The Phoenix ✔

The Phoenix (Part-6)

"Bas maa...hamara pet bhar gya...!" Anubhav said to maa, who's forwarding a spoon of khichdi to him.

"Thoda sa aur kha le, dekh kitna dubla ho gya hai (he nods negatively), apni maa ke liye...." Maa said with puppy eyes. He rolled his eyes helplessly and then ate the khichdi.

"Jai Hind Sir...!" Haseena saluted him while adoring the mother-son bonding. He looked at her with a smile. "Jai Hind Haseena ji! Kahiye kaise aana hua itni raat gye?" He asked. "Woh sir, hum aapke liye (maa raised her eyebrows) I mean aap dono ke liye khana lekar aaye hai." She answered nervously. "Tumne banaya hai, Anu ke liye?" Maa asked in teasing tone. "Nhi, yahan se jaane ke baad hum thane ke kaam aur sir ke upar huye attack ke case mein itna busy ho gye ki time hi nhi mila ghar jane ka...!"

"Toh phir yeh bhojan?" He asked. "Woh...Karishma Singh ne bheja hai." She said nervously. Hearing KS name, Maa looks at Anubhav, who is smiling sarcastically. "Anu...?" He hummed in answer. "Haseena ji aap ise le jakar apni SI sahiba ko wapas kar dijiyega aur kah dijiyega ki jis Anubhav ke liye unhone yeh bhojan bheja hai woh saalon pehle hi mar chuka hai...!" He said with a smile. "Anu...(scolded) aisa nhi bolte, behan hai woh teri...!" Maa said angrily. "Kshma chahte hai maa par hamari Karishma naam ki koi behan nhi hai...!" He said calmly. Haseena silently listening to them and tries to understand what is going on between Anubhav and KS.

"Haseena ji..(she looks at him) humne aapko jo kaha woh pata kiya aapne?" He asked. "Ji sir...woh number jisse hume I mean aapke liye call aaya tha woh chori ka number hai...hum pata karne ki koshish kar rahe hai aur hotel ke Parking area ki CCTV mein un teen logon ke alawa aur koi hamlawar nhi dikhai diya..." She said in despair.

"Aapke paas footage hai?" He asked, she nodded in no. "Tum dono bhi kya kaam lekar baith gye ho, chhodo yeh sab aur Anu Tu jaldi se yeh juice pi..." Maa made him drink juice.

"Ab aur kuch toh nhi rah gya na?" He asked with a cute grumpy, Haseena giggled. "Miss Malik aapko itni hasi kis baat par aa rahi hai?" He asked in serious tone, raising his eyebrows. "Sorry sir...!" She apologized. "Hum bas mazak kar rahe hai Haseena ji (smiling) waise ab aapko ghar jana chahiye, kaafi der ho gyi hai."

"Sir aapki safety ki responsibility hume di gyi hai isliye hum aaj raat se har samay aapke sath rahenge.." She said with a smile. "Iski avashyakta nhi hai Haseena ji, aap apna thana sambhaliye." He said. "Sir upar se order hai isliye hum aapka order follow nhi kar sakte....!" She said with fake sadness. "Par Haseena agar tum yahan Anubhav ki surksha ke liye rahogi toh tumhari family ke liye bhi khatra badh jayega isliye tum rehne do, Anu sambhal lega" Maa is concerned for Haseena. " Aunty ji agar hamari family hoti bhi tabhi hum kisi khatre ke dar se apne farz se pichhe nhi hote." Haseena said with a smile, Anubhav and maa sensed her sadness.

"Tumhare maa Baba?" Maa asked hesitantly. "Jab hum chhote the tab Abbu ek police encounter mein shaheed ho gye aur ek saal pehle heart attack ki wajah se ammi bhi hume chhod kar chali gyi." Haseena said sadly. "Heart attack? Kaise?"

"Maa kya aap bhi (he looks at Haseena) maa ke sawal ke liye hum aapse kshma chahte hai Haseena ji."

"Sir isme maafi ki koi baat nhi hai, hum is sach ko apna chuke hai ki kahin na kahin hum apni ammi ke maut ke jimmedaar hai...!" She said, while guilt arose in her again. "Kaisi baat kar rahi ho beti." Maa said, stroking her hair to get her out of guilt.

"Aap dono ka ho gya toh kya koi hum par bhi dhyan dega...!" He said grumpily to change the topic. Maa and Haseena chuckled.

In Mid Night

Haseena gets up in jerk as she hear something falling sound. "Ssshh....hum hai...!" Anubhav said. "Aap thik hai sir?" "Ji hum thik hai, woh bas pyas lagi thi, pani lene ke liye hath badhaya toh galti se gir gya." He explained. "Hum dete hai (she poured water in glass and made him drink it) aapko agar kuch chahiye tha toh hume jaga dena chahiye tha." She said, covering him with a sheet. "Aap parso dophar se hospital aur thane ke chakkar laga rahi hai, aapko bhi aaram ki avashyakta hai." She smiled. "Sir hum police walo ki dictionary mein duty ke waqt aaram word hota hi kahan hai, waise sir aap bura na mane toh ek question puchh sakte hai? (He hummed) aap KS se naraz kyu hai?" She asked nervously. He looked at her with a smile. "Ek insaan ke jhooth ne jaise aapse aapki ammi ko chhin liya waise hi unke ek jhooth ne humse aur hamari maa se hamara ghar chhin liya (he answered), khair aap jakar aaram kariye...."