yun hi tu mere saath rehna

Chapter Forty Two

With the entire Goenka debacle behind her, Abhira started anew, throwing herself head-first into her career. She took on new cases and spent hours reading and researching. She started seeing Krish a lot more, getting tips and tricks from him, to become a more seasoned lawyer. When Krish had offered for her to join the firm under him, Abhira had declined, stating she didn't want to benefit off of nepotism, and that she wanted to build a name for herself before she tied herself to the Singhania name. 

“The firm will wait for you,” Krish promised. “Waise bhi, mere baad toh tumhe hi chalani hogi na. Siddhi ko toh law mein bilkul interest nahi hai. Toh tum hi ho, jiske bharose main firm chod paunga.”

“Mamu, yeh bohot badi responsibility hai,” Abhira protested. “Main kaise aapse firm le sakti hoon? Aapne itni mehnat se usse itni uchaai pe laaya hai.”

“Isliye toh, main tujhe yeh saunpna chaahta hoon,” Krish replied. “Itni mehnat hai meri iss firm ke peeche. Itne saalon tak maine iss firm ko apna sab kuch diya hai taaki woh aaj iss mukaam pe pohonche. Aur phir main isse kisi bahaar waale ko dedu? Meri mehnat toh mere bachchon ke liye haina. Kisi bahaar waale ke liye nahi. 

Maine hamesha se yeh socha tha ki main firm Siddhi ko dunga. But jaise woh badi hui, mujhe samajh aa gaya ki usse iss sab mein bilkul interest nahi hai. Toh maine socha tha ki uske bachchon ko dunga. But ab usme bohot saal hai. Kya pata tab tak main rahoon ya nahi. Aur phir, uske bachchon ke liye wait karne se achcha hai main tujhe dedu. Waise bhi, kya pata unka bhi law mein aptitude hoga ya nahi. Lekin, tu toh haina… Itni achchi lawyer tu already hai, Abhira. Thode experience ke saath toh tu kitni zyada achchi lawyer bann jaayegi. 

Abhi toh tune bas apne career ki shuruat ki hai. Abhi bohot saal hai tere paas, kaam karne, kaam seekhne, aur ek kaabil lawyer bann'ne. Tujhe kalse firm nahi sambhaalni. Abhi bohot time hai tere paas. Abhi se itna mat darr.”

“Itni badi baat boldi aapne, aur ab keh rahe hain ki darr mat. Aise thodi hota hai, Mamu?” Abhira whined. “Ab toh main har time bas yehi sochti reh jaungi.”

Krish chuckled at that. “Main toh sirf tujhe aage ke liye prepare kar raha tha. Mujhe kya pata tha tu itna overthink karne lagegi?”

Abhira's only answer was a pout. “Achcha baba, theek hai,” Krish placated. “Abhi yeh topic rehne dete hain. Tu abhi kaam toh kar. Phir hum 5 saal baad yeh topic uthayenge. Tab dekhenge firm ka kya karna hai. Tujhe tab join karna ho toh karna, warna nahi. Waise, usse pehle bhi join karne ka mann kare toh koi manaayi nahi hai. Woh toh bas tujhe pehle khud se kaam karna hai, isliye maine yeh time limit set ki hai. Agar tu aajse 5 din baad mujhe aake bolegi ki tujhe firm join karni hai, toh mujhse zyada khush aur koi nahi hoga.”

“Thank you, Mamu,” Abhira mumbled, hugging Krish around his chest. Krish laughed exuberantly, hugging her back. It was still such a huge luxury that he got to have this. Naira Bua's granddaughter, in his arms, safe and sound. He'd never thought he'd see the day. He only had Mishti to thank for this. Despite her grievances, Mishti had reached out to him. She could have easily not done so. There were hundreds of lawyers in the country who she could have sought. Funds had never been an issue. Yet, she chose him. Because he was family. She thought of him as one of hers despite all the bad history that she had with his family. He would forever be grateful. 

“Waise, aap Armaan ko apni firm mein position kyun nahi offer karte?” Abhira asked conversationally.

“Paagal ho gayi kya? Mishti Bua se unke aankhon ke taare ko door karne ki galti karne ke baare mein main soch bhi nahi sakta. Waise bhi, Armaan khud hi nahi aayega,” Krish laughed.

“Aapko aisa kyun lagta hai? You know he idolizes you, right? Aapke saath kaam karne woh ek second mein haan kar dega,” Abhira argued.

“He might idolize me, lekin Mishti Bua uske liye kya hai, shayad tu yeh nahi samajh paayi hai, Hiru. He can give up anything for her. Main toh uss list mein phir bhi bohot neeche aata hoon. I think, tujhe chodke, woh Bua ke liye saari duniya chod sakta hai,” Krish explained.