yun hi tu mere saath rehna

Chapter Fifteen

Armaan rushed through the corridor, breathless. He was running late for his meeting. It was not a good look to be late for an appointment, even if the appointment was with his Badi Maa and Bade Papa. Finally reaching the cabin, he knocked. 

“Come in,” Mishti's voice carried through the door.

Armaan went inside, apologizing. “Sorry! I know main thoda late hoon.”

“It's okay, Armaan,” Abir smiled. “Kabhi kabhi ho jaata hai. Aao.”

Armaan grinned at both of them, taking a seat. “Kaise ho aap dono? All good? Aaj achanak office bulaaya… Sab theek haina?”

“Sab theek hai, Armaan,” Mishti assured. “But we wanted to talk to you. Aur kaam se related baat thi toh socha office mein hi baat kar lete hain.”

“Jee, kahiye,” Armaan requested. 

“Dekho, Armaan… Hum jo baat karne jaa rahe hain… Tum please humein galat mat samajhna,” Abir began. “Main aur Mishti kaafi time se yeh soch rahe the but samajh nahi aa raha tha ki tumse kaise kahein. Lekin, ab iss baat ko zyada waqt taalna nahi chaahte.”

“Aisi kya baat hai?” Armaan asked. “Aap dono please itna mat sochiye. Main kuch galat nahi samjhunga. Jiss tarah main aapse koi bhi baat share kar sakta hoon, aap bhi mujhse kar sakte hain. Main bhi toh aapki family hoon, jaise aap meri family hain.”

Abir smiled widely at his words. “You're right. Tum humaari family ho, Armaan. Dekho… Past mein jo bhi hua hai… I know you've made a lot of mistakes when it comes to Abhira. Lekin, galti sabse hoti hai. I'm very glad ki tumne samjha ki tumhaari galti hai, uss galti ko maana, aur sudhaara bhi. Aur ab tum yeh koshish kar rahe ho ki uss sabse aage badh jao. I know it's very difficult to do that. 

Galti har insaan se hoti hai, lekin har koi usse accept nahi kar pata, sudhaarna toh bohot door ki baat hai. Aur jab tum itna kar rahe ho, we all recognize your efforts. Lekin, ek baar toh main kehna chaahta hoon… Mujhe pata hai tum Abhira se bohot pyaar karte ho, usse poori tarah support karte ho. But, agar pichli galti phir dobaara hui na, toh iss baar maafi nahi milegi, Armaan. Abhira ne bohot mushkil se khudko sambhala hai. Agar tumne ab uska saath choda toh woh toot jaayegi. Aur phir shayad woh tumhe kabhi trust nahi kar paayegi.”

“Bade Papa… Aap aisa kyun keh rahe ho? Mujhe phir koi galti hui hai kya? Abhira ko meri kisi baat ka bura laga?” Armaan questioned, worried. “I know maine bohot baar uske saath galat kiya hai, usse bina wajah blame kiya, usse bura-bhala sunaya. I accept all of it. Lekin, I promise… Main yeh sab phir nahi hone dunga. But agar phir bhi, anjaane mein mujhse kuch ho gaya hai toh aap please mujhe bataiye.”

“Aisa kuch nahi hai, Armaan! Relax!” Abir exclaimed. “Abhira ne humse kuch nahi kaha hai. Main bas tumhe yeh kehne ki koshish kar raha tha ki iss baar woh galti mat dohraana. Aur kuch nahi. I'm sorry. Shayad yeh sab kehne ke liye yeh sahi waqt ya sahi tareeka nahi tha. But main khudko rok nahi paaya.

It's just that… Abhira is my daughter. Uska dil tootega toh meri duniya ruk jaayegi. I can't bear to see her in pain. Isliye bas, thoda emotional ho gaya. I've seen the efforts you're putting in to make sure that everything is good now. Tum Abhira ko bohot support karte ho, and you never let her doubt how much you love her. And I really appreciate that. But, humne tumpe itna bharosa kiya hai toh please usse tootne mat dena.

I can't expect ki tumse phir kabhi koi galti nahi hogi, because that's impossible. Main tumhe daraana bhi nahi chaahta ki kal kuch gadbad ho jaaye toh tum humaare paas aane se hichkichao. But, I hope I can expect ki tum kabhi jaan-boojhkar Abhira ka dil nahi dukhaoge.”

“Of course, Bade Papa,” Armaan readily agreed. “Aapne itna bola, mere liye yeh bohot badi baat hai. Warna toh kuch log pehli galti pe hi sazaa suna dete hain aur doosra mauka nahi dete.”