Na Jaane Kyon...

Teri muskurahat hai chahat meri

After another restless night, Sameer was waiting for nanu in the morning, yet again ready before time.

"Sameer, tu mujhe nervous kar deta hai, yaar. Aisa feel hota hai school bus miss ho jayegi." Nanu came out of his room, buttoning his coat.

Rohan, who was having his breakfast, chuckled, "Aap toh kehte ho aap cycle pe school jaate the, nanu... phir aapki school bus kaise miss ho sakti hai."

Nanu gave him a light smack on the back of his head, "Abe nalayak, tum logon ko chodne toh jaata tha na. Ab tum the hi itne nawab ki paas ke school mein bhi bus se hi jaana tha."

Rohan grinned, "Hum nawab na sahi par nawab nana ke naati toh hain... woh humein cycle se school thodi bhejte."

Nanu laughed, "Makhhan toast pe hi laga le, beta. Waise bhi tu do din baad jaa raha hai, main tere kisi kaam nahi aa sakta."

Pouting sadly, Rohan went back to his food while nanu and Sameer left.

"Nanu, kya yeh sach hai ki chote bachhon ko shuru se sikhana chahiye ki unki har demand poori nahi ho sakti?" Sameer asked the question that troubled him after hearing what Rohan said.

Nanu narrowed his eyes, "Barkhurdaar, pehle toh shaadi ke naam se bidak jaata tha aur aaj bachhe paalne ki training chahiye... yeh kya chakkar hai?"

Sameer gave a quick sheepish smile, "Kya nanu, aap bhi. Main toh aise hi puch raha tha."

Nanu looked at him warmly, then let out a deep exhale, "Bachhe bohot masoom hote hain, Sameer. Unka dil jitna nazuk hota hai utna hi aasani se influence hone wala bhi hota hai. Samajhdaar hone ki waise toh koi umr nahi hoti lekin dus saal se kam wale bachhon ko zyada chanchal maana jaata hai. Unki zid agar poori karte gaye toh woh dheere dheere aadat ban jaati hai... aur jis din unhe kisi baat ke liye manaa kiya jaaye, woh galat tareeke se react kar sakte hain. Lekin tu kyon puch raha hai?"

"Ayush ko..." The name tumbled out of Sameer's mouth before he could think... and he stopped abruptly.

Nanu gave him a thoughtful look, "Ayush? Tera woh school wala dost? Kya shaadi ho rakhi hai uski?"

Sameer gulped, remembering the lie of previous day, "Na... nahi, shaadi nahi hui uski. Woh abhi Rohan ne kaha na, aap humein bachpan mein pamper karte the... toh bas... hum toh nahi bigade na."

"Lekin ismein Ayush kahan se aa gaya?" Nanu didn't let him get away.

"Ayush ka bhi ek nephew hai na toh woh baat kar raha tha uski. Bas isliye." Sameer shrugged, mentally hitting himself for blurting out the name without thinking.

Nanu took off his spectacles and wiped them with his handkerchief, "Yeh baat sach hai ki tum teeno bachhon ko humne pamper kiya hai, lekin beta, bigadne nahi diya. Kuch cheezein zyada di toh kai baar kisi choti si farmaish ke liye manaa bhi kiya... sirf isliye jisse tumhe yeh na lage ki tumhe har cheez muh kholte hi mil jayegi. Balance bana ke rakha. Tum bachhe bhi tareef ke kaabil ho... kabhi tum logon ne woh ghamand nahi dikhaya jo main aur bohot se ameer bachhon mein dekhta hun, na waisi zid ki. Mujhe garv hai apne sab bachhon pe."

Sameer was amazed that this never occurred to him till date, in spite of having two younger siblings. He happily bought whatever Deepika asked for, even when Vishakha asked him not to. He thought he was showing love for his kid sister. So this was the difference between only love, and love combined with responsibility, he realised. Naina had taken over the role of her parents, to bring up Ayush the way she had been brought up. He felt extremely proud of her.

Morning hours without seeing her were not easy. Only a single picture of her WhatsApp dp wasn't sufficient anymore. He had to do something to get connected on insta as well. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He checked the time. Within half an hour, the floor above would have their lunch time.