TRAGEDY TO TREASURE (COMPLETED)

Chapter 14

With Abhishek and Reem.

They reached Sumedh's house. As the door was not locked, Abhishek walked in. They went in to catch a glimpse of Sumedh and Mallika romancing.

Abhishek (announcement tone): Please close the door. Kripya darwaza band kare.

Listening to his voice, Sumedh and Mallika turned towards him.

Sumedh: Ye kya announcement speaker ban announcement de raha hain?

Abhishek: Door band kiya kar na phir. Nahin aata kya?

Sumedh: Tu bhi dimak use kar sakta tha. Door knock karta na.

Mallika: Chup ho jao dono. Humari Reemi aayi hain. Aese uske samne matt lado.

Sumedh (smirk): Uska baap hain hi ladaku. Kya kar sakte hain.

Abhishek (smirking back): Huh! Dekh bhai... I know tujhe hurt hua ke humne tera romance kharab kiya but still, we are not sorry. Thori der hum yehi hain to tujhe jhelna hi padega.

Mallika: Tum dono ka kuch nahin ho sakta. Abhishek lao Reemi mujhe do.

She took her in her arms. Reem pouted looking at her.

Sumedh: Isse kya hua? The all-time joyful girl is sad?

He asked mirroring Reem's expressions in front of Reem. She made a grumpy face.

Abhishek: Vaishnavi ko maa ka call aaya to she had to go at my mother's place. Since she left, Reemi is sad. Reemi ko papa chaye hi nahin.

He pouted in front of her. She giggled.

Mallika: Baby ko mumma chaye...

Reem nodded with a pout.

Sumedh (tickling her): Arey! Reemi is missing her mumma.

She laughed.

Abhishek was all quiet. His heart pinched. She is considering Vaishnavi as her mother. This was kind of hurting him. Never he nor Vaishnavi ever used the word mumma in front of Reem. Still, Reem reacted positively to the word mumma and she started considering Vaishnavi as her mumma.

Mallika: Chalo chachi gudiya ko chocolate khilayegi.

She took Reem to the kitchen.

Sumedh (patting Abhishek's shoulder): Kya hua bhai?

He noticed a sudden change in expression on Abhishek's. A few minutes back, Abhishek seems happy but now he isn't.

Abhishek (controlling his tears): She is considering Vaishnavi as her mother but Vaishnavi isn't. Meri Reem hain uski mumma.

Sumedh: Reem is... there is no doubt. Vaishnavi is also her mother. A real mother or stepmother doesn't matter if Vaishnavi is giving her that love and care. She too deserves to be called mumma. Tu daytime me office hota hain. Tere absence me Vaishnavi hi uska dhayan rakhti hain. They are bonded so well. Vaishnavi usko itna pyaar deti hogi ke Reem kuch der ke liye bhi nahin rahe saki uske bina. It's been 15 days or something like that.

Abhishek: Yeah... Ah! Leave all this. Abhi ke liye I don't want to talk on this topic right now.

Sumedh: Take your time dude.

Abhishek nodded.

With Vaishnavi.

She reached Abhishek's mother's place. After meeting all, Rehana made her sit for henna. Henna artists started applying. Vaishnavi's eyes fell on a mother-daughter duo. A daughter who seems 3 or 4 years old is complaining to her mother that she wants to apply henna first and her mother is already applying henna. Vaishnavi saw them and smile widely.

Vaishnavi (mumbling to herself): Jab meri reemi badi ho jayegi. Main pehle usko mehandi lagvaugi and phir main lagaugi.

Henna artist who couldn't get her words in her brain.

Artist: Kuch kaha aapne?

Vaishnavi (embarrassed): No no... I am sorry.

She looked down and deep breath. She took her phone to text Abhishek.

Text: Reemi is fine? She isn't crying na?

Within a minute. She got a reply.

Abhishek's text: Yes... She is missing you. Anyways, we are at Sumedh's place. Are you done?

Vaishnavi's text: No... Just came a few minutes back. It will take time.

Abhishek's text: No problem. Let me know once you are free. Take care.

Vaishnavi smiled keeping the phone aside. After some time, she was done with applying henna.

Rehana: Vaishnavi idhar aa. Seema se mil. Ye Siddharth ki maa hain. Abhishek ka sab se acha dost hain.

Vaishnavi gave nervous smile. Rehana patted beside her. Vaishnavi nodded and sat between Rehana and Seema.

Seema: Rehana bahut achi bahu mili hain. Kaash mera Siddharth bhi meri pasand ki ladki se shaadi karta.

Rehana: Jo naseeb. Pehle to Abhishek bhi Reem ke aage piche pagal tha. Bhagwaan ki kripa se sab sahi ho gaya.

Seema: Bilkul sahi kaha. Ab bas bhagwaan mere Siddharth par kripa kare.

Vaishnavi was trying to digest all these words said by Rehana and Seema. Seema is happy about her own daughter's death. Rehana is the one who forced Abhishek to leave her Reem (Rehana's granddaughter) in an orphanage.

To be continued...