SAYONEE

III.

Kal mujhse mohabbat ho na ho

Kal mujhko ijazat ho na ho

Toote dil ke tukde lekar

tere darr pe hi reh jaunga....

It was almost three months since Aryamaan shifted to Bengaluru. It had also been three months since Aryaveer has started going to school. At first he was a little hesitant and was crying just like normal toddlers but gradually he got used to it and now he is pretty much excited to go to school.


It was one such normal day. Veer was in his school. Aryamaan was immersed in his paperwork when his phone rang. It was a call from Veer's school.

"Mr. Scindia , I am speaking from St. Stephen's School. You are required to meet with the principal within the next hour." A command was issued from the other end.

" Is Aryaveer fine ? Is he hurt?" Maan asked worried and already shutting his laptop and taking his car keys in his hand. His heart thudding loudly against his ribcage. The thought of happening something to Veer sent shivers through his spine.

"Yes Mr. Scindia he is fine. You please try to reach within the next hour." The voice said and cut the call.

Aryamaan was worried as hell. The drive from his office to school felt like hours to him. His heart was in his throat thinking about all the various possibilities.

Aryamaan released a breath when he saw Veer sitting on a bench outside Principal's room, fine. On seeing him , veer ran towards him and Maan took him in his lap.

"Dadda look boo boo!" Veer whispered, showing his scraped elbow, his voice wobbling and his eyes were lined with tears. He immediately kissed his head and whispered soothing words in his ear which ceased his tears. He then asked what had happened.

Apparently two second grade boys eats his tiffin daily. He has complained to hus teachers also but nothing has happened. Today he was eating tiffin when the boys came, and snatched his tiffin box and pushed him .This was seen by a girl and she came to help Veer. The girl and the second graders had a fight which was finally stopped by the teacher.

It was then Aryamaan noticed another little figure not more than six years sitting on the bench keeping her head down. She had a scruffed look obviously due to the fight.

"Hi!" Aryamaan went towards her and introduced himself " I am Aryaveer's father.."
The little girl looked up and Aryamaan forgot how to breath. She had the exact hazel coloured eyes just like her. Her face pink and cherubic, just like any little angel descending from heaven.

"Hi!" the girl waved in return in cute voice.

" What is your name angel?" Maan enquired.

The girl furrowed her eyebrows and replied, " I am not an angel. My name is Zubeidaa Scindia..."

Zubeidaa Scindia....

And the name struck like a lightening to him..It cannot be a coincidence can it be ? Before he could say anything he heard a voice from behind

"Zubiii..." the voice said and Aryamaan could swear that his ground shook. It was the same voice , the exact same voice he couldn't give it a miss.

Sanaa was also summoned from school. Her condition was no different than Aryamaan's . On seeing Zubi's tousled look she got scared and started looking for any injury in her little body.

" What happened baby ? Are you fine? What happened bachha? "Sanaa inquired holding her face in her hands.

" I am fine mama. We had a fight with the 2nd graders. They were eating Aryaveer's tiffin and also pushed him" Zubi replied pointing to her back and that's when Sanaa noticed the person standing behind. She looked up only to get surprised and the person standing was also shocked. He was her Maan.....

Looking at both Sanaa and Zubeidaa , maan was shell shocked. His jaw would hit the floor anytime soon. He was watching her with a stunned expression.. Sanaa saw how Aryamaan's expressions changed from flabbergasted to comprehensive ,then calculative and then finally what she could assume was utter betrayal.

However , Sanaa quickly composed herself when she heard the clerk called them inside the principal's office.

Sanaa was too much in shock to say anything. Aryamaan explained to the principal what his son told him, and the principal didn't take any action. As he knew how big name the Scindias were. The principal dismissed all of them not before giving a warning to the second graders.

Sanaa immediately came out without giving a glance back to Aryamaan. She took long strides while holding Zubi's hand who was blabbering out god knows what. Aryamaan was literally chasing her. What he felt right now was complete anger and betrayal.... The fact that his girlfriend hid that they both have a daughter together was enough to make him angry.

Sanaa placed Zubi in the car seat and Closed the door when someone held her wrist harshly and turned her around.
" Why the fuck you didn't tell me that we have a daughter together?" Aryamaan gritted through his teeth, the veins from his forehead popping out.

" Just ! Shut up! She is not your daughter. She is my daughter!! My daughter!!!!! Don't you dare to take her name...." Sanaa seethed in anger.

"Why ? Why won't I ?? Haan!??" Aryamaan shouted.

" Because you are a selfish man Mr. Scindia. If you remember clearly then I have called you a thousand times. Every time the call went unanswered . And the last time you received can you remember what did you say ??"" Sanaa replied jibing her finger in his chest. Her voice wobbling , years threatening to spill through her eyes. And then realisation hit upon Aryamaan.

" I think you forgot. Let me remind you..... You were the one who didn't wanted to talk to me, you were the one who blocked me out of everything. Main roti rahi , girgirati rahi tumhare samne, but I was no one to you, just like everyone abandoned me , you also abandoned me..... You made false promises to me....." Sanaa replied completely shattered.

If there was something which Aryamaan feeling right now was

Remorse and guilt.....

He was doomed....