Mere Dharma saathi - Season 1

Chapter 2: The Journey to Ooty

Aarav returned home, his mind still buzzing with the revelations from his grandmother. He found Anusuya sitting in their living room, waiting for him. He sat down beside her and took a deep breath.

"Anusuya, mujhe kuch baatein pata chali hain," Aarav began, his voice filled with emotion. "Mere pita, Arjun, aur mama, Vikram, ke beech ka rishta bohot gehra tha. Unhone bohot saari muskilain sahi. Mere pitaji ke saath unka saath hamesha raha."

Anusuya listened carefully, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Mujhe lagta hai humein unhe dhoondhna chahiye. Shayad unse humein pata chale ki kya sach mein hua tha," she suggested, her voice steady with determination.

Aarav nodded, feeling the same urgency. "Haan, main bhi yahi soch raha tha."

Just then, Anusuya remembered something. "Oh, aaj tumhare liye ek letter aaya hai. Us par koi naam nahi hai, lekin jisne deliver kiya usne kaha ki yeh sirf tumhe diya jaana chahiye."

Aarav replied, "Main baad mein check karunga. Kya tumne kuch khaya hai?"

Anusuya shook her head. "Nahi, abhi tak nahi."

Aarav frowned, his concern for her growing. "Tumhe kuch khana chahiye. Yeh tumhare aur bachche ke liye acha nahi hai agar tum khali pet raho. Chalo, yahan baitho, main tumhare liye dosa banaata hoon."

As Aarav headed to the kitchen, his phone rang. He answered it, and his friend spoke on the other end. "Hey Aarav, humne tumhari chachi ka location dhoondh liya hai. Lekin woh is rajya mein nahi rehti. Tumhe Ooty jaana padega."

Aarav responded, "Theek hai, mujhe address bhej do. Main wahan jaunga."

He hung up the phone, and Anusuya looked at him curiously. "Kya hua?"

Aarav sighed and replied, "Humein kal Ooty jaana hai. Wahan meri chachi, Janaki, rehti hain. Woh sirf ek hain jo mere pita ke baare mein kuch jaanti hongi. Fikr mat karo, main ab dinner banaata hoon. Tum bas yahan baitho aur aaram karo."

The next day, Aarav and Anusuya arrived in Ooty, the scenic beauty of the hill station surrounding them. They reached Janaki's home, a quaint little cottage nestled among lush greenery. When Janaki saw Aarav, her eyes filled with tears, and she rushed to embrace him.

"Aarav! Mera pyara beta!" she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. Aarav comforted her, holding her close, feeling the weight of their family history.

Janaki smiled through her tears and invited them inside. "Tumhare pita ki tarah dikhte ho," she said, wiping her eyes.

Aarav, surprised, replied, "Maine kabhi unka chehra nahi dekha."

Janaki nodded softly. "Main tumhe ek purani photo album dikhaoongi baad mein."

She noticed Anusuya's baby bump and asked, "Saat mahine, hai na?"

Aarav and Anusuya exchanged smiles and nodded. "Haan."

After lunch, Janaki brought out the photo album and flipped through the pages with reverence. "Yeh dekhna, yeh Arjun aur Vikram ka photo hai," she pointed to a picture of two young boys laughing together. "Yeh tab ki baat hai jab main 5th grade mein thi. Us se pehle, Arjun aur Vikram dosti kar chuke the. Phir hum teenon doston ki tarah ban gaye."

She continued, her fingers brushing over the photos. "Humne saath school khatam kiya, aur phir college bhi. Maine dawai ki padhai ki aur doctor ban gayi, jabki Arjun ne Indian Air Force join karne ki koshish ki. Vikram ne Indian Army mein officer ke roop mein shamil hona chuna, woh captain ban gaye."