Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and places mentioned. All the places are fictional and any resemblance is a mere coincidence.
Daya's mental condition was fluctuating between a six, seven old to a sixteen-year-old youngster. Sometimes, he was a stubborn baby and otherwise a young boy who understands and act maturely.
Daya woke up in the morning, found his brother beside him. He looked at him and tried to touch his hand with his but the dexterity in his hands didn't allow him to hold his hand. Abhijeet woke-up sensing the disturbance beside himself. He saw Daya was staring at him. He smiled and caressed his head.
Abhijeet: kesa hai mera dumbo?
Daya also gave him a small smile: t… eek… uunnn…
Abhijeet: hmmm… bukhar bhi halka hai ab… (he helped him in sitting) chalo tum betho mai Rahul ko bula k lata hun…
Daya tried to hold his hand: ni… ja…na… yai… raho…
Abhijeet sat beside him on the bed: mai yahin hun kahi nahi jaa raha…
Daya nodded put his trembling head on Abhijeet's shoulder, who took him his protective embrace: mai… tang… kl… ta… unn… na… bbtttt…
Abhijeet denied: uhun… mai kabhi apny dumbo sy tang nhi ho skta… tu to meri jaan hai na…
Daya hummed: le…kin… mum…aaa… roti… hai, meerrriii wa... waj… wajaaaa shyyy…
Abhijeet tightened his grip around him: esa nahi hai Daya…
Daya negated: uh… hunnnn… mummm… aaa… rrootiii… haaa… r… ooozzz… maaaaineee… dekk… aaa… haaaaa… (Abhijeet closed his eyes tightly to stop the flow of his tears; he gave a silent look to the sleeping figure half lying on the couch.) maai… ab ku… d… kushhh… kl… niiii… paaa… ppaaataaa… naa… sbbbb… tummmyyy olll… mummmm… aa… ko… kr…na… paaarrlll… taaa… haiiiii… sbbb… tttnnngg… hoottyyy… naaa…
Abhijeet nodded in no: esa nahi hai meri jaan… koi tang nhi hota tjh sy… (trying to make him understand) teri tbiet kharab hai na abhi… thory dino ki baat hai phir tu bilkul theek ho jaye ga… tjhy yeh sb baatain sochny ki zaroorat nahi hai… hmmm… (patted his head) chal shabash mjhe jaany dy mai Rahul ko bula k lata hun… phir tjhy fresh bhi hona hai na… (looked in his eyes while standing up) absy tuny yeh sb bilkul nhi sochna… hmmm…
Daya gave a small nod with a smile to him. Abhijeet aslo smiled: yeh hui na mere dumbo wali baat…
Daya snorted: du…booo naaa… kaaaooo mjjjyyyy…
Abhijeet chuckled gave a light slap to him: hahaha… bewaqoof larka…
He left the room.
Disha woke up after hearing the door's closing sound. She saw Daya sitting so went to him. She lovingly rubbed his head and forehead: ab theek hai mera beta?
Daya nodded in yes… Disha smiled and said: mai fresh ho k aati hun, phir mere bety ko bhi to fresh hona hai na… she helped him in freshening-up.
After sometime Rahul came and checked him: or bhai champ … sbko dara diya…
Daya just gave him a sweet smile. Rahul checked him and declared that they can take Daya home.
Rahul: Or bhai champ… ghar jana hai?
Daya nodded in yes. Rahul smiled and said to Abhijeet: Daya ko ghar ly jaa skty ho, abhi bs yeh allergy or bukhaar ki medicine dena baki sari medicine band hai abhi… (patted Daya's head) Jeet tum zara ana mere cabin main, jb tk Daya breakfast kr ly ga or hum discharge ki formalities puri kr lain gy… (Abhijeet nodded, so Rahul left after giving an assuring smile to Disha)
Disha said to Abhijeet: hmm… (looked at his little boy) mai apny bety ko breakfast krati hun jb tk tum jaa k Rahul sy baat kr lo…
Abhijeet gave her the breakfast tray that he had prepared after telling Rahul about Daya being awake.
Rahul's Cabin
Abhijeet silently entered inside and sat before Rahul. Rahul took a deep breath and asked: to phir kya socha tumny?
Abhijeet looked at him and said confidently: tum medicine mangany ki tyari karo… (and he explained everything to him) Sir ko bhi aaj sary documents dy aun ga to wo grant k liye application HQ mai submit krwa dain gy…
Rahul nodded: theek hai mai aaj hi application or reports bhej deta hun, kuch hi dino mai approval aa jaye ga…
Abhijeet stood up: theek hai phir ab hum nikalty hain, mjhe bureau bhi jana hai phir… or tum reports ki copies mjhe bhi dy do maine application k sath submit krani hain…
Rahul also stood up: theek hai… chalo mai discharge formalities bhi complete kr deta hun… or tumhy reports bhi de deta hun…
Both left the cabin. After discharge, Abhijeet dropped Disha and Daya at home whilst he left for the bureau.
Abhijeet submitted the reports and application, ACP sir assured him that he will try his best that everything is taken care of as soon as possible.
The next day, the doorbell rang. Disha went to open the door.
Disha in a surprised tone: arey Jay beta tum, yahan? (allowing him to enter) kesy ho beta aap?
Jay replied in a soft tone: Namaste Auntie… (Disha nodded with a small smile) wo aaj Sunday hai na to socha Daya sy mil lun bht din ho gaye hai na…
Disha smiled: haan haan, aao na, Daya ander hai apny room mai jaa k mil lo… (Jay moved towards Daya's room while Disha went to the kitchen)
Disha was coming out of the kitchen when heard the angry shout of her little champ: Jaaaaaaooooooo…
She hurried to Daya's room, Abhijeet also arrived at the scene after hearing the loud shouts of his dumbo. The scene inside made them stunned; Jay was standing bewildered while pillows and cushions were lying haphazardly before his feet and Daya's face was red due to anger.
He was continuously shouting "Jao, Jao". Disha put the tray on the study table and rushed to his side: kya hua beta, kyun chilla rhy ho itna?
Daya turned to her and said in an anger-filled-broken voice: issy ka… oooo… jaaa…yeeeee… yaaaaa… syyyy…
Disha patted his back: beta Jay to apsy milny aya hai na… best friendh ai na aapka?
Daya in anger: mjeeee… niiii… milaaa… kssssiii… ssseeeeee…
Abhijeet after analysing the situation took Jay out of the room.
Abhijeet in an apologetic tone: Sorry Jay… mai Daya k behaviour k liye tumsy apologise krta hun, asal mai Daya aj kl kisi bhi baat pr bharak jata hai, kabhi emotional ho jata hai… wo kisi sy zyada milta bhi nhi hai ajkl… I hope you understand…
Jay replied in an understanding-respect filled tone: I understand bhaiya… mai to bs Daya ko dekhny aya tha, agar mjhe pata hota k Daya kisi ko milna nahi chahta to mai ussy bilkul disturb nahi krta… (in a teary tone) mai ussy bht miss kr raha tha to aa gaya… socha tha dono mil k thora enjoy kr lain gy… (forwarding a bag to him) mai yeh new PSP laya tha, last month release hui hai, sochaa tha hum sath mai… (he stopped, he gave him the bag) aap please yeh ussy… (he rushed outside) Bye…
Abhijeet tried to stop him: Jay… Jay… ruko… (seeing the rushing figure) chhchhh… bechara pareshan ho gaya hai… (he sighed) yeh Daya bhi na… dekhta hun itna hyper kyun hua achanak sy…
He entered inside and saw Disha was scolding him lightly on his behaviour while he was sitting idly.
Disha: is tarhan sy behave krty hain kisi k sath? Aik to wo tumhy dekhny aya tha or tumny usky sath kitna bura bartav kiya?
Daya in plain-slurred tone: maneee… nnniiii… kaa taaa… anyyy ko…
Disha in anger: ho kya gaya hai tumhy… friend hai na Jay tumhara? Kyun esa behave kr rhy thy usky sath?
Daya replied in the same tone: ni… milna mjeeee…
Abhijeet sat before him and forwarded the bag towards him: or kyun nahi milna? (Daya asked him about the bag)
Daya: bssss… orlll… yeeehhhh kaaa… haiiiii…
Abhijeet in a sarcastic tone: yeh wo dy kr gaya hai jissy tumhy milna nahi hai… (Abhijeet took the PSP out and put it in his hands) tumhary sath enjoy krny aya tha or tumny uski aik baar baat bhi nahi sunni…
Daya looked at the game in his hands and a tear fell in his lap…
Abhijeet looked at him and cleared his eyes: mjhe batao k baat kya hai akhir?
Daya in a sobbing-slurred voice: mjeee… kisiiii… seeee ni... millllaaa… maazzzaaakkk urrlaayeee gy… merraaaa… mai bssss esssyyyy ksss seeee niii milnaaaa… stuuuu… pidddd… laaagtaaa unnn… kkuuud kuccshhh… krrrllll niii pataaaa naaa….
Abhijeet took him in his embrace while Disha's anger melted and she left the room with a heavy heart: theek hai agar Daya kisi ko ni milna chahta to koi baat nhi… koi force nhi kry ga…
Daya: maaineeee… hurrrrrtt kiyaaaaa naaa…
Abhijeet nodded in no: nahi tuny kuch ni kiya… koi hurt nhi hua tjh sy… Jay bhi nhi, wo tera friend hai na samajtha hai tjhe… (tried to divert his attention) Jay ny gift diya hai na tere liye dekh to sai… (and he involved him with the game)
"Maa, kya yaar yahan kya kr rhi ho aap?"
Disha turned hurriedly while trying to compose her emotions: kuch nhi bs yeh kuch kapry leny aai thi… sookh gaye hain… (in hurry) chal ly liye hain kapry neechy chalty hain…
Abhijeet took her to the chairs lying on the terrace under the shed: betho yaha… (took her hands in his own) aap iss tarhan na kiya karo please… apko maloom hai na mjhe kitna bura lagta hai apko is tarhan dekh k… esa lagta hai jese mai apka theek sy khayal nahi rakh paa raha hun… baba ko kya jawab dunga jb wo mjh sy apky aansuon ki waja poochy gy to?
Disha tried to control her emotions: yeh to unhy mjhe chor k jany sy pehly sochna tha na?
Abhijeet took her in the hug: Maaa… (he patted her back) mai janta hun aap pr kya beet rahi hai… mai bhi apny bhai ko is tarhan nahi dekh skta… lekin aapka yun tootna Daya bhi nhi dekh paa raha hai… (she looked at him) aaj subah keh raha tha k uski wajah sy hum pareshan ho gaye hain… wo khud kuch nhi kr pata is liye hum pr bojh bn gaya hai… or apka rona ussy bht dukh deta hai… wo apny apko guilty samajhny laga hai sath hi uska self-confidence bhi khatam ho gaya hai… hummy apny aapko strong krna hai na usky liye… (Disha nodded in yes while inhaling a sharp breath to get her emotions undercontrol) please esy na udas hua karain… apky dono betay aapko yun udas bilkul nahi dekh skty…
Disha stood up: koshish krti hun na beta… jitna ho skta hai koshish krti hun… (to change the environment) chal aaja neechay chalain Daya ko zyada dair akela nhi chor skty na…
Abhijeet too stood up: aap chalain mai kapry ly k aata hun…
Disha smiled and made her way to the stairs.
"I feel guilty, for being sick, for being a burden…"
A/N: Sorry, is a small word to apologise... but I am really very busy, my schedule is so much tight... Still, I am trying to update as soon as possible...
Thank you to the every single person who reviewed the last chapter... Have a good read... Also, if possible try to hear how these people speak as I might not be able to write it right...
See soon, hopefully after 22 March as I will have sometime after it.
Take care of yourselves...
Stay Safe...