning at the railing at the balcony when he felt his brother's hand on his shoulder -
"bola tha na, abhi baithe rehna hai! Kyun kar rahahai aisa?"
"Arre - Abhi yaar - kahan kuch kar raha hun? bas aise hi dekh raha tha - Adi nhi hai - ghar jaisaa soona soona sa lagta hai"...
Abhijeet smiled, "Aa jayega yaar. Shreya ki behen ki shadi - tu to aise hi plaster le kar leit gaya - ab bachcho ko to enjoy karne de!"
"Haan - toh maine kab kaha ki enjoy mat karo! maine to sirf yehi keh raha tha ki itne din ke liye kaun jate hai yaar shadi me? woh bhi bachcho ke sath!"
"Sare bachche kahan gaye hai Daya! sab se bada wala chhorke gayi hai na Shreya ne - mere paas! Aur tu har roz kitni baar Adi se baat karta hai phone pe? woh bata zara...", Abhijeet was trying hard to control his laughter after seeing the pout on Daya's face.
Daya is now muttering under his breath, " shaam ka ek cup chai bhi nahi pilaya - lekin daantna nahi chhorega yeh..."
Abhijeet smiled and ruffled Daya's already messy hir a little bit more.
Kabhi kabhi isse dekhta hun to lagta hai duniya ki saare masoomiyat bhagwan ne bas iss me daal di...
Daya looked at Abhijeet's face and noticed his faraway look. He frowned a little.
"Boss, kya ho gaya? Maine ab kuch keh di kya?"
"Arre nahi yaar - bas soch raha tha - tujhe dekh kar - abhi bhi tu itni masoom kaise reh pata? bachpan me kaisa raha hoga tu!" Albhijeet was so into his thoughts thalt he did not realise what he said until he listened his words - and horror covered his face.
Daya smiled - but this time his smile did not reach his eyes. His eyes were shining a little bit more...
"Tumse milne se pehle kabhi bachpan beetane ka chance hi nahi mila yaar..."
"Daya - sun - bhai- " , he started - but he was out of words - what could he possibly say to make his brother forget his childhood spent in aln orphanage! He just stopped and pulled Daya into a fierce hug. Who caresl if he was hugging a giant sized man in his 40s. He will always be his little brother.
Daya was hugging him back.
"Abhijeet, tum agar mujhe talb mil jaate na, to mujhe kabhi shayad mera anaath hone ka ehsaas hi na hua hota - "
"dekh Daya - jab tak main zinda hoon - aise baatein mat kiya kar. Ab to tere paas poora parivaar hai. kabhi bhi tu yeh anaath shabd mat bola kar - ", his voice broke with emotion -
Just then Abhijeet's phone rang,
"Hello-"
"Bade papa? Aap aa jao na yahan please - mummy ne aj phil se daant di - aur pata hai, Adi bhaiya bhi yaha aa kar mere sath bilkul bhi nahi khel raha hai! Di aaj Mummy ko bola bhi hai ki Diya ko aise mat ddatna - par Mummy Di ka bhi nhi suni - bade papa aap aa jao na please "
"Diya beta - aise nahi karte bachche - main abhi kaise jaun - tum beta apni mumma ko zara phone do - main samjha dunga"
Now it's Daya's turn to smile.
"Haan Shreya- ..."
"Jeej, aap shuru bhi mat karna - Diya ne -"
"Shreya - please - main abhi waha to jaa nahi sakta - aur phone pe meri beti ka aisi awaz sun ke mujhpe kya beette hai socho zara"
"Jeej!!! She just wrapped you around her little finger - I'm telling you this!" she started laughing.
"Has lo, par ek bar agar Adi ro de - phir mujhse ladne aana - tab pata chalega"
"Jeej! aap mujhse badla loge! woh bhi Adi ko daant kar! Aur Adi Diya ki tarah shaitani bhi to nahi karta na"...
"Acha Shreya - ek baat sun, tu Adi se thoda kara de na Daya se - kab se udaas baithe hai - pagal karke rakkha mujhe"
"Aap jhelo na usse ;) Adi abhi niche hai - main 5 min mein call karti hun, janab se kehna - aur bas do din hai ;)"
Abhijeet cut the phone with a big smile on his face. Daya was also smiling like an idiot - they looked at each other and at that moment everything just fit perfectly.