RiKara~Aawaz Do Humko, Hum Kho Gaye

4~The Lullaby

The trio came towards the dining table with the cake and Om was about to cut it but stopped as he heard a crying voice. He turned and saw a little girl entering with tears on her cheeks. She ran to him and hugged him by his waist. 'Papa, when will mumma come? You always say that if I be a good baby then she will surely return, why didn't she return? Everyone bullies me in school,' she said cryingly and he broke the hug and made her sit on the couch removing her shoes and socks sitting on his knees.

'Good girls never cry, you're my strong girl, right? Answer them back,' he said to her. 'I do but they push me on floor always,' she said. 'Geeta, you're a good girl right? You should fight back, I m not saying to bully them but answer in such a way that they never pick on you again, now baby, go freshen up my child, then we both will cut the cake together,' he said and she went to her room. 'Hey bro, make her just like bhabhi, she doesn't looks like her daughter, she used to fight so much, make her tadibaaz as well,' Rudra said and Om nodded.

Later, Geeta came out after bathing dressed up in a white maxi. Om picked her up. 'Aww mera bacha, kitna pyara lagta hai, lekin tumko itna achha tayar kisne kiya?', Om asked. 'Mumma,' she replied. He turned towards Rudra and Shivaay who had thoughtful looks on their faces. 'Mumma? Dear are u kidding me?,' he asked. 'No papa, she was there,' she said. Om laughed. 'Haha, mera bacha kitna mazak karta hai, chalo cake kaatein,' he said and made her stand on the floor making her hold a knife in her hand.

He held her hand and made her cut the cake, he made her eat the cake and she too made him eat. He made his brothers eat as well and Geeta made him eat. He kissed her cheek and picked her again taking her to her room and helped her change. 'You might be tired, so take a nap, then I will make u do homework later, OK Jan, so ja, mera bacha kitna pyara lagta hai, so ja,' he said and she laid to sleep smilingly. 'Mera bacha itnay din se lori k bager sota tha, ab lori bhi sunega.'

He switched on the tape recorder and closed his eyes laying beside her. The lullaby was recorded in Gauri's voice.

Lori lori lori... (4)

Chandaniya chup jaana re

Chan bhar ko luk jaana re

Neendiya aankhon mein aaye

Bitiya meri so jaaye

Hmm...

Neendiya aankhon mein aaye

Bitiya meri so jaaye

Leke godh mein sulaaun

Gaaun raat bhar sunaaun

Main lori lori

Ho main lori lori

Lori lori lori... (4)

Gardhaniya chun chun baje

Palkan mein sapna saje

Dheeme dheeme haule haule

Pawan basanti doley

Hmm...

Dheeme dheeme haule haule

Pawan basanti doley

Leke godh mein sulaaun

Gaaun raat bhar sunaaun

Main lori lori

Oh ho main lori lori

Meri muniya rani bane

Mehlon ka raja miley

Dekhe khushiyon mele

Dard kabhi na jhele

Oo...

Dehke khushiyon mele

Dard kabhi na jhele

Leke godh mein sulaaun

Gaaun raat bhar sunaaun

Main lori lori

Hmm main lori lori

Lori lori lori... (8)

Geeta slept feeling her mother's presence and Om got lost in her voice. By the time it ended, he was still lost in it and was feeling sleepy. He felt her hand caress his hair, he got teary eyed. 'Gauri,' he said. 'Om,' a voice responded.

He let his tear flow down and turned towards the voice which was obviously of Gauri. His hand drew up to touch her face and it touched her face. He moved a little inside to let her sit and she did. 'It wasn't the tape recorder which made her sleep, it was me, I sung the lullaby, I had switched it off when you closed your eyes, I knew Geeta misses me a lot so I made her ready and I came to make her sleep as well, I know she is more attached to me, but try your lullaby next time to make her sleep,' she said.

'How? She's not the only one who's habitual of your lullaby, even I m habitual of it, come back Gauri, come back alive,' he requested. 'That's against the rules of universe, I had to tell you something related to my death, I died a tragic death that's why I m still here, mummy ji was scared of me but I swear I didn't come to avenge her or kill her, I have only one target,' she said. 'And who's that? I want to know, I want to know how did you die,' he replied with desperation.

'Shlok,' she said. 'Shlok did what?', he asked sitting up. 'Shlok,' she spoke again. 'Gauri tell na what he did?', he asked. 'Its time for me to go, but remember, you will have to find the truth yourself and even make him accept the truth, I will return by then,' she replied. 'No Gauri, you're not going, don't know how much time it will take,' he said worriedly. 'I won't be visible to you but I will always be there,' she said. 'No, no, you're not going, please Gauri. Gauri please,' he said as he saw her going away, he held her hand.

'I will come back for sure,' she said. 'Promise?', he asked holding up his pinky and she reluctantly wrapped her pinky around his pinky and hugged her tightly not wanting her to go and badly wanted to stop the time right there. He didn't realize when he fell asleep in his arms and she laid him down covering her with bedsheet and eyed him lovingly for sometime and kissed his forehead. Then she went to Geeta and kissed her forehead as well and disappeared.