Against All Odds

Part 22

Aarushi went to her room after lunch. Sumedh wasn't there. She took a sigh & laid on bed.

'Iss ladke ka taste kitna kharab hai.. Kaisa colour hai walls pe.. ' Aarushi thought. 'Har taraf khud ke photos laga ke rakhe hai.. Jaise yaha na hote hue bhi mujhe pe najar rakh raha ho.. Hari aankh wala.. " She scoffed.

Aarushi took her phone & called Anjali.

"Aai.. Hi. " She said.

"Aarushi.. Meri bacchi.. Kaisi ho ? " Anjali asked.

"Mast.. Pata hai maine khana banaya.. Sabko bahot pasand aya.. " Aarushi told.

"Are wa.. Pasand aa gya sabko.? Sach me pasand aya ya aise hi bol diya sabne.? " Anjali teased.

"Kya Aai.. Apni beti pe bharosa nai.? Sab acche hai.. Sabne bahot sweetly bate ki.. Aur meri dono jethania bahot helpfull hai.. Unhone mujhe bahot madad ki.. " Aarushi told.

"Aur Sumedh.? " Anjali asked.

Aarushi became quiet.

"Kya hua Aaru.? " Anjali again asked.

"Pata nai Aai.. Uske dimag me kab kya hota hai samajh hi nai ata.. Kabhi accha behave karta hai.. Kabhi ignore kar ke chala jata hai.. I don't knw uske man me kya hai.. " Aarushi said.

"Jo bhi hoga.. Tum sab thik se handle karna waha.. Sabko khush rakhna.. " Anjali advised.

"Haan Aai.. Aur ab.. Main sone wali hoon kuch der.. Rakhu phone.? " Aarushi asked.

"Haan.. So jao. " Anjali agreed.

Aarushi hung up the call. She looked up & saw Sumedh's photo. She turned her gaze towards left but she again found his photo. She turned right but still there was his photo.

She shouted in frustration & took the blanket over her face.

*******

"Main manali ja raha hoon.. " Amit told.

"Aaj.? " Devaki asked.

"Haan.. Par ghar me.. Maine sabko bataya hai ki main delhi ja raha hoon.. " Amit said in low voice.

"Pooch sakti hoon kyu.? " She asked.

"Meri Adv Nigam ke sath waha ek confidential meeting hai " Amit answered. "Aur yeh baat main , Adv Nigam aur ab tum janti ho.. Kisiko bhi nai batani hai.. "

"Thik hai.. Par aap wapis kab aaoge ? " Devaki asked.

"4-5 din me aa jaunga.. Tab tak ke liye tumhe yaha sab sambhalna padega.. Main kisi ka bhi phone nai uthaunga.. Mera phone band rahega.. Kyu ki mujhe bahot jyada shaq hai ki mera phone trace kiya jayega.. " Amit said.

"Aap.. Kya ho raha hai aisa Amit.. Mujhe dar lag raha hai. " Devaki said with frightend face.

Amit sighed. He took her in his embrace.

"Look Devaki.. Tum mera support system ho.. Tumhare bager yeh jo bhi main kar raha hoon yeh possible hi nai hai.. U just hv to stand by me.. Tumhe mere upar bharosa hai na.? " Amit asked.

"Haan.. Bahot bharosa hai. " Devaki replied.

"Bas yaad rakho main Delhi gaya hoon.. Aur main jo bhi kar raha hoon wo hamare future kar raha hoon.. Ek secure future.. Bas Aarushi ko apne se door mat jane dena.. Uske aur Aai ke bich me kuch distance hi bana rahe.. Uska bharosa jeeto.. Uski dost bano.. Wo hamari bahot madad karne wali hai.. " Amit said.

"Jaisa aap bata rahe hai main sab karungi.. Bas aap apna dhyan rakhna" Devaki said.

Amit smiled.