Shayantani was yet clueless as to what Kavya wanted to talk about. After walking almost 5 minutes in silence and awkwardness, Shayantani finally broke the silence and spoke,
Shanu: There was something you wanted to talk to me about?
Kavya: Thoda sabar rakho, sab pata chal jayega.
Shanu: Itne susupense mein mat rakho , yaar!
Kavya:(giggling) You are quite impatient.
Shanu: Mujhe suspense mein rehna bilkul nahi pasand. Batao na.
Kavya: Acha baba , thik hai. Mai tumse Sahil ke baare mein baat karna chahti thi.
Shanu: Sahil ke baare mein kya?
Kavya: Shayantani,.........tumhe Sahil ne apne baare mein to zarur bataya hoga.
Shanu: Ha. Bataya to hai.
Kavya: Meri apni koi family nahi hai. Isilye main Jai ki family ko hi apna manti hu. Jai aur main school mein hi mile the. Tab se uski family se meri attachment ho gayi.Har festival mein unke ghar jana, raat raat ko unke ghar pe dinner karna,.....everything. Sahil se bhi mai unke ghar mein hi mili thi. At first, he was very shy around me. He would talk less. Be around less. But slowly and gradually, he started becoming familiar with me.
Shanu: He was an introvert?
Kavya: Can you really blame him? Rudra Uncle hamesha se hi usse bohot strictly behave karte the. He would never appreciate him for anything he did. I used to feel bad for him. But main kuch kar bhi nahi sakti thi.
Shanu: Voh aisa kyu behave karte hai uske sath?
Kavya: ( stammering) Um.....voh....uh....
Shanu: Kya hua, Kavya?
Kavya: Iske piche ek bohot bada reason hai.
Shanu: Kya reason?
Kavya:(in a whispering tone) Shayantani, yeh sach Sahil ko bhi nahi pata. So......you have to promise me that tum use kuch nahi bataogi.
Shanu: Kya baat hai, Kavya?
Kavya: Voh......Sahil.......Sahil.....Rudra Uncle ka asli beta nahi hai.
Shayantani stopped on her track in shock.
Shanu: Kya??
Kavya: Ha.....yeh sach. Mujhe Jai ne bataya tha ki.......
Shanu: Ki kya?
Kavya: Ki....voh.....Nandini aunty......Vo Nandini aunty aur kisi aur ka beta hai. He is an ..........illegitimate child.
Nandini Maheshwari:
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Shayantani cupped her mouth in horror. Her eyes widened.
Kavya: Please......please....Shanu, you have to promise me! Tum Sahil ko kuch nahi bataogi! Promise me!
