Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and places mentioned. All the places are fictional and any resemblance is a mere coincidence.
"mjhe nahi khana… Abhi ko bulao…"
Disha again tried softly while forwarding the spoon having rice: beta abhi ussy gaye huye sirf do din huye haina… wo do hafton k liye gaya hai… (forwarded the spoon more) lo kha lo…
Daya aggressively hit the spoon with his hand throwing the rice on the bed: nahi khana maine… (slurred voice) Abhi… ko bulao… (stubbornly) jb tk wo nahi aye ga mai nahi khaun ga…
Disha sighed and wiped the bed. She again tried to make him understand: Guddy… bhai kaam sy gaya hai na… (took his hands in hers' softly) aap esy karo gy to bhai ko bhi acha nahi lagy ga na…
Daya took his trembling hands back: nahiiiiiii… mjhe uss sy abhi baat krni hai… ussy kaho k mere pass aye abhi…
Disha tried to get the point across: wo aapsy baat nahi kr skta… ussy allow nahi haina… aap samjho na… please mera bach'cha… (she caressed his cheek) mera beta to kitna samajhdaar hai na… (pleading) please khana kha lo…
Daya started crying uncontrollably: mjhe Abhi chahiye…
These days Daya's emotions change with the speed of light.
He cried and cried, Disha hugged him to comfort him. She patted his back and hushed him: Bas beta bs… chup ho jaa…
She remembered an almost same scene from the past.
A three-year boy crying loudly; he spoke in baby-language: bhaaa… to… laaaoo… bhaaa… taiye…(bhai ko bulao… bhai chahiye)
Disha took Daya in her lap: baby… bhai school gaya hai na… one two parhny…
Daya crying uncontrollably: nooi… uchy… laooo… Ya… ko bhaaa ty pach… jana… (nai ussy bulao… Daya ko bhai k pass jana)
Disha put him on his baby chair to feed him: acha aap khana finish karo… mai bhai ko bulati hun… (she forwarded the spoon with the soup)
Daya moved his hand haphazardly and the soup fell. She sighed, she again tried to make his little baby understand that he cannot have his wish fulfilled right now: beta aap to achy bachy ho na Mumma k… Bhai parhny gaya hua hai na… (rubbing his hair) mery bety ko bukhaar hai na… app khana kha lo phir Mumma medicine dy gi to Daya theek ho jaye ga…
Daya cried more loudly: nooi… noooi… bha… taiye… bhiiiii (Abhi) to laoooo… (shouting) dai (dawai) noi thani…
He jumped from the chair and ran inside the room. He looked here and there and hid under the bed while sobbing loudly. Disha ran after him and found his little feet peeking out from under the bed. She took a deep breath and tried to take him out but he moved further in and shouted: Ya… jai lahy da… tb tk… bhaaa to noi lao di…
Disha shook her head in disappointment and sat on the bed knowing well that now it is impossible for her to make Daya understand something. He will not come out until Abhijeet comes home. She looked at the time it was striking 1 pm still one hour left until its time for Abhijeet to come home.
Half an hour later she heard whimpering sounds coming from under the bed. She hurriedly looked below and found Daya shivering loudly on the cold floor. She took him out; he was burning with fever with closed eyes. She made him lay on the bed started to put the cold strips again on his forehead. Actually, Daya was suffering from fever from two days and it had made Daya extremely stubborn. Today, he was crying from morning to have Abhijeet besides him but he couldn't have him. So he decided to throw a tantrum, he refused to eat and drink something until Abhijeet comes back. Missing the medicines made his fever spike. Disha forcefully woke him up and made him drank his medicines.
Abhijeet arrived home at his usual time: Maa mai aa gaya…
Disha heard him. She covered Daya with a blanket as it was January. She came outside and took Abhijeet's bag from him: Jeet beta… jaa k pehly apny ladly sy mil lo subah sy rona machaya hua hai usny… (worriedly) khana bhi nahi khaya hai…
Abhijeet asked her in care-filled tone: kya hua? Bukhar phir sy barh gaya kya…
Disha put his bag on place: hmmm… jao dekho uth gaya ho ga…
Abhijeet nodded and entered inside the room; Daya was sitting on the bed while sobbing loudly, he was rubbing his eyes to stop the tears. Abhijeet sat beside him and hugged him: kya hua mere chotu ko?
Daya pushed him: bhaaa… danda (ganda)… Ya to chol ty tala diya…
Abhijeet: Awww chotu bhaiya ko yaad kr raha tha… chalo ab mai aa gaya hun na… ab nahi jaun ga…
Daya looked him suspiciously: patta… plomish?
Abhijeet magically blinked his eyes to fascinate the little boy: Pakka promise…
Daya hugged him: Ya to thelna hai bhaaa chaath…
Abhijeet separated him and stood up from bed: acha mai uniform change kr k aata hun phir khailny sy pehly khana khayein gy… bhook lagi hai na mery Dumbo ko?
Daya nodded with big eyes: inni (opened his arms widely to show how much he hungry) shaali (saari)…
Abhijeet tweaked his nose: mela baby… chal aa jaa lunch karain gy…
Daya nodded and followed him to dining. Disha saw Daya and made him sit on his chair: chalo Daya aap khana khao bhai uniform change kr k aye ga…
Daya stubbornly: Ya to bha thilaye da…
Disha shook her head in utter disappointment: Iska kuch nahi ho skta…
Abhijeet fed Daya himself as Daya was adamant. After lunch, Daya's fever subsided a bit so he played with Abhijeet until he fell asleep while playing hide and seek.
Disha told Abhijeet how Daya reacted on his absence: Maa sachi Daya bed k neechy so gaya ghussy mai?
Disha nodded in yes: Mera chotu mjh sy kitna pyar krta hai na… (Disha smiled and caresses his head; he laid down on her lap and closed his eyes: Abhi bhi apny Dumbo ko bht pyar krta hai… (he said the words in a small tone while drifting into dreamland)
Coming out of the flashback, Disha somehow made him ate the food and medicines. She knew that for two weeks this will be a daily routine.
"Nahi… nahi… mai apna bhai nahi ly jany dunga aap ko"
Voice: Lekin mai to apny bety ko liye baghair nahi jaun ga aaj…
Daya shouted: Nahiii… AAbhi kahi nahi jaye ga… ussy koi dur nahi kar skta mjh sy… aap ussy nahi leke jaa skty…
Voice: mai ussy leny aya hun, ab ussy apny pass hi rakhun ga… mjhe uss ki zaroorat hai…
Daya trying to snatch Abhijeet from the man, he tried to grab him but failed. The man took Abhijeet with him in the end.
Daya sat up with a loud shriek: nahiiii… Abhi ko mat leke jao… (moving hands in the air) wo mera bhai hai… ussy chor do…
Disha rubbed his back: kuch nahi hua Daya… sb theek hai beta… (it was midnight time, nowadays Disha was sleeping with Daya.) kya ho gaya hai achanak…
Daya incoherently spoke in slurry speech: baba aye thy… Abhi ko ly gaye… mery bhai ko… Abhi bhi chala gaya baba k sath… mjhe chor k… (he was shivering)
Disha tried to calm him: kya ho gaya hai meri jaan…
Daya looked at her: wo ly gaye Abhi ko… ab Abhi kabhi wapis nahi aye ga… wo chala gaya… chor k gaya… kyun chala gaya… mjhe kyun chor gaya…
Disha shook him from his shoulders: hosh mai ao Daya… koi nahi leke gaya hai Abhi ko… wo theek hai… (laying him down) leto tum… so jao kuch nahi hua hai bs bura sapna dekha hai tumny…
Daya continued murmuring the same incoherent words: Abhi… baba ly gaye… humesha k liye… nahi aye ga… wapis… (he repeated same words for a long time before submitting to his sleep)
Disha sat there trying to comfort him as much as she can. Now, she was also worried about Abhijeet it was the third night when Daya had the same nightmare. She was somewhat beginning to believe what Daya dreamt. As in these matters, almost every time her both sons are right on their money about each others' well being.
Daya trying to convince her mother: Mumma mai keh raha hun na aapko k bhai theek nahi hai… zaroor kuch hua hai… I am sure… wo mjhe pukar raha tha raat mai… maine mehsoos kiya hai…
Disha waived off his worry: beta yeh sb tumhara weham hai… esa kuch nahi hai… abhi parso hi to wo chuti sy wapis gaya hai na training pr… tum kyun itni fikar kr rhy ho? Wo theek hoga…
Daya not knowing how to express himself: pata nahi… lekin kuch to hai… kuch to hua hai bhai k sath… I can feel it…
Disha shook her head in no… it has been two hours since then Daya had been blabbering about Abhijeet. Daya was nervously pacing up and down the hall in unknown anticipation. The sudden ringing of doorbell shook him to the core. He took a deep breath and opened the door.
He exclaimed loudly: yeh kya hua Abhi? (he put his arm around Abhijeet's shoulder in worry and took him in. He comfortably sat him on the sofa) yeh kesy hua? Itni chot lag gai hai…
Abhijeet had a plastered left arm with a bandage on his head. Abhijeet drank a glass of water that Daya had given him a minute ago: kuch nhi chotu… (till then Disha came out listening to their voices)
She had the same expressions Daya had a minute ago: Jeet yeh sb kesy? (she looked at him)
Abhijeet tried to calm both: kuch nahi hua hai aap dono itna pareshan na hon… thori si chot hai jaldi theek ho jaye gi…
Disha sat beside him on the sofa: lekin yeh chot lagi kesy?
Abhijeet: wo training k doraan ek drill mai lag gai… mai unchaai sy gir gaya tha…
Daya in worry: dekha Maa mai keh raha tha na… kitni zyada chot lag gai Abhi ko… (to Abhijeet) bht dard ho raha hai na…
Abhijeet tried to comfort him: nahi… koi dard nahi ho raha… bilkul theek hai (asking him) or kya keh rhy tum?
Before Daya could speak Disha interrupted: Daya keh raha tha k bhai ko kuch hua hai… or dekho theek keh raha tha… (spread her hand his head) kya hal kr k aya hai mera beta? Hr waqt Maa ko pareshan krty hain dono bhai mil k…
Daya cut her: Mumma mai nahi krta bs Abhi hi krta hai… (trying to make a masoom face) dekho mai to kitna acha bach'cha hun…
Disha twisted his ear: haan mjhe pata hai k kitny achy bach'chy ho? (ordering him) chalo jao bhai ka room kholo jaa k or bed theek karo wo aa k rest kary ga… (Daya nodded "G… bs paanch minute mai ho jaye ga…" and he left from there)
Abhijeet to Disha who was slowly pressing his head: aap pareshan na hon sb theek hai… (Disha: hmmm) Daya bht pareshan ho gaya tha kya?
Disha nodded: haan… subah sy pareshaan tha… hall k chakkar laga raha tha… keh raha tha k kuch hua hai bhai ko… wo theek nahi hai or pata nahi kya kya… pata nahi ussy kesy pata chala k tu musibat mai hai…
Abhijeet grabbed her hand in his: bhai hai na… iss liye us k dil ny mehsoos kr liya… jesy aap ko humesha pata chal jata hai jb mai dard mai hota hun… (looking at her worried eyes) aap bhi pareshan thi na?
Disha nodded: hmmm… Daya k samny iss liye nahi kaha k kahin wo or pareshan na ho jaye… wo bht dara hua lag raha tha…
Abhijeet nodded in yes.
Disha praying in her heart: please Bhagwan Ji… mere Jeet ki hifazat krna… humara dar sach'cha na saabit ho… (she said looking at restless sleepy Daya)
The phone was ringing continuously. Daya stood up from the sofa and went to pick the call with slow steps. Disha was in her room while Daya was sitting in the lounge to watch T.V.
Daya in his same slurry voice said: Hello… kon…
Caller: …
The phone slipped from his hand and he slipped down the wall behind him with a thud.
Disha was coming out of her room while tying her hair in a bun, saw Daya. She came with fast steps and asked the shivering Daya: kya hua Daya? Kis ka phone tha beta?
Daya in a trance spoke in slurred speech: Abhi… chala gaya… baba k sath… chor k…
Disha looked at him in shock.
"They've promised that dreams can come true but forgot to mention that nightmares are dreams too."
A/N:
Hello there everyone... How are you?
Thank you for those who read and reviewed. Glad you liked the chapter.
Hopefully, you enjoyed this chapter too.
Next chapter will also arrive after 40 reviews.
Take care of yourself.
Bye Bye...