Chupana Bhi Nahi Aata

2. Tumhari Yaadon Ka Mela

Holding a plate of food, chhoti anu quietly opens the door of anuj, anupama's room and saw a diffuse anuj lying on the floor, embracing anu's photo frame. For a while she kept on looking at him sadly and the diffuse room and then supressing her tears she walks in. Putting the plate aside on a nearby table she sits down close to anuj.

when her tiny little fingers touches his skin to wipes those heavy tears, anuj opens his eyes and twitchingly sit straight holding her one hand in his while his other hand was still holding anu's photo frame.

Chhoti aap ?... Aap theek toh hai na bachchi  ?

Theek nahi hoon papa aur mein jaanti hoon aap bhi theek nahi hai par humein theek hona hoga mummy ke liye. Unhone voice note mein kaha na ke humein ek doosre ka khayal rakhna hai aur agar humne mummy ki baat nahi maani toh woh jahan kahi bhi hogi humein aise sad dekhar woh bhi sad ho jaayegi aur hum mummy ko sad nahi hone dekh sakte na. Toh papa please aise ro mat... Main aapke liye khaana lekar aayi hoon please thoda sa khaalo.

Holding back the warm tears in his eyes anuj tenderly caresses chhoti's face.

I'm sorry bachchi par mera bilkul bhi khaane ka mann nahi hai. Aap ne khaana khaaya ?

Mujhe kaka ne khila diya. Par aapne toh paani bhi nahi piya hai. Mummy aur mere liye thoda sa toh kaahalo na please ? please papa ?

Achcha.. theek hai ! Par sirf thoda sa par aap bhi mere saath khaayegi.

Theek hai !!

Covering their distress both anuj and chhoti anu fed each other and keep on passing fakes smiles to each other. While Deep down they both knew that these smiles are not even a happy crumble but a bundle of sadness which now they have to carry along with them everyday and has to face each other with a happy facade.

Putting the empty plate aside chhoti feds water to anuj.
Papa yahi bethna main bas abhi aayi.

Before he could ask her anything she instantly rans away in her room & soon came back holding anu's saree which she was embracing a while ago. Taking the edge of anu's saree she wipes his face lightly and kindly. This tear up anuj in wonder. He kept on adoring chhoti with a depressed smile and hot tears as if adoring his anu whenever she similarly used to wipes his face with all the care and warmth. The deja vu hitt all the right chords of his heart. The memories of anu's pampering him with her pallu keep on reflecting in front of his eyes and he couldn't control himself from breaking down again. Putting aside anu's photo frame he quickly took chhoti in his arms and weeped hardly, holding her as tight as if holding his dear life. Chhoti was silently sheding tears looking at anu's photo frame which was lying on the side of them, she lovingly caresses anuj's back to let him cry his soul out whereas her tenderness was giving him the much needed peace and soothes his pain.

A while later,  chhoti comes out from his embrace and again with anu's pallu wiped his every tears so carefully. Holding his one hand she gently made anuj stood up and also picked up anu's photo frame from down and they walked towards the bed.
Hus little sunshine gently made him lay down and she too lies besides him keeping anu's photo frame in between them, in the memories of their complete family sleeping together. All the while anuj was silently & suprisingly gazing at her every actions which reminds him about anu. He can't stop weeping in afflictions. Their chhoti is a shadow of his anupamaa which keep on making him feel the presence and warmth of anu. Looking at each other with a painful smile, suppressing their tears both anuj and chhoti were softly carresing each other's hairs and smiled as they reminisces anupamaa who always used to make them sleep like this, by stroking their hairs lovingly and atlast giving both of them a good night kiss on their forheads. But now their nights are gonna be incomplete without HER, Incomplete without her tender kisses, pamper & baby-feying. So to sooth that pain in their hearts which was twinging with anu's emptiness they gave a soft peck on each other's forehead and doze off patting each other while their other hand was clutching anu's saree firmly yet softly.