TERI MERI KAHAANI

CHAPTER 13 HUM BHI AGAR BACHCHE HOTE

6 months later

G.K. Apartments, Bandra, Mumbai

"Kavin, tum kahaan ho? Cake ka kya hua?", Purvi sounded worried on the phone.

"Purvi, tum kyun chinta kar rahi ho? Main la raha hun na Pihu ka cake! Owner ne maafi maang li hai aur cake change bhi kar diya hai".

"Thank you Kavin. Mujhe bus Pihu ke birthday par sab kuch sahi chahiye. Bahut der ke baad maine Pihu ko itna excited aur khush dekha hai. Aaj ka din uske liye perfect hona chahiye. Use toh lagta hai ki sirf hum dono hee hain birthday par. Use yeh nahin pata ki hum sab party kar rahe hai uske liye".

"Samajh sakta hun main Purvi. Main bus pahunch hee raha hun. Rohan theek hai na?".

"Haan. Bus smile kar raha hai tab se. Bata nahin sakti main Kavin, kitni khush hun main Rohan ki leg brace utar gayi hai!".

"Thank you Purvi. Us din jab maine Rohan ko chod kar us mujrim ke peeche jaane ka faisla kiya tha, toh uske saath itna bada haadsa ho gaya, bus ke neeche aate aate bacha woh.. Ghabra gaya tha main ki ab shayad woh phir dar jaayega aur dobara koshish band kar dega. Par shayad destiny thi-tum mil gayi use. Tumhaari support aur constant encouragement se aaj woh waapis chal pa raha hai!".

"Ek minute. Phir dar jaayega matlab? Pehle bhi kuch aisa hua hai uske saath?" she enquired.

Kavin mentally scolded himself and said, "Yeh baatein phir kabhi. Abhi dekho cake aa gaya hai. Main bus aa raha hun!"

"Oh haan. Jaldi aao tum. Kahin Pihu na aa jaaye" she smiled as she kept the phone down.

This birthday party was Kavin's idea. Over the last six months, Kavin and Pihu had become best of friends. Kavin used to say that she had become his 'very very special friend' and tended to spoil her with gifts, much to Purvi's chagrin. But, he would not listen to her disapproval and keep bringing presents for her. So, it came about that when Purvi said that it was Pihu's birthday, he insisted on making a big hullabaloo. If he had his way, he would have called the entire CID team for this birthday but on Purvi's insistence, they decided to keep it low-key with only them, ACP sir and Dushvi in attendance. Purvi could not trust herself in bigger celebrations where she tended to miss Sameer even more. So she wanted to avoid any big party for the moment. ACP Pradyuman ultimately couldn't make it to the party but he sent Pihu a beautifully wrapped present with all his blessings .

Twenty minutes later, Kavin arrived with a big box of butterfly cake which was duly kept in the fridge by both of them. Then they checked the decorations once more. Rohan pointed towards his watch and looked enquiringly at them.

"Woh bus abhi pahunch hi rahe honge beta," Purvi responded to his query.

After a few minutes, they heard some footsteps outside the door. Kavin switched the lights off immediately. The room turned dark with only the light from the six glowing candles on the cake illuminating the room slightly. As soon as the door opened, a big cry of "Surprise!" filled the air and Kavin turned the lights on. Pihu was stunned momentarily but then she looked at her mom, ran to her and started crying. Purvi didn't know what to do for a few stunned seconds but quickly braced herself while looking enquiringly at Dushyant and Ishita.

"Kya hua Pihu bachche? Aap itna ro kyun rahe ho?" Kavin and Rohan looked on, concerned.

"Mujhe kal se school nahin jaana", saying that she ran towards her room.

"Pata nahin Purvi, ise kya hua hai. Raaste bhar chup-chup rahi. Maine aur Dush ne bahut koshish ki isse baatein karne ki, isko hasaane ki, par isne kuch nahin kaha. Abhi aate hi tumhe dekhkar rone lagi hai", Ishita said looking a bit worried.