ONCE

34

Abhi, ved, nish and aditi reached home. Ananya requested Abhi to let sleeping abhay go with her. She will bring him in morning. And he agreed. They entered the house and saw naitik placing around the living room.

Akshara: "Naitik, kya baat hai aap itne tense kyu hai? Woh log aate hi honge."

Naitik: "Akshara aap so jaayiye. Mein aata hoon."

Akshara: "Naitik bacche thik hai na."

Ved: "Mumma" ved hugged her. Naitik saw Abhi fine and relaxed.

Akshara: "Maja aaya"

Ved: "Bht saara"

Naitik: "Ye kya vedu saari hug mumma ko? Papa bhi to hai."

Ved smiled apologetically and hugged him.

Naitik: "Nish, Adi come" They shared a quick hug.

Naitik: "Abhay kaha hai?"

Ved: "Woh bhabhi ke sath hai kal sube aa jaayega."

Akshara: "Abhi, accha hai tu bhi aa raha, dehradun mein jo kaam tha ho gaya?"

Abhi sees Naitik who glared at him.
Naitik: "Akshara, Aap bht thak gayi hongi aap so jaayiye. Mujhe isse kuch baat karni hai"

Akshara tensed and looks at Abhi.
Naitik: "Akshara" Abhi assured with his eyes and then Akshara lefts and so as Aditi, Nish.

Naitik: "Vedu, room mein jaa, sone se pehle shower lena."

Vedu: "Okay" lefts.

Naitik: "In 20 minutes I want you in liabrary. Go and change." Lefts.

Abhi headed towards his room but saw ved in stairs.
Abhi: "Tu room mein kyu nahi gaya?"

Ved: "Finally aaj aapko bhi Papa se daat padegi aur shyad punishment bhi. Har baar mujhe hi liabrary mein bulate hai."

Abhi: "Tu eavesdrop kar raha tha?"

Ved: "Haan. Waise kya kiya aapne jo dad inte gusse mein the."

Abhi: "Isse pehle ke mujhe gussa aaye tu apne room mein jaa."

Ved huffed. "Jaa raha hoon." Lefts.

Abhi was outside the liabrary there was still a minute left.
Abhi: "jaun yaa na jaun? Yaar inkabbhi samajh nahi aata aise to baat bhi nahi karni hoti hai aur jab aaj liabrary mein bulaya hai." Takes a deep breath and went inside.

Naitik turns his gaze towards him from a book. He places a book aside and got up. After 2 minutes of silence.

Naitik: "So, how are you? All okay?" Abhi nodded.

Naitik: "I think tu rules bhul gaya hai. Whenever I ask question I expect to have a verbal answer. So, lets try again.  How are you?"

Abhi: "I am okay"

Naitik went towards him and inspect his body.
Abhi hissed when Naitik touched his left arm. It got a little burn when bomb blasted as it was covered no one noticed. Naitik tightens his fist.

Naitik: "Take it off" pointing towards his full T-shirt.

Abhi: "I am oka...." one glare from naitik and he take it off leaving himself jist in sleeveless inner wear.

Naitik: "Sit here" and takes out a burning relief cream.

Abhi eyes moistened but he immediately wiped. Naitik sat opposide and started applying cream on burned spot blewing air in between.

Naitik: "Kya soch ke gaya tha Mr Shikawat ke area mein? Aur accident karna it was your bloody plan."

Abhi felt his tongue lied but said. "Main use jaan se nahi maarne wala tha."